LOOKING back on some of the stories the Gazette has reported through the years..

October 1986

YATE’S German twin town could soon have a good old British telephone box standing proudly in the town centre.

The town council will look into the cost of giving Bad Salzdetfurth the box as a present. It will be a return gift for the salt-mining truck the Germans gave Yate and which will soon become a feature of the Station Road roundabout.

The unusual present is the idea of chairman Cllr Mrs Maureen Minoque. “They would very much like an old British Telecom telephone box.”

MRS Augusta Minnie Robinson, who lives at Wapley Court old people’s home in Yate, celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday.

Mrs Robinson has been at the home for eight years and until recently always had to dance the las waltz at any party held at the home. She is also a good whist player.

THE DEATH at a Thornbury Leisure Centre on Monday night of a 16-year-old boy turned what should have been a regular Severn Vale Youth Activity Group swimming event into a nightmare and tragedy.

About 100 youngsters, aged between six and 20 from combined youth groups along with their inflatable ‘funster’ were in the pool at the time.

When David was spotted on the floor of the pool, the group’s lifesavers immediately began emergency procedures.

October 1996

WICK-BORN nurse Mrs Daphne Parish, who hit the headlines in 1990 when she was held prisoner in Iraq, will be signing copies of her new book this weekend.

Mrs Parish was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Sadam Hussein in March, 1990, after she was accused of being and accomplice of Observer reporter Farzad Bazoft, executed for allegedly spying.

A THORNBURY schoolgirl who was killed while riding her pony in a country lane died accidentally, the Bristol Coroner decided on Wednesday.

The girl, 12, of Castle Street was riding her pony Poppy along Field Lane.

COMMUNITIES around Avon and Gloucestershire are taking part in One World Week – a campaign which aims to get people thinking of themselves as citizens of the world, not just of Britain.

Events in the week will concentrate on trade links between the developed countries and the Third World and how they affect people’s lives.

October 2006

THE number of casualties on South Gloucestershire’s roads has dropped nearly a hundred in a year and is the lowest recorded for almost ten years.

A total of 473 people were killed or injured on the roads during the first half of this year – a significant drop from last year’s figure of 564.

SODBURY'S first guide dog has died aged nearly 15-years old after more than 9 years of service.

Nina and her owner hit the headlines around 15 years ago when Nina came to Sodbury as a fledgling guide dog. Her owner said: “Nina became my lifeline and gave me my confidence back.”