Simon Griffiths, who had previously been involved with the Marlow Talking News, moved to Cirencester.  He established what was initially known as Corinium Talking News (CTN) in 1987, covering Cirencester and surrounding towns and villages.

Simon was keen to establish something similar to the Marlow TN and he pulled together a group of people to initiate the scheme. By May 1988, the group of volunteers and newly appointed Trustees had gathered financial support from the Cirencester Round Table, the Bingham Trust, ITV’s Telethon and an appeal on local radio. Money raised bought the initial equipment required and on 9th August the same year, Corinium Talking News gained charitable status. The charity was and is entirely dependent on funding from donors, grants and fundraising events.

In March 2025, CTN’s Board of Trustees resigned with management of CTN was taken up by The Cotswold Listener in Cheltenham. However, following the appointment of a new Chair and Trustees at the start of 2026, a new charity has been established and is now called Cirencester & District Talking News.

The recordings are sent out every week (other than between Christmas and New Year). One week Listeners will receive the news recording, the second week a magazine recording. Both are of a similar 60 minutes length.

Recordings are sent out on a CD using the free-post ‘Articles for the Blind’ equivalent to first-class post. Listeners can also enjoy recordings through this website via the TNF Web Player (ADD LINK) and via Alexa Smart Speaker. Recordings are also transmitted on the Cirencester Community Radio and on the Cirencester Hospital Radio on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon to patients staying in the Cirencester Hospital.

The Cirencester & District Talking News use articles from Wilts & Glos Standard, the Cotswold Journal, Punchline Gloucester, BBC News and various local community publications and websites promoting events in the area.

Established in 1987, Corinium Talking News was deregistered as a charity in 2025 and Cirencester & District Talking News was registered in 2026. The charity is funded by donations and run entirely by Volunteers, led by a group of Trustees and an Admin Team. You can meet our Volunteers HERE

Click HERE to find out other ways you can support Cirencester & District Talking News.

Contact

You can email us at: mail@cirencestertn.org

You can call us on: INSERT TELEPHONE NUMBER

Our registered office address is: Cirencester & District Talking News, The Old Department Store, 29-35 Market Place, Cirencester GL7 2NX

You  can follow up on Facebook at: INSERT FACEBOOK LINK