November 2015

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

November 2015 • Issue 31

SCHOOLS P22-23 | POLICE P32 | WHAT’S ON P15 & P34 | DIRECTORY P37-38 Find us on Facebook: BradleyStokeJournal Follow us on Twitter: @TheBSJournal

PLUS , IN YOUR 40-PAGE BRADLEY STOKE MAGAZINE

BRADLEY STOKE ‘TANK MAN’ MAKES NATIONAL HEADLINES How the arrival of a seven-tonne Scorpion tank in a quiet cul-de-sac sparked a media frenzy Pages 20 & 21

l Planning issues delay new skate park build l Chelsea Pensioner launches Poppy Appeal l Local dad pays £25,000 for Shaun sculpture l Vodafone award boost for Scout band project l Replacement railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane set to be 4-lane l Scouts invite all to Remembrance event l CBeebies star Andy Day to switch on Willow Brook’s Christmas lights l Widowed mum’s makeover at The Mall’s Bristol Fashion Week l Cash-strapped council wants to levy charge on weekly parkrun event l Little Stoke Primary’s Forest School featured on national television

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November 2015

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News

Planning issues delay new skate park build Project now unlikely to be completed before March 2016

Overflow car park

Site of old skate park

W

ork on a £250,000+ project to construct a new concrete skate park in the grounds of Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, could finally get under way within the next few weeks, subject to planners at South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) granting approval following a protracted evaluation of the town council’s planning application.

At the time funding was secured for the project in early 2014, the council said it was hoping to have the new facility up and running in time for the community festival in June 2015, but by the time a contractor was appointed to build the park, the projected completion date had already slipped to the end of September.

The planning application for the new park was eventually submitted in mid-June, at which time the council said it expected work to “start immediately after the school holidays” and be completed by Christmas.

However, following negative comments received from SGC’s landscape architect, who saw the proposal as “trying to shoehorn too much into a too small space”, the design had to be re-worked.

Additionally, objections from a small number of local residents concerned about potential noise levels from the new skate park (which would be closer to their

properties than the existing park), led the council being asked to commission an acoustic survey at a cost of £1,500. The results of that exercise were inconclusive, with the experts concluding the construction of a 2-metre acoustic barrier to the south of the site would ensure there was “no material adverse impact upon neighbouring residents whilst the proposed skate park is [operating] at maximum capacity”. However, correspondence aired at a town council meeting in October suggests that SGC will not insist on the construction of an acoustic barrier, but will instead impose a condition that requires one to be retro-fitted should any “substantiated statutory noise nuisance complaints” be received within a year of the park opening.

Additional conditions likely to be imposed are that the park is only used between 8am and 9.30pm, approved signage showing the opening hours is displayed and a 24-hour CCTV system is installed.

The town council’s budgeted expenditure on the project has now risen to £286,000, due mainly to additional costs associated with re-instating the car park on the site of the old skate park and installing a converted shipping container to provide storage and a small social space for use when detached youth workers are in attendance.

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November 2015

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EVERY MONTH We’re the only publication delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to all homes in Bradley Stoke

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

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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 2015. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.

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November 2015

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Sport

Bronze for Abigail at Euro championships

A

gymnast from Stoke Lodge who represented Great Britain at the European Acrobatic Gymnastics Championships in Germany at the end of September has returned from the competition with a cherished bronze medal.

Abigail Hipkiss of King Edmund Gym Club, who competed with Tiana McClurg in the women’s pair 13-19 age category, had travelled to Riesa with few expectations, but the pair rose to the occasion in commendable fashion as they claimed fourth place overall (out of nine high-class nations), in the knowledge that one of three qualification events undertaken, the balance routine, had reaped them a deserved bronze medal.

Although Abigail has won British titles in the past, she

says she was “overjoyed” to achieve her lifetime ambition of representing Great Britain, and to then win a medal was “the icing on the cake”.

Abigail has been with King Edmund since the age of 18 months, when she attended gym tots classes. She trains for around 20 hours per week, over five days, increasing to around 28 hours per week in the build up to a major competition.

“Belonging to a club that can see you through from start to finish with great coaches has been a fantastic experience and long may it continue,” she enthuses.

Combining her hobby with work, Abigail is presently employed at Yate International Gymnastics Centre, home to King Edmund, on a government-

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Above: Abigail Hipkiss (left) and Tiana McClurg, pictured after being presented with their bronze medals Right: Abigail and Tiana in action

sponsored apprenticeship scheme, run in conjunction with the club.

Abigail plans to continue training at the level she is at, allowing her to gain more experience and hopefully win another medal at a major tournament. She says she would like to continue her coaching career and stay in the sport after competing, so she can give something back to a sport she so clearly loves.

The King Edmund club runs recreational gym sessions at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre on Fridays between 3.55pm and 4.45pm. For more information, please phone 01454 320662. ● www.acro-gymnastics.co.uk

Our next magazine: Saturday 5th December

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November 2015

News

Chelsea Pensioner launches local Poppy Appeal

T

he Stoke Gifford branch of The Royal British Legion (RBL) launched its 2015/16 Poppy Appeal with a ceremony in the foyer of Bristol Parkway Station on Friday 23rd October.

The branch was pleased to welcome a special guest, Chelsea Pensioner Brian Cummings MBE, who cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the start of the local appeal.

Mr Cummings retired from the army in 1983 following 33 years of service with the Royal Corps of Signals, during which he saw service in the Middle & Far East and on the continent.

He was made an MBE for his welfare work at the Ministry of Defence, where he spent 14 years after retiring from the army. He became a resident of the Royal Hospital (home of the Chelsea Pensioners) following the death of his wife in 2009.

The ceremony was also attended by Station Manager

Linda Swainger, Jack Lopresti MP (RBL branch vice president), members of the 1st Stoke Gifford (Old School Rooms) Scout troop and other supporters of the local RBL branch.

Parkway Station is one of the main sites for the branch’s fundraising efforts, along with the Asda store in Filton, Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford and the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke.

Branch members will be collecting at each of the four venues daily from 9am to 6pm until Sunday 8th November. In addition to traditional poppies, the branch will be once again be selling its popular knitted poppies, along with wristbands, snapbands, centenary edition enamel badges, car badges and wooden crosses.

The branch raised a record £48,932 during its 2014/15 Poppy Appeal, which ended on 30th September.

Brian Cummings MBE (third from left) launches the 2015/16 Poppy Appeal

Branch president Brian Hewitt MBE said: “I cannot give strong enough praise to the Stoke Gifford branch of the RBL, on their record breaking and fantastic effort raising over £48,000 over the past twelve months. On behalf of our members, thank you very much to the generous local public who have donated so generously to our Poppy Collection. We invite you to help again during 2015/16, when we want to collect £50,000!”

Money raised through the Poppy Appeal goes to the RBL’s Welfare Fund, which is used to give help and support to serving and ex-service personnel and their families.

Branch Poppy Appeal

organiser John Moloney said: “We must continue in our endeavour to make sure the welfare of our armed forces continues after they have left, and also whilst serving.”

If you or someone you know needs help from the RBL, please contact the national helpline on 0808 802 8080.

The RBL has recently opened a drop-in centre at 60 Union Street, Bristol, where people can call in for advice and information on the charity’s support and community services.

The Legion is always looking for volunteers for its work; if you are interested, please contact John Moloney on 07802 535591. ● Details of local Remembrance parades and services: Page 13

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November 2015

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News

Is this Bradley Stoke’s most generous dad?

O

ne of the most popular sculptures on the Shaun in the City trail held around Bristol over the summer has been bought at auction for £25,000 by a generous Bradley Stoke dad.

Sparkles, which was decorated

by Emily Golden to look like a unicorn, was bought by local businessman Brian Bleaken to give to his youngest daughter Hollie, 10, in recognition of the bravery she has shown in overcoming a series of ear problems.

Like many other families, the Bleakens tried to visit as many of the 70 sculptures on the Bristol trail as they could, eventually recording 64 ‘Shauns’.

Hollie loves unicorns, and Sparkles was the first sculpture the family visited on the trail. She says she enjoyed visiting all the other sculptures with their varied and colourful designs, but it was Sparkles she fell in love with. It was no surprise, therefore, that when her dad told her he had obtained two tickets to attend the charity auction held at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway on 8th October, she jumped at the chance to go with him, to get what she thought would be a last look at Sparkles.

Brian hadn’t revealed that he planned to make a bid at the auction, so Hollie was astonished when he first raised a numbered card to bid for Sparkles. Fighting off furious bidding from the floor and via the internet, he

eventually secured Hollie’s favourite sculpture for what turned out to be the second highest price paid on the night.

The family is hoping to take delivery of Sparkles within the next few weeks. They say they had originally planned to put Sparkles in a cupboard under the stairs, transforming it to look like a stable. However, they have now realised that the cupboard is too small to accommodate Sparkles, so the sculpture will now have its own room in the house, which Hollie and her sisters will decorate to look “magical and dreamy, fit for a unicorn”.

Funds raised from the sale of the 70 sculptures that featured on the Bristol trail have benefited The Grand Appeal, the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity.

Above: Brian and Hollie with their bidding card and programme from the Shaun in the City auction. Below (l-r): Hollie visits Sparkles on the Bristol sculpture trail in August; Hollie meets Sparkles again at the auction

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November 2015

Business New fish & chip shop proving popular

T

he owners of a new fish & chip shop in Stoke Gifford say they are delighted with the positive feedback they have received from customers since it opened in early August.

The Smart Fish Bar, conveniently located on the former Parkway Tavern site (next door to the new Co-operative store), is the latest in a chain of outlets operated by Portuguese brothers Armando and Mario Brazao, who have more than 20 years’ experience of running fish & chip shops across the south and south-west of England.

Although specialising in traditional fish & chips, the new shop also offers kebabs, barbecued chicken, Pukka pies, jacket potatoes and burgers.

Furthermore, thanks to the use of a dedicated fryer, gluten-free fish & chips are available at all times.

The brothers, who are personally managing the new shop, say they are confident the Smart Fish Bar concept will continue to be a big hit in Stoke

Gifford and draw in customers from surrounding areas like Bradley Stoke: “We think it’s very important that the food is of excellent quality, especially in this market – we use the best oil and potatoes and we only buy our fish from a trusted company.”

“The business is doing really well with trade exceeding our expectations. Unfortunately, the lack of a phone line during the first few weeks of trading meant that we weren’t able to accept card payments, but that issue is long since fixed and we would like to thank our customers for the patience and support they have shown.”

The new shop has ample car parking, accessed from North Road and Hatchet Lane (behind the Beaufort Arms pub) and is open six days a week (Monday to Saturday) from 11.30am to 2pm and 4.30pm to 10.30pm.

Smart Fish Bar Unit 2, 43 North Road Stoke Gifford BS34 8PB Tel: 0117 931 2511

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November 2015

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News

Vodafone award boost for Scout band project

V

odafone and the Bradley Stoke Journal are pleased to announce that the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group’s ‘marching band project’ has been selected to receive a £1,000 Vodafone Community Connection Award, following the call for nominations in our September magazine.

Winning the award means the Scout group will be able to begin practice sessions for its own marching band from January

the wider community in Bradley Stoke, as well as enabling the Scout group’s members to take part in a new activity.”

The money will be used to purchase drums and trumpets for the new band, which will be coached by Richard Shepherd, a Beaver Scout leader who is a qualified music classroom teacher, and another leader who is also a music teacher.

Katherine Robinson, Beaver Scout leader, commented:

Community Connection Awards next year, with the eventual aim of taking part in the town’s annual Remembrance parade and other community events in Bradley Stoke, such as the community festival and carnival.

Speaking after the winning nomination was chosen, Sophie Merritt, Sales assistant at the Bradley Stoke Vodafone store said: “We were pleased to receive such a good number of deserving nominations for our local Community Connection award.

I’m delighted that the money is going to a project that will benefit

Bradley Stoke

“We’re very grateful to have been selected to receive this award from Vodafone. We were really enthusiastic to start this project, but didn’t have the resources to do it. This money will enable us to finally get the project off the ground.”

The Scouts have already received support from the 37th Kingswood Drum Corps and there are plans for members of that highly successful marching band to mentor some of the novice players in Bradley Stoke.

Vodafone’s Community

Representatives of the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group are presented with the award at the Vodafone store in Bradley Stoke. L-r: Richard Shepherd (assistant Beaver Scout leader), Ajit Deb & Sophie Merritt (Vodafone sales assistants), Joy Harrison (Scout group assistant treasurer) and Katherine Robinson (Beaver Scout leader)

Connection Awards, launched in 2014, have already made a difference to more than 45 local communities across the UK. Selected by local Vodafone staff and aimed at supporting local

causes, the awards have been used to help support everything from new equipment for soup kitchens and day centres for the elderly to helping people with disabilities take part in sporting activities.

The Bradley Stoke Journal is an independent newspaper, produced without subsidy from the public purse

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November 2015

News

Replacement railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane set to be 4-lane

T

he railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane, a notorious bottleneck for traffic and the scene of frequent bridge strikes by high vehicles, looks set to be replaced with a significantly wider concrete structure following a decision made by South Gloucestershire Council’s PTSE Major Schemes Sub-Committee in early October.

From November 2014 to February 2015, the council ran a preliminary consultation on plans for a so-called Cribbs/Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME), which would extend the North Fringe to Hengrove Package (NFHP) MetroBus route (now under construction in Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford) by

linking two termini of the NFHP at The Mall Bus Station and Bristol Parkway Railway Station and via the Cribbs/Patchway New Neighbourhood (CPNN), Filton Enterprise Area, Gipsy Patch Lane and Hatchet Road.

A key improvement that the CPME project would deliver is the replacement of the railway over-bridge at Gipsy Patch Lane.

The existing Victorian brickarch structure is narrow and low, resulting in an unattractive environment for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as generating delays for buses and other traffic. A replacement bridge would improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in particular, as well as for MetroBus

services and other road users.

In September 2013, the same SGC committee approved the procurement of Network Rail to undertake ‘Governance for Railway Investment Projects’ (GRIP) Stage 1 to 3 studies into improvements at the Gipsy Patch Lane railway over-bridge (and also that at Brierley Furlong, which is part of a separate project). GRIP stages 1 and 2 looked at whether it would be feasible to build the bridge. The overall conclusion of GRIP 1 and 2 was that it is technically feasible to replace the existing bridge with a new wider bridge.

During 2015, Network Rail has been working on GRIP 3.

This is the stage that deals with selecting the preferred design and size of the bridge and a report presented to the subcommittee outlined three options that officers considered could be taken forward: • Option 1: Single carriageway in each direction, with 3.5m shared use paths on both sides • Option 2: Single carriageway in each direction, 3.5m shared use paths on both sides, plus bus lane in one direction • Option 5: Single carriageway in each direction, 3.5m shared use path on north side, 5m shared use path on south side, plus bus lane in both directions These options all relate to a bridge design that is square to the highway and skewed to the railway track; a further three options involving a more expensive ‘square to track’ design having been discounted.

All options improve conditions for general traffic; increasing the existing 5m-wide carriageway

(which is too narrow for two vehicles to pass safely under the bridge), to one 7.3m-wide general traffic lane in each direction .

Sub-committee members were informed that all bridge structures can be built within land owned by South Gloucestershire Council and Network Rail, however, associated highway works will require third party land. The amount of third party land increases with the width of the bridge; the risks associated with securing this land increase with the width of the bridge.

The secured budget for the CPME scheme is £35m. The preliminary costs indicate that bridge Options 1 and 2 are affordable within this budget, whereas additional funding would need to be secured for Option 5 (circa £5m).

After considering the report, members of the sub-committee agreed to approve the selection of bridge replacement Option 5 (one general traffic lane AND one bus lane in each direction) and approve the procurement of Network Rail to support development of the bridge replacement project up to GRIP stage 5 (detailed design).

Full public consultation on the preliminary designs for the overall CPME scheme will take place over a six week period during November and December.

A series of staffed public exhibitions will be held, giving an opportunity for local residents or any other interested parties to view the consultation material and to ask the project team questions. ● More details will follow on the Stoke Gifford Journal website.

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November 2015

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11

News

Police deal with overturned car on Brook Way

T

he emergency services were called to attend a road traffic incident on Brook Way, Bradley Stoke on Thursday 1st October in which a car flipped over near the junction with Merryweather Close.

Police and paramedics attended the scene at around 1.30pm and found a red VW Polo lying on its roof and causing an obstruction to southbound traffic.

A police spokesperson later reported that the driver had climbed out of the vehicle and had not sustained any serious injuries.

Police officers and PCSOs directed the traffic whilst the incident was being dealt with.

A message on The Stokes and Severnside police Twitter feed at 3.17pm reported: “Accident dealt with on Brook way. No offences. #drive safely.”

Our next magazine: Saturday 5th December

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November 2015

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1st BRADLEY STOKE SCOUT GROUP &

Scouts invite all to Remembrance parade and ceremony on Sunday 8th November

By Katherine Robinson of the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group ur Scout group and the providing beautiful musical Willow Brook Centre are accompaniment. We will all be busy preparing for the under the watchful eye of our annual Remembrance parade parade marshal Charles Brickley. and ceremony on Sunday 8th This year, our young November. This year will see people are going to pay a more participants than ever special tribute to the Battle of before as our Scout group has Britain to commemorate its expanded considerably and we 75th anniversary, as well as have also had more interest from incorporating the traditional other local youth groups. elements of Remembrance. We The groups who have would like to extend an invitation confirmed their attendance so far to all members of our community are 1st Bradley Stoke Girl Guides, to attend the ceremony and you Brownies and Rainbows, 2nd are also very welcome to lay a Stoke Lodge Brownies, South wreath or cross at the memorial.

West Winterguard Academy and The large windows of Boots Creation Twirlers Majorettes. and the main Willow Brook Representatives from our Centre entrance will be decorated local town and county councils with large collage poppies that and the Reverend Paul Hinckley have been made by our young will also be in attendance. The people and other members of the excellent Filton Concert Brass local community. band will join us in the square, ● bradley-stoke-scouts.org.uk

THE WILLOW BROOK CENTRE INVITE YOU TO THE

O

ON

PARADE WILL MARCH FROM THE JUBILEE CENTRE at 1030

CEREMONY IN THE TOWN SQUARE At 1040 to 1115 EVERYONE WELCOME

Local Remembrance Parades and Ceremonies Bradley Stoke: Sunday 8th November – Parade from the Jubilee centre at 10.30am. Ceremony in the town square at 10.40am.

Stoke Gifford: Sunday 8th November – Ceremony at the cenotaph, North Road at 10.15pm followed by services at St Michael’s Church and Rock Lane Baptist Church at 11am.

Patchway: Sunday 15th November – Parade from the car park near Coniston Medical Practice at 10.15am followed by Remembrance service at the war memorial in Scott Park.

Armistice Day Commemorations at 11am on 11th November Short ceremonies organised by the Stoke Gifford Royal British Legion, with the Exhortation, Last Post, Two Minute Silence, Reveille and Kohima Epitaph.

Bradley Stoke: Willow Brook Centre Stoke Gifford: Parkway Station and Sainsbury’s Supermarket

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November 2015

News

Bradley Stoke Beaver Scouts visit Slimbridge

T

hirty-one Beaver Scouts from the 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group took part in the County Beaver day at the Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire. They took part in a full timetable of activities that included an entertaining talk about otters and a visit to the resident real beaver, ‘Old Man

Sam’, in his lodge home. Other highlights included feeding the birds by hand – a real adventure as some of the larger swans and geese were almost as tall as the Beavers! They were also able to get creative and make their own crafty picture collages of beavers and otters.

A visit to ‘Welly Boot Land’ was

a big hit – after all, Beavers love getting wet! Some of the group also had the opportunity to go up inside the observation tower that looks over the whole centre, while others had a go at handling some interesting frogs and salamanders. The day finished with a hugely informative talk all about the beaver, which our

Beavers found very interesting.

The centre’s resident experts were available throughout the event and the day was incredibly well organised.

Our thanks, as always, to the adult leaders who gave up their Sunday to accompany our Beavers (but I think they also had fun!)” ● bradley-stoke-scouts.org.uk

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November 2015

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15

News

What’s On

Lights, music and entertainment at Willow Brook’s Christmas launch

Local fireworks displays

C

Beebies presenter Andy Day will wow the Children of Bradley Stoke when he switches on the Christmas Lights at Willow Brook Centre on Saturday 21st November.

Andy, who is starring in Snow White at the Hippodrome, will light up the town centre alongside Father Christmas at 5pm.

Shoppers who complete a special Christmas trail around the shops will be able to enter a prize draw for the chance to win one of four sets of family tickets to see the Hippodrome show.

The fun packed day, compèred

by BSR 103.4FM, starts at 11am with live music in the town square and food from Bert & Gert’s Markets. There will be a special performance at 4.15pm by local musician Julia Barrella, recent winner of the Bradley Stoke’s Got Music talent contest.

Santa will also open his grotto at 11am. Tickets are £4.50, which includes a present. The grotto will be open at weekends only up to 19th/20th December, then daily from Monday 21st to Wednesday 23rd December.

Inside Willow Brook there will be lots of great free entertainment from juggler Steve Kaos and balloon sculptors Balloonatic. There will also be walkabouts from a roller skating robin and a Christmas pudding.

For Frozen fans, there will be the chance to meet the Princesses

Christmas market

On Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November a Christmas market will give shoppers lots of present ideas with unique handmade and vintage gifts. The market will be open from 10am to 5pm (4pm on Sunday).

● Bradley Stoke Town Council’s

annual fireworks display takes place at the Jubilee Centre BS32 8HL on Sunday 1st November.

Gates open 4.30pm; food from 4.45pm; display starts 6pm. No entrance charge (collection in aid of the Mayor’s charities). ● St Michael’s PTFA is organising a fireworks display at St Michael’s School, Stoke Gifford BS34 8SG on Saturday 7th November. Gates open 5.40pm; fireworks lit approx 6.40pm. Tickets £3.50 in advance or £4 on the gate. ● The 1st Winterbourne Scout Group is organising a fireworks display at Sunny Acres Farm, Winterbourne BS36 1PX on Saturday 7th November. Gates open 5.30pm; bonfire lit at 6pm; fireworks at 7pm. Tickets £3/£2 (U13) available from Daisy’s Coffee Shop, Flaxpits Lane, Winterbourne or pay on the gate. ● For more details, visit http://bit.ly/bsj-fireworks

Andy Day will switch on the lights

and a snowman. There will also be a free children’s workshop to make Christmas crafts.

For more details on the Christmas event, check out Willow Brook Centre’s Facebook page, where there will be a competition for five lucky families to win the chance to meet CBeebies Andy Day at 4pm before the lights switch-on.

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November 2015

News

Widowed mum’s Fashion Week makeover

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Bradley Stoke woman was treated to a luxury makeover and the chance to be a catwalk model for the day just weeks after losing her partner in tragic circumstances.

Natalie Welsh became a widow in August at the age of 35 after Brian, her partner of 14 years, had a heart attack and died in his sleep. Her sister Louise was just one of ten people who nominated her to be a ‘makeover model’ at Bristol Fashion Week, held at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway at the end of September.

Speaking after Natalie had been named as one of the five winners, Louise said: “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a makeover right now. It was a big shock but she has fantastic inner strength and is determined to create a happy life for her eight-year-old daughter, Niamh”.

Natalie said: “I couldn’t believe so many of my friends and family nominated me! It was a total surprise to find out I had won.

This year has been the hardest of my life but I’m staying strong for my daughter. She was just as excited about this as I was, and it was lovely to have something to look forward to together.”

Natalie was treated to an exclusive shopping trip with Bristol Fashion Week host, TV stylist Mark Heyes, who helped her select a new look. She also received a complimentary hair makeover with Tomlinson of Clifton, the official hairdresser of Bristol Fashion Week, and a makeup masterclass with Bobbi Brown at John Lewis at The Mall.

For her big day, Natalie wore a “purpley jump suit”, chosen

by Mark Heyes, which she said “isn’t the type of thing I would normally wear”.

She described the experience of walking down the catwalk in front of a large and appreciative crowd as “nerve racking but exciting at the same time.”

Natalie says she was moved by the huge amount of warmth shown to her and says she even had strangers coming up to her in The Mall after the show to offer support and good wishes.

Natalie’s story was picked up by the regional media and in the days following the fashion show she appeared on BBC Points West and was interviewed on BBC Radio Bristol’s Breakfast Show, giving her the opportunity to praise the work of Winston’s

Top: TV stylist Mark Heyes puts the finishing touches to Natalie’s look Above: Natalie receives rapturous applause as she parades down the catwalk

Wish, the UK’s leading child bereavement charity, which has provided welcome support to the family.

Natalie, Niamh and Louise also organised an event dubbed ‘Niamh’s Night of Fundraising’ at the BAWA Club in Filton on 17th October, which raised £1,636 for Winston’s Wish.

Reflecting on the short time since her partner had died, Natalie told the BBC: “It’s been a roller coaster journey – quite surreal. Every day is different and brings its own challenges – but we get through one day at a time.”

“I’ve got such a strong network of family and friends – I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be rooting for me. Their love and support keeps me and Niamh going on a day-to-day basis.” ● www.winstonswish.org.uk

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November 2015

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17

News Woodcraft Folk’s autumn camping trip scan QR code to learn more

THINKING ABOUT

By Jenny Thompson of Bradley Stoke Woodcraft Folk lthough the nights are was the immediate answer from drawing in and the many of the campers, all of whom temperature is dropping, had to break their breakfast egg the Bradley Stoke Woodcraft and other bits and pieces into Folk were still able to squeeze a the bottom of a paper bag to camping activity into their autumn be gently cooked over the fire. programme. The camp took place Controlling the fire to maintain a at Hortham Farm, just north of safe cooking temperature without Bristol, and the event focused allowing the bags themselves to on bushcraft activities giving it a go up in smoke requires a lot of really strong back-to-basics feel. care, but we are happy to report There were no gas hobs, no tables, that all campers got their cooked and no kitchen tent. In fact, there breakfast on their first attempt. weren’t any tents at all! In their Despite the stripped back place were camp fires and shelters nature of the event, it does constructed from tarpaulins and require specialized equipment bivvi bags. to keep twenty-five people snug, When liberated from the effort fed and entertained in an autumn of transporting and erecting woodland. We are very grateful tents, it is astonishing just how that Bradley Stoke Town Council many activities can be crammed provided the grant that made this into a weekend. In addition to the event, and many more like it in shelter building, campers were the future, possible. We hope to able to whittle toasting forks, race get out in the wild again as soon to boil a bean tin full of water, as possible! cook bread on sticks (leaving a Bradley Stoke Woodcraft hole for the hot dog) and many Folk have two age groups, Elfins took the time to carefully split aged 6 – 9 and Pioneers age 10 large branches to form small – 12, who meet on Wednesday mallets called mauls. evenings. Both our groups have There were also activities spaces available from November; that grew from the children’s if you would like to add your own imaginations, filling in the child to the waiting list, please spare time. In particular, the call Jenny on 0117 9093969 or attractive grain found when we email info@southwestwoodcraft. cut the firewood led a number of org.uk. You can also find us children to turn that wood into on Facebook or visit our blog polished ornaments rather than (http://bit.ly/bswoodcraft) feed it to the fire. for more information about the What was the best bit of the group and to see what else we weekend? “Breakfast in a bag,” have been up to recently.

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November 2015

News

Cash-strapped council wants to levy charge on popular parkrun

T

he future of a hugely popular, free weekly running event held in a Little Stoke Park for the past three years could be under threat after the local council said it planned to levy a charge of £1 per runner to cover ongoing maintenance costs of the park.

One of hundreds of similar events that take place around the country at 9am every Saturday morning, Little Stoke parkrun is a free-to-enter timed 5k run that is open to everyone and designed to be safe and easy to take part in.

The Little Stoke event began in November 2012, with support from South Gloucestershire Council, and has seen its number of participants grow from fewer

than a hundred per week during its first six months to an average of 243 per week in October 2015.

The increasing numbers have put a strain on car parking at the Little Stoke Lane venue, which the organisers have attempted to solve by encouraging runners to walk, jog or cycle to the venue.

Additional car parking has been made available at Little Stoke Baptist Church and car sharing is encouraged.

The event is organised on an entirely voluntary basis, with a core team of helpers supplemented by participants who, from time to time, “give up” their run in order to help.

After a unanimous decision to levy a charge was made by the

Stoke Gifford Parish Council’s Finance Committee on 8th September, representatives of parkrun were invited to attend a meeting of Full Council on 13th October, where the matter was thrown open for debate.

Chair of council Ernie Brown told the meeting that the park had significant running costs, including maintenance of the car park and perimeter path (both of these are used by parkrun participants), and, in these times of austerity, needed to be “run as a business”, adding “nothing is free in this day and age”.

Geoff Keogh, director at the nearby Ashton Court parkrun and a local parkrun ambassador, explained to the meeting that it is a founding principle of the parkrun organisation that events should be inclusive and have no barriers to participation.

This, he emphasised, was “nonnegotiable” and ruled out any compulsory charge being made on participants and any handling of money by parkrun volunteers.

Mr Keogh and other parkrun supporters who spoke at the

meeting said they believed parkrun’s “added value”, through a range of positive personal and community impacts, represented a considerable benefit to local people.

Possible revenue raising ideas discussed at the meeting included having a profit-making refreshment stall at parkrun events and asking car park users for a voluntary donation.

Applying for a grant towards maintenance of the park was also suggested, but it was stated that local councils are not permitted to apply for many types of grants, so councillors asked if parkrun might consider this instead.

During further discussion, Cllr Brian Allinson said he regarded parkrun as an asset to the community and didn’t want it to leave, but added that he had “a responsibility to all citizens of the parish”. His proposal to delay the imposition of a charge for six months, to allow time for other revenue raising avenues to be explored, was agreed by a majority vote. ● parkrun.org.uk/littlestoke/

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November 2015

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News Putting their best feet, wheels and paws forward for Kenya

E

ight walkers, two toddlers in pushchairs and one dog undertook a Sponsored Walk from Holy Trinity Church to Abbey Wood Retail Park (no time for any retail therapy though!) and back to raise money for local charity The Bouncing Ball Trust. Over £600 was raised, which will be further increased once Gift Aid is included.

The Bouncing Ball Trust is based in Bradley Stoke and funds Compassionate Programmes for poor children in rural Kenya.

The Compassionate Programme provides funding and support to children whose families are unable to afford the cost of attending schools in Kenya (there are very few opportunities for free primary education in

the country). We provide the children with school uniform, school bags and materials, extra tuition and cooked lunches during the school days.

Founder and Trustee, Chris Orman, said: “This is a fantastic amount raised which will enable us to run the Compassionate Programme during the Christmas and Easter school holidays. I

19

December magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 23rd November would like to thank the group for their enthusiastic support for our work. We currently have 30 children in our Compassionate Programme, but many more children are desperate for our help to attend primary schools.

We are hoping to establish a group of supporters in the Bradley Stoke area to help raise the Trust’s profile and fundraise to expand our Compassionate Programme”. Chris, who has spent some time living in Kenya, has first-hand knowledge of the need to expand primary education to as many children as possible and is happy to speak to groups about the Trust’s work. ● For more information please visit the Trust’s website at www.bouncingballtrust.org. uk (where you can find links to their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram presence), email them at bouncingballtrust@yahoo. co.uk or telephone/text them on 07517 429373.”

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November 2015

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21

nk man’ makes national headlines A

2 1. Jeff’s tank arrives on the back of a low loader, complete with a heavy duty tractor to unload it 2. The seven-tonne Scorpion light tank, now parked on Jeff’s drive 3. Jeff in the tank commander’s seat 4. Jeff surveys the neighbourhood from the tank commander’s hatch

4

Bradley Stoke resident became the focus of national media attention in mid-October after an ex-army tank he purchased in an online auction was delivered to his Crofters Walk home.

Jeff Woolmer, 44, a stress engineer with the Bloodhound project in Avonmouth, placed a £9,000 bid on the Scorpion light tank back in May, following light-hearted conversations with work colleagues about military hardware. Believing he had set his bid too low to stand a realistic chance of winning the tank, he was surprised to receive a phone call four days after the auction closed telling him his bid had been successful and asking when he would like the tank delivered!

Jeff says: “I put in a low bid and thought ‘if I win, I win, and will figure out the next steps, if not, just move on!’. That phone call led to a lot of figuring out!”

At the time, Jeff was living in a two-bedroom flat in Clifton with his partner and threeyear-old daughter. Although the family had been looking for a larger property for a while, the imminent arrival of a seven-tonne tank added a degree of urgency to their search for a new home!

As Jeff says, “Three or four bed houses with tank parking facilities are hard to come by in central Bristol,” so the search area was widened and the family eventually moved to their new home in Bradley Stoke at the end of September.

With four months having elapsed since Jeff bought the tank, the auction firm had been pressing Jeff to take delivery, so a heavy equipment transport specialist was quickly contacted.

Six days later, the tank duly arrived on a low loader, which also carried a powerful tractor that would be used to off load the tank and manoeuvre it into position on Jeff’s drive. The commotion caused quite a stir in the secluded cul-de-sac and Jeff says one neighbour’s sevenyear-old son “thought all his Christmases had come at once” when he saw a tank, a trailer

phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

and a tractor all in one day and “couldn’t wait to tell his Dad when he came home”.

One youth living in the road later knocked at Jeff’s door with a friend, asking if he could “have a look at the tank” and Jeff was happy to let the pair help get some pieces of equipment our of the tank and show them the turret going round and the cannon going up and down. The youths later helped Jeff remove three of the four batteries from the vehicle, so that they can be charged up.

“It was a great way to break the ice with my new neighbours,” says Jeff, adding that he discovered that one neighbour had served in the army and another’s brother had been a tank driver in the army.

With the tank now safely parked on Jeff’s drive, word soon started to spread, and it wasn’t long before the local media were knocking on Jeff’s door, in the form of Catherine Ayers of Bradley Stoke Radio (BSR). However, Jeff’s media superstar status really began to take off when the BBC picked up the story a few days later, with Radio Bristol broadcasting a live interview from Jeff’s drive on Thursday 15th October.

By the end of Thursday, the BBC’s ‘Tank buyer has to move out of Bristol flat’ story had gone national, and ranked as the seventh most-read story on the BBC News website. Further media attention followed on Friday 16th, with Jeff being photographed by a regional picture agency and filmed by Made in Bristol. By the end of Friday, the ‘tank man’ story was figuring prominently on the websites of several national newspapers and was featured on the front page of CNN’s website.

According to the tank’s log book, which is in Jeff’s possession, the tank entered service in 1983 and was used at a British Army training base in Canada.

It is fitted with a 75mm cannon and has a top speed of around 50mph. Officially designated a ‘combat vehicle reconnaissance (tracked)’ or CVR(T), Jeff says its

battlefield field role would have been to move forward in order to ascertain enemy positions before quickly retreating, its cannon being used mainly for self-defence.

Asked about his plans for the tank, Jeff says he has every intention of getting it mobile again, and, given that the vehicle is fitted with rubber pads on its tracks, he sees no reason why it shouldn’t be possible for it to be driven on public roads, subject to getting it registered with the DVLA. He will also need to get the ‘tracked vehicle’ category added to his licence before he can drive around Bradley Stoke in his new “Sunday afternoon toy”.

Jeff’s first task, once the demands of the media have died down, will be to power up the tank’s electrical system and see if he can get the engine started.

Once that hurdle is cleared, he will need to search ex-army equipment suppliers for a gearbox, as his new toy is missing that essential component.

He plans to convert part of his garage into a ‘tank workshop’ and may create a ‘car (or tank) port’ to provide shelter for the vehicle, which in its present state is susceptible to the elements as some pieces of equipment, e.g. periscopes, have been removed, leaving holes through which water can get in. He is also conscious of the fact that he will need to have the use of lifting gear in order to be able to service the tank. ● Visit bit.ly/bsj-mag-links for links to the extensive media coverage of Jeff and his tank.

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November 2015

Schools

Little Stoke Primary’s Forest School featured on national television

C

hildren at Little Stoke Primary School were thrilled to appear on national TV at the beginning of October in a “back to nature” feature filmed at their on-site Forest School. The BBC visited the school as part of a report on a recent survey of 1,000 families which showed that hardly anyone can correctly recognise the five most common trees in the country (oak, birch, beech, horse chestnut and ash).

In the feature, which was shown on the local BBC Points West and the national CBBC Newsround programmes, children from Years 1 & 2 were shown learning about the different types of trees, plants and flowers that can be found within the school grounds, and how to tell them apart.

Steve Callow, director of Conquer the Woods, a Bath based business that provides Forest School lessons at Little Stoke, told the BBC he feels that children these days “spend too much time on electronics and not enough time outdoors”.

The children were shown taking part in a ‘treasure hunt’ in which they searched for leaves similar to those shown on an annotated worksheet, thereby helping them learn the names of the corresponding trees.

Other activities to have taken place recently include rope challenges, mud kitchen, using tools, making catapults, whittling sticks and picking apples & blackberries and making cake with them on a wood fire.

Pupils begin Forest School lessons at an early age - even

the Reception children use the facilities and older pupils spend three hours a week in the outdoor learning environment over two six-week blocks each year.

The children go out in all weathers, with the school providing wet weather clothing and waterproof cameras, and there are tentative plans to provide pupils with rucksacks emblazoned with the school logo, to carry their equipment in.

Headteacher Scott Howes says Forest School sessions have become an important part of the curriculum at Little Stoke in recent years.

“We do place a great emphasis on children learning with all their senses and they have a perfect opportunity to do this during Forest School. It enables us to challenge children to problem

solve, work with a range of social groups, become skilled at new things, experience wonder at our natural world, reinforce classroom based learning, develop coordination, have fun, ask new questions and trigger new interests.”

“Most of our children are able to manage reasonable risks in the Forest School setting and are often more capable and independent than we expect.”

The positive impact of the outdoor sessions is apparent in the answers that parents provided in response to a recent questionnaire: “My children love being outside, they always look forward

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November 2015

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Get well · Stay well

G

to Forest School and are always talking about it. Now, collecting bugs in our garden seems to be a favourite thing to do!” (Y1 parent) “I am very surprised how much information he can remember when it is a ‘hands-on’ session” (Y2 parent) Parents have recently been invited into the school to experience the Forest School activities for themselves and Little Stoke also has plans to offer sessions to children from other

schools in the local area.

The school has used part of its Pupil Premium funding to finance the Forest School initiative. It was also recently awarded a grant of £1,844 by the Ernest Cook Trust, one of the UK’s leading educational charities, to help further develop the activities.

Photos (clockwise from top left): Steve Callow on BBC Points West; Pupils cook marshmallows with Steve; Pupils hang collected leaves on a line

23

by Craig from the Willow Brook Clinic

Let’s talk about posture

ood posture is an essential ingredient to keep you looking youthful as the years go by.

Standing tall is a free and simple way of looking younger – naturally.

A stooped posture could be as a result of mechanical strain on the spine or muscles due to age, stress, adaptation or simply not being aware of the need to hold your head up.

Incorrect carrying of heavy bags or backpacks can also affect the shape of your body.

Here are some tips to keep you standing tall at any age…

Now that many of us spend much of our days hunched in front of a computer, or on a mobile phone, it is very important for us to be able to stretch and open up and improve our range of motion.

To stay agile, try to get up for a couple minutes every half hour and stretch, walk, or stand.

When you do have to work at a desk, sitting up with good, tall posture and your shoulders dropped is a good habit to get into. This can take some getting used to and may feel uncomfortable to begin with.

Make sure your workstation is set up to promote proper posture.

Your core muscles form the foundation of good posture, and

a strong core can have many other benefits, from improving your athletic performance to enhancing your general wellbeing.

As we age, the muscles around our spine weaken, putting more strain on our bodies. Exercises targeting the back extensors, neck flexors, pelvic muscles, and side muscles are crucial. Aim to work on the muscles that will improve your core stability and support your spine.

There are some simple and effective exercises that you can do to improve your posture – no need for a gym membership or an extreme daily routine.

If you are concerned about your posture, contact your chiropractor or physiotherapist for advice. www.willowbrookclinic.co.uk t: 01454 625 201 ● See our advert on page 13.

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November 2015

November 2015

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November 2015

Ask the Doctor with Dr Faisal Siddiqui of Bradley Stoke Surgery Stay healthy for winter and autumn

T

he nights are drawing in, the Christmas decorations are on the supermarket shelves and we are all sorting out which relatives to visit over the festive holidays (well at least I am!). This year is predicted to be the one of the busiest years yet in NHS due to significant changes in budgets and overwhelmed surgeries and hospitals up and down the country. However, we can all do our bit to keep ourselves healthy over the autumn/winter period and enjoy our festive holidays to the full.

Winter is an extremely important time to eat well and I’m not talking about turkey with all the trimmings! Your five a day of fruit and vegetables are very good sources of immune strengthening vitamins

measures, we are all at risk of colds and flu. These are viruses spread through droplet infection e.g. when coughing or sneezing. Unfortunately, both colds and flu are viral infections and CANNOT be treated with antibiotics. Therefore, remember to keep the medicine cupboard at home stocked with aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen. Drinking plenty of water and home remedies such as honey and lemon can also help. Your local pharmacy is also a wonderful resource.

However, one way to prevent the flu is to get a flu jab. Certain groups are eligible for free NHS flu vaccinations. These include people aged 65 or over, pregnant women and people who have a serious medical condition. It is also important

“Unfortunately, colds and flu are viral infections and CANNOT be treated with antibiotics” and minerals. Clementines and carrots are full of vitamin C and traditional winter vegetables such as swede and parsnips can nutritionally supplement our meals. Milk and other dairy products are also good sources of vitamin A and B12.

Keeping warm is important in preventing illness. It is recommended that people over the age of 65 years and those with chronic conditions such as heart disease keep their homes warm above 18°C. Pensioners and low income families may also be eligible for a winter fuel allowance or payment of up to £300. Full details are available the GOV.UK website: www. gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment However, despite all these

to note the flu vaccine is available for children as a nasal spray. It is available for 2, 3 and 4 year-olds as well as those in school years one and two.

If you are in these groups, you can book in for flu jab through reception and please do! We are doing weekend flu clinics this year and our next clinic is scheduled for Saturday 14th November. Some local pharmacies and supermarkets are also now providing flu jabs.

So I hope the measures described above help keep most of us happy and healthy this Autumn and Winter. Stay warm and well Bradley Stoke!

Dr Faisal Siddiqui www.bradleystokesurgery.nhs.uk

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November 2015

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27

News

Southmead Hospital – One year on Healthwatch Bristol, the independent consumer watchdog for health and social care, reflects on how the hospital has responded to feedback from the public

H

ealthwatch Bristol visited Southmead Hospital, which is run by the North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), in August 2014 to hear what patients and members of the public thought about the new hospital.

Healthwatch shared this feedback with Southmead Hospital through a report, which can be found on the Healthwatch Bristol website, and they took action to improve things based on what visitors to the hospital said.

Patients, visitors and carers told Healthwatch that having to pay to park on arrival at the hospital causes anxiety as people often do not know how long they will need to be in the hospital and that the parking was too far away from the Brunel Building for many people to walk comfortably.

In response to this feedback, NBT have changed the payment method for car parking for the Emergency Department and Beaufort Multi Storey car parks so that people pay when they leave the car park instead. There is a shuttle bus service that runs regularly from the multi storey car park to the Brunel Building and to the anti-natal clinic and pain clinics for those who have difficulty with the walk. A motorised buggy service, driven by the Move Makers volunteers, has also been introduced in the Brunel Building to take people to their outpatient gate.

Healthwatch found a consistent theme that emerged from older people and their families who had concerns about the lack of entertainment available in single rooms and that some older people who had no one to talk to were experiencing loneliness. NBT have now installed televisions into quiet rooms on every ward and are starting roll out of televisions and radio in every single bedroom, Healthwatch is pleased to hear that this service will be free to patients. There is also a Memory

Café that runs on Wednesday afternoons for patients with dementia and their carers.

People who spoke to Healthwatch said that they were unhappy with the facilities in the Hospital atrium, including access to a choice of food and drinks, and the meals served on the wards. NBT have now installed a healthy choices vending machine in the atrium and a mobile shop also provides goods to patients in their rooms. The catering team have reviewed the meals they provide and continually work with patients to improve meal availability. NBT now provide all wards with individual menus for every patient from which they can choose any items they would like; the orders being taken the day before although NBT are currently trialling same day ordering on four wards where the patients order after breakfast for that day’s lunch and supper.

The patient catering service is currently showing (last four months) monthly ratings of 95%97% acceptable to excellent.

People told Healthwatch they loved the supportive and helpful Move Maker volunteers, but were worried that they were only supposed to be there for a few months whilst the hospital was new. The Move Maker programme is now permanent and NBT have increased the number of Move Makers volunteering with them from 60 to 133 and are still recruiting!

Following its success NBT have also introduced Move Makers to Cossham hospital.

Healthwatch Bristol will be returning to Southmead hospital ‘one year on’, on 3rd, 4th & 5th November, and would like to hear about recent experiences of the hospital. Healthwatch are particularly interested in hearing about whether you are receiving the information you need about your treatment in a format you understand and

Move Maker volunteers – now a permanent service at Southmead Hospital

how well you think the hospital services communicate with other services you are using, including your GP, care in the home or social services and voluntary and community sector services. Come and speak to the Healthwatch team in the Brunel Building on 3rd, 4th and 5th November

or contact Healthwatch by telephone, email, or via their website and help to make the new Southmead Hospital even better.

● How to contact Healthwatch…

t: 0117 269 0400 w: healthwatchbristol.co.uk e: info@healthwatchbristol.co.uk

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November 2015

In Brief Stokes Singers present ‘Silver, White & Candlelight’ Stokes Singers are putting the finishing touches to their Christmas programme, ready for the concert at 7.30pm on Friday 11th December. This year, the Christmas Concert will be held at St Chad’s Church, Rodway Road, Patchway BS34 5DE. The evening’s entertainment will include carols and Christmas songs plus the chance for the audience to join in singing some well-loved traditional carols; all guaranteed to put you in the festive mood.

A ‘lucky programme’ raffle will also give you a chance to win a Christmas hamper. Proceeds from programme and refreshment sales will be donated to the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, a specialist non-surgical treatment centre for people with cancer, and for people who do not have cancer, but require specialist radiotherapy or haematology services, serving people from the south-west of England. The centre treats around 5,000 new patients each year and is well-known as a centre of clinical excellence, so please come and support your local choir, raise funds for a deserving charity and have a great night out.

Tickets are available on the door or can be ordered in advance; please call Liz on 01454 614148 or visit www.stokessingers.org.uk

Arts society lecture to explore modern sculpture Why not stir up those grey cells and join South Gloucestershire Decorative & Fine Arts Society at their next meeting on Thursday 19th November? Dr Justine Hopkins will challenge your expectations of what a sculpture should be. Modern sculpture may sometimes be controversial and for many, mysterious and intimidating, yet almost everywhere we go, it is there too; invading our space and demanding to have attention paid. Dr Hopkins will suggest that, on the contrary, the viewing of sculpture is an exploration, an adventure, something to be enjoyed, and that we can all be explorers.

Meeting at Bradley Stoke Community School BS32 7BS (near Bradley Stoke Library and Leisure Centre), we are a friendly group and always pleased to welcome guests and new members. Refreshments from 7pm; welcome and slide illustrated lecture at 7.30 pm.

Good parking & easy access.

To join us, please call Sally Kitching on 01454 774401, email sallykitching@googlemail.com or visit sgdfas.org.uk No artistic ability required – just an enquiring mind and an interest in the arts.

Local art group offers free taster sessions The Stokes Art Group (SAG) is again offering FREE November taster sessions for artists living in and around the Bradley Stoke area – ready for joining the 2016 season starting in January. So whether you are a practising artist, wanting to get back into your art or attending tutored classes and looking for somewhere to practise your technique or complete a set exercise – why not book a taster session now?

Meeting at Christ the King Church, Bradley Stoke, on Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings, the SAG is an informal untutored group of local artists ranging all abilities, who work on their own projects at their own pace away from the distractions of home. So whether you specialise in watercolours, acrylics, oils, pastels or graphite, there is usually someone there willing to offer help and advice.

The charge for joining ready for 2016 is £19, payable in advance. This charge includes a £5 annual membership and £14 subscription for the winter series of 7 x 3hr studio sessions.

To book your taster session, simply email Susan Hartry at stokesart@fsmail.net – please state Tuesday evening or Thursday morning, and give a contact telephone number.

For more information, please visit the Stokes Art Group website at http://bit.ly/stokesart

Hi-visibility vests donated to local nurseries & schools Staff at opticians in Bradley Stoke and Cribbs Causeway have been donating hundreds of high-visibility vests to nurseries and schools in the area to ensure youngsters can be seen this winter.

Now that the mornings and evenings are darker, it’s more important than ever that children are visible. Specsavers in the Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke and The Mall, Cribbs Causeway have so far donated 700 hi-vis vests to local youngsters.

“We’ve been out and about visiting nurseries and schools over the last few weeks and handing out the vests,” says Ed Stanleigh, store director at Specsavers in Bradley Stoke. “It’s so important that children can be seen clearly when out walking and hopefully the vests will give parents some peace of mind.”

“We still have some vests left, so if you are a Brownie or Scout group, local school or kids’ club and are interested in a donation, please do get in touch.”

The stores’ donation forms part of Specsavers’ support – as a co-sponsor – of Road Safety Week (23rd-29th November). The annual event, which is organised

by Brake, is an opportunity to inspire communities to take action on road safety and raise awareness of life-saving messages.

● We apologise for the absence of a quiz in this edition (due to our quiz master Paul Philpot being away). All being well, the quiz will return in our December edition, with a ‘Christmas special’.

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

November 2015

t: 01454 300 400

Willow Brook Townswomen’s Guild started in 2009 as a small group of ladies who wanted to make new friends, discover their local area and get involved in events and activities in Bradley Stoke. As it enters its seventh year, the Guild has over sixty members and continues to go from strength to strength.

This year’s programme of evening activities has included a summer musical soiree and cream tea, quizzes, speakers and an annual fundraising night

info@bradleystokejournal.co.uk

for its charity of the year, where over £400 was raised for the Jessie May Trust. The Guild also organises regular trips and outings, this year’s most popular being visits to the Swindon Designer Outlet and to Gloucester.

In addition to its evening programme, the Guild lays on a range of informal activities every month including a book club, a ‘meet and chat’ coffee morning, guided walks around the local area (weather permitting!) and an opportunity to get together

and socialise over a nice pub lunch. Members can also get involved with demonstrations and events organised by other Townswomen’s Guilds in the Bristol area.

Member Linda Allebon said: “This is a great organisation and we get involved in lots of activities and events, support worthy causes and most of all have fun! We’re all looking forward to more exciting activities in 2016 and are always happy to welcome new members and

29

guests – do come along and meet our friendly ladies who will be there to greet you.”

Willow Brook Townswomen’s Guild meets on the second Tuesday of each month, 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the Jubilee Centre, Bradley Stoke. For further information please contact Janine on 01454 617645 or visit the Guild’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/WillowBrookTG. A full list of upcoming evening events can be found on their webpage at http://bit.ly/wibrtwg

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November 2015

News

Bradley Stoke in Bloom report for October

By Sara Messenger of Bradley Stoke in Bloom (BSiB)

Brook Way rose bed

We took on this rose garden (near the doctors’ surgery) as one of our first projects and have been rather pleased with its improvement, although the area does take up a lot of man hours with pruning, planting and weeding. After many long hours spent weeding only to watch the little blighter’s spring back taller than before, it was suggested that we use ground cover to suppress the weeds. So when a local company asked if we could use their old carpets we jumped at the chance, not only are we saving the carpet from landfill but hopefully cutting back on our workload. Not wanting the area to look untidy we have carpeted the flower bed in ‘candy stripes’ which took quite a bit of work but

we think was well worth the extra effort! So thank you to Andrew, Ceri, Pepi, Plamen & Sarah for all their hard work, it’s already been admired quite a few times.

B-Lines project

You may have noticed our new insect hotel on Brook Way / The Common East, this and our wildflower planting is part of the B-lines project, which is a partnership between Buglife and Avon Wildlife Trust, and is part of the wider B-Lines initiative, identifying and then developing a UK-wide network of wildflowerrich meadows and grasslands.

Unfortunately, someone chose to help themselves to some of the plants we’d put in, but Almondsbury Garden Centre came to the rescue and donated

Bradley Stoke in Bloom mascot Orlando sits on the ‘candy strip’ carpet laid to suppress weeds in a rose bed on Brook Way (near the doctors’ surgery)

some replacements.

Almondsbury Garden Centre also donated several hundred wall flower plants which have been shared between Palmers Leaze corner, Manor Farm Roundabout, the rose garden and the play area on Jubilee Green. It was rather back breaking work, but it will be well worth the effort when they flower in the spring.

Brushcutter and strimmer training

Several members of the group went on a brushcutter and strimmer training course provided free to voluntary groups by South Gloucestershire Council. The day long course was at the beautiful Breakheart Quarry (near Dursley) and covered everything from maintenance, repairs, personal protective equipment (PPE) and health & safety before

Ceri, Andrew, Colin and myself were finally let loose with the equipment! The bramble didn’t know what had hit it and we all passed with flying colours. We are now looking at the possibility of getting our own power tools!

Bradley Stoke Lions Club

BSiB were contacted by Lion president Ailsa for help with their project to plant a million bulbs by 2017. BSiB, Ailsa and VP Robin met up at Almondsbury Garden Centre who gave the Lions a BOGOF offer resulting in a trolley with 730 bulbs! If you know of a spot that could do with brightening up, or you are willing to give us a hand planting them in November, please let us know.

● How to contact BSiB…

t: 07582 634107 e: bsib@hotmail.co.uk w: bradleystokeinbloom.com

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

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November 2015

Bradley Stoke Beat Team PC Jamie Shiels reports Rogue trader week

P

olice and trading standards officers in Bradley Stoke and across South Gloucestershire have been raising awareness of rogue traders as part of a national week of action.

Rogue traders are criminals who charge homeowners extortionate rates for home or garden improvements which are overpriced, substandard or not required at all. These criminals often target elderly people who often suffer ill health after such a stressful experience.

We’ve talked to bank, building society and Post Office cashiers so they know what to do if a customer suddenly and unusually wants to withdraw a large amount of money so that, if necessary, we can intervene before criminals are paid for their “work”. We’ve also spoken to carers so they know what to do

if they come across people doing building work during home visits.

The week of action (from Monday 28th September to Friday 2nd October) included: • Vehicle checks, stopping and questioning drivers about their awareness of new Trading Standards legislation, and passing on useful information to them. At the same time we completed Police National Computer checks to see if any had previous offences of dishonesty and rogue trading.

• Across the district we were out on mobile patrol looking for rogue traders, people working on homes and gardens, and checking if they were legitimate.

• We visited retirement homes, sheltered housing areas, local shops and coffee mornings to meet residents and to give crime reduction advice and reassurance.

• We also visited areas already designated as No Cold Calling zones.

What to do if someone calls, uninvited, at your home: • If you’re at all unsure, don’t open the door • Put the door chain on before opening up • Ask to see identification • If you’re at all suspicious, call 101 immediately. If you feel threatened call 999.

For crime prevention advice, visit the Doorstep Crime section of our website http://bit.ly/aspdoorstep-crime The beat team recently held a successful bike marking event at the leisure centre and library, with bikes worth around £8,000 security tagged. It’s a simple idea that deters thieves and enables us to identify stolen property when it’s recovered. We plan more similar events so do please watch our local page on the force website for dates and venues: http://bit.ly/asp-yourarea

Finally, with the nights drawing in, a word of warning about keeping your house, shed and garage safe and secure against possible burglars. Lock the doors when you’re out, keep a light on when you’re out, and keep your valuable property out of sight.

Beat surgeries at the Willow Brook Centre Wednesday 4th November – 4pm to 6pm Monday 16th November – 4pm to 6pm Beat surgeries at Woodlands Park Tuesday 10th November – 5pm to 7pm ASPolice Bradley Stoke @ASPTheStokes

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November 2015

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33

News

In Brief

Triple gold for Bradley Stoke Scouts

Two local winners at the Bristol Post Sport Awards Two local sportsmen recently featured in our magazine have been selected as category winners in the Bristol Post Sport Awards, celebrated at a glittering ceremony held at The Bristol Marriott Hotel on 22nd October.

The awards, one of the highlights of the city’s sporting calendar, aim to recognise not only those who excel in their sport, but also those unsung heroes and heroines whose work goes on unnoticed behind the scenes.

L-r: Matthew Calloway, Scott Warburton and Adam Hodgson, with leaders Paul Elliott (left) and Richard Ranahan.

T

hree members of the ‘Wednesday night’ troop of the 1st Bradley Stoke Scouts have become the first in their troop to be presented with the Chief Scout’s Gold Award.

Matthew Calloway, Adam Hodgson and Scott Warburton)

received the prestigious award after completing all eight challenge badges during their time as Scouts.

The badges are: Adventure (abseiling, archery, dragon boat racing, raft building and sailing), Community, Creative, Expedition

Bridge Community Church meets every Sunday at 10am at Bradley Stoke community school for vibrant modern worship and relevant talks on life and faith.

We also provide a crèche for tots, and fun activities for older kids.

Find us at : Bradley Stoke secondary school, Fiddlers Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke, BS32 9BS

(completing a four-hour hike on two consecutive days carrying their kit, with a camp overnight), Fitness, Global, Outdoor (camping, including preparing for camp, putting up tents, cooking on open fires and dealing with emergencies) and Promise.

Bradley Stoke’s Adam Wilson was the winner of the Disability Sports Person of the Year award, recognising his participation in two different sports at international level – representing Great Britain at the European Cross Country Championships and playing for the England under-23 learning disability football team.

The most emotional moment of the evening came when the Footballer of the Year award went to Stoke Gifford United’s Ben Hiscox, who tragically lost his life in March after he collided with a clubhouse wall while making a tackle and suffered a head injury. Ben’s family were given a standing ovation as they went up to receive the award and Ben’s dad, Clive, said: “We are the proudest family in Bristol.”

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

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What’s On (1st November – 6th December) Sunday 1st November 9.30am: SCC Medium Distance & Mountain Bike Rides. Meet outside Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/bsj-scc or phone Bryan on 01454 617560. [Further rides on 8th, 15th, 22nd, 26th & 29th November & 6th December] 6pm: Fireworks Display at the Jubilee Centre. Gates open 4.30pm. Hot food from 4.45pm.

Monday 2nd November 10am: Buggy Walk. Organised walk starting from outside The Old School Rooms, Stoke Gifford.

More info: North Bristol Buggy Walks page on Facebook or phone South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 863951.

Wednesday 4th November 10am-12noon: Citizens Advice Bureau Outreach Session at the Jubilee Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/citadbu or phone 08444 111444 [Weekly on Wednesdays] 4pm-6pm: Police Beat ‘Drop In’ Surgery at the beat post in the Willow Brook Centre. No appointment necessary.

Thursday 5th November 11am: Walking for Health.

Organised walk (1.9 miles) starting from the town square.

More info: http://bit.ly/sgcwalk or phone 01454 868006.

[Further walks on 19th November and 3rd December] 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. [Further session on 3rd December] 8pm: The Stokes Crafters meet at the Poplar Rooms, North Road, Stoke Gifford. More info: The Stokes Crafters group on Facebook [Weekly on Thursdays]

Saturday 7th November 2.30pm: Chatterbooks Reading Group at Bradley Stoke Library. For keen readers aged 9-11. Please ask a member of staff for details.

Sunday 8th November 9am: Severnside Ramblers’ Walk: Goodrich. Meet in the Blue Zone car park at Aztec West – a car-sharing scheme is operated. More info: http:// bit.ly/ssramb [Further walks on 13th, 22nd, 27th & 29th November & 6th December] 10.40am Remembrance Day Ceremony in the town square at the Willow Brook Centre.

Everyone welcome. A parade leaves the Jubilee Centre at 10.30am. For more details, see news item on page 13.

For more details and further events, visit: www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/whats-on/

Wednesday 11th November 2pm: Bradley Stoke Women’s Institute (WI) meets at the Jubilee Centre. This month: Talk

by Tim Mayo – “There is nothing like a Dame”. More info: Barbara Williams on 0117 947 0340 7.30pm: Bradley Stoke Lions Club meets at the Hilton Bristol Hotel. More info: Ailsa Young on 07737 106836

Friday 13th November 1.15pm-7.15pm: Blood Donation Sessions at the Jubilee Centre.

More info: www.blood.co.uk [Further sessions on 4th Dec]

Monday 16th November 1.30pm-3.30pm: Sew and So’s patchwork and quilting group meets at the Jubilee Centre. More info: http://bit.ly/sewandsos 4pm-6pm: Police Beat ‘Drop In’ Surgery at the beat post in the Willow Brook Centre. No appointment necessary.

Wednesday 18th November 7pm: BSTC Full Council Meeting at the Jubilee Centre.

Agenda: http://bit.ly/bstcfull

Monday 9th November

Thursday 19th November

6.30pm: Bradley Stoke Small Business Forum Meeting at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

More info: www.bssbf.co.uk

7pm: SGDFAS Lecture at Bradley Stoke Community School. This month: ‘Twentieth Century Modern Sculpture’ by Dr Justine Hopkins. See news item on page 28. More info: Sally Kitching on 01454 774401.

Tuesday 10th November 7.30pm: Willow Brook Townswomen’s Guild meets at the Jubilee Centre. This month: Funky Farmer. More info: Janine 01454 617645

November 2015

Friday 20th November 6pm: Teen Library Group at Bradley Stoke Library. For young

people in Years 7 to 9. Please ask a member of staff for details.

Saturday 21st November 10am-4pm: Bradley Stoke in 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.

11am-6pm: Christmas Lights Switch-On at the Willow Brook Centre. Live music and refreshments in the town square from 11am. Free entertainment and face painting inside the centre. Lights switch-on at 5pm with CBeebies presenter Andy Day. See advert on back cover and news item on page 15.

Wednesday 25th November 7pm: BSTC Planning Committee Meeting at the Jubilee Centre. Agenda: http:// bit.ly/bstcpec

Saturday 28th November 10am-5pm: Christmas Market at the Willow Brook Centre. See news item on page 15. [Also on Sunday, closing at 4pm]

Saturday 5th December 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 07497 006676 Find details of more Bradley Stoke events on the What’s On page of the BSJ website: http://bit.ly/bsj-whatson

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

November 2015

t: 01454 300 400

35

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Paralympian visits Meadowbrook School

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On Friday 2nd October, pupils at Meadowbrook Primary School were treated to a fantastic morning of fitness circuits with Team GB Paralympian Ben Rushgrove, a 200m sprinter.

Several children were selected for their outstanding perseverance, and are pictured above with Ben. The children

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By Alex Rook, Electrical Manager at Gregor Heating he smart thermostat has arrived. With it the everyday room thermostat has joined the Internet of Things and the growing number of household devices that can be connected to and controlled remotely over the web.

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No problem, use your smartphone and make sure it’s off. Leaving work earlier than expected? No problem, set your heating to come on from the office and come At Gregor Heating, Electrical and back to a warm home. The only Renewable Energy, we can advise requirement is a web connection. on and install all the latest smart It’s not just about internet thermostats most of which work connectivity either. Most smart with Android, Apple and Windows thermostats also come packed devices. They’re affordable and full of other exciting new features easily installed in a couple of hours. as well. It’s all about helping you A survey is not usually required. maximize your comfort at home If you’d like to find out more, whilst heating your home as cost call us on 0117 935 2400 or email effectively as possible. alex@gregorheating.co.uk

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www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk Advertising feature

Local accountant with 2020 vision

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ccountant James Comer, has just set up a new Bradley Stoke based firm, with the year 2020 firmly on his mind. By then, HMRC will have 50 million individuals and small businesses using online digital tax accounts instead of a traditional tax return.

When HMRC issued their ‘making tax easier’ guidelines, it struck James how changes in technology were shaping accountancy. Frustrated by the slow pace to change in traditional accountancy firms, James made the decision to set-up on his own.

“I found that whilst accountants are up to speed with changes, they can often be slow at looking to technology to make clients’ lives easier. It is all focused on the here and now compliance” So what will he offer that’s different? Well, nothing. He will offer online accounting software like other firms, but prides himself on helping businesses that aren’t tech savvy with the switch.

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If you would like further information or a no obligation chat, get in touch with James on 01454 501894 or e-mail info@ jamescomeraccounting.co.uk ● See advert on page 4.

November 2015

from a member of staff at Rowe Vets, Bradley Stoke

Caring for your pet on bonfire night

he 5th of November can be a very scary night for our pets. Animals are more sensitive to sound than humans and the whizzes and bangs may cause actual pain to their ears.

There are lots things that we can do as owners to help keep our pets safe: Walk dogs earlier in the day and ensure that all your pets are indoors before it gets dark – don’t forget to lock the cat flap and close your windows and doors.

Get your pet micro-chipped so if they do go missing they can be returned to you as soon as possible. If they wear a collar, check it is securely fastened and your contact information is up to date.

Prepare a dark, quiet “den” so your pet has somewhere to hide. If they choose to hide, don’t force them out of their hiding place.

Play the TV or radio and close the curtains to reduce the noise from the fireworks.

If your pet becomes distressed, stay calm and try to praise them for calm behaviour – it is okay to reassure your pet when they are scared.

Try to be at home with your pet during this stressful time – if you do have to go out, try not to get angry with them if they have toileted in the house or have ripped up your sofa cushions. Shouting at a pet that is already scared will not improve their behaviour and will make them more frightened.

Don’t forget smaller pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs and birds. If possible, cover their cages and bring them indoors to help deaden the sound of the fireworks.

Desensitising your pet to the sound of fireworks can really help to reduce their phobia, but it is a long process which needs to be started months before fireworks night. There are also supplements and medications which can help to reduce anxiety. If you are concerned about the level of stress your pet exhibits during fireworks night or if you want more information, speak to your veterinarian for advice.

Rowe Veterinary Hospital Ferndene Bradley Stoke www.rowevetgroup.com

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November 2015

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8 Badminton Road, Downend BS16 6BQ

Home visits welcome

Please call

0117 956 4796 Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

24-hour call out

07824 564255

TV AERIALS & SATELLITE TV

Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

PET SERVICES

PAINTING & DECORATING

PANACHE

BATHROOM, SHOWER & PLUMBING SPECIALIST

• Complete bathroom refurbishment • Ceramic tiling • Heating & general plumbing services • Clean & tidy workmanship • Competitive rates

“Always on tap”

Call Darren on 07901 910361

Find Panache Plumbing on Facebook & FreeIndex

www.panacheplumbing.co.uk

Tell advertisers you found them in the Bradley Stoke Journal!

New Passage Cattery Friendly, local cattery 10 mins from The Mall • Quiet rural location • Viewing welcomed

Tel: 01454 632456 Website: www.catkennels.co.uk CAKE MAKERS & DECORATORS

Sweet Tracey Cakes Stoke Gifford - Bristol

Wedding Cakes, Cake Pops, Cupcakes and all types of Celebration cakes, all beautifully handmade to order. www.sweettraceycakes.co.uk Contact Tracey on: 07821 436907 Email : sweettraceycakes@yahoo.co.uk

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

CARPENTRY & JOINERY

HOLISTIC THERAPIES for ladies Layback, Relax and Unwind in a quiet location in Bradley Stoke Swedish & deep tissue massage, aromatherapy, Indian head massage First treatment half price Established 14 years www.holistictherapies.biz For enquiries / bookings Contact Louise on 07749 875626 email: redmond.louise@yahoo.co.uk

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

38

www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk DIRECTORY OF ADVERTISERS

Accountants & Bookkeepers AD Bookkeeping, Page 34 James Comer Accounting, Page 4 TJS Business Solutions, Page 9 Alternative Therapies Holistic Therapies, Page 37 Builders Criterion Construction, Page 35 Richard Joseph, Page 8 Cake Makers & Decorators Sweet Tracey Cakes, Page 37 Car Dealerships Carco Group, Pages 24 & 25 Carpet Cleaners B Clean, Page 23 Bonne Fresh Clean Ltd, Page 35 Carpentry & Joinery J. Earle Carpentry & Joinery, Page 37 Carpets & Flooring Octopus Flooring, Page 15 Child Care Ambourne House Day Nursery, Page 10 Chiropractic Cool Green Planet, Page 5 Willow Brook Clinic, Page 13 Churches Bridge Community Church, Page 33 Cleaning & Domestic Services Welcomehome Cleaning, Page 15 Computer Services goto iT, Page 18 Conservatories Leekes, Page 2 Cycle Repairs Ride On Cycles, Page 7 Domestic Appliance Repairs Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Page 13 Double Glazing Crystal Clear Windows, Page 12 JDC Windows, Page 35 Leekes, Page 2 Education & Learning Olympus Academy Trust, Page 32 SGS College, Page 39 Electricians NRB Electrical, Page 8 Estate Agents Lifestyle Property Services, Page 1 Ocean, Page 1 West Coast Properties, Page 3 Events Bristol Hippodrome, Page 31 Willow Brook Centre, Page 40 Foot Care Lotus Foot Health Clinic, Page 27 Sara Turner Foot Health, Page 36 Funeral Services Jamieson Funeral Services, Page 37 F. Woodruff Funeral Directors, Page 34 Garage Services Bristol Caravans, Page 30 Filton Central Garage, Page 9 So Smart Alloy Wheels, Page 36 Westlec Auto Electrical, Page 20 Gardening Services Garretts Landscapes, Page 16 Plan-It Garden Design, Page 6 Professional Gardening Services, Page 38

Gyms & Health Clubs Visit directory on BSJ website Hair & Beauty Reflections, Page 14 Home Furnishings Harvey’s Select, Page 29 Home Improvements Harvey’s Select, Page 29 Hotels & Restaurants Holiday Inn Bristol Filton, Page 20 Launderettes & Dry Cleaners Visit directory on BSJ website Mortgages & Financial Advice Aspirations Financial Advice, Page 6 Nails & Beauty Visit directory on BSJ website Opticians Specsavers, Page 26 Painting & Decorating A. Worsfold, Page 37 Pet Services & Supplies New Passage Cattery, Page 37 Physiotherapy Bradley Stoke Physio, Page 11 Willow Brook Clinic, Page 13 Picture Framers Royall Framing, Page 8 Photographers Visit directory on BSJ website Plant Hire T. Edwards Plant, Page 38 Plumbing & Heating Capricorn Plumbing Ltd, Page 22 Clifton Gas, Page 37 Concept Property Maintenance, Page 18 Gregor Heating, Page 17 JJ Plumbing, Page 36 Panache Plumbing, Page 37 S. Berryman Plumbing & Heating, Page 37 Property Maintenance Concept Property Maintenance, Page 18 JJ Plumbing, Page 36 Richard Joseph, Page 8 Public Transport Severnside Transport Ltd, Page 4 Recruitment Visit Jobs page on BSJ website Rubbish Clearance Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance, Page 38 Solicitors Visit directory on BSJ website Slimming Clubs Cambridge Weight Plan, Page 17 Slimming World, Page 19 Soft Furnishings Janet Smith, Page 7 Sport & Leisure Carrie Vinson Equestrian, Page 30 Filton Sports & Leisure Centre, Page 28 Taxis Bristol Parkway Taxis, Page 37 South Glos Taxis Ltd, Page 37 Z Cars, Page 23 TV & Aerials Image Aerial Systems, Page 37 Window Cleaning Ultra Clear, Page 38 More in directory on BSJ website

Visit our online directory: www.bradleystokejournal.co.uk/directory

November 2015

t: 01454 300 400

WINDOW CLEANING

PLANT HIRE

T. EDWARDS PLANT Digger and Driver Hire • • • • • • •

Site/garden clearance Footings Drainage/soakaways Driveway preparation Stump removal Fencing & turfing Narrow access equipment

Price or day work

t: 07900 372349

t.edwardsplant@gmail.com CPCS/CITB qualified & insured

GARDENING SERVICES

• • • •

Professional Gardening Services

Fencing / Sheds / Arbours / Decking Hedge Cutting / Grass Cutting Weeding / Garden Clearance Turfing / Small Trees Lopped Excellent rates and a free quote Friendly and trustworthy service (special rates for pensioners) Please call on me on 07804 608053 or e-mail at profgarden60@yahoo.co.uk RUBBISH CLEARANCE

Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance Licensed waste carrier

We load and clear Same day service Household, garden, garage & sheds cleared Single item jobs Cheaper than a skip No VAT Contact Stuart or Sue on 0800 0234 995 (Freephone) or 07770 944727 stuart.thistlewood@yahoo.co.uk

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

OUTSTANDING BY STANDING OUT

Saturday 14th November, 10:00-14:00 Thursday 3rd December, 17:30-20:00 • • • •

Speak with course specialists Meet with current learners studying at SGS College Try out activities relating to your subject of interest Partake in a campus tour, plus much more

HIGHER, PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL. OFSTED OUTSTANDING 2014

For Business, Art, Performing Arts, Sports, Employability, Student Support and Leadership and Management of the College.

| www.sgscol.ac.uk

Our Open Events at SGS Filton, WISE, Stroud, Queens Road & Berkeley are on:

|

Join us at our Open Events to find out about South Gloucestershire & Stroud College’s wide range of full and part time study programmes, including those starting September 2016.

FREEPHONE: 0800 0567 253

OPEN TO ALL!

info@sgscol.ac.uk

SGS COLLEGE

COME TO OUR

Christmas

LIGHTS SWITCH-ON saturdaY 21 noVembeR

HosTed by bsr 103.4fm From 11am EntErTaiNment From BalLoOnaTic & CirCus EntErTaiNers Snow PriNcEssEs & HapPy SnoWman!

Live MusIc & CraFt WorKshop , Santa s Grotto opens at 11am

Entry £4.50 with gift

willowbrookcentre.co.uk

Lights Switch On at 5pm by CBBC’s Andy Day (Muddles from Snow White)