Bledington is unique in the Cotswold in having a silver jubilee memorial seat made by its own village blacksmith 31 years ago.

Mr Roland Bolter made the seat in his forge and gave it to the village. It has been described as a labour of love.

He has lived in the village all his life. His grandfather kept the pub and his father was a carpenter, wheelwright and undertaker. Mr Bolter is now mainly involved with repairing farm machinery. He had never made a seat before, let alone one including a jubilee inscription.

“I hope that being made of metal it will last”, he said. (Picture from our 1979 files).