Tewkesbury Direct Magazine January 2023

Gregg’s has already made a welcome return to the High Street, and is now joined by KFC’s first outlet in the town.

A new pizzeria has opened at the Northway Centre, furthering the Tewkesbury tradition of independently run businesses. Pizzarific is owned by Lee and Vas Petri, with Lee’s mother Ann overseeing the dayto-day running front of house.

Pizzarific offers seating or takeaway, serving stonebaked pizza, kebabs, steakhoue burgers, kebabs and a range of sides. They will also offer homemade pancakes, waffles, sand-

wiches, paninis and toasties. Opening hours are 12pm-10pm Monday to Thursday, with extended hours until 11pm Friday and Saturday.

The Lotus has been a popular Chinese takeaway in Barton Street for a number of years - and has just opened a bright and modern new restaurant. See the full story on page 27 of this magazine.

Another independent Tewkesbury business, Caffé e Vino, is now serving dinners as well as offering home-made

Italian food for lunch and breakfast from Tuesday to Saturday. Caffé e Vino is in Church St, opposite the Crescent.

The careful and considered restoration of Gloucesterhire’s oldest inn, The Black Bear, has caused much interest amongst locals who remember the pub’s heyday. The famous hostelry will be re-opening for business soon.

On the edge of town, Dobbies brand new Garden Centre is thriving. Dobbies is the first company to trade from the Cotswold Designer

Outlet Centre site, which will be fully open in 2024.

This new development will bring a premium retail centre to the area, attracting visitors from all over the country, introducing new shoppers to the Tewkesbury district.

After the somewhat bleak outlook of the past couple of years, 2023 is certainly off to a promising start.

Land of Snow and Ashes

by Petra Rautiainen Paperback £9.99

There are not that many stories with Lapland and Finland as the location, which is why I selected to read this first novel by a Finnish author. With the two time periods, starting with the closing months of WW2, and Finnish co-operation with Nazi-Germany, and then from 1947 with a country trying to get back on it's feet, and to re-establish a National identity alongside it's long standing Democratic traditions, those established after their Civil War and Independence from Russia post 1917.

The story flows between the two periods with the 1944 events being the war diaries of Vaino Remes, a Finnish interpreter for the Nazis. There is another Finn, Olavi Heiskanen, who is a constant presence in the second post-war years.

Alongside are one multilingual prisoner, Kalle, who seems to receive preferential treatment, and it is soon revealed that his true identity is actually Kaarlo Lindqvist. Vaino becomes involved, and infatuated with Saara Valva, a nurse and medic, known as the "bloodletter"; she is one of many names resurfacing in the alternating sections of the story.

In those parts covering 1947 through to 1950 the main character is photographer-cum-journalist, Inkeri Lindqvist who has bought a local house, which survived the destruction during the war time years. She plans articles on Western Lapland for National papers, but her prime purpose is to trace her husband, Kaarlo, who she has discovered was sent to this region during the war; like many others, to be seen no more.

Inkeri, Olavi and local Sami man, Piera, with his teenage granddaughter Bigga-Marja, are the main cast and even a talented pig, called Matilda. We follow Inkeri as she settles into her new life, and career involving Bigga-Marja as a willing assistant. Inkeri is forever asking the locals, them-

busy constructing a new church, being built where previously camps had been located, what they know of past events many of which those involved do not want to have uncovered. These are stealthily revealed over the years as Inkeri establishes herself in the community, but trust is never that forthcoming.

There are several individuals who turn up in both sections as the events leading up to the end of the hostilities in Finland in 1944 are laid bare. Some have more secrets than others, with stories of deportations and summary massacres. This Nazi controlled part of Lapland was obviously not an ideal region to be sent to whether voluntarily or enforced.

The descriptions of the countryside exposed into a wasteland, as the title depicts, are only softened by the splendours of the Northern lights. The continuous darkness of the winter months, offset only so briefly by summer's long, long days. The Author provides a vivid view of this far off land which has suffered by the intrusion of war.

This is a very unusual story, with the background of the Finnish and Soviet relationships at that time of the last century and Finland's past with Nazi Germany. The strands are threaded and unknotted skillfully; the local geography never makes it a "warm read" but it is a rewarding and informative narrative.

Selected by: Ian B. Nicholson Alison’s Bookshop 139 High Street Tewkesbury GL20 5JR

Choral Society needs more singers

“Since we resumed face to face rehearsals in September 2021, Tewkesbury Choral Society has had three very successful concerts,” said chairman Christine Bennett.

“The most recent was on 3rd December 2022 when we performed a programme of "Music for the Christmas Season".

“Tewkesbury Abbey was packed - and our audience enjoyed the beautiful sound of our voices, accompanied by the strings and woodwind of the Regency Symphonia, plus organ and piano and four top quality professional soloists.

“We now turn our sights away from winter and look towards the sunshine of Italy. We will be performing works by three of the best known Italian composers - Puccini (Messa di Gloria), Pergolesi(Magnificat) and Verdi (Pater Noster) on Saturday 20th May. Our rehearsals begin on Monday 9th January.

“In the summer we are going "on tour" to bring our music to the people of Aachen in Germany.

“Looking further ahead we have ambitions to sing some of the "larger" works in the choral repertoire, including Bach's B minor Mass, which requires a choir of some substance - so we need more singers to join us.”

forming with the choir in Europe. New singers are welcome in all sections.

To find out more, see the

website www.tewkesburychoral.org.uk or send an email to tewkesburychoral@gmail.com

If you enjoy singing, would like to join in with others, learn more about music and have the chance to perform in Tewkesbury’s magnificent abbey, then Tewkesbury Choral Society could be for you.

There are normally two concerts a year, in May and December, usually accompanied by a professional orchestra.

This year there is also the attraction of per-

Fun Fashion Hits Tewkesbury High Street

Jenny has spent years building the business to a point where it has outgrown the single garage conversion in her mum’s house in 2022. So with a van and a dream, Jenny Juice moved into new premises down Wilke’s Alley just off the high street.

The intention here was to have a larger space for all the stock, and all the products which were continuing to grow every week, along with the sales!

After hitting the usual larger festivals throughout the summer, Jenny decided to do an “open Day” from the unit

whilst a market was held in Tewkesbury town. This was where the next step happened rather quickly.

The first Jenny Juice store was born, and rather quickly! With a small timeframe, a small budget, and lots of quirky ideas, they managed to get the store open and it couldn’t look more amazing if they tried. The bright colours, amazing designs, and quirky fashion are all on show for everyone to browse through and see.

Jenny Juice has become popular because it lends itself to people of all sizes from 8 up to

36. Some items you will find in the store will be funky leggings (people have branded them the “softest leggings you will ever wear”), Funky dresses, kids’ leggings & clothing, quirky Jewellery (from horror and bats to lollypop earrings and gaming controllers), there is something for everyone.

And don’t worry gents, it’s not just for the ladies, many men have been showcasing the JJ leggings and joggers!

Pop to 25 Rear High Street to see Jenny & Russ and see what is fast becoming a brand to wear. #getjuiced.

Jenny Juice Fun Fashion has hit Tewkesbury by opening up a new, small, independent shop after moving into its new premises just off the high street this year. Jenny Juice has been going 10 years as a small business, which has been based in Tewkesbury all its life. Since the start of the pandemic, online sales have increased, along with their unique, soft, and comfy brand of JJ Leggings and dresses.

2023- THE YEAR OF THE VANISHING BIN?

Tewkesbury is rich in history with listed buildings galore, quaint alleys and fascinating riverside walks, writes Alan Purkiss of Tewkesbury Civic Society. It has excellent retailers, restaurants, cafes and pubs. It is, mostly, a lovely place to live and visit Nevertheless, some visitors have been critical of the number of bins on some streets, visually spoiling otherwise attractive areas.

Some residents too have said how much more pleasant it would be if there were not a bin in sight except for collection days.

Not every house, flat or business has space for bins, this is often the fault of past poor redevelopment without regard to bin storage plus the nature of our tight historic layout of properties.

Properties that have these storage problems can, with approval, use blue recycling bags, provided free by TBC and available at the Borough offices and at the Town Hall, plus black bags for non-recycling collections. Not a lot of people know that!

However, residents in Mill Street and Mill Bank do know it, no one uses bins at all, everyone uses the blue and black bag approach because there is very limited bin storage space on the properties. The result is

an area with not a bin in sight, a delight to live in and one to be proud of.

In some areas local residents have met with neighbours to discuss how to improve their patch. An example is St Mary’s Lane, where bins were very much in evidence. One resident took photos, chats took place on how to get them off the street in a friendly fashion and on taking pride in where everyone lived.

Result, no bins, except on collection days, and how much nicer it looks. Everyone is happy and everyone knows everyone!!

The same could perhaps be done in other areas?

A partnership of the Civic Society, the Borough and Town Councils, will be promoting these ideas over the next few months and would welcome constructive, helpful views via email to info@ tewkesburycivicsociety.o rg from any residents who might see opportunities here or problems that need to be overcome etc. Let’s make 2023 the year of the vanishing bin!

- Alan Purkiss

Unrivalled

Alan Purkiss of Tewkesbury Civic Society

St Mary’s Lane after: no bins

St Mary’s Lane before: bins permanently everywhere)

Try something new for

Believe it or not, the more new and fun things you do, the more fulfilling and satisfying your life becomes. People who seek out new terrains and activities are happier, positive, and healthier. There is a feeling of accomplishment and delight when you try something new!

New things slow you down enough to make you appreciate your surroundings and move you away from routines that no longer delight you.

Life stops when we stop learning and trying. Your brain, just like the rest of your body, needs food to remain active, and new things stimulate and boost it. So, is it time to try new things? It sharpens your focus, cognitive abilities, and increases creativity. As a matter of fact, giving your brain something to think about daily is a healthy pathway to longevity.

So, when was the last time you did something for the first time?

Maybe you find yourself craving a little creativity in your life?

Turns out, tapping into that creative energy can actually improve your overall health.

The average person has about 60,000 thoughts in a day. A creative act such as painting can help focus the mind, and has even been compared to meditation due to its calming effects on the brain and body.

Here’s an idea join “Blooming Wild” a monthly online painting club with artist,me, Sam Morris, that will inspire you with lots of painting techniques and methods as you create a collection of 12 paintings of wild animals and beautiful blooms that will develop into a beautiful concertina sketchbook.

Here’s a list of everything we will need for the 12 projects and a link to the website: www.samantha-morris.

• Silver leaf or silver metallic marker

• Gouache paint set

• A selection of small brushes

• Watercolour (minimum of 300gsm) A3 pad

• Pritt-stick or PVA glue

• Kitchen roll (and wet wipes always useful)

• Palette (you can use an old plate)

• Water cup (you can use an old cup)

• Cardboard or Mount board (for making the sketchbook front and back cover)

• Pencil, ruler and rubber

• Ink pen or a gel pen (black ink)

• Hairdryer

• Scissors

com Materials and tools list:

We are born curious - a trait that we somehow lose as the burdens of responsibility and obligation weigh heavily on our shoulders, writes Sam Morris.

Last month we featured the artistry of mural artist Brandon Higgins, its always a delight to discover more.

One door in Church Street, has hosted many murals over the years and this seasonal scene of a Robin in a winter scene, is the latest work.

The Grinch appears in another snowy scene on a large garage door in Twyning.

However this underwater theme, painted in the children’s waiting area at A&E in Cheltenham General Hospital is bound to be uplifting for young patients.

Brandon tells us that he has some availability for new commissions, if readers would like to find out more, call him on 07951 603417, or email Brandonsmuralsart@gmail.com.

AUTOCOLOUR SERVICES CELEBRATE 40 YEARS

Founder Dennis Peirce explains:

Autocolour Services commenced business in December 1982 at Innsworth, carrying out vehicle body repairs and paintwork to the local area and beyond.

“The business grew over the following years, and my wife and son became part of the team.

“Eventually we moved to Tewkesbury as we needed larger premises.

“My son Terry's wife, Carrie also joined the team, making us a prop-

er family business! We have expanded our services to repair larger vehicles, including decora-

tive brush art work, which has given us remarkable results, and many accolades.

“My wife and I have now retired leaving the business in the capable hands of Terry and Carrie. I am very proud of what we have achieved over the last 40 years, and wish our son and Carrie continued success.”

Terry added: “When we relocated from Innsworth to Tewkesbury in 2013, we couldn't have been more eager to expand our

company. The transition from merely cars and vans to a variety of vehicles, such as lorries, tractors, and even motorhomes, was made possible by this change.

“We have advanced through effort and progress to offer our customers the best possible experience.

“Autocolour Services delivers vehicles with a WOW factor, from custom fabrication to astounding artwork.

How things have changed in 40 years,

from handing out leaflets at doorsteps to uploading them to social media.

“Our Facebook and Instagram pages have become very important to us as a business, they have allowed us to engage and connect with our customer base efficiently and effortlessly.

“From 1982 to 2022, vehicles have developed to keep up with the modern world. It is crucial for us as a company to continue developing alongside this.

“In order to ensure the highest level of quality, we employ all new techniques and have invested in cutting-edge technology.

“We would like to thank the continued support to all our customers and staff because without this we would not now be celebrating forty years.”

For more information on Autocolours, please refer to the advert below, call 01684 291998 or see www.autocolourservices.co.uk

Tewkesbury’s quality vehicle body repair and paintwork business, Autocolour Services, celebrate their fortieth anniversary this year.

Autocolour Services team, 2023

Dennis Peirce

Tewkesbury Cake Decorators Wine and Mince Pie Night

There was also a display of the skills learned in more than 20 workshops since opening the group 18 months ago.

Meeting at Wheatpieces Community Centre in Columbine Road, Tewkesbury, GL20 7SP from 7-9pm, they introduce a new skill each month.

They learn a wide variety of cake decorating skills that can come in handy for all types of celebration cakes, from simple children’s birthdays to classic wedding cakes.

The group has a full calendar of events coming up for 2023 which will gradually be added to their website. Beginning with Poker themed decorations in January and Royal icing for beginners in February.

Everyone is welcome to come along

(over 18s only or accompanied by an adult). There is no membership fee. So if anyone would like to come along and take part, take a look at our facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/www. tewkescake.co.uk and send us a message or go to our website www.tewkescake.co.uk/ for booking and more information.

This week Tewkesbury Cake Decorators held their last meeting before Christmas, celebrating with festive fun and prizes for all the beginners who had spent three sessions designing and making their own Christmas cakes, writes Lou Wood.

Tewkesbury & District u3a in Action

Our Open Morning was a great success with lots of prospective members attending to see what we do. Most of our varied groups had a stall and representative ready and willing to explain and encourage new members. The event had been preceded by many posters around Tewkesbury and surrounding

villages, plus a leaflet distribution in the High Street a few days before the event.

Our stall at the Tewkesbury Christmas Lights event was manned by a willing team of volunteers taking shifts throughout the day. We had a colourful stall with bunting, display boards with photos of our activities and plenty of literature to advise and encourage the public to join.

Tewkesbury & District u3a is a members activity organisation for people no longer in full time employment. We have about 30 varied activity groups (eg art, scabble, computers, languages, photography, needlecraft, petanque, both family and ancient history, table tennis, walking and others) where members all assist in the organisation. We also have a monthly members meeting in the Baptist Church Main Hall, with a speaker (recent topics have included the spy in the bag, Cunard liners, Isle of Man, coloured gemstones, Severn Bridge disaster, plus some excellent singers). If you

want to know more, why not contact us at info@ tewkesburyu3a.org.uk or 01684 325013, or view our new website at tewkesburyu3a.org.

LADIES

Once again, Tewkesbury & District u3a were in action informing people about our organisation and recruiting. On 14th November we held our annual Open/ Renewal Morning for current and prospective members. We also again had a stall at the Tewkesbury Christmas Lights event on 20th November.

m Town Crier & Kathy

star of stage

screen, writes his first novel

Over the years, Norman has appeared in such classics as Man About the House, I Claudius, The Sweeney, Secret Army, Thriller, Minder, Return of the Saint, The Bill, Department S, The Professionals, Cadfael, Taggart, Goodnight Sweetheart and One Foot in the Grave.

However, he is still probably best remembered as Jeffrey Fourmile, the pompous neighbour of Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce in the hit sitcom classic George and Mildred which ran from 1976 to 1979 - a film version followed in 1980. Sadly, Yootha Joyce died the same year and plans

to make another series were shelved.

Norman, now 77 and living in Tewkesbury with his wife Rachel, has turned to writing and

and Norman is now in talks with Netflix to turn it into a six-part TV series. He said, ‘The story started out as a script and then I turned it into a book. I was 76 when I had my first book published, which is wonderful.’

The Dreamtime Of The Artful Dodger by Norman Eshley and Elizabeth Revill can be ordered from your local bookshop and is also available to buy from Amazon.

has seen the publication of his first novel, The Dreamtime Of The Artful Dodger. The story, a sequel to the Dickens classic Oliver Twist, tells the adventures of the Artful Dodger after he finds

himself being transported to Australia for stealing a silver snuffbox.

The novel has received excellent reviews

actor Norman Eshley. Nor-

The Dreamtime of the Artful Dodger book cover

Norman with Sheila Fearn in George and Mildred (ITV) Norman today

with John Hurt in I Claudius (BBC)

Happy New Year!

Beautifully presented inside and out, this is a lovely semi detached home. Stunning kitchen/ dining/family room at the rear; separate lounge; utility; study; 3 good sized bedrooms; contemporary bathroom; attractively landscaped rear garden; side access; driveway parking. Tax Band C; EPC C.

A delightful location for this beautifully presented and maintained home. 3 double bedrooms; kitchen/dining room; large lounge; contemporary styled bathroom; garage store; modern landscaped garden; driveway parking; gas central heating; upvc windows; EPC C Tax Band C.

TWYNING MANOR £240,000

Within the heart of the town centre a rare beast indeed! Modern end terrace 3 bedroom freehold house. Lounge with log burner; kitchen/dining room; low maintenance rear garden; pretty front garden; garage, parking; Tax Band C; EPC D.

Building plot for sale. Former Orchard for sale with full planning permission to build a detached bungalow; 3 bedrooms; 3 bathrooms; large open plan kitchen/dining/living room; further separate reception room; Elevated position within the village; Buyers to make own service arrangements.

Elegant 2nd floor apartment within this impressive Manor House, sitting within 4 acres of communal gardens, with far reaching views to the Malvern Hills. 2 Bedrooms; bathroom; dual aspect lounge; kitchen/breakfast room; garage; parking. % Freehold Leases 996 years; EPC D Tax Band B.

With far reaching views to the Malvern, this top floor apartment is lovely. Immaculately presented; 1 double

Register your interest – Coming soon. A beautifully presented ground floor apartment within this excellent development for the over 55s. Two good sized bedrooms; modern kitchen; lounge/dining room; shower room; large storage cupboard. Tax Band A.

writes Alfie Jobbins.

It started off with a few houses but now we have 4000 lights strung across the street.

We do this for charity every year.

This year we are raising for the Tewkesbury Foodbank.

We couldn’t pull this off if it wasn’t for living in such a fantastic community street.

A personal thank you to everyone on Jeynes Row for making this happen.

All aboard!

Hi, I’m Louise. I run a small local business with my partner David & our son Teddy (3), where we set-up and run train-themed stay & play events across both counties for children of all ages to come and enjoy!

We can also bring the Trainmaster fun to your child’s birthday party, or another event where you may need some children’s entertainment.

As a franchise, Trainmaster has been running nationwide for over 4 years after the founder, Chloe, created her business in Hampshire while on maternity leave. And now, with the help of one family in each county, we bring the ultimate train fun to children everywhere.

Thomas the tank!); and even a space for the littlest of trainmasters to come and play.

There’s also a selection of books, crafts and fancy dress.

You can view our next events & book tickets on our website, with an automatic discount applied for multiple tickets pur-

chased! And as a special welcome, use code direct10 at checkout for 10% off your order! We hope to see you at a session soon!

Feel free to get in touch with any questions or enquires

You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram, & TikTok. www.gloucestershire.trainmaster. co.uk. Email glos_worc@ trainmaster.co.uk.

By Louise Waring.

We’ve even won some awards!

We run Gloucestershire & Worcestershire and run events in your local areas, such as; Cheltenham, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Stroud, South Cerney, Worcester, Evesham, Droitwich, Pershore & Stourport-on-Severn.

At an event, you can find the whole room filled with a huge train track with motorised & push-along trains; 2 ride on trains; 2 super towers; the fan-favourite coasters (including

We

supply free of charge, subject to criteria, a range of treatments for coughs, colds, eye infection, constipation etc.

suffer,

Annual Winter Ale Festival returns

Organised by CAMRA (the Campaign For Real Ale), the festival will he held at the George Watson Memorial Hall in Barton Street.

It will feature 70 winter ales from all over the

country, as well as a smattering of local cider and perry.

CAMRA members can attend a session from 7pm until 11pm on Thursday 26th January, before the event opens t the public on Friday 27th (11am-11pm) and Saturday 28th (11am8pm).

For more information and updates visit see events.camra.org.uk or tewkesbury.camra.org.uk

WARDENS WALKS IN JANUARY

Feel like blowing away the postChristmas Cobwebs? Then how about joining one of the guided rambles in the Cotswolds, writes Jack B. Walker.

Voluntary wardens lead a series of walks to suit most abilities within the Cotswolds AONB year round. The region stretches from Bath in the South to the Warwickshire borders in the north. In most cases prebooking for the walks is not required.

Of particular local interest this month are the ‘Hampen Hike’ (Friday 6th January, beginning at Andoversford,) and ‘Walking The Ways ‘on Tuesday 17th January (from Winchcombe).

Also nearby on Tuesday 17th January is ‘The Green Dragon and a load of Coberleys’ starting out from the famous inn at Cockleford.

Appropriate waterproof clothing and footwear should be worn. Dogs are not permitted on the walks (other than assistance dogs), and all are free of charge - although donations are welcome. For more information, start times and meeting points, visit the website www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk

The 26th edition of the Tewkesbury Winter Ale festival returns to Tewkesbury this month.

Photo: ©CAMRA

Beckford Art Studio, opens to visitors

By Christine Devereux

Hi, my name is Chris and I live in Beckford village, just under Bredon hill, where I have an Art Studio.

For much of my life I worked as an Art Therapist in mental healthcare which involved helping people find a creative way of working through their problems. My own creativity took a back seat

but, eventually, the need to create my own artwork surfaced. It had been many years since I had painted so I approached this with some trepidation!

Eventually joining a Cotswold art group, helped develop my painting skills, as there was lots of encouragement and support on offer.

That was over five years ago and since then I have really enjoyed reconnecting with Art, almost feeling like a child being allowed to play again! Having my own art studio seemed a huge indulgence at first. However, it’s been wonderful having a dedicated space where art materials don’t need to be tidied up and put away! It’s a lovely

calming space to sit, even when it’s raining.

My studio is now full of paintings and drawings,many are based on my photos and sketches of seascapes and landscapes. I enjoy ‘people watching’ and sometimes include people in images to give a sense of ‘story’ behind the picture. Mostly, I use

pastels and acrylic mediums as they are quite flexible, allowing you to make changes to artwork, if needed.

I am very happy for people to see my work so the studio will be open on occasional weekends and by request. If you would like to visit please just email or phone to arrange. Much of the artwork is for sale and greeting cards available. I n addition to creating art, I am still a practicing HCPC registered Art Therapist.

Finally, in response to the current energy crisis, I am offering my studio as a ‘warm space’ to local people who might appreciate some company and a ‘cuppa’! This will be one morning a week over the Winter months.

Please phone for details if you’d like to come along. I look forward to welcoming you soon!

Chris Devereux 01386 881217 christine. artandtherapy@ gmail.com

Nodding Gables

This building now known as the “Nodding Gables” is a quintessentially medieval building –once known as the “Old House,” writes John Dixon.

Unfortunately, I have found no proof of its age -and it missed the Dendrochronology survey.

It is first restored in 1788 when the building of the new Town Hall displaced the owner of a house who bought no 9 - Henry Collett.

Afterwards was converted into a general coach office and obtained the situation of book-keeper to the associated proprietors of the stagecoaches, based notably at the neighbouring Swan Hotel at no 10. It famously sold coaching tickets in the great age of coaching, which was ended by the railways after 1840. It is Miss Charlotte Collett who ensured, via her 1854 will, that the building was preserved.

The problem is always how to use the building economically and it survived as a series of ironmongers. Also known as the House with The Golden Key, which was made by blacksmith Stiff in 1907 and installed by Humphrey King. After

his death, it disappeared until 1949 when it was discovered in the “Tea Hut, Brockeridge Common”. The unofficial ‘guardian’ wanted £10 after coating it in yellow paint. The demand was refusedand it was restored in 1957 by Mills and Carter. An idea to use it as the Town Museum was rejected by the Council! We do not know who installed the noteworthy iron column, which supports the building from inside and there is also a delightful, plastered ceiling.

We thought the building would have been safe after the tenant became in 1983 the Halifax Building Society, who expanded for office space into the next-door property, no 8.

It was very well restored so that today, after the Bank has left Tewkes-bury, it is well suited to hosting another viable business after sale.

We shall be watching the future of this apparently ancient building with great interest.

Early sketch of the “Old House”, displayed in the Mayor’s Parlour, Tewkesbury Town Hall

The Minstrel Gallery supported by the Iron Column (above), and (right) in November 2022

Setting out from the small car park next to the Avon in Dock Lane, with the river behind you, look to the right and you will see an alley behind a safety barrier on the opposite side of the road.

Walk up this (1) until you emerge at the rear of the Primary School in Back Lane. Turn left and walk along the road until you come to a T junction at Perwell Close (2)

Turn left and look for the footpath which descends to a stream. Ford this and walk up the bank, keeping the trees to your right, until you eventually meet a track (3) which crosses the main Bristol to Birmingham Railway Line. Follow this, and cross over the B4080 with care, bear slightly left and look for the footpath on the opposite side of the road (4). Take the path across the open fields by a line of trees.

Eventually you will come to a kissing gate (5) which opens on to the lane. Cross the lane to the corner on your left, and you will find a narrow path which leads

between the gardens of two houses.

The path emerges into a field (6). Walk diagonally across to the corner, and bear left to keep the hedge on the right, until you reach a lane in the village of Westmancote (7).

Follow this quiet lane past some interesting old cottages and grander houses, as it bears right, to meet the road which runs up through Upper Westmancote up Bredon Hill and on to the ‘King & Queen Stones’ (8)

Bear right along the road until you reach a gap in the hedge. Follow the path across the field to return to point (6) and re-trace your steps to Bredon.

Facilities in Bredon are good: there is a well stocked Spar supermarket (which also houses the post office to), and

WED 11th JAN :

Rod Kelly Jazz Trio, Fox & Hounds, Bredon. www.thefoxandhounds bredon.co.uk

FRI 13th JAN:

John Otway, The Marrs Bar, Worcester. www.marrsbar.co.uk

SUN 22nd JAN:

The Country Showcase, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. worcestertheatres.co.uk

FRI 27th JAN:

John Martyn Project, The Subscription Rooms, Stroud. thesubrooms.co.uk

Test your powers of recall with this month’s Tewkesbury Direct Pub Quiz.

1: Which Scottish band had a British number one hit in 1975 with their single ‘January?’ (It topped the charts in February!)

2: Which poet wrote the words of the song ‘Auld Lang Syne’ in 1788?

WED 1st FEB: Fairport ConventionWintour Concert (with Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage) The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

FRI 3rd FEB: Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show, The Subscription Rooms, Stroud. thesubrooms.co.uk

FRI 3rd FEB: Martyn Joseph, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. worcestertheatres.co.uk

SUN 5th FEB: Seth Lakeman, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. worcestertheatres.co.uk

TUES 7th FEB: Katya Gorrie Trio. The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

SAT 14th FEB: Lionel (Lionel Richie tribute show), The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

SAT 11th FEB: The Adele Songbook (tribute show), The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

SAT 11th FEB: Eliza Carthy & The Restitution, The Watson Hall. www.ticketsource.co.uk

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5:

SAT 11th FEB: Abba Sensation (tribute show), Ledbury Market Theatre. themarkettheatre.com

THURS 16th FEB: Ian McNabb, Huntingdon Hall, Worcester. worcestertheatres.co.uk

FRI 17th FEB: Genesis Connected, (tribute show), The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

FRI 24th FEB: Cara Dillon, The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

TUES 7th MARCH: Claude Bourbon, The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

FRI 10th MARCH: Roachford, The Subscription Rooms, Stroud. thesubrooms.co.uk

SAT 11th FEB: Keith James - the songs of Leonard Cohen, Ledbury Market Theatre, themarkettheatre.com

SAT 18th FEB: Witty Ditties: Green & Matthews, Ledbury Market Theatre, themarkettheatre.com

SAT 25th & SUN 26th FEB: Lost Causes Americana

Alt-Country Festival. Croft Farm Water Park, Bredon’s Hardwick. www.lostcauses.co.uk

SAT 25th FEB: HollyFest with The Blow Monkeys, Rook & The Ravens and Oasis Experience. Frog & Fiddle, Cheltenham. www.ents24.com

SAT 11th MARCH : The Fureys (legendary Irish Folk Band), The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

SAT 11th MARCH : Brimstone, (Foyer Folk Event) No.8 Arts Centre, Pershore. www.number8.org

FRI 17th MARCH : Jive Talkin’’ (Bee Gees tribute show), The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

SAT 18th MARCH : Frankie’s Guys (A celebration of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons), The Roses Theatre. www.rosestheatre.org

Apart from money, bread and greenery, what else should a ‘First Footer’ carry on New Year’s Eve?

Which celebrated French actor and musical star died on January 1st 1972?

Which Scottish singer had a hit with the song ‘January, February’ in 1980?

What do Queen Victoria, J. Edgar Hoover, Idi Amin, Kim Philby, J.D. Sallinger and E.M Forster have in common?

Chevalier

Dickson;

They were all born on New Year’s Day

Cross House, Church Street, Tewkesbury GL20 5AB www.crosshousetavern.pub

LIVE MUSIC to promote your event here, please use the contact form on our website www.tewkesburydirect.co.uk

Bright new restaurant for Tewkesbury

A warm welcome awaits from Fonzi Chen and his staff, with the new restaurant offering an ideal venue for family parties, get togethers and celebrations.

bar and offers a large menu, specialising in the finest Chinese cuisine.

The Lotus still operates its popular takeaway service, with deliveries available in the Tewkesbury area for a just £2.00. A delivery service is also available within ten miles of the restaurant for a reasonable rate.

The Lotus is open from 5pm to 11pm Sunday-Thursday and 5pm until 12am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The recently opened dining room is bright and airy, decorated in a modern and tasteful style. It is air conditioned, has a licensed

The menu can be viewed online at www.lotustewkesbury.co .uk. For more information or to place a telephone order, call 01684 275007.

Owner Fonzi Chen and staff at The Lotus

The Lotus Restaurant

Happy New Year!

Christmas is over and I hope you all gave lots of garden related presents away, writes Tim Hoskins.

Our dankest months are upon us, but we can start to think about future projects and I’ve got a big one to suggest; beekeeping.

I was privileged to be the Head Gardener for a royal family, working across the Cotswold and London residences.

My Tuesday afternoons were given to beekeeping and I think you should think about giving it a go.

There is a considerable set-up cost, but it can be recouped from honey production. You also don’t need a huge garden

to keep bees, just a bit of time.

Honey bees are non-native and don’t actually do as much of the pollination of our food as we are sometimes led to believe.

However, by looking after them, we become acutely aware of their ecology and that of the wider environment – see why I like them?

Honeybees fly out to around 1.5 miles in all directions when foraging.

This landscape scale operation helps

us think about our environment and how impoverished it is.

It’s another one of those terrible ironies that some of the best British honey is made by urban bees because they forage over a far richer and florally diverse environment than rural bees.

ing animals with complex social structures, nepotistic tendencies, feminist leanings and a ferocious work ethic. They can be genuinely educational while benefiting our mental health, our wallets and our larders.

Awful isn’t it? The honey isn’t even tainted by pollutants, because bees filter it out. The rural environment can actually be so poor that a bee colony will struggle or die. That means a 7 square mile area that lacks pollen and nectar producing plants in any significant number.

Looking after bees helps us sympathise with the plight of our native invertebrate species. Honeybees are very visible, so they are used as a flagship species quite often. Many of the things that benefit honeybees also benefit our micro-fauna which is as under threat as our flora.

Bees are fascinat-

Tim Hoskins

Acute & Chronic Pain

The terms “acute” and “chronic” are used often in medicine and I hear patients refer to pain as being chronic in the wrong term.

Medically, acute means early on within the injury and chronic refers to an issue which has been lingering. For example, if you twist an ankle the initial swelling, pain and heat is an acute response, the discomfort and “weakness” in the ankle in the following days is considered chronic.

The change from an acute injury to a chronic injury can be alarmingly quick. It will depend on the type of injury, the person and if the area and tissue has had a previous injury.

The reason the injury

will turn from acute to chronic is not always, but often due to the neurological input.

The mechanism behind this is energy and brain saving. The brain has enough computing to do without being on duty to manage injuries as they heal. If an injury, let’s continue with a twisted ankle as an example, fires the nerve to say there is a problem, this sends a signal to the spinal cord which delivers the message to the brain. The brain perceives pain and returns the result via the nerve to the ankle. After some time, reporting like this, the spinal cord recognizes the route in and the subsequent report back. A pattern has developed. This is the chronic stage,

from the perspective of the nervous system. The brain is no longer needed to provide information on this injury. Sadly, the spinal cord response does not have the ability to break this pattern and so it will continue to produce this pathway until something stops it.

Manual therapy, acupuncture, deep tissue massage and laser therapy have all been found to stop this circuit firing

and initiate the brain in the healing. This then allows the body to return to health.

So, the term acute and chronic, are not just descriptions of type of pain felt, they also give an indication as to the change in tissues and neurological input. Sometimes, they body needs a little assistance and a push in the right direction to truly get rid of a chronic issue.

Dragon Vets Tewkesbury is fully equipped with a sterile operating theatre, digital radiography, ultrasonography and laboratory equipment. Drop in and have a look around.

will see many of the same friendly faces from our main surgery at Dragon Vets Cheltenham.

OSTEOPATHY ADVICE with Katie Hogg, Two Rivers Osteopathy

m Katie Hogg

Henry Prior was a wealthy hosier. He was described as a friend of John Wesley, who stayed with him on his visits to Tewkesbury.

His residence was not the ‘front house’ of the alley in Tolsey Lane which bears his name, but a large prestigious house in Church Street.

Prior’s Alley contained eight small cottages which were occupied by stocking knitters, each with a knitting frame in the kitchen, all rented from Mr Prior. He left Tewkesbury and his stocking knitting business, retiring to fashionable Bath, where he died in 1852, aged 100.

Priors Alley was quiet and uneventful. It

terminated at a length of mooring on the Mill Avon, a short, secluded length between what are now Riverside House and the Riverside Café’s ‘gazebo’. The seclusion made it a magnet for children, but the river was sometimes the scene of tragedies, unfortunately. The alley didn’t go through the bureaucratic process of official closure, with clearance and demolition notices. The whole alley was bought by stone mason Thomas Collins as his building contracting business expanded. When tenants left, their cottages were put to use

as store rooms or workshops. As the business modernised, they were demolished and replaced by better facilities.

With good access to river transport, the area between Tolsey Lane and Back of Avon was in industrial uses; workshops, warehouses, coal yards and the like. It was an advantageous place for a builder’s yard in the days before motorised transport. At the junction with Back of Avon was another residential area; Nailors Square. As the name implies, this was a small colony of nail-makers. The cottages included small nailshops, with forges where families laboured to supply the town’s ironmongery businesses. By the middle of the nineteenth century the trade had almost died, and over time Thomas Collins’ expanding business swallowed the square up as well.

Collins entered into partnership with William Cullis, and had become by far the biggest employer in town, being responsible for a large and prestigious portfolio of building projects, as varied as the Methodist Church and Healing’s Mill, as well as a great deal of work on the Ab-

bey. When Cullis left to start a new business in Hereford Collins looked to his nephew, and works manager, Francis Godfrey. Expansion continued, and the company of Collins and Godfrey was well regarded as

a contractor on a national scale. It survived the deaths of Thomas Collins, in 1900, and Francis Godfrey in 1912. Francis Godfrey’s son managed the business until his own death in 1941, after which it was

sold to James Miller of Edinburgh, later becoming Miller Homes. They left their Tolsey Lane premises after building a lot of houses in Newtown.

The next occupier was Shakespeare International Marine. Bill

By Easter 2022 Meg Dunford from The Roses & Jo Teague Stitch story

Artist had been around all local schools as well as holding stitch-athons across the Highstreet. Weekly sessions at the library had over 40 volunteers coming along to help turn local young people’s ideas into reality!

Finally in May after (lots!) more stitching in community settings and businesses such as MOOG and Cotteswold Dairy it was finished! We opened the doors of the Watson Hall during The Tewkesbury Big Weekend and welcomed over 2000 visitors to see the embroidery and community border in all its glory!

It then went on a 10week tour to Tewkesbury Abbey and Gloucester Cathedral, showing all its stitches completed by over 8200 people! We are extremely proud to say that since the opening in May it has been admired by over 16,000 visitors!

Looking towards next year...in Spring 2023 we

are launching a QR code Story Trail around the centre of Tewkesbury, to coincide with the unveiling of the embroidery in

its final location. As well as working with three local schools

began with Tewkesbury Culture planning the huge community project Stitch story, our version of the Bayeux Tapestry! Sam Morris supported by local history groups created our initial illustration featuring as much local heritage as possible!

In Bloom planting sessions, teaching young people about perennials.

Whilst you wait patiently for this, we’ll have it on display in Tewkesbury Abbey during February Half Term

with

In addition to this, we are extremely excited for the many events coming-up hosted by network members including The Roses, Tewkesbury Big Weekend, and The John Moore Museum.

In early June expect

some new opportunities across National Volunteers Week and Tewkesbury Live will bring us a brilliant mix of music again this July! Don’t forget to add September’s Heritage Open Days to your diary too. If you haven’t already, pop into the recently refurbished Library or book a session downstairs in The Lab, to experiment with some high-tech equipment!

Our regular meetings as a network take place every few months, they offer a chance for us to all catch up, share projects and see where there may be opportunities to collaborate.

We can’t wait to get started on next year’s events! From all at Tewkesbury Culture, we all hope you have a wonderful and thriving 2023. Follow @ tewkesburyculture on Instagram & Facebook for regular updates and ways to take part!

Shakespeare took over the buildings in 1958/59 to build his iconic record-breaking power boats. The company thrived on Bill’s innovation, and brought considerable activity to the area until tragedy struck. On October 23 1971 he was killed on Lake Windermere whilst practic-

ing for the British Grand Prix. The company he had built up went into decline and ten years later moved out of Tewkesbury completely, leaving the premises empty and neglected until 1986, when planning consent was given to build the four blocks which now occupy the area; Priors, Nailers, Collins and Shakespeare Courts. The development preserves the line of Prior’s Alley, albeit with a road bisecting it. The new alley section is in a very different style to the old, but not in a bad way. It is a quiet and pleasant reminder of the alley line.

The vista today is very different to the industrial past, and it is difficult to picture the stocking makers, nail makers, masons and boat build-

ers who in turn occupied the space. But they deserve to be remembered. Project Alleycat is looking to commission an artwork recalling the bygone trades. It would be located near the riverside, on Priors Alley. We want to involve residents and interested local peo-

ple in the design and creation of the work, under the lead of a professional artist.

If you would like to know more, or get involved, please email us at Tewksalley@outlook. com, or leave a message on Facebook; Tewkesbury Alleycats.

OUR ALLEYWAYS with Steve Goodchild

m Priors Alley Entrance

m Collins and Godfrey site 1930s

Discover the power of an Invisalign Smile

Not all clear aligners are the same. Only Invisalign clear aligners are made of SmartTrack material, so they are more comfortable to wear and easier to put on and take off.

Using the leading iTero scanner, a 3D digital image of teeth and gums can be created in minutes, providing simulated outcomes of treatment from patients.

Our mission is to provide inspiration, education, therapy and practice towards healthy, sustainable, creative lifestyles.

Our 4-acre organic

Visitors to The Fold can enjoy three beautiful nature trails, one around our lake, another through an old railway line in a forest setting

including an award winning 100% plant based & ethical hair salon, gift shops and other services.

Our natural therapy centre hosts an array of practitioners, offering holistic treatments and therapies.

Monthly covered Artisan markets are held from Mar-Dec on the first Sunday of each month, as well as seasonal family events throughout the year.

A host of talks, workshops and events supporting wellbeing, environmental issues and conscious living are also

on offer.

Indoor and outdoor spaces are available to hire for events and gatherings of all kinds including retreats, meetings, celebrations of life and concerts.

We have a small onsite community, which is supported by volunteers helping the market garden, care farm and events teams.

So come visit us for a walk, lunch, a bit of shopping, to participate in a workshop or all of these things. We are a friendly team and love welcoming new guests to The Fold.

market garden and two polytunnels are managed using minimum tillage, green manures and crop rotation.

At the heart is our dog friendly café, serving fresh organic produce primarily from the market garden onsite, as well as supporting local, seasonal and ethical producers from as close as we can source. We like to say that food travels only ‘FEET’ and not ‘MILES’ to get to your plate.

and finally the third, alongside the river Teme.

These natural spaces are supported by donations to maintain and conserve a variety of species of plants & wildlife, through our biodiversity management plan.

The nature trails and café are both firm favourites for local dog walkers, explorers and families.

We have a collection of artisan craft, art and creator studios onsite,

by reader Ash Pienaar

TEWKESBURY REPAIR CAFÉNext session due 21st January. Please double check before travelling. Held in Tewkesbury Baptist Church, 2-5 pm.

GREENER TOGETHER EVENTS - Tewkesbury Library - Cate Cody: Zero Waste and Green Living Talk - Wednesday 25th January, 7-8pm. All welcome. Free event, no booking required.

WARM AND WELCOME - look out for information about local spaces such as the Town Hall, Watson Hall,

Library, Baptist Church and possibly others. It’s a good way to keep warm and many are offering fun, free activities.

TEWKESBURY NATURE RESERVEAnd just like that, it’s 2023! Happy new year!

It is definitely feeling like winter at the nature reserve, with regular bouts of flooding leaving the fields soggy and water logged one week, then slightly drier the next and beautiful bouts of frost lining the grass and leaves. As tempera-

tures get colder, some of our animal species are hibernating, with our bat and hedgehog species likely to be warm, cosy and sleeping right the way through to March/April. Our bird species and resident otters do not hibernate though so if you are lucky enough you may be able to spot them if you and fancy a wonderful winter walk through the reserve – we just recommend a pair of wellies!

The Green Lung Project is still running until the end of March 2023 at the reserve, with volunteering opportunities, art workshops and other events in the pipeline for 2023! Fancy taking ownership of your local water spaces? Come along to our Citizen Science group which runs twice a month. Or fancy helping manage the practical aspects of the reserve? Come along to our working party groups. For more information on volunteering and how to get involved please email our volunteer co-ordinator Giles at volunteers@tewkesburynaturereserve.org.u k or visit our website on tewkesburynaturereserve.org.uk/supportus/reserve-volunteering/. We have our penultimate Green Skills for Green Recovery Workshop titled ‘Bringing it all together: Managing a Community Flood Plain Nature Reserve’, which will be held on Zoom on Wednesday 11th January from 19:30 – 20:30. To sign up and check updates on other events please visit our website on tewkesburynaturereserve.org.uk/eve nts-calendar-2022/. You can sign up to our mailing list here too to be the first to hear updates!

From January to March we are hoping to run several art workshops, set up a monthly ‘wood whittle and wander’ group, as well as run a collaborative walk and talk with the John Moore Museum and our Nature Guardians group so please keep an eye out on updates on our social media pages and the website page linked.

If you have been involved in the Green Lung Project we would be really grateful for your help in evaluating the project. Findings from the evaluation will help support learning for the reserve and will be crucial in providing evidence for future funding applications to help extend some of the valuable work of the project. Our current funding is due to run out in March 2023 so we are actively seeking funds at the moment. Please email Robyn at learning@ tewkesburynaturereserve.org.uk to find out more about how to help and complete the survey.

BNATURAL REFILL SHOP - Save unnecessary plastic packaging whilst supporting local, independent traders. Barton Street, Tewkes bnaturaloil.co.uk/refill

PRIOR’S PARK NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECT (PPNP)Creative sheds drop in every Tuesday and Friday 10am - 2pm. Just turn up and use existing skills or learn some new ones, all welcome including beginners.

STONEHILLS

COMMUNITY GROUPIf you live on the estate, and would like to receive emails, please contact catecody99@gmail.com

OUT & ABOUT with Jack B. Walker

Just before Christmas I took a stroll to a village near to my home to see if the early snowdrops had shown their heads, and sure enough they had, writes Jack B. Walker.

There are many great spots to see snowdrops in this lovely county; Colesbourne is a true spectacle, but I think my personal favourite is The Rococo Garden at Painswick.

nificent show of snowdrops. A very popular attraction at this time of year; the gardens re-open towards the end of January. For tickets see www.rococogarden.org. uk

These 17th century landscape gardens with a wealth of follies (pictured above and top right), are celebrated for their mag-

Access to Colesbourne Park may be more difficult this year as the A435 between Charlton Kings and Seven Springs will be closed following a landslide. But it’s worth the detour: the parkland boasts over 300 varieties of snowdrop, and is normally open to the public for five weeks from the end of January. See colesbournegardens.org. uk for details

Many of your readers will be aware of the huge increase in demand for antibiotics, writes pharmacist Peter Badham.

This is many in children under 5 , who are at risk of catching Strep A.

This is a bacterial infection that can give the patient a sore throat, red swollen tonsils and a rise in temperature and difficultly breathing.

We have seen a massive rise in children's infections, which are due in part to a loss of resistance due to Covid , when there was less social contact.

To date we have managed to meet the demand, we have used about two months of antibiotics in a week!

The good news is antibiotics will kill the infection quickly and the child may be able to go back to nursery within 24-48 hours of starting the antibiotic

If you have any concerns always speak to one of our pharmacists, we are here to help.

with Peter Badham