The Bristol Magazine April 2023

WEDDING BELLE

Fresh ideas and inspiration from Bristol’s experts in our 2023 Special

BRILLIANT & BOLD

Meet the cast of new Bristolfilmed BBC series, Rain Dogs

PEACEOF

BELONGING

Rainmaker Gallery celebrates artist Rick Grimster’s debut show

GOING GREEN

Clifton-based vintage bridal shop talks sustainable celebrations

1000-YEAR JOURNEY

Royal historian Tracy Borman on how to be a good monarch

EDITOR from the

April takes its name from the Latin word aperire, meaning ‘to open’ and as we watch the city’s green spaces burst into bloom, it’s not surprising that this season is the most popular time of year to get married. This issue features our 2023 Wedding Special and we’ve rounded up some of Bristol’s best businesses to help soon-to-be-brides and grooms get ready for their big day (p.44).

Publisher Steve Miklos

Email: steve@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Financial Director Jane Miklos

Email: jane@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Editor Millie Bruce-Watt

Tel: 0117 974 2800

Email: millie@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Assistant Editor/Web Editor Daisy Game

Email: daisy@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Production Manager Jeff Osborne

Email: production@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

Millie Bruce-Watt

On top of that, we speak to the owner of the Cliftonbased vintage bridal shop, Ashwell & Co, about how more brides are choosing to wear vintage wedding dresses rather than commission new bridal looks. Read all about Kate Ashwell’s brilliant sustainable style on p. 40.

Elsewhere, Rainmaker Gallery – the UK showcase for contemporary Native North American Indigenous art and jewellery – is celebrating the work of artist Rick Grimster in its spring show. At the age of 77, this is Grimster’s gallery debut. The title of his exhibition, Belonging, encompasses being, longing and belonging and articulates the feelings of many adoptees as they navigate complex identities. Having found peace through his lifelong love of painting, this month we hear his deeply moving story about he found a sense of belonging through the discovery of his tribal heritage (p.18).

In other news, we had the pleasure of meeting the cast of the BBC’s new Bristol-filmed comedy-drama, Rain Dogs. Starring BAFTA Award-winning West Country actress Daisy May Cooper (ThisCountry), alongside Jack Farthing (Poldark, Spencer), Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo (AlexRider, Chevalier, DoctorWho) and Fleur Tashjian in her debut role, the series has already garnered rave reviews in the US after airing on HBO in March. On p.28, producer Ciara Mcllvenny and cast members Jack Farthing and Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo talk about breaking boundaries in this brilliant new dramedy that has been “told with a dark lick of humor and an anarchic attitude”.

As always, this issue is packed full of things to do and places to visit (p.22) – the city has its arms wide open for the season ahead. See you next time…

Advertising Sales Liz Grey liz@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

For advertising enquiries please contact us on: 0117 974 2800 Email: sales@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

The Bristol Magazine is published by MC Publishing Ltd. An independent publisher.

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Kaysha Wright

Ashwell & Co

things to do in April 5

Be entertained

Enjoy

The fifth successive Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival is set to take place from 22 April –1 May 1 at over 10 venues across the city. The festival theme, City of Words, explores Bristol, its communities, history, physical spaces and future, through the lens of poetry.

The 2023 Festival Poet is Malaika Kegode, a poet, theatremaker (her acclaimed show Outlier toured in 2022) and curator, who will engage in community outreach work, host activities, deliver a workshop, perform at St. George’s Bristol and judge the annual Lyra Bristol Poetry Slam.

• For more information, visit: lyrafest.com

Shop

We Love Vintage Shows is bringing the best in vintage fashion, accessories and jewellery to the South West. Their debut show is in the Event Space at Paintworks and will be showcasing the wonderful variety of true vintage fashion from the 1950s to 1980s, all soundtracked by the great music of the time.

Whether you are looking for that ‘one-off’ vintage dress to steal the show, a pair of Deirdre Barlow prescription glasses or just something to liven up your humdrum office wear, We Love Vintage has it all.

• Book your tickets at: welovevintageshows.co.uk

Who puts a panto on in April? Ian McKellen and John Bishop do! Enjoy the end of the Easter Holidays with Mother Goose, the ultimate family-friendly panto –full of fun, farce and surprises that will make you honk out loud. This cheeky fairytale is exactly “the kind of knockabout entertainment that we all need” (The Times) and “infectious fun” (Time Out) from start to finish. Get ready for fairies with hefty vocal chords, puppets with tap dance qualifications and impeckably constructed mayhem that will quack up those aged between 3 to 103.

• Book your tickets at: atgtickets.com; © Manuel Harlan

Listen

Legendary pop icon, Lulu, is coming to St George’s Bristol on 26 April. Lulu has made music and memories with the greatest of all time. Elton John wrote songs with her, Bowie produced and recorded with her, McCartney duetted with her and one of the Bee Gees married her. It’s a story that has to be told and provides a once-in-a-lifetime insight into some of the world’s musical legends.

Join Lulu as she shares, for the first time, many untold stories, her memories and experiences with the greats – and enjoy with her the music that has been her constant companion.

• Book your tickets at: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Watch

Remania Productions is coming to the Alma Tavern Theatre from the 11 –15 June with their new show, Anton’s Shorts. A cavalcade of characters bustle through this zestful mash-up of interpretations of tales from the fabulous Russian realist and humanist playwright, Anton Chekhov; adapted freely for the stage to provide 75 minutes of giddy dramatic storytelling.

Written in collaboration by Ian Gilson and Charles Thompson; both part of the writers’ team for three highly popular Anti-Brexit shows by Remania Productions.

• Book your tickets at: remania.co.uk

BRISTOL THE CITYist My

Meet Olympic-level fundraiser, Charlotte Nichols MBE

Charlotte Nichols MBE and friend Stuart Bates MBE raised £185,000 for Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) doing all 102 Olympic sports over the 17 days of the Tokyo Games. They named the challenge ‘the Spennylympics’ in memory of Stuart’s brother Spenny, who sadly died from the disease. In February, Charlotte and Stuart were officially appointed MBE.

Bring your lawn to life

The Wildlife Trusts and Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are calling on gardeners to reimagine their lawns this summer as they launch their ‘Bring your lawn to life’ initiative.

The charities are encouraging gardeners to experiment with a new look lawn in 2023 for the benefit of wildlife and also the wider environment. They are inviting people to raise the blade on their mower and cut their grass less regularly, embrace daisies, dandelions, clovers and other naturally flowering plants, and even grow container lawns if space is at a premium.

Helen Bostock, Senior Wildlife Specialist at the RHS, says: “Lawns, while central to many garden designs, are often overlooked as important ecosystems in favour of the plants in beds that border them. But they’re home to a huge amount of wildlife and help mitigate the impact of climate change. We want to inspire people to get up close and personal with their lawns this year, discover what can be found in their swathes of green and dabble with new, more hands-off means of management.”

• wildaboutgardens.org.uk

I am a fifth-year student at the University of Bristol, originally from Oxford. I study medicine and also took a year out to complete a Global Health degree in Bristol. Bristol is a really great place to be a student, there is always so much going on and something to suit everyone. It is a city where it feels like everyone is welcome, a city that cares about you and brings out the best in you, but in the nicest way also doesn’t care, wear what you want, do what you want, be who you want to be.

It was such a surreal and special day to receive my MBE from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle in February. Princess Anne is not only the Royal Patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the charity that we fundraised for, but she is also a former Olympian herself. We had a lovely conversation about what we had done and her personal interest in the challenge too, the equestrian events, and about Doddie Weir and all of his excellent fundraising that she was involved in as the Royal Patron of Scottish rugby. It felt very personal, there couldn’t have been a better suited person to present the medal to me.

There have been so many highlights in the last 12 months, we have met so many amazing people through this journey, other fundraisers, volunteers, carers, and I feel so lucky to have made those connections. Getting a text from my dad out of the blue saying that we were going to be getting MBEs in Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday Honours List while sat in the Bristol SU writing my dissertation was probably the strangest moment of my life. It was also an absolute honour to then be invited to attend Her Majesty’s funeral at Westminster Abbey as a representative of the honours system. It has been really rewarding to see that the money we raised is really making a difference. MND research has made some great progress in the past year and it just shows that fundraising really is important and that it does work.

There are endless places in Bristol to go to be entertained, but one of my favourites is exploring Arnolfini. I have also seen some great live music across Bristol; Trinity centre, Thekla and Rough Trade/SWX are some of my favourites.

There are so many beautiful spots in Bristol to feel inspired. I think from a student perspective a really important escape is the Downs and the area

around the suspension bridge. Being so close to home yet able to completely escape the city lifestyle is really special.

I recently really enjoyed The Traitors series and obviously, as every medical student does, I am constantly at some stage of re-watching Grey’s Anatomy. I have also really enjoyed the sports docuseries on Netflix. The Last Dance and Full Swing have been two of my favourites. I am listening to a lot of Dermot Kennedy, Noah Khan, Westlife, and local Bristol artist Wil Owen is a great addition to my study playlist too.

While I can think of one hundred amazing sports people and public figures that I would love to have dinner with, if I could choose anyone from any era, I would have to choose my granny. She passed away while I was in my first year of university and I would just love to be able to fill her in on everything that has happened since.

I think the way I have gone through life so far was recently put into words by a friend of mine, Mia, who coined the phrase “Chaos and Good fortune”. Basically, this says that chaos is great, saying yes to the plans no matter how crazy (especially when the plan is trying to do 102 Olympic events in 17 days) is a lot more likely to lead to good fortune, fun and great memories than missing out on opportunities. If what you’re doing isn’t so off piste that it doesn’t put out of your comfort zone and terrify you at times, then you aren’t doing it right. Life is short, and I want to squeeze every last drop out of it. So say yes more, be more chaotic, and take all of the good fortune that life brings.

• justgiving.com/fundraising/spennylympics

Image: Red-tailed bumblebee on bird's-foot trefoil. Credit: Jon Hawkins –Surrey Hills Photography

Inside Out: Bristol Beacon invites the city to celebrate music

Bringing music to everyone, Bristol Beacon’s Inside Out will take over its Bridgehouse – the new name for the venue’s foyer space –on Saturday 15 April for an entire day of free workshops, performances and activities for all.

The city is invited to join in the musical discovery and get a taste of how they can get involved in the venue’s future. Dedicated to making space for music, everyone is welcome to explore all three levels of the building ahead of the venue’s much-anticipated reopening on 30 November 2023.

The lower ground floor will feature music and performances on the Listen Stage. On the upper levels, The Find Out Stage will be the place to hear from Bristol Beacon’s Youth Voice panel and learn more about the transformation through activities. The Act Out Stage will engage visitors with workshops and interactive activities such as ‘Create your own Gig Poster’ with local arts collective Graft”

Connie Badley, Community Engagement Officer at Bristol Beacon said: “We’re so excited to invite everyone in the city to join us for a free day of performances, workshops and musical fun. Inside Out will be a chance to discover all our musical opportunities under one roof and find out more about our transformed performance and education spaces set to reopen in November this year. There’s something for everyone and we can't wait for you to join in!”

• bristolbeacon.org

Trinity shortlisted for Best UK Grassroots Venue

Bristol music venue Trinity has been shortlisted for the coveted Grassroots Venue: Spirit of the Scene award at this year’s Music Week Awards. The awards are the UK’s only music awards that recognise labels, publishing, live, retail, A&R, radio, marketing and PR. Winners of this award are chosen by public vote.

Trinity, based in the Trinity Centre a Grade II*-listed former church, is well known for its rich music history and has been nominated after a year of sell-out shows and breakthrough acts including Joy Crookes, Bakar, and Nova Twins.

The team have programmed some of the best up-and-coming artists in the Bristol scene and beyond with Grove, Booty Bass, Ishmael Ensemble, Yemz, Sister Nancy, Gardna, and Don Letts all performing as part of Trinity Presents.

The nomination also recognises Trinity’s community programme as well as the commitment to creating opportunities for the cultural workfoce. Trinity’s community programme, delivered in partnership with organisations and community groups, offers regular free-to-access or subsided activities and events. Resident groups include Aid Box Community, which supports refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol, peer-to-peer network Black Creatives and the Misfits Theatre Company’s Rhythm of the Night –a monthly night club for adults with learning disabilities. The charity also has secured employment for four entry level staff following the governments’ Kickstarter scheme that ran in 2021/22.

• trinitybristol.org.uk Image: Ishmael Ensemble, Trinity Present. Photo credit Khali Ackford

Sean Paul announced as Siren Festival headliner

Taking over Bristol’s Harbourside this July, Siren is back at the Bristol Amphitheatre to bring three nights of drum and bass, jungle and dancehall anthems. Award-winning hit maker Sean Paul will headline on Friday 28 July and make sure Bristolians are stuck like glue to the harbourside this summer.

In the last 20-plus years of musicmaking, Sean has earned several Grammy and Billboard Music award nominations and is the recipient of an American Music award, MOBO awards, Soul Train awards and more and is the only Jamaican artist to have won an American Music award (2006) for Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist.

Kicking off the festival on Thursday, alongside Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra, are newly added special guests and South West legends DJ Roni Size and Dynamite MC, plus David Rodigan and local MC Gardna. Prepare yourself for some of the best in local DNB with second stages hosted by Intrigue and Invicta Audio on Thursday and Saturday respectively. From the founding moments of jungle and drum and bass, to transforming underground electronic music for festival stages, Bristol’s own Mercury Music Prize winner Roni Size is coming fresh to the Siren stage on Thursday 27 July as an enormous special guest.

This epic summer party celebrates globally-renowned underground tracks as well as the two year anniversary of Siren.

• Get your tickets here: sirenbristol.com

How to be a good monarch

Ahead of the coronation of King Charles III on 6 May, we speak to royal historian, best-selling author and broadcaster Tracy Borman about her upcoming theatre tour, How To Be A Good Monarch: 1000 Years of Kings & Queens

This month, royal historian, best-selling author and broadcaster Tracy Borman is set to embark on her first ever theatre tour titled, How To Be A Good Monarch: 1000 Years of Kings & Queens. From William the Conqueror to Charles III, the tour will see Tracy sharing some tumultuous tales of the good, the bad, the great and the mad, taking audiences on an entertaining and gripping 1,000-year journey from the crown’s earliest history to the institution that it is today.

Tracy has written several highly acclaimed books, including Elizabeth’s Women and the Sunday Times bestseller Thomas Cromwell: The Untold Story of Henry VIII’s Most Faithful Servant. Her most recent title Crown & Sceptre, which was published in 2021, has provided the backdrop for How To Be A Good Monarch. Tracy’s new book Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History will be published on 18 May and details an extraordinary and revealing account of one of the most fascinating mother and daughter stories of all time –Anne Boleyn, the most famous of Henry VIII’s wives and her daughter Elizabeth, the ‘Virgin Queen’.

As a broadcaster, Tracy has been a regular on our TV screens, presenting The Private Lives of the Monarchs and Inside The Tower of London. She also appeared in an episode of the series Who Do You Think You Are? featuring Eastenders’ star Danny Dyer. With her vast knowledge of royal history and acute investigative skills, it was Tracy who revealed the headline-breaking discovery that Dyer was in fact a direct descendant of Thomas Cromwell.

As Tracy prepares to take to the stage at the Redgrave Theatre on 24 April –ahead of King Charles III’s coronation on 6 May –we sit down with the author to dive deep into the crown’s history...

Tell us about your background as a historian...

I’ve loved history for as long as I can remember. One of my first summer jobs was dressing up as a Victorian jailer and showing visitors around Lincoln Castle prison. My passion for the subject was really ignited by my A Level history teacher. She brought it to life for me – the Tudors in particular. She also made me realise that history is about human beings, not just dates and events. That has stayed with me ever since and whenever I tackle a subject, I try to look behind their public image to the real person underneath. It has made me realise that, despite the enormous change we have witnessed over the past 500 or so years, human nature doesn’t change that much.

What inspired you to create How To Be A Good Monarch: 1000 Years of Kings & Queens?

The original inspiration was the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. I thought it would be a fascinating moment to look back over the past 1,000 years and set her remarkable reign into context. But then, of course, 2022 became a significant royal year for an altogether different reason.

Tell us about your writing process and how you set about researching your books...

I research and write as I go along, which means that from day one the book starts to take shape. Because of the sheer scale of the subject, Crown & Sceptre was by far the most daunting book I had tackled and I did a fair amount of procrastinating before finally knuckling down. But I soon became utterly gripped by the stories of the 40+ kings and queens who have occupied the throne since 1066. I started writing the book towards the end of 2019 and I have to admit that if it hadn’t been for the pandemic, I might still be writing it.

Of the various monarchs you’ve written about, which one has been the most interesting to explore in How To Be A Good Monarch?

There have been so many surprises for me in preparing for this theatre show, and in writing the book. Some of the monarchs I expected to like turned out to be real villains (I’m thinking of the likes of Edward VIII), whereas others, like James II, have been unjustifiably maligned.

Bringing their stories to light and – hopefully – giving audiences the real picture is going to be so exciting.

In your research, did you come across any customs, rituals or traditions that were particularly surprising or peculiar?

Many! The belief that kings and queens possessed God-given, magical powers is as old as the monarchy itself. It was reinforced by a series of royal ceremonies which developed over time, notably touching for the ‘King’s Evil’ (scrofula), a special ceremony devised by Edward the Confessor. The monarch would sit enthroned while a procession of their afflicted subjects knelt to receive the royal touch on the diseased area. This tradition endured for hundreds of years. Queen Anne was the last monarch to touch for scrofula – among those she ‘cured’ was the celebrated writer and lexicographer Dr Samuel Johnson. Even as late as the twentieth century, the tactile approach of Princess Diana when visiting the sick and injured had a similarly powerful effect, inspiring other royals to follow suit.

As King Charles III prepares for his coronation in May, what do you see for the future of the British monarchy?

Although monarchs no longer ‘rule’, they ‘reign’, the new King still has a pivotal role to play in the constitution. The long experience that he brings will benefit current and future governments. Then there is his extensive charitable work and his advocacy of causes such as the environment. Whether or not you’re a royalist, people do listen to the monarch so there’s huge power in that. One thing that has blighted previous monarchs certainly won’t be an issue for King Charles, and that’s the lack of heirs. The Windsors have plenty of those for decades to come.

What do you hope audiences will take away from the theatre show?

I hope they will come away saying ‘I never knew that’ and wanting to find out more. I also hope they’ll get a sense of what a historic moment we’re living in right now in terms of the monarchy, and how our new king compares to some of his illustrious (and rather less illustrious!) predecessors.

As Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust, can you tell us more about the independent charity?

The Heritage Education Trust encourages historic sites to provide inspiring and memorable experiences for school children and other educational groups. One of the main ways it does so is through the Sandford Award, which recognises the education work of around 50 historic sites across the British Isles – from stately homes and museums to country parks and even zoos. It’s a wonderful charity and almost entirely run by volunteers. I’m very proud to be part of it.

What’s next in the pipeline for you?

I’ve just started the first of three new novels. I can’t say too much about it, except that it’s set in the Tudor period, which is my bread and butter. I probably won’t be getting an awful lot of it written during the theatre tour but will look forward to taking up my pen (or keyboard) again afterwards. I also have some filming in the pipeline –the results of which should be on our screens this autumn, so watch this space. n

• For more information about How To Be A Good Monarch: 1000 Years of Kings & Queens and to book tickets, visit: redgravetheatre.com.

Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History will be published on 18 May (Hodder & Stoughton)

Roaring success

The Lyceum Theatre has been home to Disney’s multi award-winning musical The Lion King for 24 years. Visionary director Julie Taymor’s rich reimagining of the beloved film has redefined people’s expectations of theatre and the screen-to-stage franchise has become the highestgrossing show in history, attracting more than 110 million people to theatres worldwide.

Now, after two previous sold-out runs, the production is returning to the Bristol Hippodrome on 18 May and running until 1 July, allowing fans to experience the spectacle closer to home.

Since it first hit the London stage in 1999, TheLionKing has been famous for its visibly manipulated puppets, glorious colours, and enchanting music. As we took our seats at the Lyceum Theatre this month – as over 15 million people have done before us – it was clear within moments of the curtain parting that, after two decades, the show has retained its visual majesty.

As evocative beats of the Serengeti hushed the chatter like a charm, the theatre teemed with African life. Huge numbers of animals ambled forward through the stalls and from the wings, coming together in

perfect choral harmony for a jaw-dropping rendition of Elton John and Tim Rice’s CircleofLife at the foot of Pride Rock – an engineering masterpiece in itself. Wherever you were sitting, there was something to admire. The giraffes teetered on four stilts and the gazelles – with each performer holding one puppet in each hand and balancing one on their head – bound in from the auditorium, the sight was just as magical for the adults as it was for the children.

From thereon, Garth Fagan’s choreography and Taymor’s design took us on a spell-binding journey as we watched Simba the lion cub grapple with his father’s death, seize back his crown from his vicious uncle and step into his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

As Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi’s storyline unfolded and we were introduced to the characters, the sheer talent of the cast members was instantly evident, each with a singing voice that could shake the Lyceum’s foundations. With 50 actors and more than 232 puppets not only taking up speaking roles but bringing the scene to life as a living, breathing landscape, the audience was catapulted from its surroundings and transported to the savanna desert until the closing curtain.

The ingenuity of the costume, set design, sound, lighting and

As Disney’s The Lion King prepares to take the stage at the Bristol Hippodrome on 18 May for a six-week run, we delve into director Julie Taymor’s kaleidoscopic production to see what’s in store...

“Huge numbers of animals ambled forward through the stalls and from the wings, coming together in perfect choral harmony for a jawdropping rendition of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Circle of Life at the foot of Pride Rock...”

puppetry was impressive throughout but truly remarkable during some of the most moving scenes. Take the stampede, for instance. The thundering herd of wildebeest charging towards young Simba was created with such skill. The large, fast-moving rollers of wildebeest coupled with the burnt orange hues, instrumental sound effects and seamless choreography conjured just as much emotion as the animation.

Perhaps what was most striking about Taymor’s acclaimed translation of the film, however, was the ‘double event’ approach, allowing the audience to see both the animal traits of the puppets as well as the human emotions of the puppeteers. Zazu is a wonderful example of the ‘double event’. While the puppet is operated using two hands –the beak moving for the dialogue and the eyelids

blinking in time –Zazu has an essence of the bird he is as well as a beautiful sense of humanity.

It took the team 37,000 hours to build the original puppets and masks and there is certainly beauty in the stage craft, watching the actors make it happen. You often get lost admiring the inner workings of the cheetah or the size of the elephant standing at 3.5 metres tall, while toe-tapping to the irresistible soundtrack.

The level of detail that has been considered is, at times, hard to take in. From the beaded corsets inspired by the clothing of Maasai warriors to the lionesses’ headpieces replicating the urns carried on the heads of women in African tribes, to the rich tapestry of songs and compositions from film composers Hans Zimmer and Mark Mancina, record producer Jay Rifkin, South African composer Lebo M and lyricist Tim Rice, everything is intricately layered.

Ultimately, this production is staggering in its ambition and wholly successful in its execution. Injected with joyous comedy moments while dealing with dark matters of death, grief and betrayal, the show, like the film, is bursting with warmth, humour and heart. With a combination of quick wit for the adults and unique eccentricity for young imaginations, The Lion King, we’re sure, is set to stand the test of time. n

• The Lion King will be showing at the Bristol Hippodrome from 18 May –1 July. Book your tickets at: atgtickets.com

“With 50 actors and more than 232 puppets not only taking up speaking roles but bringing the scene to life as a living, breathing landscape, the audience was catapulted from its surroundings and transported to the savanna desert until the closing curtain...”

Each actor is on four stilts and wearing a tall headpiece which forms the neck and head of the animal. This leaves the actors’ faces clear to be able to sing

Performers emerge from upstage wearing large trays of grassheads, serving not only as costumes, but as architectural elements of a living, moving set...

Photgraphy by Deen Van Meer/Disney

Mufasa’s mask is circular and symmetrical with rays coming out of it like the sun, which implies that he is balanced and in harmony with nature. His mask is painted to look like rich oak wood to convey his qualities of strength and reliability...

Rafiki’s role in the story is that of a narrator. At certain moments, she addresses the audience directly. She is the only one who breaks the fourth wall...

Peace of belonging

Rainmaker Gallery’s spring show is celebrating the work of artist Rick Grimster. Having found peace through his life-long love of painting, we hear how he found a sense of belonging through the discovery of his tribal heritage...

Connie and George Grimster, with whom he enjoyed a happy childhood. At the tender age of eight, his teacher at Notting Hill Primary School described him as “highly-strung and artistic”, character traits which remain with him to this day.

As a young man Rick worked in a London art gallery on Bond Street. That experience prompted his decision to apply for art school. He graduated from Cheltenham School of Art in the 1960s and gained an MFA from Birmingham Polytechnic in 1970. An intensely private man, Grimster has continued to paint throughout his life without any desire to exhibit his work, until now. “Without painting, I would have no way of expressing myself,” Grimster says.

At the venerable age of 77, the artist is making his gallery debut. The title of his exhibition, Belonging, encompasses being, longing and belonging and articulates the feelings of many adoptees as they navigate complex identities. Where we land on this Earth is dictated by forces beyond our control –migration, colonialism and in this case, World War Two. How we make sense of our individual journeys is up to us. Grimster has found peace and belonging through his life-long love of painting, his tribal heritage and an unbreakable connection to land, wherever he may be.

His daughter Lucy describes her father’s earlier work as ‘intense’. His previously subdued palette and sharp geometric shapes have more recently transformed to softer natural forms and a playful use of uplifting colour. Lucy explains: “This exhibition is a milestone in our story. Inter-racial adoption, displacement from our homelands, and finding connection with our tribe, family and nature are threads that are strongly visible throughout my dad’s art, culminating in the joyous landscapes in this exhibition.”

Rainmaker Gallery has specialised in contemporary Native American art for 34 years. Grimster’s paintings came to the attention of resident curator, Jo Prince, when Lucy visited the gallery last year. She mentioned that her father was a painter but his shy disposition deterred him from

Rick Grimster was a love child. His parents were thrown together by war and torn apart by peace. The spring show at Rainmaker Gallery celebrates his art and life. In the exhibition, Belonging, Grimster explores his relationship to the country of his birth, Britain. While his abstracted landscapes fit firmly into the school of mid-century British modernism, they are elevated by an instinctive and unbridled joy of colour and a love of nature aligned with his Indigenous heritage. Grimster’s early works were large scale geometric constructions that would easily fit into the canon of contemporary Native art. However, he knew nothing of his tribal heritage back then and his fascinating family story is but one of the numerous unique stories that make up the Indigenous diaspora.

His birth father, Freeman Marshall, was an American GI from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation who served in the US Army Airforce from 1943 –1945. Around 25,000 Native Americans served in World War Two. Over two million American troops passed through Britain, fathering more than 22,000 children. Between 33 –50% of the mothers were already married to British soldiers posted overseas. More than 60,000 British women became GI brides.

Rick was born in London in 1945. He was adopted by a loving couple,

“Grimster’s early works were large scale geometric constructions that would easily fit into the canon of contemporary Native art...”

Photography by Leah Vlemmiks

showing his work. Prince anticipated that one or two of the artworks might fit into a future group exhibition. However, when Lucy delivered a number of paintings to the gallery in February, Prince was so impressed that she proposed a solo exhibition in place of the previously planned spring show. To Lucy’s surprise her father agreed. The exhibition opened just three weeks later. “Finding an unknown artist of this calibre with such a rich body of work to choose from is thrilling and UK-based Indigenous artists are rare, so this collaboration is a gift for the gallery in every sense,” says curator Jo Prince. “Rick is so lovely, the paintings are astonishing and the show is a triumph.”

It is not just Prince who thinks so. The gallery’s visitors book is filled with effusive comments: “Every piece is such a glorious celebration of colour, nature and the joy of painting. Each piece appears to glow with an internal light. My heart feels full,” says Sophie. “I haven’t seen any art that moved me so much for a long time,” writes Beth. “Love everything here, want to see more,” Tony comments.

Rainmaker Gallery is already planning another show of Grimster’s artwork for next winter. Prince explained: “For Belonging, I chose paintings with a spring-like theme but Rick’s repertoire is broad and the winter show will be quite a different selection of work showing more of his extraordinary range.”

But what of the young wartime sweethearts? Their romance lasted almost two years but Freeman Marshall’s paramour was not destined to

be one of the tens of thousands of GI brides. Her British husband returned home at the end of the war. Meanwhile, Sergeant Freeman Marshall was posted back to Oklahoma. He never married and had no other children. He resumed the rural life of a nurseryman, planting and nurturing young trees until his retirement.

Significantly, Grimster has spoken of a powerful affinity with trees, often painting as from the perspective of a tree and representing himself as a tree or a copse of trees, a repeated motif in many of the Cotswolds landscape paintings featured in the exhibition.

In the year 2000, Lucy set out to trace her father’s birth family. Fortunately, she located her grandfather in a nursing home in Oklahoma. She flew immediately to the United States and was able to meet him in the final months of his life. Suffering from Alzhiemer’s disease, he was at times confused, but when asked if he had had an English girlfriend during the war, his face lit up, his eyes shone, and he declared with a broad smile: “Rose!”.

Rick, Lucy, and her daughter Sophia are all enrolled citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. They visit relatives in Oklahoma regularly and Lucy is beginning to speak her tribal language. Their Muscogee relatives are planning to visit Bristol this month to see the exhibition. n

• Rick Grimster’s debut exhibition, Belonging, is showing at Rainmaker Gallery until 6 May 2023; rainmakerart.co.uk

Rick with his adoptive mother, Connie

Rick Grimster’s birth father Sergeant Freeman Marshall – an American GI from the Muscogee (Creek) Nation who served in the US Army Airforce from 1943 –1945

Rick as a student

The beauty of nature

As we step into spring, Andy Winfield –Senior Botanical Horticulturalist –looks forward to this year’s Easter Sculpture Festival, welcoming people back to reengage with nature...

Plants are everything, they’re vital for human existence; just a quick look around the room you are in right now and you’ll see the influence of them. The cotton of your clothes, the flax of your linen, the wood of your furniture, the tea leaves in your cup of tea, the chocolate in your KitKat, and the paper of the magazine. Plants literally give us the air that we breathe. There is so much to know about plants, but we don’t need to know everything, just being among them is enough to raise the spirits. I work at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden and see and hear from visitors what an impact plants can have from just one visit; the Garden is a peaceful environment, but a question I often get asked is, what exactly is a Botanic Garden and how is it different form other gardens?

A Botanic Garden is a museum, and the plants are the exhibits. The plant world is full of incredible stories from all over the planet and far back through time; it is a Botanic Garden’s job to tell these stories, and here in Bristol we try to do it in a way that everybody can enjoy, from the seasoned botanist to the reluctant ‘visiting with a plant loving partner’ people, the aim is for visitors to leave having had a good experience and learned something new.

It’s a Botanic Garden that is both educational and beautiful, a place for people to learn but also a place to catch their breath. Visitors will see the incredible relationships between plants and their pollinators, the ingenious structures, scent, and colour used by plants to attract exactly what they want; stories about early plants and how they adapted to not be eaten by dinosaurs; about plants used as medicine, and about plants that live right here in our city and nowhere else on earth. We have glasshouses full of cacti and succulents from the driest deserts, orchids and bromeliads from the wettest rainforests. At the entrance to the Garden is a large pool teaming with life, it’s possible to lose yourself gazing into the water watching another world play out.

The Garden has always hosted events; these are a great way for people to see the Garden and experience nature. One of our biggest

events of the year is the Easter Sculpture Festival, this year taking place from 7 –10 April. Art and nature rub along very well, and each embellishes the other. By April, the time of our sculpture event, spring has become irrepressible. This year winter has had a good attempt at holding back spring with icy blasts and snowfall, but all in vain. The Garden is becoming green again, trees are filled with blossom and magnolia flowers are being overtaken by their leaves. On the ground wood anemones carpet our ancient woodland area, their flowers opening and closing with the sun, the first delicate bluebells are nodding under branches whose leaves are slowly unfurling, as if they’re stretching and yawning their way into the year. Tulips are clustered in

The cacti display at the Botanic Garden

Wood anemones at the Botanic Garden

our Mediterranean display, while iris surround the pools. There is an air of business as pollinators bustle from flower to flower, and birds sing the songs of their territory. In the glasshouses, the incredible jade vine is flowering, its unusual blooms hanging from above. It is a plant that in the wild hangs over the streams and ravines of Philippine tropical rainforests, a colour more unusual than any other flower, its luminescence attracting bats in the twilight who which suspend from branches to drink the sweet nectar reward; all the pollination happens upside down.

Amidst all of this plant growth during the Easter weekend will be local sculptors displaying their work. The work is created in a range of materials from ceramics, metal, and stone; carnival heads will watch in the glasshouses, and shiny metal kingfishers will monitor the pools. Lifelike wire wildlife seemingly scurrying off, and classic stone figures lounge on sunny rocks. Visitors will also have the chance to be creative themselves with willow weaving, stone carving, pottery, and wood turning experts all on hand to teach new skills. For two hours Afro-Leana will be meeting and greeting visitors on Saturday; this friendly ten foot carnival giant will charm all who meet her. There will be coffee cake and sandwiches from Chandos Deli, every garden needs cake!

While the events are a great way to visit, the University of Bristol Botanic Garden is open seven days a week, there are over 4,500 species of plants so there is always something new to discover at every time of year. We look forward to welcoming you in the Garden. n

• TheEasterSculptureFestivalis taking place from 7 – 10 April; botanic-garden.bristol.ac.uk. All images courtesy of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden

Expect to see wire wildlife at this year’s Easter Sculpture Festival

WHAT’S ON

The Cave Art of Lascaux: a Virtual Reality Experience

n Throughout April, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

Step back in time 21,000 years and visit the incredible Stone Age cave art of Lascaux in immersive 3D. This world heritage site in the Dordogne, France, was discovered in 1940 by two teenagers. It features etched and painted images large and small, of animals, mysterious symbols and abstract elements. The site itself has been closed to the public since 1963. Now, using the latest technology, you can ‘visit’ the caves on your own doorstep. bristolmuseums.org.uk

Bach by Candlelight

n 5 April, 7.30pm, St George's Bristol Bristol Ensemble is joined by the virtuoso pianist Andrei Gavrilov to perform an allBach concert in the atmospheric setting of a candlelit St George’s Bristol. The programme features two of Bach's most famous keyboard concertos, along with the exquisite Air On The G String. Tickets £10 to £30 from 0117 929 4929 or online at: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

God's Creatures

n Until 6 April, Watershed

God’s Creatures is the critically acclaimed drama from co-directors Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer set on the coast of Ireland. In a windswept fishing village, a mother (Emily Watson) is torn between protecting her beloved son (Paul Mescall) and her own sense of right and wrong. A lie she tells to cover for him rips apart their

family and close-knit community. Exquisitely written and fiercely acted by a stellar cast, God’s Creatures is a tense and emotional epic masterfully spearheading sidelined mothers, wives and women as a whole. This is arguably Watson’s most compelling piece of work to date. watershed.co.uk

Elles Bailey

n 15 April, Trinity Centre

Bristol-based singer-songwriter and band leader, Elles Bailey has powered her way to the forefront of the British blues and roots scene. In 2021, the smoky-voiced, human dynamo was named UK Blues Artist of the Year for the second year in a row. Never pulling punches, Bailey’s latest album, Shining in the Half Light, delivers knockout blows with a fire, maturity, and soulfulness that is brought to life in her visceral live shows. trinitybristol.org.uk

Bristol Classical Players:

A Night at the Movies

n 15 April, St George’s Bristol

A thrilling evening of all-time great film scores, from Golden Age classics like LawrenceofArabia and RichardIII, the heat and dust of TheBigCountry and The Good, TheBad, andtheUgly, the glamour of JamesBond, the magic of HarryPotter and – from a long time ago and a galaxy far, far away – StarWars. stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

Sudanese cookery class with Negla

n 19 April, Coexist Community Kitchen

Migrateful is an award-winning charity which supports asylum-seekers, refugees and

migrants in their journey to integration and employment. The charity does this by preparing them to lead cookery classes where they teach their traditional cuisine, culture and stories. Chef Negla will teach delicious, authentic Sudanese dishes followed by a sitdown meal. Warm and easy, like being with family. migrateful.org

Russell Howard

n 19 –23 April, Bristol Hippodrome

Russell Howard, “one of the world’s top comedians” (Sunday Times) is back for a brand new live tour of the UK in 2023. As we reel from one global crisis to the next, join Russell, ‘the uplifting Comedy King’, as he puts the world to rights in his own uniquely hilarious way. atgtickets.com

The Vintage Bazaar

n 22 April, The Cheese & Grain

Visiting The Spring Vintage Bazaar in Frome, Somerset is a wonderful way to blow away the winter cobwebs and indulge in a bit of eco-friendly retail therapy. At this unique event you can purchase from some of the country’s best dealers in vintage textiles, decorative antiques and French brocante as well as a handpicked selection of designer makers. The event takes place at the Cheese and Grain, which is right in the middle of the town with ample parking outside. Doors open at 9am until 2pm. thevintagebazaar.co.uk

Slapstick Festival: Victor/Victoria

n 22 April, Watershed

As part of Slapstick Festival, Jazz Age Paris is

Russell Howard at Bristol Hippodrome

the setting for this quadruple Oscar-winning screwball musical comedy, part derived from a 1933 script, in which Julie Andrews plays a down-on-her-luck opera singer who is persuaded by a gay drag artist friend (Robert Preston) to pretend to be a man pretending to be a woman to get high-paying work as a female impersonator in a nightclub.

Bristol Film Festival: Shakespeare in Love

n 23 April, Clifton Observatory

The historic Clifton Observatory plays host to Bristol Film Festival’s Spirit Of Cinema screenings, which pair classic films with great gin-based drinks in partnership with its friends and local distilling legends Six O’Clock Gin. The festival is at the Observatory on St. George’s Day for films inspired by great English writers. Its final film of the evening is Shakespeare In Love

The romcom reimagining of Shakespeare’s life won seven Oscars, and cleverly blends in several Shakespearean storylines into a merry misadventure through Elizabethan London. bristolfilmfestival.com

Gold Buying Event

n 24 April, MercuryBristolGrandHotel

Russell Lane are holding a gold buying event at the Clifton Suite in the Mercury Bristol Grand Hotel on 24 April from 9.30am –5pm. The jewellers are looking to purchase gold, whether it be intact or broken with an immediate cash offer. For more information, visit: russell-lane.co.uk

Coronation Celebration

n 26 April –6 May, Grey-Harris & Co.

Grey-Harris & Co. celebrates the coronation of King Charles III with an exhibition in late April, based in Clifton. Their extensive Victorian premises are unique in that they are one of the principal traditional silversmiths and jewellers in the West of England. The works on display are of

immediate association to the present and previous English coronations, including a lifetimes collection of royal souvenirs and artworks spanning over 400 years in date. One particular item of note is the 30ft hand panorama, that depicts the coronation procession of King George IV (r.1820-1830) and dates to 1821. The procession is presented in 133 numbered scenes in etching and aquatint with hand colouring and dates

to 1821. Another item on display will be the remarkable William IV cut-glass sceptre surmounted by a cross pattée, hallmarked William Neal, London 1833. greyharris.co.uk

Bristol Folk Festival

n 28 –30 April, various locations

The UK’s best-loved folk artists take to stages across the city alongside a taste of the world, and the best of the west. Bristol Folk Festival returns from 28 –30 April with headliners including Eliza Carthy, Angeline Morrison, Fay Hield, Lady Maisery, Nick Hart and Longest John’s. Bristol Cathedral, Trinity, Bristol Folk House, St George’s Bristol and The Architect will be the main venues for this year’s programme. Keep an eye out for more concerts and ceilidhs to be announced for the Glass Studio at St George’s and Bristol Folk House. bristolfolkfestival.org

Gina Larner

n 28 April, The Louisiana

Gina Larner is a singer/songwriter from Brighton, whose original songs are a mixture of country/pop-rock, with reviews describing her as having “bewitching folky tones and weaving an intoxicating spell of guitar...” As an established artist, Gina has opened for country/rock icon KT Tunstall, alongside Ronan Keating at the Coca Cola arena. Gina has also joined Emily Capell and Sound of the Sirens on their album tours up and down the country. thelouisiana.net n

Still from God’s Creatures, showing at Watershed until 6 April

Still from Victor/Victoria, showing as part of Slapstick Festival

FAMILY DIARY

DISCOVER THE BEST THINGS TO SEE & DO WITH THE FAMILY THIS MONTH

Wake The Tiger Amazement Park

n Open now, Albert Road BS2 0YA

From the artistic team behind the groundbreaking festival, Boomtown Fair, journey to the world of Meridia. Having spent over a decade creating one of the most large scale immersive festival experiences in the world, the team wanted to expand and diversify their creative potential by establishing a year round arts and events venue where audiences can experience the work in a non-festival environment. wakethetiger.com

Scribble and Sketch

n Once a month, various locations

Join the RWA’s Scribble and Sketch artists at locations across the city on Saturdays once a month for free family workshops. These sessions are designed for children and grownups to take part in together –everyone is welcome. Admission is free. No pre-booking required. Suitable for all ages, children must be supervised. rwa.org.uk

Sunday Market

n Every Sunday, Tobacco Factory Tobacco Factory’s bustling Sunday Market (10am – 2.30pm) is the perfect spot to meet with friends, relax with family and discover

exceptional food, crafts and produce, made and grown in the local area. There are around 60 stalls to explore each week, featuring beautifully designed, sustainable and locally made produce – from clothes and jewellery to patisserie and freshly baked bread. tobaccofactory.com

Easter Eggsplorers

n 1 –16 April, Wild Place Project

Wild Place Project is calling all eggsplorers to take part in an eggciting Easter family trail at the animal attraction. Between April 1-16 giant eggs will be hidden around the attraction for families to discover, allowing visitors to explore the site’s 50 acres of woodlands, meadows and grasslands. Some of the eggs will also be hidden near its famous animal residents, which include giraffes, cheetahs, zebras, gelada baboons, wolves and bears. Book your tickets at: wildplace.org.uk

SS Great Britain: Easter Feast

n 1 –16 April, SS Great Britain

From the 1 –16 April, Brunel’s SS Great Britain will treat visitors on board to a selection of traditional Victorian puddings inspired by the ship’s 20th voyage from Australia. Guests will be able to sample a

Take part in an eggciting Easter family trail at Wild Place Project

Sunday Market at Tobacco Factory

plum pudding and a clear citrus jelly – both desserts which would have been served to Victorian passengers on the world’s first great ocean liner. There’s also an Easter animal trail for children, complete with a chocolate treat at the end. Book your tickets at: ssgreatbritain.org

Red Arrows Easter Holidays

n 3 –16 April, Aerospace Bristol

Get ready for an Easter of Red Arrows themed fun at Aerospace Bristol as the museum introduces its new Red Arrows Experience. You can fly with the Red Arrows in the museum’s new simulator, meet a former Red Arrows Pilot on 3 April, and on 4 and 5 April, younger visitors can pilot their own pedal planes. Find out more at: aerospacebristol.org/easter

Zog

n 5 –16 April, Bristol Old Vic

Large in size and keen in nature, Zog is eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school, where dragons learn all the things that dragons need to know. The smash-hit stage adaptation from Freckle Productions (the team behind Zog and the Flying Doctors and Stick Man) is back and promises to be bigger, brighter and more roar-some than ever before. With lively songs from Joe Stilgoe and directed by Emma Kilbey, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved Zog is a magical production for all ages. Book your tickets at: bristololdvic.org.uk

Dinosaurs & All That Rubbish

n 7 –12 April, The Wardrobe Theatre

One man’s passionate dream to find his paradise beyond the stars leaves the world in ruins. Can the dinosaurs who sleep deep underground wake up in time to sort out the mess and save planet Earth? Expect a riotous hour of dancing dinosaurs, space travel and catchy songs when Roustabout Theatre’s adaptation of Michael Foreman’s classic children’s book, Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish, plays The Wardrobe Theatre from 7 –12 April at 11am and 2pm daily (no 11am show on 7 April). Book your tickets at: thewardrobetheatre.com

Sing-a-Long-a Encanto

n 10 April, Bristol Hippodrome

From the producers of Sing-a-Long-a Sound of Music and Sing-a-Long-a Frozen, the brand new smash hit film musical of 2021 about the Family Madrigal features lyrics on screen so that everyone can join in. Sing your heart out with Bristol Hippodrome’s live host, who will teach you some dance moves, help you create some magic and show you how to use your free props bag. Please note this is a screening of the movie not a live stage show. Book your tickets at: atgtickets.com

Bristol Film Festival: Beauty and The Beast

n 12 April, The Mount Without

Bristol Film Festival is showing fairytale romance at The Mount Without this month. If you’re a fan of Disney’s animated version of Beauty And The Beast then this is the day your dreams come true. It was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, where its memorable score won two Oscars. Book your tickets at: bristolfilmfestival.com

The Smeds and The Smoos

n 24 –26 April, Redgrave Theatre

Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back? Music, laughs and interplanetary adventures for everyone aged 3 and up. Book your tickets at: redgravetheatre.com n

Zog at Bristol Old Vic © Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Red Arrows Easter Holidays at Aerospace Bristol

Dinosaurs & All That Rubbish at The Wardrobe Theatre

On screen: Rain Dogs

As the brand-new Bristol-filmed BBC series, Rain Dogs, prepares to hit our screens on 4 April, we sit down with producer Ciara Mcllvenny and cast members Jack Farthing and Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo to talk breaking boundaries...

The BBC’s new eight-episode comedy-drama, Rain Dogs, has already garnered rave reviews in the US after airing on HBO in March. Starring BAFTA Award-winning West Country actress Daisy May Cooper (ThisCountry), alongside Jack Farthing (Poldark, Spencer), Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo (AlexRider, Chevalier, DoctorWho) and Fleur Tashjian in her debut role, the series has been described by RollingStone as one of the most surprising shows of the year.

Named after Tom Waits’ record – which, as he mentioned during an interview in 1985, was a metaphor for “people in pain with no sense of direction” – RainDogs chronicles the life of Costello Jones (Daisy May Cooper), a single mother and writer with a rock and roll swagger who wants more for her 10-year-old daughter, Iris (Fleur Tashjian). As she hustles hard to survive on the fringes of society, Costello leans on Selby (Jack Farthing), a privileged gay man who has become Iris’ pseudo father (and Costello’s pseudo soulmate), and Gloria (Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo), the duo’s loyal yet chaotic best friend. Together they form a makeshift family bound by a complex but deep-rooted love and defiance towards a system built against them.

Written and produced by first-time creator Cash Carraway, whose memoir SkintEstate recounts her life as a working-class, single mother living in poverty during the 2010s, this new comedy is “told with a dark lick of humour and an anarchic attitude”. Made by Sid Gentle Films – the award-winning production company behind KillingEve and TheDurrells – RainDogs is the first creation from the company’s new development and production arm, Sid Wild, based in Bristol at The Bottle Yard Studios. Ahead of the first episode on 4 April, producer Ciara Mcllvenny and cast members Jack Farthing and Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo reflect on Carraway’s brilliant writing and the extraordinary characters that she’s created.

“When I first read the script, I fell in love with the characters,” says Mcllvenny. “It wasn’t like any other film or show that I had seen about

that world. Cash Carraway wanted to tell an entertaining story about the working class and that’s why I felt this script was very fresh and different.”

The main characters entertain, surprise and shock in equal measure. Describing Selby as a “complicated, tricky, controlling but deeply lovable person – someone who has a lot of love inside him but has no idea how to give it”, Farthing stressed that Carraway’s ability to strip the characters of their preconceived labels was particularly compelling.

“The show and all the characters in it are not stereotypes, they’re not the kind of people you normally see. I think the show is intentionally pulling apart what you might expect someone like that to be, and that is always the most appealing thing to me. I hope after you spend eight episodes with these characters, you’ll see that labels are useless.”

Adékoluẹjo echoes Farthing’s comments: “Gloria has been described as chaotic. She goes on impulse – she’s very in the moment, which can actually be quite admirable. I feel like she doesn’t really exist within the boundaries of what people are.”

From the outset, the series is filled with bracing moments of heartache followed by waves of warmth and humour from Cooper and the entire cast. This brilliant, biting debut series from Sid Wild is bold and unique – and, ultimately, a sign of great things to come from the new Bristolbased company. Speaking of their time working in the city, McIlvenny added: “Making Rain Dogs in Bristol has been a great experience – it’s an incredibly film-friendly city, it felt like everyone really wanted us to be here. We were lucky to have a brilliant, talented and hard-working crew, around 70% of whom were based in Bristol and the West. The Film Office were accommodating and very helpful and The Bottle Yard Studios were a fantastic partner... we are looking forward to making many more shows here.”

• Rain Dogs will air on BBC One and iPlayer on 4 April: bbc.co.uk/iplayer

BBC/Sid Gentle Films/HBO/Simon Ridgway

BBC/Sid Gentle Films/HBO/James Pardon

Jack Farthing as Selby Ronkẹ Adékoluẹjo as Gloria

Daisy May Cooper and Fleur Tashjian as Costello and Iris Jones

Mountain Lieder is a one-of-a-kind experience, bringing together music, the outdoors and good food. Fascinating educational walks guided by a team of local experts; a world-class, private song recital series; our in-house chefs cooking up a feast with delicious, locally-sourced ingredients, all the while surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Snowdonia national park. Join us on our intimate, family-run holiday for a truly unforgettable experience.

Week One: September 19th - 22nd 2023

Week Two: September 26th - 29th 2023

For more information and to book visit: www.headonout.co.uk/mountain-lieder

Successful Specialist Sale

Clevedon Salerooms held their Spring Specialist Fine Art Sale on Thursday 9th March. Having generated a great deal of pre-sale interest, lively bidding was in evidence with impressive results achieved throughout the day.

Unused wallpaper isn’t the sort of fare normally couched to get valuer’s pulses racing but when it’s Chinese hand-painted wallpaper it can be a different story. This was certainly the case with the discovery of fourteen rolls during a routine valuation at a North Somerset country property, which turned out to be one of the day’s star lots. Unused and still in its packaging, as it had been from the day it was bought fifty years ago, there was initially nothing to excite. Unrolled, however, a freely painted panoramic landscape of trees and mountains was revealed. Offering, as it did, decorative flair combined with a strong appeal to the bullish Chinese market hopes were high. The saleroom’s photographer surpassed

themselves with no fewer than forty-five online images which really showed this extraordinary artwork to its full advantage. Reliable online images give buyers the confidence to bid high and in this case their hard work certainly paid off as strong commission bids, vied with fevered online bidding and four telephone bidders. In the end it was the internet that won out with the gavel going down at an estimate smashing £7,200.

Decorative appeal was also the key to the day’s best performing lot; a rare early 19th century satinwood trio of Pembroke table, and two demi-lune card tables. Heralding from an address in Clifton, what added considerable lustre to their appeal was the fact that each piece retained its original painted and gilded floral decoration and after some spirited bidding the handsome threesome left their estimate standing to sell for an impressive £8,000.

Clevedon Salerooms next Quarterly Specialist Sale, for which entries are now invited, will be on Thursday June 1st and will include a major consignment of early oak furniture and other artworks from historic Barrow Court in North Somerset. Free valuation days are held at the Saleroom every Monday (except Bank Holidays), together with regular Bristol valuation days at Stoke Lodge. Please visit the website for more information www.clevedonsalerooms.com. ■

• clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo_antiques (Instagram)

Our regular columnist Chris Yeo is away but Clevedon Salerooms report on yet another successful specialist sale.

A pair of Chinese hardwood foo dogs, 19/20th century. SOLD £4464 incl. premium

A large Vietnamese blue and white ceramic dish, 15/16th century.

SOLD £1736 incl. premium

A Chinese yellow ground rouleau vase with moulded decoration, 19/20th century. SOLD £1860 incl. premium

A Chinese yellow ground famille rose porcelain candle stick, Qianlong mark, Qing dynasty. SOLD £5952 incl. premium

A Chinese hardwood side table, late 19th century. SOLD £1364 incl. premium

STATE OF THE ART

112th Annual Paintings Exhibition, Bristol 1904 Arts, 29 April – 7 May

The Bristol 1904 Arts plays a major role in the cultural life of Bristol. It’s a centre for painting, music, magic, poetry, storytelling and fellowship. There are also active birdwatching, walking, photography, classic car and chorus groups. Meetings are on Wednesday evenings in their hall attached to the Red Lodge in Park Row Bristol where their major artistic event, the 112th Annual Paintings Exhibition, will be running from 29 April –7 May, open to the public every day from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Paintings by the society’s team of talented artists will be on sale.

• bristol1904arts.org

Strange Dance, Royal West of England Academy (RWA), until 1 May

The exhibition, StrangeDance, represents a collaboration between musician and Radiohead drummer Philip Selway and artist Stewart Geddes, toward developing the music and album art for Selway’s third solo album of the same name. The collaboration emerged from lockdown Zoom conversations between Selway (who was beginning to work on new songs from his Oxfordshire home) and Geddes, commuting through Bristol’s vacant streets to his Bedminster studio. Selway then invited Geddes to create the album art for Strange Dance (2023), forming a working partnership, where the visual elements and the music developed in parallel to each other, as a wordless dialogue. Geddes was mindful not to illustrate the songs, but to respond to their inferred spaces and moods, as they increasingly came into focus. Eventually, from the suite of eight paintings, Selway selected four to be used in various ways for the album, including Finnador, the painting that became the cover to StrangeDance.

• rwa.org.uk; Queens Road, Clifton, BS8 1PX

Image: Finnador, Stewart Geddes, Strange Dance, photograph, Acrylic on Canvas –album artwork for Philip Selway’s Strange Dance

Belonging, Rainmaker Gallery, until 6 May

In this solo exhibition, Rick Grimster explores his relationship to the country of his birth. A war baby, born in London in 1945 to a Mvskoke father and an English mother, his life is but one of the numerous unique stories that make up the Indigenous diaspora. Whilst Grimster’s abstracted landscapes fit firmly into the school of mid-century British modernism, they are elevated by an instinctive, unbridled joy of colour and love of nature aligned with his Native American heritage. Where we land on this earth is dictated by forces beyond our control –migration, colonialism and in this case World War II. How we make sense of our individual journeys is up to us. Rick Grimster has found peace and belonging through his lifelong love of painting and an unbreakable connection to land, wherever he may be.

• rainmakerart.co.uk;

140 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2R

Artwork by Rick Grimster

Garry Fabian Miller: ADORE, Arnolfini, until 28 May

Garry Fabian Miller, one of the most inventive and original photographers of his time, makes a very welcome return to Arnolfini, and his home city of Bristol, to present ADORE, a major exhibition celebrating a lifetime of his work. ADORE invites you to explore Fabian Miller’s ‘camera-less’ practice that experiments with darkness and light, and weaves in work by the artists, writers and thinkers that have inspired him over the years.

• arnolfini.org.uk; 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA

Image: Early Morning on the Canal © David Royle 2023

Lisa Whiting Photography for Arnolfini ©

What is ‘Huanghuali’ –Classical Chinese furniture

Elegant, stylish, hand-crafted pieces of furniture produced in China have furnished domestic spaces from homes to Imperial Chinese palaces for hundreds of years. A wide range of styles and pieces have been made through the Ming and Qing dynasties, from the end of the 14th to the early 20th century. Such pieces include chairs, tables, beds, and stools to smaller items such as mirror stands, pots and frames. These pieces are made without glue or nails and held together by expert joinery and craftsmanship, creating seamless transitions through the furniture. For example, these classic ‘horseshoe-back’ armchairs, Qyanyi. The top horseshoe shaped rail is made from five separately carved sections of wood and joined perfectly to create one flowing arch, supported by caved supports leading into the rectangular seat.

Although the style and manufacturing process is a reason for purchasing such pieces, it’s the wood type that really gets collectors going. Classical Chinese furniture can be made from a variety of woods, from hardwoods to softwood. But it’s only a couple varieties of hardwoods that can turn a typical piece from hundreds of pounds into multi thousands of pounds – One of these types being ‘Huanghuali’.

Huanghuali literally translating to ‘Yellow flowering pear wood’ or yellow rosewood (not to be confused with typical ‘rosewood, huali’ –which was used to mass produce antique style furniture in the latter part of the 20th century in Hong Kong). Huanghuali is native to Hainan Island in the South of China and to areas of Vietnam. It’s the Chinese variety which is of better quality and can be characterised by the oily yellowish-brown tones and dense grain with dark swirling markings referred to as ‘Ghost faces’ or ‘Ghost eyes’ by Chinese collectors and dealers. Being very durable, impermeable to water and insects and with a sometimes ‘sweet fragrant smell’ it made this wood a favourite for very high-ranking officials and important palace habitants.

The above pair of 20th century Huanghuali horseshoe-back armchairs sold in our recent February sale for £16,120. The top price for huanghuali furniture sold via auction was at Sotheby’s Hong Kong 2022. An Imperial folding horseshoe-back armchair from late Ming dynasty (1368-1644) hammered at HK$106 million (£11 million), setting an auction record for a Chinese chair and becoming the second most valuable piece of Chinese classical furniture sold at auction.

If you would like to learn more about any items – Contact us for a free appraisal.

Leon Ma Ma San Auction in Bath 01225 318 587 | www.masanauction.com

Escape to the wild

In celebration of Earth Day on 22 April, the brilliant team at GloucesterRoadBooks suggest four fascinating new reads about the natural world to help you reconnect with the world and the wildlife around you...

Anote from the team: “Our primary aim is that the shop be a fascinating place to explore. Some of the subject sections are a little broader than they might be elsewhere –for instance our ‘Time and Place’ section encompasses books on History, Travel Literature, Geography and Reportage. We also have a significant focus on titles published by small independent presses. There are lots of really brilliant small publishers putting out incredibly exciting books, and we want to help get these out into the world. The stock is carefully chosen and constantly changing, so even if you pop in every week there will always be new books to find.”

Visit Gloucester Road Books’ website: gloucesterroadbooks.com. Follow them on Instagram: gloucester_rd_books and browse the collection in store: 184 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NU. Open Monday –Tuesday 9.30am –5pm; Wednesday –Saturday 9.30am –6pm

The Meaning of Geese

by Nick Acheson. Published by Chelsea Green

Publishing

Fascinating account of naturalist Nick Acheson’s bicyclefuelled quest to follow and fully appreciate migrating flocks of geese during Covid lockdowns. He cycles more than a thousand miles, matching the intrepid spirit of the birds he loves, and spots many rare breeds including Russian whitefronts.

We’re delighted to be hosting an event with Nick on 18 April at Sidney & Eden, 198 Gloucester Road. See our website for more information: gloucesterroadbooks.com

Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid

by Thor Hanson.

Published by Icon

Books

An eye-opening look at the ways in which many areas of the natural world are adjusting and evolving in response to the effects of climate change. The emergence of lizards with larger toe pads and shrinking squid, for instance, are clearly explained in a mix of accessible anecdote and wellresearched detail, without ever compromising the science at the book’s heart.

Banzeiro Òkòtó: The Amazon as the Centre of the World by Eliane Brum (translated by Diane Whitty). Published by The Indigo Press

Brazilian journalist and documentary maker Eliane Brum has produced a huge bellow of a book, which lays bare the scars and blows inflicted by climate change, structural inequalities and an unchecked economic model on those who bear little or no responsibility for it. And the consequences for all humans if the destruction of the Amazon continues are starkly proclaimed.

A Flat Place by Noreen Masud. Published

by

Penguin Books

The flat landscapes of Masud’s childhood in Lahore are explored as a kind of psychogeography that both relate to complex trauma and inform its healing. Now settled in Britain, Masud continues to seek out such stark beauty exploring places of Orford Ness, the Cambridgeshire Fens, Morecambe Bay, and Orkney, whilst also reflecting on the impact of Britain’s colonial history on identity.

‘When we lost mum back in July, we were at a loss of what we needed to do. We contacted Brunel, spoke to Louise who talked us through the process. Following our appointment where we discussed mum’s wishes, within a blink of an eye the funeral was arranged. We met Chris and he put us at ease assuring us that Mum would be very well looked after in their care. We had arranged a bagpiper to pipe mum into the chapel, Louise and Chris spoke with him and on the day of the funeral, everything went as we wanted, but more importantly how mum wanted it. I have already recommended Brunel to people and will continue to do so. Thank you.’

3 Concorde Drive, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS10 6PZ 0117 374 2002

www.brunelfuneraldirectors.co.uk

Funeral Home opening hours Mon-Fri 9-5

Our carefully chosen staff have many years of knowledge, experience and dedication, so you can rest assured you are in safe hands

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A true independent funeral home covering the whole of Bristol and surrounding areas q

We offer an affordable funeral for £2380 incl. To a fully bespoke service depending on your requirements

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We have a modern, light and welcoming funeral home for you to visit, or if preferred we will come to you

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A personal service and warm modern funeral home

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Top 3 – 3 Best Rated

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Centenary celebrations

This year, the most famous steam engine in the world – Flying Scotsman –is celebrating its centenary. After a successful restoration in 2016, the locomotive will be touring the country, pulling out of Temple Meads on 30 April before journeying down south. Here, Bristol-based filmmaker David Parker looks back at its fascinating history and looks forward to its now guaranteed future...

Can anything match the sight, the sound and the smell of a main line steam locomotive powering its way across the landscape? That’s the enticing prospect in store on the morning of Sunday 30 April when the world famous Flying Scotsman locomotive will be pulling out of Temple Meads station. You would have to pay a minimum of £185 to travel on it but you can watch it for free as it gathers steam and speeds through Bedminster and Parson Street stations, en route to Taunton and the South West. All part of its centenary celebrations.

No wonder it’s up there with Concorde and the SS Great Britain in the public imagination. Yet unlike those icons of British engineering, Flying Scotsman is, after 100 years and more than two and a half million miles on the clock, still working. It’s a phenomenal achievement, an incredible story of not just superb design and engineering skill but of passion, dogged determination, piles of money and huge doses of good luck.

Its story goes back to 1923, when the boom in rail travel after World

War One demanded bigger, faster and more powerful locomotives than Britain had ever seen. It was the railway engineer and designer, Nigel Gresley, who came up with a class of locomotives designed to do just that. They were known as A1 Pacifics and the one that was to become Flying Scotsman rolled out of the workshop in Doncaster in February 1923. Weighing in at 97 tons, it stunned the men who were going to drive and fire it. One of them called it a ‘colossal monster’. They had never seen anything so big, yet so beautiful and sleek in the apple green livery of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). It encapsulated perfectly the ‘modern’ in an age of modernism. It first came to the public’s attention in 1924 when it was seen by millions of visitors in the Palace of Engineering at the Wembley Empire Exhibition. In May 1928 it became a record holder, the first locomotive to travel between London and Edinburgh non-stop, a feat that made the front pages of the national newspapers. That was followed in 1929 by a starring role in its own feature film, alongside two big film stars of the day, Ray Milland and Pauline Johnson. Finally, on 30 November 1934

Flying Scotsman ready for action on 8 January 2016 after a successful restoration

it achieved another huge record, becoming the first steam locomotive in the world to reach a speed of 100 miles-an-hour.

These well publicised firsts were to ensure that, in less than 10 years, Flying Scotsman became the world’s most famous steam locomotive. And that was only the beginning. A series of remarkable episodes after World War Two only served to enhance its reputation and image.

It all began in the autumn of 1962 when British Railways decided that Flying Scotsman would, like thousands of other steam locomotives, be sent to the scrap yard. There was a public outcry followed by a Flying Scotsman fairy story, the first of many that would keep it in the public eye. A knight in shining armour (and with lots of money) came to the rescue of this steaming damsel in profound distress. The knight in question was a seriously rich railway enthusiast, called Alan Pegler. He not only saved the locomotive by producing £3,000, to buy the Scotsman, he persuaded British Railways, much to the annoyance of those in the organisation trying to promote a ‘modern’ image of a diesel and electric future, to both overhaul it, and let him run it around the country. It lead to a five-year merry-go-round of steam travel. But it could not last. In 1968, when the last steam locomotives were consigned to the scrap heap, Pegler’s contract with British Railways was terminated, along with, they must have hoped, Flying Scotsman itself.

What followed was even more astonishing. With the backing of the Labour Government, Pegler took his beloved Scotsman to the USA. There he spent his fortune running it around the country on a series of tours, with him mostly in the cab getting his hands dirty, until he finally, inevitably, ran out of money. “He had no regrets”, his daughter Penny told me when I interviewed her for a film I made about the Scotsman’s restoration a few years ago. “Though it bankrupted him and he even had to work his passage back to Britain, he never regretted it, not for one minute.”

That could have been the end of Flying Scotsman. But it wasn’t. There seems to be no shortage of rich, steam enthusiasts who want to save old locomotives. The one who came to the rescue in 1973 was a self confessed steam obsessive, William McAlpine. The ‘steam-sexual’ as he referred to himself, dug deep into his very deep pockets and paid £25,000 to bring the stranded locomotive back to Britain. McAlpine kept it for 23 years, spending a small fortune to twice restore it and even taking it to Australia for the country’s bi-centenary in 1988. There it collected another world record, travelling 422 miles non-stop between Melbourne and Alice Springs.

None of this was cheap and in 1996, McAlpine, maybe looking back at Pegler’s experience, decided to cut his losses and sell the locomotive. In stepped another rich steam fan, Tony Marchington. He spent £1.5 million to secure the Scotsman’s future, then almost as much on its maintenance. Not surprisingly, it broke him financially. Another crisis ensued and in 2004 came a third rescue, the National Railway Museum (NRM) handing over £2.3 million to ‘save it for the nation’.

Increasing mechanical problems, more and more spending on patched up repairs and a blistering report on how the locomotive had been totally mismanaged by the NRM followed. Yet another crisis loomed. More money was raised and £4.5 million spent on a complete rebuild. In 2015, I filmed this major, year-long, restoration for a television programme I was making about its roller coaster history, a film that had almost as many ups and downs as the Scotsman itself.

Finally, in January 2016, after many set backs and bedevilled by problems, the restoration was completed and now, in its centenary year, with its future guaranteed, it will make a fleeting trip to Bristol. It would be nice to think that the visit will be, in part, a recognition of the role played by ordinary people in keeping ‘the most famous steam engine in the world’ alive. It would be nice to think that, but the need to earn its very expensive upkeep will be what will be uppermost in the minds of those organising this visit. Nevertheless, go and see it, after all you helped pay for it. n

will leave Temple Meads Station en route to Taunton and the South West at around 8.45am on Sunday 30 April. Both Bedminster and Parson Street Stations will be good viewing points as well as other places near Long Ashton, Nailsea and Backwell and Yatton where it will stop to pick up passengers.

David Parker will be giving three illustrated talks about ‘Flying Scotsman and the Golden Age of Steam’ at Clifton Library, Princess Victoria Street, Clifton on Wednesday evenings at 7pm (Bar from 6.30) on 29 March, 5 April and 19 April. Tickets £5 from www.focal.com

Flying Scotsman

Sir William McAlpine with Flying Scotsman Rewheeling Flying Scotsman in May 2015

Flying Scotsman being built in Doncaster workshop in the 1920s

FOOD & DRINK

TASTY TIDBITS FROM THE CITY’S BEST RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND PRODUCERS

eat:Bedminster returns to East Street

Over 60 food and drink stalls will take over East Street for eat:Bedminster on the 15 April showcasing the very best of local food and drink alongside Bedminster’s great hospitality.

Created to celebrate local street food and producers, eat:Bedminster will see East Street transformed between 10am and 4pm. This will be one of the first of the busy summer season for eat:Festivals, with over 30 festivals taking place all year throughout West Country towns including Clevedon, Taunton and Burnham-on-Sea.

Shining a light on treats in the area, eat:Bedminster will have everything from street food vendors, handmade preserves and award-winning patisseries, to farmer’s market favourites and plant based artisan dishes. Visitors can expect to meet local makers, sample and purchase the best food and drink on offer, as well as the businesses on their doorstep.

Due to its popularity, this year the festival will expand into Dean Street to make way for more producers and street entertainment, including family friendly shows, art workshops, strolling entertainers and a folk-filled family show The Oak, The Ash and The Standing Stones performed by Tidal Tales Collective CIC.

• eatfestivals.org

Pieminister Bottomless Brunch returns from 8 April –29 July

Set those reminders, pie people! The Pieminister Bottomless Brunch is back every Saturday (and bank holiday Sundays) from 8 April–29 July. You’ ve got two sittings to choose from: 12.30pm or 3pm, so round up your mates and get booking –before slots fill up. You’ll have an hour and a half to enjoy a brunch pie meal with bottomless drinks including any cocktails from the menu, draught beers from Freedom Brewery, cider, prosecco, or the classic brunch staple: mimosa. All for just £29 per person.

• Visit pieminister.co.uk to book a table

Vintage treasure

As we advance towards a greener fashion future, more brides are choosing to wear vintage wedding dresses rather than commissioning new bridal looks. We caught up with Kate Ashwell, co-owner of Clifton-based vintage bridal shop Ashwell & Co, to discover more...

discovered a flair for baking, taking on all aspects of the Ashwell & Co afternoon tea offering. His scones and homemade clotted cream have now become legendary round these parts.

With one of the largest collections of vintage bridal gowns in the UK, how do you curate the collection and where do you source your dresses?

What we do is extremely niche and, after nine years, we have built a great network of vintage suppliers who get in touch when they find a wedding dress they think I might like.

I also get emails every week from individuals who have wedding dresses they wish to sell. It might be their dress or it may have belonged to a relative. To be honest, I am extremely selective about what I buy. There are thousands of wedding dresses out there, but very few of them are suitable. Either they’re too small and can’t be altered, too marked or simply not a style that a contemporary bride would want to wear.

Despite selling vintage I always keep an eye on what’s on trend for the season as I know I’ll get requests. Most fashion trends take inspiration from the past so, with nearly 100 years of wedding dress styles to choose from, I often have the original version of the trend in stock. I’m also very mindful of making sure the dresses are suitable for the modern bride in terms of styles, fabrics and fit.

Tell us about the different styles and designs you have available for brides...

We currently have dresses in stock from the 1900s –1990s. From

Tell us about how you came to found Ashwell & Co in 2014...

I’ve had a keen interest in alternative fashion most of my life. Initially, growing up in the Buckinghamshire suburbs, I never felt I fitted in and fashion became a way for me to express myself and my creativity. However, it wasn’t until I moved to Camden as a drama student back in the 90s that my true love of vintage was born. It blew my mind that suddenly I was surrounded by other people who wanted to look and dress differently. I definitely felt like I had found my tribe. After graduating, Will and I moved from London to Brighton and the plethora of vintage shops down there cemented my love of vintage even further.

Never in a million years did I think I’d eventually be able to make a career out of vintage, but after years of working in festival production, drama, education and the arts, in 2014 we felt that our family would benefit from a change of pace. We started hunting for a career that continued our love of creativity and working with people. We had also recently got married. I wanted to wear a vintage wedding dress or something a bit more alternative and struggled to find anywhere in Bristol. I realised I probably wasn’t the only bride who felt like this and the gem of an idea was born.

However, we also knew we wanted to create a business that allowed us to work together. We’d always had a dream to open a cafe so the idea of combining a vintage shop with a tearoom grew organically from there. Having grown up in a hotel it was perhaps inevitable that Will would find his calling in hospitality. Completely self taught, over the years Will has

Kate & Will Ashwell, coowners of Ashwell & Co

Ashwell & Co has dresses in stock from the 1900s – 1990s

1930s Hollywood era, figure hugging satin to exquisite 1950s lace and head to toe sequins from the 1980s, we have every single type and style of wedding dress spanning nearly nine decades. The beauty of vintage means you can shop for your shape and your personal style rather than being bound by what’s in fashion now. Most brides who visit us comment on how different the dresses are, how great the quality of the fabric is and sleeves, we have lots of sleeves.

Our current vintage bridal collection ranges in size, from a UK size 6 to a UK size 18, and we can usually add at least one or two sizes to most of our vintage dresses.

Around 90% of our clients have their wedding dresses altered in some way. More often than not, this is to tailor the dress to fit, but they can also make larger changes if they would like to customise their wedding dress further. There is a huge amount of creative freedom in choosing to go vintage.

Tell us about the experience you offer clients at Ashwell & Co and what people can expect when they visit...

Preparation for each of our bridal appointments begins before the customer walks through the door. When a bride books an appointment we ask them to fill in a short questionnaire about when and where they are getting married. We also ask them to let us know if they have any idea of what they might be looking for, what dress size they wear, any worries they might have or any hard no’s. This allows us to pre-select a number of dresses that we think might be suitable. Brides are by no means limited by what we select, but from experience it is quite hard to know where to start when faced with a rail of vintage wedding gowns so we lend a helping hand.

We are a very relaxed, nurturing space. Our single goal is helping brides find a wedding outfit that they feel comfortable and confident in. Buying a wedding dress should be an enjoyable experience, and we aim to put our customers at ease. We will never pressurise anyone into buying a wedding dress, and we steer clear of any conversation that pushes our clients to conform to a certain standard of what they ‘should’ be. We want people to feel they can be exactly who they are.

Sustainability is clearly at the heart of Ashwell & Co – tell us about your sustainable practices...

Ashwell & Co is built on the principle of kindness. Our core aim is to be kind to people and kind to the planet. As a result, we implement sustainable practices at every level of what we do. For example, our wedding dresses and vintage fashion are handpicked and sourced exclusively within the UK. We use traditional, eco-friendly cleaning methods to avoid putting harmful chemicals into the environment and we repair or rework damaged items so nothing goes into landfill.

Similarly, our afternoon tea is vegetarian as standard. This was a no brainer for us in terms of reducing our environmental impact. Additionally, if people want to visit us for afternoon tea they have to book. This means we only make what we need and therefore keep our food waste to an absolute minimum. We offer a set menu and keep our offering seasonal, which allows us to manage our supply chains more efficiently.

We constantly review our practices and if we can find a more planetfriendly way of doing something then we will. It’s definitely an ongoing process but one we relish and take pride in.

Clothing production is the second most polluting industry in the world, it can take up to 9,000 litres of water to make a wedding dress and 33% of food produced globally is either lost or wasted. The earth’s resources are finite, our planet cannot survive exponential growth through mass consumerism without consequence and the time to act is now. There is a better way. n

• For more information about Ashwell & Co, visit: ashwellandco.com; 32 Alma Vale Road, BS8 2HY. Photographs by Ruby Walker Photography and Bristol Picture

“What we do is extremely niche and, after nine years, we have built a great network of vintage suppliers who get in touch when they find a wedding dress they think I might like. ..”

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette, £64

Create your perfect light with HOURGLASS’ Ambient Lighting Palette featuring three shades of Ambient Lighting Powder. Each of the high-tech, soft-focus finishing powders recreates an exquisitely flattering light source.

Harvey Nichols Champagne Hat Box, £65

Practical, portable and super stylish. This sensational Champagne Hat Box, featuring four mini bottles of delicious bubbly makes the perfect wedding gift.

SLIP, Pure Silk Sleep Mask in Caramel, £50

Slip pure silk products are made using slipsilk, developed and refined for over 10 years to provide the ultimate combination of shine, thickness, softness and durability.

Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Unbutton, £24

A weightless, 12-hour liquid lipstick with a soft matte finish – born in a range of head-turning shades that look incredible on all skin tones.

BRIDAL

Wedding day must-haves from Harvey Nichols Bristol

BEAUTY

Maison Francis Kurkdjian À La Rose Candle 280g, £80

Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s À La Rose scented candle is made of French mineral-vegetal wax and presented in a Limoges porcelain jar, it makes a perfect wedding scent.

Tom Ford Rose D'Amalfi 50ml, £210

Evoking the sunlit sensuality of the Amalfi Coast, Rose D’Amalfi mingles spicy baies roses with almond-like heliotrope, eliciting a wave of captivating, softly sensuous, skinon-skin sensations.

Saying “I do”

Are you planning on tying the knot? Our guide to local wedding-based businesses is full of folk who can help get you ready for the big day...

BERWICK LODGE

Berwick Drive, Bristol BS10 7TD 0117 958 1590; berwicklodge.co.uk

On the outskirts of Bristol, set in 18 acres of stunning grounds, is Berwick Lodge. A proudly independent boutique wedding venue and 14-bedroom hotel. A hidden secret just waiting to be discovered. Offering glistening fountains in the Summer, warming open fires in Winter, and beautiful rooms with stunning features of the original 1890’s house all year round.

If you’re looking to hold an unforgettable wedding in a charming and characterful venue – then this is it. Perfect for small and intimate weddings, or more lavish celebrations of up to 100 seated, with 150 for evening parties.

Whichever size wedding you choose, Berwick’s special spaces offer you total freedom to make your day everything you want it to be.

THE PLANNING LOUNGE

theplanninglounge.co.uk; info@theplanninglounge.co.uk; 07712 625382; Instagram: @theplanninglounge

Planning a wedding can feel time consuming and stressful, as there are so many things to consider when you have never organised such an important event before.

Caroline from The Planning Lounge has been working with couples to achieve their dream wedding since 2015, alleviating stress by providing a variety of planning, coordination and styling services, giving you the freedom to choose the level of involvement you would like during the planning process, and on the day itself.

Based in Bristol, and working with both wedding venues and marquees on private residences across the South West, Caroline specialises in creating relaxed and stylish celebrations for the modern couple, with impeccable attention to detail.

LOVE IN FOCUS

Studio B, 45-47 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QP love-in-focus.co.uk; sandy@love-in-focus.co.uk

Your wedding photos are the main way you will be able to relive your day once you are married. It's important to pick a photographer who understands how to provide creative, natural, authentic photos that tell the story of your day.

Sandy McClure from Love in Focus has been telling couples wedding stories for over a decade. As the current British Institute of Professional Photography South West Wedding Photographer of the Year he knows how to unobtrusively capture gorgeous, natural photos not just of you but of everyone at the wedding.

Most of the day you will barely notice he is there but for the brief time you spend doing the portraits, Sandy will make you look as great as you feel. Visit love-in-focus.co.uk to find out more.

DIANA PORTER

33 Park Street, Bristol BS1 5NH 0117 909 0225; dianaporter.co.uk

Diana Porter Jewellery specialises in unique, contemporary wedding and engagement rings as well as bespoke pieces and remodelling of heirloom metals and stones. Each piece is handcrafted in Fairtrade Gold or recycled precious metals in our onsite Jewellery workshop, tucked away behind the Park Street Gallery.

Alongside Diana’s extensive collections, the Jewellery gallery stocks over 80 renowned Jewellery Designers from across the world. There are plenty of different styles on offer, from precise floral details created in computer-aided design (CAD) to sand-cast rings with all the natural textures left in.

Commissions and reworking of jewellery is warmly welcomed and an experienced team are on hand to help bring your designs to life.

Diana Porter also holds a varied selection of one-of-a-kind diamonds and ethically sourced, coloured gemstones in an array of cuts and colours. All of which are ready to be chosen for your very own bespoke design.

LEFT: 18ct Yellow Fairtrade gold ring featuring a 0.70ct salt and pepper diamond surrounded by a halo of Canadamark diamonds. The signature hand-etched textures add a subtle radiance to the ring; £2540

PITCH UP AND PLAY

Knoll Hill, Bristol BS9 1QU; hello@pitchupandplay.co.uk

Headed up by Isabella Passafaro who has been in the childcare industry for 14 years. Pitch Up and Play has an amazing team of highly qualified nannies, who absolutely love a wedding. The team are all DBS checked, fully referenced and experienced with mini VIPs. They provide a variety of packages for 0-12 years, which can be tailored to suit your needs, from bell tent creches, mini VIP corners to movie rooms and soft play. If you think the children at your event deserve to feel like mini VIPs then do get in touch, the Pitch Up and Play team would love to hear from you.

AZTECHOTEL & SPA

Aztec West, Bristol, BS32 4TS 01454 201090; aztechotelbristol.co.uk; events@aztechotelbristol.co.uk

Keeping everything under one roof has lots of advantages, not least no lost guests and no need to worry about the weather outside either. A range of suites at the Aztec Hotel & Spa are licenced which means you can enjoy a seamless transition from the ceremony to celebration, all in one place.

When it comes to crafting your special day it’s the small details that make a big difference. If you’ve already got the vision, the Aztec team will be the blank canvas for you to work with, or if you’re still designing your dream day, they can help guide you along the way. And because they know you’ll want to remember your wedding day forever, you’ll find some fabulous indoor and outdoor backdrops so you’re guaranteed a beautiful photographic record you’ll cherish for years to come.

FENNEL & TWINE

fennelandtwine.co.uk; info@fennelandtwine.co.uk;

07887927133

Fennel & Twine isn’t your standard, out of the box, catering company. Set up in 2020 by Ben and Sarah, the Bristol-based catering and private dining company is dedicated to creating memorable dining experiences for you and your guests using high-quality ingredients.

Fennel & Twine knows that planning a wedding isn’t easy, so they aim to work with you to make the process of selecting the food for your wedding day as easy and stress-free as possible.

A sample wedding menu is available to download from the website, or alternatively, if you would like your wedding to reflect your personalities and favourite foods then get in touch and they’ll create a menu which is bespoke to you.

HARVEY NICHOLS BRISTOL

reception.bristol@harveynichols.com;

0117 916 8898

Located in the heart of Bristol with a commanding view of the city, the Second Floor at Harvey Nichols Bristol offers a truly luxurious wedding and dining experience.

Each with their own beautiful interior, the three spaces make Harvey Nichols Bristol the perfect setting for your big day. Whether you choose the Second Floor Restaurant, the elegant Second Floor Bar, or the intimate Private Dining Room, they can cater for wedding receptions of varying sizes. From classic à la carte, to canapés, sharing platters and afternoon teas, they can create bespoke menus to suit your occasion – along with an extensive drinks list to match. They’d also be delighted to recommend suppliers, such as florists, cake makers, bands and DJs for your special day.

DE VERE TORTWORTH COURT

Tortworth, Wotton-under-Edge

GL12 8HH; 01454 263 634 ; devere.co.uk; tortworth.weddings@devere.com

Polly Pay-Savage is De Vere Tortworth Court’s Wedding Manager who is responsible for overseeing and running all weddings that take place in the hotel’s historic mansion house.

Polly has worked with De Vere for nearly six years now and has been working at De Vere Tortworth Court in the wedding team for over two years. Polly’s knowledge of the industry, local area and the venue is second to none. She’s the first port of call for all couples looking to book their wedding at De Vere Tortworth Court. Getting to know each couple personally allows Polly to advise on the different spaces and facilities available and suitable for their big day.

Polly’s favourite space at De Vere Tortworth Court is The Victorian Orangery, built in 1874, which stands separate to the main building is a truly breath-taking setting for a wedding. The Victorian architecture, with ornamental glass ceiling and windows, seamlessly marries timeless decor with contemporary elegance and functionality. For the picture-perfect moments, De Vere Tortworth Court’s Victorian Arboretum, which houses more than 300 plant and tress species is a stunning backdrop for those all-important shots for the photobook.

Polly’s varied experience has meant that she’s arranged intimate weddings for 50 people and banquet style weddings for up to 250 guests. No requirement is ever too much hassle and she’ll always go above and beyond to ensure her couples have the best day of their lives.

CLARE LLOYD

Silk Mill Studios, Frome; clarelloyd.co.uk; hello@clarelloyd.co.uk

Clare Lloyd creates beautiful and intricate bridal hair accessories and jewellery inspired by all things floral and botanical. From her studio in Frome Somerset, Clare creates exquisite and luxurious headpieces entirely by hand for modern brides all over the world who are looking for something feminine and romantic to wear on their wedding day. Using recycled precious metals and the finest pearls, crystals and glass seed beads, choose from a gorgeous collection of hair adornments and jewellery or commission Clare to create a bespoke design unique to you.

THE BRISTOL HOTEL

Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QF doylecollection.com/hotels/the-bristol-hotel

Weddings at The Bristol are always fine affairs, with their lofty dimensions, elegant décor and harbourside location. Perfectly suited to today’s more intimate-style weddings, or for more traditional, larger celebrations. Their dedicated and passionate team will work directly with you to craft a bespoke occasion that is completely your own. With wedding menus that feature the finest, freshest, and locally sourced ingredients, alongside perfectly paired wines, the team at The Bristol will help you create happy memories that will last a lifetime. To enquire about hosting your wedding at The Bristol, please call: 0117 923 0333 or email: bristolevents@doylecollection.com

Spring Budget: Ask the experts

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, presented his 2023 Spring Budget to Parliament on 15 March. Here, some of Bristol’s lawyers, accountants, estate agents and banks react to his statement and look at the important changes to consider in the next tax year...

How has the Spring Budget affected tax arrangements for businesses?

The Chancellor’s drive for growth in the Spring Budget has created interesting tax planning opportunities for businesses and their owners. Jeremy Hunt stepped up to the Despatch Box to provide measures that he said would deliver growth to the UK through targeted investment and support for businesses and their workers.

Prior to his announcement, many businesses were concerned about the upcoming increase to Corporation Tax in April, which will see the rate of tax rise from 19 per cent to 25 per cent for businesses with profits of £250,000 or more.

Only those with profits of £50,000 or less would continue to pay this tax at 19 per cent, with those between these two thresholds paying tax at a tapered rate. The Chancellor’s introduction of ‘full expensing’ – 100% tax relief for spend on qualifying plant and equipment – may help some companies grappling with this tax increase, albeit replacing existing reliefs for most.

What are the key points to consider today when it comes to thinking about sustainability and ethical issues in terms of personal finance?

Banks could be playing a critical role driving change on major issues such as climate change and inequality. But unfortunately most banks are not setting strict enough minimum standards, which means that your money could be supporting anything from new fossil fuel projects through to factory farming or deforestation. Our biggest high street banks continue to funnel billions into the fossil fuel sector, when it is precisely our dependence on fossil fuels that is driving up our bills, and not to mention causing immeasurable harm to the planet.

We commissioned some research recently that showed that nearly three quarters of the UK public (73%) believe we need to collectively invest in long-term solutions to the issues the world is facing. There is a striking disconnect for UK consumers between the rising cost of living and decisions being made by banks on what they choose to finance. Thankfully, we are seeing a real change in awareness of the links between personal finances and the wider world. Your banking and finance decisions are now a

Rob Brown, Tax Partner at Milsted Langdon’s Bristol office, said: “For the next three years businesses will be able to write off the full cost of qualifying plant and machinery expenditure in the same year they make the investment.

“This new relief sits alongside a number of existing Capital Allowances to help firms better manage their annual tax bill through investment. This new measure goes some way to replacing the lost relief available from the Super Deduction, which ends on 31 March.”

R&D tax credits also provide an important Corporation Tax relief to many SMEs. In the Autumn Statement, Jeremy Hunt announced changes that would restrict the rate of tax relief and credits for some small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

However, to support “British Ingenuity”, the Government has decided to introduce a new enhanced tax relief for loss-making R&D-intensive SMEs. Eligible companies will be able to receive a tax credit worth £27 from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for every £100 of R&D investment they make.

“This additional relief will be somewhat limited, but it will play a role in driving growth among the most pioneering businesses,” added Rob.

part of being a conscious consumer. You can consult the likes of Which? and Ethical Consumer magazine for independent, impartial advice on green financial products, rating them on sustainable and ethical criteria, and signposting the best buys that you can trust.

The prevalent myth that you have to be very wealthy to make a difference with your money couldn’t be further from the truth. Even a small amount in savings or investments with a sustainable provider reroutes money from harmful sectors into positive ones, and sends a powerful message to the wider finance industry that enough is enough. It’s through collective action that putting your money with a sustainable bank supports a wider ecosystem of green finance that brings about real change.

• Roger Hattam, director of retail banking at Triodos Bank UK

• Rob Brown, Tax Partner at Milsted Langdon's Bristol office

How has the Budget affected pensions?

The removal of the lifetime allowance tax charge and increase to associated pension allowances has raised many questions about how this will look for pension savers.

We are waiting for the finer detail to be published to fully understand the changes but initially it seems positive for people who are high earners such as senior NHS employees who have been facing large tax bills over recent years.

It is effectively a 0 per cent tax charge, so people who were planning to access their pensions but were either exceeding or coming close to the lifetime allowance (LTA) may not need to worry about an extra tax charge in the new tax year. However, with the general election likely in 2024 and a potential new government, a lot of thought needs to go into whether you take advantage of the changes now to be then potentially impacted in the next 18 months to two years.

Therefore, contributing as much as you can before then may not be the most efficient solution and needs to be treated with caution. Another consideration is that the tax-free lump sum entitlement will now be capped at a maximum of £268,275, rather than 25 per cent of the entire pension pot. If a future Labour government reintroduces the LTA, as the party has pledged to, there is uncertainty over what level it will be reintroduced at and the size of any future tax-free lump sum.

Before you make any hasty decisions, I suggest speaking with a financial planner to have advice on the best course of action.

• Lucia Rippa, associate director at Evelyn Partners in Bristol

How has the Budget affected the UK housing market?

The property industry had low expectations of the Budget and it is fair to say, Jeremy Hunt lived up to all of them. It is no secret that very little money is available for crowd-pleasing policies but, the property market did not receive a single mention. Following on from the mini-budget in 2022, where we saw an immediate spike in interest rates and a huge dent in house buyer confidence, some in the industry took a sigh of relief when the Budget announced was actually quite boring. Predictable can sometimes be good, the housing market thrives on stability and confidence.

Potential buyers can now access better-Fixed Rate mortgages and for a longer period than at the end of 2022. The last thing they or house sellers needed was to see the financial markets spooked or for the turmoil to return. Following September 2022, house prices fell for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. The timing, prior to Christmas, afforded many breathing space, time to take stock of the market, their personal situation and the outlook on the economy. Sure, we helped those who needed to move, marriages, births, schooling, death and divorce always provide a base load of transactions but spur of the moment, aspirational sales dried up.

Pleasingly, 2023 has started in a far more positive manner, sellers are more realistic and buyers more able to finance a purchase. Sales volumes are returning, prices are ticking upward slightly and the number of great homes increasing. Across Bristol, the housing market is waking from its winter slumber and Spring looks like it will be a great time to revitalise those moving dreams.

So while the budget didn’t provide any fresh impetus or help for the housing market, it didn’t turn the clock back either. As I said, sometimes boring is best and stability is key.

How has the Budget affected benefits and financial planning?

The UK government’s commitment to promoting work and productivity is evident in the Spring Budget, which includes major reforms to support parents with childcare costs and encourage non-employed individuals over 50 to return to work. The protection of disabled individuals’ benefits while they are employed further emphasises the importance placed on employees and enterprise.

The pension reforms announced are a positive step towards incentivising high earners to work and invest in their pensions. By increasing the annual pension contribution limit from £40,000 to £60,000, individuals with the means to do so will have more flexibility to save for their retirement.

Furthermore, the removal of tax charges via the lifetime allowance for pension values exceeding £1,073,100 will be particularly beneficial to high earners, including NHS doctors, who have previously been disincentivized from working due to the pension-tax regime.

For consumers, while the three-month extension to the energy support scheme will provide critical assistance for those living on the edge, the long-term effects of the cost-of-living crisis will continue to cause stress and anxiety for many people, undoubtedly posing a challenge for the government for some time to come.

• Samuel Gee, director of Manning Gee Investments in Bristol

• Chris McLaughlin, Director of Ocean Estate Agents

“Across Bristol, the housing market is waking from its winter slumber and Spring looks like it will be a great time to revitalise those moving dreams...” says Chris McLaughlin, Director of Ocean Estate Agents

BRISTOL UPDATES

NEWS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

Doors open to St Peter’s Hospice flagship store

The doors opened in March to reveal the latest charity shop for St Peter’s Hospice. The shop, which can be found at 112–114 Whiteladies Road, is the 43rd shop for the Hospice and will be their flagship store. Long-time supporter of St Peter’s Hospice, TV’s Alex Lovell raised a toast at the opening, saying: “I hope you raise squillions here. Cheers to the shop and its opening! We can’t all dig deep at the moment, but we’ve probably got some stuff up in the attic or have some clothes that we don’t fit into that we could bring out and donate and help to raise money for the Hospice.”

St Peter’s Hospice flagship shop is open from 9.30am–5.30pm Monday –Saturday and from 10am–4pm on Sunday. The shop operates a daily quiet hour between 9.30–10.30am (10–11am on Sundays).

• stpetershospice.com

Phenomenal choral success for Redmaids' High students

It has been an outstanding month of choral success and celebration for students at Redmaids’ High School. On 11 March, the Senior Choir and a cappella group Close Encounters took part in the Bristol Festival of Music, Speech & Drama and were both awarded trophies for winning their classes with stunning performances. The Senior Choir won the Susan Weaver trophy for singing VivaLaVida by Coldplay and Soldier, Soldier in the free choice class. Close Encounters won the Malcolm Williams memorial trophy and sang The Sound of Silence and BigSpender to rapturous applause. All the students sang with conviction to an exceptionally high standard to which the adjudicator John Pomphrey was extremely complimentary about both choirs.

The success continued through to 12 March, when Close Encounters travelled to Warwick School for the National Final of the inaugural GSA (Girls’ Schools Association) Choir of the Year. After submitting their video entry for the competition in December, Redmaids’ High received the news in February that Close Encounters were one of only six choirs who had been selected for the competition final. The students, Rosie, Claudia, Maddy, Charlie, Hattie, Emily and Grace really rose to the occasion and performed with vitality and style, captivating the audience to the extent that you could have heard a pin drop at times. After performing against other exceptional choirs, Close Encounters were all delighted to be placed as runner-up with some fabulous feedback from the judges.

Head of Keyboard Studies and long-standing member of the Music Department, Mrs Kate Woodman, who trains both choirs commended the students saying: “Singing is incredibly important at Redmaids’ High, and we are fortunate to have many talented singers who perform in our six outstanding choirs. The girls are committed and work so hard in every rehearsal which is testament to their fantastic achievement at the events over the weekend. The judges were extremely complimentary about their singing, and I am so incredibly proud of them all.”

• redmaidshigh.co.uk

Osborne Clarke announces income protection benefit extension to aged 70

As one of the first legal businesses to sign the Centre for Ageing Better’s Age-friendly Employer Pledge, the firm is pleased to announce it is now extending income protection for colleagues to aged 70.

Partner Co-Champion of the firm’s Age Network, Danielle Kingdon worked closely with the firm’s Head of Reward, Sarah Underhill and colleagues in the age network to increase the core benefit from 65 to 70 for all employees in the firm’s UK business from 1 April 2023.

“Income protection is often considered an important part of good financial planning, ensuring people’s future well-being is protected if illness or injury prevents them from working for an extended period, said Sarah.

Danielle added: “Unfortunately Covid has made us all very aware that the unexpected can happen at any time to anyone. Having a plan in place to ensure you're covered gives some peace of mind if you’re faced with a difficult health situation.”

Income protection is a core benefit that the firm provides at no cost to all its employees. Colleagues qualify for membership provided that they are aged 16 or older, but have not reached the age of 70.

The firm also generously offers a number of funded core benefits for all UK colleagues including, enhanced pension contributions, life assurance, Virtual GP as well as private medical insurance and critical illness that are both treated as a taxable benefit. This is in addition to a number of flexible familyfriendly, lifestyle and health and wellbeing benefits that people can personalise to suit their lives and needs.

Being a responsible and ethical business and employer underpins Osborne Clarke’s business strategy. The Osborne Clarke For Good framework is the firm’s way of ensuing it is a good corporate citizen, a good employer and a good business.

• osborneclarke.com

Woodland wonderland

Each spring, from around St George’s Day (23 April) to mid-May, many of England’s woodlands are transformed as bluebells come into bloom beneath the budding trees. The azure haze of this brief annual spectacle is one of the most beguiling natural sights this country has to offer, and if you go online you’ll find numerous lists recommending the best places to see it.

One spot that never seems to feature on these lists is Workman’s Wood, a few miles north of Stroud, yet this glorious beech wood, clinging to the slopes of the steep-sided valley of the Sheepscombe Brook, is among the hidden treasures of the Cotswolds. The National Trust (NT), which owns and manages the wood, admits as much on its website, telling us that it ‘is quiet and peaceful all year round, since it is not near a main road and access is not obvious, so it doesn’t receive many visitors’.

Although access may not be obvious, the tracks that thread the wood make for relatively easy walking – albeit with occasional steep and muddy stretches – and there is little in the way of stiles or other obstacles to worry about. Best of all, perhaps – which makes the lack of visitors even more puzzling – the easiest place to begin and end a walk through Workman’s Wood is by one of the finest traditional pubs in the Cotswolds.

The only problem – if it can be regarded as a problem – is that, although the wood is threaded by a multitude of paths, and although there are numerous sets of waymarks, information on the trails they indicate is seemingly non-existent. On top of which, no map – not even the Ordnance Survey – shows all the paths. So, while I have suggested a circular walk that takes in its varied landscapes and habitats, there are many other options, and, should you find yourself

heading along the wrong track, all you need do is to head back roughly the same way you came to return to the starting point.

Sheepscombe lies five miles north of Stroud, and the network of lanes leading to it takes you through Slad, immortalised by Laurie Lee in Cider with Rosie. He lived in Slad until his death in 1997 and was a familiar face not only at the Woolpack there, but also at the Butcher’s Arms in Sheepscombe, where our walk starts (SO891104: GL6 7RH). There is limited parking in the lane near the pub, and at busy times you may need to park across the valley on the lane leading up to the church.

To the left of the pub (opposite the gates to the vicarage) head up a steep lane which soon degenerates into a rough track. Carry on through a gate, continue uphill, and, when you emerge on Sheepscombe Common, bear left up a well-walked track curving diagonally uphill through an area scarred by quarrying.

Over to the right you will see Sheepscombe’s cricket ground. Laurie Lee loved village cricket and was a great friend of Sheepscombe’s demon bowler and local poet Frank Mansell. Laurie bought the ground in 1971 in memory of his uncles who were founder members of the club, and the club still owns it today.

After 125m, a gate leads into Lord’s Wood. Carry straight on (ignoring two turnings to the left) following bridleway signs, and, after 300m, you will see an ivy-covered wall ahead (SO892110). A left turn here would take you into Lady’s Wood, on the edge of the escarpment, and also carpeted with bluebells at this time of year. We, however, will be turning right, along the path less taken, to Workman’s Wood.

After 200m, after the track goes through a wide gap in the wall, carry straight on, with a fence over to your left, for another 150m.

As bluebells come into bloom in woodlands around the country, Andrew Swift discovers a hidden treasure of the Cotswolds at Workman’s Wood...

When you come to a gate, cross a slab stile – little more than a high step – beside it and fork left along a broad track (S0896108).

Carry on as the terrain grows increasingly dramatic, shelving steeply away through the trees below you. The range of buildings which appear high on the ridge ahead after 600m belonged to Ebworth House, which was demolished in the late 20th century. They are now used by the NT as a base for forestry and conservation operations. A little further on, as you curve round the contours, ignore waymarks pointing up a steep path on the left, and carry on along the broad track (SO900112). A few metres further on, when it joins another track, carry straight on uphill. At a crosstrack with a wood carving of the head of a green man, carry straight on downhill, following a green oak-leaved NT waymark.

Carry on following NT waymarks for 600m, until you come to a fork (SO904115). Below you on the right you will see a large hut with a corrugated-iron roof. It houses a pumping station, and was part of an extensive system of pumps, rams and ponds which supplied water to Ebworth House.

Instead of following the NT waymark here, fork right downhill. After 250m, when a track joins from the left – and the NT waymarks resume – carry straight on, but a little further on turn sharp right to double back downhill (ignoring the NT waymark pointing ahead).

When a track joins from the left, carry on, but a few metres further on turn left down a track doubling back downhill alongside a spring.

When you come to a track running along the bottom of the valley, turn right along it (SO906113). After 100m you come to a shelter with benches, an ideal place to stop and soak in the atmosphere of this hidden valley. Old maps show that it was once known as Slade Bottom. It’s only been known as Workman’s Wood since 1989, when it was renamed after John Workman, who oversaw the transfer of the Ebworth Estate to the NT.

Follow the track as it runs alongside two large ponds, and

continue on in the same direction past another pumping station (SO902109). After another 250m, when the track forks, don’t follow the bridleway sign but bear right uphill.

At a T junction, bear left, and at a crosstrack carry straight on uphill. When the track forks, continue uphill, but at the next crosstrack turn left along it, following a public footpath waymark.

This leads through a gate into St George’s Field, owned by the Guild of St George, a charity for arts, crafts and the rural economy founded by John Ruskin in 1871 (SO896107). Take a track branching right across the field, and on the far side – faced with two handgates – go through the one on the left. Carry on in the same direction, crossing a broad path, and, after going through the gate you came through at the start of the walk, head back down to the Butchers Arms. n

• akemanpress.com

FACT FILE

Starting point: Butchers Arms, Sheepscombe (SO891104: GL6 7RH); butchers-arms.co.uk

Length of walk: 4 miles

Approximate time: 2 –3 hours

Accessibility: Some steep sections but mostly along good paths; one low slab stile

Map: OS Explorer 179

The path beside the ponds

The walk starts and finishes at the Butchers Arms

Hit aches and pains for six

Ian Botham has made his second miraculous comeback since Headingley 1981, and it’s all thanks to this Sports Gel.

July 2022, when Ian Botham was at his least mobile, his son Liam sent him a tube of EthicaCBD Sports Gel and “3 weeks later, he was walking around Sunningdale”

(Liam Botham)

Within 3 weeks of using the soothing gel, Ian was back walking around Sunningdale golf course and in September 2022 he returned to competitive golfing, playing 3 rounds at the Dunhill Links. Prior to receiving the Gel, Sir Ian had not walked a course for over 2 years.

“This magical stuff should be called a Mobility Gel, rather than a Sports Gel.”

EthicaCBD is a Cornish brand, based in the seaside town, Bude. Chatting with Sean Jack at HPT Sports in Bude, who is seeing the benefits of the Sports Gel as both a stockist and a consumer, he shared that he thought the product should be called something else other than a ‘Sports Gel’, because it’s helping a wide variety of

customers with their aches and pains - not just sporty types. Sean personally uses the Gel in the mornings to help with the crooked neck he wakes up with, and his best customer is in fact his mum, who’s seeing notable daily benefits using the gel on her joints. More locally however, one of their Bristol stockists, Jack the Falafel (Gloucester Road) shared their thoughts on the topical CBD gel.

“It definitely works. My wife and I have been using this Sports Gel since before we stocked it, and found that it really helps with any soreness in the muscles and joints. Since taking on the product in our cafe/store on Gloucester Road, we’ve heard various customers reporting pretty incredible results. One of my favourite examples:

I saw a customer sitting for coffee with a tube of Voltarol on the table. I opened up a fresh tube of the EthicaCBD Sports Gel and said ‘try this’... I was confident he would notice a difference. He went to the bathroom to rub some onto his lower back, then returned to finish his coffee. Before he left the shop, he gave the tube of Voltarol to his son and bought himself 2 tubes of the gel. It really does work, and people can feel it.”

Wild Oats, the oldest health store in Bristol is also stocking this game-changing formula:

“We have some older customers who use the product for general aches and pains.

There was a lady who tried the tester in store for a trapped nerve in her shoulder and found almost instant relief. She felt more open in that shoulder after. The store manager who does powerlifting has used it after the gym and enjoys the refreshing scent and soothing quality. I have used it on my abdomen for cramping and it feels really refreshing and cooling, eases pain to give some relief.”

Following glowing reviews from a spectrum of customers, and after receiving compelling testimonials from Ian Botham and other sporting icons like Nigel Owens and Matt Le Tissier, it’s become clear that EthicaCBD underestimated how powerful this formula would be for helping 50+ individuals improve their mobility. It’s so much more than a sports gel, and as Ian quite rightly says, “People should use it. If they need it, use it.” After all, aches and pains certainly don’t discriminate.

Who are EthicaCBD?

EthicaCBD spent 2 years developing this complex formula, hoping to find the perfect way to combine CBD & CBG with loads of naturally therapeutic botanicals. Based on the response they’re having from people of all walks of life, it looks like they might’ve found that perfect recipe.

EthicaCBD are very much a local south-west brand, who do everything they can to support the south-west, so it’s a delight to see these guys making a global impact, even earning a win at the World CBD Awards for their cosmetic products. Since officially cementing their position as world-leaders in cosmetic CBD products such as their CBD Sports Gel, they’ve received glowing endorsements from sporting icons such as:

Sir Ian Botham (‘England’s Best Ever All-Rounder’)

Nigel Owens (Rugby Union Refereeing Legend)

Matt Le Tissier (100 Premier League Goals)

As the name says, EthicaCBD have gone to great lengths to ensure that every aspect of their business is as ethical as possible. They’re known for creating “the highest quality ethical CBD for people & planet”, so every decision they make holds customer wellbeing and environmental protection as a priority.

If you’d like to learn more, please visit ethicacbd.com or pop in to see one of their Bristol Stockists:

Wild Oats - Redland

Jack The Falafel - Gloucester Road

“Let’s get the world moving again. It’s only natural.” - Ruarri Spurgeon, Director of EthicaCBD

“Sometimes you can do all the talking in the world, but when it comes down to it, it’s gotta work… and this really works”

- Sir Ian Botham

MEETTHEMAKERS

fire iron art

From her forge on Bristol harbour, Joanna Williams – founder of Fire Iron Art – uses the ancient craft of blacksmithing to bring her original designs to life, creating elegant sculptures and distinctive high quality functional pieces. This month, we stepped inside her workshop to discover more about this brilliant female artist blacksmith…

Tell us about your background and what first sparked your interest in blacksmithing...

I began sculpting in metal during my degree studies at Dartington College of Arts. There was a disused forge in the workshop so I designed a sculpture to be able to utilise it. I didn’t know anything about blacksmithing so it was a matter of trial and error. I was fascinated by how malleable the metal became with the application of heat, the material had so many more possibilities and I was excited to discover what it would enable me to create.

How did you come to found Fire Iron Art?

I followed a number of different career paths, all within the creative arts. Suitable opportunities to work with metal were difficult to find so I decided to be proactive and went to the national school of blacksmithing in Hereford. I trained for three years in traditional forging, fabrication and welding, graduating as ‘top student’ with triple distinctions before moving into my first workshop and setting up Fire Iron Art.

Since then, my level of skill has been recognised by the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths, who awarded me a Certificate of Merit (A.W.C.B).

As a woman, I have had to strive harder to be recognised and accepted as being accomplished in what I do. I am proud to be amongst a small number of successful women blacksmiths that are breaking through in a predominantly male profession.

Tell us about the items you make...

My work encompasses an extensive range including contemporary sculpture and decorative functional items for the home and garden, to architectural ironwork and bespoke pieces for clients. I have been creating exquisite floral ironwork since I began forging, establishing a reputation for my high-quality workmanship and elegant interpretations of flowers and foliage.

Garden features are designed to adorn their surroundings. My current collection includes stylised herons and dancing cranes that look striking alongside my hand- forged bulrushes. Textured fronds add architectural height, while individually crafted flower stakes can stand as decorative elements all year round, being re-positioned when needed to serve as a plant support when required.

I work from my own original ideas and designs, hand forging each element which results in truly unique pieces. Even when making limited quantities within the same range, every item still has its own individual charm. Effectively all my items are ‘one off’.

Where can customers see and buy your work?

I sell directly from the forge. Customers are welcome to contact me to find out about current available pieces for sale and arrange a visit or drop by the forge if I am open and not busy.

I will be exhibiting at the Easter Sculpture Festival at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden between 7 – 10 April and at Venue 23 during North Somerset Arts Week from 28 April – 5 May.

Artist blacksmith Joanna Williams ©JeffHillBudPics

Can you describe your process of designing and making custom metalwork from scratch?

I start by sketching to get my ideas on paper before conducting thorough research. I draw from my influences and knowledge to decide which techniques will achieve the shapes and textures I desire and best convey the message and feel of the piece.

Calculation of materials, order of process, tools required or needed to be made and estimation of time to create are just some of the aspects that have to be considered before the design is refined and forging commences.

In the workshop, I begin by making my samples, exploring options to see what will suit best. Over time the piece develops and it is exciting when all the elements finally come together. Refinements are followed by extensive surface finishing.

I often ‘free forge’ working from a sketch with no measurements or set plan, utilising my skills to create with artistic freedom and no constraints, allowing the sculpture to evolve with each element and grow organically. This unconventional approach gives my work a remarkably different feel.

Can you describe your style and influences?

My style is quite eclectic and always evolving. I think being a female blacksmith gives me a unique perspective that influences my designs and reflects in my work. Each piece warrants its own style, some translate best with rich texture and intricate details, while other pieces are minimal, focussing on the technique, clean lines and simplicity of the form. I enjoy the variety as it keeps my work fresh and dynamic.

The most obvious aspect present in all my work is tactility. I am deprived of touching the hot steel during its creation so I aim to incorporate a tactile dimension where the piece can be experienced and explored through the surface textures, flowing lines and changes in dimension.

My hammer is effectively my hand forming the metal so, like a sculptor working in clay, every impression in the material is part of the piece and individual to the artist creating it. Movement is another aspect I like to capture, freezing a moment of action and implying softness and delicacy in the cold, hard, inanimate steel.

Nature is of course a great source of inspiration, full of sinuous lines, fascinating shapes and intricate surfaces. I find the

mathematical sequences and complex structures captivating.

I am always looking at new ways of working. Dartington College taught me to push boundaries and blacksmithing gave me the means to do that in metal. Mistakes can often produce amazing shapes and effects that might not have been discovered if following the known methodology. I have been given a remarkable opportunity by Arts Council England to explore my artistic practice and am looking forward to seeing what I will discover and how my work develops.

Do you teach your skills to others?

Yes, I run blacksmith experience days where no previous experience is necessary. Currently, I teach the session on a one-to-one basis. I create a relaxed environment where student safety and enjoyment of the day is my priority while they hand forge a number of pieces, under my guidance, which are theirs to keep and treasure.

How can customers submit their commissions? How do you help people bring their visions to life?

I take on a limited amount of commissions each year. Customers are welcome to get in touch, preferably by email to discuss their bespoke project. I work with my clients to reach a design they are happy with and fits their needs and explain how I can interpret their ideas into metal. On occasion, clients come to the forge, where they can see samples, feel the size and weight of different metal bars. This can help them visualize how a piece might look or highlight things they might not have considered.

• For more information about Fire Iron Art, visit: fireironart.com. For enquiries and commissions, email: fireironart@yahoo.com

Stylised heron and bulrush sculpture ©Fire Iron Art

Textured garden fronds ©Fire Iron Art

Hand forged red rose buds ©Fire Iron Art

MEETTHEMAKERS

MOCKRIDGEBESPOKE carpentry

Cory Mockridge –founder of Mockridge Bespoke Carpentry –has been creating bespoke furniture for homes in the Bristol and Bath area for the last five years. Here, we take a closer look at his creative designs, innovative solutions and how his team are taking every project from concept to completion...

Tell us about your background in carpentry and how you came to found Mockridge Bespoke Carpentry...

I inherited my love of carpentry from my father. He taught me skills and techniques while I worked alongside him in his business, operating mainly in and around the Bristol and Bath area. He still supports what we do today and is one of our highly skilled tradespeople.

I knew that I wanted to produce individualised, bespoke pieces –pieces that I would be proud to own myself. I felt that the best way to achieve that would be to offer my customers a personal service, which was when Mockridge Bespoke Carpentry was born. Our family of local customers have helped the business grow into what it is today.

Tell us about your design and build process, how you take each project from concept to completion and create exactly the right bespoke design and finish...

From our experiences of working with both professionally qualified and personally invested people over many years, we’ve developed a process that enables all parties to achieve the very best outcome. Upon receiving initial contact from our customers via our website, email or telephone, we book in a free consultation to discuss their project. This would start as a phone call where we would discuss the basics of their project and book a home survey at a convenient time. During this home visit, we would take them through some of our current samples and finishes, answer any questions they may have and create a design brief.

The next step would be to send the brief to our 3D designer, who

would create drawings of the project. The drawings would include the customer’s desired materials and colours. The design can be revised as many times as necessary to ensure they’re 100% satisfied with the design concept.

The workshop team then starts crafting the bespoke piece, taking everything directly from the 3D model to ensure every detail is identical to the computer-aided design plan.

We then finish every item by hand, whether it be a sprayed, oiled or lacquered finish. This is when we would confirm an installation date with the customer. It would generally be two weeks from the day we start the finishing process.

Due to the carefully planned design and manufacturing process, our installations for most projects typically take two –three days. At this point, our customers can sit back and enjoy their new piece of bespoke furniture.

What are some of your most favourite creations to date?

Perhaps the most satisfying achievements come when a customer’s expectations are exceeded. One that springs to mind was an understairs wine store where we had free reins to get creative. We came up with a design that would ultimately become one of the main selling points of the property years later. We were able to completely transform a large entrance hallway into a breathtaking entrance. Nothing compares to seeing our customers happy with their brand-new builds.

CoryMockridge

Equally, there have been projects where the customer has had a very strict brief, where they’ve sent us a design and asked to match the style to existing furniture. We were able to exactly match the stain and handle details to create a bespoke piece that couldn’t be told apart from the original. When we say bespoke, we really mean it!

Where do you source your materials?

We source our panel products from two suppliers local to the South West, we’ve worked well with them over the last five years. This ensures we have the ability to hand-pick the boards we need for our customer’s product and can guarantee that they are of the highest quality. We support and utilise local trades, which means we give a personal service from our 3D designer through to our spray finishing.

Tell us about your sustainable practices...

Working predominantly with natural wood products is a joy and keeps us true to the world we live in. We recognise our responsibilities here and have started planting trees to replace those used in producing our pieces. By doing that, we hope that our customers will also feel that they are part of that process.

How can customers submit their commissions?

Initial contact is usually made either by email or telephone. We’ll marry up our brief with a choice of options that our customers can shape and adapt to work towards making their dreams come true. That might sound a bit grand but that’s exactly what we work towards. n

• For more information about Mockridge Bespoke Carpentry, visit: mockridgebespokecarpentry.co.uk

“We came up with a design that would ultimately become one of the main selling points of the property years later. We were able to completely transform a large entrance hallway into a breathtaking entrance. ..”

Growing together

As we celebrate Community Garden Week this month, Elly West looks at how local communities are turning unused plots into green sanctuaries...

Community gardens are thriving across our city, with people getting together and turning what might be an otherwise unused and derelict plot into a green sanctuary. The benefits of such spaces are far-reaching, celebrated this month by a designated Community Garden Week, from 3 –9 April. Greening up our city has an obvious aesthetic appeal, but community gardens are much more than this, providing places to relax, a way to engage with nature, connect with likeminded people, and in some cases they provide a source of fresh food that everyone can freely enjoy.

Around half of the world’s population lives in cities. Community gardens are especially valuable in urban areas where there is a lack of access to open space, and individual gardens might be small or nonexistent. They also provide learning opportunities, a chance to develop self-esteem, job skills and confidence. Many of the larger projects in Bristol have close links with local schools, allowing children to spend time at grass-roots level, get in touch with nature and encouraging them to eat healthily.

Although community gardens are growing in popularity in recent years, they date back at least to the early 19th century, when public land gardening plots were allocated to the poor by the government, allowing people to grow flowers and vegetables in public spaces. RHS Britain in Bloom is the UK’s largest community gardening competition, first held in 1963. This annual event sees neighbourhoods across the UK, from small villages to large cities, working to improve their local environment. In 2021, the Royal Horticultural Society set up the first Community Awards, in recognition of the growth of community gardens, and of their particular importance during lockdown as places to relax, engage with nature, meet with others and get active outdoors.

In Bristol, the Incredible Edible project (ediblebristol.org.uk), founded by Sara Venn, has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2014. There are now more than 40 edible gardens around the city, whether in parks, street corners or station platforms, where food is free for anyone to take and eat. Sometimes this may be just a planter box filled with crops, but there are also larger gardens, for example in Millennium Square, the Bear Pit, and Quakers Burial Ground on Redcliffe Way. These are looked after by volunteers, to benefit the community.

Other community projects around Bristol include Blaise Community Garden, a walled garden that is part of the Blaise Estate, and has been restored by a team of volunteers over the last ten years. This special space is open to visitors from 10am-2pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays, plus Mondays from April to October, and features beehives, ponds, raised beds and glasshouses. New volunteers are always welcome. There are various events throughout the year including the annual spring market on 29 April. Visit blaisecommunitygarden.org.uk for more information.

St Werburghs City Farm on Watercress Road is home to a one-acre community plot that has free public access all year round, with a mix of flowers, vegetables and soft fruit. It’s a green city sanctuary, next to Narroways Nature Reserve, and a great spot for a wander and a picnic, or a visit to the café. All are welcome at the weekly social gardening sessions on Thursday mornings. Visit swcityfarm.co.uk to find out more.

Grow Wilder in Stapleton, run by Avon Wildlife Trust and a team of volunteers, is a six-acre urban oasis that’s open to visitors all year round. The aim is to engage and inspire local people to connect with nature and learn new skills, while conserving natural habitats in the city. There’s also a wildflower nursery on site

(avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/explore/grow-wilder).

Redcatch Community Garden in Knowle has been created over the past six years by a group of volunteers, who have transformed a disused bowling green into a vibrant garden, open daily from 9.30am-4pm. The garden brings local people together to learn, socialise, share skills and support mental health and wellbeing, and new volunteers are always welcome. There’s also a café on site. Visit redcatchcommunitygarden.com.

There are also numerous smaller projects around Bristol, gatherings of like-minded people wanting to green up their surroundings. If you’re feeling inspired to create a community garden near you, then the first step is to find a piece of land and contact the local council to find out who owns it, so that you can seek permission for your project. Gather like-minded people, perhaps by speaking to local groups, schools or businesses who may want to get involved, and visit other community gardens to get ideas.

When it comes to designing your community garden, decide how you want to use it, whether it’s for growing food, attracting wildlife, or a sensory or well-being garden for relaxation, or all of the above. Look at the size and shape of your space, the type of soil, how much light it gets and take into consideration any permanent features that you’ll need to work round. Depending on the scale of the project, you may also need to think about water supply, access, storage of equipment and security. Alternatively, you might just want to add a few planters to your neighbourhood or cultivate a small plot to make it more attractive for everyone to enjoy. n

• ellyswellies.co.uk

Plant of the Month: Sweet pea

Now is the perfect time to plant sweet pea seeds outside. They’re easy to grow and will provide height, scent and colour through the summer with the right care and attention. There are lots of colours and variations to choose from, also multi-coloured varieties, and their sweet-smelling blooms will attract bees and butterflies to the garden. The large seeds are easy to handle, making them a popular choice for greenfingered children, but have a hard shell that can impede germination, so soak seeds in water overnight to soften them before planting. Choose a warm and sunny spot where possible, and sow the seeds about 1cm deep beneath supports such as obelisks or a wigwam of canes, or against a fence with some wires or trellis to scramble up. They are selfclinging, so shouldn't need tying in.

The key to success with sweet peas is feeding and dead heading. A high-potash fertiliser such as tomato feed will reap rewards, and pick the stems regularly to keep the flowers coming, otherwise they can quickly all turn to pods and their job is done for the year. They make great cut flowers for indoors, where you can continue to enjoy their fragrance.

and a wonderful attitude to life. As a well known quilter she relys on her hands but in recent years arthritic changes set in throughout her hands, leading to severe pain and inability to make a fist.

In April 22 we embarked on 2 courses of MBST to treat both her hand cartilage and bone marrow oedema in her fingers. She was in the top 30% of fast responders, very quickly being able to close her fist for the first time in years. Her pain diminished and is still doing very well with the occasional top up of laser therapy. A real transformation in a difficult condition to treat.

50% off your rent for 6 months*

Re charge Re create Relive Rent now

Benefitting from a prime location in Bristol, The Vincent is a stunning collection of independent living apartments exclusively for people over 60. Situated within the expansive greenery of The Downs in Bristol’s Redland district.

The Vincent offers an exclusive collection of 64 one, two and three bedroom homes designed and finished to a highspecification. These are spread across the beautifully restored Queen Victoria House, originally built in 1886, and two new Regency-style terraces - Charlotte and Jacob - that overlook the grounds and are named with a nod to the history of Queen Victoria

House. Beyond The Vincent, the leafy beauty of Redland and Clifton awaits you. Lovely tree-lined paths lead to Clifton Village, while the bustling route along Whiteladies Road into the city centre help to make this a desirable place to call home.

With a thriving community, this beautiful community has been designed for social connection. Homeowners and rental members can seek out their friends in the comfortable communal lounge, or head out to the landscaped gardens. On-site amenities also include a wellness spa and gym and restaurant, The Cheese Platter.

Choosing what matters

Downsizing your home can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Each Pegasus community is comprised of modern and stylish homes designed to be low maintenance and to free up more of your time to do what matters most– whether time with family, pursuing hobbies or taking advantage of beautiful locations close by. Jill and Ray Lockhart, who moved to The Vincent, Bristol, told Pegasus: "People often wait until it’s too late. We got to the point were we no longer wanted to be responsible for a house or garden nor to become isolated”

“On a beautiful sunny day, one of our daughters, who lives in Bristol, said she had discovered the perfect place close by – The Vincent. So we popped in to get a feel for the place.

Keith, the general manager, met us in the foyer with a warm welcome; it was amazing. We looked around several apartments and thought wow.

e Vincent offers one, two and three-bedroom contemporary homes from £400,000 - £1,250,000 or £2,479 pcm to rent.

One of the apartments we saw, we are actually living in now. Within less than a week of viewing we said yes.”

Recharge, recreate, relive, rent now

Choosing a later life that is right for you has never felt so good. Buy, Rent or even Rent to Buy; with our completed apartments and communities designed just for you. If you

thevincent@lifestory.group

lifestory.group/thevincent

Call 0117 205 2920

The Vincent, Redland Hill, Bristol

choose to rent at The Vincent you can receive 50% off your rent for 6 months if you reserve and move-in by 30th June 2023*.

*Terms and conditions apply. Please speak to a member of our team for further details. Prices correct at time of going to print

“We are so glad we made the move to e Vincent. We feel this has been a gift at this stage of our lives.”

JILL AND RAY LOCKHART

The Vincent

Natural inspiration

Biophilic design is thought to reduce stress, improve wellbeing and enhance creativity. This month, Rupert Oliver of Rupert Oliver Property Agents celebrates Earth Day (22 April) with a guide as to how biophilic principles might be incorporated into your interior design scheme...

Coined by psychoanalyst Erich Fromm, the term “biophilia” refers to a “passionate love of life and of all that is alive… whether in a person, a plant, an idea, or a social group”. Since Fromm, scientists, philosophers and artists alike have built on the idea that humans have an innate, evolutionary need to connect with the natural world – and interior design principles inspired by the term aim to increase the strength of this connection, so that even when we’re inside, we feel a strong, energising affinity with the out.

Direct Biophlic Design: Let in the light

Biophilic design can be divided into two categories: direct, and indirect. The former incorporates a first hand experience of nature into the home. Think fresh air, natural light and flowers. Indirect, on the other hand, refers to mere evocations, or suggestions, of the natural world. For example, the colour schemes and materials on display in a biophilic home, which serve to prompt a subconscious connection with nature.

One of the quickest ways to incorporate direct biophilic design into your living space is, as mentioned above, to maximise the amount of natural light flooding in. Make sure you haven’t got anything blocking the windows, and opt for pale decorative colour schemes (more on which later) to ensure that light bounces off walls and furniture, as opposed to being absorbed by it. If you have the means and planning permission to do so, another great way of letting in the light is with an internal courtyard, which brings nature

from the periphery of a building to the literal centre of things.

Get green fingered

Another obvious (but some may say foolhardy) way of playing by the biophilic rules is to bring in as many houseplants as a given space will allow. You can start small – a few well-placed plants on your desk will do the trick – or, if you’re got the experience, opt for a living wall. The latter takes a fair amount of maintenance and technical knowhow, so consider your passion for plants before committing.

Indirect Biophilic Design: Material, colour, shape

Try to replace any plastic, industrial metal and the like with organic alternatives: wood, clay, cork, timber and so on. In a similar vein, natural tones are best when it comes to picking the colour palette for a space. You’re trying to mimic nature, so think soft greens, teals and earthen shades. You might choose to use an eco-paint coloured with natural pigments to really evoke the outside world. The shapes on display in your home should be kept similarly organic. Irregular, imperfect forms sit far more comfortably within the biophilic bracket than hard, 90-degree angles, so avoid anything rigid. Furniture is a good way in here: a live edge dining table, for example – where the sides of the piece are left in their original, wood-knotted form rather than being sanded down to a sharp, clean line – can work biophilic wonders.

• rupertoliver.co.uk; 14 Waterloo Street, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4BT

FOR SALE – Former Seamen’s Church & Institute, Prince St. Bristol

A CHARACTER, FREEHOLD BUILDING OFFERING DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL

• The building dates back to 1880 and was used as a shore base for missionaries to spread the Gospel to the crews of the ships using the Bristol Channel. The building is of local historic interest and is located within the City and Queen Square Conservation Area.

• The property is available by way of a sale of the freehold with vacant possession.

• Suitable for a wide range of different uses to include residential or alternative commercial uses (subject to planning).

• Unconditional offers in excess of £550,000 are sought.

• Approximate GIA of 8,100 sq ft (752.5 sq m) (N.B these areas

Further information can be obtained via the sole agent: Burston Cook:

Finola@burstoncook.co.uk

BRISTOL & CLIFTON’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS

Keep up-to-date with our latest news, deals, testimonials and market comment at our website: www.burstoncook.co.uk

Parklands, Kingswood FOR SALE - POA

The property comprises 7 lock up garages which sit on a site of circa 0.07 acres. There are five garages in one block and two garages in the second block. Available with vacant possession. May suit development subject to planning.

36 The Mall, Clifton TO LET - £24,500 PAX 749 sq ft (69.58 sq m)

A good sized (749 sq ft) attractive Class E shop unit in a prime spot on The Mall in Clifton Village. Set over ground and lower ground floors and could suit a range of uses.

Buckingham Court, BS32 TO LET - £15.50 psf pax

3,089 sq ft (287 sq m)

A self-contained office building offering modern accommodation within an established business park with good road connections. Excellent parking ratio being 1:257 sq ft.

Queen Square, BS1 TO LET – POA

2,506 sq ft (233 sq m)

A bright office suite with dual aspect outlook towards Broad Quay and across Queen Square. Attractive, high quality fit out to include air conditioning and LED lighting.

Former Seamen’s Church & Institute, Prince Street, FOR SALE

Best Bids - 31st March 2023

A freehold building with character and development potential. The property was formerly used as a church and Institute. OIEO £550,00

Coronation Road, BS3 FOR SALE – POA

10,713 sq ft (995.26 sq m)

An impressive, detached building prominently located, providing open plan office space with excellent on-site car parking. The property could be suitable for a range of uses STP.

154 WHITELADIES ROAD, CLIFTON TO LET - £22,500

1,203 sq ft (111.76 sq m)

Large Class E unit split over ground and lower ground floor, situated on the ever popular Whiteladies Road. May suit a range of uses. Available by way of a new lease to be agreed.

Queen Square, Bristol TO LET (MAY SELL) – POA

3,539 sq ft (329 sq m)

An impressive Georgian office building with a triple window façade and attractive views across the Square. Currently used as offices and due to be fully refurbished. Available to rent or for sale by way of the long leasehold!

Wells Road BS4 INVESTMENT FOR SALE

£350,00 exclusive

Fully let to a high quality bar/restaurant operator producing £24,000 per annum. Forming part of a beautifully refurbished building in a densely populated area close to the City centre.

Queen Square, BS1 TO LET - £26.50 psf pax

2,728 sq ft (253 sq m)

A modern, newly refurbished, open-plan office. The specification includes air conditioning, bike storage, shower facilities, and two car parking spaces.

Life on the Harbourside

McArthur’s Yard is an exclusive development comprising 142 one, two and three bedroom apartments and duplexes. Arranged over three elegantly designed buildings, it is located in one of Bristol’s most sought-after neighbourhoods - the thriving harbourside area.

Crafted by award-winning developer, Guinness Homes, this stylish development is situated on one of the last remaining undeveloped sites on the harbourside, providing residents a unique opportunity of experiencing the city’s personality and vigour all from a tranquil waterside setting. Each home is thoughtfully designed and finished to an exceptional standard, boasting stunning open-plan living areas, modern bathrooms and fashionable kitchens that will leave you in awe. Many of the residences feature a balcony or terrace, water views and convenient underground car parking.

Just a stone’s throw from the water and SS Great Britain, the cultural significance of Bristol’s harbourside is palpable from the moment you arrive. The area was formerly a bustling dock where sailors and merchants would trade goods and embark on voyages of discovery. Today, it is a blossoming creative hub, with Spike Island arts centre and the infamous Aardman Studios practically on your doorstep.

McArthur’s Yard is ideally positioned with restaurants, theatres, galleries, cinemas, sporting activities and supermarkets all within easy reach. During the summer months, residents can enjoy a plethora of activities such as paddleboarding along the water, or soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of Wapping Wharf – a new quarter with quality cafés, trendy independent bars and first-class restaurants, including the highly acclaimed Tare or Box-E.

The harbourside location offers the best of both worlds – all the amenities and entertainment you need from the city, but with easy access to nature and the countryside. Within walking distance lies the stunning Ashton Court Estate, a country park and mansion with over 850 acres of woodland and grassland. With a deer park, pitch-andputt golf courses and even a miniature railway, there’s ample opportunity to venture beyond typical city activities. For a change of pace, hop on the waterbus and explore the city from the river, or visit Clifton Village and discover its delightful boutiques, pubs, and independent shops.

With its convenient proximity to Bristol’s important transport hubs, navigating Bristol and beyond is a breeze from McArthur’s Yard. In fact, the city centre and Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station are both within a 20-minute walk, giving you speedy access to London and the rest of the UK. Getaways to the likes of Paris and New York are easy and stress-free, with Bristol International Airport only a 19minute car journey away.

In terms of the site, it was built with a strong emphasis on history and sustainability. The area was formerly known as McArthur’s Warehouse, once the headquarters of the McArthur’s Group - a Bristol-based metal merchant founded in the 1860s. Originally built as a malt house, it had fallen into disrepair over the last 20 years. Now, it’s set to become a building development of the future for Bristol residents.

The site’s ecological footprint has been firmly considered with bird and bat boxes included on the landscaping, as have swift-friendly bricks along the graving dockside, giving a cosy home to a few extra residents.

The Guinness Partnership owns and manages over 66,000 homes across England, providing services for 140,000 customers and care services for 10,000 people. Having been established for 130 years, it is one of the largest housing and care providers in the country. Its vision is to improve people’s lives by providing as many high-quality homes as possible, and its entire surplus is reinvested into building more homes and improving services.

Apartments are now available to purchase off plan with prices from £323,000. Enquire now by calling 0117 910 0360 or by visiting mcarthursyard.co.uk.

Why rightsizing is on the rise with those looking for a unique home

Finding the dream

Rightsizing is also about realising ambitions. We find many city buyers long for quieter surroundings and space, and living in the country has been a long-term goal. For others, there is a passion for a particular architectural style, and as we know, Georgian properties are in abundance throughout this region.

When it comes to looking for a home in this area, we find buyers know what they want but not the property they need. Every unique home offers something special; they all have that fascinating feature, a range of garden designs and come in a wealth of sizes. As each is individual, it would be impossible for a buyer to envision exactly one of these homes, which is why the expertise of our team is so essential.

Perfect match

Not all of our unique homes are advertised online, and we also know of properties where the sellers may only decide to move should the right buyer be found. This is why the high-end property market works in a very different way to the more familiar residential sales. We understand the importance of not just finding the ideal home for a buyer but we also know that it has to be the right size too.

When it comes to property, most of us have heard of upsizing and downsizing, but are you familiar with rightsizing? Rightsizing is a term often used in business; in this scenario, instead of downsizing by reducing a team for financial benefits, rightsizing is about adjusting the workforce to one that is an appropriate size for the company. Life is about balance, and we want to make decisions that we hope will improve our future. Rightsizing is one way that you can embrace a change in lifestyle but finding the one that is appropriate for your future plans.

Post pandemic

We would be amiss if we didn’t address the impact that the pandemic has had on people’s decision making. The major shift in work patterns has seen a rapid rise in the number of remote and hybrid roles, and according to the 2022 Google Community Mobility Report, there has been a drop in the number of people searching for workplaces in Somerset, and this shift in work patterns is most likely the reason.

Buyers are needing homes that serve as a workplace also. This often includes studio spaces or even an extra kitchen or space to house one. Our homes are more than a place to live: they need to fulfil a multifunction role and yet still be warm, welcoming and relaxing.

It isn’t just workspaces. Many of our buyers are wanting land, space of their own to enjoy, whether that just be for walks, for a small holding or for horses. In many cases properties also need to bring in an additional income, such as places to rent, allowing the business to be homebased, which is often on top of existing work commitments.

Families are still seeking multigenerational properties, homes that can bring a family together, whether the move is now or in the future. This future-proofing of a purchase for multigenerational living is something that has seen a clear shift during and post pandemic.

We don’t just push homes that we have listed at present but seek to find that perfect match whether that is on the market or not. This is only achieved by listening intently to why the buyer wishes to move, what they need out of their rightsized home, but also those little comments that often get missed and end up being the key to their search.

Why on the rise

Rightsizing isn’t just about moving home. It is popular with all age groups combining a property search with requirements for their lives, work, lifestyle and future goals. Whether you have had the desire to move to the area for many years or are currently reassessing your needs, we have the expertise and experience to challenge your thinking and ascertain what is really important to you. If you’re looking for your own unique home, contact our team today.

Scan here and see what the market is like for your home

TOLET

Dinder, Wells - £7,950 pcm

A beautifully renovated, detached barn conversion with 8 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, 3 bath/shower rooms and a separate studio/gym with shower room, set in idyllic countryside featuring a beautiful walled garden with swimming pool, courtyard/driveway and plenty of parking. Council Tax Band F, EPC rating: D. Available mid July 2023.

Peter Greatorex Unique Homes 01225 904999

www.petergreatorex.co.uk

What does it take to put together property deals in 2023?

With Bristol having a reported 16% increase in rental values over the last 12 months, the busy lettings market is keeping the Howard Lettings team on their toes. But the team aren’t complacent - the skill lies in matching the right tenants to the right properties, making sure all the compliance boxes are ticked, and working hard to help people move.

When it comes to Sales, with the market now working in favour of buyers, negotiation between parties has suddenly become very important.

Through the pandemic and its aftermath, full and over-price offers were the order of the day. Frankly, it often wasn’t hard to do a deal then, but now the pendulum has swung the other way. Unfortunately, many sellers across the country haven’t quite got this message yet. That is why, with many more buyers coming to the market, there are not as many people moving as there could be.

Four things make a positive negotiation: a good attitude, flexibility, pragmatism and being seen to be reasonable. We need look no further than the recent political negotiations concerning Northern Ireland to show how previous talks broke down, when lately there has been far more progress.

As Winston Churchill said, “You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth”. If one side is bitter and angry and the other aggressive and intransigent, there is little room for an understanding between parties. Indeed, a lot of principle taking and digging in of heels seldom gets anyone anywhere. But an acceptable deal is far more achievable with goodwill on both sides, a clear view of what may be possible, and a sympathetic attitude to the other party’s issues. Remember, the best deals are those where both parties feel they have won, or at least haven’t lost.

At Howard we understand all these nuances can orchestrate the negotiation, smoothing out the inevitable ups and downs during an important and tense time.

Today, if you are about to sell your property, the first thing you need is a great negotiator. So, do your homework.

Speak to a few estate agents and ask them to give you an example of how they conducted a recent complex sale. Don’t be embarrassed to ask. What is at stake is an excellent outcome. Having a deal maker on your side, and not an order taker, is vital. Ask yourself what is more important, a cheap estate agent or a great result?

CLIFTON GUIDE PRICE £450,000

A stunning Clifton location, two-bedroom Grade II * listed, courtyard apartment. Situated on the slopes of Brandon Hill, living room with period fireplace, recently fitted kitchen, principal bedroom with dressing room. Viewing comes highly recommended.

REDLAND GUIDE PRICE £875,000

A two storey Victorian semi detached double bayed house. Currently arranged as a 6 bed HMO student house with reception room, kitchen, utility room, bathroom, cloakroom and downstairs shower room. Externally there is a small garden area to the front with side access to the rear garden which is a good size. No onward chain.

Clifton, Bristol | Guide Price £775,000

A beautifully proportioned three-bedroom period apartment on one of Clifton’s most sought-after roads with fabulous views, covered parking space and a gated driveway.

A beautifully proportioned top floor period apartment | Master bedroom with en-suite shower room | Two further double bedrooms | Family bathroom | Superb open-plan kitchen, dining room and sitting room | Top of the range Porcelanosa fittings in the kitchen and bathrooms | Sensitively refurbished and improved by the current owners | Gated driveway and a covered car parking space | Superb views over Clifton College playing fields and beyond | Easily accessible | EPC: D

In all circa 1340 sq. ft (124.5 sq. m)

Henleaze, Bristol | Guide Price £1,250,000

A superb three-storey family home situated in a highly-sought residential road in the heart of Henleaze. Boasting six bedrooms, an enclosed private rear garden and off-street parking for several vehicles.

A detached family house of circa 2400 sq. ft | Six bedrooms and three bath / shower rooms | Three reception rooms | Family kitchen | Useful home office / playroom | Fully enclosed private rear garden | Off-street parking | Close proximity to Henleaze Infant and Junior School | No onward chain | EPC: D

In all circa 2401 sq. ft (223 sq. m)