SNJ reporter Saul Cooke-Black looks back at news from across the decades.

1966

SNOW caused chaos on roads across the Stroud district causing bus services to be cancelled and vehicles abandoned.

Two buses had to be abandoned at Butterrow and services had to be terminated on certain routes before their destination.

More than half of the pupils at Manor School in Eastcombe arrived into school by mid-morning.

Children from Miserden and Oakridge were unable to travel to school.

A driver had to be freed by a passer-by after he trapped his leg against a wall when his vehicle slipped on ice in the Theescombe area.

Fortunately his injuries were not serious.

FAREWELLS were said to a long-serving Sunday school teacher at the Baptist Church in Frampton Mansell.

A surprise presentation was given for Ms J Walker during the annual party and prize giving at the church where she had served for 61 years.

She first joined the school as a scholar and then as a teacher, serving three generations of boys and girls.

Ms Walker said the Sunday school had always been her life but now she felt it was time for someone else to take up the role.

A WELL-KNOWN postman who had walked every inch of the Brimscombe area during 28 years Post Office service retired.

Leslie Holloway, who first became a postman in Stroud in 1937, took off his number 51 badge for the last time and bade farewell to his colleagues.

Colleagues presented a barometer to Mr Holloway at a gathering at the Brimscombe office as farewells were said.

1976

NEW figures for 1975 showed an increase in the number of motorists driving under the influence of alcohol in Whitminster.

Nineteen drivers had been prosecuted for the charge in Whitminster, seven more than the previous year.

AN EXHIBITION of paintings and models in the Sub Rooms showed what students thought Stroud would be like in 25 years’ time, in 2001.

Many of the paintings included airports and several bargained on the completion of a controversial ring road.

One Stroud High School student wrote about how life would be in Stroud after a Russian invasion.

Another predicted the prices of goods in 25 years, perhaps wishfully estimating that orange squash would remain prices at 13 and a half p while a loaf of bread would increase in price from 16p to £1.10.

An Archway School pupil predicted an end to buses, which he said would be replaced by ‘zephydes’, a superior form of transport.

1986

THE new chairman of Stroud Show Peter Chapman was drawing up plans for a spectacular event.

It was announced that the Band of the 15th/19th The King’s Royal Hussars would lead the carnival procession at the event in July.

Mr Chapman, from Minchinhampton, had been the society’s treasurer for several years and was this year taking over the mantle of being chairman of the show.

A STAR player was banned from playing in the Stroud Valley School football team because she was a girl.

Eve Moore, 11, said she was ‘upset’ and wanted to play but was made to sit on the sidelines because of the English Schools Football Association rules.

The association did not legislate for mixed teams and refused to make an allowance.

Team coach Vic Lewis said it was a ‘great pity’ as Eve was the team’s ‘best player.

Eve’s mother, Sue, said the decision was ‘ridiculous’ and had made her very angry.

1996

A LEONARD Stanley girl was enjoying new found independence after receiving an electric wheelchair from the BBC.

Kaly Torres received the full automated chair when Blue Peter presenter Katy Hill made a special visit to her home.

The St Rose’s School pupil became the first youngster in the country to receive a wheelchair after Blue Peter’s paper chain appeal target – to reach 5,000 tonnes of quality waste paper 0 was reached.

FRIENDS and family were mourning the death of the woman who was the first ever Stroud Show Queen.

Margaret Redall, from Horns Road, Stroud, was crowned in the first ever carnival queen competition at the Stroud Show in 1932 at the age of just 15.

She passed away at Stroud Hospital aged 78.

2006

PARENTS heaved a sigh of relief after new premises were found for a Stroud nursery.

Beanstalk Nursery had been running at Stroud College since 1992 but in June staff were shocked to discover plans to create a new state-of-the-art-college which did not include space for a childcare facility.

But Stroud District Council found the nursery new premises in the old tennis pavilion at Stratford Park Leisure Centre.

The rooms were being refurbished to make them suitable for a nursery.

STRIKING council staff demonstrated at Ebley Mill following a dispute over pay and conditions.

Members of public sector workers’ union UNISON – which represented around 40 per cent of Stroud District Council’s 615 staff – had voted in favour of the walk-out earlier in the month.

It was the first of a series of one-day strikes which had been planned.