THE parents of 30-year-old motorcyclist Lee Galbraith who was killed in a crash with a car in the Cotswolds have paid tribute to their "fabulous son".

Mr Galbraith, from Cirencester, died on Thursday on the A433 near Cirencester.

A statement from his mum and dad said: "Lee was a fabulous son, brother and uncle. He was warm, kind and generous to everybody.

"He was a fun loving man and very family-oriented."

The crash happened at around noon near the junction with the A429 at Kemble.

A silver Audi TT driven by a 64-year-old woman from the London area collided with a white Suzuki GSX-R motorbike ridden by Mr Galbraith, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The coroner and the victim's next of kin have been informed. The driver and passenger of the Audi suffered facial injuries and have been released from hospital.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 163 of 21/08.

ITALIAN eatery chain Carluccio's is not ruling out a branch at Gloucester Quays.

This is despite the news linking it with opening a restaurant in the Regent Arcade in Cheltenham.

It comes as the latest waterside restaurant is set to open at the Quays leisure quarter by the end of next week.

Work to convert Pillar and Lucy House into a Coal Grill and Bar is nearing completion and its doors will soon be flung open to diners in the city.

Coal's imminent arrival comes hot on the heels of TGI Friday's, which did roaring business on its first day of trading last month.

Proposals for the hotspot's newest restaurant sailed through Gloucester City Council at the beginning of July and it is expected to create 30 new jobs.

Last summer Portivo Lounge and Ed's Easy Diner joined Nando's and Pizza Express at the leisure quarter.

Zizzi's, Chimichanga and the Real China followed hot on their heels.

Carluccio's said it hopes to create 50 new stores across the country and while hinting towards a spot in Gloucester Quays.

A spokesperson said: "Carluccio's is constantly looking for good sites across the country, so they are not ruling out this opportunity at some point in the future."

The chain is distinctive due to its addition of a food shop offering larder products, Italian meats and cheeses, gifts, confectionary and prepared meals to takeaway.

It is laying the groundwork for a possible move to the Regent Arcade after submitting a licensing application to sell alcohol from the unit in the arcade.

The restaurant would be the first in the arcade but while Cheltenham Borough Council has given them permission to do so, John Forward, centre director for the arcade, said that nothing is set in stone.

He said: "There are a few alternatives being put down for people to look at.

"We've got other parties who are interested in the site.

"Nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still in the discussion stage with a number of other interested parties."

Mark Owen, chairman of the Gloucester branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, pictured, said those people who feel they have to travel to Cheltenham for a meal out are becoming well catered for in Gloucester.

He said: "Obviously we would welcome any addition to the quays that would bring some quality to the dining experience.

"Gloucester has suffered for a long time with a lack of variety in restaurants but we are starting to see a real resurgence in the night-time economy

"We are now starting to see people who believe in Gloucester and it is definitely a city that is on the up."

Many TV viewers shed tears watching Musharaf Asghar, the teenager with a terrible stammer in Educating Yorkshire, overcome his difficulties in the Channel 4 documentary.

And a new programme next week will show how the Yorkshire youngster took the next steps to beat his stammer with the help of a college lecturer from Gloucestershire.

Rich Whincup, who teaches at Hartpury College grew up in Stow-on-the-Wold with a severe stammer.

But he has used his experiences of a particular type of therapy to help Musharaf, and that will be shown on Channel 4 next Thursday in .

Rich, 34, said: "My family and friends were all very supportive when I was in a small village environment as was the Cotswold School, everyone knew me.

"I couldn't make speeches as head boy but I didn't struggle otherwise at school, but when I went to college in Solihull aged 19 I was out of my small, very supportive environment.

"That was much tougher, I couldn't ask for things and I had to give presentations on my sports science course which were terrible.

"One person fell asleep because he was bored and I didn't blame him."

By chance Rich'smother saw a card for the McGuire Programme – a four-day course of treatment for stammerers

Rich, who lives with wife Vicki and sons Tom and Luke in Tewkesbury, said: "I didn't think it would work until I went to a presentation and then after a four-day residential course in Bournemouth I was in control of my speech."

Since then Rich has had no fear of speaking; he lectures at Hartpury and coaches his son's rugby team at Tewkesbury Tigers.

He also continues to work with the McGuire programme as a trainer of tutors and coaches and a course director, though that is a voluntary role.

After the airing of Educating Yorkshire, the McGuire Programme offered to help Musharaf, which production company TwoFour wanted to film, and Rich was selected as his course director.

He said: "It was like nothing I've ever experienced. There were lights and cameras, I was wired for sound I was wearing make-up because my head was too shiny for the HD cameras.

"One day I had to find yesterday's shirt to put it on for a retake.

"But the five students, including Musharaf really raised their game and I think I did and the coaches working one-to-one with the stammerers did as well.

"People will have seen Musharaf helped by wearing headphones. But that's a quick fix and you can't do everything wearing headphones.

"The McGuire Programme makes you confront your stammer and gives you tools, like breathing techniques and psychological work, to gain control of your stammer."

Things are much better for stammerers now, the King's Speech was massive and people now understand what it is rather than just thinking what's wrong with your speech."

Stammer School: Musharaf Finds His Voice is broadcast on Thursday at 9pm on Channel 4.

Gloucestershire's housing market mimics an episode of Upstairs Downstairs with the average home in the Cotswolds costing more than double the price of its Gloucester counterpart. At £336,935 the Cotswolds has the highest average house price in the entire south west of England. Meanwhile, the average home in Gloucester costs just £154,130, £190,927 in the Forest of Dean and £252,353 in Cheltenham. The average cost of a home in Gloucestershire is £231,246. The figures, published by the National Housing Federation, paint a picture of a county divided. Chris Jarrett, an associate director at Savills estate agents in Cheltenham, believes the Cotswolds is something of a playground for the rich and famous. "The Cotswolds is so desirable and not just to local people but for people from London, nationally, even internationally," he said. "You only have to look at some of the star names that live there. "Liz Hurley, Lily Allen – it is a location that the uber-rich aspire to have property and that is unlikely to change."

Jon Plant, Gloucestershire area manager at Andrews estate agents, said as long as demand for housing outstrips supply first time buyers will face a struggle to get on the housing ladder. The Echo asked Mr Plant if trying to buy in the Cotswolds is a pointless endeavour for first time buyers. "There are properties but there are fewer of them in the Cotswolds," he said. "In the sought after villages around Cirencester, for example, there are very few first time buyer properties. "The supply and demand issue is magnified. There is not enough property."

The National Housing Federation report also maps average incomes for Gloucestershire's six districts. Despite having the highest average house price, the report states the Cotswolds has the lowest income with an average of £18,762. In Gloucester average income was £19,334 and in Cheltenham £22,682.

The situation in the Cotswolds has been blamed by critics on too few affordable homes being built in the district. Cotswold District Councillor Paul Hodgkinson (LD, Churn Valley) said costly housing is "a perennial problem" and "not enough has been done" to remedy it. "After allowing thousands of holiday homes to be built in the Water Park, the district council cabinet doesn't seem to have any desire to help first time buyers and those on lower incomes," he said. "Does the administration really care about people in this situation or is it too keen to build holiday homes?"

Councillor Lynden Stowe (C, Campden Vale), the leader of Cotswold District Council, said the authority is "well aware" the cost of housing is higher than the national average. "The Cotswold district is a very attractive place to live and work - it is within commuting distance of London, offers an excellent range of shopping, good schools, and people aspire to live here," he said. "Market forces dictate that this will result in an increase in property prices and also rents." The district council has stressed its housing waiting list is at a 10 year low with more than 1,300 homes built between 2011 and 2014. The council also questioned the average income figure for the Cotswolds with the authority stating its own research puts the figure somewhere north of £25,000.

SHE may only be a few months short of her third birthday but Adelaide Yasmin Vorajee is already a strong contender for Gloucester's bravest girl.

The two-year-old has undergone some 11 operations and faced more than 50 trips to the hospital since she was born six weeks' premature with a catalogue of health conditions.

For her father Hussain Vorajee and Latvian mother her progress and fighting spirit is special and something that would not have been possible without the dedication of the NHS.

He and his young family are now gearing up for yet another hospital visit over Adelaide Yasmin's spina bifida, which means she cannot walk.

"When you hear doctors telling you to prepare for funerals and asking if we wanted to have an abortion, it's something that as a parent you just don't want to hear," said Hussain.

"You think 'why me – why do we have to go through this'. But everything has a point and I praise God she has pulled through."

Hussain said his daughter is loved at Bristol's St Michael's and Frenchay Hospital, which was closed in June, as well as Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where she has also been treated.

He said: "With the help from hospitals in Bristol and Gloucester and friends and families, Yasmin has pulled through so far and it's amazing. We will always miss Frenchay, it was very special.

"I've had private healthcare which I use but NHS is as good but for free.

"They do amazing work. To look after children is not easy but to look after a child with so many different issues makes it even harder."

He added: "It's also a learning curve for the specialist doctors in Bristol and Gloucester.

"They have learnt a lot from Yasmin as they worked on her issues and the 11 ops she has had so far."

Hussain thanked the Ronald McDonald House Charitiescorr, which provided accommodation for his family when Adelaide Yasmin was being treated – for conditions including blindness in one eye and excess fluid pressure in the brain – at hospitals in Bristol.

He said: "Ronald McDonald were an unbelievably big help because it's not easy having a child in that position, and to have to drive to Bristol and back every day would have made it worse. To see her progress in life is something special for us. She is amazing.

"She speaks Latvian, English Arabic and can recite verses of the Quran by heart.

"It shows people should stay away from abortion. I would not change anything in the world about my daughter."

Do you want to thank a city hero? To nominate them for a Believe in Gloucester award turn to page 17 or visit gloucestercitizen.co.uk believe

A GREAT grandfather who was brought back from the brink of death after choking on a piece of steak is hoping to thank the Good Samaritan who rescued him.

Dennis Aldous has never more than now appreciated the value of being able to breathe since a hospital consultant came to his aid.

The 74-year-old was at the Twelve Bells Beefeater in Witcombe with wife, Sheila, chomping down on a flat iron grilled steak, when he began to struggle for breath.

The couple, from nearby Little Witcombe, had just returned from a trip to Abergavenny and decided to eat out.

Sheila, 73, a mother of three, said: "He was only just saying he was really enjoying the steak and how much better it was than the last time we ate there, before he started to cough."

Attempts to dislodge the steak wedged in Dennis' airway, by slapping him on the back and performing the Heimlich manoeuvre - an emergency technique involving abdominal thrusts - on him, proved futile.

It was then that the mystery consultant, who Sheila believes said he worked at the Gloucester Royal Hospital as a consultant radiologist, came forwards and took charge.

As he began to fade, the consultant performed CPR on Dennis, keeping his vital signs going, until paramedics arrived. Such was the necessary force of the intervention, Dennis has fractured his ribs and has bruises over his body.

Paramedics arrived and put a special tool down Dennis' throat, to remove the chunk of steak and whisked him off to hospital.

He only returned home on Thursday, after medics were satisfied the levels of oxygen in his body were at satisfactory levels..

Sheila is desperate to personally thank the man and his wife, who saved her husband of more than 50 years.

She said: "If it wasn't for him, Dennis wouldn't be here today. He kept the oxygen going round his body.

"His wife took me aside and kept me occupied while they were working on him. She said 'they are working on him, you stay here with me.'

"I can't emphasise how good everybody was. The consultant even called the hospital the same night to see how Dennis was."

Former RAF man Dennis, who is still battered and sore from his ordeal, is planning to spend the next few weeks resting and recuperating at home, and being thankful for the kindness of strangers.

Sheila, a retired parish clerk added: "I'm so thankful that he's here. It could've been a different ending.

"He doesn't remember much about it. I asked him 'do you know how lucky you are?' And he said 'yes.'

BLOB Who was the mystery man who saved Dennis? Contact the newsdesk on 01242 278081.

HOSPITAL parking charges must be slashed for relatives of chronically-ill patients in a radical Government shake-up.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt says visitor's charges must be waived or reduced after Conservative backbenchers called to put an end to the "rip off" costs.

Patients with disabilities, those with frequent appointments as well as staff working shifts are also expected to benefit from the charges.

Mr Hunt said new guidelines for hospitals had been drawn up to end the "unfair" charges. Trusts should waive fines when a long stay is beyond the control of the driver, in the event of treatment taking longer than planned, under the reforms.

Hospitals should also consider introducing pay on exit systems so visitors only pay for the time they have used.

Mr Hunt said: "Patients and families shouldn't have to deal with the added stress of unfair parking charges.

"These clear ground rules set out our expectations, and will help the public hold the NHS to account for unfair charges or practices."

My name is Lotte, a 22 year old puppeteer from Gloucester.

I use Twitter mainly for networking and keeping in contact with theatre people that I have met on workshops and performances, also with fellow performers and companies. Twitter is an excellent way of keeping up to date with what new shows different theatre companies are doing.

I follow mainly puppetry based companies and people such as Handspring Puppet Company, Green Ginger, Little Angel Theatre... Too many to mention!

I also follow profiles of festivals I am involved with, such as JOLT Theatre Festival, which is a new International Theatre Festival in Gloucester.

I find it helpful to use Twitter to spread the word about these new and exciting things happening in and around Gloucester, and also to spread the word and reach out about new projects I am involved with. It's such a accessible way to advertise and get your name out there, especially helpful for performers!

Lily Allen has become one of the latest celebrities to take on the Ice Bucket Challenge.

The singer, 29, who lives in Cranham inGloucestershire, drenched herself in freezing cold water while wearing a polka dot bikini befire nominating three friends including producer Mark Ronson, former Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh and rapper Giggs.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is the latest viral craze with individuals drenching themselves in ice cold water in support of the charity for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Others to take on the challenge include David Beckham, Simon Cowell and Bill Gates.

Around 120 officers swarmed the All Nations Club in July of last year after months of painstaking surveillance.

But the massive operation centred around the Chase Lane club was just one of a serious of busts, which bought the four-man gang down.

Following covert filming of suspected deals and observations around the defendant's home, the search of the club, with the help of the drugs dogs team, uncovered two tubes full of crack cocaine hidden in the roof space of the toilets, as well as more by the outside fence. Police also discovered drugs hidden in bushes, unused railway lines, alleyways and gardens near the gangs' homes.

One of Gloucestershire police's largest ever hauls of crack was discovered in a search of Johnson's home in Falkner Street on July 31, last year. At the back of the garden officers discovered 222 grams of crack cocaine hidden in a bush, which they believe he hid while running from his home when officers entered for the bust. Police believe the crack could have been sold for a potential £23,900 on the streets.

Another stash point at Campion Close in Gloucester revealed around 3.54 grams worth between £720 and £1,080. More, valued at £1,410, was found at the back of Johnson's previous home in Diamond Jubilee Close.

TRUST in comrades is as vital on the Kingsholm turf as it is in the theatre of war was the pre-season message to Gloucester Rugby.

Dozens of Cherry and Whites' players, including new Welsh international signings James Hook and Richard Hibbard, heard military-inspired talks at the city's Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum on Friday.

Serving in major conflicts with the city's 'Glosters' regiment is deeply rooted in the club's history as many players fought and died for their country during Boer War, the Great War and the Second World War.

Major Ben Salt, of Gloucestershire's 1 Rifles, and Robert Dixon, the museum's chairman of trustees, delivered rousing speeches which are hoped will not only better inform players of the club and city's heritage, but will spur them on for the coming premiership campaign.

Maj Salt, whose comrades are huge Gloucester Rugby followers, told the players being trustworthy, professional and having the edge over an opponent is also the key to victory.

"A lot of people say there's no 'I' in team; I disagree, because a team is made up of individuals," he said.

"If the enemy thinks they have no chance, and then you have won; it is about destroying hope. And in essence, war and rugby is pretty similar."

Robert Dixon, chairman of trustees for the Soldiers of Gloucester Museum, spoke about the history of the 'Glosters', the level of support for the rugby team across the county, and the importance of respect within the ranks.

He said: "Training for war is not much different from training for rugby with the qualities we are looking for; team work and trust in each other, as well as knowing how to react when things go wrong and are not going according to plan.

"But this was absolutely fantastic and an amazing experience. I was delighted and I hope they found it interesting and useful."

David Humphreys, director of rugby, said the event was an opportunity for new and existing players to learn about the the club and city's wartime heritage.

He said: "A lot of us have heard about the history of the city and the club – we have got to understand what that is and the museum is a good starting point.

"What the major was talking about was one-on-one combat and testing yourself and that any team relies on trust and comradeship, the ability to work as a team and being able to get on with people from other backgrounds."

AN event which celebrated Romany culture was held in a bid to bring the diverse communities "closer together" at the weekend.

People from a range of backgrounds across the city were invited to a day of traditional song, music and dance at the New Olympus Theatre on Saturday.

Roma people from across the country descended on the Barton Street venue to celebrate their folklore, which is often the subject of vilification and prejudice.

Martin Feco, a spokesman for United Roma Gloucester, which hosted the event, said: "This is all about the Romany culture, integration and to get English people to know more about that culture, what kind of music we are into and what traditions we have.

"I have been invited for a second year and basically this area is surrounded by Romany people who live close by, whether that's in Birmingham, South Wales and Cardiff or Gloucester.

"But we are only different in our music and traditions and we want to get the English to get to know us and recognise our culture and that we are not to be hated."

The first event of its kind was held last year and was a huge success in attracting more than 300 people, said organiser Jan Lendel.

Bands from Yorkshire arrived to play a range of traditional songs with a modern twist using keyboards, guitars and saxophones, instead of violins and kotos, a Japanese string instrument. A handful of girls in traditional bright long dresses also performed dance routines.

Roma people have a long history of living in Europe with a presence recorded from the 13th century, but actually originate in northern India. They are recognised as one of the EU's largest minority groups with more than 10million Roma living in Europe.

The most significant populations are to be found in the central and eastern European states of Bulgaria, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Slovakia, Romania, Serbia and Hungary.

But many Roma people across the continent have moved from caravans and a nomadic way of life to settled accommodation.

Martin Kessel said: "We are trying to connect the English with the Czech and Slovakians as people do not really know too much about us – we would like to bring the communities closer together, so in the future there will be no fighting, no arguing.

"In the press you read 'gypsy scum' and that we all claim benefits, which is not true, we like each other and we do not do the dodgy things people accuse us of. But I don't really think about it.

"In some ways, our cultures are very similar as everybody enjoys dancing, singing, so there is not much difference, apart from the language."

Photographs taken inside the house in Cheltenham where the Banksy was painted seem to show that someone tried to remove the artwork brick-by-brick from within.

The Spybooth artwork has been at the centre of a bidding war since it appeared on the outer wall of an end-of-terrace house in Fairview in April.

It has been boarded up to prevent vandalism and theft – but it is now believed someone has tried to remove it brick-by-brick from the inside.

This comes as there are fears the artwork could be removed this Bank Holiday weekend.

Local businessman Hekmat Kaveh, who has agreed a six-figure sum to buy the artwork, was stunned to find bricks and the chimney breast removed when he visited the property.

He said: "It was a real surprise. When we realised the damage had been done we arranged to go in with the owner.

"There was a lot of damage. Brick work has been taken out all over the place. There is nothing wrong with the overall structure though. The council are involved to see if a crime has been committed because it's a Grade II listed building. I have written to the council for their view. Structurally, they don't see it as a big issue."

Spybooth features three 1950s-style spies eavesdropping on a phonebox on the side of the £300,000 end-of-terrace property near the Government's GCHQ spy base.

It appeared in April but soared in value when Banksy confirmed it was one of his pieces.

The wall was boarded up by the owner and a bidding war ensued as locals tried to raise an estimated £1 million to secure it for the town.

Eventually Mr Kaveh agreed a deal with the owner of the property, which is rented out but currently empty.

The image has been vandalised from the outside, with graffiti and holes drilled in the wall.

But the internal damage is a mystery as there were no signs of forced entry.

Although happy to continue with the deal, Mr Kaveh said he will need several assurances from the council and may offer less money if he has to complete restoration work on the inside.

"Part of my condition [of buying it] was that the council agree a form of protection on it – some form of bullet proof glass to be put up," he explained.

"Obviously, the only point is for people to be able to enjoy it.

"I'm really hopeful that we can come up with a glass structure that can protect it. It's about something that looks good and brings tourism to the town. There have been a lot of ups and downs but I'm determined to keep at it, as long as it is not permanently damaged – I'm not looking to throw money away."

A Cheltenham Borough Council spokesperson said: "Officers from our enforcement team entered the property under a warrant of entry over a potential criminal offence under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Evidence is being gathered and investigations continue.."

A spokesperson for Gloucestershire police said: "A report of a burglary was received but the investigation has been completed.

"We keep an open mind as to the circumstances of the incident. As regards to any possible damage to a listed building, that is a council matter."

Gloucester City 0 Hednesford Town 0

ATTRITIONAL and scrappy, Gloucester City and Hednesford Town played out a scoreless draw on a battling afternoon at Whaddon Road. The visitors had a goal disallowed midway through the second half as Francino Francis' header was chalked off due to a well worked offside trap, and Glenn Walker hit the woodwork in the opening minutes with a bamboozling cross.

Mike Green was forced into a sublime save denying Marvin Robinson as Adam Mann proved a nuisance for the Tigers, making Dan Crane scoop away a piledriver shot from outside the area.

Charlie Griffin also had a sniff at goal but couldn't latch onto Mann's deflected ball into the area as neither side could break the deadlock.

The first half failed to burst into life with plenty of injury stoppages preventing any real momentum for either side, but Hednesford began the better as a cross-cum-shot from Glenn Walker struck the woodwork after two minutes.

Matt Groves attempted to put the Tigers ahead but a lofty effort went over the bar.

City were exposed at the back after a mistake by Mark Preece allowed Marvin Robinson in behind the defence, but his one-on-one effort was tame and Green collected easily.

Mann fizzed a shot into the box after a neat training ground free-kick move opened space for the Tigers forward before Glover lifted a free header at the back post onto the top of the net as neither side could get a stranglehold on the contest.

City's best opportunity of the half came from the boot of Mann who saw an effort pinball around the area only to just allude Griffin.

The Pitmen were forced into two injury substitutions in the first half hour as Kris Taylor and Walker had short afternoons in Cheltenham.

Walker's replacement Tom Peers almost made an immediate impact but a last-ditch challenge from

City captain Billy Jones saved the day.

Just before the half-time break, an excellent breakaway move found Griffin who could only blast an effort into Crane. Hednesford could have easily taken the lead on the hour mark, but a show-stopping save from Green tipped Robinson's header away before Peers shot wide.

The Tigers hit back through Mann who swivelled and blasted an effort low that Crane saved with an unorthodox scoop away.

The contest started to open up more as Jamie Ashmore played a teasing ball into the area that evaded two of his fellow Pitmen.

The visitors were left to rue the linesman's flag with a quarter of an hour remaining as Francis headed home but, along with three more Hednesford players, were played into an offside position. The game petered out into a stalemate, but Griffin had a late effort for Gloucester before a wild volley from Glover sliced wide as the contest ended scoreless.

GLOUCESTER CITY: M Green, S Avery, B Jones, M Preece, M Williams, A Connolly, M Richards (E Chamberlain 83), C Jones (M Green 56), C Griffin, A Mann (T Webb 80), M Groves. Subs not used: S Hamilton, S Wilson.

HEDNESFORD TOWN: D Crane, A Melbourne, D Campion, P McCone, F Francis, K Taylor (J Ashmore 29), J Osborne, T Thorley, D Glover, M Robinson (D Dell 69), G Walker (T

Peers 21). Subs not used: B Bailey, R Price.

ATTENDANCE: 482.