downendvoice www.downendvoice.co.uk www.downendvoice.co.uk February, 2022, Issue 103
FREE EVERY MONTH IN DOWNEND, MANGOTSFIELD, STAPLE HILL, BROMLEY HEATH & FRENCHAY Young singer with a kind heart Amelie Russ, 11, staged an online concert from her home in Bromley Heath to raise money for a charity that is supporting her nine-year-old neighbour as he battles leukaemia. PAGE 7
Around 70 supporters of the road closures gather at the Signal Road blocks
CCTV cameras in action at last
Listen to the people! PLANS to remove controversial road closures in Staple Hill have been put on hold after a legal challenge. Residents who want to keep the concrete blocks that stop through traffic using Signal Road and Charnell Road have also presented a petition of almost 300 signatures to South Gloucestershire Council. The blocks were due to be removed in December, after the council reversed an earlier
Legal challenge delays road blocks removal recommendation to keep them in place permanently. But a legal challenge to the decision was submitted, which meant they were not taken away as planned. No details of the person or people behind the legal challenge have been revealed. The council now says it plans to remove the blocks when the 18-month traffic order governing
them expires: it is due to end on February 7. But supporters of the closures say they have brought benefits for pedestrians and cyclists which should not be lost. They say the council has to produce evidence that the closures have failed to improve safety before it can remove them – and has not Turn to Page 5
Long-awaited high-definition CCTV cameras are finally in operation in Downend's high street, making the area safer for visitors to shops, pubs and cafes. PAGE 3
Mini Mango makes maximum impact Goalkeeper Jakob Glover, one of the original Mini Mangos, has become the first from that under 5s squad to win a regular place in Mangotsfield United's first team. PAGE 52
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February, 2022
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Is the cure to your migraines hiding in your neck? It can affect your sleep, your marriage and your job. Nothing is worse than feeling physically held back from life because your neck hurts and the pain just won’t go away! If you live with the misery of recurring headaches, you are not alone. The working from home changes we’ve endured over the last two year has hit many people hard causing headaches, neck pain and general back ache, some of it serious. In fact, it’s causing a big rise in problems states local chiropractor Liam Rice (Doctor of Chiropractic) at Willow Chiropractic in Nailsea. Liam goes on to explain, “It can be at home. We’re seeing lots of people who are just using a laptop. Many people don’t realise that a laptop is only designed for limited use and the stress on your body starts to build after only 20 minutes of use.” The result? People are telling us things like - “I feel like my head is in a vice.” “My eyes hurt; I feel so drowsy.” And - “I often have to lie down, it’s exhausting.” He continues, “They tell us they’re sick and tired of jumping from one headache medication to the
the things you want to do in life, but it can also be preventive, stopping problems from developing later in life. We’ve been helping patients with neck tension, headaches and migraines live pain-free for years now.
next, which isn’t surprising. Pain medications are addictive and, if taken regularly, could have drastic sideeffects. How many more pills can your body handle? If you stopped taking them, can you handle the torment of head-splitting migraines?”
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Approximately 6 million people are affected by migraines in the UK, and most don’t realise there is a drug-free, pain-free way to end the problem for good.
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It is proven that most headaches are caused by damaged structures around the neck e.g. joints, ligaments, muscles and cervical discs, all of which have complex nerve endings. In most cases, if you end your neck problem, you end your headaches. It’s that simple. Research has proven that chiropractic care has great success with headaches – even better than massage and medications, and with no side effects. Willow Chiropractic can not only help you get out of pain and back to doing
In conjunction with Downend Voice, Willow Chiropractic is offering a discounted pain relief consultation where they will carry out a full examination and tell you exactly what for only £10. So, whether you’ve suffered from headaches for a while, or started recently, just call on 01275 380 048 for your consultation and start the process to living a pain-free life. Call any time between 8 am and 8 pm Monday to Friday and tell the receptionist you’d like to come in for the Downend Voice offer.
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downendvoice
February, 2022
n NEWS DOWNEND'S long-awaited CCTV system is up and running. It was more than three years ago, in the summer of 2018, that vandal attacks in the high street area led to Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council agreeing to fund new security cameras. Three cameras were installed last summer, and wired up in the autumn. But it was not until just before Christmas that they were added to a network allowing them to be monitored from a police control room in Bristol. The high definition cameras – by the Downend Road/North Street roundabout, by the Badminton Road/Westerleigh Road junction next to the Horseshoe pub and the Cleeve Hill/Cleeve Road traffic lights, next to the former Lloyds bank – have cost a total of £54,000 to buy and install. The parish council paid £35,000 towards the hardware, with the money coming from Community Infrastructure Levy payments made by developers building in the area. South Gloucestershire Council funded the remainder of the installation costs and is taking responsibility for the cameras' ongoing maintenance and monitoring costs. The council says the cameras are wideangle, and can be tilted and panned, to capture incidents an operator has spotted in more detail. Pictures are monitored at the police Bristol Operations Centre, which is
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Downend CCTV goes live
The CCTV camera at the Downend Road/North Street roundabout overlooks WG Grace's portrait on the Willow Shopping Centre open 24 hours a day, seven days per week. In a recent consultation on the future of Downend's high street area, 97% of
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respondents said they supported CCTV. South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member Ben Burton, who is also a ward and parish councillor, said: “Downend High Street is a fantastic place to spend time and we are delighted to have worked with the parish council to install these cameras, to make sure it remains a safe and pleasant place to visit, shop, or run a business. "“CCTV cameras are commonplace in our towns and cities, providing reassurance to people going about their day-to-day activities and the presence of these cameras will help to keep Downend High Street safe by deterring anti-social-behaviour and crime for the benefit of everyone." Parish council chair Janet Biggin said: "Following on from a few incidents here in Downend, we felt that to have CCTV cameras would assist the police in their work. So, we have been working with South Gloucestershire Council over the past two years, successfully installing three CCTV cameras along the High Street." The Voice asked South Gloucestershire Council for an image from the new cameras to illustrate the picture quality from the system but the council says images are only released "to support a police investigation".
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Publisher Gary Brindle 0117 907 8585 07799 461169 Journalist Linda Tanner 0777 0700579 Journalist Ken MCormick 07715 770377
Follow us on Twitter @downendvoice ADVERTISING sales@downendvoice.co.uk Tel 0117 907 8585 Tel 07799 461169 EDITORIAL news@downendvoice.co.uk Letters to the publication can be sent to the above e-mail address or by post to Letters, Downend Voice, 6 Elkstone Walk, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6JT. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter. DEADLINE Our March edition deadline is February 16. L O C A L I N F O R M AT I O N South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999 NHS 111 Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk Environment/trading standards
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Downend Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Downend Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pickup points. Feedback is welcomed, call Gary Brindle on 0117 907 8585 or news@ downendvoice.co.uk.
February, 2022
n NEWS
Cannabis grower jailed A MAN arrested when police found a cannabis factory with more than 200 plants in Staple Hill has been jailed. Elis Bala, 29, was arrested in April last year when the Staple Hill neighbourhood police team raided a house in Overnhill Road, where 233 plants were discovered. He was charged with producing a class B controlled drug. Bala, of no fixed address, was due to go on trial in December but pleaded guilty to the charge at Bristol Crown Court, and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. PC Laura Smart, who led the police Elis Bala investigation, said: "I welcome this court result, which demonstrates that anyone found to be involved in the supply of cannabis will be dealt with robustly. "This conviction has come about largely thanks to intelligence submitted by the public and, as ever, we are grateful to the local community for working with us to help combat drug crime." Anyone who has concerns or suspicions that cannabis is being grown in their neighbourhood can report it to the police by calling 101 or online at www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/drug-dealingand-use. Information about the signs a property is being used to cultivate drugs can be found on the Crimestoppers website.
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February, 2022
5
n NEWS
Petition urges council to keep road blocks From Page 1 done so. Before the closures the roads were used by drivers travelling between Mangotsfield and Kingswood as a cut-through to avoid the Teewell Hill traffic lights. Signal Road resident Bee McNamara was involved in organising the petition. He said: "The residents who live on the two roads affected by this scheme have witnessed major changes in the use of their roads. "In particular, residents have seen a massive increase in active travel, as many more cyclists and pedestrians now use the roads to gain access to the Bristol & Bath cycle path. "The residents have also witnessed that the road closure has made the route for school children to the two local schools, Mangotsfield and Tynings, much safer and we now see many more children using the roads to walk and cycle to and from school on a daily basis. "These benefits have largely been ignored and will disappear when the scheme is dismantled. "Signal Road, Charnell Road, White Lodge Road and Charnhill Drive will return to the busy, fast-moving rat runs that they used to be, and the children will return to being driven into school." Charnhill Drive resident Mark Pitman said: "The road being permanently shut is not just a benefit for the minority but for the wider community who use the cycle path, and encourages
people to walk and cycle more. "As a result it reduces traffic and our community's carbon footprint, which has to be the main goal." Another Signal Road resident, who asked not to be named, said reversing the decision on the blocks without further consultation was undemocratic, adding: "Putting the safety of people who choose to walk and cycle over the needs of those who want to use cars for short journeys should be something that SGC should be encouraging. In fact, SGC declared a Climate Emergency which said they would prioritise active travel. The decision to remove the planters goes against this." The petition organisers say 112 of the people who signed live in Signal Road, Charnell Road, White Lodge Road and Charnhill Drive. Most of the others were pedestrians and cyclists using the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, from Downend, Mangotsfield, Staple Hill and further afield, who signed over the course of around three hours in November when campaigners stood at the Charnhill Drive entrance to the path. The closures were first introduced in July 2020 under experimental traffic orders, to encourage walking and cycling on the railway path during the covid lockdown, by diverting traffic away from its entrance. But people living in other nearby streets, including Teewell Hill and Teewell Avenue, said the closures had made traffic
Fido falsely accused? SOUTH Gloucestershire Council asked for information about damage to swings in the Springfield Park play area in Mangotsfield. The council posted pictures of the damage on its Facebook page and said it had been caused by dogs. But residents blame another culprit, telling the council the damage was more likely to have been done by squirrels or rats. The council said: "The seats of the basket swing, zip wire and a toddler swing have been chewed by a dog/dogs. We have removed the toddler swing seat and reported the damage to the police. We may have to remove the other seats if this continues. ." The council asked anyone with information about the damage to call the police on 101, the council contact centre on 01454 868000 or email playareas@southglos.gov.uk. One resident replied: "Sure it’s not squirrels? They love plastic." Another said: "I’d 100% say this is rats/squirrels – dogs would need hours to sit there and gnaw through that hard plastic."
outside their homes worse. They organised their own petitions calling on the council to take the concrete blocks away and return the roads to their pre-pandemic state. An official council consultation found residents of Signal Road and Charnell Road had backed the closures – but they "had not been well received by residents in the wider area", which is why the decision to remove them was taken. Teewell Hill resident Faye Galvin said: "The consultation overwhelmingly showed the public were not in favour of the scheme. "We're very disappointed that someone could look to delay the easing of the traffic hell we've been living through in this way." A council spokesperson said the authority had responded to the petition and legal challenge, adding: "After listening to and considering all the feedback we have received, we plan to remove
the current scheme when the traffic order expires. "Following that we will look to explore options for a more traditional scheme which will aim to control speeds through the area. This will follow our traditional consultative approach with residents, local members and the wider community." Staple Hill & Mangotsfield councillors Katie Cooper, Michael Bell and Ian Boulton have set up a petition calling for a "comprehensive traffic management review" for the whole of Staple Hill, which is open on the council's website until February 27 at bit.ly/3fubY25. The councillors said there had been a "frustrating" lack of information on the changing situation over the closures, adding: "The way this issue was introduced and managed from the start has, at every point, gone against our advice."
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February, 2022
n NEWS
'Care farm' wins consent after planning row A 'CARE farm' to teach disabled and disadvantaged people agricultural skills has been given permission for new buildings, after a lengthy planning battle. Charity Empowering Futures' plans for a polytunnel and teaching building on land next to Bury Hill, between Downend and Winterbourne, were unanimously approved by a South Gloucestershire Council committee. The plans for the site at Moorend Farm were supported by 105 people. But they were opposed by 17 residents, Winterbourne Parish Council, and a local councillor, who told the meeting the development would “blight the local landscape”. Afterwards Empowering Futures founder Maria Needs said she felt “broken” by opposition to the plans, which she claimed included a “hate campaign” by a handful of people. She was also angry and upset about the imposition of planning conditions she said were too expensive for the charity to afford. Mrs Needs said it had taken five years for the organisation to find and buy land for the care farm. The planning application had been awaiting a decision since February last year. Objectors raised concerns about the effect of the 10m-long polytunnel and 4m-high building at the care farm on the Green Belt, about traffic, people’s enjoyment of the countryside and views of the Iron Age hill fort
Kelly Rogers of Empowering Futures at Moorend Farm. Picture: Paul Gillis/Bristol Post at Bury Hill, north of the site. The council imposed a condition committing the charity to a “programme of archaeological investigation and recording" for the site because of the neighbouring fort. Mrs Needs said that would mean paying an archaeologist £200 to £500 a day to oversee the building works and sift through the soil, as the foundations for the building were laid. She said: "That’s just impossible. "I’m really angry. They are penalising disabled people." Mrs Needs said she was unsure how the charity would overcome the requirement but was determined to ensure the care farm would continue at the site, near Hambrook. Planning committee members heard heartfelt pleas from the charity and its supporters at their meeting on January 6. Lorna Carter-Stevens, from New Beginnings, a community centre for adults with learning
disabilities, said she was upset by "prejudice" towards people with learning disabilities, who are among those who visit the care farm. She said: "During lockdown, many of them suffered greatly from mental health issues and they’ve been isolated for long periods of time. "They need this activity more than ever. We should be welcoming them with open arms and love." Gemma Mugridge, from Empowering Futures, said some residents mistakenly thought the care farm was a petting zoo or city farm, and would attract "large coachloads of people", which she said was "an absurd idea". She said the care farm provided a programme of activities for small groups of people, on a referral and appointment basis, with participants learning social and communication skills as well as farming and traditional craft techniques, and getting
therapeutic benefits from working with animals and nature. Ms Mugridge said: “All we want to do is help those in the local community that need us the most – those excluded from other settings due to their needs and disabilities – and to give them opportunities that they’ve never had before." Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward councillor Ian Boulton, who knows Empowering Futures from their work in Page Park, said “any community should feel very lucky to have them in their neighbourhood”. But Winterbourne councillor Trevor Jones, whose ward includes the site, told the planning committee: “This development, along with others, will blight the local landscape. “We have concerns about cumulative damage to both the hill fort site as a whole and the rest of the local environment.” Historic England raised concerns about the impact of the care farm on the hill fort, which is classified as a scheduled ancient monument, a nationally important site with legal protection against unauthorised changes. But council officers felt the benefits of the proposal outweighed the harms to both the fort and the Green Belt, and recommended the application for approval. Councillors agreed and voted unanimously to support it, calling the care farm “amazing” and “fantastic”. By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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February, 2022
7
n NEWS
Singer Amelie, 11, stages online concert in support of neighbour who has leukaemia YOUNG singer Amelie Russ could not help being moved by her nine-year-old neighbour's fight against leukaemia. So when a festival she had been rehearsing for was cancelled, she decided to livestream a concert of her own on Facebook, to raise money for the charity which has helped his family. Downend School pupil Amelie, aged 11, has been singing since she was two, won a singing contest at the age of eight and wants to be a singing teacher when she is older. During the 2020 lockdown Amelie raised £1,000 for NHS Charities Together with a concert on her front drive in Bromley Heath, inspired by mum Donna, who is a nurse. Her neighbour Stuart Harding is currently having to isolate at home after undergoing a bone marrow transplant in October. Stuart was diagnosed with Philadelphia positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - a complex form of the disease with a high relapse rate - at the age of four. He had two years of intensive treatment then more than two years off, before the disease returned in April last year, just after his ninth birthday. Stuart had five months of chemotherapy before having a bone marrow transplant at Bristol Children's Hospital in October. Although he has a twin brother, Jamie, it was his younger sister Eilidh, aged six, who was found to be a match and donated stem cells for the operation. Stuart was able to return home in time for Christmas Day
Amelie Russ, right, from Bromley Heath Above: Stuart Harding with sister Eilidh and brother Jamie
but is currently taking steroids and is immunosuppressed, which means that he, Jamie and Eilidh all have to stay away from their school, Mangotsfield C of E Primary, and learn at home. Mum Alison and dad Chris have received invaluable help from the Rainbow Trust, a charity which provides bespoke support for families who have a child with a serious illness. The charity and its support worker Charlotte Coyle have been a "massive help" to the family throughout Stuart's illness. Alison said: "We had never heard of this charity until Stuart fell ill but they are truly amazing. "During Stuart's first cancer journey, Charlotte would come and sit in hospital with Stuart whilst Chris and I would manage to get some rare time together in between lengthy hospital stays and looking after our other children at home. "As time went on it became clear how much of an impact a cancer diagnosis can have on siblings. "This time round Charlotte has come to our house and has given some much needed one-to-one time and attention for Jamie and Eilidh, where they are the sole focus. "Their faces truly light up when Charlotte arrives. She is an absolute breath of fresh air and helps to lift all our spirits. We are so thankful to Rainbow Trust for everything they do." Two days before Stuart came home, Amelie live-streamed a 20-minute concert via Facebook to raise money for the Rainbow Trust, raising £220 for the charity. The concert was set up by Amelie's dad in the conservatory of their home. She said: "I was supposed to
be doing a festival for another charity but it got cancelled because of covid. I had worked and practised really hard and I wanted to support the Rainbow Trust." Alison watched the concert with Stuart, Eilidh and Chris. She said: "Amelie's amazing the first time we saw her singing was the lockdown concert and it sent tingles down the spine listening to her.
"We quite often hear her in the garden - we love hearing her sing and we were delighted when she decided to do a concert for the Rainbow Trust. "Eilidh loved it and even Chris had a tear watching it, too. "It was really wonderful." For more information on the Rainbow Trust visit www. rainbowtrust.org.uk.
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February, 2022
n PETER'S VISION
Learning from nature
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I WAS having a fascinating conversation with a patient at our practice recently. We started on the technology we use to make our lenses easy to keep clean (I’ve written before about using microfibre cloths to pick up the microscopic particles off your glasses lenses - just email us for an explanation if this is a new one to you). This led to a discussion of the biology of the Lotus plant, and while of course there are differences, if you’re not familiar with botany, it has similarities to water lilies. Now I’m most definitely not a botanist, so here’s my understanding of this incredible plant and what we’ve learnt from its leaves, referred to as the Lotus effect. The amazing thing is how the plant achieves its self cleaning property. The leaf repels water due to possessing a surface structure of microscopically small bumps with a wax coating. This ensures that water cannot adhere to the surface and in turn flows off. As any water flows off the leaf surface debris is taken away too. Principally this appears to be to protect from algae or fungus growing on the lotus leaves and damaging the plant structure. Having clean leaves also looks to maximise the surface area available for photosynthesis, perhaps enabling the lotus plant to exist in more varied conditions - always an admirable characteristic for any living organism! Why was I so interested in the natural self cleaning property of a plant? Well, we’ve all no doubt benefited from easy clean products for decades, which came in part from our study of nature as well as lab experiments. These are of course so popular that Teflon has undergone genericisation from a trademark to an adjective in common use today. The development of ultrahydrophobic surfaces, which are by their nature easy to keep clean, has many uses, which of course includes glasses lenses. The lenses we recommend for our patients are designed to be clearer from the inside out, so much more than an afterthought addon coating you may be more familiar with. How do our lenses work? Well, for the full details, get in touch and we’ll show you! When it comes to your eyes, we’d love to see you and for you to experience the world class eye care we firmly believe you deserve. A visit to Turners Opticians gives you so much more than just a sight test. Don’t forget, whether it’s for reassuringly thorough eye care, or for glasses with clear and easy clean lenses, we’re here when you need us, six days per week. Just get in touch and we’ll be happy to see how we can help you. We continue to offer Covid safe ways to choose your new glasses too! To help us keep you all safe, we’re still asking you all to telephone first to book a time to come in. Please call our Henleaze practice on 0117 962 2474 or our Fishponds practice on 0117 965 4434.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
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Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, and also works part time as a Senior Optometrist at the Bristol Eye Hospital.
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February, 2022
downendvoice
9
n NEWS
Dave's fund tops £80k – but target rises THE family of a Staple Hill dad fighting brain cancer say they are "blown away" by supporters who have raised more than £80,000 to fund new treatment. But the target now needed to help David Gibbs has increased to £150,000, after the family was told the treatment, which is not available on the NHS, is likely to be more expensive than they first anticipated. Dave, who is 37, was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive cancer of the brain and spinal cord, in September. He has just completed six weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, following surgery to remove 95% of the tumour at Southmead Hospital in October, and is set to start another course of chemo, this time lasting six months, in February. But Dave, who is married with a three-year-old daughter, has been told that the tumour is likely to grow back again without further treatment – and the average survival time from diagnosis is 12 to 18 months. The new treatment they are fundraising for is called a personalised cancer vaccine, and sequences genetic information from the patient and tumour to help the immune system target and attack the cancer cells. To have it Dave would need to go to Germany or America. Support for the appeal has flooded in from individuals, groups and businesses. A comedy show, Giggle 4 Gibbs, at the Smoke and Mirrors theatre pub in Bristol city centre on January 25 has sold out. The show was set to feature Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist Nick Page and two of Dave's friends who do stand-up, Matt Hobs and Jaleelah Galbraith. Downend lounge bar Mokka
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Dave Gibbs with daughter Molly and the Grapevine Brasserie in Mangotsfield are each running raffles for meals and bubbly, the Foresters pub is running a pool tournament and a disco, and holiday rentals firm StayStaycations is donating a proportion of orders to the fund. Lyde Green Community Association and cafe Coffee at Lyde raised £235 at a Christmas event and a family fun day is being planned at Emersons Green Village Hall. Many of Dave's friends are undertaking challenges, from a 5,000-squat thrust 'squatathon' to a joint attempt by 11 of his friends to run 2,022 km before the end of January. Another friend is aiming to cycle 300 miles in 24 hours before organising a team relay from John O’Groats to Lands End, with the aim of completing nearly 900 miles in around 60 hours. Other fundraisers include a half-marathon from Dave's work colleagues at SMC, where he is a technical sales engineer, an SAS challenge in Wales and an art sale by a wildlife artist. Dave said: "The fundraising has been going incredibly well. "We're blown away by the support we have received from the community. It's been amazing and we are so grateful. "Unfortunately we have had to raise our target to ensure I
can get the lifesaving treatment required. On a personal note I'd like to say a massive thank you to my wife and daughter for their love and support, which keeps me going everyday. "I'd also like to thank my family and friends, particularly the Dave's Brain Fund team, supported by my sister, who are working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the fundraising ticking over getting us ever closer to the goal. "There are many businesses who have provided raffle prizes and we are grateful to all for their generous donations. "Finally I'd like to thank everyone who had shared the story or made a donation, big
or small – every action makes a difference. My family and I will be forever grateful." Dave's sister Sarah Burford has been keeping supporters up to date on the main fundraising website, justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/davesbrainfund. She said a clinic in Germany which is assessing Dave's case has been sent blood samples and MRI scans, and is due to receive a tumour sample. The family then faces a wait to see if the clinic can make a personalised targeted cancer vaccine for him. Sarah told supporters: "Through further research and talking to a brain tumour charity with experience of these treatments it has come to our attention that the actual cost of treatment is considerably higher than we initially anticipated. "So with this in mind, we have had to raise the target so we can get Dave the treatment he needs to change the prognosis. "We sit with tears in our eyes as we try to comprehend achieving the increased target, knowing we simply cannot fail. We can't imagine life without Dave." Anyone who would like to offer a raffle prize or other help should email DavesBrainFund@ gmail.com or contact the appeal on Facebook @donate4dave or Twitter and Instagram @ davesbrainfund.
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n NEWS A NEW temporary building for coronavirus patients has been put up at Southmead Hospital. The "temporary Nightingale Covid-19 surge hub", which could care for up to 100 patients if needed, is part of the local NHS clinical commissioning group's measures to deal with a doubling of hospital admissions from the latest wave of covid infections, alongside "intense winter pressures". The Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire CCG is expecting Covid-related admissions from the Omicron variant of the virus to peak in the coming weeks. It says increasing numbers of staff are off sick or isolating and has taken a series of other measures including: • Postponing non-urgent appointments and procedures in hospitals, GP practices and community health settings. • Expanding the ‘pulse oximetry at home’ service to remotely monitor some Covid patients' oxygen levels so they do not need to go to hospital. • Temporarily suspending visits
February, 2022
Covid: preparing for a new surge on some hospital wards. The new Nightingale facility is being built despite the NHS spending around £14.2 million in 2020 creating the Bristol Nightingale Hospital at UWE's Frenchay campus, which closed last year without ever treating a Covid-19 patient. The site is currently used as a covid vaccination centre. A CCG spokesperson told the Voice: “Placing the new Nightingale facilities in hospital grounds will make it easier to flex staff and equipment if there is a surge in admissions, providing access to diagnostics and emergency care if required.” CCG medical director Peter Brindle urged everyone to get the vaccine booster and said staff were going to "incredible lengths in the most challenging circumstances" to continue to
treat people in need. Other services have also been hit by the increase in infections, which saw recorded new cases in South Gloucestershire reach 4,833 in the week to January 4 before reducing slightly to 3,121 a week later. The high rates saw the council take its Covid testing vans off the road for week during January when they ran out of lateral flow testing kits. The council was also having to combine plastics, glass, card, paper and cans recycling on some rounds due to staff shortages. A council spokesman said: "We have prepared robust contingency measures to minimise the impact of the pandemic but, when necessary, we may need to implement some temporary changes to help
maintain services and prioritise support for our most vulnerable residents." Postal services were also being hit by outbreaks, with Downend residents reporting some cards and letters posted before Christmas arriving up to a month late. A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “The vast majority of mail is delivered safely and on time. In some areas of Bristol, we have been experiencing some delays to service due to high levels of sickness absence and Covid related self-isolation. We would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience experienced." Great Western Railway has introduced a temporary reduced timetable in response to higher than usual levels of staff being absent or self-isolating due to Covid. Managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We have prioritised high-use school, college and other known key worker services and we very much hope that the changes will only be needed for a short period."
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11
n NEWS
Ruby's runs raise £3,000 for charity A MEETING with a young cancer survivor has inspired a Bromley Heath girl to run a mile a day for a month. Avid Bristol City fan Ruby Cooper found herself sitting next to the boy from South Bristol at a match at Ashton Gate. After hearing about his life and three years of leukaemia treatment, she decided she wanted to help the charity Little Hero, which has been providing him with support. Ruby, who attends Bromley Heath Junior School, decided to run a mile each day in January and her parents set up a page to collect donations online. They wanted to see if they could raise £200 – but by halfway through the month she had already smashed that target, raising around £3,000. Ruby, aged 10, is a keen footballer herself and is a striker for Downend Flyers, where she has been playing for four years. Parents Liz and Rob worked out a circuit just over a mile long around Bromley Heath which Ruby has been running with the family's dog, a Hungarian vizsla pup called Bentley, after Bristol City goalkeeper Daniel Bentley. Ruby said: "I felt like I wanted to do something to help the charity because to raise
Ruby Cooper and Bentley
money for them means they can find a cure. "It's quite hard some days – one day I had a stitch the whole time." Liz said: "Ruby has been amazing and has got her head down and cracked on with her runs, despite the wet, cold weather. "Once she makes her mind up, that's it –
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there's no going back. "When she gets in from school she doesn't even get a chance to sit down and have a snack – it's straight out on the run." Little Hero was set up by John Rainsbury, a colleague Rob's at Bristol recruitment company Sanderson. John's son Will was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain tumour called a medulloblastoma aged just six, and despite nine months of treatment, including brain surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy he died when the cancer returned. Little Hero provides respite holidays and art therapy for children undergoing cancer treatment as well as hospitality visits to football and rugby matches. It also funds research into childhood brain cancer. Ruby and her parents have been taken aback by the response to her appeal, with support coming from school friends, teammates, Bromley Heath residents and many of Rob's colleagues. Liz said: "It's amazing – people have just been so generous." To support Ruby's fundraising visit justgiving.com/fundraising/rob-cooper20. To find out more about the work of Little Hero visit littlehero.org.uk.
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n NEWS EVENING and Sunday services will be restored on the number 5 bus route service Downend. But operator First is not restoring the route to Bromley Heath after diverting it away from the area without prior notice last year. The 5, which runs from Bristol City Centre to Cleeve Hill and the Horseshoe, via the Eastgate centre in Eastville and Fishponds, was cut back at the end of August last year. Evening and Sunday services were withdrawn and buses diverted away from Bromley Heath Road, Quakers Road, Queensholm Drive, Four Acre Road and Badminton Road. First said the changes were due to "very low customer demand" - but residents and councillors said the changes had been made without any consultation or even notice. Restoration of evening and Sunday services takes effect from January 30 and has been agreed by operator First and the West of England Combined Authority, which has responsibility for coordinating public transport. Metro Mayor Dan Norris,
13
Evening and Sunday services return for number 5 bus who leads Weca, said: "I know the number 5 is a very important service and many residents, including a large number of elderly people, rely on it to get to places like the doctors and the shops. Some local residents have described it as a lifeline. "Wherever possible I will always try and save muchneeded buses and thankfully here I was able to." Mr Norris has previously called on the government to provide greater support for bus services as Covid pressures have put many routes under threat, and said: "Sadly, there is no limitless pot of money." The 5 was introduced to Bromley Heath in May 2018 when it was diverted away from Cleve Hill, in part to make up for the loss of the X48 fast service to the city centre, which was axed to make way for the Metrobus.
Frenchay and Downend ward councillors Liz Brennan, Ben Burton and James Griffiths said: “We are pleased that our campaign for Weca to reverse the changes made to the Number 5 service has seen success and that local people will be able to use the service again on evenings and weekends. "It is disappointing, however, that the Weca Mayor has ignored our calls for the service to return to Bromley Heath, and has let down residents by allowing the black hole in transport provision to cut the community off further than it already has. "We will continue to press Weca for bus services in Bromley Heath, whether that is the return of the Number 5 or redirecting metrobus.” First West of England’s managing director Doug Claringbold said operating
Frenchay & Downend councillors Liz Brennan, Ben Burton and James Griffiths at the bus stop in Queensholm Crescent conditions "continue to be difficult" with the impact of Covid-19 on staffing levels.
Can you design a transport logo? PEOPLE are being asked to send in their ideas for a new logo to represent public transport in the West of England. The logo would be used on buses, trains, e-scooters and other public transport and the idea is to create a symbol for the region that would be as memorable as the London Transport roundel famous from the tube. Metro Mayor Dan Norris has launched a competition open to all residents from across the West of England Metro Mayor area, including south Gloucestershire, from amateur artists to seasoned graphic designers. The winning entry will be Metro Mayor Dan Norris is finalised by professional designers. looking for an iconic logo Mr Norris said: "Everyone knows the for public transport iconic 'roundel' design that appears right across the London transport network. "Now I'm calling on local people to create our very own unique logo. "I'm looking for something really special. A logo that is memorable and easily recognisable, that shows the pride we have in our great region and promotes sustainable forms of transport." The logo should feature the words "West of England Sustainable Transport" and work in colour or black and white. The competition runs until February 12. For details how to enter visit www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/ logo-competition.
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n NEWS A MAN dumped five bulging bin bags and other waste in a Winterbourne road, despite being entitled to take it to a recycling centre. Sunil Singh, now of Buckingham Place, Downend, dumped the waste at the side of Down Road in Winterbourne during August last year. South Gloucestershire Council, which prosecuted him, said that at the time of the offence he was living half a mile from the spot where he dumped the waste. Singh, aged 22, was prosecuted after South Gloucestershire Council’s environmental crime team investigated and found evidence relating to another address in Holcombe, near Radstock, where Singh had previously lived. He was fined £200 and ordered to pay £354 in costs after pleading guilty to fly-tipping at Bristol Magistrates Court. The council has also prosecuted another South Gloucestershire resident who admitted dumping waste because he didn't want to queue at the tip.
February, 2022
Residents fined for dumping rubbish bags at roadside The waste dumped by Sunil Singh, of Downend Mitchell Palmer, of Windsor Drive, Yate, has been ordered to pay a total of £858 in fines and costs after being spotted dumping waste at a lay-by at Bury Hill near the town. Palmer, aged 34, was prosecuted after a resident saw him dumping a number of black bags, challenged him for dumping the waste and took pictures of him and the bags on a mobile phone in February last
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year. The council said that, when interviewed, Palmer admitted fly-tipping the waste, saying it was an accumulation of rubbish from an address he had been sharing with his ex-girlfriend. A spokesperson said: "He claimed that he’d attempted a visit to his local Sort It recycling centre that morning but found the queue too long and was not prepared to wait. He was fined £320 and ordered to pay £504 in costs and a £34 victim surcharge. Council cabinet member for communities Rachael Hunt said: "There is no excuse for fly-
tipping and with these particular cases, a simple trip to the local recycling centre would have meant this waste was disposed of lawfully. "We will pursue anyone who dumps their rubbish illegally through the courts and we have a 100% success rate for securing convictions for this type of offence. Anyone who fly-tips in South Gloucestershire is five times more likely to be prosecuted than anywhere else in the country. "In addition to it being illegal, it’s plain laziness to dump rubbish in this way and expect others to clear the mess left behind. We hope these prosecutions serve as a warning to anyone else who considers fly-tipping in South Gloucestershire." Anyone who sees illegal fly tipping happening can report it by calling the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, email streetcare@southglos.gov. uk or visit www.southglos.gov. uk/flytipping online.
Furniture dumped in Mangotsfield COUNCILLORS are appealing for Mangotsfield residents to help track down whoever dumped waste including a bed and a barbecue in the street. The waste was left outside the shops in Burley Grove in early January and photographed by Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward councillor Michael Bell, who alerted landowner Bromford housing association, which removed them. Cllr Bell has also asked the charity which runs the clothing bank at the site to empty it more frequently, as bags are regularly left outside. He said: "This has become an eyesore. "Along with my fellow councillors and the Mangotsfield Residents Association we are working hard to make our local area a clean and tidy place to live in, and need all your support." Anyone with information about the fly-tippers can contact south Gloucestershire Council StreetCare on 01454 868000. Picture: Michael Bell
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CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council currently has a vacancy for a Parish Councillor. If you would like to serve your community, and have some time or expertise to help make a difference to all those around you, why not step forward and apply? The position of a Parish Councillor is very rewarding, and individuals can give as little or as much time to the role as they wish. We are an enthusiastic group of volunteers who strive to make Downend & Bromley Heath a great place to live and work. To find out more, or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Angela, our Parish Clerk, who will provide you with any information that you need. Alternatively, browse our website – www.dbhparishcouncil.uk. We very much look forward to hearing from you! Councillor Janet Biggin, Chairman
VACANCY
NEW LITTER BINS IN DOWNEND During December 2021, South Gloucestershire Council installed new 240 litre wheelie bin housing bins throughout Downend, replacing the old bins. The new form of litter bins can contain a larger amount of litter than the previous bins. This allows them to be emptied less regularly meaning the operatives emptying the bins have more time for activities like litter picking and the removal of detritus. The improvement to litter bins in this area is part of the Resource and Waste Strategy: 2020 and Beyond to make street cleansing services more efficient. The strategy was agreed and published in January 2020 and focuses on waste prevention and a circular economy approach. For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/wastestrategy. As well
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as saving time, energy and resources, the new bins are easier and safer for collections staff to empty. The wheelie bin housing contains a wheelie bin that is the same as the ones used for domestic waste collections and can be put onto a refuse collection vehicle (RCV) and emptied mechanically, rather than using bags that have to be manually lifted and can often be heavy. RCVs are the same vehicles used to empty household wheeled bins. The changes to litter bins in these busy areas also supports the target of net zero carbon emissions by 2030 set out in the Climate Emergency declaration in July 2019. For more information visit www. southglos.gov.uk/environment/climate-change/climate-emergency/ Litter bins are for waste that we produce while out and about and must never be used for waste from home, business waste or bulky items. If you have any problems with extra waste at home, visit www. southglos.gov.uk/sortit for information about household waste services or contact South Gloucestershire Council by calling 01454 868000.
GRAFFITI CLEAR UP Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council is working in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council to remove the many instances of graffiti around the parish. Graffiti is an eyesore which is often very difficult and expensive to remove. This process can take a considerable time as disclaimers need to be obtained from the relevant utility companies, but we are doing our best to progress the work as soon as possible. If you are aware of any graffiti, please report it to the Clerk via email, with a photograph, if possible, to clerk@ dbhparishcouncil.co.uk. Thank you.
ADVANCED NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Each year, Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council holds its Annual Assembly. This is a public meeting and offers an opportunity for local residents to chat to their Parish Councillors and debate current issues in the community. Please put the date in your diary…. Thursday 21st April, 7.30pm at Badminton Road Methodist Church, Badminton Road, Downend BS16 6NU. We will also be presenting awards to our ‘Parish Champions’ to recognise and applaud the valuable work carried out by an individual or organisation in the community of Downend & Bromley Heath. Refreshments will be provided.
DOWNEND & BROMLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCILLORS Downend Ward CLLR MIKE BAKER Tel: 07789 393 681 CLLR JANET BIGGIN Tel: 0117 957 6987 or 07966 204 260 CLLR BEN BURTON Tel: 07870 639 486 CLLR JAMES GRIFFITHS Tel: 07742 400 474
CLLR COLIN OGDEN Tel. 0117 940 6531 CLLR SHEILA OTTEWELL Tel: 0117 957 2724 CLLR RAJ KUMAR SOOD Tel: 07901 621 632 CLLR ALVIS WEST 07767 216 412
Staple Hill Ward CLLR PHILLIP ABBOTT Tel. 0117 957 0075 CLLR MATT PITTS Tel. 07837 870 039 Clerk to the Council Mrs Angela Hocking Tel. 0117 9567001 E-mail. clerk@dbhparishcouncil.co.uk
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17
n NEWS
Street lights switch brings big CO2 saving SWITCHING street lights to LEDs in South Gloucestershire has prevented 34,000 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. The council says it has also saved £12 million in energy and maintenance costs in return for the £6.1m cost so far of upgrading from old-style sodium lights across the district. The scheme to replace all 30,000 council street lights started in 2014 and the council says that so far 23,000 have been upgraded to LEDs, including most of those in Downend and all of the lights in Staple Hill, Mangotsfield, Frenchay, Emersons Green and Pucklechurch. The authority says the carbon reduction is equivalent CAMPAIGNERS say South Gloucestershire Council's plan to respond to the climate crisis will fail unless the authority takes it more seriously. The council declared a 'Climate Emergency' in 2019 and worked out a strategy to become 'carbon neutral' by 2030, cutting emissions, generating renewable energy, planting more trees, protecting nature and making sure the area is prepared for the impact of climate change. Annual action plans are produced and checked to see if the council is meeting its targets. But campaigners say the latest action plan is of "huge concern". The South Glos Climate Action Network, a non-party political group of residents, academics, and local environmental group members, says it "broadly supports and endorses" the council strategy but says: • Not enough resources are being put into meeting the action plan, with only three waged officers directly responsible for it, while Bristol has 25. • The plan contains no short term measurable targets, which means there is no way for people to know exactly whether the council is on target. • The plan shows the council is behind schedule on 29 of its targets – a third of the total. • The plan is supposed to be examined by a cross-party
An image from South GlosCouncil shows the difference between the light emitted from its old (left) and new (right) street lights to the emissions of an average family car being driven for around 85 million miles. The remaining 7,000 lights are due to be fitted with
the latest generation of LED lanterns, which use 60% less energy than the lights they are replacing, by the end of March 2024.In total the scheme is
expected to cost £7.9m, but by the time it is finished it will already have saved an estimated £20 million in energy bills. Cabinet member Steve Reade said: "Not only does this project continue to deliver significant energy consumption and cost efficiency savings year on year, but it is supporting our goals of addressing the climate emergency by becoming carbon neutral by 2030. "As the technology improves and the LED lights become even more efficient, we foresee further opportunities for energy savings while keeping our communities and highways well-lit for our residents.” For more information visit the council website at bit. ly/3nsherm.
Climate plan in danger of failing, campaigners warn scrutiny group before being presented but this did not happen in time, leading the Liberal Democrats to say cross party agreement had ended. • Advisory group meetings of University of the West of England experts to review council actions now include council officers, which means the officers are "marking their own homework". SGCAN member Sean Rhodes, who raised the group's concerns when the action plan was presented at a council meeting in December said: "We want to support the council, but we are concerned that a failure to set clear and measurable targets, with properly-funded council staff implementing them, which are then properly scrutinised by elected councillors, will mean that this plan will fail." A council spokesperson said the number of full-time officers was increasing to four but the figures did not take account of work "dispersed across the organisation" to produce a council-wide response. The authority said figures for reductions of CO2 emissions were reported and it was working to progress towards meeting all
of its targets. The spokesperson said that the council administration would "continue to engage" with opposition groups, who had not requested a progress report before the latest plan was presented, and that, while the council's climate emergency team met with the UWE advisory group, the group did not include any council representatives. The spokesperson said: “We provide regular, detailed, and transparent reports on our commitment to become carbon neutral by 2030, and we set an
annual carbon reduction target which covers both area-wide and our own, direct emissions. "Our reporting illustrates the trajectory of our carbon reduction against these targets, along with a detailed commentary on our progress. “UWE provides us with technical advice and recommendations to support our response to the Climate Emergency, and after discussion with UWE, the vast majority of these recommendations are fed into our action plan to achieve net zero.”
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18
n NEWS
'Legendary' cricket coach is named in New Year Honours
A CRICKET coach who has helped young players into the game for more than 30 years has been honoured for his work. Ian Crawford was awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year Honours list. Ian played professionally for Gloucestershire between 1975 and 1978 but played the majority of his games for Stapleton Cricket Club, which he joined as a boy. He played his first game for the club in 1969 and continued as a bowler until 2010. But it is his work helping develop young players at Stapleton, where he has been youth coordinator since 1987, and across the wider Bristol area – he has been the president of the Bristol Youth Cricket League since 2012 – which brought Ian his BEM for services to sport and the community. Among the generations of players who have been helped are several teenagers who came to the Bristol area as refugees from Afghanistan. Ian said the connection started when a young player's
parent, who worked for the city council, mentioned that a refugee who had arrived in the city liked playing cricket. The teenager came to the club to play and several more followed, becoming established players. Ian said: "They have loved playing cricket and are very talented. English is often a problem at the start but they soon pick up cricket terms!" Ian, who worked in Airbus's finance department until he retired in 2016, said it was "quite a shock" to receive the letter informing him of his award in early December, "totally out of the blue". He said: "It's nice to think someone was good enough to put me forward and since word got out, some people have been on touch with me who I haven't seen for years, so it's been nice.
"We've got a club a Stapleton where a lot of people work very hard at creating what we've got, from the chairman downwards. The committee work very hard and we've got a lot of coaches who come along and give their time." Ian, who lives in Bishopston, said that the number of young players joining had increased since the pandemic lockdown as more families saw the appeal of the sport. Stapleton CC chairman Andy Chidgey said: "Ian is one of the most incredibly kind, conscientious and selfless people you will ever meet. "He holds the respect of every person who knows him in the Bristol cricket community because he is amazingly patient, committed, kind and, above all, totally, totally fair. "He is simply one of life’s unsung and understated legends and truly deserved the recognition of the British Empire Medal for his endless service to our club and the wider community. www.avonfire.gov.uk "As a cricket club we consider ourselves very, very lucky to have
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Ian Crawford. Picture: Stapleton Cricket Club someone as brilliant as Crawf at the club. "He has done so much for the club over so many years, as a player, captain, committee member, benefactor and youth coordinator (as well as all of the many other jobs he helps out with). I am deeply proud to call him my friend and I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that they threw away the mould when they made him. He simply is our hero." Virtual reality cricket: Page 56
MBE for pharmacist A PHARMACIST who has helped deliver thousands of coronavirus vaccinations has been made an MBE. Ade Williams held regular clinics at the Longwell Green Community Centre, delivering first, second and booster jabs to people from across South Gloucestershire and beyond. Ade, the superintendent pharmacist at Bristol Travel Clinic, Abbotswood Pharmacy in Yate and Bedminster Pharmacy, was honoured for services to the NHS and the community, particularly during COVID-19. Early in the pandemic he worked with Bristo group This Mum Runs to deliver medicines and other essentials from local pharmacies and he has regularly appeared on national and local media to offer advice. Ade said: “I feel most undeserving – what I do is what everybody who works in the NHS does and replicates the generosity of our community. This award brings into focus the story of multiple expressions of selflessness; such as people who have taken breaks from homeschooling and their own lives to stand in the cold for hours to welcome people for their vaccination or help deliver prescriptions. The lesson is that when we all work together, we can make things better for everyone. It truly represents the community and the NHS at its very best."
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February, 2022
19
n NEWS
Former police commissioner's OBE THE area's former police and crime commissioner has been made an OBE in the New Year Honours list. Sue Mountstevens has been recognised for her services to the community in Bristol, Somerset and South Gloucestershire in her role as the first Avon & Somerset PCC, which she held for eight and a half years. Elected as an independent, Ms Mountstevens oversaw the force during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, with her term of office extended for a year after elections scheduled for May 2020 were postponed because of the first lockdown. A magistrate and police authority member before her election, she was also previously a director of the Mountstevens Bakeries chain. During her time in office Ms Mountstevens had a particular focus on victim support, securing extra funding for services helping survivors of domestic abuse
Sue Mountstevens and sexual violence during the lockdown. She was also made the chair
of the Quartet Community Foundation, which supports charities and promotes philanthropy in the region, in March 2020, leading the organisation through a time of "exceptional growth" as it responded to the pandemic. The foundation awarded 930 grants, worth £5.2 million, to support community activities between April 2020 and March of last year, benefiting more than 590,000 people in the region. Ms Mountstevens said: "This is a tremendous honour, and one that I humbly accept on behalf of an amazing team at the office of PCC. "The role of the PCC is to listen to all, especially the quiet voices. "I continue to listen as chair of Quartet, to those who have been hit the hardest, and support those communities where covid has exacerbated the issues facing them on a daily basis." Current PCC Mark Shelford,
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elected after Ms Mountstevens stepped down in May, said: "I am delighted that Sue Mountstevens has been recognised for her work supporting victims across Avon and Somerset during her time as PCC." Quartet chief executive Suzanne Rolt said: "This is a wonderful achievement for Sue personally, and for her team. We’re all so pleased that her work has been recognised in this way. "Her steady and caring leadership style provided a supportive environment that allowed Quartet to do so much, reflecting her experience gained as Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset." Quartet Community Foundation’s Endowment Fund, to support projects and groups benefiting local communities, reached £60m in 2021.
Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377
downendvoice
20
February, 2022
FOCUS ON
Staple Hill TShirts 4 You
range of leisure wear including tees, polos, hoodies and 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.
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
Staple Hill Stores Known locally by many people as ‘Arkwrights’, quite simply this store has so many different items they are impossible to list. The shop itself is classed as a traditional ironmongers which has served the locals for the last 18 years.
Sheen Studios Instant Passport Photos ID, OCI Visa
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. 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.
BM Motoring Centre
Bella Silver 925 Jewellery Figurines - dogs horses etc Limited Edition Bristol Prints Vast range of photo and picture frames
Ladies and Gents Watches
Watch batteries and straps fitted free
Bristol Blue Glass Tel: 0117 956 0967
110 High Street, Staple Hill, BS16 5HH
L
At BM Motoring we pride ourselves on our 5 star service, the team are always approachable and will go
Contact us now! — Free initial consultation
Freephone 0800 781 8783
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. 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
TRADITIONAL IRONMONGERS
SPECIAL OFFERS THIS MONTH
chartered accountants
Local accountants, offering a friendly and personal accountancy and taxation service to individuals and businesses.
Lloydbottoms
STAPLE HILL STORES
L L OY D B O T T OM S 118 High Street, Staple Hill, BS16 5HH www.lloydbottoms.co.uk
out of our way to help explain any work that has been carried out on your car. A family run business B M Motoring invest heavily in training and the latest equipment to ensure we are always able to offer the very best advise and assistance. A part of the Approved Garages and Autocare nationwide car schemes. These are independent bodies recognising good independent garages with high standards of workmanship and investment in the future. You can check out what others had to say at www. autocaregarages.co.uk So if you need a Service, MOT, Tyres, Brakes or any vehicle repair why not pop in, call up or visit us online @ www. bmmotoring.co.uk
SPECIAL OFFERS ON SELECTED
LED LAMPS
WILD BIRD FOOD
88-90 High Street, Staple Hill
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0117 956 8318
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downendvoice
February, 2022
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.
FARLEYS
21
Sheen Studios
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.
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.
PET FOODS & GARDEN SUPPLIES
Stockists of James Wellbeloved and Burns Dog Food • Arden Grange Dog & Cat food • All pet supplies • Seasonal Plants & Seeds
40 Broad Street, Staple Hill Tel: 0117 9566787
EMBROIDERED WORKWEAR PLEASE CHECK OPENING HOURS
BIRTHDAY BANNERS
PRINTED HOODIES & T-SHIRTS LATEST TECHNOLOGY PRINTING
TSHIRTS4YOU, 108 High Street, Staple Hill Tel: 0117 956 8606
info@tshirts4you.co.uk
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downendvoice
22
n NEWS COUNCILS, land owners and the area's sewage company are working together on a project to reduce the risk of flooding on the river Frome. Organisations which have signed up to the Frome Catchment Innovation Programme have pledged to use a "whole-systems approach" to make improvements along the length of the river, which flows between Downend and Frenchay. South Gloucestershire Council is working with Bristol City Council, Wessex Water and the Environment Agency on the scheme, which will be developed this year if £6 million in funding is approved. The idea is to coordinate local improvements across the whole of the river catchment from Dodington, near Chipping Sodbury, to Bristol city centre, where the Frome flows into the Floating Harbour. Ideas include creating new ponds and woody dams in rural, upstream areas of South Gloucestershire and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to slow the flow of rainwater into sewer
February, 2022
New project to reduce flood risk for river Frome systems in urban Bristol by mimicking natural processes. Details of the exact areas where new ideas could be tried have still to be decided. South Gloucestershire Council cabinet member for the environment, Steve Reade, said: “We are delighted that the Frome Catchment Innovation Programme has received this funding, which will help us look at new ways to improve flood risk management through innovative and nature-based solutions. "This supports our climate emergency goals by helping us to support local wildlife, enhance some of our public spaces and reinforce local flood resilience in the surrounding areas.” Environment Agency Bristol Frome Project Manager Heather Barker said: “This project will kick start innovative approaches
to flood management in urban and rural areas of the Frome catchment. Using nature-based solutions to reduce the impact of flooding will not only help communities be more resilient to future climate change; it will also benefit wildlife and water quality and improve the urban environment.” City council cabinet member for climate Nicola Beech said: “This project is a fantastic opportunity to work beyond Bristol’s borders to tackle major issues like flood risk management and biodiversity loss. By working with partners, we can improve the entire catchment area at the same time as creating multiple benefits for Bristol’s residents and businesses." Flooding is just one of the issues facing the river.
The river Frome near Hambrook In October the Voice reported that high levels of phosphate and nitrate pollution had been found in more than half of samples collected from the river Frome by volunteers last summer and analysed by the Bristol Avon Rivers Trust. In January MPs on the Commons Environmental Audit Committee warned that every river in England was affected by pollution from raw sewage, microplastics and slurry.
We aim to always offer a fast, efficient and reliable service at a great price with no hidden extras
Bristol’s approved dealer for Falken Tyres
• Tyres • Exhausts • Brakes • Batteries • MOT’s • Servicing • Alloy Wheels • Suspension • Cambelts • Clutches • Diagnostic and Electrical Work
Open Monday to Frid ay 0800-1700 and 8-12 on Saturd ay by appointmen s t only
Call us today for a good honest quote
0117 956 7411
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downendvoice
February, 2022
23
n ADVERTISING FEATURE
Afew tips to keep the whole family healthy SUTTON Chiropractic in Downend specializes in keeping the whole family healthy, thriving and getting the most out of life. This means your child’s health is at the very core of our practice. Making sure they are developing naturally and getting the best start in life is something that drives us every day. With colic being a very common problem in the first few months, we’ve put together a guide for you and your family to help your newest additions using natural methods. We love seeing children get the best start in life, allowing you to enjoy those precious early months with them to the full.
Does my baby have colic?
The main sign of a child experiencing colic are intense crying episodes. Now of course all babies cry, but if your little one
is healthy and well-fed but cries more than 3 hours a day, 3 days a week for at least 1 week, then this is most likely colic. Other signs include: • Bringing their knees up to their tummy or arching their back • Writhing and squirming when lying flat on their back • Clench their fists • Going red in the face • Experiencing lots of wind • They have become hard to soothe/settle
What’s causes colic?
There is no consensus on the exact cause of Colic, however, common explanations are; gas, infant acid reflux, food allergies or sensitivity such as a cow’s milk allergy (see reference 1). Tips for dealing with colic at home • Lots of cuddles when they’re unsettled
popular due to its effectiveness. If you’d like to know more about how we can help your children get the best start in life through natural means, we’d love to help. We want to help provide your family with the best of health so you can enjoy your time with each other for many years to come. Remember, Chiropractic isn’t just about parents with bad backs; it’s about the whole family thriving and getting the most out of life.
Reference 1
Matt Sutton • Sit them upright during feeding to stop them swallowing air • Wind them after feeds and gently rock them over your shoulder • Rocking in their Moses basket/ crib, or pushing them in their pram • A warm bath can help • Changes to mum’s diet if she’s breastfeeding – try having less dairy If you’ve tried our guide but are still having no luck, chiropractic care is a safe and natural method of relief from the symptoms of colic. Supported by 26 years of research analysed in the British Medical Journal (see reference 2) and listed on the NHS website as a treatment option, this gentle and natural treatment has become more
NHS Colic guide https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ colic/
Reference 2
“Manual therapy for unsettled, distressed and excessively crying infants: a systematic review and meta-analyses” https://bmjopen.bmj.com/ content/8/1/e019040
SPECIAL OFFER: New patient consultation £20 If a previous patient consultation free of charge
Rates: £38 a session (adult) £22 under 16 years old or blocks of sessions at a discounted rate starting of £31 Christchurch Family Medical Centre, North Street, Bristol BS16 5SG T: 0117 214 1636 W: www.suttonchiro.co.uk FB: @suttonchiro E: reception@suttonchiro.co.uk
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downendvoice
24
February, 2022
WILL & PROBATE ADVICE
99% of clients recommend Simpson Solicitors How do you choose the right legal support to look after and protect you and your family? With Wills and Powers of Attorney, the issues are so very personal that you need to feel confident your legal advisor is someone you trust, and someone who will take the time to understand what you want to achieve. You know that using a firm of solicitors will give you the extra protection of high standards of legal training, insurance, and protection against unexpected charge, but which firm of solicitors is right for you? Probably the best way would be to ask clients of the firm, but that is not always possible. So our local specialist Wills firm Simpson
Solicitors have carried out research with 625 of their clients who agreed to take part, and the results are in.... 99% of their clients said they were so pleased they would recommend their Wills and Powers of Attorney service to their friends and family." For further peace of mind, this is backed up by their South West offices having 149 (as we go to print) 5 star reviews on Google. Also they won the prestigious 2020 Law Firm of the Year in the Wills and Probate awards. John and Michelle BadenDaintree opened Simpson Solicitors at a time when many firms are closing local offices. They pledge to provide our area with a conveniently located local Wills Service at competitive prices. This includes free home visits. John says, “I am so proud of our team of friendly legal advisors for achieving such impressive results. We stayed open throughout
Covid-19. Covid-19 has shown everyone the importance of using a local Wills service that is open when you need it. I also think it is important that we include a complementary after care service to our clients and their family” Michelle says, “We aim to make every client feel Welcome, Wanted and Cared For. We constantly strive to improve the service with free home visits if getting to the office is difficult, evening meetings, free secure storage of documents, and our promise of No Hidden Costs” The service starts with a free advice meeting which they will take as long as you need and will cover issues such as who you trust to appoint as Attorney to support you if you became too ill to make decisions on your own. To book your free meeting, just call their friendly team on 0117 960 8594.
Melissa Witter
Sigrid Grind
Kings Chase Shopping Centre, Kingswood
0117 960 8594 www.simpsonsolicitors.com
FREE WILL REVIEW
WE’LL MAKE SURE YOU’RE NOT REMEMBERED FOR LEAVING BEHIND LEGAL PROBLEMS Simpson Solicitors’ award winning team will help you do the job properly. Protecting those you most care about with Wills and Powers of Attorney. At the FREE review meeting we’ll take as long as you need to consider what is best for your particular situation. Then we offer clear fixed prices with no hidden costs.
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On your own Your Will is how you decide who will inherit from you. Living Together Avoid disputes and provide for your partner in the
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Parent Wills In case the worst happened, provide for children under 18 and decide who you would want to raise them. Later Life Wills Protect your family’s inheritance from Care Home fees and Tax Lasting Powers of Attorney Ensure your wishes are followed by appointing those you trust, in case of serious injury or illness.
Wills
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BOOK YOUR FREE MEETING: Call 0117 960 8594 OR message@simpsonslawuk.com OR Michelle at Simpson Solicitors OR pop into our Kings Chase Shopping Centre offices in Kingswood (opposite Costa). If getting to us is difficult, our FREE Home Visit service covers Bitton, Downend, Fishponds, Hanham, Kingswood, Oldland, St George, Staple Hill, Warmley, Willsbridge and surrounding areas.
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February, 2022
downendvoice
25
n CHURCH NEWS
Churches unite in prayer for the community AT the start of January, five local churches took up the task of praying continuously over a whole week for the community around the area: for the businesses, shops, schools, services, local councils and all the residents. That’s prayer 24/7 for 7 days. The time was divided into hour slots, so the baton passed from one to another each hour. Over 100 people prayed in their homes, in groups or out while walking. One of the participants said: "It’s like a Parkrun. "I know I can run at any time, but I’m much more likely to do it when I know hundreds of others are there with me, to encourage me. It’s the same with prayer.” The bell at Christ Church Downend was tolled every day at 7pm as a reminder that prayer for the community is taking place. The bell is usually rung to mark a monthly day of prayer on the first Friday of the month, as well as for our services, so if you hear the bell being rung, you’ll know what it means. Church bells used to be rung to encourage people in prayer and also to warn the community of trouble by being rung continuously as an alarm. Hopefully the latter won’t be needed! If you would like someone to pray for you, your family, business etc please get in touch with any of the local churches, through their websites.
Members of Christ Church Youth toll the bell for the week of prayer
Anita Dobson
The Badminton Road Methodist Church Advent Shed
Celebrating community DID you get chance to look at our Advent Shed at Badminton Road Methodist Church? Members of uniformed and young people’s groups, and individuals helped to create this wonderful display. The celebration of Jesus's birth is over for another year, but we believe God is still among us. The scene celebrates the kindness and service shared within the community, which is something to be grateful for all the time, not just at Christmas. Thank you everyone for the amazing ways that you help and support others. For more information about our church visit www.badmintonroadmethodist.org.uk. Naomi Sharp Church and Community Worker
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26
downendvoice
February, 2022
n NEWS
Graffiti blitz GRAFFITI has been removed from more than 90 sites in Staple Hill as part of a drive to make high streets more welcoming. South Gloucestershire Council StreetCare teams have blasted spray-painted tags from 92 walls in the area during clean-ups over the course of last year, tackling another 37 in Kingswood. Downend is next on the list for a visit from the clean-up team. The project is part of the council's Help us Thrive plan for the area's high streets, with the aim of making them more appealing for residents and visitors, and increasing footfall for businesses and traders. Council cabinet member for communities Rachael Hunt joined the team during the clean-up and helped to remove graffiti in Kingswood. Cllr Hunt said: “We want our neighbourhoods to be places that our residents are proud of, and graffiti can blight local communities and bring down the appearance of our High Streets. "Clearing the graffiti has made a significant difference to the aesthetic
Councillor Rachael Hunt has a go at removing some graffiti in Kingswood appearance of these areas, with businesses and the local economy set to benefit from more welcoming town centres and more people likely to visit. “I really enjoyed working with the team to remove some of the graffiti and it was hugely satisfying to see how the area was uplifted afterwards. "Any additional graffiti discovered during the clean-up was removed to improve the general appearance of the area, so we noticed a positive difference straight away. "My thanks go to the team for their
continued work as they move to Downend in early 2022.” This project was funded by European Regional Development Fund. As well as cleaning up public spaces, the council clean-up team can remove graffiti from private property for a charge, with the consent of the owner. People are being encouraged to report graffiti on the council's website at bit. ly/3zKFOZv. Anyone who sees someone spraying graffiti should call the police on 101.
School's focus on black history The Bristol black history display at St Augustine of Canterbury school
PUPILS at a Downend primary school have been learning about the achievements of some famous black Bristolians. Head teacher Mark Hilliam said teachers and children at St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School decided to extend Black History Month to the whole year, for each class to research a black resident of Bristol who made a difference to the city. The children all contributed to an eye-catching wall display called ‘Be Proud of Black Bristolians’, featuring information and portraits of people including St Paul's Carnival founder Carmen Beckford and Bristol Bus Boycott organiser Paul Stephenson. In February they are set to welcome Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, who will visit the school to give a talk. Mr Hilliam said: "Having Marvin Rees visit St Augustine’s is a tremendous honour and a wonderful way to cap off our research on famous black Bristolians. "The children are looking forward to asking him what it is like to be mayor and find out about his important roles and responsibilities."
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downendvoice
May, 2018
— Issue 63
FREE EVERY
MONTH IN
www.dow nendvo
DOWNEND,
ice.co.uk
It's all syst ems go! MANGOTSFI
ELD, STAPL
Staple Hill Tailoring
Alteration All Types s To Garments Of Profession by al Clothier Open: Mon-Fri
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101 High Street, Sat 9am-3pm Bristol BS16Staple Hill, 5HF
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LEY HEATH
Viaduct reop ening - and Metrobus ready to roll
Narnia comes to Downend
Viaduct works, right, Aslan was and a one 74 scarecrow of an impressive Metrobus a movie-the s created for stop, med trail in Downend, left Emersons AFTER almost Green and Bromley Heath a year of delays, diversion s and disruption Church Infant in aid of Christ Avon Ring School. , the Road closures PAGE 10 Road is set reopen at to fully Bromley Heath. July last year. Bus service : Page 6 The contrafl changes: Page 7 Once the ow system Metrobus introduce launch: Page d on the A4174 is reopened westbound viaduct work to repair 8 while lane on the the 2+ lane and bus close in both Heath Viaduct the Bromley A4174 were directions reinstated the due between was Wick to carried out Wick be was set to and be at Hambroo the traffic lights the Hambroo roundabout and last weekend removed during the settings fromk returned to their the contrafl k traffic lights for of April. ow to be removed, But some before the began. with diversion of the roads work have been which s signposte shut during published South Glouceste d and roadwork online. the s could rshire Council says The road - a move which now stay closed the ring road closure is at 8pm on was set to close protests from has brought needed on Friday, April remove the order to reopening 27, some residentsmotorists and at 6am on contraflow safely. April 30, system . when the Monday The ring road repaired southern Council cabinet was due to viaduct will Dave Sibley member for transport to traffic for reopen is opening the first time Colin Hunt South Glouceste “We’re pleased said: since rshire's first micropub Turn to Page that this major in 7 shop in Staplea former carpet Hill. PAGE 19
Staple Hill first micro to get pub
Craig An th
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downendvoice
February, 2022
n NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL MP
Booster jabs will help us look forward
Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton & Bradley Stoke
I WOULD first like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and healthy new year. I hope you managed to make the most of the festive period and enjoyed some down-time with loved ones. I hope also this year will be the beginning of a return to normality for all of us. I spent Christmas and New Year with my wife, Andrea, and our son, Clifford, however after Andrea and I both tested positive for COVID-19 on Christmas Eve, our celebrations were smaller than intended, but special nonetheless! Thankfully, I had been called for my booster jab a few days prior, which was administered by the fantastic team at my local Bradley Stoke surgery. I would again like to reiterate that the efficient service on offer from the staff and volunteers at our local healthcare providers with this vaccine has been second to none. I sincerely thank everyone who is involved in helping our country get through this pandemic – and allowing us to finally start looking forward. Across the country, over 35 million booster jabs have now been administered: a truly phenomenal effort and a clear example of how the government can work efficiently with the pharmaceutical and science sectors, alongside our fantastic NHS, to deliver on the people’s priorities and to protect us all. To those who are eligible for the booster jab, I encourage you all to book in to receive it as soon as possible. I am very pleased that there are now 4,800 more doctors and 10,900 more nurses working across the NHS than there were last year and that Government have funded the service accordingly to achieve this. As schools and businesses welcome back students and staff for the new year, the Government has remained fully committed to our recovery, whilst taking sensible precautions where necessary to keep us safe. Over 31 million Covid test kits have been supplied to schools across the country to encourage face-to-face teaching, ensuring students continue to receive the highest education possible. In addition, 8,000 air cleaning units have been provided to early learning centres, schools and colleges to improve ventilation. For businesses which have continued to be disproportionately affected by coronavirus, a further support package exceeding £1 billion has been announced by the Government, which includes grants for the hospitality and leisure sectors and additional support for the Culture Recovery Fund. Since speaking in Parliament and meeting Government Ministers about this initiative, this has been invaluable support for many local businesses at a time of need, such as Aerospace Bristol, which received several hundred thousand pounds from the Government. I have been truly moved and really impressed with how our communities have pulled together and looked out for each other during this awful pandemic. It has been wonderful to see so much kindness and patience and I hope that, after the pandemic, this will continue. If I can be of any help to you on any matter, or you would like to book a surgery appointment to see me, please call my office on 01454 617 783 or email jack.lopresti.mp@parliament.uk.
27
n NEWS
Library to shut for month DOWNEND Library will close for a month for building work to be carried out. South Gloucestershire Council is upgrading the library's facilities to include a public toilet for disabled people. Currently people who need to use the toilet have to use the staff facilities, and the library service is adding the new one to improve covid safety and make life easier for visitors to library events. The library is due to close completely from February 14 until March 13 while the work is carried out. In the meantime people can use Staple Hill Library, which is staffed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 5.30pm and Saturdays from 9.30am to 1pm, and Emersons Green Library, which is staffed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am to 5.30pm and Saturdays from 9.30am to 1pm.
Pigeon rescue FIREFIGHTERS were called out to rescue a pigeon that had got stuck in netting in Downend. Avon Fire and Rescue Service said a crew from Yate answered a call to "reports of a pigeon in distress" at around 1pm on New Year's Day. They used a ladder to climb up to where the pigeon had got stuck in netting, about 3m off the ground, in Downend Road, before cutting it free. The pigeon was then taken to a vet by a member of the public.
TUESDAY
FRIDAY
Downend
St Augustines Church Hall Boscombe Crescent BS16 6QU Tuesdays at 9.30am and 11.00am
Tel.Anna-Marie 07854177308
WEDNESDAY Staple Hill
The Salvation Army 21 Broad Street BS16 5LN Wednesdays at 5.15pm and 6.45pm
Staple Hill The Salvation Army 21 Broad Street BS16 5LN Fridays at 7.30am 9.00am and 10.30am Anna-Marie 07854177308
Tel. Anna-Marie 07854177308
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Scotney Castle by Brian Kinsman
downendvoice
28
February, 2022
n DOWNEND FOLK CLUB PREVIEW NEXT AT DOWNEND FOLK CLUB:
SUTHERING 'IF WE TURN AWAY' ALBUM LAUNCH (WITH FULL BAND AND SPECIAL GUEST DOM PRAG)
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2022, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND A VERY special evening indeed awaits South Gloucestershire’s music-lovers as one of the country’s most highly-rated emerging folk duos launch their debut album at the award-winning Downend Folk Club this month. Suthering (which means "the sound of the wind through the trees or wind under a birds wing”) combines the musical talents of Julu Irvine and Heg Brignall. A couple in life and in music, the duo have taken the folk scene by storm with their unusual and fresh approach to folk. Julu and Heg are true story-tellers who champion female characters, creating new narratives for women and unearthing the female heroines of folk. What sets them apart is their wonderful chemistry and charisma on stage, natural humour and two beautifully matched voices. With an unusual mix of cascading, dramatic piano; intricate, fingerstyle guitar; flute, whistles and harmonium, Julu and Heg bring an exciting take on folk storytelling with their evocative and distinctive sound. Their arresting a cappella
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SUTHERING arrangements have been memorable favourites with audiences. Their debut album If We Turn Away explores themes of community, connection, environment and conscience is very much a reflection of the times we are living in and has been influenced by the duo’s experiences during the pandemic. Each song is carefully crafted and arranged, telling tales of struggle and triumph against all odds; from both their own lives and from stories they have found. The album is a tonic for the divisive times we are living through. “We’re searching for light in this long, cold winter” sings the chorus of the first single Gather, which is an offering of strength and hope and is accompanied by a beautiful video filmed on
Dartmoor. Julu and Heg will be joined by Olivia Dunn on violin and Sarah Rickets on double-bass, the launch gig being the only opportunity to see this expanded lineup on their tour. The evening’s entertainment will get underway with a short set from Dom Prag, whose music knits together British and European folk tradition, classical guitar, mining songs, unaccompanied singing, poems set to music (e.g. Keats, Larkin), compositions influenced by Schubert and Shostakovich, bluesy riffs and raw vocals. Tickets for the event, which takes place at Christ Church Downend on Friday 18th February 2022, are available online at www.downendfolkclub.com and from Melanie’s Kitchen in Downend (cash only). They are priced at £14 each in advance or £16 on the door. There will be a bar, stocking cider, soft drinks, wine, hot drinks and locally-brewed real ale from Hambrook-based Hop Union Brewery (formerly GWB). Audience members are encouraged to bring their own glass/mug/tankard/bucket, as well as reusable bottles for water, as part of the club’s drive to be more environmentally aware. There is now a 50p discount for those bringing their own receptacles. There may be mulled wine and mince pies… watch this space! There are 100 tickets available, and over a third have already gone at the time of writing. For further information, please email downendfolkclub@live.com or visit the club’s website.
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February, 2022
29
n DOWNEND FOLK CLUB REVIEW A WINTER UNION (SUPPORT FROM LIZZY HARDINGHAM)
CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND, FRIDAY DECEMBER 17, 2021
SO here it is, a Downend Folk Christmas, and everybody’s starting to have fun. In this very strange end to a(nother) very strange year Christ Church is hung with lanterns, lights twinkle on various trees and familiar faces gather to sing and smile, to exchange greetings and catch up with end-of-year chat and to listen to some of the most beautiful Winter-y music that 2021 could possibly offer. If the Downend Folk Club Christmas show reminds us of anything it is the importance of community; of friends and neighbours, of those around us that have helped us through the whole of this tricky eighteen months. A Winter Union themselves gather for just a few weeks a year but they are well worth the wait. Ranged across the stage are five familiar faces to those that love a bit of modern folk music. They are, as Ben Savage puts it early on, "... the office party of the folk music scene. Or the business meeting of the folk music scene. With cheese and wine." Aside from Ben we had his normal foil, Hannah Sanders (Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage); Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts (of award hoovers Gilmore & Roberts); and Jade Rhiannon of country-folk heroes The Willows. The sum of these special parts is really very special indeed. It was pretty clear where the evening was headed after the first song - a harmony-drenched rendition of Ding Dong Merrily On High that featured the fantastic fiddle playing of Katriona and the twin guitars of Ben and Jamie. This wasn’t the only traditional carol that we were treated to either. As the evening progressed so the church rang to the strains of I Saw Three Ships, In The Bleak Midwinter and a particularly spooky and off-kilter God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. There was something of the theme tune to weird Christmas-y TV show The Box Of Delights about some of these. Particularly when Hannah dusted down her dulcimer and it wound itself around Ben’s dobro. The perfect combination of folk and Christmas. Don’t get the idea that this
A WINTER UNION evening was all deep and crisp and even though. There was just as much West Coast of America as there was chilly English Holly boughs. Time and again the five voices felt as though they were straight out of Laurel Canyon circa 1968. Imagine if Crosby, Stills, Nash, The Mamas & The Papas and bits of The Lovin’ Spoonful had got together for a Christmas sing-along at the Whisky a Go Go - it would have sounded just like this. Lovely harmonies, a ragged companionship, incredible musicians. Winter songs by The Band and Townes Van Zandt only helped with that impression. English folkishness kept on peeping through and much of it was thanks to the absolutely exquisite voice of Jade Rhiannon. Both The Holly and The Ivy and Elizabeth Woodcock were glorious but her harmonies on virtually every song were incredible. In Hannah, Katriona and Jade, A Winter Union has three voices that, quite frankly, you could listen to until August let alone for a couple of hours in December. Add the Fairport vibes of Our Wassail, a better-than-the-original cover of Jethro Tull’s Ring Out, Solstice Bells and Katriona Gilmore’s staggeringly beautiful Every Midnight Mile and you had a recipe for instant Christmas cheer. Adding to the festivities was a short set from relative newcomer Lizzy Hardingham. Two carols, as befits a Christmas show, and a handful of original songs were made extraordinary by an unbelievably powerful voice. Clearly honed in choirs she fitted perfectly into the vaulted space of
the church. If every carol sounded like her version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen then every pew would be full every week. Equally impressive was the song for bees - Harvester of Gold - although she did apologise for it being a bit too summer-y. Her’s was yet
another amazing voice to add to an evening of amazing voices. 2020 was a year without a Downend Folk Club Christmas in it. This Christmas it was so lovely to be amongst friends once again. Words: Gavin McNamara Photo: Barry Savell
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February, 2022
n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR
Mak ing public transpor t better I FINISHED my last Voice column welcoming the new more frequent half-hourly train services between Temple Meads and Severn Beach. Transport issues continue to dominate my New Year work for you, too. January 15 was ‘National Pothole Day’ and I know the huge frustrations people have about this issue. The statistics show they cost West of England motorists over a million pounds a year in repairs, and for cyclists they can be very dangerous. So I’m pleased to be allocating up to £125 million to help local councils across our region repair potholes over the next five years. Last year I was deeply proud to secure for the West of England the biggest per head investment in transport from the government in the country – over half a billion pounds. In 2022 we will see the first of that £540m invested, with an initial focus on buses. I am also creating West of England Sustainable Transport, which will gradually
bring together buses, trains, e-scooters and other new public transport under one umbrella. The aim is to give you and your family and friends more reliable, affordable, greener and safe ways to travel – especially for the 23% of local people without access to a car. In time, you will be able to travel from A to B much more seamlessly as different types of transport become integrated. We will begin by improving some existing routes, and as more money becomes available, expand to new places. Sadly, such improvements are complex, so won’t happen overnight, and we will need to make big choices together, but I’m truly excited about what this significant sum of money can do to improve our local travel. Just as the classic ‘roundel’ design is iconic in London, our transport network needs a great logo too. I want the design to be inspired by you – West of England residents and passengers. So
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I’m running a competition open to all to help influence that logo. Entries are open until Friday February 12. Then the designs and ideas of local people will be finalised by professional designers who are working on the whole transport brand. I’m really excited to see what you come up with. I’m keen to see a design that is from the people, and for the people. Please join in by visiting www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/logo-competition for more details. Our region is amazing. Together let’s make it the very best it can be.
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February, 2022
31
n STYLE ADVICE
Beasavvy sustainableshopper LOVE clothes shopping but want to do it in a more sustainable fashion? Choosing to shop pre-loved (the modern term for second-hand) can help you dress well and make a positive impact on the planet. It’s no secret that the production of new clothes comes with a price to the environment and shopping for second-hand clothes, which are less costly, is good for your purse too. It’s a win-win! Hunting for bargains takes a little skill, but browsing in charity shops and shopping on pre-loved websites can be a great way to fill gaps in your wardrobe and develop an individual style. Fancy trying it? Here are some tips on how to do it successfully: • First off, know your measurements. Charity and pre-
loved shops sell clothes from all different sources: sizing will vary. There may also not be an option to try on garments before you buy them, so take a measuring tape with you. • Shop with an open mind. Charity shops and websites will likely have just one size in any one item, so it takes a little longer to find pieces perfect for you. The upside is it will be a unique item to suit your individual style. • Create a mood board. Try using the Pinterest app to collate images or create a physical board using cork board and images of outfits you like cut from magazines. This helps give you an idea of looks you want to replicate and buy only what you need. • Support local shops whenever possible, and get to know staff. Shops take in new stock daily and staff will be able to direct
you to new pieces that might work for you as they come in. • If shopping on the internet, watch how vendors communicate with their clients. Read past purchasers’ reviews to learn the quality of the stock and how well they are treated. • Check clothes over carefully. Worn clothes have been washed. They may be misshapen or shrunk, have buttons missing or zips broken. If buying online, zoom into pictures to check for any faults. • It’s worth knowing that national charities have online shops. Check out www.onlineshop. oxfam.org.uk and find the British Heart Foundation and British Red Cross shops on www.ebay. co.uk. • Lastly, if it’s a high-end piece you’re hoping to bag then head to websites such as www.
Gail Painter writes for the Voice
vestiairecollective.com for preowned designer goodies. Not sure what to wear or how to wear it? Email your fashion and style questions to info@notgivinin. com and look out for the answers in future issues of the Voice. www.notgivinin.com
A WARM WELCOME AWAITS AT QUARRY HOUSE NURSING HOME Providing top quality, best value, holistic care Quarry House in Fishponds offers safe and nurturing care We are now enabling close contact visits in the home, every resident is able to have an essential care giver, and there is no isolation required for new residents from the community. We still have a varied activity schedule which keeps life interesting and happy.
We also ensure: • Strict Infection Control measures approved by Public Health England are fully implemented • Care staff wear PPE at all times and we have ensured a high volume of supply • Skilled nurses are on site 24/7 and respiratory equipment is at hand • Safe face-to-face visits where possible
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n NEWS A NURSERY in Emersons Green has been rated inadequate by Ofsted after inspectors visited in response to a complaint. The education watchdog gave its lowest possible rating to the quality of education, leadership and management and children's personal development at Busy Bees Day Nursery in St Lukes Close, while inspectors said the behaviour and attitudes of youngsters required improvement. The company that runs the nursery said it was "very disappointed with the outcome" and had already taken action to improve. Ofsted made an unannounced inspection of the nursery in November after it "received concerns" that the nursery was not meeting some of the legal requirements of the government's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, which sets the standards all providers must meet, covering learning and development, health and safety, and the knowledge and skills children need to start school. Inspectors Karen Allen and Terri Breakwell said: "The provider has failed to monitor the nursery sufficiently. "Senior managers and staff do not fulfil their roles and responsibilities to promote children's welfare or their learning and development. "Children's safety and wellbeing are at significant risk because safeguarding practice is weak. "Children's learning and development are significantly compromised because staff fail to implement a well-designed curriculum effectively. "Staff do not know what they want children to learn and do not plan purposeful activities that focus on children's individual needs." The inspectors did say that staff were "friendly and caring" and "deploy themselves well enough to supervise children". They also said children were encouraged to behave well and some showed they were "happy and settled" at the nursery. But their report outlined a series of specific criticisms, including "limited interaction" of staff with children during outdoor play, which left some pre-schoolers to "wander
February, 2022
Nursery children's safety at risk, says Ofsted
Busy Bees Day Nursery in Emersons Green aimlessly", "chaotic" handovers of children between parents and staff, and a failure to ensure child protection records were properly maintained. The inspectors said a "high turnover of staff" and changes to the management team meant parents did not know who their child's key worker was, and did not feel "sufficiently informed about their children's care, learning and development or how they can support their children's learning at home". A number of weaknesses in keeping and sharing safeguarding and protection information put children at "significant risk of harm", the inspectors said. The inspectors issued a notice requiring the nursery to improve in nine areas covering safeguarding, child protection, staff qualifications and training, improving the delivery of the curriculum and sharing of information with parents. A subsequent visit to the
nursery in early December by Ofsted found that the safeguarding and welfare action it had called for had been implemented. Busy Bees in Emersons Green is part of a national chain of more than 30 nurseries. A company spokesperson said: "Whilst we respect the findings and content of the report, we are very disappointed with the outcome and have already taken actions to improve. "We strive to deliver only outstanding childcare at Busy Bees and are working hard to provide that for both parents and children. "An action plan has been put in place to address all the areas identified during the inspection and we are sharing that with parents so they can see that progress is being made. We have already made progress on many of the actions raised and are working very hard to achieve the necessary improvements." Busy Bees area director
Niki Eyles said: "We have and continue to invest in staff training and are ensuring the needs of children are being met at all times. "During their visit the inspectors did recognise and comment on areas of good practice, and acknowledged that a new team was in place at the nursery and they would need time to bed in. "We are committed to improving the nursery and will bring it to the standard parents and children expect of us." "We recognise the need for high quality, caring and motivated staff and for a well led strong team to care for children. "We believe that with the strong leadership and management now in place we are making the required improvements. "We will do whatever it takes to support the team to deliver those improvements."
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February, 2022
33
n NEWS
Learning about life in the Stone Age CHILDREN at Frenchay C of E Primary School have been finding out about life in the Stone Age and Iron Age. A trip to Stonehenge was the highlight of a topic for the school's older children, which also looked at what people ate and where they lived in Neolithic times. Head teacher Katherine Marks said: "They were very lucky and excited to be able to go on a trip to Stonehenge, where they discovered lots of amazing facts about the site and why it was built." Pupils learned about the different types of houses people lived in and built their own models, using clay and other materials. They also imagined being tour guides for the Iron Age and created their own Stone Age and Iron Age menus after finding out about the different foods available. The final lesson involved the children using a Stone Age recipe to make bread dough. Mrs Marks said: "They scavenged sticks and wrapped the dough around them, before baking our bread on an open fire that was set up on the common! "Amazingly it worked, and they all got to try some freshly baked Stone Age bread – it was delicious."
Children make Stone Age bread over a fire on Frenchay Common An official consultation on increasing pupil numbers at Frenchay has been opened. South Gloucestershire Council is proposing to increase the school's admission number from 20 to 30 from September 2023. The council says the number is in line with "anticipated demand in the local area" and is stage one of the enlargement plan for the school, which is due to open on its new
site this September. The school will eventually provide up to 420 places – 60 children in each year group – once the new site has reached full capacity. Anyone wanting to comment on the admission numbers was being advised to email charlotte.johnston@southglos.gov.uk by January 28.
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34
February, 2022
n PAGE PARK FRIENDS
Get snapping for our photo competition
THE year may have only just started but the Friends of Page Park are already on the lookout for some breathtaking images for their 2023 calendar. The volunteer group has launched its 2022 photo competition, which runs until the end of June. It is calling on photographers to send in up to four photos of the park and its wildlife, taken through the four seasons, in landscape format. As in previous years, a judging panel including a professional photographer will pick out their favourite 12 pictures, with the best chosen to go on the front cover of next year's calendar. The panel will judge photos for
The Friends of Page Park are looking for pictures like this one, by Paul and Su Bradford, for next year's calendar originality, photographic appeal, composition, technical ability and interpretation of the theme.
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The competition is open to people of all ages, although entrants aged under 16 need to supply the name of an adult giving consent to take part. Pictures should be taken in Page Park and be in landscape format, sent as jpeg files between 2Mb and 5Mb in size. Spots and scratches can be digitally removed from pictures and they can be made brighter or clearer but colours should not be digitally enhanced. Pictures should not include any people or dogs. Entries should include the
photographer's first and last name, contact phone number, address and age and say where in the park the photo was taken. Entries can be sent by email to pageparkcompetition@gmail.com and more details are available at the Friends' Facebook page and online at www.friendsofpagepark. co.uk. Last year more than 100 photos were entered into the competition and around 1,100 copies of the calendar were sold in the park, on stalls at local events and in shops around Staple Hill and Downend. A few are still available at the Bean Tree Cafe in the park and some will be on sale at the Valentine's fair in Fountain Square on February 5. Friends vice-chair Steph Purser said: "The calendars have been a really good fundraiser for us and we would like to thank all of the community for supporting us and traders for selling them. "In the last couple of years we haven't been able to do much other fundraising in the community so they have been really good. Every penny goes into the park. "We are looking forward to seeing more great photos of our local park."
Join the jubilee celebrations PLANS for a celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in Page Park are taking shape. The Friends of Page Park are organising an open air event on Saturday June 4 in the park with live music, entertainment and food. The event will kick off at 11am and Friends vice-chair Steph Purser says people will be welcome to either bring along a picnic or have lunch from one of the food stalls being lined up. There will also be charity stalls, children's activities and fairground rides. Steph said: "We want people to come along and spend the whole day in the park, so we're praying for good weather! "The idea is to bring people together for a celebration." The music programme for the bandstand is already beginning to come together but the friends are still looking for more ideas and more volunteers to help make the day a success. Anyone who would like to help out should email friendsofpageparkbs16@gmail.com to contact the Friends. Platinum Jubilee Weekend celebrations to mark the Queen's 70-year reign will take place over four days from Thursday June 2 to Sunday June 5, and many preparations are already underway. Both June 2 and 3 will be bank holidays, and communities, individuals and organisations are already being invited to start organising events, which will range from a live concert at Buckingham Palace to beacon lighting ceremonies and Jubilee Lunch street parties across the country. The 70th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne falls in February but the jubilee weekend has been set for June, in the hope that it will have better weather.
To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 946 1169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579
downendvoice
February, 2022
35
n NEWS
Vicar 'broke down barriers' A MEMORIAL event for former street pastor Reverend Andy Mason took place in Kingswood to mark the day of his funeral. The drop-in event at Kingsmeadow was organised by Kingswood ward councillor Andrea Reid, who was close friends with Rev Mason. Attendees could watch the funeral being live-streamed from St James’ church in Poole, where Rev Mason lived, sign a book of condolences and talk about their memories of him. Reverend Beverley Charles, team rector for Kingswood and Hanham, also streamed the funeral at Holy Trinity church for those who wanted to watch it there. She then joined the memorial at Kingsmeadow. Rev Mason, age 44, died in December following a car accident. He is survived by a wife and daughter. He worked in Kingswood for a decade until 2017 and had been
Andy Mason due to do a book launch at Holy Trinity church just days after his death. His time in the town included being vicar at Holy Trinity church, work at Kingswood Foodbank and Bourne Family Project and working as a street pastor. Cllr Reid said around 30 people had attended the event or watched the streaming of the funeral. She said: “It was a really beautiful funeral. Andy had a health scare the year before he
died and it led him to plan his own funeral, which you don’t usually get with someone so young. “That meant the event felt as much like Andy saying goodbye to us, as it was us saying goodbye to him. He was a really good friend and everywhere I go in Kingswood now I remember seeing him there. “He helped me rebuild after I escaped domestic violence 10 years ago. I mentioned this at the memorial and someone else there replied, ‘Oh, so you’re one of us, a survivor.’ “Just like that, a barrier was broken down between someone who had seen me as a hoity-toity councillor but realised we had something in common. Being a councillor is what I do, not who I am. “Andy was brilliant at breaking down barriers and I try and emulate that in my own work.”
n LETTER Thanks for bringing light WHICHEVER council was responsible..South Glos or Downend Parish,...... congratulations and thank you for the excellent lighting and the Little and Large lit christmas trees. They were a tremendous morale booster in these miserable times although some in our area clearly disagreed by trying to rip off some of the lights on the large tree. Thankfully they generally failed though apparently then went off to cause damage elsewhere in the area. But the council did a great job of quickly rectifying the vandalism. Alan Elkan Downend Editor's note: As reported in January's Voice, the lights were thanks to the Christmas In Downend Working Group, which involved both councils and volunteers
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February, 2022
nW HAT’S ON IN OUR AREA January 23 n MENTAL HEALTH MATES BRISTOL has been running since Feb 2019. We meet every few weeks to get people walking and talking and making those connections that are so important. Mental Health Mates is a very relaxed group and we are here for everyone. Whether you are lonely, isolated or struggling. Everyone's experience of helping someone with a mental health issue or dealing with their own health, matters. Our next walk is sunday 23rd January, meeting at 2pm In the Ashton Court golf course car park. There is also information on our social pages; facebook: mental health mates bristol Instagram: MHMBristol Website: www.mentalhealthmates.co.uk January 25 n BRISTOL ADVANCED MOTORISTS Group Monthly Meeting at BAWA Southmead Road Filton Tuesday 25 January 2022 Meet 7.15pm for 7:30pm The GWR Badminton Line, Building and History. Members of the public are invited to our first meeting of 2022 when on 25 January Alan Freke will give another of his fascinating talks. Some will remember Alan's previous entertaining talks to us about JS Fry & Sons and his ‘sixty years as a Bodger’. This time he talks about the Great Western Railway.January 29 n A WARMLEY JAZZ SPECIAL. Kevin Grenfell's Jazz Giants, Cadbury Heath Social Club, BS30 8BX.
GOT AN EVENT? email us at: news@ downendvoice.co.uk or call us on 07715770377
Doors 7pm, music 8pm to 10.30pm. Admission £10, bar, refreshments & raffle. Optional prebooked Mario’s Fish & Chip Supper Served at 7.30pm - £5.50. Tickets from Carol Coombs on 07770 750327 or email carol@applause. co.uk. February 3 n SPEAKER MORNING AT LINCOMBE BARN. Coffee available at 10.15am, talk 10.45am until 11.45am. Subject: Downend in Bloom, with Jackie Baker. Entrance to hear talk, £2.50. Refreshments extra. Please do come along - you will be made to feel very welcome. February 5 n STAPLE HILL CHAMBER OF TRADE VALENTINE'S MARKET, Fountain Square, 10am until 4pm. February 10 n DOWNEND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY talk at the Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend, 7.30pm. For more details call Roger Davis on 0117 957 1703 or Hilary Walton 0117 979 2832. February 21 n DOWNEND SENIOR FILM CLUB Monday 21st February at 2pm, Red Joan (12A) Starring Judi Dench & Sophie Cookson. The story of Joan Stanley, who was exposed as the K.G.B.’s longest serving British spy. Tickets: £4.00 including tea & cake. Carers welcome, easy access For more information and to book, please call 0117 435 0064. Christ Church Hall, 57 North Street, Downend BS16 5SG
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? Why not become a member and find an interest group to join. Go to www. bristolu3a.org.uk for details. Monday n MEDITATION SESSIONS IN FRENCHAY The pandemic has made us more mindful of our lives, what we miss and how we connect with others and nature. We shall be restarting the meditation groups at Frenchay chapel in September beginning with an introductory Talk on Meditation practices. It will relate to ways we can achieve peace and happiness - including an award winning programme element to share and discuss. Free to anyone, 4pm Sunday 5th September at Frenchay Chapel . We look forward to seeing you. Or just come along to the sessions that run from 3rd Monday each month at 7pm Frenchay Unitarian Chapel BS16 1ND from 20Sept for the Person-centred Group Meditation and 1st Wednesday at 7pm from 6th Oct for the Kundalini movement meditation. Blessings to you. For more information 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
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 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. No meeting in December - our next meeting is January 18 at 2.30pm at Christchurch Centre, Quakers Rd, Downend. For further information please ring May on 0117 957 3695. Season's greetings to all. 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 239 3875 Wednesday n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB: Would you like to arrange flowers? Friendly club meets at 7.30pm on the first and third Wednesdays, from September
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February, 2022 to June, at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road. For more information call Joyce on 0117 956 8978. 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. You would receive a warm welcome by this happy choir who have at least three concerts a year whose repertoire includes items from Shows, Abba, Beattles and general popular songs which includes appropriate pieces for the time of year. For more information contact the Secretary on 0117 9561881. n DOWNEND SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB starts back on Wednesday October 27th. 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. If you are interested in our activities 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 is 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 Wednesday evening at 7.15pm at Upper Horfield community Centre ( next to Eden Grove Church ) New members welcomefirst visit free so come along and
downendvoice give us a try. For more info contact Sheila on 01179570792 or shinett@ blueyonder.co.uk. Thursday n BRISTOL MALE VOICE CHOIR has returned to regular rehearsals and is looking for new members in its tenor, baritone and bass sections. You don't need to be a reader of music, but if you can hold a tune, and enjoy singing , whatever the style of music in our wide-ranging repertoire, then come along to our regular Thursday rehearsals held from 7 till 9 at St Andrew's Methodist Church, Elm Park, Filton, Bristol BS34 7PS. We will rehearse observing whatever Covid requirements are in force and we look forward to seeing new singers as well as experienced returning singers. For more information go to our Facebook page, our website - www. bristolmvc.org.uk - or contact our secretary on 07941 040472. n BARN BELLS handbell ringers meet at Lincombe Barn, Downend, from 2-4pm weekly. Anyone who can read music is welcome to join. Friday n TAI CHI FOR PARKINSON’S. Weekly beginners Tai Chi & Qi Gong class for people with Parkinson’s disease, their families and carers. We meet for Tai Chi, tea and cake at Lincombe Barn, Downend. BS16 2RW. Time: 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. Warm and friendly group run by volunteers from St James Church: everyone welcome to attend. Every Week day n MATHS TUITION IN EMERSONS GREEN. AM/PM week days. Years 1-11 (primary/ secondary), GCSE, 11plus, problem solving. 1-1 and group sessions. Email numerikstutoring@gmail.com, facebook.com/ NumeriksTutoring. Enhanced DBS. Safeguarding trained. FREE assessment.
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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. Sunday n EMERSONS GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH has now resumed normal face-to-face church services. Church services are held every Sunday morning from 10.30am11.30am at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emersons Way. For more information contact Rev Kevin Donaghy 0117 9575418, e-mail church.egbc@ outlook.com or visit www.emersonsgreenchurch.org n BADMINTON ROAD METHODIST CHURCH. In-person Sunday worship continues weekly at 10.30am and all are welcome. We are still taking a cautious approach and ask people to wear a mask. Contact: Revd Samuel Uwimana: 0117 239 5984 or www. badmintonroadmethodist.org.uk
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WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words: email us at: news@downendvoice. co.uk or call us on 07770 700579 / 07880 731148
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38
February, 2022
n NEWS
Coach's wipeout is a winner with Noah HE may have been covered in more mud than glory but sports coach David Senart was happy to relive his calamitous tussle with the Total Wipeout course to make a Downend fan's day. David is a coach at basketball club Bristol Storm and made a Christmas video for his teams at the end of last year, including footage of him taking on the TV show's unforgiving assault course for an episode screened back in 2011. Viewers delighted seeing players dumped in water from a great height and punched into a mud bath by mechanical boxing gloves on the show, which ran for six series. David's attempt on the course saw him end up in the water and mud several times and finish in last place. But little did he realise that to Noah Parfitt, the brother of one of the players in the Bristol Storm women's squad, his run made him something of a hero. Noah, who has autism, is
David Senart meets Noah Parfitt
a Total Wipeout superfan and although the show finished more than 10 years ago, he remembered David's appearance well. So Noah's mum Miriam asked David, of Frenchay, if he could come and meet Noah. The coach, who is a coordinator for UWE's policing apprenticeship course, decided
to go one better and, as a surprise, asked members of a Total Wipeout contestants' Facebook group he is a member of to record some messages for Noah. Nine of them responded and David turned their clips into a video. Miriam said: "David really went above and beyond.
"He came over and let Noah ask him questions for nearly an hour but also he had reached out to other people he knew from the show and made a video with loads of people wishing Noah Merry Christmas and giving him a little message. "Noah was able to ask what the course was like, how big were the big red balls, what was (presenter) Amanda Byram like and what were the other contestants like." David said: "Noah was so excited to meet me I felt like a celebrity – it was really quite cool. "He was really excited talking about my run and the show. "He remembered watching it when it aired – I stand out because I failed spectacularly!" "It was really important to him so I wanted to make him happy." You can see David's attempt on the total Wipeout course at youtube.com/ watch?v=yv0gXrILLSw.
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February, 2022
39
n NEWS
Nic gives frank account of cancer journey A DAD who has inoperable cancer has written a book to help others live with the disease. Nic Collins was first diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in 2015, after noticing blood in his urine one day at work and deciding to get himself checked out. He had his right kidney removed around two months later, and was given a ten-year remission period. But in 2019 cancer was detected again, this time in lymph nodes in his chest. The following year, cancerous cells were discovered in his pancreas and he had part of it removed. Now Nic has cancer in his left lung, chest wall and abdomen, and is taking targeted therapy tablets, which succeeded in shrinking the cancers. He is sharing what he has learned from nearly seven years of living with the disease in a book, To Be Frank: One man's journey through cancer, which has been published in paperback and as an ebook. Nic, who lives in Barrs Court,
The cover of Nic's book
Nic Collins with daughter India, wife Michelle and daughter Erin at the book launch initially started to write down this thoughts and experiences with a view to producing a leaflet that could be printed and left in hospitals, to help other people who had just had a cancer diagnosis. He said that when he was first given the news he was handed forms and a photocopied leaflet about hospice care, which "scared the living daylights out of me". Nic said: "If I'd had some of the information I now have, it would have made the first few weeks a lot more bearable. "I thought writing a leaflet would mean people would know not to be quite so scared of it and know what's coming next." But once he had written more than 41,000 words on what he has learned and how life
has changed for himself, wife Michelle and daughters India, 21, and Erin, 17, Nic had a book on his hands. He said: "The book is not so much about my ongoing treatment but my acceptance of it and how I've been lucky enough to have my immediate family on the journey." Aged 48 when he was diagnosed, Nic is now 55 and reconciled to that fact that there is no cure for his condition. He said: "Chasing it around with operations isn't doing any good. "I have good days and bad days. "I've always kept a positive slant and never got caught up with doom and gloom." The book's title is a tribute to Nic's dad, Frank, who died less
than eight months after being diagnosed with cancer, at the age of 69, having not told anyone about the early warning signs he had seen. Nic said: "Had my father not been in that position, I would've probably ignored it when I first found something wrong. "If I hadn't reacted when I did, I wouldn't be here now – there were no other symptoms. "Knowing what happened to my dad has given me more life, to a great degree." Nic, who works as a car salesman but is currently on statutory sick pay, said that as well as giving people who are diagnosed with cancer an idea of what might have in front of them, he also wanted to share the emotions they could expect to go through. Michelle said the book dealt with the emotions of events including the "horrific" experience of Nic being in intensive care following his pancreas surgery alone, as the first wave of Covid-19 hit the NHS. She said: "Nic is very frank and honest. Women tend to go away and talk about what they're experiencing and share it – men don't, they tend to hold on to it and don't necessarily think about the emotions." Nic officially launched the book with a reception at the Kendleshire golf club on January 9. It is available in paperback and on Kindle via Amazon, and £1 from every copy sold goes to Cancer Research UK.
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February, 2022
n DOWNEND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY n DOWNEND GARDENING CLUB AT LINCOMBE BARN
Favourite flowers bring so much joy
Snowdrops in flower
Early blooms are a sign of hope OUR gardens are waking up, with the snowdrops, crocus, grape hyacinths and helleborus all coming into flower. Our winter jasmine has been in flower for four months now. We had a good show of indoor hyacinths which the members had grown at our January meeting. The veg garden is still looking good - and the digging, when the ground is dry enough to get on it. We are looking forward to going out to see some winter gardens. Our next meeting is on February 10 7.30pm, a horticultural talk at the Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend. Call me on 0117 957 1703 or Hilary Walton on 0117 979 2832 for more details. Roger Davis
AS we welcome the month of February we also look forward to seeing the snowdrops: they are such delicate little white flowers, which light up the garden. As I was writing this, my snowdrops were just poking through the ground – by the time you receive your copy of the Downend Voice I hope they will all be in full bloom. I have plenty of single ones and am now gradually planting double snowdrops in the green, planted in pots so I know where they are. There are lots of named varieties, so perhaps it is time I looked out for some. The hellebores are beginning to flower. They make a good showing in our winter gardens, and let us know that spring is just around the corner. I expect you all have favourite winter flowers and shrubs which make our hard work worthwhile. My winter flowering jasmine brightens up the fence. I have swept up some of the leaves, but not being too tidy, wildlife can then scratch around and find something to eat. The RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch - held this year on January 28 to 30 - is a good way to spend an hour and
see which birds pay us a visit. During the winter months we can see the bare structure of our gardens and take stock. Have we room for a pond? It can be quite small: insects do not need large ponds, birds will drink from a small pond, frogs can make do with a little pond to settle down in. I have a couple of broken pots set in the soil for frogs to hide in. Nothing goes to waste. I have been looking at bird nest boxes that may well be a good addition, and will be something else to watch in a quiet moment. I definitely need another bee box, so I will have an excuse to go to the garden centre and have a look around. It will almost be time to begin planting seeds for our summer displays, and begin taking dahlia and chrysanthemum cuttings. If we are going to try and grow some vegetables this year it means we can look for seeds and try something a little different. What about potatoes in containers if you have little room? Time I took a walk around my garden to see what I will need to do next. Happy Gardening. Mary Head, Secretary
n CHRISTINE'S COLUMN
Winter indoor gardening WHAT do you do if you are a keen gardener and it is blowing a gale outside, in the middle of winter? Most gardeners look at seed catalogues and plan their new crop rotation, but not me. For a start, I have not the rightsized garden for crops, neither have I an allotment and I have not started growing vegetables amongst my flowers. You may well ask, what is my winter interest? Some readers may stop reading here when I mention cacti and succulents. I only have a small collection of both, and they capture my interest through the sometimes very uninviting weather
conditions outside. I suppose I have always had a fascination for cacti. At home we had a very sunny windowsill in the dining room and it provided ideal conditions for cacti. My slowly-growing cacti collection is right by the patio door. Luckily, the cacti and succulents get the sun nearly all day. A few years ago I bought a lovely cacti book. Not only is it very informative but it is illustrated with the most beautiful, colourful flowers. For them to flower, so the book says, you have to keep them dry throughout the winter months.
This will somehow encourage them to flower in the warmer months of the year. Most flowering plants, at their right time, usually bloom but I am beginning to realise cacti are not like that. I have followed the instructions on how to care for them to the last detail, but only one has produced blooms. This year I am going to look for another cacti and succulent book to further my interest and knowledge. I am not so choosy as to which cacti I buy but when it comes to succulents I do have preferences, so I only have three echiveras, a mother-in-law's tongue and an
with
Christine Broadway agave, which I have had from quite a small specimen and has needed repotting – ouch! Christine Broadway
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February, 2022
41
n PHOTOGRAPHY WITH DOWNEND CAMERA CLUB
Bluebells by Ian Boulton
Top shots DECEMBER saw our annual competition, where the six winning entries from each competition held throughout 2021 went forward to be judged against each other. As all of these competitions were held online, for this year there were no prints, only digital images. Even so, the sheer variety of pictures made for an interesting, open contest. Third place was taken by ‘Bluebells’, by Ian Boulton, a different take on a familiar subject, as instead of presenting the customary carpet of blooms in a woodland setting, here an individual flower is shown in detail. There is the usual issue with close-up photography, namely the shallow depth of field that allows only a part of the flower head to be in focus, but with the contrasting blurred background it makes an arresting picture. ‘Fungi’, by Wendy Lockyer, was placed second: another appealing, creative image. Triptychs are
Exmoor ponies in the mist by Helen Sheppard notoriously difficult to get right, as the three images have not only have to work individually, but also complement each other. Here, each of the three toadstools have been attractively photographed, with similar backgrounds and lighting. Interestingly, the judge did comment that the central image could well stand alone, without the support of the other two. The winning image was ‘Exmoor ponies in the mist’, by Helen Sheppard, and it was the mist that gave it the top place. In
the judge’s view the picture had such an evocative feeling that it deserved the top title. And so that was it, the competition calendar completed for another year, although by the time you read this the first competition of 2022 will already have got underway. Downend Camera Club is a friendly informal group who normally meet on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at the Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend. Actual meetings are currently suspended,
although scheduled to start again soon. Through the pandemic we have continued with a programme of online photographic presentations as well as regular online competitions. The Club has a Facebook page and a website at www.downendcameraclub. org.uk that shows details of the club, members' galleries, past competition winners and a forum for discussion of all things photographic. Ed Shorney
Fungi by Wendy Lockyer
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42
February, 2022
n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
Living with uncertainty I LIKE to know what’s happening – to plan ahead, to take control of my diary, to feel secure. Maybe you’re like that too. The covid pandemic has rampaged through such aspirations and uncertainty has been the order of the day. There can’t be a single person in our community whose plans haven’t been disrupted in some shape or form. We’ve realised that we can’t take anything for granted and whether we’ve suffered deep personal loss or just a disruption to our preferred routines, it’s been a deeply unsettling time. Now it seems that the omicron variant is diminishing and there are signs of hope – students are
told that they can plan towards exams as normal in the summer term; many are booking that long awaited city break with a degree of optimism; and any remaining restrictions seem likely to be relaxed in the not to distant future. Even now though there are no guarantees – uncertainty is here to stay. In fact it always has been and always will be in a world such as ours. I’m fairly certain that Manchester City will win the Premiership, I’ve got a great degree of confidence that the NHS will weather the covid storm, but I’m not so sure about the impact of rising energy bills and high inflation. So where do I turn?
In the Bible the writer to the Hebrews speaks of ‘A hope which is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.’ In the midst of the storms of life, blowing us first one way and then the other, faith in God and in his son Jesus provides an anchor point and a fresh perspective which can sustain us through any circumstance life throws at us. I’ve experienced that personally recently through a time of bereavement; others I know have found that same security through ill health, relationship issues, job loss and debt. The Christian faith speaks of hope now and hope for eternity – such hope sustains and equips men and women, boys and girls
Paul Peterson Associate Minister Christ Church Downend
to face the uncertainties of life with security and confidence. Find out more at a church near you!
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downendvoice downendvoice
February, 2022 April, 2020
43 41
n LOCAL HISTORY
The Mangotsfield forger who ended up on a banknote Historian and Mangotsfield Residents Association member David Blackmore looks at the fascinating story of Francis Greenway WHEN Mangotsfield-born architect Francis Howard Greenway was sentenced to death for forgery in 1812 it looked like the end of a once-promising life. But instead Greenway would find fame on the other side of the world, as Australia's first government architect. His work on buildings such as St Matthew's Church in Windsor, New South Wales, St James' Church and Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney, even saw him appear on the back of the Australian $10 note from 1966-93 – probably the only forger ever to be given such an honour. Born in Mangotsfield in 1777, into a family who had been stonemasons, builders and architects for generations, Greenway became an architect "of some eminence" in a private practice in Bristol and Bath. His only surviving UK building is the Clifton Club in The Mall, Clifton, originally the Clifton Hotel and Assembly Rooms. In 1809 Greenway became bankrupt and in 1812 he pleaded guilty "under the advice of his friends" to forging a financial document. He was sentenced to death; this sentence was later commuted to 14 years' transportation. Why he pleaded
guilty is unknown; he may have been told it was the only way to save his life. Whilst awaiting deportation, Greenway spent time in Newgate Prison, Bristol, where he painted scenes inside the jail. Greenway arrived in Sydney on the transport ship General Hewitt in February 1814, followed in July by his wife Mary, whom he had married about 1804, and three children. Allowed much freedom after his arrival, he began private practice immediately. He was self-confident, temperamental and quick to take offence, but his artistic abilities were great and he had a full command of the techniques of his profession. In 1815 Governor Lachlan Macquarie called on Greenway to report on the Rum Hospital being built for the government. His criticism was devastating. The builders had to make costly alterations to the building and Greenway made the first of a long list of enemies. In March 1816 he was appointed civil architect and assistant engineer at a salary of 3 shillings a day, with quarters for himself and family, a horse and forage. His first work for the government was to design a lighthouse, known as the
Macquarie Tower, at Port Jackson. Macquarie was so pleased, he presented Greenway with conditional emancipation. When Greenway was called upon to design a new government house Macquarie left it entirely in his hands. He promptly designed a castle and began a stable block so grand that it was often mistaken for Government House itself. But Macquarie was already in trouble with the Colonial Office over his building programme, and when the new extravagance became known in London, the secretary of state forbade the castle. In the meantime Greenway designed many other buildings, several of which remain and, despite their mutilated condition, are considered valuable gems of Early Australian Colonial architecture. One, the court-house at Windsor, New South Wales, has been beautifully restored and is the closest to a complete Greenway design that has survived. He earned an absolute pardon from Macquarie in 1819 but by that year his arrogance made him misjudge his authority. Having already made many enemies, he now fell out with Macquarie. A long series of quarrels, also involving Commissioner John Thomas Bigge, saw Greenway side with first one politician then another, until he made his position impossible by suddenly presenting a bill for £11,000 for fees for buildings he had designed while an employee of the government. Macquarie's successor, Sir Thomas Brisbane, sought to curb Greenway and, although he continued to design buildings, public servants and builders paid
Greenaway on Australia 10 dollar note, 1968
Francis Howard Greenway, unknown artist, State Library of New South Wales less and less attention to him, altering his designs without telling him. He was dismissed from government service in 1822 but refused to give up the house which went with the job and produced a document – now thought to be a forgery – which purported to give him title to the house. The government did not recover the property until after his death. Macquarie had granted Greenway 800 acres of land on the right bank of the Hunter River, which he farmed, but it was marshy and poor. Greenway maintained that he had been promised town land for building. He also never relinquished his claim for £11,000 in fees. But as he had made so many enemies, these claims received little attention. Greenway continued his private practice but with only one considerable commission and his professional life ended around 1828. His wife, Mary, ran a small school for young ladies. She bore him five sons and two daughters: one son, Charles, became an archdeacon and canon at Grafton Cathedral. In 1837 Greenway died in the Hunter River Valley and was buried in a small cemetery in a lonely paddock outside East Maitland. There is no tombstone or marker over his grave.
To contactGary Garyonon0779 0779 946 946 1169 1169 Or Or 0117 To advertise, advertise, contact 0117 907 907 8585. 8585. Email: Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got GotNews? News? Call Call Linda Linda On On 0777 0777 0700579 0700579
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February, 2022
n AROUND THE WIs org.uk.
STAPLE HILL WI WELCOME 2022 – our programme is ‘jam-packed' with meetings. We started with our January Christmas/New Year meal. When the local businesses are a little bit quieter we can enjoy a social evening with great food. This year was the Grapevine in Mangotsfield, who have always extended a warm welcome. In February we will have James Hyden from the Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline speaking to us. The charity raises money for the children affected by the consequences of the disaster in April 1986. Amongst other things, they provide recuperative breaks in the UK away from the high background radiation levels. Are you reading this and thinking that you would like to meet new people? You may not be able to commit lots of time but 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. Join us in Christ Church Hall on North Street in Downend. Come and make new friends, learn new skills, enjoy a cuppa and some cake! Looking forward to seeing you all soon. You can drop us an email to find out more at katetarr@avonfwi.
Kate Tarr
MANGOTSFIELD WI IT all seems such a long time ago now, but our trip to Stow-on-theWold market was a great success. The weather was mild and dry. Unfortunately the road was closed just past Cirencester; we missed the diversion sign and ended up travelling narrower and narrower roads. Just when we thought we would end up at a farm gate, we came across a signpost! It was a lovely day. We were really lucky to get a parking space right outside Lucy’s 300-year-old tearoom, where we had coffee and a snack, followed by a wander around the market stalls. It was only a small market but there were plenty of other shops to explore and pick up those lastminute Christmas bargains in. One of our members found an artisan coffee roasting shop and stocked up on delicious coffee. On the way back we stopped off at the Close Hotel in Tetbury, where we had a lovely meal. In December, for our Sapphire Anniversary, we had Mario’s fish'n'chip supper delivered to us by Santa and his helper [members’ husbands]. We had Felix Sürbe, a pianist and accompanist who works in musical theatre, and Naomi Willmott, a local singer. Felix played requested songs from the shows and later accompanied Naomi in a selection of Christmas songs. Finally, Naomi concluded the evening with lively dance songs – a chance to get up and boogie. One of our members hand made ‘sapphire’ brooches for all of us and another who volunteers for
the homeless thanked everybody for their donations. On January 2 a car-load of members went to the panto at the Playhouse in Weston-super-Mare to see Jack and Beanstalk – oh yes we did! It was a super performance, at this lovely theatre. Our next meeting is on January 31 and we are looking forward to having a bit of fun, with a silent auction of Santa’s mistakes. In February we are planning to begin celebrating our Queen’s platinum year with an afternoon tea and entertainment. To find out more about us you can take a look at our Facebook page or go to our website, www. mangotsfieldwi.org.uk. If you are not a member but would like to join us, please let me know by emailing president@ mangotsfieldwi.org.uk. Carol Coombs
DOWNEND WI
EXCITING news – we are changing venue! For our January meeting, we will be at Badminton Road Methodist Church Hall and will be holding a non-alcoholic wine tasting. No-alcohol wines and spirits have become very popular in recent years. As well as saving money, 65% of people who take part in Dry January notice improved health, and 70% of people sleep better. Members will be able to try a selection of alcohol-free red, white and sparkling drinks. It is also Downend WI’s eight-year anniversary, so happy birthday to us! Our February meeting is with local personal stylist Gail Painter, who will be giving a style talk,
advising on how to create the perfect capsule wardrobe, dressing with confidence and sustainable style. As a personal stylist, Gail is up-to-date with fashion news, what’s in store and all the latest trends. This should be a very fun, informative evening. We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm. If you would like to find out more, please contact our president, Julie, at Downendwi@yahoo.co.uk. Deb on behalf of the Committee
BEECHMERE BELLES WI AFTER the last two years, we are seriously hoping that we can meet up every month in 2022: we really don’t want all that again. We have planned our first few months of the year, and it's looking like a good start. Along with our usual and highly popular craft evenings, we have a visit from East Bristol Auctions, who will help us to identify the best items for us to take to auction, a look into mindfulness and meditation, and we will be holding a "Right Royal Occasion" to commemorate our Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We meet every fourth Thursday of the month at 7.30pm, at Emersons Green Village Hall. As you can see, we have speakers, craft nights and demonstrations, along with a raffle – and all with a cuppa and obviously cake. You are very welcome to come along at our next meeting to see if it’s for you. Beechmere Belles Emersons Green & Lyde Green WI
n LIBRARY NEWS News from Downend, Emersons Green & Staple Hill libraries • Would you like to improve your mental wellbeing, but not sure where to start? Why not come along and meet your local Wellbeing Coach to get information, advice and make a basic plan to help start these changes? FREE sessions available at Emersons Green Library (2nd Friday each month) 12pm – 1pm and Staple Hill Library (4th Thursday each month) 10.30am – 11.30am. To check dates and register a place go to www.oneyou.
eventrbite.com • Ancestry.com – all of our libraries subscribe to the family history website Ancestry. During the original Lockdown until the end of the 2021 it was possible to also access Ancestry via our website from home. This arrangement has now finished but anyone with a library card can access the website with all of its resources for FREE by logging onto our public PCs in the libraries. • Downend Library temporary closure – Downend Library will closed completely from 14th February until 13th March for building
work (hopefully these dates wont change but visit www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries or phone 01454 865022 to check). Downend residents can, of course, use Staple Hill Library (staffed on Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays 10am – 5.30pm and Saturdays 9.30am – 1pm) and Emersons Green Library (staffed Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays 10am – 5.30pm and Saturdays 9.30am – 1pm). Open Access is available in both libraries 8am – 7.30pm, seven days a week. Stock from Downend Library can be returned to these libraries too.
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February, 2022
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n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC
Newplansetsout prioritiesfor police I AM delighted to announce that I have recently published my new Police and Crime Plan, which will set the strategic direction for how policing and crime services should be delivered in Avon and Somerset. As I mentioned during the consultation process last autumn, I have a legal duty to produce a plan that sets out my police and crime priorities for the force area, as well as how I will hold the Chief Constable to account. After consulting with local people, working with my team and Avon and Somerset Police, my four police and crime priorities are: • preventing and fighting crime; • engaging, supporting and working with communities, victims and partner organisations; • leading the police to be efficient and effective; • increasing the legitimacy of, and public confidence in, the police and criminal justice system.
I am determined that local people will have the most efficient, effective and legitimate police service that meets the needs of communities while delivering the best value for money. I will be working with my office to monitor and scrutinise the performance of Avon and Somerset Police, in a transparent way, to help ensure delivery of the plan. I want the force to reassure our communities by putting an emphasis on preventing crime. My plan will support this through focusing on strengthening partnership working, greater visibility, better engagement within communities, early intervention, reducing reoffending and, most importantly, improving the outcomes and support for victims and witnesses of crime. Preventing and fighting crime cannot be done by the police alone: only by working together with partners and local people will we find solutions. I
promise that, as your PCC, I will do everything in my power to engage with you and bring these partners together to work hard and deliver safe communities for all. Finally, I want to urge family members of online daters to help protect their relatives from becoming a victim of romance fraud, as new figures show almost £92 million has been lost nationally through dating scams over the past year. Across Avon and Somerset, losses of £2.4m were reported in the 12-month period up to and including October 2021. Romance fraud is an awful, heart-breaking crime; victims invest time into someone and think they have a genuine connection when, in fact, it has been a cruel lie to commit fraud. Criminals often use a range of stories to get victims to transfer money without raising suspicion. The stories are often believable, to a certain extent, and something the victim would find hard to say
With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford no to, especially because of the emotional attachment. I know many victims feel ashamed when they realise they have been scammed by romance fraudsters, but please know support is available from the police and Action Fraud. If you think a family member or friend is a victim of this terrible crime, please make them aware of the signs and help them access help.
n NEWS
Warning over insulation scams PEOPLE are being warned to be on the lookout for doorstep fraudsters trying to push them into installing "spray-in insulation" they don't need. South Gloucestershire Council says there has been a rise in cold-calling scams targeting "vulnerable" homeowners, who are told the insulation they currently have is either likely to cause damage or will soon become illegal. They are then persuaded that they should opt for an alternative ‘spray-in’ insulation which is sold at an inflated price by the rogue installers. The council has issued a warning which says: "Dishonest companies often use databases of people aged 70 and over and lists of properties that have already had spray foam insulation installed to target potential victims. "Commission-based salespeople then visit, posing as expert surveyors, to pressure homeowners into signing contracts for unnecessary and
Overpriced spray foam insulation is being sold by doorstep scammersPicture: South Gloucestershire Council expensive work. "This work is often carried out within days, to avoid homeowners changing their minds." The council has its own home energy advice service and is encouraging people not to feel pressured into paying for upgrades to their homes. Cabinet member for housing Ben Stokes said: "Through our Warm and Well service,
residents can access independent expert advice and, in many cases, grant funding towards work that improves their property’s energy efficiency. "This can help people make significant savings to energy bills and supports our efforts to tackle the climate emergency. "Unfortunately, scams like this undermine confidence in legitimate insulation schemes, which rarely use doorstep selling
tactics. "Our guidance is always to seek advice yourself and if you’re concerned that you may have been targeted by a scam, contact Trading Standards via the Citizen’s Advice helpline.” Advice on spotting and avoiding the tell-tale signs of scams can be found online at warmandwell.co.uk/scams. Bernadette Muldowney, who leads the Warm and Well team, said that, while insulation was one of the best ways of cutting energy bills and fighting climate change, "unscrupulous" companies were taking advantage of people’s best intentions to sell expensive work that was not needed and could even cause long-term damage to homes. The Warm and Well service is delivered by charity Severn Wye Energy Agency and funded by South Gloucestershire Council and six other councils. For free advice from Warm and Well call freephone 0800 500 3076.
To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 946 1169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579
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February, 2022
n DOWNEND IN BLOOM
Choosing our summer displays WELL, all the decorations are down and life is back to normal after the Christmas excitement. We seem to have had a lot of dreary, rainy days over the summer, so I was really pleased a few weeks ago to be planning our summer bedding plants that we order. We have over 1,500 delivered about May/June time, and we do try to vary them slightly each year. It is quite a difficult task, as what you think looks good together and seem quite bright when you are looking at them don’t always work so well when you put them together. This year we have gone for a range of petunias, surfinia, trailing lobelia and begonia – my favourites being the Baby Doll and Night Sky petunias, which are always very colourful. The petunias we order are taken from cuttings rather than seeds, and apparently this means they do not need deadheading, as the ones grown from seed do. A really useful thing, as we have so many of them.
It is always a mammoth task to organise how many of each go into the different planters and always a worry when they start growing in June, hoping they will all flourish and work well together. When they are planted up they always look very sparse as well, but with the good compost and slow-release fertiliser, they are soon growing well and fighting for supremacy in the container! It is always a huge relief when the order is in and we know we can’t change our minds anymore. We are also starting up our monthly tidyups in the High Street this month and a list of these are published on our Facebook page – along with our overdue AGM, which we are hoping will finally happen (covid permitting) March 9 at 7pm, at the Cleeve Hill Tennis Club. We are always pleased to see new people at In Bloom, so if you would like to come along and join us at our tidy-ups or the AGM
please do – just look for anyone in a yellow high-vis with D&BH in Bloom on the back and we will show you what to do! We may even be in a coffee shop having a well-earned rest! Jackie Baker
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n NEWS
Run Bath Half for Jessie May CHARITY Jessie May is encouraging supporters to sign up for this year's Bath Half Marathon. The charity has places left for fundraisers running in the event on March 13, which regularly sells out months in advance. Jessie May is a Kingswood-based charity that provides specialist palliative care to terminally ill and life-limited children and their families. Jessie May has a team of dedicated nurses who provide palliative care during a child’s life, and bereavement care for families for five years after a child's death. Jessie May supporter Beth Shirt said: "It was a privilege to run the Bath Half Marathon for this amazing charity, raising vital funds to benefit the incredible children and families that the Jessie May nurses support." To contact the fundraising team call 0117 958 2174 or email charlotte.bugler@jessiemay.org.uk. For more details visit the website at jessiemay.org.uk/events.
Valentine's market TRADERS in Staple Hill have organised Love on the Hill, a Valentine's-themed event, to brimg in visitors. It takes place at Fountain Square on February 5 from 10am to 4pm. The Staple Hill Chamber of Trade are planning gift stalls, along with food and drink, entertainment and a Valentine's photo booth. The event is the latest in a series aimed at bringing new life to the shopping area, and follows family fun days and the return of Christmas on the Hill last year. Organisers are looking for entertainers to take part in this and future events – anyone who is interested should email staplehillchamber@gmail.com for more information. An artisan and craft market is planned for March 19.
To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 946 1169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579
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February, 2022
47
n NEWS
Community awards for Staple Hill stalwarts TWO pillars of the community in Staple Hill have been recognised with awards. Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion chair Ian Campbell and Staple Hill Salvation Army, represented by Colin Hylton-Jones, have each been given South Gloucestershire Chair's Community Awards. Ian's award was to recognise his role in driving the revival of the RBL branch, which was suspended when he moved to the area five years ago. To save it from closure he pulled the committee together to organise new events, ranging from lunches and quizzes to coach trips and holidays abroad. Ian said: "We've tried to bring a lot more fun to it." The work paid off: the branch is now the fastest-growing in the county and membership has doubled. A new website and Facebook page have transformed the group's communications and, during the lockdown in 2020, were used to stream online Remembrance services which Ian filmed and organised in collaboration with other local organisations. The branch, which has members from across the Staple Hill, Mangotsfield, Downend and Emersons Green areas, raised more than £42,000 in last year's Poppy Appeal. Ian, who was a senior aircraftman in the RAF, where he specialised as a photographer, now works as a communications manager for the British Forces Broadcasting Service and remained in the RAF Reserve until last year.
Ian Campbell of the Royal British Legion and Colin Hylton-Jones of the Salvation Army (centre left and right) with Clive Heath of Mangotsfield Residents Association and Staple Hill councillors Michael Bell, Ian Boulton and Katie Cooper He said the award was "testament to the work that my committee has done in getting the branch going again". The Salvation Army has been serving the community in Staple Hill for more than 100 years in a variety of ways, from hosting lunch clubs and providing food parcels to brass band performances at the area's Remembrance parade and Christmas events. During the covid pandemic, when its regular events had to be suspended, the Salvation Army hosted an emergency food bank at its Broad Street base, with food and prescriptions being delivered to elderly, disabled, vulnerable and other people in need.
As restrictions ease the Salvation Army is working to gradually build back its full community programme, which also includes toddler song and story time sessions, toy collection and donations and home visits. The Sunday services are in the process of building back up to pre-pandemic levels, when the congregation regularly numbered around 140 people. As well as leading the Remembrance Sunday parade through Staple Hill, the Salvation Army Band performs at many concerts, with around 350 people turning out in the rain for the recent Christmas Eve 'carols around the tree' concert in Fountain Square. Colin, the Salvation Army's
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joint minister alongside his wife, Nicola, said that while members did not seek recognition for their work, it was good to have it. Both awards were made after nominations by Staple Hill & Mangotsfield councillor Michael Bell, supported by fellow ward councillors Ian Boulton and Katie Cooper, and Mangotsfield Residents Association chair Clive Heath. Cllr Bell said: "The Salvation Army in Staple Hill has served the local community for very many years in so many ways." Clive said: "Colin and his team do an excellent job, not just through Covid but all the time." Cllr Bell said Ian's award recognised his individual role in reviving the RBL branch. LOW
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MOVING YOU SINCE ‘92
downendvoice
February, 2022
49
n HUNTERS PROPERTY OF THE MONTH Lyde Green £550,000 HUNTERS Estate Agents, Downend are pleased to offer for sale this Charles Church built "Kearsley" design detached family home, which occupies a secluded position at the end of a cul-de-sac with a pleasant open aspect to the front overlooking a green space with Walnut tree. The property is conveniently situated for access onto the Avon ring road, for major commuting routes and for the Bristol cycle path, as well as being within easy walking distance of Lyde Green Primary School and local park. The amenities of Emersons Green are only a short distance away and include a wide variety of independent shops and supermarkets, coffee shops, restaurants, library, doctors surgery and banks. The property offers spacious and well presented accommodation throughout which comprises to the ground floor: entrance hall, cloakroom, a large lounge with French doors leading into the rear garden, a separate dining room which could also be used as a study, kitchen/breakfast room fitted with an extensive range of white high gloss wall and base units and incorporates may integral appliances. The kitchen has bi-fold doors leading into the rear garden and a door leading into the utility room. To the first floor there is a family bathroom and four generous sized bedrooms. The master bedroom has a modern en suite shower room and built in wardrobes.
HE RE TO GET
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Externally there is a good sized mainly laid to lawn rear garden with paved patios, off street parking for two cars with electric car charging point, and a single sized garage with power and light. Additional benefits include; gas central heating, uPVC double glazed windows and four years remaining on the NHBC warranty. An internal viewing appointment is highly recommended and can be arranged by contacting us on (0117) 9561234.
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Based locally in South Glos
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February, 2022
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n M COLEMAN ESTATE AGENTS PROPERTY OF THE MONTH
M
E S T A T E A G E N T S
M.Coleman are offering a fantastic incentive for vendors looking to put their property on the market during the months of March and April 2016. For all properties instructed during this period proceeding to a successful completion M.Coleman Estate Agents will meet your Energy Performance Certificate and Solicitors Selling costs. * Including VAT excluding disbursements. We provide a quality service to all our clients based on traditional values of honesty, integrity and courtesy. Our team benefits experience extending beyond 100 years and this expertise is passed to you to ensure we achieve the best possible price for the sale of your home. We listen to our client’s needs and believe communication is paramount in providing the best level of service throughout the selling process. * Terms & Conditions Apply – Please ask for details
M
Coleman
M COLEMAN Estate Agents are always pleased to offer for sale properties on the highly sought after Riverwood Development and this four bedroom detached dwelling of Dressed Bath Stone is no exception. Positioned on a prominent corner plot with detached double garage, we are sure this property will attract interest from an array of potential purchasers. The spacious and versatile accommodation is laid out over two levels and can be adapted to meet the needs of the buyer. The capacious lounge/dining room boasts a dual aspect with leaded light windows to side and rear elevations and an imposing inglenook fireplace lends a warm and homely atmosphere; French doors lead to the garden. The sense of light continues in the kitchen/ breakfast room, where there is a range of wall and base units with built in double oven, integrated fridge, hob and extractor hood. A door leads to a rear utility space with wall mounted gas fired boiler and space with plumbing for a washing machine. Located on the ground floor is an additional sitting room benefitting from a dual aspect with windows to both the front and side elevations. There are also a further two bedrooms that can be utilised as either bedrooms, office or reception rooms. A three-piece suite shower room completes the accommodation on this level.
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13 Riverwood Road, Frenchay, Bristol, BS16 1NX £695,000
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To the first floor are two generous bedrooms accessed from a spacious landing with storage eaves. The master bedroom benefits a fitted wardrobe, access to eaves storage and an ensuite shower room. The property sits within established gardens to the front and side, laid primarily to lawn with a variety of mature trees and shrubs. A brick-paved drive to the garages providing off-street parking for several vehicles. The two adjoining garages both have electric up and over doors, the right being tandem in size.
19 Cleeve Wood Road Downend Bristol BS16 2SF Tel: 0117 9566221 www.mcoleman.co.uk
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February, 2022
n SPORT A JUNIOR football club is sponsoring one of its former players who has come through the ranks to become a first team regular. Goalkeeper Jakob Glover was one of the first ever Mini Mangos, a team set up by Mangotsfield United for under-5s. An ever-present player as he progressed through the Mangotsfield Juniors ranks, Jakob and his teammates won three titles in the Hanham Minor League and Avon Youth League. He made his first team debut two years ago, when he came on as a substitute at Barnstaple on New Year's Day 2020 and became the first former Mini Mango to make the first team. While that season and the one that followed were curtailed by coronavirus restrictions, Jakob has gone on to make 10 first team starts this season. To support their former player and the first team, the Mini Mangos are now sponsoring Jakob for the remainder of this season, helping to pay towards kit and other expenses. Mini Mangos manager Paul Gwatkin said: "It was a proud day for Jakob, his family, Mangotsfield Juniors and Mini Mangos when he made his Mangotsfield United debut. "As an ever-present part of the Mangos
He's one of our own! Family, we are immensely proud of the progress Jakob has made from Mini Mangos to the Southern League. "It’s a high standard of football and it’s great to see one of our own standing between the sticks! "Sponsoring Jakob was an easy decision for us at Mini Mangos to make." Mangotsfield United has produced many players who went on to professional careers, with clubs from Bristol Rovers and Bristol City to Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa, including Gary Penrice, Nicky Tanner, Phil Purnell, Steve Talboys, Mike Hooper, Gary Megson, Steve White and Gary Warren – a tradition continued recently when Louis Britton was signed by City. Jakob is currently a student at SGS College, where he is studying business management and playing football under former Leeds United manger David Hockaday, who is head of male football at the college.
n ADVERTISING FEATURE 10
n NEWS
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Monday 21st February 10am - 3pm Hosted by BBC TV experts Tim Weeks and Izzie Balmer
Bring along your items for free valuation.
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SITUATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE VAN DYCK PUB ON FISHPONDS ROAD 4a Brook Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3SQ
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Jakob Glover with his sponsored shirt and, above, as a Mini Mango He said: "It's nice getting sponsorship – to know it was the Mini Mangos, from back when I started, who have been keeping an eye on me and are supporting me now, is even better. I've been with Mangotsfield my whole life and it's good to carry on going into the first team. To get a pro contract would be a dream – I'm pushing for that and playing as high as I can." Mini Mangos provides Reception and Year 1 children a "fantastic, fun start in football". For more details visit facebook.com/ MiniMangos. Mangotsfield United report: Page 59
kingswoodvoice
February 2022 BBC experts to host free day intoFishponds valuation BBC TV Experts host valuation
day in Fishponds! TIM Weeks and Izzie Balmer, known for their appearances as experts on BBC One shows Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, will be hosting Tim Weeks and Izzie Balmer are known a free valuation event in Fishponds. for their regular appearances as experts It takes place on Monday on BBC One shows Bargain Hunt and February 21 and is open to anyone Antiques Road Trip, and on Monday who would like to have their items 21st February they will be hosting a free assessed for saleability at auction. valuation event in Fishponds for anyone Tim has been a regular on our who would like to have their items screens for six years and has a assessed for saleability at auction. wealth of knowledge when it Tim has been a regular on our comes to collectable toys, sporting screens for six years and has a wealth of memorabilia, and 20th century knowledge when it comes to collectable decorative arts. toys, sporting memorabilia, and 20th Bristol-based Izzie has been century decorative arts. on Antiques Road Trip for three Bristol-based Izzie Balmer has been years and her main expertise is in lighting up our TV screens on BBC’s the field of jewellery. Izzie holds Antiques Road Trip for three years and a specialist auction for jewellery, her main expertise is in the field of silver, watches and coins three jewellery. Izzie holds a specialist auction times a year. for jewellery, silver, watches & coins three Another expert on hand on times per year. the day will be Downend resident Other expert on hand on the day will Martin Hughes, who runs the UK’s be Downend resident Martin Hughes leading auction for vinyl records who runs the UK’s leading auction for and regularly appears on TV, radio vinyl records and regularly appears on TV, and in the press. Tickets stubs, radio and in the national press sharing his posters, flyers and autographs are knowledge. Tickets stubs, posters, flyers also of interest. and autographs are also of interest. Neil Holmes, head of Militaria
Neil Holmes, head of Militaria at at Wessex Auction Rooms, will Wessex Auction Rooms will also be behand there value military on toto value anyany military related related items including items including medals, capmedals, badges, cap badges,trench photographs, photographs, watches,trench uniforms watches, and more. uniforms and more. The team have a great In addition to of thevaluers items mentioned knowledge in all areas ofhave antiques above, the team of valuers a great and collectables. knowledge in all areas of antiques and The valuation event is taking collectables. place at Bristolevent Dance Company The valuation is taking place at (located directly behind the Van Bristol Dance Company (located directly Dyck pub) between 10am and 3pm. behind the Van Dyck pub) between address is address 4a Brook 10amThe andfull 3pm. The full is 4a Road,Road, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 Brook Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 3SQ. 3SQ. Anybody unable to attend Anybody unable to attend is is encouraged contact Wessex encouraged to to contact Wessex Auction Auction Rooms 01249 720888 Rooms directly on on 01249 720888 or or enquiries@wessexauctionrooms. enquiries@wessexauctionrooms.co.uk to discuss valuations email toco.uk discuss valuations via emailvia or by or by appointment. appointment.
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downendvoice
February, 2022
53
n COMMUNITY NEWS AFTER the busy run up to Christmas with children’s parties, hamper distribution, and the lunch club Christmas special, as well as all the usual activities, the Hub had a well-earned rest over the holiday period. Mainly, anyway – there were a few emergency food parcels requested and provided. We were grateful for the donation of children’s gifts and Christmas treats from the Staple Hill Salvation Army, the Staple Hill Children’s Centre and the Kingswood Job Centre. Now we are back in action, although the new COVID-19 guidance means the office is closed and Julie is back to working from home. So she is available on the mobile (07467 097175) and by email at juliesnelling@ staplehillcommunityhub.org.uk. What will the new year bring for the Hub? Here are a few predictions: There will be ongoing and increasing demand for emergency food parcels (EFPs). The much talked-about upcoming squeeze on household income will inevitably spill over into increased food poverty. We can expect that to keep our service busy. Fortunately we have the ability to meet the demand through the readiness of our brilliant volunteers to put together the EFPs and the local support providing food to go in them. We received a bumper crop of donations from the Bethesda Church just before Christmas, and have also just collected food donated by customers at Sainsbury’s in Downend. In addition we have had financial donations from the Original Factory Shop and Bank of Ireland, which we can use to buy food. The council will renew our Service Level Agreement with them when the current SLA comes to an end in March. The SLA provides a good proportion of our income and, in return, we commit to provide various services. I hope I am not speaking too soon when I say that we expect the Council to again recognise the very good value offered by their support of the Hub. Although we are not a large charity, what we do to help people is significant, and directly
Staple Hill Community Hub – predictions for the year ahead
Supplies for the hub's emergency food parcels tackles closing the inequality gap which is one of the Council’s ‘two fundamental challenges to be met by all our priorities’. We will find new ways to support our community. Okay, so this is more an aspiration than a prediction, but I do feel we must be able to do more. Your ideas would be welcomed! We will recruit more volunteers and enable them to have the satisfaction of helping others. If we are to do more, then this will only be possible with more people. The good news is that providing worthwhile volunteering opportunities is of itself actually one of the ways in which we are able to add to our community. So it is a ‘win win’ – more volunteers means more support for people who need it and something rewarding for the volunteers. I wonder how these predictions will stand up when we come to look back on 2022? William Lee Chair of Trustees
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54
n PHOTOGRAPHY WITH LINCOMBE BARN CAMERA CLUB
The House on the Hill by Sid Stace
Midwinter blues CHRISTMAS and the New Year, that long festive holiday, are over and we now have midwinter to look forward to. Cold days, long dark nights and the hint of spring to come, with the early catkins appearing on the hazels.
A WORLD OF
Quality
This year has been unusually warm and wet so far, and most of us still have flowers somewhere in our gardens, a reminder of the summer past. LBCC has responded to the rapid rise in omicron infections by again going back to Zoom meetings, although it does save us from having to go out into those dark, wet nights – so not all bad then! The only competition in the coming month will be our annual
COVID ith secure w the 5 ent Governm es Guidelin
A WORLD OF
Choice
A WORLD OF
Value
A Winter Walk in the Woods by Bruce Gibbs 'ladies versus gentlemen' contest, a fun event that also allows us the chance to test out pictures and get an opinion on them. Last year we men were trounced. Can we bounce back this year? Watch this space. There are no competition winners available this month, after the break, so here are some photographs celebrating the various forms winter can take. My own photograph, The House on the Hill, was taken in the week between Christmas and New Year. A bright winter sun brought bright colours and long, contrasting, shadows. The deep blue of the sky provided a backcloth for the naked arms of the trees. Bruce Gibbs has a less perfect day in his photograph, A Winter Walk in the Woods, as the light dapples down through the naked trees and mist. A lone walker hunches from the cold as she escorts her dog. Joy Flood, looking to a past
winter, is also anticipating what we may still have to come with her photograph, Snow in Suburbia, as, from the warmth of her house, she peers through the window at snow-covered houses around. Brrrrr! Next month we’ll see what delight the ladies and gentlemen have produced. Notwithstanding omicron and lockdown, new members and guests are always welcome to our club (£3 if you just want to try us out). If you’re looking for company and new acquaintances, we always welcome new members. So, if you’re interested and would like to be part of our future, take a look at our website, lincombebarncameraclub.co.uk, or contact us on email at lincombe. barn@gmail.com. Stay safe and virus-free, and keep on snapping! Sid Stace
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Snow in Suburbia by Joy Flood
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February, 2022
55
n DOWNEND MEN IN SHEDS
Picking up where we left off AFTER enjoying the second half of 2021 back in our workshop, we start the New Year with some uncertainty but with a good measure of optimism. Following our participation at the Lincombe Barn craft fair, December and into January has been spent working hard to complete orders taken at the event. We have to apologise to some of our patrons, who will be patiently waiting for a phone call inviting collection of their order. Restrictions permitting these orders should all have been completed by the end of January. In November we were approached by Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council, enquiring if we would consider refurbishing the large notice board cabinet at the entrance to Lincombe Barn. The notice board had suffered the passage of time, with approximately half of the woodwork having rotted, including the wooden support structure. The notice board was taken down and transported back to our workshop, where we were able to make a thorough assessment of the work involved and material costs that would be incurred. Although a task significantly different to our normal activities, it was considered to be within our capabilities and the cabinet was disassembled and major sections transported to the garage of one of our members, where the bulk of the restoration took place. So far the carcass of the cabinet has been completed, with windows re-glazed and, if not exactly new, it has a new shine and is ready to withstand many more years of
DOWNEND MEN in SHEDS
exposure at the barn. As things turned out we have undoubtedly benefited from the foresight of the council in awarding this project to our group, as it has exposed the skills of certain members which had not previously been realised or appreciated, and may lead to further similar projects in the future. We would like to acknowledge the assistance given by the Lincombe Barn maintenance team in their on-site contribution to the project, including digging out the old posts and the sizeable mass of concrete surrounding the stumps: a heavy and dirty undertaking. Two new posts have now been concreted in position and await the return of the cabinet. We thought readers may like to see a one-off dovecote made
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by one of our members at home during the last lockdown. The materials and construction are a little different to many of our pallet wood creations.
As the structure contains six separate nesting cubicles, arranged on two levels, future residents will need to be tolerant of close company. This project was undertaken primarily for the satisfaction of making a dovecote rather than any thought of improving breeding facilities for the Downend dove population. Having spent many enjoyable hours building it, the item was sold on Facebook for an undisclosed figure. We wish the new owner every success in settling the doves into their new nesting and feeding facilities. You can contact us by email at meninsheds.downend@gmail.com.
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56
February, 2022
n SPORT
Steph closes in on motor racing dream A MOTOR sport fan is bidding to make her dream of becoming a racing driver come true. Steph Bedford, aged 32, has made the final 50 in a contest to find drivers for a women's team entering this year's GT Cup Championship. The former Downend School pupil, who has been "obsessed" with motor sport since she was a child, has already come through a field of 800 women from 27 countries to make the next stage of the Formula Woman 2022 competition, which will take place in March. Steph, who lives in Fishponds, said: “This is a lifelong dream. I have had the need for speed for as long as I can remember – one of my earliest memories is getting my brother to push me as fast as he could in a plastic car down a hill in my grandparents’ garden in Downend. "It quickly moved on to watching the World Rally Championship with my dad every year before winning an
Steph Bedford behind the wheel indoor go karting championship in Avonmouth at the age of 13. I was the only female competitor. Unfortunately, due to the cost involved in go karting I was unable to pursue my passion any further." Steph and her family also tried to get her into rallying but financial constraints and a lack of sponsorship again held her back.
But her love of cars never wavered and she trained to be a mechanic at 16, working at Heritage Volkswagen and Dick Lovett in Bristol. She currently works for CitNOW, an automotive digital video company. Steph is now looking for sponsors to support her on her way to the televised final of the competition.
She said: "With everyone behind me I genuinely believe I have what it takes to win. There are some experienced competitors, so I am working extremely hard on my fitness and racing driving abilities." The Formula Woman team is set to compete with two drivers in McLaren GT4 race cars in this year's GT Cup Championship. Chief executive Graeme Glew said: "The main goal is to create an opportunity for women who could only dream of becoming a racing driver to actually enter the competition and have a go. The objective is that the winners will compete against the men – watch this space!" Anyone who would like to sponsor Steph should email stebed50@hotmail.com. She is posting updates on her journey through the competition on her Instagram page @ stephbedfordracing. To find out more about the competition visit www. formulawoman.co.uk.
Virtual reality cricket helps players train in winter
A CRICKET club is using virtual reality technology to keep its players sharp in the off season. Stapleton Cricket Club is the first amateur sports team to work with Bristol tech firm Virti to develop videos and an app to enhance training. The club's 210 players are able to use a combination of slow motion, 360-degree virtual reality training footage - filmed at the club’s Stapleton grounds with a drone and directed by the club's coaching team - and artificial intelligence analysis of data. The 30-minute videos cover skills including batting and bowling techniques, with special instruction for beginners and children. The videos are accessible via a mobile phone, tablet or virtual reality headset and can be accessed using an app. The AI analyses data from each player using the app, including accuracy, response time and skill retention, enabling the coaching team to monitor their progress remotely and help improve their game. Virti, which has a team of 30 people working remotely, mainly in and around Bristol, plans to work with more sports teams
Stapleton Cricket Club junior member George Way tries some virtual training using a headset and athletes in the region at both an amateur and professional level in the coming year on more "immersive training programmes". Stapleton Cricket Club 1st team coach Damian Forder said: "The reaction to the VR training has been incredibly positive, with senior and junior club players showing
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real enthusiasm to try their hand at virtual cricket. “By giving all of our members the opportunity to train and develop their skills outside of club practice sessions, we’re making the sport more inclusive and accessible than ever." Virti was founded in 2018 by a Bristol surgeon, Alex Young, and its technology is also being used to train surgeons at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton and medical students at Bristol University. Dr Young said: "Virti’s mission is to improve human performance, so we’re thrilled to embark on this partnership to help train and upskill the athletes at Stapleton CC. "Cricket is a sport which demands a high level of technical skill from all players. Repeated practice of core techniques in a VR environment has been proven to improve confidence, skill level and knowledge retention to a significantly higher degree than traditional training alone – in some cases by up to 230%. "Remote training removes the barriers of cost, time and space that can often prevent people from improving their sporting skills or engaging with new sporting pursuits."
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downendvoice
February, 2022
57
n SPORT
Cleve look forward CLEVE RFC held a club day to coincide with the last game of 2021, with a Christmas meal for ex-players, sponsors and club members. The day started early and all at the meal enjoyed good food and the usual prediction of scores. Money was raised for the club Under-16 team, who helped out. The final match of the year was against Gordano – Cleve had narrowly lost against them early in the season and it was evident they had a strong full-back and fly half. This game showed how the opposition had improved. Cleve’s pack as usual fronted up well and the player carrying most of our hopes was Chris McCann (pictured above), who stood out as a tower of strength going forward, but the game ended up a heavy loss, 56-0. The start of 2022 saw Cleve away to Matson. This was another strong team, who had beaten us 53-3 in September and won 40-8 this time around. However Cleve's team has shown improvement, with the forwards becoming a more cohesive unit and the backs developing new skills to combat the tough rigours of this league. The team, despite adversity, is now well led by Chris McCann and we are looking forward to some good results in 2022. Steve Bateman
Cricket pre-season training resumes FOLLOWING the promotion of all three Saturday teams and also their Sunday XI, Carsons and Mangotsfield Cricket Club have resumed pre-season training. The 2022 season will begin on April 23, and the club has arranged a number of pre-season fixtures before the commencement of league fixtures on May 7. The club's indoor net sessions for the seniors have been moved away from Mangotsfield School, as the nets were unable to cope with the number of players attending. The club are using local cricket company DFCA as their coach for pre-season training and also during the season. The club sees this as a way of investing in the future. Junior coaching nights will continue to run at Mangotsfield School, where sessions will take place for age groups from the under 9’s to under 15’s. We are continuing to develop the girls' side of the club, where Chloe Micklethwaite will be the senior coach. Chloe is an experienced coach and has knowledge of both women’s and men’s cricket. If you are interested in playing cricket, either at senior or junior level, whether boys or girls, please contact me on 07746 112998 or email iancoles7@sky.com. Ian Coles
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58
February, 2022
n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE
Our superstar skeleton athletes making their mark with Tim Button, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step in Mangotsfield
0117 957 5388
drtimbutton@cleve chiropractic.com www.clevechiropractic.com facebook.com/clevechiro twitter.com/clevechiro
Tim with Kimberley Bos and her team SO how is everyone getting on with their hopes and dreams for 2022? Personally, I kicked off January with a pledge to avoid drinking too much alcohol and to stay clear of ‘bad’ foods. So far, it’s going well – let’s just see if I can keep it going for the rest of the year… Sadly, Covid is still causing disruption to so many people’s lives and professional winter sport is no exception. This is the year that my Cleve Chiropractic colleague Catherine and I were supposed to be supporting a couple of the best skeleton athletes around during their World Cup campaign, followed by the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Australian Jackie Parsons, the wife of Dom Parsons, and Kimberly Bos, from the Netherlands, have to get on with their busy lives of competition without any personal help from the ‘Bristol connection’. As I write this blog, Jackie is doing exceptionally well at 17th place out of 32 in a competition that’s really difficult to qualify for because the standard is so high. It is super hard to even get into the top World Championship
competition, so 17th is incredible. However, Kimberly Bos is having an amazing time, leading the way with just one race to go before the Olympics. Kim is a physiotherapist and former gymnast. We met when I was working with GB Olympic bronze medal winner Dom Parsons in St Moritz in 2018, just before the last winter games. Readers may remember that story – Dom gave me his World Cup medal from the race and it still hangs proudly in reception at the clinic! Kim has always shown real promise but this season she has hit a purple patch of form just in time for Beijing. Catherine and I have worked with her all around the world. I remember one race in Sigulda, Latvia, where there was an incredibly fast concrete track that started from the top of an intimidating high-rise building. On Kim’s second practice run, three days before the world championship race, she cracked her ankle on the hard ice as she went round a bend at high speed. She limped up to me after the practice run and showed me the
damage. On careful examination it was clear that, miraculously, she hadn’t broken anything but the ankle was very swollen, stiff and she couldn’t walk on it properly. This was my time to get to work! We had three days with nothing to lose as we tried to get Kim to the start line. The daily routine involved carefully manipulating the ankle and going to a local pool for low weight-bearing exercises, before some cold and hot therapy. Every long day, we used all the techniques I had learned throughout my years in elite sport to get her ready and, as all good stories go, we got her to the starting line – essentially her first practice run since the injury. In the circumstances, her first run was pretty good as she qualified in 18th place, but her second effort was extraordinary. Only those who had worked with Kim knew that she had the potential for incredible speed. Now she knew that the ankle would hold up, she felt confident to give it everything from that vital push at the top of the track. Other athletes gasped at Kim’s time as I waited for her at
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Tim with GB Olympic Bronze medalist Dom Parsons the bottom of the run and asked “where did that come from?” It was so fast that she finished a level 9th place overall. No matter how it works out in Saint Moritz or the Olympics, Kim has put herself in to the record books with her results this season. I’m so proud of her achievements and a single-minded commitment to her sport at the expense of everything else. So good luck to the lovely and amazing Jackie and Kim. You both have an English fan base in Bristol and we wish we could be there with you! If you want to follow Jackie and Kim’s fortunes on the ice, search for them on social media. You can get details of all the races on https:// www.ibsf.org/en/.
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downendvoice
February, 2022
59
n SPORT
Mangos put five past Slimbridge AN amazing 5-3 win at Slimbridge half and the visiting supporters lifted everyone’s spirits as Mangotsgroaned when the hosts levelled on field United got 2022 off to a great 50 minutes through Hawes again, but start. Daniel McBeam netted twice, on 54 The festive period had started and 55 minutes, and the Mangos were with two home defeats. A week suddenly 4-2 up! Hawes completed before Christmas, the Mangos his hat-trick on 73 minutes to set up a started brightly against play-off grandstand finish, but Joe Cattermole chasers Winchester City, with hooked one home for the Mangos on Wayne Nderemani scoring on 15 84 minutes to make it 5-3 and seal the minutes, but Oliver Bailey struck win. A gate of 193 was Slimbridge’s twice for the visitors before halfbest home crowd for some years. time. The two subsequent fixtures were Mangotsfield United (in yellow) take on Slimbridge on New Year's Day both postponed – January 8's match Despite valiant Mango efforts Picture: David Smale in the second half they couldn’t against Highworth Town because of a quickly been scuppered. Jake Gosling made it level, and when Bailey completed his hat-trick waterlogged pitch and the January 15 fixture at 3-0, right on 90 minutes, just to rub salt into the and Henry Brooks made it 4-1 on 76 minutes, it Larkhall Athletic because the home side were on wound. was all over. A late penalty by Daniel McBeam FA Trophy duty. However, New Year’s Day was somewhat made it 4-2. David Smale different, as the Mangos went goal-crazy at The Monday after Christmas saw the Mangos Slimbridge and banged in five. William Hawes go down 3-0 at home to local rivals Bristol FORTHCOMING FIXTURES gave the Swans the lead after just 5 minutes, but Manor Farm in front of a healthy crowd of 347. January 29 v AFC Totton (away) the Mangos rolled their sleeves up and Harry It was a game where the hosts never really February 1 v Yate Town (home) Haughton levelled four minutes later. A fine 25got going. Aron Robbins scored right on half (Gloucestershire FE Trophy semi-final) yard strike by Luke Smith put the Mangos ahead time and Jayden Nielsen's goal, just 2 minutes February 5 v Cinderford Town (away) on 23 minutes. into the second half, meant the Mangos needed February 19 v Melksham Town (away) Slimbridge began strongly in the second a 'Plan C', as the half-time talk for Plan B had February 26 v Lymington Town (home)
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To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 946 1169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579
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60 BURGLAR ALARMS
February, 2022 ELECTRICIANS
CAR REPAIRS
MARK EVANS
MARK EVANS
Electricians & Alarm Specialists
Electricians & Alarm Specialists
Vinney Green Farmhouse Emersons Green BS16 7AF
Vinney Green Farmhouse Emersons Green BS16 7AF
100%Mobile Mobile - to work or home! 100% - to work or home!
Experts in
Bumper Scuffs • Alloy Wheel Bumper Scuffs • Alloy Wheel Refurbishment • Vandal Scratches Refurbishment • Vandal Scractches Minor Dents • Calliper Painting Minor Dents • Calliper Painting Headlight Restoration • Motorcycles Repairs
M.J.E. ALARMS
Full housge rewirrainnteed at
70% cheaperthan than body 70% cheaper carcar body shopsshops
0117 9560695
Keynsham Based
Burglar Alarms Repairs, Upgrades, Servicing & Installations
Tel: 0117 329 3773 Mob: 07780 713 665
a all work gu ces the best pri
Outside Work = Perfect for Social distancing
CLEANING SERVICES
Our electricians can also provide extra sockets, low voltage halogen lighting, electrical testing, landlord certificates, kitchen and bathroom electrical work, garden lighting and all your electrical needs
We service all makes of alarms, from an upgrade and service to new alarm systems
Alarm Services from £45
0117 956 0695 / 07770 233475
enquiries@markevanselectrical.co.uk Trusted Trader
0117 956 0695 / 07770 233475
enquiries@markevanselectrical.co.uk
Trusted Trader
ELECTRICIANS
CARPENTRY & INTERIORS
A p r i c o t E l e c t r i c a l D O M E S T I C A N D C O M M E R C I A L
T H E R E W I R I N G S P E C I A L I S T S F R E E R e w i r e s a n d R e p a i r s E S T I M A T E S P I R S e c u r i t y L i g h t i n g T e s t i n g C e r t i f i c a t e s B u i l d i n g S o c i e t y W i r i n g R e p o r t s F R I E N D L Y , H O N E S T A N D P R O F E S S I O N A L
2 0 0 O v e r n d a l e R o a d , D o w n e n d B r i s t o l B S 1 6 2 R H Mobile
0117 956 3285 CARPENTRY
ELECTRICIANS
07976 665448
ELECTRICIANS
PHILIP PERKINS
Carpentry
atom electrical specialist domestic installers
General Carpenter/Kitchen Fitter (Member of the Guild of Master Craftsmen)
• Kitchens supplied & fitted or supply only • Full kitchen or fronts only • Worktops • Fitted Wardrobes • Door Hanging • Skirting • Stairs & Balustrades • Laminate & Wood Flooring • All aspects of general carpentry work
CALL FOR A QUOTE - NO JOB TOO SMALL 0117 9373941 OR 07788 115945
All types of domestic electrical work undertaken, from changing a light fitting to full rewires. For an efficient, friendly, reliable, local electrical service...
Call Nick on 0117 2872392
call Oliver on 07747866436 or 01179602974
0117 303 9000 To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk
FREE Quotations www.atomelectrical.co.uk info@atomelectrical.co.uk
Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377
February, 2022
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61
GUTTER CLEANING
FENCING
FRENCHAY FENCING
Mark’s Gutter Cleaning
Call Mike on 07962226226 or Andy on 07747148106 Contact us at Facebook: Frenchay fencing
Digger Hire Grass Cutter Hire Garden Clearance
Gutter Clearing Gutter Cleaning Fascia Cleaning
& PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
all work guaranteed - all quotes free OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE LOCALLY BASED
MACHINE HIRE
We can supply the machines manned or unmanned
Call or Book online
J AND J CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE & PEST CONTROL LTD
www.marksguttercleaning.co.uk Tel: 0117 3708528 Mob: 07543056558 Based in Downend, Bristol
Tel 07779242184
OVEN CLEANING
HOUSE CLEARANCE
FENCING
DOWNEND FENCINGE) (ERECTING SERVIC
e - All types of 45 years experienc arance etc. cle , fencing, repairs L AL SM O TO B NO JO
TEL: 0797 3381663
GARDEN MAINTENANCE
D. ATTWELL
LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICES For All Garden Works Patios – Decking Gravelling – Fencing Wood Chippings – Jetwashing Foliage Removed – Roots Destroyed Garden Walls & General Building
• FULLY INSURED • LICENSED WASTE CARRIER
For a FREE quote call 07960 681 921 d.attwellgardenservices@hotmail.co.uk
GUTTERING SERVICES
Garden, Clearance House, House,House, Garden, Garden, Office OfficeOffice Clearance Clearance
07592 003 Tel: 07592 506 003003 Tel: 07592 506 Tel:Tel: 07592 506506 003
House, Garden, Office Clearance - all Plus all other Plus All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! House, Garden, Office Clearance -- Plus other House, Garden, Office Clearance Plus all other Plus Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! Plus All All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! On-average Average cheaper than a skip. On cheaper than aa skip. OnAverage cheaper than skip. removal On average cheaper waste removal On cheaper than aa skip wastewaste removal -Average On average cheaper than than skipa skip 1/4 Load 1/4 £89 1/4 Load Load £89 £89 Half Half £139 Half Load Load Load £139£139
3/4 Load 3/4 £179 3/4 Load Load £179£179 Full Load Full £199 Full Load Load £199£199
www.junkmonsters.co.uk www.junkmonsters.co.uk
HAIRDRESSER
PAINTING & DECORATING
Professional Mobile
SJM DECORATING
Hairdresser 20 years plus experience Cutting womens, gents and children. Styling and blow drying, perming, colouring and highlighting. Wedding & prom hair
Call Karina on
07789718422 LANDSCAPING
Professional Decorating Local Qualified tradesmen Internal & •External Tiler • Mason Painter Decorating Fast, reliable & friendly service Fully insured
Free Quotations
Call Scott 07515 523 623 0117 3824411
Classic & Natural stone tiles High Quality Finish www.sjmdecorating.freeindex.co.uk Specialising in Italian showers Free Quote Contemporary & Provençale kitchens Bristol & Surrounding Areas Interior & Exterior Masonry PAINTING & DECORATING Interior & façade painting
Hawthorn Landscapes and Tree Care Replacement and Maintenance:
Guttering, Downpipes UPVC Fascia Boards Soffits and Cladding Unblock & Gutter Cleaning All work guaranteed Based in Bristol area Call Paul for free quote
01454 850201 or 07980 001109
We are a family run business est 1990 we do all types of Fencing, turfing,patios,power cleaning Trees and shrubs topped shaped and felled All types of rubbish removed - cheaper than a skip Email hawthornlandscapes@yahoo.co.uk
Freephone 0800 858 9803 Mobile 07580 260 676
Renovation Painter Tiler Decorator
Builder & Interior Decorator
17 Years Experience Tiling Interior & Exterior Masonry E: dacriscobuilder3@gmail.com Interior Facade T: 0117 401 8568& / 07557 335 956 PaintingDacrisco Builder No Job Too Small Free Quote 17 Years Experience
T: 0117 382 7716 / 07557 335 956 E: dacriscobuilder9@gmail.com
To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 946 1169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579
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February, 2022
PLUMBING
PAINTING & DECORATING
PLUMBING & HEATING
J L Painting & Decorating Jason Lee Qualified Painter & Decorator
We would be pleased to help you with your
No Job too small Free No obligation quote Telephone:
07474573780 0117 2792264 e: jl.painting.decorating@outlook.com
PAINTING & DECORATING STEVE PAINTER
DECORATING SERVICES
Boiler/Heating systems installed Unvented Cylinders, Electric Boilers Underfloor heating Boiler repairs Boiler servicing Gas & PAT safety testing
* TAPS, WASHERS * BALL VALVES * LEAKS, WASTES * OVERFLOWS, DRIPS * LEAD PIPES * TOILETS, FLUSHES
UP TO 10 YEAR FINANCE PLANS AVAILABLE Contact us via:
0117 9600296 or 07970122137 info@blueflameservice.co.uk www.blueflameservice.co.uk
Third generation family business offering professional exterior and interior painting and decorating services locally.
Traditionally trained Quality workmanship Paperhanging specialist Friendly and reliable Competitively priced
FULLY ACCREDITED WITH
Call Steve Painter on:
01179 565 190 / 07853 250 035 PLUMBING
PLUMBING & HEATING
PLUMBING & HEATING
CREST HEATING & PLUMBING
629179
BOILERS, BATHROOMS AND GENERAL PLUMBING
OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE HONEST & RELIABLE
TEL: 07765 250816 PLUMBING
PLUMBING & HEATING
Tel: 0117 9676268 info@arheatingservices.co.uk
Boiler installation, servicing and repairs 10 Year Warranty’s available Finance also available
56746
518308
07878249260 phil@andersonheatingservices.co.uk
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE
Taps, Washers Toilets, Cisterns Leaks, Blockages Tanks, Overflows Lead Pipes, Stopcocks….etc… OAP DISCOUNTS and NO VAT
0117
957 5092
To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk
J AND J CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE SERVICES Providing general building, factory facilities work, gardening, pest control
Tel 07779242184 Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377
downendvoice
February, 2022
63 WIGS
PLUMBING & HEATING Bristol: 0117 9000 986 Mobile: 07834 633376
3 generations in the plumbing and heating industry and a quality service from a local family business.
Wigs Bristol
LOCATED IN DOWNEND
We have been supplying all types of wigs and hairpieces for fashion and medical purposes for 45 years. Wigs can be purchased off the peg or made to measure in hair or synthetic fibre.
Boiler service and repair, New boilers supplied and installed, full system and design, Free 10 year parts and labour warranty on new boilers, general plumbing. We are also Gas safe registered. OAP DISCOUNTS
ROOFING
TREE SURGEONS
We stock many styles and makes.
Please book an appointment on:
0117 956 6556 www.wigsbristol.com
WINDOW & DOOR SOLUTIONS
N . BROWN
ROOFIN G LIMITED
SLATING • TILING • REPAIRS GUTTERS • FASCIAS
We replace & install all new Windows, Doors, Bi-folding Doors, conservatories and much more!
FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTES Give Nigel a call he’s local and has a wealth of experience
✆ 07779 786072 ROOFING
TREE SURGEONS
J.A. Cole & Sons FLAT ROOFING Tree Surgeons A MURPHY
Mastic | Asphalt | Felt Roofing Contractors Downend based BS16 6AP Over 40 years experience References available on request
TEL: 0117 431 5880 MOBILE: 07976 442703
PROFESSIONAL EXPERT SERVICE - 40 YEARS EXPERIENCE OF TREE WORK Free Quotations & Advice
0117 9567298 07768 973291
www.bristol-tree-surgeons.co.uk
WASTE DISPOSAL
SHOWER REPAIRS
B R O K E N S H O W E R ? A p r i c o t S h o w e r s A p p r o v e d C o n t r a c t o r
S h o w e r i n s t a l l a t i o n s A l l m a k e s s u p p l i e d I n s t a l l e d , r e p a i r e d R e p l a c e m e n t u n i t s
F R E E E S T I M A T E S
F R I E N D L Y P R O M P T S E R V I C E , A L L W O R K G U A R A N T E E D
A p r i c o t E l e c t r i c a l
2 0 0 O v e r n d a l e R o a d , D o w n e n d B r i s t o l B S 1 6 2 R H Mobile
0117 956 3285
• Tree Surgery • Hedge & Shrub work • Precision Felling • Size Reduction • Fully insured • Domestic & Commercial .
07976 665448
RUBBISH CLEARED
Registered upper tier waste carrier licence no CBDU225074
We load and clear rubbish/junk from houses Flats, Sheds, Attics, Gardens etc etc No job too small - we even clear single items Cheaper than a skip and we load no VAT
We can also service & repair all types of PVC, Aluminium & Timber windows/doors From Misted Double Glazing - Lock Repairs - Hinge Replacement - Door/ Window Handles and more.
FOR A FREE QUOTATION CALL
077867 30804 or 0117 279 9409 info@treadwellwindows.co.uk treadwellwindows.co.uk BASED IN DOWNEND! ADVERTISE HERE
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS From as little as
£20.00 +VAT
Per month
Contact Stuart or Sue
Freephone 0800 0234 995 Mobile 07770944727 anytime inc. weekends
E-Mail: sales@downendvoice.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
GET SUITED BOOTED & RECRUITED Reboot your career Suited Rebooted Recruited is a FREE 2 week course back by popular demand! Whatever your age or previous experience, we have an exciting opportunity to help you start a new career or get back into the workplace.
• • • • •
Gain qualifications Build confidence Support with CV writing and interview skills Receive £50 towards your interview outfit Make a few friends along the way!
Delivered in some great venues throughout in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Stroud.
For further information please visit www.sgscol.ac.uk/sbr or call 0117 909 2318
FREE
• LUNC • BUS C H • SUIT/IN OSTS TERV CLOTHE IEW S