Newent Town Guide 2011

NEWENT

TOWN GUIDE 2011-12

WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF NEWENT TOWN COUNCIL

Smith’ s Funeral Services K.J.Tyler, P.J.Tyler, S.M.Tyler, S.J.Tyler, R.J.Tyler

Local family firm, established over 100 years ❖ 24 hour personal service ❖ Memorials supplied ❖ Private chapels of rest in Newent and Gloucester

❖ Home visits

Funeral prepayment plans:

Personal advice given in your own home if desired, or send for a brochure Furnace Lane, Newent Tel: 01531 820474

12 Church Street, Newent IDEAL CARPETS Fitted Carpet & Rug Specialists • Free no obligation measuring service at your convenience.

• We can uplift and dispose of your old carpets and our fitters are happy to move furniture by prior arrangement

• Call us and let us give you a competitive quote. We aim to give you an efficient and friendly service

Tel/Fax: 01531 822377

25 Broad Street, Newent, Gloucestershire 1st Friday every month: FAMILY NIGHT mums, dads and children from 7.30pm ENTERTAINMENT - most Saturday nights from 9.00pm-12.00 midnight + raffle EYES DOWN FOR BINGO - every Sunday from 7.30pm SKITTLES TEAMS - Alley available, Winter/Summer leagues - enquiries welcome LARGE FUNCTION ROOM - available for hire.

ENQUIRIES - tel. 01531 820440 or call in and one of our friendly and helpful staff can assist.

The Circle club is a members only establishment. However, guests are always welcome, but must be signed in.

Application forms for membership can be obtained from the bar.

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HIGHFIELDS

RESIDENTIAL HOME

Located on the edge of town.

Short or long term accommodation.

Dial-a-ride services.

Regular visits from local church ministers.

Lift to all floors.

Proprietor: Mr D Silver Care Manager: Anne Morgan

Tel 01531 821007

Highfields, Culver St, Newent GL18 1JA

We’ll point you in the right direction

Estate and letting agents Surveyors and valuers Newent Office 01531 828970 www.naylorpowell.com

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The Good News Centre Christian Gift & Bookshop and Coffee House

We are a large Christian bookshop also selling a wide range of CDs, DVDs, gifts, cards and ethical gifts.

High Street, Newent GL18 1AN

Tel: 01531 821 456 E: sales@goodnewscentre.com

We have a coffee-house attached selling a range of cakes, snacks and drinks. We serve Fairtrade tea and coffee.

Outside tables are available in good weather.

NEW:

children’s corner upstairs!

We are situated close to Newent Lake with ample free parking.

A CHUR C H FOR ALL AGES Sunday Services

11:00am and 6:30pm

Youth Groups Parent’s & Toddlers Oasis Club for Seniors For more information Telephone: 01989 720238 Email: Glebechapel@glebechapel.org

We are an independent evangelical church in Newent, serving the whole community, where people can rejoice together and those who are hurting can find healing and comfort in God. GLEBE CHAPEL

•

GLEBE CLOSE

www.glebechapel.org •

NEWENT

•

St Mary’s Church, Newent

Local Ecumenical Partnership: Anglican, Methodist and Baptist Sunday Services 8.45am, 10.15am and 6.00pm

Priest in Charge: Rev Simon Mason

Church Street, Newent. GL18 1AB Tel and Fax: 01531 821641 Email: office@stmarysnewent.org Website: www.stmarysnewent.org

Curate: Rev Ken Madden

A parish church dating back to the 7th century offering: ❚ a place of welcome and care, open to the community ❚ a place of worship celebrating and embracing both traditional and progressive styles ❚ a base for mission and service ❚ a haven of peace and prayer ❚ junior church (crèche available)/baby & toddler group

Baptist Minister: Rev Jeanette Turner

GL18 1BQ

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THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR BIRDS OF PREY

PETS, FARM ANIMALS, and HORSES cared for Tel: 01531 820258 (24 hours) Surgery hours: MONDAY TO FRIDAY 9.00am to 10.30am 2.00pm to 3.00pm 4.30pm to 6.30pm SATURDAYS 9.00am to 11.00am or by appointment at other times Millpark Veterinary Centre Ltd, Cleeve Mill, Newent www.millparkvets.com

Over 250 birds to see, three daily flying demonstrations with eagles, kites, falcons, owls and hawks.

Experience days, great photo opportunities, a cafĂŠ and shop.

Walks through woods, ponds and fields, wonderful gardens.

A hidden gem of a place in beautiful Gloucestershire countryside.

Newent, Gloucestershire, GL18 1JJ Phone 01531 820286/821581 www.icbp.org

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THE YEW TREE

Country pub with dining The Yew Tree, Cliffords Mesne, Newent GL18 1JS

Tel: 01531 820719

www.yewtreeinn.com TRADITIONAL NATIVE BREED BEEF MATURED FOR 25 DAYS LOCAL MEAT FROM LOCAL FARMERS

HOME MADE SAUSAGES HOME CURED BACON HOME MADE PIES HOME COOKED MEATS REGULAR OFFERS

REAL MEAT FROM REAL BUTCHERS • CATERING PRICE LIST

3 BROAD STREET, NEWENT • TEL 01531 820730 PIG ROASTS - WE CAN SERVE YOU OR DIY, ASK FOR DETAILS

Please support the advertisers who helped make this guide possible.

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WELCOME TO NEWENT

W

elcome to Newent whether you have come here to live or are just

visiting.

Newent, a conservation area, is situated in North West Gloucestershire between the Malvern Hills and the Forest of Dean, just four miles from the M50 and nine miles from the M5. It includes the adjoining hamlets of Clifford's Mesne, Conigree, Brand Green, Malswick and The Scarr.

It was once an important market town serving a large agricultural area although there have been industrial activities here such as mining, nailmaking and foundries and forges operating in more recent times. Today, the town has some light industry and a leaning towards retailing and tourism.

The town centre's attractions are complimented by a variety of fascinating destinations in the vicinity, such as the International

Centre for Birds of Prey to the south of the town (on the road to Clifford's Mesne) and vineyards to the north.

The 17th century Market House and beautiful Newent lake area dominate the town centre. The surrounding woodlands and fields are well known for the profusion of wild flowers from snowdrops to bluebells and especially the wild daffodils. Since the beginning of the new century we have the additional valuable community facility of the Newent Arboretum, a plantation of over 3,500 trees on a ten acre site planted as part of the Millenium celebrations.

During the Civil War Newent was used by Royalists under Colonel Meine as a base during the Battle of Redmarley and Siege of Gloucester and retains much evidence for the would-be historian to investigate.

There is a very active community

CONTENTS Welcome.......................................5 Overview/Vale of Leadon..............7 History of Newent......................8-9 Modern developments..................9

St Mary's Church...........................9 Town map..............................10-11 List of streets..............................12 Area map....................................12

life with a busy calendar of events, regular interest group meetings, and voluntary care organisations.

Newent is famous for its Onion Fayre. Two separate grants for fairs and markets with other privileges were purchased by the Abbey of Cormeille as early as the 10th century. These were also allowed in a writ issued by Edward 1 (1287) and the grants renewed in the reign of Henry VIII. James I confirmed these privileges and added a new charter for two additional fairs. The last known Onion Fayre in former times was held on 2nd September 1938. But in February 1996 a small group of local volunteers got together to revive a community summer event for Newent – the result, the revival of the age old Charter. Newent Onion Fayre was reborn, drawing crowds of people in numbers of 10,000 plus.

The Fayre is held on the second Saturday in September each year.

Famous names............................13 Work of the Town Council...........13 Green spaces...............................14 Newent Initiative........................14 Local services..............................15 Contacts: clubs & societies.....17-19

Cover pictures: Market House and Church Street; Newent Lake; the Newent Stone.

Newent Town Guide has been produced on behalf of Newent Town Council by Heritage Guides Š2011.

We are grateful to Dierdre Morley of Newent Town Council; to Stephen Buckley for his encouragement; and to David Peters for the photograph of Joe Meek on page 13.

This publication is copyright and may not be used reproduced, copied or

transmitted in any form in part or in whole without the prior permission of the publishers. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all the information contained in this publication is correct at the time of going to print, neither Heritage Guides nor Newent Town Council can accept any responsibility for unintentional errors or omissions.

Newent Town Council, The Cemetery Lodge, Watery Lane, Newent, GL18 1QG T: 01531 820638 E: townclerk@newenttowncouncil.gov.uk Heritage Guides, 7 Romilly Road, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan CF62 6AZ T: 01446 405298 F: 01446 461792 E: info@heritage-guides.com W: www.heritage-guides.com

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www.stevegooch.co.uk

4 High Street, Newent, Gloucestershire GL18 1AN

01531 820844

For all your selling, purchasing, letting, & surveying requirements Offices also at:

The Cross, Mitcheldean • 27 Windsor Drive, Gloucester • 1 High Street, Coleford Gooch & Burley Surveyors & Valuers & Steve Gooch Mortgage Advice Bureau Ltd Stroud & Swindon Building Society & Stroud & Swindon are trading names of Coventry Building Society available at Newent Branch

OVERVIEW / VALE OF LEADON

7

AN OUTSIDER WITH CHARACTER

N

ewent has a population of around 5,000 and is one of four market towns in the district of the Forest of Dean within the county of Gloucestershire. The parliamentary constituency also goes by the name of the Forest of Dean (although covering a slightly different area from that of the District Council). The town is situated about nine miles north west of Gloucester and eight miles east of Ross-on-Wye. Exit 3 on the M50 motorway is three miles away.

Newent is quite different in character to the other three main towns in the district. This is partly because, although administratively in the Forest of Dean, it sits on the edge of the Vale of Leadon, an area of rolling hills, vineyards and orchards along the River Leadon which runs from the north west down into the Severn at Gloucester.

Its numerous listed buildings from the 16th to the early 19th century mark it out very much as a rural market town and it shows few signs of the industrialisation that affected the other Forest of Dean towns in the 19th century.

Market Square, Newent

photograph: www.aerosportphotography.com

The town sits in relatively low lying ground around its attractive lake and surrounding parkland and is dominated from a distance by the magnificent spire of St Mary’s Church. In the centre of town, attention is drawn by the 17th century Market House.

In terms of business, the town is the local service centre for the rural area of north west Gloucestershire,

aided by the large free car park in the centre of town giving shoppers easy access to its many independent retailers. There is a small but growing business park on the edge of town.

The town has a strong community spirit with many voluntary organisations catering for leisure interests and caring for the disadvantaged.

LAND OF ONIONS, DAFFODILS AND SHEEP

N

ewent’s character has been forged more by its location outside of the Forest of Dean than within. Situated in the open country of the Vale of Leadon, it became a convenient marketplace both for inhabitants of the Forest of Dean itself and the higher lands to the north. Britain’s most ancient breed of sheep, the “Ryeland” (so called because it was grazed on rye pastures) was brought down from the Leominster area to market at Newent, leading to the town being dubbed “The Capital of the Ryelands”. Another product brought in great quantity

for sale at Newent market was the onion, difficult to grow in the Forest of Dean itself. The crop was also a favourite of the Welsh drovers on their way to London with their cattle. The vegetable’s place in history is now celebrated in Newent’s annual Onion Fayre on a Saturday in September.

An area just to the north of the town is known variously as “The Daffodil Crescent” and “The Golden Triangle” due to the profusion of daffodils that grow in the wild. In fact the Gloucester to Ledbury railway which ran past the town (until it was closed in 1964)

became known as the Daffodil Line and special trains were put on for people to come and pick the flowers (a practice very much discouraged these days, of course).

School children were encouraged to pick them for hospital patients.

The rural beauty of the Vale of Leadon attracted a group of early 20th century poets to live in and around the village of Dymock just to the north of Newent. The Dymock Poets, as they became known, were Robert Frost, Lascelles Abercrombie, Rupert Brooke, Edward Thomas, Wilfrid Wilson Gibson, and John Drinkwater.

HISTORY

8

NEW PLACE, OLD PEDIGREE

T

he first written record we have of the existence of Newent is in the Domesday Book in the 11th century which lists it as “Noent”. The name is thought to be of Celtic origin meaning “new place” - so it would appear to have been a town long before the Norman Conquest. Indeed, archeological finds in the area of the modern day Newent Business Park show there was an important Roman-British settlement here by the time of the 2nd century, linked by road to Ariconium (Westonunder-Penyard), the administrative centre of an area covering the Forest of Dean all the way to Gloucester. The settlement at Newent may have gone under the name of ‘Dolocindo’.

The Romans maintained an important iron smelting industry in the Forest of Dean where there was accessible iron ore and plentiful supplies of wood for the production of charcoal, necessary to the smelting process. There was a road from Newent to iron ore outcrops near Mitcheldean, so much of the metal would have passed through the town and been either processed there or sent further afield.

The Romans also maintained substantial parts of the Forest as hunting grounds - for the

later Saxons and Normans these were royal hunting grounds which at one time reached as far as the river Leadon.

The Roman army withdrew from Britain at the beginning of the fifth century, and Newent came eventually to lie within the central Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, one of whose kings, Offa, consolidated his hold on the area with the building of his famous Dyke in the 8th century (to keep out the Welsh).

Newent may have remained a significant town throughout the so called Dark Ages between the Roman withdrawal and the Norman Conquest. There are important stone monuments on display in St Mary’s Church which point to activity in the area. Two of the most interesting are the shaft of a freestanding cross, possibly early ninth century, and the so-called “Newent Stone”, a small carved stone tablet used either as an altar or a grave slab, possibly from the 11th century - both of which are on display in St Mary’s Church.

After the Norman conquest in 1066, the manor of Newent became part of an endowment to support a new Abbey founded at Cormeilles in Normandy. The abbey established a cell at Newent with a Prior in charge.

The priory buildings stood near the present St Mary’s church.

Thus, Newent was one of England’s so called “alien priories” which were often seized as royal possessions during the wars with France (Newent was eventually made a possession of the collegiate church of Fotheringhay in

Above: "the Newent Stone" and Saxon Cross in St Mary's Church; bottom left: the Tan House, Culver St; opposite: St Mary's Church spire

Northamptonshire).

In the 13th century, King Henry III gave the manor of Newent the rights to hold a yearly fair and, later, a weekly market. The rights to hold fairs and markets were jealously guarded as they could be the source of considerable wealth, and it appears these grants ensured Newent’s prosperity at the expense of its rival Dymock.

The oldest extant parts of St Mary’s church date from the 13th century, whilst the tower and Lady Chapel probably date from the 14th, evidence perhaps that the market was beginning to earn its owners a good living.

By 1298 Newent was a ‘borough’, a status which gave it a degree a self-governance and certain rights to keep the profits of its trade.

The town later benefited from its location on the cattle drovers’ routes from Wales to the markets in London and would have been used as staging post on their journey, bringing business to the town’s growing number of inns. 

ST MARY’S CHURCH / MODERN DEVELOPMENTS

CHANGING TOWN

N

ewent has shown great resilience in recent years in withstanding changes in economic fortune, demonstrating time and again the ability to reinvent itself. The town was once well known for its Shambles museum, a recreated Victorian street right in its heart. When this closed in 2008, it was imaginatively converted into shopping in the manner of a “retail village”.

The Shambles Retail Village is a valuable addition to the town’s retail mix and will continue to ensure the town’s viability as a retail destination.

Shops need customers, of course, both in the form of visitors and local residents, so recent new housing developments at Onslow Road with more to come in the Newent’s famous Market House was built in 1668, more evidence of its continuing prosperity. In the 17th century there were a glassworks, cloth mill and ironworks operating in the town and it gained the rights to two further fairs. It was said at the time that five times as many cattle were being killed at Newent than at Gloucester, no wonder the town was known for its butchers. An offshoot of this trade was tanning, and there was an important tanning works in the town. The grandly built tan house on Culver Street, dating from the 1690s and one of the earliest brick buildings in the town, demonstrates the wealth of its owners.

By the 18th century, the town was in decline. The Goucestershire historian Samuel Rudder described it as ‚“a small market town very irregularly built and its approach roads in poor state”. Hopes were pinned on the reserves of coal

future can only add to the town centre’s viability.

Also to be welcomed is the arrival of Two Rivers Housing, the social housing association for the Forest of Dean, shortly to relocate its head office to Cleeve Mill Lane from rented accommodation in Mitcheldean.

discovered nearby which, it was hoped, could be transported along the Hereford and Gloucester Canal.

This was extended to Newent in 1795 (the so called ‘Coal Branch’), yet the canal only reached Hereford in 1845, and anyway merely succeeded in allowing cheaper coal in from elsewhere.

Even before the canal was completed it had already been overtaken as the preferred method of transport by railways. In fact, having outlived its purpose, large lengths of the canal were soon filled in and used by the Great Western Railway for its Gloucester to Ledbury Line, passing through Newent. The line opened in 1885 only to be closed under the Beeching Axe in 1964. The Newent bypass follows part of its course.

9

CHURCH TIMES

T

he main historical place of worship in Newent is the 13th century parish church of St Mary on Church Street. Unusually, the congregation is jointly Anglican, Methodist and Baptist and the services cater for the three denominations.

Some of the building is at least as old as the 13th century and the soaring octagonal sandstone spire dates from the 14th century (although this had to be partially rebuilt in 1968 when it was found to be unstable). The main body of the church has an interesting history. In 1674 the nave of the church collapsed under a weight of snow. It was rebuilt in one single over-arching span, in the manner of London churches of the day, under the direction of a Newent carpenter, Edward Taylor, who had worked with Christopher Wren. The pulpit was at that time located on the north wall; only later was it moved to the east and pews installed to face in the same direction.

Other religious buildings in the town include the elaborate 19th century United Reformed Church (built as a Congregational chapel) on Broad Street and the former Wesley chapel on Culver Street, no longer used for worship.

Modern places of worship include Glebe Chapel on Glebe Road with its very active independent evangelical congregation and the Catholic church on Ross Road. Another independent body, Newent Christian Fellowship, uses the Youth and Community Centre on Ross Road.

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MALSWICK Key to map symbols Car park .................

Church ..................

Community centre..

Library....................

Medical centre .......

Monument .............

Petrol station..........

Police Station .........

Post Office.............

Public conveniences Recycling point......

School ...................

Sports centre..........

Superstore.............

Allotments ............

Bus stop................

Cash dispenser.........

Children’s play area Footpath ..................

Letterbox..................

Public house..........

Public telephone ......

Other feature ...........

© Copyright Heritage Guides 2011. No reproduction of this map is permitted without the prior approval of the publisher. The existence of a route on this map cannot be taken as evidence of a right of way.

STREETS / AREA MAP

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LIST OF STREETS IN NEWENT Street locations refer to map overleaf.

Akermans Orchard...........3b America Gardens............. 3c Ashtree Close................... 3c Ayland Close....................3d Blackmans Close..............2b Blenheim Drive.................3d Boulsden Lane..................4a Bradfords Close................3a Bradfords Court................3a Bradfords Lane............2a-3a Bridge Street.................... 1c Broad Street..................... 2c Brookside.........................3b Bury Bar Gadens.............. 3c Bury Bar Lane................... 3c Butts, The.........................2d Cherry Bank.....................4b Chedworth.......................2d Church Street................... 2c Church Way...................... 2c Cleeve Mill Lane............... 2e Cleeve Rise.......................2d Conigree Road.................4a Connemara Close.............4b

Cooks Place...................... 2c Coopers Way....................3d Cottage Pitch................... 1c Court Lane....................... 2c Court Road.......................2d Craddock Road.................3b Crease, The.......................3d Croft Close.......................2d Crofts, The........................2d Crofts Road......................2d Culver Street.................... 3c Daffodil Court.................. 2c Falcon Court..................... 2c Foley Road.................. 3c/3d Freemans Orchard............ 3c Friars Walk....................... 2c Furnace Lane....................1b Gardeners Way.................2b Glebe Court......................2b Glebe Road......................2b Glebe Way........................2b Gloucester Street............. 2e Graces Pitch..................... 3c Greenaways.....................2b

Hartlands.........................2d High street....................... 2c Hill Top Lane..................... 1e Hills View.........................2d Holts Road.......................2b Hook Lane.........................3f Hopyard Lane...................1d Horsefair Lane..................1b Johnstone Road...............3b Knights Crescent..............3a Knights Way.....................3a Lakeside........................... 2c Lambs Barn Pitch............. 1c Lancaster Terrace.............1d Lewall Street.................... 2c Lightfoot..........................2d Market Square................. 2c May Hill View...................3d Meek Road.......................3d Newent Business Park...... 2e Newent By-pass...............1d Newland Court.................2d Oak Tree Way...................3d Old Station Road..............1b

Onslow Road....................3d Peacock Close.................. 3c Peacock Gardens.............. 3c Perry Close.......................3d Pippin Close.....................3d Reevers Road...................3d Robinson Close................ 2c Ross Road........................2b Russett Way.....................3d Ryelands, The...................3d St Bartholomews.............. 2c Shambles Retail Village.... 2c Sheppard Way..................3d Southend Lane................. 4c Stardens...........................1d Tewkesbury Road............. 1c Tythings, The....................3a Tythings Crescent.............3b Vauxhall...........................2a Watery Lane.....................3b West View........................2a Whittington Walk.............2d Winfield...........................3b

MAP OF NEWENT AREA

© Copyright Heritage Guides 2011. No reproduction of this map is permitted without the prior approval of the publisher.

DYMOCK

E WY ER RIV

A449

B4215

CROW HILL J3

GORSLEY

NEWENT

B4215

MAY HILL

A40

DURSLEY CROSS

LONGHOPE MITCHELDEAN

KENT’S GREEN

CLIFFORD’S MESNE

A4136

TAYNTON

HIGHLEADON

MAISEMORE

TIBBERTON

FOREST OF DEAN DISTRICT HUNTLEY

HARTPURY

ERN

LYDBROOK

DRYBROOK

ASTON INGHAM

LE

MALSWICK

SEV

E WY

RUARDEAN

B4222

ASHLEWORTH

RIVER

B4224

Birds of Prey Centre ..

Cricket ground ..........

Football ground.........

Golf course................

Nature reserve ..........

Restaurant ................

Vineyard....................

A417 ADON

A40

R

UPLEADON

B4216

ROSS-ON-WYE

IV E

BRAND GREEN

R RIVE

KILCOT

LINTON

STAUNTON

B4221

J4

BROMSASH

THE SCARR

OXENHALL

B4221

A40

BOTLOE’S GREEN

M50

KEMPLEY

HIGHNAM

GLOUCESTER

A40 A48

FAMOUS NAMES / TOWN COUNCIL

TRUDIE WONDERFUL

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ewent is full of heartening stories of community heroes, one of the more remarkable being that of Trudie Sheppard (now MBE) who founded the Newent Association for the Disabled, in 1981, reputedly with just £2 of initial funds.

Disabled herself, Trudie, now aged 90, started the association as a small club in the community centre. Bit by bit she drew together the support of local businesses and the community to realise her dream of a purpose built day centre for the disabled and the elderly.

The Sheppard House Day Centre

opened in 1994. Around 175 disabled adults now attend the centre weekly.

The centre provides cooked meals, organises art and craft workshops and other activities, and runs outings Recently, thanks to a massive fund raising effort, Sheppard House was able to install an assisted bathing suite, a facility that was sorely needed in the area.

Also run from Sheppard House is the enormously valuable and successful dial-a-ride service, notching up more than 37,000 person journeys a year. This was the first service of its kind in Gloucestershire and now has a fleet of elevent specially adapted vehicles at its disposition. For a small charge, residents of Newent and surrounding villages can use the service to go on regular shopping trips, attend doctors' or hairdresser appointments, collect prescriptions make visits, etc.

The dial-a-ride telephone number is: 01531 821227.

CLOSE TO COMMUNITY

N

ewent Town Council is the first of the three tiers of local government: town, district and county. The Town Council’s duties include: • Burial authority for the area;

• Owns and manages parks and public spaces in the town, chiefly Newent Lake, Watery Lane Rec, Broadford Meadow Arboretum and the cemetery; • Provides and maintains bus shelters; • Has limited powers to make bye-laws; • Is consulted by District Council on planning; • Makes representations to other bodies on behalf of residents.

The council offices are on Watery Lane and full Council meetings are held at the historic Market House in the centre of town.

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TELSTAR MAN

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isitors to Newent Market place will notice a plaque on a property celebrating the life of Robert George “Joe” Meek (1929-1967) who was born here. He was a pioneering record producer and song writer during the 1960s.

As a youngster, he amused himself building circuits and radios in his parents’ garden shed. He worked for the Midlands Electricity Board, before becoming an audio engineer and later setting up his own production company in a home studio on Holloway Road, Islington.

He worked with Tom Jones before he became internationally famous, but apparently turned down the opportunity to record the Beatles, David Bowie and Rod Stewart. His most famous recording was the Tornados’ hit ‘Telstar’ of 1962.

He went to great lengths in his recordings to produce a unique sound, being an early user of techniques such as echo, reverb and sampling.

He committed suicide in 1967 and is buried in Newent Cemetery.

His life is now celebrated in an annual one-day festival in Newent in October.

GREEN SPACES / NEWENT INITIATIVE

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MILLENNIUM LEAVES MARK

Newent Lake and gardens; below left: Broadford Meadow Arboretum.

B

roadford Meadow Arboretum is a 10-acre site owned and maintained by Newent Town Council. Efforts to develop the site were spearheaded by Newent Initiative in April 2000 as part of the national Millennium celebrations. It has been planned as a combination of closely wooded areas alternating with meadows and avenues.

Trees planted include alders, oak, beech, sycamore, cherry , common limes, field maple, horse chestnut, ash. Hazel, buddleia, and dogwood have also been planted.

These species are growing within a canopy of native woodland broadleaf trees and conifers, including scots pine and yew, typical in the Forest of Dean area.

The arboretum is home to a great variety of birds, such as woodpeckers and owls, as well as small mammals such as squirrels, badgers and rabbits.

TOWN'S GREEN HEART

N

ewent is fortunate in having a superb recreational facility right at its heart, the beautiful Newent Lake area consisting of 16 acres of lake, woodland and meadow.

The lake dates from around 1810 when a house called Newent Court was built on the former priory lands in the vicinity of the development now called Lakeside.

A large ornamental lake was created as part of the landscaping of the grounds. It is thought there were once fishponds on the lower ground where the carpark now is, perhaps fished in the Middle Ages by the priory monks.

Most of Newent Court was destroyed in a fire in 1942 and it was eventually demolished

although one of its gatehouses can still be seen on Gloucester Street.

After decades of neglect, the grounds were eventually given to the Town Council in the 1990s and the council oversaw their relandscaping and the restocking of the lake with fish.

The environment attracts a wide range of wildlife including ducks, moorhens and mute swans. A twenty minute walk is marked out around the lake. Fishing on the lake is managed by Newent Angling Club. Unusually for a lake, there is still a close season (March 15-June 16) when the birds are breeding.

There are mainly carp to be caught, but also roach, bream, perch and other species.

YOU CAN TRUST THE INITIATIVE

T

he serious outbreak of foot and mouth disease at the beginning of this century led to a government funded plan to restore rural economies and their infrastructure: Newent’s response to the plan was the Newent Initiative Trust, formed in 2002, which has played a vital role in re-energising the town and its surrounding area over the years.

There are 47 projects that have been driven by the Initiative in conjunction with numerous

volunteers and the town’s societies and town, district and county councils. The team has raised £1.3m to be spent in the town as well as organising events throughout the year from music concerts to a Christmas market.

The Initiative runs the Youth Chill Out Café, Newent In Bloom as well as having set up the Newent and District Business Club which has been successful in keeping shops and offices occupied.

Major projects include the town

centre Improvement, attracting a major business to relocate to Newent and taking on the running of the Ross Road Community Centre. Smaller projects have benefited young and old.

For more details of the work of the Initiative, visit: www.newent-online.co.uk

CONTACTS (telephone dialling code is 01531 unless otherwise stated)

LOCAL SERVICES LOCAL & NATIONAL GOVERNMENT Newent Town Council Responsibilities include: burial authority for the area, parks and public spaces in the town (including Newent Lake), bus shelters, planning consultation. Office: The Cemetery Lodge, Watery Lane, Newent, GL18 1QG. Clerk: Mrs Dierdre Morley 820638. Email: townclerk@ newenttowncouncil.gov.uk

Town Councillors: Cllr David Blick (Mayor) 820687; Cllr Anthony Parsons (Deputy Mayor) 821372; Cllr William Offord 820608; Cllr Roger Beard 820672; Cllr Karen Draper 822831; Cllr M Greening 820030; Cllr Len Lawton, c/o Town Council 820638; Cllr Peter Moore 820671; Cllr R Pilkington 821651; Cllr Peter Street 820903; Cllr Stephen Tweedie 820479; Cllr Barrie Wellington 820454; Clllr Edward Wood 821090.

Forest of Dean District Council Responsibilities include building and planning control, housing, public health and refuse collection, street cleaning and leisure centres. Offices: High Street, Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 8HG. Offices open Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm.

Contact 01594 810000. Email: council@ fdean.gov.uk www.fdean.gov.uk

District Councillors: • Newent Central Ward: Len Lawton (Con) 822823; Des Saunders (Ind) 820473.

• Oxenhall & Newent North East Ward: Roger Yeates (Con) 821534 • Tibberton Ward: Jane Horne (Con) 821785.

Gloucestershire County Council Responsibilities include education, social services, police, fire service, roads, footpaths, street lighting, trading standards. Offices: Shire Hall, Westgate St, Gloucester GL1 2TG. Contact 01452 425000, Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm. www.gloucestershire.gov.uk

County Councillors: • Newent Division (including the Scarr, Malswick and Brand Green): Cllr William Henry Windsor Clive (Con) 650855.

• Mid Dean Division (including Clifford's Mesne): Cllr Stephen Robin McMillan (Con) 01594 516042.

Member of Parliament • Forest of Dean Constituency - Mark Harper (Con). Contact 01594 542800. www.markharper.org

PUBLIC SERVICES

Newent Police Station Watery Lane. Contact (non emergency) 0845 090 1234.

Courts • Gloucester County Court, Kimbrose Way, Gloucester, GL1 2DE. Contact 01452 834900.

• Gloucester Magistrates Court, Barbican Way,Gloucester, GL1 2JH. Contact 01452 420100.

Registrar of Births, Marriages & Deaths Maitland House, Spa Road, Gloucester.

Open: Mon-Fri 9-4pm (appt only).

Contact 01452 425275.

INFORMATION SERVICES

Library High St. You are advised to contact the library for information about new opening times and library club times.

Contact 0845 230 5420 (24 hour renewal Hotline).

Citizens’ Advice Bureau • Drop in sessions are held in Newent Library, Tue 10-11am, 11am-3.30pm (appointments only). Contact library 0845 230 5420.

• CAB, 75-81, Eastgate St, Gloucester.

Open: Drop in Mon & Fri 9.30am12noon, Tue 1-3.30pm; telephone Mon & Thu 1-7pm, Wed 9.30am-1pm, Thu 1-4.30pm. Contact 01452 528017 (telephone advice) / 527202 (appts). www.gloucestercab.org.uk

HEALTH

GPs • Holt Health Centre, Watery Lane.

Contact 820689.

Dentists • 3 Culver St. Contact 822149.

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EMERGENCIES

• Fire, police, ambulance 999 • Childline (for young people needing to talk) 0800 1111.

• NSPCC Child Protection Helpline (for adults concerned about the safety of children) 0800 800 5000.

• Gloucestershire Housing Advice 01452 614194.

Utilities • Electricity: Central Networks - 0800 328 1111; Western Power Distribution 0845 770 8090.

• Gas 0800 111999.

• Water (Welsh Water) 0800 052 0145.

• Floodline 0845 988 1118.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Bus • 32 Gloucester-Newent-Ross hourly • 132 Ledbury-Newent-Gloucester hourly • 456/457 Newent-Hereford Wed & Sat shopper service.

• 666 Newent-Ross Thu shopper service.

• 677 Much Marcle-Newent-Gloucester Tue & Fri shopper service.

• 678 Newent-Gloucester Mon-Fri commuter service.

• 691/692 Southern villages to Newent, Wed shuttle service.

• 693 Northern villages to Newent, Mon & Thu shuttle service.

For bus times, contact Traveline 0871 200 2233. www.traveline.org.uk Train Nearest stations at Gloucester (for Wales, Bristol, Swindon, Birmingham) and Ledbury (for Birmingham, Hereford & Marches). Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950.

COMMUNITY AMENITIES

Community halls • St Mary's Church Rooms. Contact Contact church office 821641.

• Newent Youth & Community Centre, Ross Road. Contact 820629.

• Memorial Hall, Bury Bar Lane. Contact Mary Townsend 820264.

• Market Hall, Market Square. Contact 821791.

• Cliffords Mesne Village Hall. Contact 820748.

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NEWENT COMMUNITY SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM CENTRE Watery Lane, Newent, Glos GL18 1QF Headteacher: Mrs Jane Steele Tel: 01531 820550 Fax: 01531 820707

Community Enquiries: 01531 8282916 Sixth Form Enquiries: 01531 828915

A popular 11-18 co-educational Comprehensive School serving Newent and the rural area to the West of Gloucestershire. ~ GCSE examination results are excellent with 70% of students gaining 5+ A*-C grades in 2010.

~ A wide range of AS/A level and vocational courses.

~ Duke of Edinburgh award scheme.

~ The school is a Specialist School with the emphasis on Arts.

~ Strong sports teams, County success and the national Sportsmark award.

~ Termly concerts involving orchestras, bands and choirs. ~ Strong links with business and the community. ~ A wide variety of Arts.

~ Adult Education classes to suit all ages and tastes.

~ Sports and Leisure activities are available at Forest Leisure and Sports Pavilion.

~ A friendly and caring ethos which makes everyone feel welcome.

~ Well qualified and committed teaching staff. ~ Three Sciences and two Modern Foreign Languages at GCSE and A-level.

~ The curriculum is designed to develop character and confidence through success. ~ Strong academic success with extra-curricular achievements in sports and the arts.

We achieve high standards within a creative environment, combining the best of our long school traditions with new ideas and technology. Please contact the Headteacher Mrs Jane Steele if you would like to look round the school, or visit the school website at www.newent.gloucs.sch.uk

Bradfords Lane • Newent Glos • GL18 1QT Whippersnappers Day Nursery is an Ofsted registered nursery that offers full time day-care by qualified and experienced staff in a stimulating and happy environment for children from the ages of Fre half e 3 months to 8 years - da Our opening times are 8am till 6pm, Monday to Friday Whippersnappers Day Nursery 11 Glebe Close, Newent GL18 1BQ

Tel: 01531 822242

trial y

Newent’s Community Playgroup

welcomes all!

Offering a variety of pre-school sessions for children and groups for parents with children.

Term times only.

Tel: 01531 828076

CONTACTS (telephone dialling code is 01531 unless otherwise stated) Day centre • Sheppard House Day Centre, off Onslow Rd. Facilities for disabled and the elderly. Lunches every day 12.30pm.

Entertainment, activities pm. Bathing annex for assisted & therapeutic bathing. Contact 821227.

Allotments • Holts Road. Contact Town Council 820638.

LEISURE/TOURISM

Market Hall 17th century half-timbered building in Market Square. Free entrance. Open Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun 2-4.30pm MaySept. Contact Marion Moore (Chair of Stewards) 820671.

St Mary’s Church Church St. Dating from 13th cent. Free entrance, donations for upkeep welcome.

Newent Lake & Parkland Open year round. Free entrance. Fishing on lake only open to Newent residents and members of Newent Angling Club.

Close season March 15-June 16. Contact Tim Davies 822283 (Newent Angling Club). www.newentanglingclub.org Broadford Meadow Arboretum Open year round. Free entrance. Access points on Bradfords Lane and Watery Lane. Contact Town Council 820638.

Newent Leisure Centre Watery Lane. Open weekdays 8am11pm, sun 8am-1pm. Indoor heated swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, 2 squash courts, well-equipped fitness suite available to members. Activities include swimming, aqua aerobics, various health and fitness classes, squash, badminton and children’s parties. Contact 0870 990 1992.

International Centre for Birds of Prey Boulsdon House, Newent (on road to Clifford’s Mesne). Open daily all year 10.30am-5.30pm (or dusk in winter months). Closed Dec & Jan. Contact 820286/821581. www.icbp.org Three Choirs Vineyard On B4251. Open from 5th January to 23rd December. Contact 890223.

SOCIAL HOUSING

Two Rivers Housing Vantage Point Business Village Mitcheldean (relocating to Newent).

Contact 0800 316 0897.

RECYCLING & WASTE

Household Waste Black bags are collected weekly from households. There is a kerbside fortnightly recycling box collection for paper, glass & cans & garden waste is collected in a wheeled bin. See Forest of Dean District Council website for details of collection days for your street.

Contact 01594 810000. www.fdean.gov.uk Household Waste Recycling Centre Oak Quarry, Broadwell, near Coleford.

Open 9am-6.15pm all year round (ex 25th Dec and 1st Jan). 9am-6.15pm.

Contact Recycling Helpline on 01242 680010 or 01594 810000. www.recycleforgloucestershire.com Recycling Banks Further Recycling facilities are located at Lewall St Car Park (paper, glass, cans, textiles, foil, plastic bottles, drinks cartons, shoes, cardboard) and Three Choirs Vineyard (paper, glass, cans, plastic bottles). www.recyclenow.com Newent Association for the Disabled Charity shop, Church St. Please donate your unwanted books, clothes, brica-brac, small items of furniture. Open 9.30am-4.30pm. Contact 828060.

REGULAR EVENTS

Newent in Bloom All-year-round campaign to enhance the townscape and environment. Newent won the Gold Award in the small towns section of Heart of England in Bloom.

Contact Margaret Highton, c/o Newent Initiative 820245.

Newent Country Market Home baking, plants, handicrafts, etc.

Products can be ordered in advance.

Held Fri 10-11am at Memorial Hall, Market Sq. Contact Pearl Price 820748.

Brass Band Concerts Take place 1st Sun in month next to Newent Lake. Free. Contact Peter Street 820903.

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Newent Arts Festival Involving all age groups and including art, cinema, performing arts, music, photography, crafts events. Held throughout the town over a long weekend in mid July. Contact 828916.

Newent Onion Fayre Fairground, stalls, displays, onion eating competition, etc. Held in town centre 2nd Sat in Sept. Contact Eddie Wood 821090 or 822802. www.newentonionfayre.org Joe Meek Festival Celebrates association of the town with the pioneering record producer.

Meek memorabilia displays, stalls, performances. Usually takes place in Memorial Hall and Community School on a Sat in Oct. Christmas Festival Fairground rides, stalls, Christmas lights switch-on. Held in town centre usually on a Sat late Nov/early Dec.

EDUCATION

Pre-school • Little Pickles Early Playgroup Bradfords La. Contact 828076.

• Whippersnappers Nursery Glebe Close. Contact 822242. www.whippersnappers.org.uk • Newent Early Years Centre Bradfords La. Contact 822745.

For complete information on Ofsted registered childcare providers, contact Gloucestershire Family Information Service 0800 542 0202.

Primary • Glebe Infant School Glebe Way. Contact 820700. www.glebeinfantschool.org.uk • Picklenash Junior School Ross Rd. Contact 820589. www.picklenash.gloucs.sch.uk Secondary Newent Community School Watery Lane. Contact 820550. www.newent.gloucs.sch.uk

MEDIA

Daily newspaper • The Citizen 6-8 the Oxebode, Gloucester. Contact 01452 420621. www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk

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Weekly newspapers • The Forester 43-47 High Street, Cinderford. Contact 01594 820600.

• Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Review Kings Buildings, Hill Street, Lydney.

Contact 01594 841113. www.forest-and-wye-today.co.uk • New-Ad (advertising), 20 Culver St, Newent. Contact 820816. www.perpetuapress.net Radio • BBC Radio Gloucestershire: 104.7FM/1413AM. Contact 01452 308585. www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire • Heart Gloucestershire: 102.4FM. Contact 01452 572400. www.heart.co.uk/gloucestershire

PLACES OF WORSHIP

Anglican/Methodist/Baptist St Mary’s Church, Church St. Services: Sun 8.45am, 10.15am, 6pm; Wed 10am. Prayer meeting: 1st Wed 7.30pm. Rector: Revd Simon Mason 820248/821641, Curate: Revd Ken Madden, Baptist Minister: Revd Jeanette Turner, Methodist MInister: Revd Denise Hargreaves. www.stmarysnewent.org Independent/Evangelical Glebe Chapel Glebe Close. Services: 9.30am (1st Sun), 11am, 6.30pm. Contact Theo Cracknell (Sec) 01989 720238. www.glebechapel.org Newent Christian Fellowship Meets at Newent Youth & Community Centre, Ross Rd. Service: Sun10.30am.

Contact Philip Amos 822260. www.newentchristianfellowship.com Roman Catholic Our Lady of Lourdes, Ross Rd. Mass: Sat 5.30pm & Sun 9am.

Priest: Father Aidan Murray 821647. www.newentcatholic.org.uk United Reformed Newent United Reformed Church 22 Broad St. Service: 10.30am Sun. Contact Les Pennells (Sec) 820768.

CLUBS &

SOCIETIES ARTS

Newent & District Choral Society No audition, all voices welcome. 2 concerts a year. Rehearses Tue 7.30pm at St Mary’s Church. Contact Mrs Hâf Ricketts (Sec) 820940. www.freewebs.com/newentchoralsoc Glebe Chapel Choir Meets Sun 8pm in Glebe Chapel, Glebe Close. Contact Ruth Hayden-Cox 820254.

Newent Community Choir Meets in Glebe Chapel, Glebe Close to prepare performances for community events. For further details contact Ruth Hayden-Cox 820254.

Newent Orchestral Society New players welcome. String players need to be at least Grade V, Wind at least Grade VI. 2 concerts a year and other events. Rehearses Sat 10am12noon (Sep-May) at Upleadon Village Hall. Contact Bill Anderton 821075 or Claire Kear (Sec) 07803 041573. www.newentorchestra.org

BUSINESS

Newent & District Business Club Holds quarterly meetings to discuss town activities & business issues.

Contact Gareth Roberts via website. www.newentbusiness.co.uk

CARING ORGANISATIONS/ VOLUNTEERING

Newent Carers Support Group Offers advice, support & friendship to local carers. Meets 3rd Wed 2-3.30pm at the Parish Office, St Mary's Church, Church St. Contact 821982.

Newent Association for the Disabled Sheppard House, off Onslow Rd. Also runs a charity shop in The Shambles on Church St. (open 9.30am-4.30pm).

Contact shop 828060. Volunteers required to help in the shop, with parties, activities, outings and providing meals for physically frail & disabled older people. The Association also offers a dial-a-ride service Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and at weekends for emergencies. See website for details or contact centre 821227. www.sheppardhouse.org.uk Newent & Ross Amnesty International Fights for human rights & prisoners of conscience across the world. Contact Daphne Marklow (Sec) 820815.

Fair Shares Community Project 36 Broad St. (above the Chill Out Zone cafe). A two way volunteering scheme allowing individuals & organisations to swap their time & skills with other members of the "time bank". Contact 820224. www.fairshares.org.uk

CHURCH GROUPS

Newent & Area Churches Organises joint services and other events. Contact Revd Simon Mason 820248 / 821641.

Legion of Mary Catholic outreach organisation.

Members do about 2 hours of work a week in the community. Meets weekly at Our Lady of Lourdes, Ross Rd, for prayer and discussion. Contact Father Aidan Murray 821647. www.newentcatholic. org.uk/legionofmary.htm

HISTORICAL/CIVIC GROUPS

Newent Local History Society Invited speakers etc. Meets 2nd Thu 7.30pm at Sheppard House, off Onslow Rd (not Dec; outings in July & Aug).

Contact Maggie Cox (Sec) 820010.

Friends of St Mary’s Supports the parish church. Monthly prize draw on 1st Fri. Contact Martin Brown (Hon Sec) 820895.

CONTACTS (telephone dialling code is 01531 unless otherwise stated) Newent Civic Society Since 1985 has encouraged public interest in and protection of Newent’s many fine, historic buildings. Has also worked with other local groups to improve Newent for its citizens and visitors. New members welcome. Contact Keith Urch (Chair) 822487.

Newent Initiative Trust Established in wake of Market & Coastal Towns Initiative. Seek to attract grant funding for improvements to town facilities. Contact Margaret Highton 820245.

Transition Newent Part of a grassroots initiative seeking practical solutions to the end of cheap oil and climate change. Contact: Ann Allen 01989 720646 www.transitionnewent.org.uk

HOBBIES

Newent Angling Club Holds fishing rights to Newent Lake and 6 other stretches of water. Holds weekly club matches. Contact Tim Davies 822283. www.newentanglingclub.org Daffodil Sea Angling Club Meets 1st Sun 7.30pm at the Circle Club, 25 Broad St. Regular charter boat bookings. Contact Tim Fretter 01594 544042.

Newent Wine Circle Meets 1st Mon at Sheppard House, off Onslow Rd. Contact Tony Parsons (Chair) 821372.

Allotment Association Town Council allotments on Holts Rd. Contact Roger Dyer (Chair) 821445.

Dance Classes Take place Thu at Newent Youth & Community Centre, Ross Road. Children (ballet, rock'n'roll, tap) 4.15-6.15pm, adults (tap) 6.15-7.15pm. Also adults (stretch, tone, salsa, bougie) Wed 7-8pm at both Youth Centre & Leisure Centre, Watery Lane. Contact Jayne Marsh 01452 533203.

Line Dancing Intermediate classes take place Thu 7.30-8.30pm at Newent Youth & Community Centre, Ross Rd. Contact Sally Grendall 820573.

Newent Garden Club Meets 3rd Thu 7.30pm (ex Dec) at the Memorial Hall. Contact Lynne Knight (Sec) 820901. www.gfgs.org.uk/members/newent.htm Newent Bee Keepers Association Meet 1st Thu 7.30pm in the Library, High St (Sept-May). Meetings outdoors during summer months. Contact Norman Roper 821542. www.britishbee.org.uk/local/newent Newent Quilters Meet 2nd Thu 7.30pm at Newent Memorial Hall. Contact Lin Bourne 821039.

Newent & District Camera Club Meets Tue 7.45pm (Sep-Mar) in the Library, High St. Contact Derek Lemarchand (Sec) 820732.

Newent & District Model Aircraft Club (NADMAC) Fly every Sat & Sun 10.30am-2pm at flying field in Upleadon. Juniors night Thu 6.30pm at Upleadon in summer, Thu 7pm at Newent Youth & Community Centre in winter. Contact Jonathan Morgan 01684 833720. www.nadmac.co.uk St Mary’s Bellringers New ringers welcome. Practice Thu 7pm at St Mary’s, Church St. Ring for Sun services and special occasions. Contact Martin Brown 820895.

Newent Walkers Meet alternate Sun 10am or 2pm in car park behind Good News Centre for full day or half day walk. Occasional weekends away. Contact Alison James 820151.

SOCIAL

Newent Circle Club 25 Broad Street. Function room available for hire. Contact 820440. www.newentcircleclub.co.uk Thursday Afternoon Group For the elderly. Meets 2nd Thu 2pm at St Mary’s Church room. Contact Church Office 821641.

Bridge Club Meets Wed 7pm (Competitive eve) & Fri 7.15pm (Social eve) at Sheppard House, off Onslow Rd. Bridge lessons offered

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starting in September. Contact Jen Berrington (Chair) 650728. www.newentbridgeclub.org Whist Drive Meets 2nd Tue 7pm at Sheppard House, off Onslow Rd. Contact Sheppard House 821227.

Koffee & Kids Opportunity for young parents to socialise. Activities provided for the kids.

Meets Tue & Fri 10am (term-time) at Glebe Chapel. Contact 01989 720238. www.glebechapel.org Oasis Club Luncheon club for ages 50+. Meets 2nd Wed 12-2pm at Glebe Chapel. Contact Theo Cracknell 01989 720238. www.glebechapel.org Newent Round Table For men aged 18-45. Meets 1st & 3rd Thu at various locations. Contact Robert Megenis 07971 188320. www.newent.org 41 Club For ex-roundtablers. Meets usually 1st Mon, various times & venues depending on activity. Contact Eddie Hyatt (Sec) 01452 790367.

Tangent Club For wives of 41 Club members. Meets 2nd Wed in members’ homes. Contact Tricia Brooks (Sec) 820998..

Newent & District Rotary Club Meets Tues 6.45pm for 7pm at Coach House Restaurant, George Hotel, Church Street. Contact Paddy Roche 01452 413442.

Inner Wheel Club For wives & partners of Rotary members.

Meets 1st Wed at various venues.

Contact Phyllis Charter 01452 751161.

Probus For retired and semi-retired professional and business men. New members need sponsor to join. Meets 2nd & 4th Tue 10am-12noon (ex Sep) at Memorial Hall, Market Sq. Contact Peter Hayes (Sec) 821212.

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SPORT

Newent Badminton Club Meets Newent Leisure Centre, Watery Lane, Wed 7.30p–9.30pm. Contact centre 821519.

Canon Frome Badminton Club Meets Newent Leisure Centre, Watery Lane, Fri 7.30-9.30pm. Contact centre 821519.

Short Mat Bowls Club Meets Sat 2-4pm at Newent Leisure Centre, Watery Lane. Contact Pam Matthews 822763.

Newent Cricket Club Ground at Three Ashes Lane, Oxenhall.

Runs 4 youth teams, 4 men’s sides..

Contact Chris Germaine 820189. www.newent.play-cricket.com Newent Town AFC Gound at Wildsmith Meadow, Malswick.

Contact Alan Bassett (Chair) 821950. www.newenttownafc.co.uk Newent Falcons Football Club Plays Sun 10.30am in Gloucestershire & District Sunday League. Home ground: Watery Lane Rec. Contact Jimmer Cunliffe 07779 588293.

Newent Golf Club Coldharbour Lane, Oxenhall. Contact 820478. www.newentgolf.co.uk Gymnastics Club For age 4+. Meets Newent Leisure Centre, Watery Lane, Wed 4-7.45pm.

Contact centre 821519.

Newent Hockey Club Plays at Newent Community School Astro , Watery Lane. Teams: Men’s 1st/2nd/3rd/4th, Ladies’ 1st/2nd/3rd, Boys, Girls, Veterans, Mixed Veterans.

Contact Ann Birch (Sec) 820575. www.newenthockeyclub.co.uk Newent Rugby Club Plays at the recreation ground, Watery Lane. Senior, junior & mini teams.

Contact Mike Poole (pres) 820321 or John Moore (Sec) 822218. www.pitchero.com/clubs/newentrfc Newent Otters Swimming Club Meets at Newent Leisure Centre, Watery lane Mon & Thu 5.30-8.30pm. Contact Leisure Centre 821519.

CONTACTS (telephone dialling code is 01531 unless otherwise stated) Tennis Club Meets at Newent Leisure Centre. Contact Andy 828536 / 07968 754911.

parents. Meets Tue 7-9pm at Newent Community Centre, Ross Rd. Contact Sylvia Hyatt (Chair) 01452 700386.

Trampolining Club (Ages 5+) Meets Newent Leisure Centre, Watery Lane, Sat 9am-12noon. Contact Leisure Centre 821519.

Newent Young Farmers Usually meet Mon 7.30pm at Taynton Parish Rooms(Sept-July). Contact Nathan Goulding 07972 374826. www.gloucesteryfc.co.uk

Newent Judo Club Has attained Clubmark accreditation.

Meets Fri at Newent Leisure Centre, Watery Lane - Juniors 6.30-8pm, Seniors 8-9.30pm. Contact Bryan Butler 01452 539465. www.newentjudoclub.co.uk Weight Watchers Meet Tue 7pm at Newent Memorial Hall. www.weightwatchers.co.uk

WOMEN’S GROUPS

Newent with Gorsley Mothers’ Union Contact St Mary’s Church office 821641.

Newent Lakeside Women’s Institute Meets 3rd Tue 7.30pm at Sheppard House, off Onslow Rd. Contact Marion Jarrett (Sec) 821264.

YOUTH

Newent Youth Club Meets Mon & Thu 7-9.30pm (School years 11+), Tue 4-6pm (Young Carers), Wed 7-9pm (School years 8,9 & 10), at Newent Youth & Community Centre.

Fridays no meeting. Contact Nigel Burgess (Youth Worker) 820629.

The Chill Out Zone 36 Broad St. Drop-in cafe for young people ages 11-18. Open Mon-Fri 3.455.45pm (ages 11-14years) & Mon-Wed 6.15-9pm (ages 11-18 years). Contact Judith Dorman 07931 546310.

JYJ (Junior Youth Group) Meets Fri 5.30-6.45pm at Glebe Chapel.

Contact Penny Fletcher 822310. www.glebechapel.org GYG For ages 11+. Meets Fri 7.30-9pm at Glebe Chapel. Contact Jon Dexter 07877 176143. www.glebechapel.org/GYG.htm Newent Dolphin Gateway Club Provides activities for adults with learning disabilities and support for

Guiding UK Groups meet at Newent Youth & Community Centre as follows: Rainbows & 1st Newent Brownies Tue; 2nd Newent Brownies Wed; Guides Fri. Contact Helen Murphy for further details & times 01452 790601.

Scouts 1st Newent groups meet in Scout HQ at rear of Newent Youth and Community Centre, Ross Rd, as follows: Beavers (Cherokee Colony) Thu 6-7.15pm; Beavers (Apache Colony) Tue 5.45-7pm; Cubs (Tiger Pack) Mon 6.30-8pm; Scouts Tue 7.15-9pm. Contact Anne Lacey (Group Scout Leader) 820745.

Army Cadets For girls and boys aged 12½-18. Meets Tue 7.30-9.30pm at Newent Youth and Community Centre, Ross Rd. Contact 01242 700063 (Gloucestershire Area Head Office).

Air Training Corps For ages 13-18. 186 (Newent) Squadron.

Meets Mon & Thu 7-9.30pm at Newent Youth & Community Centre, Ross Rd. Contact Fl Lt Grimshaw 07796 954841 or 820322 (parade nights only). www.bgwing.org.uk If you are involved in a community group in Newent and would like to add to or amend the information in this list, please contact Heritage Guides on 01446 405298 or e-mail info@heritage-guides.com. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the data in this section, the publishers and promoters cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. You are advised to check details directly with the organisations and groups concerned. Organisations are included in the above categories for ease of reference.

Inclusion within one category or the other does not imply incompatibility with any of the categories listed. Organisations are listed in this section in good faith, but inclusion within this section does not imply any endorsement

by Newent Town Council or Heritage Guides of the organisation concerned, nor can these bodies be held responsible for any of the organisations’ failure to comply with legal or professional requirements.

nauto ewent

Newent Business Park Tel: 01531 828001 Newent, Gloucestershire GL18 1HP Fax: 01531 828002

centre

www.newentauto.co.uk

MOT TESTING STATION ★ MOTORCYCLES - CLASSES 1.2 ★ CARS/VANS - CLASS 4 ★ COMMERCIALS - CLASS 7

FREE RETEST

The only garage in the Newent area with a BSI Kitemark.

Complete car care designed for you and your car.

FULL SERVICE & REPAIR FACILITIES

★ ATA assessed skilled technicians ★ Hi-tech workshops ★ Low labour costs ★ Advanced disgnostics ★ Engine management ★ ABS braking ★ SRS airbag faults ★ Air conditioning, climate control recharge & service

Our dedicated fast fit bay offers the following on-demand services:

★ TYRES

★ EXHAUSTS

Large stocks, low prices

★ OIL FILTER CHANGE

Free fitting

...plus much more

★ Tow brackets ★ Windscreens ★ Accident body repairs ★ Valeting For all you motoring needs, call Brian or Adrian for honest, personal advice.

ClearALL NEWENT

Giveacar.co.uk is a social enterprise that raises money for charities by accepting donations of unwanted cars.

It is a cost-free way for members of the public to donate their cars to charity, just as they might donate their clothes or furniture.

Giveacar works in conjunction with the largest nationwide car recycling network to coordinate the donation of cars. Any car that is donated will either be sold in a salvage auction for its salvage value, or disposed of at an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF).

Our salvage partner guarantees a return for every car we give them - regardless of condition!

Phone us now to tell us which charity you have chosen and we’ll put you in touch with one of our salvage partners:

☎ 020 0011 1664 www.giveacar.co.uk

The Faster & Easier Alternative To Skip Hire We Clear, Load & Remove

• Fast, Direct, Friendly Service • Household & Garden Rubbish • Office & Retail Waste • Garage & House Clearance • Construction & Building Waste Call Today It’s Cleaned Away!

Make the Call

0800 781 7834 079 71 135 165

It’s another world...

The Old Shambles Retail Village is founded on the site of the Shambles Museum in Newent. Here you will find many up and coming new businesses in a beautiful Victorian Setting.

There are new outlets being added to the site all the time but presently you will find items to suit all tastes – handcrafted jewelry, home decorations and accessories, wooden and stone ware, Royal Doulton pottery, wool, buttons and haberdashery and decorative wall hangings to name but a few, as well as beauty & therapy rooms to complete your visit. You can also buy good quality books and furniture as well as plumbing materials on site and enjoy a visit to the tearoom and patisserie – enough to tempt any taste buds!

Please visit theoldshamblesvillage.blogspot.com Old The for a taster or email Sha mbl es theoldshamblesvillage@hotmail.com for more information.

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The Old Shambles Retail Village 16-18 Church Street, Newent, Gloucestershire

NEWENT DIAL A RIDE Provides transport for people over 60 or without regular use of a car and/or any age with a disability.

• social visits • shopping trips • Health Centre appointments • Hospital appointments • Family visits • 11 specially adapted minibuses • Voluntary car service

SHEPPARD HOUSE CENTRE Sheppard Way, Newent • care and companionship • social and recreational activities • arts & crafts • open 5 days a week • morning and/or afternoon sessions • morning coffee and biscuits • two-course lunch • afternoon tea/cakes • carers to assist with individual needs

For either of these services, please ring 01531 821227 NEWENT ASSOCIATION FOR THE DISABLED www.sheppardhouse.co.uk