Tetbury community news with Kevin Painter

NEXT Monday, you are invited to visit the market town of Tetbury as the many businesses reopen.

To mark this occasion, mayor Ann Pearce will be in town with the town crier to announce and open the town.

It’s interesting to note that one of Ann’s first job as mayor was to do this after the first lockdown and it is now coming up to a year of Ann being the first virtual mayor of Tetbury.

Ann is looking forward to once again visiting and promoting the many diverse shops and businesses the market town of Tetbury has to offer and to welcome you.

It is hoped there will be events and initiatives to help the businesses and to make you all feel welcome.

This would be a good opportunity to thank the many businesses and shops who carried on working and keeping the town going, providing us with the essentials of every day living.

Cafés and pubs adapted to still be able to offer refreshments to people, while many shops stayed open providing us with a diverse array of essential food and supplies.

Some businesses carried on even though their doors were closed working via click and collect or even a delivery service.

And of course the market traders who through all conditions, carried on keeping the heart of the town happy and alive.

And complementing the various businesses, from the post office, the building society, the hardware store, the pharmacy and of course the flower shop who made sure Valentine’s Day and Mothering Sunday carried on even if remotely.

One final thank you to the ground staff and office staff of the town council who carried on working to keep the town looking clean, tidy and welcoming.

On Saturday, Saint Mary’s Church celebrated the Service of light and the first holy communion of Easter at 9pm.

Some gathered outside the church for the Easter Fire, that great symbol of light in the darkness, as they mark the mystery of our Lord Jesus Christ who passed from death to life.

The Pascal Candle was then lit from the fire and carried into church, as the light of the Risen Christ breaks in.

And they renewed their baptism vows and shared Holy Communion together.

This wonderful celebration included lots of music!

THE enthusiastic people at Greening Tetbury have come forward with a hopeful plan to encourage people to paint the town of Tetbury green in June.

The idea is simple, for the month of June they want to paint Tetbury green with lots of window displays indicating that Tetbury is a town committed to tackling the problem of climate change.

For more information, visit greeningtetbury.org.

I WOULD like to take this opportunity to once again to thank the many readers and the many many people who contribute to this community section.

I think I can safely say that this weeks articles can be summed up with one simple word, hope.

And that is what we all have now. Thank you.

As we take steps out of lockdown, it will be a joy once again to be able to promote all the amazing things our town achieves.