Newspaper Article -Research

1. Evening post (Local)

A restaurant and takeaway boss is back in business after a remarkable effort by his loyal customers to make sure they can still get their favourite Chinese food.
Henry Wong's restaurant in Yate had to close down two months ago when he hit financial problems.
But he and his family are so popular that his regulars got together and put up the money so he could carry on in new premises just up the road in Chipping Sodbury. The whip-round brought in £20,000 while many other customers, who didn't have any spare cash but still wanted to do their bit, donated their skills to get the restaurant up and running.
An army of volunteers turned out to do painting and decorating, sort out electrics, stock the kitchen and get the tables ready for the first customers.
Now Henry's Oriental is up and running above the George in Chipping Sodbury's Broad Street, where a party was held to thank everyone involved and wish Henry, his wife Jane, daughter Natalie, 18, and 10-year-old son Harrington the best of luck in his new venture.
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An overwhelmed Henry, 40, said: "It's just incredible. I can't believe this has all happened. But when you live in a small community, it's like one big family.
"I've lived in Yate for a long time and my customers are my friends.
"We are very consistent with our food and try to maintain a good standard, which I think is why people like it.
"I hope we will do well in Chipping Sodbury. It certainly looks like we are going to be busy."
The customers who stepped forward to help Henry – his name is Hareton but he's always been known as Henry – have formed a limited company called Dragon Phoenix Catering, with Yate businessman Jeremy Milner and Jane Wong as directors.
Jeremy, who runs Camb Machine Knives International, said: "A couple of months ago I got a text from Henry saying he had to close down the restaurant in Cranleigh Court Road and apologising to his customers.
"Within 24 hours I must have had up to 20 calls from people saying 'We can't let this happen'.
"Despite the economic climate, they were asking how much it would cost to set him up again and a number of people decided to contribute.
"We just wanted to get him back on track. He and his family have no relatives in the UK and he's one of the nicest guys I've ever met. We just couldn't let him leave.
"And anyway my wife, Chris, won't cook for me so I have to get a takeaway four times a week."
Mike Harrington, who runs the George, was keen to let Henry have what used to be a restaurant above the bar and in just seven days, everyone went in to get it ready.
Those who put in cash were prepared to do so without earning any profit but once the business is established, will hand it back to Henry and get their investment back. In the meantime he is employed as manager and will continue to run the restaurant. An outside catering service will also be established.
Henry has four kitchen staff and five waiting staff, including students working part time, and their jobs have also been secured.
Henry said: "I've been in Yate since 1992 and ran the restaurant in Cranleigh Court for 12 years.
"When my friends asked why I hadn't asked for help, I said times were difficult for a lot of people. The next thing I knew, they had come back with the idea of setting up the company."
More than a dozen people made financial contributions, with another 10 or 15 helping in kind.
Yate town councillor Sue Walker said: "Henry is so kind, visiting people when they are in hospital and getting involved in the community.
"We shall miss him not being in Yate but he's not far away and we can still pop up to Chipping Sodbury to support him."



2. The Portishead Mercury (Local)
FIRST he switched on Portishead's Christmas lights – now sales assistant Nigel Parker has become a recording star.
Nigel, who works as a sales assistant at Homebase, was joined by a crowd of fans outside the store to record the fun charity single Oh I Wish I Could See Nigel Everyday.
Residents said the 21-year-old, who has worked at the store for two years, deserved recognition because of his consistently happy and pleasant attitude at the tills.
More than 1,200 people joined the campaign and last month Nigel flicked the switch in front of a 3,000-strong crowd.
Bosses at the hit rock 'n' roll show That'll Be The Day struck on the idea of making the charity record after hearing about Nigel's meteoric rise to stardom.
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The lyrics to the song – to the tune Oh I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday which was originally recorded by Wizzard – have been changed for the Nigel song by show creator Trevor Payne.
The main verses of the song were recorded by members of the That'll Be The Day cast and on Saturday, dozens of people joined them outside Homebase to record the chorus of the song and be filmed for the video to go with it.
Portishead Town Band also performed and Nigel was recorded talking to staff at the store checkouts and his voice will be dubbed on to the track at certain intervals.
Initially the song and video will go on YouTube, but if demand is high enough, it will be put on to a CD and sold around the town with all the cash raised going to the British Heart Foundation.
Nigel was filmed as part of the video being hugged and kissed by his legion of fans and sang along with the crowds.
He said: "I was thrilled to be asked to do the record – it's something I have never done before and it's all very exciting."
Nigel fans – some wearing their "I Love Nigel" T-shirts – said they were delighted to get involved with the charity single.
Gill and Steve Hall, from Pill, said: "It's great that he is being recognised in this way."
George Long, 22, who set up the Facebook campaign, said it only started as a bit of fun. He said: "I have known Nigel for about six months and he has become a good friend."