July 2014

Delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to all homes in Bradley Stoke

July 2014 • Issue 15

POLICE P5 | LETTERS P8 | SCHOOLS P15 | QUIZ P31 | WHAT’S ON P37 | DIRECTORY P39

FESTIVAL REPORT & PHOTOS Pages 19-23

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PLUS , IN YOUR 40-PAGE BRADLEY STOKE MAGAZINE l Feelings run high as travellers pitch up on Bradley Stoke Way l War memorial and WWI ceremonies planned l Little Stoke junior parkrun off to a flying start

Primary school on BSCS site

Already over budget by £750k

Superfast fibre broadband

Page 3

Coming soon to central BS

Page 9

l Get ready for Carnival!

Community workshops begin Sunday 27th July l Bradley Stoke Sikh to receive medal from Ugandan government

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July 2014

Authorities take relaxed approach to travellers

Contact Us Editor: Stephen Horton info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk 01454 300 400 83 Snowberry Close Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 8GB

Find us on Facebook: BradleyStokeJournal Follow us on Twitter: @TheBSJournal

About the Bradley Stoke Journal The Bradley Stoke Journal website and magazine are published by North Bristol Press, a trading name of Snowberry Media Ltd; company number 8451178 (registered in England and Wales); registered office 19 The Park, Bristol.

Our other publications include the Patchway Journal website, the Stoke Gifford Journal website and the Filton Journal website.

North Bristol Press is independent of any other media company or network operating in the Bristol area.

We accept no responsibility for anything stated by advertisers, who are themselves responsible for complying with all relevant legislation.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or article author. © North Bristol Press 2014. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.

The appearance of an unauthorised traveller encampment on a grass verge alongside Bradley Stoke Way last month seemed to generate a great deal of anger and anxiety within the local community.

Although there was almost universal agreement that the travellers should be “moved on”, the means and urgency of achieving that outcome were a matter for debate.

Most local people seemed to want the full force of the law used to evict the travellers in the shortest possible time. However, the owners of the land (South Gloucestershire Council) and the police took a more relaxed approach, preferring negotiation over legal action.

The reason for that may be because those two bodies are well aware that while the action of forcing the travellers off an unauthorised site might win them applause in one community, it is also likely to draw criticism from another, when the caravans pitch up at another unauthorised site somewhere else within their respective area of responsibility.

Indeed, we were told by the police that the same group of travellers had previously camped on unauthorised sites in Filton, Cribbs Causeway and Aztec West, before arriving in Bradley Stoke.

Let’s hope that someone, somewhere, is looking at the bigger picture.

Stephen Horton

We deliver 9,450 copies of this magazine As well as being delivered to ALL of the 8,650 homes in Bradley Stoke, a further 800 copies of this magazine are delivered in the neighbouring areas of Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. We also leave around 500 copies at public locations in Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Stoke Gifford.

Find out more and get interactive!

So that you can find out more about the topics included in this issue of the magazine and/or take part in online discussions about them on our website or Facebook page, we have set up an online reference page listing all the related links. Visit: http://bit.ly/bsj-mag-links or scan the QR code.

Get involved with your local newspaper!

If you have news that you would like to see featured in the magazine and/or on our website, please get in touch by email, phone or post (see contact details on the top left of this page).

We are also looking for people to get involved in the production of the town’s new local newspaper, so please contact us if you are interested in writing articles or taking photographs for us.

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News

New school already over budget by £750k

C

ouncillors have been told that the project to construct a new primary phase building on the Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) site is over-budget by an estimated £750k, before the first brick has even been laid.

A paper presented to a meeting of South Gloucestershire Council’s Children and Young people Committee on 18th June reported that “further scheme development has confirmed that the project cannot be delivered within the £3m budget” due to issues that have recently emerged. These are said to include: • Additional enabling works including relocation of all cycle parking • The requirement for a full catering kitchen rather than just

a servery (to facilitate additional school meals) • Additional external works, such as ball stop fencing and landscaping • Sport England requirements, as the new primary school displaces existing sports facilities • Soil investigation tests that have identified significant ground contamination Although the new primary age facility will be operated by the Olympus Academy Trust rather than South Gloucestershire Council, The Journal understands that financial liabilities relating to the construction programme lie with the council rather than the trust.

Meanwhile, a recent article in the Bristol Post suggesting that the new primary phase building could be double the currently

South view

North view

proposed size has been dismissed as unrealistic by BSCS head Dave Baker. He says the directors of the trust made it very clear that they would not be persuaded about changing to two-form entry once the planning application had been submitted.

A related planning application for a car parking area and cycle storage that currently occupy the site of the proposed primary phase building to be relocated to the other side of the existing secondary school building has now been approved. This work is

expected to commence on 12th July and be completed in time for the new term in September.

Mr Baker told The Journal: “Our next challenge this autumn will be how to market a primary phase that is not yet built and has no staff or pupils, but we have been here before ten years ago before BSCS opened, so watch this space…”

It is hoped that the new primary facility will be ready to accept its first intake of Reception age children in September 2015.

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July 2014

Bradley Stoke

Stoke Gifford

Winterbourne

Building of 2,000 homes on Green Belt land south of Bradley Stoke comes a step closer as council publishes updated version of Supplementary Planning Document South Gloucestershire Council has produced an updated version of a document that defines its “vision” for an area of Green Belt land east of Stoke Gifford, where it is foreseen that 2,000 new homes will be built by 2027.

The ‘East of Harry Stoke New Neighbourhood’ was identified as a strategic housing site in the council’s Core Strategy planning blueprint document, adopted in December 2013.

The proposed Stoke Gifford By-Pass (officially known as the Stoke Gifford Transport Link) will run through the site, forming part of the route for the proposed North Fringe to Hengrove bus rapid transit scheme that will link Cribbs Causeway, Aztec West and Bradley Stoke with the city centre.

Once adopted, the Strategic Planning Document (SPD) will set out the principles and objectives for the area that the council will use in determining any planning applications for the New Neighbourhood, and will identify the infrastructure required to support the needs of the new communities living there.

The 2,000 new homes foreseen for the Green Belt area are in addition to 1,200 already being constructed on Crest Nicholson’s Highbrook Park site in Harry Stoke.

Consultation on the latest version of the SPD runs until Monday 28th July.

For more information, visit the consultation website at: www.southglos.gov.uk/ eastofharrystokeSPD or read more on the Stoke Gifford Journal website.

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July 2014

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5

Police News

Appeal for information following Stevens Walk jewellery burglary

P

olice are asking the public for help with their enquiries into a day-time burglary in Bradley Stoke on Wednesday 25th June.

The break-in, at a property in Stevens Walk (off Hawkins Crescent), happened sometime between 10.30am and 2pm.

The thieves got over a 6ft fence which borders the road and smashed the rear patio door to gain entry. They searched the house and made off with valuable watches and jewellery as well as an iPhone, laptop and tablet computers and a camera.

A crime scene investigation and house-to-house enquiries have been carried out and the neighbourhood police team will be carrying out targeted patrols.

Man jailed for Oaktree attempted robbery

The stolen jewellery included: • A gold necklace with links in a brick pattern • A necklace of yellow and white gold U-shaped links and a matching bracelet • A 1974 Krugerrand in a pendant mount • A 4cm long gold locket with a lady’s head and shoulders in relief • A 5cm long gold cross and a 5cm gold crucifix • A pair of diamond and white gold stud earrings each with three diamonds Investigating officer PC Gary Clark said: “I’d ask anyone who was in the area yesterday and saw any suspicious activity to get in touch. We’d also like to hear from anyone who has seen the

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stolen items offered for sale. You can contact us either through our website or by calling 101, quoting reference 63837/14. You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

They never ask your name or trace your call.”

Police say they would advise anyone with valuable jewellery to invest in a safe to keep it in.

Look for one which meets ‘Sold Secure’ testing standards. It’s also a good idea to take photos and keep them with a copy of any valuations or descriptions.

You can find more home security advice on the police website, www.avonandsomerset.police.uk

A man has been jailed for ten months for the attempted robbery of a couple in Oaktree Crescent, Bradley Stoke, in March.

The 19-year-old from Bradley Stoke admitted the offence when he appeared before Bristol Crown Court on 19th June.

He was identified after local people responded to an appeal for information issued by the police.

He had approached a couple who were walking home at about 10.30pm on a Saturday night.

He demanded money, threw beer over them and was racially abusive and threatening before making off empty-handed.

Neighbourhood PC Claire Fletcher said: “This is a safe place to live and the community will not tolerate this sort of behaviour.

I’d like to thank everyone for their support in this case.” ● Next Bradley Stoke Safer and Stronger Community Group meeting: 24th July (see page 37)

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I cannot thank Dr Leah enough for making this possible.

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7

News

Britain’s Got Talent star mobbed on visit to Bradley Stoke KFC

A

15-year-old pop star from Bradley Stoke was mobbed by fans when he visited the Willow Brook Centre’s KFC restaurant just hours after appearing in the final of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent show.

Although the national and regional media have widely reported that Charlie Lenehan, of rap/singing duo Bars and Melody, comes from Frampton Cotterell, a story published on BSJ website just days before the final exclusively revealed that he has lived in Bradley Stoke since before Christmas.

Fame in semi-final

Charlie and his friend Leondre Devries, 13, from South Wales, shot to fame in the fourth semifinal of Britain’s Got Talent on Thursday 29th May, where they topped the public vote with their own version of ‘I’ll be Missing You’ (originally recorded by Puff Daddy/Faith Evans/112) to earn of one eleven places in the show’s finale on Saturday 7th June.

Days before the final, Bars and Melody were the bookies’ favourite to win the competition’s £250,000 prize and the likelihood of a lucrative recording contract, but on the night they had to settle for third place behind musical theatre boy band Collabro and opera singer Lucy Kay.

After staying overnight in London, Charlie was driven back to Bradley Stoke the following day by his uncle, Gary Millard. But before returning home, Gary took the young pop star to his local KFC “for a well-earned treat”.

Recognised by manager

Duty manager Katie instantly recognised Charlie and asked him for a photo (see right) but it wasn’t long before around thirty young female fans crowded into the restaurant, having heard that the star was on the premises.

Hearing that Charlie is a big fan of KFC’s Krushem drinks, Katie allowed him to try the new Krushem Skittles, which wasn’t due to go on general release until the following day.

Speaking to The Journal after Charlie’s surprise visit, Katie said: “It was really random, having watched the show on TV the night before. I really felt he deserved a special treat for doing so well in Britain’s Got Talent. It was an extraordinary experience - I was shaking for about half-anhour afterwards.”

BGT star Charlie Lenehan pays a surprise visit to the Bradley Stoke KFC

the first year of his GCSE studies.

Despite not winning Britain’s Got Talent, the future still looks bright for Bars and Melody. They have reportedly been given an initial one record deal with Simon

Cowell’s Syco label, are booked to perform at the Reading Festival and will soon be returning to the USA to make a second appearance on the popular Ellen DeGeneres chat show.

Back to school

The following day, it was back to school for Charlie, at Winterbourne International Academy, where he has since been catching up on work and exams in

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July 2014

Letters and Opinions Southmead Hospital – Can it deliver?

Well, it’s open, and after all the trumpets and hype, are we going to get the service we pay for?

Appointments can take up to four months and parking is a nightmare. At least when they had more entrances and departments were scattered around there did seem to be more adjacent parking areas, although parking has always a bit of a problem.

Staff who pay for the privilege can be bussed over from Frenchay, but as you can imagine, they are not too happy about the extra-early start to their shift. It is proposed that when the extra demolition of Southmead is completed the existing multi-storey car park will be for staff only and unless the proposed new one is two or three times the size of the existing one, we will be back to square one!

Tried to catch a bus from Bradley Stoke? There isn’t one!

Where is the service we were promised? Yate, Emersons Green, Hanham, or elsewhere, but not Bradley Stoke. So, once again, Bradley Stoke (pop. 20,000) has got the sticky end of the stick.

South Gloucestershire Council and First Bus are supposed to make sure we have a service, and councillors are supposed to act in our interest, but their protest has been deafening in response to this appalling situation (I don’t think so).

We have a modern hospital built in the wrong place, according to public opinion, at the cost of £400m on the PFI system, which means, like many of the schools and colleges we have had built over the last decade, it will take thirty years to pay off, giving big profits to the private sector who financed them and letting the Government off the hook, short term. Live now pay later!

There is one slight hope, if the new NHS England ‘Tsar’ means

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what he has recently announced, i.e. that he is not in favour of large centralised hospitals (!) and that we should have more community/cottage hospitals. So what better an opportunity than to help North Bristol out of a mess and give us the community hospital that we were initially promised at Frenchay, and take some of the pressure off Southmead, before it is too late!

His name is Mr Simon Stevens, Chief Executive. NHS England.

Please write to him now!

Fred Hillberg Bradley Stoke

Youth Grant Aid Many thanks to members of Bradley Stoke Town Council who supported us in our application to fund teenage workshops for disabled children this summer.

We are enormously grateful for the support they have offered us which will allow us to make our summer holiday camps even more enriching.

Sue Waters Children’s Playlink childrensplaylink.org.uk

Correction We have been asked by Mr MW Griffiths to point out that a comment made in a letter from Cllr Douglas Daniels (February 2014 magazine) was factually incorrect. Cllr Daniels stated that “the Post Office had been privatised” when, in fact, only Royal Mail has been privatised and HM Government still owns the Post Office Ltd.

Your Views

Do you have strong views about something that’s happening in Bradley Stoke?

Want to pass comment on something you’ve read in The Journal or another publication?

Would you like to take the opportunity to thank someone for a good deed or praise an achievement?

Whatever you want to say, write to The Journal and we’ll get your message to everyone in Bradley Stoke.

Send your letter to letters@ bradleystokejournal.co.uk or post it to: Reader Letters, Bradley Stoke Journal, 83 Snowberry Close, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8GB Please include a telephone number with your letter, in case we need to contact you.

Editor’s note We have been unable to print a letter received from ‘Bradley Stoke Resident’ in response to one from Cllr Ben Walker published in our June edition, as it was supplied without any contact details. The author is asked to get in touch.

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9

News

Faster broadband coming soon for central BS

H

undreds of people in the broadband ‘slowspot’ of central Bradley Stoke could soon be able to order new ‘superfast’ services after a new fibre-enabled telephone cabinet was installed on the corner of Brook Way and Savages Wood Road.

Streets served from this cabinet site (no. 34) include Crystal Way, Diana Gardens, Kemperleye Way, Penrose Drive, Snowberry Close, The Spinney and Three Brooks Lane.

The casing for the new cabinet was lifted onto its base on Friday 20th June (see photo).

Just one week later, on Friday 27th June, South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) announced that the new cabinet is “live and ready for service”, although it warned that it might be up to two weeks before subscribers connected to it are able to order superfast broadband from the ISP of their choice.

The casing for the new fibre-enabled broadband cabinet is lifted onto its base

Are you connected to cabinet 34? Find out by following the instructions on our Superfast Broadband Upgrade Status page: bradleystokejournal.co.uk/superfast Consumers on exchange only (EO) lines, which are connected directly to the Almondsbury

telephone exchange without passing through a street-side cabinet, will not benefit from the current work. In order to bring superfast broadband to this group of subscribers, it will be necessary to rearrange the existing copper network and

install cabinets at completely new locations. SGC, which is partfunding the superfast broadband work under a state-subsidised programme, has previously said that it expects the first EO cabinets in Bradley Stoke to be installed in the autumn.

There is, however, concern that some of those on EO lines will not benefit from the council’s current project, which is due to finish in March 2015.

An SGC spokesperson said: “Not all EO lines connected to the Almondsbury exchange will be upgraded as part of the council’s project. We don’t have enough funding to upgrade every cabinet and EO line in South Gloucestershire. The new network is being designed to achieve the greatest possible coverage with the funding available.”

There are believed to be around 1,700 premises connected via EO lines in Bradley Stoke.

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July 2014

News Feature: Traveller Encampment Comment: Cllr Ben Walker Cllr Walker (UKIP) is a Bradley Stoke town councillor and also represents Bradley Stoke North on South Gloucestershire Council

F

ollowing reports from residents on the first day of the encampment, I reported it immediately to South Gloucestershire Council. I also visited the site myself and spoke with the travellers.

I continued to apply pressure daily on both the council and police to move the travellers on, but, due to rights and procedures, South Gloucestershire were slow to act, opting to negotiate rather than implementing the laws that were available to them. To residents, it seemed as nothing was happening and each authority used the other to hide behind. I have highlighted serious issues with the way the council communicates with residents and I’m told this will change moving forward.

Luckily, the travellers have moved on, avoiding the legal costs created by the next phase of action, but the cost is still massive. You have the clear up, the officers’ time spent (from both the council and police), the daily clean up by the council of the site, the damage to the hedgerow and grounds, the raw sewage clean up from the hedgerow - to name a few.

In the round, the council have been weak and elected representation almost non-existent. I hope the electorate remember this next year.

I am currently in discussion with StreetCare about measures that could be taken to prevent future encampments on this section of amenity land.

Comment: Jack Lopresti MP

Jack Lopresti (Conservative) is the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Filton and Bradley Stoke

I

heard that travellers had arrived on Bradley Stoke Way; I contacted Amanda Deeks, Chief Executive of South Gloucestershire Council to put pressure on them to move the travellers on as quickly as possible. I was astonished to hear that they would prefer to “persuade” the travellers to go rather than commencing legal action. I reminded the council of the perception among residents that no action was being taken at all as there was no evidence of any progress and the precedent this may set.

I don’t believe that the council does enough to tackle problems caused by some travellers or that the council’s Traveller Unit is fit for purpose. Cllr John Ashe and I will be requesting a meeting with

Ms. Deeks to discuss the council’s response to these issues.

In the House of Commons I asked: “What action can my right hon. Friend take to ensure that local authorities are able to move travellers who are illegally pitched on to authorised sites in hours or days, and not weeks, as it is taking in South Gloucestershire?”

The Secretary of State Mr Pickles replied: “The House will know, we have made a number of changes, particularly on enforcement, on stopping duplication and on ensuring that enforcement action can be taken on caravans. Local authorities and the police have a lot of powers, but they have to act promptly. It is certainly my experience that, if action is taken promptly, the law is adequate.”

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11

News Feature: Traveller Encampment

Feelings run high as travellers pitch up on Bradley Stoke Way

T

he appearance of an illegal traveller encampment on a grass verge alongside Bradley Stoke Way last month generated a great deal of anger and anxiety within the local community, if The Journal’s interactive online media channels are anything to go by.

Following their arrival on the morning of Monday 16th June, the travellers’ continued presence led to local councils and elected representatives receiving scores of enquiries asking what was being done to resolve the situation.

An article about the illegal encampment published on The Journal’s website attracted more than 60 reader comments within a matter of days and there were almost a hundred more recorded on our Facebook page. The vast majority of readers leaving comments called for prompt action to be taken to remove the uninvited visitors, with many being less than complementary about the lifestyle and habits of travellers in general. A small number of readers subscribed to the “leave them alone, they’re not doing anyone any harm” school of thought, calling some of the other contributors “intolerant” or even “racist”.

Two Journal readers, ‘Jennie’ and ‘Judi’, later reported that they had (separately) visited the

travellers on the site and found them “polite and welcoming”, adding that the area appeared “clean and tidy”.

Local councillor Ben Walker emailed council officials on the first day of the encampment saying: “These travellers need to be dispersed as a priority as they pose serious danger to road users and have already begun to deface the verge.”

A statement issued on 19th June

by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC), owners of the land being occupied, said simply: “We are aware of the illegal encampment on Bradley Stoke Way and are currently working according to established procedures to negotiate with the families concerned to move on. We have requested that the site is vacated and we are working hard to resolve the situation as soon as possible.”

The same day, an Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “We are committed to maintaining a safe neighbourhood for both the settled and the travelling community and are patrolling the area regularly. As there have been no reports of anti-social behaviour or crime this is a matter of civil trespass. If the situation changes we will use our powers under the legislation appropriately.”

A day later (Friday 20th), local

MP Jack Lopresti issued a press release saying his office had been “inundated” with calls [about the illegal encampment] from concerned local residents, adding that he had been “astonished” to hear that SGC was refraining from taking legal action to remove the travellers.

By the following week, Cllr Walker’s patience appeared to have run out. In an email sent to council officers at 6.35am on Wednesday morning (25th June) he threatened to instruct bailiffs to “clear the site within three hours” and “have their invoice raised in SGC’s name, “if [the travellers] are not gone by noon today or I am given

real assurances that they will be moved”. However, that evening, Cllr Walker admitted that he had been strongly advised against invoking the threatened action, as he might leave himself vulnerable to being sued for violating human rights.

In the event, the incident was resolved when the travellers began leaving the site of their own accord on Thursday 26th June, with the last caravan departing around 5pm.

Rubbish left behind on the site included the equivalent of about 12 bin bags of bagged rubbish, other unbagged rubbish and two large gas cylinders. It had been removed by noon on Friday.

Advertising feature

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Wise Owls Week 23rd-25th July: Arts and crafts and fun and games with the Wise Owls Club. Join in our owl hunt, picnic in the park and make your own owl crafts to take home.

Hobby Week 28th July-1st August: Craft workshops with Bristol Scrap Store and Inspiration Ceramics, as well as jewellery making and loom band master classes!

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Join in the party at our Brazilian Carnival!

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July 2014

News in Brief HSBC branch at Aztec West to close in August

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The HSBC branch on the Aztec West Business Park is to close in August, it has been announced.

The facility, which currently opens 9.30am to 3.30pm Monday to Friday only, will close permanently at 3pm on Friday 29th August.

Accounts currently held at Aztec West will be transferred to the bank’s Filton branch, three miles away. The next closest HSBC branches are at Westburyon-Trym and Thornbury.

A message sent to customers explained: “At HSBC, we are constantly evolving and developing our services. And with the growth of telephone and internet banking in recent years, this has naturally resulted in some branches being used less often. Therefore after careful consideration, we have taken the difficult decision to close our branch at Unit 6, Aztec Centre, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4TD as of 3pm on Friday 29 August 2014.”

“As of this date, accounts held at Bristol, Aztec West branch will be managed by the HSBC branch at 27 Gloucester Road North, Filton, Bristol BS7 0SQ, which is the nearest HSBC branch and cash machine to Bristol, Aztec West branch. Other nearby alternative branches and HSBC cash machines are at 11 Canford Lane, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol BS9 3DE and 23 High Street, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 2AE.” The Journal understands that staff currently employed at Aztec West will be redeployed to other HSBC branches in the area.

The closure will leave the thousands of people employed on the business park without an on-site cash machine (ATM), although it is believed that the park’s management company is looking into the possibility of providing one through an alternative operator.

Other bank and building society branches in the Patchway area include Barclays, Lloyds TSB and Coventry Building Society, all located on Gloucester Road, near the Callicroft Road junction.

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

July 2014

t: 01454 300 400

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13

Advertising Feature

South Glos Show is just on the doorstep!

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new show that aims to act as a focus for the people of South Gloucestershire to “come together as a whole” and “celebrate what it means to live and work in the area” is being held at a site just six miles from Bradley Stoke in early August.

The South Gloucestershire Show will be held at the Windmill Fisheries Showground, Westerleigh Road, BS37 8QZ, as a celebration of all things South Gloucestershire and a showcase for lifestyle and leisure in and around the county. The show will take place on Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd August and gates will open at 10.30am on both days, with live music till 9pm.

The show will bring together the people of the county for a weekend of fun and entertainment and has amazing attractions for

visitors of all ages, including plenty for the under-5s.

Amongst the usual mix of big brands, smaller retailers, beer tent and food stands, visitors to the show can expect to try their hand at motorsports or learn how to change a car tyre in a pitstop situation. Also for the motoring fans, there will be a classic car show – organised by the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club – and an interactive 4x4 area.

Varied attractions

There will be a chance to have a go at golf, fishing and shooting with top professional coaches and to watch the daredevils from the Extreme Wheels perform their tricks in the cycle show area.

There will even be hot air balloons.

Visitors can watch and participate in the fun and games

in the main arena and a special kids’ zone, which includes Little Tikes Town, Jingaloo and Punch and Judy, will keep the little ones entertained all day.

Music festival

If all of that doesn’t tire you out, you can dance until 9pm to the sounds of some of the best musicians from our region and beyond at a mini music festival.

Acts include Soul Side and X Factor stars Mia and the Moon.

Although plenty of parking will be available, a number of measures are being put into place to make cycling to the event a genuine option. The showground itself is situated along the Avon Cycleway that connects areas in South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset. The show organisers have been working

closely with leading sustainable travel charity Sustrans who will be attending the show over the two days providing both entertainment and practical advice for visitors who want to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their fitness at the same time. There will also be prizes to be won for anyone who registers with Sustrans and cycles to the event with a star prize of a £500 mountain bike kindly donated by Marin Bikes.

If you would like to book your tickets early and avoid the queues on the day, please visit www. southglosshow.co.uk for details of how you can purchase your show tickets online.

Find us on Facebook under ‘South Gloucestershire Show’ and on Twitter at @SouthGlosShow ● See our advert on pages 26 & 27.

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

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July 2014

Advertising Feature

Giggle Gym comes to Stoke Gifford’s Trust Hall

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hat a fabulous week it was for Giggle Gym in mid-June, when they conducted their open week!

Lots of families showed up at the free event to see for themselves what Giggle Gym was about and from the sounds of laughter from the children, it seems this new venture is very welcome in the village of Stoke Gifford!

All about Giggle Gym

Giggle Gym is an Edu-Play centre focusing on the FUN factor! For parents (or guardians) to play together with their little ones and enjoy some quality time together.

With the aid of bespoke climbing equipment and various props, grown ups are encouraged to join in with the songs and make as many silly faces and noises to draw out those contagious giggles!

Classes are led by Anita, who has years of child care experience.

She told us: “The developmental factors speak for themselves in a centre like this – I’m more focussed on the FUN that parents and children get to have!”

Classes are divided up into age-appropriate categories, so that everybody is playing nicely together, and with all the extensive research on the importance of play for children, Giggle Gym provides a great resource to encourage this necessity.

Open now and throughout the summer holidays, Giggle Gym is available for class every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Why not book today for a noobligation FREE TRIAL? The ‘Giggle Gym’ Facebook page is the place to go for more

information, but you can also contact and book via email on gigglegym@hotmail.com or by

calling Anita on 07475 237808.

Facebook: Giggle Gym

Twitter: @giggle_gym

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Tel: 01454 601 894 or 07825 631 166 To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

July 2014

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Around the schools

by Judith Summers of Bradley Stoke Radio

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n primary schools, the summer term is always fun. SATS are over and the Y6 are all busy practising for leavers’ productions, lots of outdoor learning is going on and we actually get dry outdoor PE! Wheatfield’s Year 5 children were visited by Bristol University and spent an amazing morning learning about their brains. Not only facts about neurons and cells, but they also had an opportunity to test how fast their brains worked using a specially developed computer programme.

The Reception children also had an exciting day as they were visited by First Officer Ditty and Professor Poet, stars of the CBeebies show The Rhyme Rocket.

Science was the order of the week at St Mary’s, and this year’s science week theme was ‘The Magic of Science’. Year 6 set up activities for the rest of the school including exploding volcanoes, spreading food colour in milk using soap and blowing up Coke with Mento sweets! They also worked out how to raise raisins from the bottom of a cup using lemonade and how to make eggs float.

Children were also entertained by a presentation on chemicals by Year 10 children and a teacher from Badminton school and the

grand finale, an interactive display on gasses in the air from Bristol University.

There was success for Bradley Stoke Community School in athletics this month as teams from each year participated in the South Gloucestershire Athletics Championships. Not only did their Year 7 team win overall, but they also had many individual achievements.

Annie Harris: 1st Discus; Chloe Webster: 1st 100m; Year 10 Girls 1st Relay, Archie Barber: 1st 100m; Nick Lovelace 2nd 200m, 1st Shot; Leon Graham: 1st 1500m; Louis Cassim: 1st 1500m; Sam Grimwood: 1st 800m; and Liam Harvey 2nd 100m.

A quick reminder of school fêtes coming up this month: Wheatfield’s is on Saturday 5th July at 12 noon and the following Saturday, 12th July, both Baileys Court and Meadowbrook are holding theirs.

The Bradley Stoke Radio Schools Show covers all schools in the local area and beyond. We play children’s music and have children reading their poems, topic work and stories - in fact anything they feel they want to share. It is aired on Monday evenings during term time, between 6pm and 7pm. ● www.bradleystokeradio.com

The Journal: Serving the community 24/7 since 2008

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

15

News Human table football tournament raises £1,200 for prostate cancer charity

A charity Human Table Football Tournament held over the weekend of 14th/15th June at The Baileys Court Inn has raised over £1,200 for Prostate Cancer UK. The competition was contested

by 32 teams of five players each.

Winners were The Bosnian Wurzels, who beat Tesco Baileys Court in the final. ● More photos on the Bradley Stoke Journal’s Facebook page.

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July 2014

Advertising Feature

Popular local nursery to host Family Fun Day

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t was a pleasure to be invited to Ambourne House Day Nursery last month, to meet up with Liz, the manager, who was busy planning their forthcoming annual Family Fun Day. This popular, free family day, now in its fifth year, will be held on Saturday 26th July and everyone is welcome to join in the happy event, which will run from 2pm-5pm.

The nursery, which has now been open for 23 years at its Gloucester Road site, has continued to thrive and flourish.

Liz, who has been at the nursery since the beginning, said: “I have always felt a great sense of pride in the way that Ambourne House has grown and developed.” This is highlighted by the extensive investment that has gone in to the nursery in recent years

and although it still has a small family feel to it, extensions to the property have created large spacious playrooms, where children can learn and have fun together. The outdoor space is also a great asset as it offers two large gardens, where babies and children can explore and further extend their learning.

Over the years, the nursery’s Pre-School has become even busier with many children now benefiting from free grant places and a full-time teacher who is employed to ensure the delivery of a high quality curriculum. Liz also feels that the extension they had built five years ago to create a new Toddler Room will also be of great benefit now, with the recent introduction of free places for two-year-olds, which she believes will be expanded in the

Ambourne House Day Nursery at 233 Gloucester Road, Patchway BS34 6ND

months to come, enabling even more children to have access to this grant.

Innovative practices

Over the years, Liz has also been proud to consider Ambourne House as an innovator in its field.

She believes that when working with children one must always look to the future and take on new initiatives to develop excellence.

The nursery has therefore worked in partnership with the local authority over the last two decades to develop best practice and has recently successfully undergone a Quality Assurance and Investors in People review, both of which reinforce its commitment to providing the highest level of education for children and the best possible service for all families.

Dedicated staff

Liz also believes that key to the nursery’s success is its dedicated team of staff, many of whom have been at the nursery for over ten years and two have even been

with her for over 20! “It is this type of loyalty and commitment that provides the continuity that is so vital for children in their early years,” said Liz. This consistency also enables the team to develop close relationships with parents and the emphasis that Liz and her team place on partnership working also plays a vital role in the service they provide for families. “We are engaging with parents more than ever now and always work very hard to include them in all aspects of the nursery, whilst trying to be as flexible as we can when meeting the different needs of all parents,” said Liz. “We now hold Parent Forums, regular ‘Mummies’ & Daddies’’ mornings and open evenings. We also email out weekly updates, so that, as a parent, you always know what your child is up to during their time with us! I guess that’s why the Fun Day is so important to us and we hope that lots of families will be able to join us again this year!”

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

July 2014

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17

News

First World War centenary to be marked at events in Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford

By Katherine Robinson of the 1st Bradley Stoke Scouts s most of you will already know, the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group and Willow Brook Centre successfully completed a long-term project to create a war memorial for our town, which was installed earlier this year in the town square.

We are now very proud to invite you all to attend the official memorial dedication ceremony and our very first remembrance parade on Saturday 2nd August. The date was chosen to be close to the centenary of the First World War, so that our young people can feel part of the national commemorations for this historic event. We have also been working closely with our local Royal British Legion (Stoke Gifford and Bradley Stoke branch) who have been very supportive with the planning for the ceremony.

Our main aim for creating

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he Stoke Gifford branch of the Royal British Legion is planning to hold a special event this summer. It will be combining its popular annual Tri-Services Event with a World War One Centenary Commemoration Event.

This year, 2014, marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. It is planned that the joint ‘Event on the Green’, to be held in the St Michael’s Church / Green area of Stoke Gifford, will feature music, stalls, and a BBQ. It will be held on Saturday 2nd August 2014, starting at 2pm.

Branch Press Officer David Bell

Bradley Stoke Saturday 2nd August From 10.15am the memorial was to actively involve our young people in remembrance, so we have also invited all our local uniformed youth organisations to join us.

It’s not too late to contact us if you are part of a group that would like to parade (please contact dave.pace@avonscouts. org.uk) The uniformed parade will be leaving the Jubilee Centre at 10.15am (please note there will be NO PARKING at the Jubilee Centre – please use the Willow Brook Centre) and the ceremony will be from 10.30am-11.30am in the town square.

Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Gloucestershire, Dame Janet Trotter, has kindly agreed to attend and help us dedicate the war memorial.

We very much look forward to seeing you at this special event.

New war memorial in the town square at the Willow Brook Centre

Stoke Gifford Saturday 2nd August From 2pm said: “The Stoke Gifford branch will be working with others in the community, such as St Michael’s Church, to organise the event, and we hope that the community will come along and support this special event.”

The Royal British Legion is the country’s largest military welfare charity and spends £1.6 million every week in support for current and former service personnel and their families.

If you or someone you know needs help or support please contact Terry Webber, the Stoke Gifford branch’s Welfare

The Green, North Road, Stoke Gifford: Venue for the RBL ‘Event on the Green’

Chairman, on 0117 909 1486. The RBL national helpline is 0808 802 8080.

If you wish to join the Legion

or volunteer to help it in its activities, including collecting for the Poppy Appeal, please contact John Moloney on 07802 535591.

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

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July 2014

Titan the Robot Willow Brook Centre 29th May 2014

Children enjoyed a half-term treat when the famous Titan the Robot visited the Willow Brook Centre, performing three fast-paced comedy shows in the town square.

John Lewis anniversary events continue during August at Cribbs Causeway

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he John Lewis store at Cribbs Causeway is continuing its series of events to mark the retailer’s 150th anniversary with an art competition and another day of special attractions – on Saturday 2nd August (see panels, right).

The world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge is also celebrating 150 years since its grand opening in 1864. The bridge started as the far-fetched dream of wine merchant William Vick, was made reality by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and completed after his death to become the icon of Bristol.

Joining forces to celebrate our unique histories and success, we would like to offer you the chance to take part in a competition to win some great prizes by capturing the essence of the suspension bridge using what ever art form you choose.

John Lewis have a wealth of experienced Partners on hand to

help you decide what form your artwork takes to enable you to let your imagination and creativity flow. The Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust are also running special art workshops assisted by an acclaimed local artist: please see cliftonbridge.org.uk for more details. Finalists’ artwork will be exhibited in the Place to Eat Restaurant at John Lewis Cribbs Causeway during October.

Prizes (in the form of John Lewis gift vouchers): 5yrs-10yrs £30; 11yrs-14yrs £50; 15yrs18yrs £75; 18+ £100.

For the full terms and conditions and to find out more about the competition, call Nicola Mason on 0117 958 1856.

John Lewis Cribbs Causeway 150th Anniversary Events on Saturday 2nd August • In Toys, free nail art and glitter tattoo’s for children, • Face painting by Cats Whiskers • In Gifts, a food a competition to win family tickets to see Shrek at the Hippodrome and a luxury hamper full of Jelly Belly Bean products, simply by guessing how many Jelly Belly Beans are used to make a huge Shrek picture • In Beauty, Leighton Denny nail art event for adults • Live music throughout the day • In Haberdashery, friendship bracelets and jewellery making for children • Story telling for children every Saturday and Sunday throughout August (11.30am and 3pm Saturday; 3pm Sunday)

John Lewis / Suspension Bridge Art Competition • Applicants must be aged 5 years plus to enter the competition, and not employees of the John Lewis Partnership or Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust.

• Applicants can choose which techniques they use to design their artwork, for example photography, painting, sketching, mosaic, quilted, buttons etc.

• Artwork submitted must be on A4 landscape paper/card. Please write clearly on the back of your artwork your name, address, telephone number and age (or “18+”).

• Artwork must be submitted to Nicola Mason, PR and Marketing Coordinator, John Lewis Cribbs, Causeway, Bristol, BS34 5QU or Laura Hilton,Visitor Services Manager, Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust, Bridge Road, Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 3PA by Saturday 20th September 2014

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

July 2014

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19

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Festival Report Bradley Stoke Youth FC Festival of Football

By Martin Lee of BSYFC he Bradley Stoke Youth FC (BSYFC) Football Festival on Saturday 7th June was again a great success with 13 primary schools attending the event and 131 Year 1 children enjoying matches played in the bright afternoon sunshine.

The event has been running since 2007 and each year the cups get bigger and bigger (see photo, right)!

As part of the event, Bradley Stoke Youth coaches go into each school to provide football coaching sessions for every Year 1 child before they attend the Festival. This year the number of children receiving football coaching in school was over 850.

The club is very grateful to all the schools that participate in the Festival and the School Link Program. Every child at the Festival received a medal and a goody bag. Each school received a cup and prizes such as full football kits, football equipment boxes and footballs.

BSYFC would like to thank the

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sponsors who make this event possible by their donations which allow the Football Festival and the School Link Program to be free of charge to the schools. The sponsors this year for the Festival were McDonald’s, Andy Baker Associates, Ian Baker of Mapstone Construction, Bradley Stoke Town Council, the Willow Brook Centre and the Gloucestershire FA. The sponsor for the School Link Program was McDonald’s.

The club would like to recognise McDonald’s for their continued support of BSYFC over the last nine years, allowing the club to grow and support the local community in many ways.

If anyone is interested in joining BSYFC, we welcome all children. The club has age group ranges from U6 to U18, plus U10 to U16 girls and disability football sessions. If anyone is interested in becoming a coach or a manager at the club, or is interested in sponsoring the club, please contact me, Martin Lee, at mlee1@btopenworld.com or phone me on 07785 384618.

Award

Recipient

Bradley Stoke Town Council School Link Community Award

Holy Trinity

Bradley Stoke Town Council School Link Coaches Award

Bowsland Green

Bradley Stoke Community Festival Respect Award

St Mary’s (Bradley Stoke)

BSYFC Festival of Football Achievement Award

St Peter’s

BSYFC Festival of Football Club School Link Winner

Stoke Lodge

BSYFC Festival of Football Performance Award

Almondsbury

BSYFC Festival of Football Achievement Award

St Michael’s

BSYFC Festival of Football Club School Link Runner Up

Wheatfield

McDonald’s Festival of Football Winners (Cup #1)

Meadowbrook

McDonald’s Festival of Football Winners (Cup #2)

Iron Acton

McDonald’s Festival of Football Runner Up

Olveston

BSYFC Festival of Football Coaches’ Award Winner

St Mary’s (Thornbury)

McDonald’s Festival of Football Achievement Award

BSYFC

Bradley Stoke Community Festival Teachers Award (Cup #1)

St Mary’s (Thornbury)

Bradley Stoke Community Festival Teachers Award (Cup #2)

Olveston

Holy Trinity – Winners of the biggest trophy at the BSYFC Festival of Football

It’s so close,you can almost taste it.

Bradley Stoke - located at Willowbrook Shopping Centre, NEXT TO TESCO 10 Piece Bargain Bucket only

£9.99

Please present this coupon before you place your order. Offer available on next purchase only. Only one coupon per person per visit.

Not redeemable against any other offer. No cash alternatives. No photocopies, illegible or defaced coupons accepted. Coupon to be retained by store. This offer is not open to employees (or their families or relatives) of KFC® (GB) Ltd or its franchisees. For limited time only at participating stores only. Offer includes regular fries only. Available at: KFC Bradley Stoke, Savages Wood Rd, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8ES. *Offer valid until 30th June 2014.

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Fillet Burger & Fries only

present this coupon before you place £2.49 Please your order. Offer available on next purchase only. Only one coupon per person per visit.

Not redeemable against any other offer. No cash alternatives. No photocopies, illegible or defaced coupons accepted. Coupon to be retained by store. This offer is not open to employees (or their families or relatives) of KFC® (GB) Ltd or its franchisees. For limited time only at participating stores only. Offer includes regular fries only. Available at: KFC Bradley Stoke, Savages Wood Rd, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8ES. *Offer valid until 30th June 2014.

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13/03/2014 21:03

Community Festival 2014 See our Facebook page for hundreds more photos



Congratulations to Kalapraveen Vanamamalai, who wins our £20 prize for best reader photo.

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July 2014

Bradley Stoke through the camera lens by Becky Ward Bradley Stoke Community Festival weekend

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his month saw one of the biggest annual events in Bradley Stoke take place. Once again I got to photograph at the Bradley Stoke Community Festival, and had some amazing experiences as well as meeting some lovely people.

One difference this year was that I got to take pictures on all three days of the festival, as I no longer had to attend school on the Friday afternoon. This was a great privilege as, normally, I only get to see part of the festival. On the Friday, a Teddy Bear’s picnic is held, with circus performances, and games from the Friends of Jubilee Green. The event is aimed squarely at a younger audience and all the children had a great time. This year even saw an impromptu performance by a local nursery school, singing on the new Bradley Stoke Radio (BSR) trailer stage.

As usual, Saturday was the biggest day of the festival, with many stall holders and performances, including Bradley Stoke Youth Rugby, the Bradley Stoke Community Singers and the Falconry Centre. One of my highlights of the

day was the demonstration given by the Falconry Centre. I have long been interested in photographing birds of prey and, after being able to buy a new camera lens, was very excited to give it a go!

During the demonstration, the handler called me into the arena with my camera and rather dramatically flew the hawk over my head while I took photos. It was an amazing experience and I got some amazing results (see above left)!

Sunday saw the return of the Bed Race with even better home built contraptions and costumes than last year! I have to say, my favourite team were from the leisure centre, dressed as cavemen! The Hilton Bristol team (above right) returned for a second year to defend their trophy, and won with an equally impressive time, just as they did last year.

Overall, the festival was a great hit, as usual, with some amazing demonstrations and family events – even if I did have to chase after the beds!

More photos from the Bradley Stoke Festival can be seen on the Becky Ward Photography Facebook page.

Photo by the Editor: Photographer Becky Ward uses her new lens to capture the hawk shot (seen above left).

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

July 2014

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23

Festival Report Sole Sisters’ Bradley Stoke 10k Run

Festival Bed Race at Baileys Court

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field of 551 starters contested the popular Bradley Stoke 10k Run, organised by Sole Sisters on Sunday 8th June.

First home, after completing the six-and-a-quarter mile course that takes in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve, Bradley Stoke Way and Brook Way, was Matthew Krelle (Bristol & West AC) in a time of 34:45.

Second place went to last year’s winner Andrew Cooke (Bristol & West AC) in 35:35, with Martin Bartlett third in 36:46.

The women’s race was won by Jessie Sanzo (Bristol & West AC) in an impressive time of 36:24 (third place overall), well ahead of Jemma Faulkner (43:11) with Liz Sanigar (Bristol & West AC, 43:37) third. Jessie’s time was more than three minutes faster than when she won the race back in 2011.

The prizes for the first Bradley Stoke residents to finish were awarded to Simon Ward (38:16) and Shirley Lillicrap (49:12).

For the full results and links to more than 600 race photos, visit http://bit.ly/bs10k Festival Cricket Match at Baileys Court Bradley Stoke CC 198-1 Mayor’s XI 16-0 Rain stopped play Photo: Cllr Ben Randles

ight teams took part in the second running of the Festival Bed Race, centred on the Baileys Court Activity Centre, on Sunday 8th June.

Each team of five contestants had to first complete an It’s a Knockout style challenge on the cricket field before setting out with their bed on a course around Baileys Court Road and Webbs Wood Road, completing

a number of timed challenges at stations along the route.

The rules of the competition require one member of each team to be on the bed at all times, with the other four pushing.

The team from the Hilton Bristol hotel once again came out on top, followed by the 1st Bradley Stoke Scouts’ Explorer Unit in second and Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre third.

Skate Competition at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre • Scooter competition winner – 12 yrs & under: Felix Hallett (12) • Scooter competition winner – 13 + years: James Meaden (15) • BMX competition winner: Josh Holbrook (17) • Skateboard competition winner: Schaeffer McLean (10) BSTC’s youth participation worker Graham Baker said: “I would like to give a special thanks to the local young people who helped plan and organise the weekend’s skate events. They worked extremely long hours

over the two days. In particular Tom Bell, Connor Peacock , Josh Holbrook, James Element, Ash Parker and Sam Lovell.”

Ride On Cycles The Mobile Cycle Workshop That Comes to You Full range of servicing & repairs carried out by a City & Guilds quali�ied mechanic Contact Andy on: 01454 880872 07443 333219 andy@ride-on-cycles.co.uk www.ride-on-cycles.co.uk

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July 2014

Award-winning Meadowbrook teacher attends House of Commons reception

Ask the Chiropractor with Craig from the Willow Brook Clinic Headaches – are they normal?

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f you suffer from headaches, you are not alone. Many people experience headaches; some are occasional, some are frequent, some are dull and throbbing and some cause awful pain and nausea.

When a patient sees a Chiropractor, we take a detailed medical history and one of the questions asked may be: “Do you suffer from headaches?” I so frequently get replies along the lines of: “Yes, just the normal day to day headaches – nothing serious!”

But headaches are not normal! No matter how big or small a role they play in your day, week or month. A headache is the brain’s way of responding, after analysing input from different parts of the body, and telling you that something is not right.

Our general wellbeing is determined by chemical, physical and emotional systems at work in our body. The brain responds to triggers from these systems and these triggers may cause headaches. Negative triggers can include stress and tension (emotional), bad posture and injuries (physical)

and hormonal and food/drink intolerance (chemical).

We experience different types of headaches according to how we react to these triggers.

Probably the most common type of headache is one called cervicogenic, which means coming from the neck and shoulders.

Research shows that Chiropractic treatment can help manage and even prevent many types of headaches.

Treatment can include a variety of treatment options, such as: specific joint manipulation or mobilisation; massage; stretching techniques; postural advice; dietary advice and acupuncture.

NICE (National Institute of Clinical Excellence), a UK health services watchdog, recommended in their 2012 guidelines, that acupuncture could play a role in helping to prevent tension and migraine headaches.

Don’t let headaches get the better of you – a Chiropractor could help.

Get well and stay well. www.willowbrookclinic.co.uk ● See our advert on page 7.

Bradley Stoke Journal

Matt Smith at the House of Commons, with Jack Lopresti MP (left) and Jon Barr

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att Smith, a teacher at Bradley Stoke’s Meadowbrook Primary School who was recently honoured with a national ‘silver’ award for the use of technology in the classroom (as reported in our June magazine), has attended a high-profile reception at the House Commons.

Held in the Members’ Dining Room, the celebration was hosted

by Pearson, who sponsor the Teaching Awards scheme.

Mr Smith, accompanied by Meadowbrook head teacher Jon Barr, was met by Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke, who later organised a tour of the Houses of Parliament for the pair.

Mr Smith will now travel to the televised finals in October, when he will find out if he has been selected to receive a ‘gold’ award.

Get paid to write for The Journal!

The Bradley Stoke Journal is growing! Due to the continued success of Bradley Stoke’s biggest and most popular community news magazine and website, we are looking for more local people to write for us!

This is a self-employed role in which we will pay you a small consideration for each article that you write, dependent on length and the number of hours taken.

We can provide you with story leads, or you can suggest your own, provided they have a relevance to the local area.

You will need to be well organised, have good writing skills and be confident when dealing with other people.

If you are interested, please contact the Editor, Stephen Horton, on 01454 300 400 for an initial chat.

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News

Bradley Stoke Sikh to be honoured by Ugandan government

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Bradley Stoke resident has been announced as one of around 40 recipients of a medal issued to mark a century of Sikh presence in the east African country of Uganda.

Dr Harmandar Singh Gupta, 72, a resident of the Bluebell Gardens retirement home in Savages Wood Road, is planning to return to the country of his birth in September, to receive the Sikh Centenary Gold Medal from a high-ranking representative of the Ugandan government.

The medal is being awarded in recognition of Dr Harmandar’s “free service to poor patients” in the Ugandan town of Mbarara, where he was educated at a missionary school in the 1950s.

Qualifying as a doctor in 1969, after taking an external degree in tropical medicine through the University of London, Harmandar initially worked in the A&E department of a Kampala hospital before returning to Mbarara, where he worked as general medical practitioner.

Following President Idi Amin’s expulsion of Asians from Uganda in 1972, Harmandar settled in Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo), where he served as the doctor to numerous embassies (including those of Great Britain, India, Canada, Angola, Zambia,

Cameroon, Ghana. Tanzania and Kenya) and a number of foreign construction companies, such as George Wimpey.

Whilst living in Zaire, Harmandar’s wife, Diljeet Kaur Gupta, used her masters degree in literature to teach the children of embassy workers in a local school.

The couple moved to the UK in 1984 with their three sons, Rimpy, Tim and Ruby, who all attended Clifton College.

They bought a nursing home in Weston-super-Mare in 1989, which Mrs Gupta ran until they were forced to sell it in 2011.

Harmandar returned to Zaire in 1990, to receive a knighthood for his services to foreign embassies, an honour conferred by the Chief of the Army (photo) on behalf of President Mobutu.

Sadly, Mrs Gupta passed away only a month after giving up work at the nursing home, at the age of 67. Harmandar says he misses her terribly, describing her fondly as “the prettiest lady I have ever seen”.

Having moved to Bluebell Gardens from his former home in Stoke Bishop last year, Harmandar says he loves living in Bradley Stoke, describing it as a “very lively and colourful place”. He particularly likes seeing so many young families out and about and loves to hear

Dr Harmandar Singh Gupta pictured recently at Bluebell Gardens (left) and receiving a knighthood for services to foreign embassies in 1990 (right)

children enjoying themselves in the playground of Meadowbrook Primary School, just across the road from his flat.

He enjoys walking and has a daily route which takes in part of

the nature reserve and the ‘duck pond’. “You’re sure to see me out and about,” he says, adding: “I’m quite possibly the only pensioner you’ll see walking around Bradley Stoke wearing a turban!”

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Community Speed Watch Watch coordinator Derrick Powell reports

S

ince the recent article in the Bradley Stoke Journal, our watch team has attracted three new members.

This now brings our team total to six. We are still looking for more volunteers, so if anyone would like to join our team, please get in touch (see below).

Full training will be given on the procedures of speed watch, as well as health and safety issues. We are only asking you to give us three to four hours per week of your leisure time, or as much as you could spare.

Five sites have been targeted with a total of 1,020 vehicles going through the speed watch. Of this number, only one vehicle has been reported exceeding the speed limit. One might say that this is a poor result, however, it does show that, once motorists see the hi-viz jackets, they do slow down and are very much aware passing the same point again.

Reaction from the general public has been very positive with walkers and even motorists stopping to enquire as to what was going on. The police patrol cars also stop to see if everything is OK and their presence gives credence to our mission in making our roads safer around our town.

We have also had less positive remarks but these are few and far between.

If anyone has any questions or queries, they can talk to me at the Bradley Stoke Safer and Stronger Community Group (SSCG) meetings or contact me via the Bradley Stoke Journal.

Woodlands Lane

25/05/2014 @10:25 Woodlands Lane, 30 mph zone, watches conducted outside Park site, 148 vehicles on traffic flow none were breaking speed limit. Had meeting with site manager to discuss our actions and explained we had communication from SSCG at recent meeting requesting speed watch as directed by

Inspector Bob Evely, he was most thankful that some form of action has and will be taken for future watches.

25/05/2014 @ 11:10 Woodlands Lane 30mph zone, watch conducted between The Orchard roundabout and Foxfield Avenue. 88 vehicles on traffic flow none were breaking speed limit.

July 2014

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News Prize draw winner Abbie receives her Anytime Fitness membership key

Bradley Stoke Way

29/05/2014 @ 09:22 Bradley Stoke Way, 30 mph zone, watch conducted opposite “The Worthys” 162 vehicles on traffic flow none were breaking the speed limit.

29/05/2014 @ 10:25 Bradley Stoke Way 40 mph zone, watch conducted between “Aldi roundabout and “Footbridge crossing” at cycle sign on white post. 324 vehicles on traffic flow, none were breaking the speed limit.

16/06/2014 @ 09:25 Bradley Stoke Way 30mph zone, watch conducted outside Tesco store 20mtrs down from where bus lane and traffic lane converge. 298 vehicles on traffic flow, 1 vehicle was clocked over the 10%+2 mph and will receive a warning letter from the police for the first offence.

Four walkers stopped and enquired as to what we were doing, this was explained to them and they stated they were pleased that something positive was being done about speeding vehicles along this area. One police patrol car stopped to see how we were doing, he then explained that he had previously stopped and booked a driver using his mobile phone at the same spot where our watch was being conducted.

Tesco store security guard came up to speak to us and requested that on future occasions could we let their office know that we will be conducting a watch outside their store. ● The next Bradley Stoke SSCG meeting is on 24th July.

Abbie Davies (right) receives her prize from Christine Hunt, Club Manager at Anytime Fitness Bradley Stoke

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he Journal is pleased to announce that Abbie Davies is the lucky winner of our exclusive prize draw to win a year’s free membership at the Anytime Fitness gym in Bradley Stoke.

Abbie’s entry was drawn out of the hat by Mark Wathern, facilities manager at the Willow Brook Centre, where the local Anytime Fitness gym is based.

The free prize draw was featured in the May 2014 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine and on our website.

Abbie, who lives in Bradley Stoke, said she was delighted to win the prize and is looking

forward to being able to use the gym at times convenient to her busy lifestyle (the gym is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Formerly a keen jogger, Abbie added that she had recently been contemplating joining a gym to “get fit” again, so the prize, valued at more than £300, came at a good time for her.

Anytime Fitness is situated on the first floor of the Town Square complex, above Costa Coffee, Greggs, Taylors Estate Agents and KFC. Access is via a door in the passageway between KFC and Harvester.

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News Wheatfield pupils take on pumpkin challenge to benefit MS Therapy Centre

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

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upils at Wheatfield Primary School have taken on a challenge to ‘Grow a Pumpkin for the West of England MS Therapy Centre’. Sponsoring the event is Geneco, a Bristol based company committed to cost effective, sustainable waste recycling and renewable energy solutions.

Terri McDonald, Head of Fundraising said: “It was a fabulous day for the pupils of Wheatfield Primary School, learning about the work we do at the West of England MS Therapy Centre – offering treatments, therapies and support to individuals with Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological conditions throughout the region.

The pupils also learnt how to grow and nurture pumpkin seedlings into winning pumpkins,

a greener way of looking after our planet and a chance to see the Bio-Bug – the UK’s first VW Beetle powered by human waste – in action”.

Each year group at the school will be entering the competition and the children will nurture their pumpkins with a view to making them as big as possible and raise sponsorship from family and friends for the MS Therapy Centre. The pumpkins will be measured on Thursday 23rd October at the Centre, when prizes will be awarded for the largest pumpkin, the best named pumpkin and the most imaginative fancy dress costume.

After the pumpkins have been measured, there will be a chance for teachers and parents to get involved by entering into a pumpkin carving competition.

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News

Secondary school’s art, photography and textiles show impresses visitors

By Jenny Sutton Kirby, associate headteacher at Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) ast week saw the annual Visitors were impressed by the exhibition of Art, range of styles and the quality Photography and Textiles at of skills and ideas on display. It BSCS; it was fantastic to see such was particularly pleasing to see a great display of work at this the variety in the examination year’s exhibition. The work was pieces where students were able a collection of at least one item to really show off their individual from every student who studied at responses as a culmination of the GCSE, BTEC and at AS and A2. skills they had acquired over the It was inspirational and duration of their courses. testament to the hard work of Most KS3 classes had the both students and staff. It is opportunity to visit the exhibition clear that the visual arts are during their Art lessons though held in high regard in the school the week and have enjoyed seeing and the quality of the work was the work of the older students; we tremendous, considering the age hope this spurs them on to create of the students. their own work in future years.

L

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

July 2014

July 2014

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Quiz

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31

News

Quiz for all, No. 10 (easy/hard, old/new) Woodcraft Folk enjoy a day in the woods Another ‘just for fun’ general knowledge quiz, compiled by local Mastermind contestant Paul Philpot. Answers on page 33.

1. Which US city is served by Louis Armstrong International Airport?

2. In terms of diameter, which is the largest of the two moons of Mars?

3. The Snowy Mountains contain Mount Kosciusko, the highest point on the Australian mainland. In which Australian state are they located?

4. Which actor provides the voice of ‘Puss in Boots’ in the Shrek films?

5. Which is the only chemical element whose name begins with the letter V? 6. In cosmetic surgery, what part of the body is by the procedure known as Otoplasty?

7. Which London football league club play their home games at Griffin Park?

8. What was the name of Francis Drake’s ship in which he circumnavigated the globe?

9. In which major German city are the headquarters of car manufacturer Porsche, located?

10. Which British writer, created plays such as ‘The Winslow Boy’, ‘Separate Tables’ and ‘The Browning Version’?

11. In which organ of the human body is bile stored?

12. Which American singer and musician wrote the songs ‘Manic Monday’ for The Bangles and ‘Nothing Compares 2U’ for Sinead O’Connor?

13. In which English city is Aston University based?

14. What type of insect lives in a vespiary?

15. Which US President was shot and killed by Charles Guiteau?

16. Which Irish writer wrote the 1916 novel ‘A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man’?

17. Which CBeebies TV show is based on a tropical island and features the musical characters,’Panzee’,’Tang’,’Zak’ and ‘Drum’?

18. Prominent during the 1990s, Justine Frischmann, was the former girlfriend of Blur’s Damon Albarn and the front person of which Britpop band?

19. Who, in 2010, became the first Green Party member of the House of Commons?

20. Which Lombardy town gives its name to a famous blue veined cheese which has been produced there since 879 AD?

Read Paul’s blog at www.justquiz.org

By Jenny Thompson he programme for our spring camp this year was very busy and we could not fit in as many activities as we would have liked. One of the things the children wanted to do more of was whittling and cooking over the campfire, so last weekend we set off into the woods for a day to do just that.

The first thing we had to do when we got there was chop the firewood, so that we could have a fire to cook lunch on. The fire provided us with baked potatoes, sausages and freshly baked bread, all of which went down well.

After lunch, it was too warm to sit round a fire but perfect for playing in the woods, building dens and testing out the rope swing. It was a very tired group of children who headed home at

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the end of the day.

We also held our annual taster evening recently and it was lovely to see some new people come to join us. Our Elfins (6 – 9 year-olds) spent the evening playing parachute games, making wooden badges and making bird feeders, while our Pioneers (10 – 12 year-olds) made their own pea shooters and invented games to play with them.

Both our groups will have spaces available from September.

If you would like to add your child to the waiting list please call Jenny on 0117 909 3969 or email info@southwestwoodcraft. org.uk. You can also find us on Facebook or visit our blog for more information about the group and to see what else we have been up to recently: bradleystokewoodcraft.blogspot.co.uk

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OP 24 EN

Ask the Doctor with Dr Norman Douglas of Bradley Stoke Surgery

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The risk business

have recently been trying to work out why there is so much more difficulty in accessing medical care or opinion. There seems to be some slight increase in medical manpower according to government sources and I seem to be working longer hours as are all my colleagues. So why the difficulties? In Primary Care the number of patient contacts has increased dramatically over the past decade and is continuing to increase. Why is this happening?

The population of South Gloucestershire is increasing with no appropriate increase in Government resources.

Patients are all living longer and with better quality of life.

These are both factors but do not come close to explaining the increased demand.

When I compare medicine today to 10, 20 and 30 years ago I am astounded at the changes.

In the 1980s I would have seen a patient with a symptom such as chest pain, tummy troubles, headache etc. I would have spent time taking a history and doing an examination. In 90% of cases I would have made a clinical diagnosis, advised the patient and treated them if necessary. In 10% I would have used Secondary Care to give further advice, do specialist investigations and possibly admit them to hospital for treatment. In this day and age I will be more likely to take a history of the problem, examine the patient, consider doing numerous investigations and then use Secondary Care if needed. These investigations need an explanation to the patient and once a diagnosis has been made the patient will need to be seen again for treatment or reassurance.

One appointment has now become three. The number of referrals to Secondary Care has increased because they are the

ones doing the investigations and they may still need to see the patient to develop a treatment plan or because the symptoms remain despite all investigations being normal.

So why the change? Better investigative processes, easier access to investigations and amazing advances in information technology.

The last of these works as a double edged sword for me.

I am delighted to have the equipment to do the tests but it means my patient also has access to an encyclopaedia of knowledge about medical conditions on the internet. The patient will often believe they have a condition they have researched until such time as I disprove it. They will take no risk, and this is quite right, but the decrease in risk taking means a massive increase in investigation and work load. We now are required to disprove the unlikely rather than prove the likely.

Is this a good thing? Yes it is fantastic. But as a country we cannot afford it. The only way it is possible to preserve our NHS is by taking calculated risks. The risk should always be minimised. If you have a symptom which you are unable to explain yourself you should contact your GP and allow them the privilege of assessing the situation, deciding on the most likely diagnosis, proving it through investigation, treatment or referral and then trusting the result. “Trust me I am a doctor” needs to be reinstituted as a national belief.

We, in the profession, will have to work hard to foster this belief and to deserve the confidence of our patients.

Dr Norman Douglas P.S. Congratulations to Sole Sisters for a superbly organised Bradley Stoke 10k Run.

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July 2014

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33

News

In Brief

Junior parkrun off to a flying start

Working together to improve your community

junior version of the successful weekly Little Stoke ‘parkrun‘ had its inaugural event on Sunday 29th June in Little Stoke Park.

Parkrun is a free, weekly 5k timed run, which takes place all over the UK and beyond, every Saturday at 9am, all year round.

Speaking about the new 2km junior version of the run, which is for 4 to 14 year-olds, event director Ian Shepherd said: “Although it has always been inclusive and attracted many families, the 5km distance of the ‘standard’ parkrun can be quite a challenge for children, which is where junior parkrun comes in.”

“At only 2km, the junior parkrun event is far easier on little legs, so the activity remains fun instead of becoming a chore.

We also have a lot more marshals dotted around the course, making it safe for children to run on their own, although parents can still

The next meeting of the Safer and Stronger Community Group is on Thursday 24th July at the Brook Way Activity Centre (7pm).

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Quiz answers (page 31)

Start of the inaugural ‘junior parkrun’ event on 29th June in Little Stoke Park

accompany them if they like.”

Subject to successfully mustering a roster of twenty volunteers each week, the Little Stoke junior parkrun team will be putting on the run every Sunday at 9am. All runners or volunteers need to do is register once at www.parkrun.org.uk,

print out their personal barcode, then just turn up to run or email littlestoke-juniorshelpers@ parkrun.com to volunteer.

For more information, visit the ‘Little Stoke South Gloucestershire parkrun‘ and ‘Little Stoke junior parkrun‘ pages on Facebook.

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News

Latest news from Bradley Stoke in Bloom

By Sara Messenger of Bradley Stoke in Bloom (BSiB) he Library Wildflower Meadow is growing well, with daisies and poppies already beginning to flower and the bird feeder is proving very popular with the local birds.

One of the feeders blew off in the wind, so if any of you have wondered what a Niger plant looks like, I think we may be about to find out as there is a thick carpet of it growing under the feeder!

The 1st Bradley Stoke Rainbows are keen to help out BSiB and are planning to make their own colourful ‘Rainbow’ Pole decoration & have been busy collecting coloured bottle tops to make it happen.

June saw our ‘Welcome to’ planters get a World Cup makeover; sadly the decorations

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Help yourself! Community Herb Garden outside Brook Way Activity Centre

lasted as long as the England team did, with most of the decorations being vandalised within a day of them going up.

There were only three members at our June workday, but they were very busy. First the

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Community Herb Garden had a tidy up and the borage which was planning to take over the planters was taken out and replaced with basil. Labels with tips on how to use the herbs for both cooking and medicinal remedies were added and the Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco plant) has been given its own small tub and we would ask everyone to put their cigarette stubs in there, not in with the herbs!

The Brook Way Rose Garden was also very over grown and took a lot of weeding, but we did take some time off to do a spot of ‘guerrilla gardening’! After her daughter’s school uniform became snagged on bramble in the overgrown flower bed

by Manor Farm Roundabout, a resident asked if we could do anything, we only went to take a

look but two hours overtime and seven bags of weeds later…

And a big thanks to Dave who may have saved the entire BSiB team! Not only with his kind words but also with the ice cold drinks he dropped off while we were working! Thank you Dave, you’re a star!

BSiB is an incredibly small but friendly group; it now has just four committee members and two regular workday helpers, so any offers of help would be greatly appreciated. Our workdays are always the third Saturday of the month.

Our ‘Best Front Garden’ competition, won last year by Maureen Hopkins, has already had its first entry. Judging isn’t until the end of July so you still have time to nominate a garden or to enter your own. And we have a new competition ‘Best Planted Pot’, (children up to 13 years & adult 14 years and over) which will be judged at the Bradley Stoke Carnival. The only rules are you must live in Bradley Stoke, not be on the BSiB Steering Committee, be able to bring the pot to the carnival and that it is no more than 18” wide. Entry forms can be found on our Facebook page and website or collected from the town council office.

Our contact details are: email: bsib@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07582 634107, Facebook: Bradley Stoke in Bloom and website: bradleystokeinbloom.com

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News

Therapy Centre making a difference – and not just for MS

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as complimentary therapies such as Aromatherapy, Acupuncture and Reflexology. The focus of the Centre is to help people manage their symptoms, particularly those that impact day-to-day life, for example fatigue, poor bladder function, balance issues, spasticity and many others.

More than Multiple Sclerosis

As the name suggests, most Centre members are people who have been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, although people with a variety of other diagnoses – ME, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy and many more - also visit the Centre. To add to this, Oxygen Treatment is available for the treatment of sports injuries, from muscle strains to broken bones, to aid the recovery process.

Want to learn more?

To find out more, visit the

West of England MS Therapy Centre

website www.mstherapybristol. org.uk, email info@ mstherapybristol.org.uk or call the main desk on 01454 201686 and a member of staff will be happy to speak to you.

You can also help keep the Centre running by volunteering, making a donation, or taking part in one of the many sponsored activities the Centre organises throughout the year – from skydiving, to being rescued from Portishead Marina

by Newfoundland dogs, to abseiling the Avon Gorge, there’s something for everyone!

Want to save money?

Join the Club!

S % MER D 93 STOULD END RIEN CU O M A F W M O CO T RE UB CL

Treatments include: Physiotherapy with specialist neuro-physiotherapists, who also run exercise classes tailored for people with varying levels of mobility, from full mobility to very little; Oxygen Treatment in the 7-seater barochamber; as well

From mid-July 2014, an additional Oxygen Treatment session will be running on a Thursday evening at 6.30pm, to cater for people who struggle to get to the Centre during the usual opening hours. Depending on the popularity of this session, the Centre may increase the availability of Oxygen Treatment and other therapies ‘out of hours’. In addition, early morning physiotherapy sessions are available for those wishing to access treatment before they go to work.

A recent development at the Centre has been the introduction of Boccia classes (pronounced ‘bot-cha’). Boccia is the only Paralympic sport without an Olympic equivalent and the British Team is currently Number 2 in the world. Anyone can play, regardless of age, mobility level or experience. A Boccia trainer from Sportsray North Somerset recently came to the Centre to run a taster session which was really wellreceived. As a very social sport Boccia allows people to have fun in a group as well as encouraging some ‘healthy competition’.

E TH

Increasing availability

An Olympic approach

F O

he West of England Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre moved to Bradley Stoke, from Nailsea, in February 2012. Since then it has made a huge difference to people in the local area and beyond. So much so that the Centre, a Registered Charity, is planning to extend its hours of operation to allow more people to access treatment.

Since the Centre relocated, nearly 200 new members have joined. In addition, numerous people travel from Nailsea and the surrounding area to continue their treatment. While GP and Consultant referrals are welcomed, the Centre generally operates on a self-referral basis so anyone who has been diagnosed with a neurological condition is welcome.

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Terms and conditions apply. The Utility Warehouse ‘Double the Difference’ Price Promise and up to £200 to help you switch requires you to become a Double Gold customer, i.e. Taking Home Phone, Broadband, Mobile and at least one energy service. Gold benefits are only available to customers who are homeowners or aged 25 and above. For full details of the Price Promise see the Utility Warehouse website.

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

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July 2014

News

Bradley Stoke Community Carnival update

By Sara Messenger, Bradley Stoke Carnival Committee his year’s ‘International’ themed Community Carnival is on Saturday 23rd August and is shaping up to be a fantastic family fun day. Ten groups have already confirmed their place in the parade and more than half the stall pitches have already been booked. As well as the fun fair and the parade, there will be face painting supplied by Cat’s Whiskers, an ice cream van, kit and classic cars, Freewheelers motorbikes, Chinese Lion dancing, demonstration arena, stalls, live bands on stage and a bar, so bring a picnic and a blanket and spend the afternoon and evening with us enjoying the live music and the carnival atmosphere!

In advance of the Carnival, Bezerkaz Circus will be running Carnival Skills and Big Bubble

T

The

workshops for local residents of all ages. These are being held on Sundays, July 27th & the 3rd, 10th, and 17th of August, 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm (different themes in am/pm sessions) at the Brook Way Activity Centre and are totally free of charge, so come along and learn some skills to show off in the parade!

Pre-booking is not necessary but advance notice to our email address or via the form on our Facebook page would be appreciated.

We hope to see all our local schools join in the parade, so to

Olympus Academy Trust

help support them in this, we have offered them free circus and carnival skills workshops too. These will be run by World Jungle.

Also planned for July is a competition for a Carnival Prince and Princess to lead the parade!

To enter, you must live in Bradley Stoke, be between 11 and 16 years of age, and be available on August 23rd in a suitable costume. More information on how to enter will appear soon on our Facebook page but children will need their parents’ permission to enter.

Our thanks go to: Rong, for setting up our Twitter account ‘@BstokeCarnival’; to Tesco, who have kindly donated bottled water for our helpers; and to Bristol Ambulance for providing our first aid cover.

It’s not too late for you or a group you are involved in, to join us. There are lots of opportunities to take part, whether in the parade, demonstration arena, running a stall or helping to marshal. For more information on how you can be involved you can email us at (bradleystokecarnival@gmail. com), download the forms from our Facebook page, (Bradley Stoke Carnival 2014) or you can come along to our Carnival Open Meeting at 7pm on Tuesday July 15th in the Oak Hall at the Jubilee Centre, where you can deliver your booking forms or just ask us any questions you may have.

State of the art facilities for hire in the Bradley Stoke area Available for hire all year round

• Conference facilities and classrooms

• Specialist ICT and catering facilities

• Dance and drama studios

• Floodlit astro turf

• Sports hall

• Floodlit hard courts

For further information please contact Karen Holt on 01454 868840 or email lettings@bradleystokecs.org.uk www.bradleystokecs.org.uk

Fiddlers Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, BS32 9BS 01454 868840 www.bradleystokecs.org.uk To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

July 2014

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What’s On (6th July – 3rd August) Sunday 6th July 7am-5pm: Car Boot Sale at Trench Lane, BS32 4JZ. More info: http://bit.ly/trenchlane [Weekly on Sundays] 9am: Severnside Ramblers’ Walk: Lydney. Meet in the Aldi car park – a car-sharing scheme is operated. More info: http:// bit.ly/ssramb [Further walks on 13th, 18th, 20th, 23rd & 27th July and 1st & 3rd August] 9.30am: SCC Long Distance Bike Ride around South Gloucestershire. Meet outside Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

More info: http://bit.ly/bsj-scc or phone Bryan on 01454 617560 [Further SCC rides on 17th, 20th, 27th & 31st July and 3rd August]

Tuesday 8th July 7.30pm: Willow Brook Townswomen’s Guild meets at the Jubilee Centre. More info: Janine 01454 617645

Wednesday 9th July 10am-12noon: Citizens Advice Bureau Outreach Session at the Jubilee Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/citadbu or phone 08444 111444 [Also on 11th, 18th & 25th July and 2nd August] 2pm: Bradley Stoke Women’s Institute (WI) meets at the Jubilee Centre. More info: Maureen 0117 904 6099

In’ Surgery at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. No appointment necessary.

7pm: BSTC Full Council Meeting at the Jubilee Centre.

Agenda: http://bit.ly/bstcfull

Saturday 12th July 12pm-9pm: Ruck & Maul Fun Day Fiesta at St Mary’s Old Boys RFC, Trench Lane, BS36 1RY. More info: http://bit.ly/bsyrugby 11am-2pm: Summer Fair at Baileys Court Primary School.

11.30am-2.30pm: Summer Fair at Meadowbrook Primary School.

Monday 14th July 6.30pm: Bradley Stoke Small Business Forum Meeting at the Aztec Hotel. More info: www.bssbf.co.uk

Tuesday 15th July 7pm: Southern Brooks Area Forum at Shield Road Primary School, Shields Avenue, Filton.

Agenda: http://bit.ly/sbaf-1407 7.30pm: Bradley Stoke Community Singers’ Concert at Bradley Stoke Community School. Tickets £5 (£2.50 for concessions) - available from the school reception. More info: http://bit.ly/bscsingers or phone Dawn on 07951 099491

Saturday 19th July

6pm-8pm: Police Beat ‘Drop

10am-4pm: Bradley Stoke in

Accountants TJS Business Solutions, Page 15 Alternative Therapies Visit directory on BSJ website Cake Makers & Decorators Sweet Tracey Cakes, Page 39 Carpet Cleaners B Clean, Page 39 Bonne Fresh Clean Ltd, Page 28 Clean Pros, Page 12 Carpets & Flooring Trade Floor, Page 4 Child Care Ambourne House Day Nursery, Page 16 Banana Moon Nursery, Page 40 Bradley Stoke Wise Owls Club, Page 11 The Covey Nursery & Pre-School, Page 13 Kids Klub, Page 4 Children’s Activities Giggle Gym, Page 14 Chiropractic Cool Green Planet, Page 5 Willow Brook Clinic, Page 7 Cleaning & Domestic Services Broadcare, Page 39 More in directory on BSJ website

Computer Services JRT Computing, Page 2 Cycle Repairs Ride On Cycles, Page 23 Domestic Appliance Repairs Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Page 15 Education & Learning Kumon Study Programme, Page 8 Learndirect, Page 30 SGS College, Page 6 Electricians Ernest S Till (South West), Page 29 Estate Agents Lifestyle Property Services, Page 1 Ocean, Page 1 Foot Care Georgina’s Foot Clinic, Page 30 Garage Services Filton Central Garage, Page 31 Westlec, Page 2 Gardening Services AllStyle, Page 14 Plan-It Garden Design, Page 23 Gyms & Health Clubs Anytime Fitness, Page 32 LivingWell Health Club, Page 12

Bloom Workday. More info: bsib@hotmail.co.uk or phone 07582 634107. Please get in touch to find out where we will be meeting and working

2pm-5pm: Family Fun Day at Ambourne House Day Nursery, Patchway. Everyone welcome.

Entrance and all activities FREE. More info: www.ahdn.co.uk

Monday 21st July

Sunday 27th July

1.30pm-3.30pm: Sew and So’s patchwork and quilting group meets at the Jubilee Centre.

11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm: Carnival Skills Workshop at Brook Way Activity Centre.

For local residents of all ages, in preparation for the Bradley Stoke Carnival on 23rd August. More info: http://bit.ly/bscarnival [further workshop on 3rd August]

Tuesday 22th July 2pm-4pm: Tea & Tours at Old Down Manor. Tickets £5.

Proceeds to Age UK. For more info, contact 01454 411707.

2pm-4pm: Volunteering Drop-in Session at Bradley Stoke Library. Pop in for a chat with a volunteer advisor. More info: http://bit.ly/vc-pfs or call 01454 868986

Wednesday 23rd July 7pm BSTC Planning Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre. Agenda: http:// bit.ly/bstcpec

Thursday 31st July 10.30am-12pm: Snakes and Mirrors activity morning for pre school children at Bradley Stoke Library.

Friday 1st August 1.15pm-7.15pm: Blood Donation Sessions at the Jubilee Centre.

More info: www.blood.co.uk

Saturday 2nd August

Saturday 26th July

10am-4pm: Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group Workday. Meet at the tool store, behind Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. More info: http://bit. ly/bsj-tbncg or call Hannah on 07971 426266

11am-3pm: Fundraising Event for Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary at the Jubilee Centre.

Various stalls from face painting to gifts for all. More info: www. hollyhedge.org.uk

10.15am-11.30am: Dedication of new War Memorial and WWI Centenary Commemoration in the town square at the Willow Brook Centre. More details on page 17.

Thursday 24th July 7pm: Safer and Stronger Community Group Meeting at Brook Way Activity Centre.

DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS Hair & Beauty The Filton Barbers, Page 34 Hotels, Pubs & Restaurants Visit directory on BSJ website Launderettes & Dry Cleaners Wash Shop Plus, Page 39 Legal Services Hutchinson Legal & Associates, Page 22 Mortgages & Financial Advice Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 8 Opticians Specsavers, Page 33 Pet Services & Supplies Barking Mad, Page 29 Friends for Pets, Page 15 Happipet Services, Page 31 MadDogz, Page 35 New Passage Cattery, Page 39 The Dogrunner Bristol, Page 39 Physiotherapy Bradley Stoke Physio, Page 10 Willow Brook Clinic, Page 7 Picture Framers Royall Framing, Page 19 Plumbing & Heating C & S Plumbing, Page 24

Capricorn Plumbing Ltd, Page 9 Concept Property Maintenance, Page 7 Richard Joseph, Page 38 S. Berryman Plumbing & Heating, Page 39 Restaurants KFC, Page 19 Room & Facilities Hire BSCS Lettings, Page 36 Rubbish Clearance Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance, Page 39 Self Storage Simply Self Store Ltd, Page 39 Slimming Clubs Slimming World, Page 3 Soft Furnishings Janet Smith, Page 24 Sport and Leisure Carrie Vinson Equestrian, Page 11 RhiActions Dance, Page 34 WoodCamping.com, Page 14 Takeaways & Food Delivery KFC, Page 19 The Roaster, Page 25 Taxis Bristol Parkway Taxis, Page 39 South Glos Taxis Ltd, Page 39

To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

38

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July 2014

News

Nature conservation group: May & June report

By Sara Messenger of the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group or our May and June workdays the group concentrated on stream clearing, which involves removing blockages and cutting back overhanging branches to allow in more light. A huge amount of rubbish was removed from the stream, including wooden pallets, a fuel tank, tyres, numbers plates, a video recorder and part of an ATM! The Green Gym group, who meet each Thursday and are led

by David Baker, have already completed 656 hours of voluntary work this year. For them, late spring sees the start of the yearly mammoth task of clearing Himalayan Balsam, a pretty but very invasive plant, although David allowed the group a day off to install ‘no dogs / do not disturb’ signs and fencing at all our newt ponds and to clear most of our orienteering posts, just in time for a grateful 1st Almondsbury Guide Unit, who spent an evening completing the course.

Our swans seem to be again having mixed fortunes. Although the male has lived at the lake for many years, his previous mate was put down after she was found injured with a broken pelvis.

This year, we have been told that his new female’s eggs had been found broken on the path.

But they now have four eggs in the nest, which, with an average

F

Naturalist Ed Drewitt with his book

‘Run England 3-2-1’ route marker

36 days incubation means they should hatch by the end of June.

This will be the first year that this female has managed to breed, and although we’re all excited at the prospect of cygnets, we would ask everyone to not disturb them and to keep their dogs and children away from the nest. Looking ahead, we hope to have any cygnets ringed and to run a competition to name our adult swans, and possibly their young too, so start thinking of names now!

In addition to the reported regular theft of wood from the reserve, more vandalism has been reported, with the fire brigade being called out three times, two notice boards having been damaged and there were at least two separate incidences of unauthorised chain sawing in Savages Wood. The cut trees

were left in a dangerous state and had to be cleared by contractors paid for by SGC. Our 5.30am Dawn Chorus walk was too early for all but the most enthusiastic of twitchers! But their early rising was rewarded with 35 species of bird being seen or heard on the walk, as well as the, fortunately rare, ‘teenage fire girls’ who having camped out in the woods, were just setting fire to their tent!

The Summer Evening walk on 10th June was more popular and 16 people turned out to meet broadcaster, naturist and writer Ed Drewitt. In only 90 minutes we heard 28 different birds calling although our mute swans weren’t included in the total as they chose to remain, well mute!

Ed bought with him his new book

Urban Peregrines, and although the library thought perhaps he shouldn’t sign their copy, he was happy to sign copies for his fans.

As part of a Council initiative to encourage people to take up healthier lifestyles, the reserve has seen the installation of “Run England 3-2-1 route” markers.

There are three routes and they are all out-and-back to the same starting post which is at the skate park entrance: 1km = out to the 500m post and back; 2km = 1km post and back; 3km = 1.5km post and back. All the posts are along the same path.

After a suggestion from a member of the public, our Town Council have obtained a SGC New Homes Bonus Grant to install a picnic area at the lake.

This will consist of two robust picnic benches set into a tarmac hard standing, which will serve as being disabled accessible from the main paths. There will also be a new litter bin in situ, which will be emptied by the Town Council’s Mobile Cleaning Operative. The work won’t be carried out until after our Bioblitz (4th/5th July), as that’s where we’re pitching our base camp!

For further information about the conservation group, visit our website, www.three-brooks.info, email info@three-brooks.info, call Hannah on 0797 142 6266 or visit our Facebook page.

For more info on Run England, visit: www.runengland.org

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July 2014

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