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

January 1977

A THORNBURY man was included in the New Year’s Honours list, receiving a British Empire Medal for his work at Oldbury Power Station.

Bill Stewart and his wife Vi heard the news at the beginning of December via a letter from Downing Street, but everything was kept hush-hush.

The couple said that when the letter came through the post, marked from the Prime Minister, they were fighting to be the one to open.

A SUCCESSFUL appeal for grain to feed visiting ducks, geese and swans at Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust guaranteed their winter meals – unless the weather took a turn for the worse on the continent.

Good for the flocks of 3,000 geese, 300 swans and 2,000 ducks which migrate to the trust was assured when BOCM Silcock donated £1,000 worth of corn and barley.

At a presentation, the company’s chairman Francis Saint said the gift was for two reasons, he and his wife held a great interest in ornithology and because hungry birds might raid the nearby farmers’ fields.

Sir Peter Scott thanked him, saying that the birds at Slimbridge were now assured of their food and was grateful to the tremendous response his appeal had aroused, with pensioners, children and firms all contributing towards the birds’ welfare.

January 1987

PARISH boundary changes in Northavon looked set to be put off for a year.

District councillors were previously informed that they would be taking effect from April 1.

A letter from the Department of the Environment said the Secretary of State had not yet reached a decision on the Local Government Boundary Commission’s proposals in respect of the council’s parish review.

It appeared “increasingly unlikely”, councillors were told, that he would be able to make an order giving effect to the proposed changes from April.

LONG service medals were presented to members of Northavon WRVS, based in Thornbury.

The group, each with 15 years’ service, received their awards from Avon county organiser Margaret Dawson at the members’ Christmas party.

Mary Hall of Forest Hill, Almondsbury, June Wills of Elmdale Crescent, Thornbury, Eleanor Caincross and Joan Cogswell from The Green, Olveston, and Mrs Eleanor Wells of Over Lane, Thornbury, do 40 voluntary duties annually.