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

July 1997

NEW vandal-resistant lights were planned for Yate Leisure Centre car park in a bid to cut down on crime.

The existing lights had been experiencing “frequent vandalism”, leaving the large car park in darkness and leisure centre users “intimidated”, a meeting of Northavon District Council heard.

Cllr Charles Horton, chairman of Northavon District Council, told his fellow councillors that they had a “moral responsibility” to provide good lighting in the car park.

“If we get vandals plunging the areas into darkness, this may trigger off a far more serious crime such as a rape, or even a murder,” he said.

RECORD numbers of patients were treated by Bristol and District Health Authorities in 1996, it was revealed in July 1997.

A total of 145,813 patients were treated by the four NHS trusts.

The numbers represented an increase of nearly 4,000 over the levels laid down in the authority’s contracts with the trusts.

They included 1,235 extra day case patients, 4.7 per cent above the contact level, and 2,744 inpatients, 2.4 per cent above the contact level.

July 2007

MUSIC lovers in Wotton-under-Edge braved the rain in July 2007 to help raise money for Cotswold Care Hospice.

Almost £200 was raised in memory of Phil Morris, or Fred as he was known to his friends, who died in July 2005 from cancer.

Dozens of people gathered at the Synwell playing field to listen to music in the park and donate money in Fred’s name.

Friends of Fred had previously taken part in a cycle ride to raise funds for charity.

Tara Wheeler, an organiser behind the event, said: “It was a good day. The weather wasn’t great but a good crowd came to enjoy the fun.”