A man has been charged with causing the death of pedestrian Deborah West after a collision involving a van in Chestnut Road, which links Downend Road to the Co-op car park, last year.
PAGE 4
A police worker has been charged with arson after a fire damaged cars, hedges and a house in Downend.
PAGE 4
DEVELOPERS hope to build more than 60 homes on the site of the former Bristol Uniforms factory in Staple Hill.
Bristol-based housing developer Woodstock Homes has announced plans for a total of 66 one and two-bedroom eco-friendly flats in three and four-storey blocks.
Most of the factory will be demolished but the landmark 'Gatehouse' building behind Fountain Square will be converted into offices. Full story: Page 3
Here at Craig Anthonys we pride ourselves not only on the styles but also the advice that we can provide. Our award winning team with years of experience in colouring and cutting can provide a style unique to suite you.
To arrange a no obligation consultation pop in or give us a call.
The charity Young Lives vs Cancer, formerly CLIC Sargent, is shutting all 13 of its shops. First to close was the shop in Downend, which had been there more than 30 years.
PAGE 7
A HUGE congratulations to Hari Budha Magar for being the first double amputee above the knee to summit Mount Everest (Sagarmatha/ Chomolungma) on May 19th this year!
A huge feat of human performance, and testimony to what we can really do if we put ourselves to task with the right support team around us.
We here at Sutton Chiropractic have been approached by Hari’s team to help him recover with our Performance & Recovery program – a huge privilege for us indeed.
Our program is aimed at athletes of all levels and areas, but we have a specialist interest in endurance and altitude athletes. The big secret is that this program can be tailored to anyone of any age, desires and abilities, with a spine functioning at its best with a balanced, supple and strong body our human potential can really shine.
Our Performance & Recovery plan is designed to tune you up for whatever endeavours you have on the agenda; climbing mountains, running ultra-marathons to gardening and everything in between.
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If you’re interested in our
program, do contact us on the details listed below.
One final humble brag, we had the great honour of celebrating the 70th anniversary of Tenzing Norgay & Edmund Hilary’s summit of Everest at the Nepalese Embassy in
London on account of our performance work with mountain athletes.
It was such an inspiring reminder of what’s truly possible – please keep that hunger for life and if you want a winning team around you, get in touch with us.
PLANS to build more than 60 new homes on the site of a former factory in Staple Hill have been unveiled.
The Bristol Uniforms factory first opened more than 120 years ago but has now closed, with the company finally moving out in February.
The site has been bought by Bristol-based housing developer Woodstock Homes, which has announced plans to build a total of 66 one and two-bedroom flats in three and four-storey blocks.
The company says it will keep the landmark 'Gatehouse' building on Wathen Street, behind Fountain Square, which will be "converted into an office space for local business use", as well as the current western boundary wall, which runs behind homes in North Street.
The other buildings on the site will be demolished to make way for the new-build flats development.
Some of the current buildings date back to 1917, when Bristol Uniforms' predecessor, Wathen Gardiner, rebuilt the factory following a huge fire.
The developer says that after Bristol Uniforms, now known as MSA Bristol Fire Safety Clothing, relocated to a new purpose-built facility in Yate, there had been no interest in reusing the site as a factory and said its size, location and access problems for HGVs meant it was now "unviable and unsustainable for continued employment purposes".
Woodstock Homes staged a consultation exercise during June, ahead of a formal planning application, which is expected to
be made later in the summer.
The developer says it dropped flyers to "all neighbours in the immediate vicinity" and a website at wathenstreet.devpr. co.uk was set up to show the plans in detail, with links shared in local Facebook groups.
The consultation started after June's Voice was printed and comments were only being accepted up until June 25.
An initial plan for the site displayed on the website included a mix of three and four-storey buildings, to accommodate 56 two-bedroom flats and 10 one-bedroom flats, built around a grassed central area, with three-storey buildings at the Staple Hill end of the site and four-storey buildings towards Downend.
The existing factory car park is retained in the image, with further parking spaces added on another part of the site. The plans show a total of 57 parking spaces, with vehicle access via Victoria Street.
Woodstock Homes' land and planning manager Harry Landers said: "The majority of the flats will be sold with a parking space."
Mr Landers said the detailed plans would be drawn up following the consultation, and said the company was aiming to submit plans to South Gloucestershire Council "this summer".
On the website the developer says the apartments would be "built with the latest renewable technologies", including air source heat pumps and solar panels.
It said although the land was currently designated for industrial use the site was "an entirely sustainable location for residential housing", and said there was unsatisfied demand for housing, with the council unable to demonstrate it had enough
land to accommodate the new homes the area needs over the next five years.
The company said the development had a "first-time buyer focus" as this was the group currently in greatest need.
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A MAN has been charged with causing the death of a pedestrian in a collision in Downend.
Deborah West died in hospital after a collision involving a van in Chestnut Road, which links Downend Road to the Co-op car park, on the morning of January 28 last year.
The 56-year-old mental health nurse was walking to a hair appointment when the collision took place at the entrance to the Openreach car park.
She suffered serious head injuries and was taken to Southmead Hospital, where she died later.
Avon and Somerset police have confirmed that a man aged 50 will appear in Bristol Magistrates' Court in August, to face a charge of causing death by careless driving.
The driver has not been named ahead of his court appearance.
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A member of the
Deborah West's family said she was a "very much loved fiancée, mother, daughter, sister and auntie"
Deborah lived in Congresbury in North Somerset but had previously lived in Downend for 11 years and often returned to the area, where she still had relatives.
After her death her family described her as "a very much loved fiancée, mother, daughter, sister and auntie", adding: "Deb had a beautiful soul and was always helping people, be it family, friends or in her work as a mental health nurse."
While living in Downend she had been a member of the Christ Church congregation and her son attended Christ Church infant and junior schools.
Deborah had trained as a mental health nurse at Glenside Hospital in Fishponds, also working in Australia and at Barrow Hospital in North Somerset before taking on a variety of community nursing roles and was working part-time for part-time for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, having officially retired in 2020.
A POLICE worker has been charged with arson after a fire damaged cars, hedges and a house in Downend.
Mark Pickford, aged 58, was arrested following the fire on Badminton Road, which happened at about 8pm on Friday June 2.
An Avon & Somerset police spokesperson said: "The fire started in a tree and rapidly spread to destroy two hedges and two BMW cars, as well as damaging the frontages of nearby homes.
"Thankfully no one was injured. A man was arrested later the same evening and has appeared in court."
Police said Pickford, who lives in Downend, appeared before Bristol Magistrates on June 5 to face a charge of arson, while reckless as to whether life was endangered.
No plea was entered and he was released on bail with conditions, including not to enter Downend, ahead of a hearing at Swindon Crown Court in July.
The police spokesperson added: "Mr Pickford is a member of Avon and Somerset Police staff. His role is not public-facing and he has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal and conduct processes."
Avon Fire and Rescue Service sent two crews to deal with the blaze, and had to close Badminton Road and isolate electricity and gas supplies while they tackled it.
A spokesperson for the service said the cars were well alight when firefighters arrived, and a telegraph pole was also damaged in the incident.
The spokesperson said an investigation of the scene found the fire had been started deliberately.
NEW 'green screens' intended to improve air quality in Downend have been installed in the high street area.
The screens are made of ivy growing around metal trellis-like frames.
One set has been installed at the side of the former Lloyds Bank building next to the traffic lights on Cleeve Road, and the other at the side of the Sainsbury's Local store alongside Westerleigh Road.
Hedges in planters and a pair of new benches have also been installed by the Cleeve Road green screens, as part of a project which has cost £27,000.
The plants in the screens are intended to capture and block particulate pollution, as well as improving the look of the area.
Earlier this year council staff
removed wooden seating which had been built around trees at the sides of Downend Road and Badminton Road by volunteers on behalf of Downend & Bromley Heath in Bloom.
While no more seating is planned under the green screens project, the parish council has voted to create a high street working group, which will review existing seating provision and work out where new seating is needed.
The new screens were welcomed by South
DOWNEND & Bromley Heath
Parish Council is asking residents for their views on funding a new pavilion.
The Voice reported in April that the estimated cost of building the pavilion on King George V Playing Fields had rocketed from around £700,000 to at least £1.25 million.
The benches and green screens next to the Cleeve Road traffic lights
Gloucestershire Frenchay & Downend ward councillor Liz Brennan, who said it looked "fantastic".
She said: "Thank you to all involved with the designing, including our High Street Group that's made up of local businesses, our high street coordinator and the designers."
Cllr Brennan said ward councillors had pushed for extra funding from South Gloucestershire Council to help support the high street and businesses after the pandemic.
The increase is down to a number of factors, from rising material costs to extra features demanded by South Gloucestershire Council as conditions of granting planning permission.
The parish council has launched a public consultation to ask whether it should take out a loan of up to £400,000 to fund the building project.
It has stressed that repayments on the loan would not result in an increase in the precept paid by residents. n A voting form and more information on the consultation can be found in the parish council's advertisement on pages 16 & 17.
BIN collecting crews are holding three weeks of strikes in response to a pay offer described as a "significant real terms pay cut".
About 150 workers employed by South Gloucestershire Council's waste contractor Suez went on strike for a week from June 12 to 16, with a further fortnight of action due to last from June 26 to July 9.
Union Unite said 89% of workers who took part in a ballot voted to strike, after rejecting an 8% per cent pay offer from Suez.
The union said: "With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 11.4%, this is a significant real terms pay cut.
Unite says Suez made profits of £80.8 million in 2021. The company’s South Gloucestershire bin loaders earn £11.53 per hour - equivalent to around £460 for a five-day week at eight hours per day, or just under £24,000 a year.
The union said industrial action would "intensify" if the dispute was not resolved.
Unite regional officer Ken
Fish said: “Our members have been forced to take action because Suez refuses to table a reasonable pay offer.
"This is a lucrative contract and the council needs to intervene and force Suez to put forward a fair offer to our members."
Suez says its two most recent pay offers, this year and last, together represent a pay increase of up to 16.75%.
A spokesperson said: "Industrial action is the very last outcome we want to see - we still believe our offer is a competitive one and our door remains open to Unite Trade Union.
"However, with talks currently stalled, we are developing contingency arrangements with the council so that we can minimise disruption for local communities."
Non-striking workers were being told to prioritise black bin collections during strike weeks.
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: "We are asking residents to please put all bins and containers out as normal on their usual collection day.
"We are prioritising black bin services and where possible will carry out other kerbside collections. "Bring recycling and food containers in by 6pm if not collected."
Residents were being urged to report missed black bin collections but not missed recycling or green bin collections, with green bin subscriptions being extended to "compensate" those who pay to have their garden waste removed.
Recycling centres were being kept open, with extra facilities set up to deposit food waste.
SOCIAL workers and occupational therapists working in adult services for South Gloucestershire Council joined bin workers on a picket line outside the authority's Kingswood offices.
Their one-day strike on June 12 was the sixth.
Union UNISON has been in dispute with the council since last summer over a decision to award qualified staff in children’s services an extra £3,000 "retention payment" on top of their basic annual salary to stop them leaving the sector - but not giving it to adult services workers.
Social worker Sarah Bramley said: “Current figures show that retention of qualified workers in adult care is worse now than when the payment was agreed for children's services.
"But retention payments are not being considered for us, which makes us feel we are not valued at all. We hold the same qualification as our colleagues in children’s services and our job is incredibly demanding.
"The basic wage is already higher in all neighbouring authorities, so South Glos Council struggles to attract experienced staff and with Wiltshire Council, for instance, implementing retention payments for adult services, this problem will surely get worse."
Unison says 94% of staff voted for strike action in the ballot.
A council spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that UNISON have proceeded with strike action, given our continuing focus on delivering our workplace action plan, which addresses issues staff tell us matter most.
"Staff in all roles in adult social care undertake vitally important work in our communities in South Gloucestershire.
"We very much hope that UNISON will continue to engage with us on the actions agreed after the last period of industrial action."
The spokesperson said the authority had "maintained a good level of service and support to our communities and hospitals" during the strike.
Row over black bin cuts: Page 18
CHARITY Young Lives vs Cancer is closing all of its shops, starting with its Downend branch.
The shop in Badminton Road shut for the final time on June 10, ending a presence of more than 30 years in Downend.
Young Lives vs Cancer has two other shops in the area, one in Staple Hill High Street and another at Straits Parade in Fishponds, both of which will close next year, when their leases run out.
The charity says its chain of 13 shops generated a net income of around £450,000 last year, but this was "a lower return on investment than the charity can achieve through other incomegenerating activity".
Young Lives vs Cancer was formed from a merger of Bristol charity CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) and the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children in 2005, and was known as CLIC Sargent until 2021.
CLIC was set up by Frenchay
businessman Bob Woodward after he lost his 11-year-old son Robert to neuroblastoma in 1977.
He set up the shops to help fund CLIC's ‘Home from Home’ service, providing free accommodation for families of young cancer patients in hospital, which was the first of its kind in the UK.
The Fishponds shop opened in 1989 and Staple Hill in 1990, while the Downend shop is
TWO mayors have made rival bids to be Labour's Parliamentary candidate in the new seat covering Staple Hill and Mangotsfield.
Damien Egan, who grew up in Kingswood and is now the elected mayor of Lewisham in London, has announced he is running to be his party's pick for the new Bristol North East constituency.
He joins Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, who confirmed in May that he was 'putting his hat into the ring' for the seat, which also includes Kingswood and Fishponds and is expected to be contested at the next general election if boundary change recommendations are approved.
Damien, 40, lived in Downend, Fishponds, St George and Berkeley House in Staple Hill as a teenager, and his first job was at Downend's Somerfield supermarket, now the Co-op.
A Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Councillor in 2003-7 - one of the youngest councillors in the country at the time of his electionhe moved to London for work and joined Lewisham Council in 2010, becoming the cabinet member for housing in 2014 and directlyelected mayor of the borough in 2018.
Damien said: “I’m from Bristol North East, my family are here, this is where I went to school, there won’t be another candidate who knows the streets and different communities of our part of Bristol as well as I do.”
Marvin Rees confirmed his candidacy in an interview with the BBC in May, saying: "I am putting my hat in the ring now, having gone through the family discussion about it.
"It’s only attractive to me because it is Bristol and I have my family here."
The Downend branch on its closing day, June 10.
believed to have opened in 1992.
The Downend shop employed two members of staff and had 21 volunteers, while the Staple Hill shop, which will close next March, has two employees and 17 volunteers, and the Fishponds shop - due to close in December next year - has three employees and 13 volunteers.
A spokesperson for Young Lives vs Cancer said volunteers from the Downend shop would
be invited to help out at one of the other shops nearby, and both the Staple Hill and Fishponds shops will continue to take donations.
Head of retail Sarah Wilsher said: “The decision to close Young Lives vs Cancer’s chain of charity shops wasn’t an easy one.
"Our shops have played a big role in funding our vital services, but as a charity we need to do all we can to raise as much money as we can to run and develop our services for children and young people with cancer.
"We are incredibly grateful for the dedication of our shop staff and volunteers: they are second to none. Many have dedicated years, and in some cases decades, to the charity and they have all made a huge difference to the young people and families we support.
"We also want to say a huge thank-you to the local communities who have been so supportive of us over the years."
Mangotsfield Village
Festival returned after four years away, with thousands of visitors enjoying a day of music, dance, food and fun in the sun. ROSS JANES gives Mangotsfield Festival Planning Committee's take on the day.
Pictures by festival photographer Chris Taylor
IN my other occupation as Mangotsfield's funeral director I will often say to the families that I am looking after that “the one thing I can't control is the weather”.
Even if I had been able to, I really could not have done
better than the weather we were presented with for the festival on June 10.
The glorious sunshine seemed to lift the mood of the entire village as we began our traditional parade from the green, opposite The Lamb, which used to host the festival in years gone by, to our new site on the Johnson Road Playing Fields, courtesy of the Pomphrey Hill Community Sports Association.
A new addition to the parade was the fabulous samba band, The Sambistas, who really helped to make a loud, joyous noise and announced, in style, the return of the festival following its fouryear hiatus.
Families gravitated towards the parade and were drawn from their houses to dance on their doorstops, even those we in cars we had to stop were having a
little boogie in their seats.
Sincere apologises to anyone who was hoping for a Saturday morning lie-in!
Sadly the unexpectedly high temperatures meant that we had to cancel the dog show to ensure the safety of any dogs present but throughout the day we had a real mix of talented local schools, clubs, groups and bands in the central arena with something for everyone.
Walking around the festival site there was a genuine feeling of happiness, togetherness and the sense of a return to the roots of a “proper village festival”.
We are grateful to all those who have supported this years festival, many of whom gave up their time before, during and after the event, to help set up, run and clear away. We really could not have done it without
them.
With any major event there will always be lessons to be learned and the planning committee will meet for a post-festival review so we can address any problems and make any necessary changes or improvements for future festivals.
Mangotsfield Festival is designed solely for the benefit of the community and in order for it to continue and thrive we need support from those within it.
If you would be interested in joining the committee for any future festivals or even just helping out at the event then please keep an eye on our website www. mangotsfieldfestival.co.uk for the announcement of our annual general meeting later in the year.
THE family of a boy with autism who has not been to school for more than 18 months are asking South Gloucestershire Council to rethink its decision not to offer him a place at a special school.
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The council accepts that Mason Evans-Rice, who lives in Soundwell, needs extra support. But it insists this should be done in a mainstream school with a resource base for pupils with disabilities.
The council says the only place available is at Blackhorse Primary School, which his parents Kevin Rice and Becky Evans removed him from in 2021, after disagreements over his education.
Kevin and Becky have paid for a private assessment which concluded Mason, who is 10, would make progress in a special school, and say the council's own assessment process has been shambolic, with delays, poor communication and a psychologist's report made on the basis of a short phone call.
They say the council is failing to take into account their views - or the emotional trauma caused to Mason by the death of his four-yearold sister Raeyah from cancer earlier this year.
Mason's communication difficulties were first noticed by a reception class teacher at Blackhorse, which was near the family's previous home in Emersons Green.
During the pandemic Becky, who has been an early years practitioner for 20 years, found Mason was unwilling to take part in online lessons or work at home, despite her efforts to help, and after schools returned in September 2020 the process of getting an education, health and care plan (EHCP), which assesses how much extra support a child needs, began.
Kevin and Becky paid for a private assessment, which resulted in an autism diagnosis that was accepted by the NHS.
A breakdown in relations with the school and frustration at Mason's lack of progress led to Becky and Kevin removing him from school in October 2021 and teaching him at home - but as a result the EHCP process was restarted from scratch.
Becky said: "He can learn in the right environment but there's no way on earth a mainstream school can do what this child needs - he just shuts down.
"I'm happy to educate Mason at home but I'm not trained in providing the support he would get in an SEN school. He's been struggling for four years."
A council spokesperson said: "We cannot comment publicly on any specific case, however it is important to us that every child is assessed individually, with the aim of finding the best support, locally wherever possible, to meet their specific needs.
"The majority of children with special educational needs, including those with EHCPs, are able to have their needs met and can thrive in our mainstream schools.
“The findings of Ofsted inspections of our mainstream schools over the last two years emphasise the high quality educational offer available to children and young people with special educational needs."
A PLAGUE of caterpillars is laying waste to hundreds of hedges in gardens across the Downend area.
Box tree moth caterpillars strip box hedges of all their leaves, turning the evergreen shrubs into brown skeletons, which stand out from neighbouring plants whose leaves the insect larvae do not eat.
Although the leaves can grow back, experts warn that repeated attacks weaken the evergreen hedges - and many gardeners have been digging them up completely.
Among those whose gardens have been hit is Downend resident Dave Barrett, who has cut his own hedge back close to the ground after it was attacked.
Dave's box, or buxus, hedge was planted by a previous owner of his house, and is believed to be about 30 years old.
He said: "The hedge was a beautiful thing but I had to drastically prune all the greenery off and burn it, as it seems the only way to give it a chance at continuing to live and not infect other hedges.
"I'm hoping it will come back and what I've done will make it manageable.
"On a quick walk from Frenchay Road to Staple Hill I noticed every hedge of the same kind appears to be dying."
Royal Horticultural Society insect expert Dr Andy Salisbury said reports of the invasive box tree moth had seen a "huge leap" in the Bristol area this year.
He said: "Since first being reported in English gardens in
London in 2011, box tree moth has spread rapidly across the UK.
"However, it wasn’t until 2017 that is was first reported to the RHS from the Bristol area.
"Numbers of reports have gradually built up since then. This year, however, has seen a huge increase in reports - at the end of May we had already received nearly 700 reports, which is more than year totals 2021 and 2022 combined!
"There are two generations of caterpillars a year and it can strip box plants; although plants can survive, this successive defoliation will weaken them."
The RHS recommends trying to remove caterpillars by hand and or applying nematodes - a tiny animal that feeds on the caterpillars and can be ordered in packets online or from garden centres.
Pesticides should only be used "in a minimal and highly
DOWNEND and Staple Hill will each have a stop on a fundraising charity unicorn trail being unveiled in July.
Unicornfest is raising money for charity Leukaemia Care with a trail of decorated two metre tall statues, which will be on display across the region between July and September before being auctioned off.
In similar style to previous years' Gromit Unleashed, Shaun the Sheep and Wow! Gorilla trails, people will be encouraged to pick up a map and find the unicorns in an event which will coincide with the school summer holidays.
Downend's unicorn will be called Gracie after WG Grace and is being sponsored by Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council in celebration of its 20th anniversary year. It will be placed at the corner of Badminton Road and Cleeve Road outside the former Lloyds Bank building. The Staple Hill unicorn will be outside the Forge & Fern. For more information visit theunicornfest.co.uk.
targeted manner" and avoided if nearby plants are flowering, as they will kill bees.
Dr Salisbury added: "There is hope - there is evidence that predators such as birds, social and parasitoid wasps are beginning to find and eat the caterpillars; the RHS is carrying
out research to find out more."
Some gardeners are planting alternative species of hedge instead.
More information on control and alternative plants can be found online at rhs.org.uk/ biodiversity/box-tree-caterpillar
INSPECTORS have praised the "positive learning environment" and inclusiveness of a sixth form college which teaches hundreds of students from the Downend area.
A team of eight inspectors from the education regulator visited St Brendan's College in Brislington over four days in March.
Their report, published at the end of May, found the Catholic college in Broomhill Road, Brislington to be good in all areas: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management; education programmes and provision for students with high needs.
The inspectors said: "Students enjoy their lessons because teachers have created a positive learning environment.
"Teachers value students’ contributions to class discussions and encourage full participation in learning activities. As a result, students become more confident and proud of their learning over time.
"Teachers set high expectations for completion of work and for meeting deadlines. When students fall behind, they are supported appropriately to improve their attitudes towards learning."
Ofsted said most students experienced
"high-quality lessons", produced work of a consistently good quality and learned from curriculums that enabled them to "move on to their chosen destinations".
The inspectors said: "Students enjoy the non-judgemental, inclusive atmosphere at the college, where they feel that they can be themselves and are respected as individuals.
"Students from a wide diversity of backgrounds, including those of various faiths, those with special educational needs or disabilities and students from the LGBTQ+ community, feel welcomed and valued at the college."
However the report said the college needed to improve opportunities for work experience and teaching students how to use the skills they learn in the workplace, involve more employers in developing the curriculum, and improve students’ understanding of the dangers of
radicalisation and extremism locally.
St Brendan's has around 1,800 students aged from 16 to 18 studying A-levels or equivalent vocational qualifications, including hundreds who move there after GCSEs from Downend, Mangotsfield, Winterbourne, John Cabot and other local secondary schools.
Principal Marian Curran said: "We are delighted that Ofsted have highlighted the strong learning culture that exists at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College.
"We are a highly inclusive college, where individuality and the education of the whole person is nurtured.
"I am pleased that the inspectors have not only recognised our academic standards, but also the high level of support that our students receive and our culture of safeguarding.
"A huge thank you to all our staff who relentlessly support students academically and pastorally to be the best that they can be. A huge thank you to our students who are a credit to our college community, and finally to our parents and carers for their support.
" This Ofsted report is testament to the hard work of our staff and the resilience of our students”.
OUR practice was founded by Steve Dury and Steve Shaw and opened on 4th July 1983. Steve Shaw retired from the practice in 2005.
Dury and Tippett’s current owners, Steve Dury and Helen Tippett, have worked as a team for 31 years. Helen joined the practice in 1992, and became a full partner in the newly renamed Dury and Tippett in 2005.
Several years ago Steve and Helen doubled the size of the practice to allow room for the Style Zone, the jukebox and the many quirky individual features you’ll see today.
Steve almost fell into optics by chance. As a teenager he was a guitarist in a band, and the other guitarist at the time was training to become a Dispensing Optician. Steve followed suit after thinking that his friend’s choice of career “sounded interesting.”
After qualifying he initially worked for a small independent optical group until it was taken over by Dollond and Aitchison , at which time he chose to open his own practice instead.
By contrast, Helen first became interested in optics after listening to a talk from a visiting optician during a careers evening at school. She studied at City University in London, before moving to Bristol for her ‘pre-registration’ year, and joined the practice soon afterwards.
Cath Chriswick, Practice Manager, oversees the day-to-day running of the practice, and enjoys getting to know our patients. Cath is
always ready and willing to lend a hand with anything, whether it’s choosing new eyewear, booking appointments, or answering patient queries.
The practice has gone from strength to strength. We decided many years ago to
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When the sun is shining and the weather is nice, it's the perfect time to be outside. But with the longer days and warmer weather well and truly here, it can be easy to forget to care for your eyes when out enjoying the sunshine.
0117 962 2474 0117 965 4434 www.turnersopticians.co.uk
In this article I share some of our top tips for protecting your eyes, so you can make the most of those sunny days without any worries.
Dry eye – dry eyes can be a common issue when the sun is shining, but that shouldn't stop you from being outside. At Turners Opticians, we have the perfect solution to help you combat your dry eyes. Our range of eye drops is designed to preserve your tear film and provide the necessary refreshment and replenishment your eyes need. Keep a bottle handy, so you can instantly soothe and moisturise your eyes whenever you need to.
Ray-Ban – While most of us are aware of the importance of protecting our skin from harmful UV rays, it's equally crucial to protect our eyes too. Ray-Ban sunglasses offer both style and protection, and they're flying off the shelves at the moment! From our most popular classic designs to cutting-edge styles, we have a wide range to choose from. So, don't forget to grab a pair of Ray-Bans to keep your eyes safe and fashionable under the sun!
Allergy Defence – For those who suffer from allergies, sunny days can bring about eye discomfort and irritation. To protect your eyes from allergens like pollen and dust, consider wearing wraparound glasses or sunglasses. Additionally, our protection eye drops can provide soothing relief from allergy symptoms, ensuring your eyes stay comfortable and irritation-free.
Hydration – Staying hydrated is crucial for your overall health, and it's particularly important for your eyes. It can be easy to overlook the significance of hydration when enjoying sunny days. Remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you sip a glass of water with your favourite coffee or alcoholic beverage. Proper hydration helps maintain the moisture levels in your eyes and prevents dryness and discomfort.
Eye health - Regular eye exams are essential for maintaining optimal eye health, even if you believe your eyes are problem-free. At Turners Opticians, our team of eye care experts are ready to give you a thorough eye examination to ensure your eyes are in top condition. By scheduling regular eye exams, you can detect any underlying issues early on and receive appropriate treatments, if necessary. Your eyes deserve the best care, so make eye health a priority, especially during sunny days.
At Turners Opticians, we want to help you protect and care for your eyes, no matter the weather. To book an appointment or view our glasses range, call our Henleaze team on 0117 962 2474 or Fishponds team on 0117 965 4434.
CHILDREN at a Downend school are getting to grips with high ropes, bridges and swings in an "amazing" new playground area.
Bromley Heath Junior School's Forest Circuit was unveiled in June, and its many climbing, crossing, swinging and balancing features have been an instant hit at break and lunchtimes.
Deputy head Stewart McSmythurs said: "The new circuit further develops our outdoor play, alongside our other climbing walls, play equipment and quiet areas.
"The children have really loved the additional opportunities it brings - there is no end to the choices.
"The equipment enables children to use both fine and gross motor skills, improve their balance, strength, co-ordination and core stability.
"They also learn to test their boundaries, climb to their own limits and manage their own risk."
PEOPLE are being urged to join in a 'citizen science' event to monitor pollution levels in the River Frome.
Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is running its annual RiverBlitz to measure water quality in local waterways from July 7 to 14.
People can sign up online to be sent a monitoring kit in the post, which can be used to take samples of river and stream water to test levels of nitrates, phosphates and other common pollutants.
The RiverBlitz has been running for seven years and enables BART to understand the impact of pollution on the health of river water, and help identify sites in need of further investigation.
Earlier this year sampling of water in the Frome upstream at Frampton Cotterell, by a local nature group and UWE researchers, uncovered "shocking" levels of potentially harmful coliform bacteria.
RiverBlitz project manager Rozy Gray said: "Our rivers are facing enormous challenges, of which excessive nutrient inputs are a major aspect, negatively impacting the diversity of species inhabiting our river environments.
"Nitrate and phosphate are important nutrients in rivers, however in excessive quantities they cause problems for wildlife.
"Monitoring nutrient levels, whilst simultaneously raising awareness of their impact, is what RiverBlitz is all about and we hope that people are both interested and excited to get involved to do their bit to support BART’s work in protecting them into the future.”
She said the RiverBlitz project was a "fantastic way for people to get out and spend time by their local river, getting to better understand the ecosystem while also taking an active role to contribute to the ongoing conservation of these spaces".
To take part in the RiverBlitz, sign up online at bristolavonriverstrust.org/riverblitz/register by July 1 to receive a monitoring kit in the post.
A new pavilion is proposed to be located at King George V Park and Badminton Road Playing Fields (to replace the existing aged facility). The facilities will include a building that provides changing rooms for spor ts (including cricket and football), community/meeting rooms, community-based par tners such as the Police) and a k itchen facility (possibility of hosting a regular drinks and snack provider for the park or a more informal nature on match days). Full details are available via out website:
ww w.dbhparishcouncil.uk
The new pavilion will provide a modern and environmentally sensitive purpose and has many structural issues that present a health and safety risk for users. The outside aesthetics do not promote the wider park, which is well managed and used by the community If the current plans are not approved, then funding will still be required to replace the existing changing facilities, but the Parish Council is likely to lose
To fur ther improve the wider park, new car parking, landscaping, electric charging points, tree planting and storage facilities will be/ have been provided. The new car park ing area provides ample space the surrounding roads and improving safety for pedestrians The landscaping has been carefully planned to enhance the beauty of the park, creating attractive outdoor spaces for visitors to enjoy.
In 2021, the Parish Council thanked local people for actively engaging in the consultation about this proposed new community Pavilion, which clearly showed suppor t for the Parish Council going ahead with the project Widespread suppor t for the design was received and some ver
There have also been numerous informal consultations since this project was star ted over 6 years ago and public suppor t has always been strong The Project is suppor ted by a sound business plan to ensure that the Pavilion will be sustainable and self-funding in the long term.
All the necessar y planning permissions are now in place In order to proceed with the project, and on the basis of receipt of an award from the Football Foundation of circa £250,000, we wish to consult with our residents to enquire if you are in FAVOUR or AGAINST the Parish Council going ahead with the project by seeking the approval of the Secretar y of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to apply for a loan from the Public Works Loan Board of a maximum of £400,000 over the borrowing term of 20 years Please note that this WILL NOT mean a council tax precept increase for the purpose of the loan repayments. As determined Other costs will be met by :
• Parish Council reser ves totalling £538,865
• Section 106 funding from South Gloucestershire Council of £112,143 The loan will enable construction to proceed later in the year and for lower construction costs to be ‘locked in’
Name
Address
Are you in favour or against applying for a loan?
Signed/Date
below by : Friday 1 September 2023 Alternatively, please complete the sur vey online via the Parish Council website: www.dbhparishcouncil.uk Any survey forms received after the deadline will be disregarded. For fur ther information, or if you require hard copies of documentation in relation to this proposal, please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Clerk, Angela Hocking, tel. 0117 9567001 or email: clerk@dbhparishcouncil co.uk Meetings are available upon request
Downend Library, Buckingham Gardens, Downend, Bristol BS16 5T W
The new Pavilion is intended to replace the old structure that is in a state of disrepair, is unsightly and certain areas are not able to be used because they present a health and safety risk. There will be the need for the spending of significant sums to replace the existing Pavilion even if the loan is not supported.
If the loan is not supported, then it is likely to also jeopardise the Football Foundation funding which is connected to the more extensive scheme and also make the Pavilion more reliant on the Parish Council for future funding given that the hiring of the recreational area is intended to make the Pavilion financially sustainable.
The Pavilion has been designed to support the community as a whole, whilst also at the same time providing a focal point for sporting activities. At present the following football clubs use the site –Downend Saints, Mangotsfield United and Fishponds Old Boys - and also the following cricket teams – Churchways, Downend 3 CC, Bristol Asians, Old Park CC and Bristol New Eleven. The teams promote and support sport for all age groups and the new facilities will help develop opportunities for the expansion of girls teams and inclusive sport. The Pavilion will also provide office space for the Parish Clerk and hot desking by other organisations. This will reduce room hire costs of the Parish Council and ensure that public money is used wisely. The recreational facilities will provide a focal point for the sports teams when games are scheduled but will also be available for hire by community groups (there will be no late night/loud music events allowed). The recreational facilities are intended to support the wider park community and also provide a source of funding to help keep the Pavilion financially viable.
No. The precept will not increase to fund the loan repayments as the Parish Council’s budget already includes sufficient funds to pay the loan amount. The Parish Council wants to take a loan to ensure that lower construction prices are secured at this stage as waiting to ‘save up’ reserves will only see prices increase further. The loan is financially viable and ensures the public will benefit from improved facilities earlier.
Modular construction is widely used for new school buildings, sports facilities, healthcare buildings and many other uses. Modular construction has the same lifecycle/durability as traditional construction and is acceptable to banks if security for a loan is required. The design has been fully reviewed and endorsed by the Football Foundation who will be making a significant investment in this scheme.
The use of modular construction will also be less disruptive for the public and present fewer challenges in terms of health and safety on the site. The modular building is constructed off site which reduces the amount of construction traffic and disruption for local residents.
The cost of the scheme increased from the initial estimates given that the planning permission required greater landscaping and a new car park, which was not originally envisaged. Global construction costs have also increased over the period of the last 3-4 years when the plans were originally presented.
The extra costs also bring extra benefits that will provide a far better welcome to the park, more secure (better CCTV and fencing) and make it more visually appealing. The community use will be strong and these extra costs have actually allowed the Parish Council to improve the wider park rather than just the Pavilion.
BLACK bin collections could be reduced to just once a month and garden waste fees hiked from £30 to £75 under controversial plans being considered by South Gloucestershire Council.
Opposition Tories have branded the proposals, which include new charges for disposing tyres and plasterboard at tips, as “crazy and irresponsible”.
But the new Lib Dem/Labour coalition running the council says the criticism is “astonishing and rather cynical”, as the work on a new waste contract was “largely done by their previous Conservative administration”.
Changes to how the service is run are needed because the council’s 25-year deal with Suez ends in 2025.
Officers have assessed four options to replace it but every one involves a massive funding shortfall.
The cheapest, costing £330 million over 10 years, would see bin collections are outsourced to a private operator while recycling centres are brought back in-house.
This needs more than 50 extra council staff and would leave the council having to find an extra £4.7m a year to run the service.
Cabinet members were being asked to approve general principles ahead of a consultation over the summer and a final decision in October.
A report at a cross-party scrutiny
commission on June 14 said having threeweekly black bin collections from 2026 would save £500,000 a year, saving a further £300,000 by going four-weekly.
Charges for disposing of “hardcore” waste, such as asbestos and tyres, at tips would bring in £500,000. Fees for collecting bulky waste could also increase.
Increases to the green bin subscription, from £30 to £50, bringing in £800,000 a year, were proposed in the Tories' last budget but scrapped following objections.
However, these are now back on the table but officers said the garden waste charge might need to be increased to £60 or even £75 a year, and that residents would have to pay £25 for a replacement bin.
Conservative shadow cabinet member Rachael Hunt said: "We have an excellent record of prosecuting people for fly-tipping.
“These crazy and irresponsible proposals could see that record seriously jeopardised, as people try to avoid charges and deal with the accumulation of rubbish they’ll see when their bins aren’t emptied as regularly."
Labour cabinet member for communities and local place Leigh Ingham said: “It is astonishing, and rather cynical, that the Conservatives seemingly appear surprised by the proposals as the work on this project which was largely done by their previous Conservative administration."
"This new administration believes in listening to the people of South Gloucestershire and we don’t want to prejudge the findings of meaningful engagement activities with residents which will be taking place over the summer.
“The new Lib Dem and Labour partnership administration has inherited incomplete plans for £40m of cuts to be delivered over the next four years."
Officers said “awkward” waste, such as nappies, clinical and sharp objects, would be collected more frequently than black bin rubbish under the proposals and that there was plenty of time to talk to residents and explain why the changes were needed.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting ServiceMike Drew has been elected as this year's chair of South Gloucestershire Council. Yate North ward councillor Drew, who has 40 years of service, will perform ambassadorial roles, with councillor Franklin Owusu-Antwi (Con, Bradley Stoke North) elected vice-chair. Cllr Drew is supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association as his charity of the year, after his younger brother died from the disease five years ago.
SOUTH Gloucestershire Council's new joint Liberal Democrat and Labour administration has announced the cabinet that is taking on the administration of the council.
Last month the Voice reported that the two parties had agreed to share power after the Conservatives lost their overall majority, with Liberal Democrat group leader Claire Young becoming the council leader and Labour group leader Ian Boulton, who represents Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward, becoming co-leader.
Following the first meeting of the new council at the end of May, the other cabinet councillors - four Lib Dems and three Labour - and their areas of responsibility were confirmed.
They are:
• Chris Willmore (Lib Dem, Yate North) - planning, regeneration, and infrastructure
• Alison Evans (Lab, Woodstock) - cost of living, equalities and public health
• Louise Harris (Lib Dem, Dodington) - climate and nature emergency
• Maggie Tyrell (Lib Dem, Thornbury) - children and young people
• John O’Neil (Lib Dem, Charfield) - adults and homes
• Adam Monk (Lab, Filton) - resources
Leigh Ingham (Lab, Kingswood) - communities and local place
Cllr Young will be responsible for council governance, with Cllr Boulton looking after education, skills, employment and business.
Cllr Young said the new cabinet "delivers a broad range of experience across the council’s work areas".
She said: "This is an excellent opportunity to put forward a new vision for South Gloucestershire and to help improve the lives of local people. We want to change the way decisions are made and work with residents and communities to ensure they are supportive of our plans".
The council's Conservative group, which remains the largest even though it no longer has a majority, has announced its shadow cabinet.
Frenchay & Downend ward councillor Liz Brennan, the group's deputy leader, will hold the group's planning, regeneration and infrastructure brief, while Emersons Green ward councillor Rachael Hunt, who is now the only Conservative representative for the ward, will be the shadow member for communities and local place.
Group leader Sam Bromiley said: "The new administration must put the best interests of residents at the heart of everything it does, and the people of South Gloucestershire can be assured that the Conservative Group will be firmly on their side."
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A SECURE children’s home rated 'inadequate' by Ofsted a year ago has turned around its fortunes.
In June last year Ofsted demanded urgent action at Vinney Green after inspectors found that children at the unit suffered “unlawful, painful” physical restraint and unjustified solitary confinement for up to three days.
The education watchdog’s latest inspection of the establishment found South Gloucestershire Council, which runs the unit between Mangotsfield and Emersons Green, had made major improvements in the last year.
Its report, published on May 31 following a three-day visit in April, said the home was now “lively but relaxed”.
Inspectors awarded it a rating of 'good' in every category assessed: education and learning; health; help and protection for children and young people; effectiveness of leaders and managers.
A year ago Ofsted criticised the local authority for “repeated failures” over several years, and said the Youth Custody Service
had stopped placing young people at the home amid “serious concerns about children’s care, safety and well-being”.
At the time, the council accepted there were “practices happening which shouldn’t have been” and took immediate steps to address them.
The latest report follows Ofsted's third visit to the site since the 'inadequate' rating.
The inspectors said: “Children develop positive relationships with staff and benefit from predictable structures and routines.
“An inclusive culture which promotes equality and diversity enables children to explore their developing sense of identity.
“Children appreciate the support they receive from staff and recognise that they have made good progress as a result of living in the home.
“Children’s views are valued. They are closely involved in developing their written care and support plans."
Inspectors said youngsters influenced decisions about the day-to-day running of the home by having meetings to make choices about menus, activities and resources.
“Staff make good use of the facilities to ensure that children can participate in activities that support their individual talents and interests,” the report said.
“Children are also encouraged to join in group activities.
“This helps them to learn how to build relationships with each other and with staff which are based on trust and respect.
“The result is an atmosphere which is lively but relaxed.”
The report said youngsters were encouraged to maintain regular contact with their families and know how to make a complaint if they are unhappy about any aspect of their care.
They then receive a written response from managers, although records "do not consistently capture whether children are satisfied with the
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A council spokesperson said: "We are very pleased that the hard work and commitment of our staff at Vinney Green has been recognised by Ofsted with this assessment.
"We recognise that we will always have more work to do in order to continue to improve the support we provide to children in our care and we are committed doing that work, while we are pleased that Ofsted have recognised our progress so far."
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePAGE Park's Friends group is calling on a new generation of volunteers to secure its work for the future.
The group needs extra help, from tidying up and planting to working behind the scenes.
Friends of Page Park vice chair Steph Purser said: "We have achieved so much over the years and we still have many future projects in mind, including the new toilet block and improving the play areas, but we now desperately need to attract new volunteers to help take the group forward.
"Throughout the country many groups, charities and other organisations are crying out for more help to continue their work.
"While many volunteers are retiring through age and health problems, groups are finding it difficult to attract younger volunteers, so there's no-one to take their place. Many groups are folding."
In the park there are several groups which need new recruits to help in their work.
Gardening teams meet on
A COFFEE grower visited Downend, Staple Hill and Frenchay to give children and adults an insight into life in rural Nicaragua.
Erika Lanzas spent two weeks in the Bristol area on an educational visit supported by Bristol and Bath universities, non-profit group Bristol Link with Nicaragua (BLINC) and the Bristol and South
Tuesdays from 12.30-2.30pm, at the bowling green gate, Wednesdays from 9-11am in the sensory garden and Fridays from 9.30-11.30am at the bowling green gate.
The Friends also hope to resurrect the Page Park Wombles, which met to pick litter and tidy the park at weekends, but need people both to join in and to help organise sessions.
An opportunity to get stuck in has been organised on Saturday July 15, from 10-11.30am, when a family-friendly 'big clean up' event has been organised.
Steph said: "There are lots of jobs for all the family to help with.
"If you can bring a bucket, sponge and rubber gloves if required that would be really helpful - drum up some help from your family and friends to make our park look beautiful."
The Friends also need people to get involved with organising events, fundraising, selling calendars and watering the sensory garden during dry weather.
Steph said: "It's not just about
Gloucestershire Fairtrade groups.
During her stay Erika, who is a Fairtrade coffee grower, visited Frenchay Primary School and Christ Church Junior School to tell them about her life, growing coffee, and how Fairtrade, which links its certification with improved income, social and environmental programmes in developing countries, helps her community.
Jonathan Seagrave, from Fairtrade, said: "Erika had never been outside Nicaragua before, nor been on a plane."
Page Park yoga sessions are proving to be a big success. The first five sessions of the year have all been attended by more than 150 people, with almost 200 attending the June 11 session. The free sessions, with a professional instructor, are held every Sunday morning from May to September at 10am in the park's sensory garden, and are supported by the Friends.
doing jobs and helping out, volunteering means meeting new people, making new friends, improving health and well-being and taking you in directions you never thought possible."
A recent meeting of the friends attracted 29 people and Steph is hopeful that more will get
Christ Church Junior School head teacher Pippa Osborne said: "It was a pleasure to have Erika visiting our school and the children really enjoyed listening to her talk about her life in Nicaragua.
"They were fascinated by just how different her daily life is from theirs and by the different props and artefacts she brought along to show them. They got a lot from it."
Frenchay Primary School teacher Sara Langer said: "We are so proud of our links with Fairtrade and the incredible opportunity that
involved.
Anyone who would like more information about volunteering opportunities with the Friends of Page Park should email friendsofpageparkbs16@ gmail.com, visit the website at friendsofpagepark.co.uk or follow the group's Facebook page.
our children have to meet farmers and growers who benefit from the Fairtrade partnership and in turn, are able to support their families and communities.
"It was a pleasure to meet with Erika and hear about her life - all the children had so many questions for her and were intrigued by the differences between her life and theirs."
For more information about the Fairtrade Foundation visit www. fairtrade.org.uk.
A DOWNEND couple are taking on a threemonth walk the length of the country, raising money for four charities as they go.
Trudi and Martin Henry are currently walking from John O'Groats to Land's Enda three-month trek they have been planning for five years.
Trudi's mum Barbara
Sawyers said the trip had been delayed first by the pandemic and then when Trudi was diagnosed with cancer last year - she has since successfully undergone treatment.
Trudi, who has been given three months off work by her employers Cannon Security and Martin, who is a financial advisor, are raising money for four charities: Fishponds Foodbank, The Darby Rimmer Motor Neurone Disease Foundation (Team Stewart), Help Bristol's Homeless and The Gift of Health, which supports a school in southern India.
The Team Stewart appeal is organised by the family of one of Martin's favourite former Bristol Rovers players, Marcus Stewart, who has been diagnosed with MND.
Martin and Trudi set off on May 3 and are due at Land's End on July 23. They were walking through Yorkshire as the Voice went to print and had raised £2,000 of their £4,000 target.
To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/martin-trudijogle.
A CHARITY football tournament at Mangotsfield United's Cossham Street ground will raise funds for Bristol Rovers player Nick Anderton.
The NA16 Cup event will see a side representing Mangotsfield compete for glory with three teams made up of influencers from social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitch and YouTube.
Left back Nick, who played a key role in Rovers' successful 2021-22 season promotion campaign, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma, last July and had to retire from the sport in April after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy.
A fundraising campaign to support Nick and his family was launched by Rovers staff and supporters.
The NA16 Cup, named after Nick's initials and squad number, is the idea of Jake Milsom, 16, a Rovers fan from Emersons Green who has been working for the club having just finished his GCSEs at Downend School, and his cousin Reece Flook, 21, from Kingswood.
Jake said: "I don't know Nick that well but he's part of the club and the Rovers family - every penny we make will be going to Nick and his young family."
The event will take place on July 27 between 11am and 4pm, with more details and tickets available via the website thena16cup.com.
Joanna, Daughter of Resident at Quarry House (source: carehome.co.uk)
you are looking for a home or a home for a loved one, we would be happy to show you around our beautiful, family-owned home in Fishponds, Bristol.Trudi and Martin Henry cross the border into England Nick Anderton in hospital
The sun is certainly good for our wellbeing, but not too good for our plants. The continued dry conditions have been difficult but we have a new watering contractor this year, Richard and his Pristine and Clean Crew. They have been very busy filling all of our planters with much-needed water. A huge thank you to them for all of their efforts.
Last month In Bloom were very pleased to be asked to cut the ribbon to open the newlyrefurbished Horseshoe.
Greene King, Dan and the staff of the pub have done a fantastic job of the refurbishment – very tastefully done while still keeping the Horseshoe as a pub we recognise!
I don’t know if you realise but the Horseshoe has been on this site since the 1890’s, and not only was it considerably cheaper to buy then but look at the rateable value - a bit less than today!
Back in 1891 it was in the Parish of Mangotsfield, Bristol.
Occupied by Stanley Hurford Rugg, the owner was Arnold, Perrett & Co. Ltd.
Described on its licence as an alehouse, its gross estimated value was £46.0s.0d and its rateable value was £39.2s.0d.
I would urge everyone to go and have a look, especially sit and enjoy the garden on a lovely summer’s day!
We are lucky to have many lovely pubs and cafes in Downend, so please support our local businesses – with so many high streets losing trade please try to do everything you can to shop local!
Finally, with regard to the High Street, hopefully you are all enjoying the new living walls and seating installed recently by South
Horseshoe has been a Downend landmark for well over a century
These living walls not only provide interest in otherwise boring areas but also provide seating and importantly help with the air quality in places where there is a lot of traffic.
Finally, we are trying a new type of petunia this year – a trailing petunia called Tumbelina in white and blue – they seem to be very successful, so we are hoping if they carry on throughout the summer that will be a good addition to the mix we use.
Jackie BakerDOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS REVIEW: JON WILKS
FRIDAY 19 MAY 2023, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND.
There's something so wonderful about listening to someone who just knows stuff. Just hanging out while they spin stories, digress, mine fact-y nuggets. While they find truths in the everyday and fashion magic from mere words. It's just the greatest thing.
Jon Wilks knows stuff and hanging out with him brings you more stories than you can count, more stuff than you could ever imagine.
He is a polymath; a singer of traditional songs, a songwriter, a lyrical guitarist, a podcast host (The Old Songs Podcast), the curator of a fine and folk-y website (Tradfolk). He's a master of digression and an open-er of worlds.
Again and again, he tells us a story before singing a song. One is about a pub, The Fox in Birmingham. He tells us where it would have been (on the site of a Primark, naturally) and who drank there. He tells us of street hawkers, of ballad sellers, of Broadsides and the reasons they were written. He does it with love, wonder and a sense of fun. He brings the whole scene to life. And then he sings the song - The Boatswain - and adds further layers. It's an old, old song, it's a little bit rude (Cecil
Sharp described it as "putrid") and packed full of characters. Each slightly more despicable than the last but each as real as you or I.
Characters are the currency that Wilks deals in. Whether they are murderous wives, cheating tailors, thoughtful down-and-outs or strolling dandies, his songs are a parade of real life. A flickering cine film of black and white lives, painstakingly hand coloured to bring out every striking detail. Pretty Girls of Brummagem is rich in humanity and Wilks clearly finds the people he's singing about as fascinating as we do.
Many of the songs sung were collected hundreds of years agohe describes them as "authorless songs" - and Wilks is a wonderful interpreter of these corners of the folk canon. His voice is strong and honest, the odd flattened vowel
NEXT AT DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS: OWEN SPAFFORD & LOUIS
FRIDAY 21 JULY 2023, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND.
DOWNEND Folk & Roots round off their Summer season with one of the most exciting young duos on the UK folk scene.
Owen Spafford & Louis Campbell met as as part of the first cohort of the National Youth Folk Ensemble. Since forming their duo in 2018, they have been nominated for the BBC Young Folk Award and been played on BBC Radio 2 and 3, as well as RTE1. A shared musical ‘true north’ and lasting friendship enable the duo to make two instruments seemingly sound as one; creating subtle and emotive textures that re-calibrate the fiddle and guitar duo idiom.
Their debut album You, Golden manages to envelop influences from contemporary classical, post-rock, ECM Jazz and bluegrass cohesively and organically into English folk music with a combination of traditional and
contemporary material which is sonically indistinguishable in origin. It was recorded entirely live in a barn in the Oxfordshire countryside in just two and a half days and has seen remarkable critical acclaim for such a new act.
The duo’s live performances present an extraordinary sense of musical intimacy, covering the full dynamic spectrum, with as much of themselves being put into every note as possible. For technically advanced young musicians they hold an unusual allegiance to the beauty of simplistic melodies, putting their musical point across
peeking through reminding you of his Midlands upbringing. The Fowler is a song, he tells us, that shares its root origin with Swan Lake. It's a song that tells the ageold tale of a man who mistakes his girlfriend for a swan and shoots her. Of course. Johnny Sands is taken from a book called "The Funniest Songs in the World" and is, in fact, a nasty little thing about a tired marriage. Wilks delivers it unaccompanied and holds the audience in amused raptures.
For all of the ancient characters, the Broadsides and the old, Midlands-centric songs it is when Wilks sings his own songs that you cherish his company. Greek Street, taken from his brilliant new album Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost, is wide-eyed with the transience of love during a teenage summer. It's awash with
the romanticism of a Soho sunrise after a debauched night out and is, very simply, a great London song. Tape Machine is equally gorgeous. A song of love and luck, of surreptitious recordings and the joy of a new city early in the morning. It's warm, affectionate and very beautiful. Durham Fayre, another of his own, unfurls the lives of real people, hard work and honest lives. In contrast to songs about shooting swans this is what a proper folk song should do, it reveals something about all of us and the everyday, interesting things that make us up.
Before Wilks there is another fine interpreter of old songs. Jennie Higgins is from around these parts and is, quite clearly, a little bit giggly-nervous. Not that she has any cause. Most of her set is a cappella, augmented now and again by a shruti box. She has a sweet, clear voice and, on trad favourites Let No Man Steal Your Thyme and The Cutty Wren, she sings with the gift of a natural storyteller. It is on the slightly bawdy My Husband's Got No Courage in Him that she really allows her voice off the leash though, the nerves all gone and a sing-along inspired.
If being in the presence of someone that revels in just knowing stuff is a wonderful thing, then an evening with Jon Wilks is easily as good as it gets.
Words: Gavin McNamara
Photos: Barry Savell
and performing new music. She’ll be joined for this performance by Kathy Pilkinton.
Tickets for the concert, which takes place at Christ Church Downend on Friday 21 July 2023, are available online at downendfolkandroots.com and from Melanie’s Kitchen in Downend (cash only). They are priced at £14 each in advance or £16 on the door. Doors open at 7.30pm and the entertainment starts around 7.45pm.
as clearly and honestly as then can. Opening the evening’s entertainment will be singersongwriter Minnie Birch, who creates honest, beautiful music in the folk tradition about love, loss, life, fairytales and football! Based in Hertfordshire, Minnie has toured all over the world, received national Radio play on BBC Radio 1, 2 and 6 Music. She has won the Fatea Innovators award and the Laurel Canyon Music Award, and her last album was named a Sunday Times Top 100 record of the year. After some time out for ill health Minnie is back recording, releasing
There will be a bar, stocking cider, soft drinks, wine, hot drinks and real ale from locally-based Hop Union Brewery. Audience members are encouraged to bring their own glass/mug/tankard, as well as reusable bottles for water, as part of the drive to be more environmentally aware; there is a 50p discount for those that do. There will also be sweet treats available at the bar courtesy of the Radstock-based Great Cake Company, as well as a prize draw, which helps to fund the support artists for each concert.
For further information, please email info@downendfolkandroots. com or visit the website downendfolkandroots.com.
As well as T-shirt & vinyl printing we have a huge stock of workwear with a large selection of industrial shoes and boots available with high vis jackets, gloves, trousers and tops — why waste time looking anywhere else for your quality named workwear?
The T-shirt printing and embroidery service with a full range of leisure wear including tees, polos, hoodies and 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.
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 20 years.
The stock ranges from, plants, seeds through to creosote, lightbulbs (over 250 different types), wild bird food and feeders as well as lots of loose traditional hardware items.
All the flower and vegetable plants are purchased locally from independent small nurseries.
Our hay and straw is grown on a farm near Pucklechurch. 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.
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 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.
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.
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 and hoes.
Our range of frozen reptile food and live insects is a good asset as there aren’t many shops that sell that any more.
Spectrum Accountancy Solutions
Spectrum Accountancy Solutions is an established practice based in Staple Hill. We provide professional advice to all businesses and individuals. The practice is supported by a team of friendly, skilled
and experienced staff who will ensure you meet all compliance requirements. We offer a full range of accountancy services from personal taxation, VAT and year end compliance to business advice and Cloud accountancy. If you are affected by the new Making Tax Digital requirement you might want to get in touch with us to discuss your approach further. For an initial, free consultation, call us on 0117 902218.
Sheen Studios
This father and son business has been running now for 45 years with Michael Sheen the 4th generation of picture framers. Terry, Michael’s father, was one of the founder
members of the Chamber of Trade and is still striving to improve the local area.
Expert picture framing has been the mainstay of the business for the local area and beyond, where they are able to offer framing advice and ideas as well as picture restoration and renovation.
A wide range of jewellery, watches, limited edition prints, gifts and Bristol Blue glass are also available with a watch battery and strap fitting service.
If you need passport/visa photos just pop in for their instant photography service.
FINDING yourself lonely and bored during the week?
If so, why don’t you look in on Vintage Adventure once a month on Tuesday afternoons!
What is Vintage Adventure?
It’s a safe place to meet friendly people and make friends.
We also enjoy doing craft activities, sharing memories, having a cuppa with others and singing some old hymns.
Vintage Adventure is a faith-based context reminding you of childhood times - but it is not a formal religious service. It is run by an experienced team of volunteers.
It takes place on the fourth Tuesday of every month, from 2-3.30pm, at the Church Centre in Quakers Road, BS16 6JG. Car parking is available.
The easy-going and relaxed, welcoming and friendly sessions are free to attend, with no catches, and open to anyone, of whatever background, in the older age groups, mostly over-55s.
To find out more call 0117 908 9867 or email parishadmin@ christchurchdownend.com.
The next Vintage Adventure is on July 25 - see you there!
CAN'T go on holiday this year?
Never mind - come and get your boarding pass for Eurostar as we head for le gai Paris!
There will be lots of activities, including old time singing, hand massage and bingo, plus a midday meal.
Holiday at Home takes place on Tuesday August 22, from 10.30am to 3.30pm, at Christ Church Centre in Quakers Road.
Call 0117 908 9867 or email parishadmin@christchurchdownend.com to book your place.
There will be a suggested voluntary donation for the day of £5.
Julia WattsHISTORICALLY the answer to this question would have been a definite ‘no’ but, strange as you might find it, there is a lot more similarity between Baptists and Catholics than you may imagine.
What we might perceive as ‘the norm’ shouldn’t be taken for granted.
One of the similarities between Baptists and Catholics is that both traditions are keen to be out there, available for the people who are not churchgoers. We do not want to ignore the world; we are not separatists.
The Christian church has been described as the only club which has been set up to cater for non-members.
We recognise that the perception may be contrary to this statement, and could have been formed by the way we have acted in the past.
Our prayers are for those who are not members and, that being the case, then perhaps there ought to be times when we clearly show this.
In the BS16 area there is a coming together of churches of all denominations, whose leaders regularly meet to compare notes on how we are doing, both good and not so good, and to encourage each other as we recognise that many of us face the same issues.
We also discuss ways we can serve the local community. It was from this coming together that the C in the Park events were organised for the nine years prior to the pandemic.
Out of this meeting, Downend Baptist and St Augustine’s Catholic churches decided to try some street prayer ministry, having asked ourselves whether we could offer prayer on the street to passers-by, and whether there were people out there who would welcome it.
The best way to answer these questions was to give it a go, so twice now we have set up outside the Co-op and Sainsbury's in Downend High Street.
A sign says ‘Prayer offered free here’ and we bring a couple of chairs. Then we stand there and seek to welcome anyone who wishes to stop.
As you would imagine, many walk by, but each time we have talked to and prayed with a number of people, some of whom are dealing with some very challenging issues in their lives.
It seems important to be able to offer ministry to all comers, as the church is not there simply for its members - it can’t be, it wouldn’t make sense.
And that means that Baptists get to mix with Catholics and, having tested the waters, we are hoping other denominations will also be part of this ministry, as we are intending to be out on the third Saturday morning of each month.
Please feel free to stop and talk to us and ask for prayer. We look forward to meeting you.
David QuintinST STEPHEN'S (Soundwell) Drama Group will take a trip down memory lane with their long-awaited 50th anniversary show.
Postponed by two years due to not being able to perform during 2021 and the majority of last year, '50 Fabulous Years (and one pandemic)' celebrates songs and sketches from stage, film and television from 1971, the year that the group was established, all the way through to the present day.
It will include hits from shows including 'Grease' and 'Mamma Mia!'
St Stephen’s Drama Group was founded by four members of the church who wanted to provide something for the wider community, staging two productions a year, with the first a production of JB Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls'.
A spokesperson for the group said: "We now have over 20 members and are a well established presence in your local community.
"This anniversary special is co-produced by three long standing members of the group, Kate Kendell, Samantha Roberts and Debbie Townsend.
"You can expect a fun variety evening, showcasing the dramatic highlights of the last 50 years."
Tickets are available now for all three performances, which take place on July 13 to 15 at St Stephen's Soundwell Church Hall, starting at 7.30pm reach night.
Tickets cost £7 per person and are available at www.ticketsource.co.uk or by calling the box office on 07935 516446.
WITH costs increasing everywhere, and warnings about the level of physical activity being undertaken by young people, the Staple Hill Community Hub is really proud of its free Tuesday afternoon Move It Club, for children in school years 3 to 6.
The multi-sports club boasts a wide range of activities, from cricket and golf to fencing, laser tag and water fights, and is for anyone who lives in the local community.
According to the NHS website, children and young people aged from five to 18 should aim for an average of at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity a day across the week. They should also take part in a variety of types and intensities of physical activity across the week, to develop movement skills, muscles and bones.
The Hub’s after school club is led by Progressive Sports, who run a range of sporting activities across South Gloucestershire and Bristol.
General manager Mitchell Quirke said: "We've developed a fantastic relationship not only with Staple Hill Community Hub, but the local community.
"The funding for the Move It Club has enabled us to impact children every week by providing them with opportunities to take part in alternative sporting activities that they might not usually be able to access.
“Progressive Sports exists to inspire and engage children to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, so being able to work with the Staple Hill Community Hub to impact the local community is fantastic."
If you are interested in booking your child in for one of the sessions or want to find out more, please phone 01454 868374.
Matthew Pick
ORGANISERS of the Frenchay Flower Show say this year's event will be "bigger and more exciting than ever".
The show takes place on Frenchay Common on Saturday July 15, from 12.30 to 5pm.
It will include more than 200 competition classes for flowers, fruit, vegetables, art and photographs, with a special children's section - and all entries are free this year.
A new class has been created this year for 'free-from' foods, made without ingredients that can cause allergies, such as gluten, dairy, sugar or nuts.
Show Secretary Karen Morrison said: "Frenchay Flower Show may be one of the first flower shows in the UK to have a "free-from" competition class.
"So how will we judge it? For this year only, the judges will choose winners based on the two criteria of presentation and taste."
Away from the competition marquee the shows "traditional favourites" will all be present, from WI cream teas, a brass band, wind band, cheerleaders and morris dancers to a Punch and Judy show, classic cars and alpacas.
Karen added: "If this isn't enough to whet the appetite then there will be plenty of food stalls selling tasty treats, from pancakes, pizzas, BBQ burgers, ice creams to coffee and cakes, and over sixty stalls selling plants, crafts and gifts."
Entry to the show costs £4 for adults, with children under 16 free.
Payment on the gate can be made by card or cash, although organisers recommend bringing cash for some of the stalls and entertainments.
For details of the competition classes and how to enter, visit the show website at www.frenchayflowershow.com.
A CRICKET match to honour a Downend mum who died from a brain tumour is being staged for a third year.
Wendy Pound was well known at Christ Church Junior School, where she had worked as a lunchtime supervisor, and at Downend Cricket Club, where husband Andy is currently scorer for the first team and son Matt, 20, is a player.
Wendy was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2020 and died five months later, aged 53.
Andy and Matt staged a father versus son match the following year to raise money for charity Brain Tumour Research.
It proved such a success that they did it again last year, and are now preparing to stage the third Wendy Pound Memorial Match at the club on July 23, with Andy and Matt captaining sides drawn from across the 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams, plus guests.
There will also be a barbecue and a charity raffle with prizes including an iPad, signed sports shirts, Gallagher Premiership rugby tickets, a voucher from The Butchers Hook in Staple Hill, food and drink hampers and a four-ball at a local golf course.
Last year's match raised more than £6,300.
Every day's research costs the charity £2,470, and so far nine days have been funded in Wendy's memory.
Already this year Andy has taken part in a tandem parachute jump, raising more than £2,600.
He said: "Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease."
The memorial match will start at around 1pm on July 23. Anyone who is unable to come but would like to support the appeal can do so at www.justgiving.com/Andy-Pound.
This poem was written by Anita Dobson, a member of our staff team at Christ Church. Whilst its focus is on thanking all those who serve the church community, its sentiment could equally be applied to all those who serve in our local community. Let’s be more active in expressing our gratitude to those around us.
Thank you
Thank you to:
The ones who turn up every week, The ones who stay when things look bleak, The tea bag squeezers, the roll up their sleevers, the aim to pleasers, The gizmo fixing, gadget twisting, Bug defying, bacon frying Chair piling, paper filing, Servants of God: Thank you.
Thank you to:
The ones who see the whole thing through,
The ones who make things shine like new, Listening ears, wipers of tears, Foot soldiers, eco warriors, Knitters, fitters, pickers of litter Crafters, sewers, spreaders of glitter: Thank you.
To those whose music colours our praise , Those whose friendship brightens our days, The ones who open the Word afresh, The ones who tidy away the creche,
To the never failing, letter mailing, Uploaders, downloaders, Outgoing, incoming, Insta sharing, image bearing Love sharing Servants of God: Thank you.
Thank you to: The layout tweakers, truth seekers, Heart menders, rule benders, colour blenders, The open hearted, the ones just started: Thank you.
To the ones who make you feel alive, The ones who make it worth the strive, Tin stackers, weed attackers, Leaflet folders, key holders, Number crunchers, flower bunchers, Hand holders, people moulders, Playdough makers, movers and shakers, Servants of God: Thank you.
To the ones who make the difficult call, The ones who always give their all, The floor sweepers, promise keepers, going deepers Thank you.
The joiner in-ers, the empty the bin- ers, The Reach-er- out-ers, house to house- ers, without a doubters: Thank you.
To the ones who greet you with a smile, The ones who go the extra mile, The ones who make it all worthwhile, You email sending, evil fending,
persevering, Spirit hearing Joy spreading, lie shredding Freshly baked, Jesus shaped Wonderful family, Servants of God: Thank you.
© Anita Dobson 2022
THIS month I have been very busy in our area focusing on transport, law and order and our area’s heritage and role in the aerospace industry.
I had a very interesting meeting with representatives from Great Western Rail, South Gloucestershire Council and Network Rail to discuss the exciting Bristol Parkway Redevelopment Masterplan.
Given the importance of Parkway, I believed it was necessary to get more information about this future infrastructure investment in our area.
It was great to see the public engagement that had been conducted and the great response received from consultation, showing a high level of local support for the project, especially with the masterplan looking to put the community at the centre of the development.
This will see more investment and jobs come to the area, as well
as a business park and new green spaces, which will see Parkway become much more integrated into the local community.
This will have the result of Parkway not only being a transport hub, but also a centre for the wider community and an even more important asset to the area.
I also had a very productive round-table meeting with Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford, and local councillors Ben Randles, Terri Cullen and Liz Brennan, where we discussed tackling local anti-social behaviour, speeding and other issues relating to our area.
Mark updated us on the ongoing developments at Avon and Somerset Police, including their significant emphasis on action against cyber fraud.
We also discussed the expansion of Avon and Somerset Police force, with 520 additional officers for the year, above the recruit-
ment target set by government, and youth engagement such as the Mini Police in Patchway, which gets young people involved in fighting crime and enables them to work on policing operations.
I visited Rolls-Royce to meet with Jim Hardy, head of manufacturing at the lift works. We discussed their role in providing apprenticeships to young people in our area and I met with one of their degree apprentices.
I also visited Aerospace Bristol to meet with CEO Sally Cordwell. We discussed their STEM learning programme and engagement with businesses and schools.
I will continue to promote the importance of STEM learning and engagement with young people for our crucial aerospace industry, and the opportunities Aerospace Bristol can offer to achieve this.
I also had the opportunity to meet the new leadership team of the Conservative group on South
Gloucestershire Council, Sam Bromiley and Liz Brennan. We discussed building more homes and improving local bus services.
I also had a great time at the Stoke Gifford Fete on May 29: it was a fantastic community event, and a great day for the celebration with great weather and lots of community support.
As always, should you need my help with anything, my office is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm.
Please telephone me on 01454 617783 or email jack.lopresti.mp@ parliament.uk if I can be of assistance, or to book a surgery.
I HAVE been fortunate enough to have had a hip operation.
However I walk to Downend shops and really miss the bench around the tree outside Sainsbury's.
If the wooden bench that was removed offended the council, could we have a metal bench that would allow the rain to drain away, and anything underneath be seen?
I have observed people waiting for a lift, sitting with their shopping, resting or indeed waiting for the buses on the low wall around the tree.
People cannot always afford the cost of a coffee while they take the weight off their feet.
Cafe Beehive seems to be allowed seats on the public pavement for their customerswhy can't we have a bench for weary walkers?
Carol Gould DownendREADING about John U’ren's chemist shop in Downend (Voice, June) reminded me that in the second week of August each year, the right hand window was filled with the cups for the Downend Flower Show.
This was one of the highlights of the year. It started in 1943 as a horticultural and poultry show, as part of Dig for Victory, in the old Scout hall in what is now the Co-op
car park.
One year some of the poultry got away, and the members were running around the shopping area catching them!
Before it moved to Christ Church hall, Kingswood council's parks department would put a wonderful show of flowers on the stage.
The Lord Mayor of Kingswood would open the show: this was one of the biggest flower shows around.
Our members were involved in the Oldland Show and Bristol Flower Show on the Downs; they also ran a spring flower show for over 30 years, all now sadly gone.
Downend show carried on in the Baptist church and Assembly Hall in Salisbury Road, but owing to lack of interest and lockdown, Downend show finished.
Downend Horticultural Society still has talks on the second Thursday of the month in the Assembly Hall.
Roger Davis Downend Horticultural SocietyFORMERLY known as Chernobyl
Children’s LifeLine, our charity has spent 30 years providing Ukrainian and Belarusian children with respite holidays to the UK, allowing them a break from the radiation emitted by the world’s largest nuclear disaster in 1986.
However, at the outbreak of war in Ukraine, we were forced to immediately transfer all our activities to providing emergency supplies to affected Ukrainian people.
We have recently partnered
with the local council in the Ukrainian village of Myrcha, around 60 miles north-west of Kyiv.
Myrcha and the surrounding area was occupied by Russian forces from February to May 2022. The village has been extensively bombed, shelled, and has been the location for open tank battles.
As Russian forces retreated, the school and kindergarten were looted of all equipment and the buildings damaged to the extent that they remain largely unusable.
Our charity is currently providing emergency equipment such as generators, LED lighting, and proper heating. We are also supplying a Wi-Fi hub, laptops and printers to help the 130 children’s education.
The next phase will be to restore the school buildings, and set up a psychological support unit to help the children to cope with the trauma of what they have experienced.
We appreciate times are hard at the moment, but could you give up a couple of coffees or make some other small sacrifice to help the children of Myrcha?
This is the kind of project where small donations really can make a huge difference.
Your contributions will help bring light into children's lives
during these very dark times. You can donate at justgiving. com/page/ccll-myrcha-ukraine
James Hyden Vice-chair, Bristol Link, CCLL - The Helping Hand For UkraineTHIS photo shows the amount of rubbish that Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward councillors and two other volunteers picked up in a morning's litter picking in quite a small area in Soundwell. There was an extraordinary amount of street litter at the back of bushes around Portland Street. If you'd like to volunteer to help make our neighbourhoods cleaner, the regular litter picks are advertised in advance on the Staple Hill and Mangotsfield Residents Facebook Page. And to brighten up the area, regular gardening days in Staple Hill are also advertised on the page.
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AN artisan pizza van has been granted permission to open up on the former Frenchay Hospital site, despite objections from some residents.
The One Pizza, run by friends Esra Koroglu Ward and Ayse Ozer, will serve customers only on Thursdays initially, after South Gloucestershire councillors agreed to issue a street trading licence.
Seven neighbours and Winterbourne Parish Council objected, raising concerns about noise, smells, litter and parking.
One objection was that the 3pm opening would “coincide with the afternoon school run”, and could encourage children at the nearby primary school to eat “fast food”.
But licensing sub-committee members approved the application on May 26, after hearing the two owners made healthy, "artisan" pizzas in a wood-fired oven using no oil, and promised to clear up all rubbish.
Esra, a librarian, told the hearing at Kingswood Civic Centre that the owner of Frenchay Park House had allowed them to use private land near the Grade II-listed building on the edge of the Frenchay Common conservation area, and that the van would not be left in the location overnight.
She said: “There were some concerns about healthy eating and it being fast food.
“We do understand the concerns but we are doing artisan pizza.
“We make the dough
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ourselves and we have all our ingredients bought from a genuine Italian supplier in Yate.
“We always buy our wood from a certified supplier, so when we light up the oven there is hardly any smoke or smell, because it is purely dry and we don’t use any other fuel like petrol to light it up."
Esra said they had a five-star food hygiene rating for their van, which they have taken to food festivals and other community events.
She said their waste contractor would collect the
rubbish and they would pick up any litter in the area when they closed, even if it was not theirs.
Esra added: “We are conscientious people and look after our environment.
“Frenchay is a beautiful place and we would love to keep it that way, because if we get a trading licence, we will become part of the community, so we would look after where we are trading.
“Our van is not going to be an eyesore, I can promise you that.”
Esra said they had applied to shut at 9pm so they did not attract customers on their way home from the pub, and the 3pm start was not timed for the school run but would be used for food preparation.
Members granted the application to sell pizzas and cold drinks from Wednesday to Saturday from 3pm to 9pm, although Esra and Ayse intend to use just one of those days.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting ServiceDeath and dementia are upsetting issues to think about, yet you know you need to see a law firm to make sure your legal affairs are properly sorted to protect those you care about.
Our local legal experts in this area of law are Simpson Solicitors and they offer our readers:
● A friendly service when you phone to find out about booking a FREE meeting on 0117 960 8594
● Feel welcome and wanted when you come to see us in our Kingswood office (opposite Costa Coffee).
● Put you at ease as they guide you through your various options for making a Will to provide for those you most care about.
● An understanding service, whether your concerns are guardians for young children or protecting against care home fees.
● Use of plain English (not legal jargon).
● Help deciding the best options for you in the event you lose the ability to manage without support by setting up our Lasting Powers of Attorney.
● Take as long as you need when having your FREE review meeting.
● Home or Hospital Visit service if getting to the office is difficult - at no extra charge
● Clear fixed prices with no hidden costs if you decide to instruct them.
● Help you make changes – so everything works in the way that is right for you.
● See you to sign your Will and LPAs – to make sure everything is legally valid.
● Provide a complementary aftercare service that leaves you feeling cared for.
It all adds up to a service that leaves clients with peace of mind. They currently have a special offer of 20% off the price of LPAs for our readers.
To book your free review pop into our Kingswood Office (opposite Costa Coffee in the Kings Chase shopping Centre) or call 0117 960 8594
Ensure your family and loved ones are protected and your assets pass to those you choose to inherit.
WE are thrilled to be welcoming Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Lewis to our WI.
Susan, who was born in Downend and grew up in Kingswood, is the special guest at our meeting on Tuesday June 27.
Her most recent book, published in January, is called No One Saw it Coming and is a fabulous read. Susan will be launching her 50th book in August of this year – amazing!
At our July meeting we will welcome Jutta Blumenthal, who gave us a really interesting talk about Herbal Remedies from the garden.
Jutta is a medical herbalist, iridologist and Skenar therapist practising in Bristol since 1996. She also teaches introductory courses on iridology and herbalism, including the use of kitchen herbs for common ailments and making your own herbal preparations.
August is the time of year for our annual 'quiz & fizz' event, which is competitive yet relaxed and really good fun: our lovely members pit their knowledge against each other, whilst having a little drink and some nibbles.
Our members continue to be super-generous each month, bringing a couple of items to go in our collection for the local foodbank, which is so thoughtful and kind.
We meet at Christ Church Hall in North Street, Downend on the last Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm.
As a member, you can participate in as much or as little as you wish within our varied programme throughout the year –there is no pressure at all.
It’s a chance to meet new people and experience new things, so if you would like to know more about joining us, please
contact us via our email address, downendwi@yahoo.co.uk.
Guests are welcome, for a small charge of £4, which includes a tea or coffee.
We’d love to see you – we are a really friendly bunch!
Shelley, President
MANY members of Bromley Heath WI have long thought our bubbly president, Sue, should be on the stage - and our latest meeting was her big break.
Bromley Heath Junior School's stage was in place ready to support the school’s end of year celebration, and there was no holding her back.
Sue’s performance opened with a welcome to us all and an expression of delight that she could see us all clearly from her lofty perch.
She followed with details of a variety of WI trips and events, and swiftly moved on to announce that we would all be 'speed dating', or at least enjoying a 'getting to know you' evening in that format.
Two circles of chairs had been set up and Sue metaphorically spun the wheel to start the timed three-minute chats with the lady sitting opposite.
Inevitably some familiar faces did come around, but many ladies were members who had joined in the last year and it was great to have a chance to formally meet and speak with them.
Once the allotted time was up, Sue banged on her saucepan with a metal spoon to encourage us to move on and meet somebody different.
At the end of an exciting evening, we all came away with a head full of new names, faces and stories - but correctly remembering who is who is likely to be a
challenge for some of us.
Oh, how I wish I’d taken a piece of paper to take some notes to help my hopeless memory, but hopefully I’ll get to see them again at next month’s quiz.
Our next meeting is on July 13, when we will have the chance to participate in our usual end of term test.
Mercifully it’s not SATS or GCSE’s, just the welcome return of our favourite quiz master Matt. There’s no big black chair to sit in and the 1% Club won’t get overwhelmed, as our quiz is very much a fun team event, where everyone has a chance to contribute their knowledge.
The level of cranial contributions can often be enhanced by the drinks and nibbles provided, so that even if the team score is low, team spirits are quite the opposite. Start revising now ladies!
Feel free to contact us at bromleyheathwi@gmail.com if you would like any further information. We look forward to meeting you.
Margaret HanwellAPRIL and May have been busy months for our WI.
We celebrated our 27th birthday at our April meeting, with excellent entertainment from the Port of Bristol Shanty Crew, followed by an American supper. April also saw many of our members enjoying a lunchtime meal at a local Italian restaurant.
In May our speaker was Terry Ransome, who gave us an illustrated talk, entitled Filton in Space. Terry told us about his work on space projects, both at Filton and abroad.
Over the May Bank Holiday weekend, Staple Hill Methodist Church held a flower festival and a floral arrangement was entered by our WI.
The speaker for our June meeting was Gary Bressington, talking about the RNLI.
We continue to hold our monthly book club (by Zoom) and walking group.
We meet at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, Downend on the third Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm, except August.
Visitors are welcome and we have space for new members, so pop along for a cuppa, cake and friendship.
You can check us out online, too, at staplehillwi.weebly.com.
Andrea MonksOUR May pub lunch meeting at the Lamb was converted to a pub breakfast for a change, which was well-received and enjoyed.
We have had a plaque made for our Charles III Coronation rose, so at our May meeting we all decided to walk up to the Dame School where we planted the rose, to add the plaque.
The rose is looking good and beginning to sprout. Our local ladies are keeping an eye on it as they pass by. And, given this long spell of hot, dry weather, making sure its kept watered.
It was a beautiful evening, and we walked back to the hall afterwards for refreshments.
Our Sounds of the 60s evening on Saturday June 3 was a wonderful success, supported by our ladies with their family and friends.
We were also joined by South Gloucestershire Wine Circle and Warmley Jazz Club.
The band leader, Jeremy Huggett, hand-picks his musicians to create that special sixties sound. The band were delighted with the sound quality in the hall, which helped create the ambience they were looking for. Jeremy is also president of the Bristol Jazz Society. Our thanks to all those involved.
The ladies are looking forward to Bristol Jazz Society’s boat trip on July 6, with the Dart Valley Stompers Four. Hopefully the weather is kind, as that always helps.
On July 11 we are visiting Jekka’s Herb Farm for light refreshments and a tour.
One of our ladies has very kindly offered to do an afternoon tea and social at her house to raise funds.
Carol CoombsMangotsfield Ladiescarol@applause.co.uk
June 26
n VINTAGE ADVENTURE
2-3.30pm at Church Centre, Quakers Road BS16 6NH Activities, refreshments, friendship and a Christian message for the season, for seniors. All welcome.
July 1
n COME TO THE CLEEVE SINGERS SUMMER CONCERT on Saturday, 1st July 2023 at 7.30 pm at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, Downend BS16 2RW when a programme consisting of show music will be performed.
July 1
n BRISTOL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA SUMMER CONCERT, 7.30pm, Frenchay Parish Church. Music by Holst, Vivaldi, Nielsen, Britten and Elgar. Tickets £12 advance, £15 on the door, students £5. Children free. Includes refreshments. Call 0117 9562106 or visit www.bristolchamberorchestra. org.uk for more details.
July 2
n HAMBROOK CRICKET CLUB FAMILIES DAY, Whiteshill
Common, Hambrook, from noon. Free 6-a-side softball cricket competition, fairground games, bouncy castle, tombola, dog grooming, cake stall. Food and drink, licensed bar. New players for ladies, allstars (5-7), dynamos (7-11) and youth (11-17) groups welcome.
July 7
THE FILTONES’ 20TH ANNUAL CHARITY CONCERT at 7.30 p.m. at St Teresa’s Catholic Church, 71 Gloucester Road North, Filton, Bristol BS34 7PL. Tickets £8 inc. refreshments
Accompanied School Age Children free of charge. Tickets in advance from Dot Bryant 07870 984760 or 0117 9690654, members of the choir, or at the door Cash or Cheques only on the door please www.thefiltones.weebly.com
Raffle and Retiring Collection in aid of the Charity, FACE facecharity.org.uk The Foundation for Active Community Engagement
July 12-13
n SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE DEMENTIA MEETING CENTRE open days, 1-3pm each day at Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church, Baileys Court Road. For people living with mild to moderate dementia and their carers. To book a free place call Winsome on 07377 197893 or email winsome@ aliveactivities.org.
July 13
n DOWNEND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend, 7.30pm - talk on David Austin roses. More details from Roger Davis on 0117 957 1703.
July 13-15
n ST STEPHEN'S (Soundwell) Drama Group present '50 Fabulous Years (and one pandemic)', a celebration of songs and sketches from shows, St Stephen's Church Hall, Soundwell, 7.30pm each night. Tickets £7 per person online at www.ticketsource.co.uk or form the box office on 07935 516446.
July 15
n FRENCHAY FLOWER SHOW, 12.30-5pm, Frenchay Common, Beckspool Road. Cream teas, music, car show, dancing, food, drink and more than 200 competition classes for flowers, fruits, vegetables, arts, photographs and children's creations. More details at www. frenchayflowershow.com.
July 15
n KINGSWOOD RFC WALKING RUGBY FESTIVAL, Grimsbury Road playing field, from 11.30am. Inclusive form of touch rugby for teams of any age, gender or mental ability. More information from WalkingRugby@kingswoodrfc. co.uk.
July 16
n BARLEY CLOSE SUMMER FAYRE at Barley Close school, Mangotsfield, noon-4pm. Live music, DJ, children’s entertainer, inflatables, stalls, food, drink, face painter and ice cream van. Adults £1 on the gate, children under 16 free.
July 17
n DOWNEND SENIOR FILM CLUB at 2pm - A Man Called Otto (15) A funny, heartwarming story about how some families come from the most unexpected of places. Starring Tom Hanks. Tickets: £4.00 including refreshments. Carers welcome, easy access. For more information please call 0117 435 0063/4. Christ Church Hall, 57 North Street, Downend BS16 5SG
July 22
n FRIENDS OF LINCOMBE BARN woodland management day. Meet in the car park from 10am. Tools provided, with refreshments for all volunteers.
July 27
n NA16 Cup fundraising event for Bristol Rovers player Nick Anderton, at Mangotsfield United, Cossham Street, Mangotsfield. Social media influencer teams versus a Mangotsfield select team. Gates open 11am, all-day event. Tickets and more details from
event website thena16cup.com.
July 28-30
n HAM FARM Festival at Ham Farm Cottage, off Emersons Green Lane. Daytime community group concerts and free educational workshops, evening professional concerts with food and bar. Nonprofit event supported by local councils. For more information and tickets visit www.hamfarmfestival. com.
n BRISTOL U3A: Have you reached a point in your life where you have fewer responsibilities and more time for yourself? Would you like to take part in activities where you can share skills, abilities or hobbies whilst having fun and making new friends? Go to www. bristolu3a.org.uk for details.
Monday
n MEDITATION SESSIONS IN FRENCHAY Just come along to the sessions that run from 3rd Monday each month at 7pm Frenchay Unitarian Chapel BS16 1ND from 20Sept for the Personcentred Group Meditation and 1st Wednesday at 7pm from 6th Oct for the Kundalini movement meditation. Contact Andrea on 07791119658 homewards.ma@ btinternet.com.
n SINGALONG 4 ALL - Mondays 10.30/11.30, Grace court, Dial Lane, Downend BS16 5UP. £4 ...£1 tea n bikkies Tel: Barbara 07816839141.
n SOCIAL BADMINTON every Monday at Kingswood Leisure Centre from 2-4pm. Intermediate level, all welcome.
n EDDS & TALES Baby & Toddler Group Every Monday, Christchurch Parish Hall, North Street, Downend. 10.00 - 11.30 (term time only) £3 per family (first visit free) including drinks, snacks and craft activity ALL WELCOME - Just turn up Join our Facebook group Edds and Tales
n STAPLE HILL JOB SEEKER
SUPPORT GROUP, Staple Hill Community Hub, Berkeley House, 1A Berkeley Rd, every Monday from 1.30-3.30pm. Laptops and Wi-Fi available for job searches, free tea and coffee, welcoming environment. Run by local councillor Katie Cooper and volunteers. Call Julie on 01454 868374 with any questions or to let us know you are coming.
n PUCKLECHURCH SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB are looking for new players. We meet every Monday evenings and Sunday & Wednesday afternoons at Pucklechurch Community Centre. Refreshments available. For more information contact John 0117 9372873.
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 BOARD GAMES NIGHT every Tuesday from 7pm. All Welcome The Wooden Walls Micropub, 30 Broad Street, Staple Hill, BS16 5NU
n LINCOMBE BARN CAMERA CLUB meets every second, fourth and fifth Tuesday of the month at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road. New members always welcome. For information see website at www. lincombebarncameraclub.co.uk or email lincombe.barn@gmail.com.
n BROMLEY HEATH
GARDENING CLUB Meets at Christ Church Centre, Quakers Road, every third Tuesday of the month at 2.30pm. Talks, day trips and short holidays - everyone welcome. Call May on 0117 957 3695 for details.
Wednesday
n DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB We are a friendly group, we meet at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW. Ring Genise on 0777 2451217 for more information.
n DOWNEND BRIDGE CLUBNEW MEMBERS ARE WANTED Come and join us and play duplicate Bridge at Lincombe Barn Downend on Wednesday afternoons 2pm. All levels welcome. Please contact eveforbes77@gmail. com or 0117 9836886 or Yvonne Scoulding rscoulding@google.com or 0117 9568944
n CLEEVESINGERS OF DOWNEND Enjoy singing, then come and join this four part choir who meet on Wednesday evenings at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road 7.30 p.m. from September until July. For more information contact the Secretary on 0117 9561881.
n DOWNEND SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB Musical entertainment from 2-4pm every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at North Street Church Hall. All are welcome.
n ROYAL BRITISH LEGION WOMEN'S SECTION now meet once a month on the first Wednesday 2.00pm to 4.00pm New members welcome come and spend an afternoon with us before you join. We have lots of events in the pipe line including a visit to Tyntesfield House and an Alpaca Farm Telephone Madeleine Bills 0117 9560805 for more information.
n DOWNEND TANG SOO DO meets at Christchurch Parish Hall, North Street on Wednesday evenings from 7.30-9pm. Suitable for beginners and ages 10+. First class free. More details from Ian on 07817 744689 or at the Downend Tang Soo Do Facebook page.
n FRENCHAY PROBUS CLUB We meet at Frenchay Village Hall on the first Wednesday of each month between 10.00 and 12.00 hrs. For further details contact: frenchayprobus@outlook.com
n WARMLEY JAZZ CLUB, every Wednesday £5 on the door. Cadbury Heath Social Club. Doors open 7.30pm. More details at warmleyjazz.co.uk.
n MEET THE BEAT TEAM, Bean Tree Cafe, Page Park. Every Wednesday afternoon, 2-3pm. If you have any problems or issues you would like to discuss with the police team, please come along.
n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening
at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcomefirst visit free so come along and give us a try. For further information contact Tania by email at tanialake@ yahoo.co.uk
n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORM CHURCH invite you to their regular twice monthly sessions of Friendly Voices. These are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month from 10.30 a.m. to 12 noon. Come along for a sing-along (and coffee) Carers very welcome. For further information contact June Watts on 0117 9566625.
n CROSS STITCH Like to learn this absorbing relaxing hobby and have fun at the same time? Why not join the Club at Lincombe Barn. Beginners and those with all abilities welcome. New term commences beginning of September on Wednesday mornings 10.00 am until noon. Contact Lincombe Barn 9562367.
n THE FRENCHAY FOLK DANCE CLUB meet fortnightly at Frenchay Village Hall from 7:45 until 10:15pm. All standards of dancer are welcome to enjoy live Bands and experienced Callers. Visit frenchayfdc.co.uk or call 0117 3021543 for more information.
n FRIENDLY VOICES is a dementia friendly singing group. There is no cost and the sessions are led by a qualified music therapist, Sharon, who brings a lot of experience and plenty of instruments to have fun with. The sessions are open to all and if you think that you ,or someone you love, would benefit by them come along or contact June Watts on 0117 9566625
n WEDNESDAY CAFE FOR SENIORS, at Badminton Road Methodist Church (BS16 6NU) every Wednesday 10am to 12 noon. All Welcome – just come along – make
new friends over a cuppa and cake. Information: 0117 239 5984
n DOWNEND FLOWER
ARRANGING CLUB We are a friendly group, we meet at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincolne Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW. Ring Genise on 0777 2451217 for more information.
n STAPLE HILL METHODIST
CHURCH Fellowship group 3rd Wednesday of the month, 2.153.45pm Coffee/tea, homemade cake and a chat!
n WELCOME WEDNESDAY
Friendly and free coffee afternoon on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (14th December), 2-3.30pm at The Grapevine Brasserie, St James Place, Mangotsfield, BS16 9JB. Meet new people, have fun, and find out what’s happening in your local area. Call 0117 435 0063.
n MOTHERS UNION - worship, friendship, supporting charities, refreshments: First Wednesday of the month, 2.15pm at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street. Non-members welcome. More details from 0117 908 9867.
Thursday
n BARN BELLS handbell ringers meet at Lincombe Barn, Downend, from 2-4pm weekly. Anyone who can read music is welcome to join.
n BRISTOL MALE VOICE CHOIR are recruiting new members. 7pm - 9.15pm, St Andrew's Methodist Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. A varied repertoire, no audition. No need to read music - our regular practices will get you in shape to sing at our regular concerts and enjoy the social vibe. www.bristolmvc.org.uk email secretary@bristolmvc.org. uk Telephone 07764447699.
n WINTERBOURNE WINDS, a friendly amateur wind band who rehearse at Frenchay Village Hall from 7.40-9.30pm. New members, especially flute, oboe, horn,trumpet,euphonium and percussion players are welcome. For information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com.
n IGNITE YOUTH GROUP. Thursdays, term time only, at the Youth Hub & Parish Hall , 57 North Street, Downend. Year 6-8, 6.307.45pm. Year 9-11s, 8-9.15pm. A place to relax and have fun with friends. Free entry. Tuck available. Visit www.igniteyouthchristchurchdownend.co.uk to sign up and see the full programme.
n DEWDROP INN CAFE, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every fourth Thursday of the month, 2-4pm. A place for the community to relax and unwind with old & new friends. Tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits £2.
n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH regular coffee mornings, held on the first Thursday of the month, 10.30am-noon
n SCRABBLE Downend Folk House Thursdays 10-12noon Info: 0117 9562367 Maureen Walker.
n WARM SPACE CAFE at Christ Church, Downend. Every Thursday 11-2pm, Soup and roll lunch served from noon. Free. Live music from Music Train on 1st and 3rd Thursdays, other musicians on other weeks.
n HAMBROOK MEN’S PROBUS CLUB meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 10am-noon at Whiteshill Chapel, Hambrook, with a speaker at each meeting. Friendly group, new
Continued on next page
WE'VE all heard about the negative effects of loneliness and isolation particularly during the pandemic, and it's not often easy to find a place to go and meet. That's why Right at Home in Bristol has set up a Friday Lunch Club accessible to the wider elderly community.
It's a small first step in a big ocean but each meeting has organised activities (painting, chair-based exercises, craft, word puzzles, games and other pastimes), or local speakers and presentations, plus the opportunity to chat to like-minded people and have a bit of a laugh and a chuckle over a freshly prepared lunch. We would love to grow this group or maybe you have something you would like to share or demonstrate, either way we would love to hear from you.
Don’t be put off by transport difficulties, just talk to us and we’ll find a solution if we can.
members welcome. For details call the secretary on 01454 778250.
Friday
n TAI CHI FOR PARKINSON’S. Weekly beginners Tai Chi & Qi Gong class for people with Parkinson’s disease, their families and carers. Lincombe Barn, Downend. BS16 2RW. Fridays (term times) 10.15 – 12.15 including tea / coffee break. Contact: Claire - Claire@ Taichibodyandmind.co.uk (07769 857672) or Sarah - buqiworks@ gmail.com (07815 662844)
n PAGE PARK UKULELE CLUB, Bean Tree café, Fridays at 1pm. All abilities welcomed. Places £4 each. For further details call or text 'Ukulele' to Ben on 07910 668258.
n MANGO JAMS PARENT/ CARER AND TODDLER GROUP meets every Friday at St James Church Hall, Richmond Road, Mangotsfield, 9.15am to 11.15am.
n JIGSAW TODDLER GROUP, Fridays in term time at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, from 9.45-11.15am.
n LATER LIVE MUSIC, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every second Friday monthly, except August
& December, 8-10pm, £2.50. More details at facebook.com/ lateratresound.
n ARTWINGS, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every fourth Friday, except August & December, 7.30pm. Explore new ways of creating and making, natter over refreshments. £5, includes materials.
n RAINBOW TOTS PARENT AND TODDLER GROUP meets at Emersons Green Village Hall every Friday morning in term time, from 10-11.30am. For more info email church.egbc@outlook.com
n IN-THE-PINK We are a group of mature ladies who meet for sensible exercise to music every Friday 9am - 10am followed by chat & coffee time. Pay sessionby-session basis. Get yourself fit & make new friends at Hillfields Park Baptist Church, Thicket Avenue. For details call Julie 07903123793.
n MESSY VINTAGE Come and Share God-Centred Fun & Fellowship for the Older Generation at Badminton Road Methodist Downend, 2nd Friday monthly 10.30am to 12 noon. Contact Information 0117 2395984
Saturday
n BRISTOL SUGARCRAFT
GUILD We are a small friendly group who meet every third Saturday of the month 2pm to 4pm at St Andrews Hall, Elm Park, Filton. If you would like to make sugar flowers and models we hold workshops with instruction. Beginners very welcome. call Jean Kington on 01454 314178.
n STAPLE HILL METHODIST
CHURCH Coffee mornings in our beautiful building every Saturday 10.00-12.00 in aid of church funds or charities. Enjoy Fairtrade coffee, tea and cake, and stalls.
Sunday
n EMERSONS GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH services are held every Sunday morning from 10.30am11.30am at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emersons Way. We also hold regular craft services - please check our Facebook page for dates Contact Rev Kevin Donaghy 0117 9575418, e-mail church. egbc@outlook.com or visit www. emersonsgreenchurch.org
n BADMINTON ROAD
METHODIST CHURCH BS16 6NU. All are welcome to worship each Sunday, 10.30am. First Sunday
of the month is usually a service of Holy Communion. Information: 0117 239 5984
n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH hold regular weekly Sunday morning worship at Cossham Street. Services start at 10.30 a.m.with different speakers each week. New members very welcome. For more details please contact Peter Redding (Ch.Sec.) on 0117 9657075.
n STAPLE HILL METHODIST
CHURCH, High Street BS16 5HQ Sunday services 10.30am + Sunday Club for ages 5-17. Holy Communion 2nd Sunday of the month – all invited. Taizé worship 6.00pm 3rd Sunday of the month. Contact Rev Dr Aboseh Ngwana 07482 550888, Philippa Church Liaison at staplehillmethodist@ hotmail.co.uk or www. staplehillmethodist.com
n CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND: 9.15 am Traditional morning worship (Holy Communion on 2nd & 4th Sundays) at Church Centre, Quakers Road BS16 6NH. 10.30 Morning worship with youth and children's groups at Christ Church Downend, Downend Rd BS16 5UF
Emersons Green Town Council is looking to expand its team with the addition of 8 passionate individuals! Are you someone with a keen interest in local affairs? If you’re enthusiastic about representing your community, and you are over 18 years old, we invite you to consider joining us.
What is a Town Councillor?
Town Councillors are elected representatives who serve specific geographic areas known as Wards or Parishes. While 8 Councillors have already been elected, there are still 8 Cooption spaces available for you to apply for.
What do Councillors do?
1. Decision-making: By participating in meetings and committees with other elected members, Councillors have the power to influence activities, allocate funds, deliver services, and implement policies that shape our community.
2. Monitoring: Councillors ensure that their decisions result in efficient and effective services, by overseeing their implementation and assessing their impact.
3. Local involvement: As local representatives,
Councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These duties vary depending on the Councillor’s goals and availability, which may involve attending meetings of local organisations, engaging with community bodies, and advocating for public concerns.
Time commitment: Being a Councillor requires dedication, and our most committed Councillors dedicate many hours of their time each week. However, being a Town Councillor is ultimately a highly rewarding way to contribute to your community and help improve its functionality that will be worth the effort. As a minimum, you will be expected to attend monthly meetings of the Town Council, typically held at 7:00 pm on the last Thursday of each month.
Who are we looking for? You will receive support in your role and be provided with training opportunities. However, a positive can-do attitude is essential for collaborating effectively within our team. IT and organisational skills would be helpful too. Above all, we’re looking for people who are invested in the local area and keen to improve services.
How to apply: If you find this opportunity intriguing, please complete the application form, which is available on the Town Council website or Facebook page. You can also request a copy by reaching out to the Town Clerk via email at: clerk@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Town Clerk, who will be delighted
to assist you. Alternatively, if you would like to meet with a Councillor, to find out what’s involved please use the contact details below.
Application deadline: 5:00 pm on Wednesday, 19th of July 2023. Co-options will be considered during the Full Council meeting at 7:00pm on Thursday 27th of July 2023, where applications will be reviewed by members of the Council.
Please join us in shaping the future of our community!”
IT was fantastic to see over 150 young people from 60-plus secondaries right across the West of England at my Schools Summit - our region’s first ever.
It was held under the wings of Concorde over at Aerospace Bristol in Filton - and I could tell the moment I walked in this was going to be a supersonic event!
How right I was - local students took part in thought-provoking and really fun sessions designed to get them thinking about what our West of England region might look like in the future, how they want to shape it, and what part they will play in this.
As you might expect, the climate crisis was a big, big topic of conversation, because this region’s youngsters, and young people in general, will be most impacted by our changing climate, and will be taking some very difficult decisions in the future.
If you had seen the session organised by Bristol Energy Network it would have all looked a bit nuts, with students jumping around on a giant Monopoly-style board wearing chicken hats. But I promise you, there was a serious message there about how to cut our energy use!
Another favourite was Atkins’ workshop,
where I saw curious young people finding out about being engineers and planners through a LEGO model of a city.
Other big employers, including Airbus, Deloitte and Firstbus, ran sessions on the future of transport, culture and sport.
The ideas of the young people were all noted down, so as to directly influence the future of West of England policy.
That’s important - the ideas students came up with could, genuinely, change our West of England region for the better. And I’m already taking steps to ensure this is the case, visiting participating schools like Yate Academy and others to update them on how mayoral combined authority policy – like our upcoming plan for transport – will be changing thanks to their awesome ideas.
Meanwhile, at the ‘marketplace’, students could pick up some wildflower seeds to help me in my efforts to make the West the bee and pollinator capital of the UK, meet a robot dog and learn about the routes to becoming an apprentice.
And I got to play Duncan Bannatyne when a dozen students pitched great policy ideas to me in a live Dragon’s Den-style event.
My thanks to all the students for sharing their ideas, which will really help me get on with making our region an even better place to live, study, and thrive. My thanks also to their teachers, and all the local businesses and organisations who helped make it a success.
I came away feeling buoyed by these young people, the true change-makers and system-shakers - their imagination truly has no limits.
I call that Pupil Power. Now I have the task of harnessing this energy and turning these ideas into reality.
I know they’ll be making sure to hold me to my promises!
A TEACHER is taking on an epic cycle challenge to raise money for a new charity cafe which will help adults with learning disabilities into work.
Rory Mansfield, from Staple Hill, and his friend Ben Cannel, who recently lived in Mangotsfield, plan to ride the entire route of this year's Tour de France - including the sections between stages that the race competitors will cover using motorised transport.
In total they will ride 4,529 km (2,814 miles) in no more than 23 days - the same amount of time the race itself will take to cover the official 3,404km (2115 mile) route.
The pair are raising money for PROPS, a charity based at the Vassall Centre in Oldbury Court, which is planning to turn an empty shop on Fishponds Road into a cafe run by adults with learning disabilities.
Project 769 will be a fullyaccessible café offering drinks,
food and products handmade by trainees, with space for workshops and meetings.
Rory said: "We decided to support PROPS because they are a local charity doing fantastic work in the area I live in.
"Although larger charities obviously do incredible things, there is something much more tangible and uplifting about supporting an organisation that is directly improving peoples' lives who might live next door to you."
Rory and Ben, who met through a local cycling club, will start their journey in Bilbao on July 11, ten days after the Tour sets off from the city in Spain's Basque region. They aim to reach Paris on August 2.
Rory said: "As a young cyclist, the Tour de France represented the pinnacle of athletic endeavour, outlandish adventure and a 3-week immersion into some of the most glorious landscapes on Earth."
MANGOTSFIELD School's art department took home three awards from a national competition.
A total of 26 Year 9 students submitted work for this year's Art Bytes, an art and educational technology programme for primary, secondary and special schools.
The works - self-portraits created in lessons as part of the
year 9 curriculum inspired by portraits that pupils studied in art history - were put before an expert panel and an online public vote, with three from each school selected to appear in a virtual gallery and the young artists invited to a formal regional awards ceremony at Bristol's Royal West of England Academy of Art (RWA) on June 7.
Year 9 student Casey
Rory said that they aimed to "rediscover simplicity and audacity of the Tour", in contrast to the modern commercialised race, and would be fully selfsupporting, sleeping in tents and riding the extra miles between stages on what would be rest days for the official race.
They will also climb more hills and mountains, tackling 62,321 metres elevation as opposed to 55,086m in the official race.
Rory's training has included 86 laps of Belmont Hill in North Somerset in one day on the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, while Ben, an engineer, is riding across Europe from Portugal to Norway on the European Divide Trail.
To sponsor the riders visit the PROPS website at www. propsbristol.org.
They are posting updates from the ride on Instagram at les_lanternes_rouges.
award for her work 'Caseyometti', a mixed media drawing and painting self-portrait in the style of Giacometti’s portrait, Annette.
Teacher Dawn Beedle won the regional secondary school teacher award for work promoting art both at school and in the community, while the school itself won the competition's community engagement award, recognising "positive engagement" from all students from the school.
Example Alteration prices
Skirt: replace zip from £10
Dress: shorten or lenghthen from £10
Trousers: take in or let out waist from £12
Jeans: shorten from £10
Wedding Dress: take in side from £20
Curtains: shorten (per mtr) from £7 Jacket: reline all jacket from £50
A CARE home in Frenchay threw a birthday bash to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Residents at Manor Cottage in Beckspool Road were joined by staff and guests from other homes run by Kew Care Group for the event on June 10.
The party included singing, dancers, a disco, stalls and a food truck, and raised just over £500, which will be used to fund activities including day trips.
A LONG-standing church leader, teacher and Voice contributor is leaving Downend for a new life - as a seaside mobile pizza chef.
Helen Buick and her family have worshipped for 17 years at Christ Church Downend and for six years she was part of the church's leadership team.
She also worked with Nic Barnett from Pendennis Good News Church at the children's Move It Club at Staple Hill Community Hub and led the Downend Soup and Junior Soup projects to encourage initiatives to change the community for the better.
Helen returned to her teaching career at Mangotsfield School three years ago, initially as a librarian and then teaching French.
But she is now moving to Bigbury-on-Sea in Devon and starting a mobile, wood-fired pizza business with her husband.
Helen said: "Thank you Downend, Mangotsfield, Staple Hill and Bromley Heath for being my home and helping me to grow and belong to such an amazing community.
"I have really loved living here, my children have thrived at their schools and in their many clubs (Rainbows, Guides, Beavers, Dinky Divas, Cubs, Scouts, football, South Glos music hub and the Ignite Youth Club at Christ Church).
"For me, working and getting to know so many lovely people has been such a blessing.
"I’m excited about my new pizza venture but will miss the many friends I have made over the past 17 years."
M.COLEMAN are thrilled to have the rare opportunity of offering this charming four bedroom detached home situated in the heart of the picturesque village of Frenchay. At first glance one could be forgiven for thinking this is a period property with all the charm of a bygone era. Sympathetically designed, this delightful dwelling blends in with the surrounding area whilst offering all the conveniences required for modern day living.
Internally the warmth of traditional cottage charm is very much apparent with vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and natural stone walls including a full height natural stone fireplace in the sitting room.
The stunning open plan kitchen/dining room boasts a dual aspect with a range of wall and base units finished with traditional Shaker style doors; brushed steel handles and Marble effect worktops lend this classic style a contemporary twist. Integrated appliances include an eye level double oven, fridge freezer, wine fridge, induction hob, extractor and dishwasher. Additionally there is bedroom four, used by the current owner as a study and a cloakroom.
There are three good sized bedrooms on the lower floor with the principle bedroom boasting French doors opening onto the garden and a four piece en-suite bathroom. Bedrooms two and three both have fitted storage whilst also on this floor is the sleek family bathroom and useful utility room.
The gardens are reached from various doors around the house where there is a secluded decking area, a shaped patio edged with various flower and shrub borders.
Beyond is a level lawn enclosed by natural stone boundary walls and steps with wrought iron gate and railings lead down to the double garage.
This attractive home has a feel of country living whilst being perfectly situated for the busy commuter within easy access to the motorway networks of the M32/M4 and M5 and Bristol Parkway Railway Station less than 3 miles distant.
A truly lovely property in a truly lovely location.
Positioned in a very popular location within Downend, the property is close to all local amenities, shops, bus routes and Bromley Heath Infant & Junior Schools.
FIRST of all, thank you to all those who attended the Dramway talk at St James Church in May.
Presented by Richard Lunn, it was a fascinating talk on part of our local history; so many places were mentioned that many of us often pass, with no idea of their origin or what they were.
Richard really knows his stuff. A real eyeopener, his talk was so informative about the routes, the tracks and the gauges of them, the tunnels, bridges and stations. We thank him for sharing his vast local knowledge with us.
It was a very successful evening indeed, with some 80 people in attendance, and we are hoping to put on similar events in the future.
And of course thank you to St James for hosting the event and providing refreshments for the evening. Have you noticed the two new planters outside the Scout hall that have recently appeared?
They were built and planted by our own Scout group - great work by them, as usual, to
add to the planters placed by the Welcome to Mangotsfield road signs mentioned last month. Some of the new planters are quite a way from the centre of our village, making it hard for some of our people to get water to, so we're asking that if you have a planter near you that you help by watering it and perhaps tending it when needed - we would really appreciate it.
The planters are there for all our community to enjoy but a little help would really be appreciated, please.
Our Red Lion/MRA Coffee and Cake morning, usually on the first Wednesday of the month at 10, is getting more and more popular. All are welcome to join us - and the cake is lovely! A friendly atmosphere and good company, so why not pop along?
With summer here at last, let’s all try to keep our village looking the best we can; at the same time let’s not forget that some of our elderly and vulnerable people among us may struggle in the heat, so let's keep an eye on them.
Also, not forgetting our local wildlife, who may struggle with finding water - and look out for the deer that keep popping up in various locations!
We have more projects planned for the future and we will keep you informed - if you would like to get involved, please get in touch by email at MangotsfieldRA@gmail.com, via the Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page, telephone Chris, our secretary, on 07918 701881 or me on 07507 168700.
OUR gardens will have been grateful for the rain many of us have enjoyed, although the sun will have dried up most of it.
I have been recycling water to keep plants watered, and am now looking at buying another water butt or two. It seems to be the way we are going to have to go.
Those of you with a vegetable plot should be enjoying some or your produce. Sow salad veg in succession to give you lettuce and the like all through the summer.
For those of us without a veg plot, we can sow small quantities in pots and just pick leaves. I have some basil in pots, which will be useful.
Now is the time to have sown biennials, foxgloves, wallflowers and pansies, all ready to flower next year. Of course, they will be good for the insects.
In June, the gardening club visited Llanover Gardens near Abergavenny. The owner met us with home-made Welsh bread and coffee, as it was a chilly day, and very thoughtfully loaned us warm blankets to wrap us up as we walked around.
We were escorted around the gardens by her very inspiring gardener.
I took photographs, and hope to use one or two in my embroidery.
There were two or three wedding cake trees, a waterfall, a collection of acers and a super display of iris sibirica alongside a stream: a lovely trip out.
We hope to return in the autumn to experience the colours it will bring.
The gardens will be hosting a rare plant fair on September 17, should you wish to indulge.
There will be open gardens for the NGS during the summer in our area - always a good few hours of appreciating other gardens and finding tips and plants to bring home.
Enjoy July, sitting in your garden now you have done the hard work.
As I am writing this I am in Derby staying with my son. Tomorrow he has volunteered me for a morning working in the gardens of Derby College, where he is a regular volunteer: more on this experience next month.
Happy Gardening.
IT is generally accepted that the best time to take pictures is usually early and late in the day, when the light is less harsh.
Early morning has the golden hour before full daylight, and in the evening there is the blue hour before night falls. These times give the opportunity to produce pictures that enhance even familiar scenes. Here are three pictures taken later in the day.
‘Bristol Dock’ shows a place instantly recognisable to those who know the city. The light has faded enough to emphasise the lights on the ‘horns’ of the bridge and in the buildings, as well as allowing the lights to be reflected in the water. Still early enough for the sky to be light, the picture has that early-evening atmosphere.
‘Bridge Reflections’ is another classic view, photographed from Hotwells. Although the sky is quite dark, there are still some streaks of daylight showing that are mirrored in the water. These smudges of light, top and bottom, lighten these areas and help to balance the image.
Over to Bath with ‘Pultney Bridge’, which again has still water that allows a clear reflection of the bridge. The evening light coming from the side brings out the colour of the yellow Bath stone, and the darker surround frames the central subject, working neatly as a vignette.
Mary Head Secretary
Downend Camera Club is a friendly informal group meeting on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at the Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend, with photographic
presentations, events and competitions.
It is on both Facebook and Instagram, and has a website at www.downendcameraclub.org.uk that gives details of the club, members' galleries, past competition winners, and the upcoming programme of events.
Ed ShorneyTo advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email: sales@downendvoice.co.uk
News? Call Ken On 07715 770377
WHETHER you’re staycationing at the coast or heading abroad this summer, finding the perfect swimwear will ensure you feel great when taking a dip in the water or lounging in the sun.
Like wearing every other piece of clothing, choosing what to wear to suit your body type can make all the difference between feeling okay or brimming with confidence.
The five basic body types are rectangle, inverted triangle, hourglass, pear and apple.
You’ll find a swimming costume that will suit each type, make the most of your shape, and leave you feeling and look great.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the body types and the style of swimming costumes to hunt down.
The rectangle body shape is characterised by a straight body type, so minimal curves and narrow, lean limbs. The aim of the swimsuit here is to add interest and shape.
Look for: strategic cut outs, higher cut legs, pleats, frills and
embellishment on the chest and hips.
If you have an hourglass body type, you’ll have a small waist with more curves, with bust and hips similar in width. The aim of the swimsuit here is to support your curves and highlight your waistline.
Look for: built-in bust support, belted swimsuits, and wider straps.
A pear body type is characterised by having wider hips than shoulders. The aim of the swimsuit is to harmonise the top half and bottom half.
Look for: more fuss on the top half, halter necks with thin
As with all other clothing, there’s a costume to suit your shape.
Picture: John Lewis & Partners.
straps. Frills on the chest and horizontal necklines also work well.
If you have an apple body type it will be rounder. Apple body types often have great legs and swimming costumes that elongate the torso, create more of a waist and show off legs are desirable.
Look for: clever ruching, darker colour panels running down the sides, and tankinis.
The opposite of the pear body type, someone with an inverted triangle body shape has broader shoulders and narrower hips. The
aim here is to add more balance. Look for V neck and sweetheart necklines to take focus away from the shoulders. Asymmetric styles also break up the neckline, and look for designs with ties and more detail on the hips.
To find out more, check out my website and, as always, email any style questions to info@notgivinin. com - the answers will feature in the Voice.
www.notgivinin.com
SUMMER may have been a little bit late arriving but when it did, it arrived with a bang, with flowers blooming everywhere.
A good time, then, for the subject of our last competition of the year, Botanical Abstracts.
But what does that mean, and how will photographers interpret it in order to produce a photograph that rises to the challenge and meets the definition?
Strictly speaking, in art, ‘abstract’ means something in which no element of the real world can be discerned: something particularly difficult in photography, where the starting point is an actual object.
The choice, therefore, lies between manipulating an original image, mixing images to produce something new, or seeking the apparently abstract within an image.
My own choice was to seek out the unfamiliar in a botanical object by using a close-up lens to find the patterns that lie within with 'The Romanesco Hills', which was commended in the competition.
The Romanesco, if you’re not familiar with it, is a kind of cauliflower with a degree in mathematics. Those patterns use the Fibonacci sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…), which is found commonly in nature –think of the centre of sunflowers.
Jeff McKinstry was highly commended for his simple image, 'Wired'.
By taking a photograph of a tendril from a climbing plant and rendering it in harsh black and white, the vegetable has become metallic: the familiar rendered unfamiliar.
Rachel Domleo came second with 'Autumn Impressions', a subtle blending of images. The botanicals are certainly there, with the autumn leaves apparently below glinting ripples in water, but the whole is also
a sharply rendered abstraction of where the images began. Are you interested in photography and want to find out more? Why not join us for the coming year? Although the summer break is here, we shall be having outings and excursions before the restart in September.
Visitors, new members and guests are always made welcome (£3 if you just want to try us out).
If you’re looking for company and new acquaintances, as well as regular activities, and would like to be part of a small but flourishing club, take a look at our website at www.lincombebarncameraclub.co.uk or email lincombebarn.cameraclub@gmail.com.
Have a good summer and may the sun be with you. Sid Stace
ALTHOUGH I speak for myself, I would say I was a fairly confident person.
I have performed on the stage throughout my life: ballet dancing, school choirs and playing the violin in Rose Green High School's orchestra (admittedly I did play second fiddle!) and of course singing the odd solo in the St Marys Players, Fishponds.
Something I had always wanted to do was play the piano in front of the public.
I have had the opportunity before, when I had piano lessons with a previous piano teacher, but I never had the confidence to play.
This time, however, I was determined to take part. Jane, my current teacher, was confident in me and I knew the pieces I had decided to play extremely well.
The evening of June 7 arrived and Tony gave me a lift to the venue where I was to play, Staple Hill Methodist Church.
As I entered the church the recital had already begun. I had time to compose myself while the children played their pieces first. I was the second adult to play.
As I waited, I realised I could not remember the fingerings. I sneaked a glance at the first piece - where was that note on the piano?
Then I had no more time to think: it was my turn. I walked to the piano in a dream and, after saying a few words as I best could to the audience, I sat down at the piano.
After a hesitant start, with words of encouragement from Jane and cheers from the audience, I battled on, my fingers trembling over the keys. I am sure 'Ode to Joy' by
Beethoven had never been played like it before.
Loud applause followed as I announced the next piece, 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross'.
My nerves began to settle down and, when I played the final piece, 'Abide with Me', I began to enjoy myself and felt I could have played another hymn.
The audience clapped and cheered as I took a bow and received my certificate of achievement from Jane.
It was not until I was waiting for the bus to take me home that it suddenly sunk in - my dream had been fulfilled!
Join the Summer Reading Challenge at Downend, Emersons Green & Staple Hill libraries for loads of fun!
It’s FREE and all children aged 4 – 11 are invited to take part! Children read books they enjoy over the summer holiday and collect stickers (including some stinky ones!) to complete their exclusive Ready, Set, Read! collector card and get a medal and certificate.
It’s FREE and all children aged 4 – 11 are invited to take part! Children read books they enjoy over the summer holiday and collect stickers (including some stinky ones!) to complete their exclusive Ready, Set, Read! collector card and get a medal and certificate.
Join the Summer Reading Challenge 2023, Ready, Set, Read! at Downend, Emersons Green & Staple Hill libraries during staffed hours from Saturday 8 July finishing by Saturday 9 September and pick up your FREE bag of goodies including Ready, Set, Read! seeds. See the difference the Summer Reading Challenge makes to your child’s reading:
The Linton-Butt family, Nick, Alison, Claudia, and Alice are proud to offer a reliable service supported by certification, training, and a wealth of industry experience. They have created a fantastic team of highly trained and friendly staff who are passionate about the world of cleaning. Claudia told Voice: “With our 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, you have the assurance that we will get the job done right for you. We specialise in carpet, rug, hard floor, upholstery, mattresses, curtains, leather, and oven cleaning services.
‘This has been excellent – a really good way to encourage a reluctant reader and introduce him to the amazing world of books!’ Parent, Emersons Green Library
Children love taking part and there are lots of fabulous FREE activities: ZooLab animal workshops, Ready, Set, Read! themed crafts and Lego™ clubs.
Join the Summer Reading Challenge 2023, Ready, Set, Read! at Downend, Emersons Green & Staple Hill libraries during staffed hours from Saturday 8 July finishing by Saturday 9 September and pick up your FREE bag of goodies including Ready, Set, Read! seeds. See the difference the Summer Reading Challenge makes to your child’s reading:
Our services are used by both domestic and commercial clients, plus we are members of the NCCA, Trustmark, BESA and many others. Nothing can compare to the pleasure and pride we get every day from hearing so many compliments from our happy customers – we love what we do and look forward to every day.
‘This has been excellent – a really good way to encourage a reluctant reader and introduce him to the amazing world of books!’ Parent, Emersons
Find out more at www.southglos.gov.uk/summerreadingchallenge or like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/sgloslibraries for the latest updates.
Children love taking part and there are lots of fabulous FREE activities: ZooLab animal workshops, Ready, Set, Read! themed crafts and Lego™ clubs. Find out more at www.southglos.gov.uk/summerreadingchallenge or like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/sgloslibraries for the latest updates.
A DOWNEND dog trainer has won another award. Waggs'n'Woofs, which specialises in 'training treks' to give dogs social skills, won the Global Wedding Awards most trusted wedding day pet chaperone service gong for the South West.
Owner Lynn Lloyd works with couples and wedding venues to ensure pets are on their best behaviour on the big day.
Lynn said: "I’m absolutely over the moon to have won the award.
"I love working with brides and grooms to ensure that they get absolutely everything that they could wish for and more on their big day. Everyone is always so surprised at how well behaved the dogs are and that’s because we put a lot of background work into getting to know the couples and the dogs to ensure that everyone is happy and supported. We’ve had a bit of a run with winning Awards over the past few years, but this one is such a special one to me!"
We know how important it is to listen to the demands and needs of our customers and then to meet and surpass their expectations. We hope you can also join our community of many happy customers too – visit our Trustpilot profile to see our amazing customer reviews! Be sure to take advantage of our special offer this summer where ‘three rooms carpet cleaned for the price of two’!”.
Call the office on 0117 325 9250 for a free quotation or get in contact via email: sales@acleaningservice.co.uk or our website: www.acleaningservice.co.uk.
I HOPE everyone has been enjoying time outside in the sunshine and stayed safe whilst doing so during our recent spell of glorious weather.
Earlier this month, I put questions relating to knife crime and increased summer demand for police support to Chief Constable Sarah Crew at the latest Performance and Accountability Board (PAB), which livestreams every month on Facebook.
I know that the police get exceptionally busy in the summer, but local people still rightfully expect a high level of service.
During PAB I asked the Chief Constable how she will ensure that officers respond in a timely way and improve on what they did last year.
I also asked for an update on the week of awareness tackling knife crime – and how officers work with Violence Reduction Units to prevent knife crime.
This was particularly important following the tragic death of 16-year-
old Mikey Roynon, from South Gloucestershire, at an incident in Bath on June 10.
Two teenage boys, one from Dorset and another from Wiltshire, have since been charged with murder and possessing an offensive weapon.
At the PAB we also discussed the amazing work of police volunteers, as well as rape and sexual assaults in hospitals.
If you would like to listen in to the conversation, you can view our Facebook live video that was recorded and has been posted to the OPCC Facebook page.
I would like to take some time to highlight the 159 service, launched by Stop Scams UK. If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details, I urge you to stop, hang up and call 159.
This is a short-code phone service that connects people safely to their bank’s fraud prevention service.
This free phone service should be
used when either you or someone you know may have provided an unknown person with your bank card or banking information over the phone, to report fraud potentially taking place.
I would like to mention the work of Crimestoppers and the South West: No Place for Drugs campaign.
Currently, Crimestoppers is appealing to the public to speak up and report cases of property being used as a grow house or farm to cultivate cannabis.
Organised crime gangs are renting properties in both urban and rural parts of the country and setting up cannabis farms. This illegal activity often brings serious violence, victims of modern slavery, and increased risks of building fires and explosions.
If you are a landlord, I implore you to become aware of the signs of cannabis cultivation: barricaded windows and doors, unsafe electricity wiring, and mould and water damage
from hydroponics and irrigation systems.
I urge you to learn the signs of cannabis cultivation, which can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk. org.
I would like to thank everyone for their continued contribution to keeping our communities safe and wish you all a safe and happy week.
A DOWNEND business is backing a charity which provides activities for children with complex needs.
Bristol-based Flamingo Chicks aims to bring dance to people of all abilities and raise awareness for those who need extra help, using the hashtag #BalletNotBarriers.
The charity approached the Mortgage Advice Bureau, owned by Daniel Gould and Adam Wyrill, to ask about support from the company's charitable foundation, which has awarded it £5,000
Daniel said: "The foundation was established to create awareness about the growing needs of communities in all areas and has since supported projects across a spectrum of interests and needs, from health and well-being to the environment and conservation.
"We are committed to supporting community-based projects brought to them by staff, customers, and business partners, and cannot wait to see the money put to good use by Flamingo Chicks."
Flamingo Chicks founder Katherine Sparkes MBE said: "It has given us all such a huge boost and will mean we can get even more disabled children dancing. We are beaming!"
FRENCHAY has a new life-saving device at the village museum.
The automated external defibrillator (AED) is mounted on an external wall so it can be used at any time and, in the event of an emergency, a code can be given by the ambulance service to unlock the box.
It is close to sports facilities and a play area.
The unit has been donated by the charity arm of Benenden Heath Care, a non-profit private health provider.
MP Jack Lopresti received the unit on behalf of Frenchay residents, and said: "Given that Frenchay Hospital is no longer here, and the huge increase in the population in the Frenchay area, this vital piece of equipment will prove to be most valuable and a life-saver should the need arise.
"We are extremely grateful to Benenden Health Care for their kindness and generosity in donating this unit to the Frenchay community."
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillator training sessions can be arranged by the Frenchay Residents Association on request.
PAGE Park Bowls Club has introduced 25 newcomers to the sport through its latest training course.
The new players took part in a seven-week course in April and May, and almost all have now applied for membership of the club, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
The club has a membership of 120, ranging from teenagers to a regular player who is 90 years old.
For more information about the club visit www. pageparkbowling.org.uk.
THE cricket season is almost a third of the way through, and has had an up and down start for Carsons and Mangotsfield's 1st team.
Sitting mid table in Division 6 of the Bristol and District Cricket League, they have achieved two wins out of their first six games, one of which was cancelled due to the weather.
However, the 2nd team are second in Division 10, only a couple of points behind leaders Stoke Bishop, who are the only team to have beaten them this season.
This is an excellent start to the season, following their promotion last year.
The 3rd XI have had a difficult start to the season, having lost some of the young players who had such an impact last summer to other teams in the club.
However, there have been some notable performances from Harry Ravenscroft and Tom Manning. This was always likely to be a transitional season, with the main aim to give the youngsters a chance to test themselves at a higher standard.
In the 30-over league, the 4th team sit joint top with Stoke Gifford, having won three out of four matches. The top performance of the season so far was James Gwinneth taking 5-18 against Midsomer Norton.
The Sunday Xl are also comfortably mid-table in tier 2 of the North Somerset Cricket League.
Of their six matches to date they have won two, against Charlton Super Kings and Hanham.
Ian ColesA RUGBY club is holding a walking rugby festival to promote the inclusive version of the game.
The festival is being held by Kingswood RFC at Grimsbury Road playing field in Kingswood on July 15 from noon.
The club's director of walking rugby, Steve Deery, said: "Walking Rugby is a simplified form of Rugby Union and can include players of any age, gender, or mental ability. Basically, if you can walk you can play. The game is a form of ‘walking’ touch rugby that limits the levels of physical contact whilst allowing players to experience working as part of a team, score tries and get a good level of exercise."
Steve said the emphasis was on "fun and non-aggressive play" and the sport has been growing in popularity over the six years since the club's walking section was formed: it now has more than 50 players. More than 25 teams are expected to take part in the festival. For more information email WalkingRugby@kingswoodrfc.co.uk.
HAVING completed their first season in the Hellenic League, finishing in mid-table with a league cup trophy in the cabinet, Mangotsfield United were suddenly faced with the prospect of a sideways move.
The club released a shock announcement that they had been moved into the Toolstation Western League days after the season ended, saying: "For clarity, MUFC did not request a lateral move. All league allocations are subject to appeals and final ratification."
The Mangos had previously graced the Western League from 1972 to 2000, but it has changed a lot in recent years.
It is now predominantly based around Devon and Cornwall clubs, and there are very few Bristol area teams in it now.
Other clubs, including Cadbury Heath are Brislington, have in recent seasons taken voluntary relegation from the Western League Premier Division to avoid having to travel down to the South West every other week - the Toolstation League Division 1 line-up is now dominated by Bristol clubs!
Whether the club did appeal to the FA against was not made public, as nothing was said publicly in the weeks that followed.
However in June, at the time when any FA appeals would be decided, a new announcement was made by the club: "Following the departure of Shrivenham FC from the Hellenic Premier Division, Mangotsfield United can confirm that today they have been notified by the FA that they will remain in the Hellenic Premier Division for the 2023/24 season."
It appears that Shrivenham, based near Swindon, had decided they could no longer sustain Hellenic League football and wanted to take voluntary relegation, with the FA then moving Mangotsfield back into place in the Hellenic League again.
It means the club avoids long and expensive away travel to places like Falmouth, Helston and St Blazey in Cornwall, among others.
The big-name addition to the Hellenic League Premier Division next season is Worcester City, who have been moved from the Midland Football League. They once played at much higher levels of the game, and knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup in 1959!
A number of pre-season friendlies have been announced:
July 4, 7.30pm: Longwell Green (away)
July 8, 3pm: Yate Town (away)
July 15, 3pm: Odd Down (home)
July 18, 7.30pm: Bitton (away)
July 22, 3pm: Bristol Telephones (away)
July 25, 7.30pm: Paulton Rovers (home)
August 1, 7.30pm: Melksham Town (home)
Dave SmaleThat’s an important question for all of us at Cleve Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Centre.
It’s the reason we get up in the morning and why we love our jobs – it’s all about you!
We pride ourselves on providing our local community with access to a wide range of healthcare services and professionals who provide exceptional care for a huge variety of conditions. We believe that giving you the option to access healthcare in a convenient way in a setting that is full of highly qualified (and very lovely) people, means that you can get the holistic and comprehensive care you want, in the way you want to access it.
While the clinic’s name tells you that we have a brilliant group of chiropractors and physiotherapists, a crucial part of the way our team works is with a focus on integrating the widest range of healthcare professionals to cover all your needs. We believe in experts doing expert things. This wider team consists of sport rehabilitators and therapists, as well as specialists in acupuncture, foot health, clinical hypnotherapy and nutrition.
By combining their unique and wide-ranging expertise, our professionals provide joined up thinking to best understand a patient's condition and develop effective treatment plans that encompass various aspects of their physical health and mental well-being.
This holistic approach ensures that the most appropriate treatments are chosen, tailored to
each patient's individual needs, all under one roof – you don’t need to visit multiple places for your care. Whether it's in healthcare, technology, or any other industry, the value of consulting an expert cannot be overstated.
In this blog, I want to tell you about just some of the extra services we offer – and watch this space for more additions in the near future.
Sport rehabilitators help people with pain that involves the musculoskeletal system. They work with people of all ages and backgrounds to maintain their health and fitness, recover from and prevent injury and reduce pain using exercise, movement and manual- based therapeutic interventions.
Treatment incorporates a comprehensive assessment and exercise plan that’s monitored and modified where needed. This could include exercise rehabilitation, massage, taping and even some time on our antigravity treadmill.
Our acupuncturist, Jennie Abraham, uses Traditional Chinese Medicine. From a TCM perspective, pain, discomfort, digestive, sleep and emotional problems occur when our body’s Qi (pronounced Chee) is out of balance. Acupuncture addresses these imbalances by placing ultra fine needles at specific points on the body where the Qi flows.
In this way, Jennie seeks to understand the root of your condition, which means that your
symptoms are treated, along with the underlying causes. The amount of treatments needed depends on the severity and duration of your symptoms –sometimes just one or two are enough but, for longer term conditions, a course will be beneficial.
Your feet are the foundation of your body, but they are often overlooked and taken for granted. From helping you walk, run and stand, to supporting your entire body weight, your feet play a vital role in your overall health. So don’t you think it’s time they got the attention and care they deserve? After all, when your feet are healthy and functioning properly, your quality of life and physical well-being are much improved.
Helen Millins specialises in the care and treatment of your feet and can help alleviate pain, improve mobility and prevent future problems from occurring. As a fully qualified and insured foot healthcare practitioner, she provides a bespoke service that identifies your individual needs, treatments and ongoing maintenance for conditions including calluses, corns, thickened nails, cracked heels, diabetic issues and neurovascular assessment.
Our clinical hypnotherapist, Holly Osborne, uses Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH), which combines the use of different parts of psychotherapy, using specialist techniques with hypnosis. Holly will adopt a
positive solution-focused process that gets you back in control of your thoughts, feelings and actions. She can effectively help you with, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, confidence, sports performance, phobias and fears, childbirth, weight management and much more.
Our nutritionist, Philippa Parish, believes ‘we aren’t just what we eat: we’re what we digest and absorb into our bodies’ – it’s all about how our body uses nutrition. Being healthy is the best present anyone can give themselves. Achieving optimum nutrition is a different journey for everyone and can change during in our lifetime as we fight infections, recover from injuries, or adjust as we age.
Philippa never encourages fad diets, quick fixes, intense detoxes and the latest ‘superfoods’. The aim is to educate and motivate her clients to work towards their health goals, to understand how and why their new food and lifestyle choices nourish their bodies, increasing vitality and well-being. She can help you to establish a new and positive relationship with your health in a functional way, so that it will become the new normal way of living.
So, as you can see, we’ve got your back – oh yes, don’t forget we look after those, too! Our experts are looking forward to seeing you soon.
Gisela Norman, a highly experienced acupuncturist of 30 years
Gisela treats a wide range of conditions from physical complaints, including infertility to emotional and stress related problems. Call her to discuss your health issue on: 07968 855 001 or make an appointment direct at the Willow Surgery, Hill House Road, Downend on: 0117 970 9505
A Member of British Acupuncture Council and Lecturer
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We offer
2-year, Foundation Degrees & HNDs (Level 4 & 5)
Equivalent to the first two years of a degree and qualifications in their own right
1-year, BA/BSc (Hons) Level 6 top-up
Progress onto this programme from a relevant level 5 course
3-year, BA/BSc (Hons) degrees Level 4, 5 & 6
For more information email: HEAdmissions@sgscol.ac.uk or follow the QR code for further information
