THE CITYist BRISTOL

Can you tell us about your background, growing up in Kazakhstan, moving to the US and then to Bristol? What drew you to the city?

I associate Almaty (Kazakhstan) with my childhood, Boulder (Colorado) with my teenage years and see Bristol as the place where I grew into adulthood.

Because I grew up in Kazakhstan, I feel I was always destined to come to Bristol in the sense that one would not have happened without the other. In Kazakhstan, because of the environment in which I was raised –surrounded by people from all over the world, and encouraged to be expressive – I was very confident in my creativity.

St George’s Bristol celebrates its 200th birthday

St George’s Bristol turns 200 in 2023.

Samir Savant, Chief Executive of St George’s, said: “I am excited for our 200th birthday at St George’s, Bristol this year. Our calendar of anniversary events take the theme of ‘Past, Present and Future’, based on recognising our past, celebrating our present and looking forward to our future and the next 200 years. We hope you will join us.”

The 200th anniversary of St George’s Bristol coincides with the major Bristol 650 anniversary; 2023 marks the 650th year of Bristol being recognised as a city. Across 2023, St George’s Bristol is celebrating its 200th birthday with a series of major events:

In June, St George’s stakeholders, members, colleagues and friends, will take part in a unique invite-only fundraising event, Midsummer Magic, to celebrate St George’s past and present, and to ensure the future of the building and the organisation.

Across the weekend of 16-17 September 2023, St George’s is opening its doors for its Big Birthday Bash, a festival-style weekend of pop-up concerts, family events, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, outdoor music, and a few surprises.

• For more information, visit: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Moving to Boulder at a young age is where I think my interest in the social sciences comes from. All of a sudden, I wasn’t so sure of my capabilities in the things that I was passionate about, and this made me question the way that our environments influence our identity.

I came to Bristol to study. I’m currently in my final year of a BSc in Politics and International Relations at the University of Bristol. I chose to come here because I knew I wanted to study in a city where I could grow creatively.

What makes Bristol so special to you?

Bristol is absolutely where I came into my own. I love being surrounded by talented people from different parts of the world, and I take inspiration from the passionate attitudes of the Bristol community. A TedTalk by actor Ethan Hawke comes to mind in which he discusses the importance of letting yourself be creative. I think Bristol embodies this philosophy, making it a great place to live.

Where in Bristol do you go to be entertained/inspired?

My favourite thing about Bristol is its relationship with the rest of the world. Not only in terms of accessibility to travel, but also the diverse range of people who live here. I am inspired by others daily, without needing to go anywhere specific.

The city has also sparked my interest in street photography. Not too long ago I started taking photos of people any time I went somewhere new, and this is when I began to realise the beauty in the little things that make up daily life.

My passions are photography and film, and my background is in Politics and International Relations. I've been able to find an intersection for my interests through journalism. Photography, and the way that it is viewed and distributed, is incredibly impacted by politics, and vice versa. In fact, I wrote my dissertation on the way that photography impacts political action.

What are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment?

I am currently on the third book of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan Novels. I find that Elena Ferrante (a pseudonymous Italian author) beautifully describes coming of age from a female perspective. The main character’s lifelong friendships, and the way they evolve through time, remind me of the relationships in my own life.

In the third book, Elena is leaving her university years behind and establishing herself through engagement with politics and her writing. Elena’s experiences at the University of Pisa, and her time spent in Milan after graduating, remind me of my time in Bristol.

What is your philosophy in life?

My philosophy has recently changed. I used to struggle with anxiety, specifically socially. I was terrified of people’s opinions and being perceived in a negative way. Thanks to Bristol, though, and growing creatively, I'm no longer so afraid to take risks and express myself. I have been able to feel more appreciation for each interaction, and have been less afraid to make mistakes. As a result of growing up internationally, I now have friends in many different places and doing vastly different things. This has made me realize that the place is nothing without the people.

This change in mentality is what inspired me to write my article for this issue, ‘Century of Cinema’, about how film reminds us that we are never as alone as we think, and that what really matters in life are our relationships with one another.

Thatchers Cider partners with Aardman for new TV commercial

Thatchers Cider has unveiled a new TV commercial, which sees the Somerset cider maker collaborate with Bristol based, multi-Academy Award®winning studio Aardman.

The commercial uses Aardman’s stop motion animation technique to bring the viewer through the gates of Thatchers’ own Myrtle Farm home. We see how the family cider maker’s dedication along every step of the way achieves Pint-Sized Perfection.

Some familiar faces make an appearance throughout the commercial, including fourth generation cider maker Martin Thatcher making a big entrance for the weekly 12.30pm tasting. Viewers will also recognise the iconic Thatchers hot air balloon, a familiar sight over the skies of Bristol.

The commercial, conceptualised by creative communications agency, Bray Leino, has been directed by Will Studd from Aardman and produced by Danny Gallagher.

• thatcherscider.co.uk

New Bristol comedy starring Jayde Adams and Joe Sims set to hit the screen

Ruby Speaking –set and filmed in Bristol –is the latest comedy from Yellow Door Productions for ITVX/ITV2 and is set to hit our screens on 22 June. Starring Bedminster’s own Jayde Adams, Bristolian actor Joe Sims, Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly as well as young breakout Bristol stars, the show is almost as Bristol as you can get.

The comedy follows newly-single Ruby –a fun and irreverent member of the customer service team at the Bristol call centre of Hellocom. The life and soul of her workplace, Ruby struggles to read from the prepared script that work and life have foisted upon her, choosing instead to walk her own chaotic path. Ruby Speaking follows Ruby and her ragtag bunch of colleagues at the Hellocom call centre as they live, love, laugh, avoid hearing about Donna’s bloody air fryer and enter a choir competition they have no business being in.

• Watch Ruby Speaking on ITVX on 22 June.

SS Great Britain’s Summer Lates Series returns

Thursdays are set to be the biggest night of the week this summer as SS Great Britain’s Lates Series returns for 2023 with eight dockyard gigs scheduled from 15 June.

Following last year’s success, SSGB is hosting twice the number of events with even more exciting music to discover at Bristol’s most unique gig location. Watch the dockyard come to life with live bands, a summer BBQ, local beers and the SSGB’s special signature cocktail, the Steamship.

What’s more, SSGB is partnering with Coffee Club Bristol, who have been putting on some of the city’s best alternative gigs since 2013, to provide the best line up yet.

Dates: 15 June, 22 June, 29 June, 6 July, 13 July, 20 July, 3 August, 17 August

Times: 6-9pm

• For more information and to book tickets, visit: ssgreatbritain.org

Residents call for donations to republish Bristol author’s book

Residents in Bristol are raising £6,000 to republish the famous book Ladies’ Mile by Victoria Hughes. Profits from which will fund the refurbishment of the Victorian toilets on Durdham Downs.

The Just Giving page reads: “There is only one public convenience in this area of Bristol. The Victorian toilet building on Stoke Road is notable because of its Blue Plaque, one of the highest civic honours, awarded to Victoria Hughes, the attendant of this building for more than 30 years until the 1960s. Her book, Ladies’ Mile, published in 1977, relates the ‘remarkable and shocking’ story of twilight Bristol and is centred around these toilets. Based on diaries written during her employment there, she describes the comings and goings of various characters and how she befriended regular users who were mainly working girls. Her own story is only a little less remarkable, overcoming antipathy from in-laws, her husband’s disabilities and poverty of the post-war years. Despite the book’s popularity it has been out of print for many years.

“The exterior of the Stoke Road toilet is in a particularly rundown state. Money needs to be expended urgently to improve its appearance and halt further deterioration, making it more pleasant for users while bringing its historic and scandalous story back into circulation.

“With your help, the story of Ladies’ Mile will make a welcome return to the public’s awareness - and greater sales of the book means that more money will be available for the toilet’s upkeep. It’s a cycle in which you can play an important part so please donate to allow the story of Ladies’ Mile to be told once again.”

• For more information and to donate, visit: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ladiesmile

UWE Bristol and City to Sea raise a reusable cup to new plans to cut plastic pollution

The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and Students’ Union has confirmed that three of its coffee shops will be part of the Refill Return Cup scheme. City to Sea, who are behind the Refill Return Cup, is also announcing that it is due to go live across the city on World Refill Day (16 June). The innovative new returnable cup scheme will allow Bristolians to have their takeaway tea and coffee in a reusable cup which they can borrow from participating coffee shops for free and return to any participating outlet in the city.

Currently, more than 2.5 billion takeaway coffee cups are used and thrown away each year in the UK. That’s an astonishing 10,000 every two minutes. City to Sea estimates that if the Bristol Refill Return Cup was used by just one in ten residents just once a week then 46,000 single-use cups would be saved across the city every week – a massive 2.5 million single-use coffee cups a year.

• citytosea.org.uk