Hanham & Longwell Green Voice July 2023

CHAMPIONS!

Action closes drugs den

A CLOSURE order has been granted on a property in Queens Road in Warmley.

Police attended Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday June 13 to secure a three-month order.

A force spokesman said the property had been linked with drug use and dealing, with members of the local community living in fear due to some of the violent arguments which take place at the address.

Anti-Social Behaviour co-Ordinator, Tina McIvor, said: “People were often seen driving under the influence of drugs and one family had

not been able to use their garden after one of their children found a needle in it. The closure of this property will bring a much needed respite to the residents of Queens Road, who have been living in fear of their safety and that of their family and their own property.

“Housing association Bromford are currently in the process of seeking a possession order from the courts in respect of this property.”

Donna Speed, from Bromford, said partnership with the police had been important and thanked the public for their patience and co-operation.

Ice creams and fun in the sun

The glorious June weather made summer events such as the 3D Fest organised by the Hanham dance school a great success.

PAGE 7

Peace garden brings joy

Volunteers have transformed a patch of land at Mount Hill in Hanham, alongside the Church of the Ascension, into a peace garden.

PAGE 5

MP's petition handed over

MP Chris Skidmore has handed over a petition opposing the planned development at The Batch in Hanham and pledged to keep campaigning to save the Green Belt.

PAGE 12

A team from Hanham Woods Academy won the Woodcock Shield, an U15 football competition that dates back to 1907. Report: Page 27

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Mayors vie for seat

TWO mayors have made rival bids to be Labour's Parliamentary candidate in the new seat covering most of Kingswood.

Damien Egan, who grew up in the area and is now the elected mayor of Lewisham in London, has announced he is running to be his party's pick for the Bristol North East constituency.

He joins Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, who confirmed in May that he was 'putting his hat into the ring' for the seat, which also includes Staple Hill, Mangotsfield and Fishponds and is expected to be contested at the next general election if boundary change recommendations are approved.

Damien, 40, lived in Downend, Fishponds, St George and Berkeley House in Staple Hill as a teenager, and his first job was at Downend's Somerfield supermarket, now the Co-op.

A Downend and Bromley Heath Parish Councillor in 2003-7 - one of the youngest councillors in the country at the time of his electionhe moved to London for work and joined Lewisham Council in 2010, becoming the cabinet member for housing in 2014 and directly-elected mayor of the borough in 2018.

Damien said: “I’m from Bristol North East, my family are here, this is where I went to school, there won’t be another candidate who knows the streets and different communities of our part of Bristol as well as I do.”

Marvin Rees confirmed his candidacy in an interview with the BBC in May, saying: "I am putting my hat in the ring now, having gone through the family discussion about it.

"It’s only attractive to me because it is Bristol and I have my family here."

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GREAT DAYS OUT FOR ALL

JULY

• Swanage Railway & Corfe

Sunday 2nd July

• Weymouth Sunday 30th July

AUGUST

• The Donkey Sanctuary & Sidmouth (Folk Festival week) Sunday 6th August

• Swansea & The Mumbles (Pier End) Sunday 20th August

• River Dart Round Robin

Tuesday 22nd August

SEPTEMBER

• Bournemouth Sea Front (Air Show Weekend)Sunday 3rd

September 2023

• Oxford Sunday 17th

September

01179

• Bicester Village Shopping

Sunday 17th September

OCTOBER

• Portsmouth Historical Dockyard and Gunwharf

Quays Shopping Centre

Sunday 22nd October2

NOVEMBER

• Winchester Christmas Market

Sunday 26th November

DECEMBER

• Cardiff Christmas Shopper

Sunday 3rd December

• St Fagan’s National Museum of History Sunday 3rd December

www.eagle-coaches.co.uk

FAMILY and friends are mourning 16-year-old Mikey Roynon, from Kingswood, who was knifed to death in Bath.

Police said dozens of teenagers witnessed the stabbing at a house in Eastfield Avenue, Weston, in the late evening of Saturday June 10. Despite efforts to save him, Mikey died at the scene from a single stab wound.

A 16-year-old boy from Wiltshire and a 15-year-old boy from Dorset appeared before magistrates at Bristol Youth Court on June 15 charged with murder and with possessing an offensive weapon.

More than 100 officers have been involved in the investigation, which is continuing.

Detective Inspector Mark Newbury, the senior investigating officer, said: “We’ve spoken to a large number of witnesses who were present at the address on Eastfield Avenue on Saturday and are confident we have a good understanding of what happened.

Family mourns 'kind and loving' stab victim Mikey, 16

the tragedy on social media as this could prejudice the investigation and cause more distress to Mikey’s devastated parents, who are being supported by family liaison officers.

Police have thanked the local community for their support of the investigation and urged anyone with relevant phone, dashcam or CCTV footage to get in touch.

and carers to talk to their children about the devastating consequences of carrying a knife.

“The causes of knife crime are complex and multi-faceted and we need everybody to work together to tackle the problem.”

“We believe Mikey was killed following an argument, we believe this was a spontaneous incident and do not believe it was linked to any other incidents or as a result of any tensions between rival groups.”

He urged the public to avoid speculation or comment about

The force has issued a joint statement with Bath & North East Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council offering information, advice and reassurance to parents, schools and residents.

Chief Inspector Ronald Lungu, of the Bath Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “I’d encourage parents

Tribute to tragic motorcyclist

THE family of a teenage motorcyclist who died in a collision near the Hicks Gate roundabout have issued a tribute.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services at the scene, Alex Thompson, 18, of Keynsham, died following a collision involving a car at about 3.45pm on Thursday 22 June.

His family said: "My Alex was such a kindhearted caring boy and always wore a cheeky smile.

"He was loved by everyone who he crossed paths with. He made a massive impact in just 18 short years of life and we have so much support from everyone that knew him at such a difficult time.

"He had his whole life ahead of him, he was on

his way to pick up the keys to his first flat. He will forever make us proud."

A police spokesman said: "Our sympathies are with the family in their loss and our speciallytrained family liaison officer will be offering support over the coming weeks."

Anyone who was travelling on the A4 Bath Road and witnessed the incident, has dashcam footage or saw either a Yamaha motorcycle or a blue Vauxhall Crossland in the time leading up to the collision, is asked to contact police.

To report any information, please contact 101 and quote reference 5223147737.

Hundreds of people attended a vigil for Mikey in Southey Park, Kingswood, on June 11. A fundraising page to help his family had raised more than £18,000 as the Voice went to print.

Its organiser said: "His mum and dad are distraught; their son will forever be 16.

"Mikey was such a kind loving and thoughtful soul who cared so much about his friends and family. He was so funny and fearless."

Alex Thompson

'Funny and fearless' Mikey Roynon cared so much for friends and family

Care home doing better, say inspectors

A KINGSWOOD care home has made progress since its last inspection but hasn’t overturned its “Requires Improvement” rating.

Kingswood Court care home in Soundwell Road received an unannounced inspection from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April, after receiving a “Requires improvement” rating at its previous inspection in August last year.

The inspectors were checking on progress on the agreed improvement plan for the home, where 46 people aged 65 and over receive residential, nursing or dementia care. They only inspected whether the home was Safe and Well-Led, the two areas where regulations were being breached when inspectors last visited, and not enough had changed to alter the rating.

Although improvements had been made, inspectors reported that the “governance system continued to be ineffective”. For example, records on food and

fluid intake for at-risk patients had gaps.

Good points noted included that the previously understaffed home was now fully staffed, and “residents no longer spent long periods of time in wheelchairs”. The CQC also observed improvements to the way medicines were given, with doses being recorded and safe gaps left in between doses now.

Inspectors praised care staff and said: “Staff interacted and supported people in a kind and friendly way. Staff smiled at people and spoke to people as they passed. The atmosphere at the home was calm and relaxed, which was very different to the last inspection.”

Feedback from residents about the staff was mixed. One resident said: “They are answering call bells more quickly now, within five minutes.” However, another resident said: “They rush in and out, a couple make an effort but [they are] very busy.”

The CQC report said: “Some aspects of the service were not always safe and there was limited assurance about safety. There is an increased risk that people could be harmed.

“Management and leadership was inconsistent. Leaders and the culture they created did not always support the delivery of high-quality, person-centered care”

The CQC reported that the registered manager had resigned and plans were in place to recruit a new one.

Kingswood Court is owned by Barchester Hellens Ltd, a London-based business. A spokesperson said: “The home was rated as good in three categories, recognising that Kingswood Court care home effectively provides a caring environment with a responsive team.

“However, we take the findings of the CQC very seriously and we recognise that

changes need to be made in the areas that require improvement, as identified in the report, and we are taking immediate steps to ensure these are addressed and will be implementing a full action plan.

“The inspection took place in early April and significant progress has been made since to positive, permanent changes for the improvement of the service. This includes working with external partners to build relationships, making positive changes to the home’s environment, improving our internal quality review score and putting a strong focus on documentation.

“We were glad to see that the report reflects improvements made regarding staffing, with all roles filled, and that staff effectively manage both medication and infection control safely. Delivering high-quality care is of the utmost importance to us.”

Peace garden opens

A PATCH of land in Hanham has been transformed to create a peace garden.

Volunteers from the Church of the Ascension and community members have worked for a year on the field next to the church in the Mount Hill area.

The garden has been designed

to be wildlife friendly and is made from 100% reclaimed or recycled materials.

Hanham Parish Council awarded £1000 towards the cost of materials and plants.

The garden is already being used by pre-school and school children. Team rector Rev

Beverley Charles said the church toddler group had enjoyed watching a fox and cub play in the garden, while children from Beacon Rise Primary School had planted trees and prepared a

habitat for tadpoles in the pond.

“This whole area was brambles a year ago so the transformation is tremendous,” the Rev Beverley said.

Shop that ‘sold cannabis to kids’ loses booze licence

A SHOP in Kingswood has been banned from selling booze after police alleged that staff sold cannabis in sweet bags to children. Fosters on 168 New Cheltenham Road has been stripped of its premises licence, meaning the shop, also known as Malt Off Licence, can no longer sell alcohol. Avon and Somerset Police searched the shop and the flat above in March and found 1.4 kilograms of cannabis.

South Gloucestershire Council revoked the premises licence during a hearing on June 8. Avon and Somerset Police officers told councillors on the licensing sub-committee about when they searched the shop on March 30, and intelligence leading up to the raid.

Jamie Evans, police sergeant

for the neighbourhood beat team in Kingswood, said: “We had intelligence going as far back as 2015 that cannabis was sold from the shop. People could come in and ask for a cheese sandwich, which was a code that they wanted to buy cannabis.

“Cannabis was sold to kids in small paper sweet bags. This intel came in from a youth carer and when they challenged that youth and asked how they bought it, they took them down there and got the carer to wait outside while they went in and made a purchase of cannabis, to show how they had done that.”

Officers arrived at about 11.20am on the day of the search and found Mr Hutton outside the shop unloading his van. They found “four separate exhibits”

of cannabis in the store room, including two plastic tubs, a blue carrier bag, and a Marks and Spencer carrier bag, which contained plastic and paper bags of cannabis. Some also included small paper sweet bags.

The licensing hearing was told that after Mr Hutton refused officers permission to enter his flat, they arrested him and got a warrant to search the property. Inside they found large plastic bags containing cannabis bush, as well as three mobile phones and financial documents.

Speaking to the licensing hearing, Mr Hutton said: “I was handcuffed and put in the back of a van. I don’t know what was taken from the premises. That’s

all I have to say. I have been there 16 years and I have had no real problems in all them years. I do my best.”

Following the meeting, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that a warrant was conducted on March 30 in the Kingswood area. A spokesperson said someone has since attended a voluntary police interview. The same individual was initially put in handcuffs before being de-arrested at the scene, and was never taken into police custody, the force added.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

NEWLY ROOFED LOCK UP GARAGES

Festival fun

3D Dance hosted an outdoor festival for pupils and families on the private field at Hanham Community Centre. 3D Fest featured dance performances from more than 150 children as well as stalls, games and entertainment. Louise Hopton, who runs 3D Dance, said: "The weather was great and pupils did a great job at entertaining on the day! There was a wonderful festival atmosphere with lots of families attending and it was great to see everyone having fun."

HANHAM EVENING WI

MAY is the traditional time of year for the Branch to consider “resolutions”. These are motions which have been proposed by members nationally for branches to vote on to go forward for consideration at the AGM.

This year we considered a resolution to seek improvement of the quality of waterways for both the public and the wildlife. After some discussion the Branch agreed that it should go to the national AGM for consideration where it passed by a sizeable majority.

With the “official” business out of the way we went on to enjoy what everyone was looking forward to – a celebration of the coronation of King Charles 111. Our room was decked out with traditional red, white and blue bunting and we were served jam and cream scones together with a glass of Prosecco, or for those who preferred, a cup of tea. The scones were homemade by one of our members and everyone agreed how good they were. A grateful thanks was proposed to the member concerned.

During the evening we had a quiz in keeping with our celebrations. “A Right Charlie” was the theme with every answer containing the name

– yes, you’ve guessed it – Charles/Charlie. These ranged from the 1970s French signer Charles Aznavour to the ever-popular Bargain Hunt expert Charles Hansen.

In June we were out and about again, this time visiting M shed in Bristol docks where we were fortunate enough to have arranged a tour with a difference. Instead of the usual tour around the exhibits we were privileged to tour behind the scenes to view and learn about some of the pieces stored there and not often on display. Our tour guide was very experienced with a wealth of knowledge and gave us a fascinating insight and background to what is kept behind the front of house. Many of our members agreed that the most fascinating piece and background story centred on the statue of Edward Colston. This was the one that had been torn down and dragged from the city centre and dumped in the city docks three years previously during a demonstration following the death of George Floyd, the black man who died while being restrained by a Minnesota police officer. We left M Shed had quick lunch and then embarked on a boat trip around the city docks. We visited many nooks and crannies rarely seen or visited and were also able to see the extent of

the damage caused by the fire at the docks.

Our scheduled June meeting was a talk on “Old Broadmead” but at the last minute our speaker became indisposed. Nevertheless, with our usual resourcefulness and a lot of help from the Hanham History Society we were able to find a replacement. Two of their members agreed to give us a talk on “Old Hanham” which was not just entertaining and educational but backed up with several old photographs depicting Hanham through the ages.

How the things have changed. Many of us could identify with the photos and of courses the reminisces began to emerge.

One of the things that surprised and intrigued members was how many of our local streets are named after prominent and sadly long forgotten local people and dignitaries such as Ellacombe Road and Whittucks Road.

We also learnt about historical events that had links locally such as the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry V111.

We were very grateful to our speakers for coming along as late replacements and we are now looking forward to hearing our planned speaker another time.

Dianna Coles

A familiar Kings Chase face since 1975 ...

WENDY Skidmore has a unique-toKingswood claim to fame: the only place she has ever worked is Kings Chase shopping centre.

She started out in Sainsbury’s in 1975 at the age of 16 straight from school, staying there for seven years.

After a break to bring up children, she returned to the shopping centre in 1997 to join Wilko. Over 26 years, she has worked her way up to the position of Assistant Manager and has trained up almost every member of staff at the store.

Sadly, Wendy’s claim to fame is now at risk: Wilko has made her redundant, two years before she reaches retirement age, so she may now end up working outside of the shopping centre.

Wendy, who was born in Soundwell and is now 64, said: “The only two shops remaining that were in the shopping centre when I started there are Sainsbury’s and Boots. Sainsbury’s used to have long queues and feel very busy, but I think that’s because it took a long time to go through the

checkout. Everything had to be keyed in and there were no self-service checkouts.

“Kings Chase used to have a lot more shops and not so many cafes back then. To get into the car park you had to pay 10p a day to a man in the booth, which later increased to 20p a day.

“I’m very sad to be leaving and it wasn’t my choice to go. Wilko got rid of the position of Assistant Manager in most stores and I’ve known since February I would be made redundant.

“I haven’t had a leaving do because there’s nothing to celebrate. I just feel sad because everyone there is like a big family. I’m going to have a break while I decide what to do next for work.”

A shopping centre spokesperson said: “We thank Wendy for her dedicated service and for being such a big part of Kings Chase shopping centre for so many years and we wish her the best for the future.”

Wilko announced earlier this year that it was cutting more than 400 jobs after a reduction in turnover and operational hours.

College's 'positive learning environment' praised

INSPECTORS have praised the "positive learning environment" and inclusiveness of St Brendan's Sixth Form College..

A team of eight inspectors from the education regulator visited the college in Brislington over four days in March.

Their report, published at the end of May, found the Catholic college in Broomhill Road, Brislington to be good in all areas: quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; leadership and management; education programmes and provision for students with high needs.

The inspectors said: "Students enjoy their lessons because teachers have created a positive learning environment.

"Teachers value students’ contributions to class discussions and encourage full participation in learning activities. As a result, students become more confident and proud of their learning over time.

"Teachers set high expectations for completion of work and for meeting deadlines. When students fall behind, they are supported appropriately to improve their attitudes towards learning."

Ofsted said most students experienced "high-quality lessons", produced work of a

St Brendan's Sixth Form College principal Marian Curran

consistently good quality and learned from curriculums that enabled them to "move on to their chosen destinations".

The inspectors said: "Students enjoy the non-judgemental, inclusive atmosphere at the college, where they feel that they can be themselves and are respected as individuals.

"Students from a wide diversity of backgrounds, including those of various faiths, those with special educational needs or disabilities and students from the LGBTQ+ community, feel welcomed and valued at the college."

However the report said the college needed to improve opportunities for work experience and teaching students how to use the skills they learn in the workplace, involve more employers in developing the curriculum, and improve students’ understanding of the dangers of

radicalisation and extremism locally.

St Brendan's, which accepts people of all faiths and none, has around 1,800 students aged from 16 to 18 studying A-levels or equivalent vocational qualifications, including hundreds who move there after GCSEs from local secondary schools.

Principal Marian Curran said: "We are delighted that Ofsted have highlighted the strong learning culture that exists at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College.

"We are a highly inclusive college, where individuality and the education of the whole person is nurtured.

"I am pleased that the inspectors have not only recognised our academic standards, but also the high level of support that our students receive and our culture of safeguarding.

"A huge thank you to all our staff who relentlessly support students academically and pastorally to be the best that they can be. A huge thank you to our students who are a credit to our college community, and finally to our parents and carers for their support.

" This Ofsted report is testament to the hard work of our staff and the resilience of our students”.

Kings' Forest success

KINGS' Forest primary school has maintained its “Good” rating following an Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors praised the range of extra-curricular activities on offer and the support given to SEND children.

Teachers were seen to be knowledgable and passionate with high morale. The Ofsted report said: “Leaders have created a culture where staff feel well supported to achieve excellent outcomes for pupils in their care.”

The school of 430 children was inspected in 2016, and Ofsted’s visit in March was an “ungraded” one, meaning it raised no concerns about the school that would trigger a full inspection.

The Ofsted report said: “Pupils at Kings Forest enjoy an education that enables them to be creative, curious and confident. Parents value the effort that staff make to develop their children’s learning.

“Pupils are polite, caring and support each other well. In lessons, pupils listen respectfully and encourage each other to learn well. They value their education.

“Pupils talk eagerly about the opportunities they have to develop their personal interests and talents. They develop their confidence through acting and singing in polished performances. Pupils are also keen athletes and know how exercise and diet help to keep them healthy.”

Inspectors raised the need for improvements to measuring gaps in pupils’ knowledge. The report said: “Learning is not always as well matched to pupils’ starting points as it could be. This restricts the depth of knowledge that pupils develop in some subjects.”

'Happy family' school

BARRS Court primary school has maintained its “Good” rating following an Ofsted inspection.

The 280 children at the school in Stephen's Drive were seen to enjoy coming to school, where they were greeted by cheerful staff upon arrival.

Inspectors noted that pupils felt like part of a school family and felt safe at school, with their parents in agreement.

The school was praised for how it dealt with bullying, resolving issues and making it clear to children how to report incidents.

The Ofsted report said: “Pupils work hard in lessons and always behave well. They hold the door open for each other and welcome visitors to their school proudly. The clear school rules support pupils to behave extremely well.

“Older pupils rush to the library at breaktimes to read and borrow books. Pupils are curious and welcome questions that stimulate thinking.

“They learn to work together effectively at an early age. This helps them to respect each other’s views and learn collaboratively.”

Staff were said to be proud to work at Barrs Court, and enjoyed the support from school leaders to manage their workload.

The inspector said: “They value the family feel of the school and support each other willingly.”

The report advised the school it could improve by introducing effective assessment in all subjects, to enable teachers to reduce gaps in knowledge.

Headteacher Daniel Webster said: “We are all very proud of our recent Ofsted report. It is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our incredible staff, the boundless enthusiasm of our students, and the support of our parents and community. Together, we have created an environment that nurtures growth, inspires excellence and fosters a love for learning.”

“My mother has been so incredibly well looked after. The nursing staff are so very kind, thoughtful and nothing is too much trouble. My mum feels safe and comfortable.”

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

Parkwall praised

PARKWALL Primary School in Cadbury Heath is celebrating a glowing report from the education watchdog Ofsted.

Inspectors rated the school’s leadership and management and the behaviour and personal development of pupils as Outstanding. The quality of education and early years provision were judged to be Good, leading to a Good rating overall.

In a letter to parents and carers of the 105 pupils, executive head Kathryn Absalom and head of school Gary Risdale said they were delighted that all the hard work had paid off.

“We want to take this opportunity to thank our entire community for the support you have shown us,” they said.

The two inspectors visited for two days earlier this year and their report was published in mid-May. It said that pupil behaviour was exemplary, with children showing highly positive attitudes in lessons and demonstrating pride in their school.

“Leaders ensure that pupils’ starting points are not a barrier to their education. They have high expectations of everyone connected with Parkwall,” the report said.

Other strengths highlighted included:

• Excellent support for children with special educational needs and disabilities

• A systematic approach to reading

• An exceptional personal development programme

• Opportunities for experiences such as museum and theatre visits, clubs and trips.

Parkwall is part of a federation with the larger Park Primary in Kingswood and inspectors said this partnership was used well to develop expertise.

DofE volunteer boom

NEARLY 100 Year 9 and 10 students are currently taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme at Hanham Woods Academy.

Some 97 students have just completed 494 hours of volunteer work as part of the initiative’s Bronze Award level.

Benefiting both the local and wider community, students undertook a range of volunteer work which included animal welfare, litter-picking, working

in charity shops, and working with Girlguiding and the Scouts.

It takes, on average, 9-12 months to complete this level. Other elements include physical and skills-based tasks.

Emily Baker, DofE manager at the school, said: “I am immensely proud of the students’ contribution to their local community. We now look forward to completing their expedition in October to gain their Bronze Award.”

Developers are trying their luck

I HAVE always championed the protection of our Green Belt countryside and brownfield regeneration. Most recently, I have been campaigning in support of residents concerned about the recent planning application from Redrow and Ashfield Land seeking to build around 150 houses on The Batch site in Hanham, which is in the Green Belt.

I was pleased to join residents at a campaign rally to hear their concerns, as well as launch a petition on my website to gather support for our campaign – and I am grateful to the over 300 local people who added their signatures. I recently presented this, alongside residents and local councillor Brenda Langley, to the Council urging them to refuse the application and have submitted my own letter of objection.

The developer’s plans appear to be a result of the West of England Combined Authority’s welldocumented attempt last year to force South Gloucestershire to build 37,000 more houses –10,000 more than government figures suggest is needed to meet local demand. The Green Belt countryside around Hanham and Longwell Green was earmarked for several thousand new houses. While South Gloucestershire Council blocked this plan from the Combined Authority, the

development industry were busy snapping up the land needed to meet the Combined Authority’s damaging target. They are trying their luck in putting their plans in before the council’s new Local Plan is published later this summer, which I hope will re-confirm the importance of protecting the Green Belt.

I commend the work of the Hanham District Green Belt Conservation Society, campaigners and local councillors in helping to raise awareness in the local community. Building more homes here without the necessary investment in services and infrastructure will just pile pressure on to already-stretched facilities.

When it comes to building the homes, jobs and infrastructure we need for local people, we should prioritise brownfield development and urban regeneration. That’s why the regeneration of Kingswood town centre and sites like Kleeneze in Hanham, the old Grange site in Warmley and parts of the Gallagher Retail Park are so important. We shouldn’t see our precious green fields concreted over when empty or underused brownfield sites remain, which could provide the new affordable homes and high quality jobs we so desperately need for a prosperous and zero carbon future.

Happy smiles at Hillside

HILLSIDE Day nursery has retained its “Good” rating in a recent Ofsted inspection.

The nursery in Britannia Road had last been inspected in 2017, and inspectors said they took into account the impact of the pandemic in their assessment.

The 11 members of staff at Hillside were praised for their work with the youngsters age one to four that they look after.

Inspectors observed that the 44 children at the nursery were making good progress and staff were training for accreditation in a “curiosity approach”.

The Ofsted report said: “Babies and children are happy and well cared for. Their safety and well-being are closely supported. They form strong bonds with the caring and friendly staff, particularly their key person.

“Parents have complete confidence in the staff and say that they take all aspects of children’s support incredibly seriously. Staff work with parents to support children’s behaviour

consistently. Children benefit from the calm atmosphere that staff promote well across the whole nursery.”

Inspectors said that the nursery could improve if staff adapted routines so that children could follow their own interests, or to deal with exuberant

MORE than one hundred budding maths champions from Years 7 and 8 at Hanham Woods Academy have earned a series of medals in the national Junior Maths Challenge.

Hanham Woods’ 125 students won 9 golds, 24 silvers and 35 bronzes. Top performer in Year 7 was Hayden Champion and top performer in Year 8 was Harrison Price.

behaviour by taking children outside.

Nursery manager Shay Clarke said: “Staff have worked incredibly hard to make changes to the environment and their practice as they implement our new ethos as work towards our Curiosity Approach

Maths marvels

Josh Hocking, Head of Maths, selected students for the one-hour maths challenge in the academy’s main hall.

Mr Hocking said: “The challenge is an excellent enrichment opportunity to stretch our mathematicians beyond their day-to-

Accreditation. We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded a ‘Good’.”

The nursery’s owners, Donna Pepper and Sarah Cook, said: “The report represents the setting positively and it is a tribute to the team’s dedication and the love and care they show every day..”

day curriculum.

"The maths team and I are absolutely delighted to see our students achieve the best results in the school’s history.”

The Junior Mathematical Challenge is a 60-minute, multiple-choice challenge. It encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought, and fluency in using basic mathematical techniques to solve interesting problems.

Eileen’s cottage industry raises funds for Cossham

A COSSHAM hospital volunteer has vowed to keep up her work despite turning 95.

Eileen Savage has been giving up her time to raise funds for the hospital for more than 30 years.

In that time, she has made 700 tissue box holders shaped like cottages, which she sells in aid of Cossham League of Friends.

Eileen, who was born in Eastville and spent most of her life in Fishponds, has six children, seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She began volunteering in 1992 after the death of her husband.

When someone showed her a design for a tapestry cottage tissue box holder, she settled on this as a way of generating money for the group.

Her designs have been bought to send to people all over the world, and she has even made special orders for people she’s met on cruises.

Most memorably, she made a special ambulance-shaped tissue box cover as a thank you for a paramedic who helped her at home when she was unwell.

Her daughter, Janet Paice, wrote online: “Mum has been making cottages for tissue boxes for 30 plus years and has sold them all over the place, even taking orders when she

was cruising.

“When she was ill earlier this year we had to call an ambulance and the paramedic noticed one of the cottages and said she would like to have one for her desk like her ambulance.

“So we took a few photos and Mum

produced this one as a one-off for her paramedic.

“She also collects up strips of knitting and crochet squares and joins them up and crochets around the edges to make over-knee blankets for the elderly.”

Eileen, who lives at Woodland Court retirement village in Downend, has also made little lace Easter baskets.

Over the years, Eileen has also served teas and coffees in the League of Friends café, been a trustee of the charity, and helped price up items for sale by the group.

She said: “I quite enjoyed helping out. It got me out of the house.

“The tapestry keeps my fingers active and my brain ticking over and it’s great to be helping out.

" I’m going to keep going!”

Kat Tudor, Volunteer Services Manager at North Bristol NHS Trust, said: “It’s wonderful that Eileen has volunteered for the Cossham League of Friends for more than 30 years now.

"To have made 700 of these tapestry tissue holders, and show no sign of stopping, is such an amazing feat and we are so thrilled that Eileen continues to support us. Thank you.”

n AROUND THE WIs

LONGWELL GREEN WI

IT is a lovely sunny morning whilst I am writing this and I hope everyone has been able to enjoy the sunshine we have had recently.

At our June meeting, on a very warm evening, we were entertained by Storm Force 10 singing sea shanties. Storm Force 10 are a Bristolian group who got together about 9 years ago when they retired and as a hobby sing sea shanties at sea festivals and for groups etc. Any donations are given to their charity. This year any monies are going to BRACE at Southmead hospital towards research for Alzheimers and Dementia. Everyone enjoyed the evening, the shanties were very good with choruses that could be joined in easily.

We have our Royal Chase Group meeting in July where we are having a Hoe Down. All members from our Group WIs are invited to this event and it should be a fun evening.

We also have our summer event in August. This year we are having a "Prosecco Picnic", hopefully the weather will be kind to us so that we can hold the event outside and also enjoy some games as well.

We have lots of groups that our members can participate in. There are book clubs, walking groups, knitting group, skittles and social suppers. On the first Thursday of the month we meet at The Chapel Coffee Shop in Longwell Green for Tea and Chat.

Longwell Green WI regular meetings are on the third Friday of the month at 7.30pm at Longwell Green Community Centre and new members are always welcome. If you are interested in visiting us please get in touch by email at longwellwi@gmail.com, telephone 0117 986 4782 or come along on the meeting evening.

Linda Muller

HANHAM AFTERNOON WI

This month, we welcomed Susan Symons, a lady with a wealth of knowledge about Queen Victoria

and her very Colourful life. This was part 2 of her talks and covered the Victoria and Albert Era.

The story recommenced at the marriage between Victoria and Albert in 1840. The Queen had fallen in love with this handsome young man at first sight; he was less sure, but they were married soon after this meeting, about three months later. Over the following 17 years they had nine children. During this time The Queen had been reluctant to hand over affairs of State to her husband and only did seek his help as her pregnancies dictated .

Albert had a very unhappy childhood as his mother left the family when he was five years old and later divorced his father, However, Albert adored his children and loved being a father. Victoria loved them but was not as emotionally attached as her husband.

Albert wanted to change the image of the Royal Family as it was generally perceived as a huge cost to the country. The pair ruled over a golden age of British industrial growth. As each of the children grew to become adults, their family tree was large enough to place the children into many of the royal courts of Europe.

In 1861 Queen Victoria's Mother died, which left her distraught and depressed. At this time Albert became unwell; his doctors played down the illness to the Queen. However, he died at Windsor Castle, later that year. Albert had been Victoria's “Knight in Shining Armour,” His death was something she never fully recovered from, she wore widow's weeds for the remainder of her life.

Hanham Afternoon WI regularly meet on the second Monday of the month.at 1.30pm in Hanham Community Centre. New members are always welcome. Our next meeting will be held on 10th July. We have a talk about the Nooks and Crannies of Bristol. If you would like to know more,please get in touch by email: baukchann63@ gmail.com or telephone 0117 932 5027

Ann Baulch

Hidden Gems

on South Gloucestershire high streets

Discover unique and quirky finds across South Gloucestershire, on urban high streets and market towns, at small, independent businesses offering friendly service and something out of the ordinary.

Beach Boudoir

Chipping Sodbury

At the end of Chipping Sodbury High Street, Beach Boudoir is a specialist swimwear shop that opened in 2021. They offer a wide range of bikinis, swimming costumes, and beach coverups. Vicky, the owner, enjoys helping customers explore new styles. Whether you’re looking for a fresh holiday outfit or planning a girls' trip, Beach Boudoir has over 100 styles in sizes ranging from small to plus, there’s something for everyone.

www.beachboudoirbb.com

Safari Rock

Softplay café

Thornbury

Looking for a place to unwind while your kids play? Safari Rock is a family-friendly softplay café. Owner Aimee designed the play area with parents in mind, so you can always keep an eye on your little ones without having to climb around inside the equipment. They also offer animal encounter days, where kids can meet exotic animals, reptiles, and insects.

www.safarirock.co.uk

Eclectic Gift Shop

Hanham

Discover unique, locally made gifts at Hanham’s Eclectic Gift Shop. They have an amazing range of Bristolthemed items, such as locally brewed beer, cider, and gin, prints of Bristol landmarks, clothing, jewellery, and more. Nicola, the owner, is passionate about supporting local artists and makers saying ‘you know when you buy something here you are supporting independent makers.’

www.eclecticgiftshop.co.uk

Fabrics Plus Downend

Fabrics Plus is a haven for crafters. They offer a diverse range of supplies, including quilting, dressmaking, and upholstery fabrics, yarn, patterns, haberdashery, fabric dyes, and felting equipment. Owner Robin and the team are experienced crafters themselves and provide guidance on fabric and yarn choices. They also offer classes on various crafts.

www.fabrics-plus.co.uk

Fresco Fish Kingswood

Fresco Fish on Regent Street is a traditional fishmonger with an impressive selection of fish and seafood. From wild sardines to organic salmon and dressed crab, they have something for every taste. Michael, the owner, and his staff are always available to provide advice on preparation, storage, and cooking.

www.frescofishmarket.co.uk

Bike Station Yate

goto IT Filton

Need help with a broken smartphone, a slow-running computer or something not quite right with your laptop? The goto IT team offer free diagnostics and clear, jargon free, explanations to ensure customers understand the issues and solutions. They also provide IT support for local businesses of all sizes.

www.goto-it.co.uk

The Friendly Eco Staple Hill

The Friendly Eco is a sustainable parenting store. They specialise in cloth nappies and offer a range of brands. Owner Freya is passionate about promoting sustainability and diversity, offering toiletries, reusable sanitary products, plastic-free lunchbox supplies, wooden toys, and children’s books. They also provide nappy classes to help families make informed decisions.

www.thefriendlyeco.co.uk

Bike Station has been serving the community for 19 years. They have a wide selection of bikes for adults and children, including road, mountain, and electric bikes. Jude and Pat, the owners, provide expert advice on choosing the right bike, bike fitting, and saddle options for a comfortable ride. They also have a fully equipped workshop for manual and electric bikes so, if your bike needs a repair, suspension servicing, or your electric bike battery has gone dead you can book in with their qualified bike mechanic.

www.bikestationuk.com

Supporting small, independent businesses on our high streets is a great way to contribute to the local economy. In South Gloucestershire, there are plenty of free parking spaces available for short and long stays on our high streets so make sure you check out a hidden gem and other independent businesses on their local high street on your next shopping trip.

n SPORT

FRYS BOWLING CLUB

At the end of May, Fry’s Bowling Club hosted The “Unstoppables” group, a group for those with learning difficulties, for an evening of bowls. Group leader Lianne writes, “They are a group of friends who met 14 years ago at a group for young adults with learning difficulties, funded by a charity called Time2share. Sadly, the funding for their group came to an end, but that didn’t stop them! They now meet once a month and are supported by 4 volunteers to do various activities and a short holiday once a year.”

A group of around 25 came to the club and were ably assisted by a number of club members organising the groups on individual rinks and showing them the lines. The bowling finished with a couple of games of spider, with players aiming to get their bowl closest to the spider, with all bowls bowled at the same time; the winners being Charlie and Dan. (No real spiders were harmed)! The evening finished with hotdogs and cake courtesy of club members. A wonderful time was had by all, and they look forward to a return visit.

Bristol and District League:

After a week off, Fry's returned to action with a trip to Imperial's artificial surface. A slow start saw Imperial take a lead, but Fry’s pulled back and left themselves a chance on the final end. A poor finishing shot on Fry's final bowl saw Imperial take a 48-41 win with all 10 points, leaving Fry's bottom.

After a dominating 67-28 win with 10 points against the struggling Bradley Stoke, the trip to Severn Vale 'A' saw the home side take an early lead, with rink 3 taking an 11 shot lead. Fry's were able to bring

themselves back into the game, and a good comeback with the help of a double take-out from Fry's skip on rink 2 picking up 6 shots, holding out for 2 points. Fry’s needed 6 to tie on the final end, but would come up short as Severn Vale held on to a 53-51 win with Fry's only picking up 2 points. Ardagh were the latest visitors to Somerdale as the first half of the Bristol and District League nears a conclusion. Fry’s took a lead on rink 2, with rink 3 remaining in the balance but would ultimately fall to Ardagh. A tight game on rink 1 came down to the final end, with a good bowl securing a 52-39 victory with 8 points seeing Fry’s sit in 6th place.

27th May: Fry's 41-48 Imperial; Rink 1: 12-16; Rink 2: 15-17; Rink 3: 14-15; (0-10).

1st June: Fry's 67-28 Bradley Stoke; Rink 1: 24-11; Rink 2: 21-7; Rink 3: 22-10; (10-0).

8th June: Fry's 51-53 Severn Vale; Rink 1: 14-17; Rink 2: 19-14; Rink 3: 18-22; (2-8).

15th June: Fry's 52-39 Ardagh; Rink 1: 12-9; Rink 2: 23-11; Rink 3; 17-19; (8-2).

Bristol and District League Lloyd Trophy:

The opening round of the Bristol and District League Lloyd Trophy saw Fry's welcome back Bradley Stoke. A flying start on rinks 2 and 3 helped Fry's to a 20+ shot lead. A poor couple of ends to finish on rink 3 saw Bradley Stoke almost half the gap with a small number of ends left. Rink 1 sealed the game with Fry's number 2 trailing the jack 2 feet back whilst 4 shots down seeing Fry's take a 56-42 win to set up a second-round matchup at Knowle on Tuesday 27th June.

Scores: Fry's 56-42 Bradley Stoke; Rink 1: 10-16; Rink 2: 21-7; Rink 3: 25-19.

Friday Triples League: Following a strong start to the Triples League, results have been mixed. A tricky and fast green at Begbrook Green saw the home side

The Unstoppables

take all 12 points despite a close effort from Fry’s.

The following week was even closer with only 1 shot separating Fry’s and the visiting Avonvale. Both clubs would win a rink comfortably, leaving the third rink to decide the match. Avonvale came out on top by 7 shots, seeing them take a 52-51 result and 10 points back to Netham Park.

Another difficult game at leaders St Anne’s Park would bring more success with 4 points taken from the encounter. Fry’s would pick up 2 narrow rink wins, but with St Anne’s winning the third, it would be league leaders taking 8 points 55-47, leaving Fry’s mid-table.

Scores:

26th May: Fry's 43-52 Begbrook Green; Rink 1: 13-19; Rink 2: 14-16; Rink 3: 16-17; (0-12).

2nd June: Fry's 51-52 Avonvale; Rink 1: 32-13; Rink 2: 9-22; Rink 3: 10-17; (2-10).

9th June: Fry's 47-55 St Anne's Park; Rink 1: 19-18; Rink 2: 11-23; Rink 3: 17-15; (4-8).

Tournament to raise funds for Rovers player

A CHARITY football tournament will raise funds for Bristol Rovers player Nick Anderton.

The NA16 Cup event at Mangotsfield United's Cossham Street ground will see a side representing Mangotsfield compete for glory with three teams made up of influencers from social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitch and YouTube.

Left back Anderton, who played a key role in Rovers' successful 2021-22 season promotion campaign, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma, last July and had to retire from the sport in April this year after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy.

A fundraising campaign to support Nick

and his family was launched by Rovers staff and supporters.

The NA16 Cup, named after Nick's initials and squad number, is the idea of Jake Milsom, 16, a Rovers fan from Emersons Green who has been working for the club having just finished his GCSEs at Downend School, and his cousin Reece Flook, 21, from Kingswood.

Jake said: "I don't know Nick that well but he's part of the club and the Rovers familyevery penny we make will be going to Nick and his young family."

The event will take place on July 27 between 11am and 4pm, with more details and tickets available via the website thena16cup.com.

Nick Anderton in hospital

Kingswood to host Walking Rugby event

KINGSWOOD Rugby Club are holding a Walking Rugby Festival at their Grimsbury Road ground this month.

The club’s walking rugby section has gone from strength to strength since it launched in May 2017.

The club ran their first festival/tournament in 2018 and have continued to participate in festivals and tournaments across the South of England, the Midlands and South Wales, playing by invitation at some of Welsh Rugby Union sponsored events. They are also forging strong links with local clubs including Trowbridge RFC, Chippenham RFC, Broad Plain Pioneers RFC and North Bristol RFC, sharing in mixed training sessions.

KRFC now has a membership of more than 50 playing members with a strong training group of 30 or more participating at their regular Wednesday evening sessions and up to 20

taking part in their Thursday morning sessions.

The Walking Rugby Festival circuit for 2023 is now up and running and KRFC have already sent teams to play at Stourbridge, Salisbury, Crediton and Ivybridge. at Crickhowell, North Bristol and Gosport & Fareham. Later in the summer they will be attending more festivals in England and Wales.

KRFC event on Saturday July 15 could see more than 25 teams

taking part . Anyone interested in coming to watch KRFC’s ‘home’ festival will be welcome. There will be a full afternoon of walking rugby games, food, teas, coffees and iced cream will be available on site. The clubhouse and bar will be open from 11.30 a.m. serving a range of beers, wines and spirits plus a live band providing entertainment immediately following the end of the playing activities.

For more information email WalkingRugby@kingswoodrfc. co.uk

WHAT IS WALKING RUGBY?

Walking Rugby is a simplified form of Rugby Union and can include players of any age, gender, or mental ability. Basically, if you can walk you can play.

Teams are encouraged to adopt this ‘inclusive’ approach when attending Festivals and play according to the RFU’s adopted core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship with the emphasis on fun and non-aggressive play. The game is a form of ‘walking’ touch rugby that limits the levels of physical contact whilst allowing players to experience working as part of a team (usually seven players), score tries and get a good level of exercise.

Games are generally played over two halves of seven minutes each with a two minute interval.

Open Morning and Evenings at Wellsway School

Year 5 - Tuesday 4th July - Tours from 9.15am - 10.45am

Year 6 - Thursday 21st September - Tours from 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Year 6 - Tuesday 26th September - Tours from 9.15am - 10.45am

We are delighted to confirm our two open morning dates; we are offering tours to students and families who are interested in joining Wellsway School in September 2024. Visitors always comment on the purposeful, caring and happy ethos of the school, so what better way for you to find out about our vision and values then to come and experience them for yourselves? For those parents/carers who are unable to attend, there will be an additional Year 6 Open Evening in September. The morning will provide an opportunity to see the school in action; to visit curriculum areas and discuss the Wellsway School experience with students and staff. Please be advised that the morning will finish at 10.45am, the last tour will depart at 10.20am. Our staff and students are the biggest advocate to our school and I am sure when you visit, you will see why we believe Wellsway School is a unique community.

Sixth Form Open Evening

Thursday 5th October, between 6.00pm - 8.00pm

We are delighted to invite key stage 4 students to our Sixth form open evening. On the evening students will be able to see the enhanced range of subjects and enrichment opportunities on offer at Wellsway School and learn how we work as a collaborative Sixth Form ‘Futura Sixth’to be a truly comprehensive sixth form. Students will have the opportunity to speak with staff; attend a presentation from school leaders; speak with sixth form students and discover more about our wide range of courses and experience that support students throughout Post-16 and to their next step. This will be followed up by our Open Morning for external applicants, on Wednesday 18th October 2023, between 9.05am - 10.45am.

Struggling to hear? Book one of our Ear Health checks

NEIGHBOURS, friends, and family always complaining- ‘’Why is this so loud?!’’ Do you always have to increase the volume or struggle to hear people speaking? Ellacombe Pharmacy can help with our new Ear Wax Removal Service.

Earwax is produced inside your ears to keep them clean and germs-free. It usually passes out of the ears harmlessly, but sometimes too much can build up and block the ears.

Estimates show that in the UK, a significant population that requires help with ear wax removal have no access to NHS provision or have to wait 12 to 16 weeks.

We know that a build-up of earwax in your ear can cause problems like:

Earache, hearing loss, tinnitus (hearing sounds from inside your body), itchiness in or around the ear, vertigo (a spinning sensation) and ear infections.

These will usually improve once the excess earwax has been removed.

Some people regularly get blocked ears because they naturally produce a lot of earwax. Other factors that can increase the risk of too much earwax include:Producing naturally hard or dry earwax, having narrow or hairy ear canals (the tube between the opening of the ear and the eardrum) and being elderly, as earwax becomes drier with age and bony growths in the outer part of the ear canal.

Earwax can also block your ear if you frequently insert objects

Loft Boarding & Insulation

into your ear canal, such as cotton buds, ear plugs or hearing aids.

Our trained professionals at Ellacombe Pharmacy Have partnered with a world-leading health technology provider and specialist clinicians to use a cutting-edge device that examines your ears, takes highdefinition images and videos, and performs a hearing check. This allows diagnosis of conditions, including infections which we can now treat in the pharmacy or referral to an appropriate medical professional. Professional removal treatment is offered where your hearing is impaired by excessive or compacted wax.

Wax Removal is done using microsuction, a painless procedure regarded as the safest and most effective way to remove

earwax.

Top tip for good ear healthNever use cotton buds or other objects in your ear, such as matches, hair grips, crochet hooks, knitting needles or scratch with fingernails.

We are offering a £20 introductory price for our Ear Health Check. To book this or a Professional Ear Wax removal appointment, just call Ellacombe Pharmacy today on 0117 9322293 to book.

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

Celebrating ‘pupil power’

IT was fantastic to see over 150 young people from 60-plus secondaries right across the West of England at my Schools Summit - our region’s first ever.

It was held under the wings of Concorde over at Aerospace Bristol in Filton - and I could tell the moment I walked in this was going to be a supersonic event!

How right I was - local students took part in thought-provoking and really fun sessions designed to get them thinking about what our West of England region might look like in the future, how they want to shape it, and what part they will play in this.

As you might expect, the climate crisis was a big, big topic of conversation, because this region’s youngsters, and young people in general, will be most impacted by our changing climate, and will be taking some very difficult decisions in the future.

If you had seen the session organised by Bristol Energy Network it would have all looked a bit nuts, with students jumping around on a giant Monopoly-style board wearing chicken hats. But I promise you, there was a serious message there about how to cut our energy use!

Another favourite was Atkins’ workshop,

where I saw curious young people finding out about being engineers and planners through a LEGO model of a city.

Other big employers, including Airbus, Deloitte and Firstbus, ran sessions on the future of transport, culture and sport.

The ideas of the young people were all noted down, so as to directly influence the future of West of England policy.

That’s important - the ideas students came up with could, genuinely, change our West of England region for the better. And I’m already taking steps to ensure this is the case, visiting participating schools like Yate Academy and others to update them on how mayoral combined authority policy – like our upcoming plan for transport – will be changing thanks to their awesome ideas.

Meanwhile, at the ‘marketplace’, students could pick up some wildflower seeds to help me in my efforts to make the West the bee and pollinator capital of the UK, meet a robot dog and learn about the routes to becoming an apprentice.

And I got to play Duncan Bannatyne when a dozen students pitched great policy ideas to me in a live Dragon’s Den-style event.

My thanks to all the students for sharing their ideas, which will really help me get on with making our region an even better place to live, study, and thrive. My thanks also to their teachers, and all the local businesses and organisations who helped make it a success.

I came away feeling buoyed by these young people, the true change-makers and system-shakers - their imagination truly has no limits.

I call that Pupil Power. Now I have the task of harnessing this energy and turning these ideas into reality.

I know they’ll be making sure to hold me to my promises!

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

n ANTIQUES

It’s a liar!

A RECENT consignment of sporting related items threw up an item I had never encountered before. Lurking at the bottom of a box with a small brass machine, about two inches tall, with two dials each side of the main body. Each dial was marked with the names of different animals – rabbits, pheasants, hares and partridges. It was obviously used for some sort of counting, but other than that I was somewhat clueless as to its use!

A quick bit of research led me to the conclusion that it was a ‘gentleman’s game counter’ – that being an instrument used during game hunting in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Whilst on a shooting party, various members of the group would use one of these counters to keep a tally on their successes that day, and then use said tally to garner themselves some drinks at the bar later on.

‘Bragging rights’ to use the modern phrase.

The part that caught my attention however was the name of the device – a ‘Norfolk Liar.’ Not it’s official name, but a name that it had become colloquially known as during the Victorian era. I was fascinated by its origin so researched more. It seems nobody really knows why it is named such, but the common understanding goes: in Victorian England the sporting gentleman’s county of choice for shooting parties was, unsurprisingly, Norfolk. Known for being very flat, the county offered long open grounds and flat forests for any sporting gentleman. So popular was the county for the sport, that shooting tallies were often published in the local newspaper, and it was always a gentleman’s goal to have their total published for all to see. It was – apparently – quite common for someone to perhaps turn the device a little higher than they should have, in order to keep up with their friends’ count – and that is where the ‘Liar’ part comes from!

They’re quite rare devices – in twenty years I’ve never seen one – and as such, command a good price at auction. This example is estimated at £300-500 in our auction on the 30th June.

Andy Stowe East Bristol Auctions

Council gives away free cool packs

FREE cool packs containing items to help people keep well in warm temperatures are now available to collect from local libraries.

Each cool pack is made up in an insulated picnic bag and contains a handheld fan, an insulated cooling bottle, two caps and ice packs. Specific bags for older people also include a cool gel pad to aid sleeping in hot temperatures and bags for families include ice lolly moulds and fun recipe cards to make with children as well as caps and water bottles for kids.

In total, 1,000 cool packs will be available over the summer for adults, pensioners and families. They can be collected at all South Gloucestershire libraries and children’s centres.

The offer is part of the council's efforts to help people cope with the cost of living crisis.

Cabinet Member for Cost of Living, Equalities and Public Health, Cllr Alison Evans, said: “These cool packs are an extra

way for the council to help people during summer, when temperatures may be extremely warm and keeping homes cool is difficult, especially with the high cost of energy. We hope these cool packs will provide a little help and, for families, some entertainment for children to make refreshing ice lollies.”

The packs also contain information about financial support available as well as advice to help maintain good mental health if you have financial concerns. There is also information about health tips for warmer temperatures and free things to do with children during the summer.

There is no eligibility criteria for a resident to collect a cool pack other than being a resident of South Gloucestershire. However, they are being provided to support those who may not be able to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature during the summer months due to high energy costs.

n KINGSWOOD HISTORY SOCIETY

Professor Brian Vincent from Bristol University gave a captivating talk to the Kingswood History Society on June 6, 2023. He focused on Butlers Tar Works, founded in 1843 by William Butler under Isambard Kingdom Brunel's request.

The factory produced creosote for preserving wooden sleepers on new railroads. Butlers Tar Works, located in Bristol's polluted Crew's Hole area, grew into an international business owned by the Butler family until 1980. They owned Bristol's first car (AE1) and installed the city's inaugural telephone. Coal tar, a by-product of coal-to-coke conversion, was used for chemicals and early car fuel (Benzol). Butlers contributed to World War I with Benzol and toluene production. Their

primary product shifted to road tar between the wars. During World War II, the government controlled Butlers. In 1981, they moved to Avonmouth, and the company became Butler Fuels under new ownership. Brians's talk highlighted Butlers Tar Works' significant contributions concisely and engagingly.

Next meeting at the Park Centre, Kingswood is Tuesday 4th July, 7pm for 7.30 pm start. Presentation by Alan Freke on GWR Badminton Line.

Visitors £3.50 incl tea/coffee and biscuit.

Full schedule of presentations for 2023 can be found at www. kingswoodhistorysociety

n WHAT'S ON

n HANHAM TENNIS

CLUB reopens after court repainting and the addition of new lighting. Adult PlayTuesday & Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings, 9.30am - 11 am. Beginners' session coaching - Wednesday 7-8pm. Junior coaching - most early evenings. New players welcome. Fully qualified LTA coaching. See website for details www. hanhamtennisclub.co.uk

MONDAY

n YOGA CLASSES AT HANHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE - Monday evenings 7-8 pm plus a NEW CLASS starting from Monday 03 April 8-9pm. All levels including Beginners welcome. To book your place or for further information please email yogashula@hotmail. com or Tel 07949333548.

n TAI CHI CLASS, Hanham Community Centre, 118-124 High Street BS15 3EJ. Mondays 7-8pm starting May 15. All welcome, £7 per class or £35 for 6 classes. Contact Georgina Green - 07845 748568, georginagreen@mindfultaichi. org.uk

TUESDAY

n LIP READING CLASS, 1.303pm at North Common Village Hall, Millers Drive, BS30 8YH.

Contact Mary Hall 07790 283939, lipreadingmary@yahoo.com

n TUESDAY CLUB a social group meet every Tuesday 1.45-3.45pm at Longwell Green Community Centre

n LONGWELL GREEN LADIES

GROUP meet at 2pm on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the United Church, Bath Road, Longwell Green BS30 9DU (opp. Aldi). Please phone Maureen on 0117 9322341

WEDNESDAY

n BARRS COURT PROBUS CLUB Retired and semi-retired

Professional and Businessmen: Meet 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 10-12 at Longwell Green Community Centre. Please contact our Membership Secretary, Mick Funnell: 0117 932 4104 or email bcprobusclub@gmail.com to arrange a visit. Website: https:// barrscourtprobus.org/

n BARRS COURT LADIES CLUB: Wives and partners of the Probus club members meet 10-12 on the second Wednesday of each month at the United Church, Bath Road, Longwell Green. Website: https:// barrscourtprobus.org/

n LONGWELL GREEN PROBUS CLUB meets at Warmley Community Centre on the first and third Wednesday of each month.. New members welcome- for details contact Mike on 07817094147

n HANHAM BRIDGE CLUB Every Weds 7-10pm at Hanham Community Centre, see www. hanhambridgeclub.co.uk.

n HANHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY: We are a friendly club who welcome photographers of all abilities to share our

hobby. Meetings are at 7,30p.m. Wednesday evenings at Hanham Methodist Church, 26 Chapel Rd, Hanham, Bristol BS15 8SD. Visit https://www.hanhamphoto.org.uk or contact Geoff Mallin by email geoffmemsechps@gmail.com.

n RWP BADMINTON CLUB play at Hanham woods Academy 6.307.30 social club, 7.30-9.30 league club. Visitors welcome, please look at the website for more details

n LIP READING CLASS, 10amnoon, Warmley Community Centre. Termtime only. Contact Mary Hall 07790 283939, lipreadingmary@yahoo.com

THURSDAY

n ‘STAND UP REACH OUT’ A social group meet every Thursday 2-4pm at Longwell Green Community Centre for different activities.

n BRISTOL MALE VOICE

CHOIR are recruiting new members. 7pm - 9.15pm, St Andrew's Methodist Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. A varied repertoire, no audition. No need to read music - our regular practices will get you in shape to sing at our regular concerts and enjoy the social vibe. www.bristolmvc.org.uk email secretary@bristolmvc.org. uk Telephone 07764447699.

n HANHAM ART CLUB We are friendly group that meets on a Thursday evening at Hanham Community Centre 7pm9pm. New members welcome from beginners to the more experienced. For more information

contact Hilary on 07880548481 or email tweenuk2003@yahoo.com

n AVON SCALE MODEL

SOCIETY: As a friendly long standing local model making club, we meet at Longwell Green Community Centre on the Third Thursday of every month at 8pm. All subjects in all scales are covered,- aircraft, AFV,s cars, bikes, sci-fi, etc. New members are always welcome. Please phone Ian on 0117 9324053

FRIDAY

n LONGWELL GREEN WI meet on the third Friday of the month at 7.30pm at Longwell Green Community Centre. New members are always welcome. Please email longwellwi@gmail.com or tel. 0117 9864782.

n TAI CHI FOR PARKINSON'S: Weekly beginners Tai Chi & Qi Gong class for people with Parkinson’s disease, their families and carers. Lincombe Barn, Downend. BS16 2RW. Fridays (term times) 10.15 – 12.15 including tea / coffee break. Contact: Claire - Claire@ Taichibodyandmind.co.uk (07769 857672) or Sarah - buqiworks@ gmail.com (07815 662844)

n LONGWELL GREEN SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB, Fridays 13.30-15.30 At Longwell Green Community Centre. Bowls provided For information E:mail maryjcoles@hotmail.co.uk Mary 0797 2062449 May 0117 9606454

n LONGWELL GREEN COMMUNITY CENTRE QUIZ NIGHT, meets normally last Friday of each month at 8 pm. Bar available. For details please contact Marian.r.summerill@gmail.com, or ring me on 07503989880.

When you mention The Voice

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Tragedy shows importance of tackling knife crime

I HOPE everyone has been enjoying time outside in the sunshine and stayed safe whilst doing so during our recent spell of glorious weather.

Earlier this month, I put questions relating to knife crime and increased summer demand for police support to Chief Constable Sarah Crew at the latest Performance and Accountability Board (PAB), which livestreams every month on Facebook.

I know that the police get exceptionally busy in the summer, but local people still rightfully expect a high level of service.

During PAB I asked the Chief Constable how she will ensure that officers respond in a timely way and improve on what they did last year.

I also asked for an update on the week of awareness tackling knife crime – and how officers work with Violence Reduction Units to prevent knife crime.

This was particularly important following the tragic death of 16-year-

old Mikey Roynon, from South Gloucestershire, at an incident in Bath on June 10.

Two teenage boys, one from Dorset and another from Wiltshire, have since been charged with murder and possessing an offensive weapon.

At the PAB we also discussed the amazing work of police volunteers, as well as rape and sexual assaults in hospitals.

If you would like to listen in to the conversation, you can view our Facebook live video that was recorded and has been posted to the OPCC Facebook page.

I would like to take some time to highlight the 159 service, launched by Stop Scams UK. If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details, I urge you to stop, hang up and call 159.

This is a short-code phone service that connects people safely to their bank’s fraud prevention service.

This free phone service should be

used when either you or someone you know may have provided an unknown person with your bank card or banking information over the phone, to report fraud potentially taking place.

I would like to mention the work of Crimestoppers and the South West: No Place for Drugs campaign.

Currently, Crimestoppers is appealing to the public to speak up and report cases of property being used as a grow house or farm to cultivate cannabis.

Organised crime gangs are renting properties in both urban and rural parts of the country and setting up cannabis farms. This illegal activity often brings serious violence, victims of modern slavery, and increased risks of building fires and explosions.

If you are a landlord, I implore you to become aware of the signs of cannabis cultivation: barricaded windows and doors, unsafe electricity wiring, and mould and water damage

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford

from hydroponics and irrigation systems.

I urge you to learn the signs of cannabis cultivation, which can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk. org.

I would like to thank everyone for their continued contribution to keeping our communities safe and wish you all a safe and happy week.

WJ BURGESS AND COMPANY

WJ Burgess and Company was a well-known footwear manufacturer in the area, specialising in slipper production. The photograph shows one of the premises used by the company in Hanham Road, Kingswood, which they occupied until early 1965. The retired American actress and singer Ann Blyth is shown in the other photograph trying on her favourite slippers that were produced by the company. Ann

made her film debut in 1944 and appeared in a large number of movies and TV shows until her retirement in 1985. She appeared with the Burgess slippers in the 1955 MGM musical film, Kismet, starring with Howard Keele, Delores Gray and Vic Damone.

If you or someone you know worked for WJ Burgess and Company, Kingswood Heritage Museum would love to hear from you on 0117 960 5664 or by email at: kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com

Museum talk: Vespas and Douglas exploits

This month’s talk takes place at Kingswood Heritage Museum on Wednesday July 12th, when Bill Douglas will tell the story of Vespa production by the Douglas factory and other interesting tales from the Douglas era.

Admission costs £4, and light refreshments are available; doors open at 7pm and the talk commences at 7.30 pm; seats can be reserved by calling 0117 960 5664

Knitting Natter group

The popular "Knitting Natter" Group meets at Kingswood Heritage Museum every Wednesday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. Bring your knitting, crochet and embroidery for an enjoyable and sociable afternoon.

The entry fee is £3, and all proceeds go to the Museum. For more information, please telephone Linda Payne at the Museum on 0117 9605664, email kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com, or just come along

William Champion’s Gardens and Grotto

The remarkable and rare surviving 18th century garden of the industrialist William Champion is hidden behind his brass mill (now Kingswood Heritage Museum). Grotto and Garden tours take place on the second Sunday of the month until October, meeting at the museum entrance at 2.15 pm. The cost is £5 per person, children free.

Volunteer opportunities

Kingswood Heritage Museum always welcomes new volunteers. If you are interested in helping the Museum in any capacity, please either: email us at kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com or call us on 0117 960 5664

The Friends of William Champion’s Gardens also welcome new volunteers. They hold monthly working parties on the second Sunday of the month from 11-3. For more information please either: email kross@ kingswoodmuseum.org.uk or call Kingswood Heritage Museum on 0117 960 5664

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Email: sales@hanhamandlongwellgreen voice.co.uk

WEDNESDAY May 24, the day of the Woodcock Shield Final had arrived. The team had worked so hard to get to this point, having been massive underdogs in the previous two rounds. We were off to the GFA Headquarters pitch for the big occasion. At the start of the season no one would have believed that we would’ve made it to this point and we couldn’t be more proud, no matter the result.

As we travelled in the Hanham Woods Academy minibus, the vibes were good but there was a sense of nerves and excitement as well. We arrived dressed smartly in our school uniform, ready to go. This is when things got serious and we really focused on our performance.

As we changed into our kit, we could see the opposition and their buses of fans arriving. As a team we headed out to warm up together; this helped to calm the nerves but it was also when we really felt up for it. The students and families who made the journey were chanting and shouting as we worked through our pre-match drills.

We then headed back into

Young footballers from Hanham Woods Academy have claimed the Woodcock Shield after a tense victory over St Bede’s in the competition final. Team captain HARRY FORD shares his account of the big day.

the changing rooms for one last team talk. As I led the team out, the tension was building, with spectators making lots of noise. We shook hands with our opponents and got into position. I got the team in a huddle and told the boys we should be proud.

“The first 10 minutes were very erratic. You could see both us and St Bede’s really wanted to win and their friends watching made a lot of noise under the hot sun. After 15 mins Hanham took control of the midfield, battling hard in defence keeping it tight and the team spirit high. We had a few chances but could not take them until the 18th minute when Billy Amos scored the goal to put us in control. We celebrated in the corner, so happy but knowing there was still a long way to go.

The game then became more scrappy again, both teams having chances, with Hayden’s coming the closest when he rattled the crossbar. Just before half time

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the St Bede’s striker scored the equaliser; their crowd were going crazy, celebrating. We were all sad, but I picked up the ball and told the lads to keep our heads and go again.

The half time whistle blew at a good time for us. Mr Swanton sat us down and told us that if we played with belief and confidence, as we did during the period when we scored, we could win this!

The second half started the same as the first, both teams nonstop running. Tackles were flying in, but we found our rhythm and settled down well. We started to take control, keeping the ball well and moving St Bede’s about. In the hot sun they began to tire. At approximately 19 minutes into the second half the ball came to me, I dribbled and was fouled, quite far out. Our centre back Marcus stood up to take it. He struck it hard and true, and the ball took a crazy deflection and trickled into the back of the net. The team ran

excitedly to the corner again. A well-deserved stroke of luck for the Hanham boys.

From then on, we continued to dominate. We kept the ball moving fast – too fast for the St Bede’s players to keep up with. As the game went on, it got a little bit tighter, St Bede’s realising they still had a chance. That was until the ball came to Noah on the edge of their box and he smashed it in off the crossbar.

That goal meant so much, the emotions poured out of us as we ran to the corner. Smiles all over our faces, we had almost done it. Five minutes is all we had to hold out for. The opposition had a few chances but we defended well, working incredibly hard for each other until that final whistle blew.

I fell to my knees. I was emotional when I considered how this team, just a month or two earlier, was non-existent and now we’d won such a prestigious and historical trophy. From then on it was like a dream. I lifted the trophy proud and can say that Hanham Woods Academy are the Woodcock Shield CHAMPIONS again!”

IN July 2003, a meeting was called by the late Keith Holloway from Thornbury about the possibility of setting up a Shopmobility Scheme in South Gloucestershire. He had seen such a scheme elsewhere and wanted to set one up here. The meeting took place in Dodington Parish Council Hall, and the planning started.

It took some time to get the scheme off the ground but it began operations in 2006, with Sue Gawler as the chair and Sheridan Crew as the Project Manager.

20 years of Shopmobility

Therefore, on Thursday, July 20, Shopmobility South Gloucestershire will be holding a Drop In celebration event at its office at Yate Library in the Yate Shopping Centre from 2pm to 4pm. ndependently, which they really appreciate.”

Shopmobility South Glos is based in Yate Library in Yate Shopping Centre and

LOCAL SERVICES

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448

provides mobility scooter and wheelchair hire on a daily or longer-term basis to help people who have limited mobility to retain their independence and to use the facilities of the centre and to access other services. The service helps users from all over South Gloucestershire and beyond.

Its opening hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9.30am to 4pm. There is free daily hire with a concessionary bus pass.

DRIVEWAYS

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