February 2026

Whilst Christmas seems a long way away now, I would like to firstly wish you all a very Happy New Year and I hope that 2026 brings us all peace, health, happiness and prosperity for our local businesses. I would also like to thank once again the Feoffee & Thirteen and Tetbury Plumbing & Heating team who put up and took down the beautiful Christmas lights which adorned the Market House and the trees kindly donated by the Lowsley-Williams family.

Over the years the Tetbury Trail and Preston Park have developed and become a wonderful community green space for all out residents – human and animal. Could I please take this opportunity to ask you to respect this area, take home any rubbish you may have and pick up any dog mess and place in the appropriate bins - not in the hedgerow or trees, where bags are a danger to the wildlife. And if we are lucky enough to have snow, please remember that you sledge the tempting hills at your own risk.

The weekly event along the Tetbury Trail and through Preston Park is the popular Saturday morning Tetbury Goods Shed Parkrun. Every Saturday morning runners, walkers and volunteer marshalls meet for the 9am start – I noticed reports that 358 people took part on Christmas Day and 219 people on New Years Day. You don’t need to be a runner; you can also walk the 5km route or become a volunteer marshall, please check them out if you are interested.

Finally, I am delighted to confirm that we gave the following grants this month:

· £300 to a local university student

· £6,500 to Tetbury Area Youth and Community Trust for holiday provision for the young people of Tetbury

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town.

Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

December 2025

As Christmas approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all residents and traders in Tetbury a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2026.

I would like to also thank the members of the Feoffee & Thirteen and Tetbury Plumbing & Heating, who decorated the Market House with our Christmas Lights and the two beautiful trees, kindly donated by the Lowsley-Williams family at Chavenage. The Market House is the jewel in the crown at Christmas and the focal point for the Light Up Tetbury event on Friday 5th December – well done to all those, led by Tetbury Town Council, involved in creating a wonderful, seasonal community event for us all.

Work continued over the autumn with Feoffee Will Cook and his team of volunteers from the Thirteen planting a new hedge along a section of the Tetbury Trail.

Don’t forget that the Christmas Tree Festival at St Saviour’s Church will be taking place from Monday 1st December – Friday 2nd January, where groups and organisations will display their trees and on Saturday 6th December at 5pm in St Saviour’s there will be the annual Christmas Tree Festival Carol Service – please do go along, wrap up warm and enjoy community carols followed by a mince pie and mulled wine.

Finally, I am delighted to confirm that we gave the following grants this month:

· £8,000 to St Mary’s Primary School for their Trim Trail

· £1,500 annual donation to Tetbury in Bloom to support their work around the town

· £300 for a Swindon Town youth player towards a football tournament in Barcelona

· £300 towards an international Girl Guides trip to Croatia in 2026

· £300 for local competitor towards competing at the British Equestrian Vaulting Championships in Cheshire

· £300 towards the Tetbury Town Council crowdfunding campaign to upgrade the playpark at Suffolk Close

· £300 towards a Christmas meal for the Monday Club in December

· £300 towards the craft club at Tetbury Library to assist with materials. – this group is open to the public and run by volunteers.

· £150 towards the Poppy Appeal.

· £75 towards the Tetbury Town Council Christmas grotto at the Light up Tetbury evening

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town.

Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

November 2025

I am delighted to confirm that the installation of a defibrillator has now been completed under The Market House, we were delighted to be able to provide with this lifesaving piece of equipment for our residnets in the town centre and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Cotswold District Council for their grant of £625 towards the total cost of £1,400. Our thanks also go to Feoffee Vice Chair Dave Hicks, who was instrumental in ensuring that this project was successful.

In addition, I am pleased to confirm that we gave the following grants this month:

· 3 x grants of £300 for University Students towards equipment/studies

· 1 x grant of £300 to a Trainee Barber towards equipment/studies

Date for your Diary

Saturday 8th November - Tetbury Fireworks

Friday 5th December – Tetbury Christmas Light Switch On

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

October 2025

September started off with the annual historic Beating of the Bounds and presentation of the accounts and work of the Feoffees and Thirteen. We were delighted with the number of friends old and new, who took the time to come with us on this circular walk of the town, and to be able to welcome our new Rector the Revd. Sarah Heywood, who led the prayers and hymns. Our thanks go to Revd. Heywood, Feoffee Jim Pearce for leading this walk, Pam Bird, who provided a welcome refreshment stop in her beautiful garden halfway around and to the members of the Thirteen who organised the coffee and tea once everyone was back at The Market House. If you missed us this year, look out for the date next year – this always takes place in September and is a great way to learn about our very special Town.

We are pleased to advise that plans to install a defibrillator at The Market House are almost complete and soon we will have another important, lifesaving piece of equipment in the town centre.

Finally, many of you will have seen that we have resurfaced our land at Combers Mead on London Road, to provide additional private parking spaces, joining our spaces at the bottom of Gumstool Hill and The Chipping Car Park. These are currently all let, however, if you would like to join our waiting list, please contact us via our website.

Date for your Diary

Friday 5th December – Tetbury Christmas Light Switch On

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

September 2025

I start my September article with a tribute to Campbell Higgins who sadly passed away over the summer and was a devoted Clerk to the Feoffees for many years – his experience, contribution and knowledge was appreciated by us all. Our sympathies go to his wife Margaret and the family.

September is a busy month for the Feoffees and Thirteen as we hold two historic events:

Firstly, at 9.30am on Saturday 6th September we have the Beating of the Bounds. We meet under Bath Bridge and around 1 hour or so later there is the presentation of the Feoffee annual accounts in The Market House with coffee and biscuits. This is an opportunity for members of the community to come to inspect the annual accounts and hear about the work that the charity has been undertaking over the year.

The following week on Saturday 13th September there will be a display of the Feoffee & Thirteen in the Committee Room in the Market House. This is part of the national heritage weekend which is taking place around the country.

Towards the end of the school year, we were delighted to provide the financial support for and open the new sensory room at Sir William Romney’s School – this was an important opportunity for our charity to support the education of young people in Tetbury.

As autumn approaches the trees in the community orchard at Herd Lane should be full of apples, you are welcome to help yourself to enough apples for you and your family to enjoy, but please ensure that you leave enough fruit for everyone. Please be careful if you visit the community orchard as the ground under foot is uneven.

Grants over the summer have included:

· 2 x grants to local students at University

· £8,000 to St Mary’s Primary School for their new trim trail

· £1,000 for equipment to Tetbury town football club.

Date for your Diary

Friday 5th December – Tetbury Christmas Light Switch On

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch.

Lance Vick

July 2025

At the time of writing, we are making our final preparations for our annual Community BBQ at the Millennium Green and if you missed it this year, please look out for the date next June. This is a free community event for all and a great place to meet friends new and old.

As summer arrives, the Market House is looking splendid with the hanging baskets and planters full of colourful floral displays. Our thanks go to Tetbury in Bloom and their volunteers, who work tirelessly throughout the town to ensure that Tetbury looks its best and to Tetbury Plumbing and Heating for installing and maintaining the watering system for the baskets.

We continue to look to develop our markets under the Market House. Whilst currently we do not have any vacancies under the Market House on Saturdays, we do have availability on Wednesdays and the upstairs is also available throughout the week. If you are interested in booking a stall or the main Market House upstairs, please call into Scentiments on Church Street where you can book your place – we look forward to welcoming new traders.

I am pleased to advise that this month we were once again able to support the important Holiday at Home event with a grant of £1,500. This is an important community event, tackling isolation and ensuring that those members of our community who do not have the opportunity to get away can have a ‘holiday’ here in their hometown.

Dates for your Diary

· Saturday 6th September at 9.30am – Annual Beating of the Bounds – meet under Bath Bridge and followed by the presentation of the Feoffee accounts in The Market House with coffee and biscuits

· Saturday 13th Sunday 14th September – Heritage Weekend – The Market House will be open with displays

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

May 2025

Big News is Preston Park this month – many of you will know that we have recently completed the circular paving in Preston Park, allowing access to more of our residents and making the walk down the muddy hill much safer.

We would like to thank Geoff Turbott for his continuing support and hard work in helping us to make this a reality – his commitment to the charity and to this area in Tetbury is greatly appreciated – thank you Geoff!

Finally, I am pleased to advise that the following grant was made this month:

·       £400 to the Friends of Tetbury Hospital, covering the costs for producing leaflets for their Open Gardens Fundraising Event in June.

Dates for your Diary

·       Monday 26th May – Woolsack Day and Races - where there will be a display on the Feoffees and Thirteen

·       Saturday 14th June at 6pm – Feoffee & Thirteen Community BBQ – this is a free community event

·       Saturday 6th September at 9.30am – Annual Beating of the Bounds – meet under Bath Bridge and followed by the presentation of the Feoffee accounts in The Market House with coffee and biscuits

·        Saturday 13th/Sunday 14th September – Heritage Weekend – The Market House will be open with displays

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

Lance Vick – Chairman

January 2025

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Before Christmas, those of you who walk or run along the Tetbury Trail will have noticed that extensive tree works have taken place, thank you for your patience whilst we closed sections of the trail for your safety whilst this work was completed.

In addition, some of you may have noticed that we lost a tree on the Millennium Green last year, and I am pleased to confirm that a replacement is due to be planted in the next few weeks.

Thanks must go to resident, Geoff Turbott, who has once again swept the length of the pathway along the Tetbury Trail, improving the surface and clearing the fallen leaves.

I am delighted to advise that the following grants were made this month:

· £900 – Dolphins Dramatic Society

· £1,000 – Police Museum – funding towards developing the school education programme

· 2 x £300 grants to local students

· Additional £5,000 to Sir William Romney’s School – to complete the new Sensory Room

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

December News

Firstly, I would like to welcome Tony Walsh as the newest member of the Feoffee. Dave Norris, after 26 years of service to the charity, firstly as a member of the Thirteen and then as a Feoffee, has made the decision to retire and I would like to thank Dave for all his hard work and support, particularly the maintenance of the Open Spaces, over the years.

I am delighted to advise that the following grants were made this month:

· Sir William Romney School – grant of £5,000 for furniture and equipment for a room dedicated to children with special educational needs.

· Tetbury Area Youth & Community Trust – grant of £6,500 to assist in the provision of holiday activities for approx. 300 young people in Tetbury throughout the school holidays (approx. 10 weeks) and an additional 10 drop-in sessions, following a cut in funding from Gloucestershire County Council.

· Tetbury In Bloom – grant of £1500 to support next year’s flower beds and baskets around Tetbury.

· Food Bank – grant of £3,000, an increase in grant support, due to the pressure this service is currently experiencing.

· St Mary’s Primary School – grant of £9,000 to create an outdoor space at the school for children with special educational needs and for small group work.

· Club 77 – grant of £300 to support activities for people with disabilities in Tetbury.

· Individual College Grant – grant of £300 towards a laptop for a local student

Finally, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

Beating of the Bounds

The Feoffees and Thirteen of Tetbury are pleased to invite you all to the annual

BEATING OF THE BOUNDS

On Saturday 14th September at 9.30am

Please meet under Bath Bridge for this circular, historic walk of the town boundaries, followed by refreshments and the presentation of the Feoffee accounts in The Market House

June 2024

I can’t quite believe that we are already 6 months into 2024 and I really hope that after such a wet start to the year that we see plenty of sun over the summer months.

I would like to start this month’s update with a welcome to new Thirteen member Tim Shute, we are all looking forward to working with Tim in the coming years.

This month members of the Thirteen will once again be organising the Annual Community BBQ, this will take place on the Millennium Green at 6pm on Friday 14th June. For those of you who have never attended this event, the BBQ is provided by the Feoffees and Thirteen to all residents free of charge – please bring with you any chairs, picnic blankets and drinks. This is a wonderful opportunity for us all to meet up with friends, old and new - All are welcome.

Dates for your Diary

·       14th June – 6pm Community BBQ on the Millennium Green

·       7th September – Heritage Weekend

·       14th September - The Annual Beating of the Bounds

The Feoffees are Trustees of several charities, providing financial support to individuals and groups within Tetbury, with a particular focus on education, supporting apprentices and clubs and organisations working in our community. Over the next few months, I plan to introduce some of our members to you and I will start with myself – many of you know me, but for those who don’t – I am Lance Vick, Chair of the Feoffees, I have been a Feoffee for 29 years this month and before that I was a member of the Thirteen for 15 years and I believe that to be a Feoffee is the highest honour in our town.  I have lived in Tetbury all my life and my favourite view of Tetbury is Chipping Steps.  If you see me or any of our Feoffee or Thirteen members, please see hello, we would be pleased to meet you.

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members.

Lance Vick – Chairman

March News

I was recently delighted to, along with my fellow Feoffees, present local resident Geoff Turbott with a Feoffee medallion and certificate of appreciation, for all his support with maintaining the public footpath along the old railway line, Berkeley Wood and Preston Park, allowing everyone to enjoy this very special area of our town. 

Without his intervention, the footpath would not be as usable and accessible.  Geoff undertakes this work voluntarily and the Trustees of the charity wanted to publicly thank him for all his support and hard work over the years. 

I am also pleased to confirm that we have recently supported groups and individuals with the following grants: 

• Tetfest - £1,000 as sponsorship of this growing community music festival 

• 3 local students with grants towards their studies 

• St Mary’s Playgroup - £500 towards their Forest School Bell Tent repair 

• Holiday at Home - £1,500 to support their ongoing projects in our community which include 2 summer holiday days, a spring tea and firework tea party 

If you think we may be able to help you or if you are a member of a group who could be helped with a grant, please visit our website - www.thefeoffeesoftetbury.co.uk – where you can also find out more about the work we do in our town. Finally, if you would like to volunteer to help us, please get in touch or speak to one of our members. 

Lance Vick – Chairman