The D-Day Dollies were part of a weekend of events in Clifton Village marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. This photo is by Nicola Bartlett, whose film of the activities can be viewed at tinyurl. com/5arem4nd
More VE Day photos: Page 6
Zoo gardens decision due
CAMPAIGNERS will learn within weeks whether their challenge to a planned housing development on the former Bristol Zoo site in the heart of Clifton has been successful.
The Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Alliance went to the High Court last month for a two-day Judicial Review of the city council’s decision to grant planning permission for 198 luxury flats.
The campaigners raised more than £10,000 for a judge to hear their case. They challenged the council on three grounds. They believe that as
a protected open space, the zoo gardens cannot lawfully be built on and the reasons for agreeing to do so were inadequate.
Their other two grounds of challenge are about the environment: how the calculations of the harm the development would cause to biodiversity, and the carbon emissions it would release, were made.
Save Bristol Gardens Alliance wants to see alternative schemes developed for the heritage zoo gardens, which closed in 2022 after 186 years. Turn to Page 2
Promotion joy for Clifton
Clifton's first XV have won promotion to Rugby's National League One for the first time in 30 years and the secone XV have also been promoted.
PAGE 22
Carla to quit leadership role
Bristol Central MP Carla Denyer has announced she will not stand again as co-leader of the Green Party, a post she has held since 2021.
PAGE 3
£3.86m
transport scheme finishes
A year of road works around Park Row has ended with the completion of £3.86 million transport scheme.
PAGE 10
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n NEWS
Save Bristol Zoo Gardens Alliance campaigners outside the court before the Judicial Review hearing last month.
Zoo gardens D-day
From Page 1
The campaigners' hope is that if the judge upholds any of its challenges, planning permission will be overturned.
Bristol Zoological Society sold the zoo site to fund its new Bristol Zoo Project at Cribbs Causeway, which is a much larger site and meets modern standards.
It says the Clifton site was no longer fit for purpose but the planning consent would ensure that the gardens, given to the people of Bristol, will remain open to the public.
But the campaigners argue that there is no lasting guarantee of public access,
The Honourable Mr Justice Mould KC is expected to give his decision in June or July.
Photo: Canopy National Tree Coalition
MP Carla to quit party leader role
BRISTOL Central MP Carla Denyer has decided not to run for re-election as co-leader of the Green Party.
Ms Denyer and co-leader Adrian Ramsey led the party to success at last year’s general election, where they and two others were elected to Parliament.
But now Ms Denyer wants to concentrate on her MP role. Mr Ramsey plans to run for co-leader again alongside Ellie Chowns, another of the four Green MPs. They will be up against the current deputy leader Zack Polanski. Nominations open on June 2 and voting takes place in August.
Ms Denyer, who has been coleader since 2021, when she was a Bristol city councillor, said: “It’s been an enormous privilege to lead the Green Party alongside my excellent co-leader Adrian, wonderfully supported by our deputy leaders - first Amelia (Womack) and then Zack. We’ve
Carla Denyer will focus on her work in Parliament and in Bristol Central, where supporting tenants is a priority
achieved so much, taking the party from one MP to four, from 450 councillors to over 850, and winning nearly two million votes at the election. But this is just the start for me and the party.
“We’re at a critical juncture in British politics. People are feeling deeply let down and are
looking for real alternatives. And with the hard-right on the rise in the UK and across the world, it’s never been more important for Greens to offer a genuinely hopeful vision for our future –and crucially to put forward real solutions to make lives better.
“That’s what I’ll be focussing
on over the next four years as an MP: fighting for rent controls so that everyone can afford a decent roof over their heads, to secure good green jobs for this generation and the next, and to replace the racism at the heart of our migration system."
MP's column: Page 10
THE great-grandson of the inventor of the Walnut Whip has been elected as one of the youngest lord mayors of Bristol.
Cllr Henry Michallat, 27, (Conservative, Stoke Bishop) was sworn into the ceremonial role at the annual general full council meeting of Bristol City Council last month.
Accepting the position, Cllr Michallat said he would dedicate his year as Bristol’s first citizen to improving the life chances of children with dyslexia and promoting the city’s arts, culture and history.
His predecessor Cllr Andrew Varney (Lib Dem, Brislington West) becomes deputy lord mayor for the next 12 months.
Cllr Michallat, who was born at Southmead Hospital and grew up in north Bristol, told the meeting: “It’s both an incredible honour and deep privilege to sit before you as one of the youngest lord mayors of the great city of Bristol.
“This role carries with it a rich history dating back to 1216, a sense of tradition and a profound responsibility. I am truly humbled to be elected to this historic office and I promise to serve with the utmost dedication and commitment to our city.
“While the position of lord mayor is ceremonial and not a political role, it offers a unique opportunity to serve as a symbol of unity, progress and pride for the city.”
Cllr Michallat, an auctioneer and valuer at Clevedon Salerooms, said: “My family has been in Bristol for over 100 years, my great-grandfather coming to Bristol in the 1920s where he had an illustrious career as a chocolatier and inventor of the Walnut Whip.
“My theme for the year is to celebrate and promote Bristol’s arts, culture and history.
“Bristol is a city that’s always been at the forefront of creativity, whether it’s through our incredible music scene, our world-renowned street art, our historic landmarks or our diverse cultural expression.
“From the ancient walls of Bristol Castle to our buzzing theatres, art venues and museums, our city has always been a place where innovation and tradition go hand in hand.
“I believe that by promoting and championing our rich arts and cultural heritage we can not only preserve what makes Bristol
New Lord Mayor, 27, has 'that X factor of likeability'
unique but also build a more inclusive and dynamic city for future generations.
“I also plan to highlight the historical significance of Bristol, from its maritime heritage to its role in the Industrial Revolution and important architecture and ensure that these stories are told in a way that is inclusive and respectful of all the different communities that make up our great city.
“I wish to explore not only our successes but also our challenges and how to overcome them.”
Cllr Michallat said he and his partner Josh, who will be his consort on official engagements, would dedicate time to improving life chances for children with dyslexia by working with local schools and charities to raise awareness.
“This is something which is close to our hearts,” he said.
“I pledge to honour this position with integrity, humility and a deep love for the city I have always called home.
“Together we will continue to make Bristol a place where creativity flourishes, heritage is cherished and every voice is heard.”
Fellow Conservative ward Cllr John Goulandris proposed the appointment, which received unanimous cross-party approval.
He said: “Henry will be our youngest lord mayor in living memory and will bring a youthful dynamism to the role.
“However, he also has a maturity well beyond his years.
“He has been active in
community affairs since his early teenage years and I have had the pleasure of campaigning with Henry well before he became my fellow councillor in Stoke Bishop.
“Like me, Henry has a surname with decidedly nonBristolian roots. Henry’s greatgrandfather emigrated from
France in 1908. However, Henry himself is a true Bristolian, born and bred here.
“Henry will bring many personal qualities to the role of lord mayor. He has tremendous personal charm, always calm in manner and extremely patient.
“Henry has that X factor of likeability – that ability to relate to all people, young and old.
“When we go door-knocking, people who won’t say very much to me or to other canvassers open up and chat with Henry like a long-lost friend.
“I know that Henry together with his consort Josh will bring a friendly, sensitive and refreshingly modern approach to their respective roles.”
Cllr Michallat was first elected in 2021 and, as lord mayor, will chair full council meetings
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Lord Mayor Cllr Henry Michallat in the chair at City Hall
Singing a happy song at VE Day event
NOT to miss out on the celebrations across the country to mark 80 years since VE day, the Bristol Dementia Action Alliance (BDAA) welcomed guests for tea, laughter, singing and entertainment last month.
Lisa Dicker, of BDAA, said of the occasion: “What a wonderful afternoon we had celebrating VE Day. A big thank you to Amy at (BDAA’s partner) Harold Stephens for working with us to make this happen.
“It was lovely to see so many join us from the community as well as our members and there was plenty of singing and laughter. A massive thank you to the amazing volunteers who gave up their valuable time. We really couldn't have done it without you.”
Given that the Hub is less than two months old, organisers were delighted with the turnout.
The Happy Days Hub, which opened in March, is open on Mondays and Fridays from 10am2pm at Ambition House BS11. Offering preventative awareness and management of conditions to reduce the risk of dementia, the Hub also hosts various social groups such as a memory cafe, carer support and exercise classes.
BDAA still needs volunteers to support the Hub – there are a variety of key roles including supporting the café, helping with activities, being companions at the groups.
Further details here: www. bdaa.org.uk/volunteering/ or email office@bdaa.org.uk.
With the centre at the charity’s new Happy Days Hub in Lawrence Weston bedecked with Union Jack flags and bunting
and a display of VE day poster memorabilia, guests joined in a singalong with guest singer and pianist, Ruby Two Shoes.
Guests at the BDAA VE Day commemoration were entertained by singer and pianist Ruby Two Shoes
VE Day memorabilia helped take visitors back to 1945
Sports complex in line for green award
THE Chellaram Sports Complex at Clifton College Sports Ground has been shortlisted for a top environmental award.
As the Voice went to print, the college was waiting to hear if it had won the Decarbonisation/Green Project of the year at the Education Property Awards 2025.
The sports complex, which opened last year, is one of the largest indoor school sports facilities in the South West. As well as supporting a range of sports at Clifton College, including netball, hockey, cricket, bouldering and basketball, it is also open to the local community for both regular and one-off bookings.
It is used by from schools, amateur and professional teams, and community groups. Notable users include Gloucestershire Cricket, the University of Bristol, Clifton Robinsons Hockey, and Premier Romans Netball Club. The facility also works closely with Bristol’s Community of Purpose, supporting disadvantaged young people.
Dr Tim Greene, Head of Clifton College, said: “I’m delighted that the Chellaram Sports Complex is a finalist in the Decarbonisation/Green Project of the Year award. The Chellaram Sports Complex is a wonderful facility for the College and
the wider community. I know all those who are now benefiting from this project and such a superb new facility will want to join me in expressing our gratitude to Alec French Architects, Speller Metcalfe, and the Chellaram Foundation for making it possible.”
The centre has air source heat pumps that absorb heat from the environment and thermal battery technology to store energy for later reuse. The facility also features passive ventilation to regulate airflow and temperature within the sports hall,
contributing to significant energy savings.
Inside the complex, energy-efficient LED lighting and ventilation systems further reduce the building’s carbon footprint, alongside heat pumps that limit the need for fossil fuels in climate control. These sustainable features are expected to delivery long-term cost savings in both energy demand and maintenance.
The development team focused on reducing waste and reusing materials. For example, excavated stone was repurposed, and excess was used to reclad an existing building. Further waste timber was donated to the Community Wood Recycling Scheme.
Biodiversity was a key consideration, with a wildflower biodiverse roof, native woodland planting, hedgerows, and a wildflower meadow incorporated into the design.
Joy Stone, associate director at Alec French Architects, who specialises in designing school buildings, said: “We are thrilled that the Chellaram Sports Complex has been shortlisted for this prestigious national property award. This flagship development allows Clifton College to reduce its dependence on the national grid while transforming the range of sport it can deliver within one carefully designed space.”
Clifton College's Chellaram sports complex
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New Metro Mayor's pledge to collaborate
NEW Metro Mayor Helen Godwin has said things will be “very different” under her than under the previous Labour mayor.
The winner of May's mayoral election has pledged to "work cross-party for the West Country" - and her first act after being sworn in was to appoint Liberal Democrat Kevin Guy as her deputy mayor.
The position of deputy mayor had not been used since Ms Godwin's predecessor Dan Norris was elected in 2021.
During his time in charge the combined authority was put on notice by the government over a number of performance issues, including poor relationships between politicians.
The deputy mayor's position will rotate annually between the leaders of the three councils that make up the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Cllr Guy, who is the leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said he was “honoured”
to take up the role.
On the election night the new mayor said her approach "will feel very different but it will be very proactive: just getting stuff done, working with people, working with whoever I need to".
Expanding on the theme after she was sworn in, Ms Godwin said: “To get the best for all of us in the West Country, politicians must put politics to one side. That’s how we’ll lay the Bristol to Portishead Line, build new affordable homes, and help create the jobs of the future."
Ms Godwin also pledged to work "across party lines" with Green Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer and Lib Dem South Gloucestershire Council leader Maggie Tyrrell, as well as fellow Labour politician Ian Boulton, who is the co-leader of South Gloucestershire.
She said: "We all need to roll up our sleeves and pitch in. Our residents deserve nothing less, and that’s the only way that we will make things happen.”
The leaders of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and
South Gloucestershire councils, together with the mayor, make up the MCA's decision-making committee.
Cllr Dyer said Ms Godwin was taking over at a “critical time”, adding: “Working alongside Helen and my counterparts in the region’s other local authorities I hope to continue our efforts to bring these valuable working relationships closer for the benefit of all of us.”
The mayor and her will be responsible for delivering the region's Local Growth Plan.
Labour sees off Reform to retain role
LABOUR won the West of England mayoral election, after a strong challenge from Reform UK.
At the region-wide election on May 1, Labour's Helen Godwin successfully defended the role won from the Tories by Dan Norris in 2021.
She polled 51,197 votes, a majority of 5,945 over Reform's Arron Banks, who received 45,252.
Green candidate Mary Page was third, Conservative Steve Smith was fourth and Liberal Democrat Oli Henman was fifth, with independent Ian Scott losing his deposit in last place, after failing to secure 5% of the overall votes cast.
Votes in the three council areas which make up the West
of England Mayoral Combined Authority were counted separately.
Ms Godwin's win was a rare bright spot for Labour on a night when the party lost a by-election, four out of six mayoral elections and 187 of the 285 council seats it was defending across the country.
But it was even worse for the Conservatives, who lost 676 of the 993 council seats they were defending across the country.
The West of England election saw them pushed into fourth place in a poll they had won at the inaugural election in 2017.
The race had proved hard for pollsters to predict, with a YouGov poll a week before the election predicting a Green win, while MoreInCommon predicted
a Labour win with the Tories second.
After the result was announced, Ms Godwin told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It was always going to be close - we knew that.
"It genuinely is the honour of my life to be your new West of England Mayor.
"Today marks the beginning of a new chapter for the West of England, where we'll bring people together and work more transparently to deliver the ambitious change our communities need.
"This region isn't just my political home—it's where I was born, where my children are growing up, and where my family's roots run deep across the West Country."
The turnout of 30% was more than 6% down on the 2021 election, which had been held at the same time as the Bristol City Council elections.
RESULTS
Helen Godwin (Labour):
Arron Banks (Reform UK):
Mary Page (Green):
Steve Smith (Conservative):
Oli Henman (Liberal Democrat): 28,711
Ian Scott (Independent): 4,682
Total votes cast: 205,557 Turnout: 30%
Ian Boulton, Kevin Guy, Helen Godwin, Maggie Tyrrell and Tony Dyer at Ms Godwin's swearing in as West of England Mayor. Picture: Freia Turland
n FROM BRISTOL CENTRAL'S MP
Standing up for everyone
A FEW weeks ago I visited residents at Queen’s Court. When I was a councillor in Bristol, I spent years supporting tenants there who were struggling to get action taken on issues like mould, damp and disrepair. During my first visit since becoming an MP I was shocked to find conditions in the flats as bad as ever: mould on the walls, filthy brown wastewater coming up through the plughole, residents telling me they had been left without clean water for days at a time. After visiting, I wrote to the property management company, City Estates, asking them to meet with residents to hear first-hand about their issues. Sadly, they’ve refused – but I won’t stop fighting for action to be taken.
Meanwhile, I’ve heard from many people who are really worried that the Supreme Court ruling and Equality and Human Rights Commission guidance on sex and gender will put trans people (and all women perceived as not feminine enough by others) at risk of violence, harassment and intimidation. I’ve called for the guidance to be withdrawn and replaced with something that
n NEWS
takes into account the needs of everyone who will be affected. But while this discussion makes headlines, I’m really concerned about all the things we’re not talking about: the chronic underfunding of women’s refuges and domestic violence services; NHS waiting lists leaving women in terrible pain waiting for gynaecological care; mothers being forced to skip meals to feed their children. I’ll keep standing up for the rights of all women.
This month I attended Bristol City of Sanctuary’s event to hear from refugees and asylum seekers about their experiences. Labour has been boasting about deportations and is promising to ‘smash the gangs’, but they refuse to create safe and managed routes for people to claim asylum - the real way to end people smuggling. Now is a crucial time to listen to the people who will be affected by these cruel policies and rhetoric. It was really valuable to hear about concerns - in particular their call for free bus travel for asylum seekers. Many are expected to live off just £8.86 a month, making vital bus journeys like
travel to appointments almost completely unaffordable. I will be working with the West of England Combined Authority to see if we can make this a reality. We also discussed giving people seeking asylum the right to work to help prevent them from becoming destitute, and to allow them to contribute their skills. I will continue to press the government to change this restriction.
I also spoke at a rally organised by Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Bristol Stop the War Coalition and others to mark 77 years since the Palestinian Nakba began – the permanent displacement and dispossession of Palestinian people from their homes and land in 1948. People from across Bristol came together to demand an end to the genocide and the suffering of Palestinians.
Finally, you might have heard that when the Green Party holds its internal elections this year, I won’t be re-standing as coleader. I’m proud to have achieved what I set out to do as leader –growing and diversifying the party and taking us from one MP to four. Now I want to pour all of my
Carla Denyer writes for the Voice
skills, passion and energy into the issues that I and my constituents care so much about, like fighting for rent controls, tackling the climate emergency, and calling for a more compassionate approach to migration. This city will always be at the heart of everything I do as an MP, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together.
• If you live in Bristol Central and have a local issue you need support with, you can email me at bristolcentraloffice@parliament.uk or write to Carla Denyer MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA For enquiries about national issues email me using carla.denyer.mp@ parliament.uk
Park Row improvements completed
BRISTOL City Council has finished its £3.86 million transport scheme across Park Row, Perry Road, Upper Maudlin Street, Marlborough Street, Lower Park Row and Colston Street.
The scheme, which also includes the junctions of St Michaels Hill, Woodland Road and Lower Maudlin St, sets out to:
• Make it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle
• Manage traffic flow and reduce pollution
• Encourage more sustainable travel in the area
The construction work took just over a year to complete, and included upgrading cycle lanes, crossings and traffic signals, and creating loading bays and disabled parking bays.
Councillor Ed Plowden, the chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, said: “I am delighted that the work on this major transport project is complete, making the whole area more
pleasant and safer for pedestrians and cyclists.The goal is to encourage many more people to travel actively, improving
their health and wellbeing and cutting congestion on Bristol’s roads and making the air we all breathe cleaner.
“Thank you to everyone along the route, as well as all those who travel through the area, for your patience throughout the project. It’s fantastic to see it completed in time for work to begin on the central part of the number 2 bus route project, which is starting with the refurbishment of the out of date traffic signals on College Green’s junction with Canons Road, which is expected to get underway this summer.”
While most of the Park Row construction works are complete, there are some minor finishing touches left to make, which will be happening in the coming weeks.
The project has primarily been funded by the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund, secured by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Cllrs Ed Plowden, Ani Stafford-Townsend, Sibusiso Tshabalala with city transport chief Adam Crowther at the completed Park Row improvements
n NEWS
City crematorium set to go green
THE four aging gas cremators at Canford cemetery in north Bristol – the city council’s “single highest emitter of carbon” – will be replaced with electric versions in a £350,000 project.
A senior officer decision posted on the authority’s website said the burners were 40 years old – 10 years more than their typical lifespan.
It said that although the machines were legally compliant, an expected change in regulations over flue gas mercury levels would mean they were not.
The report said: “The change from gas to lower carbon electric cremators and the installation of modern filtration equipment will require alterations to the existing crematoria building and energy supply.
“The initial phase of this project involves conducting site surveys and designing the
required structural, mechanical, and electrical alterations to the building.
“This phase will also address issues such as planning consent, contractor procurement, risk management and develop an operational plan for works delivery phase.
“The purpose of this report is to record the decision to allocate a budget of £350k to complete this design and development work.”
It said that because the project had a “significant decarbonisation component”, the design and development of the scheme would be done by City Leap, the 20-year partnership with private company Ameresco to deliver low carbon energy infrastructure projects.
The decision report, by executive director for growth and regeneration John Smith,
said money to pay for it would come from the council’s decarbonisation fund while it could also receive government cash from a grant programme to reduce public authorities’ CO2 emissions.
It said: “Canford’s four gas cremators are approximately 40 years old, with cremators typically requiring full replacement after 30 years.
“Canford Crematorium is Bristol City Council’s single highest emitter of carbon.
“New electric cremators will help to meet the council’s carbon reduction targets and reduce
energy costs.
“The current cremators are not fitted with flue gas mercury abatement (filtration) equipment. Although currently compliant, an anticipated change to regulations is expected which will mandate 100 per cent mercury abatement.
“Revenue generated by the crematoria supports the wider council cemeteries and parks operations.”
The crematorium is at Canford Lane, Westbury-onTrym.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Robot will cut wait list
DOZENS more patients a year are set to benefit from lifechanging surgery in Bristol thanks to a gynaecological surgery robot at Southmead Hospital.
The da Vinci Xi device will be used to carry out a range of procedures, including hysterectomies and excision of endometriosis.
North Bristol NHS Trust says the dedicated robot will allow surgeons to operate on an additional 144 gynaecology patients at Southmead per year.
Almost 9,000 robotic-assisted procedures have been carried out at Southmead to date, across different surgical specialties. As well as the newly acquired gynaecology robot, NBT has also invested in a second new robotic
system for colorectal and urology procedures.
Southmead Hospital now has a total of four da Vinci robotic surgery systems, which offer precise wristed instruments with a greater motion capability than the human wrist.
Jessica Preshaw, consultant gynaecological surgeon at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: “Having access to this groundbreaking technology will change the lives of hundreds of women, some of whom have lived with life-
n NATURE WATCH with Dawn Lawrence
limiting pain and bleeding for years. Getting our own dedicated gynaecology robot is simply phenomenal news for both our service and our patients.”
Islam Gamaleldin, fellow consultant surgeon, explained: “In our experience, the enhanced 3D visualisation and precision offered by the wristed instruments means more complex operations can be completed using minimally invasive techniques with reduced blood loss, fewer complications, and faster recovery with
shorter length of hospital stay compared to traditional open or laparoscopic procedures.”
NBT chief medical officer said: “I am delighted that our gynaecology team now has its own dedicated surgical robot, as I know this will make a tremendous difference to both our patients and staff.
“This investment will not only benefit patients but will also support the professional development of our gynaecology surgery team, enhancing Bristol's reputation for excellence in robotic-assisted surgery.”
Midsummer heralds myths and moths
ON a warm midsummer night in our back garden you might see a strange radiance appear after sunset, lighting the overhanging boughs of hazel and apple and making their leaves glow in the dark. As with all night lights many small creatures are led astray including caddis flies, beetles, and an occasional surprised butterfly, whilst sometimes a canny toad sits nearby. At times a faint cloud of insects will shimmer around the light (though, to face brutal reality for a moment, numbers are reduced compared to when we first arrived in Bishopston; the insect decline is noticeable even in a garden which has been progressively “wilded” over the last 25 years). But the main reason the light is there is to attract those merry wanderers of the night, moths.
June is the beginning of the main mothing season (yes, enthusiasts call it mothing, and themselves mothers - best written
“moth-ers” to avoid confusion). The moth trap has vertical baffles placed above the bulb and as the moths frantically trip the light fantastic they occasionally hit one and tumble into the wide container below. Here they find refuge under old egg boxes to await identification in the morning. The next night they are left in the dark to escape unharmed. Our Moth-er in Chief has listed nearly 800 species in our garden including beauties
such as lime hawkmoth with gorgeously patterned haute couture wings, burnished brass gleaming like a soldier on parade, and green silver lines whose gossamer costume of light green streaked with silver is worthy of Moth herself, one of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night fairies.
Among the most mysterious of moths are the group called the swifts. In evolutionary terms they are considered primitive which simply means they have changed little from their earliest moth-like ancestors, which could equally be styled ‘well-adapted’. The larvae spend two winters underground (unlike most British moths that are content with one) amongst the roots of their feedplants which include a wide variety of common plants. Many swifts like “rough grassy places” so they should feel at home in our patch and, indeed, orange swifts have become progressively more common with
us. The male gold swift (of which we have had only one) produces a sex pheromone which smells of pineapple (it really does). But most enchanting of all is the ghost moth (of which we have also had only one individual).
The males have white wings (females are yellow) and they “lek” at dusk, that is they congregate in an ethereal mating dance as if to celebrate Midsummer in the traditional way.
White moths feature in European folklore as the souls of the departed and it is from this connection that ghost moth probably received its name. Fluttering moths are mentioned in the last passage of Wuthering Heights and it is suggested that Brontë is referencing this ancient symbolism. The narrator then asserts that the dead must surely experience peaceful slumbers, here amongst the moths and the harebells.
© Dawn Lawrence
Green silver lines moth, a Midsummer Night’s dream
Photo by Rupert Higgins
The da Vinci Xi, above Right: The gynaecology surgery team at North Bristol NHS Trust's Southmead Hospital
n FROM YOUR COUNCILLORS
News from Green Party Clifton Down councillors George Calascione and Serena Ralston
Progress for CIL Funding Applications
The Community Infrastructure Levy is a levy paid by builders and developers to be used for the benefit of local communities. The council allocates a pot of CIL funding to each area (in our case Area 3, Clifton, Clifton Down, Cotham and Hotwells & Harbourside). The Area Committees prioritise these projects. You will be pleased to know that Area 3 committee has voted unanimously for both Clifton Down projects to progress to stage 2 of the process.
• The projects are:
Friends of Redland Library: funds to buy new chairs and build an outside storage space for them.
• Clifton Down Growing Space: funds to buy more planters, allowing more people to benefit from this popular community gardening scheme.
While we don’t yet have a guarantee that full funding will be granted, reaching stage 2 of the process is a hopeful sign.
Cotham Hill street party
Serena very much enjoyed helping out at the Cotham Hill Street Party last month. This is a hugely successful and free community event run entirely by volunteers. Not only is the party a wonderful opportunity to enjoy great music, delicious food and browse the stalls, but it raises money for Oxfam too. Now in its fourteenth year, the organisers need more volunteers and funding to ensure there is a street party next year. [photo to go with]
Planning matters: Alma Vale Road
Following strong objections from us and residents, officers have refused an application for prior approval to turn a shop on Alma Vale Road into a ground floor flat. This is a much-loved, historic shopping street and conversions into residential use would harm the character of this special place and the conservation area. Work by our councillor predecessors, Tom Hathway and Carla Denyer
(now our MP), means the street looks set to be allocated in the emerging Local Plan as a local centre. This will hopefully afford it more protection in future.
Ad screen refused: Blackboy Hill
Following our objections, officers have refused an application for a second BT digital street adverting hub in the ward, this time at the bottom of Blackboy Hill. The first, near the bus stop outside Clifton Down Shopping Centre, was refused a few months ago, again following our objection. Each hub would have had two digital 75" LCD advert screens. The council has now refused permission for 27 digital advertising hubs around Bristol, many of which have been objected to by Green councillors. The Bristol Walking Alliance (BWA) objected to all of them.
Fly tipping
Following our flagging serious flytipping
n NEWS
issues at the municipal recycling centre on the corner of Oakfield and Southleigh Roads, the council’s neighbourhood enforcement team issued a £1000 fixed penalty notice which has been paid. It is also investigating evidence of a second fly tipper. If you have any large household items to dispose of and are unable to take it to one of our Reuse and Recycling Centres, search ‘bulky household item collection’ on the Bristol City Council website. You will find a list of charities which offer free collection for clean, reusable furniture. Alternatively, you can book collection by Bristol Waste. There is a charge but it is very good value.
Pedestrian-friendly crossings
Some pedestrian crossings, like the one outside the Clifton Down Shopping Centre, are set to ‘pre-timed max’(PTM), meaning that after pressing the pedestrian button, the traffic lights change to amber almost immediately. Bristol currently has 22 ‘PTM’ crossings, with a further 76 crossings being considered.
Four of those proposed are in Clifton or Clifton Down. These include the Upper Belgrave Road crossing at the end of Worral Rd, the Clifton Down Road crossing at the top of College Road, and the crossing at the top end of Blackboy Hill.
20 is Plenty
In last month’s column we reported that we were calling for Upper Belgrave Road to be considered as a 20, rather than 30, mph road in response to concerns from residents. At the beginning of May we took this request to Area 3 committee and committee members all voted in support. The transport team will now consider the proposal.
It may take another one to two years to go through all the required technical assessments and legal processes.
Councillor surgeries
The next ward surgery will be on Friday 4th July from midday to 1:30 at Redland Library on Whiteladies Road. In the meantime, do email us Cllr.george.calascione@bristol.gov.uk Cllr. serena.ralston@bristol.gov.uk .
Crime fiction in focus
CALLING all crime-fiction aficionados – as part of National Crime Reading Month, two local authors are holding a literary evening at The Folk House on Wednesday June 18 at 8pm to celebrate this genre.
A former mental health advocate for 20 years, Claire Barnard's debut novel, Pieces of the Jigsaw, is a crime mystery which was longlisted for the Watson Little X Indie Novella Prize 2023.
The event also sees the relaunch of Martin Williams’s first novel, The Pearl Divers Saliva, and his third book, Anthony Johnson, Committed for Murder, both stories with a crime element.
Claire and Martin will read from their books, be interviewed and take questions. Books will be on sale (cash only) and they will be happy to sign your copy; the books are also available on Amazon. This will be a free event, although the bar will be open. Further info from clairebarnard.co.uk or by emailing info@clairebarnard.co.uk
Serena litter-picking at Cotham Hill street party
n FROM YOUR COUNCILLORS
News from Green Party Clifton councillors Paula O’Rourke and
Jerome Thomas
WH Smith site
Residents are still asking questions about the WH Smith site in Clifton Village
Although the development site was sold last summer, the ‘for sale’ signs have only recently been replaced with a ‘sold’ sign. This was done in response to our request, as we felt it was misleading to allow residents to think that there was still an opportunity to buy the land. We have been frustrated in all efforts to engage with the new owners, as has the agent who sold the land to them. All we know is that a company called Speare Developments - which has no online presence - was created in January 2024 prior to the actual sale in July 2024. So we think that this is a holding company for this project. However, we also know that the two named directors are men who have developed sites in Bristol before. We also know that that £6,720,000 was paid for the site!!
We are consoled that, having paid so much for the site, we believe the directors are going to want to get on with developing it. Bristol City Council Planning Department have had no new application for the development of the site, but that is not a guarantee that the new developers aren’t going to abandon the design which is still approved and we may like any new one even less than the last one!
People living on the Downs
We acknowledge that the number of people living in vans, caravans and tents on the Downs is accelerating and we know that it is causing concern. As local councillors (and Paula has been sitting on the Downs Committee), we know that the situation is reaching a tipping point and action is needed. However, it is a complex situation and affects many departments in Bristol City Council (Highways, Housing and Parks). Here are some of the solutions that we are pressing for: Vans on the roads through the Downs:
• We want BCC to bring forward the recommendation of the Downs Committee, which is to bring in Pay & Display parking on the
roads through the Downs. This would stop overnight parking and would protect this important Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI). It is also part of the business case for the Downs to become self-funding, as the loss of parking revenue from the closure of the Zoo, could be replaced by having long-stay parking at the North Carpark.
• Accelerate the search for 'meanwhile' sites for the van dwellers and for those living in caravans.
• Cllr Barry Parsons, who chairs the Housing Committee, has asked for a holistic report to come to his committee with a more longterm solution to the problem of vulnerable people living in unsanitary conditions on the highway. We expect this report before autumn.
People camping on the grass: this breaks down into two areas. Travellers have been coming to the Downs for centuries. They usually only stay for a few days. However, this year, four encampments have come in a continuous sequence.
While this has been a concern, it also means that we might be able to go to court to get a 'possession order' which would then mean that, for a year and a day, BCC has the power to move any encampment on immediately and not have to get a court order for each individual one (this takes 4-6 weeks). There was a possession order on the Downs which ran out last August which is why people have noticed an increase in encampments.
People in tents. When someone is living in a tent, BCC Rough Sleeping policy is triggered. This policy is first focussed on supporting the vulnerable person and getting them back into sheltered accommodation, which can take up to 3 months.
However, the tented encampment on Circular Road has had an injunction served, as he has had support in other parts of the city and has not cooperated with services offered.
Homelessness is caused by many factors, mostly the lack of affordable homes being built. We know that it is a city-wide problem
and don't want to seem 'precious' about our neighbourhood, but the fact is that the Downs are a precious ancient chalkland which is a resource for citizens of all of Bristol, so we must protect it.
Community infrastructure funding
Whenever there are property developments of a significant scale in the wards in the city the local areas receive some funding for spending on community infrastructure. This can include spending on park and play equipment, highways and safety improvements and tree planting as examples.
This year our Area Committee has approximately £80,000 to spend on such projects. Unfortunately the Highways Department does not
capacity to take on any highways or safety projects so this type of project will need to wait until next year. We will take decisions on projects that we are considering funding in October. These projects include play park equipment in Hotwells, community gardens investment in Clifton Down, restoration of fountains in Brandon Hill and significant tree planting. Please do get in touch with us if you have any suggested community infrastructure projects that you would like to see in coming years.
Contact us
Jerome Thomas: cllr.jerome. thomas@bristol.gov.uk
Paula O'Rourke: cllr.paula. orourke@bristol.gov.uk
Bid to shape new future for libraries
A REVIEW of Bristol’s library service is under way in an effort to make it fit for the future amid a long-term cash crisis.
A cross-party taskforce has been set up to look at the options – and closure of some of the 26 branches has not been ruled out.
The group will report back in November to the public health and communities committee.
Council leaders dropped plans to more than halve the annual funding for libraries from £4.7million to £2.3million earlier this year so that a working group could look at the service without the pressure of cuts and imminent closures. It will report back in November,
Previous proposals for library branch closures were dropped in 2018 and 2022 following huge public opposition, but continuing budget pressures mean that some action is likely to be needed.
Communities committee chairman Cllr Stephen Williams (Lib Dem, Westbury-on-Trym
& Henleaze) told a meeting last month that the working group was being set up to design a new four- or five-year library strategy for what councillors wanted the service to look like.
He said: “This task-and-finish group is not to consider the future of the library buildings, it is simply to design what we think a modern, fit-for-purpose library service should be.”
A proposal from Labour to commit to keeping all the libraries open was voted down after officer Patsy Mellor told the meeting it would restrict options and transformative thinking because people would think the outcome had already been decided.
Cllr Patrick McAllister (Green, Hotwells & Harbourside) said: “We all know something does
n MESSAGE FROM POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER
Improving support for victims of crime
VICTIMS of crime and antisocial behaviour across Avon and Somerset now have access to enhanced, tailored support services.
I recently held a launch event to showcase a comprehensive suite of services, designed with victims of crime, to help them recover from its impacts.
It highlighted the support offered by Safe Link Plus, Young Victims Service, Avon and Somerset Victim Services, and Unseen, all of which provide holistic support ranging from advocacy and emotional care to practical advice, specialist interventions, and restorative justice.
For many, the aftermath of crime is not just about what happened but about the ongoing struggle to regain a sense of safety and stability.
In these moments, the presence of skilled, compassionate professionals can make all the difference.
I’ve seen this first-hand since being elected, and it is truly inspiring. That is why ensuring victims receive the help they need, when they need it, is a core priority in my Police and Crime Plan.
The launch event brought together service providers, volunteers, and community members to celebrate the recommissioned services. It featured workshops, survivor contributions, and addresses from key figures, including Baroness Helen Newlove, Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales.
One of the most poignant moments of the day was the performance of Ghosts, a song written and performed by Georgie, a survivor supported by Safe Link. Her deeply moving lyrics and beautiful vocals made a big impression on everyone in the room.
The event also celebrated the collaborative effort behind the services being launched, with a wide range of providers like One25, Resolve West, Victim Support, The Lighthouse, Stand Against Racism & Inequality, and more.
These services, supported by the OPCC, NHS England, Bristol City Council, Avon and Somerset Police, and the Ministry of Justice, reflect a long-term dedication to providing independent and effective support
for victim-survivors of crime and antisocial behaviour.
To find out more about support services, visit tinyurl.com/5akvrvaa.
My role is to be the bridge between the community and Avon and Somerset Police.
To ensure I hear all your voices, I make it a priority to meet local communities, whether that’s at public forums, visiting local businesses, or engaging with community organisations.
Through my visits, I’ve seen the incredible work being undertaken across the Avon and Somerset force area: innovative projects tackling crime, organisations supporting victims, working with young people to build their futures and partnership working to make neighbourhoods safer.
I recently had the pleasure to visit the Wheels Project, where I saw young people in action learning motor vehicle studies.
The project supports young people between 14-18 years of age, struggling in education or with specialist educational needs
need to happen with the library service with the present funding issues across the council.
“It’s a zombie library service.
“They’re technically still open but a lot of them aren’t staffed, hours are limited, several are open three days a week, often only during working hours.
“People learn, sadly, that they can’t rely on their library service because it’s not open when they need it. hat further drives down demand and use – it’s a vicious circle.”
He suggested the city’s universities could be asked to sponsor parts of the service because students benefited from them.
Cllr Tom Blenkinsop (Labour, Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston said: “One of the things that would serve the most deprived areas of Bristol least is if their libraries were permanently closed.”
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
from Bath, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
They run small groups of four, providing young people with practical functional skills, teamwork, communication skills and understanding of safety and risk issues.
Reducing serious youth violence is a priority in my Police and Crime Plan.
The Wheels Project has been working with the South Gloucestershire Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP) for several years.
To find out more about my role, share concerns over policing or join one of my upcoming public forums, visit my website www. avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk.
With Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody
n BOOK REVIEW
n ADVERTORIAL
Twelve Post-War Tales by Graham Swift GRAHAM Swift’s new short story collection opens with ‘The Next Best Thing,’ in which a British serviceman applies to a German government department for information about the fate – and that word is critiqued attentively in the mind of one character – of his relatives during the second world war.
It is 1959. The British soldier’s family were German-Jewish, his father killed fighting for the British Army. The German official with whom he meets had been a soldier and was a prisoner of war when his parents were killed by Allied bombing in 1943. He speaks perfect English linguistically and more deeply, grasping idioms, nuances, body language.
n FRIENDS OF REDLAND LIBRARY
Event: A Life in Books
A talk by renowned author Tessa Hadley
Date: Tuesday, 10th
June 7pm (Doors open 6:45pm)
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.
What conversation could they have had, were it not for this meeting about departmental records? What conversation are they in fact having beneath the offer of a chair, a cigarette?
The man has not applied through the proper channels or to the right department. Herr Büchner need offer him nothing. But he will. He will do what he can for this man who hands him the scant details of his relatives: ‘What a terrible thing in itself could be just a list of names.’ Between the men and between the lines is so much weight, set down in apparently simple, even light, sentences.
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.
Yet this opening is not a signal of all that is to come. The collection is witty, full of love and romance and not burdened by chronology. The next story moves to the 2020s. The setting of the third remains contemporary though the characters are recalling one day in the 70s.
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”.
Venue: Redland Library, Bristol Admission: £5 ( pay at the door – cash only )
you know what? It is so easy to be amazing if you don’t cut corners.”
Tessa Hadley has published eight novels - including The Past, Late in the Day, and Free Love - and four collections of short stories. Her latest collection, After the Funeral, came out in paperback in July 2024. Her novella, The Party, was published last November and is set in 1950s Bristol. She has short stories regularly in the New Yorker, and reviews for the Guardian and the London Review of Books; she was awarded a Windham Campbell prize for Fiction and the Hawthornden Prize in 2016, and has won the Edge Hill Prize twice: in 2018, for Bad Dreams, and in 2024, for After The Funeral.
Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism, friendliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.
Tessa went to Redland Library every week for years and years as a child and so this is a return to her roots.
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.
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.
In fact, a new showroom is scheduled to open this month.
The stories face the Cuban missile crisis, the Troubles, the September 11th attacks. Every story is post-war, or rather post-wars: impossible not to be, given human history. Pre-wars, probably, too. And distance in space and time is narrowed until the prefix, ‘post-’ could be modified by ‘but only just’. It – history, war, the pivotal dates and the overlooked moments – is all there in the small exchanges that form family bonds, relationships loving and less so, the repetitions of old friends in a pub. Swift does so much with an unreturned hand squeeze or a coat unworn despite the cold. The tender stories grow with each reading.
Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.
Elizabeth Moss, Heron Books, Regent Street
“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone
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.
This event is organised by The Friends of Redland Library. We are a voluntary group set up to support Redland Library, helping to sustain and improve its service, and also connecting it with the local and wider community. Redland Library is situated on Whiteladies Road, close to Clifton Down train station.
In 2025, The Window Hub will grow to cover domestic homes between Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and Lands End in Cornwall.
Details of future events can be found on our website https:// FriendsOfRedlandLibrary.org.uk
“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And
For more information, please visit TheWindowHub.co.uk.
n WHAT'S ON
Various dates
n LA SCALA DELI HENLEAZE
Join us for our Italian wine tasting evenings. Limited availability. Led by our in-house sommelier.
June 12 & 27- Sardinia Regional Tasting
June 14 - Summertime Pink Wine
June 19 - Big Bubbles
July 11 - Summertime Pink Wine
July 18 & 24- Trentino Alto Adige
July 19 - Mountain side vineyards
August 1 - Mountainside Vineyards
August 7 & 22- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
August 9 - "The big 5" of Northern Italy
Special events:
WINE & DINE
6 wines paired with 5 courses
MAY 31 WINE & DINE Menu 1
JUNE 20 WINE & DINE Menu 1
JULY 26th WINE & DINE Menu 2
AUG 16th WINE & DINE Menu 2
Private Events also available Bookings: www.lascaladeli.com
Various dates
n WANT TO LEARN TO NORDIC WALK?
Our Beginner Workshops are run by friendly, professional instructors, are full of chat and laughter, and you’ll get an effective total-body workout.
Meeting on Clifton Down 7th May, 10th May, 17th May, & 21st May. Visit www.bristolnordicwalking.co.uk or call Ros on 07886885213.
June 25
MIDSUMMER SERENADE AND PUDDINGS
- a plethora of music and puddings at 7.30pm at Trinity- Henleaze with Henleaze Choral Society. Sacred music, folk songs, Flanders and Swann songs and a medley of songs from Bernstein's West Side Story. TICKETS £16 includes PUDDING and programme plus a complimentary glass WINE or soft drink contact www.henleazecs.org.uk or on the door.
n BLAISE COMMUNITY GARDEN, behind Blaise Museum, BS10 7QS. Open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 10-2. Interesting walled kitchen garden, free to enter, new volunteers welcomed. Plants always available. Events: Café on 14th June 10-2 and Plant & Pollination Day with Café on 12th July 10-2.
Regular events
Various days
n YOGA IN REDLAND
Tuesdays 6.30pm & 7.45
Wednesdays 7.30pm
Suitable for beginners & improvers Yoga in Clifton
Saturdays 10.30am
Suitable for improvers Text Charlotte on 07533732035. www.yogabristol.com
n WEST OF ENGLAND BRIDGE CLUB based at RAFA Club, 38 Eastfield, Henleaze. Five sessions every week, catering for different standards. Thursday afternoon is Improvers. Monday and Friday afternoon is for more capable players; this is an EBU recognised session. You may come alone to any afternoon session; a partner will be found. The evening sessions are on Wednesdays and Fridays, and are open to pairs. www.woebridgeclub.co.uk or contact Secretary, Chris Frew, on 0117 962 5281.
Monday
n PLAY BOWLS at Canford Park in a friendly, social atmosphere. Qualified coaches and equipment provided. Contact: Les on 07305695579
n DICKENS SOCIETY. 7pm, at Leonard Hall, Henleaze URC, Waterford Rd, Bristol BS9 4BT. Talks, costumed readings, book club and social events. New members welcome. See www. dickens-society.org.uk or phone Roma on 0117 9279875 for details.
n WESTBURY AND CLIFTON AREA DISCUSSION GROUP meet at Westbury on Trym Baptist Church every Monday 9.45am to challenge ourselves with topical debate on what’s happening in the world. If you would like to help to solve some of today's challenging issues with good company, tea and biscuitscontact James Ball 01454 415165 or Ian Viney 0117 9501628.
n WESTBURY ON TRYM WOMEN'S INSTITUTE meets on the third Monday of the month in the Westbury Village Hall, Eastfield Road, BS9 4AG, from 2-4 pm. Interesting speakers, crafts, lunch club, skittles and outings. Our lively, friendly and inclusive group welcomes visitors. Call Sascha on 07961619806 or Traci on 07766073917
Tuesday
n WESTBURY PARK WOMEN’S INSTITUTE meets on the first Tuesday of every month in the Girl Guide Hut on Westmorland Road from 7.009.30pm. We are an active and friendly group with a varied programme plus extra sessions for craft, coffee, book clubs, walks etc. Visitors are always welcome and for more information do call Sue on 07813795936 or email westburyparkwi@gmail. com
n MEET UP TO MEDITATE
Free Class Every Tuesday 7.30 pm-8.30 pm
Starting 14th Jan 2025 At 80 Queens Rd Bristol Email: info@meetuptomeditate.co.uk
n COMPANION VOICES BRISTOL is recruiting new members We are a 'threshold choir' actively looking for new people to join us. We meet in Easton on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9 pm to learn soothing and uplifting songs by ear and build skills in sensitivity/compassion/ loving presence to sing at the bedsides of people nearing the end of life. To join or support us in this work, contact Valerie on bristol@ companionvoices.org. Visit www.facebook. com/CompanionVoicesBristol and www. companionvoices.org
n BRISTOL BRANCH OF THE KNITTING AND CROCHET GUILD meet on the third Tuesday of the month, 10am-12pm, usually in the function
room at the Boston Tea Party on Whiteladies Road. Free to attend, all welcome (members and non-members). We cater for beginners through to experienced makers. Email BristolKCG@gmail. com for more info.
Wednesday
n HENLEAZE CHORAL SOCIETY
We are a thriving, non- audition choir performing mainly classical repertoire. Rehearsals take place at Henleaze Bowling Club, Grange Court Road on Wednesdays 7.30-9.00pm New members welcome. Go to www.henleazechoralsociety.org. uk.
n CLIFTON CRAFTERS
We all have craft items we started and are now lurking in a drawer unloved – dig them out and come and share with us a morning of knitting, crochet, tapestry, rag rugs or whatever you would love to resurrect or mend. Clifton Library every Wednesday 10.30am-12.30pm
n BLAISE COMMUNITY GARDEN, behind Blaise Museum, open Wednesday and Saturday 10-2. Originally a walled kitchen garden. Free to enter. We’re looking for volunteers. Our Café (+ homemade cakes) open 10-2, 18 March and 8 April.
n WELCOME WEDNESDAY Friendly and free coffee afternoon on the last Wednesday of the month, 2-3.30pm at The Beehive Pub, Wellington Hill West, BS9 4QY. Meet new people, have fun, and find out what’s happening in your area. Call 0117 435 0063.
n CLIFTON CRAFTERS We all have craft items we started and are now lurking in a drawer unloved – dig them out and come and share a morning of knitting, crochet, tapestry, rag rugs or whatever you would love to resurrect or mend! Every Wednesday in October at Clifton Library 10 30-12 30pm.
n GOLDEN HILL WI Meets the first Wednesday of every month. 1-3pm. Golden Hill Sports Ground, Wimbledon Rd, BS6 7YA A vibrant, lively new afternoon WI in BS6. We have an exciting and varied programme to offer. For more information contact Pam Scull at goldenhillwi@ gmail.com.
n CLIFTON WOMENS INSTITUTE
We are a friendly bunch who meet on the last Wednesday of the month at Alma Church, Alma Road, Clifton BS8 2HG, from7.30pm. Anyone interested in coming to a meeting as a visitor is most welcome (£5). Visit our blog cliftonwi. blogspot.com for forthcoming events. For info about us contact thecliftonwi@gmail.com
n OPEN DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE For those interested in developing their spiritual awareness and mediumistic ability. 7.15 for 7.30 start at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up or or visit www. westburyparksc.org
n SPIRITUAL HEALING Spiritual Healing is available from 2pm to 3.30pm by the accredited healing team at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up or or visit www.westburyparksc.org
Thursday
n LOCAL CHOIR ACTIVELY RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS. We meet at Stoke Bishop CE Primary School, BS9 1BW on Thursday, 7.45 - 9.15pm. We are a well-established mixed choir performing both sacred and secular music. See website www.henburysingers.org contact secretary at secretary@henburysingers.org.
BOOK REVIEW
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
HAVE you ever wanted to travel through time? Would you want to travel back into the past or forward into the future? Would you worry that your actions might change the course of history?
All these issues and much more are aired by Kaliane Bradley in her novel The Ministry of Time. Our unnamed narrator lands a lucrative job in a new Government Department. Her task along with four colleagues is to act as a bridge living with and supporting five persons who have been extracted from the past to see if time travel is feasible and to monitor the effect on their physical and mental health. These expats include Thomas Cardingham from the 1645 Battle of Naseby, Margaret Kemble from the 1665 Great Plague of London, Anne Spencer from the 1793 French Revolution and
n WHAT'S ON
Arthur Reginald-Smythe from the 1916 Battle of the Somme. Our narrator is tasked with supporting Commander Graham Gore an English Navy officer and polar explorer who took part in two expeditions to the Artic in 1847 and a survey of the coastline of Australia. The five expats were extracted from historical warzones, natural disasters and epidemics to avoid the chaos inherent in changing the course of history. They would have died in their own timelines anyway so removing them from the past ought not to impact the future.
We follow our narrator as she introduces the Commander to modern technology including the washing machine, gas cooker, vacuum cleaner, radio, tv, the internet and the London Underground. We relish the anguish of the Commander as he
n BRISTOL BACH CHOIR are now recruiting new members. We are a friendly auditioned choir of between 30 and 40 singers. All voice parts are welcome. We rehearse on a Thursday evening at Bristol Grammar School from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. If interested please contact Julie at membership@bristolbach.org.uk
n FRIENDS TOGETHER DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CAFÉ A Dementia accessible café for all on the first Thursday of every month, 10am12pm; The Randall Room at All Saints Church, Pembroke Rd, Clifton. Support, guidance, information and friendship with complimentary tea, coffee and homemade cake. No need to book – just come along and be a part of our community! For more information contact All Saints Parish Office: 0117 974 1355
n HEALING FOR WELLBEING - NEW TIME 5.00 PM TO 6.15 PM Feel more relaxed, peaceful, calmer. Drop in sessions (no need to book) with trained practitioners. Venue: Redland Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, BS6 6JE. All welcome - donation basis. For more information, visit http://www.facebook.com/BristolHealingGroup or https://www.thehealingtrust.org.uk/healing/ healing-centre or phone Selina 0117 9466434. n HENLEAZE LADIES’ CHOIR Come and join us as we fill St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze with a diverse selection of music. We are a friendly choir and meet on Thursday afternoons in term time from 1.45 to 3.45. There are no auditions, and the
struggles to communicate with our independently minded feminist narrator. Over time the five bridges develop strong interdependent bonds with the five expats who gradually adjust to a new world and our narrator and the Commander begin a romantic relationship. Their blissful existence is shattered by the appearance of a sinister figure from the future who poses a threat to bridges and expats alike.
This is an beautifully written, intelligent, witty and thought provoking time travel romance with unforgettable characters. For this book and many more come and visit your local librar. You will be greeted with a friendly smile and a warm welcome.
Review by Bob Deacon of Bishopston Library
ability to read music is not necessary. Contact Jeanette on 9685409 or Jane on 07752 332278.
Friday
n HENLEAZE BOWLING CLUB. Come along at 5.45pm on Fridays to see if bowling could be the sport for you. Coaching available. Experienced bowlers welcome. Situated in Grange Court Road, by Newman Hall. This is a friendly Club with good bowling facilities and social events throughout the year. Phone, Tom Logan, on 0117 962 1669 or email hbcsec@henleazebowlingclub.org.uk for details.
n BRISTOL SPANISH CIRCLE. We meet every month from September to June, usually on the last Friday of the month, at St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze. For more info, see https://www. spanishcirclebristol.com/.
n FOLK NIGHT every third Wednesday of the month at the Victoria inn, Chock lane, Westbury on Trym. 7.30-10.30pm. All musicians and singers welcome or just pop in. Call 0117 959 0834
Saturday
n SEA MILLS REPAIR CAFE offers sewing, woodwork, general, electrical and cycle repairs at the Methodist Church, Sea Mills Square, from 10am-12pm, every second Sat (except August). This is a voluntary service run by experienced repairers.. FFI see Facebook @seamillsrepaircafe or email: repaircafe.seamills@gmail.com
Library opening hours
Monday 10am-2pm
Tuesday 1pm-5pm
Thursday 1pm-5pm
Friday 10am-2pm
Saturday 1pm-5pm
June opening for hospice gardens
VISITORS are being invited to view the gardens at St Peter’s Hospice later this month.
The gardens, designed to be a therapeutic and welcoming space for patients and their families, will be open from 10am-4pm on Sunday June 22 with refreshments and guest talks also on the agenda.
There will also be craft workshops from Ffion Morgan, live music from Pizzazz orchestra, cream teas and tours from St Peter’s Hospice head gardener Anneke van Eijkern.
Guest talks will come from horticulturist Caradoc Doy and the National Trust’s youngest head gardener Sam Finch.
Tickets cost £8 each or are free for those aged 15 or under. Book online in advance to secure places.
Clifton
Glen runs 44 miles in memory of Amber, 2
BRISTOL Bears academy transition coach Glen Townson ran 44 miles from Ashton Gate to Cardiff's Principality Stadium to deliver a matchday ball.
It took Glen just over nine hours to complete the ultra-marathon challenge. So far, he’s raised over £10,000 for the Amber Townson Foundation, set up in memory of his two-year-old daughter, who died in August 2023. The foundation’s mission is to raise awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) support affected families and fund critical research.
The West Country derby in Cardiff saw Bristol Bears beat Bath 36 -14. Bristol Bears have been
behind Glen all the way. As well as raising awareness of SUDC on the day, team players wore specially designed Amber Townson Foundation shirts encouraging spectators to donate.
Glen said: “ SUDC remains the fourth leading cause of death for 1-4 year olds in the UK but research and understanding is very limited. We want to change this.
“To have the backing and support of Bristol Bears has meant so much to my family and me. ” Donations can still be made via www. theambertownson.foundation, £5 by texting AMBER to 70460 or contribute via : https://www. justgiving.com/theambertownson-foundation
band, sand, hand, wand land
Glen Townson
A new chapter for the West of England
I’M thrilled to be writing the first of what will be many columns for your local Voice newspaper.
It’s the honour of my working life to represent you, as your Mayor.
The rest of my articles will, I’m sure, be full of news and updates, including about investment across the West of England: Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire.
But I wanted to start by sharing a little bit about who I am – and how I’ll be a different Mayor to those who have gone before.
I’m proud to be from and for the West of England. I grew up in Stapleton, went to college in Filton, and have worked across our region, including as a local councillor and in business.
My family are spread across the West Country and I’m raising my kids here. It’s home.
We’re all so lucky to be here in the West – but I want life to be better for everyone, particularly when it comes to transport.
I’ve worked with other regional mayors,
like Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester, so I know that we’ve got some catching up to do. Getting around, especially by public transport, should be much easier than it often is now. From congestion to ghost buses, there’s a lot to get sorted.
I want to hit the ground running, and to work with our local councils, businesses, and residents to make things happen.
Whether you voted for me on May 1 or not, I’m excited to work for you to deliver real change.
In that collaborative spirit, I started as I mean to go on.
In my first week in office, I said again that politicians need to put politics to one side to get the best for all of us in the West Country.
I began by announcing that my first Deputy Mayor will be Councillor Kevin Guy (B&NES). This important job, vacant since 2021, will now rotate cross-party between the council leaders, with each taking a year in turn.
We all need to roll up our sleeves and pitch in. You deserve nothing less, and that’s the
Metro Mayor Helen Godwin writes for the Voice
only way that we will ensure better buses, lay the Bristol to Portishead Line, build new affordable homes, and help create the jobs of the future.
In the meantime, stay in touch and up to date, including by following me on social media: just search for Mayor Helen Godwin on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, or follow the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority on other channels like LinkedIn.
Will Writing
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Promotion joy for Clifton after 30 years
FOR the first time in thirty years Clifton won promotion to Rugby’s National League One after a pulsating victory over a spirited Exeter University team.
It was an emotional Director of Rugby , Matt Salter, who praised the team’s achievement of suffering only one defeat since early October. He stated that the club’s success was as much about the journey rather than just this result and how well the team had developed.
Head Coach Luke Cozens contributed by saying that “We were not the best team in the league, but we became the best! “
The club was further honoured with Shay Sainsbury, Clifton Sausage man of the match against Exeter, and Will Owen being named in the world-famous Barbarians team to feature in matches at Durham and Glascow
Adding to the 1St XV success the club’s second team the Wanderers also gained promotion to the Counties 1 League after seeing off the first teams of many opponents who ,at one time, faced Clifton’s first team. The third team the Misfits also play in a Counties league.
With opportunities for players at all levels Clifton welcomes new and returning players to prepare for the season kicking off in September. If interested, contact alisonharvey@cliftonrugby.co.uk
In the Exeter game within two minutes key winger Zak Hamid burst through in his customary manner to open the account .
Before the interval a twentymetre driving maul showed Clifton’s forward strength and sent hooker Tom Anderson over with Ollie Milner, who was to kick five
conversions and a penalty, kicking the conversion. Jake Holcombe made his presence felt by soon touching down.
Just on half time outstanding number eight Niall Gibbons, who made yards all afternoon and
throughout the season, charged across the line.
While the sheer strength of the home pack and strong running by their backs was proving too much for the visitors.
Though as resistance weakened
The impressive ball handling and retention by all the team was enhanced by centres Owen and Marcus Nel with wingers Hamid and Matty Smith constantly seeking openings and closely working with each other.
Inevitably the in-form Hamid completed the scoring, and the celebrations were underway before the trophy and player medals were presented by representatives from the Rugby Football Union to the newly crowned champions.
Roger Opie
Will Owen brushed aside defenders to add to the total before the everalert Mitch Spencer at scrum half was on hand to benefit from a Brad Talbot surge.
Best
Photos: Ian Clark
