IT HAS been a year in which considerable focus and events took place in Slad, celebrating the centenary of Laurie Lee, with the BBC also filming a new adaptation of Cider With Rosie.

Filming also took place in Painswick with an adaptation of JK Rowling’s book Casual Vacancy and an advert for Boots.

The council has been investing in the development of social networking; please check out our Twitter account @lovepainswick and our Facebook page. LovePainswick Business Group are busy engaging in ways to increase footfall, support events and establishing networks, which will benefit the community.

The parish council joined forces with The Orchard Group and St Mary’s Church to hold The Painswick Feast.

The Tour of Britain raced by cheered on by a good crowd and the children of Croft Primary School.

The Easter Egg Hunt around Painswick was supported by record numbers.

In commemoration of the First World War, Cllr Ann Daniels attended a service in Gloucester Cathedral and read out the names of Painswick’s fallen, a lighted candle was placed at the war memorial whilst all other lights were extinguished for an hour, St Mary’s Church bell was tolled 43 times, twice, and the History Society held an exhibition in the town hall.

The opening of the Painswick Youth and Community Pavilion took place on a lovely day in June. A project is now under way to improve the play equipment on the recreation ground. Traffic concerns have been reported by all of the wards and this year saw the setting up of the Community Speed Watch group. I would like to thank everyone in our villages, who volunteer, put on events, take part in clubs or organisations, fundraise and generally contribute to making our Parish a wonderful place to live, work and visit.

Martin Slinger, chairman of Painswick Parish Council