Article by Kevin Painter

TETBURY Town Council have stated following guidance from Gloucestershire County Council we have now removed the restrictions on our benches but people from different households should follow the two metre rule.

New Guidance from Gloucestershire County Council is as follows.

All signs advising that public benches have been closed with regards to Covid-19 should be removed.

Following social distancing guidance, it is okay for two people from the same household to sit on a bench.

Or one person to sit on a bench and speak to another from a different household for a short period of time as long as they are a minimum of two metres apart.

WELL done and congratulations to the St Mary’s virtual church Holy week services that went from strength to strength.

The services included Easter Worship, Good Friday Meditation, Maundy Thursday Online Service, Compline for Wednesday, Stations of the Cross Meditation for Tuesday Evening and a prayer for Monday in Holy Week.

The original licence they were using only allowed a maximum of 100 people to attend.

On Palm Sunday, they exceeded that limit, which meant quite a few people were unable to join in.

Poppy Hughes said: "I am so sorry to everyone who was disappointed, and delighted to say that we have now been able to upgrade our licence, paid for by a generous donor in our church community.

"So now we can accommodate up to 500 people! Thanks be to God.’’

The current crisis makes these services even more special and poignant giving faith too many people in social isolation and special thanks must go to Joe Nagle whose marvellous technological knowledge made this virtual service week happen literally, and in the real world!

WELL done and congratulations to Richard Davies and his team from the Calcot Collection who’ve been making and donating food free for Tetbury and surrounding areas.

Richard said: "I’m very pleased to say that we sent out exactly 500 meals the first week without glitch!

"We sent out 62 for Malmesbury, 60 for Nailsworth, 20 for Sherston and 18 for Tetbury.

"And of course thanks obviously to our volunteers, Mr Ball and the Stone family, without them this would not be possible. And also our suppliers keeping us going.

"Walter Rose and sons of Devizes, Cam Butchers, Bramleys Wholesale, and Newave Seafoods.

"This is such an amazing contribution to communities not only by the physical donations but the inspirational message this gives to all communities.”

TETBURY Post Office is now closed until further notice due to staff shortages caused by illness and self isolation.

Again many people want to thank the staff for staying open as long as they did, thank you.

THE New Priory Inn service and story goes from strength to strength galvanising the community spirit with their one stop shop for everything food.

One of the business partners Neil said: “All our food comes from local supplies, our bread boxes come from Tetbury Hobbs House Bakery, our meat boxes come from Jesse Smith & WJ Castle Butchers and our fresh fruit and veg comes straight from the Market and is washed before delivery.”

From the market Fruit Box £10, Jessie Smith Meat Box £20, from the market Veg Box £10, Hobbs Bread Box £10, Halls Cake Box £10, Halls Gluten Box £10.

They also have eggs, pasta, milk and other essential goods.

Exciting news, they are launching a wine and beer box this week.

From Farm to Fork Food delivered direct to your door!

You can order online from https://www.orderfrom.co.uk/prioryinntetbury.

Of course this will complement the other services on offer such as the Priory Inn’s Priory on wheels service.

Again a wide senior menu is available for home delivery for only £4.95 so whatever your taste or requirements there is something for everyone from pizza delivery to Sunday roast dinners for £5.95 to order or for further information please ring 01666 502251.

PICTURED (below) is firefighter Jake Meredith and NHS radiographer Shanice Ward.

Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard:

Both also have family connections to Tetbury Fire Station.

Jakes grandfather was a firefighter at Tetbury in the 1970s and 80s and Shanice`s grandfather, dad and uncle CM Sacha ward is still serving at Tetbury Station.

This follows a long tradition of the crew at Tetbury running through family’s with the Dyer family serving at Tetbury from the second world war until five years ago.

The Houghton’s giving over 40 years’ service.

Manager Dave Smith is also proud of his family’s heritage with his great great grandfather and then his dad Brian and now Dave completing 50 years’ service last year as father and son added together.