Independent Gloucestershire Thursday, October 30, 2014 20p where sold


Gorilla in the midst at Stroud Half Marathon - See page 3


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Fantastic Five Valleys Fireworks


Students in near miss on their bus journey home


CHILDREN travelling home on a double decker school bus were left shaken, scared and covered in shattered glass after a tree branch smashed into its top front window. Pupils from Farmor’s School sitting on the top deck of the bus were looking for- ward to a week off school, as they were driven home last Friday before half term. Noah Dobbie, 12, was excit-


edly chatting to his friends. He was sat only a couple of rows away from the top deck front window before the acci- dent happened. “I heard a massive shatter


and glass came flying past me,” he said. “Lots of us got glass in our hair and I got a cut on my arm. It was so fast though I didn’t even feel the cut.


Noah’s 16-year-old sister Martha was also sitting near-


by and was quite shaken by what happened. “She had big shards of glass


in her hair,” said Noah. “It makes me cautious not to sit at the front now.” Noah’s father and mother


Tony and Sharon Dobbie said they were shocked to come home from work that night to find two very distressed children. They have since written


to Gloucestershire County Council to say that the double decker bus is not a safe mode of transport. They also wrote to Cotswolds MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown calling for his support. “They’re OK, thank good-


ness,” said Tony. “We decided at that point to try and get something done because it’s dangerous.” Tony explained that his children used to catch a mini


bus to school, which picked them up at around 8am and sawthem home by 4pm. Yet at the start of Septem-


ber this year, he claims GCC changed the bus service and route without any advance warning. Noah and Martha now


travel for an hour and a half each way on a double decker bus, despite the route from Bibury to Fairford being only five miles long. “The minibus was fantas-


tic,” said Tony. “But the new bus goes into Cirencester and through lots of different vil- lages. It impacts on our kids every single day. Sometimes they do not get home until 5pm.” GCC has since announced


that a single decker bus to take the children to school when they arrive back after half term.


Strollers from far and wide gather to enjoy the outdoors


DURSLEY Welcomes Walk- ers held the third Dursley Walking Festival recently. Chairman Chris Cherry called the festival a “great success.” The event attracted more


than 200 walkers to the town, some of whom travelled dis- tances of over 50 miles. This year’s programme included 16 walks, all free of charge, aimed at walkers across a variety of different abilities. The range included 45 min- ute walks to 15 mile walks,


special interests such as bird watching and photography. The festival was opened by Dursley Town Mayor Jane Ball at 10am on Friday, Octo- ber 11. The first walk of the festi-


val made use of local trans- port links, involving taking a bus to Stonehouse and walk- ing back to Dursley via the Cotswold Way. Mr Cherry said: “Not all


walk leaders and walkers’ feedback forms have been handed in yet, but apparently the popular heritage walk on


Sunday afternoon attracted more than 35 walkers.” The heritage walk was led


by Andy Barton, who has led several such walks in the past and is able to vary the walk routes to talk about different aspects of the local history. Chris said: “Dursley Wel- comes Walkers Steering Group would like to thank all volunteers and sponsors who supported this year’s event. “Plans are already in hand


for next year’s festival,which will be held October 2 to 4.”


Mum-of-two Vicky Mayo, preparing to jump 10,000 feet for The Croft School in Painswick


BRAVE mum Vicky Mayo is jumping 10,000 feet to raise money for The Croft School in Painswick. Vicky, 26, will try to contain


her nerves at a tandem sky- dive at Salisbury Airport on Saturday, November 1. “I wanted to raise money for


my children’s school and this seemed like fun,” said Vicky, mum to Sienna aged seven and Ellis aged six. “Four local businesses have


paid for me to do the jump, Anne-Marie Randall Photography, Sheepscombe Meat Hog Roasts, Si’s Perfect Fitness Stroud, Martin & Co Cheltenham, so all sponsor- ship money raised goes straight to charity.” Headteacher, Mr Kevin Howie


said: “We would like to raise £500 to revamp the school hall. The money will be spent on a new sound system and decoration, which will aid the children’s performances and help them gain confidence.” To sponsor Vicky contact the


school on 01453 812479 or text VICK18£ and by your sponsorship amount to 70070.


Italian Ristorante in primelocation with easy parking in Fairford’s town centre


Extensive menu of finestItalian dining basedon traditional Italian recipes


Daily “specials” board restaurantcolosseo


Takingbookings nowfor Christmasparties, ChristmasDay andNew Year’s Eve


No setprices.Pre-order forparties over 6people.


Call 01285 239238 or 07846 512669 to bookorfor more information


Open 6daysper week (closedMondays) Open lunchtimes 12 -3 Evenings6-10.30 See Page 8 Mum’s jump for school


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