TETBURY ADVERTISER
Celebrating 50 years of the Tetbury Advertiser
Tetbury Probus
Lion’s Den
Tetbury Cricket Club
The Team
Editorial/Advertising copy to:-
Mary Roberts - Editor
Tel: 07814 850464
email: mary@wilprintdesign.co.uk
Tony Sykes - Accounts
Rockside, Fox Hill, Tetbury GL8 8XA.
Tel: 07813 091440
email: tony@tonysykes.com
Alan Greenway - Distribution Willowbank, Tetbury, GL8 8BT.
Tel: (h) 01666 504715 (m) 07955 088580
email: alang196@gmail.com
Copy date for the March Issue is Thursday 13th February 2025
Delivery - 1st / 2nd March 2025
Please ensure that copy is submitted by the deadline. There is NO guarantee that late copy will be published. No liability is accepted for any loss or damage arising from any error, inaccuracies or omission from any copy or advertising in this publication. The Editor reserves the right to omit any item not considered suitable for printing. All reasonable e orts will be made to meet the wishes of our advertisers and contributors.
Media pack available from www.tetburyadvertiser.co.uk
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What’s On
6th Feb History of Tetbury Society
Will Cook talk on “Life as a Tetbury Feoffee”. See article for details.
12th Feb
Tetbury Film Society
Showing “The Blue Caftan” 7.30 pm at the Dolphins Hall.
16th Feb St Marys’ Church
iSing Pop event. See article for details.
18th Feb Tetbury WI
Host a talk “Memory Lane” photos from our achives. 7.30 pm at The Goods Shed.
18th Feb Tetbury and District U3A
Paul Bernett talk on “Port to Port
- The Sharpness to Gloucester Canal”.
22nd Feb Tetbury Lions Club
Bucket Shake at Tescos,
26th Feb Tetbury Film Society
Showing “Thelma” 7.30 pm at the Dolphins Hall.
28th Feb Tetbury Cricket Club
Hosts a Quiz night. See article for details.
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CHURCHES
Christ Church, The Chipping 01285 653655
St. Marys’ - C of E - Church St. 01666 500088
St. Michael’s - R.C. - The Green 01666 502367
COMMUNITY CONNEXIONS TRANSPORT
Suite 132, Corinium House, Corinium Avenue, Barnwood Point, Gloucester GL4 3HX
Tel: 0345 680 5029
COTSWOLD CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
TEL: 0808 800 0511
DOCTORS
Phoenix Tetbury, Long Street. Tel: 01666
502303 The Tolsey Surgery, High Street, Sherston. Tel: 01666 840270
HOSPITAL
Malmesbury Road. Tel: 01666 502336
OSTEOPATHS Tel: 01666 503599 & 01666 502214
DOLPHINS HALL COMMUNITY CENTRE
Bookings can be made at www.dolphinshall.org or email: contact@dolphinshall.org
Friends of Tetbury Community Transport
February trips: To book 0345 680 5029 Sat 8th CHELTENHAM 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Sat 15th WITNEY 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Sat 22nd BATH 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
LIBRARY Close Gardens. Tel: 01666 502258 (Mon 10.00-1.00, Tue 10.00-5.00, Wed 10.00-5.00, Fri 10.00-6.00, Sat 10.00-1.00)
LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Tetbury Town Council, Old Courthouse, Long Street. Tel: 01666 504670 (Mon-Fri 9am - 2.30pm) Council Info. Services, in Council Office. Email: reception@tetbury.gov.uk
Cotswold District Council, Trinity Road, Cirencester. Tel: (01285) 623000
NATIONAL EXPRESS Bookings taken at the Visitor Information Centre. Daily return service from Cirencester to Heathrow. www. visittetbury.co.uk
POLICE STATION The Old Courthouse, Long Street Tel: Emergency - 999, Non-Emergency101 (note new number).
RAILWAY STATION Kemble - 6 miles Enquiries Tel: 0845 748 4950
SCHOOLS - Sir William Romney’s, Lowfield Road. Tel: 01666 502378 St. Mary’s Primary, St. Mary’s Road. Tel: 01666 502275.
The Friends of Tetbury Community Transport Roger Bellairs, 07759 142577
The Robin - Bookable Bus Service Tel: 0345 263 8139
TETBURY CARES, www.tetburycares.org Website to signpost local health services
TETBURY LIONS, www.tetburylions.com
Tetbury Town Crier Tony Evans, 24 Box Crescent, Minchinhampton, Nr. Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6 9DJ. Tel: 01453 731355 Mob: 07969 302042
Email: tonyevanstowncrier@btinternet.com
VISITOR INFORMATION 33 Church Street. tourism@tetbury.gov.uk Tel: 01666 331222
Whatever the weather
Filing my tax return just before a significant birthday last month, Benjamin Franklin’s dictum that “nothing is certain in life except death and taxes” hit home. Seeking uncertainties as an antidote, I turned to thinking about English weather. What could be more uncertain? Perhaps that’s why we talk about it so much. According to social anthropologist Kate Fox, author of Watching the English, every hour of the day at least a third of the population of England remarks on the weather.
I’m one of them. The weather app on my phone is one of the first things I look at each morning. I’ve usually forget the details by the next day, but this year, a new craft project is helping me produce a lasting record of one aspect of those addictive meteorological reports: the temperature blanket.
I first heard about temperature blankets during lockdown, but I’d already begun
a pandemic knitting project—a throw featuring the colours of the Scottish Highlands that we missed visiting during the Covid years. But at the start of January, I decided that 2025 would be my year of the temperature blanket.
ELISABETH HANCOCK-ERRINGTON
Five Mile Picture Framing
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To save you the trouble of loading the car, parking and carrying items, I visit people’s homes for a free 30 minute consultation within a five mile radius of Tetbury, bringing samples from which you can choose, then re-deliver the finished item.
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What is it exactly? At the start of the year, you pick yarn in a colour palette with particular shades representing different thermometer readings. To keep it simple, allocate one colour to every few degrees rather than to every number. (For my blanket, I’ve chosen one colour to five degrees centigrade.) Knitting a couple of rows to reflect each day’s temperature, it’s fun to watch the stripes build up.
For a smaller-scale challenge, apply the same thinking to a jumper or a scarf. A scientifically minded friend is knitting a reversible scarf with minimum daily temperature on one side and maximum on the other.
If knitting isn’t your thing, you might crochet a row or a new granny square each day, or sew a colour-coded patchwork quilt. Not into needlework? Apply the same principles to other crafts such as weaving, stringing beads, or abstract painting. You could even just colour in the squares for each day on a calendar or year planner.
Customise your project to suit your personal tastes. You don’t have to choose the obvious shades to represent temperatures—white for freezing, red for scorching hot, etc. Although I’m a meteorologist’s daughter, my approach is more aesthetic than scientific. I picked yarn to match my Scottish Highlands blanket, also the colour scheme for my front room.
Are you wishing I’d told you about this new year challenge in the previous issue so that you could start your project from January 1st? Make up for lost time by visiting the website www.temperature-blanket.com, which will tell you the historic temperature anywhere in the world, including Tetbury.
Looking forward to knitting my two rows in the appropriate colour each evening makes me talk less about the weather during the rest of the day. The downside? I spend an alarming amount of time telling people all about my temperature blanket instead.
Debbie Young www.authordebbieyoung.com
It
was a very enjoyable and busy time leading up to Christmas.
Our first event was to sponsor the over sixties to the Puss in Boots pantomime at the Dolphins Hall performed by the local Dramatic Society. Guests enjoyed a brilliant performance along with sherry and mince pies during the interval.
We were delighted to take on a “One off sponsorship and lead” on the Tetbury Big Light Switch On. The Lion President also Mayor of Tetbury welcomed the crowd of people who were waiting to hear St Marys’ choir sing carols on the steps of the Market Hall.
Children from St Mary’s school were invited to switch on the lights. They carried this part of the event with such confidence. Thank you to the parents and St Mary’s for allowing us to publish the photographs.
Snow fell all around the Market Hall while the 60/70/80s band entertained the crowds and Father Christmas gave children a gift from The Lions. We would like to thank Tetbury Town Council and the Feoffees for playing a great part in the event.
A special thanks to Lion Saxon Greenway for putting her usual effort into organising
the many stalls, the local Fire Service, the Police and Sarl who are always happy to be on hand for First Aid.
In the absence of our President, the Vice President, Lion Maggie Heaven presented Mr Harold Porter, who was one hundred years old at Christmas, with a bottle of bubbly. An amazingly fit gentleman and so interesting to talk to.
The Big Christmas raffle was as usual a huge success with many prizes going to local people. Thank you to all that contributed. As usual all monies raised will go to local charities or people in need.
In December we donated Great Western Air Ambulance £1,000, SWR and St Mary’s school Tesco Food vouchers £1,760. PI Guitars Community Craft Workshop £250 and a young lady from Tetbury
To assist Longfield Hospice with their recent request for tree donations in Tetbury and surrounding areas, the Lions Club helped collect almost two hundred trees worth £2,000 in donations.
A terrific effort, one of hard work but fun and for a great local cause.
who is representing a Netball trip to South Africa £250 and lastly £500 for the Pantomime plus our monthly £200 to the local Food Bank.
The Men in Sheds is growing each week and anyone is welcome to pop in and have a chat with them. They might even give you a coffee if you think of joining.
The 200 Club is also growing. The cost of joining is £20 per annum. Application forms can be obtained online. May I take this opportunity to say that if any students are considering going on a school educational tour, please feel free to contact us for help.
Forthcoming events
Bucket Shake at Tesco the 22nd of February.
Big Easter Egg Raffle. Starting the 5th of April.
The Big Quiz the 9th of May at The Great Tythe Barn.
Lion Maggie Heaven Vice President.
This new year has seen Justin Welby lay down his role as archbishop of Canterbury …
…as he took responsibility for safeguarding failings that had occurred within the church. This has made uncomfortable reading for us all and has again stressed the absolute necessity of ensuring that a safeguarding culture is active across every church. As a curate (a trainee vicar), my experience is that the processes in the Diocese of Gloucester are rigorous. For example, I have been required to undertake regular ‘DBS’ checks to ensure all is in order in terms of police records. I then have had to actively engage in regular safeguarding training in my university studies and via the Diocese of Gloucester to ensure that I have taken in and passed the required standard of training, understanding and reflection, that is suitable for my role. This is facilitated by a strong safeguarding stance from Bishop Rachel and Bishop Robert in the Diocese and is supported by a very competent safeguarding team, who not only help with training but offer 24/7 support to chat through, action and deal with any potential safeguarding issues which may arise.
Each parish, has a decision-making body called a Parochial Church Council (PCC) who each year, review their safeguarding policy and each meeting discuss how safeguarding practice is being advanced. At St Marys’ all PCC members are ‘DBS’ police checked and
trained to the required level. All pastoral work and children’s work that is undertaken in the church is thus overseen by this body. Each pastoral visitor and children’s leader have also had ‘DBS’ checks and suitable training. On top of this, there is also a safeguarding officer appointed, who is independent of the clergy, who acts as a first point of contact for any concerns anyone has and then works with the Diocesan safeguarding team to action things as necessary. Details of these safeguarding contacts can be found in the foyer of the church, for all to see.
As such, from my perspective, building a safeguarding culture in the parish and the diocese within the Church of England is at a good level and this continues to develop, to ensure that the work that is done with people of all ages, is safe, trustworthy,
accountable and of good quality.
In terms of activities happening in February. The 10.00 am Sunday services will continue to be held in St Mary’s School Hall, where it is lovely and warm. This includes our regular ‘little fishes’ Sunday school. On the 2nd of February, at the 10.00 am service, we will be visited by Bishop Robert and then in the evening of the 2nd, we have our ‘Heart and Soul’ service, where we explore different forms of worship, which will take place at Christ Church at 6.00 pm. On Sunday the 16th of February at 4.00 pm at St Mary’s school hall, the churches together ‘I Sing Pop’ activity meets once more, to do lots of crafts, learn about God and share a party tea together, all are welcome.
Rev Dr Steve Bullock, Curate at St Marys’ Church
Dealer-level vehicle servicing to all Land Rover models by specialist technicians.
Genuine parts with warranty protection, competitive pricing and a personal touch.
We would like to welcome our new apprentice Fearne Davis who started with us this month and will be embarking on a three year apprenticeship with and studying at Bristol college.
Also a massive congratulations to Andy Mearns who completed an eighteen month master technician course in Bridgewater making him a fully qualified Master technician. The eighteen months saw him learning and taking exams on all aspects of diagnostic work such as ADAS camera diagnosis and calibration, wiring faults, petrol, diesel and electric vehicle diagnosis. He is now in the top 5% of technicians in the independent sector of our industry.
Genuine parts with warranty protection, competitive pricing and a personal touch.
Next month will see a dedicated diagnostic unit which he will move into.
As the signs of Spring are already in evidence,
our allotment and workshop members are planning activities for the coming months. The allotment team are planning on their best year ever, so why not plan a visit to see what fresh organic fruit and vegetables are available each week. In common with many Men’s Sheds around the UK, we are hoping to be involved with our local organisations who work all year round to make our Town an award winner.
Tetbury in Bloom are a group of volunteers who work to upkeep many of the Town’s flower borders and displays. One of the hidden treasures in Tetbury maintained by Tetbury in Bloom is the Royal Anniversary Garden in Lennox Court, developed in 1977 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver
Jubilee. The garden received a makeover in 2007 by Eric Simpson, member of Tetbury in Bloom and the Civic Society to mark the 80th Birthday of Her Majesty. So here is the first community project of 2025 for the Men’s Shed. The rose arbour that has formed the entrance to the garden is in urgent need of repair. We will supply the men and the tools, but we are appealing for materials to complete the job. If you can help us to bring this great feature back to its formal glory, please contact us on the number below.
If you follow Tetbury Men’s Shed through our Advertiser articles or social media, you will know that most members come along to learn a new skill or pick up some tips on using various equipment. You may not be aware that we need volunteers to supervise our sessions. Our door is open to everyone,
so why not join us on Wednesdays between 9.30 – 1.00 or Thursdays between 9.00 –5.00. Find out more, contact us on 07955 088580. More details of our activities and where to find us are on our Tetbury Men’s Shed website www.tetburymensshed.co.uk
…and from the allotment
January is the month when planning the year ahead has got to be a priority. This year it is even more so; the expanding allotment team has agreed to manage our neighbours plot, which for the time being she cannot manage. Our mantra has always been “quality not quantity” so the additional space will allow for greater choice. Therefore, in addition to our traditional range of vegetables, we are introducing squash, spring onions and turnips for this year. We have been donated a polytunnel frame by a Tetbury resident, which is now in place, while the
covering has been provided by BHGS Horticultural Supplies in Evesham. We have also acquired a large net cage to protect broad beans and other taller vegetables from avian invasion. We are indeed all set for what we believe will be our best year since we started in 2019. Visit us each Wednesday 10.00 am to mid-day in Herd Lane, behind the Royal Oak.
Alan Greenway, Tetbury Men’s Sheds
There comes a time when change is needed.
For twenty five years I was running my solicitor’s practice with my father and in the following twenty five years on my own account. With changing regulations and changing markets the task has become more difficult as time goes by. Every year one has to complete forms to obtain professional indemnity insurance, practising certificates, buildings insurance, pay the wages, go on courses to enable conveyancers to continue acting for lenders and ensure compliance with the Solicitor’s Accounts Rules. Effectively you need at least one person to do the administration job alone let alone bring in income. Recently our insurers raised our annual premium from £21,000 per annum to £51,000 per annum because of a conveyancing claim over a matter that had occurred ten years ago. The insurance company had known about this claim for four years, but it was only this year that they decided to raise the premium after settling it. Knowing how expensive litigation the insurance companies can be are usually anxious to settle before costs are disproportionate. As the insured one is very much in their hands. In my case the new premium was simply unaffordable and as a result we had to put into effect the
closing down procedure laid down by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. From my own perspective I was not planning to close down but if you do then you have to pay a runoff premium to cover the next six years. That is not easy because the runoff premium was £49,500. When you pay your annual premium, you can spread the payment over a period of ten months through various loan facilities but that is not the case when paying the runoff premium. Firms are reluctant to take you over in the current climate because they don’t want to be deemed a “successor firm” for insurance purposes. One. local firm indicated that their premium over eighteen months was £450,000.
As my intention is to carry on working and look after my clients Trust and Probate matters as well as other issues, there was luckily another option. My intention is to join Nexa Law as a consultant solicitor operating as a company. This will enable me to carry on without all the compulsory administrative time-consuming responsibilities and just look after clients. I can retain most of my earnings and leave them to sort out the administrative functions. Before that can be achieved though I will have to pay off my runoff indemnity premium which I can do by raiding my pension fund. In the meantime, I have to clear my client account of any funds which is time consuming in itself, but I can carry on working on matters that are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and happily I can work very closely
with other Nexa consultants one of whom was a trainee under my previous auspices and another a very competent conveyancer. I am hoping 2025 will be good.
Michael Hodge
£530,000
Guide price
£300,000
Asking price
Tetbury
1 bedroom
Having been lovingly renovated throughout it offers stylish modern day living with a blend of character features, plus courtyard garden and parking. What a find this could be.
Tetbury
An attractive stone cottage, bursting with character and quirky features, prettily situated across from Knapp Green and a short stroll into the town centre.
• Character period cottage close to the town centre
• Beams, flagstones and fireplaces
• Attractive sitting room with wood burning stove
Quirky kitchen with french windows onto the courtyard
Tanked cellar, with a multitude of uses
• Plenty of office space for working from home
• Recently refitted bathroom finished to a high specification
• Bedrooms with beams and fitted wardrobes
• Parking close by
£390,000
Asking price
Tetbury
3 bedrooms
Nestled in a sought-after residential area, this modern semi-detached house exudes charm and sophistication following a complete renovation project by the current owners.
Lettings and Management 01666 504418 (option 2) tetburylettings@perrybishop.co.uk
Mayor’s Report
Christmas and New Year has come and gone and we can see that spring is not so far off with the first daffodils poking through the ground.
2024 was an eventful year with a new government, an end to winter fuel payments and challenges to small businesses and individuals and families over the high cost of living.
Looking back, we had some very positive events in the town over the summer and a renewed feeling of community. Culminating in the Christmas lights switch on, which was sponsored by the Lions of Tetbury and was an outstanding success. I would like to thank all that participate especially Maggie Heaven of the Lions and our own Victoria Bolwell who put in so much and contributed to the success of the evening.
The list is too long to thank everyone, but it proves that when we work together Tetbury has the skill sets to achieve a wonderful evening for our Town.
The Town Council worked alongside The Close Hotel and Calcot Manor and Spa to provide Christmas day lunches for those who found themselves on their own on Christmas day. I would like to thank Councillors, staff and many volunteers who assisted on the day delivering the lunches. I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to GLC & R Williams, Zowie Baker, Roxie Baker, Perry Bishop Estate Agents, Bromford Housing Association, Tetbury Knit and Natter, Hobbs House Bakery, the Benefice of Tetbury Churches for their kind donations of gifts which was placed in the Warm and Well bags. Tetbury Beavers, Cubs and Scouts for their lovely Christmas Cards and to the customers of Tetbury Tesco who provided a gift which was also delivered to these residents on Christmas day.
Congratulations to the winners of the Best Dressed Business Window – French Grey and Best Dressed House – Mark Normington.
We continue to meet the challenges of providing services to our town. The Town Council held a public consultation on the 2025-26 budget to discuss the budget for the coming new financial year, thank you to all residents who attended.
Tetbury Town Council is committed to providing services that meet the town’s needs, with our priority being youth provision and the support of the vulnerable.
This April, we will move the Visitor Information Centre to the town offices on Long Street, next to the Police Museum. This will not only meet a major cost saving but will highlight our museum and encourage more visitors.
Tetbury is a destination Town along with Malmesbury, and we hope over the coming year to work more closely with Malmesbury to develop our Tourist footfall and the benefits they bring.
The upcoming February Committee and Full Council meetings are as follows:
Heritage and Environment – Monday the 3rd of February
Health, Wellbeing and Youth – Monday the 10th of February
Finance and Scrutiny – Monday the 17th of February
Planning and Full Council – Monday the 24th of February
All meetings start at 7.00 pm (except Planning which begins at 6.30 pm). All meetings are held at Tetbury Library, Close Gardens.
I would also like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year.
Peter Coleman Mayor of Tetbury
Tetbury Town Council Inspirational Awards 2025
Celebrating Our Community Heroes
Do you know someone who does brilliant things for your community? Someone who always puts others first and makes a significant difference in the lives of those around them. The Tetbury Town Council Inspirational Awards 2025 is your chance to recognize these unsung heroes!
We are looking for residents who have made outstanding contributions in various areas, including schools, community services, neighbourhoods, and companies. Whether it’s a dedicated teacher, a compassionate neighbour, a community volunteer, or an inspiring business leader, we want to hear about them!
Nominate Your Hero
To nominate someone who is making a difference, simply scan the QR code, follow the link, or visit the Tetbury Town Council Offices for a paper form. Answer a few short questions to tell us about the person you believe deserves recognition.
Categories for Awards:
Young Person of the Year (up to 17 years old): Celebrates young individuals making a positive impact through achievements or community involvement.
Environment: Recognises contributions to environmental conservation and sustainability.
Community: Honors those improving the local community through volunteer work or essential services.
Trader: Highlights local businesses positively impacting the community.
Equality and Diversity: Celebrates efforts to promote equality and diversity.
Mayor’s Award: Special recognition for extraordinary contributions to the community.
Join Us in Celebrating Our Community
Your nominations will help us shine a light on the incredible individuals who make Tetbury a wonderful place to live. Let’s come together to celebrate their dedication, kindness, and hard work.
Thank you for helping us recognise and honour the inspirational people in our community!
Winners announced at the Inspirational Awards 6.00 pm, 15th of March 2025 at the Goods Shed Tetbury.
https://forms.office.com/e/5LrWAHANW3?origin=lprLink
we’re finally making significant strides towards completing Phase One of our much-anticipated development project!
This process is thanks to new funding secured from the Cotswold District Council (£37,851.71) and from Tetbury Cricket Club via an ECB Grant (£50,000). Work has resumed onsite as contractors focus on finishing the main space of the building and the changing rooms — both vital parts of our expansion plans.
The recent financial backing will go a long way in helping us achieve our goal of opening a multi-use facility that will be available for hire throughout the year to everyone. With
its modern facilities, the building is expected to accommodate a variety of user groups and events, including everything from fitness classes to private parties.
To help work onsite begin again, we have contracted some of our trustees to complete work in the main space, while Tetbury Cricket Club have appointed LSF Builders. All are now onsite making great progress. These individuals are collaborating with our existing contractors, including Sam Price Plumbing, Cotswold Fire & Security, and RPB Electrics. Our gratitude and thanks go to these firms for their patience and cooperation throughout
Toolkit & Mowers
the project given it has been somewhat of a stop-and-start process.
As long as everything continues to go according to plan, the building is expected to be open by the summer.
Looking ahead, there is even more exciting news on the horizon as we look to continually improve the wider facilities and reassess the future phases of the development project to ensure the DRC remains a vital resource for the community for years to come.
To help fund these improvements, we’ll be launching a series of fundraising events in the near future including an online donation platform, making it easier for people to contribute. Keep your eyes peeled for further announcements, particularly on our website and social media pages.
Outside of the redevelopment project, the need to keep the wider site operational remains, and this month our trustee meeting saw discussions on:
Approving and supporting a Big Summer Tent Event on the Recreation Ground to be run by World Jungle in conjunction with TAYCT.
• Interior & Exterior & wallpapering
• Small maintenance works & repairs
• Fully insured Free quotes City & Guilds served • 40 years experience
07971 252715
In 2024, Tetbury 20’s Plenty group took important steps…
…in the journey towards achieving reduced speed limits on Tetbury’s roads. The public survey in March provided the evidence we need, with 75% of people surveyed calling for more widespread 20mph limits in Tetbury. In addition to this, we collected six hundred and ninety-two
comments that have helped identify the key areas of concern. Stretches of road of particular concern are A433 Bath Road, A433 London Road around Audi garage and Highfields, A4135 Charlton Road and the A4135 at the junctions with Donkey Lane and Hookshouse Lane. While it is often the case that traffic is slow on Long Street during the daytime, numerous concerns were raised about excessive traffic speed at night and in the early morning.
In December, Tetbury 20’s Plenty representatives, Mary and Antony, presented the consultation findings and our proposal for a 20mph zone to senior
Gloucestershire County Council Highways officials, in a meeting that was coordinated by Deputy Leader of the council, Cllr Stephan Fifield. Together, they went to inspect some of the key danger spots around town, where they noted the lack of safe crossing points and stretches where the pavement is hazardously narrow.
The council officials were receptive to our desire to reduce traffic speeds in Tetbury, recognising the strength of public support expressed through the consultation. There are significant regulatory and financial barriers to implementing new speed limits, so this opportunity to learn from their expertise has been valuable in building our understanding of what is feasible within the confines of current regulation.
Ben Jackson, 20’s Plenty Tetbury tetbury@20splentyforus.org.uk
The Guides celebrated an early Christmas at a residential weekend at the beginning of December.
We went to Macaroni Woods near Eastleach on the windiest weekend of the winter! The Saturday was our Christmas and everyone received a canvas bag with goodies inside. We then decorated our bags and made Christmas cards and other crafts. Cakes that we had made at a Guide meeting were marzipanned and iced ready to take home. On Saturday evening we had a Christmas dinner and then played party games where
everyone ended up with a Secret Santa present. Despite being the first time several girls had been responsible for cooking and cleaning they all embraced their duties with enthusiasm and we had a great weekend. As always it is thanks to the leaders (Ellie, Daisy, Chloe, YL Daisy and Sue) who gave up their weekend to organise and run the event. Sadly, we are losing Daisy as a leader at Guides as she starts a new job
– thank you Daisy for returning to Guides to help for the past four years. We already have our next residential planned when we are joining Guides from the rest of our division at camp in the summer. Often the best experience that girls have in Guides –perhaps you would like to join us?
Sue Doidge, Girlguiding Tetbury District Commissioner tetbury@girlguidingglos.org.uk
TETBURY CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC
Just some of the symptoms that can be helped by treatment:
• Back pain and associated symptoms such as leg pain or Sciatica
• Mechanical Neck pain and associated headaches arising from the neck (cervicogenic)
• Migraine prevention
• Minor sports injuries and problems associated with shoulder, elbow, hands, knees, feet, ankle
• Elbow pain and tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) arising from associated musculoskeletal conditions of the back and neck, but not isolated occurrences
• Joint pains, including hip and knee pain from osteoarthritis
• Generalised aches and pains, Muscle spasms, Muscle tension
• Plantar fasciitis (short term management)
• Shoulder complaints, Rotator cuff injuries and disorders of the shoulder
Telephone 07469 187004 info@tetburychiropractic.co.uk www.tetburychiropractic.co.uk
Tetbury Chiropractic Clinic, 2 Silk Mill studios, 2 Charlton road, Tetbury GL8 8DY Call now for a consultation!
Jwala Gurung Doctor of Chiropractic, Mchiro, CCEP, LRCC.
Tetbury and Youth Community Trust
Usually we share updates here about Tetbury Youth Club and our youth work in the town.
Did you know that as a charity, TAYCT also supports community projects?
The Friendship Café has been a beloved community initiative for over three years, originally launched under the ownership of Tetbury Town Council. We were thrilled when they approached us to take over the café’s management, and in November 2024, the transition was completed. We truly understand the importance of the Friendship Café to those who attend, and we are excited to continue supporting and growing this wonderful initiative.
The Friendship Café meets every Thursday at the Dolphins Hall, Tetbury from 10.00 am to midday, and everyone is welcome. Come along for a free tea or coffee, biscuits, and a warm, friendly atmosphere. Whether you come with family or friends, or even on your own, you’ll always receive a warm welcome. Each week we offer a variety of activities, including crafts, bingo, singing, art and quizzes or if you prefer, you can simply relax and chat.
We’re fortunate to have a dedicated team of volunteers who work hard to set up, serve refreshments, and offer support to anyone who needs it. If you’re interested in volunteering, we’d love to hear from you!
Andrea and The Friendship Café Team andrea.payne@tayct.org.uk www.tayct.org.uk
1331013
Bistro 23: Tetbury’s Newest Culinary Gem
Opens This Valentine’s Day
Tetbury welcomes its newest dining destination, Bistro 23, set to redefine the local culinary scene with its ethos of “relaxed dining in a friendly atmosphere.” Nestled within the historic Ormond Hotel, Bistro 23 bridges the charm of the Cotswolds with contemporary dining, offering an inviting space for couples, families, and food enthusiasts alike.
Housed in a beautifully restored 16th-century coaching inn, Bistro 23 reflects a commitment to the Tetbury community, with its construction led by local tradesmen and use of materials that honor the region’s heritage. This harmonious blend of history and modern hospitality promises diners a unique and memorable experience.
Cotswold-Inspired Cuisine
Bistro 23’s “Cotswold kitchen” ethos celebrates the area’s rich agricultural traditions, sourcing ingredients from local suppliers across the Cotswolds. Head
Chef Dariusz Krzan, renowned for his innovative flair, has curated a menu that balances gastropub comfort with fine dining sophistication. From hearty seasonal classics to refined, modern dishes, Bistro 23’s offerings showcase the best of local flavors, ensuring every dish tells a story of the surrounding countryside.
Warm Hospitality at Its Core
General Manager Matt Dellapia and his dedicated team aim to deliver an exceptional dining experience where warm smiles and attention to detail are at the forefront. Whether it’s an intimate dinner or a celebratory family gathering, Bistro 23 is designed to cater to every occasion with charm and grace.
“Our goal with Bistro 23 was to create a space where people can come together, relax, and enjoy the best of what the Cotswolds has to offer,” shares Dellapia. “From the food to
the ambiance, every detail has been carefully considered to make Bistro 23 a destination worth visiting.”
Grand
Opening on February 14th
Launching on Valentine’s Day, Bistro 23 invites diners to explore a menu that combines creativity, sustainability, and exquisite presentation. With its historical charm and culinary innovation, Bistro 23 is poised to become a beloved staple of Tetbury’s dining scene.
Reserve Your Table
Be among the first to experience Tetbury’s newest culinary gem. Reservations will be available soon at www.bistro-23.com or by phone at 01666 846 753 Whether for a romantic evening or a lively family dinner, Bistro 23 is ready to welcome you.
Don’t miss the chance to explore this exciting addition to the Cotswolds’ gastronomic offerings. Bistro 23 invites you to discover relaxed dining at its finest.
Tetbury Cricket Club
something for everyone, regardless of age or ability. Here’s the weekly schedule:
Tuesdays:
U11 Girls (Softball): 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm
U13 & U15 Girls (Hardball): 6.00 pm–7.00 pm
Ladies Softball: 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
Men’s Senior Training: 8.00 pm – 9.30 pm
Wednesdays:
U9 Mixed (Softball): 5.00 pm – 6.00 pm
U11 Boys (Hardball): 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm
U13 Boys (Hardball): 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm
U15 Boys (Hardball): 8.00 pm – 9.00 pm
Fridays:
Veterans and Ladies Hardball: 7.00 pm–8.00 pm
Whether you’re a seasoned player, a curious newcomer, or a community supporter, there’s something for everyone this month.
A £50,000 Boost for Our Community!
We’re over the moon to announce that Tetbury Cricket Club has secured a £50,000 grant from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). This incredible funding will help us enhance the Dolphin Recreation Centre’s redevelopment project and specifically their new Community, Youth and Sports Complex at the Recreation Ground, enhancing facilities to meet the needs of both the cricketing community and the wider Tetbury area.
The grant, which surpasses the ECB’s usual maximum, is a testament to the progress
we’ve made as a club and our commitment to supporting the community. A huge thank you goes to the Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) and the ECB for their unwavering support. We’d also like to thank the Dolphins Recreation Centre for their partnership in making this project a reality. Building work is already underway, led by local firm LSF Builders and supported by Sam Price Plumbing, who started work in the new changing rooms this month. The new facility promises to be a gamechanger—not just for cricket but for everyone in Tetbury.
Winter Nets Are in Full Swing
The cricket season might still be months
These sessions are a great way to keep active, learn new skills, and connect with others in the community. Whether you’re an experienced player or a total beginner, you’ll find a warm welcome. For more information, contact us at hello@tetburycc.co.uk.
Save the Dates, fundraising fun! We’re gearing up for an exciting programme of fundraising events to support the club in 2025. To get us started, please make sure you mark your calendars for these dates:
Friday 28th February: Quiz Night
Friday 28th March: Race Night
Friday 11th April: Easter Bingo
These events promise to be fun-filled evenings for the whole community, so gather your friends and family and join us! More
Tetbury Film Society continues its successful 2024/25 season.
On Wednesday the 12th of February we will be screening ‘The Blue Caftan’ (Cert 12A). This is amongst my favourite films this season. It is a beautifully crafted story of mature romance and the myriad of tiny gestures on which long-term relationships are built. Set in a Moroccan souk, the star of the show is Halim (Saleh Bakri) who loving creates the hand-sewn caftan using traditional tailoring methods learnt from his father.
As usual, doors at the Dolphins Hall open at 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm screening. Everyone is welcome. Tickets for visiting guests cost £6 and can be purchased on the door.
On the 26th of February we will be screening the film ‘Thelma’ (Cert. 12A) to raise funds for Longfield Hospice. Tickets can be obtained from the Longfield charity shop or at our 12th of February showing. This action-comedy follows 93-year-old Thelma Post, who sets out on a quest to reclaim her money after falling victim of a phone scam. It has received positive reviews and was named one of the top ten independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review.
To complete the season, and with the support of the distributors, we are seeking to show ‘Save Our Cinema’ on the 9th of April. I will tell you more about this film in my April article.
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Cinema for All
“One Man’s story of WW2” was the title of our talk by member
Martin Renshaw on the 7th of November.
It was the story of Norman McLoughlin, his Father in Law’s service in WW2 throughout the North Africa and Italy campaigns based on his letters, photos and operational records.
Volunteering for the RAF at the age of nineteen he was recommended for pilot training which commenced in Southern Rhodesia as part of the Empire Air Training Scheme. After 26 hours of pilot training he was “grounded” after a silly prank and was transferred to become an Observer/Navigator.
In early 1942 he was sent to North Africa as a NCO and flew in “Martin Baltimore” light twin engined American built aircraft with a crew of four. He served there until victory in Tunisia in May 1943. Norman’s squadron now moved on to the invasion
of Sicily and Italy and he completed his operational flying in November 1943 after seventy eight raids and fourteen months of continuous operations.
On the 5th of December our talk “Operation Agila” was given by Wing Commander (retired) Paul Shepherd. It illustrated the campaign to give Rhodesia its independence after the conflict between the Rhodesian Military and the Patriotic Front Guerilla Forces and to supervise
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free and fair elections. This led to a new government led by Robert Mugabe and the name Rhodesia changed to Zimbabwe.
“Legacy Fortress for Generations” was a most interesting and informative presentation by Brian Rutter on the 21st of November which took a light-hearted look at some of the errors made when writing wills.
He talked about three significant risks to the value of the estate you might wish to pass to the next generation - Inheritance Tax, Long Term Care and Sideways disinheritance, and how a well-constructed will can minimise the impact of these issues. He explored Lifetime Trusts and discussed how you can ensure your family can stay in control if you have an injury or illness that leaves you without mental capacity.
Brian’s talk prompted a multitude of questions illustrating how relevant it was to many of our members.
The Irish Civil War 1922-1923 was examined in a talk given by one of our members Charles Rees just before Christmas.
The war followed the signing of the AngloIrish treaty of 1921 between the British Government and the IRA which created the Irish Free State that was to be a selfgoverning dominion within the British Commonwealth. Members of the Dail (Irish Parliament) would each swear an oath of Allegiance to the then King, George V.
The Irish Nationalists then split between those who supported the treaty and those who opposed it because they wanted Ireland to sever all links with the British Crown and become an Independent Republic. Despite an election held in 1922 when 72% of Dail members supported the treaty and only 28% opposed it, the antitreaty IRA mounted a guerrilla campaign against the Free State Government. Hence the Civil War which lasted just under 11 months which the Free State won having far more soldiers and equipment than the antitreaty IRA. The War caused much damage and cost around fourteen hundred lives.
Malcolm Parrish, Tetbury Probus. tetburyprobus@gmail.com
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Most major brands of Pet Foods and products can be obtained for you. We have a wide range of treats, bedding, toys and other pet items.
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We are your local suppliers of Garden care products, DIY products, all cleaning products, electrical goods, kitchen items as well as fuels for res, wood burners etc. We can also get your videos etc moved to DVD, as well as Key Cutting.
December was the month to sing for joy….
December brings with it that wonderful mixture of anticipation and excitement and the opportunity to meet with friends and make happy memories, and so it was for all of us at Tetbury Community Choir as our weeks of practise enabled us to start our programme of Carol services with an afternoon Carol concert at Upton Mill. As usual the residents were seated in the comfort of their lovely lounge area and welcomed us warmly. As members of a slightly more traditional generation, they knew all the words to the carols that we sang and joined in the singing enthusiastically.
Our next port of call was Kingsley House. This was an evening concert and again the residents enthusiastically supported our singing, and we were very generously hosted,
Alan C. Sanders
by the wonderfully caring staff, to mince pies and mulled wine following our performance. As usual, on the last Friday before Christmas, we had the opportunity to lead the singing at The Goods Shed Community Carol Service. This is such a heartwarming event as people of all ages and even dogs attend to participate in the shared joy of communal singing. The Goods Shed team generously hosted all those who attended with mince pies mulled wine and much cheer.
Our final venue was Saint Marys’ Church for the annual Carol Service there on the evening of the 22nd of December. It is always such a privilege to sing in such a magnificent building with glorious acoustics. The service was well attended and gave both us, the choir, and the
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Tetbury Community Choir
congregation the opportunity to reflect on the true values of Christmas.
So now here we are at the beginning of 2025 back together again on our regular practice nights learning The Crucifixion by John Stainer in readiness for performing it at Saint Marys’ on Palm Sunday the 13th of April. It is a challenging piece but we’re all very excited at the prospect of mastering it in order to do it justice for the congregation.
We are always keen to welcome new members at any time but are currently in particular need of tenors and basses. Even if you have never sung in a choir before but like the idea, please give us a try. There is no audition required you just come along, sit where you think you’ll fit and start singing. Our weekly rehearsals take place at Christ Church Hall on the Chipping, usually on Thursdays of each week, at 7.00 pm. Please refer to our website www. tetburycommunitychoir.co.uk for a full list of dates. Our prime objective is to have fun and hopefully give pleasure to others when we sing and our inspirational and ever patient musical director, David Kyle and gifted pianist, Jonathan Adkins somehow manage to help us achieve this objective. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Tetbury Community Choir Team
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Trusts
Happy New Year…..
Writing this in mid-January, Christmas and New Year already seem a long time ago, but Tetbury WI celebrated the season with our annual Christmas dinner, an evening of murder, mystery and mayhem accompanied by a glass of wine at our December meeting and rounded the celebrations off with a talk at our January meeting on the history of pantomime – oh no you didn’t, oh yes we did!
Pantomime, as we know it today, is such an exclusively British (English?) tradition that seems not to exist anywhere else. Considering it has its roots in the Italian Commedia dell Arte and travelled to France before being taken up by audiences in London initially, it seems strange that there are no equivalent theatrical traditions in our European neighbours.
Sara Gray led us through the development of the Commedia characters, particularly Harlequin, to the introduction of the pantomime Dame, introducing us to players who contributed to the form of the pantomime we know today like Dan Leno, the original Dame, and Joseph Grimaldi, who died at a very early age due to injuries incurred as the pantomime clown.
During the business section of the meeting after a short break for refreshments, the members voted on the four Resolutions that will be taken forward to the AGM, when it will be decided which will be adopted as our national campaign. While not unanimous, the majority voted to support a campaign to introduce more training and familiarity with CPR, while campaigning to minimise the sending
of empty blister packs to landfill was our second choice.
Our Christmas dinner in early December was a great success - great food, great company and great service from The Priory once again – followed a few days later by an evening of crime solving at the Goods Shed, when six of our members gamely volunteered to be the suspects in a murder plot concocted by a member of the committee. There was a lot of amusing ad lib repartee between the characters, who took on their characters whole-heartedly. As one of them said afterwards “if you put two Irish people and a Liverpudlian together, you’re going to get mayhem.”
Our Garden Group had its planning meeting in January and a full programme for the coming year has been circulated. The Walking Group has returned to the Goods Shed for coffee temporarily as The
Trouble House is closed for January and the Craft Group started the year making new decorations for the 2025 Christmas tree in St Saviours.
Our next meeting will be on Monday the 10th of February at The Goods Shed at 7.30 pm, when we plan to take a trip down ‘Memory Lane’ with photos from our Archives.
We welcome members from Tetbury and the surrounding villages and our aim is to provide a varied programme of speakers and entertainment to appeal to a wide spectrum of interests. We’d love to meet you.
Our next coffee morning at The Snooty Fox will be on Monday the 24th of February at 10.30 am.
Rowena Palser, Tetbury WI www.tetbury-wi.org.uk
The Forge, Trull Farm, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, GL8 8SQ Telephone: 07780 547449 or 01285 841773
Please
Tetbury in Bloom
I always think that this is one of the best times of year (apart from maybe the weather!)
Seeing all the spring-flowering bulbs starting to appear and the anticipation of them all coming into bloom in the not-toodistant future. There’s also the promise of much longer daylight hours and warmer weather to come. With February arriving, the snowdrops and hellebores are already well-advanced and they will be quickly followed by crocus and early flowering daffodils. The spring displays will then be ever-changing till April-May time, finishing with hundreds of brightly coloured tulips in the beds that we tend throughout the town. These will coincide with all the bright new foliage of the perennials and shrubs giving a wonderful late spring display.
Plans for summer 2025 have been in place since last November and once again, as our main fund-raising initiative, with all the profits going towards funding the work
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that we do throughout the town, we will be supplying our hanging baskets to those who wish to support us. If you would like to purchase one or more of the baskets, please see our adjacent advert and let me know your requirement as soon as possible. The 14” baskets comprise easy-care trailing begonias in pink, red and apricot shades OR you can choose trailing geraniums which come in a mixture of vibrant colours. For those living in Tetbury: they will be delivered to your door by arrangement during the first two weeks in June. To order: Please email me on sue@tetburyinbloom. org.uk or give me a call on 504213.
In the meantime, weather permitting during these early months, the Tetbury in Bloom team continues to be out every Tuesday and Thursday morning to keep the flower displays looking their best. If you think that you would like to join the team on a regular weekly basis, please contact me for more information, using the details shown above.
Sue Hirst, Team Leader, Tetbury in Bloom
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If in Tetbury: Delivered to your door by arrangement during first 2 weeks of June.
Tetbury Theatre Group
“There is nothing more than to love and be loved.”
‘Birdsong’ at The Everyman in Cheltenham on the 20th of November. Sebastian Faulks’s story of love and loss returns to the stage marking the 30th anniversary of the international best-selling novel. Reflecting on his novel, Faulks felt that the published version did not provide readers with “a full appreciation of the soldiers’ physical experience; and, perhaps more importantly ….. what it meant to be part of the first genocidal event of the century – the one that made the others imaginable”. The actors of this new production conveyed these with visceral authenticity.
Bookworms
Hello Beautiful
by Ann Napolitano
This is the story of the four Padavano sisters, daughters of Rose - a strong but frustrated housewife and her disappointing but greatly loved husband Charlie. Julia, the eldest, is the one with the plan for her life, Sylvie is the dreamer, Cecelia the rebel and her twin Emeline the sensitive one. Growing up in Chicago, the sisters are bound tightly
In pre-war France, a young Englishman, Stephen Wraysford, embarks on an affair with Isabelle Azaire. Becoming pregnant, Isabelle, ashamed, flees back to her home with sister Jeanne, leaving Stephen broken and disillusioned. During the ensuing war, Stephen must lead his men through the carnage of the Battle of the Somme and through the tunnels deep underground. Stephen begins to hate the enemy and even the men he leads. He tries to use a deadening of emotion to numb his mind in order to survive.
Faulks writes with great emotional power. Our emotions are intensified when we see this acted out before our eyes. There is a graphic sexual scene between Stephen and Isabelle, showing unrestrained sexual passion with unvarnished honesty. “.. a joyous daring realisation of a profound first
together and cannot imagine that anything could pull them apart.
When Julia meets William, a tall, shy basketball player, she thinks he will fit perfectly into her plan. In a short space of time all four have left home and their lives have moved on from their parents. William, however, is struggling and when he reaches a crisis point, it triggers a series of events that shatters the harmony of the family.
This is a story about the ties that bind families together. For the Padavano girls, those ties are stretched, but never quite snap and follow through to the next generation. It is less straight forward for William who, unwanted and unloved by his own parents, finds it difficult to know his place in the world. When he is able to finally acknowledge his past he gains the courage to face the future.
A thought-provoking book which tells its story through the feelings and thoughts of its characters, even more than their actions. Recommended.
Ghilly Vincenti, Chelworth Bookworms
love..” This is counter balanced by scenes showing the degradation of human nature wrought by the horrors of war, against a background of blasting explosions of bombs and artillery which are frightening and nerve wracking.
Eventually, Stephen is saved by a cathartic act of compassion by a German officer when both are trapped in a tunnel and is enabled to move towards a life based on love, not hatred and disillusion.
We were drawn into the contrasting emotions of fear and horror, pity and love, as we lived the play with the characters, shared what they endured and empathised with their predicaments. Many of us were moved by the commitment of the acting ensemble to convey what the author wrote with honesty and passion. It is one of those theatrical experiences which live on in the mind, which only truthful acting and strong writing can do. At the end, we were confronted by a single spotlit gravestone with a wreath of the red poppies of Armistice resting at its foot.
‘The pity of war, the pity war distilled’
Coming up
March the 26th ‘Picture You Dead’, daytime visit, Malvern Theatre
April the 24th Matthew Bourne’s ‘Swan Lake’ ballet, day trip Cardiff Millennium Centre
May the 21st Spitfire Girls, daytime visit, Malvern Theatre
For further details, please go to our website; WHAT’S ON | Tetbury Theatre Group
If you would like to join the Tetbury Theatre Group, please contact Diana Challis (Membership Secretary) 01666 502768 or Helen Price (Chairperson) 01666 503187, email: retreatcottage17@btinternet.com. Website: www.tetburytheatre group.co.uk
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Linda Goodhew, Tetbury Theatre Group
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At SWR, we are dedicated to striving for excellence in every aspect of school life,
while also preparing our students for the exciting journeys that lie beyond their time here. As part of this commitment, we are thrilled to introduce a new, forwardthinking careers programme designed to complement our classroom learning and create meaningful connections between academic subjects and the world of work.
Central to this initiative are our three annual ‘Futures Days,’ the first of which took place at the end of November. The day was a resounding success, with students gaining invaluable insights and experiences. We are deeply grateful for the support of numerous local and regional businesses, including: ASK Apprenticeship, GROWS – Gloucestershire University, Gloucestershire University Health and Social Care, Police – Schoolbeat, Renishaw, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Tesco, The Priory, Calcot Manor, The Flower Hut, The Close, St Marys’ Church, Tetbury Fire Service, Tetbury Police Museum / Tetbury Town
Council, Audi, Bath University, Malmesbury Sixth Form, SGS, Cirencester College, and Hartpury College / University.
We were also honoured to welcome back several alumni who generously shared their journeys to success with our Year 9 students: Charlotte Reid (Cowley Manor), Joey Rymer (Fire Service), Jordan Sharpe (NHS Paramedic), and Katie Fenton (ITV Wales). This was an especially important moment as Year 9 students prepare to make crucial decisions about their GCSE
options. During the day, Mr. Ruscoe also launched the first episode of our new podcast series, SWRTalks, featuring an inspiring conversation with Katie Fenton— be sure to tune in!
Year 8 students also had an extraordinary day, engaging with local employers and exploring the diverse world of work. Our
goal is for every student to experience at least four different work environments by the time they reach Year 11. The feedback from students, parents, and employers was overwhelmingly positive, and we are deeply grateful to our local businesses for their time, resources, and energy.
Year 10 students took part in university visits to either Bath or Gloucestershire University, where they had the opportunity to explore life as a university student. I am pleased to report that many of our students are now considering higher education as a viable path for their future.
Our Year 7 students participated in an exciting STEM Day, taking on the Lighthouse Challenge, where they used their creativity to develop computer programs and applied their knowledge of electronics and engineering.
Meanwhile, our Year 11 students focused on their next steps, meeting with a range of post-16 providers, including Malmesbury Sixth Form, SGS, Cirencester College, and Hartpury College. They also learned more about apprenticeships and took part in an Interview Skills workshop, preparing them for the exciting opportunities ahead.
A huge thank you goes out to all the organisations, businesses, and individuals who contributed to the success of Futures Day. We are excited to announce that we will be hosting two more Futures Days in March and July. If you are a local business or alumnus and would like to be involved, please contact Mrs. Tanith Lynham at t.lynham@swr.gloucs.sch.uk.
Sir William Romney’s School Team
As you are reading this, Christmas may be over,
but sitting in church, in front of the crib remembering when Jesus was born, should not be forgotten. We have already come through the first month of 2025. We have had snow on the ground; walking and driving can be a hazard. During this weather, please check on elderly and venerable neighbours, not only to ensure that they are ok, but they are keeping warm and have access to warm food.
Our parish priest, Fr Maria, left to go home to India to visit his parents and family
during the first week of January. We are sure that he will have a restful time, and we look forward to welcoming him back within the first few days of February.
With the season of Christmas behind us, we are now in the first period of Ordinary Time in the church calendar. We should not rest on our laurels but prepare for the season of Lent which starts on Ash Wednesday, on the 5th of March.
We continue to celebrate Mass on Sunday at 9.00 am and on Wednesday morning at 10.00 am under the pastoral guidance of Fr Maria, MSFS, (but please check the newsletter for any changes}
All are most welcome to join us for Mass; a warm welcome awaits regardless of whether you are new to Tetbury or have
been away for whatever reason. Coming before the Blessed Sacrament is personal between you and God. There have been many times in my life, when I have sat in the stillness of an empty Church, sitting before the Blessed Sacrament, and felt peace. I am not a perfect, we all have faults whoever we are, but it has helped me. If you are apprehensive about coming to Mass for the first time for whatever reason, please contact the parish office.
On behalf of Fr Maria and the Parishioners of St Michael’s, we pray that you stay well and keep safe, wishing you and your family God’s Blessing.
Elaine Wright Parish Administrator St Michaels Catholic Church
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It’s a Charity thing!
The Tetbury Lions have been producing the Tetbury Advertiser since 1974. It helps publicise club activities and events in the town via editorial columns, and helps promote businesses and services in the town with cheap-rate advertising opportunities.
Everybody wins!
Unlike magazines run for profit, any surplus is ploughed back into local facilities, good causes, and to individuals in genuine need. If you advertise, you can be assured that you are also making a contribution to the locale. Why
Snow angels, Icy landscapes with polar bears or penguins, chiselling and painting ice…
…the great British weather has certainly provided the children with lots to investigate this winter and at TNP we get outside whatever the weather! Snowflakes themselves provide a smorgasbord of learning opportunity. The children have followed a snowflake pattern to help with their ability to follow instructions, they’ve practised scissor skills by cutting patterns in paper and unfolding them as snowflakes, looked at them though magnifying glasses, and learned about freezing and melting too. For the staff, keeping tabs on all the gloves, hats, scarves, waterproofs and wellies needed for more than twenty children is a skill in itself!
Looking back since the last article we had a wonderful December full of fun and excitement. The preschoolers took a trip to St. Saviours church to decorate our tree for the lovely Christmas tree festival, which I hope you got to visit. The preschool children also did a fantastic job presenting their nativity play, as did Laura narrating, and the team pulling it all together. It was lovely to see so many
of our families there to see it (it’s also available to watch on our Facebook page – please do if you get a chance).
On our last day of term all the children came together for their Christmas party where we were also joined by none other than Father Christmas, who handed out presents and listened as the children sang their favourite Christmas songs for him. Our Christmas raffle raised £180 towards
playgroup, huge thanks to all those who bought tickets, and those who donated prizes including Boxer Tetbury, Mayfair & Grace, Doodle Bird, Tetbury Hardware, Henrietta’s House, Wilkins Builders Ltd. Massage by Marie, Marie Ware, Pat and Lance Vick, Jo Norris and Susan Serjeant. Special thanks also to Andy Howell.
As we look forwards to the next few weeks we’ll be continuing to settle in new children who’ve started this term and we’ll be learning about the Lunar New Year, then on to looking at what happens in Spring. We’re also hoping to have our next weekend garden tidy-up in the next few weeks – please look out on our social media for more details and please come along and help if you can.
If you’re looking for a playgroup space for your child from September, you’re welcome to make an appointment to come in and look around, please email us at tetburynurseryplaygroup@ eygloucestershire.co.uk or give us a call on 01666 504855.
Tetbury Nursry Playroup Team
Stuart Forrest Accredited CBT Therapist
The Cat & Custard Pot Inn is a traditional pub with eight lovely en-suite bedrooms.
It is a stone’s throw from Tetbury, Malmesbury, the Beaufort polo club and the Westonbirt Arboretum.
Sitting in the centre of a lovely village, Shipton Moyne, the Cat has a bustling bar which serves great local beers as well as classic pub food with a modern twist. Relax and unwind next to the cosy log burner or keep up to date with the latest sport, the Cat caters for all!
Our new Pizza terrace is open Wednesday to Sunday and serves authentic Italian pizza produced by our traditionally trained pizza chef.
To book a room or table visit our website or call us 01666 880249
The Cat & Custard Pot Inn The Street . Shipton Moyne Tetbury . GL8 8PN
Pub of the Year 2019
Greening Tetbury
Engine idling
Idling is leaving a vehicle’s engine running while it is stationary. It contributes significantly to air pollution, more so than when the car is moving.
As well as contributing to our carbon footprint, there’s a strong link between air pollution and dementia (Alzheimer’s Society research). The Royal College of Physicians estimates forty thousand deaths a year in the UK are linked to it. As well as carbon dioxide, exhaust fumes also contain harmful gasses including nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons which are linked to asthma and other lung diseases.
Idling can be unavoidable but there are instances – such as waiting for children outside schools and sitting in total gridlock – when idling is not necessary and should be avoided. RAC research found that 26% of those caught idling are spotted doing so outside schools putting the health of our young people at risk.
Rule 123 of The Highway Code states that drivers must not… ‘leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationary on a public road’. Local authorities have the power to issue £20 fixed penalties for engine idling if a motorist refuses to switch off their engine, regardless of the location.
Did you know?
Unnecessary engine idling is illegal under Section 42 of the Road Traffic Act. You must switch off your engine if you are stationary for more than a couple of minutes.
IDLING
• Pollutes the air we breathe and contributes to the climate crisis
• roduces more emissions than stopping
and restarting your engine
• Produces up to twice as many emissions as driving
• Generates around thirty million tons of CO2 in the UK every year
• Uses more fuel and causes more engine wear and tear than driving
You can still use systems like air conditioning if you switch off your engine by leave the ignition on. So, do you really have to?
Great Big Green Week 2025
Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. Greening Tetbury took part in last year’s event and we’re planning various events
from the 7th -15th of June this summer. We’re also looking for other groups in Tetbury to join in by holding activities on the theme of climate change and restoring biodiversity. Visit greatbiggreenweek. com for more information and email us at greeningtetbury@gmail.com if you would like to be involved.
A Date for your Diary - Thursday the 6th of March 2025 CDC Drive and Thrive Day - visit Cirencester Market Place and Corn Hall from 10.00 am - 4.00 pm for test drives, demonstrations and talks on a variety of energy-saving electrics, including electric cars, air source heat pumps and solar panels, to answer all your questions. Find out more at www.cotswold.gov.uk/driveandthrive Anne Cox, Trustee, Greening Tetbury
If you’re planning a summer getaway to Greece and…
…you are worried you’ll forget something important, which could ruin the holiday. What steps can you take to make sure you’re fully protected and prepared if anything goes wrong?
Booking a holiday can be overwhelming, especially if it’s been a while since you last went away. It’s unlikely anything will go wrong, but we’ve prepared a simple checklist to make sure you can relax into your holiday knowing you’re protected from the unexpected.
Check your passport is in dateespecially for EU travel
Renewing your passport can take several weeks and isn’t something to leave until the last minute. Check the validity of your passport for your trip on GOV.UK by finding out the entry requirements of the country you’re travelling to.
If you’re heading to Europe, bear in mind EU countries don’t accept passports more
than ten years old. This includes passports issued pre-Brexit, which may have longer expiry dates. Just remember, the golden rule for EU travel is: if your passport was issued over ten years ago, you’ll need to get it renewed.
Know your rights if something goes wrong
If your flight’s delayed long enoughusually two to four hours, depending on the journey - your airline must provide access to food and drink vouchers, phone calls and emails, and accommodation if you’re delayed overnight. If it’s cancelled, you’re legally entitled to a full refund or replacement flight to help you get to your destination. You’re also entitled to compensation if your airline delays, loses or damages your checked-in luggage.
Get travel insurance
Although it’s an extra expense, travel insurance can cover many of the things
already mentioned, like flight delays and lost luggage, but also things like a holiday cancellation and medical emergencies.
Citizens Advice recommends getting insurance as soon as you book a holiday to make sure you’re covered right awaybut always check first to see if an existing insurance policy, or your bank account, covers what you need for your holiday. There’s no need to double up if you’re already covered!
The chances are your holiday will be problem-free, but early planning and preparation can make all the difference. If you need advice on a consumer problem, head to the Citizens Advice website (www. citizensadvice.org.uk).
Stroud and District Citizens Advice
Stroud
John Putley’s talk ‘A
Gloucestershire
Christmas’ was just right for a miserable December evening.
Since pre-historic days, a midwinter festival has cheered everyone up during the long, dark, cold days. With examples from the county archives, John told us how Gloucestershire celebrated with gifts, decorations, fun, and lots of food and drink. Gifts of land at Christmas are first mentioned in the 1270s, but conversely estate records show some annual rents paid on Christmas Day: a farthing, a goose, or a flower, which in Standish was one pink carnation. Charitable gifts from landowners to their poorer tenants on Boxing Day included beef, blankets, yarn or coal, and workers were given the day off. Church records in the 1600s show payments for extra candles, holly and ivy. Stealing greenery was a common crime and Horsley Gaol held a prisoner committed for destroying a holly tree. Everyone enjoys fun, games and entertainment. Traditional folk plays,
Mummers, were popular, with the main one at the cathedral. Gloucestershire’s traditional carols include The Holly and the Ivy and The Gloucestershire Wassail, which was mainly sung in the south, including around Tetbury.
Tetbury Wassailers in about 1930.
Photo by James Madison Carpenter, with Permission of the American Folklife Centre, Library of Congress, Gloucestershire Christmas website
COX & HALL LTD
The most important part of the celebration was the Feast, held any time between Christmas Day and the 12th Night. Roast goose or the boar’s head were popular until 1524, when turkeys were brought from America. By the 18th century a turkey could be ordered from Bury St Edmunds and delivered by the mail coach to Moreton in Marsh. So, nothing changes! John’s talk certainly brightened our midwinter evening.
At our January meeting we learned about the 1st Wing Training, A. F. C. in Tetbury area 1918-1919.
Barry Barnes explained that in 1916 we faced defeat by Germany, so asked our overseas dependencies for help. Australia agreed to send men to be trained to fly. Tetbury was the chosen base. Airfields, hangars and other buildings were constructed at Leighterton and Aston Down, Minchinhampton. Both airfields were operational by February 1918. Four squadrons of Australians arrived, two based at each camp. Intense training began that summer. In six weeks they learned how to fly and use a live shooting range. Trainees then spent time in college learning aircraft mechanics. In four or five months they earned their wings, fifty or sixty men qualifying in eightenn months. There were accidents, particularly crash landings, with injuries and some fatalities. The conclusion of Barry’s talk was a fascinating slide show. We saw the airfields as they were in 1918 and what is there today; all the different types of brightly decorated training aircraft; airmen; official visitors; local residents enjoying entertainments at the airfield; requisitioned Tetbury buildings used by the trainees; and Australian war graves at Leighterton. We could also handle models of the planes and other artefacts. Barry was warmly thanked for this really interesting talk.
The next meeting will be on Thursday the 6th of February, when Will Cook will tell us about his ‘Life as a Tetbury Feoffee’. Do come and join us at HOTS. For further information, please see our website: www. tetburyhistory.com or telephone Jane Haines 01666 504196.
The History of Tetbury Society Team
We started 2025 with a bang down at the Shed – everything from our traditional Family fun Pantomime, a totally fabulous Blondie tribute, as well as some beautiful Folk, an outstanding classic concert, informative talk about local landmark Westonbirt House and the family responsible for its creation – finishing with a fun “who done it” presented by Cotswold Cardiff Opera – and that was just January!!
Our café staff fought their way through some dreadful weather earlier this year to ensure the Whistle Stop Café stayed open and running, bringing tasty treats for everyone.
January also saw our Christmas thankyou party for all our valuable and amazing Volunteers, without this incredible hardworking team we simply couldn’t survive – we are so lucky and if anyone wants to join us then please get in touch with Kairen or Kathryn. As well as gaining access to our events there are other benefits and rewards on offer throughout the year.
February is just as full on. Starting with tribute band Very Santana that is heading for a complete sell out, followed by some great jazz and outstanding classical music. Our Wednesday afternoon concerts are
Tetbury Goods Shed
back as well as Sunday Folk. Not forgetting our younger audience offering music and entertainment as well as an incredible and fun science show. Full details and how to book will be found in our advert below or directly from our website: www. tetburygoodsshed.co.uk.
New for 2025 we’re delighted to announce a partnership with the National Theatre to bring the best of the London stage to the Goods Shed, as we screen their specially filmed productions that put you in the best seat in the house.
Our season starts on Thursday the 6th of March with Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, filmed live at the NT with Ncuti Gatwa (Doctor Who, Sex Education) and threetime Olivier award-winning Sharon D Clarke. To be followed in April (10th) by Dr Strangelove featuring Steve Coogan.
The Shed is generally open Wednesday through Sunday meaning the hall is available for corporate hire Mondays and Tuesdays – please contact Kathryn for more information – 01666 505496 – office@ tetburygoodsshed.co.uk
We look forward to welcoming you to The Goods Shed very soon.
Tetbury Goods Shed Team
Happy New Year
Renowned for excellence in nursing, dementia, and residential care, the Hollies and ultimate in state-of-the-art accommodation. Spacious, beautifully designed rooms, suites, and living areas, along with pretty gardens, provide residents with a high quality of living. Exceptional dining caters for the most discerning preferences and needs. Care is not just something we offer; it’s at the core of who we are. We treat every resident as an individual and work hard to tailor our person-centred services and activities to support their every need.
On Friday the 13th of December the bells rang out when St Marys’ Church hosted our candlelit Christmas Concert.
Alis Huws enchanted us with her harp, the Jubilate Choir sang a selection of Christmas music including a rousing Hallelujah chorus, and Rose Farquhar’s haunting voice echoed around the church for her solo.
Jason Durr, a familiar face from his screen roles in Heartbeat and Casualty, read the funny and evocative ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dylan Thomas, and Tom McEwen also entertained us with a reading.
Everyone joined in with the singing of traditional carols, and the evening ended with mulled wine and Christmas treats.
We would like to thank St Marys’ Church for hosting us and the Blue Book Agency for supporting this event.
On Saturday it was the turn of the Friends festive stall by the Market Place. Shoppers could choose from homemade cakes and savouries, chutneys, potted bulbs, and Tetbury Hospital hand painted china mugs, among other goodies.
On Sunday Santa Claus came to town for the Friends annual Santa Dash. There was a new longer route this year, which took our Santas on a tour of Tetbury, with mince pies, sausage rolls and mulled wine to greet them on their return.
Special thanks go to Sam Kidner and his colleagues at Hunter French for sponsoring
Friends of Tetbury Hospital
the event, creating the medals and working hard with us to make it a success.
We would also like to thank the Tetbury Air Cadets and other volunteers for acting as road marshals, Darren Pegler for being our leading Santa, and the Feoffees for use of the Market Place.
A huge thanks also goes out to all those other individuals and businesses who helped us over the weekend with everything from food and drinks to Christmas trees.
The Friends Committee would like to thank you all for your support and wish everyone a Happy New Year.
…activities at the Club continue throughout the winter season. Whilst always keeping an eye on the state of the green in preparation for the new season we also have to maintain and improve the other facilities at the Club.
Having completed the relaying of the pavement alongside the St. Saviours
churchyard side before the new year our focus has now turned to some internal works. In keeping with the progress made in building new changing rooms in 2021, extending the Clubroom and upgrading the decorations in 2023 work started on a complete refurbishment of the toilet facilities. Having included in the new
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changing room work an accessible toilet it was felt timely to upgrade the old toilet facilities and work will be completed before the start of the bowling season in April.
The social side of Tetbury Bowls Club life continues during the winter months. In December we enjoyed a lovely Christmas dinner, which was enjoyed by thirty members, along with the annual Christmas raffle. A big thank you to those that prepared and cooked what was a lovely meal.
Now that we are into the New Year we revert to our normal pattern of social events that take place on Friday nights. Members enjoy quizzes, bingo and new to the social calendar will be games of “Open the Box” and “Play Your Cards Right”.
Some dates for your calendars: Our outdoor season will start with the traditional Opening Gala on the 13th of April followed by a whole list of league and friendly matches. For those readers that are considering trying bowls we have a number of dates where we will be encouraging members of the public to give lawn bowls a try. Dates will be advertised in this magazine during April but an early heads up are open days on the 11th of May, 1st of June, 21st of June and the 20th of July. In addition, we will be supporting Bowls England’s national “Big Bowls Weekend” at the end of May.
We will be continuing the after school short mat bowls at St. Mary’s Primary School details of which are circulated by the school.
Tetbury Bowls Club Team
Friends of Tetbury Hospital Team
Tetbury Bowls Club
Making an application for funding from Tetbury Lions
Now that we are well into the New Year, Tetbury Lions Club thought it might be useful to outline the process that the Club follows in granting funding (or not).
The flow chart explains the decision making process that we use.
Box 1 – A request for funding is received by a Club representative. The request should be in writing (or e mail) giving details of who is requesting the funds, what they will be used for and outlining other fund raising efforts that are being undertaken. The clubs Grants Officer may ask the promoter supplementary questions, as part of the due diligence process, before the request progresses any further.
Box 2 – The request is initially considered by the Club’s Community Support Team. This meets monthly on the second to last Wednesday in each month. If the funding request cannot be supported, then the applicant is advised to that effect. If, however, it is thought that the funding request can be favourably considered, then, according to the rules under which the Lions’ Charitable Trust operates, an investigation of the background to the request must be carried out in order to demonstrate that the Club has undertaken “due diligence” in potentially acceding to the funding request.
Box 3 – If the decision is taken to support the funding request, then the recommendation of The Community
The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury
Support Team is considered at :
Box 4 - a meeting of the Directors of the Club, who meet on the last Wednesday of each month. The Club Treasurer is one of the attendees at this meeting.
Box 5 – A decision to finally recommending the funding to the Club as a whole is taken. If the funding is not recommended then the applicant is advised accordingly
Box 6 – The funding request is considered by the entire Club membership who meet on the first Wednesday of every month. The decision of the Club as a whole is final and the applicant notified of the outcome.
Box 7 – The final decision is made by the Club
Box 8 – Applicant notified.
Important points to note:
1. The most effective time to make a funding request is at the beginning of a calendar month.
2. Funding for ongoing regular costs, such as staff wages, property and equipment maintenance or servicing cannot be considered, due to the rules governing permitted expenditure by the Tetbury Lions Trust.
3. Funding for one off purchases of equipment can be considered.
4. Funding for specific group activities e.g. school trips can be considered
5. Funding for a contribution towards overseas charitable and personal developmental activities e.g. VSO, can be considered.
6. Funding for claims of individual personal hardship will not normally be considered unless supported by an independent
Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.
Before Christmas, those of you who walk or run along the Tetbury Trail will have noticed that extensive tree works have taken place, thank you for your patience whilst we closed sections of the trail for your safety whilst this work was completed.
In addition, some of you may have noticed that we lost a tree on the Millennium Green last year, and I am pleased to confirm that a replacement is due to be planted in the next few weeks.
Thanks must go to resident, Geoff Turbott, who has once again swept the length of the pathway along the Tetbury Trail, improving the surface and clearing the fallen leaves.
I am delighted to advise that the following grants were made this month:
£900 – Dolphins Dramatic Society
£1,000 – Police Museum – funding towards developing the school education programme
authoritative third party e.g Social Services, Churches, Local Councillor, School, GP, Food Bank, Housing Association, or Citizens Advice.
7. When the applicate is asking for a contribution towards a large fundraising effort over a period of time the offer may be in the form of a promise with funds being forthcoming once the total has been reached’.
Phil Williams, Tetbury Lions
2 x £300 grants to local students
Additional £5,000 to Sir William Romney’s School – to complete the new Sensory Room
If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.
Lance Vick, Chairman
‘Spring is a time of plans and projects.’
Leo Tolstoy
A late Happy New Year from the team at Tetbury Library to you all. If you have any new year’s resolutions that need bolstering with health and fitness books, come in and we can order you a book on healthy eating, Yoga, Pilates, Spinning, Running, Swimming, you name it, the county has a fantastic collection of wellbeing books. You may be focusing on creativity and mindfulness, again check our catalogue online or in the Gloucestershire Libraries App or come in and we are always happy to search for books from the catalogue
for you. No New Year’s resolutions but a garden about to burst into action? Come and check our selection of gardening books. No garden? You can’t beat a good book or some travel planning by an open fire on a rainy day.
Our long-awaited refurbishment is happening, finally, in March and we will be closed from early March for about 6 to 8 weeks. The building will be renovated and waterproofed so when you visit in the Spring, we hope the library will be looking splendid in its new finery and full of a new selection of adult, teen and children’s books. We are currently organising a mini pop-up library venue where you will be able to order and return books to please keep your eye open for notices.
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Job Too Small’
The NHS baby HUB will run its last session at Tetbury on the 4th of February and will return to Tetbury in June. Other baby HUB venues are available in Dursley and Cirencester. Ring the Health Visitor Team on 0300 4218433 to book your appointment.
Adele, Linda, Sophie, Fran and Emma Tetbury Library
Dates for the Diary:
Baby Bounce and Rhyme
Every Wednesday 2.15pm – 2.45pm
Lego Club
Every Friday 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Paper Crafters Group
Saturday the 8th of February 10.30 am –12.00 pm
Knit and Natter
Tuesday the 11th of February 2.00pm –3.00 pm
Nature Club
Saturday the 15th of February 11.00 am –12.00 pm
Scrabble
Wednesday the 19th of February 1.30 pm – 3.00 pm
Library Club
Friday the 21st of February 10:30am –12pm
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pop round for a chat and bring a friend.
Our Christmas lunch at the Holford Arms If you would be interested in joining the u3a, take a look at our website www.tetburyu3a. org.uk to find out more, including our groups, our monthly newsletter https:// tetburyu3a.org.uk/newsletters/ and details of how to join. Or come and meet us at the Goods Shed on Fridays at 10.00 am.
Tetbury and District u3a Team
at the Tetbury Goods Shed on Tuesday the 18th of February at 10.30 am. Paul will take us on an historical journey along the length and breadth of the canal, from Gloucester Docks to the Severn at Sharpness, which opened in 1827.
We have started holding informal coffee mornings which will take place every Friday at the Goods Shed between 10.00 am and 11.30 am. These are available to any existing member or prospective members who would like to join our u3a. Feel free to
The Avening WI has had a very busy period over Christmas.
We had Christmas lunch, party, and took part in the County W.I. Carol Concert in Cheltenham starring the very talented Johnnie Coppin. We enjoyed preparing a full Christmas lunch for twenty-two of the residents of Beechwood Park. They were very appreciative and asked us for a repeat in 2025.
Now we are looking forward to planning all our activities for the coming year. We already have all our monthly speakers booked. At our first meeting of the year we had Kirsten Pobjoy who is the lead professional wing walker with the AeroSuperBatics team and granddaughter of one of our long term members Shirley Hand.
The team is the World’s only aerobatic formation wing walking team and is based at Rendcombe airfield. Kirsten’s enthusiasm for her chosen career was obvious. On a very cold January evening she arrived in her body hugging lycra suit, which is covered with flames, the suit she wears when performing her dare devil stunts and manoeuvres. She encouraged our members to come and have a go as no prior training is required for a standard wing walk. We were not so sure after she told us about the accident at Bournemouth Air Show when she and the pilot had to ditch in the sea!
Last week the WI ran the Avening
Community Café. The hot bacon rolls we made were particularly welcome as it was a very cold morning. We are happy to do this on a regular basis alongside our other catering activities. We are providing tea and cake next week when Princess Anne officially opens the new affordable housing development in Avening.
We are trying to keep our hand in with our skittles skills and have arranged a friendly match with Nailsworth WI and we are starting off our monthly walks by walking from the Tetbury Goods Shed to the Trouble House for lunch.
Gwyneth Simpson, Avening WI
Optimum Mobility
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* Household, bathroom and walking aids
* Large display with private test area
* Disabled facilities, easy parking
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Dear Editor, COHENS - in appreciation
If I were handing out accolades I would have to choose Cohens and its staff.
Calling for a doctor’s appointment recently has been very difficult (although they have now improved that by offering a ‘call back’ system) the likelihood of getting to speak to a doctor face to face, very unlikely, certainly initially!
For these reasons I have turned to our local Chemist where I have found instant help and advice. If the staff on the counter feel uncertain then the Pharmacist on duty can help and will even speak privately in a side room. If they feel uncertain or antibiotics or suchlike could be necessary, then they advise persevering with a doctor’s appointment!
I have found the staff at Cohens courteous and prompt with Prescriptions.
They go the ‘extra mile’ with artwork on their shop front windows and even dressed up over the Christmas period in fun costumes!
They give me the feeling that attending to their customers is more than just their job and they care about their customers.
Well done to them!
Dear Editor,
Please will you pass my thanks on to the population of Tetbury and District for their continuing support of The Poppy Appeal, particularly in this financial climate. Many thanks must also go to the band of volunteers who go out for the ‘House to House’ collection and those collected at Tesco, the Co-op and the Post Office for the ‘Street Collection’.
I would also like to thank all the businesses in and around the town who agreed to have a Poppy collecting box in their premises, plus the local schools who once again have made a magnificent contribution towards our total and also Tesco for allowing us to stand inside their shop and collect, plus the counting of their own boxes. Thank you also to the staff who supported us during our eight days collection in store.
So far, Tetbury and District’s collection stands at just over £15,000 with Gift Aid still to be added, some contactless machine contributions, and QR code scans to be processed.
Jane Haines
Honorary Poppy Appeal Organiser
South Cotswold Bridge Club
“You are nothing but a pack of cards.”
by Sir John Tenniel from the 1865 edition of ‘Alice in Wonderland’.
The game of Bridge is certainly “more than just a pack of cards”, to quote Alice. You can play at a club, at home with friends or on
line, either with friends or with complete strangers, competitively or relaxed.
Sometimes it can feel as if the cards are conspiring against you and that you are disappearing down a rabbit hole. Joining a friendly Club or taking refresher lessons can help you to find your way back to safety on the river bank.
If you have a really good hand (23+ Points) and are looking for Slam (see last monthworth keeping your “Tetbury Advertiser” handy, not only for its useful telephone numbers) then, rather than swimming round and round in a pool of tears, take a plunge into Blackwood.
Blackwood is a convention used to reach slam. To consider a slam game, you need to have at least thirty-one points between yourself and your partner
Having already progressed from an agreed 2 clubs or 2 diamonds opening to show 23 plus points and progressed through the suits in order to decide which should be your final suit, a bid of 4 NT (no trumps) is the next step, asking your partner how many Aces they have. The response of 5 Clubs says 0 or 4 Aces (you will know which by the number of aces in your hand. 5 Diamonds says 1 Ace, 2 Hearts says 2 Aces and 2 Spades declares 3 Aces. A further bid of 5NT is asking for Kings eliciting a similar
response as for Aces.
With this knowledge, it is then possible to revert to the agreed suit and to decide whether a small slam or grand slam is possible. A small slam needs 12 tricks and a grand slam needs all 13 tricks. If it is considered that play would be better in a No Trump contract, then a bid of 4 NT is an invitation to go to 6 NT.
It is possible further to complicate slam bidding by a system known as Roman KeyCards. This is a more advanced response to 4 NT and tells partner how many key-cards (Aces and Kings and, sometimes, Queens) are held.
A response of 5 Clubs shows 0-3 key cards, 5 Diamonds 1 or 4 key cards, 5 Heart 2 or 5 key cards without the Queen and 5 Spades 2 or 5 key cards with the Queen of Trumps.
If this all sounds incredibly complicated, well, it probably is, but is only explored when you have mastered all the basics.
Lessons with South Cotswold Bridge Club will set your mind at ease, so that bridge becomes a game to enjoy, rather than a game of flamingo croquet.
www.southcotswoldbridgeclub.co.uk. Or email jimedwards811@gmail.com.
Anita Stride, South Cotswold Bridge Club
