Bath Voice May 2024

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Rare victory for campaigners

By John Wimperis, Local

Democracy Reporter: A meeting in at the Guildhall has marked a victory for campaigners in a battle against plans to build on fields in south Bath. Councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council’s planning committee went against the

recommendations of their own planning officers and the advice of the committee chair to refuse planning permission for 290 homes on the southern edge of the city.

The decision was celebrated by campaigners who had urged the council to “save South Stoke

plateau” and had warned the homes would cause “carmageddon” on local roads already suffering long tailbacks during rush hour. But the decision also means losing out on up to 116 affordable homes which would have been built as part of the

Continued on page 3

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BANES Councillors

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Deborah Joan Collins Deborah_Collins@bathnes.gov.uk 01225 395954

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Twerton: Sarah Moore 07807013635

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Tim Ball 01225 400834 / 07970461674

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Westmoreland: June Player 07967 920064

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Colin Blackburn 07796 807157

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n NEWS

Continued from page 1 outside Bath’s Guildhall. Ned Garnett of the South of Bath Alliance said: “I think it shows the strength of feeling in the local community.”

development, and risks the council having to fight a potentially costly appeal.

The first phase of the Hignett Family Trust’s Sulis Down development — 171 homes by Odd Down Park and Ride — was granted planning permission by councillors “with the utmost reluctance” in 2018. The land was taken out of the green belt in the council’s local plan ten years ago to accommodate 300 homes, but campaigners argued that building 290 more as phases three and four would exceed this figure.

But the council’s planning officers said the 300 homes figure was “not a cap” and recommended the plans be approved. The plans first came to the planning committee in November last year but councillors voted not to take the decision then, sending the plans back to developers over concerns they did not have enough information about the traffic impacts. As the plans came back to the committee on Wednesday (April 10), an estimated 120-130 people turned up to protest

Inside, the committee had to be held in a ballroom next door to the council chamber to accommodate the numbers watching.

Representing the developers, Peter Frampton of Frampton Town Planning said objectors had a “root and branch objection to any further housing.”

He added: “Delivery of affordable housing in this district has not met this specific need and tonight, part of the local community is denied the opportunity of a good quality home. This scheme will deliver up to 116 new affordable homes for families and households struggling with the daily misery of living in inadequate accommodation.”

But Cllr Joel Hirst and Cllr Fiona Gourley addressed the committee in opposition to the plans, warned: “It will be an irreversible decision which will cast a historic shadow over the ecology and traffic management on the south side of Bath and the North East of Somerset. The application has been a 16 year courtship so

far between the planners and the developers. The officer’s report […] overstates the benefits and understates the harms.”

After four members of the public spoke against the plans — each to rapturous applause and a standing ovation from parts of the public gallery — planning committee member Tim Warren (Midsomer Norton Redfield, Conservative) told those watching: “It’s not a popularity contest.”

But as the three and a half hour deliberation of the plans drew to a close, it was Mr Warren who tabled the motion to reject the plans.

Council policy allocated the site for a “mixed-use” development but councillors said the only mixed-use element of these plans was the inclusion of allotments.

Cllr Ian Halsall said that more affordable housing would “do marvels” but warned that if it was built on the edge of the city without any facilities it could lead to “social isolation.”

Eleanor Jackson (Westfield, Labour) added: “What we have here is a site that needs to be a community. It’s sandwiched

between the villages of North East Somerset and Bath.”

But chair of the committee Duncan Hounsell said: “The people that have lived in phase one have commented that they actually enjoy living in phase one, that its a nice place to live, and they feel very content.

“To my mind — and I know it won’t be popular in this room — the benefits outweigh the harms.”

Councillors eventually voted 7-1 to turn refuse planning permission on four grounds: failing to provide a mix of uses to create a sustainable community, not meeting the exceptional circumstances needed to build in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, causing harm to the settings of the double-World Heritage Site City of Bath and to nondesignated heritage asset Sulis Manor, and adverse impact on trees and woodland.

Mr Hounsell, was the only councillor to vote against refusal. Campaigners welcomed the decision and said they were ready for the fight if it came to appeal.

No to Moles. By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: A bid to save Bath music venue Moles has been quashed after the council refused to protect the space.

More than 4,000 people signed a petition to save the club, its closure was raised in Parliament, and the Music Venue Trust launched a six-point plan to ensure the site has a future as a grassroots music venue.

Step one of this plan was to get Moles recognised as an “asset of community value” by Bath & North East Somerset Council, a status which would delay any potential sale and change of use of the property and give the community six months to put together a bid to buy it.

The Music Venue Trust then hoped to raise the funds to buy the venue and set up a community interest company to keep it going but the council has refused to give the venue the status.

The Music Venue Trust warned that this meant the opportunity to save Moles had been “permanently lost” but the leader of the council,

Kevin Guy, said that the decision could be reconsidered if the group submitted a new application with more evidence.

The decision, which was delegated to council officers and not made by elected councillors, said: “The nomination puts forward the argument that the local community are supportive of coming together to run this as a music venue in the future.

“However, in our view, this is not enough to show that there is a realistic prospect that the necessary funds will be sourced and made available to make this happen.”

It added: “The venue operated as a business; no evidence has been provided to explain how there was any specific community use in the past. It is not realistic to think that in the future it will be used to further the social wellbeing or social interest of the local community.”

A spokesperson for the Music Venue Trust said they were “saddened” the council had rejected the move.

They said: “We believe the

council’s position that Moles was not of value to the local community and did not contribute to the social wellbeing of Bath residents to be in error.

“Unfortunately, the only people able to undo that error are the councillors who have made it, and we therefore see no available route to an appeal.

“A comprehensive plan to bring Bath Moles back into operation which had been brought together by the local community, key stakeholders and Music Venue Trust cannot be taken forward as a result of this decision.

“Consequently, the venue joins too many others across the country in being permanently lost. There is little purpose in government legislation intended to protect highly cherished cultural spaces such as Bath Moles if the decision making to enact such powers is devolved to local councils who refuse to understand the value of live music in our towns and cities.”

Mr Guy said: “Moles had a special place in the heart for so many of us, Bathonians and visitors

to the city alike so we recognise this is disappointing news for the nominees.

“This application failed on a couple of fronts. The criteria for deciding success is very procedural and based on the information submitted to the council.

“However, should the community decide to submit another nomination, the council would require that only the actual music venue be considered as opposed to the technical fail of including the whole building, as well as sufficient new evidence, to demonstrate its positive impact in the future not just retrospective in the social interest or well-being of the local community, then it could be reconsidered as an asset of community value.”

The venue’s owners said they had been forced to close the venue after 45 years amid massive increases in the cost of stock, utilities, and rent, at a time when customers had less money to spend. They warned that other grassroots music venues were also being forced to close.

n NEWS

Acting News: There are open auditions at the Museum of Bath at Work for parts in a community production of Tennessee Williams’ drama A Streetcar Named Desire to be staged in November at The Rondo Theatre.

They take place at Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road, Bath, BA1 2RH, on Tuesday 14 May 2024, 7pm, and on Wednesday 15 May 2024, 7pm. To take part in the open auditions you must be 18 or over.

Performances will take place at the Rondo Theatre in November 2024 and the production is for the in-house community company Rondo Theatre Company.

Southdown development: Plans to knock down a Bath bungalow and replace it with two new homes have got the green light, writes John Wimperis.

Redeveloping the site of the bungalow at 88 Whiteway Road and building two semi-detached threebedroom homes was a personal project for applicant Holly Wilding and her husband Oliver, who owns a design and build company, she told councillors on Bath & North East Somerset Council’s planning committee on Wednesday 10th April.

The homes will get all their energy from renewables, including solar panels and ground source heat pumps, and six new trees will be planted. Planning officers recommended the plans be approved. Neighbour Matthew Turner warned it would be “overbearing” on his garden, and leave his office in shadow. Cllr Paul Crossley agreed. Councillors voted to grant planning permission.

Moorland Library: Opens 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. The library is pictured below. Cancer News: The new Dyson Cancer Centre at the Royal United Hospitals Bath (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust has opened.

The purpose built centre brings together many of the RUH’s cancer services under one roof to provide a cancer services hub for over 500,000 people in the South West.

The Centre includes the RUH’s oncology, chemotherapy and radiotherapy services, a 22 bed inpatient ward, a dedicated pharmacy, research team and nuclear medicine and physics teams.

A key feature of the new centre is the Macmillan Wellbeing Hub, supported by a £1.5m donation from Macmillan Cancer Support. The three storey hub will provide a welcoming, non-clinical space designed around the needs of patients and their families. It will also include comfortable accommodation where relatives and loved ones can stay overnight.

Hub will be open from 8am – 6pm and patients, loved ones and the wider community are welcome to drop in for information during these times. Face to face appointments along with specific support services can be booked in advance.

Reading news: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP-West) Schools Programme is looking for more volunteers to help children to read in Bath.

Volunteers should love reading books and enjoy the company of children and would be able to commit to a limited but regular amount of time to support children to develop confidence

and skill and a personal enjoyment of reading.

The volunteer-led organisation is free to schools in the area and provides a valuable service in increasing literacy - especially with those children struggling to learn.

For more information email schools@rsvp-west.org.uk  of call 07854164307.

To learn more about volunteering in schools in BANES (Bath and North East Somerset Council) visit https:// rsvp-west.org.uk/volunteering-inschools/

Ornithological News: At the Bath and District RSPB’s last indoor lecture of the season it’s leader David Butterworth presented David Newman with his first award for long service. David joined the Group many years ago as a young man but had a hiatus during which work and family took preference. Rejoining he enjoyed the meetings and outings for a while before volunteering to be the Outdoor Meeting Organiser running the monthly car, bus and boat outings with great skill for the last five years.

Charity Walk: Bear Flat Cricket Club

held a charity walk on 9 March in aid of Dorothy House along the canal to the Bath pavilion.

The cricket club based at The Glass House has a number of teams including several for children - both boys and girls. For details visit their website.

Bear Flat mast: Cornerstone mobile infrastructure has applied to install a 5G mast at The Gore at the junction of Wellsway and Bloomfield Road (and Bath’s smallest park).

The Bear Flat Association (BFA ) are concerned it will be taller than adjacent houses and higher than the current one.

In a FB post they said: “We think this will dominate the landscape of a conservation area and will be situated close to listed heritage assets including the Victorian Fountain that we restored. BFA and Bloomfield Bath Residents Association (BBRA) have consulted Cllr Deborah Collins and have now registered a strong objection. Links to the proposal and our objection letter are on the BFA website here https://bearflat.org.uk/planning.../ current-planning-issues/”

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter:

A longawaited study into why care home deaths during Covid-19 were exceptionally high in Bath and North East Somerset has finally been published — but it has been unable to address the question it was set to answer.

In 2021, the rate of Covid-19 deaths in care homes in Bath and North East Somerset was the highest in all of England — more than double the national average. This was despite the area having a below average proportion of Covid-19 deaths generally.

Bath and North East Somerset Council tasked independent research body the National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) with investigating why the rate of Covid-19 deaths in care homes in the area was in the highest 10% in the country during the second wave between September 2020 and February 2021, despite the rate of Covid-19 deaths among the general population in the area being in the lowest 30% in the country, and the figure for hospitals being in the lowest 10% at the same time.

The council itself published its own analysis in a “briefing note” in March last year, pointing to statistics which showed the area

Bike Bath News: One of Bath’s big events will no longer be in the city but several miles north in the Cotswolds.

Bike Bath has traditionally been based in the city with long looping rides of different lengths out into the countryside.

However this year on Sunday 1st September the event will be based at Westonbirt School near Tetbury.

The organisers said: “Our new home at Westonbirt School allows us to explore new routes around the stunning countryside of the Cotswolds and it’s quintessentially English villages of honey-coloured stone.

“There will be a choice of routes provisionally 28, 54 and 79 miles long, catering for everyone from the experienced club rider to the first-time sportive rider.”

To take part visit https://www. bikebath.co.uk/ Dirty water: Last year, 32,500 hours worth of sewage was dumped into the River Avon, which runs through Bath, marking a 258% increase on 2022, reports the

already had one of the highest proportions of people choosing to die at home rather than in hospital in England and that the pattern for Covid-19 deaths was the same as it had been “all causes” deaths.

The report by NIHR ARC West — which has now been published — consists of a “quantitative study” looking at data about care homes collected by Bath and North East Somerset Council, and a “qualitative study” consisting of interviews with care home staff from across the West of England sharing their experience of dealing with the pandemic. It concluded:

“The evidence available did not suggest that behaviour and practices undertaken by care homes contributed to the death rates recorded in B&NES during the pandemic.”

But there was little in the study to point to what had caused care homes in the Bath and North East Somerset area in particular to experience such a high rate of Covid-19 deaths. The study’s authors acknowledged this and said they had been unable to collect enough information.

The study did not find an association between discharges from hospitals into care homes and the number of cases of Covid-19 and deaths, but found a strong correlation with care home size.

Interviews identified insufficient

Environment Agency.

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath has campaigned for a new Blue Flag status. Under the proposal, rivers could be designated with the special status to protect them from pollution, including water companies discharging sewage into them.

This would also assure river swimmers that certain environmental standards were being met, allowing them to swim without fear of illness.

The proposals would include water companies facing huge fines if they dump sewage into Blue Flag rivers.

The Bath MP has consistently called for the abolition of the water regulator, Ofwat, as well as a ban on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Bus News: West Link has made changes to its service to try to fix some of the issues and make the service better.

Changes include new zones and booking adjustments to prevent

staffing as the biggest challenge for care homes, with staff having to expand their remits and facing burnout. The report added it was “possible” that visitors and agency staff — who some interviews said were “reluctant to fully engage” with the measures in place at the care homes they came to — were linked with Covid-19 outbreaks.

The report added that some issues identified in the quantitative study were then not supported by the qualitative study. Some data — which researchers said should be “interpreted with caution” due to a small sample size — suggested that there was a link between having a manager who had been in place for less than a year, and having a lower level of cases and deaths. The study called the link “unexpected and unexplained” and interviews with staff conversely found that experienced managers were viewed as a positive.

The quantitative study also found a “weak and inconclusive” association between care homes having less engagement with Bath and North East Somerset Council and having fewer cases and fewer deaths. But the qualitative study showed care homes had a largely “positive and supportive” relationship with local authorities.

The report stated: “We recognise that many of the points here do not address the death

rates in B&NES specifically but we were unable to collect sufficient data for this purpose.

“However, the data we have provided enable insight into the situation for care homes during the pandemic and offer pointers to the future management during outbreaks of severe infectious diseases.”

No care home residents were interviewed for the study because — by the time the researcher was hired to carry out the interviews in September 2022 — residents recall would have been limited and a number had died, the report stated. As a result, researchers only spoke to staff.

A section on the limitations of the research added: “We were unable to recruit sufficient care homes in the B&NES area to address the original research question directly and the lack of the resident voice in the work means we are missing a crucial perspective.”

Instead, the report pointed to the council’s briefing note for “further contextual data” and recommended their analysis be considered alongside the study.

The report will go before Bath and North East Somerset Council’s scrutiny panel on adults, children, health, and wellbeing on April 15.

abuse where customers have been able to book a long trip - meaning they may be the only passenger on the bus as though it was a taxi service.

The current three large zones – North, South and FTZ (largely North Bristol) and two shared zones are being replaced with nine smaller “core” zones and 12 shared zones.

The Royal United Hospital, Bath

University and St Martins Hospital in Bath are included in the new set up.

The service has been controversial since it was introduced by the Metro Mayor Dan Norris with some bus services cut and was criticised in by Ed Plowden who said it was poorly planned and set up initially.

See West Link’s website https:// travelwest.info/

n SPORT NEWS

Bear Flat Cricket

By Harry Mottram.

To get 1.2 million video views online for a piece of cricket action is undoubtedly impressive.

The only thing was that the cricketing action was for not hitting six sixes in an over or completing a hat trick of wickets but for not completing a run out.

If helps to sum up an aspect of Bear Flat Cricket Club’s attitude to the great game: not to take yourself too seriously - but enjoy the sport.

I was talking to the club’s development officer James Earnshaw about the club that for anyone new to the area don’t play in Bear Flat but at the Glasshouse Ground in Combe Down.

James has been part of the club’s drive to develop the

n ANTIQUES

Exploring the long history of Mr Punch

My favourite parts of being an auctioneer are meeting interesting people and finding incredible items – and a recent house call ticked both of those boxes.

Several weeks back, myself and a colleague were called to a client’s home. We met the gentleman on his doorstep and were shown to a back room where we were greeted by an incredible sight – an original Punch and Judy puppet theatre!

Although a rare sight these days, Punch and Judy shows have entertained children (and adults) for hundreds of years. The character has roots that can be traced back to sixteenth century Italian theatre, and the first recorded appearance of Mr Punch in England was in 1662. Hugely popular in the eighteenth century, and continued popularity well into the early twentieth

activities and viability by increasing sponsorship of the players, the shirts and expanding the number of players to include boys and girls and just as important to emphasize the social aspect of The Bears as they are affectionately called.

A post graduate from St Andrews University in Scotland (with a PhD in Modern History) where James played cricket in Caledonia’s notoriously short

centuries, there was barely a pier or beach in the country that didn’t have their own Punch And Judy show.

This particular puppet theatre bore all the scars and wear from decades of performing. The puppets were a mixture of Victorian and later – many of them with evidence of running repairs, and the theatre itself had been modified and fixed over the years. It came with excellent provenance too, being once owned by Bristol-based Punch & Judy puppeteer Bert Bradford who performed all over the South West including Bristol, Bath, Weston Super Mare and Somerset from around the twenties to the early sixties. If you

The club is embracing the women’s game with plans in their development to include a team in the near future with an enthusiastic cohort of young girls who may well go on to become part of that project. As for children there are

saw a show in that period, chances are it was this one.

Punch and Judy may not be as popular as they once were, but there are collectors who will pay big prices for nostalgic items such as this. As I write, the theatre and puppets are entered

The All Stars (age 5-8) for boys and girls, The Bear Clubs and The Grizzlies (under 11), plus a youth team and two elevens. The men’s teams play in the Wiltshire CC League and the Somerset CC League and cup as well as the friendlies and T20 games.

For more and to join the club visit https://bearflatcc.org.uk/

into our upcoming auction with an estimate of one-thousand to two-thousand pounds. Much like the famous crocodile puppet, I’m hoping someone will ‘snap’ it up!

summer - as well as for the community of Largo nearby James describes himself as a middleorder batsman and an off-spinner all-rounder.

A photograph of the Bear Flat Cricket Club’s 1st XI last season

James Earnshaw, of Bear Flat CC

n BUSINESS NEWS

New outdoor kit store opens, plus business training in Bath

George Fisher: The Cumberland based store that sells equipment for walking, running, skiing, climbing and camping has opened a store in Abbeygate Street in the former site of Blacks.

Founded in 1957 in Keswick, George Fisher started out by importing technical climbing equipment which was previously only available in the Alps.

In 1962 Tiso opened a shop in Edinburgh and began to expand buying other stores with George Fisher acquired in 2007. JD Sports took a stake in Tiso in 2014.

Chris Tiso, boss of Tiso & George Fisher said the move to open a store in Bath made sense as the city is “a popular shopping destination offering a traditional mix of independent and high street retailers,” as well as being surrounded by hills ideal for hiking and camping like the Cotswolds. Drinks and Networking: Business West and the Chamber of Commerce have a networking

event on Thursday, 9 May, 2024 at the Royal Crescent Hotel and Spa in Bath. Book go to Eventbrite.

This event is open to anyone who wants to network, including Business West Chambers of Commerce members. There will be two drinks and canapes included in your ticket price.

Bath BID: After a trial period, the Bath Business Improvement District (Bath BID) has launched their new

DISC system for Bath City Centre Levy Payer businesses. As part of the Safe and Secure Bath’s Business Crime Reduction Partnership (Bath BCRP), the Bath BID has stepped up a campaign to combat crime.

Free to all Bath BID Levy Payers will have access to the DISC system to submit GDPR compliant reports on crime and shoplifting happening in their businesses.

DISC is used in over 500

towns, cities, and areas across the UK. The platform allows businesses to communicate and share intelligence to help reduce low-level crime and anti-social behaviour.

Business training: Bath College runs a number of business courses including the Introduction to Business and Digital Level 1.

Essentially it opens the way for young people to get a grounding in aspects of business and for those who successfully complete their programme will achieve a nationally recognised qualification at the appropriate level.

Another popular course is the Fashion Business and Retail Level 2 which introduces pathways available in a career in the sector.

These include designer, creative director, buyer, stylist, photographer, blogger, visual merchandiser or fashion promoter.

For more information on all the business courses visit https://www. bathcollege.ac.uk/business

Students at Bath College had a visit from TV’s Dragons Den Deborah Meaden in March

n NEWS

Candidates to be the next Police and Crime Commissioner

By Harry Mottram: In what could be seen a dress rehearsal for the General Election later this year the public have a chance on May 2, to elect the next Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

With four candidates to choose from – all from the four main political parties – it could be seen as something of a beauty parade as to which one voters may favour ahead of the national election. That is misleading in that the PCC doesn’t quite have the close political affiliations of local councillors or mayors of the larger cities. If you take the national opinion polls as a guide then Labour would be expected to do well.

The Avon and Somerset PCC election features four candidates pitching to win the role with its salary of £88,600 complete with office and support staff – and a chance to hold the police to account in our area.

Mark Shelford is the

Conservative candidate and also the incumbent as he has held the position since 2021 when he prevailed in a five way contest against Labour’s Kerry Baker. Mark replaced Independent Sue Mountstevens who was twice elected as PCC but stood down in 2021. He will hope he can go against the prevailing political winds which have seen the Conservatives almost wiped out in the Bath and North East Somerset elections last year and of course Rishi Sunak’s administration registering very low levels in the polls nationally.

Mark is up against Clare Moody for Labour. She is the chief executive of an equality and human rights

charity, where she has worked on issues relating to violence against women and girls – reports the BBC’s Michelle Ruminski & Chloe Harcombe – and between 2014 and 2019, she was a Member of the European Parliament for the south west and held the position of vice chair of the Security and Defence Committee, covering EuroPol.

The Green Party candidate is Katy Grant who has represented the Clifton Ward in Bristol since 2021 and is a magistrate with the Avon and Somerset Bench – which will stand her in good stead should she win. On her Linked In page she writes that she has: “More than twenty years in conflict,

post-conflict and disaster-prone environments, in child, refugee and social protection, human rights, GBV, gender, poverty graduation and resilience. I have designed and managed multimillion-dollar programmes and led multi-disciplinary teams of professionals in international humanitarian organisations, United Nations agencies and private sector consultancy groups.

Being a helicopter pilot and an aerial cameraman will give the Liberal Democrat candidate Benet Allen a view of the region that includes the county of Somerset, South Gloucestershire, the former area of Avon, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset. He lives in Minehead and is the former deputy leader of Somerset West and Taunton Council.

This PCC election is different from the last one in that there will only be one winner-takes-all vote – like in a parliamentary election –last time the top two then went on to a second ballot.

Benet Allen Liberal Democrat Clare Moody Labour

Katy Grant Green Party

Mark Shelford Conservative

n FEATURE

Part of the alternative history of Bath hides behind a wall

By

David Taylor: Hidden behind a high wall on the Bradford Road, Combe Down, is a little-known part of Bath’s heritage. During the late 1700s the city was the most fashionable resort in England for royalty, the nobility and the wealthy elite.

As well as the middling gentry, the city started to attract the newly well-off professional and commercial middle classes who had money to spend. With its unique hot springs and mild weather, Bath offered them a place of ‘genteel residence’ and good health, fashionable and comfortable society, high quality shops and entertainments. These new visitors and residents required services: doctors, dentists, shops and tradesmen of all kinds.

Taking advantage of these commercial opportunities, Jewish people, mainly Ashkenazi originating in Central Europe, but often having first been living in London, Cardiff or the West Country towns where there were already small Jewish communities, began

to arrive in Bath, some visiting for the season and some settling here permanently.

By 1810 or so it was clear that there were sufficient Jews in the city to need a Burial Ground, a religious priority even greater than establishing a synagogue. So in 1812 a 1000-year lease (rent: one peppercorn per year) was signed for a small piece of land on Combe Down and the first burial took place the same year.

Combe Down at that time was used for surface stone extraction and open grazing for sheep, so perhaps the land was a good price, as well as being away from

the city and public gaze. In the 1850s, with the population of Bath at about 50,000, there were 16 Jewish families living in the city, and a total of about 100 people, although synagogue attendance was less than 20 per week except for Holy days. Burials continued, two or three a year, during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Jewish population increased temporarily during both World Wars, but burials tailed off and the last was in 1941, after which burials have taken place in Bristol. From the 1950s onward there were few Jewish people in Bath and the Burial Ground fell

into severe disrepair, but since the 1990s it has been gradually restored thanks to the support of a local conservation group, the Jewish community, and from money raised from grants, small subscriptions and charitable donations.

The lives of the people interred here provide a fascinating cross section of Bath life: Mr Sigmond the dentist with his ‘patent dentifrice’; Mr Braham, ‘spectacles, theodolites, stereoscopes’, Mr Leon, swords and knives, as well as Mrs Abraham’s ‘splendid wardrobe of dresses’ for the Bachelors’ Fancy Ball; through to jewelers, shopkeepers, tailors, furriers, rich widows and Hebrew teachers; as well as many poorer and more itinerant people buried in unmarked graves. Contemporary records of the burials have been lost, but the local group taking care of the Burial Ground has been reconstructing the history of the Burial Ground and the lives of the Jews of Bath, and holds Open Days three times a year. See bathjewishburialground.org

n FEATURE

The 19th century media storm over a ‘princess’

By Harry Mottram:

Tucked away off North Street in Bristol, is Hebron Road Burial Ground, is the unmarked grave of Princess Cariboo who rocked Georgian society by turning the social order of the time upside down. Well, for a time she did, as eventually the truth about the mysterious appearance of the exotic Royal in Almondsbury in 1817 was revealed when her description and picture, were published in a Bristol newspaper. A boarding house owner recognised her as Mary Wilcocks, the impoverished daughter of a Devonshire cobbler. The game was up and once she was confronted to her real identity, she admitted it had all been a hoax.

That is only part of the story as for a few weeks she was believed by the gullible local gentry in the form of the Worralls of the South Gloucestershire village who she was taken to by the villagers mystified by her apparent inability to understand or speak English. She had been found wandering through the village clutching a cloth bag of scant processions unable to speak English but instead spoke an unknown language. The idea of pretending to be something she wasn’t, was a way to gain attention and possibly a meal as Mary was a pauper as she lived off her wits.

Writing for the BBC Brian Haughton takes up the story:

“Thinking she was a foreign beggar the villagers took her to Mr Overton, the overseer of the local poorhouse, who, mystified by language and dress decided to take her to Knole Park, the home of Samuel Worrall, the county Magistrate. The Worralls sent the girl, in the company of two of their servants, to stay the night in the village. At the inn she noticed a print of a pineapple on the wall and pointed to it excitedly, pronouncing ‘Anana’, and demonstrating that it was a fruit of her homeland.”

The story might have ended there had it not been for the mystery of her language. One of the Worrell’s servants was Greek, and he couldn’t understand her. The Worralls tried French, Spanish and German words but failed to raise a glimmer of recognition. Seeing her chance and concerned she was to be sent to a poor house as a foreign beggar Mary began to

talk in an invented language. By chance there was a Portuguese sailor in the village and he claimed to understand her. Was he in with Mary on the ruse? We’ll never know but the sailor said she was from an island in the Far East and was indeed royalty and was called Princess Cariboo. This changed everything. Mary was instantly seen as someone who transcended the class system.

Her story of having been captured by pirates and having jumped overboard and swam to the shoreline in the Severn Estuary suddenly seemed possible. No longer a pauper destined for the poor house or to be charged with vagrancy she was seen as an exotic celebrity for the Worralls and their neighbours to show off. Dressing her in new clothes and giving the status of society princess and the Worralls were soon the centre of what in 1817 passed for a media storm. She was taken to Bristol and Bath as a guest of society parties and held up as a novelty for her eccentric dress and behaviour. Newspapers wrote about Princess Cariboo’s every foible and appearance. Her desire to sleep on the floor, her ability with a bow and arrow and her extraordinary escape to England by swimming for hours in the sea. That is until the Bristol landlady Mrs Neale exposed her and the game was up. Or was it? Initially she was humiliated but soon the press had a new story: that of a working-class girl who had duped the supposedly educated and worldly wise Worralls and their set.

Ozzie has dramatically improved the warmth and comfort of his home as well as reduced its carbon emissions by 60%. He revamped his draughty, Victorian terrace home in Bath with energyefficient upgrades, including draft-proofing, triple-glazed windows and internal insulation.

If you want to improve your home like Ozzie, take the first step by speaking to Retrofit West today. We can help you make your home more energy efficient.

n NEWS

By John Wimperis:

The government has issued a major warning to the West of England Combined Authority, and ordered local political leaders to get along.

The “best value notice” issued to the combined authority on March 5 by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities directs it to set up an “independent improvement panel” to tackle a host of issues, from poor relationships between political leaders to “confusion” about what the combined authority does. Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who heads the three-council organisation, insisted he would “redouble” his efforts.

The notice said one concern identified was “the poor state of professional relationships between the West of England Combined Authority Mayor and the representatives of the constituent members of the Authority which is impacting partnership working and potentially limiting the authority’s ability to optimise strategic opportunities.”

Auditors Grant Thornton had previously warned in November 2022 that the strained relationships

between the political leaders were a “significant weakness” and called on them to work together but the notice issued today warned there had been “inconsistent action” on this. There have continued to be a number of high-profile spats between Mr Norris the leaders of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset councils, including a row over who should pay for buses and a stalemate over the future of the region’s metro network which left the plans in limbo.

Other concerns raised in the government’s best value notice were the need to review the combined authority’s constitution and the lack of a “clear, shared narrative” about how combined authority will operate for the benefit of the region. It also warned: “The function and purpose of the authority has not been collectively understood and the roles, responsibilities and ‘powers’ of a combined authority are not fully grasped, resulting in confusion between strategic governance and day to day transactional activity.”

Responding to the notice, Mr Norris said: “These are familiar issues. As political leaders, we all want the

best for the West of England. It’s a fantastic place to live, work, and study.

“I will be redoubling my efforts to continue to deliver on our important priorities during this frightening cost of living crisis.”

The government said the combined authority had already taken some steps and made a “good level of progress at officer level” but more needed to be done. It said the combined authority should develop “strategic priorities” for the region, review its constitution, work with the government on its issues, with an independent panel set up to work on tacking these issues. It also called on the authority to “reset the culture and relationships” between Mr Norris and the council leaders.

Bath and North East Somerset Council leader Kevin Guy said: “We have been asking for change in the way that WECA works for years. We recognise how hard the WECA officers have worked to improve practices, but change has to come from the top.

“This effectively gives the Metro Mayor a year to turn this situation around, which he has so far failed to

do. This best value notice represents a serious step, but we believe it is a helpful one. It will lead to a board being appointed to ensure that agreed improvements are put in place. We believe that a new constitution is called for. We will continue to work in partnership with the other constituent authorities and the Metro Mayor to ensure the combined authority delivers for the region, businesses and residents.”

Claire Young, the leader of South Gloucestershire Council, added: “Since joining the committee I’ve been committed to improving working relationships. I appreciate the officers’ willingness to make changes, which has led to some improvements.

“We need to work together to develop a strategy for our region and to put in place a new constitution to help us deliver it. This will need everyone to work together more effectively. We welcome the appointment of an independent panel to help us address the issues and we will engage positively with them for the benefit of local residents.”

n SPORTS NEWS

Bath cricket duo in Somerset Women’s Squad for 2024

By Harry Mottram: Two talented young cricketers from Bath Cricket Club have been selected for Somerset County Cricket Club’s Women’s squad for 2024. Evie Dixon and Emma Phillipson both aged 18 have been selected after impressing for the county during the 2023 season.

Evie has been part of the Somerset Pathway for a number of years, representing Somerset in age group cricket since she was aged 12. Emma started playing for Somerset in the U18 age group last season after moving to the county from Surrey.

On being selected, Evie Dixon said: “To be in the Somerset Women’s squad is a great privilege, especially with the high calibre of players. It’s going to be a busy summer as I’ll also be representing the Bath Wanderers 1st XI with hopes of winning the WEPL again, and I also plan to be part of Bath’s U19 boys XI, to see

Hoops and mallets: Bath Croquet Club (pictured) has opened its lawns at The Rec, in the centre of Bath, ready for a season of exciting outdoor activity writes Lynne Passfield.

We are a croquet club that is welcoming to all who would like to be involved, engaging in an activity that provides gentle exercise, the therapeutic benefits of being in the outdoors and also making new friendships whilst having a jolly good time.

In addition, we have a magnificent clubhouse for those all important refreshment breaks and of course it will offer shelter if those clouds do appear on the horizon.

how far we can progress in the T20 Cup.

For the Somerset Women’s team I’ll be looking to learn off the more experienced players and make the most of the opportunities that come my way by attacking the stumps and being athletic in the field. We’re in a very competitive group so we’ll be looking for a strong start to the season like last year.”

Emma Phillipson added: “I’m thrilled to be selected and can’t wait for the season to start after putting in a match winning performance with the bat in 2023 to get the Somerset Women over the line. I’m hoping to get a few high scores and use all the learning and development I have gained over the winter with Somerset and Western Storm.”

Rob Maggs, Director of Cricket, Bath CC, said: “We’re delighted for both Evie and Emma as this is a great achievement for

Our website bathcroquet .com gives full details of our free taster sessions and members will be waiting to share their knowledge to set you on a journey of discovery of this captivating sport.

We will provide everything you need to play croquet and look forward to welcoming all to our

them both. We’re also looking forward to continuing to support their development through our Wanderers side, and we wish them both well for the 2024 season for both club and county.”

As part of the official announcement of the squad, Kieran Peters, Pathway Coach & Women & Girls Lead at Somerset CCC, said: “We’re really excited by the squad that we’ve assembled for the summer and we’re really confident in the 14 players that we’ve got in the group. There’s a nice mix of players who have a good deal of

splendid lawns.

Bear Flat Cricket Club: The junior squads of the Bear Cubs and the Grizzlies look set for a breakthrough season with the Somerset Cricket Foundation putting club’s under 11 team in the Bath and District Youth League. They will play 16 overs a side and will take part in 12 fixtures.

Netball concerns: Team Bath Netball (at the time of going to press) lie second to bottom in the league. Looking ahead there is much talk about next season’s fully professional league in which Bath will hope to take part in.

The fear is the new Super League will not have relegation and

experience of playing women’s county cricket alongside some new faces. There’s a good blend of youth and experience and we’re pleased with how things are shaping up.”

It was also announced that the 2024 season will see more 50-over cricket and the introduction of national final in the T20 competition for Somerset Women. The team will also play at the Cooper Associates County Ground this summer when they take on Gloucestershire in a 50-over match on Sunday 14th July.

Somerset CCC’s Women’s squad is: Emily Edgcombe (C; Joleigh Roberts (VC); Jess Hazell; Daisy Jeanes; Nicole Harvey; Lorraine Szczepanski; Lola Harris; Alice Bird; Emma Phillipson; Evie Dixon; Lilly Hawkins; Karla Rose; Laila Moledina; Tilly Bond.

For fixtures at Bath Cricket Club visit www.bathcricket.com/

promotion. It is expected to be a franchise model with tenders put in by teams. Whether it remains related to universities and rugby clubs is open to debate. If Bath fail to be in the new set up then gaining entry in the future will be problematic.

For regular results and news see the Bath Voice website.

Bath City FC: a successful season fell short by a few seconds when the team lost 0-1 to Braintree in the play offs. However coach Jerry Gill has agreed another year in charge and the crowds and support have grown in a season when the club created a new feel good factor in the city.

Busy month with the Bath Festival and Fringe

Pick of Diary Events in Bath

Lighthouse Community CaféOpen every Wednesday from 9am to 3pm @ Bath Elim Church, Charlotte Street. Serving homemade cakes in a stunning and welcoming space.

Thu 2 May. Toppings Book Shop. Tiny Tales Picture Book Reading. 9.30am. Tiny Tales is for children aged 2 to 5 years-old. They will have stories, colouring-in, and silly games as well as juice and biscuits for 45 minutes of fun. It’s free of charge, but they would appreciate it if you could sign up to help them estimate numbers.

Thu 2 May. House of St John’s. Bath Girls Business Club. 6.30pm. Tickets on Eventbrite.

Fri 3 May. Widcombe Social Club. Free Live Music Night every Friday. 7-9pm.

Sat 4 May. St Mary’s Church, Bathwich. Courts and canalsSongs from London and Venice, with Musicke In the Ayre. 3pm. The versatile mezzo soprano Alice

Simmons, known for her work in contemporary and folk circles, gives her first solo recital under the Musicke in the Ayre flag. She’ll be accompanied by Din Ghani on various lutes and an archlute.

Mon 6 May. Bath Racecourse. Family Fun Day. From 12.20pm.

Stay

Funfair Face Painting Bouncy Castle Entertainers. Dinosaurs included.

Mon 6 May. Toppings Book Shop. History of Book Makers. 7pm. Adam Smyth gives a talk on the history of the book in 12 lives.

Wed 8 May. The Forum. Scott

Care

Care in your own home

No

Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. Fans of the time-twisting versions of chart hits turn up to the New York collective in retro gear for a celebration of song, dance and style.

Sat 11 May. Komedia. Nick Cope’s Family Show. Musical entertainment for children over 10 and their families.

Fri-Sun 10-12 May. Bath Spring Fayre. From 10am daily in Milsom Street, New Bond Street, Wood Street, Quiet Street, and Green Street where there will be spring-themed workshops, walkabout entertainment, and performances by local singers, performers, and community groups.

Wed 15 May. Jewish Burial Ground Combe Down Guided walk. 6pm. Email info@bathjewishburialground. org to book.

Wed 15 May. Lansdown. Horse Racing. 3.40pm. Flat racing in the evening.

Sat 18 May. Bath Organic Centre. Growing Green Open Day. Upper Bristol Road. 2-5pm. A chance to learn about protecting the soil, avoiding

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Care in your own home

Care in your own home

Care

No need for an expensive care home

featherbed@featherbedhomecare.co.uk www.featherbedhomecare.co.uk

n WHAT’S ON

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petrochemicals and encouraging biodiversity at the site.

Sat 18 May. Bath Forum. 90th Anniversary. The venue is celebrating its 90th birthday with a series of special events. Known for its distinctive Art Deco architecture and rich history, invites everyone to join in a day of festivities, celebrating nine decades of cinema, music and entertainment. Bath Philharmonia will be joined by musicians from His Majesty’s Royal Marines School of Music. Full details at www. bathforum.co.uk

Sat 18-Sun 26 May. Bath Festival. The annual celebration of the arts and books includes on the first day on Sat 18 May at 11.30am at The Guildhall, Daniel Finkelstein in conversation with Simon Mayo. Finkelstein’s account of his family history during WW2 Hitler, Stalin, Mum and Dad was recently narrated on BBC Radio 4. There are walking tours, workshops and countless talks. For details visit the Bath Festivals website.

Sun 19 May. Bath Independent Market at Green Park Station. From 11am. Art, design, retro, vintage, statement/silver jewellery, handmade products, eco-friendly gifts, homeware, and beverages.

Sun 19 May. American Museum. Rare Plant Sale. Features 17 special nurseries.

Fri 24 May-Sun 9 June. Bath Fringe. A festival of all the arts, with few rules as to what should be in or out – it’s what people want to do, and what venues in Bath want to put on. See the website for details at https://www.bathfringe.co.uk/

Sat 25 to Mon 27 May, Bear Flat Artists Art Trail and Open Studios. 11am-5pm. A chance to see a variety of creative work in the studios and homes of the artists with an enjoyable walk around Bear Flat. Visit

BEAR FLAT ARTISTS

ART TRAIL & OPEN STUDIOS

Sat 25 to Mon 27 May, 11am –5pm

Discover a hive of creativity & buy direct form artists. Details: bearflatartists.co.uk free entry

their website: bearflatartists.co.uk

Free entry.

Sat 22 Jun. Bath City Farm.

Summer Fair. From 10am. Includes Wool Day activities to share the wonderful properties of sheep wool, a composting workshop plus games, craft stalls, and live music.

Sat 13 July. Bath Carnival. Take part or watch and enjoy the hundreds of people in the city’s big parade.

Pick of Diary Events outside of Bath

Sun 5 May. Music River Avon Cruise. TV personality Dave Dean entertains with music form the Las Vegas Legends like Elvis and Sinatra on The Tower Belle from 4pm leaving from Welsh Back, Bristol. Tickets at wegottickets.com

Wed 1-Fri 31 May. Bristol Walking Festival. Inclusive walks taking place across the city for people of all ages, interests and abilities. The majority of the walking events are free to attend. See https://www.bristolwalkfest.com/

Theatre Picks In Bath Egg Theatre

Thu 16-Sat 18 May. Little Shop

of Horrors. Bath Theatre Academy Students perform Alan Menkens music from Howard Ashman’s book and lyrics in a twisted tale of love, ambition, and the high price of success.

Main House Theatre Royal

Wed 29-Thu 30 May. What The Butler Saw. Joe Orton’s manic farce in which no institution, political view or tradition is safe.

Mission Theatre

Tue 14-Fri17 May. The Girl Next Door by Alan Ayckbourn. A young woman - Lily - appears in her garden carrying a washing basket; in the next door terraced house Rob - an out-of-work actor - sees her over the hedge and is instantly attracted to her. Just a couple of problems: Rob is in his 60’s, Lily is in her 20’s and Rob is in lock-down in London August 2020 whilst Lily is in the middle of the Blitz in London 1942.

Mon-Sat, 20-25 May. SparkFest

2024. A diverse mix of theatre, music, and dance. Partnering with The Bath Festival, Bath Spa University’s Music & Performing Arts programme brings fresh perspectives from graduating students, alumni, and industry partners. Go to www.sparkfest.co.uk for full listings.

Rondo Theatre

Wed 22-Sat 25 May. I Love You Because. Inspired by modern American sitcoms including Friends, Frasier and Scrubs, I Love You Because transplants Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice into the beating heart of early-2000s New York. Austin Bennet’s life is turned upside down when he finds his girlfriend in bed with another man. Forced back out into the treacherous dating scene, Austin meets Marcy, whose spontaneity is matched only by her ability to drive him insane. A musical-comedy that explores the rules and nuances of dating, because sometimes love is learning how to love someone, not

The Forum 90th Anniversary Saturday 18 May Bath Philharmonia will be performing Sounds of the Cinema featuring music by the great composers for the big screen in an orchestral tour through the decades. The orchestra will be joined by musicians from His Majesty’s Royal Marines School of Music. Full details at www.bathforum. co.uk

in spite of their differences, but because of them. Community theatre Merriman Productions.

Ustinov Studio

Thu 1 May-Sat 1 Jun. The Deep Blue Sea. Terence Rattigan’s 1950’s study of obsession and the destructive power of love. When you’re stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, the deep blue sea can sometimes look very inviting. In this powerful drama of passion versus loyalty, Hester Collyer, the daughter of a clergyman and wife of a judge is floundering in the closing stages of a hopeless affair. Freddie Page, her lover, a handsome but shallow ex-Battle of Britain pilot, is out of his depth in their relationship, overwhelmed by the strength of an emotion he is incapable of reciprocating.

Theatre Picks Outside Bath Bristol Old Vic. Tue 7 – Sat 11 May The Glass Menagerie. Tennessee Williams’ family drama. Taunton. Brewhouse. Sun-Mon, 5-6 May. The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

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Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs, and clumsy chaos.

Exhibition Picks in Bath American Museum, Bath. Claverton. American Road Trip. 9 Mar-31, Dec, 2024. Images, sounds and sets allowing you to experience a trip across the USA.

Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution. ‘The World Revealed’ Exhibition. Free. It features items donated to BRLSI over the years. Until 12 October 2024.

Herschel Museum of Astronomy. It is located in a town house at 19 New King Street that was formerly the home of William Herschel and his sister Caroline. In 1977 the William Herschel Society was set up to gather support for the rescue of the building. It was purchased in 1981 with the aid of Doctors Leslie and Elizabeth Hilliard, saving it from demolition. William discovered Uranus whilst residing in the house in March 1781 using a 7 foot telescope designed and built in the attached workshop.

Holburne Museum. Current shows

include Mr Doodle! Museum Mayhem. Primarily characterised by black ink on a white background, Mr Doodle’s graphic style conjures up a mesmerising world of quirky creatures and anthropomorphic forms, using ink pens and spray paint to weave together what he describes as “graffiti spaghetti”; Henry Moore in Miniature from May 3 to September 8. Moore’s practice involved carving small stones or pieces of wood, casting lead, modelling in clay or, as was usual in later years.

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. 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 tea ceremonies run on Thursdays every month: 21 March, 25 April, 30 May and 11 July. Experience the wonders of a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Yukie Williams and

The Bath festivals began back in the late 1960s with music and rock events followed by the Walcot Festivals of the ’70s & ‘early 80s, mostly run by a community group called Bath Arts Workshop – the name still exists for the company that runs the Natural Theatre Company of Bath. Later the Bath Fringe was set up with the support of the then city council in 1981but as resources dwindled over the next decade a new group promoted the Bath Fringe in 1991. That group, Bath Fringe Ltd., is a cooperative, and includes a variety of members and was briefly funded through Bath Festivals Trust, but the arrangement didn’t work out and the Fringe retained its full independence. For details of this year’s events see https://www.bathfringe.co.uk/

presented by Yukie Scott. Victoria Art Gallery. Exhibitions include Toulouse-Lautrec and the Masters of Montmartre until 29 September 2024. Discover the sights

and sounds of Toulouse-Lautrec’s thrilling Bohemian Paris in this dazzling exhibition of works by Toulouse-Lautrec and the Masters of

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Montmartre.

Exhibition Picks outside Bath Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. To 1 Sep. The Art of Japanese porcelain. The exhibition examines how Japan became the global leading makers of porcelain between 1640 and 1680.

Somerset Rural Life Museum

Glastonbury. Somerset Floods - 10 years on - photography exhibition. An exhibition of photographs by Matilda Temperley, reflecting on ten years since the county’s devastating floods of winter 2013-14.

Attractions in Bath

Assembly Rooms. The National Trust are working on the Georgian Experience, due to open in 2026. You can book a visit the once centre of Georgian social life – wearing period costume is optional.

Bath Abbey. Not just a place of worship with numerous events and services but also features a shop, tower tours, a discovery centre and a social history museum.

Bath City Farm. 37 acres overlooking the city on Kelston View.

The Bath Festival: 17 May 2024 - 26 May 2024. The opening night, Party in the City on Friday 17th May is free. Tickets for events cost from £8. Who’s appearing: journalist Clive Myrie, comedians Ruby Wax, Sara Pascoe, Shaparak Khorsandi and Helen Lederer, West End star Michael Ball, a cappella ensemble Stile Antico in Bath Abbey, campaigner George Monbiot, star astronomer Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, bestselling authors Mark Billingham, David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas), Kathy Lette and John Boyne, as well as many more writers and musicians. For tickets visit: https://bathfestivals.org.uk/the-bath-festival/

A working farm with café, facilities, workshops and gardens.

Bath World Heritage Centre. Interactive exhibits and displays designed to reveal the history of Bath

Everything you need to know about the author and her life.

Mary Shelley’s House of Frankenstein. Gay Street. Monsters and more.

Museum of Bath Architecture. The Bath Preservation Trusthas reopened the museum at he Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapel. The museum tells the story of the rich architectural history of Bath, from its transformation from a small medieval town into the world-famous Georgian city, to the Victorian expansion and 20th century demolitions.

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.

and show visitors and residents free walking trails and guides to help you explore everything Bath has to offer.

Jane Austen Centre. Gay Street.

The Roman Baths. The hot water that comes out of the ground is the reason Bath exists. A fascinating tour of the city’s history from the time of the Romans to the renewed interest by the Georgians up to today’s discoveries.

Advertising Feature

The Forum: 90 Years at the Centre of Bath’s Cultural and Social Scene

The iconic Forum building in Bath, the centrepiece of the region’s cultural and social scene, is set to celebrate its 90th birthday on May 18th with a series of special events. This landmark venue, known for its distinctive Art Deco architecture and rich history, invites everyone to join in a day of festivities, celebrating nine decades of Bath’s premiere venue offering the very best in cinema, music and entertainment.

Bath Philharmonia will be raising the curtains at The Forum’s 90th Birthday Party in the evening this year’s much anticipated Concert for the People of Bath: Sounds of Cinema featuring music by the great composers for the big screen in an orchestral tour through the decades of some of the most popular film soundtracks. Epic music demands an epic performance and the orchestra will be joined by musicians from His Majesty’s Royal Marines School of Music. Full details at www.bathforum.co.uk

Action to protect councillors over death threats and violence

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter: Councillors

in Bath and North East Somerset will be able to keep their home addresses private if they wish to, amid growing concerns about the intimidation of councillors.

The home addresses of local councillors had been listed publicly in the register of interests, unless councillors could provide “evidence of threat of violence and intimidation.”

Now councillors will be able to ask for their home address to be treated as a sensitive interest and not publicly disclosed.

It comes after local government minister Simon Hoare wrote to the chief executives of local authorities in England last month in response to concerns about intimidation in public life.

Mr Hoare said: “The government encourages monitoring officers to look sympathetically at accommodating requests for the withholding of home addresses from published versions of the

register of interests where there are legitimate concerns of violence or intimidation.”

Speaking at a meeting of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s standards committee on April 23 to discuss the change, Michelle O’Doherty (Newbridge, Liberal Democrat) said she supported the change, although she personally was happy having her address public.

She said: “Having been a councillor for seven years, the political discourse has got so

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

personalised and often quite unpleasant that I think a lot of councillors feel very vulnerable.”

Alan Hale (Keynsham South) added: “Anything that makes it safer for our colleagues or even to give them some peace of mind, I will follow. I will continue to display my address because it would be a pointless exercise to try and hide it in a small town, and people know me.”

The council’s monitoring officer Michael Hewitt said in a report to the committee that

Time for action to end loss of young lives

THE recent loss of young lives across the West of England is a huge concern.

At my annual Schools Summit, students pitch ideas to me for new policies.

Sometimes it’s the environment, transport, or about skills. This year’s big theme turned out to be how to tackle knife crime.

Many young people are currently worried, anxious and unclear about what they can do to best avoid knife violence. But they know the awful toll of young lives only too well.

Mason Rist and Max Dixon – aged just 15 and 16 respectively – were stabbed in Knowle West back in January.

Darrian Williams, also just 16, was killed in Easton in February.

Another 16-year-old, Mikey Roynon, was stabbed and killed at a birthday party in Bath last June.

In 2022, Radstock teenager Charley Bates was another young victim. His killer was prosecuted last August.

Knife crime is impacting young people, who are changing their behaviour from fear, for example staying in more and not seeing their friends so frequently.

There is no single answer – far from it. But I do know we must act.

We need to invest in young people and the resources that help them. Real-terms reductions to local council budgets for the past 14 years have hit youth services very badly.

There is also a lack of mental health support for youngsters growing up in an ever more complex and fast-changing world. As a former NSPCC-trained child protection officer, this is something close to my heart.

Young people need mentors, to take part in activities that build their self-esteem. They also need access to first rate support from qualified professionals.

Sadly, young people are staying away from youth clubs and youth provision because they and their parents are frightened. That’s a vicious circle we need to break.

We also need to smash the myth that carrying a knife makes you safer. It doesn’t.

However secure it makes you feel, you’re actually more likely to be stabbed with your own knife than anyone else’s. By carrying a knife, you’re potentially arming your attacker.

The police are right to hold knife amnesties. But the fall in police numbers and prosecutions under this government is unacceptable. I also can’t fathom the reason to wait until the autumn to ban dangerous ‘zombie knives’ and

it was a “draconian” move, but there was a balance to be struck between protecting councillors and transparency. If a member’s address would be an interest in any council meeting, they would still be required to declare an interest and not take part in the debate or vote.

The committee voted in favour of the proposal.

Since 2019, candidates in local elections have not had to have their home addresses published to stand at election, in line with parliamentary candidates. However, until now, councillors have been required to have their addresses publicly available in the register of interests — unlike Members of Parliament whose addresses remain private.

Last month, councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council spoke of receiving death threats and having their homes, families, and pets targeted in a meeting where they voted to back the Local Government Association’s Debate Not Hate campaign.

machetes. And when the worst happens, we need people trained to react.

At my schools summit, youngsters learnt from the brilliant anti-knife crime campaigner Leanne Reynolds how to use ‘bleed kits’, which contain everything needed to give first aid to someone rapidly losing blood.

So, here’s the deal: to tackle knife crime head-on, we need to get everyone on board – community groups, charities, businesses, police and especially young people.

It also requires political parties to work together, something as West of England Mayor I’m keen to encourage.

The senseless loss of young life is an utter and total tragedy. It’s time for action, so we can beat it – together.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

Cllr Alan Hale

Cllr Michelle O’Doherty

n BATH LIBRARY BOOK REVIEWS AND NEWS

Adult Fiction

The Sixth Lie – Sarah Ward I have always really enjoyed Sarah Ward’s crime stories and this book is the second in the series featuring Mallory Dawson, a retired MET police officer. It is set in one of the smallest cities in the UK, St Davids and the surrounding Welsh countryside. The story starts on New Years Eve 2011 and toddler Huw Jones disappears from his bedroom. His mother has attended a New Eve Party and his father is at home, along with five of his oldest and dearest friends. Tragically Huw is found dead on the nearby cliffs at St Notts hours later.

Heledd’s death. But are the two crimes connected? What secrets do the six friends have and what would they do to protect them? This is a very wellpaced story, in particularly the dynamic between the six friends and definitely kept me guessing right up to the end.

Bonny & Read – Julie Walker

A story of two extraordinary women. Set in the Caribbean in 1720, this a tale of pirates and adventure.

All six friends are questioned by the police and statements are taken. All have prefect alibis. Then ten years later, Heledd, Huw’s mother is found dead. Mallory is brought in by the local police to assist in the original disappearance of Huw while they investigate

Anne Bonny –runaway wife and now pirate aboard the Revenge. She is involved in the capture of a British merchant ship where on board she meets Mary Read. Mary is just as unconventional as Anne is – a widow, a sailor, dressed as a boy since childhood. They make a thrilling double act where even a ballad is sung in their honour as their exploits find fame across the Caribbean.

The drama of the high seas carries you along in this book, which is packed

Loft Boarding & Insulation

with fun and sometimes tragedy, as the two women are always on the run, from their pasts and of course from the British Navy and the threat of execution. A great read. Also Anne Bonny and Mary Read were real life 18th Century pirates – look them up !

Adult Non-Fiction

Frida, the biography of Frida KahloHayden Herrera, as reviewed by Emilie Bioud, Keynsham Library Assistant I don’t know if you’re unfamiliar with the name, but you surely must have seen her face, on adverts, calendars, books etc. Frida Kahlo is the most famous Mexican artist of the 20th century. She is such a popular icon she is even more famous now than her late husband Diego Riviera. Her iconic look wearing traditional Tehuacan dresses, braided hair tied on her head with flowers is unique and made everyone turn around in the street.

This biography tries to show us an insight of her private life, with letters, notes and comments from friends and family, along with explanation of her paintings. This books also coincides with a new documentary about Frida which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in March 2024.

We get to know her, feel for her when she gets into a streetcar accident that made her disabled for the rest of her life. Hayden Herrera gives us a woman strong and fragile at the same time, she continues to fascinate the world with her thoughts and art she left behind.

Children’s Picture Books

Bluey : Queens, as reviewed by Emilie Bioud, Keynsham library Assistant

The story presents itself as most of the television programme does. It’s a role play between Bluey and her younger sister Bingo. They decide to be queen and to have a butler taking all the queen’s orders. Both sisters prefer much more being butler and having duties, but they are learning to share and each having their turn at playing the different roles.

The colours are always fresh and joyful in Bluey, and you get a glimpse of the Heeler’s family life.

The parents being busy cleaning the house while the girls are carefree. It always captures nicely the games and imagination of young children without judgment or consequences.

Animal Crackers - Ruby Wright, as reviewed by Emilie Bioud, Keynsham Library Assistant Little Maisie lives in a flat, she dreams of having a pet, but her mum explains to her the house is too small.

So Maisie is very creative and she finds a way. Every packet and boxes in the kitchen that have an animal illustration on it become her new pet. It starts with a monkey, then a pelican, soon adding on a giraffe and even a penguin. But having such a big menagerie comes with a lot of responsibilities that little Maisie isn’t sure she is ready to take on.

A very sweet story where little ones can dream that anything is possible.

Library News

Storytime: Tuesdays 10.30-11am, Bath Central Library – term time only and for 0-4 years.

Storytime: Thursday at 11am is Storytime at Keynsham Library – term time only and for 0-4 years. Come along, with a cushion and listen to some fantastic new stories.

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 ever-popular 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

n REVIEW

Rolling back the years with Ladybird books

Art Exhibition Review: The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath.

My heart sank when I showed the cover of the Ladybird book Julius Caesar and Roman Britain to my brother who remarked ‘Empire propaganda.’ He had missed the point. Yes, the illustrations and books of the Ladybird company reflected the era of 1945 to 1972 with its conventions and assumptions of post war Britain rooted in earlier decades of Empire. As someone brought up on Janet and John books the style with its preponderance of white middleclass families in the everyday scenes depicted, were familiar, if dated. That aside it’s the quality of the illustrations, the typography and book design that still delights – and this brilliant exhibition is a triumph.

I don’t go much for the so-called spoof versions which attempt to send up the style with titles like The Hipster and The Hangover – far removed from the innocence and beauty of the original style first formulated in 1940 when the small hardbacks were first published. In an exhibition of at Bath’s Victoria Art Gallery entitled The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists, Helen Day has curated a visual and written history of the books, their publishers, commissioners, writers and artists in a joyous celebration. It’s more about the artists rather than the books as all the illustrators had careers creating posters, wall charts, comics, magazines, commercial work and the books that predated the Ladybird books for their publishers Wills &

Hepworth. Before the advent of colour photography used in most publications full colour illustrations dominated and they had the advantage of illustrating scenes from nursery rhymes, history and everyday life – including the future.

I chatted to several people – and dare I say it (like me) they were of a certain age – essentially they were in primary school in those decades after World War Two. “It brings it all back,” was one phrase repeated several times while others told me they still had their Ladybird books and were going to dig them out when they got home and have a read. Sadly, I had got rid of most of my childhood books although I still have a copy of The Ladybird Book of British Wild Animals with its ‘Empire era’ hedgehogs, red deer and foxes of course – beautifully illustrated by Roland Green in 1958. More of his work was on display – and what was so good were the texts by the illustrations on show giving a vivid depiction of the life and work of so many artists.

Helen Day explained a little about the artists in the exhibition. She wrote: “The exhibition sets these artists in context and highlights other work that they produced. John Kenney, for example, who illustrated most of the History books for Ladybird, also illustrated Thomas the Tank Engine. Ronald Lampitt, who lived most of his life in Kent and loved the local scenery, painted many beautiful and evocative scenes of country and suburban life for publications such as Illustrated, John Bull, Look and Learn and Readers Digest.

“Harry Wingfield and Martin Atichison are today perhaps best

known for illustrating the Peter and Jane books that taught so many of us to read. But Aitchison’s wartime service saw him working with Barnes Wallis, producing artist’s impressions to help sell the idea of the Dambusters bouncing bomb –

portrait painter is still on display today. Frank Hampson created the character of Dan Dare and was at the forefront of The Eagle magazine for many years.”

The overall effect of the exhibition was to create broad smiles and conversations filled with nostalgia – when summers were filled with sunshine, school holidays went on forever and heavy snow fell in the winters – or so we like to recall. It’s enjoyable to look back and this exhibition certainly aids the process and judging by the large numbers of people there on a chilly midweek day, Ladybird books have a place in a good many baby boomers’ hearts. And fiddlesticks to the revisionist historians who can only see evidence of ‘Empire propaganda’ rather than the skills of the artists.

The exhibition ran from January to April and ended last month.

which was tested at Reculver. John Berry had a great gift for portraiture and this can be seen in his powerful portraits of People at Work for Ladybird Books. It can also be seen at the Imperial War Museum, where his wartime work as a war artist and

For more on the books and the publisher of Ladybird Books visit Helen Day’s website at https:// ladybirdflyawayhome.com/

For details of the Victoria Art Gallery and its other exhibitions visit https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/

Cycling Lands’ End to John O’Groats for two of Bath’s charities

By Harry Mottram:

This June cycling from Lands’ End to John O’Groats to raise cash for Bath Mentoring Plus and the Bath Food Bank.

There are so many brilliant charities in Bath so it was a difficult choice but in the end I chose two which I have previously written about and interviewed for Bath Voice News.

The Bath Food Bank helps thousands of people in and around Bath every year including nearly 1,500 children.

Social workers, the NHS, schools and other organisations often refer families and individuals to the food bank where they provide a minimum of three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food along with other vital household items.

For more details about the Food Bank visit https://bath.foodbank. org.uk/

The Bath Mentoring Plus

supports young people aged 7-25 in Bath & NE Somerset who are facing challenges.

The charity has scores of Bathonians who match up with young people and providing a positive role model - someone who will take them out each week, encourage them to explore their interests and try new activities and have become a friend and mentor.

There is much more to the charity based at York Place,

Riverside Youth Hub, Bath, with activities at the hub and a general feeling of wellcoming for young people who may feel isolated.

When I met the group what impressed me was by mentoring and supporting young people who could end up on the wrong side of the law or simply fail to reach their potential they were helping turn young lives around.

I connected to the idea having had a troubled teenage life myself

and really only found a direction in life when talking to adults who I respected who suggested I enroll in a college on a foundation course. The rest is history.

For more on the good work of Mentoring Plus visit https:// mentoringplus.net/

I will be cycling on an old school but modern ‘sit up and beg bicycle’ and taking it very steady since I’m in my late 60s - camping, living on peanut sandwiches and the odd gin - and of course coffee as I have a camping stove.

In Scotland where there are fewer campsites I’ll be wildcamping - so if nothing else as a friend said, it will be a character building trip. You can follow my journey on social media on all the usual sites.

To support my fundraise for the two charities visit Just Giving and look for Harry’s Cycle Ride.

All contributions however small are gratefully received.

Plan to destroy unusual 1960s Catholic church challenged

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter:

The Diocese of Clifton tried to downplay the architectural significance of a unique village church so it could knock it down to build housing, a conservation expert has warned.

A planning application to knock down the Church of the Good Shepherd in Batheaston — a rare example of brutalist architecture in the Bath area — said that building four houses in its place would “more closely align to the character and appearance of the area.”

But conversation experts have called for the building to be locally listed. In comments from Bath and North East Somerset Council’s conservation team, Caroline Power said: “The value attributed to this non-designated heritage asset has been underplayed by the applicants. The church is a landmark structure that contributes towards the character of the locality and is worthy of retention, despite its contrasting materiality and built form.

“Solutions demonstrating its re-use as part of the redevelopment of this site should be provided before demolition is considered.”

Built by Bath architect Martin Fisher in 1967 — who also designed St Peter and Paul’s in Combe

Down — the church was met with a mixed reaction from locals. Some in the village see it as an “important historical statement,” but others see it as an “eyesore” and “the village joke.”

It was one of the first churches to be built to the new liturgical principles which — three years later — would guide the design of Clifton Cathedral, which is also built in a brutalist style and has been Grade II* listed.

The Church of the Good Shepherd largely consists of poured concrete blocks. It does not have a traditional spire, but instead its square roof slopes up to the south east corner, reflecting the tent of a travelling pilgrim. Rather than stained glass, it uses polycarbonate blocks. Their coloured pattern can be seen from the inside but is only revealed to people outside when the church is lit up from within.

But during Covid-19, the church closed and, with declining numbers attending mass, was judged to not be viable to reopen. The Diocese of Clifton said worshippers could attend St Mary’s in Bath instead or watch live-streamed mass services.

Now the diocese wants to build four homes on the site of the church: a four-bed home, two three-bed homes, and a wheelchair adaptable

two-bedroom home. The parking space at the back of the church would be reduced, providing gardens for each of the homes, and the plans are intended to more than double the nature on the site.

A heritage statement submitted with the Diocese of Clifton’s application argued that the church was not so significant that it should not be demolished to make way for the homes. It said: “The buildings aesthetic value is perhaps one of the most difficult to assess, being largely reliant upon an individuals own reaction towards it; the building being an unashamedly contemporary building within a traditional 18th and 19th century domestic context.

“As an example of brutalist architecture within Bath it has some value, but as an example of contextual design, it can be argued that this is where the building is least successful.”

But in her comments, Ms Power said: “In contrast to the heritage statement, this analysis considers the stark contrast in form and materiality within the conservation area as a deliberate and successful design ploy to make this church stand out as a notable statement of religious strength.” In a late intervention into the planning process, the Council for

British Archaeology wrote to Bath and North East Somerset Council to give their backing to giving the building locally listed status. Listed buildings caseworker Dr Alison Edwards wrote: “The existing building on the site is a characteristic and interesting example of mid-twentieth century religious architecture, which makes a positive contribution to the Batheaston Conservation Area as an illustration of the social and architectural development of the area in the post-war period.”

Unlike when a building is listed by Historic England, local listing does not come with planning controls to protect buildings. But it will be a “material consideration” in deciding the planning application.

Waterworks Cottage on Charlcombe Way was slated to be locally listed in 2021 but — after a long planning battle — its owners still got the go-ahead to demolish the cottage.

The plans for the Church of the Good Shepherd have been called in to be decided by the council’s planning committee by local councillor Sarah Warren (Bathavon North, Liberal Democrats) but no date has yet been set for the committee to meet to make a decision.

The Bath Food Bank

Bath Mentoring Plus

CAR BODY REPAIRS