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June 2011

No. 112

Nailsworth 

 News


A free monthly community paper for the 
parish of Nailsworth, available in colour on 
our website www.nailsworthnews.org.k. 

Summer festivals

Important local business was taking place last 
month - the election of a new Town Council, the 
return of the Mayor and his deputy to office and the 
continuing fight to save local services such as the 
Library. However, town residents have also been 
enjoying the relaxing events that come with summer. 
Nailsworth Festival, now in its 27th year, was as 
full of interest as ever - see our pictures on page 20. 
This week-long event is brought to us by a group of 
very hardworking volunteers, and we owe them our 
grateful thanks. 

The Yellow-Lighted Book Festival follows hard 
on the heels of the town festival. It is running from 
2nd - 12th June, so there may be still be time to get 
tickets for events. Why not call in at the Fountain 
Street shop to check it out?

Another recent outdoor event was Newmarket 
Fete, which as ever was very well attended and 
featured live music as well as all kinds of other stalls, 
events and good food and drink (pictures below). 

Police to have post in Library

The fight to save a library service in the 
face of major budget cuts continues, with 
many organisations getting involved. 
Gloucestershire Police Authority is an 
important partner but they too are being 
required to cut costs - as their Chair Cllr 
Rob Garnham puts it bluntly, ÔWe simply 
must make savings.Õ No magic wand there, 
then. We await further details of the police 
'post' to be installed in the Library and its 
effect on both the viability of the Library 
itself, and on the police presence in our 
community. See also MayorÕs Report on 
page 3. 


This edition includes:

¥ The Arkell Community Centre 
- p3

¥ Threat to our buses - p5

¥ Green news - p7

¥ Nailsworth in the pink - p9

¥ WWII memories - p12-13

¥ Business news - p14-17

¥ Local dramatic society 
produces commissioned play 
- p19

¥ Sport - p21-22.


1



2

 Nailsworthy 

Free monthly 
newspaper for 
Nailsworth parish

Published by the Nailsworth 
News team: next meeting 7 pm, 
8th June.

Photographer: Martin Stone. 
Production: Leopard Press, 
Layout: NN. 

Editor: Jo Lloyd 833092, editor@
nailsworthnews.org.uk 

or c/o And Clothes, Market Street

Asst. & Sports Editor: Martin 
Stone 833132, martinstone@xln.
co.uk

Business Editor: Bill 
Affleck 832619, business@
nailsworthnews.org.uk

Youth: Mike Kilcooley, youth@
nailsworthnews.org.uk

Advertising: Chris Tetley 
833587, nnadverts@yahoo.co.uk

Hard copy and payment: c/o 
Shiny Goodness, Fountain St.

Distribution: Don Luke 832812, 
distribution@nailsworthnews.
org.uk

WhatÕs On: Tina Ginn 835295, 
whatson@nailsworthnews.org.uk

Postal subscriptions at £6 per 
year: Joan Rowbotham 833110

Advertising rates: £5 + £12 per 
unit of 60 x 30 mm (w x h):

¥ Larger than 3 units only if 
space permits

¥ £1 discount per unit for three 
insertions if booked and paid 
in advance

¥ £5 surcharge for a specific 
page

Space is limited and Nailsworth 
advertisers take priority. Payment 
in advance please: cheques to 
Nailsworth News.

Deadline for editorial, advertising, 
copy and payment: 15th of the 
month (there is no paper in 
January or August).


Rosemary Sumpter

Rosemary came to Gloucestershire in the early 
1970s, eventually settling in Nailsworth in 1983. In 
the following year, her parents and grandfather moved 
into the adjoining cottage; looking after her son and 
two daughters, together with the extended family, was 
a hugely enjoyable and time-consuming commitment. 
The property had once been owned by the poet Sydney 
Dobell, and in 1997 the Nailsworth Festival Walk 
included a half-way tea break in the garden where 
David Walton recited some of the poetÕs verse to the 
walkers as they enjoyed their refreshment.

As her children grew up, Rosemary began to help at 
the playgroups they attended at Nailsworth, Horsley and Rodborough. She also became 
a volunteer in the original Tourist Information Office run by Vicky Jennings.

As an enthusiastic gardener, Rosemary delights in her large garden. She grows 
a variety of flowers, fruit and vegetables, some of which she sells at the Nailsworth 
Country Market, held every Friday morning in the Mortimer Room. In 2002, she 
helped promote this activity by joining her colleague Rosemary Davis in building 
a 10ft high papier machŽ ÔGiantÕ to represent Country Markets for the Nailsworth 
Festival Parade.

Some years ago, Rosemary answered a press appeal from local educational 
establishments requesting accommodation for overseas students. Since her initial 
response, she has provided a home for hundreds of student ÔlodgersÕ from all over 
Europe, North America, China and the Far East. Their length of stay has varied from 
2 and 3-day visits to experience life in the English countryside, to somewhat longer 
periods for others wishing to improve their language skills. Some stay for as long as 
six months to do work experience as part of their degree courses. She is obviously a 
very competent hostess; writing in the visitorsÕ book, Holger from Germany states that 
ÔRosemary is a very good cookerÕ. 

Over the years, Rosemary has kept contact with most of them, and, whenever she 
and husband Geoff travel in Europe, they can invariably find accommodation and 
renew old friendships with one or other of her ex-student lodgers.

Now, almost thirty years on, the family still play a very large part in her life. The 
adjoining cottage, once occupied by her parents, is now the home of her son and her 
grandchildren. She enjoys lifeÕs many challenges, and readily admits that, ÔNo two 
days are ever the sameÕ.

Mike Brinkworth


Ditch the workout! Ð Join the party! Get fit and have FUN!
Zumba fitness classesMonday 6 - 7 pm Nailsworth Comrades Club, 
[Nailsworth Primary School from 11 April]
Wednesday 8 - 9 pm Tetbury Leisure CentreThursday 10.30 - 11.30 am Nailsworth Subscription RoomsThursday 6 - 7 pm Wotton-under-Edge Under the Edge Arts CentreFriday 6 - 7pm Nailsworth Primary School starting 15 AprilSaturday 10.00 - 11.00 am Tetbury Leisure Centre£5 pay as you go, all fitness levels welcome.
Coming soon: ZUMBA GOLD, perfect for the active older adult or 
those who are new or returning to exercise after a break. 
For this class we use the same music and the same basic dance 
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ItÕs still a party, itÕs still a workout, just at a slower pace! 
This class is designed to be low impact. 
For more information call Ruth King 07734 886275
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Freshly baked selection of cakesGift boxed cupcakes.
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Views expressed in this paper are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Nailsworth News team. We reserve the right to edit or omit any material 
submitted for publication. No liability is accepted for loss or damage arising from any omission of copy or advertising. Material submitted for publication will only 
be returned if accompanied by a SAE. Nailsworth News is published and distributed entirely by volunteers, with production costs defrayed by advertising. More 
volunteers are always welcome - if you would like to join the team, please get in touch with the Editor. 



Nailsworth Town Council

Town MayorÕs Report

Well, itÕs the start of a four year term 
for the new Town Council, with 
six new recruits who have volunteered to 
work for their community.

I would like to take this opportunity 
to pay tribute to Ian Crawley who was 
unsuccessful at the recent election. 
Although he had only been on the 
Council for 2 years he certainly made 
an impression on us all and fortunately for us he is still 
willing to work with the Council on its working 
parties.

Later this month should see the opening of the 
Arkell Centre with many community facilities 
already booked to operate from there. Please come 
along to the Open Day on 25th June, 10 am-4 pm, 
and have a good look round this superb facility.

The community groups have already made an 
impression on the town gardens with a great many 
positive comments being received. Hopefully, 
many Nailsworth traders will join the venture to brighten 
up our town with flowers this summer.

It has been confirmed that the Police Station is to 
close and a Ôpolice postÕ will be installed in the back 
office of the Library. Our main concern is that the same 
level of police presence is maintained in Nailsworth as 
previously and that they are able to keep their vehicle. 
These issues will be taken up with the Chief Constable 
on your behalf.

We are still waiting to hear the details as to how the 
Library will manage its limited opening hours and how 
we, as a community, can at least double these hours with 
the help of volunteers.

Finally I would like to thank all those who 
elected me to serve on Nailsworth Town Council, 
and also my colleagues for electing me to serve as 
Chair/Mayor for another year. It is a great honour 
for me to be Mayor of the town in which I have 
lived all of my life.

Steve Robinson, 01453 834270, robinsons@
fsmail.net 


The Arkell Community Centre in Forest Green, Nailsworth 

An Open Day for residents and clubs to see NailsworthÕs new facility

Saturday June 25, 10 am - 4 pm 

The new Arkell Community Centre is next to the roundabout at the top of Nympsfield Road on the left hand side (follow signs for 
Forest Green Rovers). 

This building will be very versatile, with a flexible use main hall seating up to 100 people, a foyer for smaller gatherings, a first 
floor meeting room and office space, a great kitchen and ample storage. The Centre will rely on renewable energy to reduce costs 
and make it sustainable for many years. It is fully accessible to people with disabilities and parents with small children. If off-street 
parking is required for specific events, this is available at the Primary School when the school is closed, by booking through the 
Nailsworth Recreation Centre.

Please come along to our Open Day and see what the Arkell Community Centre could offer you.

For more information and to discuss bookings contact Linda Meletiou the Arkell Community Centre Charitable Trust Fund 
Secretary at Nailsworth Town Hall, phone 833592.

Sally Thorpe, Deputy Mayor

Note: the Arkell Community Centre is largely funded by (1) the European Agricultural Fund 
for European Development 2007-2013: Europe investing in rural areas - this funding project is 
delivered through the South West of England Regional Development Agency with Defra as the 
Managing Authority; (2) Gloucestershire Environmental 
Trust, with landfill tax contributions donated by Cory 
Environmental; and (3), the bequest of the late Frank 
Arkell.

On the left - a detail of the new building.


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3



Local affairs


What is happening in George 
Street? 

By the time you read this, there should be a 
three phase project taking place to work on 
the gas main which runs under George Street. If it 
is on schedule, you won't be in any doubt that it is 
happening!

The work is on behalf of Wales and West Utilities, with 
Morrisons carrying it out and the whole falling within the 
jurisdiction of Gloucester County Council Highways. It was 
originally due to happen before last Christmas, so at least it was 
not disrupting shopping during the festive season. 

¥ Phase one involves work between the mini-roundabout 
and where the road widens at the entrance to the George 
Street car park. Because this stretch of road is narrow, 
it is necessary to close it to all vehicular traffic. ThereÕll 
still be pedestrian access. This phase is expected to 
take about two weeks. Access to Morrisons and the 
George Street car park will still be possible from the 
Minchinhampton direction.

¥ Phase two covers the wider stretch of road past the 
Optical Shop, The Olive Tree and, possibly, the building 
occupied by Nailsworth Computers. There will probably 
be restricted access to George Street and to the George 
Street car park from both the mini-roundabout and the 
Minchinhampton direction. This phase is expected to 
take about a week.

¥ Phase three is once again on a narrow stretch and traffic 
will be barred from the Watledge turning back to the 
entrance to the car park. At the time of writing, it isnÕt 
clear what facility will be available to drivers wanting to 
get between Millbank or Pensile Road and the 'W'. The 
car park and the supermarket will be accessible from 
the mini-roundabout side during this phase, which is 
expected to take up to three weeks to complete.

The contractor will be working up to 8 pm in the evenings 
and there is hope of winning some time on this schedule. The 
important point is that the supermarket and the George Street car 
park will be accessible throughout Ð though with some detouring 
necessary to get to the current access direction - and that the 
George Street shops will continue to be open for business.

Is there another way? We talked to someone who 
remembered Raymond Baxter and TomorrowÕs World promoting 
a robot which could be set to trundle along underground pipes 
spraying new, impervious linings, onto the inside of the pipe and 
making it unnecessary ever again to dig them upÉ 

BA

After the local elections...

Nailsworth now has a 'new' 11-strong Town Council, as well 
as 2 new representatives on the District Council. For the 
first time in some while there has been no need for co-opted 
members (altough these have served the town well); all who 
were returned have a full mandate from us, the Nailsworth 
Electorate. 6 of the 11 Councillors are newly elected, although 
among the incoming group there is previous experience on 
NTC. They have a range of backgrounds, professions and 
beliefs, and so are well placed to represent our community 
effectively. 

We wish them all the best as they grapple with the issues 
now facing them. This is not an easy period in which to take 
public office. It doesn't need a Ph.D in economics to know that 
the town is facing some of the most difficult challenges that it 
has experienced in a very long time. Spending cuts are starting 
to bite. Our Youth Club has survived so far but the protracted 
fight to save a viable library and police presence is still 
ongoing; we hope to bring you more about the results in a later 
NN. After that, the attention may have to turn to other public 
services, such as subsidised transport (which is already being 
targeted - see overleaf). It all depends where the Government 
axe will be falling next.

What can we all do to help? Give the newcomers time to 
settle in, perhaps; and take an ever-keener interest ourselves 
in local affairs, since the Council will be needing our support 
in the cash-strapped months and years to come. It also seems 
inevitable that as services are progressively reduced, residents 
are going to have to do more themselves. To misquote John 
F Kennedy, the situation facing us may soon mean, ÔAsk not 
what Nailsworth can do for you; ask what you can do for 
Nailsworth.Õ

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4



Local affairs

Bus services under scrutiny to find 
savings

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) needs to save £2m 
from their transport budget. This means that they are looking 
hard at all their subsidised bus services to see how they can 
be changed to cost less. There is a review currently taking 
place to do this. 

Make no mistake, this is likely to affect Nailsworth 
residents. Our bus routes are on the list being considered for 
change or (at worst) stopping altogether: that is, services 40, 
46, 93, 261, 262, 263 and 264.

GCC is running a consultation from 16th May to 
27th June to give residents a chance to comment on local 
subsidised bus routes and their future. The Council states 
that, ÔWe need to find a better way of helping people get 
where they need to go. Our priority is to ensure that people 
can get to essential places including work, school and 
medical facilities.Õ 

The three options being considered in the review are:

¥ Asking bus companies to take over a service and run 
it without subsidy 

¥ Changing, reducing or stopping some services 

¥ Looking for flexible transport alternatives including 
community transport or other smaller vehicles to get 
people to essential services.

Full details are on the website at http://www.
gloucestershire.gov.uk/busreview. There is still time for 
you to comment. The only roadshow affecting Nailsworth 
has already happened, but you can also fill in a questionnaire. 
You can complete it at the website above, download and post 
it, or request a copy by ringing 01452 426263.

Timescale

Once the decisions have 
been made, things will 
move fast, with the first 
services being affected 
from the new academic 
year (early September 
2011), and a number of 
others changing from 
Sunday 23rd October 
2011. Information will 
be available from late 
August onwards, and 
the Council aims to have 
new timetables available 
two weeks before 
changes are made.

(Right: No. 46 at Nailsworth 
Bus Station - for now)


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Stroud CAB providing 
new service for over 
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Stroud and District Citizens Advice 
Bureau has been lucky enough to 
receive a grant from the Nationwide 
Foundation to increase their services to 
older people. If you would like advice, 
07815 166143 is a new telephone 
number just for those aged 65 and over, 
and will run until the end of 2011. All 
advice is independent and confidential. 
CAB can ring you back to keep down 
the cost of your call and if you are 
housebound, may be able to arrange a 
home visit. The under 65s can still ring 
the bureau for advice; use 08444 111 
444.

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5



Community

Raising a glass to local 
centenarian Bea

It isnÕt often that we celebrate 100 of 
anything (except in Test Matches!) 
but Beatrice (Bea) Emery celebrates 
her 100th Birthday on 5th June. Many 
congratulations!

Born in Bristol, Bea moved to Bath 
as a child during the First World War. 
It was there in 1933 that she met and 
married her husband Stanley. They 
had 6 children together before moving 
to Nailsworth in 1954, where she has 
remained ever since.

Bea believes that, ÔManÕs greatest achievement in the last 100 
years is the way in which travel has improved, opening up the 
world to everyone, including space travel, going from virtually 
only horse drawn vehicles to modern day transport.Õ Her fondest 
memories are of spending time with her family Ð her children, 
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She uses the marvels 
of modern travel by flying to the USA and Australia to visit her 
children. 

Bea has never smoked and drinks very little. Her recipe for a 
long life is, ÔTo keep busy and be as active as possible,Õ and she 
also believes that people should Ôrise to lifeÕs challenges and face 
them head-on.Õ A lesson there for us all!

MS


A thank you 
to our town 
chiropodist

Members of Nailsworth 
Old PeopleÕs Welfare 
Committee gathered 
at the Park Road 
Chiropody Clinic in 
May to say goodbye 
to popular chiropodist 
Jeff Lennon, who was 
moving to join his family 
in the Orkneys after 
more than eight years of 
much appreciated treatment for the over-60s of 
Nailsworth. Jeff (shown on the right) was presented 
with a print of the town by the Chairperson of the 
committee June Rees, to remind him of his time 
here. We wish Jeff and his family all good luck. 
Meanwhile, the Committee has been fortunate in 
securing the services of chiropodist Pippa Bryan. 
She has already met some of the patients, and is 
looking forward to continuing the weekly clinic 
on Wednesdays and Thursday mornings. If you are 
over 60 and need treatment, please ring 835215 for 
an appointment. 

Cleaning up our town

As ever, this year's Litter Pick (Spring 
Clean) was a lot of fun. The overall 
impression was that Nailsworth is 
cleaner than previous years. I suspect 
that this is because so many residents 
are now litter picking rather than that 
the amount of litter is decreasing. 
This year's haul included a Belisha 
beacon, lots of car and lorry tyres, 
an ironing board and a selection of 
asbestos guttering. Many thanks 
to Stroud Council, who supplied 
the litter collection kit and kindly 
collected the guttering. Much of the 
litter collected was recycled, so a 
big pat on the back to all those who 
took part, particularly the Rotarians 
who always turn up in strength of 
numbers.

DL

Shown on the right are some of the 
litter pickers after their labours. 
We are not sure why the organiser 
has disappeared behind the Belisha 
beacon... However, we owe our 
thanks to him and all those who gave 
up their free time to help with this 
unpleasant job. Ed.


Village Garden Servicesfor a friendly, 
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gardener, 
£10 per hour,
call Andy on 07968 209906
6



Community

Can the Jovial Foresters be saved?

The tradition of lifting 
a pint in The Jovial 
Foresters goes a very 
long way back, and the 
closure of this historic 
pub saddened many 
Nailsworth residents. Now 
a group of local people 
have got together to try 
and save it. The building 
is at present owned by 
a firm of redevelopment 
architects who wish to convert it into private dwellings. Peter 
Strachan, the spokesperson for the local group opposing this 
move, says, ÔIt is our intention to try and buy back the Jovials and 
reopen it as a traditional real ale pub. We feel strongly that this part 
of Nailsworth needs somewhere to call a centre, and the Jovials is 
the only possible place for that to happen. The trouble is that it is 
worth far more as a redevelopment than as a pub, so it all depends 
on whether Stroud District Council will grant the current owners 
change of use or not.Õ 

There must be others who feel the same. If you want more 
information, or to add your support to the move to restore The Jovial 
Forester to its place as a local Nailsworth pub, please call 833536.

Nigglesworth

Bonfires. Some people love them, and there are 
times when they are certainly useful. But they 
can also be a severe nuisance to neighbours. 
Which of us has not suffered from a garden full 
of someone elseÕs smoke at just the wrong time, 
covering our laundry with smut and sending us 
running for cover at the very moment when we 
wanted to sit outside or do some gardening?

There are no specific laws that prohibit garden 
bonfires, nor any which restrict them to certain 
hours of the day, days of the week or number per 
year. If, however, a garden bonfire causes what is 
called a Ôstatutory nuisanceÕ, a legal notice can be 
served on the person responsible requiring them 
to stop, and any person affected by a bonfire 
can also lodge a complaint at the Magistrates 
Court. But does it need to come to that? All that 
is required, surely, 
is that we all use our 
common sense about 
when a bonfire is 
harmless, and think 
hard about the effect 
on neighbours before 
striking that match. 


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ÔStanÕs PatchÕ - 
Rockness Orchard 
Group

Rockness residents have been 
meeting on the first Sunday 
morning of each month to 
tend the ÔpatchÕ. This is a 
very sociable work party and 
everyone is welcome. If you 
come, bring gloves and tools if 
possible (eg secateurs/shears/
fork.) All the fruit trees have 
been weeded, have now come 
into leaf and look fine. The first 
rhubarb and strawberries have 
been eaten. The grass is growing 
well, includes a good crop of 
hay rattle and looks better for 
its cut. The group is looking 
forward to a bigger and more 
varied fruit crop this year.

Bunting Hill key wildlife 
site

Grateful thanks go to the Midcounties 
Co-operative for the generous donation of 
£185 from their community fund towards 
the costs of Bunting Hill wildlife site. 
The payment follows an application from 
Bunting Hill Conservation Volunteers, 
who are working with Nailsworth Town 
Council to improve the site. The money 
will be used to buy bird boxes and 
dormouse tubes. The former will provide 
more nesting places for birds, (these places 
are apparently often in short supply), and 
the latter will allow a survey to be made to 
investigate whether dormice are present.

There has been good progress with 
scrub clearange over the winter, with 
the help of BTVC (British Trust for 
Conservation Volunteers) workdays, paid 
for by Nailsworth Town Council. 

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7



Community

Part-time youth workers 
wanted

It's good to be able to bring positive news from our 
Youth Club after the concerns about its funding 
earlier this year. Things are now going well enough 
that they are looking for part time workers for fixed 
term posts (until March 2012.)

The job will involve working in Nailsworth 
Youth Club with young people aged 8-19, building 
positive relationships and providing informal 
education. Experience with children or young 
people is desirable. Training can be provided. 
Payment will be in line with JNC (The Joint 
Negotiating Committee for Youth and Community 
Workers) and the grade offered will depend on 
experience and qualifications. 
Any offer of employment 
will be subject to passing an 
enhanced CRB check.

If you would like to know 
more or are interested in 
applying, please contact the 
Youth Worker Danica Emes 
(pictured right) on 833212.


Well done Sunny!

Sunny Samra of Lawnside Stores 
in Forest Green is following in his 
family's footsteps in his concern for 
others. Sunny was distressed at the 
sights of the Japanese earthquake 
and Tsunami so he designed a small 
poster, put it on a large tin and 
invited customers to donate their 
small change. His tin raised over 
£50. The photo shows him holding it 
outside the shop. It's a pleasure to be 
able to be able to report this, since 
itÕs a great example of the good that some of our youngsters 
do - if there are more stories like this, we would love to hear 
them. 


Midnight walks to support local hospice

Yes, itÕs midnight walk time again 
at Cotswold Care Hospice. All 
those who have been involved in 
past years will already know the 
feeling of achievement it gives to 
complete a route in the company 
of so many other local people 
and at the same time make a real 
contribution to the work of this 
excellent local service. The walks 
raise vital funds so that the charity 
can continue its much its needed 
support.

This year there is loads of 
pre-walk entertainment - show girls, singing, magicians and 
surprises. 

There are two (womenÕs) walks - 17th June, Cirencester 
and 2nd September, Gloucester. They will both start at 10 pm 
(note that this is earlier than in previous years). You can choose 
between a 5-mile and a 10-mile route. To find out more or sign 
up, go to www.makesomeonesnight.com.


Local hero

WeÕve been asked to pass 
on warm regards from the 
community to Tina Taylor, 
one of the staff in our local 
co-op. She is a star! - always 
cheerful, friendly, and ready 
to help out. If there are special 
offers, she will point them 
out, and she makes sure that 
store card owners donÕt forget to use their plastic. 
Thanks Tina, for showing us the meaning of good 
customer service with a smile.

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8



Community

Nailsworth goes pink to help prevent breast cancer 

Breast cancer rates are on the increase, so it is important to ensure that local women have the information they need to prevent 
and detect this condition early. To get this important message home, there has recently been a series of awareness events in 
the Stroud area, with our town very much among the leaders. 

The volunteers in Nailsworth (some of whom are pictured on the right) want 
to say a big Thank You to the traders who have supported them. Local residents, 
organisations and businesses have all been involved in the campaign to turn 
Nailsworth pink (not to be confused with gay rights!) - on Festival Saturday there was 
even a Follow the Pink Trail. 'Almost everyone that the volunteers approached was 
keen to help; it's been a great example of community spirit,' said Sally Merrit (far left 
in the photo). 

One trader who really went to town in supporting the campaign was Michael 
Chivers, owner of Green Spirit organic shop. He spent 
time finding as much Ôpink stuffÕ as he could and using it 
for his window display on Market Street (see the photo 
on the left). It is a pity that if you are reading the printed 
copy of this paper you canÕt see the colours, but take it from us, the window is a blaze of pink! 
Michael comments, ÔWe donÕt sell that much pink food, so I looked around at home and was 
delighted at just how many pink things there are in 
everyday life.Õ 

Now we all need to take on board the message that 
people have worked so hard to bring us - checking our 
breasts regularly for anything unusual and booking an 
appointment with our GP to follow up worrying signs. 


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Yes, our bovine friends are out 
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are likely to come off worst. Keep to the speed limit and keep your eyes open, 
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9



Faith matters

From St. GeorgeÕs 
Church

We've just come back from a 
glorious week's holiday in 
Sorrento (someone has to help out 
their local economy!) and agreed that 
it was one of our best holidays. The 
weather was perfect and our hotel was 
excellent, with a room that looked out 
over the bay of Naples and Mount 
Vesuvius. We explored the little streets tucked away in 
Sorrento, visited the isle of Capri, where we were told the 
screen siren (did that describe her looks or her voice?) 
Gracie Fields once had a holiday home - I wondered if 
volcanic ash helped her aspidistra to become the biggest 
in the world - and the food and drink offered begged to be 
sampled!

We also attended a communion service in the Cathedral 
in Sorrento, which was full of people of all ages. The priest 
began the service by standing behind the altar and saying 
ÔSchh. SilencioÕ, in a quiet way, which we all understood, 
but that was the last bit we did as we don't speak the 
language! We could still follow the service and enjoyed 
it, especially the singing of the glorious choir, but couldn't 
understand what was being said.

All aspects of The Royal Wedding, examined in detail 
before and after the event, seem to have found favour 
with most people and I would love to see an increase 
in the number of people wanting church weddings. The 
old Prayer Book language used for the service fitted the 
special grandeur of the occasion perfectly. We use ÔmodernÕ 
language in most of our services today; it still takes a little 
bit of effort to get used to and feel at home - but a lot less 
than needing to learn a foreign language! 

PS: we are looking at re-scheduling our monthly service 
at Nailsworth Primary School. Please ring me first on 
832181 if you are thinking of going, as some may be held 
at St George's on the third Sunday of the month.

Reverend Stephen Earley


From Woodchester Priory

We have said a 
last farewell to 
the local order 
of Poor Clares, 
now living with 
others of their 
order in Lynton, 
Devon. The 
Convent is on 
the market for £2.25m, and finding the right buyer 
is a cause of great concern, not only to our parish 
but also to all their neighbours. 26 acres of land plus 
convent, lodge and outbuildings could bring many 
problems, including access off a narrow, winding lane. 
We pray that a sympathetic use will be found for these 
hallowed buildings after 151 years in the service of the 
community. Thanks also to Tricia Dunbar the author 
of its history, ÔThe Convent of Poor Clares 1860-2011', 
which has a market wider than Woodchester itself. 
Jenny Bailey

(photo: copyright Sharon Loxton)


Choral singers wanted

Woodchester Priory welcomes choral singers from 
the Nailsworth area to join its liturgical choir for the 
11.00 am Mass on Sunday mornings. The liturgy is 
undergoing some changes in the coming months, and 
so this is an exciting time to be singing church music. 
Younger members of the community are particularly 
welcome. All will be nurtured, encouraged and helped 
with singing technique 
and music reading. To 
find out more or express 
an interest, please 
contact Trevor Jones 
on 764749.


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10



 

Schools

From St. DominicÕs

Like many people we were very sad 
to see the departure of the nuns from 
the local convent. I was privileged to be 
able to take two pupils to the last Mass, 
celebrated by the Bishop of Clifton. 
Although the occasion was poignant, 
the Bishop managed to deliver a real 
message of hope and a reminder that the 
mission of the nuns lives on through all of us. 

For us at School, I think it means that we must 
endeavour to be an oasis of spiritual calm in an increasingly 
materialistic world. This is not always easy, especially 
during SATs week when our instincts and common sense say 
one thing but the pressure from above is saying something 
very different. As I have said in the past, we have no issues 
with the tests, but the results have increasingly become an 
extremely narrow focus which penalises those children that 
donÕt excel in a test situation and puts huge pressure on 
schools.

However, by the end of this week, SATs will be over 
and we will be off to PGL (residential holiday), then sports 
days and the end of year production. This year we also have 
the exciting new venture of having linked with Stroud 
Beekeepers, who have moved their bee hives from the 
Convent grounds to our top field. We are really looking 
forward to working with them and the opportunities that 
this will provide for our children. If anyone is interested in 
becoming involved please contact the school office by phone 
or email (we may also have some honey to sell!)

The School and Parish fete will be held in the school 
grounds on Saturday 9th July starting with lunches from 
12.00 noon and finishing with a hog roast in the evening. 
There will be more details to follow but please put this date 
in your diary.

Our contact details are phone 832682, email admin@
st-dominics.gloucs.sch.uk.

Margaret Smith, Headteacher

From Horsley 
Primary School

This term began with another 
wonderful celebration of 
Spring where the whole school and 
village united to welcome in the 
summer, led by our very own Jack 
in the Green and, for the first time, 
May Queen appointed by the School Council (see 
photo below).

As 
summer is 
coming, we 
can look 
forward to 
all the events 
planned 
between now 
and the end of 
the summer 
term! First on 
the agenda 
are the annual 
Class 4 and 
Class 3 
residential activity trips, with Years 5 & 6 departing 
next week to the Kingswood Centre in Staffordshire 
and Years 3 & 4 visiting the Wilderness Centre 
in Mitcheldean next month. Activities planned 
for the children include Team Challenge, Archery 
and Zipwire at Kingswood and Pond Dipping and 
Climbing at Micheldean.

Sporting events also abound, with a weekly 
Rounders Club as well as a new Badminton Club 
starting shortly in our wonderful new hall. All the 
Infants are swimming each week from now till the 
end of term at Stratford Park, and children will also 
be taking part in the District Sports events in late June 
and early July before the whole school 
Sports Day on Monday 18th July.

To finish the year we are planning 
another musical extravaganza to be 
performed by all the Juniors, after the 
highly acclaimed production of Oliver 
last year. More details to follow; 
watch this space!

Martin Fry, Headteacher


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11



Brian Allchorn - I remember...

Regular readers will be familiar with the pieces we have been publishing by Eastbourne resident Brian 
Allchorn. Brian was evacuated to Nailsworth as a boy during WWII, and his rich seam of memories about 
growing up in the town during the war years has been delighting us ever since. This month, the anniversary of 
D-Day, we give our centre spread over to two of his longer pieces, one about the impact of American soldiers 
visiting the area on the local children and the other recounting some hair-raising experiments in making and 
using gunpowder (don't try this at home, kids!).

Brian's comments on how the white GIs viewed their black compatriots make uncomfortable reading now, 
but there is plenty of evidence that in those days of segregation, such attitudes were prevalent throughout the 
American armed forces. 

The US army in Nailsworth

I suppose it would have been around 1943 that truckloads of 
GIs began arriving in Nailsworth of an evening to spend 
their leisure time, greeted with delight by us lads since we were 
loaded up with chewing 
gum by these soldiers 
with their strange way 
of talking. Their trucks 
were left in the car park 
at the bottom of Spring 
Hill while the GIs went 
off to find one or other 
of the many pubs which 
Nailsworth sported in 
those far off days. This 
left the trucks unguarded, 
which was a mistake - as 
the soldiers soon discovered to their cost - for some of the local 
lads were soon helping themselves to the contents of the cabs. 
This was usually cigarettes, whole cartons of them, Camels, 
Lucky Strikes etc, which the boys had no problem getting rid of 
since cigarettes were in very short supply during the war.

Then there was the colour problem. The local inhabitants 
treated everyone the same, and the pub landlords never gave 
a thought to an individual's skin colour, but 
it was a different matter when it came to 
the American 
servicemen. 
Most of them 
hated the 
'blacks', so 
much so that I 
can remember a 
near riot at the 
end of Market 
Street near the 
King's Head 
and the Crown Inn (shown on the left). White 
helmeted Military Policemen were wading 
in with their batons, trying to restore order, 
most of their blows being directed at the 
black soldiers which the locals thought very 
unfair. The answer that the military authorities 
came up with, in consultation with the local 
authority and pub landlords, was to have black 
and white pubs. I believe that the Crown was 
one of those 
designated a 'black' pub, to be 
used by the black servicemen 
only. In this way was some 
sort of harmony restored.

The locals generally got 
on well with their evening 
visitors. Paul Watts told me 
that his family invited one 
of the black soldiers to go 
to their home on occasions 
during the brief period that 
the GIs were in the area. The man survived the war, got in touch 
and came over from America some time later to visit them 
again. By the way Paul spoke, I gained the impression that the 
his family was quite moved by the gesture.

Arthur Cook had a new bike, and was asked one evening 
by one of a crowd of American soldiers meandering down 
Market Street, if he could have a ride on it. Arthur very 
reluctantly agreed. Off went the GI, to some general 'joshing' 
from his mates, but he was very soon frantically shouting for 
instructions on how to stop the bike. Used to back-pedalling 
brakes, he was doing that furiously but to no avail. Eventually 
he found the brake levers on 
the handlebars and came to a 
halt, much to Arthur's relief and 
the amusement of the soldier's 
mates. 

Waste paper was delivered 
to Chamberlain's Mill in 
bales in the main, but smaller 
quantities were also accepted 
and some of the local lads, 
myself included, used to go 
round collecting newspapers etc which we would take to the 
mill and sell. The US army bought material in for pulping, lorry 
loads of it; instructional charts and manuals, posters, boxes 
and boxes of it with a lot never 
having even been unpacked. It 
was all tipped into the breaker, 
apart from one or two that were 
'salvage!' A US Army instruction 
manual on machining and another 
on welding were still in my 
workshop when I retired in 1997.

For a few days in 1944, 
there was a vast encampment 
of American Servicemen under 
canvas on Minchinhampton 
Common. Some of the local lads 
went up to have a look and were 
fed food the like of which had 
not been seen for years in this 
country. Then one morning the 
GIs were gone, and it was very 
shortly after that that we heard 
of the landings in Normandy. I 
was still working in the electrical 
department at Chamberlains in June 
1944, not having yet transferred to 
the fitters and turners shop, when, 
on Tuesday June 6th, we heard the 
momentous news. I recorded it in 
chalk on the inside of one of the 
doors of a cupboard. I'm told that the 
inscription was still there when the 
building was pulled down during the 
redevelopment of the site. I'd like to 
have got hold of that door.


1944 - GIs newly arrived in Britain 
posing for the cameras

More about the breaker at 
Chamberlains Mill

The breaker worked nonstop all week, 
reducing the raw material to a pulp which was 
then pumped away into the beaters for further 
processing. On Saturdays it was emptied 
and the accumulated rubbish in the bottom 
shovelled out and spread on the ground beside 
it, a mess of typewriter rubbers, clips from 
folders, building and paper clips, in fact all 
the metal from files and the contents of waste 
paper baskets. It was left there for a while 
for people to rummage through in the hope 
of finding the odd coin or something else 
that might 'come in handy', including, in one 
instance, an incendiary bomb that must have 
become lodged in a bale from one of the 
places under attack at that time. Paul Watts 
and I claimed that... but that's another story.


American GIs in the UK 
passing out Lucky Strike 
cigarettes

WWII - the first black GIs arrive 
in Bristol

12



Brian Allchorn - I remember...

The Alchemists


One of the potentially 
more dangerous 
things we did while I 
was in Nailsworth during 
the war was the making 
and use of gunpowder. 
I don't remember who 
first came up 
with the idea; 
suffice it to say, 
we seized upon 
the possibilities it opened up with enthusiasm 
and eagerly cast around for the formula. This 
arrived in dribs and drabs, and we eventually 
came up with something that worked - after a 
fashion - but we could never get it to ignite from 
a homemade fuse so we had to resort to other 
means of ignition.

This consisted of the external application 
of heat, and our first trial took place in the 
electriciansÕ workshop at Chamberlains Mill. 
A short length of 3/4 inch conduit with a steel 
plug driven in at one end, loaded with powder, 
was followed by a paper plug and some form of 
shot. This was clamped to the vice, aimed at the 
wall and a blowlamp set to play on the sealed 
end. We retreated behind a partition and waited 
for around a minute, till we were rewarded with 
an almighty bang and a workshop full of smoke. 
The fibreboard box which was used to collect 
the doughnuts each morning from Philpots the 
bakers just across the road (pictured below) and 
which, for 
some reason, 
we had placed 
behind the 
'cannon', was 
strewn in 
shreds across 
the bench. 
Subsequent 
examination 
revealed that 
the steel plug had also blown out, a problem that would 
have to be rectified in the Mark II version.

This next modified cannon was designed to have 
the loaded end inserted into a bonfire. It was fitted with 
a bipod to elevate the business end and enable it to 
be aimed. Usually the target was the nearest tree, but 
occasionally when firing from the bank alongside Hazel 
Wood we aimed randomly across the Avening road at the 
hillside opposite.

One occasion comes to mind. It was wintertime and I 
had the cannon at home, loaded, all ready for the end of 
the week when we planned to go up into the woods with 
it. However, it rained that entire weekend. We had to put 
the expedition off until the following one, but that turned 
out to be wet as well and frustration was building. It was 
a Saturday night, and Mother and Father had gone to the 
Unionist Club leaving my brother Colin and I indoors. 
The table was laid for supper with a big old cast iron pot, 
filled with soup, keeping warm on the Kitchener. We were 
bored. Then it clicked; 'The fire, a loaded cannon, why 
not?' and without further ado the cannon was thrust into 
the fire, pointing up the chimney and Colin and I retreated 
into the front room and waited. Then there was, as in our 
first experimental firing, a bang, and the room filled with 
smoke. 

When we ventured in, we saw as 
soon as the smoke had cleared that 
the fire had almost been extinguished 
by the amount of soot that had come 
down the chimney. Every surface 
in the room had a grey dusting over 
it, leaving clean white circles on 
the tablecloth when we removed 
the plates to start clearing up. We 
escaped parental recrimination 
by being, in modern parlance, 
'economical with the truth', telling 
them, quite correctly of course, that 
a load of soot had fallen down the 
chimney. What poor Mrs Gardner, 
in bed with the 'flu next door, must 
have made of it I dread to think.

The final episode came in March 
1945, on the evening before we left 
Nailsworth to return to our home in 
Eastbourne. I still had the cannon 
and some gunpowder to use up, so 
'Nobby' Miller and I went up into 
the field beside Hazel Wood, lit a 
fire and fired off two or three shots. 
Then, finding that we were left with 
too much powder for one more charge but not enough for 
two, we decided to throw caution to the winds and go for 
one last big one. We poured in all the remaining powder 
but found we had no more paper for wadding. I was 
searching for some, turned, and saw 'Nobby' vigorously 
ramming home what I assumed was some paper he'd 
come across, only to find that he'd used small pieces of 
limestone from a molehill. It was too late to worry about 
that, we knew we'd never get it back out so into the fire it 
went. 

We moved up the bank a bit and waited. Nothing 
happened. We moved up a bit further and had just sat 
down when 
there was the 
most almighty 
bang, a pillar 
of flame and 
sparks shot 
into the air, the 
fire was strewn 
all around and 
something, 
we assume the 
cannon for it 
was never seen 
again, crashed 
down through 
the nearby 
trees.

About gunpowder

Gunpowder, also known 
as black powder, is made 
of sulphur, saltpeter 
and charcoal. Though 
developed over time, it 
is believed originally to 
have been invented by the 
Chinese around 11th and 
12th century. Both Chinese 
and European inventors 
later invented cannon, 
which used gunpowder 
to shoot heavy iron. The 
gunpowder for this and for 
guns works with the touch 
of fire. 


13



Minding our own business

New restaurant 
opening in Market 
Street

Rumours rarely amount to much, 
and the idea of a Thai eating house 
in Market Street proved to be just 
that - no substance in it - but we are 
pleased to announce that mark@
street is THE new restaurant to 
be opening in Market Street on 
July 1st. It will provide informal 
brasserie style food at lunchtime and 
a decidedly finer dining experience in 
the evening.

Chef Patron 
Mark Payne 
(pictured 
below) will 
be in charge 
of the kitchen 
for this, his 
first solo 
venture. Mark 
discovered 
his passion 
for food at an early age and has 
been fortunate enough to have 
gained experience in quality 
kitchens including ClaridgeÕs and 
The Avenue in London. He has just 
completed two years as head chef 
at Cowley Manor in Cheltenham 
and is delighted to be opening his 
first restaurant in Nailsworth. More 
about this in next month's Nailsworth 
News to tell you what is on offer. 
Meanwhile, the new venture deserves 
our support - why not give it a try? 

MS

Now a bigger, even better place for footware

They're all at it! We recently reported 
on ÔClobberÕ expanding in George 
Street; now Buskins, the shoe shop 
next door, has also enlarged, making 
a more spacious environment for 
displaying, choosing and trying on 
the merchandise. In the ten years 
since Buskins opened, the shop 
has been developing all the time, 
such is the demand for the care and 
professionalism of its staff and the 
excellent shoes, boots and other 
goods on offer. There really is a great 
range of footwear available - when 
I was there, the comprehensive 
computer system listed 4,060 pairs of 
shoes in stock! 

As well as footware to suit all pockets and styles, Buskins also sells shoe 
care items (laces, polishes etc) and handbags in leather and some synthetic 
materials. A good range of menswear is available as well as womenÕs items - 
Hush Puppy, Josef Seibel, Fly and many other popular brands. Fitflops are very 
much in demand and there are all sorts of ranges (for both men and women).
The shop has been recommended by podiatrists for its support in getting shoes 
right for each customer and especially catering for ÔproblemÕ feet, specialising 
in Ôshoes to fit properly.Õ

Buskins opens Monday - Saturday 
9.30 am - 5.15 pm. To help those who 
may find it impossible to visit, a home 
service is available in Nailsworth by 
appointment. Alternatively, there is a 
levelled access at the side of the shop 
for ease of entry. Please call 836836 
for more information or drop in - there 
will always be a good welcome. You 
can also email diana@buskins.co.uk 
to get onto the mailing list, or visit the 
shop and staff will be pleased to add 
you. (Pictured are Val Wright with 
Diana Stiles, proprietor of Buskins.)

MS


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14



Minding our own business

AndyÕs Attic offers collectables

It seems that nothing stays still for long in NailsworthÕs busy retail 
marketplace. The shop that was Rivers Gallery has been re-opened as 
AndyÕs Attic. The proprietor Andrew Ablett is a local man, born in 
Leonard Stanley and never far from Stroud during his working life. HeÕs 
a graphic designer by profession, but 
when things slumped in the recession he 
decided to go back to an earlier passion, 
collecting Ð however, with the subtle 
difference that the flow of items wasnÕt 
all inwards, now selling became the key 
part. His own collection provided the 
seed corn of the new business but heÕs 
moved on from there, attending sales 
and auctions and handling brought in 
stuff. HeÕs sold in Stroud Ôs Threadneedle 
Market and in Cirencester, but is really 
chuffed to have a shop in Nailsworth. 

WhatÕs he got? Well, thereÕs Spanish 
pottery and hand-made jewellery as 
regulars, and also a host of other things 
such as lamps, bells, furniture and 
mirrors. These come and go so the only 
advice is, visit the shop and see! 

 BA

Scrumptious 
in red

This is Nigel Foster 
of Scrumptious 
(where FieldÕs CafŽ 
once was) - we wrote 
about the venture 
last month but canÕt 
resist this photo of the 
new proprietor under 
his signage. You 
will need to visit our 
website to see that the 
theme is glowing red, 
jacket and sign both. 


More local changes

When Emma Branch and Rachael 
Smith of The Little People Company 
spotted the opportunity to move their 
business to higher ground they went 
for it. They took over the site vacated 
by Olivia Dell at the top of Market 
Street. It now appears that they only 
took a short, probationary lease and 
this ended in mid-May. They are 
not renewing and the Little People 
Company, after six years trading, has 
gone. There are other factors than a 
not overly buoyant business climate. 
Rachael is off to have a baby and 
Emma has been head-hunted for a 
position in an estate agency. Emma 
will continue to merchandise the sort 
of things the Little People Company 
sold, but over the internet. We wish 
Emma and Rachael all the best for the 
future. 

 BA 


Sophie Makosch 
EMBELLISHÉ
your life with ballet 
please contact me for any more information 
t: +44 (0)7887 671956 
e: svmakosch@yahoo.co.uk 
ballet classes for adults 
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EMBELLISHÉ
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Sophie Makosch 
EMBELLISHÉ
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please contact me for any more information 
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ballet classes for adults 
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personal training for health 
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Sophie Makosch 
EMBELLISHÉ
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please contact me for any more information 
t: +44 (0)7887 671956 
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ballet classes for adults 
and children, group or 
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personal training for health 
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Sophie Makosch 
EMBELLISHÉ
your life with ballet 
please contact me for any more information 
t: +44 (0)7887 671956 
e: svmakosch@yahoo.co.uk 
ballet classes for adults 
and children, group or 
private lessons. 
personal training for health 
and wellbeing. 
Sophie Makosch 
EMBELLISHÉ
your life with ballet 
please contact me for any more information 
t: +44 (0)7887 671956 
e: svmakosch@yahoo.co.uk 
ballet classes for adults 
and children, group or 
private lessons. 
personal training for health 
and wellbeing. 
Sophie Makosch 
EMBELLISHÉ
your life with ballet 
please contact me for any more information 
t: +44 (0)7887 671956 
ballet classes for adults 
and children, group or 
private lessons. 
personal training for health 
and wellbeing. 
Sophie Makosch 
EMBELLISHÉ
your life with ballet 
please contact me for any more information 
t: +44 (0)7887 671956 
ballet classes for adults 
and children, group or 
private lessons. 
personal training for health 
and wellbeing. 
Sophie Makosch 
EMBELLISHÉ
your life with ballet 
please contact me for any more information 
t: +44 (0)7887 671956 
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15



Minding our own business

Corinium Care wins Business of the Year 
Award

Congratulations to staff at local company Corinium Care, which 
recently won the title of Business of the Year. This was top prize in the 
Gloucestershire Media Women in Business Awards, and a marvellous 
recognition of the excellent work of the local live-in care agency. 

These awards honour the countyÕs female entrepreneurs, so judges were 
looking for a profitable business with a high percentage of women in the 
management team. Companies in the Business of the Year category had to 
demonstrate a positive impact on the economy, as well as innovation and 
expansion into new markets. 

Corinium Care, founded by Camilla Miles (pictured on the right with the 
award) in 1995 as a one-woman business, now has 16 female staff at its head office in Nailsworth, and 95 per cent of its 
800 registered carers are female. They provide 24-hour care for the elderly and vulnerable in their own home. Camilla 
is dedicated to offering a first-class service, underpinned by exemplary training. ÔOur trademark is putting the personal 
touch at the heart of all we do, which produces the best results for clients, carers and staff. It is rewarding when that is 
recognised so publicly.Õ

Find out more at www.coriniumcare.com, or contact Camilla Miles on 839290 (camillamiles@coriniumcare.com)
or Amanda Butler on 839290 or amandabutler@coriniumcare.com. 


Take your unwanted bras to 
KnickerBockers!

Recycling things like old pairs of glasses, shoes 
and furniture is normal these days, but recyling 
bras? That's a new one in Nailsworth! However, 
local shop KnickerBockers, in Fountain Street, 
is encouraging us to take in our outmoded or 
outworn ones to put in their bra box, and it must 
be working because even on the first day of 
opening 15 women came in to leave a garment. 
The shop is hoping that by the time the appeal is finished (it runs through May 
and June) they will have a ton collected. We think that if so, they are going 
to need a bigger box. And there is something about the very idea of a ton of 
bras...

Seriously, itÕs all in aid of raising money for the Breast Cancer 
Campaign charity, and was the brainchild of Verity Symcox, the owner of 
KnickerBockers. For every bra you bring in, you will get 10% off the cost of 
a new one in the shop, which specialises in lingerie, swimwear, nightwear and 
hosiery, stocking all lingerie sizes 
from 30A to 46J and offering every 
woman a personalised fitting service. 
The money raised from the recycled 
bras will go to the charity, helping 
to fund better breast cancer care, 
diagnosis and early detection to give 
time for treatment. 

Fluid Transfer Ltd 
show their quality

We owe an apology to Fluid 
Transfer Limited for the 
headlining in last month's report 
on the MOD refuelling vehicle 
project. Yes, no doubt MAN did 
their bit, but the trumpet we were 
blowing was for NailsworthÕs own 
Fluid Transfer Limited and their 
achievement in completing a very 
challenging project on time and 
on budget. You donÕt hear that 
every day, especially not on MOD 
contracts!

Ed.


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Book MOTs online at 
www.nailsworthmotcentre.co.uk 
Tel: 01453 836816 
Unit 6, Inchbrook Trading Estate, Bath Road, Woodchester, Stroud GL5 5EYCar Servicing Specialists
16



Minding our own business

Other business news 

Peter Blackwell, who runs Lakeside Garage, is justly proud of a new bit of kit 
which will enable Lakeside to do MOT testing on site rather than contracting 
it out. ItÕs not just the hoist, steering pads and chassis dynamometer, but also 
qualification against stringent DVLA standards and the computer link to DVLA 
and, for those who like to keep their finger on the pulse, thereÕs a viewing station 
where you can sit in leather upholstered comfort and watch it all happening on 
close circuit television. (By the way, multitalented Peter features elsewhere in this 
edition of the Nailsworth News, although under a different name!)

*

Old Mother Hubbard is relocating. The shop behind DayÕs Mill will be 
vacated and everything will be concentrated in the present Concept East Coast 
shops in the Old George building. These will be renamed as Old Mother Hubbard 
and we understand that Concept East Coast will disappear. Anne Russell, who 
opened OMH at least fifteen years ago, is once again moving on Ð and up!

*

 A bit late, but nonetheless congratulations to Leonard Walkers who gained 
awards for their sausages at the British Butchery Fair in April; and yes, the 
sausages concerned were made in Nailsworth, not Malmesbury!

*

The buildings on the north side of George Street from the Olive Tree east 
to the cattle grid are all commercial buildings; they are also all listed buildings 
and thereby lies a continuing problem. The Listed Building Officers would really 
prefer these building to be unadorned with any signage yet businesses do need to 
proclaim their presence if they are going to get any trade through their doors. Our 
picture shows the current situation, sign-wise. We think it pretty unexceptionable 
but it seems the Planning Department thinks otherwise. Watch for further 
developments! Does anyone remember Psisoft who had their shop and games area 
in Glenholme? And if so, how long it took them to get approval for their signage? 
BA

Credit Union 
comes to the Arkell 
Community Centre

HereÕs some advance news about 
the Arkell Community Centre due 
to open in June; Stroud Valleys 
Credit Union (SVCU), a co-operative 
owned and run by its members, will 
be operating a collection point there. 
This community bank aims to help 
people take control of their finances 
by encouraging them to save what 
they can and to borrow only what they 
can afford. It is local (so the money 
stays within the community) and is 
regulated by the FSA.

Services to members include:

¥ loans at low rates of interest. 

¥ saving either in cash at one of 
their collection points or by 
standing order, to draw out 
when needed

¥ junior savers account for 
children - they get their own 
savings book and learn to 
save for the things they want.

Stroud Valleys Credit Union is 
supported by Nailsworth Town 
Council and promoted by Stroud 
District Council and Gloucestershire 
County Council. For more 
information telephone 298785, email 
admin@svcu.org.uk or log onto the 
website www.svcu.org.uk. 


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17



History

Picture mystery - can you help?

Susan Ingram has sent us two local picture postcards that her 
mother recently found when having a sort out, both apparently 
about 100 years old. Both are stamped on the back ÔConway, 
Nailsworth. Affix half-penny stamp.Õ

The first shows men playing snooker. Susan thinks that this 
might be set in the Jovial Foresters - can anyone confirm this 
or if not, tell us where it is? There is no date on it but by the 
dress she assumes 1900's. The second card is dated December 
1908. It looks like another ÔsocialÕ area, perhaps laid out for 
a meeting, with papers on the table. Does this ring bells with 
anyone, and if so can you tell us about it? Please send any 
information to editor@nailsworthnews.org.uk or ring 833092.

Was this a prank?

Theresa Sansome has been in touch with a fascinating story 
about her home, The Swedish House on Spring Hill. The 
house (wooden) dates back to the 1920s. Earlier this year 
TheresaÕs husband Guy was doing some work in a bedroom 
which required pulling down the original particle board and 
replacing it with plasterboard and plaster. To his surprise 
he found an old bowler hat nailed to the rafters with a note 
pinned next to it which reads, ÔIf anyone should find this 
please return it to Nailsworth Police Station where you will 
be given a reward.Õ 

The couple (pictured below) assume that this was a prank 
played on the foreman whilst the house was being built. Guy 
has kept the hat and note in place and fitted a window so that 
future owners can see this bit of history. He has added his 
own note next to the one already there. 


A memory from the 1940s

After the excellent Punch and Judy show on Nailsworth 
Festival Saturday, we now have a related question. We've been 
asked if anyone remembers watching a Punch and Judy show 
in 1948 on Newman Henders sports field alongside the A46 
(the site is between Dunkirk Mill and Inchbrook, and now 
hosts Renishaw). Keith Holmes was driving past when this 
memory came back to him. The show 
was apparently running in either 1947 or 
1948, since KeithÕs sister Sue was being 
pushed along in her pram from the police 
houses in Park Rd. He was with his 
mother, Phyllis Holmes, and his brother 
Derek. His father was PC George Holmes 
(Bridget, who now works in Brutons, was 
born 10 years later). 

 
City & Guilds trained Mark Kelly 
Plumbing 
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Local references available 
01453 836096 or 07834 318459 
AffordableCounsellingin NailsworthCall Richard Atkinson 
07828 578416 
First appointment free
18



Events

Nailsworth Dramatic 
Society produces 
countywide play

When the Carers Team at Gloucestershire 
County Council wanted to commission a 
play, their choice fell on Nailsworth Dramatic 
Society. ÔThe Sum of All Our ChoicesÕ by 
local author Bridget Derrett was the result. 
It will tour the county during Carers Week in 
June, with the World Premiere being held at 
Nailsworth Town Hall on Monday 13th June 
at 7.30.

The play is about a daughter who cares 
for her mother, a wheelchair user, but is also 
trying to have a life of her own. It seeks to 
highlight issues facing unpaid carers and 
help people understand what caring is about. 
Serious issues are tackled, but the characters, 
and the situations they find themselves in are 
also full of humour. Performances will be 
accompanied by a display of information and 
resources, and will be followed by question 
times with carers, county council officers, 
the actors, director and the Chief Executive 
of Carers Gloucestershire responding to the 
audience on all aspects of caring or the acting 
process.

Tickets cost £5 and can be obtained on the 
door or by post from The Carers Team, SP&P, 
Gloucestershire County Council, Bearland 
Wing, Shire Hall Gloucester GL1 2TR. Please 
include a cheque and your address with postal 
bookings, and specify the date. For more 
information (including dates for performances 
outside Nailsworth), phone The Carers Team 
on 01452 427022 or email halaina.gillam@
gloucestershire.gov.uk.

Open gardens in Box

For the gardeners among you, 
there is a chance to see some 
other local examples of your 
craft. Just save some space 
in your diary on Sunday 12th 
June, when you will be able to 
visit 12 private gardens in Box 
between 2 and 6 pm. They are 
spread throughout the village, 
and some are new to the event, 
others familiar. 

Further temptations include 
Nailsworth Silver Band playing on the green, cream teas made by Box 
WI, an art exhibition in the Village Hall, a floral display in St Barnabas 
Church and a plant sale at one of the gardens. 

Admission is £4 for adults at one of the entry points to the village (no 
charge to under-16s). There is free designated parking on the common 
near the Halfway House. Profits from the event will be shared between the 
Village Hall, for whom this 3 yearly event is a major fund-raising activity, 
and the Friends of Sean, a charity to raise funds for a young man from 
Box recently paralysed in a cycling accident.

For more information, see www.box-village.com.


RockÕnÕRoll lights up Nailsworth

Were YOU at the 1950s RockÕnÕRoll dance at the Subscription Rooms last 
month? If not, why not? It was a great evening, and at £6 a ticket it was also 
wonderful value. Local group The Boogie Bop Boys kept the music coming 
from 8 to 11.30 pm and the dance floor was never empty, with rockers from 
the 1950s showing that they can still jive with the best of them and people of 
(slightly) more recent vintage bopping along as well. We were well served 
with drinks and venue as well as 
the performance of the wonderful 
group, and the choice of songs 
was perfect - most of the time the 
audience was singing along. This 
kind of evening doesnÕt happen 
without lots of hard work behind 
the scenes so thank you, all those 
who organised this retro bonanza.

(The photo shows Pete and 
Ian Boogie, two of the band).


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19



Nailsworth Festival 21st Ð 29th May 2011

Festival Saturday remembered in pictures


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20



Sport

Wins and awards at Shortwood Utd

Well done also to Shortwood Utd for finishing off the 
season in style with two awards. The GFA Final win v 
Tuffley Rovers at Almondsbury on a very poor pitch was 
a great result and according to those who travelled, a well 
deserved victory. The Reserves also had a fine end to 
the season - a 9 match unbeaten stretch enabling them to 
finish 3rd in their league. I wonder what the score would 
be if the 1st and 2nd teams had a play-off?

Only a year ago Shortwood were celebrating the 
fact that Groundsman Mark Webb (pictured below) 
had become one of the very few groundsman to be 
Ôhighly commendedÕ for the excellent playing surface he 
produced at Meadowbank. The club 
is now proud to announce that Mark 
has done even better. He has been 
awarded Groundsman of the Year 
for all level 5 and 6 clubs nationally. 
This was a great 
achievement. His 
prize is for him 
and a guest to 
be at Wembley 
for the England v Wales game, and in 
October he will again go to Wembley 
for his presentation and a chat with 
the groundstaff there. Mark says, 
ÔAll I try and do is provide the best 
possible playing surface for the teams 
to play on.Õ MS

(Shortwood team picture taken by 
Peter Barnes)

FGR survives to fight another day

Well done to Forest Green Rovers for another miraculous 
escape from relegation. John LightÕs review of the season 
(SNJ, 11th May 2011) was an excellent article which 
summed up life at FGR very well. ÔThe manager and 
chairman are two fundamentally decent men who are 
determined to take this Club forward.Õ It is a pity that the 
beefburger-gate saga raised more interest in the club than its 
football, and now what seems a waste of time and money 
in producing a 
new badge Ôto 
communicate 
more with the 
communityÕ 
appears to be 
dominating local 
headlines as well. 
We may all be 
proved wrong - 
letÕs hope so. The 
most important 
thing is that FGR 
gets its team and 
selection right. 
Many players are 
staying on and new 
players will come 
in. A well drilled pre-season set of matches will help define 
the forthcoming season. It is also interesting to note that 
there is a hard core of fans at home matches (if one of them 
is you, thanks for that), but we hear from an inside source 
that out of roughly 800 home supporters, only about 150 are 
Nailsworth people. Is this correct and if so, why? Answers 
please! 

MS


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21



Sport

Are you an undiscovered champion?

Nailsworth Phoenix table tennis club are now looking for new players 
to join them and create some new teams when the Stroud League starts 
in September. After a successful season, they want to at least double the 
number of teams in both the senior and the junior leagues. So this is your 
invitation to either join and get some practice, or learn a new skill and see 
if you would like to play for this active table tennis club in autumn.

The lads in the picture were novices when they started playing in the 
junior league last September, but they emerged as champions at the end of 
the season. Charlie, Harry, Arron and Eban are seen here with the shield 
which they won. If there are any more aspiring champions out there, the 
people at Phoenix would like to see you (you won't know if you will 
be any good until you give it a try.) Or maybe you used to Ôplay a bitÕ 
and would like to get involved again? If so, you would be made most 
welcome at the busy and friendly club.

Nailsworth Phoenix play at the Nailsworth Subscription Rooms (formerly the BoysÕ Club), and meet every Tuesday 
and Thursday evening and Saturday morning. If you are interested in playing table tennis - at any age - then please 
contact Andy Hammond on 885393 or visit the website www.nailsworthphoenix.co.uk for more details.


Cricket's timeless pleasures

Spending long balmy days listening to the crack of leather on willow with swallows playing overhead and the gentle 
moo of a baby calf over the hedge, can be idyllic. That was what I hoped for when up at Nympsfield Cricket last 
weekend. Instead, it was a bit drizzly and a little windy. Never mind, the wicket was fine (expertly sorted by Don, the 
groundsman), the outfield looked great - and oh, the smell of that newly cut grass! As for the cricket, I enjoyed that 
too. Sixes were hit, runs were scored all over the place, wickets 
fell and what a great few hours it was. Children played on the 
swings, my dog Flora looked inquisitively at the occasional stray 
ball whizzing past her when the four to leg was not fielded well 
enough, and then I failed to finish my crossword in the Sunday 
paper due to all the action unfolding. I couldnÕt stay for tea, but 
the cakes looked amazing so I will be going again soon (Flora 
likes her lemon sponge with lots of drizzle). The other kind of 
drizzle stopped during 
my Nympsfield visit and 
then it was warm and 
balmy all over again. Oh, 
for a picturebook English 
summer! 

MS


CARPENTER AND JOINERNO JOB TOO SMALLTHE OLD COACH HOUSE, COW LANE, 
INCHBROOK, NAILSWORTH GL5 5HN 
01453 836818CLIVE SYMCOX
MUSIC Steve Tilston Friday 10 June 8pm £7 / £5 
SUMMER STORYTELLING with Fiona Eadie meet at Washpool 5pm 
Sunday 19 June Children £3, adults £4, family ticket £10 
PUPPET THEATRE Oshima and the Big Sea Sat 11 June 
at Horsley Village Hall CANCELLED 
EXHIBITIONS Tim Parry-Williams: Towel to Sun 5 June 
SVA site11 exhibition Tues 7 June Ñ Sun 26 June 
WORKSHOPS Textiles with Margaret Docherty Sat 25 June, 9 July 
Call 01453 833320 for booking & info 
TALK Sam Bloomfield: The Metamorphic Technique 
Friday 24 June 7Ñ8.30pm free 
RUSKIN MILL www.rmet.org.uk 
Old Bristol Road Nailsworth GL6 0LA 
information and booking 01453 837537 
Train With The Innovators, 
Not The Imitators!!
ORIGINAL BOOTCAMPA four week outdoor fitness course 
12 sessions, 3 per weekStarting July 2nd 
in Nailsworth, Avening and TetburyOnly £50 for the course!
We notice significant changes in the 
health and fitness levels of our 
boot camp participants after just 
four weeks of training!!
for more information contact: 
Liam Chambers :07500 687027email: sales@backtolifefitness.co.uk 
www.backtolifefitness.co.uk 

Regular weekly events

June 2011

Wed

Love Meditation, a guided opportunity to quieten the mind, 
venue tbc (depending on numbers) 7.30-9 pm. Info Maddie 
0845 539 9938

Thu

Taiji Wuxigong, Christ Church Hall, 9.30-11 am, donations 
only. Info Poh Eng 836425

CrocÔNÕRoll childrenÕs music class (6 mths-4 yrs), FGR 
Football Club, 10.00 am. £3 per class. Info Stephanie 
Urquhart 07957 235413. Term time only

Baby Group, ChildrenÕs Centre, Library, 10.30-11.30 am. 
Info Sarah Dean 755373

Forest Green Senior CitizensÕ Club, 2 pm, Craddock Court 
Hall, Forest Green. Info Dave Boulton 833411

Yoga, Christ Church Hall, 5.45-7.15 pm and 7.30-9 pm. Info 
Sally Deacon 751937

Jazz, Jive, Swing classes, Comrades Club, 7.15 pm 
Beginners, 8.15 pm Intermediate, 9.15 pm Advanced. £4. 
Info James 01452 770701

Pilates (experienced and beginners), Mortimer Room, 6.30 
and 8.00 pm. Info Bea 07717 472129

Fri

Country Market, Mortimer Room, 8.45-11 am

Nailsworth Community Workshop session for home educated 
children 7 yrs upwards. 9-11 am and 11.30 am-1.30 pm. £10 
per session. Info Pam Brown 07971 737626

Little Angels, Singing and Music for Parents & Toddlers, 

St. Georges Church, 9.30-10 am

Singing Sisters, songs from around the world for Mothers and 
children, 10-11.30 am. Info Bella 835923

Playcircle, Christ Church Rooms, 10.30-11.30 am. Creative 
play session for parents and children under 2. Term time 
only. £3.50 per adult (taster free) inc. free tea and cake. Info 
07930 136075

Archive Office open, Town Hall, 10 am-12 noon





Salsa class for beginners & improvers. Single or with 

partner. Comrades Club, 4.45-6 pm, £5. Info 07774 707625

Mon

Yoga (gentle class), Christ Church Hall, 11.15 am-12.45. Info 
Sally Deacon 751937

Taiji & Qi Gong exercise classes, Nailsworth Town Hall, 9.30 
am, 10.45 am, 12 noon. £6. Info Jeff Docherty 07970 303694

Archive Office open, Town Hall, 10 am-12 noon

Beginners Calligraphy, Christ Church Hall, 2-4.30 pm. Info 
Pam Harmer 832725

Buddhist Meditation, Friends Meeting House, 7.15 pm. 
Suggested donation £3. Info James 07867 767605

Fitness Walk (approx 1 Ð 1. hr) Meet Library 2 pm (2nd 
May) and 7 pm from 9th May onwards. Info Pam Browne 
832907. Pacerpoles provided. Charge £3

Aerobics & Body Conditioning, Christ Church Hall, 9.30 am 
and 7.15 pm. Info Tina 753895

Tue

Yoga, Christ Church Hall, 10-11.30 am. Info Sally 

Deacon 751937

Nailsworth ÔLightwavesÕ Shintaido, Christ Church Hall, 1.30-
3.30pm. Info David & Nagako Cooper 750598. 1st ÔtasterÕ 
session free

Health Walk (30-60 mins). Start Nailsworth Library, 2.00 pm. 
Info 832907

Yoga, Christ Church Hall, 6.30 pm. Info Chris Hewett 834304

Wed

CrocÔNÕRoll childrenÕs music class (6 mths-4 yrs), FGR 
Football Club, 10.00 am. £3 per class. Info Stephanie 
Urquhart 07957 235413. Term time only

Pilates on the Ball, Christ Church Hall, 9.30 am. Info Tina 
753895

Stroud Valleys NCT Bumps and Babies Coffee Morning, 
TubbyÕs CafŽ, Waterside, 10 am-12 noon. Info 08442 436286

Yoga, Christ Church Hall, 7-8.30 pm. Info Sally Deacon 
751937

Nailsworth Community Workshop evening class, Sub Rooms/
Old BoysÕ Club 7.30-9 pm. £5 + cost of materials. Age 14 
upwards. Info Pam Brown 07971 737626

Iyengar Yoga, Mortimer Rooms, 7.30 pm-9 pm. Info Alison 
Griffin 752249

Jazz, Jive, Swing. Beginners, Comrades Club, 7.45 pm. £4. 
Info James 01452 770701





Snn

Christkindl 2012 - please get involved

The Nailsworth Christkindl Committee would like to 
invite you to their regular meetings every 3rd Tuesday 
of the month, at 7.30 pm in the Village Inn. They 
require willing volunteers and/or donations to make 
Friday 25th November 2011 a success. If you can spare 
time, please go along. RSVP by ringing 835138.

 
7 Fountain Street, Nailsworth, 
Glos. GL6 0BL 
www.perrybishop.co.uk 
Tel: 01453 836736 Fax 01453 836737 
Email: nailsworth@perrybishop.co.uk 
Chartered Surveyors, Estate Agents and Valuers 
Lettings and Management, Land and New Homes 
Estate agent to the Five Valleys with a network of 
five offices covering the Cotswolds. 
Mature Carer/Companion 
availableProfessional, kind, 
good team member, good humour. 
07531 023993
LEOPARDPRESS.com 
Formerly Hathaway Press & Vale Press¥ Private & Trade Printers 
¥ litho & digital print 
¥ graphic design 
¥ books & magazines 
¥ brochures 
¥ 35 years experience 
Stroud 01453 832259stroud@leopardpress.comOld Market Place, Nailsworth, Glos. GL6 0DU

July

3

Sun

Family Service, Nailsworth Primary 
School, 11 am, everyone welcome

4

Mon

M.E. Support Group, Scrumptious, 11 am. 
Info Richard 07814 223567

NSoc Arts, Crafts & Music Group, 
Mortimer Room, 7.30 pm,The American 
Operettas

6

Wed

Flower Club, Town Hall, 7.30 pm, My Fair 
Ladies

7

Thu

Canasta, Hanover Gardens Community 
Room, 7.15 pm. All welcome. Info Jane 
Hobdell 835937





 

14

Tue

Library Club for older people. 
Library, 11.15 Ð 12.30 Info 832747. 
Transport can be provided

15

Wed

Stroud & District Macular Society, 
Christ Church Hall, 10 am Ð 12 
noon

17

Fri

CCH Midnight Walk, 10 pm

17 Ð 19

Fri Ð Sun

Shortwood Utd FC Festival & Fun 
Day 

18/19

Sat/Sun

Open Studio + Arts & Crafts 
courses free tasters, Marsden 
Studio, Horsley, 11 am Ð 5 pm

18

Sat

Christ Church Summer Fete, 2 pm

Nailsworth Tennis Club Theatre 
Trip, The Adventures of Baron 
Munchausen, Bacon Theatre, 
Cheltenham. Info 832964

20

Mon

NSoc Gardening Group, Day trip to 
Warwick, All welcome, Info 836331

21

Tue

Town Council meeting, Town Hall, 
7 pm

Trefoil Guild, What trees do for us, 
Hanover Lounge, 7 pm

22

Wed

Commoners Cricket Club v. 
Daneway, 6.15 pm

Nailsworth Valley Probus, Mortimer 
Room 10.00 am, Humour in old 
Postcards

24

Fri

Michael Jackson Tribute Night, 
FGR, 7 pm Ð 1 am, Tickets £20. 
Info 837431

23

Thu

NSoc Rambling Group, Library, 
9.30 am. Info 834907 or 753278

25

Sat

Farmers Market, Mortimer 
Gardens, 9 am Ð 1pm

Amberley School Fete, 2 Ð 4 pm

Arkell Centre Open Day, 10 - 4 pm

27

Mon

NSoc Local Studies Group, 
Frampton-on-Severn village walk, 
7.00 pm. Frampton Post Office. Info 
832034

Nailsworth Theatregoers, Book 
& Pay for The Pitman Painters, 
Malvern 6th August. Info 833857

29

Wed

Alzheimer CafŽ, Christ Church 
Rooms, 2 Ð 4pm. Info 834714





June 

1

Wed

Flower Club, Town Hall, 7.30 pm 
Serendipity

3

Fri

Take That tribute night, FGR, 7 pm Ð 1 
am. Tickets £20. Info 837431

5

Sun

Family Service, Nailsworth Primary 
School, 11 am, everyone welcome

6

Mon

Senior Citizens lunch, FGR, 12 Ð 4 pm, 
£6.95. Info 837431

M.E. Support Group, Scrumptious, 11 
am. Info Richard 07814 223567

NSoc Arts, Crafts & Music Group, 
Mortimer Room, 7.30 pm. The Art of 
Ancient Egypt

8

Wed

Commoners Cricket Club v. Post Office, 
6.15 pm

Nailsworth Valley Probus, Mortimer 
Room 10.00 am, Isles of Scilly 

9

Thu

Rotary Club, FGR 7.15 for 7.30 pm, 
Talk & supper. Info 832878

11

Sat

NSoc Local History Research Group, 
Mortimer Room, 9.30 am, RuskinÕs 
Little Mills Ð Guided Walk. Info 832228

12

Sun

Norton Wood Orchard Project working 
party. Meet Jovial Foresters car park, 2 
pm. Info Marilyn Miles 832974.

Box Open Gardens, 2 Ð 6 pm

11/12

Sat

/Sun

Open Studio + Arts & Crafts courses 
free tasters, Marsden Studio, Horsley, 
11 am Ð 5 pm

13

Mon

Nailsworth Dramatic Society, The Sum 
of All Our Choices, Town Hall, Tickets 
£5

W.I. meeting, Parish Rooms, 7.30 pm, 
Embroidery talk. Info Rosemary Davis 
833966

NSoc Local Studies Group, Badger 
Watch, 7.30 pm. Info 832034

Nailsworth Theatregoers, Book & Pay 
for Tell me on a Sunday, Malvern 20th 
July. Info 833857






WhatÕs On - June 2011

To include events, contact Tina on 835295 or mail 
whatson@nailsworthnews.org.uk. Deadline for July 
and August, 15th June 2011

The next Nailsworth News will be published at 
the beginning of July 2011, deadline for entries 
15th June. Please send any entries for August at 
that time, since there will be no August edition of 
the paper.

Part of Avening Road to be 
closed for 5 months

Road works on the Nailsworth to Avening B4014 will 
be starting on June 13th. Contractors will be piling, 
stabilising and draining 50 metres of the valley route at 
Longford, between Nailsworth and Avening, six years 
after the carriageway first caved in. The highway has 
been slipping there for many years. Extensive movement 
was recorded in the spring of 2005, and the situation 
was made worse by the flooding in 2007.

There have been temporary traffic lights at the spot 
since 2005. Now both lanes of the road will be closed, 
and a diversion of nearly 20 miles signposted during 
the roadworks. The temporary route will go up the A46 
from Nailsworth, across to Tetbury and back down to 
Avening. Pedestrians and cycles will still be allowed 
through the closure.

The maintenance should be finished in October. 
Meanwhile, we will all have to be patient while this 
much-needed work takes place, and find other ways to 
reach Avening if we are motorists.