⏩ The Gloucester Start: Monday July 7th
Shop workers share daily threats | Lions at Large launching | MP's first year
Good morning, welcome to Monday’s Start. I’ve been running a reader survey for the last few weeks and have been really heartened by the many warm responses, as well as the messages of encouragement that come in outside of that, shared. I firmly believe there’s a need for a service like the Start and I’m glad many of you do too 👇
Now onto today’s bulletin.
⛅ Today’s weather: Sunny spells and temperatures in the low-20s.
🏥 Gloucestershire’s hospitals now employ more midwives ‘than ever before’, while an assessment is being carried out to determine whether closed and partially closed maternity units need to reopen. Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust’s boss Kevin McNamara said the trust was in a ‘very precarious position’ last year - it was named in a national review last month. - BBC Gloucestershire
🛩️ Comments made by a city councillor that Gloucestershire Airport is a ‘private flying club’ and doesn’t attract ‘decent aircraft such as a B-52’ are ‘misinformed and disappointingly reductive’, says a pilot and YouTuber who overcame a fear of flying there. - Gloucestershire Live, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
🛒 Shop workers in Gloucester city centre have shared some of their daily experiences of theft and threats of violence. The managers at Poundland and the Southgate Street Tesco Express spoke at the launch of the #ShopKind initiative which highlights how verbal and physical assaults on staff are becoming more commonplace. - Punchline Gloucester
🦁 The launch of Gloucestershire’s Lions at Large Trail takes place this Friday. Painted lion sculptures will take up residence around Gloucester city and Cheltenham town centres until September, being auctioned off afterwards. - Lions at Large
🍻 The decision to serve notice to the husband and wife team running Robinswood’s Three Oaks pub ‘was not taken lightly’, the venue’s owners Star Pubs have said. Adrian and Kirsty Graham have been given 28 days to leave the site which they’ve called home since May 2022. - Gloucestershire Live
📅 Alex McIntyre has said his first year as Gloucester MP has been a whirlwind, 12 months on from Labour’s general election win. He highlighted reduced hospital waiting lists, investment in Eastgate market and police officers on the streets as successes but said ‘so much more to do.’ - Hello Rayo
👷 Gloucester has been used as a guinea pig to help a major utilities firm reduce carbon emissions. Wales & West has been piloting the use of emission-reducing tools and techniques from its city depot for the past seven months. - Punchline Gloucester
🔥 Stuck for ideas to keep the kids entertained? Why not book a visit to… the incinerator. Gloucestershire’s energy from waste facility at Javelin Park is running a free eco-themed scavenger hunt designed for families to ‘educate and entertain’. - Gloucestershire Live
🚨 Police and crime news
🚨 Arrests were made in Gloucester as part of a region-wide operation to crack down on drug supply. Two women from the city were held on suspicion of being involved in supplying class A drugs, among 102 arrested across the South West. - Gloucestershire Constabulary
🚨 Police investigating a threat to Sir Thomas Rich’s School evacuated pupils attending a Saturday morning music club there. Surrounding roads were also shut before the all-clear was later given. - Gloucestershire Live
🚨 A property in Longhorn Avenue was burgled and a car in Longsmith Street broken into in the latest neighbourhood incidents rounded up by police. - Gloucestershire Live
📌 Community Noticeboard
This section is powered by you. Submit community news, initiatives and events, new openings and fundraisers, and plenty more, via this simple form for inclusion. It’s free.
📌 Gloucester Foodbank volunteers needed. We’ve just launched our NEW Food Hub in Kingsway, and we need YOU to help make it a success! Fridays, 2pm–4pm, The Beacon Children’s Centre, Kingsway. Every week, we’ll be supporting local people facing hardship — but we can’t do it without volunteers. More details here.
📌 Gloucester Festival of Archaeology returns from next week led by the Civic Trust, in partnership with Gloucester Cathedral and several organisations and Heritage venues in Gloucester. ‘Working together we bring a host of activities designed to appeal to residents and visitors alike by encouraging everyone to look up and down and explore the city for the day through a range of run and low-cost activities.’ See the extensive full programme here.
📌 Jolt’s PechaKucha Nights return this Wednesday at Warehouse 4 (Gloucester Brewery) from 6pm-8pm. In this Ukrainian Solidarity Takeover evening, expect six-eight quickfire talks, connection, and community spirit! Expect 6–8 talks from inspiring local voices, live music, a fantastic food vendor, and drinks from Gloucester Brewery — all in support of Ukraine and those providing aid and solidarity. 👇
📌 Everyone loves a bargain and this summer there’s more reason than ever to hunt some out in Gloucester’s own treasure trove of charity shops in the Second Hand Summer Challenge. Simply pick up a stamp card with any purchase at a participating charity shop, collect six stamps in total and you’ll be in with a chance of winning a Gloucester Gift Card to spend on whatever you like and keep supporting city centre retailers. More details here.
📌 Free talk at The Folk of Gloucester by Matt Cass and Paul James, based on their book '100 Gloucester Characters' 11am on Saturday 12th July, The Folk of Gloucester, 99-103 Westgate Street, Gloucester GL1 2PG. Free entry. No booking required. More details here. - Thanks to subscriber Paul for this submission
📅 Things to do
Got an event or regular activity coming up you want to shout about? Send listings through at least a couple of days in advance if possible, via this form. It’s completely free.
📽️ The Salt Path, Elio, 28 Years Later, How to Train Your Dragon, F1: The Movie at Sherborne Cinema | Various days and times | £6/£7 | Details
🏉 Walking Rugby at Gloucester Cathedral | Mondays, 9.30am | Free | Details
🚶 City Guided Walk from St Michael’s Tower | Daily, 11am | £7 adults | Details
📖 Library Tour and Tea Package at Gloucester Cathedral | Tuesday, 2pm | £20 | Details
🤺 Ludosport Discovery Session - lightsaber combat at Milestone School | Tuesday, 7.30pm | £10 | Details
🎙️ Si Cranstoun and His Band at Gloucester Guildhall | Saturday, 7pm | £22.50 | Details
Top posts from Friday’s Start:
⚖️ Man’s crimes exposed after £350k sent to Chinese restaurant
❌ Landlords say brewery wants them out of Robinswood pub in 28 days
🏗️ Dramatic pictures show scale of £460m road project