The SNJ take a look back through the decades at some Stroud nostalgia. 

1967

  • THE Stroud constituency MP was victorious in the Donkey Derby.

An audience of 5,000 watched the Conservative back bencher, Anthony Kershaw led from start to finish in a dominant display of donkey driving.

Mr Kershaw has raced home from Paris specifically to attend the event.

He had been participating in a Ford Fountain conference regarding the technological gap between America and Europe. He landed in Stroud at 11.45am and was ready to race and eventually win at 4pm the same day.

  • THE 60th anniversary of scouting was celebrated with a rally at Miserden Park.

Unfortunately, almost 6 inches of rain had fallen the day before the rally, resulting in a mud bath.

Fighting through monsoon conditions the scouts performed their duties admirably but the rally was abandoned when it was decided conditions were not safe.

1977

  • THERE were celebrations for the Queen’s silver Jubilee across the Five Valleys.

A 25ft high Silver Jubilee beacon was built on Selsley Common by a team of a dozen volunteers.

The beacon took a week to build and was lit on the Tuesday night, watched by a large crowd.

Further celebrations were made in a wide number of schools and Nursery’s with crowns a common fancy dress.

  • LOCAL actress Daphne Neville of Stroud was given a part in the ‘The Archers.’ The Archers was the longest running radio serial of the time and it was an honour for Daphne to be chosen.

She played the Irish barmaid ‘Nora Macaulay,’ following the death of Julian Mark who had played the character for 11 years.

1987

  • A GROUP of children and staff from the Shrubberies School in Stonehouse returned victorious from a Special Olympics on the Isle of Wight. 

The 13 children competed in field and track events, winning a grand total of 13 medals between them. 
The games were the biggest of its kind this side of the Atlantic and attracted nearly 2000 competitors.
As well as competing the children attended sports workshops and coaching clinics. 

  • A STROUD-based navigator was awarded two sought after accolades. 

Dag Pike captured the imagination of the nation when he helped Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Challenger break the Atlantic speed record. 
Dag and the rest of the crew were presented with the Seagrave trophy for outstanding contribution to transport. 

1997

  • FORMER Stroud High School pupil Rebecca Blech returned home to give the final performance of her highly acclaimed one-woman show. 

Rebecca from Avening took her performance of Jane Austen’s parody, ‘The History of England,’ to Minchinhampton Church. 
Her show was toured around the Middle-East and Cyprus as well as across Britain. 

2007 

Enforcement officers were told to patrol the streets and hand out penalties of up to £80.

 Speaking at the time an SDC spokesperson said: “These laws will bring a greater sense of civic pride.
“Hopefully it will encourage more people to come to this town.”