CHURCHGOERS to the family service at St James Church, Staunton could see the results of the ferocious gale on the previous Sunday when a huge fir tree was snapped off like a match stick along the drive to Staunton Court. It appeared to have been a fairly healthy tree but such was the force of the gale.

The villages of Staunton and Corse were badly hit with the loss of power of up to twelve hours in many cases and in nearby Hartpury a number of houses did not get their power restored until late on Thursday.

The family service at St James was conducted by Canon John Evans who welcomed a large congregation, including the family of Findaly Callum Newbold, son of Mandy and Adam Newbold of Staunton, who was baptised during the service and welcomed into the family of the church by the whole congregation. Robert Whitestone read the lesson, the vicar was the celebrant during the celebration of Holy Communion and Ursula Groves-Smith administered the chalice. Jo Claessen took the offertory and the organist was Giles Turner.