Contacts – Village Organisations 4 ORGANISATION & MEETINGS Contact Gotherington 1st Gotherington Beaver Scout (Woodland Colony) Tue Caroline Sexton – (677469) (Forest Colony) Fri Ady Joy – (07795 097704) 1st Gotherington Cub Scouts Thu Sarah Phillips – (07899 885294) 1st Gotherington Cub Scouts Fri Michelle Rails – (07748 536510 Topics st 1 Gotherington Scout Troop Fri Craig Sprigmore – (678423 Autumn 2015 Membership/waiting list enquiries [email protected] 1st Gotherington Brownies Mon 6.00pm Kirsten Stillman (673218) 1st Gotherington Rainbows Mon 3.30pm Kirsten Stillman (673218) I feel I should apologise for mentioning Autumn so early (unfortunately Cricket Club Colin Ralph ( 673046) / Brian Cosgrove (676216)

Church of Richard Reakes (675559) [email protected] there is no escaping it throughout this edition) but it brings with it shorter Churchwardens (Woolstone) Sarah Whitehead (674489) / Michael. Bower (672900) days and darker evenings and consequently road safety issues which is why Gotherington Church Centre Ellen Cooke (673170) [email protected] pedestrians and cyclists are encouraged to wear visible clothing to help Football Club (Junior) Rob Sharp (678057) avoid accidents. Gardening Club 3rd Wed 8pm Joy Bradley (675223) / Pam Howell (673015)

Gotherington Singers 1st,3rd&5th Mon 8pm Sue Adamson (676087) [email protected] Of course, car users must help as well and three years ago the Local History Society 4th Tue 8pm Caroline Meller (677489) / Jill Collins (672848) Council used Topics to ask residents to avoid parking on pavements. This Parent and Toddler Group Tue, Fri 9.30am Kim Rhodes (07931 376588) led to an improvement overall but some cars still block the pavement and Neighbourhood Watch John Hicks (676848) / Mary Manders-Trett (674592) one resident reportedly refused to stop the habit saying that it wasn’t illegal Howard Samuels (672492) / Phil Smith (672970) Les Howard 677949 / Berian Thomas 674397 and that other people did it anyway.

Oxenton Village Hall Chairman: John Bishton (677290) / Secretary: Pauline Bower Village Bookings Valerie Martin (673233) While it is probably futile to expect everyone to be more thoughtful to Parish Council 2nd Tue 7.30pm David Hearn (674408) [email protected] pedestrians, it is children and the elderly who are most affected by the Parish Council Clerk Gill Cannon (01452770749) [email protected] problem so I think it is timely to reprint in this edition the original appeal Parochial Church Council Secretary Sarah Whitehead (674489) for more thoughtful parking. Playing Field/Rex Rhodes Building Bookings Gill Cannon (01452770749) [email protected]

Petanque Club Sun, Wed, Fri David Ward on (675080)/Christine Godsell (672821) Please do your best to help and encourage your friends and neighbours as

Rec. Club (For Nov 5th Bonfire) Gary Thompson (676708) / Robert Swinson (675693) well

Tennis Club Andrew Harrington (677039) /Ian Donnelly (674404) The Editor Village Hall (Gotherington) Committee Mark Wreford-Bush / Bev Osborne (675741)

Secretary Lucy Donnelly (674404) Bookings co-ordinator Bev Osborne (675741) Treasurer Howard Samuels (672492) Village Hall Coffee Mornings. 1st Sat excl Jan & Aug Christine Godsell (672821)/ Bev Osborne (675741)

Wine Club Chairperson Don Newman (677984) 3rd Tue 8pm Secretary Christine Godsell (672821) [email protected] W.I. 4th Wed 7.30pm President Rosemary Bishton (677290) [email protected] Secretary Sally Newbury (317276) [email protected]

Treasurer Mary Green [email protected]

Gotherington Topics Autumn 2015 Page 20 Gotherington Topics Autumn 2015 Page 1 GOTHERINGTON PARISH COUNCIL TOPICS OF INTEREST Contact: David Hearn on 674408 or [email protected] Topics is distributed to everyone in our three villages in Spring, Summer, and Autumn/Winter.

Moving into Autumn, we have to reflect on a disappointing Summer from a The next edition (Winter 2015) is due out during the week starting 7th December 2015. weather point of view. However, it was not as bad as some we have had! You can find the most recent edition of Topics on the village website at www.gotherington.org.uk.

Once again, the main issues relate to potential development in the Village. Contributions for Topics should be emailed to the Editor at [email protected] The Neighbourhood Development Plan is progressing under the able leadership of David Ward. An entry in this edition gives the latest YOUR PARISH COUNCILLORS information on this major initiative. Many thanks David for his sterling Rodney Churchill 662837 efforts on this, which I know at times have been onerous. Allen Keyte 674446

At the time of writing we had not received the outcome relating to the Appeal Les Howard 677949 to Borough Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for David Hearn (Chairman) 674408 David Ward 675080 the Moat Farm development. The Parish Council would like to thank Allen Caroline Ryman 673707 Keyte for co-ordinating the response of the Council and for presenting the Sylvia Stokes (Vice-chairman) 674310 case and staying to hear the complete process. Beverley Osborne 675741

Howard Samuels 672492 More recently, the local bus service has changed. The Pulhams 527 is in the process of being replaced by the W1 and W2 service provided by Marchants. This change is the result of services to the large developments in Bishops Contacts – General

Cleeve and will extend access to Winchcombe and Pittville. The route and Police (0845 0901234) timetable will soon be added to the Village Web Site. Gotherington P.O. & Stores (672249) www.gotheringtonvillagestore.co.uk

Gotherington Nurseries (676722) www.gotheringtonnurseries.co.uk As advised in the last issue, the 40 mph speed limit has now been The Shutters (01242 673122) implemented. This applies on the Gretton Road between the Parish Boundary Gotherington Primary School (675454) and the existing 30 mph sign. This means that vehicles are slowed to 40 mph Doctor’s Stoke Road (674676) from 60 mph before they reach the 30 mph region. Doctor’s Greyholme Surgery (672669) Out of Hours Medical Services (08454 220220) As we move out of Summer, let’s hope for a “last gasp” period of sunsets Hospital Transport (Gill Lofts) (674129) before we descend into Winter. On behalf of the Parish Council I wish you a GOWNS (07752 152485) healthy and trouble free Autumn. Village Agent (07810 630244) or 01452 426868 Borough Councillor Mel Gore (07970 429832) [email protected]

County Councillor Rob Bird (07711 269 096) robert.bird@.gov.uk David Hearn, Chairperson Garden House Nursery School (07913256364/01386 81886) Creative Writing Classes (677170) [email protected] Yoga [Tuesdays] Sarah Martin (269765) [email protected]

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GOTHERINGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Our Neighbourhood Development Plan is progressing well. More than 246 people signed in to our Public Open Exhibition the exhibition and 212 site selection option forms were completed with

22% choosing Site Option A, 25% Site Option B and 54% Site Option C.

Accordingly, Option C has been selected for possible development which includes an area on Gretton Road, another area on Woolstone Lane and two areas on Malleson Road.

We have approached all the landowners concerned and in due course the ~ ~ ~ Steering Group will decide on which sites we wish to categorically specify This page has intentionally been left blank in the final draft NDP together with the number of dwellings on each.

~ ~ ~ We have also recorded all the comments from the completed Site Option forms, the Local Green Spaces forms and the Neighbourhood Development Plan Comments Form and they will be available on the Gotherington website.

A total of 244 Local Green Spaces forms were completed. 29 chose Freeman’s Field only, 65 Freeman’s Field and The Meadow (and no third option) and 49 chose a third green space. Elin Tattersall is now helping us to complete a Local Green Spaces Designation form with this information.

The next stage will be to complete the final draft Neighbourhood Development Plan and initiate a six-week Formal Consultation period during which time all residents will be provided with an explanatory leaflet.

David Ward, NDP Chairman

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GARDENING CLUB Contact: Joy Bradley 675223/ Pam Howell 673015 www.gotherington.org.uk/gardening-club

After what has not been the best of summers so far, I am hoping for a glorious September. However, that would not in itself constitute an “Indian Summer”. A little research on the internet suggests that the term “Indian

Summer” comes from North America rather than from the Indian sub- continent. The Old Farmer’s Almanac says it is a period of warm, hazy weather with no wind, and that it must follow hard frosts and occur between St Martin’s Day (11th November) and 20th November. There is also a Shakespearean reference to an All-Hallowe’en Summer in Henry IV and since All Saint’s Day is the 1st November there surely must be a similar

British tradition. We can only hope. ~ ~ ~ (Cautionary Note - By the way, if you look up “Indian Summer” on the internet for yourselves beware of Indian Summers, an erotic dancer!) This page has intentionally been left blank The Gardening Club’s new season starts in September with a talk by Victoria ~ ~ ~ Logue from Whitehall Farmhouse Plants in Sevenhampton. The subject is

“Extending the season in your garden” which will be particularly appropriate for September.

A visit to Picton Garden, Colwall, near Malvern has been booked for the 28th September. If there are more than 20 in our party the cost will be £3.00 per head. We will meet at the garden at 2pm.

Gotherington Gardening Club meets at 8:00 in the Village Hall on the third Wednesday of every month except August. We have a varied and interesting programme of speakers, several special events, and guests and visitors are always welcome.

Wishing you a great late summer & autumn

David Adamson

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WINE CLUB NEWS FROM THE NURSERIES Contact: Christine Godsell on 672821 or [email protected] www.gotheringtonnurseries.co.uk www.gotherington.org.uk/wine-club Contact: Phone 01242 676722

As the children go back to school, no doubt the weather will start to improve We are now approaching the Autumn season of our programme beginning and our thoughts turn to preparing the garden for autumn. with our ever popular Fizz and Chips evening in September and then Majestic Wines join us in October. Our spring flowering bulbs are in stock now ready for autumn planting. They offer great value for money and are a lovely way to brighten up the Recently we had an excellent presentation of Italian Fine Art by Fiona James garden. They are great for planting in winter baskets and containers as well who incorporated food from the area of Italy where the artist lived and as borders. Autumn lawn care products are available now to treat your worked and the wines from that district. lawn before the winter comes. Please don’t be tempted to use up lawn feed products from the spring as this will cause soft, new growth which would be affected by frost and consequently damage the lawn. We then had an in-house session of ‘Table Wines’ when each table presented a wine that had been purchased by them from a local supermarket at a limited In the shop we have tools for the garden ideal for those autumn jobs such as budget of £7.50 per bottle. Everyone entered the spirit of the exercise and it clearing leaves, planting bulbs, harvesting fruit and pruning. We have an proved to be a very pleasant evening! amazing choice of homegrown autumn and winter bedding plants including pansies, violas, wallflowers, polyanthus, basket and container plants, The July evening of our BBQ on Freeman Field wasn’t the warmest of the garden chrysanthemums and cyclamen. Seasonal hanging baskets are year but a lot of hard work was put in not only by the Committee members available too. and but also the help of two non members - Colin Pilcher and Bev Osbourne. Now is the time to plant shrubs, soft fruit bushes, ornamental and fruit Many thanks to them for their contribution. trees so they have time to get established before the colder weather arrives.

Raspberry canes and bare root hedging will be available after the first frosts We now look forward to our annual trip which this year takes us in the have arrived near the end of November. We have a good choice of shrubs, morning to St Fagans Welsh Outdoor Heritage Museum and in the roses, conifers and climbers for autumn and winter colour. afternoon to the recently developed Cardiff Bay area for lunch and ending with a train or boat trip in the afternoon. If the weather is kind then all A reminder that we are open 9am – 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am - should be well. 4pm on Sundays. Don’t forget our Christmas Evening at Toddington Garden Centre on 12th November 2015 (4pm -7pm).

Don Newman, Chairperson We wish you well for the season ahead and thank you for your continued support. Happy gardening!

Mark and Liz, Gotherington Nurseries

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GOTHERINGTON REC CLUB GOTHERINGTON, WOOLSTONE & OXENTON W.I. Contacts President - Rosemary Bishton (677290) - [email protected] “By the Village, for the Village” Secretary – Sally Newbury (317276) - [email protected] Contact: Gary Thompson on 676708 or Robert Swinson on 675693 Treasurer - Mary Green - [email protected]

The WI members have had a busy summer. They have taken part in the Bonfire and Firework Night County Quiz and Skittles competitions, provided tea for the Winchcombe [email protected] Blind Club and lunch for 21 Past Executive members of the County Federation. Our President, Rosemary, attended the Centenary Annual Bonfire night will soon be upon us and this year will be held on Sunday 8th Meeting in the Albert Hall in June and another member, Sue, attended the November starting at 5pm. We aim to create a safe and friendly event where Centenary Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the same week. Our own you can meet up with your friends and family. Centenary celebration took place in the village hall when Gillian Kane gave an excellent talk on the Mitford Sisters accompanied by wine and nibbles As always, there will be the impressive bonfire. The scouts will be organising before ending with coffee and cake. the food and all the meat for the burgers and sausages comes from a local butcher. There will be a bar serving mulled wine, beer and cider, a Guy We were introduced to the Yellow Hat Tribe, also in June, when Irene Fawkes competition (prizes for all that join in) and fireworks!! Tyack told us about the little people in large yellow hats who appear in amusing situations in her quirky and humorous paintings. Her gallery near Please note - do bring wood for the bonfire on the day Chipping Campden would be well worth a visit. In July Valerie Ward gave All profits go to the village and to charity. If you have any suggestions where money us an insight into the ancient Chinese art of Tai Chi before demonstrating is needed please let us know and to help you consider this, here is a short list of some and then teaching us a few moves. You could have heard a pin drop, so great things we have already raised money for: was our concentration! In August there was plenty of laughter as we joined

the village hall in a mock selection process for women wishing to join the Women's Land the tennis and cricket clubs Army with Fiona Warin a well liked returning speaker.

Winston's Wish This autumn we are looking forward to talks on Life at Barrington Court, the Air Ambulance The Queen's Bodyguard and to William Reddaway's account of his ride Cardiac Risk in the Young around England on horseback and of course our Christmas Party in Gotherington's automatic defibrillator and most recently the new village marquee December. Following on from another recent speaker, several members will take part in a silver jewellery workshop soon. We can always do with some more volunteers to help run this event. If you would like to be involved please contact Robert or Gary at [email protected] or Never a dull moment! Why not join us on the fourth Wednesday of the telephone 07900192895. month in the village hall at Gotherington ? Visitors are always welcome.

Jill Parsons. Robert Swinson and Gary Thompson

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GOTHERINGTON VILLAGE FETE – 12TH JUNE 2016 GOTHERINGTON BROWNIES Contact Kirsten Stillman tel 673218 or email [email protected] We have been considering holding a Village Fete for a few years now and the We had an excellent pack holiday with 17 of the girls spending a weekend initial response to holding one next year has been very positive. In 2016 the away at the Guiding Centre in Worcestershire. We had a “Mr Men and Queen is 90 and over this weekend celebrations will be taking place all over Little Miss” theme, with the girls creating characters out of balloons, the country so we felt that this is a good reason to come together as a completing various challenges, trying their hand at archery and joining in community and have bit of fun. with the local Guides camp fire. We already have a group ready to help in the organising but of course we Our two newest Brownies made their Promise at the Bowling Alley at the would welcome help from others who would like to get involved. Please end of term, and we all had a great evening, with a few strikes being scored! contact Bev Osborne or Howard Samuels (details on the Parish Councillors We have an exciting programme planned for the Autumn term with a list on page 19) sleepover, badge work, crafts, a trip to the pantomime and the usual

friendship, fun and games. NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Contact: John Hicks(Long Furlong Park) 676848 / Mary Manders-Trett (Malleson Road) 674592 Brownies meet on Monday evenings from 6-7.30pm in the Village Hall. Howard Samuels(Shutter Lane)672492 / Phil Smith(Malleson Road) 672970 Girls can start once they turn 7. Please contact us if you would like further www.gotherington.org.uk/neighbourhood-watch information, or to place your daughter on the waiting list.

Report a Crime - Contact the Police: GOTHERINGTON RAINBOWS Contact Kirsten Stillman tel 673218 or email [email protected] Reporting an emergency 999 or 112 Reporting non-emergencies 101 Bogus Callers 0808 1000 777 Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111 We had a great fun day at Cowley together with the Woodmancote Rainbows at the end of term, and the girls took part in grass tobogganing, Neighbourhood Watch is recognised nationally as one of the most effective tunnelling and cooking on a camp fire. They were all really adventurous voluntary organisations and as a good example of police and communities and enjoyed the new challenges. working together to reduce crime and the fear of crime. It also helps tp build The girls all gained their Global Adventure Badges and we had some fun safer communities and to improve the quality of life. Please visit the national sessions in the playing field as well as a picnic to end the term. website on www.ourwatch.org.uk for full details, advice and current news. We have exciting plans for the Autumn term, with a new leader, Katherine Follos joining us, and Mel Ryman-Young moving over to help at Brownies. If you would like to be kept in touch and receive regular updates from Thanks to Mel for all of her work in helping to set up Gotherington Neighbourhood Watch covering rogue traders, scams and crimes in the Rainbows and seeing it through the first 18 months. Gotherington area please sign up by entering your email details on the Rainbows meet straight after school on Mondays, from 3.30-4.45pm in the “Neighbourhood Watch Mailing List” found on the Gotherington web site. Village Hall. Girls can start once they turn 5. We currently have a waiting list, but if you would like further information please contact me.

Howard Samuels Kirsten

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NEWS FROM THE VICAR! NEW MARQUEE FOR GOTHERINGTON. Contact: email: [email protected] or phone:01242 675559 Churchwardens (Woolstone): Sarah Whitehead (674489) / Michael. Bower (672900) Gotherington Bonfire and Fireworks are proud that we have raised enough Gotherington Church Centre: Ellen Cooke (673170) / [email protected] money to buy a premium pop up marquee to be used by the village. The

Dear Friends marquee, which has ‘Gotherington Village’ printed across the front, measures 3m x 4.5m and is green and white to match the existing larger As I write this towards the end of August and summer is drawing to a close, marquee. There are attachable sides to go all around with windows at either I wonder what your highlights were. Was it a good, relaxing holiday with the end and a door at the front. It is intended that the marquee should be used family, enjoying the beautiful countryside or something else? by any village organisation or villager free of charge. As some of you will know I enjoy a game of cricket and therefore the It is stored in the Rex Rhodes Building garage and will require a minimum highlight of this summer for me was England regaining the Ashes and of 2 people to put it up. Full instructions are provided. We hope that it will defeating the Australians in some style. It was wonderful! be a well-used addition to the village and that will last for many years if For me cricket has its parallels with the Christian faith. Our great summer looked after.Anyone who would like to use the marquee should make a game is a wonderful mix of team sport dependent on individual booking through the clerk to the parish council, Gill Cannon; at performances. The team has to work together in order to win, but within the [email protected] game there are personal confrontations and challenges. GOTHERINGTON CREATIVE WRITING The Church is a team of people with a particular goal - to bring God’s Contact: Amanda Reynolds on 677170 or [email protected]

Kingdom to our communities and villages - but it depends on each I’m a writer, living and working in Gotherington calling all local writers to individual to play their part. Just as a cricket side can’t have a team full of a writing class every Tuesday. The class is tailored to suit all needs and will wicketkeepers it has to have a balance of good bowlers, batsman and fielders. cover all forms of creative writing from short stories to poems, journalism to The Church depends upon people with different skills as St Paul tells us in novels and even how to get published. Ephesians 4:11-12. Gotherington Creative Writing takes place between 1-3pm every Tuesday in The achievement of this summer’s cricket might be put down to a good Michael’s Church Hall , Bishops Cleeve – First Class Free! captain, a leader who inspires, encourages and leads by a good example. We Amanda Reynolds as a church in Gloucestershire will have a new ‘captain’ from September as we welcome Bishop Rachel Treweek to our Diocese. My hope and prayer is PARKING ON THE PAVEMENT that as we welcome Bishop Rachel we will follow her lead and try to bring Residents are asked to not park on pavements in the village in future either more of God’s Kingdom to those around us. totally or partially. To do so gives no traffic flow benefits and is a danger and inconvenience to pedestrians particularly those with pushchairs or With my best wishes. prams who are forced to walk in the road. Please also encourage visitors and Richard Reakes, The Vicarage, Malleson Road, Gotherington tradesmen visiting your house to park on the road and not on the pavements. Gotherington Topics Autumn 2015 Page 8 Gotherington Topics Autumn 2015 Page 13

GOTHERINGTON SINGERS GOTHERINGTON PRIMARY SCHOOL Contact: Sue Adamson on 01242 676087 or email [email protected] Contact: [email protected] Tel: 01242 675454 www.gotheringtonsingers.co.uk http://www.gotherington.gloucs.sch.uk

Gotherington Singers have regretfully said goodbye to our much-loved As the new term begins, I would like to welcome all new and existing Musical Director, Margaret Crompton, who has now retired. We all have children and their parents to the school and hope that every member of the very fond memories of our times singing with Margaret conducting us, school community had a very relaxing summer break. working hard to produce lovely music for female voices, and at the same time having lots of fun together. We are sure this will continue under the It has been wonderful to start the new academic year with both the new direction of Jane Ward Watts, a well-known local musician who is now classroom block and school kitchen ready for use. Year 5 and 6 will now be working with us all. able to benefit from a more eco-friendly building and the school will be

serving hot meals for the first time. We will be singing for the RNLI Carol Concert on December 3rd at 7.30pm at

Cheltenham College Chapel. This is always a great introduction to the The new block was officially opened by Sir Geoff Hurst MBE at the end of Christmas season when the emergency services come together for readings the summer term. We were extremely grateful to Sir Geoff for the time he and carols for Christmas. Entrance is free with a retiring collection. gave to the children during a very informative and inspiring question and

answer session which not only focused on football but also to the importance Our own Christmas Concert this year is on December 18th at 7.30pm at of perseverance and effort. Bethesda Church, Great Norwood Street, . Tickets will be available nearer the time (Tel 676087). After a year of considerable educational change, the school continues to

refine the ways in which we assess pupil progress as well as enhancing our We meet at Gotherington Village Hall at 7.45pm on 1st, 3rd, and 5th Mondays excellent curriculum. There is a particular focus this year on Mathematics of the month, and at Bethesda Church on 2nd and 4th Mondays. as well as the development of Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC)

opportunities. One particular highlight will include an exchange with a We are a friendly group and are always very happy to see new faces. So if group of schools in Kenya which promises to provide everyone with many you would like to join the choir, come along to one of our practices where you memorable experiences as well as a valuable insight into what life in Kenya will be made very welcome. Give us a try! is actually like.

Sue Adamson, Chairman, Gotherington Singers Ben Jordan, Headteacher Gotherington Primary School

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LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY WW1 CENTENARY – FRANK LONG

Contacts: Caroline Meller (677489) / Jill Collins (672848) Frank Thomas Long was born in Gotherington on 18 April 1890. He died at www.gotherington.org.uk/history-society/ Loos, northern France, on 25 September 1915. This is his story. New season of speakers Our new season begins this month and a programme giving details should Frank’s father, Tom, had been born in Tredington, though he spent most of already have landed on your doormat. The committee always aims to arrange his first 50 years in Gotherington working as a farm labourer. He married a programme that highlights events from different periods in history which Louisa Gilder in 1883 and they had 5 children. Frank was the third. The occurred in our area as well as covering an interesting variety of subjects. family moved to the Fiddler’s Green area of Cheltenham around 1910. Frank worked as a market gardener at the Windsor St. Pittville Nurseries. It’s always better value for money to take out an annual subscription (£8) but if there’s a particular subject that you have an interest in then the option When war broke out, Frank volunteered and enlisted in the 10th battalion of to pay £2 a time to attend one meeting exists. the Gloucestershire Regiment. Basic training was carried out in the

Evening Classes 2016 Cheltenham and the nearby areas. In late 1914 Frank married Ada Vines at As well as our monthly meetings, a series of evening classes has been the Cheltenham Register Office. In August 1915 Frank sailed to France organised for the spring. Tony Condor, who used to work for British with his unit. The first major action he saw was in late September at the Waterways, is giving a series of eight lectures on the history of our canals at Battle of Loos. Frank together with many other men from Gloucestershire, th was killed on the first day. Oxenton Village Hall. The first lecture will be on Monday 11 January, beginning at 7.30pm. Please contact Jill Collins to reserve a place. Frank was the first of our local men to die. So at the end of the war when a

History Day at Pates Grammar School – Saturday 24th October decision was taken to erect a memorial in the village to honour those who Glos. Local History Association has organised a special event at Pates had died, it was expected that Frank would be among those remembered. Grammar School which our local history society is supporting, the theme Well, it may have been expected but it didn’t happen! When the memorial being immigration and emigration. You might be surprised, given the rural was unveiled in November 1919, Frank’s name was not there, although two nature of our village, that we have international connections: the Kitton of his cousins, William Long and Sidney Pitman, were remembered. It is family of Shutter Lane who emigrated to Australia in the mid-19th century, assumed that as his family had moved away to Cheltenham, he was th overlooked. So it was not until the 1990s that Frank’s name was added. French ladies who ran a poultry farm at Dixton during the early 20 century, and even a lady from Woolstone who became a prisoner of the He is also remembered on the memorial on the Cheltenham Promenade, at Bolshevists during the Russian Revolution. Incredible stories to be told! St Mark’s Church, and, with more than 20,000 others, on the memorial at

Last year I wrote in Topics that as the centenary of the First World War Loos. He has no grave and the only known picture is as an angelic-looking passes we'd focus on each local man whose name is engraved on our war eight-year-old in a Gotherington School photo. Perhaps that’s how he should best be remembered. memorial to help inform those who attend the Remembrance Day service. On the following page is a biography of Frank Long. Caroline Meller Chair, Gotherington and Area Local History Society

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