YOUNG members of the Challis Dance Company were among more than 3,000 people to enjoy the Mangotsfield Village Festival in June - but this year’s event may have been the last one. PAGES 4&5
Alfie Richley with his dad Nick
BIG changes to bin and recycling collections in South Gloucestershire are coming this summer, the council has said.
Most residents will have a new collection day for black bins and some will have green and black bins collected on different days.
The changes are part of a new eight-year waste contract agreed with private operator SUEZ last year, which will lead to black bins being collected every three weeks instead of every fortnight.
South Gloucestershire Council has confirmed that three-weekly black bin
collections will begin in May next year.
Before then, the council says that around 85% of residents will have a new collection day for black bins and recycling from August.
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MANGOTSFIELD Primary School head teacher Kirsty Croasdale says she is proud of the school’s achievements after Ofsted inspectors said it was ‘outstanding’ in all areas.
PAGE 3
A DRIVER who crashed a van into the Lyde Green Sainsbury’s Local store has been banned from the road.
PAGE 8
A PUCKLECHURCH man has been honoured by the King for decades of voluntary work.
PAGE 10
LYDE Green residents can now ride legal e-scooters after the region’s hire scheme expanded to cover the area.
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From page 1
The council will post a printed guide to households next month, with details of the changes and the new collection dates.
A council spokesperson said: "A new monitoring system will track how the service is performing.
"A new council app will help residents check their collection calendar, get recycling advice and set collection reminders.
"Residents who use Alexa devices will be able to 'ask Alexa' to find out more about their collections."
The council voted to move to three-weekly black bin collections last November.
When they start next May soft plastic recycling, which includes wrappers and plastic bags, will also be rolled out to all households.
Some homes in Downend and Mangotsfield, Hambrook and Soundwell have been having soft plastics collected at the kerbside since last year, as part of an experimental project.
Recycling and food waste will still be collected weekly, with food waste collections extended to include flats.
A free fortnightly subscription collection service for nappies and other absorbent hygiene products will also be launched.
The new contract will also see new black bin vehicles introduced in a bid to reduce carbon emissions on rounds.
Sort It recycling centres and waste disposal will be taken back under council control.
The authority says the aim of the changes is to "improve the efficiency and value for money of collections".
Council cabinet member for recycling and waste, Sean Rhodes, said: "Our waste contract has changed, and with this change comes increased recycling options, more efficient and environmentally friendly collections, and ultimately better value for money.
"By taking over the Sort It centres and disposal facilities, the council will be able to retain more of the income from reclaimed materials, helping to offset some of the costs of waste collection.
"As we change over to the new system, this will likely mean changes to collection days.
"We understand that change can be challenging, so to help residents manage their waste during the transition, we’re producing a handy guide which will explain the changes and include the new collection dates.”
For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/ recycling.
A PRIMARY school in Emersons Green has been described as "exceptional" by Ofsted.
A team of four inspectors from the education regulator visited Mangotsfield C of E Primary School, in Church Farm Road, during May.
Ofsted no longer gives state primary schools an overall grade but said that Mangotsfield, which has 625 pupils aged from four to 11, was 'outstanding' in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
The school was previously rated outstanding overall when Ofsted last visited more than 12 years ago, in January 2013.
The inspectors said: "Pupils flourish at this exceptional school."
They said children demonstrate the school's 'BRAVE' values - belonging, resilience, aspiration, virtue and empathy.
The report said: "The school has thoughtfully exemplified what these values mean and so pupils live these in all they do.
"Pupils embrace every
opportunity, both academic and social.
"Staff foster highly positive relationships with pupils because of their warmth and genuine care. "Teachers have extremely high expectations for pupils. Pupils rise to these and achieve tremendously well.
"Teachers place trust in pupils to independently make the
right choices, which they do."
The inspectors said pupils make a "significant contribution" to the school, including taking on leadership roles, and join a "vast array" of clubs, from archaeology to coding.
Children's behaviour is "impeccable", and attendance is high because they "love school".
Ofsted said the school has a
"steadfast commitment to every child succeeding" and its work to prepare pupils for life in modern Britain is "exemplary", including giving them and understanding of values and beliefs and allowing them to put them into action.
The school's "skilfully designed curriculum" continually evolves and enables children to excel in all areas, the inspectors said, with pupils who have special educational needs or disabilities "superbly supported".
Reading, religious education and design and technology were highlighted by the inspectors, who said: "The school takes pupils on a remarkable learning journey."
Head teacher Kirsty Croasdale said she was proud of the school’s achievements.
She said: "This remarkable outcome is testament to the ongoing hard work, dedication and commitment of our entire school community, including learners, staff and parents.
"It is reflective of our collective effort to create a nurturing and inspiring environment where every child can flourish."
MORE than 3,000 people enjoyed a day of music and entertainment at Mangotsfield Village Festival - but this year's event may have been the last.
Festival chair Paul Mallorie said all of the committee members who organised the event on June 14 are planning to stand down at the next annual meeting in July.
That means if no-one comes forward to take over running the festival, there will not be another one.
The event, which is in its 33rd year, was as popular as ever with visitors, with between 3,000 and 3,500 people visiting the Pomphrey Hill North playing fields, off Johnson Road in Emersons Green.
There they saw dance displays from Emersons Green Primary School, Challis Dance Company, Tribal Fantasy, First Steps & Carly Elizabeth School of Dance, MF Dance and RedX Dance.
Live music was performed by Mangotsfield Ukulele Jam, Replic80s, 52nd State and headliners Saturday Night BeeGees, who had audiences dancing in front of the stage.
The event also featured a popular dog show, organised by rescue charity Auras Dogs UK, and a host of stalls and rides.
It started with a parade from Mangotsfield Common to the festival site, led by marching samba band the Bristol Sambistas and including beavers, cubs and scouts from the 67th Kingswood, 1st Mangotsfield group.
Paul said: "It was a good
turnout and everyone enjoyed themselves, even if the weather kept a few people away.
"The participation from the schools and dance groups was particularly good, and it was nice to be able to showcase a couple of local bands and see that we've got the acts right."
He said the Mangotsfield Ukulele Band and Saturday Night BeeGees had been particularly popular.
This year's festival was the third to be staged at the north field, where it moved in 2023 after four years away following the Covid pandemic.
The field is historically part of Mangotsfield but within Emersons Green Town Council's boundaries, and the town council contributed £5,000 towards costs, with Staple Hill & Mangotsfield Parish Council giving £1,000 to add to sponsorship, stall fees and donations on the gate.
Because the festival is held on an open field the organisers cannot charge an entrance fee.
Organisers were due to meet after the Voice went to print to reflect on this year's event and discuss the future, ahead of their annual meeting in July.
Paul said: "This will be the last year we hold the festival if we don't get a new committee.
"The reality is that everyone's had enough and the general consensus is that when we hold the AGM, probably in July, we will all step down.
"If no-one steps up to hold it in future, we will just dissolve and any surplus funds will be
donated to local causes."
Paul has been involved with the event for five years and says there are other committee members who have been there for longer but need to take a break.
He said the message to lovers of the festival was: "If you want to save it you need to come along to the AGM."
A date and venue for the annual meeting will be announced on the festival website, www. mangotsfieldfestival.co.uk and the Mangotsfield Village Festival Facebook page.
As the days grow longer and summer beckons, we’re all drawn outdoors - to beaches, gardens, festivals, and family outings. But while you soak up the sunshine, remember, your eyes need protection just as much as your skin!
Most of us know the risks of sunburn, but few realise the full extent of damage UV rays can cause to our eyes. Prolonged UV exposure has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration, eyelid cancers and a condition causing yellowing of the whites of your eyes. Even a short afternoon in intense sun without protection can cause photokeratitis, a painful condition that’s essentially sunburn of the eye.
www.turnersopticians.co.uk
So how can you enjoy the sunshine safely while protecting your vision?
1. Always Wear Sunglasses Outdoors
Not all sunglasses are created equal. Fashionable lenses may look good but offer little to no protection. Look for sunglasses that carry the CE mark and clearly state they block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Polarised lenses also reduce glare, which is especially helpful when driving or by the water. At Turners Opticians our expert dispensing team can help you select lenses that suit your lifestyle, prescription, and personal style - so you don’t have to choose between your eye health and looking great.
2. Children Need Eye Protection Too
Children’s eyes are especially vulnerable to UV damage because they’re still developing - their eyes are more delicate, clearer and can absorb more light. and absorb more light. Whether they’re running around in the garden or splashing at the beach, proper eye protection matters. We know it’s not always easy to keep sunglasses on little ones, but well-fitted, comfortable frames (that they actually like) can make all the difference. You can even add a soft strap around the back to help keep them in place. Pair that with a wide-brimmed hat, and you’ve got a strong line of defence for their growing eyes.
3. Don’t Forget Everyday Exposure
UV rays can damage your eyes even on cloudy days. In fact, up to 80% of UV rays can penetrate cloud cover. And surfaces like water, sand, or pavement can reflect sunlight, increasing your UV exposure. As a good rule of thumb, if you’re applying sunscreen, your sunglasses should go on too. And if you’re not applying sunscreen you probably should be!
4. Consider Prescription Sunglasses or Transitions
If you wear prescription glasses, at Turners Opticians we offer prescription sunglasses or lenses that darken in sunlight and go clear indoors. These are particularly helpful for those with busy lifestyles who prefer not to switch between glasses.
5. Regular Eye Checks are Essential
UV-related damage often builds gradually and silently. Regular eye examinations allow us to spot the early signs of change before symptoms develop - and offer advice tailored to your individual needs.
At Turners Opticians, we believe great vision shouldn’t be seasonal. We’re here to help you protect your eyes all year round, with a full range of stylish eyewear and expert guidance to help you look after your eye health & vision.
So this summer, enjoy every ray - safely. Your eyes will thank you in years to come.
Turners Opticians - World Class Eye Care & Exceptional Eyewear, whatever the weather.
Peter Turner is a Neuro-Behavioural & Independent Prescribing Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol. He also works as a Senior Medical Optometrist at Bristol Eye Hospital. Peter has a specialist interest in visual development and visual performance.
EMERSONS Green’s Earthfest has continued to grow, lasting a month and with more events than ever before.
The annual celebration of our relationship with the planet attracted nearly 400 attendees across a range of events, and for the first time held school workshops, reaching hundreds of children.
Held for the fifth year the initiative led by Emersons Green Town Council and the Friends of Emersons Green Park included 13 different events celebrating nature and community spirit.
New events added to this year’s programme included a creative listening workshop, wellness afternoon, vegan fine dining experience, nature talks and art sessions, and a presentation on community energy.
One of the highlights was the fine dining experience, led by chef Rachel Mills, who said: “I was so delighted to be asked to participate in Earthfest this year.
“For many years my family have enjoyed the festival. It’s always a wonderful celebration of nature that brings the community together.”
The Planning for Nature event saw naturalist Ed Drewitt and Jenny Griffiths from South Gloucestershire’s Common Connections project inspire residents to embrace wildlifefriendly gardening.
Earthfest lead organiser Graham Johnson said: “Ed’s memorable encouragement - ‘be proud of what you are doing’ - resonated deeply with those
working to make their gardens part of the Community Nature Reserve.”
Ed also led the Discover Nature in Lyde walk, uncovering wildlife from blue tit chicks in hedgerows to swifts skimming the lake.
Creative Listening, led by Emersons Green professional musician Emily Andrews, invited participants to interpret music through colour and form.
Other sessions included art using natural materials, with local artist Phil Bunce, nature photography, and two workshops in schools: ‘Little Bird Workshops’, where children connected music with birdsong, and UWE’s ‘Power Our Future’ engineering challenge to bring sustainability learning to life for hundreds of pupils.
For the body and soul there was a wellness afternoon, with yoga and a ‘sound bath’ in Emersons Green Park to offer some peace and reconnection with nature.
The festival closed on June 21 with the Picnic in the Park, where around 80 people shared food, laughter, and live performances under the summer sky.
The event featured performances from the Kazuchi Ukrainian Choir, Emersons Green and Blackhorse Primary School Choirs, storytelling from Druid Tales and a performance from Locked Horns Jazz Band.
Graham said: “It was a fitting and festive conclusion to a week that celebrated the best of Emersons Green - its people, its creativity, and its deepening connection to the natural world.”
The school workshops were popular with pupils and teachers.
Mangotsfield Primary School deputy head Sam Peplow said: “The feedback from the children and teachers was superb.
“It couldn’t have matched their sustainability learning that is coming up better, and they were really engaged and absolutely loved it!”
A FORMER police officer from Mangotsfield has been jailed after being convicted of controlling and coercive behaviour.
A judge described PC Mitchell Curtis, who served with Avon & Somerset police at the time of the offending, as "deceitful" and a "bully" as he jailed him for three-and-a-half years.
Curtis, aged 34, was found guilty of two counts of controlling and coercive behaviour, intentional suffocation and criminal damage following a fiveweek trial at Gloucester Crown Court last year.
Mitchell Curtis
The offences happened in South Gloucestershire, while Curtis was off-duty over an 18-month period up to October 2022.
Avon & Somerset police held an accelerated misconduct hearing in February, at which Curtis was found to have committed gross misconduct.
The force said he would have been sacked had he not already resigned, and he has been added to a national list of people barred from working in law enforcement.
At the sentencing hearing in May, Judge Ian Lawrie said Curtis was “deceitful” and his conduct and actions were those of a "bully".
The judge said Curtis had made his victim feel she wouldn’t be taken seriously if she were to report him. He praised the woman for her courage.
Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: “Mitchell Curtis is a manipulative and violent offender and he’s now facing the consequences of his criminal behaviour.
“The sentencing hearing gives us a further opportunity to emphasise how courageous the victim has been throughout.
"I hope the outcome of the judicial and misconduct proceedings show how seriously we take offences like this and that we’ll be relentless in our pursuit of the perpetrators of abuse.”
A DRIVER who crashed a van into the Lyde Green Sainsbury’s Local store has been banned from driving.
Patrick McDonagh, aged 35, was found in the Ford Transit smelling of alcohol and with an empty can of Jack Daniel’s whiskey following the crash last August, a court heard.
He was helped by a member of the public before being taken to Southmead Hospital.
There he was asked to provide a blood specimen for alcohol analysis - but refused because the healthcare professional did not have identification on them, Bristol Magistrates’ Court was told.
McDonagh, of Cyclamen Road, Lyde Green, admitted failing to provide a specimen at a hearing in June.
He told the court he had mental health issues and was “unstable” at the time of the incident but had since had counselling and improved medication.
The court heard he had 20 unrelated previous convictions.
McDonagh was banned from driving for 22 months but was told the sentence would be reduced by 22 weeks if he took a rehabilitation course at his own cost.
He was also given a community order, with an alcohol treatment requirement for six months, and ordered to pay £294 in costs.
A SHOPLIFTER who carried out thefts and burglaries with her partner and abused staff in a Lyde Green shop has been jailed for 33 weeks.
Lisa Ann Ingleheart, 43, and Jake Duggan carried out 11 thefts, including at supermarkets in Mangotsfield and Lyde Green, breaching criminal behaviour orders by entering shops they were already banned from, Bristol Magistrates Court heard in June.
Ingleheart of Bell Hill Road, St George, also admitted two counts of using threatening or abusive behaviour at Sainsbury’s Local in Lyde Green. She was jailed for 33 weeks and must pay £187 compensation.
Lightwood Strategic are assessing how to deliver the emerging Local Plan’s proposed new neighbourhood at Rock House Farm, Shortwood, and would like to share emerging ideas with the local community.
We will be holding a walk-in exhibition where you will be able to view the emerging proposals, speak to members of the team and provide your feedback. You are invited to join us at:
Pomphrey Hill Pavilion, Mangotsfield, BS16 9NF Tuesday 15th July 1.00pm to 7:00pm
Alternatively you can visit our website to find out more about the proposals and submit your comments: www.landatrockhousefarm.com
The website will be live from Monday 7th July and will close on Tuesday 22nd July, and online responses should be submitted during that time.
A PRE-SCHOOL where children are "celebrated as individuals" has been given the highest possible rating by Ofsted.
The education regulator says Abacus Emersons Green at the Resound Centre in Blackhorse Lane is 'outstanding' in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and personal development.
Inspector Chris LangdonCasey visited the pre-school, which has 49 children aged two to four on its roll, in April.
His report said: "Children thrive in this nurturing and inclusive pre-school, arriving full of enthusiasm and demonstrating a strong sense of belonging.
"All children are celebrated as individuals.
"The thoughtfully designed and ambitious play-based curriculum is tailored to each child's unique educational journey, with clear next steps that extend learning and spark curiosity."
The report said staff
skilfully help children to learn by encouraging them to solve problems, and their interactions "are of a consistently high quality".
Children show "excellent" levels of independence, thanks to support and teaching from staff to ready them for the transition to school, and "demonstrate great perseverance and pride in their own accomplishments".
Staff help children learn to share and manage conflict independently.
They also involve them in a 'buddy' system, where children
who are already at the pre-school are assigned to help newcomers settle in their "vital early days", inviting them to play and introducing them to friends.
The inspector said: "Children behave exceptionally well and are kind and respectful of others."
Support for children with special educational needs or disabilities was highlighted by the inspector as "a real strength of the pre-school", with careful use of extra funding to help address gaps in development.
The report found that all children make "exceptional
progress" at the pre-school.
The inspector said: "The provider is passionate about giving all children the best possible start.
"Staff are extraordinary role models and treat others with kindness and respect."
Parents say that they are "very well supported", with detailed information shared by staff to help them support children's learning at home.
The pre-school was previously based at Mangotsfield United Reformed Church, moving to Resound in 2023.
Managers Marnie Tucker and Charlie Pontin said: "We are extremely proud of our pre-school and we believe the outcome of our report is a recognition of the commitment our staff give to provide a home from home environment for our children to learn and grow.
"We are especially pleased that Chris, the Ofsted inspector, noted how engaged children were and how staff encouraged their independence throughout the day."
A PUCKLECHURCH man has been honoured for more than two decades of voluntary work with three community organisations.
Rodney Stone, 85, was made an MBE for services to the community in June’s King’s Birthday honours list.
The retired BAe Systems chartered engineer has been an active member of the Pucklechurch Good Neighbours scheme since shortly after the organisation, which offers practical help to older and disabled people in the village, was founded around 20 years ago.
He also helped set up Bristol’s branch of Tools for SelfReliance, part of an international organisation that collects old usable hand tools and sewing machines and refurbishes them. The tools are then sent to help people in Africa earn a living as carpenters, builders, mechanics, tailors and blacksmiths.
The group is based at Kingswood Heritage Museum,
Rodney Stone in front of Kingswood Heritage Museum’s air raid shelter exhibit
where Rodney also volunteers. He has been a trustee for around 20 years and recently finished a six-year stint as chairman.
Originally from Brislington, Rodney started work at Filton in 1956 as an apprentice straight out of school, when the Bristol Britannia was being built.
He married in 1967 and he and wife Denise moved to Pucklechurch, where they still live.
Throwing himself into volunteering after his retirement,
The group, which now has around 20 members, offers help with odd jobs, although Rodney has recently had to step back from being an active member due to the “frailty of old age”.
Rodney said: “We do everything from gardening to changing lightbulbs, putting out dustbins and providing companionship for older and disabled people.”
He set up the Tools for SelfReliance group in a shed behind Kingswood Museum, in Tower Lane, Warmley, where he is also involved in a thriving Men in Sheds group.
At the museum, he has helped improve the set-up to help visitors learn about the many facets of Kingswood’s past.
Rodney said: “It’s got a lot of history, with Douglas motorcycles, miners, John Wesley and non-conformism, which started here, and outlaws like the Cock Road Gang.”
Rodney also ran a motorcycle training scheme at Patchway School for about 15 years.
The letter telling him he was being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire came “out of the blue”.
Rodney said: “I’m very, very pleased.
“One goes through life not really expecting anything and you do things because you want to do them but this is just a reward for all the years I’ve put in.”
AROUND 2,000 people joined in a celebration of past, present and future military service personnel in Page Park.
The South Gloucestershire Armed Forces Day event on June 21 also marked two local milestones: the centenary of the Staple Hill & District Royal British Legion and the 85th anniversary of the branch's Women's Section.
To mark the occasion a new standard for the branch was dedicated at a drumhead service in the park, which followed a parade through the High Street and Broad Street by Army, Air and Sea Cadets, veterans, serving personnel and reservists.
All three of South Gloucestershire's MPs attended the event, along with leaders from councils, emergency service representatives and a host of charities, community and veterans' groups.
There were displays of military and emergency service vehicles, a programme of live music, stalls and a funfair to ensure everyone was entertained.
Ian Campbell, chair of the South Gloucestershire Armed Forces Day committee, which organised the event, said: "This year’s Armed Forces Day was truly one to remember.
"From military displays and cadet parades to live music, family fun, and a thank-you reception for the Armed Forces and veterans, the event had something for everyone.
"Most importantly, it gave our community a chance to come together and say thank you to those who serve and have served in our Armed Forces.
"These events only happen with the support of dedicated people and organisations.
"I want to say a heartfelt thank you to our amazing volunteers, the cadets and serving personnel who took part, and our sponsors who made it all possible.
"In particular I would like to thank South Gloucestershire Council for their continued backing, Panik Events for delivering first class sound, AHM Catering for their delicious food for the Armed Forces reception, Albert Rogers fairgrounds, and the Friends of Page Park for their help throughout the year and on the day.
"Of course there are many others, but these groups in particular have been at the fore of the planning throughout the year, giving their advice and encouragement."
Planning for next year's event will start soon, and the committee is asking for views on what went well and what could be better next time.
People can fill in an online survey at tinyurl.com/mryjfuu7.
A CONCERT in Mangotsfield helped raise the final funds needed to support this month's Ham Farm Festival.
Ten professional musicians donated their time to perform chamber music in ten different combinations at the concert in St James Church on May 31.
The event was free to attend but audience members dug deep to raise more than £800 for the festival, which takes place at nearby Ham Farm, Emersons Green, from July 25-27.
Performing were Howard Dann (bassoon and contrabassoon), Gigi Strong (soprano), Clare Hodgkin (piano), Nicky Russell (flute), Fiona Haysom (clarinet), Thorben Louw (guitar), Mike Pryor (cavaquinho), Phil Bunce (pandeiro) and festival hosts Francisco Correa (guitar, 7-string guitar) and
Emily Andrews (mezzo, flute, piccolo).
Emily said: "The audience was delighted by the variety and quality of the chamber music performed and showed their appreciation by donating generously.
"Thank you so much to everyone who came and donated!"
PUCKLECHURCH has its own statue on this summer’s Gromit Unleashed 3 sculpture trail.
The trail launched on June 30 and will run all summer to raise funds for the Grand Appeal for Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Gromit Mowgli will stand at the Rose & Crown pub in Parkfield Road, which is sponsoring the statue. The statue has been painted by Bristol artist Lindsay Cameron.
Emersons Green and Lyde Green do not have any statues on the trail: the next nearest is in Kingswood Park, where a statue based on Norbot, the robot gnome from Wallace and Gromit’s latest film Vengeance Most Fowl, is being placed.
Grand Appeal director Nicola Masters says the trail will have locations “from College Green to Cheddar Gorge, Warmley to The Wave and Puxton Park to Pucklechurch”.
Statue designers include Sir Paul McCartney, whose Yellow Submarine Gromit will be at The Wave in Easter Compton.
The Gromit Unleashed, Shaun in the City, and Gromit Unleashed 2 trails have together raised more than £20 million for the Grand Appeal and Cots for Tots, the dedicated charity for the Neonatal Intensive Care Ward at St Michael’s Hospital.
For more details on this year’s trail visit www.gromitunleashed. org.uk or the Grand Appeal’s social media channels.
FOUR passengers were injured when a car travelling towards Pucklechurch crashed into a ditch.
Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident, which happened on Sodbury Lane between Chipping Sodbury and the village, to contact them.
The grey VW Polo car left the road some time between 11.20pm and 11.40pm on June 6. Police say no other vehicle was involved.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage should call 101 and quote the incident reference number 5225 158 221.
A PRIMARY school is set to ban smartphones from its site for all pupils.
Blackhorse Primary School in Blackhorse Lane will introduce the complete ban from September.
The school previously allowed older children to bring phones to school, but they were handed in to teachers and locked away during the school day.
Now they will be banned entirely - a move the school says has been supported by 88% of parents in a survey.
Executive head teacher Simon Botten says there are several reasons for the ban, including support for parents who want to delay buying smartphones for their children.
Mr Botten said: "Over recent years, we have seen a steady rise in e-safety incidents involving children and their smartphones
…but did you know olive oil spray is also a brilliant pre-treatment for ear wax removal?
— ranging from arguments on apps such as WhatsApp (which children aren't supposed to access until they are 14), to children viewing inappropriate material on apps such as TikTok (again, not intended for under-14s), to strangers approaching children online.
"We have also become extremely concerned about the impact these devices are having on children’s mental health and well-being, with children spending less time playing with their friends outdoors and more time sat in their bedrooms on their smartphones.
"Parents have told us that there is a pressure and expectation to buy their child a smartphone, and we felt that by collecting in devices at the start of the day, we were giving tacit approval for smartphone ownership among children.
"This policy is not about the school trying to control what parents do regarding smartphones, but rather about making the school’s position clear — we support parents who choose to delay buying their child a smartphone until they are older."
In May Tom Hill, who will lead the new Lyde Green Community School when it opens next year, said the secondary school would be "phone free" during the school day, with all pupils handing in their phones at the start of the day and collecting them at the end.
The Blackhorse ban goes a step further by banning pupils' phones from the site altogether.
I’m Debbie, the in-house audiologist here at Turner’s Opticians, and I often get asked: “How do I prepare for my ear wax removal appointment?”
Sometimes wax can build up—particularly if you wear hearing aids—and this may cause discomfort, hearing loss, a blocked sensation, tinnitus, or even affect your balance. That’s where a little preparation can go a long way.
A few days before your appointment, start using olive oil spray in each ear—morning and evening. It’s the most natural and gentle softener you can use, helping to loosen the wax and moisturise the ear canal. Even if it turns out there’s no wax, olive oil won’t do any harm. In fact, it can support your ears’ natural self-cleaning process.
Softening the wax makes your microsuction appointment quicker, easier, and more comfortable—often with immediate results.
We stock olive oil ear spray in practice, so if you need some, just pop in and pick one up!
If things are sounding more muffled than usual, why not book in for a consultation? I’ll check your ears using a specialist camera and show you clear images or videos of what’s going on inside. If wax is present, you’ll have the option to go ahead with safe, gentle microsuction on the day.
Pop in and see me—I’d love to help you hear clearly again!
Mr Botten said giving a smartphone to a primary-aged child was like “allowing children to not wear seatbelts in the 80s — something which seemed normal at the time but is now viewed as extremely dangerous”.
The ban follows a year of consultations, which started with workshops led by Avon & Somerset Police’s Operation Topaz team - officers who work to reduce sexual and criminal grooming across the region.
Blackhorse head of school Neil Fry said: "The officers who led the workshops pulled no punches in explaining to parents that their children were at far greater risk using an unsupervised smartphone in their bedroom than playing in the local park."
Older children who walk to and from school alone will still be allowed to bring in old-fashioned ‘brick’ phones, with no internet, after discussions with parents.
The decision to implement the ban - which the school believes to be the first of its kind in the area - was taken unanimously by the governing body and supported by campaign groups Smartphone Free Childhood and Papaya (Parents Against Phone Addiction in young Adolescents).
Debbie Campbell is a qualified and experienced Audiologist, who has joined the clinical team at Turners Opticians in Fishponds having worked for many years in NHS Audiology clinics.
JOIN the Summer Sizzler at Lyde Green Community Centre.
The countdown is on — there’s less than a month to go until the Summer Sizzler!
The Lyde Green Community Association is thrilled to announce an exciting line-up of performers, stallholders, and workshops, promising something for everyone at this year’s event, which takes place on July 19 from 11am to 4pm at the community centre.
Highlights include: free graffiti workshops; dog shows; petting ponies, reptiles, and amphibians; live bands and dance performances; rides and more.
Best of all, the event is free to attend.
Mark your calendars and join us for a day of family fun, entertainment, and community spirit. We can’t wait to see you there!
In June, the LGCA hosted a Q&A session for our community organiser training programme, bringing together motivated and enthusiastic residents to explore ways to make Lyde Green an even
better place to live.
Several residents have already completed their first training module, and we’re excited to continue building momentum with the next round of training.
There’s still space to join the programme!
If you’re passionate about improving our community and want to learn more, reach out to us at community@lydegreenca.org.
Max Ward
WE’RE delighted to share some exciting news following our recent Emersons Green Community series in collaboration with Inclusive Change At Work CIC.
Emersons Green Village Hall has secured funding from Emersons Green Town Council to run a brand-new project this summer, called Future Voices: Careers & Community.
This youth-led podcast series is designed to amplify the voices of local neurodivergent young adults, aged 16 to 24, and explore creative career pathways through digital storytelling and media production.
Over four inspiring workshop days in July and August, participants will plan, record, and share their own podcast episodes with the community, using a mobile podcast studio and working alongside friendly facilitators.
We’re looking for young adults aged 16 to 24 to get involved as volunteers and contributors.
No prior experience is needed, just an interest in trying something new, meeting local change-makers, and learning real-world digital skills.
Register your interest before July 5. There will be informal chats and project matching from the 7th–16th. Workshop days take place on July 30, August 6, 15 and 20 at the Willow Room, Emersons Green Village Hall.
The project will give participants hands-on experience with podcast production, new skills for CVs and future opportunities, a chance to meet new people and share your voice, and a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment.
If you know a young person aged 16-24 who would love to join, or if you’re interested yourself, please visit tinyurl.com/cc3euk63.
If you have any questions or would like to sponsor this project, email enquiries@inclusivechange. co.uk. Nikki Frost
THE new head teacher of Lyde Green Primary School has taken on a unique challenge.
Tom Hutchings is running one busy, oversubscribed school while helping to create a second ‘twin’ school from scratch.
Along with the day-to-day tasks and pressures facing any head at the school’s current site in Willowherb Road, he is also involved in choosing everything from chairs to a name for the new site in Honeysuckle Road, which is due to open in September next year.
Mr Hutchings, who took charge in April after Wendy Westwood retired, says that the building project appears to be going “smoothly”; However, the hardest task ahead will be ensuring children at both schools have a “consistency of experience, what it’s like being in school”.
He said: “There are lots of discussions about how we connect the two school sites.
“There will need to be a connection between the two schools, day-to-day, but they will feel like almost two separate organisations.
“What we certainly want to do is make sure children aren’t disadvantaged by attending one site or another.”
Applications will open this September for the first year of admissions to the new school.
Families will apply to Lyde Green Primary School as a single entity and, once places are confirmed, a further process will take place to allocate places at one site or the other.
Details of how this will work are currently being finalised but it is likely to take into account parental preference, siblings and
distance from home.
The two sites will not become distinct infant and junior schools.
The new school will be only be open to reception pupils: Mr Hutchings said that, while the Willowherb Road site already has extra ‘bulge year’ classes in Year 5 and 6, moving some pupils to Honeysuckle Road “doesn’t make sense”.
The current site has 17 classes this year and next, but this will reduce to 16, then 15 and 14its intended capacity - as new Reception pupils start to attend both schools.
Every classroom in the new site will be finished and furnished by next year but they will be brought into use gradually, with the ground floor classes for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 filling up first.
Upstairs, the classes for Years 3 to 6 will be effectively mothballed for years, until next year’s Reception classes are old enough to use each one in turn.
Mr Hutchings said: “We’ve had to choose colours for trays for classrooms that aren’t going to be used for six years, and think about how we’re going to use the school years from now.”
This is because the budget to fit classrooms out is there to spend now - in six years’ time it could be worth a lot less.
The exception is IT equipment, which would be out of warranty before being used.
The Honeysuckle Road site will have the same colour scheme as Willowherb Road, to give the sites a consistent identity.
Names will be chosen for each site, partly to avoid them becoming known as Lyde 1 & 2 or the ‘new’ and ‘old’ sites - the
Willowherb Road buildings are still less than ten years old.
Learning on the current site will be “significantly improved” as the pressures from having extra classes ease - break and lunch times will no longer need to be staggered, for example.
Having more children across both sites will give staff more opportunity to specialise and enable sharing some facilities, which might involve children travelling from one site to the other for some activities.
Mr Hutchings will gradually balance his time between the two sites until it is split 50/50.
He said: “In a perfect world I would see both sites every day - spending time on both will be really important. I won’t be based in one place, I will be head of both and will need to be seen.”
Mr Hutchings has moved from Cherry Garden Primary School in Bitton, where he had been in charge since 2017.
He said it was a “wrench” to leave his old school but the chance to “shape and craft something so unique” as the two-
site school was an opportunity, and a challenge, he couldn’t pass up.
Mr Hutchings said: “It’s a really exciting time. It presents tremendous opportunities for the children, for the staff and for the community to do something really unique.”
It is surprising how many people say “I do not want to be a burden to my family as I get older”.
John Baden-Daintree at local experts Simpson Solicitors says he hears it most days from clients. He thinks they mean that as they get older, most people hope that they will supported by those they feel closest to. But at the same time they don’t want to make the lives of those people even more busy and stressful than they already are.
So how do you get the support you will need, without being a hassle to your friends and family?
John thinks it is all about some taking some simple steps now:-
1: Make sure your Will is up to date and any gifts are clearly described (be it items or amounts of money)
A professionally prepared Will is always the best way to make sure there will not be any legal problems left behind for your family to sort out.
Your legal advisor will make sure the Will is legally valid and has clear descriptions of gifts – to avoid family disputes over what is meant. They will also make sure that if you are leaving someone out of your Will, you have prepared a clear statement as to what you are doing and why. This will then make it hard for your Will to be successfully challenged.
2: Appoint the people you trust in Lasting Powers of Attorney
Whilst you may not want to be a burden, these are also the people that are most likely to want to be able to help and support you as you get older. Especially if you became seriously ill.
The greatest help you can be to them is to formally appoint them now in Lasting Powers of Attorney. Even your husband or wife or partner or adult children will need to be formally appointed to be able to help you in such a situation. Otherwise, they will feel helpless
and shut out from providing the support you need.
Worse, if not properly appointed they will face a long and expensive court process to be appointed by a judge to help you, rather than just being able to step in and provide the support you need. Now that really is a burden.
Martin Lewis (money saving expert) has highlighted on his TV show, that last year alone 51,000 applications were rejected as not properly made. Often this is only found out when it is too late and the person has lost mental capacity. That is why he says the gold standard is to use a law firm to draw up and register your Lasting Powers of Attorney at Court (Office of the Public guardian). This is to make it as smooth a process as possible for those you trust to be legally able to step in and speak up for you and help you over medical matters and managing your money.
3: Have a safe place at home where you keep the information your family will need to help you Your family may need details of all the places where you keep or invest your money.
An up-to-date list of the names and addresses of all the people or organisations you would want contacted if you became seriously ill or died.
Key documents such as a photocopy of your Will and Powers of Attorney, property deeds (or Land Registry title numbers) and birth and marriage certificates.
John advises that if you keep them under lock and key or in a safe, then it is important that those you most trust know where you keep that key or the safe code.
Simpson Solicitors can help you with all of these issues. For a free review meeting where they will take as long as you need just call their friendly team or email message@simpsonslawuk.com Better still, right now if you ask them to put 2 Powers of Attorney in place they will give you 20% off the full price.
Book your FREE MEETING at home or at our Kingswood Office.
We make it easy to get up-to-date Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney to make sure it is your wishes that are followed. Have peace of mind that everything is done properly by our award-winning team: In person meetings. Plain English advice. Clear fixed prices. No hidden costs. Protect their inheritance.
On your own: You choose who you want to inherit from you
Living together: Decide if and how your partner is protected
Parent Wills: Provide for children & name Guardians to raise them
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Lasting Powers of Attorney: Appoint those you trust to make decisions, in case of serious illness or injury
PUCKLECHURCH Parish Council has reopened the play area at St Aldams following a £60,000 refurbishment project.
The project was made possible after a successful grant application to the Suez Communities Fund, which made an award of £40,000 towards the project.
The council says the original timber play equipment which had been installed at St Aldams in 2011 had been gradually removed as it was beyond economic repair.
After a tender process, contractor Proludic was selected to install an activity trail, accessible swings, and a replacement zip wire, with the final design being created with input from members of the local community who attended a public event held earlier this year.
The aim was to rejuvenate the area with a particular focus on improving facilities for girls and older children.
The play area was officially opened by Pucklechurch Parish Council chair Gail Boyle on June 14, with residents invited to attend and try out the equipment.
Cllr Boyle said: “Council is delighted to have been able to deliver this much needed project, that we hope will become a destination play space for both our younger residents and their families to enjoy.
“We have been setting aside funds to refurbish several of our play areas, but we could not have achieved a project of this scale without the generous support of the Suez Communities Fund, for which we are extremely grateful.”
The Suez Communities Fund gives grants to community and environmental improvement projects using funds contributed by the recycling company through the Landfill Communities Fund, which enables landfill operators to redirect a small proportion of their landfill tax liability to schemes that create environmental and public benefits.
WORK to build the foundations of the new bridge linking the Emersons Green to Yate is underway.
National Highways says the tall machinery visible next to the M4, on the north side of the Badminton Road bridge site, is carrying out piling work to drive in the new bridge’s foundations.
The piling rig arrived in June along with steel piling cages, which are used to strengthen the concrete columns that will support the bridge.
The work is expected to take several weeks to complete.
A National Highways spokesperson said at least one more full closure of the M4 will be needed to install the new bridge beams.
No date for the closure has been announced, but the governmentowned road operator says the project is “on programme” and due to open to traffic in early next year.
The old bridge, which carried the A432 across the motorway next to the Wick Wick roundabout, was demolished in March after being declared unsafe in July 2023.
The piling work is not connected to the work on the nearby A4174 Avon Ring Road, which has led to the traffic lights being switched off at the Wick Wick junction with Badminton Road for 11 weeks.
AN electric scooter and bike hire scheme has been rolled out to Lyde Green.
Metro Mayor Helen Godwin joined South Gloucestershire Council cabinet councillor Chris Willmore and Iqbal Ahmed from operator Dott to announce the news of an expansion of the Westof England scheme in June.
Lyde Green, Longwell Green and Warmley are among the areas added with immediate effect, adding the homes of an extra 40,000 people to the scheme, with expansion north of the M4 planned for later in the year.
E-bike and scooter parking spaces have been added at Lyde Green Park & Ride and other places in the area.
Ms Godwin said: “E-bikes and e-scooters have quickly become a big part of our transport mix in Bristol and Bath, and parts of South Gloucestershire, helping to reduce congestion on our roads and improve air quality.
“This site already brings together buses and bikes, and now also has a marked, dedicated parking area for e-bikes and e-scooters.
“Convenient travel for some people shouldn’t inconvenience others – so there will be a renewed focus on responsible parking.”
E-bikes and e-scooters have been widely used in Bristol and Bath since launching as part of a trial in 2020, and almost 10,000 rides are already made every day.
Emersons Green has been part of the network since 2021.
Cllr Willmore, South Gloucestershire Council’s cabinet member for planning, regeneration and infrastructure, said: “We are very pleased to see e-bikes and e-scooters expand to cover more areas in South Gloucestershire, offering communities another sustainable option for travel.
“As part of our climate and nature emergency aims, we are committed to reducing dependence on cars by encouraging the use of low-carbon, convenient ways to move around the area.”
Here at Craig Anthonys we pride ourselves not only on the styles but also the advice that we can provide. Our award winning team with years of experience in colouring and cutting can provide a style unique to suite you.
To arrange a no obligation consultation pop in or give us a call.
July 5
n BRISTOL CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERT at Frenchay Parish Church, 7.30pm. Includes works by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Grieg and Tchaikovsky. Tickets £12 advance from 0117 956 2106 or £15 on the door. Students £5. Children free. Interval refreshments included.
July 8
n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT
SOCIETY practice class at the Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm. Create a hand-tied bouquet. Floral demonstration with Christine Ramsay, ‘Flower Power’, July 22 at same time and place. Visitors £5. More details from rosemary. cummins2@gmail.com.
July 12
n 80TH FRENCHAY FLOWER SHOW at Parklands, Begbrook Park, Loverose Lane, Bristol BS16 1SZ, 11am to 5.30pm. Music, displays, fun dog show and more than 200 competition classes (free to enter). More details and advanced tickets £8 from www. frenchayflowershow.com. All accompanied children under 16 free. Tickets £10 on the gate.
July 12
n KINGSWOOD TITANS WALKING RUGBY FESTIVAL at Kingswood RFC, Grimsbury Road Playing Field, Kingswood, from noon. More than 50 teams from across UK, food stalls, live music, bar. All welcome. More information from WalkingRugby@ kingswoodrfc.co.uk
July 12
n CLEEVE SINGERS SUMMER CONCERT, Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road, 7.30pm. Under the direction of new conductor Marysia GorskaSaj. Tickets £5, available from Melanie’s Kitchen, Lincombe Barn and on the door.
July 19
n LYDE GREEN SUMMER SIZZLER, Lyde Green Community Centre, 11am-4pm. Free graffiti workshops, dog shows, petting animals, live music and rides. Free to attend.
July 25-27
HAM FARM FESTIVAL at Ham Farm, Emersons Green. Worldclass musicians performing in intimate garden setting, workshops, ceilidh and family concerts. Tickets from free to £24. More details at www. hamfarmfestival.com.
Monday n PUCKLECHURCH SHORT MAT
BOWLS CLUB Meet every Monday, Wednesday evening 7.30 - 10.00 and Wednesday 3.15pm-6pm, Sunday 2.30 - 5.00. Refreshments inc. Ring John 0117 9372873
Tuesday
n RIDGEWAY BADMINTON CLUB
meets every Tuesday Evening from 8-10pm at Downend Sports Centre for informal badminton doubles/ singles matches between adults of all ages. First visit free. More info from Graham on 07968 050320.
n PUCKLECHURCH FOLK
DANCING CLUB Pucklechurch Community Hall.Abson Road every other Tuesday from 7.30 to 10.15p.m. All welcome either with a partner or solo. Enjoy an evening with us. Call Sue on 07742114566 or Linda on 0784324014.
n MESSY SPACE at Badminton Road Methodist Church, Downend, 10-11.45am. Term-time group for toddlers and carers. Toys, books, crafts, singing and refreshments. First visit free. More information at badmintonroadmethodist.org.uk or 0117 956 1106.
Wednesday
n THE WOMEN’S SECTION OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION meets on the first Wednesday of the month, 1-3pm at the YOU Foundation, Page Road, Staple Hill (by the long-stay car park). New members welcome. More details from Diane Roberts on 0117 956 3407.
n MANGO JAMS BABY & TODDLER GROUP, meets at Lyde Green Community Centre, 9.15am10.45am, term time only.
n WARMLEY JAZZ CLUB, £5 on the door. Cadbury Heath Social Club. Doors open 7.30pm. More details at warmleyjazz.co.uk.
n FRENCHAY FOLK DANCE CLUB meets alternate Wednesdays, English and American folk dancing to live music, 7.45-10.15pm, Frenchay Village Hall. New dancers always welcome. More details at www.frenchayfdc.co.uk or email FFDCSecretary@gmail.com.
n CLEEVE SINGERS 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.
Thursday
n NEXT DOOR BOOKS welcomes new members. Book club meets
on the last Thursday of the month at 11am, depending on numbers. Normally meets at Emersons Green library, email jessica.callaway@ hotmail.co.uk.
n COFFEE, CAKE AND COMMUNITY MORNING at Emersons Green Village Hall. Free Tea, Coffee, and Cake served 10am to 12pm, with extra time to relax and finish your drinks until 1pm. Everyone is welcome! Donations to Emersons Green Village Hall welcome. Supported by Emersons Green Town Council.
n WALKING WITH FRIENDS, free group walks at a gentle pace around Siston Commons. Start and finish at Kingsmeadow@ Madeforever Community Centre, Fisher Road, BS15 4RQ, 1-2pm. For more details email kingsmeadowmade4ever.org.uk or call 07588 622 372
n SHORTWOOD VILLAGE WI meets on the second Thursday of the month at 7.30pm, at Shortwood Village Chapel, Main Road, Shortwood. More details from millhousejoinery@aol.com.
Friday
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 RAINBOW TOTS parent and toddler group meets at Emersons Green Village Hall on term-time Friday mornings, 10-11.30am. All welcome. For more details email church.egbc@outlook.com.
n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH regular coffee mornings, held on the first Thursday of the month, 10.30am-noon at the church in Cossham Street.
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.
Saturday
n STAPLE HILL METHODIST CHURCH Coffee mornings in our beautiful building every Saturday 10.00-12.00 in aid of church funds or charities. Enjoy Fairtrade coffee, tea and cake, and stalls.
Sunday
n 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 BADMINTON ROAD
METHODIST CHURCH Sunday worship followed by sharing refreshments, 10.30am Service of Holy Communion usually fourth Sunday of the month, led by Rev Leigh Maydew. More information from www. badmintonroadmethodist.org.uk.
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 EMERSONS GREEN BAPTIST
CHURCH services are held every Sunday morning from 10.3011.30am at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emersons Way. We also hold regular craft services. Contact Simon on 07765 201435, visit www.emersonsgreenchurch.org or Facebook page for more details.
n LYDE GREEN LITTER PICKERS meet at 10.30am on the first Sunday of the month outside Lyde Green Community Centre, Thistle Close. See www.cleanupuk.org.uk/ groups/lyde-green-litter-pickers for information.
n SERVICES AT ST JAMES
CHURCH, MANGOTSFIELD: 8am, holy communion. 10.30am, services rotate between all-age service (1st Sunday), morning worship (2nd & 4th Sunday), holy communion (3rd Sunday) and healing service (5th Sunday).
Send details of your events and activities in the following format:
in no more than 40 words: email us at: news@emersons
or call us on 07715770377
SOMEHOW it’s a year since fellow residents elected me to represent our brilliant community in Parliament.
I want to thank all of you who have shared your ideas and priorities with me – at my surgeries, events, by email and when out and about in our community.
It's a privilege to serve you, and, while there is much more to do, I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved together this year.
My brilliant small team has been working with me on 843 new cases in the past month for fellow residents on a wide range of issues, from housing to the NHS.
This year, we’ve been working on 5,943 cases and already secured more than £250,000 for residents in entitlements they
were due. Making a difference for you and our community is what drives me every day.
This month, like always, I’ve raised some of the biggest issues we face locally in the House of Commons, including NHS dentistry, local bus services and the state of some of our roads.
I’ve also raised knife crime and the shocking attack in Cribbs Causeway with the Home Secretary. I know all our thoughts remain with the young boy and his loved ones.
I met with the Chancellor personally to call for further investment into our community ahead of the Spending Review.
I was very pleased that this was successful, and that our government’s priorities are the ones you’ve raised consistently – investing in our security, our NHS and making you better off.
Filton was highlighted in plans to boost our defence industry nationally as spending rises to 2.6% of GDP by 2027.
Transport investment of £750 million for the West of England was announced, including for regular trains from Brabazon, and mass transit development.
In June I met with the new Avon Fire & Rescue chief fire officer and heard from our
firefighters, visited Patchway Community School and local employers, including GE Aerospace and Honeywell. It's been lovely to see many of you at community events, including Armed Forces Day, Winterbourne Medieval Day and Bradley Stoke Community Festival.
At the election, I committed to be an active, impactful and approachable MP.
It has been brilliant to see so many of you joining my ‘Coffee with Claire’ events across our community – bringing people together to do politics differently – and to speak with even more of you on your doorsteps when I’m out listening almost every weekend.
Next month's ‘Coffee with Claire’ will be in Patchway. If you live there and would like to sign up, you can at clairehazelgrove.co.uk/ coffee-with-claire.
As always, if you need any support please get in touch at claire.hazelgrove.mp@ parliament.uk.
THE longest and hottest day of the year so far saw Pucklechurch Revel volunteers pull off a successful day of fun and community celebration.
Villagers young and old took part in a parade led by the ‘Revel Royal Family’ including king and queen George and Piper, princesses Lyla and Bonnie, prince Albert and pixies Dudley and Honey.
This was followed by a day of activities on the recreation field, including children’s games, a tug-of-war organised by First Sports Coaching and stalls run by local groups and craft sellers.
The event was well attended, in spite of the heat, and people enjoyed music from 52nd state and Rockmungus among others, as well as the popular beer and cider festival in the community centre in the evening.
Revel made a small profit this year and organisers are now looking forward to the 2026 event, which will be the 75th anniversary of Revel and the 50th anniversary of the beer festival.
Suggestions for next year are being invited via a survey on the event’s Facebook page, while more volunteers would be welcome to support the hard-working team of organisers.
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The foundation held its official launch gala in the grounds of Celtic Manor resort near Newport in May.
Bristol-based home improvement company, The Window Hub, is aiming to plant 3,000 trees over the next three years as part of its commitment to being a climate conscious business.
A FOUNDATION set up in memory of a Downend teenager has raised more than £38,000 with two launch events.
The trees will be planted at Boyd Valley Lake, which is located in Bitton. This is in addition to continuing its policy of recycling all old frames so they don’t end up in landfill.
Fundraisers from the Alfie Nick Foundation are already starting their next challenge, with a team heading to Africa as the Voice went to print to climb the continent's highest peak, Kilimanjaro.
The window installation company was launched during lockdown in 2020 by seasoned industry professional Danny, who wanted to create a business that was “built on quality rather than greed”.
The foundation was set up by the family of Alfie Richley, who was 17 years old when he suffered fatal injuries in a freak skateboarding accident while on holiday in 2023.
From humble beginnings, The Window Hub now operates from a head office and showroom in Staple Hill in Bristol with offices, showrooms and installation depots across the South West.
A registered charity, it aims to fund services for disadvantaged children who have been in the care system, live with disabilities or face mental health challenges.
The event featured a keynote speech from founder and Alfie's dad Nick Richley, music and a "lively" charity auction and raffle.
The star exhibit in the auction was a leather-bound copy of Gavin and Stacey: The Finale script, signed by the full cast, donated by James Corden and presented by his sister Ruth, which sparked a competitive bidding war. One lucky raffle ticket won a ski holiday to French resort Alpe d’Huez.
In total the evening raised £18,500, which will go directly to supporting vulnerable children.
Nick said: "This important launch event has given us the platform to help transform the lives of the most vulnerable in our community.
supporters.
Five of them - Nick, his brother and cousin and two friends, including Ash Dyer, from Downend - were starting a sevenday climb up Mount Kilimanjaro on June 25.
Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism, friendliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.
School, Downend School, Immanuel Christian School and Winterbourne Academy sixth form student Alfie's 19th birthday on July 6.
"We are so grateful for the kindness and generosity of those in our community who have supported us and share our passion to support disadvantaged children."
In fact, a new showroom is scheduled to open this month.
Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.
The two challenges, together known as Climb for Alfie, have already raised £20,000, and donations can be made online at tinyurl.com/mphjc66y.
into your home can be stressful, so we have introduced as many initiatives as possible to be fair and reasonable in our approach to give our customers the best experience possible,” he said.
The hard work of Danny and his company was also recently recognised and commended, with The Window Hub being named the ‘Best in the South West’ at the G24 Awards last year.
Nick said: "To be doing this in honour of my boy is special.
"He would be laughing at the thought of his old man climbing Kilimanjaro!"
In 2025, The Window Hub will grow to cover domestic homes between Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and Lands End in Cornwall.
Updates will be posted on the foundation's Instagram and Facebook pages.
“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone
The launch followed a 24hour Three Peaks Challenge completed by a team of 11
final of the
“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And
The Kilimanjaro climb started ahead of what would have been former Christ Church Infant School, Stanbridge Primary
For more information, please visit TheWindowHub.co.uk.
For more details about the foundation visit www. alfienickfoundation.org.
IT'S taken a while, but we now have our swift box installed at the Mangotsfield Scout Hall.
Let’s hope we get some residents; probably not until next year now.
Sadly, swifts are on the Red List of conservation concern, declining by 62% between 1995 and 2021, so let’s hope this helps a little bit.
Continuing the “natural world” theme, many were sceptical that leaving an area to go wild on Mangotsfield Common was a good idea, but it’s looking really good at the moment.
We’ll try to add more wild flowers to it over time so it will look even better in the future. There are a lot of “nature” initiatives in the surrounding area so it does make us wonder,
what more we could be doing in Mangotsfield?
We don’t have that many big green spaces to play with but there are plenty of small ones, including gardens, that could be used. Let us know if you have any ideas and want to get involved.
The Dame School roof is showing its age. Some of the stonework is loose, and a few
tiles on the roof need replacing. South Glos Council have inspected it: it’s still safe, and they are going to carry out the necessary repairs.
We have been asked to join with the St James Church for a Victory in Japan 80th anniversary service on the evening of Friday August 15 in the church grounds [in the church if it's raining].
It will be led by our chair, Clive Heath and our vicar, James Cannan. All are welcome.
Our next monthly Red Lion Coffee Morning will be on Wednesday July 2 at 10am, and all are welcome.
If you want to get in touch then please do so via email at MangotsfieldRA@gmail.com, or the ever-popular Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page.
You can also telephone Clive on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881.
WE’RE half-way through the year and finally getting some hotter weather, although that’s not guaranteed.
Mother nature likes to keep us guessing: umbrella or sunblock today?
We seem to be speeding through our programme for 2025. In May we had a talk from the local Community Nature Reserve team, including Sarah and Catherine – two local residents who talked about their wildlife-friendly gardens, with photos of before and after.
Then we were joined by the effusive Arabella from Arabella Dances to hear about the background to belly dancing, and how she got involved. Then she got us up and moving: I can’t call our efforts “dancing” but she praised our moves and we all laughed so much – an exhilarating and fun evening!
Our June meeting - held after the Voice went to print - was one of our crafty get-togethers, this time needle felting. I’m sure we’ll all have gone home with a beautiful, useful hand-crafted item.
By the time you read this, we’ll have been for our second coffee morning of the year. We like to get
together at other times, not just at our meetings, and it’s lovely to sit and catch up, and support local businesses.
We welcome guests to any of our meetings, it’s free for your first meeting (unless it’s a craft evening, when we charge £5 to cover materials used).
We promise you a warm welcome, as well as tea or coffee and cake! We meet at Emersons Green Village Hall at 7.30pm on the fourth Thursday of the month.
If you would like to know more, please email us at beechmerebelles@gmail.com or follow our Facebook page, Emersons Green & Lyde Green WI Beechmere Belles. Wendy
DUE to a busy time with bank holidays, our May meeting was held at the beginning of June.
Our speaker, Kelvin Bush, gave us a lovely presentation and talk on orchids.
It was fascinating to know that there are 40 different varieties with a wide range of colours and shapes. He brought samples along to show us and discussed the ideal
growing conditions, focussing on plenty of light and soil makeup and keeping the blooms fresh with a mist of water every morning. He is a well-known contributor at Chelsea and most major flower shows, and has won many awards for his displays.
Our tea, coffee and cake display followed the theme of the evening with specially-cut roses from a member’s garden to make the table beautiful.
We held our regular pub lunch at the Lamb in June and look forward to joining Bristol Jazz Society on their evening boat trip from the city centre towards Keynsham on Sunday July 6, tapping our toes to the music all the way.
In July we will have Steven Greenhalgh from Somerset Council to talk to us on the subject of road safety. Carol Coombs
FOR our June meeting we had a visit from Carolyn Morton, who talked about the scientific forensic detective.
This fascinating talk covered the topic of charging a suspect using various methods, including DNA, which was introduced in the 1980s as additional evidence.
DO you fancy an afternoon boogie or want buddies to go and see local live music gigs? Then Bristol u3a is for you!
Due to the popularity of our existing Daytime Disco group, we’ve started a second group meeting monthly on Wednesday afternoons at Badminton Road Methodist Church.
Don’t expect glitter balls or a professional DJ though – this is simply one member’s playlist of mood-busting music from the '70s to the present day.
We can’t guarantee that you’ll be familiar with all the music played, but if you enjoy dancing to music with a strong beat, this is for you.
Bring your own refreshments - we have use of a kitchen, so that people can make their own brew. So far, we have 21 people signed up, and there’s plenty of room for more.
We heard about a couple of actual cases, and how the accused was eventually brought to justice. Our talk time overran slightly, due to all the questions and discussion along the way.
This was followed by our business, with an update on the progress of our tomato plants competition, which all seem to be at different rates of growth.
Our trips to Winterbourne Barn and Glenside Museum have been finalised, and a trip to Oakham Treasures is to be arranged.
Our June cream tea event was held in support of Children’s Hospice South West as our chosen charity.
The evening ended with a logic quiz set by Caroline - but for some of us our logic had already been put to bed for the night!
We are a small friendly bunch, so if you would like to see what we are all about then come along to our next meeting at Shortwood Village Chapel, on July 10 at 7.30pm.
If you would like any further information or just a chat, you can contact us by email at millhousejoinery@aol.com, with the heading “Shortwood Village WI”, and we will get back to you.
Lynne Miller
The Live Music Lovers group is more informal, and is for anybody who enjoys live music in local pubs in North East Bristol or at the Fleece in central Bristol.
Group members suggest gigs via a WhatsApp group, and there’s also a monthly email.
Another local music-oriented group is the Soul Music group, also meeting monthly at Badminton Road Methodist Church. Google “Bristol u3a Soul Music” for more info.
Bristol u3a (you in your Third Age) is for anybody who has a bit of time for themselves.
There’s no lower age limit, but most members are in their 50s upwards.
Members have access to around 200 interest groups across Bristol and around 40 locally.
In July, you’ll find us at the Frenchay Flower show on July 12 (all day), at the Market Café & Lounge in Kingswood on the 14th from 2pm, at the Crafty Egg in Fishponds on 16th at 2.30pm and at the White Lion in Frenchay on the 21st at 2.30pm.
Want to find more? Contact me at learnlaughlive@bristolu3a.org.uk.
Lindsay Gough
DOWNEND School is celebrating the successful introduction of a group dedicated to communication between pupils and staff.
The Downend School Council lets teachers know students' thoughts, concerns and ideas about life at the school and the issues that matter to them.
Head teacher Linda Ferris said she was keen to ensure the council reflected the diversity of the student body and oversaw the work of staff with a number of leadership groups to represent different age groups, backgrounds, interests, beliefs and identities.
Together, representatives from the groups have formed the main student council, which discusses ways to help improve the school for themselves and
future pupils.
All students were offered the opportunity to put themselves forward for one of the groups before they and the whole council met earlier this year.
They discussed areas where they believed the school could improve, alongside possible solutions to the issues relating to homework, assessment, lunchtime arrangements and the school's new rewards system.
Council members also helped choose the winners of the school's annual awards.
Each issue has been discussed with staff, including Mrs Ferris, who have been invited along to some of the council meetings.
Mrs Ferris said: "It has been great to hear the variety of issues
that are important to students and this has given us the opportunity either to explain to the students why things work the way they do or to try and work with the council to make some changes.
"There have been some real successes for the council, such as the implementation of new barriers in the lunchtime queuing system and plans for the council to be involved in longerterm development of the school, including their input into the content of Life Skills lessons and homework.
"The group have worked really well together, embodying the school’s PRIDE values of participation, respect, identity, determination and excellence."
RELIGIOUS studies students at Downend School were able to learn close to home when they visited Christ Church Downend.
The Year 12 students met vicar Dan Watts and associate minister Paul Peterson to ask questions and hear stories as part of their A-level study of Christianity.
It followed two earlier events in the school to give the students more understanding about the Holocaust.
The sixth former were joined by Year 10 pupils to hear a talk by Rob Angell, whose Romanian-born mother Judith survived the horrors of Auschwitz before moving to the UK after the Second world War.
They then used virtual reality headsets to see sites involved in the Holocaust and heard testimony from a survivor in a workshop organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust.
MANGOTSFIELD scouts took the streets to learn more about the history of their area.
Members of the 67th Kingswood 1st Mangotsfield group went on a walking tour of Mangotsfield and Staple Hill, organised with South Gloucestershire Council and Historic England.
They found out more about the history of local landmarks including the home of Alderman Arthur Page, who donated Page Park to the community, the local tram and bus terminal which stood on the site now occupied by WDM, and what Staple Hill High Street looked like in the past.
The walk, which utilised the new "wayfinding" signs in the area, helped the scouts earn a badge.
A council spokesperson said: "The walk is a great example of how the new wayfinding posts make it easier for residents and visitors to find their way around and highlight our unique local heritage and points of interest."
The wayfinding project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund via the West of England Combined Authority.
Michael Gorely from Historic England with 67th Kingswood Scout 1st Mangotsfield scouts in fountain Square.
THE footbridge linking Emersons Green and Lyde Green was fenced off as part of a refurbishment project.
The upgrade for Newlands Bridge, which crosses the ring road between Emersons Green Retail Park and IAAPS, is part of South Gloucestershire Council's Linking the Greens project to improve walking and cycling routes.
Contractors went in to lay a new waterproof deck surface to the bridge on June 16 and were expected to have finished the work in around two weeks.
The council said the public right of way across the bridge had been temporarily closed until June 27, with a diversion route in place.
Further work under the bridge to install fencing around the abutments was due to start on June 30.
As part of the project, nearby land next to the Jamie Clapp Memorial Skate Park will be turned into a new open space, with new paths, turfing, tree planting, wildflowers and a bronze sculpture referencing local plants.
The area was previously a BMX track but has become overgrown.
YEAR 6 pupils at Pucklechurch Primary School have welcomed their MP, Claire Young, to tell her about their trip to Parliament.
The class gave a presentation to the Thornbury & Yate MP, whose constituency includes the village, in June to tell her about their experiences, which included going into the House of Commons chamber.
Ms Young said: “I enjoyed asking them some questions about their trip.
“One boy said he fancied being the Speaker - perhaps he’s a future MP in the making!”
An election card for John O'Connor Power, 1895
IF one is to believe the voices captured by many television political journalists in spontaneous and ‘unbiased’ vox pops, people are tired of "boring" politicians. I disagree.
As a social history geek, I am always interested in the ephemera of our country’s story, and this fascination has led me to collect a number of local electoral items.
This includes a promotional card for the 1895 Bristol South election for one Mr John O'Connor Power.
What is surprising is that he put himself forward for an English seat to represent what he saw as the best interests of the Irish people.
O'Connor Power was a well-known and devoted Irish Republican, Radical and Irish Home Rule campaigner. His birth in 1846 was marked indelibly by the ‘Great Famine’, caused by the infection of potato crops that led to mass starvation and thousands of deaths amongst the population of Ireland (then part of the United Kingdom).
He then caught the often-fatal disease smallpox, leading him to the dubious benefits of treatment in an Irish workhouse infirmary.
These challenges didn’t hold him back though, instead cementing the young radical’s belief in the Irish Home Rule movement.
O'Connor Power went on to become a leading member of the Supreme Council of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
In 1874 he was elected to the British House of Commons as MP for County Mayo. Acknowledged as one of the outstanding orators of his day, the skill helped him to secure many crucial concessions and support for the Irish cause.
After losing his seat in 1892 he took up the cause of electoral reform, and was an early advocate for proportional representation.
O'Connor Power came to believe that the best way to further the battle for Irish rights was to stand for election in an English seat. He decided that Bristol - a city with a ‘rebel spirit’ that had in 1878 elected radical Quaker Lewis Fry to represent Bristol North (in part helped by the Irish vote) - was the right place.
It was a hurried nomination, and he held his election rally at the Colston Hall shortly before the polls opened, standing as the Liberal (Radical) candidate for Bristol South.
After losing the election, and believing the press campaign against him was unfair, he threatened legal action against a Conservative paper that accused him of having taken the oath of an illegal organisation.
By 1897 he had withdrawn his candidature, accusing the Liberal Party of backtracking on their commitment to Irish Home Rule.
But his story is another case of rebel voices that challenge being given a chance in Bristol.
For more information about CHAP, visit www.downendchap.org, email big.gin@yahoo.com or write to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS. Nick Smith
The summer sun is shining, the weeds are calling, and the garden centre has never looked more tempting. Whether you're planting petunias, digging a new border, or finally building that raised bed, gardening can be a wonderful way to get outdoors, stay active, and enjoy the rewards of your hard work.
But—before you grab the spade and start pulling up half your lawn— let’s talk about how to protect your body while you're out there. Because as any chiropractor will tell you, a weekend of enthusiastic weeding can quickly turn into a week of lower back pain if you’re not careful. Trust me it keeps us busy when the football and rugby season has ended!
Gardening: Not as Gentle as It Looks
Gardening might look low-key, but it’s physically demanding. It involves lifting, bending, twisting, pulling, kneeling, and sometimes working for hours without a break. That’s not unlike a workout at the gym – only with the added danger of doing it on
uneven ground, while distracted by the task at hand.
We see it every year: people come in with pulled muscles, sore knees, aching shoulders, and stiff backs after an ambitious weekend in the garden. The good news is: most of this is avoidable.
Take Time to Prepare
You wouldn't jump straight into a football match without warming up – and the same goes for gardening. A short walk, a few gentle stretches, and some shoulder rolls before you start can make a world of difference. If you know you’re going to be doing a lot of lifting or bending, it’s worth activating your core with a few simple movements and doing a couple of squats to wake up the legs.
Also, plan your project sensibly. Try to alternate tasks to avoid repeating the same movement for too long – for example, weed a section, then switch to pruning or planting.
Take Regular Breaks
It’s easy to get carried away when you're in the zone. You might think, “I’ll just finish this bit”, and suddenly you've been hunched over for two hours straight. Set a timer if you have to, and make sure you’re standing up, stretching, and hydrating every 30–45 minutes.
It’s also important to listen to your body. That slight twinge you ignore now might become something more serious if you keep pushing through.
Why Your Winter Workouts Matter Here’s where your winter gym sessions, yoga classes, or home workouts really pay off. Keeping strong and mobile throughout the year helps your joints, muscles, and posture cope with all sorts of activities – including unexpected ones like moving a compost bag or wrestling with a stubborn root.
At any age, maintaining strength and flexibility is one of the best ways to stay independent and active – and gardening becomes one more way to enjoy the results of that effort.
Before You Start a Big Project…
Thinking about landscaping the whole back garden? Laying turf? Building a patio? If you’re about to take on a bigger project, it’s a great idea to book in with your chiropractor beforehand. A quick check-up can highlight any imbalances or areas of tightness that might cause problems under stress.
We'll make sure your body is moving well, help you avoid injury, and give you advice specific to your needs and your goals – whether that’s digging flowerbeds or
prepping for a garden party. And If Something Goes Wrong… We’re Here
If you do find yourself with a sore back, stiff neck, or aching shoulder after a day in the garden – don’t suffer in silence. The sooner we see you, the quicker we can help you recover and get back to doing what you love.
We can assess what’s going on, provide hands-on treatment, give you the right exercises, and help prevent it happening again. And if it turns out something more is needed, like a scan or an injection then we can help with that too.
Let Your Garden Grow – Not Your Aches and Pains
Gardening is one of the best things you can do for your health –fresh air, sunshine, gentle exercise, and a sense of achievement. With a little preparation, some common sense, and support from your local chiropractic team, you can make sure this summer is blooming brilliant – without your back paying the price.
If you’d like to speak to one of our team before your next big garden project, give Cleve Chiropractic a call. We’re always happy to help keep you moving, no matter the season.
MEMBERS of a martial arts group who train in Lyde Green have brought back medals from several competitions.
South West Taekwondo kicked off the season with the Elite Martial Arts Professionals Open Championships at Thornbury Leisure Centre, which is open to students from different disciplines in martial arts.
They won more than a dozen gold medals, as well as silver and bronze.
The team then competed at the annual South-West Championships in Torbay in May, before holding their own competition for colour belts aged 18 and under at Lyde Green Community Centre.
The event included categories in sparring and patterns, as well as high kick and long jump, and each competitor took home at least one medal.
The club held a ‘sparrathon’, with over 50 members taking part in friendly sparring for 100 minutes at Lyde Green Community Centre in late May.
Competitors from South West Taekwon-Do (SWTKD) at their biannual home competition, held at Lyde Green Community Centre for junior students.
Five black belt students then took part in the ITF Open Welsh Championships at the Cardiff City House of Sport Arena in June.
They won 13 medals and a top 10 ranking out of 34 teams.
Club members also attended as umpires, coaches and supporters.
Instructor Vaughan Buxton, a 7th degree black belt and a British, European and World title
DOWNEND Cricket club's First XI home fixtures for July are:
July 12 v Bedminster from noon.
July 26 v Taunton St Andrews, noon.
The first XI has two wins so far since being promoted to the West of England Premier Cricket League this season.
The 2nd XI is at home to Hanham 1st XI on July 5 from 12.30pm and Portishead 1st XI on July 19 from 12.30pm.
The Ladies team is home to Hanham from 9.15am on July 5 and from 6pm on July 11.
The club also hosts the annual Wendy Pound Memorial Match at 12.30pm on July 20.
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holder, said: “It was a fantastic day, with a high standard of performances.
“The students work hard and we are very proud of them as a club. They demonstrate the tenets of taekwondo, from perseverance to an indomitable spirit.”
Taekwondo emphasises fast kicking techniques and is said to promote physical and mental strength.
SWTKD welcomes students
from the age of four and over, with no upper limit, and trains at Lyde Green Community Centre every Wednesday and Friday.
The club has other activities lined-up - from parties to summer camps, which are open to all members, as well as friends and family.
For more information, call Gavin Reader on 07500 764276, visit www.swtkd.co.uk or the group’s Facebook or Instagram pages. Angela Belassie
MANGOTSFIELD United's pre-season home fixture list has been announced.
The club, which missed out on promotion from the Hellenic League Premier Division in the play-offs, will mainly take on teams from higher divisions in the run-up to the new season.
The schedule was due to start on June 28 when Chippenham Town visit the Cossham Street Stadium at 3pm.
Bristol Telephones are the visitors on July 1 at 7.45pm, followed by Clevedon Town at 3pm on July 5.
A week later on July 12 the Mangos take on Yate Town from 3pm, with Frome Town visiting on July 23 at 7.45pm and Bristol Manor Farm on July 26 at 3pm.
Admission costs £8 for adults £8, £5 for concessions and £2 for season ticket holders and under-18s, with under-12s and under-18 season ticket holders free. The Mangos' new league opponents in the coming season include relegated Cinderford and Cribbs, and promoted Hallen and Droitwich Spa.
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