1965

  • A plan by the North Cotswold Rural Council to build 20 three-bedroom houses and six bungalows in Stow-on-the-Wold, with another 19 semi-bungalows to be built privately, received mixed reviews when revealed at a meeting of Stow Parish Council in November. Although the RDC proposals were welcomed, some members were not so keen about the possibility of more private development in the village. 
  • Cirencester had one of its coldest nights on record on Sunday, November 14, with the town being one of the coldest spots in the UK. Mr J S Kilpatrick, the meteorological officer at the Royal Agricultural University, revealed air temperatures of 15F and said: “These temperatures had almost reached the all-time low that was recorded during the very bad winter of 1962-62.”

1975

  • In November Princess Anne opened the modern sixth-form study bed rooms at Westonbirt School. Commenting on how much the school had changed in the few years since she had left, Princess Anne spent more time than was allotted talking with pupils in the classroom. As well as the study bedrooms, the Princess also opened the new music school, science laboratories, all which were part of the school’s extension.
  • 5,000 troops from Belgium, Germany, Italy and the United States landed at Fairford to take part in a NATO exercise on Salisbury plain. The United Kingdom was acting as host for a Joint Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (AMF) field training exercise nick-named “Advent Express” from November 26-December 13.

1985

  • There was a record entry of honey, mead, beeswax, cakes, etc, at the October meeting of South East Gloucestershire beekeepers association. Mr Curnock judged the entries, saying the number and quality was particularly good in a year when many beekeepers had a disappointing honey harvest due to bad weather.

1995

  • A flock of pigeons was causing a messy problem for churchgoers in Cirencester. Encouraged by people throwing food, the birds laid siege to the parish church and the situation got so bad the building had to be hosed down daily, causing the stonework to deteriorate. Cirencester Town Council suggested signs should be put up telling people not to feed the birds and the church considered calling in a pest control officer. But the 40 culprits remained undeterred by such threats, and according to Canon Hedley Ringrose, they are ‘breeding like fury.’
  • Local residents were against plans to build a bandstand in Cirencester’s historic Abbey Grounds, arguing that it would create an eyesore and cause unacceptable noise. Cllr David Marshall argued the proposed bandstand would be a “carbunkle” dominating the grounds’ sweeping views and suggesting the old boat house as a more appropriate site.
  • A new night club opened in Cirencester catering to over-25s. The hippest pensioners in town made a beeline for Club XXV Chesters on its opening night with couples in their 60s strutting their stuff alongside younger dancers. Mr Clarke, who runs the club in partnership with staff at the Green Baize Snooker Club, said: “We are trying to attract a different type of client and we want to give them an alternative to going out of town or staying and watching telly.”

2005

  • Rescue worker Stephan Hopkins was looking for help in taking on the Polar Challenge, a 350-mile walk to the North Pole, previously won by three Cotswold businessmen and organised by Cirencester based Venture Challenge. Stephen was looking for both corporate sponsorship, as he needed to raise £10,000, and two daredevils to join him on the extraordinary mission.
  • Postmen in Tetbury went the Full Monty to raise money for the town’s hospital, appearing in a colour calendar naked except for Christmas stockings to cover their ‘postcode particulars’. The calendar proved such a hit a second print was ordered after the first 500 sold out.