Downend Voice December 2022

'Welcoming and caring' school praised

Buses hit by more cuts

BUS operator First has announced it is cancelling more than 160 services to and from Downend, Staple Hill and Mangotsfield every week.

The announcement of cutbacks on the 48 and 49 routes, introduced with immediate effect on November 16, came less than six weeks after the company introduced a new timetable in October, which in itself included cuts in frequency of the 48.

First blames driver shortages for the

cancellations, which it says will remain in place for at least five months, up to the next major change to timetables at the beginning of April next year.

Passengers had already been complaining of rising numbers of cancellations - and demand for services is expected to rise from the end of November, as Bristol's Clean Air Zone charges on old cars take effect. Turn to Page 4

Craig Anthonys

HAIR DESIGNERS

Remembering the fallen

People across the area marked Remembrance at parades and services. Tributes included the WI postbox topper in Downend. PAGES 8 & 9

Call to clear up eyesore site

Developer Taylor Wimpey has been urged to tidy up a site it owns in Mangotsfield.

PAGE 5

Betting shop bid sparks opposition

More than 200 people have objected to plans for a betting shop in Staple Hill.

PAGE 6

Labour makes election choice

Labour has selected its candidate to stand against Tory Jack Lopresti at the next election. PAGE 20

Chiropractic

CHRISTMAS is a time of year to be with our loved ones and indulge in the festivities of the season. However it can also be quite stressful and full of pitfalls, so hopefully we’ll be able to help you avoid some of them.

The stress and strain of Christmas prep often manifest in our bodies hence we see a large amount of neck and lower back tension at this time of year.

We tailor patient care to ensure everyone is healthy happy and feeling comfortable on the lead up to Christmas. Ready to handle what comes their way over the festive period.

Here’s some tips to keep you in the best shape over Christmas:

Christmas shopping

Load the bags evenly; carry one in each hand so you’re not unbalanced and causing undue strain on the neck and back. Better yet order presents online and get them delivered.

Keep it simple

Opt for a relaxed atmosphere this year, don’t strive for the ‘picture perfect’ Christmas. Enjoy each other’s company and make sure everyone mucks in with the jobs to keep the stress low and your body better rested.

Everything in moderation

Enjoy your food and drink but make sure you have some water in there between the stronger stuff. Have a lighter day of eating and drinking on Boxing Day so your body recovers nicely, otherwise that ropey Christmas feeling can drag on.

Stay active

Have a Christmas or Boxing-day walk. Make sure your don’t become too sedentary. By all means put your feet up

but balance it off with some activity each day. Get those teenagers outside and off the computer too! Have an amazing Christmas period and if in doubt or you’re suffering do contact us.

Matt Sutton

A YOUNG Staple Hill girl has finished her cancer treatmentjust after starting school for the first time.

Four-year-old Apple Smith has undergone 15 months of treatment for a rare form of the disease, stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma, which develops in nerve cells and can spread to other parts of the body.

Apple was diagnosed at the age of three and has taken part in a European chemotherapy trial, part-funded by charity Neuroblastoma UK.

The Staple Hill Primary School pupil is now in remission and was due to ring the bell at the Starlight ward at Bristol Children's Hospital, to mark the end of her treatment, in late November, after having her Hickman line - a catheter used to administer chemotherapyremoved.

During her treatment Apple attended Mama Bear’s nursery and pre-school in Soundwell when she was able, and the nursery in Pembroke Road held a fundraising 'graduation' event as she and other children left at the end of August to move on to school.

It raised £736 for Neuroblastoma UK in honour of the charity's support for her.

Apple’s mum Anthea said: "Our goal during Apple’s cancer journey has always been for her to join school, as planned, in September. We were proud when she graduated from Mama Bear’s and was able to go to ‘big school’ like any other four-year-old.

“Mama Bear’s has been incredibly supportive to us during Apple’s 15 months of treatment, accommodating her sporadic attendance and making her feel included.

"Our younger daughter, Tallulah, goes there too, and they have been fantastic offering her routine, consistency and extra cuddles while Apple has been in hospital having treatment.

Girl, 4, finishes 15 months of treatment for rare cancer

“We also appreciate Mama Bear’s supporting Neuroblastoma UK. This charity is very close to our hearts and raising awareness of childhood cancer in general has been very important to us.”

Nursery manager Emma Plucknett said: “Apple and her family coped so brilliantly with everything they’ve had to go through with Apple’s treatment.

“The team at Pembroke Road, who have been caring for Apple since she was a toddler, were keen to show their support to this little star and her family by raising money for Neuroblastoma UK, as were other families who have known her at the nursery."

The fundraising event included stalls, a bake sale, bouncy castle and games.

Assault claim after collision

POLICE are investigating an incident in which a driver says she was assaulted by a cyclist after a collision in Frenchay.

Avon and Somerset police said a woman in her 40s told officers she had been punched by a man on Beckspool Road shortly after 8am on Tuesday, October 18.

In November police issued a picture taken at the time of the incident and asked for help in identifying a suspect. A man came forward but no charges have been brought. Police say enquiries into the incident are continuing. Anyone with information should call 101 and quote the incident reference number 5222 250 582.

Apple Smith in her school uniform

Apple with nursery key worker Megan Harrison

downendvoice

www.downendvoice.co.uk

Hundreds of bus services axed

From Page 1

First is cutting seven weekday 48 services in each direction between Emersons Green and Bristol city centre via Downend, along with eight Saturday and ten Sunday services in each direction.

In total, 106 out of 588 services on the 48 route each week are being cancelled - more than one in every six.

On the 49 route the company is cutting two weekday, 13 Saturday and 13 Sunday services from Lyde Green to the city centre via Staple Hill, along with one weekday, 16 Saturday and ten Sunday services in the opposite direction.

In total, 67 out of 716 journeys are being cut - more than one in every 11.

Several other routes are seeing big cuts, including the 48a between the city centre and UWE, which is losing 293 journeys a week.

First has confirmed that it is cutting around 1,450 bus journeys a week in total across its network.

The 7, 17, 19, 47 and metrobus m3 services are not affected by the changes.

The company says it is currently 150 drivers short, despite an "active recruitment campaign", but will still operate 95 per cent of journeys.

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LOCAL INFORMATION

South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

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Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

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Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Environment/trading standards

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A company spokesperson said: "We appreciate the changes will cause some disruption to our customers. But by giving customers advance notice of cancellations, we want to make it easier for customers to adjust their travel plans if need be.

"The driver shortage is a nationwide problem which is not just affecting First."

A full list of the cancelled services is on First's website.

Campaigners calling for bus services to be franchised by the West of England Combined Authority and local councils, taking scheduling out of First's control, are planning a protest outside the next full meeting of South Gloucestershire Council on December 14.

West of England Shared Transport and Active Travel Network members are calling for people to join them with torches, hi-vis clothes and glow paint outside Kingswood Civic Centre at 6.15pm.

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

Sort out this mess!

RESIDENTS and councillors are calling on a developer to make safe land it owns in Mangotsfield - and settle its future.

Taylor Wimpey owns a field which lies between Cossham Street and Rodway Hill Road, bordering the grounds of Mangotsfield United Football Club, Cleve Rugby Club and Mangotsfield School.

The field was the subject of an application for 180 new homes in 2009, which was rejected by South Gloucestershire Council the following year, after a huge campaign by residents.

Although currently designated as green belt, the field, which is part of Mangotsfield but within the boundaries of Emersons Green Town Council, remains in the developer's land bank of potential housing sites - and the company says it wants to "promote" it for development.

Fencing around the site is collapsing on to the paths that surround it, creating a hazard for people walking past and allowing unauthorised access to the field.

Residents' groups and councillors have come together to urgently call on Taylor Wimpey to fix the problem.

Mike Reeves chaired the Save Mangotsfield Open Green Spaces Group (SMOG), which successfully fought the housing plans over a decade ago.

He said: "It's just an asset on their books to them, but it's a mess.

"I've had people complaining to me, women in particular, that when they are walking there at night it isn't safe."

Colin Hunt, a South Gloucestershire and town councillor for Emersons Green, said the path was used by children walking to Mangotsfield School and the fencing needed to be "repaired and put right".

He said the field itself, which is often overgrown but is home to wildlife, also needed better management, adding: "They're hoping people are going to say 'it's such an eyesore, why don't you let them build'?"

The land was once farmland owned by the Cave family and despite its current state, Mike said: "I don't want Wimpey to get the idea that we would want it to be built on - we would rather see it left as it is than houses."

Michael Bell, a Staple Hill & Mangotsfield councillor and member of the Mangotsfield Residents Association, said the field was the biggest piece of unused land in the area.

He said: "If they are never going to get planning permission, what's the point of hanging on to it?

"We want some commitment from Taylor Wimpey to repairs and to ecology. The ideal would be a managed nature reserve."

Emersons Green Town Council chair Simon Budd said the council could manage the field as a nature reserve if Taylor

Wimpey was prepared to come to an agreement with them.

The Voice put the concerns raised about the site to Taylor Wimpey and days later the vegetation was cut back.

We also asked about the suggestion that ownership of the field be transferred to a council.

A spokesperson said: “We are working closely with South Gloucestershire Council to promote the Mangotsfield site for development, as part of the wider South Glos Local Plan.

"We are aware that sections of the perimeter fence have been subject to recent damage.

"We are in the process of appointing a specialist contractor who will be tasked with replacing the damaged fence with an upgraded specification, to ensure long term durability and greater security for the site.

"As part of ongoing maintenance for the site, the managing agent arranged for the grass and scrub vegetation to be cut back.To ensure the site remains in good condition, this will be conducted at regular intervals throughout the year."

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For more information, job description and application form please email sarah.monteith@nhs.net

or see the vacancy page on our website www.beechwoodmedicalpractice.co.uk

Closing date 9th December 2022.

Mike Reeves, Simon Budd, Colin Hunt and Michael Bell next to collapsed fencing surrounding the field

Another section of collapsed fencing

More than 200 objections to betting shop bid

MORE than 200 people have objected to plans to convert the former Lloyds Bank building on Staple Hill High Street into a betting shop.

Bookmaker BoyleSports, which has more than 300 branches in the UK and Ireland, has asked South Gloucestershire Council for permission to change the use of the premises and make alterations to the front of the building, which has been empty for more than three years.

In a statement supporting the application, agents Lichfields said: "The site being vacant is having a detrimental effect on the quality of retail experience of High Street users.

"This proposal seeks to bring back into beneficial use a longterm vacant unit that would actively contribute to enhancing the commercial character of this frontage. In many cases, betting office shopfronts do provide a more vibrant display than many traditional shops.

"The proposal would increase

pedestrian footfall in the immediate area and increase the number of linked trips."

The plans include illuminated signs and satellite dishes, which would be concealed from view at street level.

The agents say the site is not listed or in a conservation area and a betting shop would be "an appropriate town centre use".

Among those whose objections have been published on the council website is Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward councillor Ian Boulton, who

said there were already two betting shops (William Hill and Backhouse Bet) "within feet" of the shop and a third "sends entirely the wrong message about our High Street, which has enjoyed a reputation for being a vibrant town centre with a wide range of shops".

He added: "This unit has been unavailable for new tenants/ owners for years whilst the previous long-term tenancy contract was finalised.

"I understand that a number of businesses have enquired

about taking possession of this and the neighbouring unit, which forms part of the same estate."

Former Staple Hill GP Dr Judith Langfield has objected, saying: "The area would be better served turning the former bank into an arcade, with several small craft businesses."

Many commenters echoed the view that with two betting shops, the area did not need a third.

One resident said: "These places may generate money and keep a building from being derelict but they impoverish vulnerable people."

Another added: "The local community are struggling in this cost of living crisis and to encourage/ tempt people to gamble when they are struggling to pay for basics is, in my opinion, immoral, detrimental to the local community, and potentially very harmful."

The plans can be viewed by searching for application P22/06016/F on the planning section of the council's website.

The former Lloyds Bank building on Staple Hill High Street

School 'like being part of a big family'

A DOWNEND infant school has been praised as a "welcoming and caring place to learn" by the education watchdog.

Ofsted made a short visit to Christ Church C of E Infant School in September and says the school continues to be good.

In her report, published in November, inspector Catherine Beeks recommended that the regulator carry out a full inspection next time, as "there is enough evidence of improved performance to suggest that the school could be judged outstanding" if this was done.

The inspector said: "Leaders have high expectations of what all pupils can achieve.

"Pupils enjoy school and thrive on the rich experiences they are offered.

"All parents who shared their views are delighted with the school."

She said a typical parental comment was that the school "really feels like being part of a big family".

The inspector said the school's pastoral provisiontaking care of pupils' physical and emotional welfare - was "exceptionally strong", adding: "Staff form supportive partnerships with pupils and their families. Pupils feel safe at school and say that adults take good care of them."

The inspector praised the school's "ambitious and exciting curriculum" and said leaders had carefully thought about what pupils must learn to "ignite their interest", using assessment well to adapt teaching where needed.

Work to spark pupils'

enthusiasm for reading and the maths curriculum were praised, as was music provision which included a choir, rock band and making a soundtrack.

The report said: "Pupils’ attitudes to learning are exceptionally strong because they have a thirst for learning."

The inspector said the school provided "extremely effective" extra provision for disadvantaged children and pupils with special educational needs or disabilities.

The report said pupils were "excellent role models", were kind and respectful and "know what it means to be a good friend", including welcoming Ukrainian refugees into their community.

The inspector said: "Leaders, at all levels, are enthusiastic and dedicated. They engage with and support staff exceptionally well.

"Staff are highly motivated and proud to work at the school.

White Swan fenced off

A LARGE wooden fence has been erected around a former pub. The White Swan in North Street, Downend, was last opened to customers more than a year ago, and was put on the market by Admiral Taverns in the spring.

HM Land Registry records show that the pub building was sold for £307,250 in July, but no information about the identity of the buyer has been made public and there had been no planning application published on the South Glos website as the Voice went to print.

A piece of land adjoining the pub was sold around three weeks before the pub sale, for £20,000, and has also been fenced off.

Pressure group the Campaign for Real Ale has been appealing for residents and former customers of the pub to come forward to apply for it to be designated an asset of community value, to protect it from development.Anyone who is interested in working with CAMRA can email bristolpubsgroup@camrabristol.org.uk for more information.

They have high aspirations for all pupils."

The inspector recommended the school in Christchurch Avenue, which has 224 pupils aged four to seven on its roll, improve problem-solving opportunities in maths.

Head teacher Anna Martin

said: "I am absolutely delighted that this report reflects what is important to us as a school, as our real strength is the pastoral support that we provide for children and their families, and Ofsted saw this.

"Our staff team is extremely committed to giving all children the very best start they can in their school journey and I am so glad that Ofsted saw the ‘purposeful buzz’ that they create, how ‘adults take good care of them and keep them safe’ and that staff ‘are highly motivated and proud to work at the school.’

"We are thrilled that the inspector felt, had this been a full graded inspection, that we could have been judged as ‘outstanding’, and are looking forward to them coming back within one or two years to see if we are. For now though we are delighted to remain as a ‘good’ school, with some wonderful feedback!"

Head teacher Anna Martin and deputy head Gareth Jones with children from each class at Christ Church Infant School

Remembering the fallen

HUNDREDS of people paid their respects to those who sacrificed their lives in conflict at remembrance services in Staple Hill and Mangotsfield.

Two-minute silences were impeccably observed in Page Park and the Alec Large Memorial Garden on Remembrance Sunday by members of uniformed organisations, relatives and residents who attended the services.

In the morning members of the Staple Hill Salvation Army band led a parade along Staple Hill High Street and Broad Street to Page Park, with service veterans marching under the flags of the Royal British Legion followed by Army cadets, members of Scouting and Guiding groups and local politicians, with members of the public following the parade through the park gates to the war memorial.

After a traditional service with hymns and prayers, the Last Post, two minutes' silence and wreath-laying, scout and guide groups marched to the Downend Scout Memorial to remember the leader and six scouts killed in the First World War.

The Staple Hill parade was made possible thanks to £600 donated by supporters to an online fundraising page, set up by Staple Hill & District RBL president Ian Boulton, to pay for the cost of the PA and other expenses.

In the afternoon a service at the Mangotsfield War Memorial was led by the Rev Teresa Taylor of St James church and Community Pastor Clive Heath, with another large crowd in attendance.

Staple Hill & District RBL chairman Ian Campbell said: "Remembrance was extremely well turned out again in Staple Hill and Mangotsfield, and we have had many comments since regarding how well it was organised.

"Hats off to the Staple Hill Partnership and the Salvation Army, who had a hand in Staple Hill, and the Mangotsfield Residents Association in Mangotsfield."

Clive said: "This year's service went extremely well, even the weather was kind to us.

"There was a brilliant attendance by the Mangotsfield community - it seems to attract more people every year.

Veterans march in Broad Street, Staple Hill

Rainbows were among the youngest to go on parade

Cadets on the march

"We made a few tweaks this year in making sure that all the young ones were at the front so they had a better view and it worked and it was so good that all their different coloured uniforms were visible.

"Many thanks to Chris Amos and Simon Budd and Scout leaders for their work in organising that all were in their right places, to Nick Szerncses for again providing the sound system, and of course to all who took part in the service with us."

Donations to the Poppy Appeal were still being tallied as the Voice went to print but Ian

said this year's appeal had seen many people making donations via contactless machines at supermarket collections.

The branch recently recognised supporters who had helped the appeal, including the Fruit Tree on Staple Hill High Street.

Mr Campbell added that because of the growing amount of support in the area the appeal will need extra volunteers next year.

Anyone who would like to get involved should visit the website www.staplehillrbl.org.uk for more information.

Post box topper tribute by WI

MEMBERS of Downend Women’s Institute created their own tribute to put remembrance at the heart of the community.

The group made and embroidered felt poppies and leaves to create a themed topper for the post box outside Downend Post Office.

Earlier in the year the post box had hosted a spectacular topper to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Downend WI committee member Suzzie Belcher, who worked on both projects, said: "The idea was to bring the memorial tribute to our local community to share on a daily basis, young and old.

"We all have relatives who have had to live through the horrors of wartime, both service and civilian."

The WI created packs of felt with the instructions to make up the poppies and leaves, which members then bought to make them, paying a little over the cost of the materials to create a surplus of £65, which was donate to the Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion.

Stanbridge Primary School

Could you be a school Governor?

Stanbridge Primary School have a vacancy on their governing board and would love to hear from members of the local community who’d like to be involved in the life of the school community and help impact the futures of young learners.

Key responsibilities are:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction

• Holding leaders to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff

• Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent

The school are always looking for governors to focus on project planning and management, risk analysis, curriculum areas, community and outreach and many others, experience of these areas is helpful but not a necessity.

Being a governor is a fantastic opportunity to develop your own skills. There is extensive training available through the Local Authority who are incredibly supportive of the work and development of governors.

The members of the board were all novices when they joined, so no one needs prior knowledge of education.

If you are interested and would like to apply, or if you would like to have an informal chat with a governor, please do get in touch with admin@stanbridgeprimary.org.uk for further information.

Linda Russ and Suzzie Belcher of Downend WI with Staple Hill & District RBL chairman Ian Campbell

A veteran salutes the memorial in Mangotsfield

The Mangotsfield service from behind the memorial

CHRISTMAS is hurtling toward us and the season brings with it good news and bad for our eyes.

For a start, turkey is surprisingly good for your vision. That may not immediately feel like the case when you’re struggling to keep your post-dinner eye lids open for the King’s speech and the Bond film.

But lean protein is great for your retinas and the calcium and zinc within the meat help create melanin, the pigment that gives your skin colour and acts as a bodyguard to your eyes, protecting them from harmful rays and radiation.

Where do you stand on the sprouts debate? I love them, which is fortunate as they are about as good for your eyes as anything else you can put in your mouth.

They contain phytonutrients, which not only help to reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s but also help protect your eyes from cataracts and macular degeneration as you get older.

And don’t forget to put a dollop of cranberry sauce on your plate. Cranberries are a great source of vitamins A and C, which help prevent damage to your eyes and reduce the risk of cataracts.

As for chocolate, the jury’s out. Some studies suggest dark chocolate can be beneficial to your eyesight as it contains antioxidants that could bring down the risk of macular degeneration. But there’s never been a study big enough to give dark chocolate an official medical endorsement.

So for now, my advice would be to enjoy chocolate in moderation – just don’t expect it to guarantee you eagle-eye vision!

And now the bad news. LED lights are everywhere at Christmas and some studies have suggested that they are bad for your eyes. Exposure to LED lights has been linked to premature retinal tissue ageing and macular degeneration.

However – this sort of damage would only be caused if you’re staring non-stop at LED lights for a long time so having your lights up for a couple of weeks in December is unlikely to cause you any problems.

Christmas coincides with the shortest days of the year and usually involves a lot of driving around to see relatives. Headlight dazzle and the low sun reflecting off snow, puddles or the car in front are regularly blamed for driving accidents during the festive season.

It’s well worth discussing the options for sun and glare protection with your optician and don’t forget to book your thorough eye examination every two years to find out if you need prescription lenses in your sunglasses.

Looking for a last-minute gift?

A voucher toward a stylish pair of designer glasses makes an excellent Christmas present. At Turners, we have dozens of frames from designers including Tom Davies, Ted Baker and Ray-Ban. We offer gift vouchers in whatever denomination you need to make someone’s Christmas extra special. Just call in at our Henleaze or Fishponds branch and we’ll take care of the rest. To book an appointment, call 0117 962 2474 or 0117 965 4434.

Have a great Christmas everyone!

Peter Turner

a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, with a specialist interest in visual development and visual performance.

Turkey, chocolate and

are they really good for your

SPEEDS of up to 85mph have been recorded on Staple Hill roads which were covered by an experimental road closure that has now been removed.

South Gloucestershire Council blocked Signal Road and Charnell Road during 2020, to divert through traffic away from the entrance to the Bristol & Bath Railway Path and improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians.

The move stopped people driving between Mangotsfield and Kingswood from using the two roads and Charnhill Road, which connects with Signal Road, as a rat run avoiding the traffic light junction at the top of Teewell Hill.

But the closures saw traffic increase on Teewell Hill and other surrounding roads and, after protests on both sides, the council removed them earlier this year.

The council measured traffic levels and analysed vehicle speeds on speed on Signal Road, Charnell Road, Charnhill Drive and nearby White Lodge Road over a week in July.

The results showed that,

Driver hits up to 85mph on reopened rat run

while the vast majority of drivers kept to the speed limit:

• On Charnhill Drive around one in five of the 11,792 drivers broke the limit at a spot near the railway path entrance, with 124 driving at over 40mph, 15 doing over 50mph and one, recorded at 10pm, reaching between 80 and 85mph.

• On Signal Road around one in every nine of the 12,141 drivers broke the 30mph limit, with 69 going over 40mph and eight over 50mph.

• On Charnell Road only one in 34 of the 2,425 drivers broke the limit but four exceeded 40mph, in a road only 150 metres long.

• On steep White Lodge Road, around one in 40 of the 7,058 drivers broke the limit and four exceeded 40mph.

Resident Bee McNamara,

who campaigned to keep the experimental closures in place and analysed the council data, said something must be done to discourage speeding, before a serious accident happens.

He said: "The problems on these roads have been clear to all the residents who live on them for some time.

"It is clear to me that the levels of traffic and the astonishing speeds that drivers are travelling at on these roads poses a clear and present danger to the many pedestrians and cyclists who also use the roads to get to the railway path."

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said the traffic and speed survey data "is being used to explore options to help reduce traffic, congestion and make active travel more

accessible in the area".

The spokesperson said: "The police are responsible for enforcing the speed limits on our roads and we remind motorists that they must drive responsibly and not exceed the speed limit, or they could face criminal action.

"We will continue to work with residents and local members around this matter and any recommendations for traffic calming measures would be added to the council’s 2023/24 priority list and be assessed against other schemes for the allocation of funding.

"Any proposals would also require the appropriate period of public consultation, so local residents and members of the wider community can provide their feedback."

Ready for Christmas on the Hill

STAPLE Hill's Christmas on the Hill festival has expanded to cover both ends of the shopping area.

The event on Saturday December 3, from 10am to 4pm, will include a market, entertainment and carols around the Christmas tree in Fountain Square, as in previous years.

But this year there will also be attractions on the High Street, on the paved area between Page Road and the Staple Hill Oak pub, and many shops will also set up stalls outside their premises.

The event is being organised by the Staple Hill Chamber of Trade, with support from the Staple Hill Partnership and Staple Hill Hub.

Among the performers in Fountain Square, off Broad Street, will be choirs from the Tynings and Mangotsfield primary schools, the Great Day Choir, solo singers and musicians.

The market will include 18 stalls selling gifts, food and drink, and there will be stalls outside the library and refreshments at the Salvation Army.

In the High Street there will be children's activities organised by Staple Hill Sprouts from the community hub and story time sessions with special guest story tellers.

Organisers were still waiting to confirm further attractions, including a fun fair and visit from Father Christmas, as the Voice went to press.

A reindeer trail will encourage young families to search the windows of shops for letters to spell out a word and win a prize: the 50p entry cost will raise money for charity the Jessie May Trust.

The event will finish with carols around the Christmas tree in Fountain Square with the Salvation Army band at 4pm.

Chamber of trade secretary Tina Lewis said: "All of the traders have been working hard and pulling together to bring happiness and cheer to the community."

School catering hit

PUPILS at some South Gloucestershire schools are going without hot meals at lunchtime because of a staffing crisis, it has been revealed.

The council admits it can provide only cold food, such as sandwiches, or jacket potatoes at best because of the recruitment shortage in catering but insists pupils are getting the right nutrition.

St Augustine’s primary and Pathways Learning Centre in Downend are among seven schools currently affected by the vacancies, which stand at 23 across the district.

The issue was raised at a South Gloucestershire Council cabinet meeting by Thornbury councillor Jayne Stansfield.

Cabinet member Cllr Ben Burton said that Integra, the local authority’s trading arm which provides services to its schools, was finding it as hard as many other hospitality and retail companies across the country in recruiting for roles.

He said: “We are making every possible effort to recruit staff to those roles and we will endeavour to get schools back onto those hot school meals as soon as possible.”

After the meeting on November 14, a council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “Recruitment for catering and hospitality roles is proving very challenging across the country and where we have had vacancies and staff sickness on occasion, we have had to suspend hot meal services to some schools for periods of time.

“This is of course regrettable, however where sandwiches are being provided as part of a lunch service we continue to maintain high nutritional standards and provide a balanced meal. In any case where we need to temporarily alter the service provided, we work with the schools and seek to restore hot meal provision as soon as possible.

The other schools affected as the Voice went to print were: Little Stoke Primary, New Siblands in Thornbury, St Andrew’s in Cromhall, Tortworth and Wick.

Parent carers celebrate lottery grant

A GROUP that supports families of children with additional needs and disabilities is celebrating a big injection of funds from the National Lottery.

South Glos Parent Carers (SGPC) has been awarded £275,000 to help with running costs and to continue its expansion further into the community.

The successful bid to The National Lottery Community Fund, was the result of months of behind-the-scenes hard work.

SGPC applied for the funding, which will be delivered over five years, to develop its services as a direct result of the increasing numbers of parent carers requesting support.

Some of the money will be used to expand SGPC’s peer support services for parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with the aims of providing:

• a channel through which they

can express their views to help shape future services;

• increased knowledge via training, workshops, and peer support;

• a supportive peer community

where families feel listened to by members who live a similar journey, and where their views and experiences will be understood and valued; • a parent carer community

where anxiety and isolation are reduced and the capacity of parents to support their children is strengthened.

A spokesperson said: “SGPC are an independent community interest company supporting parent carers of children (0-25) with SEND. They are not part of the local authority but do partner with local service providers to help them to hear and understand the views of parent carers, in order to improve services.

"SGPC has over 1800 members and we know there are many more parent carers in South Glos whose voices and lived experiences deserve to be heard. Any parent struggling to understand their child’s behaviour is welcome to contact us for further information. We are happy to hear from any parent regardless of a diagnosis."

Membership of SGPC is free. Parents can join via the website www.sgpc.org.uk

What a win! Members of the South Glos Parent Carers group celebrate receiving £275,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund

FRENCHAY Christmas Tree Farm is home to 40,000 Christmas trees spread over three fields of around 18 acres of green belt land next to the M32 motorway. This year, the first crop is being harvested from the third and newest field, eight years after it was first planted with sapling trees. Owner Simon Maughan is thrilled at the prospect: “After all the years mowing, tending, pruning and shaping, the Nordmann and Fraser Firs in our new field are looking wonderful, and it’s going to be very pleasing watching families taking them home for Christmas this year.”

The Fraser Fir is a popular alternative to the top-selling Nordmann Fir. Like the Nordmann, it keeps its needles really well over Christmas, but it has a stronger fragrance and a slightly narrower shape, making it a practical choice in a smaller home. They can be difficult to grow and need careful pruning, but because they reach maturity about two years sooner than the Nordmann, they’re much better value.

“While tagging up our trees ready for cutting this season, we found plenty of evidence of

What’s new at Frenchay Christmas Tree Farm

martins will take up home in the newly installed nest boxes, and by letting some Christmas trees grow to maturity, they might not only provide homes for wildlife, but capture carbon dioxide and pollutants from the nearby motorway.

Many people make informed decisions nowadays about the things that they buy, wanting to support local businesses, reduce road miles and be environmentally ethical. Readers can find out more about the wildlife and the Christmas trees, the planting programme and the ethos behind the farm at: www.

frenchaychristmastreefarm.co.uk

thriving wildlife: badger setts, mole hills, mushrooms, wildflowers, bird nests and wasp nests to name a few. We always strive to work alongside nature on the farm, whether that’s leaving wild

grasses and flowers to grow over the summer months to attract insects, or mulching up trees after Christmas to spread on the fields.”

Owner Simon Maughan hopes that one day swallows and house

Frenchay Christmas Tree Farm is open every day from 9am to 5pm from Saturday 19th November. You can visit in person, or order your tree, stand and wreath online either for delivery or click and collect.

Thanks to Alex at Above Horizon Photography for the drone photo

Teacher who helped save a life is an 'inspiration'

A TEACHER from a Downend primary school has been given a commendation for her part in helping to save a woman's life.

Olivia Date and her friend and fellow teacher Lucy Plummer were walking in Bromley Heath when they found a woman who was having a mental health crisis in March last year.

Olivia, a Year 2 teacher at Stanbridge Primary School, prevented the woman from putting herself in danger on a bridge over a busy road, while Lucy called 999.

The two friends then stayed with the woman, talking to her and building a rapport as they waited for the emergency services to arrive. They then helped her to engage with police officers and paramedics.

The police officers who attended the incident were impressed by the two teachers' actions in helping to save the woman and nominated them for an award.

Olivia and Lucy, who also teaches Year 2 pupils at Woodlands Primary School in Yate, have now been awarded a Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation in recognition of the help they gave the woman.

The award, presented at a ceremony at Avon & Somerset Police headquarters in Portishead in October, cites their "praiseworthy action" in "assisting in saving a

woman's life".

Force head of response policing Chief Superintendent Deryck Rees said: “Olivia and Lucy’s quick thinking and the relationship they managed to build with her meant a very distressed person was able to get the help she needed.”

Olivia and Lucy said: "We were so shocked when we received our invitations to the Avon and Somerset awards ceremony.

"When we were on a walk together, we saw someone who was in need and decided to help them.

"We never imagined that we would be awarded for our efforts to help a member of our community."

Olivia's actions were also lauded at an assembly at Stanbridge.

Deputy head teacher David Payne said: "We have four core values: ambition, bravery, community and creativity.

"We are always looking for inspiring role models to come into school and discuss how they have demonstrated our values in the real world.

"It was a real privilege to have one of our own Year 2 teachers, Olivia Date, take the stage and share her experience as one of our role models.

"What an inspiration!

"We couldn’t be prouder of her, and the children agreed she is a true ambassador for our values."

Teachers Olivia Date and Lucy Plummer with Avon and Somerset's chief constable, Sarah Crew

Pre-school wins praise

INSPECTORS have praised a pre-school's "broad and balanced curriculum" and its kind and caring staff.

The regulator said Staple Hill Stars Pre-school in Page Road was good in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.

Inspector Holly Smith said: "Children are welcomed into the preschool by the kind and caring staff team. Children are supported to feel safe and secure. They form strong relationships with the staff."

The inspector highlighted the "wide range of inviting resources" for children to play with, from wooden blocks and hoops to a computer keyboard. She praised children's opportunities to initiate their own games and "manage risks safely" by building and using their own obstacle courses at the pre-school, which has 73 children aged from two to four on its roll.

"Children benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum. They display positive attitudes to learning. Staff regularly observe children's play and skilfully extend their learning in the moment," the report said.

Ofsted also praised the work to "value and celebrate the diverse nature of the pre-school", including extensive work to support the many children who speak English as an additional language.

It highlighted consistent management of behaviour, and said children with special educational needs or disabilities were quickly identified, assessed and supported well to make good progress".

Preschool owner/managers Leanne Ford and Helen Clegg said: "We are thrilled that the inspector recognised how hard all of the staff work to provide a nurturing environment where the children can feel safe, secure and confident to learn through their play.

"Our parents were also able to provide positive feedback to the inspector to demonstrate how well we work in partnership with them and how happy they are to leave their children in our care."

Big day for caring crew

A DOWNEND school organised a special event for young pupils who help care for family members when they are at home.

Christ Church Junior School young carers lead Tracy Eatwell and special educational needs coordinator Sadie Groves organised a personalised cheerleading session in November, run by Deb Denny of Downend cheerleading group Bristol Starlight, as a break from their usual morning in the classroom.

The young carers, known as the Caring Crew, danced, used pompoms and learned their own chant during the session, one of the fortnightly events organised for children aged 7-11 with caring responsibilities for a parent sibling, family member or friend who may be unwell, disabled or have mental health or addiction problems.

Mrs Eatwell said: "I am so proud of each and every one of the children who are part of the Caring Crew.

"They are such a lovely group, and we always have so much fun.

"It's so important these children receive extra support, and having a session like cheerleading is amazing for their well-being and mental health."

The school is looking for more companies and charities to provide opportunities, support or equipment for Caring Crew sessions.

Anyone who can help should email Mrs Eatwell at christchurchjuniors@sgmail.org.uk.

Bathrooms and Bella by Design

Christ Church Junior School's Sadie Groves and Tracy Eatwell organised the event for young carers

PLAYING FIELDS

ROAD

Many of you will have seen some digging going on adjacent to the children’s play area at the playing fields. By the time this article goes to print, two new shipping containers should be in place, both clad in wood to make them more in-keeping with the park surroundings. The containers are for storage for both the football and cricket teams who use the facilities on site. In the coming weeks, the compound behind the existing pavilion will be cleared and everything placed into these storage facilities, in readiness for the demolition of the pavilion in the new year.

D&BH Parish Council awaits the receipt of tenders for the new pavilion project, in addition to the landscaping of the site. When the work commences, inevitably this will mean some disruption and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused during this time.

There are other projects going on at these playing fields…

- South Gloucestershire Council will shortly be planting new trees after many were removed due to Ash dieback.

- There will be a further two log seats which will be carved by a specialist contractor in the new year. These will, hopefully, look something like the photograph shown.

- A new recycled seat will be installed, as requested by the ‘Friends’ group, following a donation received from the Downend Round Table.

- Planting of wildflowers and spring bulbs.

Clearly there will be lots going on over the coming months. This will be an exciting and challenging time for Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council, who will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023!

BROMLEY HEATH PLAYING FIELDS

It is pleasing to note that Wessex Water have now completed the works required to the pond area. However, it is very disappointing to see the damage caused by their vehicles on site.

Rest assured that the Parish Council will be working with Wessex Water to get the playing fields back to normal as soon as possible.

PLANNING APPLICATIONS

The Planning Committee of Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council meets regularly to view and discuss the planning applications received for the area. Meetings are held fortnightly at Badminton Road Methodist Church, 7pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend and submit their views on specific applications. Please refer to the Parish Council’s website, www.dbhparishcouncil.uk to find out more.

APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING

The aim of Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council’s grant scheme is to promote community activity within the parish. By providing financial support for community organisations working for the benefit of residents, the Council’s intention is to improve the range of activities and services within Downend & Bromley Heath. Grants can be awarded to new as well as existing organisations and are targeted at local organisations and groups benefiting local people. Each application will be considered on its individual merits. Please visit www. dbhparishcouncil.uk and complete the online application form or contact the Parish Clerk for a hard copy of the form.

Fireworks are a hit - now it's time for Santa!

DOWNEND'S firework display raised a record £50,000 for charities and good causes this year.

The event at the King George V playing fields on November 4, organised by Downend Round Table, sold all its 12,000 tickets in advance for the second year running.

Downend Round Table Fireworks chairman Paul Wells said: "Last year had been exceptional, coming out of lockdown, and we didn't know how this year was going to go but we had really good sales, with a lot of people buying tickets early on in the week of the display.

"We've had a lot of positive feedback about the event itself. Last year people had found it difficult to exit the site and this year we made changes and it seemed to go smoothly.

"We were also lucky with the weather - we had a nice day when it rained on every other day around it."

Paul thanked the groups

that helped out on the night, including 78th and 54th Kingswood scouts, 55th Fishponds Baptist Guides, Downend 41 club, Keynsham 41 club, Fishponds and Downend Rotary, and Downend Tangent.

The total raised was up from £45,000 last year, and all of the money will be available to local good causes.

Paul said there was still time for people to make requests for

a share of this year's funding, either for charities or other projects or groups which benefit the local community.

Anyone who would like to make a request for funding, or is interested in joining Downend Round Table, should email hello@downendrt.co.uk.

With the fireworks over for this year, Downend Round Table is once again preparing to help Father Christmas visit children

in the area in the run up to Christmas.

The sleigh will be touring on various evenings throughout December: the itinerary and online Santa Tracker will be published online at www. downendrt.co.uk, with regular updates on the Downend Round Table Santa Sleigh Facebook Page.

Community groups such as scouts, guides, youth groups and churches are welcome to join the sleigh on its rounds: email ask@downendrt.co.uk for more information.

Santa's sleigh in Downend

The Downend Round Table fireworks team building the bonfire

Labour selects its candidate to challenge Lopresti

LABOUR has selected its candidate to challenge Conservative MP Jack Lopresti in the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency at the next general election.

Claire Hazelgrove will attempt to become the first Labour politician to win the seat, which has been held by Mr Lopresti since it was created in 2010.

She won the party's selection contest ahead of Bradley Stoke town councillor Angela Morey, Emersons Green town councillor Sadik Al-Hassan and Robert Logan, who stood for the party in the neighbouring Thornbury & Yate constituency in 2019.

The result followed a vote at a hustings meeting attended by more than 100 local Labour Party members in November, with many other members voting by post.

Labour has come second in all four previous elections for the Filton and Bradley Stoke seat, with Mr Lopresti's majority peaking at 9,838 in 2015 and falling to 4,190 in 2017.

At the 2019 election, his majority was 5,646 or 5.25%, making the constituency the 74th most marginal Tory seat in the UK.

Claire, a community and political engagement director and charity trustee, has worked for charities Shelter and Friends of the Earth, for the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and for both of Barack Obama's successful US Presidential election campaigns.

She said: "I'm really grateful to have been selected as our parliamentary candidate by local party members.

"Whilst it won't be easy to win here for the first time, I've been out knocking on doors and listening to hundreds of people here all year long, and they've told me they want change.

"l will be making the case for a better politics, putting decency, aspiration and local people's voices at the heart of change.

"I know we need to work hard here to earn people's trust, and I will work to do that every day."

Claire Hazelgrove

Shake-up of MP seats moves ahead

PLANS to redraw MPs' constituencies, which would see the Kingswood seat abolished and a new seat created, are open for a final consultation.

The shake-up would mean all of Frenchay, Downend, Emersons Green and Lyde Green will be part of Filton and Bradley Stoke, while Staple Hill and Mangotsfield join a new constituency, Bristol North East.

The Kingswood seat, created in 1974, would disappear under the plans: it currently includes Mangotsfield, part of Downend and Emersons Green, as well as Kingswood itself, Siston, Warmley, Hanham, Longwell Green and Bitton.

To continue to represent any part of his current constituency under the new boundaries, current Conservative MP Chris Skidmore would have to either stand in Bristol North East - which has only one Tory councillor - or potentially take on neighbouring MP Jacob Rees-Mogg for his party's nomination in the new North East Somerset and Hanham seat, which stretches from the Chew Valley through Keynsham to Bitton and Warmley.

As well as Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, the Bristol North East constituency will include three other South Gloucestershire Council wards - New Cheltenham, Kingswood

and Woodstock - and four Bristol council wards: Hillfields, Frome Vale, Eastville and Lockleaze. All of the South Gloucestershire wards currently have only Labour councillors, while the Bristol wards are represented by four Labour, three Green and one Tory councillor.

The changes, proposed by the Boundary Commission for England and first reported by the Voice last year, are part of a national review aimed at ensuring constituencies are all a similar size, taking account of population shifts over the past 15 years to add new seats where the size of the electorate has increased and take them away from areas where it has declined.

While the new Bristol North East and North East Somerset & Hanham seats would cross council boundaries, the review would put to an end the current situation where constituency boundaries cut through some council wards: at present both the Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward and Frenchay & Downend wards are split between Filton & Bradley Stoke and Kingswood, while the Emersons Green ward is split between Kingswood and Thornbury & Yate, which covers part of Lyde Green.

People are invited to view and comment on the new constituency map online at

bcereviews.org.uk by December 5, with the final recommendations due to be made next July - but with no confirmed timetable for implementing them after that, they may not be in place when the next general election is called.

The Kingswood seat held by Chris Skidmore would disappear under the plans

TShirts 4 You

As well as T-shirt & vinyl printing we have a huge stock of workwear with a large selection of industrial shoes and boots available with high vis jackets, gloves, trousers and tops — why waste time looking anywhere else for your quality named workwear?

The T-shirt printing and embroidery service with a full range of leisure wear including tees, polos, hoodies and

FOCUS

Staple Hill

sweatshirts. Attached to this section is also the signmaking set up where all shopfronts and general signage is catered for with van livery a speciality. Ask Paul about the latest trend of bespoke wall art for your home decor, with a top quality canvas printer now available.

are impossible to list.

The shop itself is classed as a traditional ironmongers which has served the locals for the last 20 years.

The stock ranges from, plants, seeds through to creosote, lightbulbs (over 250 different types), wild bird food and feeders as well as lots of loose traditional hardware items.

All the flower and vegetable plants are purchased locally from independent small nurseries.

Our hay and straw is grown on a farm near Pucklechurch.

Lloydbottoms

We are a well-established, friendly firm of Chartered Accountants, on Staple Hill High Street. We provide a full range of accounting and tax services to local businesses and individuals.

Our goal is to provide an outstanding tailored and personal service to our clients: helping our business clients to achieve greater profitability, and our individual clients to enjoy greater wealth.

Staple Hill Stores

Known locally by many people as ‘Arkwrights’, quite simply this store has so many different items they

Our wooden furniture is made out of drift wood from the river Severn and other woodwork is all made locally by craftsmen.

A sharpening service for tools is also available.

Whether you are an individual looking for help with your tax return, a business needing assistance with VAT or payroll, or a new start-up seeking experienced advice, Lloydbottoms are here to help you.

To discuss how we can help you, please contact us for a free

initial consultation. We look forward to working with you.

Farleys

Farley’s Pet Foods & Supplies has been on Broad Street in Staple Hill for nine years.

It is a family run shop selling pet foods and garden supplies and have grown the garden supplies part of the business.

The garden supplies section includes weed killer, fertilizers, treatments, hoses, hose fittings, spades, forks, hoes and we have just started supplying trellis and

picket fencing made locally.

Within the pet foods section we have Royal Canin, James Wellbeloved, Burn’s, Chudley’s and Altarky and Forthglade wet dog and cat, Nature’s Diet wet foods as well as a wide range of dog treats natural or pre-packed, frozen dog and cat foods, reptile frozen foods, live insects and bedding. Our hay, straw and woodshavings are sourced locally.We offer a wide range of wild bird food, rabbit food, small animal foods, chick foods, budgies, parrot and canary food. Our range of frozen reptile food and live insects is a good asset as there aren’t many shops that sell that any more.

Spectrum Accountancy Solutions

Spectrum Accountancy Solutions

is an established practice based in Staple Hill. We provide professional advice to all businesses and individuals. The practice is supported by a team of friendly, skilled and experienced staff who will ensure you meet all compliance requirements.We offer a full range of accountancy services from personal taxation, VAT and year end compliance to business advice and Cloud accountancy.

If you are affected by the new Making Tax Digital requirement you might want to get in touch with us to discuss your approach further. For an initial, free consultation, call us on 0117 902218.

Sheen Studios

This father and son business has been running now for 45 years with Michael Sheen the 4th generation of picture framers. Terry, Michael’s father, was one of the founder members of the Chamber of Trade

and is still striving to improve the local area.

Expert picture framing has been the mainstay of the business for the local area and beyond, where they are able to offer framing advice and ideas as well as picture restoration and renovation.

A wide range of jewellery, watches, limited edition prints, gifts and Bristol Blue glass are also available with a watch battery and strap fitting service.

If you need passport/visa photos just pop in for their instant photography service.

City footballer opens school's new pitch

THE Tynings Primary School welcomed one of the stars of Bristol City Women's Football Club to open its new multi-use games area.

Scotland international forward and City vice-captain Abi Harrison cut the tape to officially open the new fenced all-weather pitch, which has been installed thanks to a £10,000 donation from the school's Parent, Staff and Friends Association, in November.

The new pitch will be marked out for football games to enable other outdoor areas to be used for different activities during playtime.

Head teacher Lois Haydon said: "The Tynings has brilliant school grounds, but sometimes these can be taken over by football, or be out of use due to the weather, so the PSFA and school clubbed together to generate a new multi-use games area for the children, predominantly for football.

"Abi joined Year 6 children in a quick kick about, and then took part in a Q&A telling the children all about how she got into football, who her football heroes are, and how she feels about playing for her country.

"The visit was so inspirational for our children. They loved having Abi at our school and all clamoured to get her autograph!"

The multi-use games area

is part of the school's OPAL (outdoor play and learning) project, which will see the school grounds developed over the next 18 months to focus on play.

Pictured right: Abi Harrison signs autographs for Tynings pupils

Tynings children on the new multi-use games area

A warm welcome for people who need it

COMMUNITY organisations and libraries are answering the call to provide warm places for people struggling with fuel bills to go as the cold weather sets in.

Churches, community hubs, halls and cafes are answering the call to offer a place to go, free of charge, often with hot food and drink, and things to do to help during the cost of living crisis.

Among the places inviting people in is Staple Hill Salvation Army, in Broad Street, which is opening its doors from noon until 6pm every Tuesday and Friday to anyone who wants to come in, as part of the church's Warm Welcome initiative.

People can come for a cup of tea or coffee and a hot meal such as soup, a baked potato or spaghetti.

The Salvation Army is also making internet access available for people who need a warm place to work, and will look to see if there are other ways it can add to its provision as the scheme develops.

But equally important is the prospect of company and conversation for people who may be feeling isolated at home.

The Warm Welcome sessions started in November and will continue until Easter, including during Christmas week.

Staple Hill Salvation Army joint minister

Major Colin Hylton-Jones said: "We thought people would come for a couple of hours but quite often people just drop in for coffee and company, as social isolation is such a prevalent issue.

"We're expecting more people to come as the weather gets colder and as people's bills start to come through."

Colin and coordinators Linda James

Volunteers and visitors to Staple Hill Salvation Army's Warm Welcome project in Broad Street

and Rachel Roberts are working with 12 volunteers to run and staff the scheme, and welcome donations at the Broad Street venue. They also offer emergency food parcels and are welcoming donations of Christmas food for festive parcels.

Christ Church Downend is also launching its Warm Spaces Café on Thursdays from December 1.

Opening from 11am-2.30pm, soup, rolls

and cake will be served from noon.

Anita Dobson from the church said: "Whether good company, a warm building or a hot meal is what you most need, you’re welcome to come along.

"Once a month there will be live music to enjoy from the Music Train, which you can listen to or join in with if you like!"

The cafe will offer free Wi-Fi for those who want to work, toys for families with young children and accessible facilities for people with disabilities.

The café will be free but donations are welcome from those who are able. For more information call Maggie on 0770 925 0853.

Staple Hill Community Hub, in Berkeley House at the end of Nelson Road, is providing a warm space with free tea and coffee and a friendly chat every Wednesday morning, from 10.30-11.30am.

South Gloucestershire Council is inviting people to use its libraries as warm spaces.

Staple Hill library is open from 10am to 5.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 9.30am to 1pm on Saturdays. Downend Library is open from 10am to 5.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9.30am to 1pm Saturdays.

Scheme is 'insufficient' to meet demand

THE warm spaces scheme in South Gloucestershire is “totally insufficient” because most venues will not be open during evenings or weekends, councillors have been told.

Eight of the first 17 venues signed up to the council-run Welcoming Spaces scheme were in Yate, with very little coverage either for rural areas and outside normal working hours.

The council says some locations are already planning to increase their opening hours, while more are expected to apply to the scheme.

Sean Rhodes, who stood as a Labour candidate in last year's Downend by-election, told a cabinet meeting in November: “Clearly weekends and evenings are the times when families with children are going to be most in need of access to warm and welcome spaces when the cost of putting hot food on the table for their children, heating the home, using Wi-Fi for homework and having family time watching television together is at its most expensive.

“So heading into winter I’m really concerned that this level of provision is going to be totally insufficient.

“Does the cabinet have a plan for increasing the level of options for families needing warm space support?"

Conservative cabinet member for public health and equality of opportunity Franklin Owusu-Antwi said the council had provided a budget for groups to apply for grants of £100 to £500 to run warm spaces at their venues, and believed that organisations would offer Saturday and evening provision.

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: "We are running a promotional campaign to encourage more venues to step forward and join our network so we can expand their reach as widely as possible across the rural and urban areas of South Gloucestershire.

“Some of the confirmed venues are already planning to increase their opening hours, and as demand increases this may include opening on weekends and evenings."

For more information about the scheme call 01454 868009.

By

Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

MONDAY - FISHPONDS

6.30pm at the Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR Claire 07791574353

TUESDAY - DOWNEND

St Augustines Church Hall Boscombe Crescent BS16 6QU 9.30am and 11.00am Tel.Anna-Marie 07854177308 5.30pm at St Augustine’s Church Hall, Downend BS16 6QR Claire 07791574353

TUESDAY - FISHPONDS 9.30am at the Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR Claire 07791574353

slimmingworld.co.uk

WEDNESDAY - STAPLE HILL

The Salvation Army 21 Broad Street BS16 5LN Wednesdays at 5.15pm and 6.45pm Tel. Anna-Marie 07854177308

WEDNESDAY - LYDE GREEN

Lyde Green Community Centre, Thistle Close BS16 7GW 7.30pm Wednesdays. Tel Lesley 07503524459

FRIDAY - STAPLE HILL

The Salvation Army, 21 Broad Street BS16 5LN Fridays at 7.30am 9.00am and 10.30am Anna-Marie 07854177308

A SOCIAL worker who posted a video showing the sexual abuse of children online has been barred from the profession.

Rodrigue Ekwelle-Nkwelle was working for South Gloucestershire Council children’s services when he put the video on social media site Instagram.

The 43-year-old locum social worker was living in Broad Street, Staple Hill, when he was given a two-year suspended jail sentence at Bristol Crown Court in April last year, after pleading guilty to distributing an indecent image of a child suffering sexual abuse, and possessing extreme pornography involving animals.

He was also ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work, undergo 30 days of rehabilitation, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Regulator Social Work England has now removed him from its register, banning him from working in the sector, after a hearing panel ruled that he had committed serious misconduct that created a risk to the public.

Social worker barred after posting sex abuse video

Ekwelle-Nkwelle, who did not attend the hearing and was not represented, worked for South Gloucestershire Council for nearly three years, from October 2017 until the offence in June 2020.

The Social Work England report said he had claimed asylum after arriving in the UK from Cameroon, where the abuse video he shared had been filmed.

He decided to become a social worker as "the best way to repay the UK" - but was accused of making sexual advances towards a woman service user with mental health problems in 2013, while still studying for his social work degree.

Police took no further action because the woman did not wish to support an investigation, the report said, and while Ekwelle-Nkwelle was temporarily suspended from his

degree course, he was allowed to complete it in 2015, then worked with Wiltshire Council from 2016 to 2017.

When he applied to employment agency HCL Workforce, leading to the work for South Gloucestershire Council, he failed to disclose the sexual misconduct allegation.

The Social Work England report, published following a three-day regulatory hearing in October, said: “The panel considered that these were convictions of a very serious nature.

“It was satisfied that children and animals are likely to have been harmed by their involvement in the images which Mr Ekwelle-Nkwelle had dealt with.

“He said that when he had distributed the video it had been to decry some of the ‘ill things’

that were occurring in Africa and Cameroon in particular.

“Mr Ekwelle-Nkwelle expressed his total shame of himself, the shame he had brought on his family and his profession.

“He said that he understood that he ought to have reported the matter to the police."

Ekwelle-Nkwelle told investigators he accepted his fitness to practise was impaired but insisted he would not hurt "any individual", particularly a child.

But the panel said he “had not explained the facts relating to the other conviction for possession of extreme pornography”, adding that there was "a risk of repetition of past behaviour, which involved a risk to the public."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

n DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS PREVIEW

FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER 2022, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND.

TWO bona-fide legends of the UK folk scene headline Downend Folk & Roots’ ever-popular Christmas concert, which will also be streamed online in partnership with Live to your Living Room.

Multi award-winning contemporary folk artists Jackie Oates & John Spiers meld together their shared love of English traditional folk tunes and songs with their fine voices and expertly played acoustic instruments.

The gathered music-lovers can look forward to a fresh, uplifting and poignant evening. The concert will include music from the duo’s first album Needle Pin, Needle Pin, released in early 2020 as well as a selection of Christmas songs, with the duo visiting old and new carols from the folk tradition.

Although followers of British folk music will be familiar with Jackie and John from their other high calibre bands, this collaboration

began quite innocently and spontaneously when the pair first started playing together for fun during guest spots at Nettlebed Folk Club in Henley-on-Thames. Recognising the potential, they began working together on material from their native county of Oxfordshire.

Joining Jackie & John on the bill will be locally-based traditional folk duo Cooper & Toller, who will get the music under way with a 25-minute set at 7.45pm.

Vicky Cooper & Richard Toller sing solo and in harmony, sometimes unaccompanied and

n DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS PREVIEW

sometimes accompanied on a range of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. With a repertoire ranging from murder ballads to bawdy drinking songs, their material may be hundreds of years old but their approach is energetic, sophisticated and timeless.

Tickets for the event, which takes place at Christ Church Downend on Friday 16 December 2022, are available online at downendfolkandroots.com and from Melanie’s Kitchen in Downend (cash only). They are priced at £14 each in advance or £16 on the door. Doors

open at 7.30pm and the music starts around 7.45pm. Tickets for the online stream are available from livetoyourlivingroom.com, with a range of prices available. All tickets for the original Christmas concert, which was due to be headlined by Belshazzar’s Feast before the untimely death of Paul Sartin, remain valid for the concert.

In the venue, there will be a bar, stocking cider, soft drinks, wine, hot drinks and locally-brewed real ale from locally-based Hop Union Brewery. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own glass/mug/tankard, as well as reusable bottles for water, as part of the drive to be more environmentally aware. There is a 50p discount for those that do. There will also be sweet treats available at the bar courtesy of the Radstock-based Great Cake Company, as well as a prize draw, which helps to fund the support artists for each concert. Refreshments for the online version are down to you!

For further information, please email info@downendfolkandroots. com or visit the website downendfolkandroots.com.

JACOB & DRINKWATER + FILKIN’S

DRIFT

THIS was a night for duos, for friends, for partnerships. Tobias ben Jacob and Lukas Drinkwater have been 'round these parts before but Filkin's Drift - Chris Roberts and Seth Bye - are all new to most.

In lots of ways the dynamic duo of Jacob & Drinkwater aren’t really a folk band at all. They're a sublime indie-singer-songwriterjazz-country-acoustic-pop band. There are moments - as on a lovely cover of Leonard Cohen's Bird on a Wire - of intricate guitar playing and vocal harmonies. Equally there are moments that almost sound like androgynous pop superstar Antony & The Johnsons. Tobias ben Jacob possesses a voice capable of gorgeous swoops and on We Are The First Ones Now he performs open heart surgery simply with the power of song.

Where Tobias is the weary, wary, heart crushed voice of the band, it is Lukas Drinkwater that is the

excitable puppy, galloping by his side. He is a one-man folk music industry - an amazing producer and double bass player for hireand, tonight, he plays piano, guitar, that wonderful bouncy double bass and provides the dubious dad jokes. On The Devil and Tobias ben Jacob he helps layer the spooky voodoo over which Tobias can whisper his malevolence. As the maelstrom ceases, Lukas pauses, beams and says "we're available for children's parties…".

They might not play "party music" but there's enough to stir the soul. For much of the second

set they return to the theme of friendship - heartbreakingly so as Lukas is about to disappear off to Australia - and the deepest love that can be found. To Call You Friend is exactly that profound, reminding us all to find "solace in the arms of music" and doing so in the most delightful, beautiful way.

Three songs from the latest album, More Notes from the Field, mark highlights of a set packed with brilliance. Sargasso Sea has a muted, country-ish feel while Nowhere On Sea allows Tobias to explore his full range of indie mannerisms (somewhere

between Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch and Michael Stipe) whilst delivering a piece of immaculate storytelling. It's the title track of the album, More Notes, that really delivers though. A fantastic song, it's toe tapping, clever and witty.

Filkin’s Drift are as traditional a folk duo as you can imagine. Two intense looking young men, clutching a guitar and a fiddle, playing old songs or, at the very least, songs that sound old, hovering around a single microphone. In the way of these things they are utterly mesmerising. Annabel's Set is a set of instrumental tunes, full of waterfall guitar and fabulous violin. The "Welsh Song" (Clywai'r Tabwrdd / Can Aberhonddu) is beautiful, reminding you just how poetic, how moving that language can be and a brave cover of Beeswing brings roars of approval far more enthusiastic than any support band can rightly expect.

This might be the last time we see Jacob & Drinkwater for a while but, with ties this strong, these are friendships that will endure.

Words: Gavin McNamara

Photos: Barry Savell

NEXT AT DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS: JACKIE OATES & JOHN SPIERS + COOPER & TOLLER

DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS REVIEW

FRIDAY 21 OCTOBER 2022, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND

Christmas Services and Events

Count down to some old and new traditions this Christmas

WHETHER for you it’s time to enjoy some old traditions or start some new ones this Christmas, there’s something for everyone to discover at Christ Church Downend.

The countdown to Christmas begins on Sun 4th Dec 10.30am & 4pm at our Christingle service: a family service where children receive an orange decorated to tell the story of God's love for the world, and to raise money for the Children's Society which supports vulnerable children and young people. Meanwhile at the Church Centre Quakers Road 9BS16 6NH) on Tues 6th December seniors can enjoy Vintage Adventure – an afternoon of activities, friendship, refreshment and a Christian message for the season.

An opportunity to start a new tradition is on Sun 11th December 7pm at our Contemporary Carol Service: well-known

carols but with a modern twist! Refreshments served after the service. Or if you prefer your carols strictly traditional, you might prefer Sun 18th December 7pm at our Traditional Carols by Candlelight. Mulled wine served after the service.

The Christmas countdown continues the week before Christmas with Messy Church on Wed 21st December 10-11.30am in the church. You’ll find crafts, activities, fun and snacks with a time of worship at the end to celebrate Christmas. This is aimed at 3-10 yr olds, who must be accompanied by an adult. Younger siblings welcome.

Christmas arrives with our Crib Service, which for many is the Christmas tradition they most look forward to. On 24th December at 4pm children and their families hear the wonder of the Christmas story and can take part in the nativity scene. Nativity costumes

welcome, or you can borrow ours on the day!

The timeless feel of the Traditional Midnight Communion on Christmas Eve at 11pm gives time to pause and take in the real meaning of Christmas.

There will be plenty to celebrate on Christmas Day itself, with our 9.15 am Traditional Christmas Communion at the Church Centre, Quakers Road and our Christmas Morning Celebration at 10.30am.

All events take place at Christ Church Downend Downend Rd BS16 5UF unless otherwise stated. Events are free. (Donations welcome.) For more details see our website www.christchurchdownend.com or call the office on 0117 908 9867 and look for us on social media.

Old traditions that bring you back to your roots, or new traditions that bring a sense of hope and joy: what will you try this year?

Christmas Services and Events

May we wish you all a very Happy Christmas

Emersons Green Baptist Church

The story goes that a photographer was asked to take a photograph of the school nativity play to represent the Christmas spirit. To begin with he asked for Mary and Joseph and the rather old and battered manger with the baby doll to be centre stage. After framing it, he decided it needed more colour so he asked for the three Kings to come into the frame. Still not happy, he asked for the shepherds to stand alongside the scene. He was beginning to like what he saw and asked for the children dressed as sheep to step forward together with the donkey and the inn keeper. “We need the angels” he cried, so the angels stood around the whole scene. He framed the picture and he was still not happy. There was something wrong. “It’s that old manger it’s spoiling the tableau. It isn’t colourful or pretty, move it around the back so we can’t see it” he said. So the old manger and doll were moved out of the way and the photographer said “Perfect, now it looks like Christmas!”

A perfect picture of Christmas, but what was missing?

It is very easy in all the rush and excitement of Christmas to lose the truth of the festival and the baby Jesus born in Bethlehem. Give time this year to think again through the Christmas story. Why not come along to our Family Carol Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve at the Emerson Green Village Hall.

Christmas tree gift

EVERY year father and son Peter and Simon Maughan, from the Frenchay Christmas Tree Farm, donate a Christmas tree to Christ Church Downend, and the youth group decorates it.

We would like to say a big thank you to Peter, Simon and the team for this special gift.

The tree will be a blessing to the hundreds of people who visit the church this Christmas, including schools and various community groups.

Thanks also to the customers and staff of the Co-op in Downend, for raising a massive £4,684.77 for youth work at Christ Church Downend - a huge blessing to youth in the community.

The volunteer youth team of Christ Church Downend offer a range of free youth groups to young people aged between 10 and 18.

If you would like to know more please visit the website www. igniteyouth-christchurchdownend.co.uk or email youth@ christchurchdownend.com. Diane Paddon and Gary Smart

Foodbank shopping list

THE foodbank based at Mangotsfield's Resound church has revealed this year's Christmas shopping list for donations.

The foodbank, which families and individuals in need, is asking for donations of small boxes of Chocolates, Christmas

CHRISTMAS

Salvation Army Christmas Day is back

AFTER a Covid-enforced break of two years, Staple Hill Salvation Army is again opening its doors on Christmas Day for those who would otherwise be spending the day on their own.

Major Colin HyltonJones has emphasised that those attending need not be restricted to the elderly.

The church in Broad Street also welcomes volunteers who can help in catering, meet and greet, general assistance, acting as waiters or waitresses, and many other aspects of putting on a whole day of

Sweets, small Christmas cakes & puddings (alcohol free), Christmas biscuits (sweet or savoury), Yule logs, custard (tins or sachets), large tins of ham, large tins of salmon, small boxes of gift toiletries (male and female), UHT milk, cartons of fruit juice, tinned chicken in white sauce, tinned minced beef and onions, instant mashed potatoes and washing tablets.

Spend some quiet time in our beautiful warm and welcoming church, reflecting on the true meaning of Christmas.

G Gift Service

Sunday 4th December 10.30am

Donate an unwrapped gift for age 0-5 for Staple Hill Children’s Centre

Sunday Club Service

Sunday 18th December 10.30am

Led by our young people

Carols by Candlelight

Sunday 18th December 6.00pm

With our church choir Christmas Day

Sunday 25th December 10.00am

Short service of celebration, all-age worship

activity and food.

The day consists of full Christmas dinner, entertainment, a Christmas gift and a hamper to take home.

Booking is essential, and volunteer application forms can be obtained by telephoning 0117 956 9733 or emailing contactstaplehill@gmail.com.

The Salvation Army is also collecting Christmas presents and food donations.

Please enquire at the church in Broad Street for more information.

Donations can be dropped off at the Resound Centre in Blackhorse Road on a Friday morning from 10am-noon, and there are also collection boxes at Sainsbury's in Emersons Green and Lyde Green, Tesco in Mangotsfield, Lyde Green Community Centre and the MS2 Store in Bromley Heath. For more information call 0117 305 0969 or 0748 568 8621.

Pop in to see us at Christmas on the Hill

Saturday 3rd Dec, 10.00am-4.00pm

Fairtrade coffee & tea, homemade cakes, craft and gift stalls.

R Request a Carol from 3.00pm with our newlyrefurbished organ.

High Street, Staple Hill BS16 5HQ www.staplehillmethodist.com email: staplehillmethodist@hotmail.co.uk

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

Christ Church youth group members will decorate this year's tree

Concert celebrates Ukrainian culture

A CONCERT at St Augustine’s church in Downend celebrated Ukrainian culture and raised money for the humanitarian effort to help people in the country affected by the Russian invasion.

The concert at the end of October featured acclaimed soloist Anna Zoshchuk and a historical fashion exhibition by Anna Gorozhenko.

It was organised by Vera Stadon, who was born in Ukraine but has lived in the UK since 1997, and friends. Vera has been organising aid for Ukraine and support for refugees who have come to the UK since the invasion in February.

The concert was followed by a Ukrainian art and cultural exhibition in Bristol Cathedral the following day.

A further exhibition was celebrating the shared heritage of Ukraine and Britain was being held at St John's Church, Chipping Sodbury, from November 24-27, with a concert at 5.30pm on the 25th to remember the millions who died in the Holomodor, the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33.

Official opening for Frenchay Primary School

FRENCHAY C of E Primary School has held an official opening ceremony.

The event on November 7 followed the arrival of staff and pupils in October and guests included former head teachers Sandra Allen and Carol Thorne, representatives of Frenchay Residents Association, South Gloucestershire councillors and officials, builders BAM and members of the Bristol Diocesan Board for Education.

Head teacher Katherine Marks said: "This was a wonderful morning where the school and visitors shared in the celebration of our new building. Mrs Thorne also organised the planting of a tulip tree, courtesy of Ron Crouch, whose great auntie was once a teacher in Frenchay. Mr Crouch sent us the funds to purchase the tree all the way from America where he lives. A big thank you to him and Mrs Thorne for this gift."

Bishop of Bristol the Rt Rev Vivienne Faull led a service, planted the new tulip tree and blessed the school.

The school also received a plaque from the diocese to mark its opening and a new candle holder from Frenchay rector Rev Charles Sugden and the parish council.

Guests were entertained by piano music from a Year 2 pupil and heard messages, thanks and prayers from members of the school's Year 6 class.

Mrs Marks said: "The final icing on the cake was when two children pulled the large blue ribbon to officially signify our opening!

"It was a really great morning - thanks to all those who attended and helped with the organisation.

"The children were a credit to us all in their excellent behaviour and manners throughout the morning."

Historical Ukrainian fashions were displayed at the event at St Augustine of Canterbury church

Winter essentials that are worth the investment

CONSCIOUS that everyone’s purse strings are pulled in tight right now, I’m bringing you some tips this month on where to save money and when to invest.

Whilst many people are looking to bring their shopping into line this month and find ways to spend less on their wardrobe, enduring the winter season’s harsher temperatures means some still might need good clothes and footwear.

The return on buying good quality, hard-wearing pieces can be ten-fold.

Buying well can save you money in the long run, but there are also pieces which, if you don’t have the cash, you don’t need to spend all your well-earned money on.

These include t-shirts, sweatshirts, loungewear and,

most importantly, any trend-led fashion purchases. The former will likely lose colour and shape when washed and the latter will be a quick love-affair that you lose passion for.

Meanwhile, outerwear is super-important. Three pieces worth spending what you can on (and guarantee your style kudos) are a good quality coat, pair of boots and bag.

A well-made winter coat can last you years, so it’s top of my list if someone asks me which item of clothing to invest in.

When choosing a style, consider your lifestyle and how you’ll wear it daily.

Professionals will get a better return, cost per wear, if they invest in a quality full-length wool coat, which looks smart and chic while keeping them warm.

Outdoor types are wiser to spend more on a quality parka coat.

A good pair of leather or quality vegan boots can, again, wear well for a long time.

The exact style you choose depends on how you will get the most use out of them, but spend what you can on hardwearing materials, with decent soles that just require a yearly top-up at your local cobbler.

Accessories can make an outfit, and when you’re mostly seen in a big coat and boots during the winter, having a vintage or modern classic-style handbag or man bag can really elevate your appearance.

The choice of brand and style largely depends on your budget, but simple designs in quality materials can give you years of

support. Avoid too much bling and fashionable embellishments that will date your choice.

If you wish to delve deeper into investment choices, email info@notgivinin.com and look out for the answers in future issues of the Voice.

www.notgivinin.com

Gail Painter's fashion tips

Census figures show changing roots of population

THE latest census has revealed fascinating details about where South Gloucestershire's residents were born.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that one in six residents of England and Wales on census day last year - a total of ten million people - were born outside the UK. That is up from 7.5 million in 2011.

In South Gloucestershire the percentage of residents who were born outside the UK rose from 6.6% to 10.6% over the last decade.

Just under nine out of every ten people living in the district - 259,757 of 290,400 residents in March last year - were born in the UK.

A total of 249,242 (85.8%) were born in England, with a further 7,035 people born in Wales.

The next most common nation of birth was Poland (3,320 people), followed by residents who were born in India (2,958), just ahead of Scotland (2,667).

The next biggest individual

A Diwali celebration was recently held at Bradley Stoke Community School during a year-long council programme to celebrate "the stories of people from India who now call South Gloucestershire home" - almost 3,000 residents of the district were born in India.

Picture: South Gloucestershire Council.

nation of origin was Romania, where 2,084 South Gloucestershire residents were born.

However this number was smaller than the 2,551 people from nine other nations, grouped together by the ONS, which joined the EU between

SOUTH Gloucestershire's population more closely matches the national average age range than anywhere else in the country, the 2021 census found.

The district's median age of 40 is the same as the England average and the percentage of people in each age group closely matches the distribution of ages nationwide.

By contrast Bristol's median age of 34 is well below the national average: the percentage of people aged between 18 and

2001 and 2011, including the Czech Republic and Cyprus but excluding Poland, Romania and Lithuania, which were counted separately.

Other common places of birth outside the UK recorded in South Gloucestershire were Germany (1,101 people), non-EU European countries (1,065), South Africa (1,062), South America (997), the Republic of Ireland (977) and Nigeria (841)all of which were above Northern Ireland (800) in the list.

In neighbouring Bristol, the percentage of residents born outside the UK rose from 14.7% to 18.8% from 2011 to 2021.

A total of 383,495 out of 472,400 residents (81.2%) were born in the UK, with 365,336 (77.3%) born in England.

After Wales (11,722), the next most common nation of birth was Poland (8,770), followed by the ONS group of nine EU postmillennium nations (5,303).

The most common non-UK or EU nation of birth in Bristol is Somalia: 4,654 residents of the city were born in the East African country - more than the 4,626

people in the city who were born in Scotland. By contrast, only 85 South Gloucestershire residents were born in Somalia.

The other most common countries of birth outside the UK for Bristol residents were India (4,381 people), Romania (3,782), Spain (3,616), Pakistan (3,586), smaller pre-2001 EU member countries, including Benelux and Scandinavia (3,543), Italy (3,123) and China (2,638).

Nationally, the most common country of birth outside the UK is India, followed by Poland, Pakistan, Romania, Ireland, Italy, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Germany and South Africa.

The number of Romanianborn UK residents rose from 80,000 in 2011 to 539,000 in 2021.

Census deputy director Jon Wroth-Smith said: "We can see Romanians have been a big driver in this change, while there have also been increases due to migration from India, Pakistan and Poland, as well as southern European countries such as Italy."

41 is well above average, while number of 47 to 85-year-old residents are below average, as are six to 17-year-olds.

B&NES has a median age of 39 and a large spike of 18 to 23-year-old residents, representing the city's large student population relative to its size.

While South Gloucestershire is home to many students at UWE's main Frenchay

campus, other parts of the university and accommodation are in Bristol, balancing the numbers of young people who leave the district to go to university.

By contrast, North Somerset and the three districts of Gloucestershire neighbouring South GloucestershireStroud, Cotswold and the Forest of Dean - all have median ages between 45 and 49, with numbers of over-50s noticeably above average and numbers of 18 to 40-year-olds below the England average.

Our average age is 40

THE Staple Hill Community Hub's trustees recently had a message from our manager, Julie Snelling, with two stories showing how the Hub is helping people in our community.

Although addressed to the trustees, it should serve as a thank-you to everyone who has supported the work of the Hub this past year.

Julie wrote: "Every now and then I like to share a story with you about the work at the Hub and why you all do what you do.

"At meetings each of you gets a snapshot of what we do, mainly based on what you see when you are there and written reports, but this doesn't give you all a full picture, so these little events are intended to help fill in some of the gaps so that you better know how important you are to the people that need us.

"Today at about 3.45pm two people arrived at the door for food parcels.

"One was a single mum who

How your hub donations are helping people in need

had just been emergency rehoused with her children to escape domestic violence.

"She had no money, no food and had bumped into another service user who told her to come down.

"I was able to give her plenty of food, toiletries etc. I wish I could have taken a photograph of the look of relief on her face when she knew we could help.

"She was expecting to fill out multiple forms, produce official documents - all that stuff she did not have. I don't know of another organisation locally that does this.

"The next was a single elderly man living nearby. He had just had to pay an electricity bill which had tripled: he had the usual amount

he saved but could not believe the bill he received. He paid it, but that cleared him out.

"His grandchildren are visiting tomorrow and he was embarrassed that he had nothing in the house for them. All he asked for was a toilet roll and a packet of biscuits for them.

"Anyway, we did better than that, even though he kept repeating how embarrassed he was, initially refusing more help.

"I discovered he had not eaten for days, so he got a full food parcel.

"You can all sleep well tonight knowing this could only happen because of all of you giving as generously as you do.

"I thank you all and just wanted

you to see a little of what I see."

As well as emergency food parcels the Hub offers a range of services, including a community lunch club, coffee morning, job searchers support group, friendship club, children's clubs and family information and play sessions.

We will have a stall at the Christmas on the Hill event on December 3, so please come and have a chat with us if you would like to find out more.

Alternatively you can call us on 01454 868374 or find us at the bottom of Berkeley House, at the end of Nelson Road.

William Lee

Author's new Christmas tale for children

A GREAT-grandfather from Downend has written a new Christmas story for children.

A Magic Kite and Ronda the Christmas Witch is described as a book "full of magic, surprise, wonder and mystery", intended for young readers with a "thinking imagination".

It has been written by Alan Maggs, who writes stories and poems having previously been a councillor for 40 years.

Alan has become an author despite the obstacles posed by dyslexia, which he only realised he had when he read about it during his adult life.

He said: "When I was at school I wondered why other children could read and write better than me but back then it was unknown - the only way they taught us was with a rap on the knuckles with a ruler!

"Fortunately it is much better in schools now."

The condition means Alan takes longer than other authors to write.

He said: "I'll go back six or seven times to make sure I get it right."

However, A Magic Kite and Ronda the Christmas Witch is not Alan's first book: he also wrote The Wild Jungle Boy, under the pen name Sam Snow, back in 2014.

Alan, who lives in Blackhorse with wife

Olive, has three children, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He says the story - of a boy who has a kite which can take him anywhere he wishes but has only one friend in the world - came to

him out of the blue.

Alan said: "I don't know what I'm going to write until I get to the computer, and it just comes to me. I just enjoy it."

Alan was a carpenter and joiner before and after National Service in the RAF, and later worked as a forklift driver at Bristol's St Anne's Board Mills cardboard factory.

He had a long career as a councillor, serving on Mangotsfield Rural Parish Council for 40 years and retiring as chairman, aged 80, when the council was replaced by Emersons Green Town Council in 2015.

Alan also served as a Labour councillor on Gloucestershire County Council, on Warmley Rural District Council and on Kingswood Borough Council, from its formation in 1974 until it was replaced by South Gloucestershire Council in 1996.

He has published the book himself, commissioning illustrations from Fishpondsbased artist Molly Harvey and having it printed by Barton Hill-based Whitehall Printing.

Anyone who would like to buy a copy of the book can call Alan on 0117 949 6063 or email awmaggs@gmail.com.

Enquiries from shop owners who would like to stock it are also welcome.

Alan Maggs with his new book

Another very successful year for In Bloom

I AM sure you are enjoying the panolas around the area at the moment.

This year, with the prolonged warmth that we have been experiencing, they have got off to a really good start and are flowering much better than they usually do.

In other winters they have not really come into full bloom until after Christmas but this year, I’m sure you’ll agree, they are superb!

Someone asked me recently about the foxes, and how we stop them digging into the containers and pulling out the plants.

Our woodworking crew have been putting a rigid mesh on the top of the large planters. We have then cut out holes in the mesh, where we put the plants in. It is funny, because we do not put as many plants in in the winter as the summer and where there are holes in the mesh, the foxes have been trying to bury down and have left holes. However, the plants have remained secure, so a job well done!

Our woodworking crew have been in the high street helping the Christmas team to put up extra Christmas lights, before helping to erect the smaller Christmas trees in the high street and Cleevewood.

The area is certainly going to look wonderful this Christmas, so thank you for

all the hard work that has been done by the parish council and the Christmas group.

By the time you read this the In Bloom team will also have had a tidy up in the high street; we were planning to attack the weeds, which also seem to have had a new lease of life with the warm weather and rain!

As we come to the end of this year I look back at all of the wonderful decorations that In Bloom were able to put up for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – the bunting, crowns and flags. Also the summer plants, which I think were some of the best displays ever. Another very successful year for Downend and Bromley Heath in Bloom!

Hopefully in the January edition I will be filling you in with our plans for next year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support of In Bloom and especially our team of volunteers who do such a wonderful job! It certainly makes our area a very special place to live.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and we will catch up again in 2023.

Loving our village!

Jackie Baker

One of the displays put up for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

Dame School work uncovers buried history

graves there. More when we know more - but in the meantime, please respect them.

There seem to be more and more people every year, and that’s great to see.

We had a few niggles with our new layout, but nothing we can’t and won’t sort out for future years.

The less formal and quieter service of remembrance in the Red Lion at 11am was also well attended and is important for those who, for whatever reason, are unable to attend the main service.

Our rebuild of the small retaining wall at the back of the Dame School planting area has started and we are very grateful to a local resident who has donated more than 50 old pennant stones: they are just what we need, and will help finish it off nicely.

An interesting aside - a few weeks ago a couple of members of the MRA were starting the rebuild of the wall. We got distracted and one of our members uncovered a

gravestone. Further prodding and digging revealed two more.

We don't know how many more there are, but we'll be searching. We are also talking to the church and South Gloucestershire Council, because we don't yet know if it's just headstones or there are

Our thoughts now turn to our Christmas decorations.

We will be building our Nativity scene at the Dame School again: that should happen over the weekend of the 3rd and 4th of December.

There will be lights on a tree: they go up on Tuesday December 6.

We aren’t quite sure where we are going to put up the big star/ snowflake yet, so if anyone has any ideas, please let us know.

Some other dates for the diary: Friday December 9, from 7.30pm: Residents association

Christmas social meeting at St James Church.

Wednesday December 14 from 10am: MRA/Red Lion Christmas coffee morning.

Friday December 16 from 6.30pm: Dame School Christmas carol service.

As always, we'd love more people to get involved, so if you’d like to, or you need any help, then please get in touch via MangotsfieldRA@gmail.com, via the ever-popular Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page or telephone our chair, Clive Heath, on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881.

Have a safe and very happy Christmas and New Year.

Helping our high streets thrive this Christmas

WE recognise that our high streets are the backbone of our local communities, providing a focal point for much-needed ser vices as well as helping cater for the shopping and leisure needs of local people.

That’s why I am delighted to announce we are once again run ning a campaign to encourage people to visit their local high streets and support the hundreds of independent traders we are lucky enough to have in South Gloucestershire in the run up to Christmas.

The festive campaign will highlight everything South Gloucestershire’s high streets have to offer shoppers and families, including an array of free and low-cost festive events across the district to help get you in the Christmas spirit, as well as a

wide selection of local shops and businesses to help tick off those Christmas lists.

And of course, all South Gloucestershire’s council-owned long and short-term car parks offer free parking, making trans porting those gifts home that bit easier too.

Our high streets always look so magical over the festive season, which is why we will also be running a photo competition, where we are asking you to cap ture something that represents the essence of Christmas on your local high street.

For example, this could be a photo of a shop window display, Christmas lights or a Christmas event. We are encouraging peo ple to post their chosen photo on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and use the campaign hashtag

#SouthGlosChristmas and the relevant hashtag for where the photo was taken e.g. #Christ masInDownend or #ChristmasIn Thornbury.

There are some great prizes on offer, including a £50 meal-out voucher, so why not take part?

Full details on how to enter can be found at www.southglos. gov.uk/shopsouthglos and more information will also be shared through the council’s social media channels.

You have until Monday De cember 12 to share your photos, and winners will be announced on Wednesday December 21.

I hope I speak for all of us when I say I am so looking forward to sharing the Christmas spirit with local people, whether it’s waving at Father Christmas in Thornbury, watching the lights

get switched on in Staple Hill or singing carols in Downend.

Please support your local high street this Christmas - and happy shopping!

For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/shopsouth glos.

With Toby Savage, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council

NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

The Beautiful Game shows its ugly side

THE World Cup is upon us.

For fans, it’s usually a time of nervous anticipation. I’d like to be having chats about the formation Southgate will play. Have the team been practising their penalties?! Could we follow the success of the women’s team, and this be the year England finally goes all the way?

This time however, sadly like many other West of England sports fans, I find myself with very different questions on my lips.

How can we celebrate the beautiful game in a state that abuses its own peo ple? Why has Qatar been awarded a global platform to promote itself? What is the world doing in the face of Qatar censor ing and jailing journalists and cosying up to Putin? How can we best call out the terrible human rights abuses, blatant hom ophobia and lack of women’s rights?

There wasn’t a single death in the work to build the London Olympics, which should be a huge mark of pride for our great country. It was the safest Olympic

build in history. In contrast, the current tournament has broken bodies, killed doz ens and maimed and crushed the hopes of abused foreign workers.

And let’s not pretend the Qataris won the hosting rights through merit alone. FIFA’s decision-Making, 12 years ago, was surrounded by rumblings of corruption and bribery. It’s been controversial from the off, because money talked louder than football.

So, what should we do? Of course, I always want my teams - Bristol City and England - to win.

As Harry Kane leads his men out, I hope we can use the power of football to inspire.

We know the World Cup can motivate young people to go out and exercise. We know great cup runs can bring our nation together. The excitement of Euro 96 or reaching the 2020 final last year. It’s also a great chance to back our hospitality sector at local pubs.

But we must also use this tournament

to keep human rights issues firmly in the public eye and to campaign for stronger workers’ rights.

These high-profile international sport ing events come with great kudos and attention for any host country. But it’s the people’s game - so they should come first.

Let’s hope in future the football author ities never place us in this position again where we love our football but are deeply troubled by the circumstances of the tournament.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris write for the Voice

n LETTERS

Thank you for helping remember Martin

Brown

WHEN we started out planning an evening in memory of Martin Brown, a long-standing Downend resident who died of motor neurone disease (Voice, October and November), we were not sure what to expect.

However the support from Christ Church Downend, where Martin and Myra had worshipped for many years, was amazing. Their refurbished building is a great space for musical events.

The Riff Raff choir and the Music Train were happy to provide first-class entertainment for us, and created a great atmosphere.

We sold out of tickets a week before the event and added extra seats: over 330 tickets were sold, and more at the door, so it was a full house.

Soon there was singing along, clapping, dancing and wide smiles all round: it was a wonderful evening and the feedback has been tremendous.

We raised £5,200, which will go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Some people also gave directly to the MNDA, and a donation page (which has raised more than £1,450) is still open at justgiving.com/

fundraising/MartinBrowMND.

It was a successful and memorable evening: thank you to everyone who supported us.

Dr Peter Moore, Downend

Road closures did not help

AS a resident of the Teewell Hill area, I can tell you there was no consultation before the closures of Signal Road and Charnhill Drive (Watchdog raps council over road closure failures, Voice, November).

It did not help cyclists and pedestrians, as residents parked their cars across the concrete blocks. The council did not send letters out to the residents of the surrounding roads.

The residents of Signal Road, Charnhill Road and Charnhill Drive knew it was a public highway when they viewed the houses: if they wanted to live in a private road, they should have bought one in a private road.

As for the watchdog, they do not live in the area with the extra traffic.

Roger Davis

Since the start of the pandemic, charities have seen a rise in the number of homeless Armed Forces veterans seeking their help –some report an increase of 50%.

When someone has served their country, the least we can do is support them when they make the move back to civilian life. Yet every year thousands of veterans end up sleeping rough, sofa surfing or living in unsuitable hostels, because they’re unable to access housing and slip through the net. The cost-ofliving crisis will only make the situation worse.

The Armed Forces Covenant states that anyone who has served should face no disadvantage and that veterans who are especially vulnerable should be prioritised for support.

It’s vital that when someone needs help with housing, they are asked whether they’ve served in the Forces. If they have, this should be recorded. Once identified, they can be directed towards support that’s available.

We are concerned that without action, things will get much worse. A more coordinated approach between local authorities, housing providers, homelessness charities and veterans’ organisations is needed.

No one wants to see more veterans on our streets this winter. Those that have served, often through the most trying of times, deserve better.

AS the cost-of-living crisis deepens, we welcome any action to prevent the very real possibility of more people ending up homeless on our streets.

Looking for a job that really helps people?

Are you a caring person? Are you a carer for a family member?

Do you want a flexible job, working from home?

Could you support someone to achieve their goals?

Do something amazing, become a Shared Lives carer.

Do you need support to live your life?

Find out if Shared Lives could support you: www.ategi.org.uk

Have you heard about Shared Lives yet?

Richard Gammage,

No Homeless Veterans Campaign (www.nohomelessveterans.org.uk)

It’s a bit like foster care – but for an adult. As a Shared Lives carer, you will be paid to support adults who need a little extra help from your own home.You’ll help them to achieve their goals and support them to live independently, helping them live their life, their way. They could spend the day with you, stay overnight or even move in, it’s flexible to you.

What does it mean to be a Shared Lives carer?

“I’m proud to be a Shared Lives carer because I believe that everyone deserves to be happy and be themselves, regardless of who they are and that’s exactly what Shared Lives does -placing people in homes with families where they are cared for, loved and respected.”Kwame, Shared Lives carer

Find out more about becoming a Shared Lives carer on our website: www.ategi.org.uk or email us on carerapplication@ategi.co.uk

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 946 1169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

No one wants to see more veterans on our streets this winter

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA

November 28-December 10

n THIS IS YOUR HERITAGE - Stories from the South Gloucestershire Indian Community touring exhibition at Staple Hill Library during opening hours.

December 1

n CHRISTMAS GET TOGETHER AND MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT MORNING, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, Downend. Coffee from 10.15am, music from 10.45am. Admission £2.50. With Geoff Peglar on accordion and Jane on keyboard, secret Santa - please bring a present of not more than £1 if you would like to join in - and quiz. All welcome.

December 1

n WARM SPACES CAFE at Christ Church, Downend, 11am-2.30pm. Free Wi-fi; soup and roll lunch at 12; live music from Music Train; space to work or chat; toys for children. Free; donations welcome if able. Also on December 8, 15 and 22. December 2-31

n PHOTO EXHIBITION AT CHRIST CHURCH, DOWNEND, by Lincombe Barn Camera Club. All welcome to drop in. Club members will be present on December 2 from 4.30-9pm and December 3, 10 and 17 from 10am-4pm to discuss the pictures.

December 3

n THE CLEEVE SINGERS

CHRISTMAS CONCERT is a MATINEE and ONLY on Saturday 3rd December at 2.00 pm. The charity being supported this year is Clic Sargent chosen in remembrance of a members grandchildren. Tickets @ £5 will be available from Melanie's Kitchen, Lincombe Barn and on the Door. The event is at Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW.

December 3

n CHRISTMAS FAIR AT ST MARYS CHURCH, Manor Road, Fishponds from 11am - 2pm . White elephant, tombola, cakes, books raffle, crafts etc plus Light refreshments . Christmas music provided by our choir.

December 3

n WINTERBOURNE WIND BAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT, Salem Methodist Church, Factory Road, Winterbourne, 7pm. Tickets £5 adults, £2.50 children from ticketsource. co.uk/winterbournewindband. Refreshments available. More information from info@ winterbournewindband.co.uk.

December 3

n THE FILTONES CHOIR, CHRISTMAS CRACKERS CONCERT: 7.30 p.m. at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park,

Bristol BS34 7PS. Tickets £8 in advance from Dot Bryant 07870 984760 or at the door.

Saturday December 3

n COME AND LEARN HOW TO MAKE A CHRISTINGLE at TOAST , all are welcome, 5-6.15pm Badminton Road Methodist Church December 4

n TOY SERVICE AT MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN U.R.C. A Toy and Gift sale will be held at Cossham Street on December 4th with all donations being distributed by the Salvation Army. There is a particular need this year for gifts for 10 year olds and over. The service will commence at 10.30 a.m. everyone is welcome. Coffee and biscuits will be served!

December 4

n CHRISTINGLE SERVICE at Christ Church Downend, 10.30am & 4pm. Interactive family service with focus on Jesus the light of the world and the Children's Society.

December 6

n VINTAGE ADVENTURE at Church Centre, Quakers Road. Activities, crafts, refreshments, company and a Christian message of encouragement for seniors.

December 7

n A CHRISTMAS DEMONSTRATION by Marie Munday at Downend Flower Arranging Club, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, Downend, BS16 2RW 7.30pm. Come early for free coffee and mince pies. Visitors £8 pay at door. Everyone welcome.

December 7

n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB

Christmas flower arrangement demonstration, Wednesday 7th December at 7.00pm. There will be tea, coffee and mince pies included in the ticket price of £8. After the demonstration, the arrangements will be raffled off. Everyone welcome, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW.

December 8

n DOWNEND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 7.30pm at the Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend. AGM and talk on Christmas from the garden, making wreaths and table decorations. More information from Roger Davis on 0117 957 1703.

December 8

n BRISTOL MILITARY WIVES CHOIR CHRISTMAS CONCERT 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM GMT Christ Church Downend, Bristol, BS16 5UF Come and enjoy an evening of festive entertainment including popular Military Wives Choir songs. With our special guests the RAF Spitfires Choir. Door open at 7pm.

December 10

n CHERNOBYL CHILDREN'S LIFELINE (now known as "The Helping Hand for Ukraine"), will be holding our annual Quiz Night at Christchurch Hall in Downend. This is a fun evening aimed at raising money for children and families being directly affected by the war in Ukraine. Bring Your Own drinks and food (so it's a cheap night!) and we have kept the prices the same as 2021- just £6 for adults and £3 for any team member under 16. Contact https://www.facebook. com/ccllbristol/ Sunday December 11 n REMEMBERING SERVICE at. 4pm. A time to light a candle in remembrance of a loved one and to give thanks for their life. Badminton Road Methodist Church December 11 n CONTEMPORARY CAROL SERVICE - well known carols but with a modern twist: Christ Church, Downend, 7pm. Refreshments served after the service. December 12 n DOWNEND SENIOR FILM CLUB at 2pm. Christmas Party with entertainment and refreshments. Tickets: £4.00 Booking essential, please call 0117 435 0063/4. Carers welcome, easy access. Christ Church Hall, 57 North Street, Downend BS16 5SG

December 13

n BEREAVEMENT GROUP at Christ Church, Downend, 2pm. Friendship, refreshments and a chance to reflect together with others who have lost a loved one. Saturday December17

n CHRISTMAS MAKE AND DO. Seasonal craft and activities for all the family. 2.30-4.pm Children £2 or £5 per family, no charge for accompanying adults. Refreshments included. Badminton Road Methodist Church. December 18

n CAROL SERVICE AT MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN U.R.C. The service of Christmas music and carols will include musical items by the Bristol Military Wives Choir. Every one is more than welcome to come and join us at Cossham Street. Service will commence at 10.30 a.m.

December 18

n CAROL SERVICE 10.30am at Badminton Road Methodist Church Do come and join us to sing carols.

December 18

n TRADITIONAL CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT, 7pm, Christ Church Downend. Mulled wine served after the service.

December 21

n CHRISTMAS MESSY CHURCH, Christ Church Downend, 1011.30am. Crafts, activities, fun and

snacks with a time of worship at the end to celebrate Christmas. Aimed at 3 to 10 year olds, who must be accompanied by an adult. Younger siblings welcome.

December 23

n POP UP NATIVITY 3.45PM Come and help us retell The Christmas Story Badminton Road Methodist Church.

December 24

n CRIB SERVICE, Christ Church Downend, 4pm. Children and families hear the wonder of the Christmas story and can take part in the nativity scene.

December 24

n TRADITIONAL MIDNIGHT COMMUNION, Christ Church Downend, 11pm - reflective service to give time to pause and take in the real meaning of Christmas.

December 25

n TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS COMMUNION at the Church Centre, Quakers Road, 9.15 am, followed by Christmas morning celebration at Christ Church, Downend, at 10.30am.

December 25

n CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE 10.30 am O come let us adore Him Badminton Road Methodist church.

REGULAR EVENTS

n BRISTOL U3A: Have you reached a point in your life where you have fewer responsibilities and more time for yourself? Would you like to take part in activities where you can share skills, abilities or hobbies whilst having fun and making new friends? Go to www. bristolu3a.org.uk for details.

Monday

n MEDITATION SESSIONS IN FRENCHAY Just come along to the sessions that run from 3rd Monday each month at 7pm Frenchay Unitarian Chapel BS16 1ND from 20Sept for the Personcentred Group Meditation and 1st Wednesday at 7pm from 6th Oct for the Kundalini movement meditation. Contact Andrea on 07791119658 homewards.ma@ btinternet.com.

n SINGALONG 4 ALL - Mondays 10.30/11.30, Grace court, Dial Lane, Downend BS16 5UP. £4 ...£1 tea n bikkies Tel: Barbara 07816839141.

n SOCIAL BADMINTON every Monday at Kingswood Leisure Centre from 2-4pm. Intermediate level, all welcome.

n EDDS & TALES Baby & Toddler Group Every Monday, Christchurch Parish Hall, North Street, Downend. 10.00 - 11.30 (term time only) £3 per family (first visit free) including drinks, snacks and craft activity ALL WELCOME - Just turn up Join our Facebook group Edds and Tales

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

n

STAPLE HILL JOB SEEKER

SUPPORT GROUP, Staple Hill Community Hub, Berkeley House, 1A Berkeley Rd, every Monday from 1.30-3.30pm. Laptops and Wi-Fi available for job searches, free tea and coffee, welcoming environment. Run by local councillor Katie Cooper and volunteers. Call Julie on 01454 868374 with any questions or to let us know you are coming.

n PUCKLECHURCH SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Meet every Monday, Wednesday evening 7.30 - 10.00 and Sunday 2.30 - 5.00. Refreshments inc. All levels really Welcome. For more information ring Kath 07517 1297.

n PILATES CLASS 18:45 – 19:45 at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, BS16 5SG. Contact Kerry 07919 051019 or email kerry@ yogaandpilatesforlife.com

n YOGA CLASS 19:55 – 20:55 at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, BS16 5SG. Contact Kerry 07919 051019 or email kerry@ yogaandpilatesforlife.com

Tuesday

n DOWNEND GARDENING IN RETIREMENT CLUB Meetings on the third Tuesday of each month. Venue as usual: Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend. Time 10.15am. New members and Visitors welcomed. Varied speakers.

n BROMLEY HEATH GARDENING CLUB Meets at Christ Church Centre, Quakers Road, every third Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm. Talks, day trips and short holidays - everyone welcome. Call May on 0117 957 3695 for details.

n MESSY SPACE AT BADMINTON ROAD METHODIST CHURCH, 10.0011.30am. This is a term-time group for babies and toddlers with their carers: play, crafts, story, refreshments. More information: www.badmintonroadmethodist.org. uk or 0117 956 1106

n BOARD GAMES NIGHT every Tuesday from 7pm. All Welcome The Wooden Walls Micropub, 30 Broad Street, Staple Hill, BS16 5NU

n LINCOMBE BARN CAMERA CLUB meets every second, fourth and fifth Tuesday of the month at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road. New members always welcome. For information see website at www. lincombebarncameraclub.co.uk or email lincombe.barn@gmail.com.

n BODY TONE 9:30 – 10:25 at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, BS16 5SG. Contact Kerry 07919 051019 or email kerry@ yogaandpilatesforlife.com

Wednesday

n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB We are a friendly group, we meet at 7.30pm

on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW. Ring Genise on 0777 2451217 for more information.

n DOWNEND BRIDGE CLUBNEW MEMBERS ARE WANTED Come and join us and play duplicate Bridge at Lincombe Barn Downend on Wednesday afternoons 2pm. All levels welcome. Please contact eveforbes77@gmail. com or 0117 9836886 or Yvonne Scoulding rscoulding@google.com or 0117 9568944

n CLEEVESINGERS OF DOWNEND Enjoy singing, then come and join this four part choir who meet on Wednesday evenings at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road 7.30 p.m. from September until July. For more information contact the Secretary on 0117 9561881.

n DOWNEND SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB Musical entertainment from 2-4pm every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at North Street Church Hall. All are welcome.

n THE WOMEN’S SECTION OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION We meet the third Wednesday of every month in the afternoon. We meet at 2pm at the old school hall now known as the YOU Foundation by the car park in Page Road Staple Hill. Speakers, quizzes and handy craft afternoon finishes with tea. Please telephone Madeleine Bills Secretary. 0117 9560805.

n DOWNEND TANG SOO DO meets at Christchurch Parish Hall, North Street on Wednesday evenings from 7.30-9pm. Suitable for beginners and ages 10+. First class free. More details from Ian on 07817 744689 or at the Downend Tang Soo Do Facebook page.

n FRENCHAY PROBUS CLUB We meet at Frenchay Village Hall on the first Wednesday of each month between 10.00 and 12.00 hrs. For further details contact: frenchayprobus@outlook.com

n WARMLEY JAZZ CLUB, every Wednesday £5 on the door. Cadbury Heath Social Club. Doors open 7.30pm. More details at warmleyjazz.co.uk.

n MEET THE BEAT TEAM, Bean Tree Cafe, Page Park. Every Wednesday afternoon, 2-3pm. If you have any problems or issues you would like to discuss with the police neighbourhood team, please come along.

n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcomefirst visit free so come along and give us a try. For further information contact Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@

blueyonder.co.uk.

n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORM CHURCH invite you to their regular twice monthly sessions of Friendly Voices. These are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon. Come along for a sing-along (and coffee) Carers very welcome. For further information contact June Watts on 0117 9566625.

n CROSS STITCH Like to learn this absorbing relaxing hobby and have fun at the same time? Why not join the Club at Lincombe Barn. Beginners and those with all abilities welcome. New term commences beginning of September on Wednesday mornings 10.00 am until noon. Contact Lincombe Barn 9562367.

n THE FRENCHAY FOLK DANCE CLUB meet fortnightly at Frenchay Village Hall from 7:45 until 10:15pm. All standards of dancer are welcome to enjoy live Bands and experienced Callers. Visit frenchayfdc.co.uk or call 0117 3021543 for more information. n FRIENDLY VOICES is a dementia friendly singing group. There is no cost and the sessions are led by a qualified music therapist, Sharon, who brings a lot of experience and plenty of instruments to have fun with. The sessions are open to all and if you think that you ,or someone you love, would benefit by them come along or contact June Watts on 0117 9566625

n WEDNESDAY CAFE FOR SENIORS, at Badminton Road Methodist Church (BS16 6NU) every Wednesday 10am to 12 noon. All Welcome – just come along – make new friends over a cuppa and cake. Information: 0117 239 5984

n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB We are a friendly group, we meet at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincolne Barn, Overndale Road,

BS16 2RW. Ring Genise on 0777 2451217 for more information.

n ST JOHNS BADMINTON CLUB are looking for more players. We meet every Wednesday from 8pm to 10pm at Kingswood Leisure Centre. We are a friendly and sociable club age is no barrier. If you are interested, please ring Sue on 07715 738131 or just turn up.

n STAPLE HILL METHODIST CHURCH Fellowship group 3rd Wednesday of the month, 2.153.45pm Coffee/tea, homemade cake and a chat!

n PILATES 10:15 – 11:15 at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, BS16 5SG. Contact Kerry 07919 051019 or email kerry@ yogaandpilatesforlife.com

n PILATES 19:00 - 20:00 at The Sports Pavilion, Pomphrey Hill, Emersons Green, BS16 9NF. Contact Kerry 07919 051019 or email kerry@yogaandpilatesforlife.com

n WELCOME WEDNESDAY

Friendly and free coffee afternoon on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (14th December), 2-3.30pm at The Grapevine Brasserie, St James Place, Mangotsfield, BS16 9JB. Meet new people, have fun, and find out what’s happening in your local area. Call 0117 435 0063.

Thursday

n BARN BELLS handbell ringers meet at Lincombe Barn, Downend, from 2-4pm weekly. Anyone who can read music is welcome to join.

n IGNITE YOUTH GROUP. Thursdays, term time only, at the Youth Hub & Parish Hall , 57 North Street, Downend. Year 6-8, 6.307.45pm. Year 9-11s, 8-9.15pm. A place to relax and have fun with friends. Free entry. Tuck available. Visit www.igniteyouthchristchurchdownend.co.uk to sign up and see the full programme. n YOGA 10:15 – 11:15 at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, BS16 5SG. Contact Kerry 07919 051019 or email kerry@ yogaandpilatesforlife.com

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA

n

BRISTOL MALE VOICE

CHOIR are recruiting new members. 7pm - 9.15pm, St An drew's Methodist Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. A varied repertoire, no audition. No need to read music - our regular practices will get you in shape to sing at our regular concerts and enjoy the social vibe. www.bristolmvc.org.uk email secretary@bristolmvc.org.uk Telephone 07764447699.

n WINTERBOURNE WINDS, a friendly amateur wind band who rehearse at Frenchay Village Hall from 7.40-9.30pm. New members, especially flute, oboe, horn and percussion players, are welcome. For information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com.

n DEWDROP INN CAFE, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every fourth Thursday of the month, 2-4pm. A place for the community to relax and unwind with old & new friends. Tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits £2. n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH regular coffee mornings, held on the first Thursday of the month, 10.30am-noon

n SCRABBLE Downend Folk House Thursdays 10-12noon Info: 0117 9562367 Maureen Walker. Friday n TAI CHI FOR PARKINSON’S. Weekly beginners Tai Chi & Qi Gong class for people with Parkinson’s disease, their families and carers. Lincombe Barn, Downend. BS16 2RW. Fridays (term times) 10.15 – 12.15 including tea / coffee break. Contact: Claire - Claire@ Taichibodyandmind.co.uk (07769 857672) or Sarah - buqiworks@ gmail.com (07815 662844)

n PAGE PARK UKULELE CLUB, Bean Tree café, Fridays at 1pm. All abilities welcomed. Places £4 each. For further details call or text 'Ukulele' to Ben on 07910 668258.

n MANGO JAMS PARENT/ CARER AND TODDLER GROUP meets every Friday at St James Church Hall, Richmond Road, Mangotsfield, 9.15am to 11.15am.

n JIGSAW TODDLER GROUP, Fridays in term time at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, from 9.45-11.15am.

n LATER LIVE MUSIC, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every second Friday monthly, except August & December, 8-10pm, £2.50. More details at facebook.com/

lateratresound.

n ARTWINGS, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every fourth Friday, except August & December, 7.30pm. Explore new ways of creating and making, natter over refreshments. £5, includes materials.

n RAINBOW TOTS PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP meets at Emersons Green Village Hall every Friday morning in term time, from 10-11.30am. All welcome - for more info email church.egbc@ outlook.com

Saturday

n BRISTOL SUGARCRAFT GUILD We are a small friendly group who meet every third Saturday of the month 2pm to 4pm at St Andrews Hall, Elm Park, Filton. If you would like to make sugar flowers and models we hold workshops with instruction. Beginners very welcome. call Jean Kington on 01454 314178.

n STAPLE HILL METHODIST CHURCH Coffee mornings in our beautiful building every Saturday 10.00-12.00 in aid of church funds or charities. Enjoy Fairtrade coffee, tea and cake, and stalls.

Sunday

n EMERSONS GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH services are held every

Sunday morning from 10.30am11.30am at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emersons Way. Contact Rev Kevin Donaghy 0117 9575418, e-mail church.egbc@outlook.com or visit www.emersonsgreenchurch.org

n BADMINTON ROAD

METHODIST CHURCH BS16 6NU. All are welcome to worship each Sunday, 10.30am. First Sunday of the month is usually a service of Holy Communion. Information: 0117 239 5984

n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH hold regular weekly Sunday morning worship at Cossham Street. Services start at 10.30 a.m.with different speakers each week. New members very welcome. For more details please contact Peter Redding (Ch.Sec.) on 0117 9657075.

n STAPLE HILL METHODIST CHURCH, High Street BS16 5HQ Sunday services 10.30am + Sunday Club for ages 5-17. Holy Communion 2nd Sunday of the month – all invited. Taizé worship 6.00pm 3rd Sunday of the month. Contact Rev Dr Aboseh Ngwana 07482 550888, Philippa Church Liaison at staplehillmethodist@ hotmail.co.uk or www. staplehillmethodist.com

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

When the darkness closes in …

THAT time when the clocks go back – I don’t mind that extra hour in bed, I quite like the slightly lighter mornings, but the insipid creep of the long winter evenings, well I’m not too enamoured with that.

As autumn turns to winter we do all we can to compensate. Pumpkins are soon followed by the light show and spectacle of fireworks and sparklers, and before you know it the Christmas light displays illuminate the houses and high streets. We’re desperate for something to light up our lives when the darkness closes in. Perhaps even more than usual this winter – the spectre of the war in Ukraine, an unsettled and chaotic political arena and the strain of the biggest cost of

living crisis in recent years loom large. The fireworks haven’t sounded quite so loudly, and perhaps the cost of electricity will subdue the light displays.

Into this somewhat depressing landscape springs a message for all seasons. One of hope, rescue and new life. It will be celebrated in communities across the whole world. The message of one who claimed to be ‘the light of the world’.

When Jesus was born in an obscure town in the Middle East two millennia ago, in simplicity and scandal, few forsaw the impact this innocent baby would have on our world and on civilisation. His teaching underpins much of modern democracy, his ministry continues to turn lives upside

down and most importantly his life, death and resurrection enable a broken relationship with our creator God to be restored. Several hundred years before Jesus’ birth, the prophet Isaiah had glimpsed what was to come: ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.’

If you’re looking for light – Jesus offers it. A sense of purpose, hope for all eternity and forgiveness for all of those things which hold us back. There are many things which offer a temporary reprieve from darkness, but only one man who transforms darkness into light for all time.

At Christ Church and other local churches this December we’ll have services by fairylight

and services by candlelight where you can find out more. Everyone is welcome. In these challenging times may you find light and hope in the message of Christmas.

YOUR POTENTIAL

Kingswood is renowned for an environment that nurtures, while supporting and challenging students to achieve their greatest results. Our bespoke and personal care, pastorally and academically, means that students leave us as kind, powerfully educated, rounded young adults, ready to make a difference.

Visit us to find out more.

With Paul Peterson

Associate Minister Christ Church Downend

Coffee, Cakes & Community 11 am Most Thursdays at Emersons Green Village Hall

Warm up with us this winter!

“I would like to meet as many r esidents as possible, listen to their needs, and tr y to help.”

Emersons Green Town Council is committed to providing an excellent service to local residents, and we want to hear your views on our local area. Or just come along and make some new friends.

Being a Town Councillor is highly rewarding, and there are other voluntary roles available too. You have a chance to make a huge difference in the quality of life for people in your local area, and to influence the way issues are dealt with locally. Interested in helping? Get in touch now: clerk@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk Why not stand for election? Local elections are managed by South Glos Council and will take place in May 2023. More info: www.southglos.gov.uk

Fairs and flatpacks

NOVEMBER tends to be a busy month, when we try to support local organisations which organise Xmas fairs, and this year we returned for the second time to Lincombe Barn.

Despite the mild weather and the sun shining for most of the day, the fair was well-attended and we were pleased with the interest shown by the public in our stand. As with our previous appearance at this fair, our stand and display tended to be somewhat different to all the other stands at the fair; hopefully this contributed to the overall success on the day.

We find a raffle prize helps generate interest around the stand and this year the prize was one of our bird tables, complete with its wire grid, which restricts large birds and squirrels from making short work of eating the bird seed.

Some popular items sold out, and details were taken with a view to contacting interested parties as and when we have had time to make more of these items. DMIS have also committed to running a stall at the Cleeve Wood shops fair at the end of November, when we are hopeful the weather will be dry, since activities take place in the street.

At the Barn fair we were approached by another organisation in the hope that we may be able to attend their event, scheduled for early December. At this late stage attendance at this event will depend very much on us having sufficient unsold items to make an interesting display.

Recently DMIS have been working in conjunction with the Brain Injury Therapy Unit, located on the old Frenchay hospital site, to develop a flat-pack self-assembly version of one of our bird boxes. The first batch has now been trailed by The BITU unit and found to be very therapeutic for their patients, with all the pieces pre-machined and drilled, ready for assembly.

Since the initial feedback has been very positive, we think the concept can be applied to other simple items that we make and it is possible our kits may have applications for other organisations, who can contact Downend Men In Sheds with a view to meeting and having further discussions.

It is worth mentioning that we need to select items where the kits can be made from available timber. So far, Heritage Fencing has come up trumps in providing us with timber off-cuts that suit the application and, most importantly, are free of charge.

The Downend Men in Sheds stall at Lincombe Barn

“The impact from engaging with Future

on all aspects of my

has been

Thank you for your generous support of the Poppy Appeal

THIS Autumn I have been focused on some of the key issues for our area: crime and transport.

We have also seen the election of a new Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Rishi Sunak; his professional background of being the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the pandemic and knowledge of finance is exactly what we need right now as a nation.

He therefore has my full support as Prime Minister.

I was pleased to celebrate Diwali on the same day Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister, having been invited to the Indian Heritage Celebration Event at Bradley Stoke Community School with Avon Indian Community Association.

At this event I learned about the traditions and great cultural significance of Diwali, especially for the growing community of people of Indian heritage in our

area.

On October 14 I met with the Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset, Mark Shelford, who gave me an update on increased police numbers, as well as his strategy to introduce greater levels of leadership training at all levels of policing.

We also discussed the importance of cyber policing and computer science education to meet the evolving nature of crime. I will continue to support police in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour to protect our community.

I have also focused on people’s concerns surrounding our local bus services, particularly the cancellations of bus routes and the unreliability of services. I therefore had a discussion with Doug Claringbold, managing director of First West of England, who was receptive and understanding of my concerns

surrounding service cancellations and reliability.

We discussed the challenge of the shortage of bus drivers, which is the main cause of these issues, with First needing an additional 200 drivers for the region. We also talked about the possibility of using apprenticeships and part-time staff to reduce these pressures.

I will work together on an event with First Bus to help increase driver recruitment, which would improve service reliability and could lead to additional services in April, with the next service review.

Over the last few weeks I have also been busy supporting the Poppy Appeal, and was honoured to be able to help launch the Stoke Gifford branch of the RBL’s appeal on October 28 at Bristol Parkway.

I am very proud to be the vice-president of the branch

Jack Lopresti MP for Filton & Bradley Stoke

and volunteer for such a good cause. I am always encouraged by the great response we get from people and I am thankful for your generous donations to help our veterans.

As always, should you need my help with anything, my office is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm.

Please telephone me on 01454 617783 or email me at jack. lopresti.mp@parliament.uk if I can be of assistance or to book a surgery.

n AROUND THE WIs

STAPLE HILL WI

TIS the season to be jolly…Yup, here we are, preparing for our December meeting.

What a year we have had!

Our excellent secretary's report summed up the fab year: meetings back in the hall, the walking group and book club brought us all back together.

Our most recent autumnal walk was from Vassalls Park to Snuff Mills. Although muddy underfoot, the scenery was colourful.

We will be at Christmas on the Hill on December 3.

Lucky us - we have two stalls, so come and have a go on our renowned jar tombola!

Keep an eye out for us: we will be in the Methodist church.

We have been invited to decorate a tree for the Christmas Tree Festival, too!

Last but not least, our Christmas party is on December 20. We will have some country dancing and an American supper.

These events are very sociable, so if you are thinking of coming along, this is a great meeting to choose.

I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Are you reading this and thinking that you would like to meet new people?

You may not be able to commit lots of time - that’s OK, we meet once a month. As a member you can participate in as much or as little as you like. We have a diverse membership and anyone is welcome.

We have ample parking for ladies who need to drive to us and we meet on the third Tuesday of most months.

Our meeting starts at 7.30pm: come and join us in Christ Church Hall on North Street in Downend.

Make new friends, learn new skills, enjoy a cuppa and some cake! We look forward to seeing you all soon. You can drop us an email to find out more at katetarr@ avonfwi.org.uk Kate Tarr

DOWNEND WI

OUR October meeting was our AGM, and we enjoyed a talk from Alex, the regional fundraising coordinator for the South West at St Mungo’s. In lieu of a speaker fee, we presented Alex with a box of donations that a hostel recently requested.

We also said a fond farewell to four key members of Downend WI's committee; not goodbye, I am pleased to say, as they will be staying as members, but just

having a well-earned rest! A huge thank-you to Julie Walker (president), Claire Edmunds (treasurer), Sue Jones (vicepresident) and Roz Langley (secretary), who I was superpleased to be able to present with cards and a bouquet of flowers each.

Claire presented the club’s financial report and Julie the annual report, with all the fab things that we’ve been up to.

Voting was held for all members present to elect a new president. I just hope that I can fill the huge gap that Julie has left for our lovely members.

I am pleased to say that I will be supported by Linda Russ as secretary and Carey Down as treasurer of our fabulous WI.

Our last meeting for the year, on Tuesday November 29, will be a demo on making Christmas wreaths, with Liz Baker of Ivory Rose Floristry.

As it’s the last meeting before Christmas, we’d like to make it a festive affair, so we will be offering mince pies, mulled wine and we will wear Christmas Jumpers - there will be a small prize for the best!

We have a very interesting and varied programme planned for 2023, and we will include this in our next Downend Voice article.

We meet at Christ Church Hall in North Street, Downend, on the last Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm.

Guests are welcome, for a small charge of £4, which includes a tea or coffee, so please do come along and see what we are all about.

If you would like to know more about joining us, please contact me via our email address, downendwi@ yahoo.co.uk.

Wish me luck!

our monthly national members magazine, WI Life. She proudly showed us her picture adorning not only the front page but also her centrefold interview article.

Emma told us about her lifestyle and activities, which initially brought her to the attention of her local radio station before she hosted BBC Radio Bristol’s Breakfast Show for many years.

Emma’s happy demeanour and engaging manner went down very well with our members, especially her encouragement to always remain open-minded and willing to give new things a try. She told us that in life you are rarely too old to try out something new and, more often than not, you will be glad that you did.

This outlook had given Emma the confidence to leave the comfort and security of previous jobs, and happily move on to her now very successful career as a celebrant, who performs or officiates at baby naming, weddings and funerals without the religious element.

In addition, we can confirm that Emma is a very talented and amusing public speaker, who enthralled us all that evening.

On November 28 our ladies are off to visit Winchester Christmas market and could take a look at the fabulous Winchester Cathedral, where one of our favourite authors, Jane Austen, is buried.

On December 8 we will be enjoying a murder mystery evening in the capable hands of The Red Herrings. Nothing 'fishy' about this, as their group have been entertaining local audiences for many years and we’ve decided to give them a second chance to outwit our members.

bromleyheathwi@gmail.com if you would like any further information.

Margaret Hanwell BEECHMERE BELLES WI

WELL, that’s 2022 all wrapped up for another year for Beechmere Belles: we take our break in December.

We were recently joined by a local florist who showed us how to make a wreath - she made an autumnal one with the most beautiful colours, which was won by one very lucky lady in our raffle.

We also held a wet felting craft workshop, where we all created wonderful pictures: it was amazing to see these tangles of wool laid down in piles on our backing felt turn into works of art.

Our AGM was a success: the committee was voted back in, the secretary agreed to keep us in check for another year, we have a new treasurer who will do a great job and the president was voted in. Our outgoing treasurer did a brilliant job and will remain on the committee.

Once business was over, wine, soft drinks, tea and coffee were served and the most amazing birthday cake was cut and enjoyed by us all.

It has been a year filled with brilliant speakers, celebrations, and sadness. The Platinum Jubilee celebrations were the highlight of the year, which was sadly followed by the passing of Queen Elizabeth, herself a member of the WI.

We have a full and varied calendar of events for 2023, starting on Thursday January 27, at 7.30pm at Emersons Green Village Hall, with a speaker telling us all about the SS Great Britain.

If you would like to come along, you will be very welcome.

Shelley, President

BROMLEY HEATH WI

OUR newly-elected president, Susan Pitt, opened our November meeting with a huge smile and a warm welcome for us all, along with profound thanks to everyone who had brought a food bank donation.

Sue's newly-formed committee is arranging a get-together for new and existing members who want to establish new sub-groups, so if you have been considering joining us at BHWI then this would be an ideal time to give us a try.

Our guest speaker, Emma Britton, is best known as a radio presenter and local celebrity.

Emma opened by telling us that she had been a WI member for many years and with a huge smile whipped out a back copy of

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to being back in 2023.

Please contact us at

For further information, email beechmerebelles@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.

Heathfields, Downend, Bristol, BS16 6HS£650,000

HUNTERS Estate Agents, Downend are pleased to offer for sale this well presented detached family home offering an envious position within the prestigious Heathfields development. Downend High street and Emerson Green shopping centre are only a short drive away, whilst offering excellent transport links with direct access onto the Ring road and motorway networks and the cycle path being in easy reach.

The spacious living accommodation comprises to the ground floor: entrance hall, cloakroom, lounge, dining room, conservatory, re-fitted modern kitchen with breakfast bar and family room/utility. The double garage has been converted to provide two additional rooms previously used as office/playroom and storage room. To the first

•

•

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floor can be found four double bedrooms, a re-fitted family bathroom and en-suite.

Outside there is a good size landscaped rear garden laid to lawn with several patio areas. The front of the property has a fantastic

open outlook and a driveway providing off street parking for two cars with access to a storage only garage.

AN attractive detached property with ‘kerb appeal’ aplenty presents the perfect opportunity for those looking for a spacious, executive style residence. Located on a prominent corner plot with four bedrooms and well balanced accommodation laid out over two floors we are sure it will appeal to an array of potential buyers.

Upon entering you are greeted by a welcoming entrance hall that gives access to a light and airy lounge benefiting from a splay bay window to the front elevation and feature fireplace housing gas fire. Double doors open into the dining room with double glazed patio doors opening onto the rear garden.

The kitchen/breakfast room boasts a range of wall and base units offering copious storage; there is a built in gas hob, under counter double oven and extractor hood, additionally there is space for one appliance. A door leads to a utility room which offers additional cupboards, space with plumbing for a washing machine and space for a further appliance. A door leads to a two piece cloakroom and a UPVC double glazed door to the rear garden.

Accessed from a spacious central landing the first floor accommodation comprises four well proportioned bedrooms, the master benefitting from fitted wardrobes and an en-suite shower room. Bedrooms two and three are both double in size and bedroom four is a generous single with fitted wardrobes. The partially tiled family bathroom has a four piece suite and completes the first floor

accommodation.

The fully enclosed walled gardens offer a secure space for those with small children and has a decked seating area, level lawn and mature shrub borders; a paved seating area captures late afternoon sun. There is off street parking and an integral garage.

the place for you…

Wishing you a cosy and happy Christmas from all at Ocean

oceanhome.co.uk

New to the market this executive Bellway built, 5 bedroom detached family home with a double garage.

Situated within easy access to the Bristol Ring Road and major transport links such as the M32, M4, M5 as well as local schools making this the ideal purchase for families and professionals alike.

This spacious 5 bed executive house is packed with features and is fantastically presented, upon entering the property you find yourself in the ground floor hallway which gives access to a living room, dining room, cloakroom, kitchen/ diner with some integral appliances and a utility area. Upstairs you can find 5 generously sized bedrooms and a family bathroom. The master bedroom also benefits from an ensuite shower room.

Externally this property offers front and rear gardens both mainly being laid to lawn with off street parking for 2 cars at the front. Additional benefits include; gas

central

Material Information ( provided by the owner): Freehold. Council Tax Band F.

heating, double glazed windows and an integral double garage.

Changing climate brings new challenges

WE are almost at the end of the year, and looking forward to the start of a new one.

Now is a time to look back at how we have done over this year.

The weather has been difficult at times and challenged us to think about whether we can carry on gardening as we are, or if it is time to ask ourselves if we need to look towards more Mediterranean plants.

For many of us it would mean changing many decades of concentrating on a traditional English garden, but when you think about it, more of us now travel to many countries around the world, so we have seen the opportunities there are for growing many different species of plants.

I don’t think we should dig up our gardens just yet, but try the odd plant or a small area and see how we go; as my fern garden is OK, sheltered by a yew tree so the it doesn’t always dry out, I will carry on for another year.

We can also try out little scree gardens in a flat dish, to see if they fit in.

It will give us the impetus to try something new, and explore other gardens to see what they are doing; some of this can be done on line.

We have Christmas to look forward to, when we spend more time indoors. Get the gardening books out and do some research - look up new plants, see what dry countries grow and, if the plant would be available here, could we offer it the correct conditions? Could we try tropical fruits?

We would have to learn new skills - it’s exciting. We will be able to have different conversations with other gardeners as we all try something new.

I am going to say go for it - start small, and grow in confidence and skill.

Have a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year of gardening. Mary Head

THERE is a lot of unusual and inventive modern architecture about, so it is not surprising that many enthusiast photographers look to the urban landscape for opportunities to produce unusual and dramatic images.

It seems a natural progression for those who have been involved in photography for some time, to look for more abstract and striking angles and colour contrasts in the buildings that are part of our everyday lives. Three examples from club competitions are shown here.

‘Window Cleaner Required’ is in its way a graphic image, but the windows show it to be a real building; the angle it is presented gives the impression of the floors being compressed, with an opening, sweeping fan effect.

‘Stacked Flats’ is more easily recognisable for what it is, but here the lines are straight. The parts of the buildings here make up geometric shapes, the floors of the building recurring patterns: the dominant one on the left tilts to the right, a familiar strong element of composition in photography.

‘Liverpool Cathedral’ is different again, a reflection shot full of attractive and contrasting colours. This is an unusual image, containing straight lines to form panels that make up a kind of collage. Odd, but interesting.

Downend Camera Club is a friendly informal group who meet on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at the Assembly Hall in Salisbury Road, Downend. The club offers an active and interesting programme, including photographic presentations and competitions.

The club is on both Facebook and Instagram and has a website at www. downendcameraclub.org.uk that shows more details, members' galleries, past competition winners, plus a forum for discussion of all things photographic.

Ed Shorney

Aspects of the City

Liverpool Catholic Cathedral by Derek Britton

Window Cleaner Required by Paul Hopes

Stacked Flats by Chris Bigg

Garden is outstanding!

THE Page Park Sensory Garden and its volunteers have won a top award.

The Royal Horticultural Society and South West in Bloom have presented the garden with a 2022 Its Your Neighbourhood Award, rating it outstanding.

Friends of Page Park vice-chair Steph Purser said: "Congratulations to all our incredible Sensory Garden volunteers, who are in the garden every Wednesday morning throughout the year, and to the Page Park ground staff for all the work they put into making it such a special place to visit.

"If anyone would like to join them, please come along at 9am Wednesday mornings."

The Friends Walking Well gentle exercise sessions are really taking off, with sessions being held at 11.30am on Tuesdays and 10.30am on Fridays and attracting up to 20 walkers a time.

The Friends are looking for volunteer walk leaders - email friendsofpageparkbs16@gmail.com for more information.

The Friends' 2023 fundraising calendar is on sale at 11 businesses in the Staple Hill and Downend area, and will also be available at Christmas on the Hill on December 3.

Cups discovery cheers detectorist

METAL detectorist David Upton has uncovered two curiosities on land near Hambrook.

The Staple Hill pensioner, who searches land with the permission of local landowners, uncovered a metal tankard which was engraved with the name Henry IV and a crown.

Two theories about the origin of the tankard have been suggested.

Experts at Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery say it is a souvenir produced in the French town of Pau in the 1930s, where a tourist industry grew up, based on its status as the birthplace of the French king Henry IV in 1553.

However a Bristol antique shop owner believes it is older, and is a corn or liquid measure relating to the English King Henry IV, who ruled from 1399 to 1413. The dealer has bought the tankard from Mr Upton.

School studies black musicians

A DOWNEND school picked a musical perspective to study Black History Month.

Children at St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School were given a theme of black musicians and began their studies with a workshop from Alex Giogchi, a Kenyan musician who composed and performed a song with every class in the school.

Over the half-term holidays, pupils were asked to choose a black musician, study them and produce work for a display. They picked famous artists from Bob Marley, Nina Simone and Stevie Wonder to Stormzy, Beyonce and Pharrell Williams.

Head teacher Mark Hilliam said: "Our work on black musicians was a great way to learn about Black History Month.

"The children loved composing and performing with Alex Giochi, a brilliant Kenyan musician.

"The children were then inspired to research other black musicians and present their fabulous homework, which has pride of place on our lobby display!"

As he dug up the tankard Mr Upton also found a mug made from animal horn buried in the same place. The half-pint mug is believed to date from the 18th or 19th century, and may have been used in a pub or on a ship. The

Pendennis Avenue, Staple Hill, Bristol BS16 5DW Tel: 0117 956 9038 www.avenue-vets.com

9am-11am Monday-Saturday 2pm-3.15pm Monday-Friday 4.30pm-6.30pm Monday-Friday

tankard and horn mug discovered by David Upton

Showing off our hobby

I LOVE my hobby, as those who regularly read this column may have gathered.

Some hobbies - collecting comes to mind - are essentially private, but photography is a social hobby. I photograph my friends, family and memories and, in doing so, have a product that I can share with others.

Modern smart phones have totally democratised photography, with our youngest being the most recorded generation in history.

Even better, as a member of Lincombe Barn Camera Club I belong to a community of others with a common interest, sharing and learning from each other, proudly displaying their work for others and enjoying others’ work in

return. We also share on social media.

When Christ Church, Downend, approached us with an invitation to decorate their walls with our photographs throughout December we responded with a heartfelt “Yes please!” The urge to share had achieved its apotheosis.

So, this month we present just a little of what will be on display: mounted photographs and illustrations for cards.

First up is Anita Fullerton’s On Guard, a print for dog lovers everywhere. I just hope, knowing spaniels’ sense of mischief, that someone remembered to remove the car keys.

Rachel Domleo’s Have Fun presents a wonderful image of enjoyment. Rachel has her trade secrets and I have no idea how she achieved this image photographically; I can only admire. It will be available, not as a print, but as a greeting card.

Bruce Gibbs has caught the spirit of the season with his card image, Christ Church at Christmas. Given the frequency of white Christmases in Downend there must be a degree of wishful thinking here but, after last summer, we can but hope.

more? Why not join us at Christ Church? Club members will be on hand on Friday December 2 from 4.30-9pm and again on the following four Saturdays, from 10am-4pm.

Christmas present for someone?) or greeting and Christmas cards.

Have Fun by Rachel Domleo

Are you interested in photography and want to find out

n CHRISTINE'S COLUMN

ONE Christmas morning, many, many moons ago, Father Christmas brought me a dolls house.

I played with it for many years and when Kirsty, my daughter, was at a certain age she collected Sylvanian animals. My dolls house became a Sylvanian house until Kirsty grew out of playing with her little animals.

It became dormant for a number of years, and even nearly ended up at the tip!

I then had an idea I would furnish it with Edwardian/ Victorian furniture, which I did. I bought nearly all the furniture by mail order, and two dolls of the

They’ll be more than happy to talk to you about photography and our small but lively club, as well as selling you mounted prints (a great

My miniature world

same scale too: 1/12th.

I was quite happy with the interior but the outside was distinctly 1950s. I made plans to transform the look of it but did not really know how to go about it.

There was one thing stopping me - the fact was, my dad had made it for me all those years ago.

Then, by chance, quite recently I stumbled upon a dolls house shop in Staple Hill.

It turned out the manageress

of this shop was Carol, who I had known some years earlier in the doll world. Carol invited me to have a cup of coffee with her in the shop, which I did, and I told her of my plight.

We talked at length of how to transform the front in keeping with the interior. I repainted it from primrose to vintage duck egg and for my 70th birthday, as a present, Carol glued on window frames, sills and an impressive door, painting the frames and

If you want to learn more, check out our website at lincombebarncameraclub.co.uk or contact us at lincombebarn. cameraclub@gmail.com.

Stay safe, and have a great seasonal celebration.

sills a light grey and the door a handsome green.

There is the roof to see to yet, which needs some attention, but by the time this goes to print I may have made up my mind what to do about it. At the moment it has the original red tiled paper on it but, back in the Georgian era of which the front depicts, red tiles were definitely not in vogue. Inside the roof, the attic will become one half a nursery and the other half a music room. The finishing touches will be two turret windows above each attic room - plenty to keep me occupied during the winter months!

Sid Stace

On Guard by Anita Fullerton

Christ Church at Christmas by Bruce Gibbs

with Christine Broadway

Woodland adventures this Christmas holidays

MUD Pie Explorers work closely with South Gloucestershire Council to provide holiday activities and food sessions during the winter, february and summer school holidays. The 4 hour sessions take place in a stunning ancient woodlandLincombe Barn Woods, Downend. Children get to explore the woods, cook over a fire, have a break from screens and be active in nature with fun and highly motivated adults.

We are offering holiday activities and food clubs in the school winter holiday for children aged 8 to 16 years who live in South Gloucestershire. South Gloucestershire Council has commissioned us to provide sessions for children who get benefitsrelated free school meals (not universal infant free school meals) through Department for Education (DfE) funding. Everyone will enjoy a hot meal that we will cook together over a campfire.

This holidays there are also 2 sessions that parents/ carers can pay for their child to attend,there will be decoration making, warm drinks and lots of giggles! Please also remember to pop along to our free annual community Christmas event. Santa has confirmed that he will be paying us a visit on Friday 23rd December sometime between 230pm and 4pm. All bookings are taken via our website www.mud-pies.co.uk.

News from Downend, Emersons Green & Staple Hill libraries

Seasonal activities

Saturday 3rd December : Christmas on the Hill – Staple Hill Library will be staffed until 4pm offering free Childrens Christmas crafts, a booksale and all our usual services plus Downend Camera Club will be taking family portraits (for a nominal fee). Open Access then available 4.15pm –7.30pm.

Tuesday 6th December : Coffee Morning at Emersons Green Library 10am onwards. Pop in for a Coffee and a chat!

Friday 9th December : Christmas Coffee Morning and Quiz (with festive refreshments!) 10.30am onwards at Downend Library. Everyone welcome.

Saturday 10th December : Lego Club at Downend Library 10.30am –drop in, all welcome.

Monday 19th December : FREE Christmas Crafts activities (suitable for 4-10 year olds) 10.30am at Downend Library – drop in, no booking needed.

Tuesday 20th December : FREE Christmas Crafts activities (suitable for 4-10 year olds) 10.30am at Staple Hill Library – drop in, no booking needed.

Thursday 22nd December : Stories Around the Tree (suitable for preschool children) FREE, no booking required. At 2.30pm and then 4pm at Emersons Green Library

Friday 23rd December : Christmas Coffee Morning 10am onwards at Emersons Green Library

Christmas & New Year Opening Hours (see also www.southglos.gov.uk/ libraries. )

Christmas Eve: All libraries staffed 9.30am – 1pm

Christmas Day : Closed

26th – 28th December : Open Access only available 8am – 7.30pm

Thursday 29th – Saturday 31st December : usual staffed and Open Access hours

Strong start for Bristol & West

BRISTOL & West Hockey Club has made a solid start to the season.

Six games in and both B&W Jaspers Ladies 1 and 2 currently sit in third place, on 12 points each, in their respective leagues, with the firsts unbeaten so far.

B&WJ3s are 5th, and B&WJ4s 4th in their divisions.

On the men’s side of the game, a big influx of players across all levels has helped bolster the bulk of the squads drastically.

The 1s find themselves in 2nd place, also undefeated. After drawing the first two games against tough opposition, they found their feet and won four on the bounce, most recently a 9-1 thumping of Royal Wootton Bassett, and are four points behind league leaders Bristol Uni A, who have won all 6 of their games and host us on December 3.

The 2s have also made a great start, with only one loss so far coming in their most recent game against league leaders Cardiff & Met 3. With only the league winners gaining promotion, they’ll have to push hard in the run-up to Christmas.

B&W3s have endured a more difficult start to life in their new league after gaining promotion the year before. Despite now playing at the same league level as the 2s, they found themselves entering a parallel division, which includes a lot more travel, and are 8th in an extremely tight league, causing an upset with an 8-3 away win at then league leaders Exeter CV Hornets.

For more information, including training dates and club subscriptions, visit www.bandwhc.org.uk. Harry Bryant

Cleve keep cool to beat Cheltenham North

CLEVE RFC overcame a Cheltenham North side fielding a number of very talented Fijians to send the crowd home in good spirits from the Hayfields.

Cleve showed intent from the start, with Dom Callaghan making incisive breaks into the 22.

From a scrum Ashley Wildgoose drove to the line and scored, with Harry Owen converting the try, after five minutes.

Henry Williams then scored a try in the corner to make it 12-0 before North came back at Cleve, with their backs scoring two tries to make it 12-10, before a good interchange between backs and forwards saw Harry Owens get on the end of the passing and score before converting his own try to make it 19-10 at half time.

The second half saw Cleve's Dom Callaghan make some great breaks, showing some fine footwork, before a breakaway try by North's Fijian fullback was converted, making the game very close.

Cleve players kept a cool head, however, and after a lineout an excellent piece of skill, which involved a kick to the corner by Harry Owens, put the winger in to score.

Cleve carried on attacking and had an Adam Lambert try disallowed before a Freddie Flook effort that did count, with the final score 32-17 to Cleve.

The seconds played against Broad Plain and in a very close game, Cleve came out winners 22-19.

The win followed a highly-competitive

clash with Barton Hill at the end of October where Cleve fell just short, losing 26-15 to a strong local side, who always relish playing at the Hayfields.

The first 15 minutes saw Cleve, who had come into the game off the back of a tremendous 45-15 win at Avonmouth, encamped in Barts' 22.

But line-outs close to the line did not yield points, and it appeared inevitable that Barts would break away. After a strong drive they did just that, opening up a lead they would never relinquish.

To the credit of the players and coach Nathan Huntley, Cleve do not give up. Tries from Will Warman, Henry Williams and from a controlled ruck saw Cleve stay in the hunt before a converted try in the final minutes made the final score 26-15 to the visitors.

Cleve's next home game is against Burnham, on Saturday December 10 at 2.30pm.

Steve Bateman

Flyers push for promotion after FA Cup defeat

DOWNEND Flyers are returning to their promotion battle after losing their showcase Women's FA Cup clash with Cardiff City Ladies.

Before the National League Division 1 side rolled into town for the 3rd Qualifying Round tie the social media teams for both clubs engaged in a good-natured exchange, playing on the English-Welsh rivalry and labelling the game the “new Severnside derby”.

In the end though, the two-division gap between the teams proved too much to bridge, as the Welsh side inflicted a 10-0 defeat, but the Flyers players all made a good account of themselves.

Undaunted, the firsts followed up that game with a fine 7-1 league win at home to Chipping Sodbury but then suffered a 3-1 loss against rivals Oldland Abbotonians, also at Pomphrey Hill, a game head coach Dean Giles said they were very unlucky to lose.

The team currently sits 4th in the table, although the Flyers are only two points off leaders SGS Olveston, in what is proving

Downend Flyers in FA Cup action against Cardiff City Ladies.

to be a very tight battle in the South West Regional Women's Football League Northern Division this season.

Flyers' Beth Pitman is leading the way in the goalscoring charts, with 11 goals from six appearances.

As the Voice went to press the team had an immediate chance for revenge as they

faced Oldland again, this time away in the Gloucestershire county cup, before returning home to Pomphrey Hill a week later to face league leaders Olveston.

Meanwhile in Gloucestershire County League Division 2, the reserves are hoping to find some form following just two wins in their first seven league games, but a good league cup win this month will have boosted their confidence.

Lastly, in Division 3, the newly formed A team are looking to take flight following a steady start this season.

Sadly Andy Wright, the coach of the As, has had to stand down due to work and other commitments.

We thank him for his achievements in winning promotion with the reserves last season and wish him all the best.

All three teams welcome new prospective players of any age or ability, so if you are interested please get in touch.

Email info@downendflyers.com for more details.

Duncan Gardner

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

Picture: Women's Soccer Scene.

Cleve players contest a line-out against Barton Hill (in red)

Bater is back as Mangotsfield United manager

FORMER manager Phil Bater has re-joined Mangotsfield United, after John Allen was relieved of his duties.

Bater managed the club in the Southern League, including a successful spell between 2009 and 2012, in which time the club reached the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round and the Division One South play-offs.

He had been due to return to Cossham Street earlier this year, but was unable to due to unforeseen circumstances.

The Mangos had seen their form improve in mid-October, with a 1-0 away win at FC Stratford in a midweek League Cup tie, thanks to Owen Ridler’s goal on the stroke of half time, followed by a much-needed 2-0 league away win at Gloucesterbased Longlevens, with Oli Jenkins getting both goals.

A home FA Vase tie with Crediton United saw them record another 2-0 win, with goals from Will Hailston and Jadyn Crosbie

just before half time.

But inconsistencies crept in again in the home league clash with Cribbs, and the North Bristol visitors left Cossham Street with a 2-0 away win, courtesy of two first half goals, despite a better second-half showing from the Mangos.

Worse still came on the last Saturday in October, with a 7-2 away drubbing at high-flying Malvern Town, proving to be the final match in charge for Allen. Goals from Jadyn Crosbie and Isaac Flynn had the Mangos just 3-2 behind early in the second half, but then Malvern stepped up another gear and hammered home four goals without reply.

As happens so often when a new manager is appointed, the Mangos went out in their very next game and finally picked up their first, long-awaited league home win of the season, a thrilling 4-2 win against Tuffley Rovers marking Bater's return to the fold.

Missing perhaps five good scoring opportunities in a strong first half performance, the Mangos trailed 1-0 at the break. No doubt the right words were said at half time, as the team came out strongly, with Jordan Metters levelling on 50 minutes, Seb Scott putting them ahead eight minutes later and Metters bagging his second on 65 minutes to make it 3-1, with the Mangos in control of the game. Tuffley kept plugging away and Dan Beasley made it 3-2 on 85 minutes, only for Jadyn Crosbie to make it 4-2 just 60 seconds later to wrap up a most welcome win.

A week later, facing old rivals Clevedon Town at the Hand Stadium, the Mangos were brought back down to earth and dumped out of the FA Vase.

Blown away by three goals inside the first 15 minutes, it was always going to be an uphill battle, despite some good spells for Mangotsfield.

With two players 'sin-binned' later on in the game, after a fourth Clevedon goal from a penalty, the defeat ended the Mangos’ Wembley hopes for another season. Dave Smale

December fixtures:

Saturday 3: Fairford Town (away)

Saturday 10: Hereford Lads Club (away) A

Tuesday 27: Bradford Town (home)

“Daft place to put a bollard.”

Food intolerances and Christmas

CHRISTMAS! The season of fun, festivity… and food intolerance?

More and more people are discovering the true meaning of that age-old saying: you are what you eat. And, at this time of year, many have to think even more seriously about their diet.

This leads me on to introduce you to a wonderful human being called Philippa Parish. For well over 10 years I have been sending patients to her for nutritional support.

As often happens, she was recommended to me by a satisfied patient who had amazing results with her skin condition after working with Philippa, having some blood tests for her food intolerances and taking appropriate action.

Because of her interesting approach to nutrition, I started to refer patients to her and they all came back with similar positive stories. So when my poor little lad Harrison, at just two years old, had

constant skin conditions all over him, with obvious links to food, I took him to get the Philippa treatment! Sure enough, the foods we knew were a problem for him were highlighted and a good number of others revealed themselves too.

So with a change of diet and a few positive suggestions about food alternatives, Harry soon got better and has been good ever since. Now he is nearly seven and his food intolerances have really reduced as his gut has matured.

Recently, when an opportunity arose for Philippa to come and work with us at Cleve Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Clinic, I jumped at the chance and now I simply send patients upstairs!

Without my recommendation, a long-standing patient who had GERD – or acid reflux – went to Philippa in the clinic. At his next chiro appointment, he told me that she had cured his acid troubles and suggested I should

give it a try, as we have moaned about suffering with the same problem for years.

Those of you who know me well, realise I have suffered with GERD for maybe eight or nine years. Why I haven’t found the time to visit Philippa personally only the part of my brain that writes excuses professionally can tell you! So I went. Actually I went, determinedly, on my birthday in September.

Sure enough, the things that I know swell my belly, like bread and cows’ milk, showed up strongly on my tests but there was more. The two ‘biggies’ were oats and eggs… which was not great news. I was having porridge (complete with oat milk) for breakfast every day – and if not porridge, then eggs! I was a bit shocked but, as I thought about it, if my stomach is rebelling against oats, then imagine what a big bowl of porridge sat there every morning was doing to me.

So I listened to everything Philippa had to say, read all the information she gave me and replaced my normal breakfast with very Scandinavian things like gluten free bagels, smoked salmon and goats’ cheese with sauerkraut and a couple of good bacteria capsules. I have followed the diet religiously and it gets easier each week as I find my way around the supermarket reading all the packets and learning what surprisingly few products don’t contain milk, eggs, oats or wheat!

After about 10 days, as I walked past my bedroom mirror, towards the shower, I noticed how my body actually looked. Not a thing you do often when you are over 40, but I noticed that my stomach had deflated and my little round belly had flattened. I must have been in university the last time I had a flat stomach.

I rushed to the scales and, sure enough, I had lost nearly a stone. I was eating what I would consider

a similar amount but I had lost weight and truly felt better physically and mentally. As I take medication twice a day, it’s hard to judge how my acid is doing but, at the time of writing, I can no longer feel the GERD symptoms before my tablet is due. I even went a few hours without tablets for the first time in years the other day because I left them at home by accident.

The programme is designed to be strict for three months to allow the stomach to heal and then we can go from there. So here’s hoping that, as I approach the New Year, I can reduce or even go without the medication.

If you have any stomach/ intestine issues, skin conditions, sinusitis or even types of arthritis and auto immune conditions, I would urge you to book an

appointment with Philippa at the clinic. All of her packages are on the website but the simple blood test with consultation was only £125, which I now know is a bargain. So please, if you or anyone you know, is suffering in silence, there could be another way.

I have another appointment booked this month so let’s see what advice she has for Christmas

breakfast, dinner, pudding, supper, drinks, canapés… Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year from all of the staff at your favourite clinic!