Downend Voice June 2023

All change on council

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has new leadership, after the Conservatives lost their majority at the local elections.

The council's Liberal Democrat and Labour groups, both of which made gains at the Tories' expense on May 4, have agreed to work together to form a new administration.

Liberal Democrat group leader Claire Young is the new council leader, while Staple Hill &

Mangotsfield ward councillor Ian Boulton will be the council's co-leader, having taken over as the Labour group's leader following the elections. Announcing the partnership deal two weeks after the elections that ended eight years of Tory control of the authority, they set out a series of priorities for the new administration.

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PAGE 23

Festival makes a welcome return

Mangotsfield Festival returns this month for the first time in four years. Organisers urge visitors to leave their cars at home.

PAGE 5

Nature gets a helping hand

Tuckett Field in Frenchay is being turned into a wildflower meadow in a five-year project funded by the West of England Combined Authority.

PAGE 21

Downend WI members with their latest decoration for the post box on the high street - a knitted replica of the St Edward's Crown used in the Coronation of King Charles III. Celebration round-up: Pages 8 to 13

Headaches; don’t put up with them!

ALTHOUGH very common, they are not a normal part of life when in good health.

We’ve been successfully helping patients with, headaches, migraines, neck tension and symptoms of hay fever for years and our proud to say their quality of life has meaningfully improved over the short and long term.

We know how debilitating it can be, so we’ve put together some hints and tips to help you get better and live life with less limitations from headaches.

10 million people a year suffer from headaches and we’re often quick to take painkillers, but never stop consider what the cause of the headache is in the first place.

Most headaches are caused by irritation to the structures around the neck: joints, ligaments, muscles, and inter vertebral discs.

As chiropractors we are trained to find the cause of these issues and correct the underlying problem at the root of the headaches.

The most common forms of headaches are tension headaches, migraines, and medication head aches (caused by medication side effects).

Tension Headaches (Cervicogenic headaches)

Tension headaches involve pain and discomfort of the neck, head, or scalp. They are normally accompanied by muscle tension in these areas as well, which can lead to feeling like the head is in a vice.

Migraines

Migraines are usually a severe headache at the front or side of the head. This is often felt as a throbbing pain. Other symptoms can be nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light. Migraines are a very common condition and usually effect more women than men.

The Chiropractic solution

Tension headaches are usually the result of muscle contraction or joint misalignment in the neck.

By addressing this joint, muscle or nerve misalignment/ irritation we can get on top of the headaches and then train people through a course of care to prevent relapses.

Acupuncture is also often very effective, we offer this as part of our headache treatment protocol if required.

Often, these muscle contractions are triggered by poor posture (see our series on

posture correction), stress, and anxiety.

We commonly see teenagers with these types of headaches in clinic, in fact our youngest patient with headaches to date is 9 years old. Thankfully he’s headache free, having fewer days off school and happily playing with friends without being held back.

‘Text Neck’

This is a new phenomenon since the advent of widespread smart phone use. When the head is dropped forward for too long, like when on our mobile phones, this leads to tightening of the muscles, severe spasms and headaches. Hence the name.

Top Tips

• Posture - Be mindful of your posture (hold your head up & try a few chin tucks)

• Ice - apply an ice pack to the base of the skull – where the head and neck meet. Apply for 10 minutes, repeat 3 times in a row if you feel a headache coming on or having one. This will reduce the inflammation and settle your head and neck

• Phones- hold them up to your eye line, or lye on your back and hold the phone up with straight arms

Whatever the reason you’re experiencing these headaches, come and see us to get to the bottom of them. We are highly skilled in finding the root cause and trained to spot any serious problems masquerading as headaches.

Headaches are not normal, don’t put up with them!

Find the cause, fix the problem, enjoy life!

Matt Sutton

From Page 1

They include:

• A shared focus on the climate emergency and helping residents with the cost-of-living crisis.

• A review of how the council makes policy, including local decision-making and more public involvement.

• Sharing the council's seat at the West of England Combined Authority, and working to improve local buses and the travel network.

The two groups spent a fortnight ironing out details of a deal following the elections which saw the Tories lose their overall majority.

While they are still the largest party, with 23 seats in the chamber, the 20 Lib Dem and 17 Labour members combined take the two parties above the 31 votes needed to command a majority in the chamber.

The Tories lost ten seats at the elections, including one in Frenchay & Downend ward and two in Emersons Green locally.

The Lib Dems gained three, including their first in Frenchay & Downend, while Labour gained six overall, including two in Emersons Green.

There was also one independent gain in the elections, at Labour's expense.

After signing the written agreement to form an administration, Cllr Young said: "People voted for change in May, following eight years of Conservative rule.

"In discussions with the Labour group it was apparent we had many shared goals to improve the lives of local people.

"We want to take the council in a different direction, working with local people to make South Gloucestershire a better place for

Lib Dem-Labour deal to run South Gloucestershire Council

party from all discussions on how to run the council.

Ian Boulton and Claire Young announce their parties' deal to share power on South Gloucestershire Council

"On several occasions we have offered to meet to discuss how all residents’ views can be reflected in the new council, but each time this was met by silence."

everyone.

Cllr Boulton said: "This is a brilliant opportunity to put forward a new vision for South Gloucestershire.

"We’re aware of the budgetary challenges at the moment, with the Conservative government failing to fund local authorities properly.

"That can change at next year’s general election."

Cllr Boulton took over as Labour group leader following the retirement of predecessor Pat Rooney at the elections.

Cabinet members for the new administration were due to be announced following the council's annual meeting when the new leadership was being confirmed on May 24.

Since the elections, the political groups have been holding discussions while dayto-day running of and decisionmaking for the authority has been managed by senior officers and managers.

Council chief executive Dave Perry said: “The role of officers

during this period has been to ensure that the council continues to operate as it should, while supporting members in their conversations, providing, where required, legal and constitutional advice. Council officers are ready to brief a new administration once it is agreed by Members at the meeting on 24 May and when a new Cabinet takes up their roles."

The new Conservative group leader Sam Bromiley criticised the other parties for not involving his group in discussions on the future leadership of the authority. The former cabinet member for children and young people, who took over as Tory group leader after former council leader Toby Savage stood down at the elections, said: "We are disappointed that Labour and the Liberal Democrats have chosen to exclude the largest

Cllr Young said voters had clearly "had enough of the Conservatives", while Cllr Boulton said voters were "holding the Conservative party to account for the disastrous policies they have imposed on us — both locally and nationally".

Toby Savage said his party did better locally than on a national level, where it lost more than 1,000 seats, despite losing its majority in the district on a "disappointing evening".

He said: “I’m encouraged that a number of colleagues have been returned in wards that might well have fallen to the opposition parties were they to be tracking the national position, which suggests that South Gloucestershire Conservatives are outperforming the Conservatives nationally.”

Frenchay & Downend councillor Liz Brennan is the new Conservative deputy group leader for the now opposition party. Cllr Brennan kept her council seat by just five votes in May's election, finishing ahead of nearest Lib Dem challenger David Eldridge after a recount.

Election round-up: Pages 6&7

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Vandals strike at memorial skate park

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A member of the

A VANDAL attack on a skate park which was created in memory of a Mangotsfield teenager has prompted calls for action on a promised revamp.

Obscene graffiti was sprayed on ramps at the park next to Emersons Green Retail Park and a memorial bench to Jamie Lee Clapp was entirely covered with silver paint during the incident, which happened between May 12 and 14.

Jamie was only 13 when he was killed in a plane crash in 2007.

His father Gordon wanted a lasting memorial to his son, who loved skateboarding and BMX riding, and with Jamie's friends he campaigned to secure £100,000 from local councillors, South Gloucestershire Council and the Big Lottery Fund's Peoples Millions partnership.

The skate park opened in 2011 but in recent years the BMX track has become overgrown with brambles, which shield the skate park from nearby homes overlooking it, so what happens cannot be seen at night. There is no CCTV monitoring.

Gordon has regularly visited the park since it was opened but is now gravely ill with oesophageal cancer.

He has been trying for years to ensure the area around the skate park is properly maintained, but the weeds have been allowed to grow while the area awaits work to build a new path nearby, as part of South Gloucestershire Council's Linking the Greens project.

When the project was announced it was suggested responsibility for the park would be passed from South Gloucestershire to Emersons Green Town Council - but while the town council is willing to take the park on, the last meeting over its future took place nearly a year ago

Gordon's friend Clive Heath, who is the chair of Mangotsfield Residents Association, said: "Gordon was devastated by this vandalism. It's a memorial park and should be treated with respect.

"The bushes provide cover and a lot of youngsters come here at night taking drugs - if one were to overdose they could be left here all night.

"None of the promises for improvement have been kept. What we need to know is who is responsible for it - and when are these changes going to take place?"

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said the council's street cleansing team had been working to remove the graffiti.

The spokesperson called on anyone who sees vandalism taking place to call the police on 101 and report any graffiti in public open spaces, either on the council website or by calling 01454 868000.

However there is currently "no timescale" for the completion of the Linking the Greens project or handover of the park.

Police have called on anyone with information or video footage of those responsible for the graffiti to call 101 and give the reference number 5223 113 303.

The names and initials sprayed at the site were Dukes, Dukey, KE, OH, LC, Riko, Reekz, Rell, Sym, Logan and AW.

Clive Heath at the memorial bench, which was sprayed silver during a vandal attack on the skate park.

Mangotsfield Festival is back after four years

THE Mangotsfield Village Festival returns this month, four years after it was last held.

The event returns for the 31st time on June 10, with some changes to the set-up from the most recent festival in 2019.

This year the festival is taking place at a new venue, on the Pomphrey Hill North Field, off Johnson Road.

While the traditional parade to the venue from the village green outside the Lamb Inn had not been confirmed as the Voice went to print, the familiar mix of music, dance displays, dog show and stalls is all in place.

Following an opening ceremony at 11am there will be displays from local schools and clubs before a programme of live music begins at 1.25pm with the Staple Hill-based Kris Nock Big Band.

The other bands are Kick The Cat, Outatime 80's and closing act Levi Valentino, who will play the last hour before the festival ends at 8pm.

There will be an area dedicated to children's activities, called the Kids Zone, along with a variety of food and drink to suit all tastes.

Ross Janes, from the Mangotsfield Festival Planning Committee, said: "The dictionary defines a community as a group of people living in the same place, but I would argue that definition really doesn't do Mangotsfield justice.

"Mangotsfield is full of people who come together regularly for shared causes, and nothing exemplifies this more than the Mangotsfield Village Festival.

"I have been involved on the very fringes of the festival for 12 years, helping to lead the parade through our village, but this is my first year serving on the planning committee.

"It has been an eye-opening experience to see the dedication shown by those involved behind the scenes.

"We first met in September and I, wrongly, assumed it

would be standingroom only. You may be surprised to learn that it is in fact a small, dedicated team who help to plan and run the entire festival.

"On average it costs about £16,000 to put on our festival, which is a figure that may shock many, and is why this year has seen many local events come to an end due to the financial challenges they have face.

"We want to ensure Mangotsfield Festival continues, so we will be asking for those attending to make donations on the day. We are very grateful for the support we receive from both South Gloucestershire

Council and Emersons Green Town Council alongside local businesses who donate their services - without them the festival could not happen.”

The organisers are advising all visitors to leave their cars at home, as there will be no on-site parking.

Updates on the parade and other details can be found at the festival's Facebook page or website, www. mangotsfieldfestival.co.uk.

Anyone interested in having a stall at the festival should email stalls@mangotsfieldfestival. co.uk, and anyone who would like to volunteer on the day should contact the planning committee at committee@ mangotsfieldfestival.co.uk.

Every year the festival makes grants to good causes in the local community - organisations who would like to apply for one should email grants@ mangotsfieldfestival.co.uk.

Ross Janes

n ELECTIONS

STAPLE Hill & Mangotsfield

Parish Council has met for the first time.

Twelve of the council's 13 members were present at a meeting room at Page Community Association in Staple Hill on May 18 to elect their first chair and vice-chair, approve standing orders, financial regulations and a code of conduct, and agree to meet on the last Wednesday of the month in future.

Labour member Ian Campbell, best known locally as the chair of the Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion, is the council's first chair. Fellow Labour councillor Angela Bragg is the vice-chair.

Before meeting again on June 28, Cllrs Campbell and Bragg, and interim clerk Cate Davidson will draw up proposals to set up committees, bank accounts, a website and email addresses, which will be voted on by the whole council.

The new council, on the lowest tier of local government, was set up by South Gloucestershire Council as part of a drive to ensure all areas in the district had parish or town councils.

It was established despite a lack of enthusiasm from the public: only around 100 of the ward's electorate of more than 10,000 people supported the idea in a consultation in 2021, with more saying they were against the idea.

But the new parish's

New parish council meets for first time

Irene Draper, in Soundwell ward.

Cllr Boulton and Cllr Cooper are also South Gloucestershire councillors.

Parish councillors are not paid wages or allowances for their duties.

The council has an initial budget of £106,000, from a precept set by South Gloucestershire Council this year - next year it must set its own.

Mangotsfield ward was the only one in the Downend area where an election took place in May. Contested by seven candidates, the five seats were won by four Labour candidates and a Conservative.

Independent Dave Somers and Simon Budd, who stood without a label, were the two candidates who missed out.

Michael Bell, a South Gloucestershire ward councillor for Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, topped the poll with 768 votes, followed by Mark Dean, Tracy

Nominations reopen

RESIDENTS who would like to become members of Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council are being invited to put themselves forward.

No elections took place for the parish council in May, as only seven candidates were nominated for 12 seats available.

It means there are five vacancies for residents who want to join Ben Burton, James Griffiths, Matt Pitts, Raj Sood, Phillip Abbott, Janet Biggin and Alvis West.

The parish council will now consider applications for the three vacant seats in the Downend ward and two in the Staple Hill ward.

The council has the power to co-opt new members and will consider any applications received before its next meeting on June 15: see its advertisement on page 17 for more details.

Emersons Green Town Council, which covers part of Downend and part of Mangotsfield, also has vacancies after only eight people were nominated for 16 places.

As reported in May's Voice, Colin Hunt, James Hunt, Alka Mehta-Graham, Pat Morgan, Dave Somers, Simon Budd, Rachael Hunt and Bobbie Sunderland were elected unopposed.

Four candidates were elected unopposed to the four vacancies for the Frenchay ward of Winterbourne Parish Council: Adrian Collins, Paul Kembery, Jeremy Kinsey and Charles Watkins.

Cannard and Darren Langley. Andy O'Hara claimed fifth place and the final seat for the Tories, 87 votes ahead of Simon Budd.

The new parish council's other wards had the same number of nominees as seats. Elected unopposed were Labour's Ian Boulton and Mark Whitworth in Page ward; Katie Cooper (Labour) and Diane Roberts (independent) in Pendennis Ward; Labour's Angela Bragg, Ian Campbell and Julie Snelling, and independent

Cllr Boulton told the inaugural meeting that while residents had to pay a precept on their bill - £26.68 for Band D tax payers - for the new council, a promised review of South Gloucestershire's special expenses bill for neighbourhood facilities has not yet taken place; residents' special expenses bills rose from £31.08 to £43.07 in Band D in April.

The number of people who cast votes to elect the new parish councillors was only a third of those who voted in the South Gloucestershire Council elections for Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward.

This was partly because three parish council wards had no elections, and also because part of the South Gloucestershire ward is in neighbouring Downend and Bromley Heath parish.

ID rules cost 58 votes

MORE than 50 voters did not cast a ballot in South Gloucestershire's elections after falling foul of new rules on photo ID.

May's elections were the first to be held under new laws requiring proof of identification from everyone turning up at polling stations.

The council's returning officer said the "overwhelming majority" of electors brought photo ID that met the requirements.

A total of 216 electors were initially turned away after turning up to vote without a passport, driving licence or one of a number of other accepted forms of ID.

Of those, 158 returned with identification and were able to cast their ballots.

That left 58 who did not return.

The council says 43,798 people voted in the election and the number of people who did not get to vote represented just over 0.1% of the total who tried.

The council issued a total of 248 Voter Authority Certificates, for people who did not have another approved form of photo ID, before the election.

Members of the new Staple Hill & Mangotsfield Parish Council meet for the first time at Page Community Association in Staple Hill

MAY'S local elections saw the Conservatives lose their domination of two of the Downend area's three council seats.

The party had previously held all three seats in both the Frenchay & Downend and Emersons Green wards.

But on a night which saw

Tories' election blues

the Tories lose more than 1,000 councillors nationwide, and their overall majority in South Gloucestershire, Labour gained two of the three seats in Emersons Green, which

Frenchay & Downend

includes parts of Downend and Mangotsfield, while the Liberal Democrats picked up one of the three Frenchay & Downend seats and came within five votes of winning a second.

Staple Hill & Mangotsfield

Winning candidates Raj Sood, Ben Burton and Liz Brennan

THE Frenchay & Downend ward has its first non-Conservative councillor since it was formed in 2019.

Liberal Democrat Raj Sood topped the poll with 1,994 votes in the ward, which elects three councillors.

The other two winners were sitting Conservative councillors Ben Burton and Liz Brennan, with 1,780 and 1,678 votes respectively.

The other defending Tory councillor, James Griffiths, ended up in fifth place behind Lib Dem David Eldridge, who fell just five votes short of third place, with 1,673 votes, after a recount.

Cllr Sood, a Downend & Bromley Heath parish councillor well known as the owner of a convenience store in Bromley Heath, had come second in a by-election in the ward two years ago.

He said: “I am deeply honoured to be given the privilege of representing our community on South Gloucestershire Council. I would especially like to thank those that abandoned previous party loyalty to give me their support.”

The Lib Dems' three candidates received more votes combined than the Tories in the ward, 5,154 (39.2%) to 5,080 (38.6%), but ended up with only one of the three seats.

Labour, whose candidates were third, fourth and sixth in 2019, fell to seventh, eighth and ninth this time round.

Full result:

Raj Sood (LD): 1,994

Ben Burton (Con): 1,780

Liz Brennan (Con): 1,678

David Eldridge (LD): 1,673

James Griffiths (Con) 1,622

John Tansey (LD): 1,487

Jacky Dockerty (Lab) 1,034

Mike Richards (Lab) 1,033

Andrew Smith (Lab) 858

Turnout: 43%

LABOUR massively increased its margin of victory in the Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward.

Sitting councillors Ian Boulton, Michael Bell and Katie Cooper were all re-elected, with the margin between the thirdplaced Labour candidate and the leading Conservative in fourth increasing to 1,225, from 550 four years ago.

The three Labour candidates secured 70% of the votes cast between them, up from 58% in 2019; all three received more than 2,000 votes, while none of the other candidates polled above 1,000.

Ian Boulton topped the poll with 2,331 votes, followed by Michael Bell with 2,153 and Katie Cooper with 2,014.

The leading Tory candidate was Andy O'Hara, who received 789 votes, followed by fellow Conservatives Andrew Shore and Anil Mishra.

The three Liberal Democrat candidates were placed seventh, eighth and ninth, more than 200 votes behind the sixth-placed Tory.

Full result:

Ian Boulton (Lab): 2,331

Michael Bell (Lab): 2,153

Katie Cooper (Lab): 2,014

Andy O’Hara (Con):789

Andrew Shore (Con): 604

Anil Mishra (Con): 556

Andrew Daer (LD): 337

Brenda Allen (LD) 228

Gabrielle Davis (LD) 222

Turnout: 33%

Key to parties:

Con: Conservative Lab: Labour

LD: Liberal Democrats Grn: Green

In the Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward Labour, which already held all three seats, massively increased its share of the vote and margin of victory.

Emersons Green

LABOUR gained two out of the three council seats for Emersons Green, with Conservative former cabinet member Rachael Hunt the only sitting councillor to be re-elected.

Labour's Katrina Al-Hassan topped the poll, gaining 1,614 votes.

Tory Rachael Hunt was second, with 1,532 votes, 24 ahead of Labour's Ron Hardie in third, on 1,508 votes.

Former town councillor and Emersons Green deputy mayor Sadik Al-Hassan just missed out on joining his wife Katrina in the council chamber for Labour, falling 10 votes short of third place with 1,498.

Sitting Conservative councillor Colin Hunt, who had been a district councillor since 1987, was another 16 votes behind in fifth place, with 1,482.

The third Tory candidate, Alka MehtaGraham, who had been hoping to take over from retiring councillor Judy Adams, ended up in sixth on 1,183 votes.

Green candidate Sian Harris was seventh, with 876 votes, coming in 452 votes ahead of the three Liberal Democrats.

Labour's total of 4,620 votes represented 43% of the overall total and an average of 1,540 per candidate, but differences in the personal number of votes for each candidate gave the Conservatives one seat to show for their 4,197 votes, 39% of the total.

Full results:

Katrina Al-Hassan (Lab): 1,614

Rachael Hunt (Con): 1,532

Ron Hardie (Lab): 1,508

Sadik Al-Hassan (Lab): 1,498

Colin Hunt (Con): 1,482

Alka Mehta-Graham (Con): 1,183

Sian Harris (Grn): 876

Gabriela Miron (LD): 424

Susan Walker (LD): 324

Laurence Walker (LD): 306

Turnout: 31%

Winning candidates Ian Boulton, Michael Bell and Katie Cooper

Winning candidates Katrina Al-Hassan, Rachael Hunt and Ron Hardie

n CORONATION CELEBRATIONS

Thousands join Big Lunch in park

THOUSANDS of people came to Page Park for a community Coronation celebration.

The Coronation Big Lunch event on Sunday May 7 was organised by the Friends of Page Park to bring families, friends and neighbours together, with people invited to bring picnics and gather in the park, with a programme of musical performances at the bandstand and stalls for those who hadn't brought their own food.

As well as individual families, residents of several local roads gathered to hold their street parties in the park, with community groups also adding their gatherings to the mix.

The free event was funded by the Friends, supported by a £1,000 grant from South Gloucestershire Council and donations from people who attended on the day.

Friends vice-chair Steph Purser said: "It was an incredible day, and really brought family, friends and neighbours together.

"It was lovely to see so many children playing football and other games, not looking at their phones.

"For me, it was what our green spaces are all aboutbringing communities together."

The event relied on volunteers to organise, set up, steward and clear up afterwards.

Steph said: "We thank everybody who helped, especially a team from the Mormon Church who offered to help at short notice."

For four generations of the Formoso family, from Mangotsfield, the event was a double celebration, as they also celebrated Napoli winning the Italian Serie A football title.= Kerri said: "My dad's Italian but we're feeling fully British today."

Emergency at event ends in tragedy

AMBULANCE, police and volunteers worked together to help a performer who collapsed during the Coronation Big Lunch event at Page Park.

A member of the Rock Choir suffered a medical emergency at the start of the group's scheduled performance.

She was treated by the five paramedics on duty at the site and South Western Ambulance Service sent two ambulances before an area of the park was cleared by police and volunteers so that Great Western Air Ambulance specialists could fly in to help.

The woman was taken to Bristol Royal Infirmary by one of the road ambulances but sadly died later.

Storm Force 10 performed sea shanties from the bandstand

Members of the Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion had Union Jack designs on everything from hats to cup cakes

Residents of Ducie Road in Staple Hill relocated their street party to the park. Anita Dobson said: "We normally have a street party every year, and have been for about eight years, but this year we thought it would be good to support what Page Park was doing - and it was easier to come to the park than close our road!"

Topper tops off high street decorations

DOWNEND WI's talented knitters produced another masterpiece to help decorate the high street for the Coronation of King Charles III.

Decorated with around 60 red, white and blue felt roses and topped with an impressive woollen replica of the St Edward's Crown used in the Coronation ceremony, the topper outside the post office was the result of hundreds of hours' work by the group's 46 members.

The topper was designed by WI member Suzzie Belcher, who also painstakingly created the crown.

Members produced the felt roses, based on a Tudor design. Crocheted roses, daffodils, shamrock and a thistle represented the nations of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Suzzie, who also designed toppers for the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee and Remembrance Sunday last year, said: "We started work in February. The crown took three weeks of solid work."

The topper complemented the displays of flags and bunting put up in the high street area by volunteers from Downend & Bromley Heath in Bloom.

Commemorative rose

Mangotsfield Ladies members planted a rose to mark the Coronation. Carol Coombs, from the group, said: "It is important to preserve as much as possible for future generations and by planting a commemorative rose at the Dame School we feel we are leaving a legacy which, as the rose develops, can be enjoyed by those passing by."

Coronation quiz

Downend Library held an entertaining Coronation quiz, which included sampling some cakes, tea and coffee laid on by library staff. Winning Downend Sporting Memories team members Damian Cussen, Mark Hoskins, Terry Norris, Alan Payne, Mike Fisher and Caroline Payne are pictured with their prize.

RBL celebrates

Members of the Staple Hill & District branch of the Royal British Legion held a party at the Page Community Association with the Mickey Finn Band on May 5 to celebrate the Coronation.

Members who attended the next morning's monthly branch breakfast at the Lamb Inn in Mangotsfield watched the Coronation there, while branch chairman Ian Campbell and secretary Glen Cooper were invited to the Palace to see the procession and balcony appearance from the grandstand.

WI members Vanessa Martin, Lynne van Raalte, Suzzie Belcher, Shelley Brown, Linda Russ and Sally Cavill with the postbox topper

Children make lasting memories of

Schools staged a variety of events to mark the Coronation, from a cake competition judged by Bake Off star Giuseppe Dell'Anno to volunteering sessions top raise money for charities

Christ Church Infants

CHILDREN at Christ Church

Infant School in Downend held their own outdoor Big Lunch event on the day before King Charles's Coronation.

Head teacher Anna Martin said: "The school turned red, white and blue as we enjoyed eating and dancing outside and playing on the field for the first time this year due to all of the rain.

"A huge thank-you to our wonderful catering team, who always go above and beyond to make events really special for the children and to Miss Lumbard and our lunchtime team for helping me to get all of the tables, decorations, food and music outside. It was definitely worth the effort!"

Barley Close

CHILDREN and staff at Barley

Close Primary School in Mangotsfield were invited to come dressed as a King or Queen from the past, present or future as part of their celebration day for the Coronation.

Head teacher Jo Williams said: "We had Egyptian Pharaohs, Queen Victoria, people

in Aston Villa football kits in preparation for the future King William - even Elvis made an appearance!

"We had a Coronation picnic lunch and all the children made

crowns to wear. We love cooking, so thanks to Warburton’s who donated lots of bread, we were able to make cucumber and jam sandwiches, our own Victoria sponge cakes and scones. We

enjoyed eating this together.

"Year 5 also decorated rocks which are around the school grounds as a lasting memory.

"We sent some photos to the King and are hoping for a reply."

Christ Church Infants' Big Lunch

Children dressed in red, white and blue for the party

Making sandwiches for the picnic

Barley Close children dressed up for their party

n LOCAL ELECTIONS historic event

St Augustine of Canterbury

A VISIT from Giuseppe Dell’Anno topped off a "wonderful series of Coronation celebrations" at St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Primary School in Downend.

The winner of the 2021 Great British Bake Off judged entries in a family cake baking competition and then gave seven lucky children, picked out in a raffle held for each class, the chance to bake macaroons using a recipe from a new book he is publishing soon.

Children dressed in red, white and blue for a tea party with traditional games afterwards.

Head teacher Mark Hilliam said: "The whole school community came together brilliantly to celebrate our new king, Charles III.

"The children loved decorating the school with their bunting and filling their picnic boxes up for their tea party.

"The weather didn’t dampen our spirits for our traditional games outside either.

"The festivities were truly crowned by our visit from Giuseppe, who judged our cakes, answered our questions and even baked with the children. He really was the icing on the cake!”

Bromley Heath Junior School

BROMLEY Heath Junior School pupils linked their latest theme of 'kindness' to the Big Help Out volunteering event launched as part of the Coronation celebrations.

Year 4 children carried out a litter pick in the neighbourhood to care for the environment, while Year 5s greeted and packed bags for customers at the Co-op to raise money for charities, collecting a total of £87.68 for Diabetes UK and £73.55 for Macmillan.

Year 3 pupils ran a break-time fruit stall in the playground which raised £24.73 for the North Bristol and South Gloucestershire Food Bank, while children in Year 6 explored how to show kindness to the planet by thinking about their carbon footprint.

Deputy head teacher Stewart McSmythurs said: "The children have really enjoyed supporting one another and the community."

Children dressed in red, white and blue for Coronation activities including crownmaking, designing new stamps and drawing

portraits before celebrating the event with squash, cup-cakes and traditional games. They also learned about coronation traditions stretching back to Anglo-Saxon times, studied coronation regalia and the timeline of the British monarchy.

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These St Augustine's children won the chance to bake macaroons with Giuseppe Dell'Anno.

A Bromley Heath Junior School litter-picking team

n CORONATION CELEBRATIONS

Bunting, dancing, fun and games at

WHILE big events drew thousands of people to parks and open spaces during the Coronation bank holiday weekend, some residents took the chance to organise their own street parties to bring their communities together.

Residents of the 64 homes in Woodside Road, off Cleeve Wood Road, made the most of the good weather on Sunday May 7 to meet up in the sun.

Jodie Godfrey, who helped organise the event, said: "It was the first official Road closure held by Woodside Road.

"With lots of newcomers to the street it was a real unknown as to how well-supported the event would be, but it was a true success, a real chance for a long road to come together and meet.

"We had residents who have lived on the road for 50-plus years meeting with newcomers and their families.

"Children along the road got creative and set up cupcake making - we even had our own crazy golf designed by the younger residents.

"One of our residents brought out his 'Coronation express' train set, which kept the children guessing where the train would stop to win a prize.

"It was so lovely that the council waived the road closure application fee - this is definitely something that should continue to be encouraged to bring communities together.

"Watching the children play in the street was wonderful and I was truly surprised at how many children live along the road."

Also on May 7, residents of Oakdale Road in Bromley Heath followed up the success of last year's Platinum Jubilee party with another get-together.

Fiona Konteh, who helped organise the event, said: "The Oakdale Army sprang into action once more and bedecked the road with bunting.

"We were blessed with beautiful weather and a great turn-out, which once again brought the community together.

"We were very grateful to Avon Fire Service, who brought along a fire tender for everyone to have a look at and appreciate the work that the service does for us all.

"There was singing and

dancing and the ever-popular ice creams and tombola, which raised funds for the Bromley Heath Scout & Guide HQ Fund."

Around 25 residents of nearby Oakdale Court gathered for a party on Coronation day.

A resident said: "We held the celebrations on the Saturday, after the Coronation finished, in one of the gardens and had home-made pizzas and barbecue, with a delicious Victoria sponge from the Cake Fairy Bristol."

The Woodside Road Street party

The Coronation Express at Woodside Road

Tables set out along Oakdale Road

Dancing in Oakdale Road

street parties

Fun in Fouracre Crescent

MAY 7 was the day residents of Fouracre Crescent in Bromley Heath came together for their street party.

Among the fun and games were a 'pig race' using battery-powered toys, a raffle and fancy dress competition for the children living in the street.

The pig race and raffle raised a total of £644, which was divided between two charities, the Resound Food Bank and Bristol Soup Run.

Resident Emma Showering said: "Having the road closed off meant the kids could play games and the committee could all get together and have fun. It was a fantastic day and a thank you to the residents for supporting the event.

"Thank you for the support from Raj Sood, in supplying sweets and cakes for the event and being a judge. And a big thank-you to the committee on running this event."

China and chat at church centre

Visitors to a Coronation cream tea at the Church Centre in Quaker’s Road, Downend, were served home-made cakes on traditional china, which all had to be washed by hand.

A total of 95 people attended the event on May 8, singing songs accompanied by pianist Roger Cholmondeley and playing Call My Bluff with clues devised by Thelma Martin.

Christ Church Downend chaplain for older people, Anne-Louise Critchlow, said there was a "feeling of fun and welcome" at the event, adding: "The flags were up, the tea was poured, the tables set, and the chatter was in full flow!"

She thanked the helpers who made the event and South Gloucestershire council, which provided a £250 grant.

The Oakdale Court coronation cake Owen and Rhys Stanton at their family's Coronation party in Staple Hill

n TURNERS VISION

5 mistakes to avoid when choosing glasses

Finding glasses you’re happy with isn’t just nice to have, it is essential. You’re likely to be wearing them every day after all, so you won’t want to be constantly irritated by them or wearing them less than you ought to because you’re embarrassed to wear them. But choosing the right frames can be frustrating with so many different frames available. The amount of choice can often feel overwhelming and timeconsuming, leading to people making snap decisions, just to ‘get the job done’. And that’s when mistakes get made that lead to discomfort, dissatisfaction, and glasses you don’t much want to wear.

Here are five mistakes to avoid when choosing your next pair of glasses: Not considering your face shape

One of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing glasses is not considering their face shape. Different frames suit different face shapes, and it's essential to choose a pair that complements your features. For example, round frames look great on angular faces, while square-shaped frames tend to suit round faces.

Not thinking about your lifestyle

What you do in life plays a significant role in what style of glasses you need. If you lead an active lifestyle, you may need more durable glasses or have sportspecific frames. Alternatively, if you spend a lot of time at your computer, you may need lenses that block screen glare.

Putting fashion first

Everyone wants to look and feel good in their glasses, but it’s just as important to choose a comfortable and functional pair. A fashionable frame that doesn't fit well or causes discomfort can lead to headaches, eye strain, and other eye problems. Our frame stylists are experts in helping our customers find the perfect pair that tick all the boxes.

Forgetting that lenses matter

The material of your lenses can affect clarity of vision, weight of your glasses, and overall comfort. Scratch or impact-resistant lenses improve durability, whereas transition lenses improve your vision in the sun. Choosing the right lens material makes a significant difference to vision and comfort. At Turners, our specialist lab makes lenses just for our patients. Our experienced team can help you choose the right lens options to match your individual needs and lifestyle.

Bypassing a professional fitting

One of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing glasses is bypassing a professional fitting. This often happens when people buy online. Poorly fitting glasses cause discomfort, slippage and even headaches. Our expert frame stylists ensure your glasses fit comfortably, so you enjoy maximum comfort and visual clarity.

At Turners Opticians, we offer a VIP fitting experience to help you avoid the pitfalls and find the perfect glasses. Our frame stylists are available at both practices to guide you through the process, taking your lifestyle, face shape, and personal preferences into consideration

To book view our glasses range, call our Henleaze team on 0117 962 2474 or Fishponds team on 0117 965 4434.

Ginny Allwood MCOptom Prof Cert Med Ret, is an Associate specialist Optometrist and Qualified Dispensing Optician, at Turners Opticians in Bristol

Festival will bring hope to Ukrainian war victim

A FESTIVAL of accordion music organised by a Downend musician will raise money for a young Ukrainian boy who was badly injured in a Russian missile attack.

Roman Oleksiv, who is seven years old, suffered severe burns in the bombing, which killed his mother Galyna.

His father Yaroslav is a professional musician and composer, who met Andy Coles, from Downend, online during the pandemic, when they both served on international juries for world accordion championships.

Roman was left disfigured and unable to walk unassisted by the Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia in July last year, which killed at least 23 people.

Andy said: "We all know about the atrocities in Ukraine, but for me it's personal.

"It was estimated that 45% of Roman's body was covered in external burns and that another 35% of his body was burned internally. Can you imagine?

"Young Roman still wears a face mask because of the burns, but against all predictions is starting to walk again.

"Yaroslav remains in Ukraine with his son, who continues to recover."

Andy is dedicating any money raised at the South/South West Accordion Festival, the local area festival held on behalf of the

National Accordion Organisation, to helping Roman and others.

The charity event will take place at Europa House, Midland Way, in Thornbury, all day on Sunday June 11.

Entry is free, but Andy is asking anyone who comes along to make a donation, either in cash or via website JustGiving.

His employer Motorcycle Direct has made the venue available free to maximise the money raised.

Andy said: "Our first priority is to help Roman.

"Depending on the amount raised, the accordion fraternity has many contacts in Ukraine who would also benefit."

The event starts with a short local accordion competition from mid-morning, with solos, duets and an orchestra.

In the afternoon there will be a concert with a range of different musical styles, with a choir, accordion orchestra and soloists, and a steel band already booked and others in the pipeline, including some traditional Ukrainian musicians.

It is the first regional event for the National Accordion Organisation of the UK since the start of the pandemic.

Free parking is available for about 100 cars at the venue, and refreshments will be

available, with all profits going to the appeal. Donations to help Roman can be made at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/musicians-forukraine

For more information, contact Andy at AccordionSW@gmail.com.

Yaroslav Oleksiv and his son Roman, who was badly burned in a Russian attack

Benches on the way

WORK to add new benches and planters to Downend's high street area is set to take place in the coming weeks.

Earlier this year the council 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.

The removal work, funded by Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council, sparked a public protest by one of the volunteers who helped build the seating, Terry Henson.

South Gloucestershire Council has now fixed May 31 as the date that new planters and 'green screens', designed to improve air quality and the look of the area, will be installed.

The new benches are expected to be installed immediately afterwards, with the work expected to be completed by June 9.

New pledge on road works

WORK to resurface three roads in Downend and two in Staple Hill is due to be completed over the next month.

South Gloucestershire Council has issued a notice informing residents that Coronation Road, Oakdale Court and Walker Close in Downend, and Middle Road and Stanley Park Road in Staple Hill are in line for the work.

The council has a legal order enabling it to close the roads to all traffic at any point up until next October, but says it expects the work to be completed by the beginning of July, taking up to two weeks in each location.

Later in the year work is due to be carried out to resurface two stretches of Badminton Road, between the Cleeve Hill and Cleeve Park Road junctions and the Westbourne Road and Blackhorse Lane junctions.

Further resurfacing work is also planned on Soundwell Road in Staple Hill, between Gladstone Street and Lansdown Road.

Royal Road in Mangotsfield is due to be resurfaced from the Northcote Road junction to just beyond the Streamside junction.

South Gloucestershire Council recently announced its transport priority list of traffic schemes for the current financial year, including

investigations into the possibility of introducing a 20mph limit and traffic calming in the Charnhill Drive area, following the removal of road closures brought in during the lockdown.

Traffic calming on Peache Road, near the school crossing patrol serving children attending Stanbridge Primary School, is also set to be investigated.

A zebra crossing is set to be installed, at a cost of just over £50,000 on Four Acre Road in Bromley Heath, just south of the Quakers Road junction.

Footpath resurfacing is planned on several roads in Bromley Heath: Fouracre Avenue, Heath Road, Heath Walk, Heath Gardens, Heath Court, Oakdale Avenue, Oakdale Road, Glendale, Oakdale Close, Windsor Court, Sandringham Avenue and Sandholme Close.

The work to resurface Badminton Road was welcomed by Frenchay & Downend ward councillor Ben Burton, who said: “These particular stretches of road were seriously affected by the cold weather we had over the winter period, and I know local residents have raised concerns about defects that have appeared as a result."

DOWNEND & BROMLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL

is pleased to announce those elected to the Parish Council for the period 2023-2027 are:-

DOWNEND WARD

The Parish Council subsequently received two expressions of interest to join the Council and at the meeting on 18 May, Councillor Jacky Dockerty and Councillor Mike Richards were co-opted to D&BH PC. This now leaves one vacancy in Downend Ward and two vacancies in Staple Hill Ward.

If you are interested in serving as a Parish Councillor, please send a written expression of interest to the Parish Clerk, along with a short personal statement giving reasons why you are interested in joining the Parish Council and what particular set of skills and experience you feel you can bring to the role. Please also confirm that you consent for this information to be passed on to the Parish Councillors of Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council.

Your name must appear on the current register of electors, or you

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED …..

What is a Parish Council? - A Parish Council is a local authority that makes decisions on behalf of the people in the parish and has an overall responsibility for the well-being of its local community. It is the level of government closest to the community, with the district authority above it in the hierarchy. As it is the authority closest to the people, Parish Councils are invariably the first-place people will go to with concerns or ideas. For this reason, they are a vital part of any community, representing the local people, delivering services to meet local needs and striving to improve the quality of life in the area. Why become a Parish Councillor? If you’ve never been to a Parish Council meeting before, you may be forgiven for thinking that Parish Councillors are a group of people who meet now and then in a draughty village hall. If, however, you live in a community where something ‘big’ has happened,

should, during the whole of the twelve months preceding the relevant date, have resided in or within three miles of the parish, or your only place of work during the whole of the twelve months preceding the relevant date is in the parish.

Parish Councillors will consider submissions at the meeting to be held on Thursday 15 June 2023. We would encourage you to talk to any of the Parish Councillors or Parish Clerk about the role.

Candidates for co-option will be required to attend the full council meeting on Thursday 15 June 2023, 7pm at Badminton Road Methodist Church to make a short, maximum five minutes address to the Parish Council giving your reasons for wishing to be considered as a Parish Councillor.

you’ll know that when people in the community need support and guidance, it is sometimes the Parish Council that is turned to.

By becoming a Parish Councillor, you become someone your community will look to for help, guidance and support. Seeing your community change for the better, as a result of decisions you have helped make, is something that can give you a sense of achievement and pride.

What decisions do Parish Councils make? Parish Councils make all kinds of decisions on issues that affect the local community. Probably the most common topics that Parish Councils get involved with are planning matters (as statutory consultees), helping local groups, managing open spaces and campaigning for and delivering better services and facilities.

It’s true to say that on their own, Parish Councils have limited powers to make decisions. However, they do have the ability to negotiate with, and the

power to influence, those other organisations that do make the final decisions. In this respect Parish Councils are extremely powerful. The organisations that make the final decisions know that a Parish Council gives the best reflection of how a community feels about something, and its views will be taken seriously.

How much time does it take up? Councils usually meet once a month for the Council meeting, to which members of the public are also invited. Meetings may last up to two hours, depending on the agenda set for the meeting to discuss. Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council has committees and working groups to deal with specific subjects. In addition to the regular meetings, councillors are required to attend other meetings representing the Council, for example acting as a representative on an outside body, community activities or helping develop a new project for the community.

We look forward to hearing from you!

DOWNEND & BROMLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL

Councillor Phil Abbott

Councillor James Griffiths

Councillor Janet Biggin

Councillor Matt Pitts

Councillor Ben Burton

Councillor Raj Kumar Sood

Councillor Alvis West

Car overturns

TWO people were taken to hospital after a car overturned in Downend.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said one of the occupants of the Dacia Sandero car, which overturned on Cleeve Hill, had to be freed by firefighters using cutting equipment, while the other had managed to get out before they arrived.

The car overturned after a collision involving another car, a Ford Focus, at about 3.25pm on May 9, between the Cleeve Hill Extension and Cleeve Park Road junctions.

Police closed the road between the two junctions, and also restricted access from the traffic lights at Badminton Road, while the rescue and an investigation took place.

A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust said two ambulances, a hazardous area response team and rapid response vehicle were sent to the scene of the incident.

The spokesperson added: "Two individuals were conveyed by two land ambulances to Southmead Hospital."

Plastics promise

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council insists that hard plastics left at its Sort It centre in Mangotsfield are still being recycled, despite the removal of a dedicated collection bay.

Rigid plastics that cannot be left out for kerbside collection, such as garden furniture and toys, have been collected at the tip in Carsons Road for several years. The dedicated bay was removed earlier this year, and the space is now used for wood recycling.

The change was not widely publicised by the council and when Mangotsfield residents Mike and Linda Reeves went to the centre to dispose of some plastic items Mike says staff could only tell him there had been a directive to put all hard plastics in with general waste.

A council spokesperson said the rigid plastic collection bay had been removed to make way for a separate collection point for soft and stuffed furnishings such as sofas, in line with rules on these so-called Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Visitors who ask about the change should be given leaflets about the changes, the spokesperson said, adding: "The changes were due to limited space on site to allow us to segregate the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS) materials and separately collect rigid plastics. Rigid plastics are now placed in with the general waste pile at the recycling centres, which is then sent to a facility in Bristol which sorts the waste and removes recyclable materials, including rigid plastics."

Mike said: "It's ridiculous to do this when people were already separating the plastic out. It's doubling the work - somebody's got to watch it go through a conveyor belt and pick out the plastic from the rubbish."

The council says rigid plastics can be "easily separated" at the site in Bristol. The stuffed furnishings are sent to an "energy from waste" for incineration.

Police examine the overturned car after the doors were removed and a trapped person rescued.

n NEWS

Station art project was no folly, says leader

THE project manager of the year-long Mangotsfield Folly creative project has written to highlight some of its successes.

Suzanne Heath organised events at the wooden structure, built by architects Artel31 at the former Mangotsfield Station next to the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, in a project organised with transport charity Sustrans and funded by Arts Council England and Emersons Green Town Council.

The project had a rough start, being damaged by vandals in April and May last year before the first installation, a mural by Bristol artists Lucas Antics, was even started.

And it was brought to a premature close when two stolen motorbikes were set on fire in April and May of this year, wrecking the structure and scuppering plans to hold a farewell event then give it and the mural to a local group.

Suzanne said: "Over the past 12 months Mangotsfield Station on the Bristol –Bath Railway Path has hosted a series of temporary artist commissions responding to the history of the station.

"Artworks have included participatory events, dance, music, visual art, printmaking and audio-based artworks.

"Artist Feral Practice ran public events at

the site, including bug hunting with a local expert and bird ringing with an ornithologist.

"Her project culminated in a series of seven audio artworks including an interview with the last stationmaster’s daughter.

"Three emerging artists were awarded mini commissions to create experimental new work for the site, including local female artist collective Comfy Club, who installed bike stands and a tiny slide; Lauren Ainley who performed her choreography commission at Mangotsfield; and artist/gardener Jo Ball, who planted 1,000 bulbs at Mangotsfield Station and sang with the Orchard Community Choir to welcome spring.

"Other Bristol-based artists involved included writer Holly Corfield Carr who collaborated with printmaker Nick Hand and illustrator Harriet Lee Merrion to create a poem-based card game called Impatience. The project launched with an event where people could print a postcard on Nick’s Printing Bike.

"Hand painted and gilded signage was commissioned by signwriter Straight and Narrow Signs, and we worked with City Edition Studio on the graphic design. The site was also used by two groups of art students from Bath Spa University who showed their

work at the station in May 2022.

"We would love to hear your views on the project, and what you would like to see at Mangotsfield Station in the future."

Suzanne is inviting people to share their views by emailing info@suzanneheath.co.uk.

Images videos and sound recordings from the project, and more information, can be found at mangotsfieldfolly.uk.

A bug hunting session held at Mangotsfield Folly last summer. Picture: Suzanne Heath

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Helping Frenchay field flourish

A NINE-acre field in Frenchay is being turned into a wildflower meadow as part of a five-year nature project.

Tuckett Field was left to the community in 1928 by the widow of Francis Fox Tuckett, a local botanist and explorer, "for the benefit of the inhabitants of Frenchay".

The field, which lies between Cleeve Hill, Beckspool Road and Frenchay Hill, and is also known as the saddleback or hilly field, will be planted with 70 species of flower later this year.

It is part of the Local Nature Action Plan drawn up by Winterbourne Parish Council, the field's custodian.

The project is being financed by a £20,000 grant from the West of England Combined Authority's Bee Bold Pollinator Fund and private donations.

Parish councillor Adrian Collins said the five year plan would be complete in time for the centenary of the field being given to Frenchay residents, in 2028.

The field is used by many local people for dog walking and picnics.

It is next to the National Trust's Frenchay Moor, alongside the River Frome, which is subject to its own 20-year plan.

Cllr Collins said: "The WECA team who assessed our application were particularly impressed with the existing conservation and preservation work undertaken in Frenchay, which has involved local residents and Duke of Edinburgh award students being completely hands-on with many vital projects in a key conservation area.

"This award will facilitate continued community involvement, with many other local voluntary groups wanting to make a difference as the project gets under way."

He said the WECA grant meant environmental work that will have a lasting benefit for residents could be carried out without using parish funds that are "needed for so many other deserving projects", and other grant-giving organisations were now interested in providing support.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris visited the field as part of work to promote 'No Mow May', a drive to let lawns grow and flowers flourish during an important part of the year for bees and other wildlife.

He said: “Giving the mower a breather for a few extra weeks, and embracing a little more wildness in our gardens, really is so, so important – for our plants, our butterflies and of course, our bee buddies."

Community planting days to sow the wildflower seeds are planned for the autumn, with local organisations Grow Wilder and Winterbourne Environmental Group involved.

Managed grazing by small dexter cattle, which are often used in rewilding projects, could also take place on both the Tuckett and National Trust fields.

A wetland pond on the site will also be enhanced, and new trees planted at the boundaries.

Once the wildflowers are established the area will be more attractive not just for pollinating insects but for the other wildlife that feeds on them, including birds, bats and other small mammals.

Parish councillors Charlie Watkins, Hugh Whatley, Paul Kembery and Adrian Collins with consultant Neil Falango and Metro Mayor Dan Norris on Tuckett Field in Frenchay. Picture: WECA

Dave takes West End bow after Covid recovery

A DOWNEND man who returned to singing after taking part in a ground-breaking covid recovery programme has performed on the West End stage.

Retired driving instructor Dave Smith caught Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic, and had the disease for ten months - the longest recorded case in the world at the time.

Dave's immune system had already been weakened by chemotherapy treatment for leukaemia, which he was given the all-clear from only a week before catching covid.

He came close to death several times and developed pulmonary fibrosis, a form of lung disease which meant he had only half his previous lung capacity.

As part of his recovery Dave, who had sung in rock bands for 57 years, took part in an online course called ENO Breathe, devised by the English National Opera and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust to tackle post-covid breathlessness and anxiety.

It caused such an improvement that Dave was able to perform again in December last year, staging a gig at the Langley Arms pub in Emersons Green, where he has been hosting a weekly quiz for 23 years.

In May Dave was one of 67 participants in the course invited to perform at London's biggest West End theatre, the Coliseum, before an ENO production to showcase the success of the

project, which has helped more than 2,500 people.

The event was filmed by the BBC, whose presenter Jon Kay had initially found out about the ENO Breathe programme and joined Dave and wife Lyn at the event.

Dave had been asked to take part because of his previous appearance on the BBC and, after he and Lyn arrived by train in London, a camera crew met them at Leicester Square tube station and filmed them walking to the theatre, through crowds who were starting to gather for the Coronation.

Dave said: "The afternoon was spent doing rehearsals interspersed with sessions of breathing and calming exercises.

"The staff of the ENO were brilliant, and didn’t over-tax us in any way.

"In the early evening we had a rehearsal on stage with the full 30-piece orchestra and then did the performance, which only amounted to some seven or eight minutes before the main opera.

"The house was packed, the Coliseum being the largest theatre in London with a 2,395 seat capacity."

Dave and the rest of the covid recovery choir sang three short lullabies, called Dawn, Twilight and Midnight, which had been collectively written by the participants.

He said: "The cameras followed me right through and left just as the opera started its 'Symphony of Sorrowful Songs' - not my cup of tea, but the audience seemed to love it!

PEOPLE aged 75 and over or who have a weakened immune system are being urged to come forward to have a Covid booster jab by the end of the month.

The current offer of first and second Covid-19 vaccinations will end at the same time as spring vaccinations, on June 30.

After that date the NHS will concentrate on targeting people judged to be at increased risk, usually during seasonal vaccination campaigns.

Those most vulnerable to a covid infection, including care home residents, are being contacted by the NHS at the moment to arrange a jab.

However, carers and loved ones of those most at risk are not eligible for the booster.

Dr Geeta Iyer, clinical lead for the

Deadline on booster jabs

vaccination programme in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, said: “We are learning to live with Covid but cannot afford to be complacent – we are only able to live with this virus thanks to the excellent vaccination rates locally and across England.

"Covid-19 is still in wide circulation, and over 8,000 people are in hospital with a Covid infection.

“Older people and those with a weakened immune system remain at greatest risk of severe illness and being

hospitalised from Covid-19, so if you are entitled to a spring top-up vaccination, I strongly encourage you to take up the offer.

"It’s quick and easy to recharge your immunity and will give you the protection you need for the months ahead.”

People who are eligible can book an appointment at their nearest doctor’s surgery when invited, or by calling 119.

You can also attend a walk-in community vaccination clinic: local ones are listed online at the grabajab.net website.

Dave Smith with BBC presenter Jon Kay, who has been following his journey to recovery for the corporation

Dave (far right) performing on the Coliseum stage

Women show age is no barrier to cheerleading

A GROUP of cheerleaders with an average age of 40 showed the youngsters how it's done when they recorded the top score in a competition.

Bromley Heath-based pom dance club Bristol Starlight, which has members from across the Downend and Emersons Green areas, sent four teams to their first contest of the year at Hartpury College in Gloucestershire in April - a Teenies squad whose youngest member was six, Junior A, Junior B and, for the first time, a Masters squad.

Head coach Deb Denny said: "It was our first competition of the year, and the first competition ever for my Masters team, with an average age of 40 years - most of whom hadn't done cheerleading before the end of last year.

"Not only did they come first in their category but they had the overall highest score, beating all the much younger groups! It was a wonderful performance."

Three of the teams won their age categories and the fourth came second.

Deb added: "Amazingly our Masters had the highest overall score, so were the champions of the whole event, beating 44 other teams.

"Not bad for a group of 14 women, many

of whom had only started coming to my monthly adult classes at the end of 2022!

"Many of the team took part as their daughters were competing.

"It was such an amazing day and so great to see such a range of ages enjoying pom dance."

Joanna, Daughter of Resident at Quarry House (source: carehome.co.uk)

The winning Bristol Starlight Masters team

n DOWNEND IN BLOOM

Looking ahead to our summer blooms

BY the time you read this we will probably have removed all of the panolas and replaced them with our summer blooms.

We should also have taken delivery of most of our larger displays – the pole planters, rail baskets, 'Welcome to Downend' signs and some of the tiered planters.

With the panolas we have to take them out, empty the containers and replenish them with 170 bags of compost.

It is always a sad time as the panolas are in full bloom (apologies in advance, as they look so nice and we do feel guilty taking them out!).

However, as the summer progresses they would not do well, so they do need to be changed.

We then have around 1,900 petunias of various types, geraniums, Busy Lizzies and salvias to plant out.

It is like a military campaign, where plants are sorted into the type of planter to be planted and the volunteers then collect a tray, which is labelled, and plant up that display.

With around 200 planters, it is a long job! We start at 7am and usually finish around 2pm but then have to water all of the plants in - unless it rains of course, which is a bonus!

It is always a very busy time for us, and a relief when it is complete.

There are also seats and planters arriving at the end of May, which are to be installed by South Gloucestershire Council. These will be placed by Sainsbury's and the old Lloyds Bank, and will be a great asset to the High Street. I am looking forward to seeing them brightening up these two rather dull areas.

We are continuing to make progress with our new container site and will hopefully soon have a covered area for the maintenance crew to work under. This will enable us to hopefully start making and selling our popular items again, eg planters, bird boxes etc. We will keep you informed. Today I have just returned from doing an In Bloom talk.

I have been asked to do a few recently at the Lincombe Barn Gardening Club, Britannia Court, Downend WI and Woodland Court.

Many thanks to all of these groups for inviting us, and for their generous donations to the In Bloom displays.

Looking forward to a great summer of blooms.

Jackie Baker

n DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS REVIEW

DOWNEND

FOLK & ROOTS REVIEW: HARBOTTLE & JONAS

FRIDAY 21 APRIL 2023, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND

" WHAT a great space this is'', says Dave Harbottle. "It's like the perfect combination of the old and the new." He's right too, Christ Church Downend is looking at its very best tonight. The sunset streams through the open doors, blue lights gently uplight the mullioned windows, the woodwork painted subtle shades. It's an old place cast in a different light.

In Devon duo Harbottle & Jonas, the church has found a band with whom it might have a spiritual bond. They're a combination of the old and the new too. Starting with Was It You, a Ewan Carruthers song about Scott of the Antarctic's last moments, they are delightfully hushed, wonderfully gentle. The harmonies that they weave fall as lightly as spring rain. Freya Jonas has a voice of rare beauty, but it's not flash; it very softly calls our names, an honest humility not a rafter raising roar.

Hall Sands is more upbeat. A song remembering a village washed away on the South Coast of Devon, it's filled with the echoes of an old place but bounces along with the fondest of memories. Harbottle's acoustic guitar captures the crash of waves while the harmonium (that Jonas plays with

her leg!) bottles the voices drifting on the sea air.  Jonas wonders, at one stage, whether they've lived around Totnes for too long because so many of their songs are steeped in sea water. Hall Sands is certainly not the only one.

Mingulay Boat Song is instantly recognisable, a bit of Scottish trad arr, but here it is very, very lovely indeed. Harbottle plays cittern with a harp-like delicacy whilst keeping time with a simple kick drum. Jonas exhorts us to raise our voices - "where better place to do that than here?" - but none of us can get close to her. By the time these two break the song down to an acapella conclusion any hopes of singing along are in the past. Their harmonies are glorious.

In a move that's, surely, guaranteed to bait their Devonian neighbours, Cornwall My Home is a sea shanty slowed to the pace of a spiritual. There's no rabble

n DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS PREVIEW

NEXT AT DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS: BELLA HARDY + HANNAH SCOTT

FRIDAY 16 JUNE 2023, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND

Back in May 2014, Downend Folk Club (as it was then called) held their first official concert. The guest was the recently crowned BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year… a certain Bella Hardy. It was the sign of things to come as Downend Folk & Roots (as it is now called) continues to bring the very best folk, roots and acoustic music to the area.

That it’s taken nine years to have Bella return, though, makes it long overdue. Performing solo back in 2024 at Frenchay Village Hall, this is set to be an altogether grander affair, as she’s joined by Sam Carter (guitar) and Daniel Wallington (keys) in the glorious surroundings of Christ Church Downend.

Bella Hardy has sung unaccompanied ballads at a sold-out Royal Albert Hall, learnt the songs of Chinese farmers during her time as British Council

Musician in Residence in Yunnan Province, and spent a year in Tennessee as a ranch hand, looking after horses, fiddle-singing in the diners, and immersing herself in the music culture of Nashville. With unflinching courage, Bella has explored and blurred musical boundaries from a mastery of traditional music to pop production and electronics, releasing ten solo records including her Best Of in 2019. With her acclaimed, mesmerising voice and earthy fiddle accompaniments, Bella now writes and composes

rousing or beating on tables here, this is Americana-tinged and filled with yearning. Not so much a celebration, more a heartsick remembering. Many of the sea related songs come from an album made a few years ago and the title track, The Sea Is My Brother, is another where the waves threaten to pull you away, into another world. This one is Kerouac-ean and ocean deep.

Of the non-seafaring songs, perhaps, Whenever You See A Robin is the one that is most affecting. Taken from their last physical release, The Beacon, it's another song stuffed with memories. Written in response to the death of the father of a friend, it's unbearably tender, funny and honest. Just like all the best eulogies. Harbottle takes the lead and sings with all of the care that is needed, Jonas adds sweetness as well as harmonium and concertina.

It's the sort of song that you'd hope someone would sing for you, when you're gone.

All that's left are a couple of rousing shanties, a bit of downhome crude comedy, with Peggy Seeger's It's A Free World, and a hymn. Now The Green Blade Riseth, taken from their current digitalonly release Saving The Good Stuff vol 1, is a song of resurrection. It takes the old and makes it new. As does the final song in the evening, a gorgeous, slowed version of Black Is The Colour. Harbottle & Jonas find the timeless and paint it with different colours.

The support act this evening has been to Downend before. Way back in 2015 Robert Lane supported the magnificent O'Hooley & Tidow. "It's lovely to be back so soon," he jokes. Lane mixes blues-y acoustic guitar, snatches of indie-folk and a wry sense of storytelling, poking at odd little corners just as all the best singersongwriters do. Sick Of Me is gently self-effacing while Bill Frost's Flying Machine is whimsical, telling of the first, proper, aeroplane built in Wales. On his last visit to Downend, Lane covered the Bee Gees in a folkified style, this time he has a tilt at disco folk with My Love's In Deep. It's neither particularly folk nor especially disco but it's still a great tune.

This "great space" continues to give us the very best evenings. Long may it last.

Words: Gavin McNamara

Photos: Barry Savell

as MOJO, The Guardian and Clash Magazine.

Tickets for the concert, which takes place at Christ Church Downend on Friday 16 June 2023, are available online at downendfolkandroots.com and from Melanie’s Kitchen in Downend (cash only). They are priced at £15 each in advance or £17 on the door. Doors open at 7.30pm and the entertainment starts around 7.45pm.

in her beloved Peak District, conjuring and twisting stories that call straight to the heart.

Joining Bella on the bill will be Hannah Scott. From Suffolk via Italy, Hannah performs contemporary folk music and is building a loyal following thanks to her distinctive voice, strong melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. Her music has been heard in hit TV series, Grey’s Anatomy, on BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music including a live session on Dermot O’Leary’s show, while praise for her work has arrived from publications such

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.

TShirts 4 You

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

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

Staple Hill Stores

Known locally by many people as ‘Arkwrights’, quite simply this store has so many different items they are impossible to list.

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

Lloydbottoms

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

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

enjoy greater wealth. 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.

Bella Silver 925 Jewellery Figurines - dogs horses etc

Making a Noise, making a difference

WHAT happens when a group of young volunteers from Christ Church Downend come together on a sunny May bank holiday weekend? Action, that's what.

This year, over 40 dedicated volunteers led by the church's youth group set out to make a positive difference in their local community as part of the Bristol Noise event.

Armed with gloves, trash bags, and unwavering enthusiasm, they started their mission by clearing rubbish from the Bristol to Bath cycle track at Staple Hill.

And that was just the beginning. In the afternoon, they put on a free concert, accompanied by the sweet smell of freshly baked scones and cups of steaming tea, enjoyed by over 120 senior citizens from the local community.

With their musical talents and kind-hearted spirit, the volunteers left a lasting impression on the seniors, who left with smiles on their faces.

On Monday, the volunteers

were back at it again, this time joined by over 150 children and their families for a free family fun afternoon and barbecue. It was a day filled with laughter, games, and delicious food, as the volunteers continued to spread positivity and love to everyone they met.

But they were not alone in their mission. Over 700 volunteers from

churches across Bristol had also come together for the Bristol Noise, to "show God's love in practical ways."

They embarked on 67 social action projects and free community events, all aimed at making a positive difference in their city.

In a world where words can be

Karen’s Mobile Foot Health

cheap, these volunteers from Christ Church Downend proved that actions do indeed speak louder than words.

Their commitment to making a difference in their community is an inspiration to us all.

Gary Smart & Diane Paddon Youth Leaders, Christ Church Downend

Volunteers with rubbish cleared from the Railway Path

The concert and party at Christ Church

Staple Hill life on film

PEOPLE in Staple Hill have been learning more about their local community hub thanks to a collaboration between the charity and students from the University of the West of England.

It was early last year that UWE held a pilot project with Quartet’s ProHelp – West of England service to connect their film degree students with a small number of voluntary and community organisations and create ‘modern short form’ films for them to use on social media.

The pilot went well for those involved and as a result, UWE planned for all fifteen of the film projects for their January 2023 Year One module to be solely for voluntary sector organisations.

After the Community Hub submitted a bid to be involved, and following dialogue with the students, it was decided to focus on two areas: the location of the Hub and the popular lunch club, which operates on a Monday and Friday.

Producer Emily Tuson said the students got a lot out of the project.

She said: “Filming for the Staple Hill Community Hub was a new experience for me but one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

"As a group we all worked hard to ensure we captured the right shots and told the right story, which is that the lunch club welcomes all.

"The Hub itself is an amazing place, which offers brilliant services.

"The people that go there have interesting stories and love a good

chat.

"All the volunteers at the Hub are welcoming and lovely, embracing the cameras in their faces."

Director Luke Hay said the support they received was invaluable, adding: "Even when we came across technical problems, the Hub were so accommodating, making us feel welcome and sharing with us what they do for the community, which is a beautiful thing.”

Director of photography Jude Drew said: “There was a real warmth when they started telling us some of their stories.”

Both videos were published on the Hub’s Facebook page and have been well received.

One of the key aims was to make people in the community aware of the Hub’s location. It’s well known to be on Nelson Road by those that use it, but both parties felt it was vital to extend that knowledge even wider.

One resident who has lived in the area for 25 years responded to the post by saying they had no idea it was there – well, they certainly do now!

Lucien Stephens, who oversaw sound design, said the longer they worked at the Hub the more they were drawn into its work, adding:

"After visiting a few times and talking to the staff and regulars, we became passionate about making a campaign that would do the Hub and its services justice.

"We really appreciate everything they do for their local community and hope it can continue to grow in the future."

The Staple Hill Community Hub is located at the bottom of Berkeley House on Nelson Road, BS16 5HS.

It supports people who are most in need, specifically people with learning difficulties, mental health problems, the isolated elderly, the unemployed and anyone else that needs them.

Based on a large estate, they offer a safe environment where people can meet, join in activities, make new friends, and learn new skills.

The lunch club offers good quality food at low cost, and each week’s menu is posted on social media.

You can see the videos made by the UWE students on the Hub’s Facebook page or on the website staplehillcommunityhub.org.uk.

Matthew Pick

Mental health services must improve Home inspected

A CARE home in Downend has been told to improve by inspectors.

The CQC visited Edgecumbe Lodge Care Home in Overnhill Road, which provides accommodation and personal care for up to 21 older people, including those living with dementia, in February.

Its report, published in April, said medicines were not always managed safely, although there was no evidence that people had been harmed, and the service did not always use effective infection prevention and control measures.

Ratings for quality of care, responsiveness and effectiveness were all 'good', staff were "motivated and committed" and residents and relatives had no concerns over the service, the CQC said.

Manager Pema Rinzin of Serenity Homes Limited said action had already been taken to address the CQC's concerns, including extra training and a plan shared with the regulator.

THE health regulator has told the NHS trust responsible for community mental health services in the region that it must improve.

The Care Quality Commission reduced its rating for the support, treatment and advice Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust provides for adults of working age from 'good' to 'requires improvement'.

The CQC said leadership of the service had also declined from 'good' to 'requires improvement' following the inspection, which took place in February but was published in May.

The safety of services also requires improvement, unchanged from the CQC's previous inspection, while ratings for the services' effectiveness, care and responsiveness all remain good.

The trust also requires

improvement overall, says the CQC, a rating unchanged from the previous inspection.

CQC deputy director of operations in the South of England Serena Coleman said: "During our inspection of the trust’s community services for adults, we found deterioration in how well the service was being led.

"Our experience tells us that when a service isn’t well-led, this has a knock-on effect on the quality of care being received by people.

“These leadership issues were beginning to undermine people’s safety, as the service was unable to maintain improvements across some of the areas we looked at.

"For example while we saw improvements in how risks were being managed, we saw new issues with medicines management.

“We saw teams learned from when incidents occurred but

didn’t share this learning with the wider organisation, meaning people experienced preventable incidents in other teams.

“However, the service offered a range of treatments informed by best practice and actively involved people in their care decisions.

"People also told us their care coordinators were brilliant and friendly."

A trust spokesperson said: "The CQC has acknowledged that our adult community mental health services remain caring and responsive, which is a testament to our staff during this challenging period.

"However, it is disappointing that the overall rating for the service has declined to requires improvement.

"We are committed to quickly bringing all areas back up to a suitable standard across every CQC domain."

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

Regular readers of Thought for the Month may recall that in April we were encouraged to ‘love our neighbour’ and last month to be kind to one another as Jesus was. Allow me to continue that theme.

In about AD 60 a letter was written to Christians in the Greek town of Philippi. This letter is included in the Bible. The author, Paul, uses the words of what may have been a hymn/song used at the time. He writes, In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

That is incredible and confronting. Incredible because of the astounding humility of the Son of God who came to serve us! Confronting because I ask

The mindset of Jesus

myself, do I really have that ‘same mindset’?

If we are honest, we are tempted to use our position for our own advantage. We try to make ourselves something, rather than nothing. We usually prefer to be the one served rather than the servant. We are more inclined to pride rather than humility and selfishness rather than laying our lives down for others.

But this is exactly why it was necessary for Jesus to come to us and be ‘obedient to death’. Our wrong attitudes harm us, our relationship with others, and ultimately cause a great rift between us and God – and this is what Jesus came to heal. The Bible elsewhere tells us that ‘the wages of sin is death’. What we justly earn and deserve for our wrong thoughts and actions against others and God is death and hell. We can’t be good enough for God. But the Bible also tells us, ‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who

believes in him may not die but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16). Jesus went to the cross because that was the plan of God. The only perfect man died in our place. He suffered for us. He paid the penalty that should have been ours. Those who humbly acknowledge their failure to live as we ought, and turn to Him in faith, receive the forgiveness and eternal life that only Jesus can provide.

This is why the second part of the quoted hymn/song goes on to say, Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5-11

Jesus was the humblest man to ever walk the earth, but because of what He achieved,

With Pastor Paul Donovan Pendennis Good News Church

God the Father has exalted Him to the highest place. Jesus died but He rose to life. Jesus came to us from heaven humbly in a virgins womb, He returned to heaven as victorious King. Jesus is the glorious centrepiece of God’s plan for humanity. He is the rescuer, the redeemer, the way, the truth, the life. We come to God and receive eternal life with Him through Jesus. No wonder we should all worshipfully bow before Him –and then seek to have the same mindset as Jesus with others too.

n CLEEVE HILL TENNIS CLUB Cleeve Hill tennis club history and latest league results

WE’VE been digging into the history of the club recently and only found a little about it. We thought it would be nice to share what we’ve found and wondered if the readers of Downend Voice might have a bit more information for us.

The club opened its doors in 1929, and with such a long history, it’s no wonder the club has such a fantastic feel to it, with members spanning all generations.

Here’s a snapshot of how the club came about…

19th May 1869: The date of the original deeds to the land (now containing the tennis club and surrounding houses), owned then by Sir Daniel Cave and later bequeathed to his son Sir Charles Daniel Cave.

31st December 1920: Sir Charles Daniel Cave sold the land to a farmer named Fred Ford for £1120.

21st March 1929: Fred Ford sold the land to Herbert Bracey, Walter Bracey (builders) and William Ward (solicitor) for £2100. They then developed Cleeve Hill and sold two plots to

FUN FACT: In 1929, annual adult membership cost 30 shillings (£1.50)! If you have anything that you can share with us, e.g., photos or any further social history that relates to the club, please email us at cleevehilltennis@live.com.

Talking of membership, it was great to see so many people attend our recent Open Evening on 3rd May. It was a great success with lots of new and old faces, lots of tennis and lots of socialising. Come and join us for our Open Fun Day on Sunday 25th June 11 – 4pm, where

you will find a day of tennis-related activities for adults and children, BBQ, fun games and a bouncy castle.

Frenchay in national final

A TEAM of young engineers from Frenchay Primary School competed in the national finals of a robotics competition.

The team took part in the Institute of Engineering and Technology First Lego League final in Harrogate, Yorkshire, in April after winning the regional contest earlier in the year.

The Year 6 pupils were up against 74 other teams, including from private and secondary schools, and finished in 47th place.

Head teacher Katherine Marks, and team coach and teacher Hannah Price joined the children and their families for the competition, which was live-streamed online.

Mrs Marks said: "We were honoured to accompany them as they demonstrated fantastic resilience, determination and perseverance throughout the day.

"Competing in three heats at the judging tables, along with a presentation to a judging panel, the children did themselves, their families and the school proud.

"The children had strong competition but at no point did they let that get the better of them. Even having TV cameras filming their Lego Rap didn't put them off!"

Cleeve Hill Tennis Club

The Frenchay Lego team

Teacher tackles Tour de France stage for charity

A DOWNEND teacher will cycle the route of a gruelling Tour de France mountain stage to raise money for the cancer charity that supported his late father.

Michael Anderton will tackle L'Etape du Tour, a 152km (94 mile) route with 4100m of climbing, on July 9.

It is exactly the same route that riders will take on Stage 14 of this year's Tour de France, from Annemasse to Morzine in the Alps, six days later.

Michael, who teaches art at a school in Chippenham, will be part of a Macmillan Cancer Support team and aims to raise at least £650 for the charity.

He said: "The reason I chose to ride for them was the incredible support that they give to families that have loved ones with cancer.

"I also saw first-hand the help that my dad received last year, whilst suffering from and then passing away from lung cancer.

"I have loved cycling since I was a child and, like many people, love watching the

Tour de France every July.

"It has been a long held, ambition of mine to ride the Etape du Tour."

Michael, who cycles most weeks, either on his own or with friends, has been fitting in his training around work, increasing it in preparation for the climbing that awaits on the ride.

He said: "Various evenings and every weekend I have been out trying to ride further each time in preparation, therefore I have become very familiar with all the hills around Bristol, Bath and beyond.

"My wife and children have tolerated me disappearing for hours on end at weekends and then being too tired to be of much use when I’m home."

Anyone who would like to support Michael's fundraising can make a donation at justgiving.com/fundraising/michaelanderton3.

956 4797 :: 0117 571 889

Right: Michael Anderton has been in training for his ride for cancer charity Macmillan.

Driving to improve bus services

THIS month I had a meeting with Doug Claringbold, Managing Director at First West of England.

I was joined by Bradley Stoke and South Gloucestershire councillor Terri Cullen, who is working to improve bus services in Bradley Stoke, in particular the No. 73 bus.

We discussed multiple issues relating to public transport in our area, such as First's ongoing recruitment campaign, which I have previously contributed to with a recruitment event in collaboration with the Job Centre.

We also focused on significantly underserved areas such as Winterbourne, where there is clearly an insufficient level of public transport provision.

I proposed solutions to this issue and in order to continue to drive for solutions I shall be working with First's commercial team to try and secure an additional sustainable and commercial route to help resolve this issue.

I look forward to working

further with First to push for improvements to our bus services and will continue to put pressure on the West of England mayor, who is responsible for local public transport across our area.

On May 1, I attended Winterbourne Down Carnival, which was a fantastic event, with brilliant support from the local community.

It was great to catch up with our Winterbourne councillors, Trevor Jones and Nic

Labuschagne.

Jack Lopresti with Doug Claringbold and Terri Cullen

It was once again a very wellorganised event, so I would like to thank the carnival committee for all their hard work.

In Westminster it was an honour to have met with some of the Chelsea Pensioners this month at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

It was great to be joined by Conservative Party Chairman and MP for Chelsea and Fulham Greg Hands, in my capacity as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative

Party with a special responsibility for veterans.

This month I met with the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko, at the Ukrainian Embassy to discuss the ongoing military support for the Ukrainians in the war against Russia.

I am very proud of the role of MoD Abbeywood (Defence Equipment and Support) for all they’re doing in facilitating the procurement and delivery of equipment to Ukraine.

This week I met with representatives from MBDA and was delighted when the Defence Secretary announced this week that the UK would supply Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine.

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

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

1 2

MANGOTSFIELD School students have been helping charities which support people in their community.

Year 8 pupils took part in a programme organised by social action charity First Give between January and April as part of their personal, social, health and economic education lessons.

Class groups researched social issues in the area before deciding on an issue they wanted to take action on by supporting a charity.

They met representatives of their chosen charity and discussed ways they could raise awareness or funds, and how this would help the charity.

Groups competed for the chance to win a £1,000 First Give grant for their chosen charity at a presentation event during the project, with entries judged by Tina Potter and David Lewis from Kingswood Rotary Club and school head teacher Hetty Blackmore.

Mrs Blackmore said: "Students presented beautifully, outlining the important work their chosen charity undertakes, the impact the grant could have for them and described the social action that the mentor group did to primarily raise awareness of the charity.

Stteve Bellamy

"The presentations were engaging, hard-hitting and even involved a quiz and some dancing!"

Winners Ray Young, Jenson White, Ollie Hooper, Freya Harding, Evie Sheppard and Summer Richards of class C8.2 won the £1,000 grant for their nominated charity, Young Lives vs Cancer.

As well as explaining their reasons for supporting the charity they held a bake sale and 'sponge the teacher' fundraiser. Other groups held activities

including a penalty shoot-out, poster campaigns and more bake sales.

The judges also commended Fin McCann, Nathan Basanta, Lennon Pratt and Alfie Jordan from class C8.1 for their "entertaining and informative" presentation for Cancer Research UK, and Dubem Asime from class S8.2, who made a solo presentation supporting Cotswold Cats and Dogs Home, for his resilience and commitment.

Mrs Blackmore said: "It was an inspiring event showing the passion and dedication of young people to local causes in the community that they care about.

"The audience participation from the non-presenting members of Year 8 was electric and the whole experience was a true testament to our school value of community.

"We look forward to next year and supporting more of our local charities."

Car r pets

Steve

results

Mangotsfield School head Hetty Blackmore with pupils Jenson White, Ray Young, Ollie Hopper, Summer Richards, Evie Sheppard, Freya Harding, and Tina Potter and David Lewis of Kingswood Rotary Club

One of Downend’s colourful characters

DOWNEND'S shopping streets have been filled with colourful places and faces for centuries.

One well-remembered local man was John U’ren, who moved here from Cornwall with his wife (a teacher) in 1939 to become the pharmacist.

Intending to stay for about three years, they ended up running the chemist shop on Badminton Road and living above it for over 50 years! They both enjoyed playing bowls in Page Park and reached a high standard.

His niece, Ann Edwards, who moved from Cardiff to help her Uncle John in the 1960s, shared some memories of this playful character with local history group CHAP.

She explained that he was

famous for the ‘A board’ which sat outside his shop, on which he would write witty comments about a local or national news items to make people smile.

Passers-by would see John sweeping his bit of pavement outside of his shop every day and would sometimes shout across the road to tell him about their ailments, not taking any notice of the people around them or worrying about confidentiality!

Can you help me get in touch with Estelle?

I wonder if the Downend Voice readers are able to help me with finding Estelle?

We met in Broadmead in April of this year when she was buying a new suitcase as she was going to Birmingham over the Easter period to visit her sister.

If you are Estelle or think you know who she is, could you please get in contact.

I believe she lives on Downend Road in Downend, is a lady of mature years who I wish to get back in touch with.

I am willing to pay a small sum of money for information regarding the whereabouts of this lady.

Ann clearly recalled how the inside of his pharmacy looked when she was a child, with all the jars and potions, the wooden shelves and drawers containing various liniments and tablets. She remembered two particular large glass jars, full of medicinal concoctions.

One contained a white liquid, which John would prescribe for tummy upsets, while the other held a brown liquid, which he gave

customers to ease their chesty coughs - or cure pimples in private places!

John was a very flamboyant man, who often complained to Mangotsfield Rural District Council about how many times workmen kept digging up the road for various reasons (little seems to have changed over the years!). To make a point, he had some fun with them by floating plastic ducks in the holes when they were full of water.

Other shops in Downend included Brodrick’s garage, two newsagents, Sperring and Max Young, Don Burland’s shoe shop, Mrs Brodribb’s greengrocery, Jack Barnes’ ironmongery and Powells’ dairy.

Downend Community History and Art Project (CHAP) is a not-forprofit voluntary organisation. CHAP welcomes your memories and photographs of the people who lived and worked here in the past, so please get in touch to share your local history, via email to big.gin@ talktalk.net or by post to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS.

Helen Rana

Downend in the 1950s. Picture: Bristol Archives

WILL & PROBATE ADVICE

Martin Lewis TV show on death and dementia

The financial expert Martin Lewis recently focussed his TV programme on the difficult issues of death and dementia that so many families avoid discussing.

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HIS PROGRAMME WERE:

1: All adults need an up to date Will (for when they die) to provide for those they love, and to save money spent on family disputes.

2: Having Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) is now even more important than having a Will.

3: The age for adults to set up LPAs is NOW!

LPAs need to be set up whilst you have mental capacity, and you don’t know what life will bring –

LPAs make sure your wishes are followed if you became seriously ill or injured and lost mental capacity. The alternative to LPAs was described as horrendously expensive, slow, and may still not give you the results you’d want.

4: The gold standard to aim for is a Will and LPAs prepared by a firm of solicitors. They may cost a little more, but you should take professional advice and they will make sure they are legally valid.

5: Also, a firm of solicitors will (as part of their service) help you

avoid other problems as they will check related documents such as property titles.

The programme is Episode 14 and is still available on ITVX – but everyone should take professional advice on their own individual circumstances.

A FREE (no obligation) Will and LPA review is offered to readers of the Voice by your local experts, Simpson Solicitors.

To book your free review pop into their Kingswood Office (opposite Costa Coffee in the Kings Chase shopping Centre) or call 0117 960 8594.

DOWNEND WI

WHAT a year we are having - and we are only half-way through!

At our April meeting, Julie from Downend in Bloom came to talk to us. We were all very interested to hear about the work the volunteers do. They work so hard to keep our high street and surrounding areas looking so lovely.

Didn’t Downend look beautiful for King Charles III's Coronation? I hope you have seen the topper on the post box outside Downend Post Office. Downend WI members spent the last month sewing flowers and making the topper. Our member Susie made the fabulous crown. We were so proud to see our topper on BBC Points West!

We are thrilled to announce that best-selling author Susan Lewis is coming to talk to Downend WI on Tuesday June 27.

Susan was born in Downend and grew up in Kingswood. She has written over 26 books, including 'None Saw it Coming', which came out in January 2023. We are all beyond excited to see Susan, especially our book club members.

At our July meeting we have Jutta Blumenthal who is going to talk to us about herbal remedies from the garden. Jutta is a medical herbalist, iridologist and Skenar therapist, practising in Bristol since 1996.

August is the time of year for our annual quiz & fizz, where members pit their knowledge against each other, whilst having a little drink and some nibbles!

If you are any good at knitting, our very own Pippa has asked our members if they would be interested in helping to make 'worry monsters', which help children following on from suffering a bereavement or trauma in their lives. A very worthy cause indeed. So, if you can spare a little of your time and wool to make them, it would be greatly appreciated!

Contact us at the email address below for a knitting pattern.

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

Guests are welcome for a small charge of £4, which includes tea or coffee.

If you would like to know more, email us at downendwi@yahoo. co.uk. Linda

BROMLEY HEATH WI

OUR May meeting included a special raffle, with the main prize a beautiful hand-made quilted cushion designed, sewn and donated by our speaker for the evening, to help raise funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Sally Scragg shared her personal experience of making a memory quilt, which helped her deal with life changes following her late husband’s diagnosis of MND.

Mercifully, this is a relatively rare illness. Although medical research has made much progress in identifying the condition, far more still needs to be done to find an effective treatment and hopefully, long-term, a cure.

By raising awareness of the condition and fundraising along the way, Sally is supporting ongoing research and helping sufferers and their families gain access to relevant information and any assistance available.

The memory quilt Sally had taken around ten years to complete consisted of specially-chosen fabrics, colours and patterns that represented and reminded her of so many special events and occasions in their married life together.

Naturally, following her husband’s death it is a treasured possession: not only a great source of comfort but also a tactile reminder of so many happy times. After sharing some of these memories and answering questions, Sally invited us to have a closer look at the quilt, along with her own instruction manual providing guidance and expert tips on how to start quilting.

Our members felt that such a project was a real labour of love, and seeing and appreciating the extent of the work involved made us doubly keen to win the cushion raffle prize Sally had kindly donated.

As we have just completed our membership renewal cycle and several new members have joined mid-term, it's an ideal time to have a 'getting to know you' event using the speed dating format at our next meeting, on Thursday June 8, which we are all very much looking forward to.

Please contact us at bromleyheathwi@gmail.com if you

would like any further informationwe look forward to meeting you.

Margaret Hanwell

BEECHMERE BELLES WI

WE have had a lovely couple of months at Beechmere Belles WI.

Our March meeting was led by a lovely lady who came to talk to us about creating art with glass, be it the cutting and creating of pictures with glass or the wonderful items that can be made by fusing glass.

In April we were treated to an evening of vegan food. Carmen from the Cooking Flea gave a demonstration on how to make a tasty cauliflower couscous salad and a butter bean dipping sauce, a similar texture to houmous. Both tasted amazing, and we went home with the recipes for both.

With the King's Coronation rushing towards us, a group of Belles got together for an afternoon tea on a glorious Saturday afternoon to celebrateand very nice it was.

The age-old debate of cream or jam first was had - I think it may be law to have this discussion before consuming - but whichever way, they were lovely.

Still to come this year, we have an open water swimming talk, telling us the benefits and best places to swim, and in July we are being joined by a speaker to talk to us about the celebrations and traditions of weddings.

Beechmere Belles WI meets every fourth Thursday of every month, except December, at Emersons Green Village Hall: doors open at 7.30pm, which gives our ladies time to mingle, grab a cup of tea, coffee and cake before we kick off the meeting.

We open with a very quick run-through of everything that the ladies need to know, and the lovely things our marvellous committee have planned for us.

We are always grateful for any ideas members have, what they would like to see and do, and there is plenty of room on the committee for anybody that can spare an hour or so a month to help.

We were very sad to lose one of our committee members last month - other commitments had to take priority, and she will be hugely missed.

It has been lovely to see new faces popping in to see what the WI is all about; please come along if you think you would like to meet new people and learn new things.

For more information, email Beechmerebelles@gmail.com or have a look on our Facebook Page.

MANGOTSFIELD LADIES

FOR April we started midmonth, for our regular pub lunch at the Lamb.

Following our discussions last month, we ordered a King Charles III rose and fixed April 25 at 3pm for the planting, at the Dame School in Mangotsfield.

All of our ladies were looking forward to our meeting in the hall on Monday April 24.

Prior to our meeting it was suggested that it would be nice if we all wore crowns, so as I was already going into Broadmead on the Thursday, I noticed in one of the stores they had them for £2 each!

I took a picture and sent to everybody, who all agreed for me to purchase them. I told the assistant, who was rather amused by 22 crowns, that these were for Mangotsfield Ladies celebrating King Charles III’s coronation.

The big day arrived. We decorated the hall with bunting, wore red white and blue and our newlypurchased crowns.

AHM Caterers arrived at 7pm to set up our BBQ evening. We stood for a toast to the King, together with a rousing rendition of the National Anthem. We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening, with fun and laughter.

Our next forthcoming social event is our 'Sounds of the 60s' evening on Saturday June 3, from 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £15. This is for the community, so if you would like to come, please get in touch.

It would also be an opportunity to see the results of all the hard work that has been done to renovate St James Church Hall; our thanks to all those involved.

We are joining Bristol Jazz Society for their boat trip on July 6, and on July 11 we are visiting Jekka’s Herb Farm for a light lunch and tour.

Carol CoombsMangotsfield Ladiescarol@applause.co.uk

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA

June 4

n PAGE PARK PRAISE with Staple Hill Salvation Army Band and musicians, 3pm.

June 7

n MOTHERS UNION 2.15pm at Christ Church Parish Hall, North St BS165SG Nicola Saunders speaks about "Springs of Hope night shelter."

June 8

n DOWNEND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY a talk on growing vegetables, at the Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend, from 7.30pm. More information from Roger Davis on 0117 957 1703.

June 10

n COFFEE MORNING, Staple Hill Salvation Army, Broad Street, 10am-noon.

June 13

n BEREAVEMENT GROUP

2pm at Christ Church Downend Downend Rd BS16 5UF Friendship, refreshments and a chance to reflect together with others who have lost a loved one.

June 17

n LONGWELL GREEN ORCHESTRA CONCERT at Christ Church Downend in aid of Kumi, Uganda 7 for 7.30pm start. Tickets

£8

June 19

n DOWNEND SENIOR FILM

CLUB at 2pm The Railway Children

Return (PG) A group of children are evacuated to a Yorkshire village during the Second World War, where they encounter a young soldier who, like them, is far away from home. Starring Jenny Agutter and Tom Courtenay. 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

June 21

n MESSY CHURCH 4.30pm -6.15pm Crafts, activities, fun and snacks with a time of worship and a light tea. Aimed at 3-10 yr olds, must be accompanied by an adult. Younger siblings welcome. At Parish Hall, North Street, Downend Rd BS16 5SG Free; donations welcome.

June 25

n MESSY CHURCH at Staple Hill Salvation Army, Broad Street –craft-based afternoon for all the family, - 4-6pm.

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.

REGULAR EVENTS

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

Monday

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Tuesday

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

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

Wednesday

n DOWNEND FLOWER

ARRANGING CLUB We are a friendly group, we meet at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW. Ring Genise on 0777 2451217 for more information.

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

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

For more information contact the Secretary on 0117 9561881.

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

n 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 Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@ blueyonder.co.uk.

n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORM

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

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

n THE FRENCHAY FOLK

DANCE CLUB meet fortnightly at Frenchay Village Hall from 7:45 until 10:15pm. All standards of dancer are welcome to enjoy live Bands and experienced Callers. Visit frenchayfdc.co.uk or call 0117 3021543 for more information.

n FRIENDLY VOICES is a dementia friendly singing group. There is no cost and the sessions are led by a qualified music therapist, Sharon, who brings a lot of experience and plenty of instruments to have fun with. The sessions are open to all and if you think that you ,or someone you love, would benefit by them come along or contact June Watts on 0117 9566625

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

Information: 0117 239 5984

n DOWNEND FLOWER

ARRANGING CLUB We are a friendly group, we meet at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincolne Barn, Overndale Road, BS16 2RW. Ring Genise on 0777 2451217 for more information.

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

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

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

n WELCOME WEDNESDAY

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

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

n DEWDROP INN CAFE, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every fourth Thursday of the month, 2-4pm. A place for the community to relax and unwind with old & new friends. Tea, coffee, cakes and biscuits £2.

n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH regular coffee mornings, held on the first Thursday of the month, 10.30am-noon

n SCRABBLE Downend Folk House Thursdays 10-12noon Info:

0117 9562367 Maureen Walker.

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.

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.

n SATURDAY SOUP 12-2pm every Saturday throughout the winter until 1st April, at Staple Hill Methodist church hall (downstairs, via alley off High Street). We offer a Warm Welcome café with free soup and bread, tea and coffee, leisure activities and someone to chat to, to all in our community who would appreciate it at this time. If you’re not sure, pop in to see us, you will be very welcome.

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

n

MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Stand with us against knife crime

IN May I attended the first ever Avon and Somerset Police Outstanding Policing Awards, a remarkable opportunity to honour the outstanding achievements of the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe.

May also marked the start of Operation Sceptre, a national targeted initiative to reduce knife-related violence, increase public safety and engage communities in the fight against knife crime.

Proactively tackling knife crime is central to my police and crime plan, and I would encourage people to safely discard any weapons or knives they may carry in the ‘weapons surrender bins’ installed by Avon and Somerset Police.

The bins are in areas where we know they are needed, and offer people a safe and anonymous way of getting rid of a weapon. If you know someone who carries a weapon, please encourage them to surrender it. You can find your nearest bin in the crime prevention advice section of the police website.

Avon and Somerset Police and partners already carry out a large range of activities to raise awareness of and combat knife crime, and the Violence Reduction Units’ work is at the heart of this, delivering talks to young people in schools, running Blunt Truth workshops in partnership with the NHS and hosting pop-up information stands.

While we have seen a reduction in street-based knife crime across Avon and Somerset, more still needs to be done to ensure people feel safe in their communities. Let’s raise awareness, educate, and stand against knife crime.

As the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ national fraud lead, I also welcome the publication of the government’s long-awaited strategy, setting out how it plans to tackle fraud and bring more offenders to justice.

This strategy, and the accompanying Economic Crime Plan, is an important step forward. I fully support the Government’s three-pillar approach to stop, block, pursue, and

to educate the public.

I have been able to have a direct impact on two important areas within the strategy, which will ensure there is national central coordination of prevention and awareness messaging, and ensure banks are delaying and doing extra due diligence checks on large BACS payments out of accounts that could be fraudulent.

However, the strategy does not recognise some fundamental challenges, including the highly complex landscape of investigating fraud, which needs to be fully supported.

I am calling for more to be done to recognise this crime’s significant impact and harm on victims. Fraud can leave lasting mental and physical trauma, with some victims taking their own lives.

Finally, I am pleased to say that the Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund grant has opened for applications.

This grant, set up by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in partnership with Somerset

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford

Foundation, aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour through community projects and activities.

Community groups previously awarded this grant have delivered some fantastic crime-reducing initiatives and activities.

I implore local organisations to apply for this worthwhile funding, to reduce anti-social behaviour and make our communities safe.

Community Foundation and Quartet Community

Celebrating our new community nature reserve

A d a y t o v i s i t s o m e g a r d e n s a n d a l l o t m e n t s a r o u n d E m e r s o n s G r e e n w h i c h h a v e a n i n t e r e s t i n w i l d l i f e

A m a p w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e t h r o u g h E m e r s o n s

G r e e n T o w n C o u n c i l . W e s u g g e s t w a l k i n g t o t h e g a r d e n s . W e a r e u n a b l e t o p r o v i d e p a r k i n g o r t o i l e t s .

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

Many happy returns (and singles)

AS your Metro Mayor, there are three things that are constantly on my mind.

The first is the cost-of-living crisis, which is frightening to many of the one million people I proudly represent.

The second is the climate emergency, with the latest research suggesting things are far worse than feared.

The third is, how do we encourage people to voluntarily change their behaviour on an ongoing basis to meet the huge challenges of the modern world?

With these three things in mind, I’m delighted to tell you about a special birthday initiative I’m introducing as your regional mayor.

Starting soon, you’ll be able to ride the buses of the West of England completely free throughout the month of your birthday. This will help your pocket, the planet, and, I hope, see positive change in the way we all travel in future to reduce congestion, pollution and delays.

This innovative offer - which applies to the vast majority of buses running in the West of England, as well as the region’s WESTlink bookable minibuses - begins for lo-

cals with a July birthday and runs 12 months until every resident has had the chance to benefit from their free Birthday Month Bus Pass.

If you’re not a regular bus user, this birthday month of free bus travel is particularly aimed at you. Give it a go - you’ve literally got nothing to lose.

If you are a car user, think how many times you could avoid filling up at a petrol station during the month of your birthday? I hope, with a whole birthday month to try the bus for free, we come to like (even love) bus travel to continue to use it into the future.

Other places in the UK have tried free bus travel for a day, or a weekend, but this is very different. It’s about encouraging lasting behaviour change. Try a whole month - maybe you won’t look back!

This offer is also for you if you’re already a bus user. I hope this birthday bonanza is a boon to you too. A free month to help during the cost-of-living crisis. Plus, you can use it for extra days out too - perhaps to enjoy the amazing attractions and beauty of our fantastic region. You could be better off by one twelfth of the bus costs you shell

out annually. It’s super easy to claim your free Birthday Month Bus Pass – simply go to www.birthdaybus.co.uk. We’ll send you your pass in the post, and you’re away!

People tell me buses are important. That affordable transport is critical. That behaviour change of an ongoing kind is key to overcoming the climate emergency.

This initiative to give free bus travel in the month of your birthday is a UK first. It is innovative and new. It allows our brilliant region to show the rest of the country how to take on the big challenges of our time.

I wish you many happy returns - and singles!

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

n LETTERS

We need our bus link to Oldbury Court back

I WOULD like to add to the letter from Terry Stevens from Downend, (Voice, May) about bus services to Downend.

As a regular traveller on the once Number 5 and later 47 Bristol to Downend route, for the bus company to say the 47 was withdrawn due to lack of customers is a nonsense.

On numerous occasions, on boarding the vehicle, myself and many other passengers were told by the driver that the bus pass machine was not working.

This reduced the number of people that were recorded who used the bus; if the device did or did not function properly, only the bus company would know.

With eight buses per hour (unless cancelled) travelling along the Fishponds Road heading towards Downend or Staple Hill, surely at least one of these could enter Straits Parade, then travel through Oldbury Court and Overndale Road to Downend.

Several elderly people with no transport who reside on this route relied on this bus service for appointments and shopping - at present from time to time many will be walking in the rain.

Lez Dowse Downend

This service is vital to us

AFTER sending an email to Dan Norris a while ago and not getting a reply to date, I am writing about the discontinued Downend bus that was originally the 5 then changed to the 47.

It's a local service that is needed

through Downend, Oldbury Court and on to Fishponds - it didn't need to go out to Yate either.

Myself and several other local people that used this bus feel really upset to have lost out, a lot of us being elderly people and mums with prams.

To go shopping in Fishponds it's a long slog to walk up Croomes Hill or along to the Straits to pick up the 48.

We can't all get walking shoes on.

I appreciate there's a driver shortage, but we really could do with this service back againplease, First Bus, bring it back ASAP.

Julia Mccrae

Wake up and smell the roses

WELL, our last bank closed at the end of April. People now have to go to Kingswood to HSBC, so our customers will spend their money there instead of Downend. Spending money on green screens, planters and seats is a waste of time.

This idea is not going to make

people shop in Downend. No banks equals less people - you can look up and down the road anytime of the day and only see a few.

Yes, the flowers that we have look good in summer but that isn't going to make money for the shops that are left. The shop that made wedding cakes is now going to be flats. So surely money could be more wisely spent to help our local shops.

Perhaps try a monthly market? We have a free car park, and Thornbury and Chipping Sodbury do it.

The local shops need more support to keep going, not more planters, seats and the like.

Support your local shops before they all go! I for one shop locally. We need our local shops, or soon there will be more seats than people.

Laura Rickards Mangotsfield

You could be missing out

A MESSAGE for anyone of pension age who is struggling financially: come forward - you could be missing out on up to £3,500 of pension credit, a benefit open to pensioners who are on a low income.

Energy bills are going up, even in spring. The £67 (energy bills support scheme) is stopping.

People of retirement age might be entitled to extra support through pension credit.

If you are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, come and see us. You might be entitled to pension credit and other things.

It is unclaimed by so many people who might not realise they are entitled to extra money.

Too many people either try and cope with what they have or think they shouldn’t have to claim benefits.

The important part is ‘entitled to’ – there is a minimum amount the Government says you need to live on and if you are below that, you are entitled to have it topped up. People shouldn’t feel that they should be able to manage just on the pension they receive.

Nationally up to 850,000 pensioner households could claim the money but are not doing so, according to Government figures. This amounts to £1.5 billion worth of unclaimed pension credit each year across the country.

There are an estimated 4,000 unclaimed pension credits in South Gloucestershire.

To be eligible for pension credit, you must have reached state pension age, not have too much income or savings and live in the UK.

You can still be working, as long as your income isn't too high. Unlike the state pension, you don’t need a National Insurance record.

To find out what you are entitled to, and for help making a claim, visit Citizens Advice faceto-face drop-in sessions in our Yate office on Mondays (4-6pm), Tuesdays (10am-3pm) and Fridays (10am-1pm), our outreach session at Emersons Green Village Hall every Thursday from 10amnoon, call 0808 278 7947 or visit southgloscab.org.uk.

Emmanuelle Claverie Lead Supervisor Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire

Thanks for supporting RNLI

THE Downend and Kingswood branch of the RNLI recently undertook a collection at Morrisons in Fishponds.

We are pleased to inform you that we raised £271.89 and are very grateful to everyone who contributed. Thanks also to Morrisons for letting us collect. The money raised will go towards saving lives at sea.

Antonette Bawdon Secretary

Terry Stevens called for changes to local bus services

Downend's former HSBC bank branch.

n M COLEMAN ESTATE AGENTS PROPERTY OF

Queensholm Crescent, Downend, BS16 6LP

Asking Price - £515,000

NO

ONWARD CHAIN!

If you are a discerning buyer wishing to create your perfect family residence in the heart of Bromley Heath then look no further. This extended five bedroom semi-detached property offers plenty of scope and opportunity in a sought after location.

The ground floor offers generous accommodation and consists of porch and welcoming entrance hall that gives an impression of the space which continues throughout. There is a light and airy lounge with a bay window to the front elevation and dining room with patio doors opening onto the garden to the rear. The kitchen/breakfast room has a range of wall and base units finished with traditional style wooden doors. There is space for a cooker and fridge-freezer whilst integrated appliances include an extractor and washing machine; additionally a pantry style cupboard offers supplementary storage. The rear lobby leads from the kitchen and has doors to a cloakroom, the garage and garden.

Accessed from a wellproportioned landing the first-floor accommodation consists of five bedrooms, three of which are well proportioned doubles with one benefitting from fitted wardrobes. The family bathroom is partially tiled and has a three-piece suite including a walk in shower plus an obscured double-glazed window to the rear elevation.

The delightful rear garden

is predominantly laid to paved patio set at differing levels, there is a well tended level lawn and thoughtfully planted mature raised borders offering the perfect spot to entertain friends and family in the summer months. There is a useful shed/workshop which benefits from light and power. Bounded by a low-level wall, the front has a blockwork drive offering off road parking for several vehicles and leading to an integral garage with power and lighting.

Roll up for the Billy Kart Derby

DAREDEVIL racers are being set a four-wheeled challenge in Page Park.

The park will be turned into a race circuit for a day when it hosts the first ever Page Park Billy Kart Derby on September 9.

People are being encouraged to enter teams then design, build and race their own 'pushcarts' - non-motorised go-karts - for the event, which will have separate races for children and adults.

Entry is open to individuals, schools, clubs and community groups, who can use the event to raise money for charity.

Businesses are also being encouraged to sponsor or enter teams, support the event and get their names seen.

The races will take place around the park's clock tower and part of the path heading towards South View, with teams of three competing in divisional races throughout the day.

There will be prizes for the race winners as well as for the best karts, best competitors and best-dressed team, with people encouraged to wear fancy dress.

The event is being organised for the Friends of Page Park by Tom and Melody Beard of the

park's Bean Tree Cafe.

A prototype kart built for the friends by Downend Men in Sheds was on display at the Coronation Big Lunch event on May 7 but teams can build their karts out of anything they like, with use of recycled materials encouraged.

Melody said: "Your kart can look however you want - as long as it's got wheels, it's safe and is completely people-powered.

"We're really interested in hearing from community groups or businesses who want to

Get snapping for photo competition

PHOTOGRAPHERS who would like to see their work appear in next year's Friends of Page Park calendar have until the end of the month to send in their entries.

A £125 prize is on offer for the winning entry in the annual photo competition, which is open to entries from both amateur and professional photographers until June 30.

Judges will pick 12 entries showcasing the park through the four seasons to be included on the calendar, which will be sold from September to raise money for the latest improvement project - new fullyaccessible toilets for people with disabilities. The Friends are contributing £20,000 towards the cost.

Pictures should be in landscape format and should not include any images of people: up to four photos per entry can be submitted. Full details and terms of the competition can be found at the friendsofpagepark.co.uk website.

Garden music festival returns

A MUSIC festival held in a garden is returning for a third time this summer.

The Ham Farm Festival will take place from July 28-30, with most events taking place at Ham Farm Cottage, off Emersons Green Lane between Mangotsfield and Emersons Green.

The non-profit event is organised on a voluntary basis by professional musicians Emily and Francisco Correa to involve the community

Big Lunch event, with vice-chair Steph Purser pushing.

enter a kart or sponsor one."

Staple Hill's YOU Foundation and 1st Bristol Muslim Scouts have already entered teams for the derby, which will have separate under-14s and over-14s competitions.

People can enter the derby and find more information on the Page Park Billy Kart Derby page on eventbrite.co.uk, at bit.ly/3WlASp8.

Anyone not online can ask for more details at the Bean Tree Cafe.

Samba show for Refugee Festival

A PERFORMANCE from Bristol Samba will mark the climax of this year's Bristol Refugee Festival event in Page Park.

The samba band, whose drummers and dancers have performed at events across the region, including the St Paul's carnival, for more than 25 years, will be the headline act at the 'Celebrate with Me' community picnic event on June 24, which runs from 11am to 4pm.

The event will also include performances from Boss Morris dancers, Bristol MC Jules, a South Gloucestershire primary school and a Columbian dancing group, which was a big hit at last year's event.

Melody Beard, who is organising the event in coordination with South Gloucestershire Race Equality Network and dance and culture charity Movema, said: "We're planning a celebration not just of cultures from around the globe but around the UK."

As well as music, dance and games the event will have a variety of food on offer, including Chinese treats from the local Hong Kong association, Caribbean food and pizza.

Events in the park will continue in July with the Lazy Sunday Afternoons concerts at the bandstand,every Sunday at 2pm.

in making and listening to music, with a bill combining workshops with performances by professionals.

Emily is a flautist and mezzo soprano singer, who teaches the flute at Downend School, and Francisco is an internationally-performing guitarist.

Daytime family events include a free workshop on rhythm and dance, a pop-up choir people can join and an autism-friendly family workshop and concert, as well as free drop-in community concerts, with people invited to bring a picnic.

There are also subsidised professional concerts, one during the day and three in the evening.

Performers include Bristol singer-songwriter Lady Nade, folk artists Filkin's Drift, classical harpist Lauren Scott and Miss Kiddy and the Cads, who perform modern hits in 1920s swing jazz style.

Evening concerts also feature food intervals with paella, Latino street food and pizza, while picnics are also welcome.

The festival has just become a charity and the event is funded by Emersons Green Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council, to keep daytime activities free and subsidise tickets for evening concerts.

For more information visit www. hamfarmfestival.com.

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

07715 770377

Friends of Page Park chair

Lorna Carter-Stevens on the group's kart at the Coronation

Blooms brighten the village

I THINK everyone would agree that the world looks a lot better now that plants are blooming.

If you want an example then look no further than the Alec Large Memorial Park in Mangotsfield: what a great job South Glos Council have done on it.

You may also have noticed our new planters at each 'Welcome to Mangotsfield' sign.

Early days for the flowers in them, but hopefully they’ll look as good as the ones in the village. Thanks to Mangotsfield Scouts for making them, and all the volunteers who helped put them out.

You may have noticed we’ve had the window bars repaired on the Dame School building.

It’s a small thing but makes so much difference. The garden is also looking a lot better, thanks to the efforts of a few dedicated volunteers, and it now has a rose bush to

Loft Boarding &

ASSOCIATION

commemorate the coronation. The wildflowers we planted last year are also coming along nicely.

It’s Mangotsfield Festival on June 10 - back after a four-year break. We hope it will be a great day. We’ve been asked to spread the message to leave the car at home if you are planning to go along - we all know the challenges of parking in the local area.

Our next Red Lion coffee morning will be on Wednesday June 7, at 10am. All are welcome, the more the merrier, and if you are wondering whether to come along then perhaps the fact that the cakes are awesome might persuade you?

And finally, our local scout group help us a lot with various activities. It's worth remembering it was them who started the Dame School Garden project by cutting down and digging out the laurel bushes.

They are always looking for more adult leaders and volunteers, so if you can help them please contact Simon Budd on 07765 201435.

If you want to get involved with Mangotsfield Residents Association then please get in touch by email at MangotsfieldRA@ gmail.com or via the ever popular Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page.

You can also telephone our chair, Clive Heath on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881.

Chris Amos

Flowers blooming at Alec Large Memorial Park in Mangotsfield

n GARDENING CLUB AT THE BARN

Time to enjoy your garden

HOPEFULLY we will have some warmer weather now to bring our plants on, and we will enjoy the fruits of our labours.

I let the wild poppies grow and have enjoyed yellow poppies all around the garden; the bees have had a good harvest also.

My ferns are now growing well, making a splash of green in a part of the garden where a couple of small trees are growing. Next year I may add some white camassias to brighten the area.

My herbs are growing well and I have already taken a few cuttings of the purple sage, to pass on to family and friends.

It is time to get some of the vegetables planted out, especially if you have brought some on in trays or pots. Check carrots for carrot fly, and keep the weeds down.

Make sure your plants do not dry out - water them to ensure you get a good crop.

Plant out pumpkins, marrows, squash and courgettes now: it will be good to have pumpkins for the children at Halloween. You can also make pumpkin pie or soup something warm for when the weather gets cold again.

Do take time to visit the gardens in the National Garden Scheme. It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon and help various charities at the same time.

Many garden centres have booklets with the gardens listed, for a donation - otherwise go online and visit the NGS website.

Enjoy your summer, with longer and warmer days - you have earned it after getting your gardens ready for summer.

Mary Head Secretary

Heads up

BIRDS continue to be a favourite subject among club photographers.

It’s easy to see why, for there is a widespread fascination in ornithology, and the two interests go well together.

The best pictures are usually produced by those who have a passion for the subject, but for success in open club photographic competitions, there is also the challenge of producing something that is enough of a picture in itself to stand a chance.

For this, more than a standard record shot will do. Three examples are shown here where just the head of a bird has been used to produce a striking image.

‘Eagle Eyed’ is a dramatic shot that hints at the innate ferocity of the creature: the unblinking eye and the cruel hook of the beak show the features of a top predator. The image is very sharp, the fine detail in the feathers is clearly shown, and the eye has a catchlight, so often needed in pictures to make the eyes appear lifelike.

The black background helps to bring out the subject and give it greater impact.

‘FANtastic’ has a mottled dark background that also serves to emphasise the bird, the muted colours contrasting with the brilliant blue of the peacock.

The photographer has named the picture to draw attention to the plume at the back of the head, and once again there is a catchlight in the eye.

The baleful owl in ‘I Am Looking At You’ has less need of light reflected in its yellow eyes to show life. This is a bird that seems to show character.

Presented face-on, it does not have that fierce an appearance: the sharp beak is not prominent, the shape of its head and the ring of feathers around its face seems to indicate quite a benign creature. That maybe how it looks to us, but certainly not to its prey!

Downend Camera Club is a friendly informal group who meet on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at the Assembly Hall

in Salisbury Road, 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 Shorney

I am looking at you by Jenny Sheppard

FANtastic by Philip Peglar

Eagle Eyed by Ben Newby

Clever ways to travel light n STYLE ADVICE

PACKING for a holiday must be the least favourite part of heading away to foreign shores.

Now imagine if your husband, thinking he’s doing a good thing, only books one 15kg suitcase in the hold for the two of you?

That’s what happened to my friend last week: cue hours of packing, adjusting, taking things out, re-packing, and, I imagine, a few choice words.

It got me thinking about my own holiday plans this summer. We are hopping around a few islands in Croatia.

Pulling a large suitcase doesn’t sound ideal so I’m considering buy a smaller suitcase. Medium - let’s not be silly, now!

But still, how to pack light? Here’s some suggestions:

• Write a list of what you need to take based on the activities you’ll be doing rather than how many days you are going for, to see exactly what you need.

• Reduce the number of items you need by choosing a simple colour

scheme, eg neutrals, to mix and match.

• Most people use more tops than bottoms. Try packing seven tops and a single pair of trousers/skirt/ shorts in neutral colours to go with them.

• Rolling clothes saves on space and lessens creasing. If you have pieces like cotton shirts that wrinkle easily, fold and lie them on top.

• Multiple-use clothes are the best. Take shirts and dresses for evenings, which can also be worn as beach cover-ups or for

EMERSONS TAXIS

Swimming costumes can also be worn as the light layer underneath a shirt or as a body

sightseeing.

• Swimming costumes can be worn as the light layer underneath a shirt or worn as a body prior to swimming pool or beach days.

• Layer up on the plane. Don’t put a knitted cardigan in the suitcase, wear or tie it over your shoulders for the journey.

• Taking a hat? Pack upside down and fill with small soft items, like underwear. Do the same with handbags, or use them to tuck away chargers, etc.

• Shoes are heavy. Consider

packing just three pairs – flip flops/slides, neutral flats, and a pair of heels. Wear trainers for comfort on your journey and walking while on holiday. Have a great trip!

Not sure what to wear or how to wear it? Email your style questions to info@notgivinin.com and the answers will feature in the Voice.

www.notgivinin.com

Gail Painter's fashion tips

n PHOTOGRAPHY WITH LINCOMBE BARN CAMERA CLUB

Down by the sea

THINK of the sea and what images spring to mind? The warm memories of a summer holiday as a child, the grey gloom of a wet bank holiday, waves crashing onto rocks, or the rage of a storm in a Turner painting?

This was the question posed to camera club members in a recent club competition – provide images that meet the simple title ‘The Sea’.

I’ve seen some great images that meet that title concentrating on the angry seas, with waves crashing across seaside promenades, but they’re not easy. You can’t pre-plan the event, and no-one likes getting either themselves or their camera soaked with cold salt water.

I found myself in some very rough seas off the coast of Norway a couple of years ago but access to the deck was forbidden and the windows were covered with water – very frustrating, but dramatic photographs were not to be.

My experience seems to have been true for others. The competition images were of much calmer seas, as will be seen from the following pictures which were awarded the first three places.

Third place went to Linda Meaton’s Burnhamon-Sea which, with a carefully controlled and limited palette, shows the silhouette of a lone fisherman strolling along a beach with rods and other equipment. The concentration is on the fisherman but his presence serves to define the otherwise merely suggested beach and sea.

Second place went to Roy Shergold's Tranquil Sea, which recalls perfect, sunlit, summer days by the sea. The water surface is disturbed by barely a

n CHRISTINE'S COLUMN

IT'S not quite the Flying Scotsman but we have do like a trip on the Bitton train.

Our latest trip was one we would all remember for Dawn, our friend in Bath, was coming with us.

We started by having a very scrumptious lunch in the buffet train carriage.

As our train was not departing until 2.30pm, there was time to see the animals which had been brought there on this April Saturday.

There was a donkey, a Shetland pony, a goat and two rabbits in a run adjacent to the other animals.

Two thirty soon came around, and we eagerly climbed aboard to

ripple as it comes into a golden beach. Boats bob just offshore and a headland and small island are visible in the distance. What could be more tranquil?

First place was awarded to Jackie Sherlock's Barton on Sea, a scene that many of us must be familiar with from many places on the British coast. A sharply focussed foreground of rocks and a little shingle gives way to a view of the sea breaking on a sandy beach below a sandy cliff. Children and adults are scattered along the shoreline and, in the distance, a groin projects into the sea. Are we all thinking of our summer holidays now?

If you're interested in photography, company and new acquaintances, as well as regular activities, why not join us for the coming year? Visitors, guests and new members are always made welcome (£3 if you just want to try us out).

Take a look at our website at www. lincombebarncameraclub.co.uk or contact us at lincombebarn.cameraclub@gmail. com if you would like to be part of a small, but flourishing, club.

And remember, always be prepared to dip a toe in the sea - it may just turn out to be warm and welcoming.

All aboard the Avon Valley Railway!

our reserved carriage.

We were all happy and the boys were very excited as passers-by waved to them.

Finn was particularly excited, for this was the very first time for him that he would remember: he had been too young before.

Kirsty, Dawn and I chatted and admired the view, while my grandsons happily waved to people on the nearby paths as the train chugged along.

As we stepped onto the

platform, the warmth of the sun welcomed us, so we ended our memorable day by having ice creams seated around a picnic table and reminiscing just how lucky we were with the weather!

Oh, by the way, I did pop in the gift shop and buy an Avon Valley Railway fridge magnet, with 'Oldland Common' across the middle.

It is just like the train signs, and now joins my collection of fridge magnets, along with the one from

the Helicopter Museum.

Thank you to all those of you who have been supporting our speaker and coffee mornings at Lincombe Barn.

'A Day in the Life at Kingswood Community Transport', the talk given by Mike Vernon, was most interesting.

We do not meet again until Thursday September 7, when the subject will be Arnos Vale Cemetery with Janine Marriott.

See all of you then.

Sid Stace Barton on Sea by Jackie Worlock

Tranquil Sea by Roy Shergold

with Christine Broadway

Fishing At Burnham-on-Sea by Linda Meaton

Low rape charge rates concern

ONLY eight percent of rapes reported to Avon & Somerset Police are leading to charges being brought.

Chief Constable Sarah Crew told a meeting of the force's performance and accountability board that it was actually double the number of charges from the previous year but was "not enough".

In the year to April, she said the force brought 141 rape charges, more than double the 69 brought in 2021/22.

Ms Crew said: "We are now in the top quartile for positive outcome rates for rape and serious sexual offences, having been previously bottom quartile 24 months ago."

The meeting heard the number of sexual offences and domestic abuse crimes recorded across the last year has gone down but it was not clear whether this was due to "proactive and preventative work undertaken" or a loss of confidence in the police which is deterring victims from reporting.

The chief constable said: “Increasing trust and confidence is our top priority as an organisation."

Ms Crew is the National Police Chiefs’ Lead for Adult Sex Offences and the police force ran a pilot scheme of a new approach to rape cases, Operation Soteria Bluestone, in 2021.

It involved the creation of a specialist rape investigation team, improved collaboration with victim support services, and a focus on perpetrator behaviour rather than on the credibility of victims.

The approach is now being rolled out in police forces across the country.

The chief constable said: “We believe that what we are learning from Soteria Bluestone has the potential to improve our response to all male violence against women and girls offences.

"The dynamics are the same and, actually, the problems in rape that we are starting to overcome are the most difficult.”

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Nature truly is the best teacher

We spend our week in the woods, from a crisp Monday morning to a sunny Saturday afternoon. You’ll hear us from the trees, the squeals of excitement as more dragon clues are spotted. Or you’ll spot us in the meadow, searching for small bugs. Or you might smell our fires, wafting through the fresh air. In whatever way you encounter us, we will give you a muddy welcome!

We are Mud Pie Explorers, and we run a forest school across North Bristol. Our main base is in Lincombe Barn woods, where we take children from 7 years old. We have a mixture of groups throughout the week and weekend. Our groups are each unique, but all are run with the same child- centred approach at the core. We believe that children should have the opportunity to lead their own learning and play, showing us their thoughts, interests, and curiosity. We aim to enable their ideas, watching them build a closer relationship with nature, each other and ultimately, themselves.

Nature is incredible, and we get to see that every day. More and more evidence suggests that nature is crucial to our wellbeing, and now health and social care across the UK is promoting the use of green space. The power of being outdoors is unmatched, and we want our children to experience this. Nature provides opportunities for children to take positive risks, which builds learning and confidence. Being in green spaces supports mental health and wellbeing. Climbing trees, wobbling on logs, and navigating the roots all builds strength, balance, and endurance. Tool work and fire lighting promote fine motor skill development. And growing evidence suggests that the outdoor environment provides the perfect sensory space for children to explore and meet their sensory needs. All this is right on our doorstep!

Stanbridge's cup run takes them to final

A TEAM of young footballers from Stanbridge Primary School came agonisingly close to winning the South Gloucestershire Cup.

The boys' team lost out on penalties to Longwell Green after coming within seconds of winning the match in normal time.

PE teacher and football coach Rikki Passmore said: "We are immensely proud of the Stanbridge boys’ football team and their recent South Gloucestershire cup run.

"After an incredible run to the final, the boys team were defeated on penalties by Longwell Green after a tightly fought game.

"The game, which was 0-0 at half-time, sprang into life when Stanbridge took a 1-0 lead shortly after the restart. Stanbridge’s striker went on an amazing run before scoring with a tidy finish. "Then, just before the final whistle was about to

blow, Longwell Green scored an equaliser.

"No further goals were scored in extra time and, after Stanbridge had to substitute their goalkeeper due to an injury, the game went to penalties, where Longwell Green scored all

of theirs to win.

"It was an excellent match for us all to enjoy."

Deputy head teacher David Payne said: "It was inspiring to see the boys grow together as a team this year.

"They have supported one

another so well, and impressed us with their perseverance and determination.

"They really have embodied our motto of being brave, not perfect, and leave behind an inspiring legacy for our future footballers."

The Stanbridge Primary School team

Weather blights cricket season

THE start of the cricket season has been badly affected by the weather, limiting the number of friendly matches that could be arranged before the league fixtures started.

The first full weekend of the league was also wiped out due to the weather.

In the second round of matches the Carsons and Mangotsfield first team played against United Banks, batted first and scored 205, with all the batsmen getting starts.

In a closely fought game, United Banks won on the penultimate ball of the match.

The second team played against Stapleton and bowled them out for 179.

Michael Coles was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4-13. Carsons and Mangotsfield managed to score the runs required in the 38th over, following a century opening stand by Steve Sykes and Alex Wallage.

The third Team played against a very strong and experienced Frampton Cottrell team. Batting first, Carsons and Mangotsfield scored 140, with useful contributions from Harry Ravenscroft and Tom Manning. However, Frampton Cottrell knocked off the runs in the 25th over.

The fourth team also played Stapleton in a friendly match, with a number of youth team players making their senior debut. Stapleton won by 29 runs.

The Sunday team played against Bristol Pakistanis and scored 217, with Sam Braley scoring 86. Bristol Pakistanis scored the required runs, only losing two wickets in the process.

Ian Coles

UK titles for Taekwondo team

A MARTIAL arts team based in Lyde Green is celebrating after several students took home UK champion titles.

Members of Fishponds Taekwondo Academy, aged from 15 to 50, took part in the UK International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Finals Day at Thornbury Leisure Centre on May 13.

Only black belt competitors who had qualified at the National Championships in March were able to take part at the event.

The team, which started training in the area two years ago, returned with six UK Champion titles, as well as silver and bronze medals.

The Under-18s Male team also won gold in patterns and silver in sparring, while a member of Fishponds joined a team from Torbay to form an Under-18s Female team, wining gold in sparring and silver in patterns.

Instructor Gavin Reader said: "It’s a privilege to take part in such an event, where competitors are at the top of their game.

"To make it through is an achievement in itself and we are very proud of the team."

Fishponds Taekwondo Academy trains at Lyde Green Community Centre every Wednesday and Friday. For more information, contact Gavin on 07500 764276 or email fishpondstkd@yahoo.com.

Jasmine Reader won a UK Champion title in sparring

ON THE TREATMENT TABLE

A weekend to remember as stars join fundraiser

AVID readers of this blog will know that, sadly, one of our local heroes, former Bristol Rovers and Ipswich Town striker Marcus Stewart has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease. It’s the same terrible illness that has afflicted sporting legends Rob Burrow and Doddie Weir recently.

It’s a cruel and life limiting disease that doesn’t discriminate and has affected so many individuals and their families all over the world. One day, there will be a cure for MND, but it will take money, effort and time to push towards the growing level of research.

Most of us are not research scientists so the best we can hope to do is offer to raise money for deserving charities and support our friends and fellow humans who suffer. By raising money we can shorten the time to when we will see a cure, so I firmly believe that it’s in all of our interests to work together to defeat MND. To this end, Marcus’s friends and family got together to put on a fantastic show to raise money and awareness for the cause.

Two charities, the Darby Rimmer Foundation and MNDA, organised an amazing weekend, kicking off with a golf day at Mendip Spring and a huge celebrity dinner on the Friday. That was followed by a celebrity football match at a packed Memorial Stadium on the Saturday. As you can imagine the weekend was support by a host of celebrities ready to support

Marcus, his wife Louise and their lovely family.

Allow me to namedrop just a few… Paul Scholes, Harry Redknapp, England Lioness Jill Scott, Dean Saunders, Big Ron Atkinson, Keith Gillespie, Jeff Whitley, Ryan Thomas from Coronation Street, Dean Edwards (Bristol’s top TV chef!) and Sky Sports presenter Michelle Owen.

The All Stars, managed by former Rovers boss Darrell Clarke took on the South West Legends who, led by another ex-Gas manager Paul Tisdale, included former local stars such as Chris Lines, Lee Mansell, Lee Brown, Oli Clarke and even a friend from south of the river – Scott Murray.

The team from Cleve Chiropractic were asked to supply the medical support to both sides and I would like to thank the staff who came to lend a helping hand.

We had a full set-up of physio, chiro and sports therapy for both teams and I can tell you that it was super fun to work with the likes of Scholes and Saunders and listen to the banter of Harry Redknapp as he interacted with the players, celebrities and fans alike. A day that none of us will ever forget.

I have thought about whether or not to discuss with you the table that Cleve Chiro bought to support the celebrity auction and dinner on the Friday evening, as it was lively and very entertaining as I’m sure you can imagine. However, as I invited Gary Brindle, the amazing publisher of the Downend Voice, his wife Natalie

and stepson Jay, I thought it would be fun!

The evening was hosted by Bristol rugby legend and British Lion Mark Regan, who was sporting a new manly beard! He took to calling me Alan Carr all evening, which was a new one on me but I have learnt to roll with these things…

We got the night off to a good start with a game of head and and tails. After a few interesting coin tosses none other than our very own Catherine Quinn won the final prize, a signed 2019 World Cup cricket final man-of-thematch Ben Stokes plaque.

Supported, or rather egged on, by Gary and Mr Regan, I was almost coaxed into buying a signed David Beckham shirt but, with the likes of Paul Scholes in the room, that would have been a tough ask. Also, I actually had

my eye on a portrait painting of Marcus by world famous artist John Donaldson, from Bristol.

Finally, after several bottles of wine and some great fun, came the biggest auction ‘lot’… the painting! The bidding was fierce but thankfully the big wig footballers in the room let us normal folk play.

I would like to be able to give you more details of how the auction went but, truly, I can’t quite remember… the excitement must have gotten the better of me. However, the next day when I woke up, with the painting next to me, I smiled as I realised I had won.

Then I tried to remember how much it was… I couldn’t but I do know that every penny has gone to the best cause I can think of. It will go up in the clinic and I will love it forever.

with Tim Button, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step in Mangotsfield

The Cleve Chiro table at the dinner

A little 'selfie' with the amazing Jill Scott

The team with Marcus

n SPORT

Cleve take positives from big cup final defeat

Bristol Combination Cup final: Chew Valley 70-16 Cleve

CLEVE offered their congratulations to a well-drilled Chew Valley RFC First XV on a well-deserved victory in the Bristol Combination Cup final.

Obviously, this was not the result that Cleve wanted but there were positives the club could take away.

It was a great challenge for a young Cleve team playing a side two leagues above themselves.

Cleve have a great history in this cup, having won it in 1992, 2005 and 2007, but in those days the club had a very wellestablished team.

The team started the final strongly, with Nathan Huntley leading the way in hitting a penalty early on.

Chew then steadily clawed their way back into the game, scoring within the next play

A lineout at the cup final

phase.

The game was a milestone for Cleve in many ways. Andy O'Donnell was playing his last game with his son Harry in the team.

Nathan, coaching the young team, was not going to go down without a fight. On 10 minutes he landed another penalty to make the score 7-6 to Chew.

Flyers end season on a high

THE Downend Flyers first team ended the 2022-23 season flying high, unbeaten in their final three games including a creditable draw against Frampton, a point which ensured the opponents finished as worthy champions.

Orla Montgomery came off the bench to score for the Flyers, with Amie Norris scoring the goal for the visitors.

Coach Dean Giles admitted after the game that although this season should have gone better, he was pleased with drawing the final three games against very strong sides, a marker in the sand for the new campaign that will start in September.

Over the close season, Dean will oversee a recruitment drive for our first team as well as additional coaches for all three of our women’s sides.

For more information contact info@ downendflyers.com.

Meanwhile the reserves and A team have both also completed their seasons with creditable positions lower down the footballing pyramid.

Both sides will be looking to build on this great start in 2023-24.

Finally, the girls section of the is now enjoying tournament season, with the club hoping the girls will enjoy the opportunity

But the higher league team then began to show their class, winning and recycling quick clean ball. The scoreboard started to click over in their favour and by half-time they were almost out of sight at 35 to 9.

In the second half the weather turned for the worse, but Chew were relentless.

One of Cleve’s ex-players, Dave Brooker, was leading Chew to a great victory but Cleve kept going, scoring the final try of the game on the last play.

An end of the season club dinner on May 12 saw all celebrating the year that the team has progressed through and enjoying each other's company.

The Cleve boys are now having a well-deserved rest before preseason begins on June 20: all new and existing players are welcome.

Steve Bateman

to play in the smaller and shorter format of the game at various venues across the country.

A little bit of silverware would be a lovely bonus, of course!

The club are also looking forward to hosting their own tournament for the third consecutive year, at Johnson’s fields near Pomphrey Hill on June 24-25.

It is promising to be another showpiece event for the biggest girls' club in the Bristol area, with around 100 teams expected over the weekend.

Duncan Gardner

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