Downend Voice May 2023

Better than ever after 75 years

600 turn out for Frenchay 10k

More than 600 runners took part in the 41st Frenchay 10k, raising money for Children's Hospice South West and Freewheelers (blood bikes).

PAGE 56

Cast your vote at local elections

Tributes after boxer dies at 19

TRIBUTES have been paid to a talented young boxer who has died suddenly at the age of 19.

Jude Moore attended Christ Church infant and junior schools in Downend and Mangotsfield School.

He won national titles representing Downend Boxing Club, based at the Harry Crook Centre in Fishponds.

Jude grew up in Hillfields, and Downend coach

Craig Turner said everyone who knew him had been left "devastated" by his passing in Hertfordshire, where he was training with a view to turning professional.

The teenager had been tipped to be a future world champion, and a tournament in his memory was held at Mangotsfield School in April.

Turn to Page 3

Craig Anthonys

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To arrange a no obligation consultation pop in or give us a call.

Voters are going to the polls on May 4 to elect members of South Gloucestershire Council. Read our electiion round-up.

PAGES 7-11

Childminders criticised

Two childminders in Staple Hill have quit after receiving damning Ofsted reports.

PAGE 6

Page Park Bowls Club members gathered for a special tournament to celebrate its 75th anniversary, with the club in great health and looking ahead to a bright future. Full story: Page 15

Active ageing

SUTTON Chiropractic in

Downend specializes in keeping the whole family healthy, active and doing what they love. As such, active ageing is at the very core of our practice. We love to see people getting the most out of life, helping them to pursue their hobbies with passion at any age.

The key to active ageing is having your physical health in check, which is often overlooked until it’s too late. We love to help people get the most out of life at any age and helping you pursue hobbies and activities with passion.

So we’ve put together a guide for you to get the most out of life and not miss out on those precious moments with your friends, children or grandchildren.

Start with a good foundation

In an effort to get healthier our exercise levels increase, however many people develop injuries from this. The most common issue is when the spine, neck or pelvis are out of alignment and injuries start to develop. It’s not uncommon for these to spread to the knees, elbows and shoulders too. This is why the body must be assessed and helped back to proper alignment to ensure you keep healthy and active as time goes by. Matt often tells patients this is how we make people grandchild proof!

Choose activities you enjoy

This ensures keeping you healthy will be fun, making it

easier to stick at and get the benefits preserving your quality of life. If you’re a comfortable swimmer then make the pool part of your regular routine. Equally if you’re a keen walker or gardener prioritise these activities. It’s certainly horses for courses, so choose what gets you fired up.

Strong heart, joints and bones

Consider the level of impact the activity has on the body. We recommend low impact activities with two key caveats – make sure it gets you slightly out of breath and stresses your joints and bones moderately. Challenging your breathing will help preserve the heart and lung function and the physical stress on your frame will keep the joints strong reducing the chances of Osteoporosis. Activities like walking, swimming, Tai Chi are fantastic at achieving this, but see what works for you

with these caveats in mind. Remember, challenge the breathing and stress the joints and bones.

Maximise your time in nature

Science has shown that spending time in nature is fantastic for the body and mind. This can be a gentle lap of the park, walking in the Mendips or along the flat Strawberry line. A wonderful alternative if you’re not as good on your feet is to simply spend time in a garden tending to the pots and plants. Good for the soul and great for the body.

Time with others

Even the most introverted of us are still social animals at heart and loneliness most even more important especially in later life. Why not enhance and preserve your health with others at the same time?

If you’d like to know more about how we can help you get the most out of your years, we’d love to help. We want to provide you with a strong foundation for enjoying your hobbies and time with your loved ones for many years to come. Remember, its not just about aging, it’s about moving and having fun.

Matt Sutton

'Once you met him, you would never forget him'

From Page 1

Hertfordshire Police say Jude's death on March 17 followed a "medical episode" in Hoddesdon, where he was training. Officers are preparing a report for the coroner.

He leaves behind parents Mark and Carla, and brothers Beau and Ethan - also a talented boxer.

Jude was a National Champion at Schools level in 2017, aged 14, and Juniors in 2019. He represented England in European championships, boxed internationally, won a GB Three Nations championship and was Western Counties champion five times.

Craig said: "Jude was by far the best boxer to come out of Bristol for many, many years.

"He would have been a world champion - no two ways about it.

"He was an absolute starirreplaceable. Once you met him, you would never forget him."

Former WBC world super

middleweight champion Glenn Catley worked with Jude at Downend.

Glenn said: "Jude was one of the most naturally gifted boxers ever to come out of Bristol. What he had, you can't teach.

"But natural talent only takes you so far. He was dedicated to the sport.

"If you told him something he would absorb it like a sponge, go away and work on it.

Tournament tribute at Mangotsfield School

MORE than 250 people came Jude Moore's old school for a memorial boxing tournament.

Silence descended on Mangotsfield's sports hall as the sport's Western Counties regional secretary Mike Hemming rang the ten-bells salute which has been rung at tournaments across the country in Jude's memory. It was followed by applause and emotional scenes, as those present sang along to The Beatles' 'Hey Jude'

There was a great reception at the event on April 2 for Jude's brother Ethan, a former double National champion and junior European silver medallist, before 14 bouts and four skills contests were staged between Downend Boxing Club members and contenders from clubs around the West of England and Wales.

Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees and former WBC World super middleweight champion Glenn Catley, who boxed each other twice many years ago, were on hand to present the prizes and watched their sons, Caleb Rees and Riley Catley, both take wins.

Downend coach Craig Turner said: "Mangotsfield School were quite simply outstanding in supporting us to put the event together, and we are hugely grateful. We are just amazed by the support and generosity from the clubs of the Western Counties, Hoddesdon and County Wexford."

"He was easy to train and brilliant in the ring - he had the full package."

Jude's funeral on April 12 at Bristol Cathedral was packed with those who knew and loved him - friends, family and figures from the sport.

As a tribute to the title he never lived to contest, Craig ended a eulogy to Jude by announcing him as a world champion, with the congregation bursting into applause.

Christ Church Infants head teacher Anna Martin said: "Many of the staff remember Jude very well, despite it being so many years since he left our school, as he had a big personality and was so much fun.

"He was a loveable little lad and was known by everyone due to his love of being in the mix when there was some fun to be had - sometimes trying his luck a little too much at times!

"It was no surprise to us to

hear that he had found success as a boxer and we felt so proud hearing about his success, gained through his determination and hard work."

Christ Church Juniors head Pippa Osborne said: "Jude is remembered for being such a caring, popular and friendly person, and we are all immensely proud of all his successes, and the dedication and determination he showed within his boxing."

Jude's former head of house at Mangotsfield, James Gilpin, said: "Jude was talented and charismatic and he shone throughout his time at Mangotsfield School.

"He was a prefect and, as a role model, he always looked for the positive in everything he did.

"He was a student with big dreams and a big heart, and we are devastated to hear of his loss."

Head teacher Hetty Blackmore said: "His hard work and inner strength, both in sports and in drama, meant that he inspired others wherever he went."

After leaving school Jude attended the Army Foundation College in Harrogate but an injury meant he was unable to graduate. When he recovered he began training with Hoddesdon Boxing Academy, with a view to eventually turning professional.

Craig launched an online appeal to help Jude's family raise money to pay for the funeral, which raised more than £10,000.

The tournament held in Jude's honour

Jude Moore after winning a national championship during his time at Mangotsfield School, aged 15

School takes on extra children

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A MANGOTSFIELD school which had been due to close one of its reception classes this year has reversed the decision.

Barley Close Primary School has agreed to pause its decision to cut its annual admission number from 60 to 30 in September, to help South Gloucestershire Council accommodate some of the 59 children who have not been found a place at any of their families' three choices of school this year.

Many of those children are from Lyde Green, which has a heavily oversubscribed primary school.

The new estate was due to have a new primary school open in Honeysuckle Road last September, running in tandem with the existing school in Willowherb Road.

But work has yet to start on the new site, which is also earmarked for a secondary school, so the growing population does not have enough places to serve it.

Many parents from Lyde Green were offered places at Barley Close last September, but the school had already decided to reduce admissions from 60 to 30 this year, to cut its overall capacity in the long term from 420 to 210.

At the time the decision was taken early last year there were 289 pupils on the roll, an average of 41 children in each year group.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: "Barley Close Primary School Governing Body had taken the decision to reduce its admission number to 30.

"However, they agreed to pause implementation of the change and offered up to 60 reception places for the academic year 2023-24 to ensure that there are sufficient primary school places available in the area."

Overall, the council says more children have been offered places at their first-choice schools this year than last, despite more families applying.

A total of 3,254 applications were made for places - 26 more than last year.

First preference offers were made to 2,991 or 92% of them - up from 90% last year.

A further 159 children were offered a place at their family's second-choice school (5%), down from 6% last year, while 31 (1%) were offered their third choice, the same as last year.

The 59 or 2% of pupils who did not receive one of their three preferences was down from 87 (3%) last year. A small number of other pupils accepted places elsewhere.

Lyde Green Primary School issued a statement saying it had refused places to 33 children.

Mobile Foot Health Service

Josh's bravery recognised with top award

A YOUNG Downend scout leader has been awarded one of the organisation's highest honours.

Josh O'Inn has been awarded the Cornwell Scout Badge in recognition of his "bravery, determination and stamina" in taking on challenges while recovering from ongoing surgery to treat a genetic condition.

Josh joined the 28th Kingswood, 1st Downend beavers aged six.

Thirteen years on, he has been through cubs, scouts and explorers, rising to physical challenges including abseiling, week-long camps and the 55-mile Ten Tors Challenge, and going on an international expedition to Madagascar, where he volunteered in an orphanage.

Mum Jenny said scouting had transformed Josh's confidence as he lived with neurofibromatosis, a condition which causes tumours to grow on his face.

Josh, who attended Staple Hill Primary School and John Cabot Academy, was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis when he was a year old.

Jenny said: "As he has grown up the condition has grown with him over the years. His face has changed and he has had numerous surgeries to maintain his vision. It has led to other conditions, such as glaucoma.

"His condition was never a physical disability apart from the effect on his vision, but it affected his confidence.

"Scouting has allowed him to meet new people and do amazing things. Whatever they have thrown at him, he's done it."

Now a student studying computer game design at Southampton University, Josh has

stayed with the group as a leader and roped his mum in, too.

The Cornwell Scout Badge was created in memory of Jack Cornwell, a 16-year-old scout who stayed at his post at a gun turret despite being mortally wounded when his ship, HMS Chester, was shelled at close range during the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

Jack was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross and the badge created in his memory.

Group scout leader Rachel Ferrand said: "This is a rare award, only available to a young person, under the age of 25, in respect of great heroism or pre-eminently high character and devotion to duty, coupled with great courage and endurance.

"Josh has undergone many operations and still comes bouncing back.

"We are very proud to have him as a member of our Scout Group."

Josh's group is looking for more volunteers so it can continue to give young people opportunities. A variety of roles are available, from leaders working directly with members to behind-the-scenes roles such as trustees.

Anyone who would like to get involved can contact the group via its Facebook page or email Rachel at rferrand173@gmail.com.

Josh O'Inn receives his award from Deputy County Commissioner Stu Ballard

TWO childminders in Staple Hill have closed their businesses after inspectors found children in their care were at risk of harm.

Neither of the childminders has been named by regulator Ofsted, which said toddlers staying with one of the women were knocked over by her "aggressive" dog, and put its toys and bones in their mouths.

After visiting her in January the inspectors said she was "unable to manage children’s behaviour or interact with them appropriately, due to the loud and chaotic environment" at her premises.

The inspectors said: “The childminder’s dog frequently knocks children over. At times, the dog becomes aggressive towards the childminder.

“She fails to identify this risk or protect children by removing the dog from the area. The space used for childminding is not appropriate for the number and age of the children. As a result of this, children play and jump on the sofa, often with the dog also present on the sofa.

“Dog toys litter the floor,

Childminders quit after inspectors find safety risks

along with children’s toys.

"The dog frequently chews children’s toys, which they play with afterwards.

“Children put dog toys and bones in their mouths, which spread germs and increases their risk of other infections.”

Ofsted rated the provision 'inadequate' and intended to issue a welfare notice requiring urgent improvements but the woman resigned her registration, which means she is no longer legally able to operate as a childminder.

The report said she had been registered since 2011 and had looked after up to six children, aged one and two, for four days a week.

The inspectors said: “The childminder is frequently too busy trying to manage the dog’s behaviour, picking up toys and

rocking children in buggies, to be able to interact effectively with children."

In addition to the issues with the dog, the inspectors said toy containers sometimes fell on to children, youngsters were often unable to sleep due to noise levels and hygiene practices were poor, which "put children’s health at risk".

They said: “The childminder does not understand how children learn. She does not have appropriate expectations for children’s development. Children wander around, throwing toys and tipping out boxes. Children do not have their care and learning needs met."

The report said the childminder did not teach youngsters to behave, stop them arguing or help those who tried to resolve disputes themselves.

“As a result, children do not learn the difference between right and wrong."

The second childminder, also from Staple Hill but not connected to the first, also resigned following an Ofsted rating of inadequate in March.

The regulator's report said "children’s safety and welfare cannot be assured" because they were left in the sole care of another member of the woman's household, who had not been vetted, putting youngsters at “significant risk of harm”.

The inspectors said: "The childminder does not work effectively with parents to support children’s toilet training. This means children who are due to start school are still in nappies."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

n LOCAL ELECTIONS

Control of council up for grabs

SOUTH Gloucestershire voters will decide the future political direction of the council when they go to the polls on Thursday, May 4.

The council's ruling Conservatives are defending 33 seats - an overall majority of five - after holding on to power when the party lost control of many nearby councils at the last elections in 2019.

The Liberal Democrats, the biggest opposition group going into the elections with 17 seats, are the only other party contesting all 61 seats up for election on the unitary authority, which has responsibility for public services including waste and recycling, school provision, road maintenance, housing and planning.

The Tories have run the council since 2007 and held an overall majority since 2015, while the Lib Dems last had one in 2003, with other parties holding the balance of power at times when no one party is in overall control.

The third largest party going into the elections is Labour, which is standing 43 candidates and defending 11 seats, while the Greens, who currently have no councillors, are standing 16 candidates.

There are six independent candidates, two from Reform UK, and one from the National Housing Party.

Whoever wins this time there will be a new council leader, after Toby Savage, who has led the ruling Tory cabinet since 2018, announced shortly before nominations closed that he was stepping down as a councillor, having recently become a father for the second time.

Labour leader Pat Rooney is also stepping down, announcing her retirement after 30 years on South Gloucestershire Council and predecessor Kingswood borough.

The Voice asked the four biggest parties in the election to sum up their manifesto pledges for readers.

Their responses are printed in order of their strength in the council chamber going into the election.

Conservative

THE Conservatives have a proven track record of delivering.

From record levels of investment in schools, multi-million pound road surfacing schemes, record breaking recycling rates and ensuring car parking remains free across South Glos, we have a proven record.

If re-elected, we will continue to prioritise the things that matter. We will ensure that new homes are built in the right places and that our precious environment is protected. We will continue to invest in our local road network to keep it in tip top condition and ensure attainment levels in schools remain

Labour

OUR community is brimming with potential, but years of Conservative control on South Gloucestershire Council are holding our people and places back.

Listening to residents, we will build a better South Gloucestershire together:

Housing: Enforcing planning laws so a third of all new housing developments are affordable. Working with landlords to make rental properties warmer and cheaper for tenants.

Transport: Increasing the Council’s financial contribution to bus services. Working with our Labour Metro Mayor to train more bus drivers.

NHS and social care: Campaigning for the promised Minor Injuries Unit at Cossham and community beds at Frenchay. Working with NHS partners on early mental health interventions.

high.

We will continue to support our high streets and businesses by ensuring it remains free to park and will push the West of England Combined Authority for better public transport links.

We will also expand the soft plastic recycling scheme to further improve a recycling rate which is already one of the best in the country.

Liberal Democrats

WE face two huge challenges - the threat from Climate Change and the cost-of-living crisis.

Our priorities are : Tackling the Climate and Ecological emergency. Helping people insulate their homes, Cutting their carbon footprint and bills. Supporting innovation to build a greener economy.

Getting our area moving. We will work with communities and transport operators to deliver a joined-up transport system. Helping residents with the cost-of-living crisis. We will offer support and advice to people and businesses, to help them cut their bills and grow the local economy. Bringing back local decision making. Making sure your voices are heard and the issues that matter to you are tackled.

We will run South Gloucestershire Council in a completely different way - listening to and working with local people, residents, voluntary groups, Town and Parish Councils and other public authorities.

We can create a South Gloucestershire that works with everyone, for everyone.

Environment: Introducing a dedicated lead for Climate Change Action. Setting the highest standards for waste recovery and recycling. Ensuring major green spaces are accessible.

Childcare: Working with a future Labour government to build a modern childcare system that works for families and children.

Green

On 4th May, help South Gloucestershire follow our neighbours in Bristol by electing Green Party Councillors to our Council.

Our key priorities are:

Housing – balancing the needs of all residents in our local communities; supporting fair and affordable housing; and addressing the challenges of houses with multiple occupants.

Transport - reversing cuts to bus services; pushing for a bus franchise model; and continuing to oppose the development of further mega-roundabouts on the ring road. Local services - supporting local healthcare, schools, libraries and social care, and enhancing support to vulnerable communities.

Meaningful climate action - providing additional support for insulation for community buildings; enforcing the South Gloucestershire Council nature plan so that all developments protect biodiversity; and ensuring that the Council’s climate commitments are embedded throughout Council decision making.

Rivers – challenging water companies and Government to stop the dumping of raw sewage in our waterways.

Current Tory council leader Toby Savage is stepping down.

n LOCAL ELECTIONS

Ward

profile:

Frenchay & Downend

THE Frenchay & Downend ward covers a large area - but does not include every address in Downend. Stretching from Filton Road, west of the M32, to the roads off Fontwell Drive, by the Wick Wick roundabout, and from Grace Road to Peache Road, it covers Bromley Heath, Cleevewood and Cleeve Hill, homes around the high street and either side of Downend Road.

However, the Westerleigh Road end of Boscombe Crescent is in neighbouring Emersons Green ward, as are Westbourne Road and Beaufort Road.

And while houses on the northern side of Salisbury Road are in the Frenchay & Downend ward, those to the south are in Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, as are Stanbridge Road and Stockwell Close.

There are also some Frenchay and Downend addresses over the Bristol boundary, such as those off Frenchay Road, near Lincombe Barn.

In 2019 three Conservative candidates were elected, with the

leading Labour candidate 620 votes behind in fourth.

Labour candidates also came fifth and seventh, with the Liberal Democrats placed sixth, eighth and ninth and UKIP tenth.

The turnout was 37%.

In a 2021 by-election, held for a single seat after former council deputy leader Jon Hunt stood down, it was the Lib Dems who came second, 221 votes behind the Tories, on an increased turnout of 45%.

This year there are nine candidates - three each for the Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems.

The Voice invited all of the candidates to submit a short statement and picture, to introduce themselves to voters.

They appear here in the order they will be listed on ballot papers.

Liz Brennan (Con)

As a South Gloucestershire Councillor, Liz championed the delivery of the new Frenchay Primary School

and campaigns for improved community facilities. She sits on the Downend Partnership Group to support our high streets. A local mumof-three, swimming teacher and cystic fibrosis charity campaigner, Liz is committed to serving our community.

Ben Burton (Con)

A councillor since 2019, Ben has helped to develop plans for a new Pavilion at King George V Park and campaigned for improvements to the High Street. He has also been involved in repurposing the Old Frenchay Primary School building. He is a father-of-two and coaches football at Downend Saints.

Jacky Dockerty (Lab)

"I am a local resident and an NHS nurse for over 30 years, passionate about health and wellbeing. Given the opportunity, I plan to represent issues pertinent for young people and families as well as promoting values that improve safety and quality of life for all residents in this community."

David Eldridge (LD)

David lives in Frenchay with his wife and two young children. His work background is computing where he has led and supported teams across the globe. He has experienced many diverse cultures in his travels and wants to use his experience to make a difference locally.

James Griffiths (Con)

James lives in Downend, and has served as a district and parish councillor for four years. Trained in the NHS as a cardiac physiologist, he has worked as a healthcare director. A double-cancer survivor and

triathlete, he is passionate about promoting health and sits on the board of leisure centres.

Mike Richards (Lab)

"I’m an NHS speech therapist and have lived in Bromley Heath for 13 years, with my children attending local schools. I’ve been a director of Mudpie Explorers, the forest school CIC, and have also helped raise over £3,000 for local charities in recent years through the Bromley Heath Santa visits."

Andrew Smith (Lab)

"I have been a South Gloucestershire resident for over 30 years and am a retired public service key worker. I know from first hand professional experience how many of our vital services are under immense strain. I would strive towards improving services and the quality of life for all residents."

Raj Sood (LD)

Raj lives and runs his own business in the heart of the ward. He is a hardworking Parish Councillor who wants to make a difference at district level.

Campaigning experience makes him suited to the role and his insight and passion for the area means your voice will be heard.

John Tansey (LD)

John moved to Frenchay with his wife to be near to their two children.

He worked for the NHS for 36 years, serving as GP rep on a CCG, providing health services to 135,000 residents. These skills are ideal for the next stage in a career devoted to public service.

Key to parties, as described on nomination statements:

Con: Conservative Party Candidate

Lab: Labour Party

LD: Liberal Democrat

n LOCAL ELECTIONS

Ward profile: Staple Hill & Mangotsfield

STAPLE Hill & Mangotsfield ward covers all of Staple Hill, and parts of Soundwell and Downend - but not all of Mangotsfield.

It stretches from Colston Street and Church Road in the south, along the Bristol boundary to the western end of Staple Hill High Street and roads around Pendennis Road, along North Street to Salisbury Road, Stanbridge Road and Stockwell Close in the north. Roads to the south of Salisbury Road, and those leading off Northcote Road, Mangotsfield Road, St James Street and Broad Street are all part of the ward, including Gloucester Road, Teewell Hill and Charnhill Drive, as far east as Elmleigh Road.

But some parts of Mangotsfield, including Mangotsfield School and homes off Rodway Hill Road, Rodway Hill and Pomphrey Hill, are currently part of the Emersons Green ward. The ward boundary cuts across Windsor Place, Richmond Road, Stockwell Drive and Springleaze, with houses on either side.

In 2019 three Labour candidates were elected for Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, with the leading Conservative candidate 550 votes behind in fourth and the leading Liberal Democrat 486 votes behind the sixth-placed Tory.

The Voice invited all of the candidates to submit a short statement and picture, to introduce themselves to voters.

They appear here in the order they will be listed on ballot papers.

Brenda Allen (LD)

The Liberal Democrats have not submitted a statement or picture for this candidate.

Michael Bell (Lab)

and anti-social behaviour.”

Ian Boulton (Lab)

He has been a committed volunteer in the area for many years and helped to organise various community events and initiatives such as local food festivals, Diwali celebrations and regular litter picking sessions.

Andy O'Hara

“My council casework demonstrates many residents are struggling with the increasingly high cost of living, combined with savage cuts to vital public services. Supporting the community my family has lived in for generations, through such challenging and often cruel times, remains a role I hope to be re-elected to continue.”

Katie Cooper (Lab)

Born and raised in the local area, Andy has extensive knowledge of the issues that matter to residents. A former scout and postman, he has campaigned to keep the local road network in good condition and to improve the welfare of residents. He is a full-time carer to his parents.

Andrew has lived in South Gloucestershire all his life and works in telecommunications. He recognises the importance of delivering good community infrastructure such as schools, GP surgeries and public transport links. Commuting into Bristol by bus and train for work means he understands residents’ frustrations with the recent bus cuts.

Key to parties, as described on nomination statements:

Con: Conservative Party Candidate

Lab: Labour Party

LD: Liberal Democrats

“I joined the Council in 2019 and immediately took the Labour Group lead on Climate Action. I am proud of my work to support our community through covid and cuts to services.

I remain fully committed to the community and climate action. We must leave the world in which the next generation can thrive.”

Andrew Daer (LD)

The Liberal Democrats have not submitted a statement or picture for this candidate.

Gabrielle Davis (LD)

The Liberal Democrats have not submitted a statement or picture for this candidate.

Anil Mishra (Con)

“I have now completed 12 years as a councillor and my commitment to our community remains as strong as ever. I will work with the public and voluntary groups to reduce the eyesore of litter, flytipping, graffiti, and dog mess, and with our police to reduce crime

Anil has a master’s degree in structural engineering and currently works at the Airbus site in Filton.

(Con)

Andrew Shore (Con)

Ward profile: Emersons Green

THE Emersons Green ward includes far more than the area it is named after.

All of Emersons Green falls within its boundaries, but the ward also includes all of Lyde Green, plus parts of Downend and Mangotsfield.

Reaching to the M4 near the Wick Wick roundabout in the north and Badminton Road in the east, the ward includes roads either side of Blackhorse Lane, Westbourne Road and the Westerleigh Road end of Boscombe Crescent in Downend.

South of Westerleigh Road it includes streets leading off Blackhorse Road and the top of Windsor Place and Richmond Road in Mangotsfield, as well as Pomphrey Hill, Rodway Hill and roads leading off Rodway Hill Road, but the majority of residents live in either Emersons Green or Lyde Green.

In 2019 the ward returned three Conservative councillors, with Labour's leading candidate placed fourth, 268 votes behind the thirdplaced Tory.

The highest-placed Liberal Democrat was in seventh place, 264 voted behind the lowestranked Labour candidate.

The turnout was just 28%.

This year there are ten people standing for election to the three seats, as a Green Party candidate joins the three Tory, three Labour and three Lib Dem contenders.

The Voice invited all of the candidates in the election to submit a short statement and picture, to introduce themselves to voters.

They appear here in the order they will be listed on ballot papers.

Katrina Al-Hassan (Lab)

Emersons Green. Katrina volunteers at an animal rescue in the area and is active on local social media groups offering advice.

To learn more about Katrina visit www.sadikalhassan.co.uk.

Sadik Al-Hassan (Lab)

district councillor since 1987. He has championed Emersons Green throughout and campaigned for community facilities and road improvements. He started the campaign for a new secondary school over 20 years ago and it's now closer than ever.

Rachael Hunt (Con)

An award winning pharmacist, Sadik served as Deputy Mayor for Emersons Green Town Council. He has been a local councillor for over five years, supporting work to help prevent antisocial behaviour, funding Police electric bikes, promoting youth services and support for residents who need financial help. Learn more at www.sadikalhassan. co.uk

Ron Hardie (Lab)

Katrina as a mother of two boys who go to a local school has always had a strong interest in Lyde and

Ron Hardie joins the husband and wife team of Katrina and Sadik with a wealth of experience as a candidate. Ron was an aerospace engineer and has served as a parish councillor for four terms, and as a trustee of local groups. To learn more about the campaign visit www.sadikalhassan.co.uk

Siân Harris (Green)

I’ve lived in Emersons Green with my family since 1999. I do communications at University of Bristol and have been a volunteer youth worker for over 25 years. I was part of the campaign that challenged the ring road mega-roundabouts and want to work for a fairer, greener South Gloucestershire.

Colin Hunt (Con)

Mum-of-one Rachael has been a district councillor since 2015. She successfully campaigned to make the entrance to Lyde Green Sainsbury’s more accessible and delivered road safety measures around Lyde Green Community Centre. She has also led the drive to make South Gloucestershire’s recycling rates among the best in the country.

Alka Mehta-Graham (Con)

Colin is a former managing director and bus driver, and has been a

Alka sits on Emersons Green Town Council and has been a committed volunteer in the area for 23 years. She has been involved in organising events such as Picnic in the Park and helped people from Hong Kong settle in the area. She is a human resources consultant and mum-of-two.

Gabriela Miron (LD)

The Liberal Democrats have not submitted a statement or picture for this candidate.

Laurence Walker (LD)

The Liberal Democrats have not submitted a statement or picture for this candidate.

Susan Walker (LD)

The Liberal Democrats have not submitted a statement or picture for this candidate.

Key to parties, as described on nomination statements:

Con: Conservative Party Candidate

Grn: Green Party

Lab: Labour Party

LD: Liberal Democrats

n LOCAL ELECTIONS

Elections already over for parish councillors

AS candidates in the South Gloucestershire Council elections prepare for polling day, most of those standing for the area's parish councils have been elected already.

No elections will take place in 69 wards across the district - in some cases covering entire parishes - because not enough candidates came forward to make a vote necessary.

Those elected unopposed include all candidates standing for Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council and Emersons Green Town Council.

Across the Downend area, only one parish ward will have an election: the Mangotsfield Ward of the new Staple Hill & Mangotsfield

Parish Council.

There, seven people are standing for the five council seats available.

They are Labour candidates Michael Bell, Tracy Cannard, Mark Dean and Darren Langley, Conservative Andy O'Hara, independent Dave Somers and Simon Budd, who is not running under any label.

The new parish council's other wards had the same number of nominees as places to be filled.

Elected unopposed are Labour's Ian Boulton and Mark Whitworth in Page ward; Katie Cooper (Labour) and Diane Roberts (independent) in Pendennis Ward; Labour's Angel Bragg, Ian Campbell and Julie Snelling, and independent Irene Draper, in Soundwell ward.

Only seven candidates were nominated for Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council's 12 seats.

All of them were elected unopposed in the Downend ward, which can have up to ten councillors. The successful nominees were Conservatives Ben Burton, James Griffiths and Matt Pitts, and four others who

stood without a party label: Phillip Abbott, Janet Biggin (who was a Conservative councillor until 2019), Alvis West and Raj Sood, who is standing for South Gloucestershire Council as a Liberal Democrat.

Downend & Bromley Heath's two-member Staple Hill ward, which covers an area between Page Park, Salisbury Road, North Street and Hill House Road, is one of five parish council wards in South Gloucestershire which had no nominations at all.

Four candidates were elected unopposed to the four vacancies for the Frenchay ward of Winterbourne Parish Council. They are Adrian Collins, Paul Kembery, Jeremy Kinsey and Charles Watkins, all of whom stood under the label "Independent - Frenchay Preservation Society".

Emersons Green Town Council, which covers part of Downend and part of Mangotsfield, saw only eight people nominated for 16 places.

Two candidates - Conservative Colin Hunt and James Hunt, who stood without a party label, were elected unopposed

in Badminton ward, which had three seats; Conservative Alka Mehta-Graham and Pat Morgan, running under the label 'Retired NHS Worker', were elected to two of the three Blackhorse ward seats; independent Dave Somers was the only person to stand in Pomphrey ward.

Three people - Simon Budd, Conservative Rachael Hunt and independent Bobbie Sunderland - were elected in the seven-seat Emersons Green ward.

Nominations can be reopened or candidates co-opted onto councils with vacant seats after the election.

Polling takes place from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, May 4, with counting getting underway immediately afterwards. For the first time, all voters will need to bring formal photo identification, such as a driving licence or passport with them to the polling station or face being turned away.

n TURNERS VISION

Why do people complain about their varifocals?

Finding glasses that better your vision at all distances is challenging. Most settle for the headache of switching between glasses for different needs. This is expensive and a hassle - having multiple frames gives you one more thing to worry about losing/breaking.

Varifocal lenses, also known as multifocal lenses, are a great solution.

These top-of-the-range lenses are suitable for near, intermediate and distance vision, meaning you have one pair to see in different environments by having different lens zones. For example, the top 3rd of the lens will be designed to see objects further away, the middle for intermediate viewings, with a seamless transition to the bottom 3rd for near vision. You can see any distance by moving your eyes between these points on the lens.

Why do people complain about varifocals?

- Adapting your eyes to these lenses can be challenging. Some struggle with distorted vision when looking through the wrong section of the lens for their needs at that moment in time.

- It can take several weeks to adjust.

- Varifocal lenses can be more expensive.

- They can cause headaches and dizziness initially.

- When reading with varifocals, you must maintain an unnatural position, keeping your head straight and looking down through the near vision part of the lens.

While that might sound bleak, there are many benefits, which is why they are so popular with glasses wearers.

The benefits of varifocals

- Money-saving - you only need one pair of all-purpose glasses.

- They can help with eye conditions such as presbyopia, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

- They’re customised to your eyesight, whether you choose Everyday Varifocal lenses for multi-distance viewing or Occupational Varifocal Lenses that are better tuned to your vision and the consistent environment you spend the most time in.

- There are no visible reading areas due to the graduated lenses

How to make varifocals work for you

There are a few tips I recommend to patients to help smooth the transition to varifocals:

- Keep changing your environment, this will get you used to looking through the different parts of the lenses. The more you do it, the quicker you’ll adapt.

- Talk to others who use varifocals, they can give you some tips on how they adjusted.

- Practice makes perfect - they may feel uncomfortable at first, but you will adjust. Carry a spare pair of your previous glasses in case of headaches and/or dizziness.

What are my thoughts on Varifocals?

Whether you are short, medium or long-sighted, varifocals prioritise your vision across all distances. Personally, I like them a lot. They can take some adjusting, but their convenience is unmatched. We offer personalised lenses to fit your exact prescription. To book an appointment, call our Henleaze team on 0117 962 2474 or Fishponds team on 0117 965 4434.

Peter Turner is an Independent Prescribing Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, with a specialist interest in visual development and visual performance, who also works as a Senior Optometrist at Bristol Eye Hospital

n STAPLE HILL HUB

Meet the Sprouts

STAPLE Hill Sprouts Club has joined forces with local residents and traders to bring new life to the planters along the High Street and in Fountain Square.

Sprouts Club is only a year old but is already making a big difference in the local community.

The sessions are aimed at children aged from seven to 11 and offer gardening and nature activities. These amazing young people have already brightened up the area around the Community Hub on Nelson Road.

Not content with just improving this small area, organiser AimeeClaire Eyermann, along with local traders, is now encouraging other people across the community to discover their green fingers and make the High Street a more welcoming area for shoppers and visitors.

A successful application to

WECA’s Bee Bold Fund saw them purchase a range of pollinatorfriendly plants which residents and traders spent a busy Sunday morning in April planting.

Aimee-Claire said: "It was fantastic to see so many people of all ages give up their time to weed, dig and plant.

"These flowers attract important pollinators like bees and butterflies to our local area, which is one of the aims of the Bee Bold funding.

"It was brilliant to see some of our "Sprouts" joining in with their families and representing our local community."

Lucy Rhyddid, of Valkyrie Hair & Beauty on the High Street, helped organise the day and has taken the lead on looking after the planters for the past year.

She said: "We're so proud of our community. We hope this will make Staple Hill High Street an even more beautiful place to come and shop and spend time. We've

had several shop owners helping out and they really appreciated the effort being put in.

"Blue Sky Cafe and Amaretto Italian Treats opened for the day and thanks to Ian at Staple Hill News for coming out with a bag of sweets for the young people. We even had a donation of free vegan sausage rolls from Raf who has

just opened Pasty Paradise on the Square."

Aimee-Claire added: "This is just the first of what we hope will become regular community gardening in Staple Hill.

"Last autumn the Staple Hill Partnership rejuvenated the planters by the cross roads - the tulips and daffodils have added a splash of colour to the street and we have plants that are great for wildlife. It just makes the area feel more loved and welcoming, we couldn't have done it without our amazing volunteers."

Further community gardening days are planned during spring and summer - check Staple Hill Community Hub’s Facebook page and website for updates.

You can also get involved in the project or nominate an area for a gardening day by emailing AimeeClaire at aimeeclaireeyermann@ gmail.com or calling 07972 919159.

Staple Hill Sprouts Club meets on Wednesdays from 4-6pm and has spaces available. The club is free to join and the Sprouts take part in a range of outdoor activities as well as gardening.

Matthew Pick

Young helpers at the Staple Hill Sprouts Club planting day

Tanya Varnam with daughters Anna-Mae and Tillie-Rae, taking part in the planting day

A life saved and £5,500 raised

Two years ago baby Elliot Smith was born at Bath Royal United Hospital to Downend parents Tricia and Liam. He was 10 weeks early and spent 9 weeks in the Neonatal Unit at Bath Royal United before being allowed home with a series of ongoing ailments.

A scan of Elliot's head confirmed that he was suffering from a condition called Saggital Craniosynostosis, a condition where the bones of the skull grow together prematurely creating a malformed skull. This in turn leads to the impairment of brain development, increased intracranial pressure, and a great deal of discomfort. With this also comes the possibility of seizures, stroke, and ultimately the loss of a short life.

Elliot was referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital one of five centres of excellence in the UK where he was scheduled for urgent surgery to remove the whole top section of his skull, break it apart and reinsert the remodelled section. He spent a week in hospital under the expert care of the team there before being discharged home.

Because Covid restrictions were in place at the time (only one visitor), Elliot's parents were

forced to take shifts throughout the week, day and night to be by his bedside. Accommodation at a nearby hotel was arranged by the Hospital Charity. Follow up appointments have been carried out at both Birmingham and Bristol Children's Hospitals. Elliot is progressing well and as expected.

In order to show their gratitude to the team at Birmingham, Elliot's parents set about raising funds to assist the Craniofacial unit there with their ongoing work.

Many fundraising events were held, all of which were sponsored by Bristol Carpets. Elliot's parents say that without their fantastic support and sponsorship we would not have reached our target of £5,500. Dave Gibbs of Bristol Carpets together with his team have been with us all the way and we cannot thank them enough.

Elliot's life has been saved. Thank you Bristol Carpets.

Tony Joiner

Elliot's Great Granddad.

Still rolling up after all these years

MEMBERS of Page Park Bowls Club started their 75th anniversary celebrations by recreating a moment from their first ever match.

The club was founded in 1948 and took on their then landlords, Mangotsfield Urban District Council, on April 19 that year, with the then council chairman bowling the ceremonial first wood on the lawn.

To mark the anniversary the club kicked off their season with an in-house charity match for the Les Fulbrook Trophy, and invited retiring South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage to try his hand at the sport.

Although the demands of his young family meant the politician missed the start of the match, play was paused so he could recreate the ceremonial bowl.

The club is looking ahead to its fourth quarter-century with a thriving membership of 120, making it the second-largest lawn bowls club in the area.

Members range in age from 90-year-old Roger Netting, who still plays regularly, to a 14-yearold newcomer who has signed up for the club's latest sold-out beginners' coaching course.

After merging with the Page Ladies club in 2017, it has 70 male and 50 female members.

The club has seven league teams - four men's, two ladies'

and a mixed triples team, and also has 148 friendly matches against teams from around Bristol and South Gloucestershire scheduled for the season.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, the club will be hosting county teams from Gloucestershire and Bristol, along with a number of other

special events.

Club president Derek Turner, who stepped in to bowl the first wood, has been a member for 40 years.

He said: "In that time, I have seen it develop and flourish to what it is today.

"The club’s prosperity is due to the dedication and work of members throughout the last 75 years, and it is heartening to see this still continues."

Chairman John Walters said: "Perhaps younger members can enjoy our centenary in 2048!"

For more information about the club visit www. pageparkbowling.org.uk.

Page Park Bowls Club chairman John Walters, secretary Mary Walters, president Derek Turner and club captain Mike Conlon with retiring South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage, who bowled a ceremonial wood to mark the club's 75th anniversary

Derek Turner bowls the first wood of the season

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has rejected claims it would take 742 years to repair all of its crumbling roads and potholes.

The figure was put to council leader Toby Savage at a cabinet meeting in March by Yate town councillor Chris Willmore, who said it was based on raw government data used to compile a league table of backlogs.

She told Mr Savage: "You have more A-road length than Bristol but only managed to repair a third as much. At the current rate of repairs, Bristol could repair all its A roads in 56 years – you would take 170 years.

“If we go to the other roads, South Glos repairs half as much each year even though it has more roads. Bristol at its current rate would take 391 years to repair all those roads – South Glos would take 742 years.”

Mr Savage admitted they had more work to do said but the administration had committed an extra £1 million in the budget, set in February, to improve the state of highways and pavements.

The numbers were based on Department for Transport

'742-year pothole backlog' claim rejected by council

However afterwards the council said the estimates were based on the "inaccurate" assumption that all of the network needed to be repaired, whereas only 3% of A-roads and 7% of other roads needed urgent maintenance, with the network as a whole in "a very reasonable condition".

Potholes have worsened on many roads in the district in recent months.

A council spokesperson said maintenance crews, who are out five days a week and sometimes on weekends, had "filled around 17% more potholes since the start of January compared to last year".

It has four to eight crews repairing roads each day.

the winter months takes its toll on our road surfaces.

"We repair around 11,000 potholes a year, although it is difficult to provide an exact number, as repairs may include multiple potholes under one job."

The council launched a new online system for residents to report potholes and other issues on roads, footpaths and cycleways last summer, including the ability to upload pictures of damage, which can be send straight to maintenance teams along with the location.

To report a pothole or road defect visit www.southglos.gov. uk/reportit.

figures which said the council reconstructed or re-laid 0.7 miles of its 119.2 miles of A-roads and 1.9 miles of its 1,409.8 minor roads in 2021-22.

The spokesperson said: “This time of year is traditionally busy in terms of repairing potholes, as the cold and wet weather over

Whatever your funeral wishes

Meeting report by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

This large pothole is one of several on Peache Road, Downend

ANNUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE PARISH COUNCIL

Thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Assembly in March, and we hope that you found it an informative evening about all things that the Parish Council has achieved during the past four years, and its hopes and vision for the future. A massive thank you to Raj, our Parish Councillor, and his family for supporting the event with such wonderful refreshments.

ELECTIONS –THURSDAY 4TH MAY 2023

Please remember to:

1. Register to vote

2. Check your photo ID

3. Vote at a polling station! No ID? All voters are now required to show photo identification at polling stations before they are given a ballot paper. You can apply for free voter ID. Find out more at electrocalcommission.org.uk/voterID or call 0800 328 0280.

Polling Stations are open from 7am to 10pm on the date of the election. You should by now have received your polling card. This will tell you when and where you need to go to vote. If you haven’t received a polling card, or aren’t sure where you should vote, you should get in touch with South Gloucestershire Council:

• Website - http://www.southglos.gov.uk/

• Phone - 01454 863030

• Email - electoral.services@southglos.gov. uk

We will be meeting some of our existing councillors again following the elections, but we also look forward to welcoming new members to D&BH PC.

UNICORNFEST 2023

It was a huge pleasure to present awards to our Parish Champions. The photographs show the Chairman of the Parish Council, Councillor Jon Hunt, with Bill Crocker from the Bromley Heath Neighbourhood Watch who accepted the award on behalf of Mark Garland. For 15 years, Mark has worked tirelessly for the Neighbourhood Watch, creating their newsletter and website. An award was also presented to Jack Scott from Fitness-Worx. Since establishing themselves in the centre of Downend, Fitness-Worx must be applauded for the valuable work carried out within our community. Thank you also to Mokka for providing vouchers to each of our Award winners.

Many congratulations!

You may recall that in 2018, Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council sponsored a Gromit for the Wallace & Gromit Trail. This year, Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council will be sponsoring a Unicorn as part of Unicornfest 2023. The Parish Council wanted to mark its 20th anniversary in some way. Not only will this mean an incredible trail of artwork across the city, but Unicornfest is also about raising awareness of leukaemia. We hope that you will be able to support this charity by donating

whatever you can. There will be collection boxes in the local shops and businesses and there will also be an opportunity to contribute by using your contactless card.

Unicornfest is a Summer long public art sculpture trail featuring a giant herd of individually decorated unicorn sculptures displayed in public spaces across Bristol from July to September. The trail will also feature a mini-herd of school foals. The unicorn in Downend, named ‘Gracie’, will be sited on the corner of the High Street, where Lloyds Bank used to be. The artist, Kim Reed, is currently creating her design for ‘Gracie’ which will incorporate many things about our area, for example the horn will be the stripe and colours of W G Grace’s famous cricket cap, and there will be various local landmarks painted on the body of the unicorn which we are sure you will recognise.

We hope you will enjoy this exciting event throughout the summer, celebrating Bristol’s unique heritage and creativity, whilst raising money for Leukaemia Care, a cancer that affects 10,000 people in the UK each year.

(Sponsorship photo shows Councillor Janet Biggin at the official launch event).

DOWNEND & BROMLEY HEATH PARISH COUNCIL

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

Sheen Studios

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.

WE’RE celebrating our 10th Anniversary on the 17th of May! Pop in and visit us during May when we’ll be running various anniversary promotions, including 10% off cards with the above coupon.

We’re proud to be frequently described as an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’, an independent card and gift shop offering an extensive choice of cards in a variety of styles and for every occasion, along with party accessories such as banners, candles, badges and a wide variety of helium and latex balloons.

We also have a wide variety of gifts – fun and quirky mugs, stylish candles and scarves, beautiful pens and stationery, both sterling silver and ‘costume’ jewellery, an extensive range of children’s items and more traditional gifts for those special occasions such as weddings, births and anniversaries, along with a selection of unique and hand-made gifts from local craftspeople.

We’re committed to providing quality and variety at competitive prices.

Most of our cards are

The Card Shop … with gifts galore and so much more

special card or gift or looking into your special requests.

If you can’t find that special something then please just ask us and we’ll do whatever we can to help…

We’re open 9.30am – 4.30pm, Monday – Saturday, with plenty of free parking nearby.

We accept most credit cards with no minimum spend, and we also sell stamps to help save you time.

The Card Shop

6 Broad Street, Staple Hill

Tel: 0117 957 6959

Email:

info@thecardshopstaplehill.co.uk

www.thecardshopstaplehill.co.uk

‘unwrapped’ and we recycle and minimise as much waste as possible.

Taking an active role in the local community such as donating items for local fundraising events, we also

support the Bristol Community Cafes CIC, Great Western Air Ambulance and the NSPCC with charity boxes behind the till.

We’re a friendly team, happy to help you in any way we can: from helping to choose that

Follow us on Facebook – thecardshopSH

So come visit us in May and see what we’ve got to offer.

Park set for Coronation party

PAGE Park is preparing to welcome thousands of people for the Coronation Big Lunch.

Details of the bands and attractions for the picnic in the park on Sunday May 7, to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, have been revealed.

Bandstand performances start on the hour from 11am with Decanter, a new rock band from Yate who have recently released their first song ‘Slowcoach’ on Spotify .

There will then be performances in a variety of musical styles, including country from Chris Stanley and sea shanties from Storm Force 10 - both returning after performing at last year's Platinum Jubilee event.

There will be original and popular songs from the Rock Choir - who will lead singing of the National Anthem and Land of Hope and Glory - One Too Many and BUSK, who take the final slot at the bandstand from 4-5pm.

Food stalls will range from Albert Rogers Catering Unit, selling burgers, hot dogs chips and candy floss, to Creamberry Artisan, selling home-made cakes and pastries, Preo's Thai Kitchen, Stone and Slice pizzas and Royal Sweets. The Bean Tree Cafe will also be open for food.

People who attend the Big Lunch are also being invited to bring their own food and have a picnic.

But organisers have stressed that barbecues are not allowed in the park.

With a big crowd expected, they have also appealed to anyone attending the Big Lunch to walk to the park if possible, and for anyone who has to drive to park well away from Park Road, South View and Hill House Road, which are prone to congestion and need to have access kept clear for buses and emergency vehicles.

The free event is being funded by the Friends of Page Park, who have asked people who come along to give generously to the bucket collections which will be made on the day.

Friends vice-chair Steph Purser said: "All donations will help us to put on more events in future."

Future events planned at the park include the Lazy Sunday concert series planned for Sunday afternoons in July.

The Big Lunch is expected to be one of the biggest Coronation events in the district.

Another big free event taking place on the Coronation weekend is the Emersons Green Picnic in the Park, to be held at Emersons Green Park and village hall on Saturday May 6 from 11am-4pm.

There are also a number of Coronation events at local libraries (see page 45) and a celebration cream tea for older people at Christ Church Centre on May 8 (see page 28).

Drop in and volunteer

PEOPLE who would like to keep Page Park looking beautiful are being invited to drop in for regular gardening sessions.

They take place weekly on Tuesdays 12.30-2.30pm at the bowls club gate, Wednesdays from 9am-11am in the sensory garden and Fridays from 9.30-11.30am at the bowls club gate.

There is no commitment to come every week and people are welcome to come whenever they have some free time available and would like to be out in the fresh air and meet up with others.

The Friends are also looking for volunteers to take on more long-term roles helping their work in the park.

For more details email friendsofpageparkbs16@gmail.com, visit the group's Facebook page or website at friendsofpagepark. co.uk.

Armed Forces Day cancelled: Page 24

To advertise, contact Gary on 0779 9461169 Or 0117 907 8585. Email:

Debs celebrates 30 years of pulling pints

IT may be a bit of a commute, but Debra Palmer has no intention of calling time on her regular trip from Mangotsfield to work in a pub in Westbury-onTrym.

Debs first started working part-time at the Post Office Tavern, on Westbury Hill, in April 1993.

And after throwing a party to celebrate her 30th anniversary, she is already planning the next one in five years' time.

Debs came out from behind the bar to celebrate with customers and managers past and present at the party in late March.

She booked a rock band, Last Resort, which includes a regular among its members and stayed in front of the bar rather than behind - although she still collected glasses to help out her colleagues.

Debs has worked for 17 different managers over the years, but says it is the long-term ties with customers that keep her

doing the 35-minute drive to the pub every Wednesday and every other Friday.

Debs said: "The customers become friends. A lot of them have been drinking there as long as I've been working there.

"It's nice to go somewhere where you know who's going to come in, what they drink and what glass they like it in - you

build up a rapport and you look forward to having conversations with them."

Debs has a day job as a civil servant, working as a PA based at the Bristol offices of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, although her role has been mainly homebased since the pandemic.

She first started working

at the pub when a colleague at Defra heard she was on the lookout for a second job, and despite initially thinking she "couldn't think of anything worse" she soon warmed to it.

Debs said: "If I was going to give up any job it would be my day job over the pub job."

Although the nature of the trade has changed over the decades - Debs says people go out less, and the bar is no longer four-deep every night - there are still busy times, and she prefers working in a "nice pub with nice people" to the idea of a city centre bar.

Debs has no plans to quit.

She said: "I said I'd get to 30 years and see how I feel. Now I'm looking to get to 35 years - I've already booked the band in for the anniversary party."

Do you know any other parttime bar workers locally who have been at the same pub for 30 years or more? Contact news@ downendvoice.co.uk.

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

Debra Palmer celebrates her milestone with manager George Balatoni, Tim Duggan, whose band performed at the party, and other regulars at the Post Office Tavern

Armed Forces Day in park cancelled

A CELEBRATION of the work of the Armed Forces planned for Page Park has been cancelled.

The Armed Forces Day event was due to be staged on June 17, a return to South Gloucestershire for the first time since 2019.

It would have been the first time the event had come to Staple Hill, having been held in Kingswood before the pandemic. However, it has now been

cancelled due to a lack of funds and help.

Armed Forces Day is an annual national event to give people the opportunity to show their support for current serving troops, service families, reservists, veterans and cadets.

Entertainment and stalls were planned for the Page Park celebration.

However the organising

committee issued a statement in April, which said: "The committee have been working hard with external partners, but it has become clear that with the lack of funding for the event and the realisation that more people are needed, we cannot go ahead for 2023.

"This is a huge blow to us on the committee and to those that have been working hard to get this event back off the ground.

"We will continue to mark the day this year and hope to work with South Gloucestershire Council for the annual flag raising ceremony in Yate.

"We are already working towards 2024 and several grants have been applied for to meet the increased costs of services required to make the event successful, safe and fun."

The committee called on people to support other events happening at the same time, including Party in the Ponds, which is also set for June 17, and the Mangotsfield Festival.

The organisers are calling on volunteers who can help run an event on June 15 next year to email southglosafd@gmail.com. Refugee Festival returns: Page 42

£1,500 fine for dropped cigarette

A MANGOTSFIELD woman has been ordered to pay nearly £1,500 for throwing a cigarette end on the ground in Staple Hill.

Terie Green of Arnold Road, Mangotsfield, failed to attend Bristol Magistrates Court for the hearing on 17 April but was found guilty in her absence and convicted for the offence of littering. She was ordered to pay a fine of £660, along with £559 in costs and a £264 victim surcharge.

The court heard she was seen discarding a cigarette before entering a supermarket, making no attempt to put the cigarette in a bin.

She was issued with a fixed penalty notice, which she failed to pay. The council then took Green to court.

The fixed penalty fine for littering is £150, reduced to £75 if paid within the first 10 days.

The council is urging people to report littering and other antisocial offences online at www. southglos.gov.uk/report.

n DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS REVIEW

DOWNEND

FOLK & ROOTS: THE HAAR + SOLARFERENCE.

FRIDAY 17 MARCH 2023. CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND

THERE'S a story that, on 8th March 1890, Bram Stoker, the Dublin-born author of Dracula, contracted food poisoning from a dressed crab in a fashionable London restaurant. The ensuing vivid nightmare about blood-sucking creatures was direct inspiration for his Gothic Count. If that dream had had a soundtrack, then it could have been provided by The Haar, an Anglo-Irish four piece in Bristol to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

It is entirely fitting that their new album is called Where Old Ghosts Meet because this evening, in this packed church, ghosts are all around us. The Haar take traditional Irish songs, songs that we all know, and paint them in different, darker, scarier colours. This is not a dyed-green-Guinnessand-a-bit-o'-craic Ireland, this is the coast of Connemara Ireland, this is watching the fog roll in around The Skellig Islands Ireland. This is devastatingly beautiful and more than a little intense.

Part of that intensity comes from Molly Donnery and her extraordinarily evocative voice.

Where so many of the songs feature a heavy death toll, Donnery provides both a pin-drop vulnerability and the quiet fury of the wronged. There are moments, particularly on Craigie Hill and Two Sisters, where she sounds a tiny bit like Cara Dillon but with all of the emotion and rough edges still, very much, intact.

The other provider of intensity is Cormac Byrne. It's not that often you watch a band and can't drag yourself away from the bodhrán player, but Byrne is remarkable. He literally provides the heartbeat around which everything else can work. It's the sound that you can hear pulsing through you at 3 o'clock on a panicked morning. You notice it most on She Moved Through The Fair where this song

n DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS PREVIEW

NEXT AT DOWNEND FOLK & ROOTS: JON WILKS + JENNIE HIGGINS

FRIDAY 19 MAY 2023, CHRIST CHURCH DOWNEND

DOWNEND Folk & Roots begin their summer programme on Friday 19 May, when Jon Wilks, a prominent fingerpicking guitarist and singer who performs traditional English folk songs and broadside ballads, headlines the monthly concert.

With his background as a former editor of Time Out magazine and contributor to Dazed & Confused, The Guardian and other publications, Jon has a keen eye and ear for storytelling. During his live shows, he mixes entertaining folk song performances with fascinating titbits about original singers and collectors unearthed during his extensive research on traditional folk music in the UK.

Jon is also the founder and editor of Tradfolk.co, a website dedicated to the traditional music

and ritualistic culture of England. He has released three solo albums, three albums and two EPs with The Grizzly Folk, and an album and EP with Japan-based indie band, Cut Flowers. He co-arranged and performed tracks on Jackie Oates’s Gracious Wings album and was a part of Slow Jane, the quartet that created videos of Nick Drake songs during lockdown.

Jon is also the presenter of The Old Songs Podcast and gigs

stops being all All About Eve waftyness and, instead, it's a hypnotic swirl. Donnery's voice and Byrne's bodhrán overwhelming the senses, creating a fair with too many people, too many sensations, too much to see.

It seems almost clichéd to expect to hear The Wild Rover on St Patrick's Day and, surely, it was played a million times up and down the country tonight. One thing's for sure though, none of those versions sound like The Haar's. Theirs is slowed to a lament and is as dark as Dracula's cape. The horror of the song is amped up with a new verse where the young man is murdered by the landlady. It is terrifying. In a very good way.

Equally disconcerting is Whiskey In The Jar. Anyone

expecting a rousing romp in the Thin Lizzy mould might have to have a bit of a re-think because this one is very sinister indeed. Adam Summerhayes, on fiddle, at turns sustains a solitary high note, then plunges into a breakneck pace, as though being chased by the very devil himself. All the while he is ably assisted by Murray Grainger (his bandmate in The Ciderhouse Rebellion) on accordion.

There were no painful, Oirish stereotypes tonight, instead this was a St Patrick's night to remember. It was thinking-person's music, not drinking-person's music.

Before all of that intensity, Solarference brought their own brand of theatricality. A duo hailing from Bristol and Devon, Nic Janaway and Sarah Owen are usually found mixing genres with a heap of clever electronics. Here, though, they play things straight and their voices, and songs, shine. Owen's voice, in particular, is lovely and her background in sonic art is telling. On Milder and Mulder the pair weave two songs togetherone English, one Welsh - and the effect is quite magical.

St Patrick's night at Downend Folk & Roots was everything that you'd dream of. Simply beautiful music and no nightmares.

Words: Gavin McNamara

Photos: Barry Savell

in traditional folk song, earlier this year.

whenever he can. Jon’s new album, Before I Knew What Had Begun I Had Already Lost, is released this month.

Joining Jon on the bill will be Jennie Higgins, a traditional folk singer and historian known for her a cappella traditional arrangements of folk songs that tell women’s stories. She released her debut album Where Are All The Women?, which explores the plethora of womanhood presented

Tickets for the concert, at Christ Church Downend on Friday 19 May, are available online at downendfolkandroots.com and from Melanie’s Kitchen in Downend (cash only). They are priced at £14 each in advance or £16 on the door. Doors open at 7.30pm and the entertainment starts around 7.45pm. You can also buy a season ticket, which covers this concert as well as June’s Bella Hardy gig and the visit of Owen Spafford & Louis Campbell in July, and saves you a few quid! These are only available online.

There will be a bar, stocking cider, soft drinks, wine, hot drinks and real ale from locally-based Hop Union Brewery. There will also be sweet treats courtesy of the Radstock-based Great Cake Company, as well as a prize draw.

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

Fundraisers' pedal power

FUNDRAISERS in Mangotsfield have handed over £12,000 to two very good causes - and are already pushing on towards their next big donation.

Mangotsfield Community Association handed cheques for £7,226 to St Peter's Hospice and for £4,775 to Special Friends Club at the Red Lion at the end of March.

St Peter's is the Bristol area's only adult hospice, while special friends provide support for families of children with special needs and disabilities by organising a range of inclusive activities.

The money was raised by the MCA during its programme of fundraising last year.

And this year's campaign got off to a great start when the MCA returned to the Red Lion for a a 913-mile equivalent Spin Bike Challenge over Easter.

Volunteers took turns to get on three exercise bikes in a relay that clocked up the equivalent of pedalling from Mangotsfield to Melrose in Scotland, Leeds, Ipswich and back to Mangotsfield.

The route was chosen to celebrate the achievements of three sporting legends - the

late Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow and Marcus Stewart - who have all been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.

It raised £4,200, which will be added to funds raised at other events through the year and donated to St Peter's and the MND Association.

MCA volunteers Mike Heath, Karen Fox and Matt and Sarah Proud organised the event, with support from throughout the local community who came to cheer them on and enjoy a barbecue and music.

You can donate online to this year's MCA fundraising at www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/mango-mca-1

Volunteers pedalling their way to raising £4,200 at the Red Lion over Easter

The cheque for St Peter's Hospice

Coronation tea party

CORONATION Holiday weekend and Nothing to Do?

Don’t stay at home feeling isolated and bored!

If you are an older person in our community, come along and join us for an afternoon’s cream tea and make friends.

This will be held at Christ Church Centre in Quaker’s Road on Bank Holiday Monday, May 8, between 2pm and 4pm.

Join us for a cream tea, a quiz and games and old-time singing.

You don’t need any connection with Christ Church to come and join in with what is going on. This is a free event and open to all.

A warm welcome to everyone.

If you need more information or would like to book a place in advance, please ring 0117 908 9867 (mornings only) or email office@ christchurchdownend.com

Anne-Louise Critchlow

Chaplain for Older People

Christ Church, Downend

Noisy fun

CHRIST Church Downend is holding a free family fun afternoon on May 1.

The event will be in the main church building from 2-4pm, with inflatables, games, face painting, a craft zone, a café area and BBQ.

It will be part of a series of free family fun afternoons held all over Bristol as part of The Noise, an enormous annual event run by Bristol churches which also includes a range of community volunteering projects all across the bank holiday weekend.

For more senior citizens, there will be a free afternoon cream tea, with entertainment. Again, this will be in the main church building, and will run from 2-4pm on Saturday April 29. Please invite anyone you think might like to come.

Gary & Diane Youth Team, Christ Church Downend

Warm spaces stays into summer

THE Warm Spaces movement originally began out of the cost of living & climate crisis last Autumn. As the year continues, many of us are facing tough decisions. Some of us have moved to working from home following the pandemic and are facing colder seasons with increased energy bills. Others are facing even harder decisions about whether to heat or eat.

Warm Spaces cafes bring anyone in need of warmth & community to a warm space to share with others, often with a warm bowl of soup free of charge or on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis and the opportunity to sit, chat and listen to music or read the newspapers.

At Christ Church Downend, the vision has been the same – to provide a warm welcome and fellowship with others, a warm space and warm drinks and soup every Thursday over lunchtimes. Maggie, who spearheads the team at Christ Church is determined to continue to offer Warm Spaces even as the weather brightens and the sun comes out.

‘Folk of all ages and stages enjoy the company,’ she explains. ‘It’s such a simple idea – we have a fantastic building in the heart of the community and it is warm, bright and spacious. We provide hot and cold drinks, soup, and bread rolls and everyone enjoys the company and the relaxed atmosphere.’ Maggie has had two grants from South Gloucester Council and generous food donations from the local Coop supermarket – food that would otherwise have been binned as it was close to its use-by date. ‘It’s making the most of what our community has to offer on so many levels.’

The Warm Spaces café at Christ Church will continue throughout the spring and summer, with live music from Music Train twice a month. ‘We are hoping to develop the Café further,’ says Maggie. ‘Over the coming months, we are hoping to offer specific support to those suffering with dementia and a space for those family members and carers to come together and play board games, chat and eat together. Watch this space!’

Warm Spaces Café runs at Christ Church Downend every Thursday 11-2pm with food served from midday. All are welcome!

Anita Dobson

Dave's poems celebrate Staple Hill

STAPLE Hill poet Dave Pearse takes inspiration from many places - including his home turf.

A poem about Page Park is part of a collection of 25 works published with Art In Motion, an organisation that supports artists with disabilities and neurodiversity.

Dave, who lives in the Pendennis estate, has Aspergers Syndrome, a form of autism, and has a fascination with language which has driven him to create poems, come up with puns and write prose exploring history.

Dave has spent all of his life in Staple Hill, apart from a short stint in London when he attended university.

Before concentrating on writing full-time he worked locally but says he could never stick to a regular job for long,

He said: "No job I've done has gone well - I was made to be a poet."

Dave has been working with Art In Motion, a charitable trust based at Spike Island on the Harbourside, since it started in 2015.

His book, 'Home is where I always return to', includes poems about landmarks such as Bristol Cathedral, Queen Square and Glenside hospital as well as musings on the city's historical residents.

Along with the poem on Page Park, titled The Alderman's Great Gift, it also includes an ode to Staple Hill called 'Home Is'.

Dave said: "I am inspired by nature, history and the local area, which I consider to be quite beautiful and full of character."

He raised money for his book

The Alderman's Great Gift

A green emerald that tops Staple Hill, Bequeathed by a gentleman in considerate foresight, As he saw the city suburbs advancing, Consuming the fields and hedges with brick, concrete and tarmac, Kindly he gave a part of his own estate, That one part of Staple Hill should remain forever green, So now local folk can play, relax, or walk the dog, Among green lawns and flowerbeds, Or lie in the shade of tall leafy trees

While children play on slides, swings and frames, The sensory garden ensures all are catered for, Who wish to sense nature’s beauty,

The wildflower garden invites the wildness of nature, Inviting communion with those who would immerse themselves in her beauty,

A venue for fetes and fares,

A bandstand for local musicians to impress with their talents, All this, Alderman Page’s everlasting gift to Staple Hill!

Dave Pearse

by running a 'pound a poem or pun' event.

Art In Motion founder and director Colin Higginson said: "There's something about Dave's Apsergers that makes him have a lot of attention to detail and he's very knowledgable on history.

"He's known for punningthat's one of his traits."

Dave has created works in different forms, including spiral poetry, where text is used to create a visual artwork.

He has taken part in exchange events in Spain and Ireland where he wrote poems about local history and landmarks, soaking up Spanish and Gaelic at the same time.

Dave has recently written a series of poems about cryptids, animals from legend and folklore that have not been proved to exist but people like to believe in. Those Dave has described in verse include legendary Cornish sea monster Morgawr, the Exmoor Beast, and America's

Sasquatch.

He has also explored some stories from Bristol's past, including ghost stories from Vassalls Park and Purdown, and the history of Kingswood Forest.

Dave's book is on sale at the Arnolfini bookshop on the Harbourside and can also be obtained through Art in Motion by emailing aim4arts@yahoo. co.uk or visiting the website at www.artinmotion45.com.

Dave Pearse in Page Park with a copy of his poetry book

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

No need to bow down to the King

THE Coronation this month gives us the opportunity to consider what it means to be a king in 2023. In the UK the last time we had a new king was 1936, and there were three kings that year! - not like the Christmas carol, but with one opting out…. We are many centuries away from medieval times when most of us were enslaved to a feudal lord of the manor and thus familiar with the notion of having to bow down to a perhaps scary or at least unpredictable person in charge. Parliament and democracy mean that the power of kings is now significantly diminished, and it says something positive about the progress of humanity that we are free to choose whether or not to observe this milestone ceremony. Both Charles III and another so-called king, Jesus (in a different league!), are completely irrelevant to many of us.

Being obedient to a king may be appealing, in the safe

domain of imaginary or fantasy TV dramas – it might be a relief sometimes for someone else to make the decisions - but I think that in real life in 2023 we all want to be equal. In the UK at least, and in some other Western countries, our laws state that we are living in those times now, so I do sometimes wonder why in church we continue to sing about kneeling before a throne, bowing down to a king (Jesus) and worshipping him. Maybe it’s comforting, but I find it a bit difficult to relate to.

Charles III, Defender of Faiths, privileged indeed and in his position of “soft power” only by accident of birth, nevertheless can come across as a humble and thoughtful man who would be the first to shy away from any form of adulation. Similarly, I am not at all sure that Jesus, who came to earth as God in human form, actually wanted to be worshipped and adored. Of course he deserves our respect

(which extends to other world religions who see him as a great prophet) but I am sure that he would just rather we were kind to each other - the essential message of the Christian faith. He stood out 20 centuries ago partly because he treated everyone equally at a very unequal time, including women, children, foreigners, the disabled, and members of other religious persuasions. Would you want to engage with a chronically and gynaecologically ill woman in a hot arid country or to wash other people’s sweaty feet? Also I think it would be really uncomfortable and frustrating being told how wonderful you are but then for your followers to ignore your wise teachings and to go off and do the wrong thing all the time. (Lots of evidence for this in the Gospels).

So unlike some of our traditions, whether royal, Christian or both, Jesus and his example have the knack of being

Anna Graham Steward at Staple Hill Methodist Church

as completely relevant today as they were since he arrived as a baby nearly 2030 years ago. I think of him not as a king but as my supportive and critical friend. Royal or not, we can learn to serve each other as equals without debasing ourselves or losing our self-worth as human beings made in the image of God.

So, enjoy the Coronation weekend! No bowing, kneeling or deference will be required – and our democratic calendar indicates that it is time to vote!

With

Advertising feature

New exhibition at Aerospace Bristol is out of this world!

Aerospace Bristol, on the site of the former Filton Airfield, will host Luke Jerram’s Mars as part of a new Journey to Mars exhibition. The artwork will be stunningly displayed from 4th May to 5th June alongside the last Concorde ever to fly.

The temporary exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Beagle 2 lander on Mars Express, Europe’s first mission to Mars. It will include models of Beagle 2 and the Mars Express Orbiter on display alongside Luke Jerram’s Mars sculpture.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, Mars features

detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. At an approximate scale of 1:1 million, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars.

Visitors will have the chance to view Mars from the air, as though they are a satellite, mapping and studying the surface in perfect detail, with every valley, crater, volcano and mountain laid bare to inspect.

The Journey to Mars exhibition is included with museum entry.

Visit https://aerospacebristol.org/ for more information and for tickets.

Investing in hi-tech skills for the future

THIS month I have focused on three main areas: ensuring our area continues to have and increases the number of hightech, high-skilled, high-paid jobs, our support for Ukraine and the defence and aerospace industry in the region, and access to public transport in our community.

I visited the National Composites Centre in Emersons Green, a world-leading facility which provides end-to-end engineering support for companies such as GKN, RollsRoyce, Airbus and Leonardo as well as small and medium size businesses such as LINEAT who are engaging in cutting-edge research to recycle carbon fibre.

The fantastic base of aerospace, defence, and manufacturing jobs in our area was a crucial factor in basing the NCC here and is playing a key role in generating inward investment in the UK and generating economic growth and innovation.

The Catapult network, of which the NCC is a part, has a

in service cancellations and unreliability.

As a result of these discussions, I took action to help organise a recruitment event with First Bus and the Job Centre in Horfield. Driving a bus is not just a job, it's a public service vital to our communities: without bus drivers people cannot get to work and are cut off from other crucial public services.

significant

apprenticeship intake, with 1,000 apprentices across the network. In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor invested an additional 35% in Catapult funding, which will be vital in providing significant investment in skills in our area to educate and inspire young people and to generate the skills needed for an advanced, high-skill, highwage economy.

I met with Andy Start, CEO of MOD Defence Equipment and Support and Admiral Sir Tony

Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff at Abbeywood. We discussed the fantastic work the MOD team at DE&S are doing to support the Ukrainians in the defence of their country, as well as how MOD DE&S support the UK defence industry.

I have been working with various stakeholders involved in our public transport network in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

One issue that kept coming up was the issue of insufficient numbers of bus drivers, resulting

I will continue to seek solutions to this problem and will work with stakeholders to find solutions to this problem. I will soon meet again with the Managing Director of First Bus to raise the issues relating to bus services.

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.

Jack Lopresti with Andy Start of Defence Equipment and Support and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff at Abbey Wood

Art installation wrecked

AN art installation at the former Mangotsfield station has been destroyed in an arson attack.

The wooden framework was the centrepiece of the Mangotsfield Folly project, funded by Arts Council England and Emersons Green Town Council, working with transport charity Sustrans, which oversees the Bristol & Bath Railway Path running alongside.

Damage to the installation.

A mural was painted on the inside of the folly by artists Lucas Antics in June last year, to mark the launch of the project - but by that stage it had already been vandalised once.

Events have been held at the folly in the months since, most recently a dance performance called Blackened Diamond, inspired by Mangotsfield’s coal mining past, in late March.

The structure was wrecked overnight between April 21 and 22 when a moped was burnt out inside it, leaving it in a dangerous condition.

Perilous U-turns at tip entrance

DRIVERS are being reminded to follow road markings at the new entrance to the Mangotsfield Sort It recycling centre after reports that some were attempting dangerous U-turns at traffic lights.

Right turns on to the Carsons Road site by traffic coming from Mangotsfield have been banned since a new entrance, off the Carsons Road Link from the A4174 Siston Hill roundabout, opened in March.

But there have been reports of some drivers instead trying to U-turn through oncoming traffic at the Carsons Road/Carsons road Link traffic lights, rather than taking the signposted route around the roundabout, with calls for enforcement action.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said enforcement was a matter for the police, adding: “We have been monitoring traffic movements since the slip road opened and we’ve observed a decrease in the number of U-turns as residents are becoming more familiar with the new layout."

'Green screens' planned

'GREEN screens' to improve air quality in the middle of Downend are due to be installed in the coming weeks.

The screens are purpose-made trellis-like frames around which foliage has been allowed to grow, and are intended to capture and block particulate pollution as well as improving the look of an area.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: "The Green Infrastructure scheme is an idea that has come through the Downend Partnership Group and is part of a phased investment in Downend.

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Anyone with information about the fire should call the police on 101.

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Police told to improve by inspectors

INSPECTORS say Avon and Somerset police force “requires improvement” in investigating crimes including rape and serious sexual offences.

Half of all investigations carried out by the short-staffed force end up with no further action being taken, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services said.

The force also needs to improve responding to the public and recording crime data.

The constabulary was graded as “adequate” in protecting vulnerable people and preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, and “good” at treating the public with respect.

A 12-month review of Avon & Somerset Police was carried out by the inspectorate between 2021 and last year.

Inspectors said: “The constabulary’s capacity to conduct timely investigations into rape and other serious sexual offences is exceeded by the number of these offences.

"As a result, such crimes are often left without being allocated to an investigator for a period of time during which evidential opportunities could be lost — as could the confidence of the victim.

"The constabulary told us that, between April and June 2022, the number of such unallocated crimes varied between 125 and 48. Although these crimes are kept under review by supervisors and senior officers, they aren’t actually being actively investigated.”

Avon and Somerset Police has a dire shortage of detectives and investigators, the inspectors said. This means that half of all investigations considered for prosecution result in no further action being taken.

Another area needing improvement is recording data about crime. During the year covered by the inspection, the police force didn’t record an estimated 13,100 crimes, including 420 sexual offences. Particular crimes picked out by inspectors included rapes, crimes involving vulnerable victims, and anti-social behaviour.

They said: “The constabulary should improve its recording practices to make sure that rape crimes and reported incidents of rape are recorded correctly. Some unrecorded crimes were of a serious nature, such as controlling and coercive behaviour, sexual assaults and other assaults.

“When the crime was not recorded there was often limited evidence of investigation or safeguarding the victim. Failure to record these crimes can result in offenders not being identified or brought to justice.”

Police bosses said they had plans in place to address the problems in the inspection, like recruiting new staff, and added that extra demand from people suffering from mental health issues are increasing pressure on the police force.

Chief Constable Sarah Crew said: “Responding to the public more quickly, improving our investigations and better management of offenders are areas of intense focus for us, and we have plans in place to address the shortfalls outlined.

"The report recognises the sheer volume of non-emergency demand coming in the police service, much of which we know is spillover demand from other public services.

“In the last 12 months, we’ve taken more than 385,000 calls for service, with under a third of these relating to crime or anti-social behaviour. The rest are issues which go beyond the policing sphere, including incidents involving people in mental health crises.

Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford said: “I am delighted that Avon and Somerset Police has been graded outstanding for their work in ‘engaging with and treating the public with fairness and respect.’

"However, I’m concerned — as I’m sure local people will be — about the areas highlighted that still require improvement including investigating crime, recording data about crime, responding to the public and managing offenders.”

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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.

n COMMUNITY NEWS

DOWNEND WI

WE have enjoyed some really fabulous meetings so far this year.

It's been wonderful to see so many of our lovely members coming month after month, and welcoming some new potential guests, too.

At our March meeting we had the fabulous personal stylist Gail Painter come along and help us with a talk on what really suits our complexions, styles, and how a colour can enhance your skin tone throughout the seasons.

At April’s meeting we welcomed the wonderful team from Downend in Bloom, who keep our high street looking amazing season after season.

In preparation for the celebration of King Charles III's Coronation, our members have been busy sewing felt flowers to go on our post box topper, which I know will be as fantastic as the “poppy topper” that we did for Remembrance Sunday last November.

The last job to do before it goes on pride of place in Downend high street is to sew all of the fabulously sewn flowers by our members onto the base...wish us luck!

We will be attaching a QR code to the topper so that direct donations to a local foodbank we are collecting for can be made.

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.

If you can spare a little of your time and wool it would be greatly appreciated - contact downendwi@yahoo.co.uk for a pattern.

We meet at Christ Church Hall, North Street, Downend on the last Tuesday of each month at 7.30pm. If you would like to know more about joining us, please contact us via the email address above.

Shelley, Downend WI President

BROMLEY HEATH WI

OUR monthly meeting normally takes place on the second Thursday of the month but due to the Easter break we had to wait until April 20 to get together again.

We are fortunate to enjoy a diverse variety of members, from both an age and personal interest point of view, but I’m confident that all of us enjoy visiting a beautiful garden, relaxing in our own garden and, possibly most of all, a surprise bunch of flowers or floral gift.

Particularly committed are our long-standing and award-winning allotment group, who are an eclectic bunch of ladies who really enjoy getting

n CLEEVE HILL TENNIS CLUB

Evenings are getting lighter, how about a game of tennis?

MAY is one of the most exciting times for us in the tennis calendar. Many of our members are back on court playing regularly, and getting ‘match fit’ ready for ‘summer league’. Monday evening is match practice, with all courts busy from 5.30pm – 10pm. This year we have men’s teams in divisions one to eight and ladies' teams in divisions two to seven. Several of the teams were promoted so it’s all to play for this season.

If you’ve been thinking about playing tennis, now that we’re finally seeing the sun…well I did see it once… it's the perfect time to come and

see how our club works. Join us on Wednesday 3 May 2023 for our Open Evening 6 - 9pm. We’ve got a whole new approach to welcoming new members regardless of ability, and we’d love to show you our courts and facilities.

At our committee meeting at the end of March we did away with the old-fashioned ‘playing-in’ system for new members, and have introduced a monthly opportunity to join a ‘new member coaching group’. At each session, members get the opportunity to have a game and chat to our club coach and one of the committee about the right tennis opportunities.

There are plenty of options to play tennis at a level to suit you, including two social tennis nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a single box ladder and the summer league.

There are also regular tennis fitness and coaching sessions for beginners and improvers. The latest 10-week coaching course started

down on their knees and dirty for gardening purposes.

With this background it is hardly surprising that we were looking forward to hearing from our guest speaker, Amy of Dotty Herberts florists in Downend, showing us how to make a spring wreath.

Amy started with an overview of her professional training, how she had enjoyed using her skills in a diverse variety of jobs and setting up Dotty Herberts once her children had grown up.

Working at a much slower pace than she is accustomed, Amy demonstrated and explained how to construct a circular wire frame to use as your base to “wire in” a wide variety of natural foliage to create a beautiful and long-lasting spring wreath.

Our members had bought raffle tickets to win the lovely wreath that Amy created.

Our next meeting on May 11 will be on the experience of making a memory quilt, with a raffle in aid of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Please feel free to contact us at bromleyheathwi@gmail.com if you would like any further information. We look forward to meeting you.

Margaret Hanwell

w/c 17 April but if there are spaces you can still sign up.

See our website for details.

If you are interested in finding out more and coming along to our open evening or have any questions about the club or coaching, please email cleevehilltennis@live.com

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA

April 30

n MESSY CHURCH 4pm – a craft based fun afternoon for all the family. Staple Hill Salvation Army, Broad Street. BS16 5LN (free admission)

May 1

n FREE FAMILY FUN

AFTERNOON, Christ Church

Downend, 2-4pm. Inflatables, games, face painting, craft zone, café area, BBQ and much, much more! Part of The Noise, free events held in Bristol churches over the bank holiday weekend.

May 3

n ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

WOMEN'S SECTION We are having a big party on 3rd May as its our 83rd Birthday . Prizes for the best crown and costume. Every one welcome. If your a past member why not come along. 2.00 at the Y Centre Old school building by the big car park in Staple Hill. Telephone Madeleine Bills 0117 9560805 for more information. Our next meeting after this event will be 7th June.

May 4

n LINCOMBE BARN, Overndale

Road, coffee and speaker morning: A Day in the Life at Kingswood Community Transport, with Mike Vernon, from 10.15am. Talk 10.4511.45am. Entry £2.50, coffee extra. All welcome.

May 6 to May 12

n BRISTOL GREENBANK

BOWLS CLUB, GORDON ROAD, WHITEHALL Come to our free taster sessions. Every day from 10am to noon.

Saturday 6th May to Friday 12th May. Expert and friendly tuition from current members. All equipment provided. Wear flat soled shoes such as trainers. Just turn up. Car parking. Plant and cake stalls. Licensed Bar. Email greenbankbowls@gmail.com if you need more information or would like directions to the club.

May 13

n COFFEE MORNING at Staple

Hill Salvation Army, Broad Street, 10am-noon.

May 14

n PAGE PARK PRAISE with Staple

Hill Salvation Army Band and musicians, 3.30pm.

May 15

n DOWNEND SENIOR FILM CLUB

Monday 15th May at 2pm Rocketman (15) 2019

Musical drama based on the life and career of Elton John.

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

1st June - 3rd June

n BRISTOL QUILTERS EXHIBITION……QUILTFEST!

Thursday 1st June , Friday 2nd June 10am to 5pm

Saturday 3rd June 10am to 4pm.

Admission £3 Children free. At Redland Hall, Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Rd, BS93AW

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.

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

n TAI CHI CLASS, The Folk House, Downend - Tuesdays 7.30-8.30pm. All welcome, £7 per class or £35 for 6 classes. Contact Georgina Green07845 748568, georginagreen@ mindfultaichi.org.uk

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

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

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

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

n WELCOME WEDNESDAY

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

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

Food lessons for primary pupils

WHEN children at Frenchay Primary School started a project to learn about food, it wasn't just about tasty recipes.

Pupils also conducted science experiments on the best way to protect food, with the aim of finding the best material to wrap Paddington Bear's marmalade sandwiches in.

Head teacher Katherine Marks said: "The science experiments conducted for this involved lots of laughter, particularly when it came to sitting on the sandwiches to test the materials' strength!"

Science classes also looked at the diets of different animals, while there were also lessons on healthy diets.

Pupils put these into action by making fruit skewers and writing instructions.

Refugee festival returns

A FESTIVAL to celebrate the cultures of people who have come to Bristol and South Gloucestershire as refugees - and bring them together with other residents - is returning to Page Park.

The free event on June 24 is part of the closing weekend of this year's Bristol Refugee Festival.

It will feature music, dancing, activities and world food, including sweets from people who have moved to the area after having to leave their old lives in Hong Kong and Afghanistan.

Dancers from Columbia, who were a hit at the initial event last year, are expected to return and a cultural performance by refugees from Ukraine is being planned, via the Homes for Ukraine initiative.

The event will run from 11am

to 5pm and is part of a weekend of celebrations, with another following in Queen Square in the city centre the next day.

Bean Tree Café owner Melody Beard is organising the Page Park event in coordination with South Gloucestershire Race Equality Network and dance and culture charity Movema.

Melody said: "It was a huge success last year and almost 1,000 people attended through the day.

"We've had a lot more requests to take part this year.

"We're working across every

type of refugee population, to showcase the best from all of these cultures and make Staple Hill a place where people feel welcome."

The festival will include performances from people who have lived experience of being refugees, and aims to include people currently living in hotels while they wait to find somewhere permanent to live. As well as free samples of sweets there will be food stalls and Chinese games, with more entertainments set to be announced nearer the event.

Traditional Colombian dancing from Ayahuasca at last year's festival.

Picture: B Squared Studio

htiwDa plehp

Green & Staple Hill libraries

Coronation Events

Thursday 4th May : Royal Tea Party (tea, refreshments and stories with our resident reading group – all welcome! 3pm – 4pm at Staple Hill Library

Friday 5th May : Coronation

Coffee Morning from 10am – come along and enjoy coffee, cake and a coronation related quiz at Downend Library.

Saturday 6th May : Emersons Green Library will be staffed 9.30am – 4pm as part of the Coronation Day celebrations in Emersons Green park in Village Hall. As well as offering all of our usual services there will be FREE Coronation craft activities for the children to do too.

Saturday 6th May : Coronation crafts (for primary school children)

10.30am – 12pm at Downend Library

See also www.southglos.gov.uk/ libraries

Lego Clubs

Staple Hill Library : Saturday 13th May starts at 10.30am (FREE but please book via staff or email : staplehill.library@southglos.gov. uk)

Downend Library : Saturday 20th May starts at 10.30am (FREE, no booking required)

Other regular activities

Mondays 10am – 12pm ; Knitter

Knatter, our weekly social knitting group at Downend Library, everyone welcome!

Fridays : 10am – 11.30am : weekly Coffee Morning at Downend Library

Bank Holidays

All South Gloucestershire libraries will be open in Open Access (unstaffed) mode only on Mondays 1, 8 & 29 May from 8am – 7.30pm.

Conservatives vow to champion South Glos

The Conservatives will ensure that South Gloucestershire continues to see record-breaking successes in the years to come, if re-elected in May.

Keeping car parking free in all council-owned car parks, boosting record attainment levels in schools, ensuring South Glos remains among the top performing councils in the country for recycling and investing in the local road network are just some of the key priorities the Conservatives will seek to maintain over the next four years.

Since 2019, the Conservatives have worked in partnership to drive up education standards, meaning 90% of pupils in South Glos are now being taught in Good or Outstanding schools. They have invested tens of millions of pounds in education provision, including building new schools and refurbishing existing ones, alongside creating extra provision for children with additional learning needs.

The Conservatives have also supported households in achieving record recycling rates, putting South Glos among the best performing councils in the country. They have introduced an innovate new soft plastic recycling scheme from the kerbside, which they will seek to expand to the whole district.

They have delivered new public transport infrastructure, including new park and ride provision and MetroBus extensions, and invested in local high streets to boost the economy. They have also been at the forefront of campaigns to oppose the Labour WECA Mayor’s bus cuts and unsustainable housing targets that

would concrete over our Green Belt countryside.

And thanks to the Administration’s sound management of the Council’s finances year after year, 2023 will again see free parking remain in place in all Council-owned car parks across South Glos.

Cllr Toby Savage, Conservative

Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “Our achievements over the past four years speak for themselves, and we are determined to work with residents, businesses and community groups to ensure these successes continue and to champion our area as a great place to live, work and visit.

Promoted by Stephen Bower, on behalf of South Gloucestershire Conservatives, of 5 Westfield Park, Bristol, BS6 6LT.

Students rise to the challenge

MANGOTSFIELD School pupils put their textbooks aside for a day of challenges in and out of the classroom.

The school's second Challenge Day at the end of March saw them take on projects to broaden their understanding of a number of different subjects.

Year 7 students had a 'Love Bristol' theme for their day and visited historical and cultural sites including the M Shed museum, Christmas Steps, city walls and Queen Square, where they were chased by seagulls for their lunch.

Pupils in Year 8 focused on modern foreign languages and split into different groups to discuss and experience aspects

of French and German culture, cooking, art and music to sports.

Student Chukwudubem Asime said: “Challenge Day was fun. First I made German rap music, then painted German art, decorated German cake, completed some German sports activities and German quizzes.”

Year 9 students visited

Day of reflection

LESSONS about loss and compassion were shared at a special event at Mangotsfield School.

Marie Curie National Day of Reflection in March aimed to encourage children parents and members of the wider community to come together to show love and support for others by building a ‘Wall of Reflection’ and observing a minute's silence.

Learning mentor Adeline Okpiyalele, who organised the event, said: "The commemorated and celebrated the people close to us who have died in the last two years or more.

"This unique day supported people who are grieving. We connected with each other and shared our compassion, love and active support so that no one had to grieve alone."

More than a dozen students read out prayers and thoughts, and written contributions and pictures were attached to the Wall of Reflection.

The event was attended by local councillors Ian Boulton, Colin Hunt and retiring councillor Judy Adams, who said the experience was "very inspiring".

St Fagans National Museum in Cardiff as part of a day of historical activities, learning about life in Wales by viewing a row of houses through time.

Pupils in Year 10 worked with mental health and well-being organisation Humanutopia, to talk about and reflect on their past experiences of bullying and mean comments, and how they affect them today.

Student Alice White said: "I find it cool that Humanutopia creates a safe environment to be able to talk about these experiences.

"Later on in the day, we talked about trying to fix broken relationships and fixing them by standing up and being brave and

MANGOTSFIELD LADIES

apologising. Finally, we talked about our dreams and goals in the future and how we want to improve our lives right now."

Keira Lane added: “We looked at how our actions affect others and how we should adjust our attitudes so that everyone is able to thrive cohesively together in a community.

"It was an enjoyable day, filled with lots of energy, which left us thinking about ways we should be more compassionate and inclusive.”

Head teacher Hetty Blackmore said: “Now, more than ever, building resilience in our students must be part of our curriculum and our challenge days give our students the chance to do this in different and creative ways."

OUR March meeting was held at the Lamb, as St James Church Hall was closed due to the ongoing refurbishment.

We took this opportunity to sit and discuss our plans for our Charles III Coronation celebration.

We have booked AHM catering to provide us with a BBQ for the evening. We also discussed purchasing a King Charles III Coronation Rose, which we plan to plant at the Dame School in Mangotsfield.

Our social gathering at the Cinnamon Tree was supported by almost all of the membership, with just two apologies. It was a lively evening, with lots of chatter and laughter and because we were such a large party, lots of extras were offered by the chef.

In May our usual pub lunch at the Lamb will be breakfast instead!

The St James Church Hall refurbishment is now complete. We are all excited to be back there for our April meeting and see what has been done to the hall. We will all, of course, be wearing red, white and blue for our celebration.

Tickets are selling well for our Sounds of the 60’s evening on June 3 from 7.30-10pm.

Our boat trip event, in conjunction with Bristol Jazz Society, in July is now sold out.

We're looking forward to July 11, when we are doing a car share trip to Jekka’s Herb Farm for a tour and light lunch.

Carol Coombs - Mangotsfield Ladies - carol@applause.co.uk

Mangotsfield School pupils, staff and guests at the Day of Reflection

Mangotsfield School Year 7 pupils Ruby Barnes, Isis Scholl, Isabel Powell, Rose Parrott, Lilly Blacklock, Keira Little, Emily Farrel, Amelia Burton, Keija Selassie, Freya Curnock at M Shed

Artwork produced by a student

n M COLEMAN ESTATE AGENTS PROPERTY

Pomphrey Hill, Mangotsfield, Bristol, BS16 9NE Asking Price £588,000

With beautiful open countryside views and located in a private road of just five Executive Style homes built in the early 2000’s, we are delighted to offer For Sale a spacious Five Bedroom family home. Having served the current owners since new, they are now looking to down size and are marketing the property for the first time.

Upon entering, you are greeted with an entrance hall that gives access to the ground floor rooms. The sitting room is located to the front of the property with a splay bay window allowing light to flow through the ground floor. There is a feature fireplace housing a living flame gas fire and decorative surround. Glazed double doors lead in to the dining room where sliding patio doors open onto the garden and a single door leads to the kitchen. The open plan kitchen/ breakfast room boasts a host of wall and base units, oven, gas hob and extractor hood. There is space with plumbing for a dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer and tall fridge/freezer. French doors within a bay window open to the garden and there is a personal door to the garage; there is also a cloakroom which completes the ground floor.

You will be pleasantly surprised at the size of the first floor accommodation with the master bedroom offering fitted wardrobes and an en-suite shower room. There

are a further four bedrooms, three of which are doubles. The family bathroom has a white four piece suite including a separate mains plumbed shower cubicle.

The fully enclosed garden is well maintained and laid to level lawn with feature seating area; gated access leads to the side of the property. To the front is off-street parking for up to four vehicles and an integral garage with roller door.

Maria,

as a brief service at a crematorium. Burial or ashes internment. Complete burial service from £1,495.

n MANGOTSFIELD RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Learning about the Dramway

I EXPECT many of you have used part of the Dramway path at some time. Have you ever wondered about when it was built, why it’s there, what it was used for?

Well, wonder no more: on Thursday May 18 we have organised a talk on said Dramway at St James Church, Mangotsfield, starting at 7.30pm. All are welcome.

Our next Hour A Month will be on Saturday April 29 (hopefully your copy of the Voice will arrive in time), when we want to have a general spruce-up prior to the Coronation the following weekend.

We’ll be putting some bunting up and tidying up the centre of the village where needed.

It might be nice if people could decorate their immediate surroundings if they wish to; we appreciate not everyone is interested in the Coronation.

It would also be good if everyone could have a quick look around their immediate area and if it needs tidying up a bit, then why not have a go at doing it? It only takes a few minutes to make a difference.

There are a number of local Coronation events happening - you’ll no doubt have seen them advertised in various places. These take a lot of organising, usually by a small group of volunteers, so please support them if you can.

Our next Red Lion coffee morning will be on Wednesday May 3, 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?

If you want to get involved then please get in touch by email at MangotsfieldRA@gmail.com, via the ever-popular Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page or telephone our chair, Clive Heath, on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881.

Chris Amos

n DOWNEND CHAP

Capturing the Coronation

WE don’t know what life was like in Downend and Emersons Green when King Charles I was crowned in 1626, or King Charles II in 1662.

But we can capture some memories of King Charles III’s coronation, on Saturday May 6.

Local history group CHAP, the Community History and Arts Project, is asking readers to share their experiences of the occasion.

They will be published on the ‘Living History’ section of our website, www.downendchap.org/livinghistory.

As history is not just about the past – everything that happens today will be history tomorrow – this is a great opportunity to gather memories of a significant event for current and future generations to look back on.

Please send photos of celebrations you’re involved with, souvenirs you buy, and other coronation activities.

Or, if you are choosing to ignore the whole thing, this is your chance to explain why. What does the monarchy mean to local people in the 21st century? How close do you feel to the royals? And what do you hope King Charles will achieve during his reign?

Contact CHAP to tell your version of events – email chair Janet Biggin at big.gin@talktalk.net or write to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS.

CHAP is a not-for-profit voluntary organisation that aims to produce a community history resource and encourage the local community to take part in all its activities.

The group aims to create a coherent identity for Downend and Emersons Green, built around interesting or significant places, people and events from the past, building a sense of belonging and commitment to our area and understanding of its character, residents, businesses and visitors.

Helen Rana

n GARDENING CLUB AT THE BARN

Looking forward to the better weather

HOPEFULLY you all had a good Easter, and managed to have a few hours in the garden, even if only to pull out a few weeds.

During May we should get some better weather and be able to get some serious gardening done. If you haven’t got your potatoes in yet, now is the time to get them planted, if the ground isn’t too wet; also get your root vegetables in.

May is busy. Keep on top of the weeds, and watch out for a late frost: if one is forecast, cover your new plants with fleece, curtain net or newspaper to protect them.

If your seedlings are doing well, you may be able to thin out carrots, parsnip and lettuce.

Do think about having a wild place. Leave space and sew a few wild flowers, put up a bug hotel and maybe a small pond. You will find wildlife making it their home within hours.

Even if it’s only a balcony or window box, a small bug hotel will work, and a bird feeder will give you hours of enjoyment.

I have a feeder on the patio door: blackbirds and blue tits are regular visitors.

Spring continues to be full of surprises, with many different varieties of daffodils making a walk interesting.

We now have tulips coming into their own and many flowering shrubs coming into bloom.

At the end of the month, if the frosts are over, we may be able to think about bedding plants. My father however, never planted them until the first week of June.

If you are tempted to buy them, make sure you can protect them at night.

The Japanese really enjoy this time of year, when the cherry trees are in blossom, and hold picnics to celebrate them - a wonderful idea.

As the weather improves and the days get warmer, we will be able to think about eating outside and enjoy salads we have grown ourselves.

Have a prosperous May, getting everything ready for a wonderful summer.

Happy gardening.

Mono magic

ALTHOUGH we live in a world full of colour, black and white images continue to be popular with enthusiast photographers.

Monochrome imagery dates back to the very beginning of modern photography, and it is easy to see why it continues to be popular.

Remove the distraction of colour, and what is displayed becomes about shapes, texture, composition and overall impact, aspects that, for its adherents, provide the opportunity to produce images that in their starkness and simplicity provide a means of artistic expression. Useful for those of us who are not much good at drawing!

The three examples shown here are from the latest mono competition at the club.

‘Northam Burrows’ has a lot of impact. There is plenty of contrast; the pebbles form a pleasing pattern that gives balance to the picture and leads the eye up towards the sea in the far distance.

‘A Tale of Two Cities’ is a very different image, a still life taken at one of the club’s practical evenings. The cascade of whitish flowers against a black background catches the attention, but the old book and the worn surface of the table also gives the picture a mood, a sense of times past.

‘Pintail in a Flap’ was judged to be the best image in the competition. Caught in a fleeting moment, the bird fills the frame and the intricate construction of the wings and feathers is revealed. It is a technically impressive image: the shutter speed, exposure and focussing is spot-on, with fine detail extremely well defined. A pin-sharp pintail, in fact.

Mary Head Secretary

Downend Camera Club is a friendly informal group, which meets on Tuesdays at 7.30pm at the Assembly

Hall, Salisbury Road, Downend, with photographic presentations, events and competitions.

It is on both Facebook and Instagram, and has a website at www.downendcameraclub.org.uk that gives details of the club, members' galleries, past competition winners, and the upcoming programme of events.

Ed Shorney

A Tale of Two Cities by Ian Miller

Pintail in a Flap by Ben Newby

Northam Burrows by Andrew Luff

n STYLE ADVICE

What to wear right now

I CAN’T spin it any differently. Knowing what to wear right now is proving tricky.

I’ve been dying to ditch the woollies for weeks, but this prolonged cold and wet weather is dampening my enthusiasm.

At some point I hope we can stop wearing our puffers and reaching for fluffy bed socks, but until then I think we need to stick to the safety net of layering as best we can. However, if you’re looking for a little inspo, I’m here to share the new trends appearing on the high street and online.

First up is the short trench. It’s a new take on the iconic trench coat, and great if you want to have a more polished touch to a casual look. There are cropped, belted, and voluminous versions to choose from, all in classic beige tones. I think the belted versions are great for adding shape to your overall silhouette, but it depends on the

look you want to achieve. All can look chic and are great for being smartly dressed while running errands, and could make good car jackets for the spring. Choose showerproof designs, obviously.

Next up, I suggest investing in a couple of oversized shirts. A truly versatile separate, the shirt this season is worn slightly larger and is fantastic worn with the other spring ’23 trends I mentioned in a previous column: wide-leg jeans, denim midaxi skirts, and the 90’s re-born cargo trouser.

But the real reason I’m including it here is that they can be layered. Keep warm now by wearing it with a long-sleeve T-shirt, polo neck or jumper and on its own when the sun appears. You’ll also have a cover-up for the beach.

My last suggestion is a denim jumpsuit. I love how these offer a cool vibe for daytime wear, but then you can add some eyecatching jewellery and heels and wear them in the evening.

Denim is a heavier material, but even on chilly days you can

layer a T-shirt underneath or opt for a jumper over the top, the latter making it appear as jeans. More than one way to wear it. I love that!

What are your thoughts on spring dressing? If you’re stuck, drop me a line at info@notgivinin. com with any questions about this or other fashion queries.

www.notgivinin.com

Gail Painter's fashion tips

Seek out an oversized shirt this spring

n PHOTOGRAPHY WITH LINCOMBE BARN CAMERA CLUB

Photography and art

THE development of photography in the mid-19th century profoundly affected painting and the way in which it presented the world.

For centuries, painters had sought to depict the world and its inhabitants as accurately as possible. Portraiture was a great source of income - and sometimes a matter of diplomacy. Think of Holbein producing a portrait of Anne of Cleves for Henry VIII when he was searching for a new wife. Think of Vermeer and you think of ‘photographic’ clarity.

Photography allowed painters to hand over those responsibilities and explore their art in new ways, following the example of Turner or, later, exploring abstraction.

Many early studio photographers, caught by the limitations of their equipment and slow exposures, sought to emulate grand art with carefully-arranged tableaux.

However, as equipment developed, becoming faster and lighter, new genres, such as street and sport photography, developed with a level of spontaneous realism that would be pointless to try imitating in paint.

So, whither photography and art? The first question is how to depict artistic creations of others without simply being imitative. The second

involves taking photography away from a simple depiction of reality, and creating new imagery.

Consider three examples from a recent open competition of Lincombe Barn Camera Club.

First up is my own photograph, 'Brazen Pride', which was commended. It was taken last year on Clifton Down of the display of lion sculpture, inspired by Elsa of Born Free fame. Rather than simply photographing the sculpture I sought to capture its essence, the relationship between a lion and lioness and how the medium of the sculpture gave that added strength.

Anita Fullerton made a more specific tribute to painting with her second-placed 'Impressionism'. Deliberately blurring the image by using, I think, a double exposure, with camera movement between the two images, she has created a photographic equivalent of an impressionist still life. Move over Renoir!

Rachel Domleo came closer to the world of surrealism in her first-placed photograph, 'Surfboarding', combining two images into a dream-like picture of the Severn Estuary and its main crossing. What is particularly fine about this is the way in which she has judged the perspective, so that the two images look each to be the right size for the other.

n CHRISTINE'S COLUMN

OVER Easter Kirsty my daughter, my two grandsons Logan and Finn, my ex-husband Tony and I went in Kirsty's car to the Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare.

We nearly landed up back in Bristol before we had even got there, as the sat nav went berserk! Kirsty pulled over into a side street in Long Ashton to sort it out and, after the slight detour, we arrived at our destination.

Kirsty paid for our admission as an Easter present and we sat outside in the sunshine at a picnic table to have our picnic lunch.

While the three adults chatted over lunch, the boys hurried

Are you interested in photography and want to find out more?

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).

If you would like to be part of a small but flourishing club, take a look at our website at www.lincombebarncameraclub.co.uk or contact us at lincombebarn.cameraclub@gmail.com.

And remember, photography is an art, too.

Sid Stace

A visit to the Helicopter Museum

theirs down and then scampered off to play on the swings and roundabouts. They would have been in the play park all the time but they were encouraged by their mum to see the helicopters.

I bought a guide book to the world's largest dedicated helicopter museum and we set off, looking at the vast number of them.

There was also a game Find The Five Bunnies, related to Easter. It encouraged the children to look at the helicopters if they weren't old

enough to understand them.

Getting back to the wonderful machines of flight, the museum is lucky enough to have two of the Queen's Flight helicopters that have now passed into history.

There are Westland Lynx helicopters in the Duke of York hangar.mThe Raoul Hafner hangar houses three Bristol Sycamores.

This is only a taster of what there is on display.

My lasting memory of the visit will be the size of the helicopters up

close, compared to how they look in the sky.

And the bunnies? Well, we found four - apparently the fifth was high up pretending to be - yes, a helicopter, naturally!

We had another wonderful turnout for Ian from Chauffeurhire at our April speaker meeting on coach trips. Thank you to all who came: you don't know just how happy I felt at seeing several new faces.

I hope everyone who came will come to the next one, A Day in the Life of Kingswood Community Transport with Mike Vernon, on May 4. See What's On pages for more details.

Brazen Pride by Sid Stace

Paddleboarding by Rachel Domleo

with Christine Broadway

Impressionism by Anita Fullerton

n LETTERS

Time to take back control of buses

MANY readers will remember this, especially if you are 40-plus years of age.

Before Emersons Green was developed, some bus services used to run between town and Blackhorse Road, one via Downend and the other one via Staple Hill and Mangotsfield, before swapping numbers and returning to town.

Now, with First bus only going to Emersons Green every other trip, why have they not gone back to doing this, with the other 48s and 49s stopping at Blackhorse and swapping numbers?

Since the latest timetable change (Voice, April), every other 48 will only go as far as Downend and every other 49 will only go as far as Staple Hill. Surely this is causing even more inconvenience to many bus users?

Another example of things going wrong is the disappearance of the 47 service to Yate.

The replacement 525 service, run by Stagecoach, will be starting

from Emersons Green and not touching a bit of Fishponds, Downend or Blackhorse, like the 47 did; nor does it touch any part of Staple Hill or Mangotsfield, which the 47 missed out.

Lets get together and call to get our buses back - bring back the franchising. Terry Stevens Downend

Leaders needed

THE 85th Kingswood Scout Group is based in Bromley Heath, at our HQ in Quakers Road, and has been running for well over 50 years.

Like so many Scout groups we are in need of help, preferably from a female, to assist with our Scout troop, which has an age range of 10½ to 14 years, on a Monday evening from 7.30pm to 9pm.

As the Scout Association has mixed groups for boys and girls, from Beavers through to Scouts, it would be great to have a female join the young team of Scout leaders.

You do not need any previous experience, as training can be undertaken. Like all troops, the 85th offers a varied programme

throughout the year, with weekend camps and a week-long camp in the summer.

Prior to covid we also had an active Explorer Scout unit for ages 14-18 but sadly this closed due to lack of leaders.

Once again this is a mixed Group and ideally we would require male and female leaders/ helpers to re-start it.

Anyone would be interested in helping with either of these ventures, please contact me on 07884 455901.

Sally Green Group Scout Leader, 85th Kingswood Scout Group

Concert was an Easter treat

YOUR recent edition (Voice, April) was popped through my letterbox in time for me to read about the Salvation Army Easter Music Evening at their premises in Staple Hill that very night.

Well, what an uplift that was for me!

The power of the band and songsters was like attending an

expensive stage concert, with an added annotation of beautiful biblical moments by its theme 'Come As You Are'.

What a surprising Easter treat! A Downend local

Call us for a chat

WE know it can be difficult to stay socially connected, but keeping in touch and chatting with others can have a huge impact, which is why the NHS Volunteer Responders programme has reintroduced the Check in and Chat service, where local readers who would like a friendly chat or simply a listening ear can request a phone call with a volunteer, whether it be a one-off call or a series of calls.

Receiving a Check in and Chat call is easy and completely free. Readers in Downend can organise it by calling 0808 196 3382 (8am to 8pm, 7 days a week).

Reach out on the number above, or share this information with a loved one, friend, neighbour, or anyone who may need a little extra support.

Sam Ward OBE, Royal Voluntary Service

600 runners for 10k

THE 41st Frenchay 10k, the oldest event of its kind in the UK, was a great success, with over 600 entries received demonstrating the event’s continuing popularity with runners from across the local area and wider Bristol community.

Adam Stokes, representing Bristol and West AC, was first over the line, in a fantastic winning time of 33 minutes 9 seconds.

Championships for hockey men and women

BRISTOL & West men's and women's hockey sides have both finished their seasons as unbeaten champions.

B&W Men’s 1s took on joint leaders Bristol University in an epic clash of the league titans, dispatching the students with a thumping 4-0 victory.

Runners cross the finish line at UWE's Blackberry Hill campus

Our first woman was Katrina Entwistle, also from Bristol and West, in a superb time of 38m 16s.

This year's winning team was Emerson’s Green running club, who were very well represented.

Our two nominated local charities this year, Children’s Hospice South West and the Freewheelers (bloodbikes), supported the race organisers by providing marshals to help with the smooth organisation of the event.

In turn, the race committee will make significant financial donations to both, continuing a pledge that was made when the race was first completed, back in 1979.

Costas Kkolos, owner of the Avenue Cafe in Emersons Green, raised £600 for running the 10k, which is a truly fantastic effort!

We look forward to the 42nd Frenchay 10k, with entries open in December.

Dave Guyatt Race Director

Only two games remained, but a draw in their penultimate match meant the boys were only a point above Bristol Uni ahead of the last game against Swansea.

However before the final fixture captain Jonathan Wilson received word that the Swans couldn't muster the courage to face our fearsome frontline.

He kept the news from the team and the lads arrived kitted, pumped up and ready to go before the captain announced the news as the squad huddled round in the changing room, ready for one last fight.

Half-stifled celebrations followed, as some feared a cruel April fool's joke, but once the realisation had finally kicked in, rapturous celebrations began, with champagne showers!

An automatic 5-0 walkover wasn’t quite the ending the team had pictured or wanted – one last home game in front of a big crowd at Mangotsfield School would’ve been a sweeter note to end on, but the three points guaranteed the Men's Division 1 North trophy and promotion to the Premiership, the highest the Men’s 1st Team have ever been in the club’s history.

The Ladies Jaspers 1st Team (pictured above), who had already secured promotion to Division 1 next season, wrapped up their league campaign with an impressive 4-0 win over Westberries on the final day to ensure that they also finished top of the pile.

Elsewhere, the men's 2s secured an away win in Wales to secure a respectable 4th place finish in Division 2, with striker Dan Lusmore ending an incredible goal scoring season with 43 goals in 23 games.

The Ladies’ 2s & 3s both finished in 3rd place in their leagues, while the men's 3s were unable to escape relegation despite a draw in their final match.

Harry Bryant, Picture: Simon Goodwin/Platinum Photography.

Cleve top group to make cup final

CLEVE RFC made the final of the Bristol Combination Cup after a victory over Thornbury, who play their rugby in a higher league, put them top of their pool.

The match would decide who topped the pool in the Butcombe-sponsored competition.

The game started at a frantic pace. Thornbury were initially on the attack and then Cleve countered. Will Warman got hold of the ball, dummied to his left and cut back to score.

Within ten minutes Cleve were on the attack again. After some really good handling along the backs, Andy Priddle let loose a great pass to the wing, where he found Dave Thomas who went over to put Cleve 10-0 up after 10 minutes.

Thornbury were punch drunk, but responded, applying pressure until their centre broke through to score between the posts, with the conversion going over.

Thornbury applied their experience and went ahead after a catch and drive near Cleve’s line went over. This was closely followed by their No 8 driving through to score.

But Cleve have learnt to absorb pressure, dig in and respond. Steve Bush went on a few penetrating runs which resulted in a try, and Cleve led 20-17 at half time.

See-saw game sums up Flyers' season

THE topsy-turvy season for the Downend Flyers first team continued into April with a see-saw game at the Pomphrey Hill HQ.

Despite taking the lead through Bethany Pitman on 20 minutes, visitors SGS Olveston soon replied with a strike of their own.

Undeterred, the Flyers gained the advantage once more on 32 minutes following a Jade White volley, only to be pegged back just before the break after conceding a penalty.

Sadly the only goal in the second half was for the away side on the hour, with the match finishing 3-2.

Injuries and availability have hampered the Flyers' progress this season as well as, of course, all the postponements due to wet weather and frozen pitches.

Club captain Alice Baker reflected on these points when she said: "It has been a long season, full of injuries and stop start fixtures.

"We have enjoyed many great spells and we have a strong team, full of great players, so we are looking forward to re-grouping in the summer and improving on our league position in the autumn."

Meanwhile the youth section of the club continues to go from strength to strength, with over 20 girls' teams set to feature in the Bristol Girls league next season across the age groups.

This season we have had some notable successes in league cup finals, and two teams had already secured promotion by mid-April – the Robins in the U14s and the Dragons in the U13s.

All teams are looking forward to finishing their seasons on a high and the pitches at Johnson Road are looking fabulous after their first cut of the spring.

Duncan Gardener

You could not turn away from this game without missing something, as the upper hand went from one team to the the other.

After half time Thorns scored in the corner to go 24-20 up, but were not done and created pressure again, with an interception in the centre leading to a converted score.

The play went end to end, with Will Warman then taking the ball out of a maul, and cleverly going blind to score.

Cleve then turned to their more experienced players, with coach Nathan Huntley and Greg Welling coming on.

Their impact was felt straight away as their composure and attacking ability put Cleve on the offensive.

The ball was moved along the line, with some fantastic handling, and a loop pass to Cam Bell saw him score on the wing to put Cleve ahead 32-31.

In the last 10 minutes both the teams worked hard to deny the other territory and advantage, with tough tackling and good defensive lines.

Steve Bush picked up the ball and drove towards the line, resulting in a penalty which Huntley slotted over to make it 35-31.

Cleve held out to reach the final of this competition at Clifton’s rugby ground, which was taking place at the end of April after the Voice went to print.

Steve Bateman

Mangotsfield Church of England Primary School, Church Farm Road, Emersons Green, Bristol BS16 7EY

Tel: 01454 867400

www.mangotsfieldprimary.org

Email: admin@mangoschool.org

Lunchbreak Supervisor

Hours: 2 hours per day, 5 shifts per week (Mon to Fri) Term time only

Salary Scale: Hay 13 (£10.79 per hour)

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic Lunchbreak Supervisor The successful applicant will support the lunchtime team with the supervision of pupils during the lunchtime break so as to ensure the safety, general welfare and proper conduct of pupils during this period.

No formal qualifications or previous experience is required but the ability to establish positive expectations of pupil behaviour, good relationships with staff and pupils, and sensitivity to pupils’ personal needs is important. A desire to be First Aid trained would be advantageous.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment and all appointments will be subject to appropriate vetting, including an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

Some roles may need to comply with the ‘Childcare Act 2006’ and the ‘Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations 2009’ were additional disclosure of information will be required.

Please apply by completing the application form which can be found on our website https://www.mangotsfieldprimary.org/Recruitment/

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

Call Linda

Cleve father and son duo Steve and Jack Bush played together in Jack's senior debut against Thornbury, with Steve scoring a try.

n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE

Feel better ... move more ... live a healthier life. How does that sound to you?

IF you’re suffering in silence from back and neck pain, seeking some expert advice and treatment from a qualified chiropractor might not just be a positive move for you - it could also reduce the burden on a creaking NHS system.

During the recent Chiropractic Awareness Week, the British Chiropractic Association unveiled a UK-wide survey of 5,000 people to understand the impact NHS waiting lists are having on musculoskeletal (MSK) health.

The research found more than half of people are put off seeing their GP because of waiting lists. According to the NHS, more than 20 million people in the UK have an MSK condition like arthritis or back pain, accounting for up to

30% of GP consultations.

At Cleve Chiropractic we see these patients in our clinic each day, with great outcomes, and are proud to support those facing long NHS waiting lists.

We want to give people more choice, quicker appointments and treatment options to help manage pain and discomfort, providing face-to-face care in a way that is convenient.

The research also found 48% of British people are using overthe-counter medication to treat MSK issues. Whilst painkillers have a place, they are best used in the short term, can have side effects and do little to address issues which have led to the condition.

Chiropractors can provide an alternative solution: a wideranging package of patientcentred care, supported by solid evidence, with some great reported outcomes.

More people are turning to chiropractors to manage poor mobility, pain and wider health concerns arising from MSK issues, before they worsen into chronic conditions and further impact our health services in the future.

There are many misconceptions and myths about chiropractic treatment - let’s talk about some of the most common:

Myth: Chiropractors are massage therapists with a different name.

Truth: Chiropractors are extensively trained to diagnose, treat, manage and prevent disorders of the musculoskeletal system (bones, joints, and muscles), as well as the effects this can have on the nervous system and general health. Qualified individuals are fully regulated healthcare professionals with at least four years’ degree-level training.

Myth: Painkillers will speed up your recovery.

Truth: Most MSK pain is mechanical in nature so, even though painkillers can help to reduce pain in the short term, hands-on treatment, movement, or exercise is more likely to successfully manage the problem for longer. We recommend more conservative therapies, such as using a heat pack, manual therapy (massage, spinal manipulation, or acupuncture), gentle stretching

and short walks to help you to relax and reduce pain, allowing you to return to higher levels of exercise.

Myth: Chiropractic is just about cracking backs.

Truth: The crack or popping sound produced from a spinal manipulation comes from a change of pressure occurring within joints. We give patients a wide range of treatment and care options, spinal adjustment being just one. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach and every patient’s needs are treated individually – many will never hear a single popping sound!

If you think you could feel better, move more, and live a healthier life by seeing one of the team then give us a call – let’s start the conversation.

with Tim Button, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step in Mangotsfield

Mighty Mangos triumph in the League Cup

MANGOTSFIELD United finished the season with some silverware after beating Pershore Town to lift the Hellenic League Cup.

After the first leg ended 0-0 at Cossham Street in a tight affair, Pershore, flying high at the top of the Hellenic League First Division, were aiming to win the trophy in front of their own supporters.

But it was the Mangos who would lift the cup, for the first time ever, thanks to two goals from Jaydn Crosbie, who fired them ahead on 36 minutes.

There were chances at both ends after that, but Pershore could not break down our defence, and it was curtains for the hosts late in the second half when Crosbie beat the offside trap and the advancing keeper to make it 2-0.

There are only so many trophies to go around at all levels of football each season, so to win some silverware was a great moment for the club, following a number of lean years both on and off the pitch, and gave everyone some hope that better times lie ahead.

In the league the Mangos won three of their last six games to finish 11th in the Hellenic Premier division.

A 2-0 away win at Wantage Town, three days before the cup triumph, saw Oli Jenkins and Jaydn Crosbie net second-half goals.

Days after the cup win Corsham Town visited Cossham Street, and maybe it was just one game too many as Mangotsfield never really got going, losing 3-0 in front of a good crowd of 279 on what was dubbed NonLeague Day, due to the international break.

The next game ended 1-1 away to Roman Glass St George. Oli Jenkins scored after 6 minutes and, after the hosts levelled on 34 minutes, the Mangos put in a battling performance and thoroughly deserved the away point.

Next up was the Mangos' first-ever visit to Shrivenham, a very decent game. The Mangos led 2-1 at half time, courtesy of early goals by Louis Short (12) & Oli Jenkins (22). Jaydn Crosbie made it 3-1 with 13 minutes to go before the hosts got another goal back on 85 minutes.

The season ended with two home games, the first a 2-1 defeat at home to Malvern Town, who were chasing a play-off spot after being top of the division for a long spell earlier in the season. A thundering header from Oli Jenkins had levelled the game on 49 minutes but the visitors scored a winner with 5 minutes remaining.

The season ended with a 2-0 home win over Lydney Town, with Luke Bence breaking the deadlock after 64 minutes and Jaydn Crosbie sealing the three points with an individual effort in the second minute of added time.

Dave Smale

Celebrations in the dressing room after Mangotsfield's Hellenic League Cup triumph, in a picture taken by player Stuart Tovey

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