10 YEARS AGO

August 23, 2005

THREE years after it was closed due to debts, news came through that the Royal British Legion Club in Bridgwater was set to reopen.

BRIDGWATER boy Christopher Thomas was celebrating after little-known charity helped him to overcome his speech impediment.

Chris suffered bullying at school before his parents spotted a small ad in a newspaper for the Starfish Project. The charity helped Chris overcome his stutter by teaching him special costal breathing techniques.

FREDA Day of Cannington, 78, was set to make one her life dreams coming true by climbing the mast of the Tall Ship Tenacious in Amsterdam.

SOMERSET Rebels speedway racer Matt Read overcame horrific injuries for his fairytale wedding to his fiancee Claire.

A three-bike collision left Matt in a coma with a broken back and neck but he managed to walk down the aisle without the use of crutches.

20 YEARS AGO

August 22, 1995

VOLUNTEERS and staff at Bridgwater’s Admiral Blake Museum were praised for their work to put on their VJ Day exhibition following a fire in June.

The blaze broke out during a redevelopment of the adjoining Old Mill and caused thousands of pounds worth of damage.

WORLD class junior geographer Alex Turco from Burnham led a British team to victory in the International Geography Olympiad held in Orlando, Florida.

WAR veterans from Bridgwater marched proudly through the streets of the town to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

25 YEARS AGO

August 20, 1990

IT was reported that the smelly problem of the Chilton Trinity ‘pong’ had been greatly improved following the completion of sewage works updates.

Chief health officer Des Hunt said: “Observations have indicated that the situation with regard to smells is greatly improved, although there are some smells still detectable on occasions.”

THE son of Bridgwater teacher made a daring escape from Kuwait as many Britons were being rounded up to be used as hostages.

Stephen Maishman was in a convoy of seven Jeeps which made a three-hour dash across the desert to the Saudi Arabia border.