Bath Voice November 2023

bathvoice November 2023 No. 45

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Mind how you grow brings its own rewards Bath in Bloom committee members had lunch at Bath Mind Green links allotment at Monksdale Road last month. They presented the group with the RHS “ Its your neighbourhood “ Outstanding certificate and the Bath in Bloom trophy for The best Horticultural Achievement by a community group. Details at https://www.bathmind.org.uk/

Social care ‘back in house’ plan

No1 Royal Crescent By John Wimperis, Local Reviewed plus news Democracy Reporter: The Bath and North East Somerset is facing a Page 19 “three-fold” challenge as its aims to bring adult social care in house.

Sports News As the council prepares to take over the running itself of services Pages 20 currently contracted to the HCRG

care group, it faces challenges over finance, workforce culture, and the sheer number of staff transferring to the council, a council scrutiny panel has been told. Approximately 240 people will be transferred to the council under the plans.

The upcoming transfer of services

was a main theme throughout a meeting of the council’s scrutiny panel on children, adults, health and wellbeing on October 9.

Clare Thorogood, the council’s assistant director of strategy transformation and governance, Continued on page 3

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MPs Wera Hobhouse MP - Bath 26 Charles Street, Bath, BA1 1HU 01225 307024 office@werahobhouse.co.uk Jacob Rees-Mogg - NE Somerset House of Commons Westminster London SW1A 0AA jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk BANES Councillors Oldfield Park: Ian Halsall 07575 922200 ian_halsall@bathnes.gov.uk Widcombe & Lyncombe: Alison Born 01225 319188 Alison_born@bathnes.gov.uk Deborah Joan Collins Deborah_Collins@bathnes.gov.uk 01225 395954 Moorlands: Jess David 07977 500804 Jess_david@bathnes.gov.uk Southdown: Paul Crossley 07718 632959 paul_crossley@bathnes.gov.uk

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USEFUL NUMBERS Bath & North East Somerset Council Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW Bath One Stop Shop 3-4 Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JQ Council Connect 01225 39 40 41 Email: council_connect@bathnes. gov.uk Bath & North East Somerset Citizens Advice Bureau 2 Edgar Buildings, George Street, Bath, BA1 2EE 0344 848 7919 NHS Urgent: 111 / Emergency: 999

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n NEWS

Continued from page 1

told the meeting: “It will be about making sure that workforce is transferred safely but also about recognising there will also be a period of cultural readjustment for a workforce that has actually been with another provider for seven years, in line with the future ambition of adult social care and how we want to move and the way we deliver our services in the future.

“So for me the challenges are two-fold — three-fold if you add in the finance challenge.”

She added: “At the point of transfer, on the first of April 2024, our work is not done; in many ways our work is just beginning to make sure we are delivering the services in the way that we want to as [Bath and North East Somerset Council] and doing it within the financial budget and doing it effectively.”

The decision not to renew the contract with HCRG and to bring the adult social care services in house was taken at a council cabinet meeting in November 2022. But the contract with HCRG care group was extended by another year into 2025. Laura Ambler, director of place for Bath and North East Somerset on the area’s integrated care board, said it allowed them to “maintain

the current service safely” and work with the group on the transformation plans.

The council is working with the HCRG care group and trade unions on their plans, as well as holding regular briefings for the staff transferring over. When staff are transferred to the council they will keep their current pay and conditions. Services will be reviewed once they have transferred to the council.

Ms Thorogood said: “There’s a huge amount of work underway to ensure the transfer runs as smoothly as it can.”

She added: “Thank goodness we have two recent transfers to learn lessons from.”

But previous recent transfers of care homes to the council have led the authority to be mired in scandal. Last year, Charlton House care home — which was transferred to the council in 2020 after Sirona announced it was handing back the contract — was the subject of a damning Care Quality Commission inspection.

It found that one resident was left sitting in urine overnight while records another had not eaten or drunk anything for two days.

The council apologised for the conditions in the now council-run care home, with council cabinet

Clare Thorogood, the council’s assistant director of strategy for Bath and North East Somerset

member for adult services Alison Born telling a council scrutiny panel on January 17: “We are extremely sorry that we have let people down and have not provided the consistently high quality of care that residents and their families expect and deserve.”

A report on staffing levels which went before the recent scrutiny panel on October 9 warned that staffing levels were behind the issues. It stated: “On transfer, with an already depleted and exhausted workforce, the in-house services relied heavily on agency staff to ensure safe levels of staffing.

“This agency usage severely impacted both budget and quality of service, and has been a significant factor in two care homes rated by CQC as “requires improvement” and one “inadequate” in October 2022 (this has subsequently been

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.co.uk General inquiries: 101 Emergency 999 Fire www.avonfire.co.uk Inquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999 Anti-social behaviour team asb@bathnes.gov.uk 01225 842462 Well Aware Health and social care information www.wellaware.org.uk (Freephone) 0808 808 5252

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Further details of the complaints process can be found on our website or can be obtained by contacting the Editor by email: news@bathvoice.co.uk or by post: 1 Camerton Close, Saltford, Bristol, BS31 3BT or by phone: 07402 441485 All stories and pictures are © Bath Voice (unless otherwise stated) and may not be reproduced without permission.

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rating improved to [“requires improvement”]). New approaches in the last year have started to make an impact on this and overall use of agency staff has reduced, however staying on-top of recruitment and retention remains an on-going challenge.”

• Harry Mottram adds this: Adult social care and health covers a huge range of services from helping those with challenges to live independently, to providing care homes, support for carers, help for mental health and creating activities for older people - the list is endless is some ways - and will continue to grow as the population ages and the cost is a substantial chunk of local authority spending.

HCRGbegan life in 2006 as Assura Medical working with GPs in Surrey and Devon.

In 2012 they gained a contract to provide community services in Surrey and won a contract with BANES in 2017 to provide social care.

In 2021 Assura became part of the HCRG Group (formerly Virgin Care) a private equity group with contracts across the UK worth an estimated £2bn, established to not only provide health and care services but to make a profit for its shareholders.

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n NEWS

Widcombe Deli: One of Widcombe’s most popular shops is set to close this month after the lease for the Widcombe Deli ends on the 1st December. The landlords have decided not to renew the lease on the Widcombe Parade business after eight years.

The owners Jon and Nicky Ison said they are devastated by the decision. The landlords have been unmoved by letters of support from customers, the Widcombe Association and pleas from local the councillor Alison Born.

Bath Voice approached the landlords for a comment.

Widcombe Market: The 2023 Christmas Market is being held on 11 and 12 November in the Widcombe Social Club, The Natural Theatre and St. Matthews Church.

The stalls are all fully booked so there will be a range of artwork and crafts on display. On Saturday 11 November, the Market will open at 10.30am and close at 5pm. On Sunday the Market will open at 10.30am and close at 4pm.

Police appeal: The unsolved murder of 25-year-old Melanie Hall was featured in a TV documentary last month in which it was hoped

following a night out with friends.

Her remains were found next to the northbound slip road of the M5 at junction 14 (Thornbury) by a workman in 2009.

Supt James Riccio, who is leading the investigation into Melanie’s murder, said he hoped the new documentary would trigger memories and prick consciences, encouraging those with information to contact the police. Contact the Police by phoning 101 with any information.

Moorland Road Library: On

Tuesday, November 7th, at 7pm, there’s a talk by the writer Douglas Westcott at Moorland Road Library.

His novel Go Swift and Far is set in Bath, and to quote the publicity: “Born in the wartime German raids on Bath in the Spring of 1942, an orphan boy, alone and destitute, is determined to survive. The city is immersed in a cycle of greed, abuse of privilege, corruption and demolition as it struggles out of post-war gloom and austerity.

Demolish and rebuild or preserve and protect at all costs? The boy, now a man, is bent on success and wealth...”

Well it sounds a good read so you can learn more at the free event - you can book a ticket online at Eventbrite and search for An Evening with Douglas Westcott.

Barcelona mystery: The mystery of the disappearance of Levi Davis may never be solved as no body has been discovered after it was believed he fell into the sea in Barcelona. Police in Spain have ruled to end the investigation into the former Bath rugby player who was last seen on October 29, 2022, in the Catalonian city after leaving the Old Irish Pub near the Rambla.

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n NEWS There was a excellent production at The Mission Theatre of West Side Story by the Next Stage Youth Theatre Company’s first full musical in September - this is one of the publicity shots at the time

new evidence would emerge after her disappearance in 1996.

The documentary, which featured interviews with Melanie’s father Steve and sister Dominique, as well as Senior Investigating Officer Supt James Riccio, was on Channel 5 in September.

The last confirmed sighting of Melanie, who was as a clerical worker at the RUH, was at 1.10am on Sunday 9 June,1996, sitting on a stool at the edge of the dancefloor in Cadillacs nightclub (now Walcot House) in Walcot Street, Bath,

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Bear Flat: Bear Flat Artists are holding a Christmas Art Fair and Market to showcase their work on Saturday 2nd December at the Methodist Church Hall, Bear Flat, Bath.

The event features work by local artists and makers, and gives locals a chance to buy original art and hand-made gifts.

Following the success of their annual Open Studios in May, this event brings together an array of work from across all artforms including ceramics, sculpture, painting, jewellery, photography, printmaking, glass, illustration, cards, festive tree decorations and more. And it is an opportunity to meet the makers and find out about the different processes involved in the free event that runs from 10am to 5pm.

Yvonne Elston, of Bear Flat Artists, said: “This is a lovely festive art market where you can buy unique gifts direct from local artists.

We’ve a range of hand-crafted gifts and affordable art, including jewellery, ceramics, sculpture, prints, cards, and much more, so why not come and buy something special – and support Bath’s creative community at the same time.”

For more details visit www. bearflatartists.co.uk Musicians: The winner of 2023 Bath Young Musician of the Year Dorothy Hodge raised the roof with her terrific performance on the Alto Sax. She was praised for her ‘virtuosity’ and ‘phenomenal stage presence.’

(Pictured with the Mayor of Bath Cllr Dine Romero.)

Bath Young Musician of the Year 2023 took place on Wednesday October 11 in the Pump Room, Bath.

This event featured a group of highly talented young local musicians

and an evening of outstanding performances. It is a much anticipated part of Bath’s musical scene and the Mid-Somerset Festival takes great pride in knowing that many competitors over the years have gone on to enjoy successful musical careers.

The five young performers who took part were: Alexander Bichard – violin, Dorothy Hodge – alto saxophone, Rebecca O’Shea – viola, Indira Pandit – ‘cello, Amelia Wise – clarinet. Last year’s winner, Ruben Ridyard returned to play the piano while the adjudicators made their decision.

Victorians: A Roman city, a Georgian city, even a Medieval city, but Victorian? Well actually yes, as the 19th century transformed the city into a busy industrial metropolis doubling in size with the opening of the Great Western Railway linking London to Bristol.

The reign of Queen Victoria running from 1836 to 1900 saw Britain as a whole experience the creation of a global Empire

but also new buildings and new innovations as the nation modernised.

In Bath those changes have been recognised by the Victorian Society who held their Annual General Meeting in the city from September 6-8, 2023. The event included guided walks to the Municipal Offices and Technical School (1897), the Victoria Art Gallery (1900), Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s railway station and viaduct (1840, 1841), George Alexander’s Italianate Bath Savings Bank (1841), Charles Hansom’s St John the Evangelist RC church (1863); Goodridge’s cast-iron Cleveland Bridge (1827) and included a range of work by visiting architects George Edmund Street, Arthur Blomfield and his nephew Reginald Blomfield, as well as by Bath architects.

Following the AGM, the Mayor and Victorian Society members moved to John McKean Brydon’s former Pump Room Ballroom (1897) for a lecture by Dr Michael

Saturday 25 November 10 am-4:30 pm

Bruton Community Hall

Bruton Avenue, Bear Flat, Bath BA2 4QJ Lovely food gifts for Christmas and stalls selling the work of talented local artists and craftspeople

Refreshments served all day Contact us on market@bearflat.org.uk

Got a story for Bath Voice? Email Harry on news@bathvoice.co.uk

Forsyth and Professor Marion Harney, authors of the Pevsner Architectural Guide to Bath, there followed a dinner amidst the landmark Victorian architecture and décor.

Bridge News: A temporary 18-tonne weight limit in place at Cleveland Bridge in Bath will be extended for another year as the council continues to monitor the historic structure.

The 18-tonne weight limit has been in place on the Grade II listed bridge for 12 months following a recommendation for a staged approach to reopening.

When the bridge reopened to traffic, engineers installed a monitoring system which detects changes to the characteristic ‘fingerprint’ response of the structure and provides ongoing confidence that the bridge remains safe. The temporary weight limit, which would have expired on 15 November, has been extended for up to 12 months through a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order so monitoring can continue.

New restaurant: A seafood cafe and bar is set to open in the centre of Bath after getting permission to install an al fresco dining area outside.

Roger Payne, who also runs Japanese restaurant Robun and pub the Griffin in the city, said the restaurant will have tables and chairs on the pavement.

There were objections to the plans but after a three hour meeting councillors approved of the plans.

Flute is just a few doors down from Mr Payne’s Robun restaurant, located opposite the former Loch Fyne fish restaurant which closed in 2020.

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n REVIEWS

A replica of one of William’s telescopes - the one in Slough was of 20th century proportions - er... huge

Herschel Museum of Astronomy: I have a school friend who was ‘into astonomy’ which as a result led a small band of school boys to take an interest in the heavens.

He went on to become a meterologist whilst we sated our interest in watching films like 2001 A Space Odessey and ogling Jane Fonda in Barbarella. What a waste.

Certainly brother and sister William and Caroline Herschel didn’t waste their youth.

The musicians moved from Germany to Bath in search of work - William knocking out and performing compositions and Caroline accompanying him as a singer. They were top draw in Bath.

In the 1770s the siblings took an

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interest in astronomy - which is an understatement.

William built huge telescopes and charted his findings with diminuative Caroline also a keen observer - and she became Britain’s first female professional scientist.

Their home in Bath in New King Street is owned and operated as a living museum by the Bath Preservation Trust who also run No1 Royal Crescent - and a lovely job they’ve made of it.

I popped in briefly one wet autumn day and stood in the very spot that William discovered the planet Uranus in the neat little back garden designed to be typical of the time with its cypress trees, quinces, herbs and medicinal and culinary plants of 1794.

It seems such a cosy domestic setting to in effect double the known size of the solar system in 1781 - and that domesticity continues with the music room when the musicians could rehearse (and teach students) while itching to get on with polishing lens’ and inventing new and larger reflector telescopes .

Herchel’s workshop includes the tools and implements that a

This charming 1896 lithograph (from Wikipedia) depicts the brother and sister at work - note the fabulous clothes - no white lab coats in Georgian Bath

Georgian inventor requires with its clutter of strange items including the moulds made of horse poo and plaster in which William and his brother Alexander (who lived for a time with the two siblings) poured molten metal.

So much invention in such a tiny space - while the rest of Bath

society were far too busy to expand the universe and the frontiers of science and instead flopped into sedan chairs and demanded servants fetch them more gin.

I was intrigued by the sibling bust up between brother and sister.

All had been well between them for years until William married Mary Pitt in 1788 - a life changing event as it put Caroline’s nose out of joint.

However her chagrin at her brother’s matrimony eased after the birth of Mary’s son John - and Caroline became the doting aunt.

What becomes clear is that although the house was their home, they lived much of the time in Slough. When William died (his real name was Wilhelm which he wisely changed while in England) - don’t forget they were from Hanover Caroline was devastated and moved back to Germany.

There is so much in 19 New King Street - you can return on another day to explore more as the ticket allows this - and a double ticket for £22 gives access to No 1 Royal Crescent - while under 18s go free so for a family it’s a fairly economic half a day out.

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November 2023

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n NEWS

Neil McDermott plays the prince

Sleeping Beauty News: Ihe first question, writes Harry Mottram, that should be asked of any would-besuitor of sleeping maidens is: ‘is it OK to kiss them?’

“Consent is the word these days,” said Neil McDermott who is playing Prince Vincent in Sleeping Beauty at the Theatre Royal Bath this season, “It’s a very 21st century conundrum for princes - but we’re not in 15th century France thankfully!”

The French folk tale originally called La Belle au bois dormant is this year’s pantomime - and as you might imagine it is given the traditional panto treatment with

song and dance, slapstick, pathos, romance, high comedy and of course good triumphing over evil.

Neil is perhaps best known as bad boy and jailbird Ryan Malloy in Eastenders so it’s a transformation from filming short scenes in a soap opera to a full on run treading the boards as folk hero royalty. How does he cope?

“It’s two shows a day, six days a week, so getting your sleep is essential,” he said, “You need to stay healthy by eating all the right foods like fruit and veg. We’ve just had a new baby so I’m essentially coming to Bath to have a sleep and a rest!”

Princess Rose pricks her finger on a spindell when tricked by a wicked witch and falls asleep - and can only be awoken by her true love.

“I was in Bath earlier this year in Home, I’m Darling, which was great, the audience reaction was fantastic and Bath is a great theatre going city.”

As a boy Neil was more into sport and played football for Chelsea’s youth team as a teenager but also enjoyed school plays and to his father’s surprise instead of the football league he joined the National Youth Music School and

after three years graduated as a professional actor.

“My dad took a lot of convincing but now bless them my parents come to see me when I’m in the theatre all round the country,” he said.

Born in Southport Neil now lives in London and is married to actress Michelle Edwards and they have three children.

In complete contrast to the dashing prince is Lester the Jester played by Jon Monie - who has been a fixture for the pantomime season in Bath for some years - typecast as the loverable fool.

“At school I wasn’t either a nerd or in with the cool crowd but in the middle as I made people laugh,” he said, “I was the one who impersonated the teachers but I wasn’t sporty or academic but I liked being in school productions.”

It was his English teacher at Bath’s King Edwards School that saw talent in the young jester and encouraged him to taking acting seriously. This led him to study drama at Goldsmiths University following which he ‘fell into’ television presenting and eventually the pantomimes with the late Chris Harris.

n FEATURE

Jon Monie is Lester The Jester in the panto

When children are asked to step up onto the stage during the pantomime Jon’s improvisional skills are required especially when the children come up with a line that could leave a seasoned actor speechless.

“I usually have one or two stock answers up my sleeve,” he said, “ as you never know what they’ll say. Some children are dumbstruck what with the footlights while there’s always one that will come out with something unexpected when I ask them what they want for Christmas.”

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By Harry Mottram: In the past readers of other publications I’ve written for have complained about Black History Month being covered.

Why not a white history month they would say – without realising that white history is covered 12 months of the year. Since those early days back in the late 1980s and early 1990s of the initiative to bring one of history’s forgotten stories to life attitudes have changed. Now in Bath at the RUH there is a new exhibition celebrating the Windrush generation and contributions they made to the National Health Service.

The Bath Windrush: Past, Present and Future exhibition was initially created for the 75th anniversary of HMT Windrush, the landmark voyage from the Caribbean, earlier this summer. It has been loaned to the RUH by the Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association (BEMSCA) at Fairfield House for the whole of October, where it has been displayed by the hospital’s art programme Art at the Heart of the RUH in a ground floor corridor near the main atrium.

The fabric panels celebrate the contribution of the Windrush generation and their descendants, while highlighting some of the challenges faced too.

n SPORTS NEWS

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Bath Rugby Club: The blue black and whites won three out of four Gallagher Premiership matchs in October.

On October 7 they ran out 34-14 winners at home over Exeter, then another win at the Rec against Newcasle on the 14th by 34-26 and a win on the road over Saracens on the 21st by 16-25.

The last game of the month saw a home defeat by just one point to Leicester in a very tight match with the final score or 24-25.

Jersey Reds: Championship titleholders Jersey Reds ceased trading in September despite having beaten Bath by 10-34 at the Rec in September.

Jersey Reds received £370,000 in Jersey Island Government grants in the summer to avoid insolvency but the insolvency leaves players, suppliers, lenders and season ticket holders out of pocket. Jersey Reds split from Jersey RFU in 2018 in a bid to reach the top flight of the rugby pyramid and turn professional. Jersey Rugby Football Rugby Club remain as an amateur club playing at county level.

The club joins London Irish, Worcester and Wasps in having gone bust.

Bath City FC: The Romans had a convincing win over Somerset

Deputy Chief Executive Libby Walters said: “We are thankful for the commitment and contribution that the Windrush generation has made to our community, and to their descendants too.

“It’s true to say that the NHS simply wouldn’t exist without the hard work and dedication of a diverse and talented workforce.

“We know there’s still work to do to ensure that every single person knows and feels that they matter at the RUH, and we are committed to making that a reality.”

Just two weeks after HMT Windrush docked in 1948 the NHS was born, and many of those arriving from the Caribbean helped to fill the 54,000 nursing vacancies across England. That generation, and those that have followed, have gone on to support the RUH and the wider NHS in a huge variety of roles including care, leadership and research.

The exhibition celebrates many local figures, including Beryl and developing services for young people – roles which saw Beryl Dixon who arrived in Britain from made an MBE in 2003.

Jamaica in 1959. Beryl trained as a Norma Sobers is another nurse nurse, and worked for the NHS in recognised in the exhibition for Bath for 29 years. Alongside this, her service to the NHS and people she held important community in the community. Norma came to roles including campaigning for England from Barbados in 1962 and better care for sickle cell disease

Known as the ‘Gaffer’ Jerry Gill has been Bath City’s manager for six years having previously had a lengthy playing career in the area with spells at Bath, Yeovil, Chetlenham and Forest Green Rovers amongst other clubs. Born in Clevedon in Somerset he played competitive football from the ageof 16 and scorred 9 goals for Bath in the 1990s during his time at Twerton Park.

rivals Taunton Town in a month of mixed fortunes.

They ran out winners by 3-0 against the Peacocks on October 24, but fell to a defeat in another game in the National League South against Worthing on October 28 by 2-0 away from home.

There was another away defeat in the league against Tonbridge by 2-3 on October 21, but a 1-1 draw on the road with Braintree on October 7.

Their road to Wembley ended in the FA cup on October 14 at Worthing in a 2-0 defeat.

November sees them face West Country rivals Torquay on the 4th, Weymouth 7th, and Frome on 28th.

For more on bath City FC visit https://www.bathcityfc.com/ Bristol Football: Both Rovers and City sacked their managers - or should we say let them go - last month.

The Bristol Rovers Football Club confirmed they relieved First Team Manager Joey Barton of his duties.

Rovers, known as The Gas or The Pirates, played in Bath’s Twerton Park Ground for 10 years from 1996 to 2006 when they hit financial

Got a story for Bath Voice? Email Harry on news@bathvoice.co.uk

her nursing career included time at the RUH. She devoted herself to supporting BEMSCA until she died earlier this year. The exhibition provides an insight into other aspects of local life too, such as the challenges Caribbean people faced in finding work and housing, and how Caribbean music, sport and leisure has influenced our culture today.

Ras Benji, BEMSCA Windrush Project Manager said: “We are so happy to see this exhibition on display at the RUH - an important landmark of Caribbean contributions in Bath.

“To explore more about the Windrush generation and also the history of Emperor Haile Selassie I and the Ethiopian Royal family in Bath, Fairfield House is open to visitors each Sunday during Black History Month, offering guided tours and Caribbean lunches.”

Visit www.fairfieldhousebath. co.uk for more information about visiting.

You can also hear more from people from the Windrush generation and their descendants in the short film created in July for the 75th anniversary: https://www.youtube.com/

skids. They now play at the former Bristol Rugby Memorial Ground off Muller Road in the city.

Bristol City also have departed company with their coach Nigel Pearson following defeat to rivals Cardiff away from home in the Championship.

Pearson had held the job for two and half years, while Joey Barton was fired after three years in the post.

Neither club are in danger of relegation at present with fans taking to social media to vent their frustration.

Larkhall Athletic: The Larks may have lost out to Bath City in the cup back in September but with a league win in October over Melksham on the 21st at home by 1-0 will have heartened supporters.

They also drew 2-2 away at Willand on the 14th in the league while in the FA Trophy beat Mousehall 2-0 away on the 7th but lost out to Horsham in the same competition on the 29th at home by 1-2.

Odd Down FC: A busy month for the Down - with four wins out of six games. A 5-0 home win over Bristol Telephones was a highlight, as was another home win over Keynsham on the 27th by 3-1.

More sport on page 20.

November 2023

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10

n PEOPLE

I snapped the mayor in her parlour complete with biscuits and tea set

By Harry Mottram: With tea served complete with biscuits and the Mayor of Bath Councillor Dine Romero dressed in casual clothes the period parlour in the Guildhall has something of a homely domestic tone to it on my visit.

It was a hestitating welcome from the city’s 796th civic leader - although as always I explain Bath Voice is not a red top tabloid

and I don’t stitch up people in an interview.

“Well I read something you wrote about me I was involved in,” she said, “and it was quite fair so you haven’t put my back up.”

Phew - I could feel the atmosphere warming. These interviews are very gentle in terms of reporting but obviously I’m always hoping that the subject

might in the relaxed mood may reveal something personal and hopefully newsworthy. Having explained Bath Voice also covers controversy and tragedy as well as soft soaping the city’s great and the good we had our opening as I mentioned the recent murders.

“Talking about the three recent fatalities,” she said, meaning the three murders this year in Bath, “with my scrutiny hat on we are setting up a task group to look at what more can be done.

“I am going to ask the violence reduction strategy put together with the police, the council and various other agencies as to what more could be done, is there something we can learn?

“The Youth Endowment Fund has done a lot of work on what works and what makes a difference because whenever there is one of these events [knife murders] people come up with their own pet threories as to what can be done.”

She explains the task group will also be looking at child sexual exploitation and the health of homeless people but she is keen for the public to come to the scrutiny meetings so they can see what is being done about such serious issues in the city.

Born in London and brought up in Tolworth, the young Dine while studying Latin at school visited Bath on a school trip and the memory stuck with her through to married life.

After school she worked in a number of clerical and admin jobs and while raising three children Dine successfully completed a BSc (Hons) in Natural Sciences with Biology, a BTEC in local governance, and then a Masters in Science both with the Open University.

The move to Bath came when she was pregnant with her first child after having lived for a time in Brighton sparked by that school girl memory.

She said she originally got involved

in local Government when she asked her local councillor for a grit bin for an icy road. Although she says she is not a political animal Dine first stood for election in 2013 for the Liberal Democrats in Southdown, and has been re-elected every four years since then. Dine’s eldest daughter, Dr Isobel Romero-Shaw, is the Mayoress.

“One of the great things about being the mayor,” she continued, “is you get out and meet lots of groups.

It’s all part of my theme, ‘the beating heart of the city’. I can act as a figure head giving them more publicity and encourage them to engage with agencies that can help “ The Mayoralty has a long and interesting history dating back centuries - more at https:// mayorofbath.co.uk/the-mayoralty/

Street walker: Meet Andrew Lawrence, author of an exhaustive and fascinating review of the city’s streets and paths, fittingly entitled, I Walked Every Street.’

We caught up at the View Point in Alexandra Park where he explainded how he came to Bath to help with the Bath Arts Workshop after the Arts Lab in Drury Lane in London closed.

The sound engineer now retired said he had always enjoyed walking and began to explore the city on foot ticking off the streets one by one. It was then he decided to chart his perambulations and recorded his thoughts in his book which is a comprehensive guide to the highways, byways and footpaths of Bath available in all good bookshops.

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November 2023

bathvoice

n PEOPLE

David Hassard of Read Easy Bath

By Harry Mottram: It is an uncomfortable fact that around 2.4 million adults in England cannot read at all or can barely read.

Read Easy, an organisation dedicated to teaching adults to read, was set up in 2010 by prison literacy tutor Ginny Williams-Ellisin in Dorset after she realised the high numbers of grown-ups couldn’t read basic English.

Since then Read Easy UK has set up over 90 reading groups around the country linked to the charity with one based in Bath that is helping approxiamtely 20 or so people in and around the city who

can’t read.

I met up with David Hassard of Read Easy Bath to find out more.

“If people can’t read they are generally unemployed, or have work with low wages and their prospects are very poor, so having free one to one tutoring is very important,” he said, “a lot of the people we teach have not been successful at school and don’t want to learn in a class room environment.

“A lot of people are very shy in coming forward, they don’t want to admit that they can’t read, so getting them across the starting line is the biggest challenge.

“So one to one is typically two half hour sessions a week, meeting in what I call public private places like the library and church halls, so there is somebody else within sight or sound for safe guarding purposes.”

The group have 20 reading coaches in Bath and have plans to include Radstock and Peasedown St John. He said Read Easy UK is effectively a franchise and they provide the insurance, procedures and adminstration.

“We work with other groups like Bath Welcomes Refugees and Bath College who refer readers. What happens is some people will apply

for a course or a job and don’t quite have the reading levels required,” he explained, “head teachers have referred readers to us with parents who can’t read. They must be English speakers and they must be 18 or over.”

With 20 reading coaches in the group there is always a need to recruit more, with training sessions but Read Easy Bath need volunteers to take on administration, publicity and management.

Originally from London David lives in Priston with his wife and works part-time as a surveyor and says he joined Read Easy as he simply wanted to help people now he had more time. No religious or political motive - but an urge to do something positive - which brings its own rewards. He said: “When you meet someone who cannot read and then two years later they can read and have got a job it’s very satisfying. We had two guys who came to us and now both can read and both have jobs as HGV drivers.”

On BBC TV earlier this year there was a documentary Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51, which helped to raise awareness of the issue.

For more about Read Easy Bath, to volunteer or to help in some way visit https://readeasy.org.uk/groups/bath/

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Got a story for Bath Voice? Email Harry on news@bathvoice.co.uk

11

Oldfield Park Councillor Ian Haskell

Meet Ian Haskell: It was a university course on town planning at UWE that brought Ian Haskell to Bath from Burnley. We met up for a brief chat - he’s the councillor for Oldfield Park having won the local election in May. Initially he worked in Swindon for the council but after a break due to Covid he got involved in local politics and stood for election for the Lib Dems. One of his tasks is to champion the continued use of Student Community Wardens who help to educate students into not trashing the streets and as a member of the Council’s Planning Committee he keeps tabs on the ever contentious HMOs - basically houses that are turned into flats.

He’d like to join Bath Rugby but with the planning application ongoing he sticks to supporting Burnley FC. Some notes: he has a narrow boat on the Grand Union Canal, is married to James and likes baking.

November 2023

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November 2023

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n NEWS Pollution News: Bath’s air quality has improved since the introduction of the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in 2021 to new report has confirmed.

The BBC’s Clara Bullock reported: “The government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) said that Bath’s air pollution levels had dropped to within legal limits, following the launch of the CAZ in 2021.

“The report confirms nitrogen dioxide concentrations had decreased by 22%. It said during 2021, there were no breaches of the annual mean nitrogen dioxide limit.”

It was feared at the time that drivers would use the outskirts of the city as rat runs to avoid the CAZ but it appears that concern has not come to pass.

One aspect of CAZ that has put a smile on the face of the Council’s bank manager is the extra £3.3m it raised last year from fines and fees Pay rise delayed: Plans to give Bath and North East Somerset councillors a £3,500 pay rise have been pushed back by a year because of the pandemic writes Stephen Sumner, local democracy reporter.

Despite the ongoing pressure on the council’s finances, an independent panel has recommended increasing the basic allowance from £7,993 to

£11,555 over five years.

Councillors said they did not stand for election to get an extra income but the current sum – £6,300 less than in Bristol – puts off people who work full time or have caring responsibilities.

The independent panel recommended increasing the basic allowance to £8,951 in 2021/22 and increase incrementally to £11,555 by 2025/26.

Dog walking news: Dog walkers have been asked to stick to the footbpaths when walking their pets on the Bath Racecourse at Lansdown. The central area is out of

bounds as it is private property said a spokesman for the racecourse.

Running News: The Bath Half Marathon took place last month with thousands of runners taking part and even more spectators lining the route.

In the men’s category, the top finishers were as follows: Jonathan Escalante-Phillips claimed first place with an impressive time of 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 25 seconds.

Matt Sharp closely followed with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 28 seconds, securing the second spot. In the third position, Jonathan Cornish crossed the finish line with

a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 5 seconds.

In the women’s race, Phillipa Williams crossed the finish line in first place, recording a time of 1 hour, 13 minutes, and 5 seconds. Charlie Arnell claimed second place with a time of 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 13 seconds, while Anna Harrold secured the third position with a time of 1 hour, 16 minutes, and 37 seconds.

In 2024, the Bath Half Marathon will be returning to its traditional date in March.

Transport News: Most residents cannot have failed to have noticed the Voi scooters and bicycles have been replaced by Tier’s green and turquoise e-bikes and i-scooters - as well as their cargo bikes - those large cycles that can take luggage.

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority awarded the contract that also covers Bristol which means users can rent them via a mobile phone app at 99p to start and 16p per minute afterwards.

Technically e-scooters are classified as motor vehicles and users should have a driving licence and could receive points on their driving licence or get a fine if caught by the police. ‘If’ being the operative word.

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n WHAT’S ON

Pantomime season begins plus those Christmas markets Theatre Picks In Bath Fri 20 Oct-Sat 18 Nov. Ustinov Studio. Machinal. Murder drama set in the 1920s.

Wed 1-Sat 4 Nov. Rondo Theatre.

Sheila’s Island. Playing Up Theatre Company present Tim Firth’s comedy about a team building weekend gone wrong. 7.30pm.

Fri Nov 3. Mission Theatre. Lilies of The Field. Drama based on the letters of Land Girls in the war. 7.30pm.

Mon 6-Sat 11 Nov. Theatre Royal Bath. Peter Pan Goes Wrong. The ‘Goes Wrong’ comedy genre tackles JM Barrie’s Neverland play.

Wed 8 Nov. Rondo Theatre. Bloody Medea. April Small brings an alternative view of Europides’ tragic story from Ancient Greece.

Sat11 Nov. The Mission Theatre.

Ballet; The Wizard of Oz by Frank L Balm. New Works Ballet Theatre is a small Bristol based ballet company that aims to bring dance and ballet to a wider audience, making it fun and easily accessible.

Sat 11 Nov. Rondo Theatre. A Life In The Theatre. Bittersweet comedy about two actors.

Sat-Sun 11-12 Nov. Egg Theatre.

Plastic Paradiso. This gentle and

Bath Christmas Market is back

timely dance theatre show for children and their grown-ups tells a story about resilience and friendship, whilst raising awareness about plastic in our oceans.

Tue 14 -Sat 18 Nov. Theatre Royal Bath. I’m Sorry, Prime Minister. Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey Appleby in a Whitehall comedy drawn from the TV series Yes, Minister.

Wed 15-Sat 18 Nov. The Mission Theatre. The Mikado. Opera by WS Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Bath G&S Society brings the comic opera to the stage first performed in 1885.

Wed 15-Sat 18 Nov. Rondo Theatre.

charged domestic drama.

Fri 1 Dec-Sat 13 Jan. Egg Theatre.

Wendy: A Peter Pan Story. James Baldwin’s adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic story.

Tue 5 Dec. Mission Theatre. The Second Best Bed. Liz Grand appears as Shakepeare’s widow Anne Hathaway.

Sat 16 Dec. Roper Theatre, Bath.

Beauty and the Beast. 1pm and 3pm.

This captivating pantomime brings you an unforgettable experience, condensed into a thrilling 60 minutes of pure joy goes the publicity.

Theatre Picks Outside Bath Bristol Old Vic. Choir Boy. Thu 12 Caught On the Hop. Comic romance Oct – Sat 11 Nov. The story of Pharus, drama of mistaken identities. a young, black, queer student leading a gospel choir at his elite, all-boys prep Mon 20-Sat 25 Nov. Theatre Royal school in America.

Bath. Quiz: The Coughing Major Millionaire Scandal. The Who Wants Salisbury Playhouse. Sat 25 Nov-Sun to Be a Millionaire scam dramatised.

7 Jan. Dick Wittington. Pantomime Mon 27 Nov-Sat 2 Dec. Theatre Royal production following Jack and his cat Bath. Twelve Angry Men. Court room Cosmo in search of fame and fortune. drama.

Everyman Theatre Cheltenham.

Mother Goose. Fri 24th Nov - Sun 7th Tue 28 Nov-Sat 2 Dec. Mission Jan. Pantomime.

Theatre. 1984. George Orwell’s warning of totalitarism is adapted by Taunton Brewhouse. A Christmas Matthew Dunster.

Carol. Tue 5-Sat 30 Dec. A new take on Charles Dickens’ morality story with Wed 29 Nov-Sat 2 Dec. Rondo music, puppetry and drama.

Theatre. A Streetcar Named Desire.

Continued on page 15 Tennessee Willams’ emotionally

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n WHAT’S ON Winter Classical Concert Thurs 30th November, 7.30pm. St Luke’s Church, Wellsway BA2 2BD The Argyle String Orchestra Concert: WINTER’ Under the direction of our new conductor, Adam Laughton, you’ll enjoy a range of pieces including Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with fabulous soloist Sara Stagg, plus pieces

by Nielsen, Rachmaninov, Beethoven, Telemann and more.

Tickets £10 on the door or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/argyle-string-orchestra.

Continued from page 14

Wyvern Swindon. Sat 2 - Sun 31 Dec Snow White. Pantomime.

Britol Hippodrome. Peter Pan. Sat 2-Sun 31 Dec. Pantomime.

Britol Old Vic. Arabian Nights. Thu 23 Nov–Sat 6 Jan. Drama based on the folk tales ideal for children and families.

Tobacco Factory Bristol. Olver Twist.

Fri 1 Dec- Sun 21 Jan. A re-imagining of Charles Dickens’ story set in Victorian England.

Axbridge Town Hall, Somerset. The Government Inspector. 22-25 Nov. 7.30pm. Tickets on Eventbrite. The editor of Bath Voice treads the boards in Gogol’s comic masterpiece.

Pick of Diary Events in Bath Thu 2 Nov. U3A. The Pavilion. Talk.

Coffee or tea from 9:45am. What Diplomats Do and Is It Still Worth Doing? By Francis Cornish, DMG, LVO, FRSA. 10.00am.

Thu 2 Nov. The Forum, Into the Groove. Madonna tribute show.

Fri 3 Nov. The Forum. The Magic of the Bee Gees. Tribute show.

Sat 4 Nov. The Rec. Firework display.

From 5pm. Food and drink available.

Sat 4 Nov. Concert at St Alphege’s Church, Oldfield Lane. Cappella Nova: Ave Maria. The programme features the 7 ‘Marienlieder’ (Songs for Mary) 7.30pm. Proceeds in aid of Off the Record, the local mental health and wellbeing charity.

Sat 4 Nov. Widcombe Social Club.

Quiz. 6.30pm.

Mon 5 Nov. Widcombe Social Club.

Lecture on Shackleton’s expedition.

A photograpic odyssey to the Antarctic and back.

Thu 6 Nov. Tiny Tales at Toppings.

First Thursday of the month at 9:30am.

45minutes. Ages 2 to 5 years-old.

Fri 10 Nov. Assembly Rooms.

Mozart Festival. Abel Tomàs violin;

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Vera Martínez Mehner violin; Jonathan Brown viola; Arnau Tomas cello.

Mozart String Quartet No 14 in G major K 387; Haydn String Quartet in A major Op 20 No 6; Brahms String Quartet No 2 in A minor Op 51, performed by Barcelona-based Cuarteto Casals.

Sat 11 Nov. Bath Abbey.

Remembrance Day Concert. 8.30pm.

Performance of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem and music by Elizabethan composers William Byrd (Justorum animae) and Thomas Weelkes (When

David heard).

Sat-Sun 11-12 Nov. Widcombe Christmas Market. Over 50 local artists and makers offering an impressive range of arts & crafts across three venues on Widcombe Hill.

Free entry. Refreshments available.

Tue 14 Nov. Widcombe Social Club.

Lecture on the Art of Collection.

Arts Society event. 10.30am.

Tue 14 Nov. Bath Abbey. Lunchtime Piano Recital. Marianna Kapsetaki.

Continued on page 16

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Got a story for Bath Voice? Email Harry on news@bathvoice.co.uk

bathvoice

16

n WHAT’S ON Continued from page 15

1pm. Classical music treat.

Fri 17 Nov-3 Jan. Bath Ice Skating.

Royal Pavilion, Royal Victoria Park.

Includes Glow Golf and an Alpine Bar. Thu 23 Nov-Sun10 Dec. Bath Christmas Market. City centre.

Wed 29 Nov. Widcombe Social Club. Christmas Wreath Workshop.

6.45pm.

Thu 30 Nov. Winter Classical Concert. St Luke’s Church, Wellsway.

The Argyle String Orchestra Concert: Winter. Conductor, Adam Laughton with Winter from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, with fabulous soloist Sara Stagg, plus pieces by Nielsen, Rachmaninov, Beethoven, Telemann and more.

Fri 1 Dec. Bath Abbey. Bath Choral Society. J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. 7.30pm.

Sat 2 Dec. Methodist Hall, Bear Flat.

Christmas Art and Market. 10am to 5pm, Free Entry. Methodist Church Hall, Bruton Avenue.. Handmade gifts and unique affordable artwork on sale including ceramics, painting, jewellery, sculpture, photography, printmaking, glass, illustration, cards, festive tree decorations and more.

Buy direct from artists and makers and find out about the making processes. www.bearflatartists.co.uk Thu 14 Dec. The Forum. Fastlove

- Tribute to George Michael. Top artist brings George’s music to life.

Wed 20 Dec. The Forum. Lost In Music - One Night at the Disco.

A chance to dance the night away to the best music of the 1980s and beyond.

Pick of Diary Events outside of Bath Bristol Christmas Market. Bristol Shopping Quarter’s streets will play host to wooden chalets offering a selection of gifts as well as festive food and drink. 3 Nov to23 Dec 2023.

Winter Wonderland at Wookey Hole. Apparently Santa lives in these Somerset Caves. Until 1 Jan. Exhibition Picks in Bath American Museum, Bath.

Claverton. The Museum features collections from the United States where you can visit room sets that recreate periods of American history. exhibition. Until 31 December.

Assembly Rooms. The National Trust are working on the Georgian Experience, due to open in 2026.

Bath World Heritage Centre.

Interactive exhibits and displays designed to reveal the history of Bath and show visitors and residents free walking trails and guides to help you explore everything Bath has to offer.

Burdell’s Yard. Art exhibition. Free entry. Young Bath Artists Sun, 12

Nov to Sat, 25 Nov. An exhibition showcasing a selection of GCSE and A Level work from schools across Bath Herschel Museum of Astronomy.

It is located in a town house that was formerly the home of William Herschel and his sister Caroline.

Stand in the garden on the spot where the duo discovered the planet Uranus with their telescope.

Holburne Museum. The heart of the present day Collection was formed

by Sir Thomas William Holburne (1793-1874). As a second son, Thomas William (generally known as William) first pursued a naval career. In 1882 this collection was bequeathed to the people of Bath by Holburne’s sister, Mary Anne Barbara Holburne. One of the Holburne’s main purposes is to preserve the things that have been entrusted to their care. Current shows include Lucie pottery,and the art of Gwen John.

Museum of Bath at Work. Julian Rd, Bath BA1 2RH. Enter the world of working Bath through a series of authentically reconstructed workplaces, workshops and display galleries. Two thousand years of working life are on display from a Victorian ironmongers and engineering works, a soft drinks making factory and even a Bath

November 2023

Stone mine working, all on show in a former Real Tennis court, dating from 1777. Exhibition: All Day Long: The Workers of Bath in Fifty Portrait Photographs Museum of East Asian Art. MEAA’s collections consist of some 2,000 objects. The majority of these are of Chinese origin, spanning from 5,000 BC to the present. The collections also contain artefacts from Japan and Korea and a number of countries in South East Asia.

No.1 Royal Crescent. Features an immersive experience, which will allow you to see life as it was lived in Georgian Bath during the late 1700s.

Look beyond the Crescent’s famous Palladian façade and see what life was like for the wealthy and their servants in eighteenth-century Bath Great views from the windows..

Victoria Art Gallery. Exhibitions include Gail Mason: The Unseen Landscape to 7 Jan, 2024; When Dreams Confront Reality: Surrealism in Britain to 7 Jan. Exhibition Picks outside Bath Weston-super-Mare Museum.

Adventures in Time & Space - 60 Years of Doctor Who Art Exhibition.

21 Oct to 27 Jan 2024.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023 at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. To 1 Apr 2024.

Together we can reduce hate crime unacceptable any time of year, but National Hate Crime Week, which took place between October 14 and 21, provided an opportunity to reinforce that Avon and Somerset is no place for hate.

Reducing and preventing these crimes, which is priority one of four in my Police and Crime Plan, requires us to all work together, encourage reporting and ensure any victims receive support.

Together we can reduce hate crime.

Chief Constable Sarah Crew assured me that Avon and Somerset Police will be doing ongoing engagement with schools, communities and retailers to encourage and support the reporting of hate crime.

If you are a victim or see hate crime or ASB take place, I would urge you to report it online or via 101.

I also questioned the Chief Constable about the latest PEEL report. PEEL stands for Police

Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy, and is the primary framework in which police forces are inspected.

The most recent report found that an area identified for improvement is the need to reduce the backlog of applications waiting to be processed relating to domestic violence disclosure schemes.

The two schemes are fantastic police policies, which enable you to find out about an individual’s domestic abuse history (if they have one) or if someone has a record for child sex offences.

If you missed the meeting and want to see what happened, you can watch the recording via the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Facebook page.

I want to take the opportunity to talk specifically about road safety, which is a key area of focus.

If you are a road user, pedestrian or cyclist or e-scooter rider, I urge you to be careful when using

To advertise, contact Erica on erica@bathvoice.co.uk or call 07402 441485

bathvoice

Adult Fiction Exiles – Jane Harper From author of The Dry and Force of Nature is an excellent crime thriller set in Australia. Aaron Falk, a cop from Melbourne’s Financial Crime unit returns to try to expose the secrets of a small community.

It is the Food and Wine Festival at Maralee town, a very busy local event. However, this year a mother disappears, leaving her six-weekold baby in its pram waiting for her to return. A year later and Kim’s disappearance haunts her family and friends as tourist gather for the annual festival.

Aaron returns to attend a re scheduled christening and as he looks into the case, long-held secrets and resentments begin to surface, sometimes it takes an outsider to find the truth. Jane Harper captures the social dynamics of a small community

really well. I like the setting in Australia and the story is rich in mystery and there are many twists and turns. A real page turner.

I let you go - Clare Mackintosh Clare MacKintosh drew on her experiences working for the Oxford CID to write this gripping novel. An only child is killed on a dark, wet November afternoon in a hit and run accident.

DI Ray Stevens and his CID colleagues have tried to locate the driver of the vehicle and are frustrated when the order comes to drop the case.

The mother cannot be located, and they assume she has left after the devastation of losing her child so tragically Despite no arrests being forthcoming from the small amount of evidence, they feel duty bound to catch the culprit, if only to help the child’s mother feel that justice has been done.

Meanwhile, Jenna is living in anonymity.

She is renting

a cottage in a remote area of Wales. She is reluctant to make friends with the local people, but after a while, relaxes into the seasonal life of a small seaside resort. She distracts from the pain of her past by starting up an online business, selling photographic art.

The story takes you from the frustrated CID staff and the impact the case makes on their professional and private lives to Jenna and her efforts to rebuild her life after the tragedy of her past. A gripping read.

Adult Non-Fiction

The Hidden Life Of Trees – Peter Wohlleben, as reviewed by Alice Hack, Bath Library If you have ever been curious about the science of trees and how they develop over hundreds of years, then this is the perfect book for you.

Each chapter dives into the make-up behind each tree such as how the roots absorb water and keeps the structure healthy as well as their role in the climate change crisis.

The final line on the blurb states that ‘A walk in the woods will never be the same again’ and that has been the case with me since reading it.

Young Adult Fiction

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford pathways and pavements. It is important to remember that pavements are solely for the use of pedestrians.

If you do need to use the pavement to park, please do so with care, especially as the evenings become darker. This ensures accessibility and safety for all road users and pedestrians in Avon and Somerset.

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n BATH LIBRARY BOOK REVIEWS AND NEWS

Loft Boarding & Insulation

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC I WANT to start by acknowledging the terrible crisis and conflict situation in the Middle East.

I strongly condemn any acts of terrorism.

I recognise that there will be communities in Avon and Somerset who feel concerned and have been impacted by these events.

I want to reassure you that the Chief Constable is ensuring that Avon & Somerset Police is actively engaging with all communities affected, and other agencies, to monitor the situation.

Every month I hold a performance and accountability board meeting, to hold the Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset Police to account in delivering policing that is efficient, effective and legitimate, by scrutinising and asking questions about police performance and priorities.

October’s topics were hate crime, anti-social behaviour and PEEL disclosure schemes.

Hate crime and ASB is

November 2023

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Girl Missing – Sophie McKenzie, as reviewed by Alice Hack, Bath Library The first book in the award-winning Missing series, the story follows a young girl from London called Lauren who was adopted early on in her life, but now as a teenager, she would love to know her ancestral background.

When by chance on the internet browsing, a shocking secret emerges.

Lauren may have actually been kidnapped as a baby and given away!

0117 2980810 INFO@USEYOURLOFTSPACE.CO.UK

Got a story for Bath Voice? Email Harry on news@bathvoice.co.uk

Lauren’s courage and determination to seek out all of the answers to her questions makes Girl Missing a real page turner. Every time I thought scenarios would be resolved, all of a sudden, a plot twist would leap out and change everything. Suitable for readers aged 14+.

Children’s Fiction

Stubby: A true story of friendship – Michael Foreman This is a delightful story to read, particularly around Remembrance Day. A young solider begins his training and while he has his lunch a little dog, with a flat face and short legs cannot help but follow him around.

Then one day the troop are sent off to the battlefield – Stubby – joins them.

He is their mascot and everyone loves having him around. He is brave and the local town make him a smart army jacket with his name stitched on. Find out about his adventures. The story is based on a real life Stubby who was owned by a Corporal Conroy of the USA army in 1917.

Library News As here’s always so much going on in all our libraries, and it’s all free, so drop in and see what’s on offer. For families with children, sing along at Baby Bounce and Rhyme, or get comfy whilst listening to stories at our everpopular Storytime.

For adults, we’ve got book clubs, writing classes, and much more throughout the year. Joining the library costs nothing, so pop in or visit www.librarieswest.org.uk to also access thousands of eBooks, eMagazines, Audiobooks, and a wealth of other resources! Our ‘Virtual Library’ has loads going on, including the latest library news, competitions, book reviews and, all our digital offers.

Search ‘Bath and North East Somerset Libraries’ on social media or visit bathneslibraries.wordpress.com

Moorland Road Community Library

Tues 10-4pm, Thurs & Fri 10-1pm and Sat 10-1pm. Email for more info at Moorlandroadcommunitylibrary@ gmail.com And visit https://www. moorlandroadcommunitylibrary.com/ to find out how to volunteer and much more. The library is seeking more volunteers to help keep it open for longer. Pictured left.

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n NEWS

Music News: A concert will take place in Bath Abbey on Friday November 3 at 7.30pm. “My Son - My Brother”, will celebrate the life of Kieron Jones who passed away on July 11th just two days before his 47th birthday.

Kieron was the middle son of Bath’s Grenville Jones, and Kieron’s brothers are Daniel and Laurie.

Kieron lived in Dulwich in London with his wife Marianna, son Artur 14 and Melodie aged 9.

He was diagnosed with bowel cancer three years ago and passed away at St Christopher’s Hospice, Sydenham. The concert will support cancer charities. Kieron was born in Farmborough and became head boy at Beechen Cliff School.

The concert will feature music from many of the groups linked to the family including the Worship Group from St Phillip and St James’ led by Daniel Jones.

Special guests include pianist, Nurry Lee, violinist Lizz Lipscombe and a celebration choir of 150 voices.

Tickets £18 from gac.ticketlight.co.uk Fencing News: Piers Gilliver successfully defended his Wheelchair Fencing World

Piers Gilliver and Dimitri Coutya in the Wheelchair Fencing World Championships

Championships epee title as he and Dimitri Coutya brought home four medals from Italy between them to their University of Bath training base in the contest earlier this autumn.

Training partner Coutya, reached the Category B epee final again in Terni winning silver 15-10 in a defeat to China’s Benjun Qin. The World Championships were the last major competition before the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where Gilliver and Coutya – both coached by Peter Rome – will hope to achieve success.

Visit teambath.com/fencing to find out more about the British Fencing Wheelchair Fencing at the University of Bath.

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RUH Music News: Young patients at the Royal United Hospital can try out a new selection of musical instruments.

The Children’s Ward now has two ukuleles, a large drum, bells and other percussion instruments, all thanks to funding from the charity Friends of the RUH, to support the work of Musician in Residence, Frankie Simpkins.

Thanks to the Friends, Frankie is able to spend one morning a week on the Children’s Ward making music and having musical interactions with the patients. Frankie chooses the selection of instruments with the patients in mind. She adapts and tailors her musical interactions to suit the patient’s age, from song writing and singing lessons, to lullabies, Disney

classics and even ukulele lessons.

Train News: Many Bathonians catch the train from Bath Spa everyday for work - in Bristol, Swindon or even London. The cost on November 1 to travel to London and back from Bath to coincide to approximately office hours is £89.30 for a standard return.

On the 19th October Wera Hobhouse MP for Bath, asked the Government to ensure greater transparency over train fare pricing, as GWR fares from Bath to London are set to increase this month.

Speaker of the House Penny Mordaunt acknowledged the impact of such price variances and promised to raise the issue with the Secretary of State for Transport.

Further price rises are set to occur next year. Rail fares in England will rise by up to 8% in 2024 if the Government uses the same formula as this year.

Mental Health News: To help mark Mental Health Awareness Day last month, Kingswood School in Bath invited Ben Smith to talk to students about his mental health challenges in his life that led him to run 401 marathons in 401 days to raise cash for in excess of £330,000 for two antibullying charities.

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Georgian Life: Upstairs and downstairs, a brief review of Number One Royal Crescent (pictured) . Harry Mottram writes: It was a on damp summer’s day I popped into the recreation of a posh Georgian home to take in the ‘emersive experience’ complete with sounds and voices of the residents.

As part of the Bath Preservation Trust who also run the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Number One Royal Crescent is essentially a museum which has been decorated and furnished just as it might have been during the period 1776-1796. The rooms feature furniture, pictures and objects that reveal what life was like for Bath’s fashionable residents – both upstairs and downstairs - so the

publicity goes.

After paying the £15 entry fee and awaiting for the audio loop to restart in the parlour I entered the first of the rooms - which has a super view of the Royal Crescent from the window (and an even better one from the bedroom upstairs).

You have a choice of wandering into each room in succession and listening to the conversations of the imagined residents or moving from room to room at your own pace and either catching some of the audio conversations, or reading the notes - or indeed just soaking up the atmosphere.

The rooms are a delight and I secretly wanted to climb into one of the four poster beds, recline in the Gentleman’s Retreat and order a

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bottle of port from one of the maids or even demand to be allowed to live there permantly from the Trust since it has all mod cons. Revise that - no toilets for the Georgians - just chamber pots. Cancel the fantasy.

The conversations that echo round the rooms are rather amusing as there’s obviously something of a generation gap with the daughter of the household challenging her stuffy patriach’s views on such things as the social order and even slavery which funded much of Georgian Bath.

Those who kept the house ticking over are well represented in The Servants’ Hall and the Scullery ensuring we get a more rounded view of the inequalities of 18th century life in the city.

It was a rainy midweek day with very few visitors when I went which was a definite plus. Very enjoyable, slightly quirky which appealed and lots to take in. I was glad to finally have entered into the world (if only briefly) that Bath is so famous for.

Murder verdict: It was a murder that shocked the city last May when 18-year-old Ben Moncrieff from Bath was stabbed to death outside McDonalds late one Saturday night. Now jurors in Bristol Crown Court have found a 16-year-old boy guilty of the murder following a trial and the boy who cannot be named for legal reasons must await sentencing on December 6 and will remain in custody.

The BBC’s Harriet Robinson and Dan Ayers have reported on the trial. In their report they said: “Ben Moncrieff, from Bath, was stabbed by the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, on Southgate Street, on 6 May. The boy had denied murder, claiming he had acted in self-defence after an altercation with Mr Moncrieff.

But jurors at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty of one count of murder and he will be sentenced on 6 December. Mr Moncrieff’s mum, Sharon Hendry, said her son’s death had caused ‘total devastation’.”

The BBC reported that during the trial, the defendant, from South London, who was 15 years old at the time of the fatal stabbing, told the court: “I didn’t drive [the knife] into his chest… he came towards me and it just connected.”

The court heard the boy and his friends had been refused entry to McDonald’s because they were using laughing gas, reported Harriet Robinson and Dan Ayers.

Avon and Somerset Police reported: “Ben had been with friends in Bath on a night out in the hours leading up to the fatal

Got a story for Bath Voice? Email Harry on news@bathvoice.co.uk

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incident. Having left a club, they walked towards McDonald’s in Southgate Street and encountered a group of males, including the defendant, who were in possession of balloons and suspected nitrous oxide gas cannisters. That group had arrived in a car shortly beforehand.

“CCTV showed a verbal confrontation between the defendant and one of Ben’s friends.

Jurors were told that Ben stepped in at that point to protect his friend, and a witness heard the defendant tell Ben to ‘come around the corner’.

“The defendant, who is from south London, is seen in footage to take a step back and drop a gas cannister as Ben approaches him, before pulling out the weapon and stabbing the 18-year-old to death.

He fled the scene and dumped the knife in a bin nearby, which was recovered by officers. He was arrested a short time later and made no comment during police interviews.

“A murder investigation was launched and hours of footage were trawled through by detectives. One CCTV camera showed the defendant lift up his top before the stabbing and reveal to people he had a bladed weapon tucked into his waistband.

“During his evidence in court, the teenager stated he had taken the knife off of a boy of a similar age early in the day to protect them. However, the prosecution presented the jury with social media videos of the defendant playing with a matching knife that had been recorded earlier that same week. The teenager told the court it was a different knife that happened to look identical.

“The defendant, who is now 16 but cannot be publicly named as he is a juvenile as per the law, was found guilty of murder by a jury at Bristol Crown Court after a six-day trial. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place.”

The police said they take knife crime extremely seriously and are working with education and intervention organisations across the area. For more information visit https://www.avonandsomerset. police.uk/crime-prevention-advice/ protect-yourself-and-others-fromknife-crime/ The Bath & North East Somerset Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) is a multi-agency group that aims to prevent and reduce violence.

For more information visit https:// bcssp.bathnes.gov.uk/ and search for Violence Reduction.

n SPORTS INFORMATION

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• Fri 10 Nov. Away V Gloucester (GP) • Fri 17 Nov. Home V Bristol (GP) • Fri 24 Nov. Away V Sale (GP) • Sat 2 Dec. Home V Exeter (GP) Rugby: Bath Rugby Ladies Club Women. For details see https:// www.bathrugbyladies.com/ Rugby: Bath Saracens RFC Bath Saracens are an amateur rugby club competing in the Dorset & Wilts 3 Central. Formed on 13th March 1947, Bath Saracens are still going strong 75 years on. All welcome to train at Lambridge Training Ground in Bath every Thursday night between 19.30 and 21.00. See https://bathsaracens.co.uk/events/ category/games/ Rugby: Combe Down RFC. Founded in 1896 the club currently play home fixtures at Holly’s Corner, Bramble Way. Details on their Face Book site.

Rugby: Bath Gladiators Rugby League Club. Bath Gladiators will participate in the newly established Franchise Rugby League starting this season. Visit: bathgladiators.com/ Tennis: Bloomfield Tennis Club. To join visit https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/ BloomfieldTennisClub Tennis: Bath Tennis Club is at Park Lane, Weston, visit www.bathtc.co.uk

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• Sat 2nd Dec 23. WDL1. A V Aek Boco Hockey: City of Bath Hockey Club City of Bath were formed from a merger between Bath & Phillipians Hockey Club’s and they play at Lansdown. For details visit https:// www.cobhc.org.uk/ Hockey: Team Bath Buccaneers Hockey Club. Team Bath Buccaneers is one of the largest and most successful Hockey Clubs in the West of England with over 800 members.

Open to new members. Based at University of Bath. For details visit https://www.teambathbuccaneers. co.uk/clubNews Hockey: Team Bath Hockey Club.

The University of Bath Hockey Club has six men’s and six ladies’ teams who play in the British University & Colleges (BUCS) leagues on Wednesdays. Based at University of Bath. Details at https://www. teambath.com/sport/hockey/ Rugby: Bath Rugby Union Club Men. Details at https://www. bathrugby.com/ The Blue, Black and White play in the Gallagher Premiership and the Champions Cup. • Sat 4 Nov. Away V Northampton (GP)

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• Tue 7 Nov. VNLS. Away V Weymouth.

• Sat 11 Nov. VNLS. Home V Aveley.

• Tue 14 Nov. VNLS. Home V Slough.

• Tue 21 Nov. VNLS. Away V Hemel H’d.

• Sat 25 Nov. VNLS. Away V Farnb’gh.

• Sat 2 Dec. VNLS. Home V Chelmsford.

Football: Bath City Women.

• Sun 5 Nov. Home V Frome.

• Sun 12 Nov. Away V Weymouth.

• Sun 26 Nov. Home V Poole Town.

• Sun 3 Dec. Away V Purton.

Football: Larkhall Athletic FC. Founded in 1914 the Larks play in the Southern League Division One South (SLD1S) and are based at the Securitas Stadium, Plain Ham. They are part of Larkhall Sports Club. Visit https:// larkhallathletic.com/ • Sat 4 Nov. Home V Hamworthy. 3pm.

• Fri 10 Nov. Away V Yate.

• Sat 18 Nov. Home V Exmouth.

• Sat 25 Nov. Home V Paulton.

•Tue 28 Nov. Away V Wimborne.

• Sat 2 Dec. Away V Mousehole.

Football: Odd Down FC. They are currently members of the Western League Division One (WLD1) and play at the Lew Hill Memorial Ground.

• Sat 4 Nov 23 WDL1. Home V Cadbury • Sat 11 Nov 23. WDL1. A V Middlezoy • Sat 18th Nov 23. WDL1. H V Wincanton • Sat 25th Nov 23. WDL1. A V Gillingham

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The University of Bath men’s 1st XV reigned in the rain as they fought out a 25-20 victory over Cardiff Met in front of a crowd of 6,000 at The Rec for their annual Anniversary Game fixture last month.

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By Harry Mottram: below are the fixtures of the various sports teams and clubs – I try to keep them up to date - results are regularly posted on our website at Bath Voice.

Athletics: Team Bath Athletics Club is based at the University of Bath Sports Training Village and is open to all abilities and ages from 7 upwards.

Sports include track and field, road and trail running, endurance and cross country. Club nights are Tuesdays and Thursdays 6pm -8pm.To join and for details visit https:// teambathac.org/ Badminton: Bath Badminton Club.

Sports Centre, North Parade Road, Bath. The club meet on Thursday evenings all year round except certain holiday periods and August. www. bathbadminton.co.uk Badminton: Oldfield Park Badminton Club, Hayesfield Sports Hall Upper Oldfield Lane. www. badmintoninbath.co.uk/ Badminton: Bath Women’s Badminton Club. Sports Centre, North Parade Road, Bath. www. bathwomensbadmintonclub.net/ Boules: City of Bath Pétanque Club.

The club plays Pétanque and is open to all, with juniors and non-players welcome. If you haven’t played before, give it a go. The club is based at Larkhall Sports Club, but they also play in Queen Square Wednesday mornings, weather permitting.

Croquet: Bath Croquet Club To join or for more info contact Hester Henebury on email hester2210@ btinternet.com or visit https://www. bathcroquet.com/ Cycling: Bath Cycling Club welcomes new members of all ages and abilities – visit https://www.bathcc.net/ Equestrian: Bath Racecourse There next meeting is 18th October. check https://www.bath-racecourse. co.uk/whats-on for details.

Football: Bath City FC. Bath play in the National League South, the sixth tier of the football pyramid. The home ground is Twerton Park and the manager is Jerry Gill. Known as the Romans and play in black and white vertical stripes.

• Sat 4 Nov. VNLS. Away V Torquay.

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Alexandra Park Friends’ Appeal: The Friends of Alexandra Park are seeking new people to help organise events such as Picnic in the Park, Poppy Planting and Seeding Day. Collin Carr (pictured - with two ‘L’s please note) of the group said the Friends needed new people and new ideas as the pause for the Covid shutdowns had caused a lapse in events.

“When I was thinking about retirement the Friends had only just been set up,” he said, “Julian Davis was the first chair having done it for while, and wanted someone to put their hands up to help and so I thought I’d give it a go.

“Now we have the same situation again as we need new people to join us - I’ve fronted five Picnic in the Parks - and we had a fantastic model with bands playing for free. We paid for the loos and the gazebos with a programme, a raffle and sales of drinks.”

The Friends were ably assisted

by Andrew Lawrence who had contacts with the music scene and found bands who would play - plus Sue Evans as the secretary who helped to run the group.

Anyone interested in joining the Friends should email enquiries@ alexandraparkbath.org and see the website for more details.

RUH Inspection: An unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission on the RUH in July resulted in the hospital’s rating has been downgraded from “good” to “requires improvement” following an assessment writes Harry Mottram.

The CQC said: “We carried out this unannounced focused inspection on 27 July 2023 because we had received information of concern regarding the safety and quality of the medical care (including older people’s care) core service.”

They continued: “At this inspection, we inspected safe

and well led but did not inspect caring, effective or responsive as the information of concern were not within these key questions.

Our focused methodology allows us to rate a service when we have inspected the full key question.

We considered information and data regarding medical care and gathered feedback around the experience of patients using medical care services at Royal United Hospital, Bath. At our last comprehensive inspection in June 2018, we rated the trust overall as good and medical care was also rated good.”

The BBC reported: “The site houses 12 medical inpatient wards with a total of 381 beds and provides a range of services including medicine and surgery, services for women and children, accident and emergency services, and diagnostic and clinical support services. During the focused check, the CQC only looked at whether the hospital was safe and well led. Its report found the safety of its services, its responsiveness to people’s needs and the way it was led required improvements.”

A Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson told the BBC they welcomed the report, were fully committed to making the improvements identified and had already started work on the improvements required.

“We were pleased that the report also identified many positives, inspectors praised the ‘outstanding programme’ for international nurses, our ability to manage patient safety incidents well and the way managers and ward leaders were supported to make the wards a welcoming place to work,” they said.

“The RUH is committed to being an organisation where everyone matters and we would like to reassure patients that our staff remain fully committed to providing the very best standards of care at all times.”

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