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

1966

A 16-YEAR-OLD globetrotter returned to England after seven weeks of touring the Continent.

Beris Hanks, of Stonehouse, set out alone in July with the money he had saved from a weekend job as a petrol pump attendant.

He travelled from London to Istanbul, before going on to visit countries including Syria and Athens.

CALLS were made for Minchinhampton and Selsley Commons to be included in the designated Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Draft proposals for the AONB omitted the commons to the disappointment of some councillors at the Stroud Rural Council.

It was suggested that a proposal should be put forward to the Minister of Housing and Local Government that the area be included.

AN INSTRUMENT factory was to close because of the credit squeeze.

Derritron Instruments, of Parklands, Cainscross, decided to move to Hastings to make more efficient use of their resources and take up vacant factory space.

More than 40 workers were affected, but they were offered alternative jobs if prepared to move to Hastings.

The factory made electrical and electronic instruments.

They had been based in Stroud for six years, after buying out Doran Instruments who came to the town in 1945.

1976

MORE than 400 Christians of all denominations in Nailsworth signed a petition against the making of a film on the sex life of Jesus Christ.

The petition to the Prime Minister was organised the vicar, the Rev J. A. Lewis, who said the action had been taken following concerns by local people about the proposed film by Dane Jens Jorgen Thorsen.

“The petition also supports the protests made already by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, and others,” the Rev Lewis told the News and Journal.

ROMAN tiles were unearthed from the grounds of St Laurence Church in Stroud.

Several pieces of Roman hypocaust tiles were discovered by Peter Young and his son, Timothy.

One piece appeared to have original plaster still adhering to it.

It came after several findings of Roma relics in the area.

The tiles were handed to Stroud museum.

1986

THE face of shopping in Stroud town centre was set to change dramatically.

Three new chemists had arrived, two new travel agents were on the way and tenancies for most of the High Street shops had been agreed.

By Christmas Hallmark cards, Dixons electrical goods and Pickfords travel agency would be trading alongside Boots the chemists in the newly pedestrianised High Street.

Lloyds chemists had just opened two new shops, one in Merrywalks and the other under the name of Cooks Chemists at the Slad Road junction with Locking Hill.

A MAJOR study of 6,000 Stonehouse residents was being planned by health official to try and find the answers to the meningitis menace in the Stroud district.

Gloucester District Health Authority were planning to take throat swans and blood tests from everyone in Stonehouse, the town where one child had died and several had been struck down with the disease.

The plan was to investigate how the B15 meningococcus’ germ was spreading through the community, whether some parts of the town had different levels of immunity and which age groups had been infected without showing any signs of illness.

Enquiries were being made by the South Western Regional Health Authority into the practicality of the idea.

1996

MORE than people 1,000 turned dancers for the day as a new world record was attempted in Stroud High Street.

The attempt for the most dancers in a line-dancing group took place as part of the Stroud Fringe Festival.

Organiser Terry Trimmer was hoping to smash the world record of 1,030 line dancers as shoppers, visitors and festival-goers took part.

2006

ARTISTS and politicians were hoping to rejuvenate Stroud’s Bank Gardens to make the area a focal point for leisure.

Stroud town councillors planned to transform the gardens with artistic railings, benches and live community events.

They ordered three new tastefully painted benches and discussed making safety improvements such as new railings to encourage more people to use the area.