Common Raven by David Munday 3 years ago, Jaqui Coles found a tiny, injured and poorly black bird near a bench on Bullen Mead in Chantry. She started to feed it and watch over it. Luckily for that little bird, it had found its Good Samaritan. It grew and grew. Other neighbours started to feed it too. It grew BIG and it gained a name – Ralph the Raven. Since speaking to the residents on Bullen Mead, no one is sure of its sex, hence it could be Ralphetta! When you see him

We recently lost Robert from our Chantry community. Many of us in the village knew him to be a kind, quiet, and intelligent engineer, but few knew his hidden artistry, his music making and many other interests. I've added some of his paintings through this tribute. Jan Bramston shared this with me: About 30 of us went to the Crematorium and then enjoyed a drink and sandwich, at The George in Croscombe and then a somewhat different group of 3O went to the internment of his as

A little while ago I had the opportunity to sit and have a natter with Dick and Dolly Blacker. They live in Chantry and Dick has basically lived in the Chantry/Whatley area for his whole life. Now in his 90s he has seen a lot of stuff! And he’s seen a lot of changes, or possibly not as many as you’d think. I was particularly interested in the everyday kind of stuff that is a fundamental part of village life. Dick Blacker was born in Coleford in the early 1930s at The An

We were lucky to have a visit from author and historian Robin Thornes a couple of weeks ago. Robin is well known to our community and is...

We heard of the loss of David Rawlins last week and I felt it was important to write a little about him here on our community website. I...

A stimulating event held in Whatley (St George's Church) Friday 22nd November There was something about the red-orange glow, spilling out...

This month, Friends of Chantry will be hosting a photography exhibition celebrating fifty years of portraits of the famous and notorious....

Hazel Tovey was working as a librarian in Surrey at the age of 18 when her very public-spirited boss encouraged her to offer her services...

Image by Tim Mercer I had the privilege of spending a couple of hours with Hazell Tovey in her fascinating home last week. A lot of you...

Tristram was familiar to some of the older residents of our community. He was a much loved brother to John, and son of Anthony Powell...