From sporting highs and lows to big news events, Gloucestershire has seen it all in 2003. Peace campaigners protested at RAF Fairford as B52 bombers took off to bomb Baghdad in March. And in November Gloucester became the focus of international attention with high profile arrest of a 24-year-old local man under the Terrorism Act. The Queen visited Gloucester in April for the ancient ceremony of the Royal Maundy.  | | BBC Gloucestershire auctioned the prizes when the cheeserolling was cancelled |
And May saw the county's madcap cheeserolling races at Cooper's Hill cancelled - all because of an earthquake in North Africa! The traditional giant Double Gloucester cheeses used in the races were instead auctioned for charity on BBC Radio Gloucestershire. Still on a food theme, BBC Gloucestershire's resident chef Robert Rees had an Indian adventure when he visited the sub-continent to promote West Country produce. In October the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey was installed as the University of Gloucestershire's first Chancellor. And November saw Elizabeth Hurley adding a touch of film star glamour to the switching-on of Cirencester's Christmas lights. Click on the link below for our picture gallery of the year It was a year of real ups and downs on the sporting scene. For Cheltenham Town fans there was nailbiting then despair as they made the play-offs but were relegated to Division Three on the last day of the season. And it was a year the Robins had three managers - Graham Allner was sacked in January, Bobby Gould quit in October after a home defeat by Rochdale to be replaced by John Ward.  | Santa was the envy of many when he got to kiss Elizabeth Hurley she switched on Cirencester's Christmas lights |
It was a happier story for the Cherry and Whites when they won the Powergen Cup Final in April - but after a fantastic season Gloucester failed to make it a Twickenham victory double when they lost the Zurich Premiership final to Wasps. The Gold Cup in March was won by Best Mate for the second year running - and Gloucestershire CCC beat Worcestershire to lift the C&G Trophy in August. And World Cup rugby fever took Gloucestershire by storm as Phil Vickery, Trevor Woodman and Andy Gomarsall played their part in England's unforgettable victory over Australia on November 22. So it made a fitting end when the trio were all awarded the MBE with the rest of their team-mates in the New Year honours - and Gloucestershire player-coach Mark Alleyne also received the MBE for his services to cricket. Click on the link below for our picture gallery of the year 
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2003 has been an unforgettable year in Gloucestershire in all sorts of ways. 
