WE are in the process of enjoying a plethora of Bank Holidays.

The lateness of Easter means there will be four in thirty nine days.

After that there is just one in a period of over six months. One in mid-October could be used to great advantage. Perhaps a day for early Christmas shopping or enjoying the leaves turning colour as autumn approaches.

This springtime batch of holidays affords us all many opportunities. In the varied exciting county there are so many thrilling events to attend. Wacky races at Tetbury is a delight, some of the vehicles have to be seen to be believed.

At Amberley you can hunt a cow. Shin kicking takes place at the wonderful Cotswold Olympics on Dover Hill. Duck races take place at Lechlade and South Cerney.

The street fair there is perhaps my favourite function.

The events and stalls reflect the life of this active village.

All age groups play a part in showing how the local community pulls together. By the way they manage the parking very efficiently. I am sure it is the same in the south west of our area where the Winterbourne Carnival has much to offer.

The most striking of course is the Cheese Rolling at Coopers Hill. This year it takes place on Monday, May 27.

This unique event attracts international attention, and mightily so. It is something that shows the courage and commitment of our young people. The hill is steeper and the cheese rolls down at great speed. Racing after it is not for the faint hearted.

The event has, quite rightly, survived the attention of the health and safety police.

It is a true Gloucestershire tradition and part of Cotswold culture.

We are rightly proud of our county regiment, many of us lamenting the loss to county and country of the Glorious Glosters.

Many of those fighting for monarch and country will have chased cheeses down Cooper Hill. To do both you have to have courage and confidence.

Even when I was of chasing age I would have bottled it. Playing football in the river at Bourton-on-the-Water would have been my limit, Mrs Light would settle for racing a duck at South Cerney.