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

1966

A MEETING of Dursley Chamber of Trade saw members discuss a letter concerning the government’s new Pay Roll Tax.

The letter, issued by the General Secretary of the National Chamber of Trade, gave details of the tax and set out a resolution to be accepted by the Chambers of Trade throughout the country, urging members to register a complaint to the local MP and protest collectively to the Chancellor.

IT WAS with joy and satisfaction that members and supporters of the Christian Brethren of Severn Beach gathered for the opening of the new Emmaus Chapel.

Following a prayer of dedication at the chapel entrance, the key to the door was presented by the designer John Cole.

1976

A CARAVAN presented to the Red Cross by Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club was used for the first time at a public event.

The blue and white vehicle, proudly displaying the emblem for the Red Cross, made its first appearance while stationed on Sunnyside Lane playing field for Yate Carnival.

AVERAGE rent increases of 50p weekly for Kingswood District Council’s 6,300 council house tenants were announced for later in the year.

The increase was deemed necessary to wipe out a £60,000 deficiency on the council’s housing revenue account.

1986

PIONEERING laboratory work at Hewlett-Packard’s Stoke Gifford complex would continue with the opening of a new £8 million laboratory complex.

The new addition effectively doubled the floor space for technicians and gave the European Research Centre a full complement of three laboratories, with plans to recruit a total of 170 scientists.

AIR Training Corps cadets from Chipping Sodbury and Frampton Cotterell got the chance to see the RAF at close quarters when they lined up with other units for their annual camp at RAF Hereford.

The cadets were given the opportunity to take part in flying, full bore shooting and adventure training on the week-long trip.

NOISY motorcyclists causing problems for residents in Cam and Dursley resulted in a number of complaints to police.

The bikes, that were ridden along Cam High Street and in Dursley town centre, had been causing a nuisance for some time, with some residents even saying they had been kept awake until the early hours of the night.