Downend Voice January 2022 by Gary Brindle

downendvoice www.downendvoice.co.uk www.downendvoice.co.uk January, 2022, Issue 102

FREE EVERY MONTH IN DOWNEND, MANGOTSFIELD, STAPLE HILL, BROMLEY HEATH & FRENCHAY

Dad faces brain tumour battle Giuseppe takes the Bake Off crown Great British Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell'Anno watched his televised triumph at a Bristol pub with Briony May Williams, a local contestant in a previous series. PAGE 9

Teen hero meets Prince William David Gibbs, who has a brain tumour, with his three-year-old daughter Molly in Page Park FAMILY, friends and strangers are coming together to help a Staple Hill dad fund treatment for a devastating brain tumour. David Gibbs, who is 37, was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive cancer of the brain and spinal cord, in September. He underwent an 11-hour operation at Southmead Hospital to remove 95% of the tumour in October. Dave, who is married with a three-year-old daughter, is undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy but has been told they will not stop the tumour from growing back again without

further treatment – and the average survival time from diagnosis is 12 to 18 months. His family have discovered a new treatment called a personalised cancer vaccine, which sequences genetic information from the patient and tumour to help the immune system target and attack the cancer cells. But the treatment is not available on the NHS and Dave would need to go to Germany or America to have it privately, over a period of a year or more, at an estimated cost of £85,000. Turn to Page 3

Jake Skinner, who was named a Teen Hero by Rado 1's Greg James after raising thousands for charity with Christmas lights, was invited to meet Prince William. PAGE 4

Group celebrates 30th anniversary Downend's Edds and Tales parent and toddler group has belatedly celebrated its 30th anniversary with its founder Ruth Iles Spencer, who's now 86. PAGE 7

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January, 2022

n NEWS

Arrests after vandal attacks THREE teenagers have been arrested by police investigating a series of vandal attacks in Downend, Fishponds and Staple Hill. Damage to shops, vehicles, five bus stops and sheds belonging to allotment holders were all reported at the beginning of December. The first problems came at the allotments off Dial Lane, where youths abused an allotment holder who challenged them after spotting them throwing canes and tools about on December 3. Over the following weekend sheds were damaged or pushed over, fencing smashed and padlocks and hand sanitisers Smashed glass in a van belonging damaged. to a Downend business damaged On the night of December 8 during the vandal attacks to 9, five bus stops in Downend and Fishponds were attacked, including one in Downend's high street area, and two vehicles had windows smashed in the co-op car park. Shop windows in Downend, Fishponds and Staple Hill were damaged by stone throwing, as was the window of a flat in Hill House Road, Downend. An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said officers responding to calls reporting the damage had arrested a 19-year-old man and two boys aged under 17 on suspicion of criminal damage in the early hours of December 9. The spokesperson added: "All three were later released under investigation. Our enquiries continue." Police have been made aware of video from local shops recording some of the suspects and have called on anyone else who witnessed any vandalism or has footage on a dashcam, phone or CCTV system to call them on 101 and quote the crime reference number 5221 288 634. The incidents came as South Gloucestershire Council was still waiting for Virgin Media to connect the area's CCTV cameras to the local monitored surveillance system. The cameras have been installed and wired up since October. The Voice has asked Virgin Media for a comment. *Vandals damaged lights on Staple Hill's Christmas tree overnight on December 8 to 9. Staple Hill and Mangotsfield councillor Ian Boulton, who is fundraising for the tree in Fountain Square, said the damaged strings had been made safe and disconnected from the electricity supply by South Gloucestershire Council's StreetCare team. The remaining strings had been moved further up towards the top of the tree to try to keep them out of reach. Anyone with information about the attack should call Avon and Somerset Police on 101 and quote crime reference number 5221 289 021. Cllr Boulton has organised a crowdfunding appeal to pay for the Staple Hill Christmas Tree, with a target of just over £3,100. The value of the lights is £400. To donate towards the tree visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ianboulton5.

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January, 2022

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n NEWS

'We want him in our lives for as long as possible'

From Page 1 His sister Sarah Burford has set up an appeal on crowdfunding site JustGiving.com. Dave's family and friends have been spreading the word about his situation on social media, with support from celebrities including Matt Lucas and Chris O'Dowd. Within three days of the appeal's launch the total raised had passed £37,000, from more than 760 donors. Dave said: "It has been amazing. "People have been so kind and generous – it's not just friends and family, we have been getting people we don't know donating." Dave, who works as a technical sales engineer, grew up in Downend and met his wife, Gemma, a buyer for Airbus, while they were both at Downend School. They have been together for 20 years. Dave said Gemma is "heartbroken" by his diagnosis, while his daughter Molly is too young to understand. He sought treatment during a family holiday in Herefordshire, after headaches he had been suffering became unbearable. He was transferred to Birmingham for a biopsy and, after returning home to Bristol, a second biopsy confirmed the cancer. Dave said the diagnosis was a "huge"

Dave Gibbs with his wife Gemma and daughter Molly shock but Bristol surgeon Richard Edwards had done an "amazing" job in the delicate operation. He said: "We knew surgery was fairly risky but it gave me the best chance." Sarah said: "Dave is a much loved Daddy,

husband, son, brother, uncle and friend, and we need to keep him around. "They are a loving, happy family and have always worked hard but are unable to fund alternative treatments by themselves. "Please donate and help give Dave the chance to beat this tumour. We love him so much and want him in our lives for as long as possible. "Dave is not one to ask for help, instead always offering to help others and putting others before himself. But now, we need your help, every donation big or small can make a huge difference and is greatly appreciated." Dave's friend Bob O'Brien said: "They have the biggest hearts of anyone I know and they wouldn’t think twice before helping other people out. Now it’s our turn to help them. We all want to do everything we can to help Dave keep being the brilliant friend, husband and dad he is for as long as possible." Sarah's fundraising page for Dave can be found online at justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/davesbrainfund. Any unused funds will be donated to brain tumour charities to help support other families and fund much needed research.

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January, 2022

n NEWS

Jake meets Prince William after Radio 1 award

A DOWNEND teenager who has raised thousands of pounds for a cancer charity says meeting Prince William was a "once in a lifetime experience". Jake Skinner, aged 14, was invited to Kensington Palace along with other recipients of Radio 1 DJ Greg James’s Teen Heroes award. Jake, who attends Mangotsfield School, has been raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support over the past four years in memory of his sister Stacie, who died aged 17 of anaphylactic shock on Christmas Day 2015. Stacie used to decorate her work desk with Christmas lights, and when her colleagues returned them to the family, Jake decided to remember her by illuminating their house in Crossfield Road, Staple Hill, over the festive period. Jake has now moved to Sutherland Avenue in Downend and has continued the tradition there. He is aiming to take the overall total he has raised for Macmillan past £10,000 this Christmas. His 2021 donations had already passed £3,600 by mid-December – ahead of last year's £2,500. Jake's mum Claire nominated him for the

Jake Skinner (back row, second left) with Prince William, DJ Greg James and other teen Hero award winners Teen Hero award, which saw him co-host the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with James on December 3. Four days later he was back in London with the other award winners for his royal appointment. Jake said: "It was such a great experience going to Kensington Palace and meeting Prince William.

"He was so kind and really interested in everything that we had achieved. "A real once-in-a-lifetime experience, and something that will drive me to continue to raise as much money as possible for Macmillan and all the people they support." Jake designs and fits the display himself. He chose to support Macmillan after his nan was diagnosed with cancer. Jake’s dad Jeff said: "He started with literally a few lights from Stacie and what we had at home now it’s come to this. "We are all incredibly proud of Jake and all of the effort and dedication he puts into the light display each year. "At times it really does scare me how well he has done. It doesn’t change him one bit.” Macmillan Fundraising Manager Kaeti Morrison said: "Jake is an amazing young man and we can’t thank him and his family enough for continuing to raise money for Macmillan. Since the pandemic hit our income has been severely impacted so having the loyal support of people like Jake and his family is just wonderful and appreciated by us all." Jake’s display will run until the New Year. Donations can be made online at justgiving.com/JakesChristmasLights

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January, 2022

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Downend's new seasonal lights are a big hit THEY have been the talk of Downend over the festive season – but this year's spectacular Christmas lights are the result of almost a year's hard work. The Christmas In Downend Working Group started preparations for the 2021 display in February, with a survey, discussions and appointment of a specialist design company, followed by hundreds of hours of work by volunteers and professionals. The end result – a showpiece main 30ft Christmas tree with 9,000 computer-controlled, colour changing LEDS, a second 15ft LED-covered tree with 1,500 lights at the top of the high street area, festoon lighting on walkways and lights on the area's other trees – has been a big hit with residents. Visitors to the Voice's Facebook page were united in praising the new lights, describing them as "absolutely stunning", "amazing", "fab" and "fantastic". The £15,000 cost of the display is being met by a combination of Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council funding, a South Gloucestershire Council grant and a donation from resident Christine Hill, who saw the display going up and wanted to support it. The working group which planned the lights is made up of parish councillors Matt Pitts and Alvis West, parish and South Gloucestershire councillor James Griffiths, parish council clerk Angela Hocking and resident Chris Boulton, who founded the Downend and Bromley Heath In

Volunteers Dave Baker and Terry Henson, parish councillors Alvis West and Matt Pitts, resident Chris Boulton, Chris and Jacob Thomas of installers CT Electrical, volunteer Denis Brown and Lee Hayward of South Gloucestershire Council StreetCare at the Christmas tree outside the Horseshoe Bloom group. Chris said: "We do hope you like the new Christmas lighting in Downend High Street and agree with us that it’s a significant improvement on previous years. "We felt something needed to be done. "It's all part of making the High Street thrive." The working group hopes to expand the display next year and welcomes suggestions for improvements via the parish council's Facebook page or by calling 0117 956 7001. The display required a new electrical infrastructure, connected to the supplies of businesses Mortgage Advice Bureau, Sainsbury's Express,

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Café, Ocean Estate Agents. The Coop adjusted its external lights to accommodate the festoon lights above the walkway from Downend Road. The Christmas tree lights are controlled by an app which includes 3D models of the trees to plan and control animated patterns. It enables working group chair Matt to pick from a selection of patterns and colours to customise the display via a smartphone. The trees were supplied by Frenchay Forestry and put up by South Gloucestershire Council, with electrical work by Chris Thomas Electrical and Rygol Electrical Services. Volunteers Dave Baker, John Freeman, Denis Brown, Terry Henson and Roy Stone worked alongside the contractors to install the displays. Bromley Heath Infant School designed the artwork for the banners around the main Christmas tree.

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January, 2022

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30 years of 'love and camaraderie' A PARENT and toddler group has celebrated 30 years of serving the community. Founder Ruth Iles Spencer joined some of the youngsters on a bouncy castle at a party at the home of Edds & Tales in Christ Church Hall, Downend. The group was started by Ruth and her late husband Edd in 1990, in a church hall in Fishponds. Edd had just retired and Ruth, who was working as a midwife, went part-time to help set up the group, after a survey of local families showed there was interest. When the church hall in Abingdon Road closed at the end of 1996 the group needed a new home and teamed up with parents from Christ Church, moving to the hall in North Street 25 years ago. From nine families back in January 1997, the group now usually attracts about 20 parents, grandparents and carers each week, meeting on Monday mornings from 10am-11.30am during school term time. Children from newborn babies up to school age are welcome, with older siblings often attending on inset days.

Founder Ruth Iles Spencer and leader Debbie Westbury with children from Edds & Tales Edds & Tales is run by four volunteers – Ruth, group leader Debbie Westbury and helpers Sallyann McKeown and Gill Staples. Sadly Edd died just before the group moved to Downend but Ruth has continued to go every week, first as a leader and now as a helper, and says the group also supported her when her second husband died last year. Although Edds & Tales reached its 30th anniversary in 2020, Covid restrictions meant that not only was it impossible to properly mark the milestone but the majority of the sessions could not be held, so the celebration

was held in 2021 instead. As well as the bouncy castle there was a celebration cake and people's £3 subs went to Children in Need, raising £60 for the BBC charity appeal. Ruth, who lives in Downend, said: "I was a bit emotional when I saw so many people here for the party. "I'm 86 now but I still come every week, to lead the singing of

the Hokey Cokey! "There's a lot of love here, and camaraderie. Loving one another is a basic church principle, bringing love and light to the community." "It gives me great joy to come every week. It's one of the highlights of my week. "I feel blessed, and spread the blessing." Debbie said started coming to the group as a parent with her son, who is now eight, when he was 18 months old, and started volunteering about four years ago. She said: "It's amazing. Without Ruth I don't think we could do it – she's the heart and soul of the whole group. "She's always so positive, happy and open to meeting new people, loving the children and doing the Hokey Cokey. "One week I did it because Ruth wasn't here and there was uproar!"

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January, 2022

n PETER'S VISION

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Back to the Future? FIRSTLY Happy New Year! I hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas break despite the ongoing pandemic, which has no doubt had an impact on us all in one way or another. As things continue to be unsettled, I think I’m going cautiously with my New Year's resolutions. This year for me, it's going to be about focusing on family time, keeping everyone safe at home and work and making sure that when we (one day…) exit the pandemic we’re in great shape to continue providing the best eye care that we can. On a cinema trip, a few weeks ago now, there was a trailer from an 80's classic film Ghostbusters. You’ve probably seen that it’s been re-released for the next generation (our kids!). Now I’ll admit to not being the biggest film buff out there, but there are some films that love 'em or loathe' em they do stick in your mind! It brought back memories of many good and definitely not so good films that we grew up watching. A popular one, a familiar trilogy involving time travel in a Delorean, gave me food for thought. The film; Back To The Future. Which of course is quite a clever title in itself. I remember reading about the meaning in this title, whilst looking for something else, and then being so absorbed in it that I forgot what I was trying to find in the first place! I read that back to the future can be taken to mean don’t dwell on the past and focus on what you can control and move forward. I thought that this was quite a good thinking point, and perhaps relevant to so many aspects of our lives at present. Certainly for us at Turners Opticians, as we continue to care for our patients in ever advancing ways, I’m not dwelling on the past and definitely moving forward! One example is a new range of glasses lenses we’re releasing this January. The latest tech means that we can all not only benefit from sharper vision, our new lens adds another level of visual comfort too! 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 a New Look for the New Year, 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.

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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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January, 2022

n NEWS THE Bristol area's first winner of the Great British Bake Off shared the moment his win was revealed with customers of a city pub. Giuseppe Dell'Anno spent eight years working at the Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green before heading to the Bake Off tent. He rose to the role of chief engineer at the National Composites Centre after joining in 2013. And he joined another Bake Off favourite from Bristol, Briony May Williams, and members of the show's production team to watch the final live on Channel 4 on a big screen at the Gloucester Old Spot in Horfield, where Briony - a semi-finalist in 2018 is a regular customer. Giuseppe left his role at the National Composites Centre before joining the group of 12 Bake Off contestants in the summer. He now has an engineering job in Milan in his native Italy, where he took time to catch up with his parents after his win. But the 45-year-old baker's family still live in the Bristol area - and since his win was revealed, he has been a frequent guest on TV shows and parties. After his win Giuseppe acknowledged the support he had received from the Bristol area. He said: "Being the first Britalian winner is amazing, as I have had so much support from Bristol and Italy - I have had lots of local people getting in touch and thanking me for putting Bristol on the map. "But equally Italians all over the UK, saying it’s great to be representing our culture in such a high-profile show, has

Giuseppe brings Bake Off celebration to Bristol

Giuseppe with judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith been really heart warming. The Italian community in the UK is pretty massive, there are quite a few of us." Giuseppe's former colleagues at the National Composites Centre hailed his win, posing on social media: "With absolutely no apologies we'd like to scream a giant 'yeeeees' watching our very own Giuseppe Dell'Anno win Great British Bake Off. "Giuseppe has been our friend and colleague for years and it's safe to say there was not a dry eye in the house. "Congratulations to our amazing friend. You were always our Star Baker." Giuseppe won a nerveshredding final over Crystelle Pereira and Chigs Parmar after

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the early favourite, Jurgen Krauss, was eliminated in the semi-final. Giuseppe said: "Each of the finalists received two Hollywood Handshakes, and have been Star Baker twice, so I knew it was going to be a close race, and a very tight finish. "I think we all saved the best till last and we all put our heart and soul into it. In the semi final it was a shock departure when Jurgen left and I think that made us all raise our game." After making a signature carrot cake, and producing Belgian buns in the contest's technical round - despite overbaking them - Guiseppe came out on top after a showstopper challenge to

create a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party showing four different baking disciplines. The final drew in 9.3 million viewers to Channel 4, with another 1.5m on the broadcaster's All4 catch-up service. Judge Paul Hollywood said he had earmarked Giuseppe as a potential winner from the very first bake of Episode One, saying: "I saw his mini rolls, I thought that looks like our winner - you could see the heart and soul going into his baking." Fellow judge Prue Leith said: "He is such a classic beautiful baker and he represents a long tradition of classic Italian baking he has done it brilliantly all the way through. I am going home to make much more Italian cakes because they really are good." After his win was revealed Giuseppe said it had left him "speechless for once", adding: "All I can think of is the reaction from my mum and dad. The fact is that everything I have done to deserve this comes from his heritage, it’s the best thank-you note I can possibly send him. "I feel it’s been a great year for Italy. I truly can’t believe it or take it in, this has made me so incredibly happy to be a Britalian. "Dell’Anno is my surname which translates in English to of the year – and I feel this has certainly has been my year." Photo courtesy Channel 4

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January, 2022

n NEWS

Crowds come out for Christmas on the Hill

STAPLE Hill traders say the return of the Christmas on the Hill event was a big success. The traditional start of Staple Hill's festive season took place on December 4 and included music and entertainment, stalls and carol singing. After being cancelled a year ago due to coronavirus restrictions, the event returned with enthusiasm from traders and shoppers alike. The main focus was on Fountain Square, where stalls were set up for independent traders selling food, drink, crafts and gifts, and there was music at the Christmas tree. But there were also stalls in Broad Street and Page Park, with attractions for families including storytelling and free sweets. Staple Hill Chamber of Trade secretary Tina Lewis, who organised the event, said: "Every trader on the Fountain Square stalls sold out.

The Salvation Army band played carols in the street Shoppers at the stalls in Fountain Square "The general consensus was that it went with a bang and it was good for most of the traders. "There were more people than we've seen in a long time in Staple Hill on a Saturday – or any day. "It was so lovely to see people enjoying themselves, meeting friends and taking a look around at what's new on the Hill." Tina said that the hope is that in future years the event will spread further along the High

Street, with more traders putting on special events. She thanked Action Print, who provided the posters, Professional Hygiene for waste management, the Salvation Army and Great Day Choir, and traders and shoppers who supported the event. Next up in Fountain Square is a Valentine's market, on February 5 from 10am until 4pm. The Staple Hill Partnership, which brings businesses,

residents and other groups together, had a stall asking people what they like about the area and what they would change. Chair Lynne Pick said: "Throughout the day there was a great atmosphere on the High Street and lots of people stopped to chat to our wonderful volunteers, telling us they love Staple Hill for its friendliness and sense of community." All are welcome at the partnership's next meeting at the Salvation Army in Broad Street, on January 20 at 7pm.

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January, 2022

n NEWS

Petition calls for 'comprehensive' traffic review A PETITION has been launched calling for a "comprehensive review" of traffic issues in the whole of Staple Hill. South Gloucestershire councillors Ian Boulton, Katie Cooper and Michael Bell have set up the petition to look for permanent solutions after two controversial schemes originally brought in as part of the response to coronavirus were overturned. A temporary pavementwidening scheme in Staple Hill High Street, which reduced vehicle traffic to single file and needed traffic lights, was quickly abandoned. But a second scheme to block through vehicle traffic in Signal Road and Charnell Road, introduced to improve safety at the access to the Bristol and Bath Railway Path for pedestrians, stayed in place for more than a year and was due to be made permanent until protests from residents of nearby streets led to a council rethink.

Residents of Teewell Hill and other nearby streets campaigned against the closures of Signal Road and Charnell Road. The concrete blocks in the two roads were due to be removed on December 23. The staple hill & Mangotsfield councillors said: "The last couple of years have seen a number of traffic management schemes introduced by South Gloucestershire Council in our neighbourhood that have had varying degrees of consultation, success and ultimate longevity. "Schemes such as the one way system in the High Street, which lasted only a matter of weeks and cost thousands of pounds, had no meaningful consultation and failed to consider the

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C H R I S TA D E L P H I A N S

consequences on the residents and businesses affected by them. "We are calling for a comprehensive review of traffic management in Staple Hill that will consider the whole neighbourhood, rather than piecemeal schemes which push problems from one road to the next. "This will need some expert advice and a proper consultation process that engages with all our stakeholders." The councillors said the scheme supported by the emergency traffic orders had "lacked considered research,

planning and consultation and divided our community between a significant minority who have benefited from the temporary changes at the expense of the majority of residents who feel they have lost out". The councillors are calling for a view which will slow down speeding vehicles, reduce the amount of traffic passing through the neighbourhood, support the local economy, lower emissions and improve access to "well-connected public transport options". They say they want the review to help create a " walkable and cyclable neighbourhood for all Staple Hill residents and not just a few". The petition can be found on the petitions section of the South Gloucestershire Council website, at bit.ly/3GSKpvb. It runs until February 27. People who are not online can call 01454 864117 for information about how to sign.

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Sunday BiBle TalkS in January @ 2pm 2nd

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Where are You Going This Year?

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The Wonder of Creation!

23rd

Intelligent Design - Another Reason to Believe in God

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Getting to Know God

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n NEWS

January, 2022

Action urged to protect bus services SOUTH Gloucestershire's three MPs have called for a meeting with the government over funding for bus services. Chris Skidmore, Luke Hall and Jack Lopresti have all signed a letter to Baroness Vere to raise concerns over the prospect of a reduction in service levels after the transition between two forms of government support for bus operators – the current Bus Recovery Grant and the incoming Bus Transformation Fund – which is due to happen in April 2022. The MPs have told the minister: "We would like to request an urgent meeting with you to discuss how the Department for Transport can help protect our local bus services and manage the current mismatch between operators’ costs and actual revenue." The MPs say they are concerned that, while the

£3 billion Bus Transformation Fund announced by the Chancellor in October would improve infrastructure, fares and services, it "may not be used to support existing bus services that cease to be viable when the Bus Recovery Grant ends". The MPs said they were urging the West of England Combined Authority, which has strategic responsibility for services in the region, "to prioritise the provision of bus services for local people over bureaucracy". Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who is in charge of the authority, raised concerns in November that, after collapsing during the pandemic, bus passenger numbers had only reached 70 per cent of the equivalent period in 2019 and were unlikely to pass 80 per cent of pre-Covid levels by the time the new funding arrangements are introduced.

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Mr Norris warned that the Bus Transformation Fund "will not be able to be used to subsidise services that are not commercially viable" and said operators were planning "extensive reductions in service levels and withdrawals" if they did not receive new government support. He wrote to the government to ask for an extension of the Bus Recovery Grant or for alternative funding to be put in place to cover the shortfall between operators’ costs and actual revenue. Mr Norris said: "I do not have the resources locally to save the buses we need to save. Unless the Government act there will be huge disruption to passengers and there is a risk of irreparable damage to our local bus network." The Labour mayor had asked all local MPs to agree a joint

letter. While the Conservative MPs had written their own, the Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs in Bristol and Bath had signed a letter to Baroness Vere and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. The letter from Mr Norris and the Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs said: "We urge you to extend the Bus Recovery Grant or to put alternative funding in place to cover the shortfall between operators’ costs and actual revenue, until such time as passenger numbers recover to a sufficient level that will sustain a viable commercial operation." A DfT spokesperson said Baroness Vere would reply to the MPs shortly their request for a meeting. He said the department was "in close contact" with transport bodies but the Government "wishes to see the sector return to financial viability".

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January, 2022

n NEWS

Sahbina wants to take on the world A DOWNEND School pupil is tearing up the region's BMX tracks – and aiming to qualify for the sport's world championships. Sahbina Ashman, who lives in Emersons Green, competed in and won the 2021 BMX South West Regional competition in the girls' 11-12 age group. Next year she is looking to take the step up to the sport's national series. Sahbina, who is 12 and a Year 8 pupil at Downend, took up the sport in 2018. Her brother Gilmour Green, who is eight years old and a Year 4 pupil at Emersons Green Primary School, had already started racing at the age of four at their home track, Bristol BMX Club in Patchway. Sahbina's parents are also involved in the sport – dad Kurt Green races in the masters category, while mum Chui is a race marshal and trained first aider. Competitions have taken them from Lynfi in Wales to Truro in Cornwall, with other tracks hosting competitions in Devon, Somerset and Bristol. A race day involves three 'motos' followed by either an A, B or C final, with players picking up points for their performances. Sahbina earned the number 1 spot with a series of wins and a couple of runner-up

places. She trains at local pump tracks and BMX tracks to improve her skills and goes mountain biking in the Forest of Dean to help with her endurance. Sahbina also competes in Bristol BMX Club's summer and winter series, and is currently taking part in the Birmingham winter series, which will keep her fit throughout the winter. Sahbina said: "I was so happy to win the regional championships because I set this as my goal at the beginning of the year, and put all my efforts into the training so I would do my best in the races. "My ambition in 2022 is to take part in the National Championship with the aim of qualifying for the World Championships in Glasgow in 2023 – it will be amazing just to take part in this." Chui said: "I am so proud of my daughter for her achievements this year. "Last year she was unranked, so to have won the regionals this year was a massive achievement. "I’ve seen first hand how much focus and commitment she puts into her training and, most importantly, how much she enjoys it."

Sahbina Ashman on a BMX

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downendvoice

n NEWS CHILDREN at Staple Hill Primary School gave speeches and staged an exhibition as they aimed to use their voices to change the local environment for the better. The Year 5 and 6 pupils in the school's Wilson, Rowling and Zephaniah classes studied power and rule as part of a project centred on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which included investigating how young role models including Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai had stood up for what they believed in and used the power of their voices. After researching climate change and the environment locally and beyond, they decided to make their own voices heard by creating their own versions of TED Talks – expert lectures shared online to spread ideas – and performing them in front of influential local people, including councillors and a representative from Bristol Zoo. The children explained some of the problems facing the world, how the Bristol area was falling short of its pledges to protect the

January, 2022

Children make their voices heard on environment

These Staple Hill Primary School Year 5 and 6 pupils delivered speeches calling for change local environment and pledged to plant new trees and create 'edible gardens' for all primary school children. The talks sought to answer the question: "Are we responsible for our local, natural environment?"

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Pupil Zane Yeo, aged 10, said: "I think it’s important to let people know that our world is dying because if we don’t do something, we don’t have another world." Valeria Goncalves, also 10, said: "We used the power of our voice to make a change in our community because not having enough trees is a real problem in Staple Hill. We need them to breathe." Scarlett Kennedy, 10, and nine-year-old Anaiah Brown said: "We talked about deforestation in our TED Talk. It was important because if we don't really do anything then plants will die. If we don't have a lot of trees, then animals won't have homes and so they will die. It is important to use your voice because if you don't speak out then nothing will happen and nothing will change. If we speak up we can do something about it but if we keep quiet and to

ourselves, nothing will change." Teacher Daniel Massey said: "This topic has really engaged the children into action and it’s been great to see how passionate they have become about protecting our local, natural world. "One of our school values is to be responsible and the children know that, if even though they didn’t cause this problem, their inaction will contribute to it and they are not prepared to accept this." The school is now looking to work with Staple Hill and Mangotsfield councillors Michael Bell, Ian Boulton and Katie Cooper to get involved in a local tree planting project, to work with local farmers to learn the skills to create its own 'edible gardens' and to 're-wild' some small areas to increase biodiversity in the area. Mr Massey said: "Staple Hill Primary is proud of how passionate, dedicated and committed the children have been in their learning and in using their voices to make a positive difference, and we have a great community of parents and carers who support us in everything we do. "The children recognise this and want to give something back to the community. By increasing the tree coverage, green spaces and reconnecting with the natural world, the children are able to raise awareness and support a healthier and happy future for Staple Hill and its residents."

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YOUR

Community NEWS

Brought to you by

DOWNEND & BROMLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE We do hope you are enjoying the festive lights throughout Downend and they bring some Christmas cheer to our residents

Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council would like to wish all our parishioners a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Our next Full Council meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday 20 January 2022, 7pm at Badminton Road Methodist Church. Council meetings are open to the public to attend. Councillor Janet Biggin, Chairman

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

www.dbhparishcouncil.uk

downendvoice

January, 2022

n PAGE PARK NEWS

Volunteers help plant new trees VOLUNTEERS and council staff worked together to plant 17 new trees in Page Park. The trees were planted at the end of November as part of a programme to replace diseased trees which have had to be removed. A South Gloucestershire Council survey identified several trees which needed to be removed, including one large tree from the park's avenue of limes and a Norway maple near the children's play area, both of which were in poor health. Some 'monoliths' - dead trees which have previously had their branches removed – were also being cut down during work carried out by the council between October and December. Once the removal and maintenance work, including grinding of stumps, has been carried out, work to plant new trees to replace those lost got underway. Fourteen of the trees, a selection of small leaved lime,

Volunteers help plant Page Park's new trees common hornbeam and sweet chestnut, were planted as replacements. Another three - two Himalayan birch and a great white cherry -

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were planted near the park's new Celebration Bench, near the tennis courts. Steph Purser, of the Friends of Page Park, said: "Thank you so

much to all the volunteers for your help and to the Tree People at South Glos who have all worked so hard. "It wasn't easy trying to dig holes near the site of past trees, with lots of roots. "A programme of maintenance and watering has been put in place for the next year to ensure they settle in and grow. "Roll on next spring when they start to come into leaf and flower." New hedgerows are also set to be planted in the spring. The council's tree survey also identified some dead wood and branches on other trees which were due to be trimmed. The friends had to remind dog owners to keep control of their pets in the park after some ran up to workers using machinery who could not hear them as they were wearing ear defenders, putting the dogs at risk of injury. Incidents of dog owners being abusive towards the workers had been recorded.

The birds are back in town PAGE Park's population of budgies and finches have returned to a revamped home after the park's aviary was completely renovated. The birds were taken to Grimsbury Community Farm in Kingswood while volunteers and contractors moved in to transform their home, including renovating the structure and roof, installing new paving and building new roosts. The budgies returned home at the end of November and were Page Park's budgies get used to joined by 16 finches donated by being back at home a local resident. All of the birds are captive born and come to the park from other owners, with the aviary acting as a form of rescue centre. They do not breed in the aviary. Steph Purser, of the Friends of Page Park, said: "It has been a lot of work, and a lot of thought put into making it a nicer place for the birds to live and a nicer place for our park visitors to visit. "Apart from the ground work and the new gated soak-away area, the work has been completed by our amazing volunteers. "A big thank-you to each and every one of you - just look what you have all achieved." Around £1,800 has been raised to help pay for the renovation via a crowdfunding page, which can be found at virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ pageparkaviary.

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downendvoice

January, 2022

n NEWS

School seeks community champions

A PRIMARY school is looking for 100 'community champions' to pledge their support to help build a community sports pavilion on its old field. Blackhorse Primary School has plans, permission and more than half of the funding to create the new pavilion. But the school is £50,000 short of its fundraising target and to raise the remaining money, it plans to hold a sponsorship lottery which will give one donor the chance to have the new pavilion named after them. Head teacher Simon Botten said: "At Blackhorse, we are well known for the extensive opportunities which we offer to children, including in sport. "Over the past 10 years we have won 108 trophies across 42 sports, with 10 children going on to compete at athletics or crosscountry at a national level – two going on to training with Team GB and one, Tom Wilstead, going

The pavilion on to earn a first team place with Bristol Bears." In 2019 £60,000 was allocated from the Sugar Tax scheme to build a pavilion on the field across the road from the school in Blackhorse Lane, behind the Emersons Green FC field. Mr Botten said: "Currently the field can’t be used by the school, as it has no toilets and other facilities. "However, our new pavilion would bring this field back into

use, both for the school and for other local sports groups, including Emersons Green FC." The sponsorship lottery is similar to one Bristol Rovers organise to choose a kit sponsor each year, with a draw held from among donors. Mr Botten said: "We are seeking to secure £500 pledges from 100 local businesses or individuals, with the lucky winner getting to name the pavilion after their business for the next ten years."

The sponsorship includes a sign and advertising board on the pavilion building itself and a sign on Blackhorse Lane. All donors will have their details published on the school website, in its newsletter and on a special fund-raising banner outside the school. Once the list of 100 is complete an evening event will be held to draw the winner, and afterwards all donors will have their contribution celebrated with a permanent banner on the side of the pavilion. School business leader Debbie Beazer said: “We are hoping to hold the lottery in March 2022, with the pavilion opening to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the London 2012 Olympics." Anyone who would like to become one of the 100 community champions should email Mr Botten at simon. botten@blackhorsepri.org.uk or call 01454 866570.

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January, 2022

n NEWS

A CCTV camera at a nearby store captured footage of Payne (below) approaching the woman, raising his hand and shoving her to the ground before walking off.

Jail for shoplifter who shoved Big Issue seller to ground A SHOPLIFTER who shoved a teenage Big Issue seller to the ground when she challenged him for stealing has been sent to prison. Police condemned the 'particularly cowardly and unnecessary act of aggression' by Ashley Payne, of Fishponds, who has been jailed for 44 weeks after admitting a total of 23 offences. Payne, aged 32, carried out a crime spree in Staple Hill and Fishponds between the end of August and the middle of November. Avon and Somerset police said he assaulted the 19-year-old Big Issue seller after she challenged him for shoplifting outside a store in Straits Parade, Fishponds. The attack was captured on a nearby CCTV camera. Payne also assaulted a 41-year-old shop worker in a separate incident and admitted a total of 16 counts of theft. He was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates’ Court the day after his last offence. Sergeant Andrew Bradshaw, of the Fishponds Neighbourhood Policing team, said: "We’re pleased with the custodial sentence given to Payne by the court for the series of offences he committed in our local community over a two-month spell. "The attack on the 19-year-old woman was a particularly cowardly and unnecessary act of aggression – all because she challenged him for stealing from a local store. "It has taken persistence and hard work by the neighbourhood team and our colleagues in the Detainee Investigation Team to investigate this series of offences and gather the evidence needed to secure these convictions."

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January, 2022

downendvoice

n NEWS

School trips return MANGOTSFIELD School's art department organised a cultural visit to London as the lifting of restrictions allowed school trips to restart. Staff and 170 Year 9 students had a tour of the National Gallery to bring their studies about portraits throughout history to life, with a talk from gallery experts helping them to learn about artists, their intentions and subjects. Head teacher Hetty Blackmore said: "The trip was a fantastic opportunity for Mangotsfield School students to extend their visual awareness of the world. "For some of the Year 9s, this was their first opportunity to see artwork in a gallery setting, "As well as the visit to the National Gallery they took a cultural walk through London, viewing various landmarks. Lunch on Trafalgar Square, with its awesome surroundings, was certainly an experience. "Staff and students then walked and sketched around Westminster and even saw a few celebrities along the way. They gave a wave to Buckingham Palace and were surprised to see pelicans in St James Park. "The trip was a great experience and all students were a credit to the school. Students identified a range of elements as highlights from seeing the artworks, being in the magnificent gallery, enjoying the trips with friends, eating lunch at the base of Nelson's Column, and seeing Big Ben. "Mangotsfield School is looking forward to many more trips in the future, as experiential learning is so valuable, as well as building positive memories for our students."

Pupils learn 6Rs SCHOOLS have traditionally taught the three Rs but Mangotsfield School's design and technology department has six. The '6 Rs of sustainability'recycle, reduce, reuse, rethink, refuse (to use products which are bad for the environment), and repair – have been adopted throughout the department's curriculum. To mark the new start a competition was held to design a Christmas bauble on the sustainability theme to be displayed on a recycled tree which was donated and repaired by students, who made a new base. The DT department will be collecting plastic milk bottle tops to melt and reuse in lessons and for Lily Freeman designed the winning bauble in Mangotsfield an after-school club and is asking residents who would like to collect School's competition and donate them to bring them to the school reception. Also needed are donations of George Foreman-style grills to melt the plastic. People are being invited to follow the DT department by searching for mango.dt on Instagram.

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downendvoice

January, 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.

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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

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Bristol Blue Glass Tel: 0117 956 0967

110 High Street, Staple Hill, BS16 5HH

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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

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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

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0117 956 8318

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downendvoice

January, 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

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

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downendvoice

January, 2022

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

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Staple Hill’s first plastic free shop says hello to the community with launch party STAPLE Hill’s very own refill shop, Nom Wholefoods, launched in November giving the local community the opportunity to shop without single use plastic. The launch party, held on November 20th was attended by local traders including Tina Hill of The Beauty Spot who also runs the chamber of trade. Other attendees Local Councillor – Ian Boulton. Local producer Harry Calvert – founder of Gingerbeard’s preserves. Local honey producer – Alyson of Hives & Herbals. Nikki says “We are looking forward to being part of the Staple Hill community working with local traders and supporting local producers as much as possible. It was also a way to say thank you to loyal customers that have been with us for the last 2 years. We were so happy to welcome some of them to be one of the first through our doors.”

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To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

downendvoice

January, 2022

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

Helping you get the most out of life SUTTON Chiropractic in Downend helps you and your family get back to doing the things you love. As such, we love New Year’s resolutions. It’s a time when new hobbies emerge or you commit further to something you love. This could be walking those extra few steps a day, training for a race later in the year or taking up that dance class you have always been tempted by. Whatever it is, we want you to excel at what you do, and enjoy it. So we thought we’d put together a few tips that can help you get the most out of your newfound hobby or achieve that long-standing goal. 1. Address the whole picture The different aspects of your health support and strengthen

each other when given equal attention. If one area is neglected whilst another is vigorously pursued, the whole picture can unravel. Simplicity and balance are the key. Here are the five cornerstones of optimal health, address these and you’ll be able to make changes that last: • Healthy spine and nerves • Regular exercise and movement • Joints and muscles in good alignment • A varied diet of fresh natural foods • Relaxation/mindfulness 2. Start with a good foundation In an effort to get healthier our exercise levels increase throughout January/February, however many people develop

Matt Sutton injuries from this as they have missed one of the fundamental components listed above. The most common issue is when the spine, neck or pelvis are out of alignment at the start of the get fit phase and injuries start to develop. It’s not uncommon for these to spread to the knees, elbows and shoulders too. This is why the body must be assessed and helped back to proper alignment. Ensuring that you can carry your fitness regime further into the year. A sound body can produce wonderful results in your overall health, especially when linked with the other parts of the optimal health approach. 3. Consistency is key We are creatures of habit and the quality of our habits

determines the results. Essentially this means what you do today, sets you up for tomorrow. This could be preparing food for the week ahead, getting to bed earlier or planning an exercise slot into your schedule. Keep consistent in the pursuit of your health goals and the changes will come. Getting support can really help keep you on track, and this could be in the form of a gym partner, running/walking groups or a local slimming world. If you’d like to find out more about how we can help you get back to doing the things you love, or setting the best foundation for activities you’re taking up, we’d love to help. We want you at your best and would love to see how we can help for 2022. Remember, keep it simple, start with a good foundation and be consistent.

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

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

downendvoice

January, 2022

WILL & PROBATE ADVICE

This January make a difference to those you love After a second difficult year for us all, it has highlighted how the most important aspect of our lives is the people we love and care about. Covid-19 has also highlighted the importance of being able to shop locally. With local services such as Simpson Solicitors staying open – providing a safe place for “in person” meetings and offering a FREE Home Visit Service for people in our area who needed to stay at home. 2022 will hopefully be much better. Now is the time get your legal affairs in order, to make a big difference to those you most love. It is only by having an up-to-date will and power of attorney in place, that if you became seriously ill you can make sure your wishes are followed. Having no will or an out of date Will or no Will can mean those you love suffer the upset of the inheritance going to the wrong people or being wasted on legal

disputes or paying avoidable care home fees or inheritance tax. Children can be left not being properly provided for and not being raised by the Guardian you would want. Not having up-to-date lasting power of attorney can mean those you trust (who would most want to support you) are left feeling helpless and unable to make sure you got the support you would want. Our local experts, Simpson Solicitors, can help you prevent leaving behind these sort of problems for your family. Being a regulated law firm you’ll have the peace of mind that everything is done properly for you. Making sure your wishes are clearly recorded with legally valid documents; to support those you intended preventing family fallout. The service starts with a FREE advice meeting. Either face to face in the office, or at your home,

or by telephone or Zoom. Always in a Covid-safe way. The award winning Simpsons team (Law Firm of the Year 2020) also give you the promise of No Hidden Costs and include a FREE supported signing meeting and FREE life-long storage of your documents in their competitive and clear fixed prices. Melissa Witter, says “Our service will let you make a big difference to those you love. The free meeting doesn’t just cover the Will. We will guide you through all the issues you should think about to prevent problems for your family. You will not feel rushed, as we take as long as you need.” Sigrid Grind, says “Make sure you are remembered for all the right reasons and not for leaving a legal mess for your family to sort out. Book your free January meeting now by calling our friendly team on 0117 960 8594 and make use of our special offer of 20% off our the cost of 2 LPAs. “

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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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.

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

downendvoice

January, 2022

n CHURCH NEWS

Youth group to feature on TV's Songs of Praise YOUNG members of Christ Church Downend are set to appear on BBC's Songs of Praise planting trees for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The planting was part of the youth group's monthly Serving Sundays, where they put faith into action in the local community through activities including litter picking and bulb planting, and lead the whole church in Summer Super Serving Sundays, including painting Christ Church Infant School's boundary fence and cleaning the Page Park railings. Songs of Praise asked if they could film the young people planting trees as part of the Queen's Green Canopy. This unique tree planting initiative invites people from across the United Kingdom to 'plant a tree for the Jubilee'. A group of 20 volunteers from the youth group gathered on a cold sunny day to plant two

BBC Songs of Praise films Christ Church Downend youth members planting for the Queen's Green Canopy copses, consisting of 15 trees, a mixture of oaks, crab apples, hawthorns and blackthorns, in the grounds of a farmhouse on the outskirts of Bristol. Anita Dobson from Christ

Church said: "It was a fun day and a privilege to be a part of The Queen's Green Canopy." The Songs of Praise episode featuring Bristol will air on Sunday January 16.

More information on how to get involved with the Queen's Green Canopy project is available online at queensgreencanopy. org.

The BBC camera focuses on Christ Church's youth group

Week of prayer for the community CHURCHES in the area are uniting to pray for the community and the city of Bristol in the New Year. The week of continuous prayer 24/7 lasts from Saturday January 1 to the following Saturday, January 8. Instead of holding the event in a building, people will sign up for hour-long slots and pray at home, with family or friends, or even out on a walk. People of all ages will be taking part. To join the event sign up on your local church website to find a booking link. To ask for a prayer for your family, business, charity or organisation, email Christ Church at anita.dobson@ christchurchdownend.com.

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 946 1169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

downendvoice

January, 2022

n NEWS MONEY from developers working on some of the area's biggest building projects is being spent to improve sports facilities in the Downend area. More than £400,000 has been allocated to fund improvement projects for tennis, rugby, cricket and archery clubs. The money has come from contributions made by developers as part of legal deals to secure planning permission for projects including housing at the former Frenchay Hospital site, Hayes Way in Charlton Hayes and the Gateway at Emersons Green. In the Frenchay and Downend ward, seven sports clubs and facilities have been given funding: • £32,500 to Cleve Hill Tennis Club for a clubhouse extension and new tennis court • £42,709 to Cleeve Archers for an air source heat pump and covered shooting area • £36,000 to Dings Crusaders RFC for floodlights on the grass pitch at their Shaftesbury Park ground in Frenchay • £76,300 to Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council for tennis court renovation and pavilion access improvements • £99,425 to Downend and Frenchay Tennis Club for a new clubhouse • £22,500 to Frenchay Cricket Club for wicket upgrades • £99,425 to Frenchay Tennis Club for new toilet and

Cash from builders funds improved sport facilities

Frenchay and Downend ward councillors Liz Brennan, Ben Burton and James Griffiths at Downend and Frenchay Tennis Club changing facilities A further £96,000 is being spent to improve library facilities: £56,000 towards the planned expansion of Emersons Green Library and £40,000 to install a public toilet at Downend Library. Frenchay & Downend ward councillors Liz Brennan, Ben Burton and James Griffiths said: “We are grateful to see significant

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

investment being made to back local sport in Frenchay and Downend, encouraging people of all ages to stay active, and to provide clubs in our area with the facilities they need to get more people involved. "We are also pleased to see this investment for Downend Library which will make a big difference in terms of accessibility for visitors, particularly for older people and

parents with young children." The council's cabinet member for communities, Rachael Hunt, said: "I am also pleased to see this fresh investment being directed towards upgrading facilities at these two popular local libraries, helping to ensure these community resources meet the needs of residents." Tennis club's rising stars: Page 57

New year, new role? MUD Pie Explorers is a local and much-loved not-for-profit Community Interest Company that has been around for over a decade. We are based at Lincombe Barn Woods in Downend and in schools across South Gloucestershire and Bristol. Our team of 20 take children out into Nature to explore and learn through play boosting confidence and resilience while being lots of fun! Our service provides Forest School, after school clubs, preschool groups, 1:1 support for those who need it, parties (they are back in the spring- yay!) and fantastic adventures during the school holidays. Since Covid we have had a huge demand for the child centred, naturebased service we provide. In addition to families wanting to book their children in with us we are getting requests from schools and local Councils to work with more and more children with additional needs, particularly those with social, emotional and mental health needs. At the moment, 69% of our Forest Schoolers have an additional need and 1/3 are disabled in some way. To meet this growing need for our service we are looking for likeminded people- those that are passionate about empowering children and love to be outdoors all year round, even in the rain and dark! We have volunteer and paid roles- all include induction and ongoing training and support. If you are interested in finding out more and starting your new year off with a new fun filled role that enables you to give back to your community, please pop along to our website to find out more. www.mudpies.co.uk

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

downendvoice

January, 2022

n NEWS FROM YOUR LOCAL MP

Jack Lopresti, MP for Filton & Bradley Stoke

Spare a thought for sacrifices of those who serve I HOPE that you have all been enjoying a very merry Christmas and had the chance to spend this truly special time of year with family and friends. With the final few days of the year upon us, I’d like to reflect on what has been a challenging year for us all and offer praise and thanks to all of those who, despite the festivities, have remained as committed as ever to ensuring our country continues to move forward during the pandemic. Christmas Day isn’t a day off for everyone. My thoughts are with the doctors, nurses and admin teams at our local hospitals; the call handlers and response teams for our emergency services; the lorry drivers a long way from home, ensuring our supermarket shelves remain full; and the charity workers and volunteers who make themselves available to support those of us who may find this time of year particularly difficult. My grateful thanks to you all. At the time of writing, over 20 million of us have rolled up our sleeves and received the Covid-19 booster jab, and I encourage everyone to step forward and get boosted when they are called to do so. Just like the vaccination roll-out earlier this year, none of these jabs would have been possible without the thousands of dedicated staff and volunteers across the country making it so. From the scientist in the lab to the elderly volunteer in the GP waiting room, this is your success and I thank you for your service. The Covid-19 infection rate has risen sharply this winter, and the uncertainty surrounding the latest Omicron variant will no doubt bring further anxiety and concern to many. However, the correlation between infection rates and subsequent hospitalisations and deaths has thankfully been significantly less pronounced than it was this time last year, which tells us all one thing: these vaccines work – they save lives. We should continue to do all we can to protect the vulnerable among us and relieve the pressure on our fantastic NHS. As well as our heroic key workers playing their part here at home, please spare a thought for the thousands of servicemen and women on deployment, who have been unable to sit down with their families for Christmas this year. One very close friend of mine,; a Royal Navy reservist, will have spent the Christmas period in the rather hotter climate of Bahrain. Deployment can be a lonely experience at the best of times, not least at Christmas, and we should remain thankful to all of those who serve and pay the ongoing price for us to live in a free and democratic country. I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

n NEWS

£850 for Pudsey CHILDREN and staff at Bromley Heath Junior School raised almost £850 for Children in Need. Throughout the week leading up to the BBC charity extravaganza in November, children were able to enter a 'design a Pudsey' colouring competition and a raffle, and buy Christmas gifts that had been kindly made Some of Bromley Heath Junior and donated by two Year 5 School's fundraisers children and their families. On the day itself, they wore non-uniform and held a cake sale to raise a total of £849.13. Higher level teaching assistant and family link worker Sarah Simons said: "We are great supporters of Children in Need every year and we try to organise different activities to raise as much money as we can. "It’s a great event for the children to get involved in and, of course, a fantastic cause to support."

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Downend

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

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

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

FRIDAY

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

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

Scotney Castle by Brian Kinsman

downendvoice

January, 2022

n NEWS

Sarah is new police chief AVON and Somerset Constabulary has its first female chief constable. Sarah Crew has risen to the top job on the force, 27 years after she joined as a new recruit. She was confirmed in post at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel in late November, after being named as the Police and Crime Commissioner’s preferred candidate following a "rigorous selection process". During her policing career, Sarah has taken on roles including head of intelligence, lead officer for Bristol CID and commander of the South Gloucestershire policing area, before taking on the role of Deputy Chief Constable in 2017. She had been appointed temporary chief constable in July, when previous chief constable Andy Marsh stepped down. Sarah said: "It will be the greatest honour of my life to serve the wonderfully diverse communities of Avon and Somerset as Chief

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Avon and Somerset police Chief Constable Sarah Crew Constable. "I don’t underestimate the privilege and responsibility this role carries with it and I’m wholly committed to delivering the outstanding policing our communities want and deserve. "Policing is at a watershed moment: there’s nothing more precious than the founding principle of policing by consent, and we must work tirelessly to earn and keep the public’s trust. "At its heart, the philosophy of policing is a bond of trust between citizens in policing and citizens in communities. Protecting

and strengthening this bond of trust is my overriding priority and I believe greater openness and accountability, and a renewed focus on culture and ethics, will be pivotal in achieving this." Sarah is the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for rape and sexual assault, and has overseen the introduction to in Avon and Somerset police of Project Bluestone, aimed at transforming the way police respond and investigate rape and serious sexual offences by improving police response to victims and "shifting the focus onto offenders". PCC Mark Shelford said: "In a world where crime is changing rapidly, police need to adapt to keep up and I know Sarah enthusiastically supports innovation and improving technology to ensure Avon and Somerset is an efficient and effective police service. "Sarah has a proven track record of strong and successful leadership and, through her NPCC role, she is undertaking important work with criminal justice and partner agencies to improve conviction rates for these types of offences and give victims the support they deserve. "It’s been a tough two years for policing due to the pandemic, a changing landscape and new demands, but I am confident that Sarah will successfully deliver for our communities at such a pivotal time for policing."

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downendvoice

January, 2022

n DOWNEND FOLK CLUB PREVIEW NEXT AT DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS:

JIM CAUSLEY

KATIE GRACE HARRIS

JIM CAUSLEY (WITH SUPPORT FROM KATIE GRACE HARRIS) FRIDAY 21ST JANUARY 2022, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND.

Downend Folk & Roots (the new name for Downend Folk Club) kicks off its new year programme with a headline concert from an artist labelled “the finest singer of his generation” by Mojo Magazine. More than simply a folk singer, multi award winning singersongwriter, musician and proud Devonian, Jim Causley is an allround entertainer, and during the past decade has been nominated no less than six times for a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award, Since the release of his debut album in 2005, Jim’s unique voice and persona have helped him become one of the most well-loved and respected figures of today’s contemporary roots and folk scene. A prolific collaborator, Causley is hugely admired for his work with iconic groups The Devil’s Interval and Mawkin:Causley as well as

playing, touring and recording alongside Waterson:Carthy, John McCusker, Eddie Reader, Graham Coxson, Shirley Collins, Michael Morpurgo, Show of Hands, Kate Rusby, David Rotheray of Beautiful South fame and many more. Opening the evening’s entertainment will be Oxfordshirebased Katie Grace Harris, a gifted multi-instrumentalist, singer/ songwriter and storyteller with a fast-growing reputation in the UK folk world. Her sound can best be described as earthy, piano and accordion accompanied English

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folk music. Katie was a finalist the Purbeck Rising Award in 2021, and her performance at Folk Weekend Oxford was hailed as “pure joy… a treat.” Tickets for the event, which takes place at Christ Church Downend on Friday 21st January 2022, are available online at www. downendfolkclub.com and from Melanie’s Kitchen in Downend (cash only). They are priced at £15 each in advance or £17 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 150 tickets available. For further information, please email downendfolkclub@ live.com.

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News: email us at: news@downendvoice.co.uk To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

downendvoice

January, 2022

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

New Year heralds a greener future THERE is still much uncertainty about the worrying Omicron covid variant spreading among our communities. It remains hugely important to take up booster jabs when offered them, and to continue to wear masks in shops and on public transport. Here in the West of England I am proud we have led the country in this sensible approach since last summer and I believe it has saved countless lives locally. In the best traditions of our wonderful region and nation, let’s continue to look out for each other in 2022. January is a time to make plans and New Year’s resolutions but, importantly, also a time for us to think about our own well-being. This month is ‘National Walk Your Dog month.’ If your dog is anything like my working cocker spaniel, Angel, they will implore you for long walks on at least a daily basis! It’s a great way of getting exercise, fresh air and doing something that’s really good for our

mental health. Across the West of England there are some fantastic forests, woodland and open spaces to go for walks – my personal favourites being around the beautiful rail viaducts in both Winterbourne and Pensford. On the subject of green spaces, I was delighted that the flagship £50 million Green Recovery Fund that I pledged in my manifesto was finally voted through in December – and without any strings attached. This was my green promise to you in last May’s election and it is key to our region meeting our ambitious target of net-zero by 2030. It’s going to deliver key projects like retrofitting homes to make them more energy efficient, installing more charging points for electric cars and creating biodiversity schemes to help bees and other pollinators. So my New Year’s resolution to you is to continue to be the strong champion our region needs and deserves – from backing our worldclass food and drink producers, to our creative

RM O N S A N E P O

National Award winners of the Good Garage Scheme

Metro Mayor

Dan Norris

writes for the Voice industries and our thriving tech and aerospace sectors. I want to deliver a public transport network that our region can be really proud of, and to that end I was delighted to launch half-hourly rail services between Severn Beach and Temple Meads, and am proud to promise there are more transport improvements across our region further down the track this year. So whether you’re doing dry January, ‘Veganuary’ or taking up a new hobby, I wish you and your loved ones a very safe January and 2022.

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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

downendvoice

January, 2022

n STYLE ADVICE

Your January wardrobe reboot Downend-based stylist Gail Painter has some advice on how to start 2022 more organised, feeling better and looking great A DETOX is a good way to reboot your wardrobe and clear the way for a great year ahead. Studies have found that people only wear 20% of what’s in their wardrobe. This can be caused by having so many clothes they can’t see the choice but also holding on to garments that no longer suit them or are wearable. By clearing out your closet you can rid yourself of items that no longer work for you and see the pieces you want to wear, making it easier to get dressed, feel more confident and get on with your day. So, get detoxing and remove the frustration from your life.

Here are five easy steps to clear out the clutter and detox your wardrobe: n Start by getting all your clothes and accessories out of your wardrobe and laying them on your bed. That way you’ll have to finish the job before you can go to sleep! n Using a full-length mirror, try each piece on and look in the mirror. Do you still wear it? Does it still fit you well? Is it useful to your lifestyle? If yes, put it in a pile that will return to the wardrobe. Alternatively, if items have seen better days, don’t fit you properly, or haven’t been worn in years, it’s time to let them go. n Take damaged clothes to a local dressmaker or tailor for fixing. The dry cleaners may also offer this service. Clothes that you don’t wear, but hold an emotional value, can be stored.

n Donations are always welcome, so bag everything up that you’re not keeping for the local charity shops. Or perhaps organise a clothes swap with friends and family members. It could be a fun way to spend an evening with pals in January! n Everything else can be hung back in the wardrobe. A top tip for finding things quickly is to colour co-ordinate your wardrobe. By grouping garments in colours, you’ll find them more easily. You can also keep a clearer focus on what to wear by organising a seasonal wardrobe. For example, store away high summer and holiday clothes in vacuum storage bags now until you need them at the end of spring. Congratulations – you’ve rebooted your wardrobe ready for

Gail Painter writes for the Voice

the new year! 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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Give us a call on 0117 969 0990 or visit our website at bristolcarehomes.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

A job that matters

Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

Looking for a career change?

Looking for part-time work?

Looking for a job that can ﬁt around family life?

Join our teams of amazing local care workers Whether you are looking for a fresh challenge or a job to fit around other commitments, a role in care could be for you. A range of local jobs are available:

Support workers

Katherine, Bristol

Domiciliary care workers

Casey, Bristol

Katherine is a support worker helping adults with learning disabilities. She fits her job around being a mum.

Casey visits people’s homes as a domiciliary care worker. She’s also studying for her NVQs in health and social care.

Residential care workers

Glenn, South Gloucestershire

Glenn works in a residential home. After 10 years of office work, he loves the difference he’s making to people’s lives.

To find out more, get in touch with our Proud to Care Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire teams. We work closely with care providers across the area and can help you explore your options, explain the opportunities available and introduce you to employers. Everyone is welcome, with or without experience, as we’ll offer all the relevant training and support.

www.beproudtocare.co.uk

downendvoice

January, 2022

n NEWS

Knitters bring comfort and joy to rescued animals RESIDENTS of an extra care housing scheme in Downend have been busy knitting to provide some home comforts for animals in need. The Knit and Natter club at Badminton Gardens in Beaufort Road only re-started about three months ago but since then they have already created more than 50 blankets for Bristol Animal Rescue Centre. The blankets will be given to dogs, cats and other animals which need something to snuggle up in as they wait for new homes at the centre in St Philip's. The group meets every Thursday, with around eight to ten residents each week knitting squares which are sewn together into blankets by group leader Sylvia Davis. Some of the members, who are in their 80s and 90s, take their knitting home to put in some extra time on the project. Sylvia originally intended to donate the blankets to

residents. "It's good getting people together and making use of our knitting. One lady had never knitted in her life before and we've got her knitting, too." Badminton Gardens administrative assistant Heather Mowat invited representatives from the Bristol Animal Rescue Centre over to collect the donations and make a presentation to residents about the charity's work. She said: "They are delighted and extremely grateful to our knitters." Heather said residents at the 63-bedroom independent living complex had been returning to clubs, social gatherings and communal activities after 18 months of restrictions. The Knit and Natter club is looking for suggestions for its next project - Voice readers are invited to send their ideas to the group via Heather.Mowat@ anchor.org.uk.

Members of the Knit and Natter club with Badminton Gardens admin assistant Heather Mowat, and Laura Daniel and Maisie Barrett of Bristol Animal Rescue Centre Southmead Hospital but, after the hospital said it would not be able to use them, her daughter Tina Smith suggested the rescue centre.

Sylvia said: "One of our ladies got in touch with the centre and they wanted towels and quilts as well as blankets, so we have collected lots of them from

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January, 2022

n NEWS

Star Stephen welcomes library visitors

Stephen Merchant on the video

PEOPLE visiting libraries in Downend, Staple Hill and Emersons Green will hear a familiar voice if they use the Open Access service when the building is not staffed. Actor and comedian Stephen Merchant, whose TV series The Outlaws was recently a hit for BBC 1, has recorded a number of announcements for the council’s Library service, along with a video highlighting the importance of libraries, which can be found on the council's YouTube channel. The Hanham-born star made the video and recordings after bumping into a manager on a visit to a local library and said he wanted to highlight the library's "power to change lives through

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reading". Stephen said: "I was more than willing to support South Gloucestershire Libraries. "The service has so much to offer – access to computers, a meeting place to connect with your community, somewhere to study and if you want to find out anything then the library is the place to go. "But above all these great services, it’s their power to change lives through reading. I would encourage everyone to use their local library.” A council spokesperson said Stephen had recorded "bespoke audio content" in the form of announcements for the libraries’ Open Access service, which enables users to visit the library seven days per week. Council cabinet member for communities Rachael Hunt said: "It was really kind of Stephen to record the announcements and the video. "We want our libraries to be welcoming places, and having a well-known friendly voice with a very recognisable local accent is brilliant. "Hearing his voice will bring

a smile to our users' faces – even when he tells them that the library hours are ending for the day!" The open Access scheme allows people to access most libraries in South Gloucestershire when staff are not on duty, between the house of 8am and 7.30pm. The council says more than 100,000 visits have been made using the system since it was introduced. During lockdown libraries increased online services and made visits to more than 450 people who could not leave their homes. The service has been returning to normal over the past few months. To hear Stephen, just visit a South Gloucestershire Library and ask the staff about registering for the Open Access service to use the libraries seven days a week. To view the video, visit youtube.com/ watch?v=BGpI7ApzsqI For more information on libraries visit www.southglos. gov.uk/libraries.

'Eco garden' appeal rejected

A DOWNEND property owner has been given two months to undo changes to a field after plans for an 'eco domestic garden' were refused on appeal. Daveene McCallion applied to change the use of a field at Baugh Farm in Fouracre Crescent and retain a hardstanding area that had already been installed. But the plans were unpopular with neighbours, who launched a petition raising concerns that the land could then be developed, spoiling the Leap Valley area. More than 150 people signed a petition against a proposal to change the classification of the land from agricultural to residential use and allow a gravel hardstanding to remain in place, with more than 60 individual comments on the plans also received. Ms McCallion had argued that the site was "within the settlement boundary where development is considered accepted" and surrounded by homes with large domestic gardens, which meant the changes would not look out of place. Her agent told the council the hardstanding would allow small vehicles to be used on the land, which would be managed "in an ecologically sensitive way", adding that it was intended to be an "ecodomestic garden enhancing wildlife and biodiversity". South Gloucestershire Council refused the application and issued an enforcement notice for Ms McCallion to remove the hardstanding but she appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. An inspector has now upheld both the council's decision and its enforcement notice. A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said the owner had two months from October 29 to comply with the requirements. The Voice asked Ms McCallion's agents Tetlow King for a comment.

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January, 2022

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n NEWS

Concern on hate crime Parcel theft warning POLICE are concerned about the level of hate crime in South Gloucestershire, which remains high after a huge spike in reported incidents just over a year ago. Some 390 hate crimes were reported to Avon and Somerset Police in the 12 months to November, according to the latest figures for South Gloucestershire – more than one per day. District area commander Dan Forster said after reports jumped by 24 per cent just over a year ago, levels had remained persistently high, reflecting a national rise. He told members of South Gloucestershire’s multiagency community safety partnership: "At the time we did some analysis around that to understand why that was the case, and there’s no doubt whatsoever that international factors were coming into play. "Things like the Trump

administration, locally the BLM [Black Lives Matter] protests, Brexit, all of that played into this increase in hate crime." The meeting on December 3 heard that the latest figures represented a 0.5% reduction on 2020 but Chief Insp Forster said the “general increase” was of concern to police. He said: “Half of those offences have been racehate type offences. Violence against the person and public disorder take the lion’s share of those types of offences. This is obviously something we’re concerned about.” Chief Insp Forster said police believed hate crime was under-reported in South Gloucestershire. Overall, one per cent less crime was reported in South Gloucestershire over the past year than in the previous 12 months. By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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POLICE have warned of an increasing trend in thefts of parcels and mail from people's doorsteps over the past year. The rise in crimes by so-called “doorstep pirates” comes as many people are ordering gifts from delivery companies such as Amazon ahead of Christmas. Chief Inspector Dan Forster, Avon and Somerset Police’s area commander for South Gloucestershire, said the number of reported incidents of theft of parcels and mail from people’s doorsteps in the district had nearly tripled in the past year compared with the previous 12 months. A total of 58 incidents were reported in the year to November, compared with 20 in the previous 12 months, he told members of South Gloucestershire’s multi-agency community safety partnership. Chief Insp Forster said that although the reported numbers “aren’t huge”, many incidents are likely to be going unreported. He said: “If you imagine that you order something from Amazon and it doesn’t arrive because it’s been stolen from your doorstep, do you necessarily report that? "Do you know it was stolen, or do you just phone up Amazon and they send you another one?” Incidents of robbery and burglary were down by 15%, criminal damage by 14%, antisocial behaviour by 8% and assault with injury by 6%, the partnership heard. The figures are largely due to lockdowns and other Covid restrictions, and are part of an overall general downward trend in reported crime in the district, Chief Insp Forster said.

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January, 2022

nW HAT’S ON IN OUR AREA Sat 1- Sat 8th Jan 2022: n Week of 24/7 prayer for our community. Run by churches in Downend, Staple Hill & Bromley Heath. For details see www. christchurchdownend.com January 8 n KINGSWOOD Y'S MEN CLUB coffee morning, raising funds for local charities, Staple Hill Methodist Church (main entrance), 10am until noon. Further dates on January 29, March 5 and April 2. January 13 n DOWNEND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEETING, 7.30pm at the Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend. Call Roger Davis on 0117 957 1703 or Hilary Walton on 0117 979 2832 for more details. January 14 n LUNCHTIME CONCERT On Friday January 14th from 1pm - 2pm. a lunchtime concert will be held at St Mary’s Church, Manor Road, Fishponds given by the Concorde Clarinets. No admission charge but a retiring collection to cover expenses. Tea/coffee served from 12.30pm. January 17 n DOWNEND SENIOR FILM CLUB Monday 17th January at 2pm - Shall We Dance. Starring Richard Gere & Jennifer Lopez. A romantic comedy where a bored, overworked Estate Lawyer, upon first sight of a beautiful instructor, signs up for ballroom dancing lessons. 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 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.

REGULAR EVENTS 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. 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. 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 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 PILATES CLASS AT LINCOMBE BARN Wednesdays 8.45 - 9.45 a.m. £8.50 per class. Booking essential. All levels welcome. Contact Emily on 07974252486; email: info@teachmepilates. co.uk or find me on facebook and Instagram: Emily Osborne Pilates. 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 3rd Wednesday of every month in the afternoon. We meet

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January, 2022 at 2.00pm at the old school hall now known as the YOU Foundation by the car park in Page Road Staple Hill. Speakers, quiz’s and handy craft afternoon finish’s with tea. We have also planned fund raising events and are looking for any one willing to give us ladies a hand. Any age or sex to help us carry and put up our gazebo’s would be a great help. 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 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 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. 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

We would love to publicise your event Send details of your events and activities in the following format:

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 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. 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. Please call Jean Kington on 01454 314178 for more information. 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. During the service there is an activity for younger children. 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 if they can. For more information contact: Revd Samuel Uwimana: 0117 239 5984 or www. badmintonroadmethodist.org.uk

n NEWS

Wartime discovery A METAL detectorist from Staple Hill has uncovered an unusual wartime weapon in Downend. David Upton has been searching for buried objects in the area for 40 years. Among his recent finds was a narrow, steel-bladed, brassDavid Upton with the trench knife he handled knife, which an found in Downend expert has identified as an improvised trench knife, of a type used in close-quarters fighting during the First World War. It includes a hole where a loop would have been threaded through to stop the user from dropping the knife, which has a stiletto-style blade. How it ended up buried in Downend is a mystery. In October the Voice published pictures of a serving tray which David, a retired Rolls-Royce worker, had unearthed in Frenchay. This has now been confirmed as a copper Britannia meat tray, which would originally have been silver-gilt plated and was made in around 1850. It is suspected to have been stolen in a burglary many years ago and buried. David always searches land with permission and discloses everything he finds, sharing the proceeds with the landowner if the items are sold. He hopes some of his recent finds may end up on display at Frenchay Village Museum.

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January, 2022

n MANGOTSFIELD RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

A positive end to the year AS I wrote this I was pondering how, using 200m of 2,000 lights and a big snowflake, we managed to leave too big a gap at the bottom of the tree in the village – and how we best use another 300 lights to fill it! The response from the public to our third attempt at decorating said tree has been overwhelmingly positive but the gap is annoying the committee, so by the time you read this it should have been fixed. Our Nativity scene has better lighting this year and, again, the response has been very positive. It was the perfect setting for the outdoor carol service on December 17. So, thanks to everyone who helped make the tree and Nativity happen. I would especially like to thank Carol Lucas and Jan Peters, two local residents I’m sure many of you know well, who donated the topping on the tree (and one of the benches mentioned last month). It certainly adds a wow factor to it, and it even survived a few very breezy evenings in early December. We held a very enjoyable social in St James Church on November 26. A good turnout included some people who hadn’t been able to join us for some time. We’ll hold more of them in the new year. A year ago I wrote: “I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a horrible year for so many

people. Let’s hope 2021 is better and we can get back to a more normal life." Well, 2021 was a bit better – we restarted some of our planned work, some of it is finished, some of it isn’t, and there's more to do in 2022. We have, assuming nothing changes in the time between writing this and Christmas itself, been able to get together with friends and family, which is what Christmas is really all about. As always, we’d love more people to get involved so if you’d like to or you need any help then please get in touch via MangotsfieldRA@ gmail.com, via the ever popular Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page or telephone our chair Clive Heath on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881 See you in 2022. Chris Amos (secretary) AS we go into 2022, another uncertain year, we must never lose hope: our strength as a community is being able to see light at the end of the tunnel, despite all the darkness. Together, looking out for one another as we have been, with hope, is the way to see the light. So let's all remain strong and positive and also be the light for others around us. Clive Heath (chair and community pastor). Our Dame School Nativity scene

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n NEWS

New leisure centre takes a step forward PLANS for a new leisure centre in Kingswood are being taken forward as part of a major revamp of the area's high street. South Gloucestershire Council has approved a feasibility study into building a new leisure centre at the back of the Kings Chase shopping centre. It means the existing Kingswood Leisure Centre in Soundwell is looking more likely to be replaced, leaving the future of the site in Church Road to be decided. The decision was among a raft of moves signed off by the council's Conservative administration on December 13 to progress the £25million redevelopment of Kingswood High Street. The plans include the pedestrianisation of part of Regent Street and the restoration of Park Road’s derelict former church, the Grade I-listed Whitfield Tabernacle. A new public park will be created from the cemetery of the Grade II-listed Masters Church, which sits beside the tabernacle and is being privately developed by Crossman Homes as 19 apartments. A public consultation held earlier this year, after the council revealed it had bought the Kings Chase shopping centre for £10 million, included proposals for a Kings Chase redevelopment with a new leisure centre, a cinema, apartments and office hot-desk hub. Public feedback showed “a strong appetite for a new leisure centre and for a mix of uses in a Kings Chase redevelopment”, according to the cabinet report.

Council leader Toby Savage and Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore at Kings Chase shopping centre If the leisure centre is deemed feasible, it will replace the old council-owned Kingswood Leisure Centre outside the town centre at Soundwell. According to a provisional design, the new Kingswood Leisure Centre would occupy around 37,000sq ft created by partly demolishing the multistorey car park immediately behind Sainsbury’s. Officers note the car park is “seldom more than one third occupied” and that it would be possible to provide extra decked car parking elsewhere on site. Cabinet members approved the feasibility study and gave officers the green light to publish a final masterplan for the Kingswood regeneration, which is expected to come back to cabinet next spring. The meeting heard that the public response to the draft masterplan was “overwhelmingly positive”. A cabinet report summarising the findings of the 12-week consultation said: “The most consistent message fed back to officers was ‘it’s about time’. “There was a feeling that Kingswood has been neglected

for too long and is in need of transformational investment.” Council leader Toby Savage said the restoration of the Whitfield Tabernacle was already underway, adding: "When we talk about masterplans, it’s so important that residents see that these aren’t just another council document to gather dust on the shelf." The tabernacle is expected to open within 18 months as a cultural centre hosting a

heritage, education and arts programme. The Kingswood masterplan has been in development since summer 2019. The £25million project is being funded by £12.5million of government Future High Streets funding, £8m of match funding from the West of England Combined Authority, and £5m of proposed borrowing from the council’s investment fund. The current leisure centre in Soundwell celebrated its 60th birthday in September. Since it opened in 1961 as Soundwell Baths, generations of residents have learned to swim at the West Country’s first post-war built public indoor pool. Up until lockdown around half a million visits per year were made by customers using the centre's pool, gym, soft play and other facilities. By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Cricket club raided POLICE are appealing for information after a break-in at Downend Cricket Club. A spokesperson for the Avon and Somerset force said it had been alerted to a burglary in the early hours of November 19. Officers went to the scene and searched the surrounding area. The spokesperson said: "At approximately 1.15am we were called by a member of the public regarding a non-dwelling burglary in Downend. “A male had reportedly broken into the cricket club and made off with the till drawer in a lime green bag. "Officers attended the scene and recovered the items, but efforts to apprehend the suspect proved negative. “CCTV enquiries are ongoing." Police have called on anyone who saw what happened or may have dashcam footage showing someone carrying a lime green bag to call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5221 272 346.

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January, 2022

n COMMUNITY NEWS

A day in the life of Staple Hill Community Hub Chair of trustees William Lee gives an insight into the charity's work by describing a typical day in the office SOON after I arrived there was a ring on the doorbell. A local resident was concerned for the welfare of one of his neighbours in the flats who is in his eighties. He had not been seen for several days, which was unusual. Julie, the manager of the hub, was able to contact the customer manager for the flats and she set about investigating. Thankfully she called back in a while to say that he is fine and grateful that people are looking out for him. Julie and I then set about processing the Hub payroll for the month. Not the most exciting task, but it needs to be done, and we have recently taken it in-house to save the cost we were paying for an agency to do it for us. Thankfully it isn’t too complicated a process, and we were able to complete it without any issues. While we were working on the payroll, Julie took a call from a volunteer at a charity that helps refugees and asylum seekers. They wanted to check how our emergency food parcel service works, since they might have some clients in need of it. Julie explained that it is intended just for shortterm emergency use but available without the need for referral or vouchers. Essentially we keep it simple, so that anyone in need can be helped without the process getting in the way.

Staple Hill Community Hub manager Julie Snelling at work Julie had prepared an emergency food parcel before I arrived. This was collected by Claire, one of our volunteers, to be delivered to someone in Lyde Green who has Covid and is unable to afford to buy food at the moment. Now that the office is staffed again, our emergency food parcels are available for collection from the Hub. If there is a need, and we are able to, then we will also deliver, as on this occasion. Our service is primarily for people in Staple Hill but we also help people in the surrounding area if we can. So, thanks to Claire, this food parcel was delivered to Lyde Green. Earlier that morning, before I arrived at the Hub, Julie had been grappling with replacing the filter on the water heater in the kitchen. Apparently that was successful once she had remembered her right from her left! On the previous day in the afternoon, Julie had been busy:

• Putting together a food parcel for a local family which was then collected from the Hub. • Welcoming the Golden Tones choir for their weekly session in the main room. The main room, kitchen and smaller office are all available for hire by community organisations. The choir have been regular users of the main room for over a year now. Yesterday’s session focused on Christmas carols. • Applying for a grant towards the cost of a Queen’s Platinum Jubilee street party that we hope to organise for the area in-between the flats outside the Hub. This will be in June next year and will take a lot of organising and involve numerous volunteers to help make it happen. Further tasks that Julie found time for included: • Chasing up contributions from local organisations to our quarterly newsletter. The newsletter has not been published since the pandemic started back in 2020 and

we were hoping to issue a copy in December, to give information on various local activities and support services available to people over the coming months. • Trying to get confirmation of the cost of the lights for the Christmas tree in Fountain Square. The tree and lights are provided by the council but paid for by the Staple Hill Partnership and the Hub. Much of the money needed last year was raised through a crowd funding appeal to the community. Sam, from the council’s Community Learning & Skills service, popped in to drop off materials for the free 'building resilience' course, Skills for Life, which was starting at the Hub the following day. One of the ladies at the course asked about our lunch club, which takes place on Mondays and Fridays. She has recently moved into Downend. Following a recent article in the Downend Voice we also had two phone calls from local residents booking appointments for our Job Searchers Support Group, which takes place every Monday from 1.30pm to 3.30 pm. The JSSG helps with CV development, job searches, interview techniques and job applications. Five minutes before we were due to close someone rang the doorbell in need of an emergency food parcel, which we were able to provide. As you can see, there is a huge variety in the things that come up and need to be dealt with. Thankfully Julie is very skilled in juggling and keeping plates spinning!

Charity will give children extra support A CHARITY will be able to provide psychological therapy to children at two primary schools thanks to funding from ward councillors. Ignite Life will provide pupils at Barley Close and Staple Hill schools with access to child or family therapy, to help them overcome adversity. Funding for the project has come from Staple Hill and Mangotsfield councillors Katie Cooper, Ian Boulton and Michael Bell under South Gloucestershire Council's Member Awarded Funding scheme. Each councillor has a budget of £3,000 a year to spend on projects that benefit

Councillors Katie Cooper and Michael Bell with Ignite Life representatives residents in their ward and can choose how the money is spent. Cllr Cooper said: "Waiting times for

children to access psychological therapy through the NHS can be months and sometimes years. "Together the three of us are providing £2,000 to fund ten blocks of therapy. With this money we are able to provide the help quickly and locally.” Ignite Life is based in Kingswood and has recently established new premises in Staple Hill. Its vision says: “Every young person should have access to help and support where and when they need it most." For more information on the project contact katie.cooper@southglos.gov.uk or bethanie@ignite-life.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

downendvoice

January, 2022

n PHOTOGRAPHY TAKING BET TER PHOTOGRAPHS

DOW

LU B

WITH

D CA MER

Night Moves WINTER brings long nights, and although short days allow less time for daylight photography, there is a positive side – darkness provides black backgrounds to allow for dramatic images to be produced. Here is where technology has helped, for modern digital camera sensors are much more sensitive than film, allowing a greater opportunity for creative picture taking. Three low-light images submitted to club competitions are shown here: ‘Clifton Bridge’ is a nighttime shot of that iconic symbol of Bristol. The tide is in, and the water is still enough to provide reflections, almost a mirror effect. The picture needed a thirty-second exposure, which allowed for some light in the sky to be recorded. That length of time makes the sky diffused but this actually helps the picture. This demonstrates an important aspect of night photography: there often needs to be some light still showing in the sky. Another example is ‘Pero’s Bridge’, where the sky is dark enough to provide mood, yet light

Pero's Bridge by Chris Bigg enough to allow for silhouettes of part of the bridge and the building in the background. Here, the shutter speed is fast enough for the clouds to be seen, and they match nicely with the fog rising from the bridge itself (the fog was provided as an art installation on the bridge a few years ago). There is not any detail in the sky shown in ‘Dundee V&A’, although that hardly matters, as the image is mostly taken up by the building itself, located on the city’s riverside.

Dundee V&A by Helen Sheppard Once again, the pool of water in front of it provides a reflection and lends the building the impression of being a ship, although it is made of rough stone panels intended to create the appearance of a Scottish cliff face. The architect was covering the bases here! Downend Camera Club is a friendly informal group who normally meet on Tuesdays at 7.30 pm 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

Clifton bridge by Trevor Toms

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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

downendvoice

January, 2022

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

A New You is waiting ... WILL I be able to keep any resolutions I might make? Can I stick to changes I would like to see happen? What can I do to become a new me in 2022? We all get into bad habits of one sort or another and these shape us – and I don’t just mean our physique. What we do regularly forms who we are. In our more sober moments, we can look at ourselves and not like what we see, what we have become. We may have the desire for change, for a fresh start, but change is difficult, we feel weak, and we fear failing. Well, I want to tell you of someone who became a ‘new creation’ (2Corinthians 5:17). His life was turned around. He said, ‘the old had gone, the new is here’ and it lasted. This man had hated those who were the new followers of Jesus. He hunted them down and had them dragged off to prison. He had held people’s cloaks and stood in approval

while they threw rocks and killed a man named Stephen. But this man changed. He had a 180 and here is what he did to turn his life around. Nothing! Zilch. Zip. He wrote, ‘All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.’ (v18). You see while he was off on one of his Jesus-follower hunts, God met him. God literally stopped this man Saul in his tracks, confronted him and told him what he was to do – and his life was never the same. In fact, he dedicated his life to telling as many people as he could that no matter what they had done, God offers a new life and gives it freely (by grace) because of what Jesus has done for us. He wrote, ‘God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.’ (2Corinthians 5:19). All our failings, weakness, mistakes, mess-ups can be forgiven, we can have a completely new start because God counted those

sins against his own Son. Jesus’ death was him paying the price for our wrongs. Jesus gave his life, so that we can have a new one. Christ-ians (those who are inChrist) are forgiven, made new and are reconciled to God who lives within them to empower them in their new lives. And that’s not the end. In this world we will continue to battle with sin, it is everywhere. But God’s plan is not only to make people new through Jesus, he has also promised to make the world new (Revelation 21). One day Jesus will return to the earth and all those who have been made new in him will be with him in a new heaven and earth where sin and its effects will be forever banished. No more temptation, no more relationship struggles, no more sickness, tears, or death. A new you is waiting, God wants to give it to you. A whole new amazing future. So, when

Pastor PaulQuintin Donovan David PendennisGoodNewsChurch D ownend Btaple aptist Pendennis Road, S Hill www.pendennisgoodnew s.com Church God stops you in your tracks and speaks to you (as he may well through this), my prayer for you this year is that you might listen to him and receive the new life he has for you – and we would love to be of help. Pastor Paul Donovan Pendennis Good News Church Pendennis Road, Staple Hill Tel: 9571685 Email: info@pendennis goodnews.com

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downendvoice

January, 2022

n NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Tips for a safe and secure start to 2022 BROMLEY Heath Neighbourhood Watch sends compliments of the season to all residents in our area: we hope you have a safe and secure time. We had our annual meeting in person recently and the whole committee was voted back in for another year. Such brilliant volunteering, and thanks to all of them! During the year we produced a 'Facts or Rules of Life' in Bromley Heath. This set of clear advice will be repeated regularly, as it is apparent that we need to make sure the content is taken on board by everyone and that they engage in it to help keep Bromley Heath as safe and crime-free as possible. It now needs updating, and here is one of our updates in the light of recent crimes: Vehicle crime alert - leave them open, or even locked with anything on display or easily found, and you can expect unwelcome attention and the items and/or whole vehicle

to go. There are opportunists out there 24/7 and you will fall foul of them. Do ensure keys, including the electronic/tech variety, are not in reach of the letterbox or able to be triggered by a rogue device. Remove them to an inner safe location, as far away from the vehicle as possible. Consider placing them in a 'protection' container. We have some top tips for this time of year: * Make sure your home is well secured and that lights are on time clocks if you are not about when darkness falls, so your home looks occupied. A couple of them going on and off is a great idea – and have you seen those small bogus television devices? * Keep presents where they can't be easily seen through windows. * When putting out recycling, don't display anything that shows what is new and inside – fold

cardboard boxes to present a blank face, for example. * Make sure bins and recycling go out and empties are brought back in on the day, even if on holiday. We spotted some of you sharing a tip we would like to support, reminding people who cycle, scoot and run at night to wear some form of high vis and/ or display lights to help drivers see you. Our police beat team and we are continuously warning about scammers at the door, on the phone or online. A current one to beware of is a COVID-19 scam offering a "free Omicron PCR test". We were alerted by a Neighbourhood Watch member who started to fill in the online form but got suspicious when the website asked for bank account details. A quick read through the email showed a number of errors –

n NEWS

Pub bash raises £1,000 for Macmillan REGULARS at a Downend pub have raised £1,000 for charity Macmillan Cancer Support. What started out as a few friends chatting about what they would do for Christmas turned into a dinner, disco and fundraiser complete with secret Santa, raffle and auction. Andy Hicks, one of the organisers, said: "We were undecided what to do for Christmas so we thought about 12 of us would have a meal at the Horseshoe – however, word got around quickly and the 12 turned into 49!" The group was given use of the pub's lounge area for the event and everyone who went brought a raffle prize for some hampers. Local businesses were also asked if they would like to donate and Craig Anthony, the CoOp, Mokka, Hazel Holly, Good Frydays, CoCo Hairdressers, Motaparts, the Beehive, the Horseshoe, AN Checker, the

Locals at the Horseshoe fundraiser Beauty Spot, JK Tapas, Bristol Nail and Beauty Lounge, the Kendleshire Golf Club and Tony Mealing at All Stitched Up all donated. Andy added: "It was a fabulous night, with good food and good music, and the raffle

and auction raised £1,000 for Macmillan, which is the pub's charity. "Thanks must also go to all the staff who worked on the night and the people who helped set up the event. Here’s to next year!"

please be wary of any emails that contain mistakes or have an odd or non-UK web address. Thinking of a New Year resolution? We are on the look out for more volunteers. Find out more about us and make contact for a chat by calling 0117 956 3325, emailing contactus@bhnw.org.uk or visiting our website www.bhnw.org.uk, where you can also find our map and details of coordinators for each area. We're also on Facebook and Twitter. Bill Crocker

Man questioned over High Street assault POLICE have questioned a man in his 40s over an incident where a man was punched in the face in Staple Hill High Street. The assault, which left the victim needing hospital treatment for a broken jaw, happened at about 1am on September 26, and in December police released CCTV pictures of a man they wanted to identify in connection with their investigation. An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said that following the appeal, which was shared on the Voice's Facebook page, a man in his 40s had been identified and had attended a "voluntary police interview". Enquiries into the incident are still underway. Anyone who witnessed it but has yet to come forward should call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5221 224 176.

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

January, 2022

n AROUND THE WIs

BROMLEY HEATH WI

FOR BHWI’s last meeting of 2021 our president, Liza, had warned us that there was a mystery to be solved. Hopefully not the 'mystery' of the alleged Downing Street Christmas Party! If so, the Met had already declined and the word on the street was that Richard Osman's OAPs had decided to cock a deaf 'un this time. Phew, panic over because fortunately Pat had booked the Red Herring theatre group to entertain us all with their costumed murder mystery, inspired by the characters of Alice in Wonderland. A very eclectic group of wild and wacky people, all with an interesting story to tell and all protesting their innocence. (Just to clarify, I mean the actors and not our charming lady members). At the close of the performance, and after a series of penetrating, incisive questions from the floor, it transpired that only seven of our ladies had correctly named the guilty party and our top sleuth, Teresa, had discovered all relevant evidence along with the murderer’s true motive. Congratulations Teresa, who I am confident can always find her keys, mobile phone and purse without fail (unlike some of us on a bad hair day). To promote our Xmas cheer and help keep up our energy and morale throughout the investigation process, our committee had laid on Prosecco, soft drinks and delicious Stollen cake – it certainly wasn’t stolen cake because our tremendous treasurer, 'Moneybags Mel', definitely paid for it all before leaving a well-known German supermarket with receipt safely in hand. Our first murder mystery evening was a really fun and different evening which was enjoyed by all, even if most of our detecting skills are clearly not up to Miss Marple’s. Before closing this gathering, Liza wished our group a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. Our first meeting of 2022 is scheduled for Thursday January 13 at Bromley Heath Junior School, provided that the dreaded COVID-19 Omicron variant does not grow and prosper instead of all of us. Fingers crossed that we

will all be line dancing happily together at our next meeting – strictly no stiletto heels if you intend to keep dancing all evening, girls. We hope that you all had a great Christmas and send you our best wishes for 2022. Our particular thanks go to everyone at Downend Voice for giving us the opportunity to let you know what’s going on monthly at your local WI branches, from all the ladies of Bromley Heath Women's Institute. Margaret Hanwell

STAPLE HILL WI

HAPPY New Year! Despite all the restrictions and uncertainty over the last 12 months (and more) we have had a super year. Whilst it was far from a normal year, our ‘book clubbers’ continued to meet, and we even established a walking group. We managed to have some face-to-face meetings with excellent speakers (more recently the Bee Man) and we enjoyed a super afternoon tea. Our dedicated committee have kept us all up to date, and their hard work has not gone unnoticed. Here’s to another year of being in the biggest all-female club! Our 2022 programme is shaping up to be another memorable one. If, however, you are reading this and can recommend a speaker – or you are interested to come and speak to us – please get in touch. We love to be inspired and educated – cake and a cuppa is part of the package. Don’t forget, there is no meeting in the hall in January – we will be enjoying our New Year's meal instead. Are you reading this and thinking you would like to meet new people? You may not be able to commit lots of time – that’s OK, we meet once a month. As a member, you can participate in as much or as little as you like. We have a diverse membership and anyone is welcome. We have ample parking for ladies who need to drive to us and we meet on the third Tuesday of most months. 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. org.uk. Kate Tarr

MANGOTSFIELD WI

NOVEMBER was our Murder Mystery evening, where the room was laid out as a murder scene with all the clues in place. Three of our ladies were the suspects, and underwent interrogation by all the members. It was a great way for everyone to engage with each other as they moved around and worked out who the culprit might be. Also, whilst engaged with sleuthing, to pick up a cake and a cup of tea. Mangotsfield WI was invited to help out with St James Church's annual Christmas fair on November 27. We manned the tea, coffee and mince pies stall with plenty of volunteers, from 11 to 3 o’clock. We donated the mince pies and all the refreshments, and made sure the stall holders (and the vicar) had a hot drink to keep them going. On December 6 we had our Christmas lunch at the Lamb in Mangotsfield. Thirty of our members booked. We would like to thank the staff at the pub for all their hard work in providing excellent service to such a large party. A lovely afternoon was had by all members, who entered into the Christmas spirit with dresses, jumpers, hats, earrings, flashing necklaces and more. We booked a minibus for our Stow-on-the-Wold Christmas farmers' market trip on December 9 and for our December meeting we were having a fish and chip supper delivered to us and an entertainer to celebrate our 45year sapphire anniversary. One of our new members is a volunteer for the homeless, so we asked members to donate suitable items such as hats, scarves, gloves and perhaps chocolate. In January we are starting the year with a silent auction of 'Santa’s mistakes'. We have been planning our program of events for 2022. Mangotsfield WI would like to wish all our readers a healthy and happy New Year.

For more information, 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

OUR November meeting was a Christmas floral demonstration from the very talented Becci of Bijoux Florist. Becci demonstrated a very effective table decoration based around different types of foliage, including the bottom little branches from a Christmas tree, with various flowers and a bit of colour with a stem of red berries. All the foliage and flowers were held in place with chicken wire instead of the more traditional oasis, as it was far more environmentally friendly. Two smaller coordinating arrangements were created on each side of the larger centrepiece and the effect was truly breathtaking. Members were also shown how to make a garland with foliage, berries and ribbon bows. Becci brought with her a full table layout, so members could see the finished result. Pretty glass bauble place settings, which had tiny fairy lights inside, completed the tablescape - and the finished result was stunning. Our January meeting will be a non-alcoholic wine tasting, so should be a lot of fun and an opportunity for members to sample some alcohol-free beverages to see which ones they like and which ones they don’t. You never know – members may not even be able to tell the difference! Our biggest news is that we are moving to a new venue for our meetings: from January, we will be at the Methodist Church Hall, Badminton Road, Downend, BS16 6NU. 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. We would like to wish all our members and the wider community a very Happy Christmas and a fabulous New Year. Deb on behalf of the Committee

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

January, 2022

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

How much more should we pay for policing? AS your PCC, I am responsible for setting the amount of money that residents – you – contribute to local policing through the council tax, known as the precept. It’s that time of year again where PCCs up and down the country will need to make a decision whether or not to increase the precept, and the impact this will have on local people. Before making this decision, I want to hear from communities and find out your views about this potential increase. So, I have launched a survey asking if you would be willing to pay an increase in the policing part of the council tax. Why is an increase needed? Local policing is funded by a combination of Home Office and other grants, as well as council tax contributions. In 2022/23, the Home Office grant funding is increasing to fund additional

officers as part of Operation Uplift but this is not enough to manage inflationary pressures, like pay rises for police officers. The Government has told PCCs that they can raise the precept next year by £10 for an average band D household. A £10 increase, approximately 83p per month, would mean any savings that still need to be made would be less likely to impact frontline services. If the policing part of the council tax is not increased, the force would have to make significant savings, resulting in a reduction of services that would impact our communities. As your PCC, I have to balance the challenges facing policing with local people’s views in order to best resource an efficient and effective police service that can keep people safe. However, I know that any increase in household bills is

felt by local people. This is why I want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to tell me their thoughts and opinions before I make any decision regarding an increase. The survey can be completed via the PCC website at www. avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk/ about/police-tax-survey/ If you need a paper version please contact the team on 01278 646188. I’m sure many of you will be shopping online over January to make the most of the New Year sales. I want to take a moment to remind you to take extra care when shopping on the internet and ensure you do not fall victim to online shopping fraud. We need to ensure that criminals do not take advantage of our online shopping habits and, if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are numerous ways

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford online shoppers can protect themselves online including: using a payment method that offers protection such as a credit card, using a strong separate password for your email account and watching out for phishing emails and texts. More advice on how to stay safe online can be found on Action Fraud’s website.

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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

downendvoice

January, 2022

n DOWNEND IN BLOOM

Exciting times ahead for our community WELL, here we are, moving into 2022, and continuing to live with Covid and the restrictions it brings. We have been very fortunate in 2021 to have been able to provide both summer and winter flowers in the High Street, Cleeve Wood Road, Quakers Road and the surrounding area. We have also managed, thanks to a Thrive grant from South Glos council, to replace the majority of our old wooden planters that were seriously in need of attention. Going forward, this means that our planters will last for years and need little or no maintenance. A very positive step for the workload of our group. We have been very grateful this year to the parish council and their continued support of the grant they give us towards the floral displays. Also the Coop, who chose us for one of their nominated groups. They gave us a fantastic donation, which we are using towards the provision of our displays and also for our liaison work we are working towards with our local schools.

We must also thank the shops, groups and businesses who felt they were able to sponsor us this year. As a group we know how difficult it has been over the last couple of years, so we do appreciate everyone’s support. Equally, we know how difficult it has been for some businesses during the pandemic, and we wish all of our local businesses well and hope we are able to work with them in the future. With thank-yous we must always remember the community of Downend and Bromley Heath for your support – your wonderful comments on how much you love the displays and the work In Bloom does really keep us going. So what will 2022 bring to Downend and Bromley Heath in Bloom? Hopefully next year we may see life returning to a bit more normality. We will be providing our usual floral displays and will be looking to work in further partnership with our local schools. We will be celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee and hoping we can provide beautiful displays in the high street to

celebrate this momentous occasion. We also look forward to working with the high street regeneration partnership in their efforts to continue improving the Downend shopping area and will support them to keep our high street looking the best it can. Exciting times ahead The In Bloom Team

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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

downendvoice

January, 2022

n NEWS

Wi-fi hitch hits stores

Walls go up at new school FRENCHAY'S new school is taking shape. Timber frames have gone up at the site of the 420-place primary school, which is due to be completed in time for the next academic year. The walls of some of the classrooms have been fitted and doorways installed by contractor BAM, which is building the school for South Gloucestershire Council. The new school on Alexander Road, part of the former Frenchay Hospital site, will replace the Frenchay C of E Primary School at Churchside, next to Frenchay Common. Head teacher Katherine Marks said: "The school is very excited about the progress BAM are making. The new year will see some visits to the school for the children so they can learn more about what is happening and see what their new classrooms will look like. "We have many plans on how we can further the experiences for our children on this new site, with access to the conservation area next door, an orchard area of trees and a spiritual garden outside the atrium of our library as some examples." The new school has been designed to the low carbon building standards, known as Passivhaus, which the council says "will substantially reduce energy consumption", helping lower the school’s running costs and supporting the council’s policy of working to help tackle the climate emergency. The site was visited by council cabinet member for education Erica William and Frenchay & Downend ward councillors, who joined Mrs Marks and school governors to look at how the work is progressing.

Head teacher Katherine Marks and councillors at the site in Frenchay where work is progressing Cllr Williams said: “It’s excellent to see the construction of the new school building for Frenchay Primary School well underway, we have been planning this project for some time and I am delighted to see the building take shape. Our number one priority is to improve school standards in South Gloucestershire and this significant investment will provide local children with an improved learning environment in which they can achieve their full potential.” Ward councillor Ben Burton said: “It’s great to see our plans for a bigger and more environmentally-conscious primary school in Frenchay come to fruition. The work on site is progressing very quickly, with the developer already making significant ground in a short space of time. The new building has been designed to Passivhaus standards, which will not only make the school one of the most energy efficient in South Gloucestershire, but also supports our Climate Emergency goals. “This is a multimillion-pound investment demonstrating our commitment to deliver important infrastructure for local families in the Frenchay area.” Bristol Diocese's education director Liz Townend has also been to visit the new site.

SAINSBURY'S Emersons Green superstore had to shut for a day and other shops on the retail park were affected by a Wi-Fi outage which took card readers offline. The signal loss on Sunday December 5 also affected some homes in the surrounding area which use the Openreach broadband network. It was part of work to replace "critical equipment" in the network – which Openreach says was notified to internet providers weeks in advance. Many shoppers only learned of the problem when they arrived at the retail park to find Sainsbury's had closed and other stores had limited payment options, with queues forming outside other supermarkets. A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: "Our Emersons Green store was affected by connection issues in the area and we apologised to customers for any inconvenience this may have caused.” The work was carried out by Openreach, which provides the broadband network for more than 600 service providers including Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and BT. An Openreach spokesperson said: “The outage on Sunday December 5 was planned and the work done was to replace critical equipment and improve the reliability of the broadband network in the area. Work commenced at 6am and was complete by 5.21pm. “Openreach raised a Planned Engineering Work notice five weeks in advance of the work taking place; this is where we notify all service providers. It is the providers’ responsibility to advise their customers."

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downendvoice

January, 2022

n HUNTERS PROPERTY OF THE MONTH Malmains Drive, Frenchay, BS16 1PJ Asking Price £800,000 HUNTERS Estate Agents, Downend are delighted to offer for sale with no onward chain this detached house which is displayed in excellent condition throughout. The property is conveniently situated for access onto the Avon ring road, major motorway connections, for Bristol Parkway Railway Station,The Abbeywood Business Park and for the Bristol cycle path. Pleasant countryside walks towards Frenchay Village and Winterbourne are also located within walking distance. The amenities of both Emersons Green and Downend are both located close by and include a wide variety of independent shops and supermarkets, restaurants, coffee shops, doctors surgeries and dentists. In our opinion this property would ideally suit a growing family or those working from home due to the spacious and versatile accommodation on offer. The light and airy accommodation comprises to the ground floor; entrance hall, sitting room, a lounge with wood burner and with uPVC double glazed French doors leading into the rear garden, a well appointed kitchen/ diner which creates a super social zone in the heart of the property, a utility room and cloakroom. To the first floor there is a large landing, a modern family bathroom with a roll top claw foot bath and four double bedrooms. The master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe

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and modern en suite with walk-in shower. Additional benefits include; gas central heating, uPVC double glazed windows, a paved area to the front of the property providing off street parking spaces, a single sized garage with power and light, a large rear garden which is laid mainly to lawn and has a timber framed lodge. An early internal viewing appointment is highly recommended to fully appreciate what this wonderful property has to offer.

News: contact us at: news@downendvoice.co.uk

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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

Wishing you a happy home this Christmas.

downendvoice

January, 2022

n OCEAN PROPERTY OF THE MONTH Downend £350,000 Excellent investment opportunity: Located in a prime Downend location just off Bromley Heath Road, is this investment opportunity to purchase this attractive and sizeable building which is currently used as a medical centre which will remain in use until the end of its lease term (June 2024) The business is set up over 3 floors, on entrance there a waiting area leading to a large hallway with dressing rooms, 2 offices, a small kitchen, WC and large storage cupboard. From here there is fire door leading to the rear garden. The first and second floors can be accessed from ground floor level by the kitchen or alternatively there is another entrance from the back garden leading straight to upper floors. There are 4 further treatment rooms and a bathroom on the first level. On the top floor there is large room with Velux windows currently used for storage. Externally there is a courtyard garden to the back of the property and there is access to the rear lane and garage from the garden.

Ocean is now carbon neutral OCEAN recently held a full and comprehensive 'carbon audit' to assess the impact of the business on the environment. The process worked out the overall carbon footprint all of the companies that form the Ocean Property Services Group. By far, Ocean’s biggest impact on the environment was shown to be electricity usage (50.9%), followed by gas (31.9%). To immediately reduce overall impact by 50%, the group switched to electricity generated purely by renewable sources and gas to created predominantly from anaerobic digestion of food waste. Ocean has also instructed Carbon Footprint Ltd to offset total CO2 equivalent emissions to zero through supporting a UK tree planting project, which also sees trees planted in the Amazon as part of their Tree Buddying initiative. Managing director Paul Harris said: "We are proud to say that this is not 'greenwash' - we are learning and adapting as quickly as possible. "We are by no means satisfied with offsetting our carbon and leaving it there. "This is the start of our journey to improve how we operate to reduce the impact our business has on the environment and our society." You can read the full report at bit.ly/OceanBlog_ CarbonNeutral.

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In order to begin this process, we needed to work out what our overall carbon footprint actually was. So, in 2021 we completed a full and comprehensive 'carbon audit' of all of the companies that form the Ocean Property Services Group. You can read the full report in our blog here https://bit.ly/OceanBlog_CarbonNeutral

By far, Ocean’s biggest impact on the environment was shown to be our electricity usage (50.9%) and secondly our gas (31.9%). We therefore immediately reduced our overall impact by 50% by switching to electricity generated purely by renewable sources. We have also switched our gas to being created predominantly from anaerobic digestion of food waste. Following the audit results, we have also instructed Carbon Footprint Ltd to offset our total CO2e emissions to zero. We’ve done this through supporting a UK Tree Planting Project. With this, Carbon Footprint Ltd also plants trees in the Amazon as part of their Tree Buddying initiative.

H Senior Citizens Special H Garden Clearance — Regular or one-off H Patios H Fencing H Tree Work H Turfing H Hedgecutting H Planting (Shrubs etc) H Organic manure delivered — Also applied H Professional and guarnteed work H Brick & Blocklaying

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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

downendvoice

January, 2022

n M COLEMAN ESTATE AGENTS PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

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

Coleman

M COLEMAN are delighted to offer for sale this unique detached bungalow built in 2017 that has been further extended to provide a stunning family home. Occupying a generous plot measuring circa 115 metres by 35 metres we are sure this property will appeal to an array of potential buyers. The ground floor offers flexible accommodation which lends itself perfectly to entertaining friends and family in a modern and stylish setting. The capacious living room is located to the rear of the property and boasts vaulted ceilings and floor to ceiling double glazed panels spanning the width of the rear of the room; bi-folding doors within this expanse open onto the garden. There is a beautiful marble fireplace with open chimney, feature lighting and wood effect laminate flooring that extends into the kitchen via double doors. The sleek kitchen of perfectly balanced proportions and simple clean lines offers a range of wall and base units with handless high gloss doors in delicate grey with copper profiles. Integrated appliances include an oven, microwave combination, warming plate, gas hob, extractor hood, washing machine and dishwasher, additionally there is space for an American style fridge freezer. The central island offers additional storage and a breakfast bar for less formal meals. Bi-folding doors lead out to the garden and double internal doors lead to the dining room. Also located on the ground floor are three very generously proportioned bedrooms, two benefitting fitted wardrobes and the master bedroom offering the space and provision for an en-suite shower room and walk in wardrobe. The first-floor accommodation has been laid out to create as much space as possible and offers a welcoming landing with storage cupboards. Bedrooms four and five have cleverly designed built in wardrobes fitted neatly into the alcoves and Velux style

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roof windows. The first-floor accommodation is completed with fully tiled wet room. The extensive rear garden is large enough for even the most energetic of children, it is very private and laid predominately to level lawn with various mature trees thoughtfully positioned throughout the grounds. A paved patio extends across the width of the house offering the perfect for summer barbeques and family gatherings. There are two shingle drives both accessed via double gates, one leading to a single detached garage and the second positioned at the front of the property; both offer ample parking for several vehicles. The property is conveniently located to the village of Frenchay and within easy access of neighbouring Downend, Fishponds and Filton providing a variety of local shops, supermarkets, and retail parks. There is easy access to the motorway networks of the M32/M4 and M5 and Bristol Parkway Railway Station is just three miles distant.

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Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

downendvoice

n PHOTOGRAPHY WITH LINCOMBE BARN CAMERA CLUB

Stepping Out by Rachel Domleo

Welcome to 2022 THE recent emergence of the Omicron virus variant has shown us that, if one thing is certain about the year ahead of us, it’s more uncertainty. We had been approaching the end of the year with some optimism, as we slowly started to return to normality with face-toface meetings but, come the new

A WORLD OF

Quality

restrictions, have had to revert to Zoom meetings for the while. This is not a problem when we have a guest presenter, but competitions don’t feel quite the same. Fortunately, our last competition came before the new restrictions. I have already shared some of the winners from the set subject but here are three from the open section, where competitors choose their own subject. Brian Kinsman has found winter romance around the floating harbour with two photographs.

Misty Morning by Brian Kinsman The first, 'Winter Sunshine', was commended. He has wonderfully captured the low sun and long shadows of a midwinter afternoon in a setting we should all be familiar with. Brian then went on to win second place with 'Misty Morning', boats emerging evocatively from the morning mist. Wrap your coat around you and think of old romantic movies, secret events stirring in the mists. Rachel Domleo chose to remind us of the warm summer evenings with 'Stepping Out'. Deep long shadows, honey-coloured stone, beautifully aligned angles and a figure feeling the heat combine

to remind us of warmer days to come. Rachel’s picture was highly commended. 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 social re-emergence, take a look at our website at www. lincombebarncameraclub.co.uk or email us at lincombe.barn@gmail. com. Stay safe and have a prosperous and happy 2022! Sid Stace

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To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

Winter Sunshine by Brian Kinsman

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

downendvoice

January, 2022

n DOWNEND MEN IN SHEDS

Picking up where we left off FOR our group, 2021 started with a continuation of the Covid restrictions and it was not until June of this year that we were able to return to our facilities at Bromley Park. Only those fortunate to have workshops at home were able to continue their passions throughout the lockdown period, although missing the company of the group. Fortunately, even after the extended period of restrictions, most of our members returned eager to pick up where they left off. Opportunities for displaying the items that we make have been almost non-existent during the past two years, and have been slow returning. Having said that, being situated at the park, in view of the public, has been a distinct advantage. The highlight of our short year, however, came as the result of an invitation to take a stall at the Lincombe Barn craft fair in midNovember. Needless to say, it was not a difficult decision. On the day we filled our allotted tables and the surrounding floor with a large selection of woodwork items, made mainly from recycled materials. Not having exhibited at Lincombe Barn before, we had no idea if the visiting public would be interested in our form of craft. As it turned out, there was no need for concern. The level of interest was maintained during most of the

DOWNEND MEN in SHEDS

The Men in Sheds stall at Lincombe Barn show, resulting in the sale of the majority of items on display. For some of the larger items, where we only had space for one example, it was necessary to take orders for later delivery. One of the most popular items was a simple bird feeder. Fortunately we had experience of selling these at previous Frenchay Flower Shows, so we were prepared. Both then and now, all the feeders were sold. In a quest for new ideas, a number of members had tried their hand at making a bug house from pallet wood. This resulted in a range of designs and sizes and,

as with the bird feeders, all these items were sold, suggesting that there is considerable concern and interest in the welfare for the local bug population. A raffle was organised with the prize a garden windmill, as

featured in the October issue of the Voice. Apart from proving to be an interesting prize it also resulted in orders for similar models. As a small surprise Xmas present, children visiting the stand were given wooden snowmen, made from slices of tree branch. Once all the assembled snowmen had been distributed there were some additional kits of parts, together with assembly instructions. Perhaps for a future year this idea could be expanded into a competition for the best assembled and decorated snowmen. You can contact us by email at meninsheds.downend@gmail.com.

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n DOWNEND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Our efforts are bearing fruit WE are back up and running in a safe way with monthly talks on horticultural matters. The first talk was on growing soft fruit, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberry and rhubarb, in the garden and pots – very good for the patio. Our next talk was about fruit trees and bushes, including apples, plums, blackberries and grapes. It gave us ideas for showing fruit, cakes and jams at our show in August. We also had a talk about trees in parks and arboretums. Our December meeting was a horticultural quiz and party – we also had a Christmas meal in a local pub. Our next meeting is on January 13 at 7.30pm, at the Assembly Hill, Salisbury Road, Downend. For more information call me on 0117 957 1703 or Hilary Walton on 0117 979 2832. Roger Davis

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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

downendvoice

January, 2022

n LIBRARY NEWS n DOWNEND GARDENING CLUB AT LINCOMBE BARN News from Downend, Emersons Green & Staple Hill libraries New Year Opening Hours Friday 31st December: Downend & Emersons Green libraries: staffed 10am-5.30pm (Open Access 8am10am & 5.45pm-7.30pm), Staple Hill Library: Open Access 8am7.30pm Saturday 1st January: Monday 3rd January: all libraries Open Access only 8am-7.30pm Tuesday 4th January: usual hours resume, so Staple Hill & Emersons Green libraries staffed 10am5.30pm (Open Access 8am-10am & 5.45pm-7.30pm), Downend Library: Open Access only 8am-7.30pm Wednesday 5th January: Downend Library resumes usual staffed hours 10am-5.30pm Digital Champions FREE computer and WIFi use is available in all of our libraries as is use of the scanner at Emersons Green & Staple Hill libraries. You can also print from the PCs for a small charge. It is not necessary to book any of these services and they are available 8am-7.30pm seven days a week (Open Access users). Staff can also provide some assistance with IT queries but also our friendly Digital Champions are available FREE (by appointment) in all of our libraries if you require some more detailed assistance. Ask staff for details or phone 01454 865022 or email libraries@ southglos.gov.uk At Downend Library a longer IT Course is also available for FREE and is provided by SGS College. Next course begins February 2022. It covers a wide range of topics including setting up emails, on line shopping and security and how to make video calls to your family & friends. To book this phone 0117 9092296 or email cindy.corbett@ sgscol.ac.uk At Staple Hill Library a basic IT Skills course is also available through Community Learning. For details of the next course please contact 01454 864613. Books to help your well being All of our libraries have all of the titles recommended by experts on the Reading Well booklists – see www.reading-well.org.uk. These books cover a range of mental health topics, including for teens and children, plus longstanding health conditions, such as diabetes & strokes, and dementia. The same website also contains Mood Boosting titles that many libraries also stock.

Those early snowdrops will soon be here to cheer us WE have come to the beginning of another year: as we say goodbye to the last year we think about what joy our gardens have brought us. For some of us they been places to escape to in these Covid times. I hope you have found your space a sanctuary. We are probably now wondering whether all of our plants will survive the winter. We do what we can to protect them, putting on loam or more soil on the crowns of plants, covering them with fleece and, if you have tropical plants, wrapping them in straw and tidying it round with string and cardboard – whatever it takes to get them through the winter. As we look back over last year, gardening club was able to start back again in September when we enjoyed a quiz and catch up. We have had a talk on orchids and David Austin Roses, with our Christmas quiz and American supper in December always a relaxing way to end the year. In January we have Nick Wray – always a very good speaker – coming to talk about the gardens of Sicily. We have had new members join us over the past few months: it is excellent to see our group growing and more people becoming interested in gardening. January can be an interesting time in our gardens: we await the first snowdrops to let us know that winter will soon pass, the hellebores will begin to flower and we will see shoots of crocus and daffodils peeping

through. One of my first shrubs to flower is the witch hazel, a yellow one: I am always pleased to see this in flower. At the timer of writing the mahonia charity is in full bloom and is very good this year, along with my viburnum. It is a challenge to have something in bloom every month of the year to keep our pollinators fed; we all try our best to provide a little nectar for them. So, what will we be up to when there are good dry days? Sweeping up leaves if they are still blowing around, It is a good time to plant bare root plants if the soil is not too wet, and keeping an eye on our plants to make sure they are not being damaged by the wind and in need of staking. I like to walk round my small patch each day. There is always something to see, to tidy or just admire a plant growing along well. The garden centres will be getting new plants in. As they clear away the last remnants of Christmas we can look forward to finding something exciting to add to our collections. I am looking forward to some different varieties of daffodils showing their blooms this year, and have bought some different coloured muscari, which I have in low pots. Have a Happy New Year: enjoy your gardening, admire everyone else’s garden, have a chat with other gardeners and share our knowledge. Mary Head

n CHRISTINE'S COLUMN

We're soldiering on DESPITE Covid we've decided to soldier on. Our speaker mornings at Lincombe Barn restarted in October and we waited in anticipation to see how many people would come. We had a new day, a new time and a speaker we had not had before, but only eleven people turned up – half the numbers before covid broke out. In November we had a gentleman from a well-known auction room. When we had him before to tell a few stories of his experiences as an auctioneer and to give valuations of the treasures brought along by members of the audience, numbers were up. We thought the same would happen again but no luck – the numbers were still as October. I had planned a Christmas get-together for this December

on the 2nd. I had rung round people to tell them, devised a quiz and there was going to be a secret Santa- me! Then the biggest blow possible was announced: the Omicron variant. I'm an optimist – the show must go on. But only seven people turned up, plus one person selling hand-crafted cards and two musicians. Geoff, on accordion and electronic violin, and Jane on keyboard played some wonderful Christmas music and other pieces. Sometimes we could join in. Everyone enjoyed the morning and those that were scared off or had other commitments missed a treat. As for the New Year, we are going to soldier on again, so the next speaker morning will be on February 3, with Jackie Baker

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

with

Christine Broadway talking about Downend in Bloom. Talks start at 10.45am and finish at 11.45am on Thursdays, with coffee available from 10.15am. Please consider coming along. Let's have the old regulars back again...and perhaps some new ones? Christine Broadway

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

downendvoice

January, 2022

n SPORT

Tennis club celebrates junior coaching success DOWNEND & Frenchay Tennis Club is throwing the spotlight on some of the successful products of its junior coaching programme. The young players all started their tennis careers at DFTC, learning to play in various age groups and competing in competitions suited to their ability. Many more players have simply enjoyed learning skills which they can use for life. The club's success stories include: • Maria Budin – currently on a full scholarship at Rice University in Texas with their Division 1 Team. • Kiera Gunning – currently on a partial scholarship at Averett University in Virginia, with their Division 3 team. • George King – currently on the competition circuit with the aim of gaining a tennis scholarship at a US university. The club is also celebrating the selection of five players for the Avon County Performance Squad, playing both at both National and Regional Level Competitions: Dominic Foley, Arthur King, Tom Bewley, Kadie Robinson and Poppy Rickwood. Kadie was recently selected for the qualifying draw at the Tennis Europe singles tournament and qualified for the main draw in the doubles tournament.

Maria Budin has a full tennis scholarship at Rice University in the US after starting her career at Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club Three other players – Jamie Salmon, Maya Glanvill and Sofia Anderson – have been picked for the county performance squad and are also playing regional level competitions, while Florence Butel and Isabella Butel have also been selected for the county performance squad. Avon Tennis Performance introduced a new Under-8 category in 2021, which saw James Dick and Thomas Glanvill selected for the county performance squad. Poppy Rickwood started playing tennis at DFTC when she was six years old. Her potential was spotted by Pete Caseley at an

after-school club and she was invited to the club where, under the performance coaching of head coach Andy Hutton, Poppy’s tennis has gone from strength to strength over ten years, and she has regularly competed in junior league, regional and national tournaments. Poppy's mum Samantha said: "Enjoyment has always been our number one focus – but she still loves to win! It’s fantastic to see her play and we’re so proud of what she has achieved." Dominic Foley started playing at the age of six and is currently in the U14 Boys Avon County Performance Training Squad. He won the U11 Boys Singles Avon County Championships in 2020 was also chosen to represent Avon in the 2020 County Cup. Tom Bewley joined DFTC in the spring of 2015 with his brother Jack and both still attend the club, with Tom captaining the Avon team and playing in regional and national finals. Dad Nigel said: "I'm sure both my sons will continue to play tennis as adults and get the social and health benefits which you get from a good club." For more information about the club visit www.downendandfrenchay.co.uk. Penny White

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January, 2022

n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE

Resolutions - or maybe even a change of career? IT’S a new year! Hands up all those who always make the same resolutions, but fail to follow through on their personal promises for more than a couple of weeks in January. Yes, 2021 was a crazy year but now is the time to put those topsyturvy 12 months behind us and look forward positively. There are so many things in life that we can’t control, so let’s focus on the things we’re able to keep a handle on. Every year, I reflect on my strengths and weaknesses. It’s a chance to remind myself of good life choices so, first and foremost, that means looking at the basics. The work/life balance… the exercise I’m doing… my sleep pattern… the food I eat and my alcohol consumption. Like most people, especially around this time of year, I could certainly make improvements in all these very important areas. Since the start of the pandemic, I have definitely reviewed my work/ life balance and I now have more dedicated family and hobby time. I took up golf last year and, in November, began having guitar lessons. My family would probably tell a painful tale of how they

Cleve 14-8 Winscombe CLEVE came through a tight game played in dreadful conditions to beat Winscombe with a last-gasp try. Both sides were evenly balanced in inclement weather at the Hayfields. Winscombe started well and were on top at the start but this was weather for the forwards and Cleve were up to the task with some strong carrying by their prop forwards. Cleve had Harry Owens firing well, driving the forwards to the corners of the pitch. The game was end-to-end and on 30 minutes, the Winscombe forwards drove over to take a 5-0 lead. Cleve then went on the offensive but missed out by dropping the ball near the line. The ball was like the proverbial

listened to me learning how to play Silent Night and the first four bars of Wonderwall by Oasis. But I thank my teacher Franciso for his patience with me – I promise to keep it up! I’ve been having a battle with sleep patterns since stressing over exams at university. Now I’m probably at my best when I go to bed half-an-hour early, at the same time each night, to read a book. I think the worst things for sleep are late evening Zoom meetings and drinking alcohol. I do enjoy a glass of French red wine while having dinner or watching a film at weekends but I always take the New Year as an opportunity to go alcohol free for a month or two and give my liver a rest! So what about exercise? During the last few months, I’ve got my fix by going to the gym. To see real results, it’s important to make this a regular habit and I’ve also increased the amount of chiropractic treatment I’m having. I find chiropractic and massage vital to keep aches and pains at bay, as well as aiding recovery and performance. So if you’re thinking of marking

the New Year with a bit of a fresh start, maybe consider these core lifestyle areas. Of course, don’t forget to look after yourself with some regular chiropractic care or treatment for any mechanical niggles before they blow up into something more serious. If you have pain that irritates you, come and see us. Every day patients say the same thing… “I didn’t know you could help with that…” On a different subject, what about a change of career to chiropractic in 2022? Luke, our sports therapist, has just started his Chiropractic Master conversion which takes only two years. He is doing really well and enjoying every moment. As a little bonus, he comes home every weekend and does sports massage and therapy for us on Saturdays. Anyone over 18 can study for a regular chiropractic qualification, which takes four or five years to complete, at universities in South Wales, Bournemouth and London – there’s also a new course in Teesside. The good news for anyone starting out is that there’s currently a huge shortage of chiropractors so you’re almost certain to get a job soon after

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

graduation. Successful students have the chance to spend an incredibly rewarding life helping people out of pain. If you’re interested in a career in chiropractic, have a look at the British Chiropractic Association website at https://chiropractic-uk. co.uk and/or email me, or have a chat with one of the team when you come in for a treatment. We’ll be more than happy to help you out.

McCann takes game by scruff of the neck

Cleve beat Winscombe in "dreadful" conditions bar of soap as Cleve accumulated penalties and knock-ons. The start of the second half saw Cleve up the gears, with

some penetrating drives that resulted in Chris McCann going over near the posts. Owens converted to make it 7-5 to Cleve. But again Winscombe replied with effort and commitment, which led to a penalty and put them 8-7 ahead. Cleve fought hard to go back on top. and in the last minute a penalty came their way. Owens kicked to the corner, Cleve won the lineout and drove to the line. There was a great deal of pressure and only slight movement as the packs locked

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk

horns near the line. McCann, as usual, took the game by the scruff of the neck and drove over for his second try. Owens converted and there was no time left for Winscombe to come back, so Cleve won 14-8. Steve Bateman n On November 27 Cleve enjoyed a special game day with a reunion for old players. The club house was flooded with old faces there to see old friends and watch the matches taking place at the club. Cleve's veterans side took on Kingswood in a spirited game that saw both sides try to run the ball. The result was close but did not affect the good humour the game was played in.

Got News? Call Ken On 07715 770377

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January, 2022

n SPORT A MONTH of varied results for Mangotsfield United – two wins, two defeats and two draws, still left the club second from bottom in the Southern League Division 1 South. The sequence began with successive home wins over Bideford (3-1) and Evesham United (3-2) in the space of three days, to bring six much-needed points. The win over Bideford was a comfortable one, with Kye Simpson (38, 69) and Daniel McBeam giving the Mangos a superb 3-0 lead against a battling Bideford side, who could only net a consolation goal in added time through Lewis Wilson. The Evesham game was a real thriller. The visitors scored after just two minutes through Michael Symons, but the hero of the night was to be Kye Simpson again, scoring in the 60th and 63rd minutes to turn the game on its head. A Daniel McBeam own goal levelled things up with 13 minutes left. However, the

Mixed results for Mangos

Kye Simpson scores his first goal against Bideford. Cossham Street supporters were the ones to go home happy as Simpson netted the winner and completed his hat-trick on 90 minutes, to clinch the win. The subsequent two away games were against the top two sides, Sholing and Frome Town, and the results went the way the league tables would have predicted. Sholing ran out comfortable

4-1 winners, with Owen Humphries scoring for the Mangos on 83 minutes. The defeat to Frome was just as emphatic, the hosts winning comfortably, 3-0. Next up was a 2-2 home draw against bottom club Barnstaple Town – a very disappointing result, as it gave the North Devon visitors their first point of the entire campaign. Three goals in the first 21 minutes set the scene, with Kye Simpson and a Daniel McBeam penalty coming either side of a goal for Barnstaple, whose results had improved in recent weeks, despite still losing matches. They levelled again on 63 minutes and this time held on to the final whistle. On December 11 the Mangos earned a battling point away at promotion-chasing Cirencester Town, who took the lead after 12 minutes and went 2-0 up with

20 minutes left. However, Kye Simpson bagged yet another goal on 80 minutes to give the Mangos some hope and, incredibly, Daniel McBeam then converted a penalty in stoppage time to earn a superb point for the visitors. Two recent transfers have seen former keeper Marko Radovanovic return to Cossham Street from Taunton Town, whilst midfielder Owen Humphries has joined Larkhall Athletic. Dave Smale

Fixtures:

December 27: Bristol Manor Farm (H) January 1: Slimbridge (A) January 8: Highworth Town (H) January 15: Larkhall Athletic (A) January 22: Willand Rovers (H) January 29: AFC Totton (A)

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downendvoice

January, 2022

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January, 2022

63 WIGS

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