Cheltenham Standard 11th September 2014

WEEKLY

Montpellier Drive | Cheltenham Gloucestershire | GL50 1TY

01242 226300

www.cheltenhamstandard.co.uk 11 SEPTEMBER 2014 ISSUE 8 Your discerning local weekly newspaper

YOUR WEEKEND TV GUIDE

FREE

PROPERTY & HOME

COMPLETE SCHEDULE INSIDE!

WIN ONE OF THREE PAIRS OF TICKETS FOR 1984 AT THE EVERYMAN

PAGE 16 >>

PAGE 19 >>

PAGE 20 >>

A SNAPSHOT OF THE VERY BEST HOUSES ON THE MARKET

HE continuing saga of the road works in and around town doesn’t look like abating anytime soon.

The works which will replace old sewer pipes are an attempt to prevent flooding, as part of Severn Trent Water’s £5 million scheme to improve the sewerage system throughout the town. There is no doubt that some of the local traders in the town have been affected by both the disruption and restrictions to the normal traffic routes.

Customers’ not being able to park near or outside retailers has had a hugely detrimental effect on some businesses.

Andy Deacon, owner of Bloomers Florists in Great Northwood Street said, ‘this has been going on way too long. It would be nice if they could at least do a decent number of days work to get it finished’. He went to add, ‘I only ever see workmen there on three to four days a week and they don’t even work Saturdays. We all know this work has to be done, but it’s the way it’s been handled that irks me. My business is 50% down on takings and its hurting’.

However some retailers although badly affected were able to see some light at the end of the tunnel. Catherine Wilce of clothing store Revamp on the corner of Great Northwood Street and Suffolk Road commented, ‘some compensation is in place from Severn Trent Water and I have to say

PHOTO’S: JAMES TANDY

Road works continue T to cause misery

Suffolk Road

I’m reasonably happy with the way they have dealt with me’. She went on to say,’ I have been here for six years and the six months before the road works went up were my best six months ever. So it was a huge hit on my business when the road

works started. The sales just dropped off. I was absolutely distraught about how to keep my business going. However I’m now fairly comfortable with what Severn Trent Water have put in place by way of compensation and I am being kept better

informed on progress and a completion date’ A spokesperson from Severn Trent Water said, ‘the £5 million investment we’re making to replace sewers throughout Cheltenham is essential to prevent internal sewer flooding for local residents and businesses in the town. Work on Suffolk Road is progressing well and is on schedule to be completed in early October. “But as important as what we’re doing, is how we do it, so we’re always looking at ways of doing the work to cause as little disruption as possible. In addition, we’re working closely with the businesses in the Suffolk Road area to make the compensation process as smooth as possible. As well as advertising in the local press we are supporting events, like last weekend’s half marathon and the Souk market, to spread the message that ‘businesses are open as usual.” Catherine Wilce who is a member of the Suffolk Traders Association masterminded the ‘Souk Street Market’ which took place last Saturday on Suffolk Road in an attempt to energise some life and business back into the area.

2

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

Cheltenham WeatherWatch THURSDAY 11th Sept Min 12ºC Max 19ºC FRIDAY 12th Sept Min 13ºC Max 20ºC SATURDAY 13th Sept Min 13ºC Max 20ºC SUNDAY 14th Sept Min 15ºC Max 20ºC MONDAY 15th Sept Min 15ºC Max 20ºC TUESDAY 16th Sept Min 14ºC Max 21ºC WEDNESDAY 17th Sept Min 14ºC Max 21ºC

Infamous traveller family from Staverton ordered to pay back £1.7M THE head of a traveller family who forced homeless men and drug addicts to work as labourers for as little as £5 a day has been ordered to pay more than £1.7m or be faced with six more years in jail.

William Connors was jailed for six and a half years in 2012 after a trial that heard he lived a life of luxury while exploiting the men he called “dossers”.

At the Bristol Crown Court confiscation hearing, other family members were also instructed to pay up or face more time in jail. The court heard the family made £5m. The bank account and assets of 53-year-old William Connors and his family were frozen in 2012.

Connors' wife, Brida, 50, was told at the hearing she must pay £139,175.24 within six months or face a further 20 months in

jail. Sons John and James must pay a combined total of £440,000 within six and 21 months respectively, while son-inlaw Miles has to pay £17,886 within six months. The court was told the Connors family gained £5m from their criminal activity and that more than £570,000

was available immediately. The rest of the money would be paid from their assets. All five were jailed for between two years and six and a half years in 2012. Some £150,000 of the £2.3m would be given to the Connors family's victims, who lived in poor conditions on traveller sites while they worked for the family's paving and patio businesses. Some of the men worked for the family for nearly two decades. Many were hit with broom handles and belts and punched and kicked. The men were given so little food they resorted to scavenging from dustbins at supermarkets. However the Connors family lived in luxury caravans fitted with top-of-the-range kitchens, drove posh cars such as Rolls Royces and holidayed in Mexico.

ADVERTISING gillkirkham@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk CUSTOMER SERVICES office@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk EDITOR editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk LOCAL NEWS STORIES jo@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk HEALTH & LIFESTYLE natalieneale@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk SPORTS sports@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

GOT A STORY? EMAIL OR CALL US ON 01242 257019 www.cheltenhamstandard.co.uk Twitter: @CheltStandard Looking for the perfect candidate?

Why not advertise your position with

The Cheltenham Standard Call Claire on:

01242 257019

Taxi driver jailed for Katie’s death on her friends, work THE FAMILY of a woman colleagues and those kind who was killed while people who were there at crossing a road has said they the scene of the accident, have been “devastated” by particularly those who tried her death. Katie Clutterbuck, to save her life,” the 19, died in Frenchay statement continued. “We Hospital, Bristol, following are still trying to come to the collision on Bath Road, terms with her death. The Cheltenham, in September Katie Clutterbuck loss is devastating and will last year. Lance Hepworth, remain with us for the rest of our lives.”

67, of Penrith Close in the town, has been Her family said that some of Miss jailed for seven months at Gloucester Clutterbuck's organs had been donated Crown Court. The taxi driver previously after her death. “Katie was a beautiful admitted causing Miss Clutterbuck's young woman both inside and out who death by driving without due care and was just gaining in confidence and attention. He was also disqualified from maturing as a young woman of 19-yearsdriving for three years and ordered to pay old,” they added. £1,100 in fines and costs. He will have to “As a family we made the decision to take an extended test when he returns to donate Katie's organs, by which she has driving. In a statement released through given hope to seven people to extend their Gloucestershire Police, her family said lives. “Although Katie's life has ended all Katie, who was on an evening out with too soon through no fault of her own, she friends, would be remembered for her lives on through seven other people, as “happy, caring nature, (her) kindness, well as in our happy memories of our smile, laughter and beautiful blue eyes’. times spent together as a family and in They went on to say, ‘losing Katie has had our dreams.” an effect not just on all of the family but

Support for armed forces covenant EX-SPECIAL Forces soldier Nigel Thomas completed an epic journey not only in miles, but also to raise £1m for charities including Hire a Hero. Nigel completed a gruelling 1,027 miles assent up the country from Land’s End to John o’ Groats on a 1940’s butcher’s bike with his tent and back pack with him. Nigel stopped off at Kingsholm, home of Gloucester Rugby so that he could witness local companies signing up to the governments Corporate Covenant. Signing with Nigel included Paul Baldwin from Brunsdon; Paul Bates on behalf of The Cheltenham Standard and Ben Hannaby from C&P Food Services.

Suzanne Hall-Gibbins of Circle2Success who are championing the Covenant locally said, ‘Gloucestershire businesses have embraced the idea of supporting both current and ex-military personnel.

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

3

Fewer officers to be involved in policing badger cull FOLLOWING on from our coverage of this continuing story in last week’s edition it is reported that in 2013 police from forces including Sussex, Warwickshire, Cornwall and the Metropolitan Police were brought in to help with the operation. Officers say there will be a focus on more community policing with local officers on patrol. The second year of the cull is expected to begin soon but Gloucestershire Police said they did not know the exact date.

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Berry said lessons had been learnt from last year's Operation Themis. “This year there will be a different look and feel to the operation, very much focussed with local officers and less reliance on mutual

aid (officers coming in from another force). “It will be very focussed on dealing with local Gloucestershire officers dealing will local issues.” ACC Berry also said the policy will mean fewer officers on the ground “certainly at the start of the cull”. The cost of last year's operation reached £2.3m, which has now been paid back by the Home Office, a spokesman said. The four-year pilot aims to cull 70% of the initial population of badgers to test how effective, humane and safe a cull can be. Government ministers and the National Farmers' Union believe culling badgers will curb TB in cattle. Opponents still insist that shooting the animals is not effective and is inhumane.

Artistic & Creative Floral Designer Bespoke Bouquets and Arrangements Quality, Fresh Flowers from Holland Home Delivery

10%

Discount Voucher

10% OFF any purchase with this voucher until 30th September 2014 3 Great Norwood Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 2AW

Tel: 01242 527988 Email: info@bloomersofcheltenham.com

www.bloomersofcheltenham.com

Tour of Britain cyclists arriving in the West Country THE country's biggest cycle race, which includes big names from the cycling world such as Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish atre set to arrive in the region this week. The riders will head south crossing Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and then into Bristol to finish covering 182km. On day two in the region the riders will embark on Stage 5 in Devon, which will start on Thursday in Exmouth at 11am and finish in Exeter, having crossed Dartmoor, at 3.30pm after covering 171km. The last day in the West Country will start in Bath on Friday at 10am before travelling West to reach Hemel Hempstead at 3.30pm Stage 6 of

the tour will pass through Bath and North East Somerset, Wiltshire and on into Oxfordshire covering a total of 203km. There will be several vantage points to make for across the three days to ensure you get the best view of the cyclists in action. People from all walks of life are expected to watch along roadsides. In the Cotswolds and in Cheltenham youngsters from Winchcombe School, Glenfall Primary and Pittville School will all be on the route cheering on heroes like Sir Bradley Wiggins. Also watching the race will be a cycling group from St Edwards School in Charlton Kings.

For more details visitwww.tourofbritain.co.uk

Crime Commissioner Martin Surl praises police for their work during the NATO Summit THE Gloucestershire Constabulary contributed to the 9,500 officers and staff who were involved in a combined operation involving police, intelligence agencies and military personnel to ensure the safety of sixty world leaders, their staff and the public. It was one of the biggest tasks ever undertaken by police in the UK with the entourage from the USA alone was around 1500.

Figures supplied by Gwent Police, who co-ordinated the operation, showed there were a total of 31 arrests for offences such as trespassing and assault on the police.

“Once again, it demonstrates the

qualities we have at the county’s disposal and the ability of our officers and staff to rise to the occasion whenever required.

We can be very proud”, said Mr.Surl.

“Gloucestershire will always be our priority, but we also have a responsibility to support our colleagues to manage national events or threats. I never had any doubt the Constabulary would be up to the job. “It has been a very busy period for the police and with the next phase of the pilot badger cull now underway there is little respite but I am confident the Constabulary will continue to maintain the high standard of service they have set themselves”.

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

PHOTO’S: JAMES TANDY

4

CHELTENHAM’S NUMBER ONE UPMARKET FREE NEWSPAPER

10,000 COPIES DELIVERED THROUGHOUT THE TOWN. INCLUDING 4,000 COPIES DELIVERED

DOOR TO DOOR THIS WEEK IN BATTLEDOWN, CHARLTON KINGS, TIVOLI Asda Superstore Hatherley Lane

Morrisons Up Hatherley

Co-op Convenience Gloucester Road

Sainsbury’s Store Gallagher Retail Park

Co-op Convenience Bishops Cleeve

Sainsbury’s Oakley

Co-op Convenience Leckhampton Road Tesco Metro High Street Co-op Convenience Priors Road

Tesco Super Store Colletts Drive

If you have problems getting your copy please ring:

01242 257019

Sun shines on half marathon CHELTENHAM’S HALF MARATHON organisers praised the town’s residents for turning out to support the thousands of people who ran. Warm, sunny weather shone on the event last Sunday which was taking place for the second time since being revived. Organisers GO2 were thrilled that 2,979 runners started the 13.1-mile race, which was up on last year’s 1,872.

Thousands of residents lined the streets as men, women and children raised money for their favourite charities or just ran the 13 miles for fun or personal challenge. Jamie Warren, GO2’s, commented, ‘congratulations to each and every runner who crossed the line. People were running for lots of reasons. The atmosphere and support from the crowds was fantastic and we know how much the runners appreciate it’. He went to say, ‘we would also like to make a special thanks

to all of the volunteers who helped make the day so special. All of our participants should feel extremely proud of what they achieved and we hope the event’s success will inspire many more to sign up for next year’s event’. Former jockey John Francombe started the race in Evesham Road, with the elite athletes setting off first and other not-so-serious runners following behind. They included people in penguin outfits and one man with an enormous Italian flag draped over his shoulders. This year’s event delivered a lot of enjoyment for a lot of people but it did cause some misery for motorists with many finding it hard to get across town due to the many roads that were temporarily closed for the safety of the runners.

David Roper, from Cheltenham, won the race in a time of one hour, nine minutes and 25 seconds.

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

5

Appeal dismissed by planning inspector Meet your local ‘bobbies’ GLOUCESTERSHIRE Constabulary is holding a family open day later this month to celebrate its 175th anniversary. The event, which is taking place at police headquarters in Quedgeley between 10am and 3pm on Sunday September 14, will showcase the work of officers and units from across the spectrum of police activity and offer the public the opportunity to take part in a range of fun activities.

Police dogs, the Tri-Force roads policing team, forensics unit, firearms officers and crime reduction department will all have stands on the day while there will also be the chance for people to take a police fitness test.

Bike security marking will be available and information on how to

IS THE number of women involved in politics important? Is it OK that women are underrepresented in politics and positions of power or is that simply being ‘politically correct’ to worry about such things? “Sex and Power 2014: Who runs Britain” is a recently published a report on women’s access to political social and economic decision making. This showed that throughout the country only 33% of all councillors are women. At Gloucestershire County Council only 17% of the 53 councillors are female. Cheltenham Borough Council is slightly better at 27.5% but only one Cabinet member is female and barely any of the council’s committee chairmanships are held by women at the moment. There are people who would say gender of our elected representatives shouldn’t matter, it’s the persons capability for the job that matters. The problem with this is that the current situation cannot possibly be based on merit unless women are comprehensively inferior to men, which we are not. If the gender imbalance in politics and power is not because women

become a special constable. Young people will have the chance to have their face painted, try some balloon modelling or even sponge a bobby!

Entry is free and parking will be available at the nearby park and ride.

Disabled parking will be available on site at Waterwells Business Park. Chief Constable Suzette Davenport, who will be attending the event, said: “We've never had an open day on this scale before but it's a fantastic way of celebrating our anniversary and highlighting the sheer array of work we're doing. “They'll be plenty of entertainment too - not least because I'll be taking part in the ice bucket challenge after being nominated by one of my colleagues.”

CHELTENHAM Borough Council has won an appeal made by Nina Salerno, owner of 24 Lansdown Parade, Cheltenham, which is a Grade II listed building. Salerno pleaded guilty at court in June to carrying out unauthorised works to the property, including removing and replacing the staircase and removing and replacing/repositioning three fireplaces. The works carried out were deemed to affect the property’s character as a building of special, architectural or historic interest. The matter went before Cheltenham Magistrates Court on 16 June 2014 where the defendant was found guilty of the charges brought against her and ordered to pay the council’s full legal costs within 14 days of the trial. Nina Salerno appealed against the issuing of a Listed Building Enforcement Notice (LBEN) by Cheltenham Borough Council. A planning inspector appointed on behalf of the Secretary of State has dismissed the appeal, stating: ‘the requirements of the notice set out exactly what would be required for the

ON MY

Soapbox

By COUNCILLOR KLARA SUDBURY are woefully lacking in intelligence and leadership skills, why are we so underrepresented? And why does that even matter? Being a female councillor in an often male dominated environment is not always that easy. Ill tempered heckling by the opposition can be an unpleasant experience.

As a councillor I have experienced harassment and discrimination which was solely because of my gender, something I have never experienced before.

The Report also outlines a very poor experience for some women MPs. But you have to get elected in the first place and

here is where the problem lies. I have suggested to a number of women I know personally or have met through campaigning that they should put themselves forward for election. I did this because I believe what they had to offer local politics is currently missing.

Not one of them fancied the idea.

Women who are intelligent, capable and caring already have dozens of other commitments to juggle. It is true that finding the time and commitment to give to public life often means other areas of your life are neglected. This could put a lot

purposes of restoring the character of the building to its state before the unauthorised works took place."

Following the successful prosecution of Mrs Salerno and the unsuccessful appeal by Mrs Salerno against the LBEN an application has now been submitted to the council for Listed Building Consent (LBC) to remove the unauthorised fire surrounds and staircase balustrade to be replaced with more appropriate designs. Mike Redman, director of environmental and regulatory services, said: “Prosecutions are only used by this authority in the most serious cases, usually where a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved by working with the owner of a property. Our enforcement team is committed to protecting the heritage of our beautiful town for future generations and in particular, its large number of listed buildings’ He went to say, ‘we will continue to carry out inspections and respond to complaints about unauthorised changes to listed buildings, using our statutory powers when necessary.’

of people off standing for election. On the other side of it, once elected you do have an opportunity to make a real difference to the community you serve which is very fulfilling. It is important that the life experience of women, our hopes and fears are understood by those who hold power and reflected in the decisions that are made. I know from the issues frequently raised with me on the doorstep that there is often a fundamental lack of awareness of how some important decisions impact on women. At the crux of this is acknowledging and changing the male dominated culture that we have inherited in our political system. Political parties are the gatekeepers to local councils and to parliament. They must work much harder to recruit women to stand for election and encourage more women to take key decision making roles. If women want real equality in gender representation we need to be the ones demanding it. We need to push political parties to take this seriously and address the issue; without such pressure the boys with the jobs are never going to make themselves redundant.

6

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

Band of angels meet again at Cheltenham General Hospital

Above (left to right): Rosie Crooks, Margaret Wild, Beryl Marquardsen, Sue Leslie, Diane Box Anna Dallinson, Barbara Probert, Carolyn Whittington

first time we have all been together since our 21st anniversary in 1985’. She went to comment, ‘we are all married and have had children and every one of us has had varied and interesting careers in nursing’. Three of the ladies remain local, with the others living in Bristol, Devon, Dorset and even Spain.

The band of ‘angels’ met last Saturday on the lawn at the hospital to reprise their friendship and have a ‘nursy’ catch-up. They then had lunch at The Daffodil, which was in fact their local cinema back in their student days.

Petstay

The Dog Si ng Service Do you hate having to put your dog in kennels?

Well there is a friendly alterna ve for your dog!

PetStay, Gloucestershire are a local company and provide a safe and friendly alterna ve to kennels. We have an excellent reputa on of providing a home from home environment for dogs.

“We provide a loving, caring, safe and less stressful alterna ve to kennels. Your dog would stay with one of our carers in their home. We have hand-picked all of our carers to ensure that your dog will have the best care possible whilst you’re away on holiday. Our dog carers are checked, licensed and insured.”

Contact Emma on 07815 497632 / 01242 702006

emma@petstay.net

Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Cheltenham gets vocal...

PHOTO: JAMES TANDY

A GROUP of women who all met for the first time on September 7th 1964 to start their nursing careers have met up again.

They started their three-year SRN nurse training at the Cheltenham School of Nursing. The Preliminary Training School was based in 2 College Lawn and involved three months of study, with one day working on wards. Residency at the time was compulsory until aged 21 years. In those days they had a curfew until 10pm and at weekends 10.30pm with written parental consent. How things have changed!

Their uniforms were made to measure with starched aprons, collars and caps with a hem length just 14 inches from the floor…in other words a midi-skirt.

They also had to wear regulation grey stockings and black lace up flat shoes. Talk about old school discipline! The nurse’s hair had to be short and not touching collars or if it was long it had to be tied in a bun or French pleat, with not a pony tail in sight.

Rosie Crooks said, ‘we’ve all kept in touch over the years and have met in smaller groups fairly regularly, however this is the

CHALKTALK

www.petstay.net

T

HE role and work of GCHQ has been much in the news over the last couple of weeks. First up, there was the somewhat limited protest by the hacktivist group, Anonymous UK. In a truly surreal statement, one of the protestors even claimed that “terrorism is a myth”, no doubt perpetrated by Government to justify the surveillance work of GCHQ and others. This was rapidly followed by enhanced police patrols as part of the security for the NATO summit.

The focus of much of the international media has been the world’s response to the Islamic State, the Jihadist driven Islamic group which has seized large sections of eastern Syria and northern and western Iraq. Its methods are so brutal that even the Al-Qaeda terrorist group has disowned it. It operates through multiple killings, torture, kidnapping and mutilation and a complete contempt for the most basic human rights. Tragically, it’s not just abroad that we must focus our counterterrorism efforts. Within every Western country, including our own, there are a tiny minority who despise our values and society and actively seek to harm us.

Let me declare an interest from the off.

Terrorism law is a significant part of my work as a barrister. I have first-hand experience of a case where an atrocity was only narrowly averted in Dewsbury and another where one defendant had absconded to Syria. It’s hard for many of us to understand how British citizens can become so radicalised. But we must never pretend that it can be resolved through kind words and politically correct hand-wringing. That’s why I absolutely support the proposals by Prime Minister David Cameron to give

police new powers to seize the passports of suspected terrorists seeking to travel to Syria and Iraq. We need to close wherever we can, what the Prime Minister called “a gap in the armoury”.

But my experience tells me that perhaps the most important weapon against would-be terrorists is evidence.

Whether it is seizing passports from returning terrorists or locking them up (the legally more straightforward option) any decision has got to be based on evidence. Individuals can’t simply be detained because they’ve arrived from Turkey, even if Turkey may have been used by some as a gateway to Syria.

Evidence doesn’t miraculously appear out of thin air. It needs to be painstakingly gathered. Increasingly it takes the form of digital records and metadata as terrorists get more sophisticated in covering their digital tracks. The work of the intelligence services in this regard is absolutely crucial. That’s why I completely disagree with the proposed Lib Dem digital ‘bill of rights’, which would restrict the ability of the security service to collect metadata – the information that is generated as you use technology. I don’t disagree with the sentiment. Striking the right balance between liberty and security is essential to a free society. But I disagree with the Lib Dems’ judgement. The UK already has probably the most stringent system of intelligence oversight in the developed world. Equally, Britain’s intelligence officers are well known to be scrupulous about complying with the letter of the law. Given that, and given the scale of the task facing those who seek to keep us safe, they need to be given the tools to get on with the job.

Police on sniff for canine recruits A NEW training course starts on Monday 22 September and more dogs are needed to train up. Constabulary Drugs Dog Instructor PC Rich Hunt said: “We are running a proactive drugs/cash/weapons search course, starting on 22nd September and running for 6 weeks. “We are hoping to have a full line-up of 'students’ on the course, and we are on the lookout for privately owned dogs that owners are willing to donate to us for this vital work.

“The type of dog we are looking for would be working-type dogs such as Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, Labrador cross springer, Collie cross springer. They need to be aged between 12

months and 2 years old, and most importantly they need to have a very high ‘play and search’ drive.

“The sort of dog we need would search all day if they lost their tennis ball in the field! Playing with a tennis ball is really important as that is the main reward we would use when teaching the dogs to find things. “Anyone who believes their dog fits the bill and is willing to offer them to us is asked to contact me urgently, since we only have two weeks before the course starts.

“Contact me (PC Richard Hunt) on 07788 454916 and we will come out and assess your dog to see if it would be suitable. Thanks to everyone for your support.”

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

7

Camels come to town Community Pride… if your postcode’s right

By JO BETTERIDGE CHELTENHAM Borough Council’s allocation of local funding to increase community pride and improve neighbourhoods is seemingly not so much a postcode lottery as postcode discrimination. Cheltenham Borough Council (CBC) has announced that ‘Cheltenham’s hidden gem, the Italian Gardens in Sandford Park, has had a welcome addition thanks to funding of £1,500 from the council’s Community Pride scheme’. And the community should indeed be proud of it judging by the accompanying image. However, it begs an important question: which of Cheltenham’s other communities are benefiting from the fund given some areas in the town is, according to the government’s Public Health England survey, amongst the most deprived in the country?

On further exploration, it seems that CBC is proud enough to fund your community project as long as you’re not on the poor list. Friends of Hatherley Park, for example, received 100% of the £1017 funding requested for a notice board and picnic tables to ‘offer users a place to sit together and enjoy a snack close by the play equipment’. Perhaps a £14.50 Waitrose picnic blanket and access to Asda’s notice board would have been more appropriate for the residents of Hatherley if it meant that the Cheltenham Housing Aid Centre – who requested £4800 to fund running costs of a workshop to give homeless people with addiction problems the skills to manage finances, access training and maintain healthy living – would get more than the £0 that they were granted.

Staggeringly, of a total of 30 projects that were considered for funding, only seven would benefit the communities that are the lowest on the poverty scale, and are amongst the most deprived communities in the country (according to the government's Public Health England survey), whilst 14 of those projects would have benefited the wealthiest regions in Cheltenham, and conversely, in the country. Worse still, just four of the projects that actually received funding were those lowest on the poverty scale, whilst eight of the projects awarded funding were from the wealthiest

communities in town. And the shocking statistics don’t end there. A total of £19,974 was granted to those wealthiest areas, with more than half of those projects receiving 100 percent of the grant requested. Yet the poverty stricken areas most in need of community pride funding received only £8257, two thirds less than their already wealthy counterparts. Even then, one of those, the St Paul’s Road Area Residents’ Association, received funding to ‘work with councillors and council departments to deliver improvements in the neighbourhood, e.g. road works, parking plans, traffic schemes, waste handling, policing, public area noise, and anti-social behavior reduction, better public planning decisions, and public art’. Surely those ‘improvements’ are actually requirements that should be funded by council tax.

Perhaps that is why they only received 39 percent of the grant requested. Charlton Kings Parish Council, on the other hand, received 100 percent of their requested £2500 to renovate the village stocks.

Richard Gibson, strategy and engagement manager at CBC said Council said “Community Pride is open to any organisation to bid; the council does not encourage or deter applicants – it is up to individual organisations to decide whether their project meets the criteria. The council has a long tradition of working with communities across the whole of Cheltenham. Via Cheltenham Borough Homes it provides direct grant funding of £34,200 per annum to both Hesters Way Partnership and Oakley Regeneration Partnership. It is working with local residents in the St. Peters and the Moors area to un-lock £1m awarded to this area by the Local Trust.”Pride of Cheltenham is one of the elements that hold our communities together, so the good news is that a total of £12725 was granted to projects that would benefit the town as a whole. The most visible being the Council’s £3000 grant to the Cheltenham in Bloom bulbs that have become, according to the funding application ‘rather ad hoc and tired’. Thankfully the rewards of that particular pot of gold can be enjoyed by Cheltenham residents rich or poor, and of course, by the visitors to our fine and ostensibly prosperous town.

LAST Saturday saw a little bit of the Middle East arrive in town. The Suffolk Traders Association threw an impromptu ‘Souk’ street market in Suffolk Road taking advantage of the road closures which were in place for the half marathon. One of the organisers, Catherine Wilce said, ‘it was a great day and the weather held for us. It was really good to see such a good turn-out to

support the event. And the camels were a real attraction’. The Souk or market had a good selection of local traders and members of the public showcasing their wares. The Souk also got some welcome support from the local bars and restaurants who opened their doors for the one-day street market. This small comes on the back of the roadwork’s which were re-instated on Monday.

Holiday brownies return for a second successful year HOLIDAY Brownies Gloucestershire returned bigger and better this August. The scheme, like last year, aimed at growing Girlguiding by taking budding Brownies off the waiting lists and giving them the chance to experience the joys of Girlguiding. The girls were given the chance to learn the ways of Guiding by taking part in a varied programme that encouraged team work, decision making, and also the key values of Guiding by learning the promise and law. Additionally, during the three days at the outdoor centre in Cowley, the girls undertook activities such as grass sledging and rope climbing challenges, crafts such as French knitting and photography, as well as learning the Brownie story and to top it off they were all enrolled as Brownies.

Also due to this year being an extremely special year in the Brownie calendar, the girls were given the chance to work on their first badge, ‘The Big Brownie Birthday Challenge Badge’ by carrying out special activities such as: learning the Countryside Code; making the Promise in Makaton; finding out about Brownies from other countries; helping protect insects by making them a bug hotel; having a cup of tea in an unusual place; and writing a letter to someone telling them how wonderful it is to be a Brownie. Already the programme has inspired some girls to move off the long waiting lists and into units with no waiting lists with their new holiday

Brownie friends. Additionally, the girls still waiting to join a unit have been assigned a Brown Owl so they are able to carry on earning badges and also to attend events across the county. Some of the parents of girls on the programme said were clearly pleased saying, ‘it is a really fun and exciting experience for any little girl! A very well organised and thought out programme’. This programme really does show that growing Guiding is possible however they do need more volunteers to run their units in Gloucestershire. So if you fancy volunteering give them a call.

• Tuffley Rainbow Unit on Monday evenings.

• Guide Unit in Brockworth on Tuesdays.

• Mitcheldean Rainbows on Thursdays.

• Cheltenham Rainbows, Saturday mornings.

To register your interest in volunteering or to register your daughter with Girlguiding, please go to www.girlguiding.org.uk and click register your interest.

8

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

BUSINESS

I

T SEEMS everybody is a student these days. ‘You’ve got to get a degree’, they’ll say.

Even if it’s a crap one not worth the paper it’s printed on. But don’t worry, it’s still a degree. You may have got yourself a measly 2.2 in something as pointless as Travel and Tourism, but it’s still a degree they’ll say.

Hmm. 2.38 million students were studying for a qualification or for credit at 161 HEIs in 2012/13. Of these institutions, 160 were publicly-funded. I.e. we the taxpayer providing the ‘student loan’ for tuition fees that they will never be able to pay back. See my point? In fact in 2012/13 a total of 787,900 qualifications were awarded at HE level to students in publicly-funded HEIs. So the naked truth is that we have over three quarters of a million of them with degrees and a proportion of that figure will no doubt include the ‘pointless mob’. In the UK we have some of the most irksome, irrelevant degree courses on the planet. One flaming example of how to waste both our money and your life is a degree in ‘Football Culture’, which has a module called ‘David Beckham’. For those of you wanting to study this true British icon, star footballer and philanthropist, Staffordshire University is running this module all about David Beckham. If that’s not daft enough for you, how about getting yourself along to Durham University who run a module entitled, ‘Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion’? The course aims ‘to place the phenomenon that is Harry Potter in its' social, cultural and educational context and understand some of the reasons for its popularity’. It’s

a bloody kiddie’s book for crying out loud.

So for you Muggles out there wanting to get Dumbledored’ up North whilst learning about the phenomenon that is, Harry Potter, this one’s for you. Again I rest my case. And our friends at UCAS (headquartered right here in Cheltenham) sit up at the racecourse in their ivory tower and actively encourage this nonsense. It’s called a clearing facility.

More like a dustbin for the dumb. They (UCAS) can get you in somewhere even if you were really dim at school with only a handful of less than impressive A Levels. I saw a chap in the last few weeks who had reached the dizzy heights of achieving three rubbish A-Levels at D and C. This ‘brain of Britain’ was then off to study ‘performance art’. Not actually dancing, just studying it. Go and get a job and don’t be hiding in a non-descript university for three years to avoid either the dole or a mediocre job. You may just get a shock and receive some fantastic on-the-job training which could lead to a great career.

In my view they need to make university entrance much more difficult and drop these nonsensical, worthless courses that just don’t make any sense. Entry doesn’t have to be elitist, just make it for the clever souls amongst us. We need scientists, doctors/dentists/nurses, engineers, linguists, teachers and the like.

Not performance art bods. Here’s an idea; if you’re not too bright, please consider actually working for a living and not secreting yourself at university for three years. Follow your passion and don’t chase a pointless piece of paper that says you might be clever, because a 2.2 in Harry Potter or Surfing Technology isn’t going to cut it. Hogwarts here I come!

Eric Barton, Editor

Got a comment?

Contact us at editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk Cheltenham Standard is published weekly by Paul.Bates Publishing Ltd is registered Cheltenham at Suite 104, Eagle Tower, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham, GL50 1TA. Reproduction of any material, in whole or in part, is strictly forbidden without the prior written consent of the publishers. All material is sent at the owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, Paul.Bates Publishing Ltd will not accept liability for loss or damage.

Dates, information and prices quoted are believed to be correct at time of going to press but are subject to change and no responsibility is accepted for any errors or omissions. Neither the editor nor publisher accepts responsibility for any material submitted, whether photographic or otherwise. All rights reserved. ISSN no. 2055-2092. Terms and conditions at www.cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

Standard

ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES TANDY

EditorsDESK

“It’s great being a student... no work for three years”

Local entrepreneur launches Oxford Chelt Wine School ENTREPRENEUR Nick Gay is opening Oxford Chelt Wine School, the first independent wine education company to cover both the Oxford and Cheltenam areas – offering an exciting and truly original range of tastings and courses for those who are keen to learn more about wine.

Nick, who now lives in Cheltenham, is the newest wine school owner within the successful and rapidly expanding www.localwineschool.com family – a UK-wide network of over 20 independent wine schools providing a wide range of wine events for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Chris Powell, the founder and owner, set up the first school in Newcastle in 2000. Nick said: “After reading about the Local Wine School network, I was inspired to set up a wine school of my own, primarily because I wanted to continue my career as an educator in a field which I am passionate about while running my own business. I also liked the independence of the Local Wine School network and the fact that it has a well-proven business model.

Nick has selected a varied range of appealing and contemporary venues to launch his wine tastings and courses. In Cheltenham, evening tastings will be held in the beautiful de Ferrieres Gallery, housed in The Wilson, a newly opened addition to Cheltenham’s art scene at Clarence Street, GL50

Nick Gay of Oxford Chelt Wine School

3JT. The Promenade is round the corner with excellent bus links to Gloucester and beyond, and the venue is a brief 20 minutes away from Cheltenham Spa station.

Cheltenham’s Saturday courses will take place at the luxurious Hotel du Vin, Parabola Road, Cheltenham GL50 3AQ, which is conveniently located for the train station about 15-20 minutes away and a short walk from the Promenade. The first all-day Saturday course with lunch and Champagne will be held on Saturday, November 15 from 11am 4pm. Tickets are now on sale at www.oxfordcheltwineschool.com and all tastings are available to buy as gift vouchers for Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions.

For more information about upcoming dates and prices for Oxford Chelt Wine School, visit www.oxfordcheltwineschool.com, email info@oxfordcheltwineschool.com or call Nick on 01865 238042 or mobile 07858 220119.

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

BUSINESS Lloyds Bank Community Funding GIRLGUIDING GLOUCESTERSHIRE needs your vote in the Lloyds Bank Community Fund Girlguiding Gloucestershire has been short-listed for the Lloyds Bank Community Fund 2014 in Gloucestershire. By encouraging the public to vote, Girlguiding Gloucestershire has a chance to be awarded a grant of up to £3,000 from Lloyds Bank to enable it to continue doing good work in the community. It has over 6,500 members, including over 5,000 young members and nearly 1,500 adult members and volunteers. Girlguiding Gloucestershire offers all girls and young women a space where they can be themselves, have fun, build brilliant friendships, gain valuable life skills and make a positive difference to their lives and their communities. They give girls a voice by building girls’ confidence and raising their aspirations. We also offer fantastic opportunities to our adult members, with chances to learn new skills, gain qualifications, try new things and to make lifelong friendships. They plan to refurbish the toilet and shower block on their campsite. This will make adventurous activities such as camping, bivouacking, geocaching and learning bushcraft skills even more attractive to their members and volunteers. County Commissioner, Helen Welsh said: “The Lloyds Bank Community Fund will make a huge difference to Girlguiding Gloucestershire by enabling us to refurbish our toilet and shower block at our campsite, making a difference to the lives of hundreds of women and girls in Gloucestershire.

Please vote for Girlguiding Gloucestershire to benefit from the Community Fund award.” The Lloyds Bank Community Fund was set up to help local people

across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man to have a positive impact at the heart of their community by giving grants to up to 1,400 local good causes in 350 communities. There are four good causes shortlisted in each community and Lloyds Bank is inviting everyone to vote for the causes they’d most like to support. Members of the public can vote for their preferred community group on-line, by SMS or Twitter, or in a branch of Lloyds bank from 2 September to 10 October 2014. The local good cause that receives most votes in each community will receive an award of £3,000, with the other groups receiving £2,000, £1,000 or £500 depending on the votes received. You can find out more about the Community Fund and Girlguiding Gloucestershire and cast your vote by visiting the Lloyds Bank Community Fund website at: www.lloydsbank.com/communityfund.

Voting for the 2014 Community Fund is open until Friday 10 October.

HOW TO VOTE....

• To vote ONLINE, a voter must have a valid email address and be able to access the internet: Go to www.lloydsbank.com/communityfund find Girlguiding Gloucestershire and click on the vote for us button • To vote by SMS/TEXT, a voter must have a valid mobile phone number: text VOTE FJM to 61119 (leave space between VOTE and FJM) • To vote by TWITTER, a voter must have a valid Twitter account: create a new tweet and include #CommFund FJM in it. You can ask your friends to re-tweet it in the message to create their vote (leave a space between #CommFund and FJM) • To vote in a PARTICIPATING LLOYDS BANK BRANCH: visit a branch in Cheltenham or Bishops Cleeve and approach a member of staff to ask for a voting token. (You don’t have to be a Lloyds customer) You can vote 4 times by using each method once but each method can only be used once per account (so if you have multiple twitter or e-mail accounts, or mobile phone numbers you could vote from each).

10

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

HEALTH&LIFESTYLE

ThePulse

By JO BETTERIDGE

jo@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

Surging through the veins of Cheltenham Life

Musings of a Cheltenham Wannabe LAST week I was called an ‘arrogant Cheltenham wannabe’. Without considering (or asking, for that matter) what that actually meant. I was devastated. It made me doubt myself again having worked hard to rid myself of that insidious habit. I concluded that the comment must have been because I have been shouting from the social media rooftops and telling anyone who will listen how proud I am to have been asked to write for The Cheltenham Standard, and about my new business venture. But these successes are new found, and follow years of passive aggressive bullying and destructive relationships that left my confidence at rock bottom. I know I’m not alone in

having suffered this. So it got me thinking…why do people put others down so much? To make them feel bad?

I really don’t think that’s the case most of the time. I think they do it to make themselves feel better, to camouflage their own insecurities. In fact when I asked my friends if I was guilty as charged, one heartening response was in the form of a quote, and went: ‘When someone undermines your dreams, predicts your doom, or criticizes you in any way, they’re telling their story, not yours’. Often people don’t realise the harmful effects of their careless, off-thecuff criticisms, and such put-downs are often a projection of a person’s own issues. But the comments still smart. An

element of self-doubt lurks somewhere within us all, and unfortunately further erosion of self-esteem at the hands (or tongues) of others is common.

Mediation coach and Mentor Wendy Sharam says, ‘warmly thank the people who put you down, it’s their little way of saying “I admire you’. Noted!

Then there’s the question of what a Cheltenham wannabe is anyway? I live and grew up in Cheltenham, so it’s not like I ‘wanna’ be from here. Not that that’s a great accolade anyway – it’s hardly New York. So what do I wanna be? Successful, confident, attractive, popular, rich? For these are the qualities I’d associate with a ‘wannabe’. Somewhat shallow perhaps? Indeed. But let’s face

it, who doesn’t want to be those things?

They’re what give a person confidence when frequenting the ‘Nam’s hotspots of a Friday night. But I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want. After much musing, I’ve concluded I simply want to be happy. Which, for me, means striving to be the best I can possibly be spiritually, physically and mentally, thus bringing a bit of sparkle to my life as well as others’. And I want to do it in Cheltenham. So, a Cheltenham wannabe? Looks that way. What’s more, I’m proud to be, by my own definition.

But arrogant….moi? Nope. I’m way too good for that.

The rise and rise of the mumpretreneur LET’S be honest, traditional ‘female’ roles in the household still predominantly lay firmly in the remit of the fairer sex especially when it comes to childcare. So why, when we’re struggling to balance childcare, cooking, cleaning, washing, ironing and shopping do many of us think it’s such a great idea to run our own businesses as well? Cheltenham mum Hetty ZeiglerJones (pictured) makes it sound rather appealing, if not exhausting… “I’m passionate about what I do, and as I can work at the kitchen table with the kids running around, it made sense to work from home”. Apart from managing a home, a one-year-old and a three-year-old, a husband and a part time job in a local restaurant, Hetty runs her own catering business, From Canapé to Cake, specialising in catering for special occasions, including the creation of truly impressive celebration and wedding cakes. Perhaps she’s lucky that she’s not an accountant or a lawyer – or even a journalist – some jobs you just can’t do with the ringing of a child’s numerous noises and demands in your ears. Being a chef, Hetty gets away with being able to do much of her work in a family environment, but confesses she

has to save to the close, intricate work of sugar craft until after bedtime when she can concentrate better, or when her husband is on hand to help out with the kids. From humble beginnings as a cook in an old people’s home as a teenager, self-taught chef Hetty embarked on an impressive career ‘cheffing’ on super yachts in the south of France and Italy, heading up a cookery

school and as full-time chef at Cheltenham restaurant, Flynn’s.

She admits to not really wanting to go on maternity leave when expecting her daughter Imogen, but the issue was forced when colleagues could no longer squeeze past her bump in the kitchen.

However much we love our children, we often need to exercise the old grey matter even when on maternity leave, so Hetty combined that with indulging in her passion for cooking, and took a sugar craft course. Slowly but surely commissions for cakes came in from friends and family, and now she’s being asked to create so many, and to cater so many parties with her impressive canapés, that breathing life into From Canapé to Cake seemed a natural progression.

Plans for Canapé to Cake are to remain a ‘cottage’ industry, but a move to a new house will mean long-anticipated expansion to an industrial-size kitchen for Hetty, as anticipated contracts demand higher output.

It’s truly inspiring that women can

follow their dream and work that around their children if their chosen career allows it. Many of us, myself included, have managed to find that allelusive work-life balance by taking a huge leap of faith, leaving full time employment and relying upon oneself to earn a crust from home. It may seem a ‘pie-in-the-sky’, far flung dream for many, but you will be surprised what you can achieve it you want it badly enough. www.canapetocake.co.uk

Want to be a reporter?

We’re on the hunt for local stories that are happening in your area.

Send us your local reports on anything from mums and toddlers, through to the local moggy getting stuck up a tree.

We want to know!

Drop your local stories onto our lap at editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

11

HEALTH&LIFESTYLE ON THE DOG HealthMatters Your essential guide to staying healthy AND BONE.... and enjoying the best life has to offer IT'S a modern parenting dilemma; when do you give your child their first mobile phone? Sooner rather than later, it would seem, as new research suggests more than half of children aged 10 or under (52%) have a mobile phone, and the majority (90%) of kids aged eight to 14 own one. The study by comparison site broadbandchoices.co.uk found that 10 was the average age that children get their first phone. And whatever the age of the mobileowning child, almost half expect to spend more than twice as long on their phone over the summer school holidays, using it for an extra two or more hours per day to call and text, play games, use social media and messaging apps. But while some parents may worry about the time children spend on their phones, the fact is that mobiles can serve a useful purpose for parents. A separate study by Netmums and the online mobile phone retailer e2save found that parents' main motivation for buying phones for their children was emergencies and safety, with around half of the phones bought for children aged between nine and 14 years purchased for this reason.

Communication and keeping tabs on their child's whereabouts were also important factors, accounting for 39% of motivations to buy a phone for nine to 11year-olds, and

29% for those aged between 12 and 14. ‘Most of the time parents are giving mobile phones to children because of safety and keeping in touch’, agrees Jeremy Todd, chief executive of the parenting charity, Family Lives.

‘Our main concern is if the phone is just being used as a pacifier, to keep children quiet’. While most parents (45%) think their child only spends up to one hour per day on their mobile, almost a quarter of kids admitted to spending up to four or more hours per day using it. Indeed, 15% of children said they'd rather give up food and sleep in favour of playing on their mobile, while nearly a quarter (23%) were willing to give up seeing their friends face-to-face to use their phone more. Children predominantly use their mobiles for making calls, texting, playing games and using social apps such as Facebook and Twitter.

However, aside from gaming, the survey found there's a more worrying aspect of children's mobile phone use as 5% admit they use their mobile phone to shop online and make in-app purchases, often without their parent's knowledge. If your child has a smartphone, make sure they understand they shouldn't buy any apps or make in-app purchases without your permission first. It’ll save you a few quid!

By NATALIE NEALE

Back to school, back to normality or maybe not…

GOD bless the checkout girl in Sainsburys Oakwood who wished me a lovely last day of the school holidays. She clearly does not have children! For the sake of my mental health I’ve spent the last 3 weeks of the summer holidays wishing for my children to return to school to get back the routine and domestic harmony that pre-existed before the holidays.

A world where the house wasn’t constantly trashed and “mummy” was not used 72 times in one minute (I kid you not!) The ever increasing bouts of hysteria (that’s mine), and exhaustion of not being heard through overzealous role-play has taken its toll…. Am I on my own in feeling this way? Certainly not, and I feel the pain for fellow parents whom have had to endure the lengthy holidays of the private schools. I struggled with 6 weeks so I can fully empathise with parents requiring therapy after 9 weeks of summer holidays.

That said, having moved my children from private education at the end of last year I know my preparation for returning to school has been a much easier process, not to mention a far less costly one. My shopping list for the start of term merely consisted of a larger size in uniform and shoes all of which can be purchased from any supermarket. By leaving private education I have managed to bypass the shopping lists that include hockey sticks, rugby boots and boiler suits (to name a few and costing a pretty penny). Of course …I’m sure there must be some research somewhere to state that at the age of 6 years such sports are contributory to academia and a successful professional adult life? (possibly for debate on another occasion). Briefly putting my elation at the return to school aside, there is just one personal reason that caused me (and I’m sure many of you) an element of sadness at the start of this new term. Why? Because my youngest started school. It’s a milestone when your baby is no longer your baby but a little boy or girl, and like many of you mummy’s (and daddy’s) , I cried a river seeing that little person swamped in a school uniform being taken to the classroom on the first morning. It was also lovely to see that for the most part both parents were present at drop off, and I wish for all you parents sakes that your little ones settle in and make friends quickly. So, it’s been

a week now since the start of term and I’ve realised that one must be careful what they wish for. I was clearly deluded for ever believing that a domestic harmony existed just because the children were at school. I had clearly forgotten the feeling of having done a day’s work before actually arriving at work, or the relentlessness of “Mums taxi”. The “Challenge Anneka” moment at the end of each day when meetings and phone calls need to be brought to a speedy and professional close so that you can go at break neck speed to get to the school gates on time just so you could shout (in your head) “stop the clock”!!!!!

I’d forgotten that the whole family needed to be uprooted for the daily after school clubs, following that busy day at work. Weekly for us it will be football with Andy Tucker, break dance at Danceworks and gymnastics, and I’m pretty sure that by the end of this term I will have been committed by proxy to at least one other after school club. All this resulting in tired, hungry and hysterical children and an irritable, hungry and mildly hysterical parent by the time you cross the threshold of home.

On the first day of term a local friend posted this on her facebook “First day of school for all of us today, and we survived...it's nearly half term, right?!” Uh huh!… It appears that when our children transgress over the duration of the holidays thus reaching militant status, we want them returned to school but when the reality hits of actually getting our cherubs there, whilst contending with work and home…. it really is just too much! Bring on the holidays!!! Aren’t we an odd bunch? Perhaps some professional input from a psychologist would be helpful at this point?

Local deals and promotions at a glance….

Groupon @ www.groupon.co.uk/browse/ gloucestershire?category=health-and-fitness • Ten cardio kickboxing lessons at KicX Martial Arts in Cheltenham from £9.00 • One months gym access at Gym 66 in Cheltenham – £17.95 Living Social @ www.livingsocial.com/gb/ cities/270-cheltenham • Ten gym passes at Gym66 in Cheltenham – £10.00

12

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

EDUCATION

New term, new food?

AS SEPTEMBER dawns, parents will be turning their minds to feeding their children during the new school year - and many of them will be opting for packed lunches. Research shows around 57% of children don't eat school lunches, meaning many parents are facing the daily chore of buying and preparing packed lunches for their kids. Indeed, a new survey has found that more than half (55%) of mothers would rather their child has a packed lunch, and six out of 10 mums (66%) think a lunchbox is a healthier alternative to school food. However, 61% of the mothers questioned for the Organix No Junk Challenge Lunchbox Campaign said they found it difficult to make their child's lunchbox varied and interesting, and 57% said they needed more advice on what should go in a child's lunchbox. And that's where The Lunchbox Doctor can help.

Jenny Tschiesche runs The Lunchbox Doctor website to provide recipes, lunchbox ideas and nutrition advice, and is

supporting the No Junk Challenge, which aims to encourage parents to cook with fresh natural ingredients and to challenge the food industry to remove the 'junk' from children's food. She says: “We don't have to put things in lunchboxes when they're not ideal for our children. Parents can produce something for the same price, or less, than a school meal, using 'real' food, and it can be better nutritionally.” The Organix survey found that sandwiches are the lunchbox staple for 81% of children, and Tschiesche says the typical school lunchbox consists of a white bread sandwich, often with a sweet filling like jam, rather than a protein filling.

“It's a common mistake to use white bread, and also to not use a protein filling,” she

says. “A lot of parents will use jam or chocolate spread because they know their child will eat it. But there's no fibre in the white bread, and no protein in the filling, and that combined lack of sustenance means kids are likely to have a burst of energy which might last while they're running round the playground at lunchtime, but they'll be suffering an hour or two after that.” She says that as well as the white bread sandwich, children are often given crisps and a sweet bar, sometimes covered in chocolate, or a dried fruit and cereal bar. “We've been led to believe these cereal bars are a much healthier prospect, but often the bars have more sugar in them than the sugary cereals,” she says.”Even though they might have some

seeds in them, at best, all the sugar just fuels this burst of energy followed by a lull in the middle of the afternoon.”Tschiesche, a mother-of-two, points out that many children's lunchboxes also contain yoghurts, but says these often contain ingredients parents might not want their kids to have, such as sugar or artificial sweeteners, colourings and flavourings. “All of it's targeted at convenience. If you're a parent, you're busy by definition, and many products say 'ideal for lunchboxes'.

That can mean it's attractive and colourful for the child, and simple to pack, but it doesn't mean it's ideal for the child's health, wellbeing and sustenance.” Indeed, the survey found that nearly all mums (97%) want more healthy options for lunchboxes for their children, and 87% think the foodindustry needs to do more to provide healthy, nutritious food for children.

For more information on the No Junk Challenge, visit www.organix.com/nojunk

Drop outs “not well served” Too many young people in England are dropping out of sixth-form or college and are not being given the chances that will help them in future, Ofsted is warning.

HIGH numbers of youngsters are “not well served” by their courses, it says.

Inspectors say it is “simply not enough” to keep teenagers in education until 18 if they fail to leave with decent qualifications and experience. Instead, this will delay an “inevitable fall” into becoming “Neet” - not in education, employment or training.

Figures show that nearly 1.18 million 16 to 24-year-olds are classed as Neets and in addition to this, the number of people whose whereabouts are unknown is rising, inspectors said.

The education inspectorate's annual report on further education (FE) and skills said “too many learners were not progressing from their prior attainment to a higher level of study to meet educational and career aspirations”.

The Ofsted research warns: too many education providers are not ensuring their programmes meet the needs of learners too much teaching of English and mathematics is not good enough too few students progress to an apprenticeship, employment or higher levels of learning too much careers guidance is weak, not giving teenagers a

clear idea of the paths available to them. It says providers and employers should work together to ensure that their education and training leads to secure employment. The report urges the government to ensure there is a reliable system for tracking young people as they move between different types of education and training. It says local councils should be given powers to make sure they are given full information by schools, academies and colleges on youngsters who drop out of their studies. Speaking as the report was published, Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw said the principle behind new rules requiring young people to stay in education and training was “undoubtedly a good one”.

But he warned: “The gap between the good intentions of government policy in relation to this age group and the reality of what is happening on the ground is worryingly wide. “The simple truth of what's happening at the moment is that too many of our young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who want to follow vocational pathways, are not yet being well served by these programmes.

“As chief inspector, I am very concerned that too many young people drop out of their post-16 education and training course at too early a stage. Too many of these young people who do drop out simply disappear from the educational radar and are not properly tracked by the local authorities.”

Lorna Fitzjohn, Ofsted's director for further education and skills, added: “It is simply not enough to keep young people in education and training longer if they still fail to gain meaningful qualifications and experience that will help them achieve their career goals.

“Instead, all this will do for many is delay their inevitable fall into the Neet category.”

The Ofsted report comes a year after new funding scheme was introduced for FE in England. Since September 2013, colleges have been funded for students' programme of study rather than by the individual qualifications taken. A programme of study includes qualifications, maths and English study and work experience. 'Gill Clipson, deputy chief executive of the Association of Colleges, said: “The move to programmes of study and away from colleges being funded

by qualification is a fundamental change.

“So too is the requirement for all young people to continue to study maths and English if they have not reached an acceptable standard at school.”The intention is right but, as this is such a fundamental change, it is not surprising that there has been variable implementation particularly since the Ofsted fieldwork for this report took place even before the first full year of implementation was complete.” A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “The number of young people Neet is at its lowest level since consistent records began.

“And it is encouraging that this report by Ofsted shows our plan for post-16 education is already having a positive impact just two terms after coming into effect. “The report shows positive early signs that schools and colleges are entering young people for more rigorous qualifications. “In fact, the latest figures show that the numbers of those over the age of 17 taking GCSEs in English and maths are rising, giving thousands more the vital knowledge and skills demanded by employers.”

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

Don’t stop the music IT’S an old tune that most parents have heard lots of times: music benefits children. Plenty of studies have shown that learning an instrument is linked to improved language development, IQ, academic performance, reasoning abilities and creativity. And in the most recent music education study published in June, researchers from Boston Children's Hospital found that children who had early musical training were better at quickly processing and retaining information and problem-solving. But while there's little doubt that playing an instrument is good for children both academically and socially, that doesn't mean most children actually get the chance to have music lessons. In 2011, the Government's National Music Education Plan promised to ensure children from all backgrounds had the opportunity to learn an instrument and make music with others, in a bid to address the nation's 'patchy' music education. But, according to the maverick classical pianist James Rhodes, that promise has not been fulfilled. The musician passionately believes that the opportunity to learn music should indeed be available to all children and, as well as petitioning the Government to make more effort to fulfil its pledge, Rhodes has taken matters into his own gifted hands and is launching a national 'instrument amnesty'. The idea is

that the public donate instruments languishing unused in attics and cupboards, and Rhodes will then give them to children who need them. To highlight his campaign, and what he feels is the parlous state of the UK's music education, Rhodes, 39, has taken part in a new two-part Channel 4 series, Don't Stop the Music, which follows him as he visits schools to investigate their musical activities and find out how more instruments might help them. He says: “I've been concerned for some time about the state of music education in this country and, after spending some months visiting schools, the thing that horrified me was that it was such an inconsistent lottery. “Some schools are doing brilliant things, but in the majority, music barely featured at all, and where it did, parents were paying for instruments and tuition and there was very little time in the school curriculum for it.” “At school, we need to do more than just literacy and numeracy, and music is a wonderful way to do that.

Music is an amazing opportunity that we're depriving children of.” Rhodes stresses that his campaign isn't just about getting instruments to children, it's also about pressing the Government to fulfil its pledge to give every child from every background the chance to play and enjoy music.

Stt Edward’s Edwar www.stedwards.co.uk www ww.stedwards.co.uk

S C H O O L C H E L LT TENHAM

Nurturing

Talent since 1541

rnionbger o M n Ope 18 Oct th

on day Satur 0am - 12no 1

@>C9:G<6GI:C @>C9:G< 6GI:C EG:"EG:E EG:"EG: E EG: EG:E6G6IDGN E6G6I DGN H:C>DG H>MI= ;DGB ; DGB

Saturday Satur day 27th Sept September ember 9.00 am - 12.30 pm Open Open Morning Morning Senior School hool T uesday 30th September September Tuesday 7.00 pm Scholar ship Inf ormation Evening Evening Scholarship Information Senior School hool Thursday Thur sday y 9th October October Working Open 9.30 - 12.00 00 noon W orking O pen Morning Morning Preparatory Pr eparatory o School For F or boys boys and girls aged 2 - 18

We all strive for the best b t

Pr P epara attory School S h l T: T 01242 538900 Preparatory S Senior School T: 01242 538600

For girls and boys, aged 3-11 years, the King’s Junior School offers a unique programme for identifying and developing individual talents. Come and see how we offer each child every opportunity to realise their full academic, sporting or artistic potential.

For further details, or to arrange an individual tour, contact the Registrar, Sharon Bird: 01452 337337 or registrar@thekingsschool.co.uk

www.thekingsschool.co.uk

14

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

QUIRKY NEWS

Something a bit different...

Cat crazy creations Dream house…not!

A CAT-MAD couple have started their own online feline furniture shop offering a range of platforms for pets to sleep, play and relax on. Megan Hanneman and partner Mike’s business Catastrophi Creations - stems from the couple going the extra mile to welcome new kitten Ickle to their Michigan home.

“We were trying to design a cat wall for him to climb and couldn’t figure out how to bridge the gap where our hallway was.

Then it hit me! We needed a bridge,” said Mike. “Since we were bringing home a kitten, we decided that it was safest to add ropes along the length of it and thus we created the Indiana Jones Cat Bridge.

“Little did we know that Ickle would

completely fall in love with his bridge and would be sleeping on it almost every night.” The couple realised that other cats would probably enjoy using something similar and decided to set up their own online shop. Mike says that all of their items are fully customisable, giving each customer a very personal experience.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have two very cute cats, Ickle and Heisenberg,who are very active and eager to test out our new ideas,” he said.

“When we build a new piece of furniture, they help us decide how fun or functional the piece is. They definitely let us know what does and doesn’t work.

A HOUSE thought to be Britain's narrowest has been put up for sale for more than £200,000.

The two-bedroom terraced house, in Harringay, north London, is believed to have been built on a driveway between two other homes.

Measuring just 83 inches in width, the property boasts a reception room, kitchen and bathroom, as well as a roof terrace to provide outside space.

It is to be sold at auction on October 1 by agents McHugh & Co with a guide price of £235,000-plus.

US Man still goes to work aged 101yrs A US MAN spent his 101st birthday at work in the job he has held for an astonishing 73 years. Herman 'Hy' Goldman still works four days a week at light fixtures company Capitol Lighting in East Hanover, New Jersey.

He used to say that he would retire at 100 but when he reached the milestone, he changed his mind. His co-workers celebrated his latest birthday with him.

Aside from a brief absence to serve in the

US Army in the Second World War, Mr Goldman has worked for the firm since 1941.

The store says he was first hired to sell items and stock and clean the displays.

Co-worker Sandy Ronco says Mr Goldman now specialises in rebuilding items that were damaged or unusable.

Mr Goldman lives in nearby Whippany and still drives himself to work. Well done him, there’s hope for us all.

Man asks Siri to help cover up murder Dodgy dating cards An illicit dating website has created a range of cards for cheating spouses to send to their mistresses and lovers. The adulterous cards are the brainchild of the Illicit Encounters website which specialises in extra-marital affairs.

It has it’s own website – MistressCards.com – where nine different designs are available to choose from. They feature saucy photos and verses such as: “Roses are red, violets are blue, it's a good thing my wife doesn’t know I'm sh***ing you.”

VENTING SPLEEN… Local man about town, Tom Thurlow lets loose

S

OMETIMES I really do wonder whether Cheltenham has lost its grip on reality. I’ll just come out and say it. If you’re going to open up a new restaurant in this town make sure whatever you do I’m invited to the opening night. It’s come to my attention that the old D-Fly has completed a major refurbishment and will be reopening Wednesday 10th September as ‘Ange Noir’ (it’s French for something, should’ve asked my sister). The new venue is being headed up by Marchella De Angelis who also owns Cotswold’s 88 hotel in Painswick.

Probably got a bit of money behind him. That I can respect.

However, as the opening was this week and I still haven’t received any kind of formal invitation it’s looking unlikely there’s going to be any kind of fanfare or red

carpet launch around his new restaurant. I’m not saying I’m Cheltenham’s Top Celeb, but I’m also not going to be humble about this. I reckon I’m at least hitting Top 20? What’s not to like about getting

Tom Thurlow in with your business? You can ‘pap’ me eating two portions rather than one and send it into Spotted Cheltenham for guaranteed coverage. You could probably tell Cotswold Style you caught me wearing a two-year old YSL belt and they’ll dedicate half a page for it. But what I then found out really put the icing on the cake.

My publicist did some digging and it looks like owner Marchella has been raving to the local press about a different local celebrity. It only turns out that liberal wishywashy MP Martin Horwood turned up

unannounced late last week to ‘take a look’. My God. The quicker next year’s General Election comes around so we can be a Conservative constituency the better. Then that insufferable Horwood can disappear from the circuit. Back on the subject though; local businesses have long embraced me and I embrace them back. Take Cheltenham Nando’s (a personal favourite). Just the other day I called in advance to tell them I was coming to try their new boneless chicken thighs and on arrival I enjoyed kisses & hugs from several of their fine looking servers. Manager Will escorted me over to a reserved booth and I enjoyed VIP treatment for the rest of my evening. General Manager Rob even put a candle in their chocolate cheesecake just for an excuse to sing Happy

Birthday to me. It wasn’t even my birthday. In all honesty though I’m gutted. Any restaurant with a dress code that prohibits men from wearing ‘tracksuits, flipflops, hoodies, dirty trainers (particular favourite of mine) or shorts’ sounds like a delightful place. I mean that is quite a comprehensive list of no-nos!

Marchella De Angelis, I leave this message to you. Get in contact with the Cheltenham Standard or tweet me, I don’t mind which, but invite me in and let me sample some of your restaurant’s finest food. I want to write about it, I want us to be friends, but more importantly I don’t want to pay.

Get more of Tom’s insights by following him on Twitter @thurlow

The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments on these articles are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of The Cheltenham Standard

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

15

CoffeeBreak

Lovemaking lizards die in space ended with the confirmation that they had been found dead when the capsule landed in southern Russia.

Russian space agency Roscosmos said: “It was established that while the Drosophila flies handled spaceflight well, developed and bred successfully, all the geckos, unfortunately, died.”

GECKOS (small lizards) who entertained Russia with their sexual exploits in space have died or dare we say croaked? It’s reported that the lizards were put on the Russian Foton-M4 capsule to examine what effect microgravity would have on their lovemaking. But their journey

Your Weekly HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 20 – April 18): You can’t afford to be there for someone who won’t be there for himself. It’s time to protect your own interests.

TAURUS (April 19 – May 19): If a sale is being held up or a venture is proving to be costlier than expected then these are sure signs of trouble. Get out while the getting’s good.

GEMINI (May 20 – June 20): If he says you’re better off without him, then you should listen. He’s not just playing hard to get. He’s telling the truth.

Taxi driver strips off in cop station

CANCER (June 21 – July 21): A wolf in sheep’s clothing is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. It’s awkward saying no, but say it. Better rude than sorry.

shouted Zhen as he leant on the front desk. Goggle-eyed members of the public stared on as Zhen was handcuffed and then led away - still in the buff - by embarrassed officers.

Witness Li Hsu said: “He was very angry and telling the police they'd kiss his backside if he could afford to bribe them.” Police say Zhen new faces charges of driving an illegal cab and of breaching public decency laws.

A FRUSTRATED cabbie stripped naked in a police station after his taxi was confiscated. Zhen Hsiao, 47, saw red when police in Southern China told him they were confiscating his unlicensed cab after pulling it over in Nanching, during a crackdown on the city's so-called 'private taxis'. “You think my taxi is illegal? I'll give you something to really look at. Look at me - that's what I think of your law,”

LEO (July 22 – Aug 21): Squeaky wheels don’t always get the grease. In fact this person’s constant complaining is greasing the slide to a swift and dramatic exit.

VIRGO (Aug 22 – Sept 21): You’re really good at solving people’s problems. It’s why they’re always handing them off to you. Today you might want to think about handing them back.

LIBRA (Sept 22 – Oct 22): A simple misunderstanding isn’t as simple as all that. If it were, then you’d have no problem clearing it up. Why are you not divulging?

SCORPIO (Oct 23 – Nov 21): All may be fair in love and war, but that won’t stop the other side from pressing an unfair advantage today.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 20): It’s human nature to realize the value of something only when you’re close to losing it. It’s better to find out now than later..

CAPRICORN (Dec 21 – Jan 18): You’re afraid people will reject the new things you’re trying to introduce into your life. Actually they’re wondering what’s taking you so long?

FOR SALE: House with a pig showed the pig sleeping in a corner, but the photo has since been removed.

The property features an open-plan kitchen and lounge area (occupied on an apparently permanent basis by the pig), plus a bathroom, separate toilet, entrance hall and loft bedroom.

A HOUSE has been put up for sale on Rightmove with a picture that shows a large pig living in the lounge. The small detached property in Britannia Road, Ipswich is on the market for £120,000, and is described by the estate agent Connells as "unique". One photo on the online advert clearly

1

2

3

AQUARIUS (Jan 19 – Feb 17): Someone who promised to be there pulls out last minute.

It’s a fiasco, but it’s not unsalvageable. A plus point is that you never have to deal with this person again.

4

5

6

7

8

9

PISCES (Feb 18 – March 19): You’re involved in a situation where the cure is as bad as what ails. Nevertheless cures heal. It’s more than can be said about your other option.

Word Ladder Convert the word at the top of the ladder into the word at the bottom of it, using only the three steps in between. Every word must be a valid four-letter word.

LOVE

RICE

HATE

CAKE

CRYPTIC Crossword

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17 18

19

22

20

23

24

21

ACROSS 1. Those who avail themselves of services rendered (6-5) 9. Censure for shocking pub assault (7) 10. Container in which you'll find some of the morphia left (5) 11. The result of summing up (5) 12. Ann unusually eager for this material (7) 13. Slip list in the book (6) 15. Stays in the wrong sector (6) 18. The gateman has become a big business operator (7) 20. The heart's regularly ordered beat, initially (5) 22. A capital ring for a lover (5) 23. Large part of the claim men settled (7) 24. Ten genially disposed in a graceless way (11)

DOWN 2. Usual procedure assumed by the rider (5) 3. Back a great many, we hear, to make a new distribution (7) 4. The kind of place for corporal punishment (6) 5. Prone to be disguised as an artist (5) 6. Dear Sir, those in the attack have been routed (7) 7. Promote a greater number as well (11) 8. They're used for surveying aircraft schedules (5-6) 14. Prevailing system of discipline for nearly all the military body (7) 16. A motto put up by northern Turk (7) 17. Margaret holding the money for rationing out (6) 19. Everybody goes round to the island (5) 21. Somehow learn to describe glands affected by nephritis (5)

Last week’s answers (4th September 2014): Across: 1 Impunity; 5 Amps; 9 Fast; 10 Alfresco; 11 Quail; 12 Violent; 13 Meadow saffron; 18 Napoleon; 19 Avid; 20 Opiates; 21 Piton; 22 Rhea; 23 Sturgeon. Down: 2 Measure; 3 Untried; 4 Television set; 6 Masseur; 7 Shorten; 8 Cry off; 13 Man-hour; 14 Apprise; 15 Owlets; 16 Flaming; 17 Orinoco.

16

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

TELEVISION Your one-stop guide to the best tv over the four-day ‘weekend’

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

17

18

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

NOSTALGIA Cheltenham Racecourse, the WW1 Hospital and dressings for ambulance trains.

Setting up emergency field kitchens and even auxiliary hospitals were part of their responsibilities. The hospital opened on 28 October 1914, and was the fifth such facility to open in the county. Thirteen Belgian and two British patients were the first to be accommodated in an upstairs ward, formerly known as the Ladies Drawing Room. The following day 16 more patients arrived and the Old Luncheon Room was opened. Early November saw the opening of the Large Luncheon Room with its veranda and annex. These three wards provided 100 beds. The number of beds was increased

in April 1917 to 150, and in 1918 to 200, plus emergency beds. It was classed as a primary hospital and received cases direct from the port of disembarkation. By 28 February 1919 there had been 3,169 admissions with just 18 deaths. Of these admissions: 2,677 were British, 249 Australian, 101 Belgian, 128 Canadian, seven American, six pensioners and one naval. The average number of resident patients at any one time was between 102 and 175, each staying an average of about 50 or 60 days. Eighteen of the staff worked continuously from the day the hospital opened until its closure on 28 February 1919.

WHEN war broke out a well-rehearsed plan was put into action to set up hospitals throughout the UK and Cheltenham Racecourse was earmarked.

Initially they were intended to supplement the main military hospitals by providing beds for soldiers (walking wounded) who were in need of convalescence. By October 1914, a steady stream of casualties were already being transported back to England and when a mass evacuation from around Antwerp was necessary it was obvious that military and civilian hospitals did not have the resources needed. Frantic preparations to turn private houses and schools into

Voluntary Aid (VA) Hospitals began.

Each VA hospital had a commandant who was in effect the matron and administrator. Staff were usually from a single voluntary aid detachment (VAD), with some trained nurses, and the rest being volunteers who came from all walks of life. Transport was normally provided by men’s detachments but women would also drive ambulances and delivery vans.

There was no shortage of volunteers and by the summer of 1914 there were some 2,500 VADs manned by 74,000 volunteers, of which at least two thirds were female. They were trained to organise transport as well as provide food

“REMEMBER the men of Cheltenham who gave their lives for you in the Great War. If they were strangers to one another in their common home, they served and wrought and died in many lands far and near as a band of brothers.

Learn from them so to live and die that when you have followed them and are no more seen, you may like them be remembered and regretted.”

Our Band of Brothers....

4th August marks the centenary of the declaration of war, and UK’s entry into one of the biggest conflicts in history. Over the next four years, there will be many programmes of commemoration, both nationally and locally.

Around the town you will find areas of a special wild flower mix, which includes Flanders Poppy, and the Everyman Theatre is leading on a countywide programme of events called Gloucestershire Remembers, which includes research facilities, plays and educational resources. The most visually prominent work will be the restoration of the war memorial on the Promenade.

Hoardings went up around the memorial at the end of July, as work began on phase one of the restoration. This will include repaving, drainage work and installation of LED lights. This work will be completed by September, and planning is underway for phase two. This will include significant fundraising, restoring the balustrades, the old lanterns, and re-etching all of the names on the monument. This work will preserve the memorial for another 100 years. The war memorial is a simple but majestic focal point in the town, enjoyed and explored by dozens of people every day. Its significance is still profound. It is the place to which people naturally flock, on significant anniversaries of conflict or loss, to organised services, on personal pilgrimages, or in times of shared grief or

tragedy. After the murder of Lee Rigby last year, dozens laid flowers and tributes on the steps. 887,000 soldiers died in the First World War. Over 1000 of these were from Cheltenham, including two women, Elizabeth Roberts of the Women’s RAF, from Hanover Street, and Anna Madeline Shaw, a Red Cross nurse from Lypiatt Terrace. The memorial stands for all of the valour and sacrifice in the war effort, all who served, and the families left behind, as well as for each person whose life was lost.

It’s hard to imagine that 100 years ago, people of Cheltenham were, much like us, going about their daily lives, and that from

the 4th August those lives were changed forever. In generational timescales, a century is not long. The names on the memorial are people’s grandfathers, fathers even, who didn’t return to their daily lives and families. This restoration will ensure that their names remain a part of Cheltenham for the next century, and beyond. The government has produced 627 paving stones which commemorate World War One Victoria Cross recipients.

The stones are to be installed in the district where each recipient was born. In Cheltenham, two will be laid around the 25th September 2015, and one on 2nd

September 2018, in tribute to Captain Anketell Moutray-Read, Captain Arthur Forbes Gordon Kilby, and Lt Col Richard Annesley West. Relatives of the three servicemen are invited to contact Cheltenham Borough Council if they would like to be involved in these events.

A blog of events happening in the borough can be found via www.cheltenham.gov.uk/ww1. People are invited to make their own contributions and share their family stories of Cheltenham in the First World War. Words by Hannah Wright

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

19

CULTURE New Jersey Nights

on the songs of this harmony quartet who took the charts by storm in the early 60’s, which it does with great enthusiasm. The ‘Four Seasons’ are competent and the rotating of the quartet to take the lead as Frankie Valli works well, and certainly allows a rest of the vocal chords from the trademark Valli falsetto voice. Special mention must go to the dancers who were brilliant holding the show together and who brought the juke box to life. Thankfully the girls were given a chance to show off more than their dancing skills as with a brief Phil Spector Wall of Sound during scene changes with a couple of songs including a wonderful rendition of the ‘Do Ron Ron’.

They really should have been given the opportunity to sing more. As they danced I thought: ‘That would be good for my Zumba class.’ Not only is this a musical treat it is also a visually enjoyable show with shiny suits and glittering dresses that transports you not only back to the 60’s, but also to the inside of the juke box where you become encompassed and absorbed by the whole atmosphere of the era.

Everyman Theatre: 8th – 13th September

Reviewed by ANDREW MARSHALL THE names of Robert John Gaudio and Bob Crewe probably don’t trip off the tongue like Lennon and McCartney but you will undoubtedly know the vast majority of their songs whether sung others or by the original artists Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. As long as you do not confuse this show with that of hit musical The Jersey Boys you are assured an enjoyable evening as New Jersey Nights transports you back to the 1960’s with a tribute to the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons rendering a host of hits such as Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man, Silence is Golden, and Grease. Set on the ‘boardwalk’ and stripped of any story this show is like a juke box that concentrates

Oh titter yee…

The Hobgoblin Cheltenham Comedy Festival, 14th – 20th September 2014 CHELTENHAM’S funniest festival builds on the success of previous years and boasts the best line-up yet including; Ardal O’Hanlon, Al Murray, Marcus Brigstocke, Mark Steel and Rory McGrath, with shows already selling out. The Hobgoblin Cheltenham Comedy Festival is back and will run from 14th – 20th September 2014 across various venues in the town.

Headline shows from Al Murray, Pam Ayres, Tom Stade, Marcus Brigstocke, Mark Steel, Rory McGrath and Philip Pope and Andrew O’Neill.

The Family Fun Day which includes return performances from Cheltenham favourite Tweedy The Clown and his Magic and Mayhem Show, and Comedy Club 4 Kids plus face painting and craft activities on Saturday 20th September at the Parabola Arts Centre. The Late & Local Comedy Night - a night featuring the best established local comedic talent and featuring up-and-coming artists on Thursday 18th at The Frog and Fiddle. All established and aspiring comics and cabaret artists are local to the Cheltenham area. For performance enquiries, please contact mark@makinprojects.co.uk More locally themed comedy from John Wagstaffe, Cerys Nelmes as well as sketch impro

chums Knowing Smirk. An extra special evening from local comedy club Howlers featuring the knock-out comedy talents of Matt Richardson, Stuart Goldsmith, Gareth Richards with special guest to be announced. The festival will finish off in fine style with a bumper Festival Finale, at Cheltenham Town Hall on Saturday 20th September.

Headlined by Ardal O’Hanlon and featuring TV favourites Sara Pascoe, Jarred Christmas, Gary Delaney and compered by John Robbins. For the latest news, listings and to sign up to the festivals’ newsletter, please visit www.cheltenhamcomedy.com Facebook www.facebook.com/CheltenhamComedy Twitter @Cheltcomedy Tickets for all events are on sale starting at only £6.00, via Cheltenham Town Hall Box Office, online at www.cheltenhamtownhall.org.uk or by calling 0844 576 2210.

Tickets for Pam Ayres and Al Murray available from The Everyman Theatre direct on 01242 572573 or www.everymantheatre.org.uk

Competition Thanks to our friends at The Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham you could Win one of three pairs of tickets for George Orwell’s classic novel ‘1984’ now adapted as a play for the Friday 26th performance.

To go into our free to enter draw to win a pair of tickets just answer this question....

Q. Which other novel by George Orwell immediately preceded ‘1984’?

A. Coming up for Air B. Animal Farm C. The Road to Wigan Pier

The BIG BOOK Review…

With EVE SEYMOUR

THE JUDAS SCAR By Amanda Jennings HARMONY and Will’s marriage is under strain following Harmony’s miscarriage.

Enter a handsome stranger in the guise of Luke Crawford and the scene is set for adultery, betrayal and revenge.

So far, so unremarkable, you may think, but, as the novel develops, a superior and darkly compelling ‘inner’ tale emerges.

Luke Crawford, it’s revealed, was Will’s great childhood friend and blood brother, and Will has much more to fear from Luke’s reappearance in his life than the simple fact that Luke has designs on his wife. On one level the story revolves around two people desperate to get a marriage back on track against heavy odds; on another the lure of elicit passion and inevitable consequences; finally, and this is key, an exploration of childhood trauma. There is a moral at the heart of the book: damaged children create damaged adults, and we, as parents, ignore these at our peril. Boarding school doesn’t get a good press so if you’ve just dropped off your small son or daughter, the novel should come with a note of caution. There’s a telling line quite early on from Will’s eight year-old perspective: ‘If he’d described how he’d lain awake trying to work out what he’d done to upset his parents so much they would send him away...’ Enough said! The dual narrative (Harmony’s and Will’s) creates an intimate tone in a deftly plotted storyline. Big themes are explored with sensitivity and a light touch and Jennings’s characters are credible and fallible. There are some nice twists and, if you have a nasty suspicion lurking in the back of your brain as to where the story is heading, when the truth is finally revealed it doesn’t disappoint but packs a strong punch straight to the gut. Skilled writers give the reader the ending they secretly want, but not always in the way they expect it. The ending of ‘The Judas Scar’ is no exception. It’s authentic and uplifting without succumbing to sentimentality, a genuine triumph of love over adversity, and for this I highly recommend it.

‘The Judas Scar’ is published by Cutting Edge Press.

Next time, I’ll be reviewing ‘Vagabond’ by Gerald Seymour (no relation!)

Eve Seymour is a freelance editorial consultant and the author of seven crime fiction novels.

Beautiful Losers will be published by US publisher Midnight Ink early 2016. To see more details of her work visit www.evseymour.co.uk

Answers by email to:

editor@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk First three correct randomly chosen answers win.

Closing date 22nd September 2014

CONGRATULATIONS. BRISTOL STREET MOTORS ARE INVITING READERS OF THE CHELTENHAM STANDARD TO OUR EXCLUSIVE ‘DO A DEAL’ EVENT STARTING FRIDAY 12TH SEPTEMBER.

BRISTOL STREET MO BRISTOL MOTORS TORS O TEWKESBURY ROAD, 9DT..

TEWKESBUR BUR Y RO AD, CHELTENHAM CHEL HELLTENHAM GL51 9DT TEL: 08444 811 4984 Models shown for illustration purposes ses only only. Terms Terms and conditions apply. apply

Choose C hoose ffrom rom o over ver 6,500 6,500 quality quality u used sed cars cars online online at at w www.bristolstreet.co.uk ww.bristolstreet.co.uk 110/60 0/60 M Mazda az zda 3 1.6 1.6 T ak kuya 5 dr Takuya 5dr

112/62 2/62 F Ford ord F Fiesta iesta 11.25 .25 3dr 3dr

Features F eaturres e include: Alloy Wheels heels • Hea ted Sea ts • Alloy Heated Seats • Bluetooth Control Bluetooth o • Cruise C ontrol Drive A way T oda o y • Drive Away Today

Features F eatures include: • Whit e•L ow T ax • Gr eat MPG White Low Tax Great • Ford Reliability • Ideal 1st Car • CD Player

BUY B UY N NOW OW AND AND

PAY P A AY NOTHING N O T H I N G UNTIL U NTIL JANUARY JANUARY 2015^ 2015^

AND A AN ND

OUR P OUR PRICE RICE F ROM ON LY FROM ONLY

OUR P OUR PRICE RICE E F ROM ON LY FROM ONLY

111/61 1/61 Fiat Fiat 5 500 00 T win Air Air 3 dr Twin 3dr

£500 £ 500

Features F eaturres include: Grey Tax • Gr ey • £0 T ax • 68 MPG • Ideal 1s 1stt Car • CD Pla Player yer • Bluetooth etooth

FINANCE FINANCE DEPOSIT D EPOSIT

Right now Right now a att B Bristol ristol S Street treet Motors, you can M otors, y ou c an choose choose any any u sed c ar and and a art o our used car ass p part off our orr 5 year ffabulous abulous 4 o year rrepayment epayment plan, we’ll pay p lan, w e’ll p ay your your rrepayments epayments ffor or y ou un til January Januar a y 2015.

2015. you until Yes, drive Y es, you you can can d rive away away a q uality used used c ar now now a nd quality car and p ay a bsolutely nothing nothing pay absolutely until January 2015. un til J anuary 2 015.

P lus, rreceive eceive Plus, £5 00 Finance Finance £500 Deposit D eposit A llowance!

Allowance!

£7995 £7 995 99

ALLOWANCE AL LLOWANCE OUR P OUR PRICE RICE F ROM ON LY FROM ONLY

£7995 £7 799 95

WHY W HY C CHOOSE HOOSE BRISTOL B RISTOL S TREET STREET MO OTORS? MOTORS? The U The UK’s K’s ffastest astest ggrowing rowing motor motor retailer! retailer!

£7995 £7 995 99

66500 500 U sed C ars iinn Used Cars Group Stock G roup S tock

12/12 V 12/12 Vauxhall auxhall Corsa Corsa L imited Edtion Edtion Sport Sport 3 dr Limited 3dr Features F eaturres include: • Alloy Alloy Wheels • CD Player Player •L Low IInsurance • G Greatt L Low Price Sports • Ideal First Car

Over O verr 100 100 dealerships dealerships Nationwide N ation onwide Used Car locator U sed C ar lo cator service service P art EExchange xchange welcome welcome Part Bestt pprices Bes rices ppaid aid

113/62 3/62 N Nissan is ssan Qashqai Qashqai 1.6 1.6 Diesel Dies se el N N-Tec+ -Tec+ 5 5dr dr Features iinclude: Features nclude: Wheels • Alloy Alloy W heels • Sat Sat ellite ellite N avigation Navigation 360 •3 60 Park Park Assist Assist •O ne O wner One Owner Save •S ave over over £8000 £8000 ffrom rom new new llist ist

OU OUR UR PRICE PRICE FROM F ROM ONLY ONLY

112/62 2/62 M Mazda azda M MX5 X5 S port 2.0 2.0 2dr 2dr Sport Features F eatures include: Red •R ed • Alloy Alloy Wheels • Har Hard rd T Top op Cabriolet • CD Pla Player yer • Save Save Thousands Thousands Frrom New New From

OUR P OUR PRICE RICE F ROM ON LY FROM ONLY

£14995 £ 14995

£13995 £ 1399 95 08/08 0 8/08 Jaguar Jaguar X XF F Diesel Diesel Saloon 2.7 2.7 P remium Saloon Premium Auto 4 dr Auto 4dr

OUR O UR P PRICE RICE FROM ONLY F ROM ON LY

£12995 £ 12995

£8495 £ 8495 4 495

FFinance inance packages packages to to ssuit uit your your bbudget udget

09/59 09 9/59 Mazda Mazda 2 2.2D .2D E state 5 dr Estate 5dr

EExisting xisting FFinance inance settled settled

Features F eaturres include: • Alloy Alloy Wheels • CD Pla Player yer •L Leather ather Upgr Upgrade ade • Sunroof • Ideal Family Car

Features F eatures include: • Sa SatNav tNav • A Automatic utomatic • CD Pla Player yer •R Reverse everse Camer Cameraa • Pr Prestige estige British Motoring M t i

OUR P OUR PRICE RICE F ROM ON O LY FROM ONLY

Wee bbuy Cash!

W uy Cars Cars ffor or C ash!

OUR P OUR PRICE RICE F ROM ON LY FROM ONLY

£8995 £ 8995

A ehicles Hpi Hpi checked checked Allll vvehicles DAYS D AYS

5

FFree ree 5 ddays ays iinsurance nsurance

99

9999 P oint S afety Check Check Point Safety S ervice Plans Plans from from Service ££9.99 9.99 per per month month

116.9% 6.9% A APR PR R Cheltenham C heltenham Tewkesbury T ewkesbu ury Road, Road, C heltenham G L51 9 DT Cheltenham GL51 9DT

Tel T el 0844 0844 811 811 4992 4992

Representative R epresentative

Follow F ollow u us s on on

AUTOMATIC GEARBOX? • If you have a problem we will solve it!

• Easy to find: GL2

5HS 9.5 Miles from Eagle Tower in Cheltenham

• Worth the journey • Professional, honest and clean, YES a clean garage • 12 month warranty on all works • Give us a call for advice • We deal directly with all major insurance and warranty companies • We only use the highest quality oils • All units are repaired on site • 9 out of 10 Autogearboxes fail from overheating, replace your cooler • No transmission is sealed for life • All auto gearbox oil requires changing every 40,000 miles

Website Testimonials “Excellent service, work done as per quote. Superb knowledge and diagnosis”. A+S Merrett “I have been in the trade over thirty years, I can honestly say Doug was brilliant! he listened to the problem I had (most other firms quoted before I even explained the problem £1100-£1300+vat) took the auto box to him monday morning , ready tuesday. picked up gearbox £549.60 inc vat!! car runs great if you need an auto gearbox repair DONT GO ANYWHERE ELSE!!! ATGL is the way Jon Stockwell Euro Car Services”. Jon S., Hereford "Auto trans are literally the most honest, transparent and helpful garage I have ever been to”. Gillian, Cheltenham

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

29

SPORT Whaddon and Lakeside share top spot Whaddon’s latest victory came away at Star FC Reserves, with a 7-0 win, leaving the hosts bottom of the league with no WHADDON UNITED and FC Lakeside points from the opening three fixtures. remain the only teams, in the CAFL The visitors had five different scorers, Division One, with 100% record, throughout the match, but it was Lewis boasting three wins from three games.

Peters and Michael Winter who shone. Both claimed a brace of goals, as Ryan Peach, Michael Powell and Ben Griffiths got in on Warden Hill, Cheltenham the action While FC Lakeside saw off SPECIAL OFFER! Newton FC, in a devastating BUILDERS BIG BREAKFAST second half showing, winning 4-0 and Tea or Coffee £5.00 away from home. Having been 1-0 at half-time, Lakeside scored three Takeaways in the remaining forty-five Baguettes £2.50 minutes and kept pace with Rolls £2.50 Whaddon.

Sandwiches £2.00 R.S.G beat Bishops Cleeve Thirds 6-1 to move into third, on You’ll never be disappointed here goal difference. Substitute Steven Big appetites need only apply Brown grabbed two goals, while You will never leave hungry!

Daniel Beames, Tom Webb, Del FREE parking Nelder and Leo Kent added the Bookies next door! extras.

Newspapers to read, healthy banter Kings AFC claimed their first GRASS ROOTS FOOTBALL

LE PARIS CAFĒ

point of the season, drawing 1-1 with Upton Town. AC Olympia and Falcons followed suit, drawing 2-2 with each other. Nick Holleron and Luke Skears getting the goals for AC Olympia.

In Division 2, Cheltenham Civil Service Reserves thrashed Northleach Town 10-0 to maintain their winning start. Wayne O’Shea scored a hat-trick, after coming from the substitute’s bench and Michael Kember and Daniel Warren both scored two apiece.

Andoversford also kept up their good start to the season, with a 4-2 win at Shurdington Rovers. Ashley Cleal and Liam Mansell got the ball rolling before the break. Billy Frewin added a third before Mansell rounded off the victory.

There were also wins for Prestbury Rovers and Southside FC. Division four finally got underway, or be one game, as Cheltenham Civil Service scored six goals in the second half to beat Southside Reserves FC 8-1.

Richard Miles grabbed three goals as there was a brace for James Conibere and Wayne Hardyman.

Lisowski thrashed

by Ding in Shanghai SNOOKER

JACK LISOWSKI exited the Shanghai Masters at the first hurdle, with a 5-1 defeat to Ding Junhui.

It was a scrappy opening to the match with the highest break, for either player being 28 in three frames, and it was China’s Ding who took a 2-1 lead. The defending champion then extended his lead to two frames, with a break of 43, as the players headed for their interval.

And the man from Churchdown couldn’t muster a response, Ding moved to within a frame of victory by compiling a break of 128. And just to rub salt into the wounds for Lisowski, he had built up a 44 point lead in frame six, only to see Ding produce a 67 clearance to book his place in round two.

It was a day of upsets, as a number of the top seeded player failed to make progress. World Championship runnerup, Ronnie O’Sullivan, went out 5-3 to veteran Alan McManus. O’Sullivan had produced a break of 139 in frame 3 but couldn’t claim victory.

Judd Trump also suffered an early exit as he feel to a surprising 5-2 loss to Wales’ Dominic Dale. John Higgins, Barry Hawkins and Ricky Walden all failed to make the last 16.

Tigers fall to defeat at Coney Hill RUGBY UNION

CHELTENHAM TIGERS tasted defeat in their opening match of the Western Counties North season.

It turned into a perfect start for Coney, tries from Steve King and Steve Griffin had helped Cheltenham into an early lead.

The Tigers then threatened a comeback as Sam Brookes try was converted by Josh Herbert.

With half-time fast approaching, Coney Hill managed to secure another three tries to give them a commanding lead at the break.

Matt Cock, captain Rory baker and King added his second of the match.

Despite Cheltenham’s Herbert awarded with a penalty try, the hosts held a 19 point lead at the end of the half.

It was a perfect start to the second half for the Tigers, as Will Scott crossed over.

However, it wasn’t enough to quell the attacking prowess of their opponents, who saw Tom Knight and Holder score to bring up the forty point mark.

Tim Acheson offered Cheltenham a sight of a comeback, but Coney’s Baker scored his second of the afternoon and Holder added two kicks to move the hosts to fifty points as they ran out easy victors.

Jack Lisowski

11 SEPTEMBER 2014 CHELTENHAM STANDARD

31

SPORT

SportsEye....

By MATTHEW THOMAS LAST week I wrote that we may see Cheltenham Town at the top of League Two after their trip to Morecambe. And for, almost, a day that was the case. Their 0-0 draw at the Shrimps sent them a point clear, but Burton Albion’s win over Portsmouth sent them back to the top.

Despite Mark Yates’s side failing to claim a third straight victory, their defensive solidity was evident once again, especially in the second half.

mattthomas@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

It was a strong start for the Robins’ and they really should have been leading at the break. Morecambe were the stronger side in the second period.

I think it speaks volumes that after the game both Yates and, captain, Matt Taylor revealed the players were disappointed not to have won the match. Confidence is sky high in the club at the moment which is in stark contrast to how the situation was during the last campaign.

Meanwhile, it’s fair to say that Gloucester Rugby’s start to the season was pretty much a disaster.

Northampton Saints ran in eight tries in a 53-6 demolition job. The reigning Premiership champions laid down a marker to their competitors, but it was a tough start for Gloucester under David Humphreys.

To be fair the new boss didn’t offer any excuses for his side’s humiliation, but it shows that it may be a very difficult start to 2014/15.

All Golds miss out on play-offs

CYCLING

CYCLING’S Tour of Britain is set to head for Gloucestershire this Wednesday afternoon.

The tour includes a number of Britain’s top cyclists, including former Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and sprint specialist Mark Cavendish.

Australia’s Mark Renshaw leads the overall race, having taken victory in stage two.

Ben Swift is now in second place while Cavendish runs in fifth. Wiggins is currently 36th, with seven more stages to run.

Gloucester suffer opening day thrashing RUGBY UNION

RUGBY LEAGUE

GLOUCESTER Rugby started their Premiership season in the worst possible way, with a 53-6 defeat at Northampton Saints.

Penalties from James Hook and Creig Laidlaw were the only points the Cherries scored all match.

The Saints ran in eight tries, including a hat-trick for Wales international George North and two for Luther Burrell.

It was David Humphreys’ first match in charge of Gloucester, and has a big task on his hands as he prepares his side for their return to Kingsholm to play Sale Sharks.

PHOTO: LEWIS MITCHELL

THE University of Gloucestershire All Golds ended their Championship 1 season with a 6824 defeat to Oldham Roughyeds.

Defeat is harsh way for Steve McCormack’s tenure to come to an end, but it has still been an impressive campaign for the side.

All Golds knew they were destined to miss out on the playoffs after Hemel Stags grabbed a draw at Oxford, condemning the young side to a sixth place finish.

Oldham started strongly and had the first try after just one minute, when Jon Ford exploited a gap in the visitors defence to open the scoring. It seemed the All Golds were struggling down their left side and the hosts took full advantage, Josh Crowley crossing the line to double their advantage.

The university side briefly threatened a comeback when Miles Fairbank managed to touchdown.

However, it was short lived as Oldham ran in four tries in a blistering ten minute spell as the game slipped away from McCormack’s side. Phil Joy, Danny Langtree, Ben Wood and Crowley all managed to score in what was the most decisive period of the match.

Another Crowley try put Oldham into a thirty-six point lead at the break.

Matthew Bradley managed a small response at the start of the

Tour of Britain heading for Gloucestershire

second period, but Oldham were still well in charge and Michael Ward and Langtree scored a further two time and the hosts passed the fifty point mark.

A slick combination between Ben White and Bradley sent Fairbank over the line.

Roughyeds managed to score another three tries before the end and ended with a comprehensive victory.

“This game epitomized our season really; we had spells in the game like in the first half when we were just on the back foot, Oldham were fantastic like the table

Robins to face Bristol City in JPT FOOTBALL

suggests,” McCormack told the club’s official website.

“I thought the boys were superb in the second half.

Four months ago when I came into the club and had an overlook of everything, if somebody said that come the last weekend of the season you’re in with a chance of the play-offs, bearing in mind the players injuries and change in coach, then they (the players) deserve an enormous amount of credit to be within a sniff, and people outside the club probably don’t realise the effort these players have put in.”

THE SECOND round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy has pitted Cheltenham Town against Bristol City.

The tie will take place on 8th October at Whaddon Road, and it was announced that the match will be televised on Sky Sports.

Cheltenham last had a match televised in January 2013, when they hosted Premier League side Everton in the third round of the FA Cup. City, who are now managed by former Town boss, Steve Cotterill and Cheltenham have not played each other since 2007, when both clubs were in League One.

GOT A LOCAL SPORTS STORY? Contact our Sports Editor via mattthomas@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

32

CHELTENHAM STANDARD 11 SEPTEMBER 2014

with MATTHEW THOMAS, SPORTS EDITOR

SPORT

mattthomas@cheltenhamstandard.co.uk

Robins Stalemate at Morecambe

Taylor: Disappointed not to Win

CHELTENHAM TOWN MORECAMBE

0 0

HELTENHAM TOWN’S unbeaten start to League Two continued with a 0-0 draw against, fellow fast starters, Morecambe.

The point had put them top of League Two, until Burton Albion’s win over Portsmouth on Sunday.

After scoring his first goal for the club in the midweek cup victory over Oxford United, loanee John Marquis was handed his first league start in attack, in place of Terry Gornell. While Steve Elliott returned to the heart of the defence.

Morecambe had their goalkeeper, Barry Roche, to thank for quashing an impressive first half showing from Mark Yates’ side.

Marquis very nearly provided the ideal start, heading Jordan Wynter’s cross for goal but found the keeper in the way.

The 22 year-old continued to impress and the striker provided a great opportunity for Craig Barham-Barrett to open the scoring. Marquis slipped the wing-back in one-on-one but again he was denied by Roche.

It was turning into a busy afternoon for the Morecambe stopper, first he had to deny a bullet volley from Marquis and he was lucky on 33 minutes when, BarhamBarrett’s cross, found Marquis in the box but could only fire wide.

Morecambe’s reaction, into the second half, was telling and Kevin Ellison’s shot crept just wide of Trevor Carson’s post.

And after seeing Wynter’s deflected cross tipped over by Roche, both Jack Redshaw and Jamie Devitt saw efforts sail wide for

£5000 TO

£50,000 FINANCE SETTLED NO ADMIN FEE

PHOTO: THOUSAND WORD MEDIA

C

the Shrimps as they continued to step up.

On 66 minutes Cheltenham had their best chance of the half, Matt Richards producing another fine save from Roche.

Yates decided to introduce Koby Arthur with 75 minutes gone, but it was Morecambe who came close to a late winner. Redshaw burst into the box and looked destined to score but for a terrific block from Elliott.

The visitors had one last chance in injury time, Jason Taylor producing another save from the Morecambe goalkeeper.

“It was a great point,” said Yates to the press after the game.

“I felt, with the pressure they put on in the second half, to stand firm like we did and keep another cleansheet. We wouldn’t have done that last year, we’d have caved in.”

In a terrific end-to-end game Yates

revealed that his players were slightly disappointed not to win, after an impressive first-half showing.

“They were a little bit disappointed in there in the end, that they haven’t won it.

But a draw is a fair result.

We bossed the first half, had five or six chance, but they were better than us in the second half. How it’s ended up 0-0 I’ll never know.

It was also the Robins’ third cleansheet, in all competitions, on the trot.

Underlining the new defensive solidity instilled in the new 3-5-2 formation.

“That is just down to pure hard work,” Yates said.

“Total commitment, total effort and a desire to do well for everyone. It’s completely different this year.”

Yates will now turn his attention to next weekend’s trip to 19th placed Luton Town.

Gloucestershire’s

SELLING YOUR CAR? We’ll give you a better price!

solar powered used car dealership

completely

CALL 01452 713123 FOR A BETTER CASH OFFER ON YOUR CAR

4 Vernon Court Meteor Business Park Staverton GL2 9QL

PHOTO: THOUSAND WORD MEDIA

FOOTBALL

MATT Taylor has said the Cheltenham Town players felt disappointed not to win, after their 0-0 draw at Morecambe.

“To be honest, the lads were a little bit disappointed,” the Robins’ captain said.

“Certainly after the first-half showing, we felt we should have been ahead by at least one goal. We never felt in great danger, but we didn’t quite reach the same standards that we did in the first half. We were a little bit unlucky not to go in (at half-time) leading.”

After a terrific start to the current campaign, Taylor believes the attitude and commitment of the players is pleasing to see.

“You come away to a team that has had a good start and get a point you want to be happy, but the lads were disappointed and that’s a good sign. It shows the standards we’ve set so far.

We’ve come away satisfied, but with a tinge of disappointment.”

But the captain was keen to express the resilience of the team, especially when put under pressure in the second half.

“The lads have put their bodies on the line and defended as well as they possibly can.”

01452 713123

motoring www.completelymotoring.co.uk