It has now been six months since 23-year-old Bristol student Jack O’Sullivan disappeared after a night out on March 2, leaving his family and community still searching for answers. Despite exhaustive efforts, his whereabouts remain unknown. On the six-month anniversary of his disappearance, ITV West Country reported that the investigation remains unresolved, with Jack’s family expressing frustration, accusing the police of not doing enough to uncover the truth.
In other news, nine-year-old Harry Studley from Bristol, who survived a point-blank shooting as a toddler, is raising funds for the Grand Appeal by walking 5 kilometers (3.1 miles). Harry, who was just 18 months old when he sustained serious head injuries from an air rifle in July 2016 at his Hartcliffe home, is now taking on what his father called a “huge challenge” to support the charity. ITV West Country shared this inspiring story.
Bristol City Centre is set for a significant transformation, causing a buzz among locals. Alex Seabrook of the Bristol Post reported on plans to remove the city’s fountains and trees to make way for more space for cyclists, pedestrians, and market vendors.
This week also saw Her Majesty Queen Camilla visit Somerset to officially open the Dyson Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospitals in Bath. Somerset Live’s Annette Belcher captured the event, sharing images of Queen Camilla meeting patients and engaging with the local community.
In a local government update, Tewkesbury Borough Council has voted to change its name to North Gloucestershire Borough Council, effective from December. According to Jack Chown of SoGlos, the move aims to more accurately reflect all the towns and parishes it serves and raise its regional profile.
A heartwarming story from John Baker at the Swindon Advertiser shared how a village on Salisbury Plain rallied to raise £400,000 to save their local pub. The King’s Head in Chitterne, which had been closed for four years, will now be revived as a community hub, thanks to local efforts.
Finally, in sad news from Longleat Safari Park, a beloved 28-year-old tapir named Jessie has passed away. According to the Wiltshire Times’ Sarah Dalton, Jessie, who had lived at Longleat since 1997, was part of an international breeding program and leaves behind four generations of descendants across European zoos.