25 Years Ago

AUGUST 24, 1990

A BURNHAM teacher this week told of his dramatic escape across the desert from the trouble-torn Gulf state of Kuwait.

Mr Stephen Maishman, 24, returned home on Saturday evening after several days travelling.

He had been living in a town 35 kilometres south of Kuwait City teaching adults English, even though he was a recognised PE teacher.

n FARMERS were praised for their care of the countryside, at the annual Mark Harvest Home lunch.

The event was held in a giant marquee, in ideal summer weather, the previous Tuesday.

Local businessman Mr John Clarke, who was proposing the toast to the clergy and visitors, said: “It is time the media and experts realised the custodians of the countryside are the generations of farmers, who have looked after the country for so long.”

GREENWAYS Nursing Home resident Mrs Mary Turner celebrated her 104th birthday this week.

This made her one of the oldest living people in Burnham.

Mrs Turner had lived all of her life in Burnham and had spent the previous ten months at the nursing home in Stoddens Road.

The Mayor of Burnham and Highbridge, Councillor Peter Bowell, visited Mrs Turner on her birthday to congratulate her.

20 Years Ago

August 25, 1995

n CARNIVAL clubs struggling with rocketing costs and falling fundraising were being thrown a financial lifeline by local procession organisers.

The prize and appearance money for this year’s Highbridge and Burnham Carnival, which was due to be held on Monday, November 6, had been upped by a massive 30 per cent, the Weekly News was pleased to reveal.

n HIGHBRIDGE Social Club members took a breather on Friday night from their celebrations commemorating the 50th anniversary of VJ Day to make their annual charity presentations.

The club, in Church Street, maintains a charity fund which is topped up by proceeds of members’ activities during the year.

Among the 1995 fundraising events was a 15 mile sponsored walk, and a sweepstake on the result of a recent sponsored slim.

10 Years Ago

August 24, 2005

 A FAMILY whose two dogs were saved by Burnham’s Spirit of Lelaina hovercraft returned to the town this week, one year on from the original rescue.

They were there to thank crew members and hand over a cheque towards the upkeep and maintenance of the craft.

Glyn and Carol Thomas and their son Gavin, ten, had almost given up hope of saving their tiny West Highland white terriers, called Muttley and Rosie, when they became stranded on Brean mudflats the previous July.

n A DETERMINED Highbridge mum jumped 10,000 feet out of a plane for a baby research charity after her little son Benjamin won his battle for life after being born 15 weeks prematurely.

Donna Carey took the leap for the Touching Tiny Lives campaign, which works to find out more about premature birth, pre-eclampsia and other serious conditions threatening babies and mothers.

The 25-year-old explained her son Benjamin was given a tiny chance in survival back in March 2002.

But the battling Benjamin had now pulled through serious early illnesses to full health.