North Gloucestershire at War

by Peter Gill

Published 26 October 1995
This addition to the "Britain in Old Photographs" series brings together a collection of black-and-white pictures spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawn from family albums, local collections and professional photographers, they show the way things were and how they have changed. Every photograph is captioned, providing names and dates where possible, revealing historical and anecdotal detail and giving life to the scenes and personalities captured through the camera lens. Bringing together all aspects of daily life - celebrations and disasters, work and leisure, people and buildings - the collection should inspire memories, as well as serve as an introduction to visitors.


South Gloucestershire at War

by Peter Gill

Published 30 November 1995
This addition to the "Britain in Old Photographs" series brings together a collection of black-and-white pictures spanning the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawn from family albums, local collections and professional photographers, they show the way things were and how they have changed. Every photograph is captioned, providing names and dates where possible, revealing historical and anecdotal detail and giving life to the scenes and personalities captured through the camera lens. Bringing together all aspects of daily life - celebrations and disasters, work and leisure, people and buildings - the collection should inspire memories, as well as serve as an introduction to visitors.


During the Second World War photographic film was rationed and photography was strictly controlled. Despite these limitations it is surprising how many pictures of the war years have survived, often hidden away in photograph albums or school and company archives, never seen by the general public. Cheltenham at War, however, brings together over two hundred of these unique images. Well-researched captions put the photographs in context, and contain many fascinating details of life during the war. The emphasis throughout Cheltenham at War is on people - despairing at the bomb damage, pulling together in salvage campaigns and rejoicing at the victory that followed. Schools were evacuated, evacuees and prisoners of war arrived and there was even a mock invasion, but a semblance of normality was maintained: for example, football and cricket teams still competed and weddings took place. These events are also recorded here. This book will evoke nostalgic memories for all who spent their war years in the town, and will be of interest to everyone who knows and loves Cheltenham.


A biographical account of some of the racing legends who lived and worked in Cheltenham. Each chapter focuses on a different personality who has achieved considerable success in the world of horse-racing. Some of the racing heroes recorded are: Fred Archer - champion flat-race jockey for 13 successive seasons and five-times winner of the Derby; Billy Stott - five-time champion National Hunt jockey and winning jockey of both the Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle in 1933; Gerry Wilson - seven-time champion National Hunt jockey who won both the Gold Cup and the Grand National on Golden Miller in 1934, and in 1945 became the first man to have both ridden and trained a Champion Hurdle winner; Frenchie Nicholson - champion jockey and Gold Cup winner who went on to become one of the best developers of young jockeys; and Jim Wilson - arguably the best amateur jockey of his day, and the last amateur to ride a Gold Cup winner when he brought Little Owl home first past the post in 1981 - who is now a local trainer.