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

April 1997

AROUND 80 pupils, parents and teachers from Patchway High School took part in a 24-hour sponsored famine to raise money for schemes in under-developed countries.

They had to go without solid food from 7pm on Friday, April 17 to 7pm on Saturday, April 18.

Money raised from the event was donated to the World Vision Charity to help fund self help schemes throughout the world.

THE Severn Bridge was set to see a 40 per cent increase in toll charges in April 1997.

Tolls of £2 for cars and £4 for heavier vehicles were expected to rise to £2.80 and £5.60 respectively.

A HOUSE in Cam was broken into on Wednesday, April 8, 1997. 
Thieves stole two colour TV sets, a VHS video recorder and jewellery.

April 2007

A HAMBROOK man was commended by community leaders for helping to save a village common.

James Collings, of Whiteshall Common, was so fed up with people driving on the common that he put down white boulders without the village council’s decision.

At a meeting to discuss the markers, Cllr Richard Climmer said: “It was unfortunate Mr Collings put the markers on the land without our permission but the true fact is the markers have saved the common.”

A NAKED gardener and author gave a talk in Berkeley on Wednesday, April 25, 2007.

Barbara Pollard and her husband established the Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury together and have since written a book called The Naked Gardener.

The green-fingered couple spoke at Berkeley Nuclear Sports about how they created the gardens.

HOSPITAL bosses at Frenchay urged people with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting to stay away from their wards in April 2007.

They hoped to prevent the spread of Norovirus.