⏩ The Gloucester Start: Thursday May 8th
Shops to close amid ASB worries | VE Day celebrations | Police project facing axe
Good morning, welcome to Thursday’s Start. It’s the 80th anniversary of VE Day today with plenty planned this evening. Anything you want to see more coverage of? I’m open to ideas - reply to this if you’re getting the email version, drop me a message on Instagram or use the submission form.
⛅ Today’s weather: Mild again but generally overcast.
🛍️ Two neighbouring city centre shops run by a husband and wife team will close at the end of May. The Candle Tree (as covered in April 3rd’s Start) and L&S Lifestyle, in College Street, are shutting their bricks and mortar operations. Candle Tree owner Sandra Powell said she had ‘mixed feelings’ about leaving. - Gloucestershire Live
↪️ But former Gloucester MP Richard Graham - whose old constituency office neighbours the two shops - said antisocial behaviour in the area is also a significant factor in their decision. He hopes it serves as a ‘wake up call for those responsible for taking our city centre forward’. - Richard Graham
✌️ VE Day celebrations take place today throughout the city:
At 9am Gloucester Town Crier Alan Myatt will deliver the Official Proclamation at Gloucester Cross
At 6pm, visitors and residents are invited to a special edition of the Llanthony History Huddle at Llanthony Secunda Priory
At Llanthony Priory and Sula Lightship from 7.30pm there’ll be 1940s-themed entertainment hosted by Gloster Swing Dance. The grand finale will take place at the Sula Lightship, where the Cathedral Youth Choir will perform the official VE Day 80 hymn
At 9pm a tribute will be held on Robinswood Hill and the Beacon of Hope lit
More details on the Gloucester City Council site here
Later in the week, on Saturday, a tea dance takes place in King’s Square. - SoGlos
💼 Gloucester City Council has a new pair of hands overseeing crucial projects and spending. Alison Turner has been named the new head of finance and resources. - Gloucester News Centre
↪️ The role was advertised in December with a salary up to £90,000 and responsibilities including the city centre’s regeneration programme. - December 4th’s Start
💔 A police project which helps vulnerable young people turn their lives around through mentorship and skills development faces the axe under funding cuts. The Aston Project is set to be scrapped as part of measures to address a £12million budget gap but heartfelt pleas are being made to try and save it. - Gloucester News Centre, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
🏫 Ofsted inspectors acknowledged positive efforts but said improvements still have to take root on their first visit to Kingsholm Primary School since 2013. The school was marked as requiring improvement in most areas, with early years provision ‘good’ and has been through a series of recent leadership changes. - Gloucestershire Live
🌡️ City councillor John Jones is getting a heat pump. His upgrade to renewable energy at his Bourton Road home had to go all the way to the authority’s planning committee as he’s a serving councillor, where it was signed off. - Gloucester News Centre, via the Local Democracy Reporting Service
🎦 Moana will be shown free on a big screen in King’s Square, with deck chairs for viewews, on May 31st after winning a public vote , followed by Mamma Mia 👇
📌 Community Noticeboard
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📌 Gloucester-based urban farming collective Project Grow is creating an installation at the Cheltenham Science Festival that will put Gloucester firmly on the map and needs volunteers. Food for Thought is an interactive allotment-themed installation created in collaboration with the Gloucester archives Green Pledge Project. Journey through Gloucestershire's rich history of food production as they explore how growing food connects us to the land, our communities, and a more sustainable future. Discover local stories, unearth archival treasures, and be inspired to be the change. To get involved, please email hello@weareprojectgrow.com - Thanks to subscriber Claire for this submission
📌 Got a couple of hours free this Monday? Volunteers are needed for the monthly clean-up around the city centre 👇
📅 Things to do today and tomorrow
🎤 Roots Acoustic Cafe at Roots, Alvin Street | Today, 6.30pm | Free | Details
📽️ The Penguin Lessons, Four Mothers, Mr Burton and Slade in Flame: 50th Anniversary at Sherborne Cinema | Various times | £6/£7 | Details
Ⓜ️ Moomin 80: Moomin ABC exhibition at Museum of Gloucester | Daily until October | Adults £8.50 | Details
The top posts from Wednesday’s Start:
🚨 PC dismissed for gross misconduct
🗳️ Ousted county councillors ‘could see it coming’
🖼️ Contemporary art trail comes to city centre