REHEARSALS for the Jill Woods theatre company production of Dracula Spectacula are now in full swing. "The cast are having a wonderful time rehearsing," said Jill, "and they're really looking forward to the opening night." Cast members Alex Farrow (Dracula
SHORTWOOD will face a tricky home test against Hellenic rivals Bishops Cleeve in the FA Vase first round after comfortably defeating Cullompton Rangers at Meadowbank on Saturday. Mark Sumpter and Ian Freebreey's side have already felt the full-force of
A STONEHOUSE D-Day veteran is set to return to his former post in Burma 60 years after he witnessed its liberation from the Japanese - and met its future dictator. Kenneth Bartlett, 86, took part in the final British landing in Rangoon and later returned
FORMER Marling schoolboy Rob Brown has had 'snow' problem adapting to life in one of America's most popular Rocky Mountain ski resorts. Rob, 36, and his wife, Helen, 31 have set up the first European style chalet in Colorado's third largest resort, Winter
SHORTWOOD will face a tricky home test against Hellenic rivals Bishops Cleeve in the FA Vase first round after comfortably defeating Cullompton Rangers at Meadowbank on Saturday. Mark Sumpter and Ian Freebreey's side have already felt the full-force of
As co-owner of the successful Chalford foundry Pangolin Editions, Rungwe Kingdon always dreamed of giving something back to Uganda, where he spent a wonderful childhood. But when he hit on the idea of combining his passion and expertise to introduce bronze
BEEKEEPERS in Stroud are refusing to be stung by Government plans to cut costs to a national bee health scheme. The government is planning to cut the Honeybee Health Programme by £1/4-million. Although some business leaders have raised concerns, keepers
AN UNUSUAL night of music comes to the Subscription Rooms in Stroud this weekend when Keith James plays tribute to The Songs of Nick Drake. In the early 1970s, Nick Drake went largely unnoticed, as he was assumed to be too fragile, insular and pained
A BURGER van owner has called for action against fly-tippers who dump everything from sofas to asbestos in the lay-by he works in. And Julian Court has expressed concern that the highly dangerous substance, which can cause cancer and scarring of lung
MORE than 70 residents turned out to discuss the problem of sewage leaking into Ruscombe Brook amid claims that £4 million has been wasted on inadequate solutions. Locals residents met with council officials, Severn Trent Water chiefs and Stroud MP David
FOREST GREEN and the Cotswold and Stroud Hate Crime Action Group are calling on children to help them kick racism out of football in the county. To promote Anti-Racism week of Action 2005, the conference club and the Cotswold and Stroud Hate Crime Action
HORSLEY director David Manzi-Fe's Laughing Orange theatre company return to the fray with a new production of one of Gloucestershire-born screenwriter and playwright Dennis Potter's finest plays, Blue Remembered Hills, this month. Blue Remembered Hills
Chelt North 32 Stroud 24 EACH side scored three tries in this well balanced and entertaining game. The difference, for Stroud at least, was to hang on to the ball for longer periods and not hand it back, on average every three minutes during the first
THE band played and the sun shone as hundreds of people of all ages turned out for an action-packed afternoon at Stroud Fire Station open day on Sunday. Throughout the afternoon fire-fighters showcased their skills during a range of demonstrations that
A BUNGLED DIY job by a mystery Good Samaritan has forced a Stroud church to maintain an open door policy - whether it wants to or not. The would-be handyman caused chaos at the Congregational Church in Bedford Street by cementing an ornamental pyramid
COUNCIL chiefs have appealed to private landowners to help ease the problem of affordable housing in the Stonehouse area. Stroud District Council representatives met to discuss the issue on Thursday in the latest in a series of seminars on low-cost housing
OLD age comes to us all, and birthdays past the age of 21 are hardly a time to celebrate, but even at the grand old age of 37 Gary Owers certainly had something to smile about. Forest Green's boss may have edged closer to the 40 mark on Monday, but his
A HOLIDAY in Stroud was perhaps the last thing Five Valleys mother and daughter Carole Stafford and Donna Bott were hoping for, but when they took part in the latest BBC holiday series - Holidays at Home - that was precisely what they got. Donna, 40,
A 60-YEAR-OLD Stroud man was told not to mix cannabis plants with his tomatoes when he appeared before magistrates. David Fletcher, of Beeches Green, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis plants and to possessing cannabis after police found the drugs
