⏩ The Gloucester Start: Friday June 20th
Driving instructor call | Welsh cakes man retires | Weekend things to do
Good morning, welcome to Friday’s Start. Coping in the heat? It’s here for a couple more days yet. Today’s bulletin is a bit quiet on the news front but has what I think might be the busiest Things To Do section I’ve pulled together to date - there is plenty on this weekend! See you on Monday.
☀️ Weekend weather: Pretty scorching today and tomorrow, milder on Sunday.
🚗 More needs to be done to support disabled people wanting to drive, says a Gloucester-based campaigner. Ben Veli is one of only three disability instructors in the county and returned to the profession two years after brain surgery which left him needing to relearn to walk. - BBC Gloucestershire
👋 As you’ll see in the Things To Do section below, there’s a lot of activity this weekend that ties into Refugee Week. To mark it, there’s a new ‘Windows of Welcome’ installation in King’s Square too 👇
🎂 There’ll be an unfamiliar gap on the corner of Orchard Square from now on after the famous Welsh cakes man decided to call it a day. Steffan has been selling the treats there for 16 years, never upping his £1 price - and the hundreds of comments on the post announcing his departure show he was very much appreciated. - Gloucester Quays
🤘 There might not be Welsh cakes any more, but there is Glastonbury. The big screen in Pillar and Lucy Square (opposite Wagamama) will be screening the festival live next weekend. - Gloucester Quays
🚨 Police and crime news
🚨 A teenager from Wolverhampton has been banned from entering Gloucester after being suspected of attacking a 76-year-old man in the Quays. The 16-year-old has been arrested and the banning is part of his bail conditions. - Gloucestershire Live
🚨 Police are searching for a missing 53-year-old woman last seen on Thursday leaving an address in Longlevens. - Gloucestershire Constabulary
🚨 A woman bitten by a dog in Kingsway suffered bruising and a puncture wound. It happened in April and police are now appealing for the dog’s owner to come forward. - Gloucester News Centre
📌 Community Noticeboard
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📌 Children’s book author and illustrator Jemma Skidmore is working on a storytelling map of Robinswood Hill this summer. ‘I was wondering if anyone had a folk stories or tales of the Hill that might be interesting for me to research or look into? Once the map is finished, I’ll be creating a full book in autumn.’ There are a few more details here.
📌 The Adopt an Artist 2025 art trail is closing next week with a very special art exhibition at 21 Westgate Street, Gloucester. In conjunction with the art trail we invited the public of all ages to enter a competition to make an artwork inspired by the art they have seen on the trail. From June 21st to 28th you will be able to see the shortlisted competition entries alongside the work that inspired them. Winners will be announced on Sunday June 22nd. The gallery will be open Monday to Saturday 10am - 5pm and Sunday 22nd 11am -3pm. More details here. - Thanks to subscriber John for this submission
📅 Things to do this weekend
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There’s a lot of Moomin-related activity today and this weekend - I’m starting with all of that in one place, the rest of the weekend’s events is further below:
🔤 Moomin ABC exhibition at Museum of Gloucester | Until October | £8.50 | Details
🚣🏽♂️ Onto the Water at Gloucester Docks | Until Saturday, 10am-6pm | Free | Details
🪁 Kite Making Workshop at National Waterways Museum | Friday and Saturday, 11am-3pm | Free | Details
🌙 Moonlit Arrival at Gloucester Docks | Friday, 6pm | Free | Details
📖 Moominmamma’s Jam of Kindness - A Moomin Story and Craft Adventure at Museum of Gloucester | Saturday, 10.30am | £12.50 | Details
🤝 Meet a Moomin in King’s Square | Saturday, 11.30am-4.30pm | Free | Details
🧺 Moomin Picnic in King’s Square | Saturday, 12pm-6pm | Free | Details
🎭 Mischief and Mystery in Moominvalley in King’s Square | Saturday, 2.30pm | Free | Details
🎞️ Outdoor cinema screenings including sing-alongs at Llanthony Priory | Friday-Sunday | From £12.50 adults | Details
🎸 Hard Stairs Live at The Thirsty Pine | Friday, 8.30pm | Free | Details
✂️ Grand opening of Farplace Animal Rescue Charity shop in Northgate Street | Saturday, from 9am | Free | Details
🎶 Coffee Concert - Songs of Spring at St Mary de Crypt | Saturday, 11.30am | Free (donations welcome) | Details
🎭 Play: Refugees Matter/Refugee Matters at The Folk of Gloucester | Saturday, 7.30pm | £10 | Details
🍻 13th Real Ale Festival at The Pelican | Friday-Saturday | Free | 👇
🎶 Midsummer Night’s Concert for the Big Space Cancer Appeal at Gloucester Cathedral | Saturday, 7pm | £20 | Details
🎧 Charity Vinyl Festival All Dayer at Cafe Rene | Saturday, 2pm | Details
⛓️💥 Summer Alternative Market at Gloucester Prison | Saturday, 11am-5pm | £2 | Details
☀️ St Patrick’s Summer Fete in Brockworth | Saturday, 12pm-4pm | Free | Details
🪩 Motown, Soul and Disco Classics at Wotton Hall Social Club | Saturday, 7.30pm | £8 | Details
🥳 Tredworth High Street Party | Sunday, 12pm-8pm | Free | Details
Top posts from Thursday’s Start:
🏗️ One hundred tonne steel beams lifted into place at A417 works
🏉 George Skivington says Gloucester Rugby have ‘spent wisely’
🚏 Commuter’s annoyance at National Express suspending Longlevens pick-ups