By Saul Cooke-Black

SNJ reporter Saul Cooke-Black delves into the archives.

1965

A LABORATORY assistant from Stonehouse proved that viewers in Stroud district would be able to watch the new BBC 2 programmes which started in September.

John Parsons was able to pick up a ‘very good signal’ when the programmes were shown for the first time and said his pictures was just as good as the BBC1 and ITV channels.

SIGNATURES were being collected in Slad for a petition calling on the Minister of Education not to close the village school.

The local education authority had planned to close the school and transfer the small number of pupils to Uplands.

Parents and petitioners were concerned the decision would lead to overcrowding at the Uplands school.

A LANDLADY served her last pint at the Bell Inn in Brimscombe after working for more than half a century at the pub.

Emily Tuffley was born in the pub and had only been away from the building for eight nights in her life – and six of them had been on her first holiday in 55 years.

She announced her retirement at the age of 78.

The Bell Inn, which was 400 to 500 years old, closed at the same time.

1975

TWO police chiefs carried out their last patrol after decades of service.

Special superintendent Rex Griffiths and special chief inspector Maurice Langham announced their retirement at the age of 70, after a total of 37 years service at Stroud Police Station.

The two officers were thanked for their service at a parade at the police station.

BOMB disposal units were called to Stonehouse after an unexploded hand grenade was found by workmen clearing a derelict property in Midland Road.

A police spokesman said the grenade did not have a detonator and would only have been dangerous if someone had hit it with a hammer.

1985

A PIG roast and family day at The Carpenters Arms in Westrip raised nearly £1,500 for local causes.

The pig, supplied by Bovis Homes, was put to roast at 5.30am, with members of FC Westrip being sponsored to turn it until it was served at 8pm.

The money raised went to the National Children’s Home, Ebley, St Roses Special School and Randwick Playgroup, Randwick Church and the Shrubberies School.

A CAPACITY crowd of 1,000 packed into Stratford Park Leisure Centre for one of the biggest Christian youth events Stroud had ever seen.

The audience heard Christian rock band, Heartbeat, drama group Back to Back Theatre Co and evangelist Gary Gibbs.

The concert was the final event of a two week ‘Sound of Rain’ project, organised by Stroud District Youth with churches across Stroud.

1995

FORMER BBC political correspondent John Cole was guest of honour at Owlpen Manor near Uley.

John and his wife Madge stayed at the Owlpen for three nights as part of a visit to the stately home for the BBC’s Holiday programme.

CHURCHGOERS in Stroud created a room full of smiling faces when they donated 30 bibles to a local primary school.

Pupils at Parliament School received the bibles from vicars Tom Merry and John Crocker after worshippers from the Trinity Ecumenical Partnership raised the money.

A 12-HOUR celebration was held by Churches Together in Stroud to mark the 50th anniversary of Christian Aid.

A giant birthday card made by pupils from primary schools was displayed at the Baptist Church in John Street.

An exhibition showing 50 years of peace work by Christian Aid was also displayed while drama, games and music kept visitors entertained.

2005

THE brother of a Stroud man shot dead in a boundary dispute featured on a hard-hitting CD aimed at reducing gun crime.

Bob Alliss spoke emotionally about the day his brother died on the Don’t Trigger CD which was played on MTV and UK radio stations.

Tony Alliss was fatally wounded and his son Leigh injured by a shotgun in a boundary argument near his King’s Stanley home in 1990.

NINE Roman coins unearthed on a Nailsworth farm were officially declared treasure.

The coins, discovered by metal detector enthusiast Wayne Jacobs, were at least 95 per cent silver filigree and dated back to between 360 and 383 AD.

They had been issued by the emperors of that period from mints in southern France and Italy.