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

August 1997

TRADERS in Kingswood were considering bringing in their own security guards to patrol the town centre, following an explosion of crime and shop raids in the area. A series of burglaries and smash and grab raids left angry traders calling for specialised guards to patrol Regent Street and the Kings Chase shopping centre. The business owners were also thinking of asking for a rate rebate to help pay for the service, claiming that it would release police to perform other duties. A spokesman for Woolworths said: “We would support security guards. Obviously we want to try and get the crime rate down. “If the offenders know that we have security guards around then they might think twice.”

August 2007

A TEENAGE guitarist from Wotton-under-Edge released his debut album, which he had written and recorded in his bedroom. Will Sanderson-Thwaite, 19, brought out his collection of songs, entitled Terrible Lizard, under the name Gecko. Featuring a combined sound of hip-hop, soul and punk, and with influences from from the Beatles to Dizzy Rascal and everything in between, Will was excited at the prospect of sharing his tracks with local music fans. He said: “I’ve always written my own stuff but never taken it any further, but I thought now would be a good time to try.” The former Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School pupil started playing the guitar when he was just ten years old at Blue Coat School. Around 1,000 copies of the CD were pressed, which Will planned to sell at gigs. The album was launched at Under The Edge Arts in Wotton-under-Edge.