By Saul Cooke-Black

SNJ reporter Saul Cooke-Black delves into the archives.

1965

THREE revolvers were handed in at Stroud Police Station after a gun amnesty was announced by the Home Secretary.

The amnesty, which lasted for three months, meant that weapons and ammunition could be checked in at any police station without questions being asked.

FOUR students raised £2,300 by completing a relay walk from Land’s End to Glasgow in aid of the Save the Children Fund.

Having trekked through heavy rain, the youngsters were given a heroes’ reception when they were met in Stroud by members of the local branch of the charity.

AN RSPCA inspector from Stroud helped save a Friesian heifer which was trapped in a 20 foot deep cavern in Wotton-under-Edge.

Bernard Lunn led the three-hour rescue operation of the 15-month-old animal by digging a passage through the clay with the help of firefighters.

The animal was lying unconscious but was dragged to the surface and revived.

1975

A SHOP owner was retiring after running Doverow Stores in Stonehouse for 35 years.

Gwen Lewis took over the store in 1940 when rationing measures were in place and the Air Ministry had taken over Wycliffe College.

She ran the store in Bath Street with her mother until 1948, before taking sole ownership after her mother passed away.

FRAMPTON-ON-SEVERN won the Bledisloe Cup for the best kept large village for the third time, beating Leonard Stanley which finished second.

Frampton had previously won the competition in 1936 and 1970, while Leonard Stanley had triumphed in 1972.

The competition was organised by the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

A GARDENING enthusiast was claiming the record for the largest grown cucumber in Gloucestershire.

William Dow, from Brimscombe, said he had never grown or seen anything like the freak Siamese cucumber, measuring 19 inches in length and 11 inches at its widest point. 1985 A CAMPAIGN to raise around £20,000 to get the bells of Eastington Church ringing again was launched.

The bells had not been rung for several years due to structural faults which meant any prolonged ringing would damage the tower.

Celia Harris, leading the campaign, got the fund rolling by offering for sale five of her six pedigree Labrador pups.

The sixth, aptly named Belle, she was keeping.

A SHEEPSCOMBE man was nursing a swollen leg after a good deed turned sour.

Jeremy Dunnett was travelling from Painswick to Sheepscombe when he came across some stray horses in the road.

He stopped to try and lead one of the horses away when the animal turned and kicked Mr Dunnett into the bushes.

Fortunately his leg was not broken and the horses were safely retrieved.

1985

Top of the Pops – Rachel Vantwell 1995 A BOXER went into the ring and beat off 375 opponents to come out top of a national championship.

In her 22nd challenge certificate, Roamaro Scotch Mist won best of breed at the British boxer club show.

The dog, owned by Marion Ward-Davies from Stanley Downton near Stonehouse, was no stranger to success having been named top boxer in the UK just one year before.

A TOWN crier from Nailsworth was selected to take part in a special VJ Day parade in London in front of the Queen.

Tony Evans was one of only nine criers who would march in an arrow head formation with the Queen’s town crier from Constitution Hill to Buckingham Palace.

The Queen would take the salute as the town criers marched past.

SHORTS worn by Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras were the star attraction at a fete at Weavers Croft nursing home in Stroud.

The shorts, donated by the American tennis player, were being auctioned off along with a rugby shirt worn by Gloucester and England player Mike Teague.

2005

A DETRMINED pensioner completed a sponsored swim at Stratford Park Leisure Centre, despite suffering from arthiritis in his shoulders.

Les Pugh, 90 in 2005, swam four lengths of the pool with his grand-daughter Limara Davis and her friend Stacey Phillips in aid of the World Cancer Research Fund.

Les, a former bowel cancer sufferer, said he wanted to help others overcome the disease.

A WAR hero from Minchinhampton visited Buckingham Palace for a special event marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War Ken Bucknell was awarded the 39-45 Star, the Victory in Europe Star, the Air Crew Star and the Victory Star for his contribution to the war effort. Along with other veterans and dignitaries, Mr Bucknell enjoyed a lunch with the Queen, Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher before hearing a speech from Her Majesty in honour of the veterans.