Bath Echo - Issue 010 - 10/12/2019

Your FREE bumper December Christmas issue!

Gold for Bath Christmas Market

Bath's famous Christmas market adds another prestigious award to collection

THE Bath Christmas Market added to its growing list of accolades with a Gold win for Tourism Event/Festival of the Year at the recent 2019 Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards.

Theprestigious awards, which celebrate businesses showcasing the excellent tourism offerin the region, were hosted by BBC presenter Laura Rawlings, and Bristol-based natural history

... AND LOTS MORE IN OUR BUMPER DECEMBER CHRISTMAS ISSUE! MERRY CHRISTMAS

photographer and film-aker

Doug Allan, at the Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel.

Following the win, Visit Bath’s Head of Events Mick Heath said:

“We are extremely honoured to receive such a prestigious award and we are earnestly grateful for the recognition of the hard work and dedication across the city that goes into making Bath Christmas Market a Gold winner.”

Thisyear the awards received

a record 142 entries across Somerset, with 82 fialists across 28 award categories, with a further 15 businesses receiving Commended status.

Running until 15th December, this year’s Bath Christmas Market will see more than 150 chalets spread across Bath’s streets. Over 400,000 people attended last year’s Market, injecting more than £31million into the city’s economy.

Expert wrapping on offer at charitable Bath Gift Wrapping Station P5

Toy retailer The Entertainer reveals new store opening date P5

2018 also saw an increase in staying visitors with 27% of all market-goers staying for at least one night – the highest percentage recorded.

In 2018, Bath Christmas Market also dedicated one chalet per day to a local charity for the duration of the event, with the 18 charities collectively raising more than £10,000. Thisyear, there are two charity chalets at the Market, Continued on page 2

Air ambulance charity launches Christmas mission campaign P7

What's on in Bath P22

Kendall Jenner outfit chosen as Dress of the Year for 2019 P2

Roadworks across B&NES paused over the Christmas period P2

In this issue...

Outfit orn by Kendall Jenner named as Bath Fashion Museum’s Dress of the Year 2019

THE Fashion Museum Bath has revealed its Dress of the Year 2019, a pleated pink tulle dress by Giambattista Valli for H&M, selected by British Vogue’s Donna Wallace.

Thedress became famous when it was modelled by Kendall Jenner, who wore it to the amfAR gala during Cannes Film Festival in May.

“Thee are the girls who really marked extraordinary moments,” said Valli during the collection’s unveiling on YouTube.

“One of the brand’s most historic moments was when Kendall came in with that couture dress on the red carpet at Cannes.”

Useful Information

TheBath Echo newspaper is produced fortnightly. Thusands of copies are distributed across the Bath area via our dedicated distribution points and at various cafes, venues, waiting rooms and local libraries.

How to get in touch with us...

For news items and press releases: news@bathecho.co.uk

01225 585484

For sport and match reports: sport@bathecho.co.uk

01225 585484

Want to have a letter published? letters@bathecho.co.uk

Subscriptions/Distribution: subscribe.bathecho.co.uk

01225 585484

Advertising & Marketing: advertise@bathecho.co.uk

01225 589789

Contact the editor: Sebastian Hawker editor@bathecho.co.uk

Published by Media Bath Limited

Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA Company Number: 09384496

Disclaimer

Please note, the views expressed in this newspaper are not necessarily the views of the editor, or publisher. No parts of this newspaper may be reproduced without prior written permission. Liability for advertising in this publication comes down to the individual advertiser, and not the publisher. © Media Bath Limited

ISSN 2632-7805

TheBath Echo is regulated by IMPRESS: TheIndependent Monitor for the Press CIC. We adhere to the Standards Code adopted by IMPRESS, and can only deal with complaints which relate to an alleged breach of the standards set out in this Code. You can findout more about the code on the IMPRESS website: www.impress.press/standards/.

If you believe we have breached this code, you can make a complaint to us regarding it. For more information, please visit: www.bathecho.co.uk/complaints/

Thepink tulle dress, which takes inspiration from Valli’s signature multi-tiered couture gowns, was part of a limited-edition, pre-collection range that was launched in selected H&M stores around the world in May 2019.

Themuch-anticipated Giambattista Valli x H&M main collection, including his fist foray into menswear, was unveiled in a lavish fashion show in a grand palazzo in Rome and went on sale to the public on 7th November 2019. Many items sold out within hours.

Giambattista Valli was born and raised in Rome. Having worked for Capucci, Fendi and as Creative Director of Emanuel Ungaro, he launched his eponymous label in 2005. He showed his fist haute couture collection in 2011.

Thedesigner is popular with celebrities such as Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Amal Clooney and Ariana Grande.

Each year, the Fashion Museum invites a respected expert from the fashion industry to select an outfitthat encapsulates the prevailing mood of fashion, repre-

sents the past year and captures the imagination.

TheDress of the Year 2019 was chosen by Donna Wallace, Fashion and Accessories Editor at British Vogue.

She said: “Giambattista Valli is best known for his incredible couture tulle creations in sophisticated pastel hues.

“Thee rarefid pieces are designed to be worn in less than everyday settings. With this H&M collaboration, Giambattista makes something usually seen as elite and exclusive accessible.

“Debuted and worn by Kendall Jenner, one of the biggest and most followed models of the moment, it was introduced to the world in the most modern of ways – not on a catwalk show but via our digital feeds.

“It makes perfect sense to end the decade with such a youthful hue. No other colour has evolved and defind the decade as much as pink!”

Giambattista Valli added: “It is an honour to be awarded this prize, to have one of my creations included alongside the iconic silhouettes that have been selected in the past.

“I am very flattered, especially given the fact that this gown was born out of the collaboration with H&M; while based on the commercialized short version, it was created as a unique silhouette by our ateliers especially for Kendall Jenner to debut at the collaboration announcement in Cannes.”

Rosemary Harden, Fashion Museum Manager, said: “Wow! This is a must-see selection for the Fashion Museum’s Dress of the Year 2019.

“A huge thank you to Donna for such an inspired choice to represent the mood of fashion in 2019,

and to H&M for working with us to bring the dress to Bath, for everyone to see.

“Thee has been a ‘bright colour-big dress’ narrative in fashion this year, ranging from Jodie Comer’s pink tulle dress by Molly Goddard, worn to such devastating effct as the character Villanelle in BBC TV series Killing Eve, to frothy, candy-coloured dresses from houses such as Valentino and Viktor & Rolf, along with new boy Tomo Koizumi.

Roadworks on major routes paused

ROADWORKS planned on major routes in and around Bath as well as in Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Keynsham have been paused over Christmas.

Theembargo aims to help drivers during the Christmas and New Year period and came into force in Bath on 25th November in time for the busy Christmas Market. It began on 1st December in Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Keynsham. Therestrictions run until 6th January and apply to all planned works that restrict traffiflws and pedestrians, except essential utility and emergency works.

Martin Shields, the council’s Corporate Director, said: “This is a busy time of year with lots of people preparing for the festive season and visiting family and friends, as well as being a very important time of year for the economy.

“We hope this embargo will allow residents and visitors to Bath and North East Somerset to have

smooth journeys with the least disruption possible.”

Key city centre routes where planned roadworks have stopped include:

• A4 Upper Bristol Road, Newbridge Road, London Road, London Road West, Bristol Road (trunk road), etc.

• A46 Gloucester Road

• A36 Warminster Road, Claverton St, Rossiter Road, Pulteney Road, Sydney Place/Road, Beck-

ford Road, Bathwick St, Lower Bristol Road,

• A367 Wells Road, Wellsway, etc

• A431 Bath Road, Kelston Road, Newbridge Hill

• A3062 Prior Park Road, Ralph Allen Drive, North Road, Bradford Road, Frome Road

• A39 Wells Rd, Bath Road

• A37

• A363 Bradford Road, Sally-InThe-ood

“Giambattista Valli takes his place in dress history in authoring this trend, and in taking it one step further to work with leading global high street and online name H&M to create a version that anyone can wear, should they choose.

“We are beyond thrilled that this grand dress, a dress for 2019, is on display here in Bath.”

TheDress of the Year 2019 has now gone on display at the Fashion Museum.

News in Brief Bath Christmas Market scoops gold award

Continued from page 1 ... meaning that 36 local charities will be able to raise funds and build awareness of their causes. Following the Bristol Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards, the fialists for the South West Tourism Awards will be announced over the coming months, with the awards ceremony taking place on 6th February 2020 in Exeter Cathedral.

Thebest of the best will then be selected to represent the South West at the VisitEngland Awards, which will take place on 20th June 2020.

Kendall Jenner, image courtesy of H&M © 2019 Pascal Le Segretainamf AR

Burglar jailed after being caught inside family home in Bath

A 45-YEAR-OLD burglar has been jailed for more than two years after breaking into a family’s home in Bath, while they were inside.

Police were called to the house offthe Upper Bristol Road just after 11.40pm on 20th October after the householder heard a disturbance downstairs.

Paul Matthews, 45, of Ashley Terrace in Bath, was arrested inside the address within fie minutes of the call.

When offics arrived they found a window had been forced. Matthews had attempted to steal a television and a wallet.

He admitted burglary at Bristol Crown Court and was jailed for two years and eight months on Wednesday 27th November.

Avon and Somerset Police say they take burglary very seriously and are committed to identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice.

While offics are working hard to target offendes and reduce offence, they are reminding the public that they all have a part to play in keeping their homes safe by securing their property.

You can help by:

• Installing a burglar alarm and sensor-activated security light

• Keeping valuables (including keys) securely out of sight

• Removing keys from door locks

• Storing high-value items such as jewellery, passports and bank cards in a properly secured and hidden safe or with a specialist secure storage provider

• Joining your local Neighbourhood Watch

• Reporting any suspicious incidents as they happen

Thee’s more home security advice and information on joining Neighbourhood Watch on the police website: https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk.

Free solar panel installation offeed for buildings across B&NES

Rail passengers being urged to travel safely

THE rail industry is urging passengers to travel safely around the railway when travelling to and from the Bath Christmas Market as crowds flck to the city.

Theevent, which began on Thursday 28th November and runs until Sunday 15th December, expects to attract thousands to the centre, with over 400,000 visiting last year.

With many choosing to travel by train, the rail network will see a signifiant increase in passengers travelling to and from Bath over the market period.

As a trend, the run-up to Christmas sees a spike in the number of drink-related incidents on the railway across Britain, including slips, trips and falls at stations as well as more serious trespass offences.

safe by:

• Standing back from the platform edge, behind the yellow line

• Holding onto the handrail on stairs and escalators

• Walking – not running

• Staying off the ailway tracks

• Speaking to staffif help is needed

Inspector Ian Bevan, British Transport Police, said: “We want to make sure everyone enjoys the festivities at Bath Christmas Market and we’ll be working closely with our partners to ensure everyone does so safely.

“Therailway can be a dangerous place, so we ask passengers to take extra care of themselves and others at this busy time of year to make sure they have a safe journey.

BATH & West Community Energy have announced the launch of Community Solar 2020, a new programme to install community-owned solar power across B&NES and surrounding areas.

Community Solar 2020 will offer free solar panel installations for non-domestic buildings, including business premises, schools and community buildings.

BWCE will raise the money, install the systems, own and maintain them. Thy will then sell the solar-generated electricity to the building owner at least 10% cheaper than the grid and help them slash their carbon emissions.

In addition to reduced cost of electricity, organisations that

install community-owned solar (and anyone involved with them) will be given an opportunity to invest in BWCE and earn an annual return of up to 4%.

Because BWCE is a Community BenefitSociety, any surplus income from their solar power, after paying their community investors, is donated to local community projects to reduce emissions and fuel poverty through the BWCE Community Fund.

BWCE Managing Director Pete Capener said: “Theprimary mission of BWCE is not to make money but to reduce local carbon emissions.

“Since our inception in 2010 we have installed solar power equivalent to the annual de-

mand of 4,000 homes on schools, public buildings and at our ground-mounted solar arrays.

“We believe that Community Solar 2020 offes a great opportunity for anyone concerned about the climate emergency to do something practical to reduce emissions, cut costs and increase the amount of community-owned renewable energy.”

If you would like your building to have community-owned solar, go to www.bwce.coop/community-solar-2020, where you will find guidance on roof suitability and a short survey to express interest.

If you have any questions, email communitysolar2020@bwce. coop or call Alex Lockton on 07771 865115.

Incidents rise to an average of 25 a day over Christmas across the UK – double the amount compared to previous months, and recent figures show a 30 per cent increase in alcohol-related incidents on the railway in the last decade.

In addition to safety concerns, more than 4,300 hours of delays nationally were attributed to alcohol-related incidents last year, causing misery for rail passengers.

British Transport Police will have additional high-visibility patrols at Bath Spa Station and on trains to prevent crime, provide reassurance to passengers and support the smooth running of the event.

Passengers are advised to stay

“We’ll have extra patrols in place across the network and we’ll be here to help anyone who needs it.”

Paul Clark, interim safety director for Network Rail, Wales and Western added: “We know that the number of alcohol-related incidents on the railway rises during the festive period, which is why we have joined our BTP colleagues in this campaign to encourage responsible drinking, especially near the railway. “When out and about this Christmas, make sure to stay safe when near the railway, in stations and at level crossings and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

“Our staffwant to make sure that everyone gets home safe everyday – whether that’s today, tomorrow, or after your Christmas party.”

45-year-old Paul Matthews has been jailed for two years and eight months

A solar installation on B&NES Council building Lewis House | Photo © BWCE

Shoppers invited to have their presents expertly wrapped

THE Bath Business Improvement District (BID) has opened its charitable Bath Gift Wrapping Station.

Shoppers can take their presents along and have them expertly wrapped in beautiful Bath paper. Open for the second year in a row, the free Gift Wrapping Station has supersized this year on the back of the success of 2018. Thisyear the wrapping station has a much more prominent location – 4 Union Street (formerly Dune Shoes) and is open for nearly twice as long.

Opening with the Christmas Market, it will run through to Christmas Eve, 24th December.

Thestation is open from 2-5pm every day and everyone’s presents will be wrapped by a team of highly trained volunteers.

All the donations accepted at the wrapping station will go to the local homeless charity, Julian House.

Last year, the wrapping station raised nearly £3000 for the charity and there are high hopes to double that number this year. Bath BID levy payers have chosen

Julian House as the recipient of this fundraising initiative.

Many people work together with Bath BID and Julian House to help provide this service.

Over 100 local residents and workers will donate their time to wrapping presents.

SteersMcGillanEves, a Bathbased graphics agency designed the wrapping paper; Suited & Booted filmd the gift wrapping training video, and landlords the Charities Property Fund and agents Smith Coley provided the central location.

Allison Herbert, CEO of Bath BID, commented: “We are delighted to provide the wrapping station for the shoppers of Bath.

“It is such a special city for Christmas shopping, and we are keen to add to the positive festive feelings with this luxury added-value service.

“Visitors can come along with their chosen gift wrap or we can provide it.

“It is free of charge at the point of service, but we would be delighted to receive donations to Julian House. It is such a worthy cause.”

Bath Preservation Trust’s learning programme recognised with award

THE schools learning programmes at both No. 1 Royal Crescent and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy have been recognised for their quality with a prestigious Sandford Award.

Ratifid by the Heritage Education Trust and independently judged, the Sandford Awards focus on formal, curriculum-linked education opportunities offeed to schools by heritage sites. Made annually, and lasting for fie years, they provide a ‘kitemark’ recognised by schools and other educational institutions across the United Kingdom.

Polly Andrews, the Trust’s Learning and Engagement Offic, said: “At both museums we aim to offer an informative, immersive and fun experience for all schools, tailoring the content to support their work in class.

Caroline Herschel are revealed, from their early musical careers to the astonishing discoveries they made as amateur astronomers. Here, the education programme includes outreach ses-

THE Entertainer has announced the launch of its brand-new store in Bath, with doors officially opening on Saturday 14th December 2019, in time for Christmas.

Located at 1 New Orchard St, the opening marks TheEntertainer’s 172nd store, and the 19th located in the South West.

Thestore will stock the nation’s favourite toys and games ready for Christmas, making life easy for picking up last-minute gifts for the festive season.

At the end of January, TheEntertainer will host an offial opening party with special offes, instore demonstrations and visits from some of our favourite char-

acters including TheEntertainer’s very own Jack.

Craig Lowe, Events Coordinator at TheEntertainer said: “We can’t wait to open the doors to our new store and welcome everyone from Bath and the surrounding areas.

“Just in time for Christmas, it’ll be the perfect place to check out the exciting new toys and pick up great gifts to put smiles on their faces.

“In January we’ll also be hosting a Grand Opening party once the busy festive season concludes.”

TheBath store will open on 14th December at 1 New Orchard St, BA1 1JU.

“We are very aware that a 2½ hour visit to our museums might just be the spark that lights a lifelong interest in history and heritage in a child, so we make it as dynamic and exciting as we can – we don’t waste a second of the precious time that we have with the class!”

At No. 1, the focus is on architectural and social history where school children and young people explore how an eighteenth-century house was built and through the use of artefacts, illustrations and practical experiences learn of the lives, social attitudes and daily occupations of Georgian society.

At the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, the lives of the working brother and sister William and

sions in secondary schools and is brought right up to date with the use of space telescopes, infrared cameras and apps.

A mobile planetarium is being developed to further enhance the offerto students in their own schools. Caroline Kay, Chief Executive of Bath Preservation Trust said: “Thisis the second Sandford Award for No. 1 Royal Crescent and the fist for the Herschel Museum of Astronomy and we are absolutely thrilled that our schools learning programme devised by Polly has been acknowledged as top class at both sites. “We are proud to provide an exciting and immersive programme for schoolchildren of all ages from Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 4, as well as adult and family learning opportunities.”

Lead Judge Benjamin Smith said of No. 1 Royal Crescent: “No. 1 Royal Crescent thoroughly deserves its second Sandford Award in recognition of the unique and

compelling insight it offes visitors into the realities of life for both the wealthy and their servants in 18th century Bath. “Thelearning team has demonstrated an impressive creativity and resourcefulness in using the story of Henry Sandford’s tenancy to bring into focus both local and national historical phenomena, creating both a highly stimulating and memorable learning experience delivered in the most authentic of settings. Visitors cannot help but be captivated by the stark contrast between the sumptuous decadence of the Georgian elite and the sparse, austere conditions of those who served them.”

Lead Judge Robin Clutterbuck said of the Herschel Museum:

“TheHerschel Museum of Astronomy, run by the Bath Preservation Trust, offes an excellent heritage education service delivered by a team of knowledgeable and experienced staff and volunteers. Thediminutive house where William and Caroline Herschel lived between 1777 and 1784 is internationally signifiant, and visitors can literally walk in the astronomers’ footsteps as they tread on the cracked flagstones of the workshop where the astronomical mirrors were cast and painstakingly polished, and then step into the garden where William Herschel looked through his home-made telescope and discovered the planet Uranus in 1781.

“Theprogrammes offeed by the museum are of the highest quality and are fully deserving of a Sandford Award.”

Cathy Adcock, Julian House, Allison Herbert, Bath BID, Ali Vowles, BBC Radio Bristol & BBC Points West and Father Christmas | Photo © Gareth Hoskins Photography

Photo © chrisdorney / Shutterstock.com

The Entertainer announces opening date of new store

11-year-old sells Christmas wreaths made from old bike tyres Trading Standards issues warning over buying unsafe chargers

RESIDENTS in Bath and North East Somerset are being warned of the dangers of buying unsafe electrical chargers from online marketplaces.

Thewarning comes after a woman from Midsomer Norton found hers melting her smart watch and burning her furniture.

Allainah Rivers had bought a dual phone and watch charger online and was using it to charge her smart watch when she realised the charger had melted, destroying her watch and burning the chest of drawers it was lying on.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team is advising people to use established retailers to buy these types of products as online marketplaces are not currently responsible for ensuring that the products sold on their sites are safe.

they would have to compensate me for my losses.”

Chargers on auction sites are considerably cheaper than their branded counterparts but there is no guarantee they meet safety standards.

Martin Shields, the council’s Corporate Director, said: “Currently there is no legislation in place that would allow our Trading Standards team to take action over unsafe goods supplied from abroad and sold online. In the lead up to Christmas we urge consumers to use established retailers who go through offial channels, so they do not face the same problems.

“Thee retailers can trace their supply chain and cancel orders if there are faults. It might cost a few pounds more, but unsafe electrical products could cost you your home, your life or the life of a loved one”.

11-YEAR-OLD Will is helping to save the planet and support homeless men and women in Bath by using bike tyres that would otherwise go to landfill and turning them into Christmas wreaths.

So far, he’s made £250 for local charity Julian House.

Earlier this year, Will and his mum, Helen, took part in Julian House’s Big Bath Sleep Out. The fundraiser gives participants a small insight into the harsh realities of being homeless, as they brave the cold in Alice Park for a night.

Thecharity was astounded by Will who raised an incredible £2000 to help vulnerable men and women without a home.

After a special tour of Julian House’s services in Bath by Senior Community and Events Fund-

raiser Jessica Gay, Will and his mum noticed the big pile of used bike tyres in the Bike Workshop.

Theworkshop runs as a professional store, selling and refurbishing bikes. On Tuesdays, it runs a course called ‘Build a Bike’ where the people Julian House supports learn to build a bike in six weeks. Thisbuilds confidenc, self-esteem and skills and helps people get back into volunteering and long-term employment. While the workshop tries to recycle as many parts as possible, there is nowhere in the UK that recycles bike tyres.

Thecharity is forced to spend

several hundred pounds a year to send them to landfill.Will then came up with an ingenious way to re-use them, helping to save the planet, saving the charity money and raising vital funds for it in the same process.

Speaking of Will’s effots, Jessica Gay from Julian House said: “Will and his family are absolute super stars. It’s incredible to see someone so young so engaged and willing to help the vulnerable people on our streets.

“His commitment to the cause and creativity is inspiring and it’s people like him that will be the change-makers of the future.”

Thesupplier of the goods in this case are based in mainland China and denied responsibility and as they have no link to the UK, they cannot be investigated by Trading Standards.

Allainah Rivers said of the incident: “I could smell a burning smell. As a mother of two I feel we were extremely lucky to escape without there being a fie. Theonline retailer has offeed to refund the cost of the charger, however as the charger was purchased from a seller based in China, I have no means of reclaiming my losses for my smart watch or my badly burned chest of drawers.

“It is not acceptable for marketplaces to pass the buck for the responsibility of the items sold on their sites by simply pointing the figer at sellers.

“If I’d have purchased the charger from a reputable shop in the UK

A key safety concern with products bought online focuses on generic chargers which are advertised as being compatible with several devices.

Diffeent devices require diffeent levels of charge, but generic chargers run the risk of putting too much energy into a device, causing the battery to overheat. Branded chargers are much less likely to pose a risk because they are specifially designed for each particular device.

Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team ask anyone who has experienced a similar issue to get in touch via their partner agency, the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 040506.

For more information about the council’s Trading Standards team, go to https://www. bathnes.gov.uk/services/Trading-Standards

Winner of Christmas Market's Best Dressed Chalet announced

EACH year, Bath Christmas Market holds a best-dressed chalet competition, with prizes awarded for first,second and third place.

Chalets are judged on their use of decorative lighting, display of stock and the interior and exterior design.

Festive cheer is another key factor, with stallholders judged on the overall customer experience. Thisyear, CEO of Visit Bath, Kathryn Davis was joined by Gerry Curran, Mayor of Bath, to choose the winners.

Kathryn said: “We are thrilled to see the stallholders putting so much effot into their chalets as it really adds to the festive atmosphere and the magic of Bath Christmas Market.

“It was very difficult for us to reach a decision as there are so many strong contenders this year, but we were delighted with

the effots of the three winners.”

In fist place is Rose and Green, (Chalet 91), showcasing Christmas tree decorations, stockings and cards all handmade in England, using reclaimed fabrics from clothes bought from charity shops and upcycled into unique and personalised decorations.

In second place is Wylde Jewellery, (Chalet 121), with a selection of finesterling silver, gold and precious gem-set jewellery by Bath’s most renowned designer jeweller.

Nicholas Wylde has been in business for over 30 years and is launching a new collection featuring his unique patented diamond cut TheWylde Flower Diamond® at this, his fist year at Bath Christmas Market.

In third place is Heavenly Homes and Gardens, (Chalet 90), rustic home and garden decor including rusty metal stars, hearts, let-

ters, plant sup ports and crowns. Look out for their barn stars, lan terns, glass bau bles, wreaths and tree toppers too. Each of the win ners received a framed certifiate and a beautiful Bath Aqua Glass engraved bowl was also donated and presented by Gerry Curran to fist prize winners Rose and Green. Aside from these prizes, winners also receive a dis count on a cha let at next year’s event, subject to a successful ap plication.

(L-R) Kathryn Davis, Visit Bath, Gerry Curran, Mayor of Bath, Tracey Lewis, Rose and Green

Air ambulance charity launches campaign to fund Christmas mission

THIS Christmas, the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity will be working every day throughout the holiday season to provide life-saving treatment where it’s needed the most.

Thefestive season is traditionally a time to enjoy celebrating with loved ones, friends and family, yet it’s a sad fact that many people across the region will be involved in medical incidents or traumatic events that will leave them fighting for their lives.

When Michelle Child took a fall from her horse, she suffeed a brain injury and was in need of emergency care quickly.

GWAAC’s Critical Care Team provided the urgent care she needed to stabilise her, including administering a general anaesthetic, before transferring her to Southmead Hospital, the nearest major trauma centre.

Michelle’s mum Sarah said: “If you hadn’t been there to help us it could have been very, very different. Her heart rate was all over the place and she wasn’t breathing properly.

“It just doesn’t bear thinking about, it’s made a massive diffeence to our lives.”

Thecharity’s Critical Care Team are on call 365 days a year, bring-

ing the skills and expertise of an in-hospital emergency department straight to the scene of the most critically ill or injured patients.

From giving roadside blood transfusions to treating cardiac arrests or putting a patient under general anaesthetic, each mission they carry out is time-critical and potentially life-saving.

Thy attend over 5 incidents a day on average, with the team being tasked to over 1,600 incidents from January to October this year so far, meaning they are on track for the busiest year to date.

Critical Care Doctor Matt Campbell said: “Whilst we hope you or

your loved ones will never need our services, we want to make sure we are here for you if you do.

“We’ll be working this Christmas to make sure we can keep more families together for many more Christmases to come.’’

Each incident the team are called to costs an average of £1,750, and many people don’t realise that the service relies on charitable donations to keep it flying, needing to raise over £3 million ever year to continue providing their life-saving service.

If you would like to help fund a Christmas Mission this festive season, visit: justgiving.com/ campaign/christmasmission.

This festive season, The Pig is mostly... CHILLING out with a cocktail (or two) at the Broad Street Townhouse: a super-seductive, super-civilised bolthole offeing an overall vibe of refind bonhomie that wraps you up in the atmospherical equivalent of a cashmere shrug (www.broadstreettownhouse.co.uk)

MAKING time to indulge in a contempo-elegant afternoon tea served in TheGrapes (Westgate Street) stunning Jacobean upper-level dining room to the accompaniment of a live Swing band. Theunique afternoon events are hosted by Bath's very own Secret Tea Party fairies over two sittings a day on selected dates between Thursday 28 November-Thursday 12 December – pinkies at the ready! (www. thegrapesbath.co.uk)

URGING Piggies in search of a unique New Year's Eve experience to make a booking at tantalising Turkish restaurant and bar Cappadocia (Newmarket Row) where £35pp get you a 3-course Turkish feast, a glass of Prosecco... and exotic entertainment courtesy of a belly dancer while you dine! (www.capparestaurant. co.uk)

mas Tavern pop-up at TheBird (Pulteney Road) where snowcapped mountain scenes, treelined walkways, a cosy fieplace, opulent decorations and twinkling fairy lights at the heart of the log cabin-style venue offera cosy-but-chic Christmas vibe... and there's no shortage of Christmas cheer on the food/bar menu either! (www.thebirdbath.co.uk/ the-christmas-tavern/)

CASHING in on the fabulous Festive Lunch experience at the glamorous Dan Moon at the Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel restaurant on any day of the week between now and Christmas Eve, where a 2-for-1 deal gives two diners the opportunity to indulge for just £20 each... and enjoy mulled wine on arrival to kickstart proceedings in finestyle. If that's not a very big deal indeed, we don't know what is! (www. thegainsboroughbathspa.co.uk)

LIBRARIES across Bath and North East Som-

erset are inviting book donations which will be gifted to people in the community who might not otherwise receive a Christmas present.

Thecouncil is asking for help from anyone who might be decluttering their shelves of unwanted books, to take them to any of its libraries in Bath, Keynsham or Midsomer Norton or to the Bath

One Stop Shop, where they will be wrapped and distributed through local charities as gifts.

Thebooks can be new or second hand, but must be in good condition. Books suitable for adults as well as for children are being welcomed.

David Trethewey, Director of Partnerships and Corporate Services, said: “In the midst of the exciting festive build-up, it can be easy to forget that not everyone in our community is lucky enough

to receive presents on Christmas Day.

“Books shouldn’t be a luxury item but sadly some families do not have the means to buy them.

“We are asking anyone who has books they no longer need to please bring them to us and together we can make a diffeence to people’s Christmas celebrations.”

Bright Start Children’s Centres, Action for Children, TheSalvation Army and TheGenesis Trust are working in partnership with the council to distribute the books.

Any books that are not able to be gifted will be recycled.

For more information, email library_events@bathnes.gov.uk

HUGELY impressed by the multiple festive cheer opportunities on offerat TheAbbey Hotel (North Parade), where the pop-up Ski Bar, Christmas Party options at TheEscape, exceedingly merry cocktails at the ArtBar, treatsome afternoon teas and elegantly celebratory menus (including very special Christmas Day/ New Year's Eve feasts) at Koffmann and Mr White's restaurant combine to create a one-stop Christmas shop for all (www.abbeyhotelbath.co.uk/christmasnew-year-2019/)

GIFTING good friends with (and treating ourselves to!) a Freshford Food Co Seasonal Festive Box, which brings locally sourced and/or hand-crafted charcuterie, game terrine, mushroom parfait, festive pork pies, pretzels, melba toast, apple and chipotle Jelly and a massive 1kg Christmas cake direct to your doorstep for £65... and lightens Santa's workload in finestyle (www.freshfordfoodco.com)

FLOCKING along to the ultimate party zone that is the Christ-

PUTTING our feet up, giving the kitchen a break and tucking into a takeaway from TheOyster Shell (Moorland Road) where comforters such as home-cooked beef stew and dumplings, faggots with onion gravy and the sublime bubble and squeak Scotch Egg snuggle up alongside classic fish supper faves (www.theoystershell.co.uk)

PLANNING on avoiding the Boxing Day slump by heading over to TheChequers (Rivers Street) where a special Boxing Day brunch/comforting lunch brings spirit-lifting delights from Full English Breakfast to Fish Pie by way of Eggs Benedict, Florentine and Royale and the classic Chequers Burger to the table between 10am-4pm (www.thechequersbath.com)

SPREADING the lurve! While you're out and about having all that fun, please remember those for whom party season just doesn't exist at all. Join The Pig Guide in supporting the Bath Foodbank (www.bath.foodbank. org.uk), the Genesis Trust (www. genesistrust.org.uk), Julian House (julianhouse.org.uk), Bath Food Cycle (foodcycle.org.uk) and the StreetSmart initiative (www.streetsmart.org. uk/bath/) over the festive season.

Cheers, Piggies!

Residents invited to spread festive cheer with their unwanted books

TIME is running out to nominate people in Bath and North East Somerset who make an exceptional contribution to the community for a prestigious award.

Thedeadline for nominations for this year’s Community Awards is 20th December and the council is encouraging people to put forward the volunteers, charities, carers, community leaders, staff and businesses in their community who might have been unsung heroes until now.

Thee are many people and organisations across Bath and North East Somerset who work tirelessly for the benefitof the community to improve people’s lives, whose initiatives the Community Awards seek to recognise and champion.

New for this year are awards for Charity of the Year, Foster Carer of the Year and Green Business of the Year. TheVolunteer Leader of the Year Award has been renamed ‘TheBeryl Dixon Community Leader of the Year Award’, in honour of Beryl Dixon, a well-respected advocate for the BME community who sadly died in 2017.

Films about three of last year’s winners are taking shape and will be shown at this year’s awards ceremony in February.

Bath City Farm, the Guide Dogs for the Blind and Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Associ-

unrecognised

The Quarrymans Arms

Box Hill, Corsham, SN13 8HN

WHEN you arrive at a pub and you can't get to the bar because of the amount of people inside, you know that it's incredibly popular with the locals - and that's a very good sign. We were invited to try out the Quarrymans Arms just outside Box following a recent refurbishment, and visited for an evening meal earlier this month.

ation (BEMSCA) are having their achievements highlighted in a short filmthat will be theirs to keep after the ceremony. This ear’s awards categories are:

Category 1: Volunteering

• Volunteer of the Year / Young Volunteer of the Year (25 and Under)

• Volunteer Team of the Year / Young Volunteer Team of the Year (25 and Under)

• ThePeter Duppa-Miller Lifetime Achievement / Young Volunteer Leader of the Year (25 and Under)

Category 2: Charities

• Charity of the Year

• TheBeryl Dixon Community Leader of the Year

Category 3: Carers

• Carer of the Year / Young Carer of the Year (25 and Under)

• B&NES Foster Carer of the Year

Category 4: Business

• Business in the Community

• Green Business Leader of the Year

Category 5: Services to the community

• Above and Beyond Employee of the Year (partner organisations only)

• Above and Beyond Employee Team of the Year (partner organisations only)

• Employee Long Service Award (partner organisations only) Residents, staff, councillors, businesses, organisations and groups,

teachers, and volunteers from Bath and North East Somerset can nominate people or organisations for an award.

Nomination forms must be returned by no later than 20th December.

People can nominate local people online by visiting: www.bathnes.gov.uk/communityawards

Nomination forms can also be downloaded and posted, clearly marked ‘TheCommunity Awards 2019/2020’, to: TheCommunity Awards 2019/20, c/o Chief Executive Offi, Partnerships and Corporate Services, Bath & North East Somerset Council, TheGuildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5AW.

Everyone nominated for an award will be presented with a certifiate in recognition of their contribution and invited along to the Awards in the Assembly Rooms in Bath on Tuesday 25th February 2020. Thewinners of each category will receive a certifiate and will be presented with a personalised Bath Aqua Glass Award at the event.

TheCommunity Awards are organised in partnership with B&NES Clinical Commissioning Group, CURO, Sirona Care and Health, B&NES Virgin Care, Student Community Partnership, Bath College and a new partner for this year, 3SG.

On arrival, after making our way through the crowd of happy drinkers, we were shown to our table next to the large picture window (which offes fantastic views during the day) and offeed the menu, which has also recently been refreshed. Thee's plenty of standard pub food available, such as sausage and mash, ham egg and chips and a steak burger, as well as a varied selection of more unique options, including venison and stout stew, Butcombe beer battered fishand chips and a number of handmade pies. Settling for a pint of Ashton Press cider and a glass of Zin fandel Rosé, we chose the duck liver pâté and roast beetroot, apple and candied walnut salad to start. Both arrived swiftly, perfectly presented and delicious. We were both im pressed with the quality of the starters, especially with my accompanying salad, as these can sometimes be overlooked. Our empty plates were quickly replaced with our main meals, a smoked fishand cheddar pie,

and the earlier mentioned 7oz steak burger, along with a side of homemade onion rings. Once again, we only had praise for the food, and enjoyed the supersize onion rings (can you even grow an onion that large?) Portion sizes are certainly not an issue here - halfway through our mains we were both beginning to get quite full. However, leaving room for our dessert (dark chocolate brownie with salted caramel cream ice cream) was definiely a good plan.

Thugh the Quarrymans Arms may be a little out the way, it's well worth taking the time to head there for a decent lunch or dinner, or perhaps just for a drink with some friends. Thecar park was full when we arrived and it took a little time to findsomewhere to park, so we'd recommend getting there a little early to ensure there's a space to grab. We were impressed with the quality food and the friendly staffand will be visiting again very soon.

TheBath Echo were kindly provided a meal for two for the purposes of this review.

Poems go on display at Nationwide following festive competition

BACK in October, Nationwide Building Society Bath ran a special campaign for members of the local community to write a poem about ‘What Christmas at Home means to you’.

Out of all the submissions, two poems have been chosen and are now on display at the branch on Union Street.

Stephanie Pritchard, Senior Branch Manager said: “Thepoems made us realise how lucky we are to have a place we can call home this Christmas and reflct

on the great work both Julian House and DHI do along with many other charities in Bath to support our community.

“As a team we want to continue to support and raise awareness for how we can support vulnerable people in Bath."

Two of the poems, written by Dexter and Jill, have now gone on display in the branch window over the festive period. You can visit the Nationwide branch on Union street to read them.

House said: “We'd like to say a big well done to Dexter and Jill for their brilliant poems which are now proudly displayed at Nationwide.

“It's a powerful reminder of how lucky most of us are this Christmas.

“Some, less fortunate, do not have these luxuries including a home to return to. But thanks to the community's support including Nationwide's, Julian House and partner organisation are trying hard to change that."

Jessica Gay, fundraiser at Julian

Locals urged to ensure community heroes don’t go

Plans for 18,000-seater stadium to be submitted in new year

Stephen Sumner Local Democracy Reporter

BATH Rugby Club’s new 18,000-seater stadium could be in place in time for the 2022/23 season.

Club bosses remain tight-lipped about the cost of the multi-million-pound project and say key details like the height of the stands and where the team will play throughout the construction period are yet to be fialised. Theplanning application will undoubtedly be closely scrutinised by fans and critics when it is submitted early in the new year. If it is successful, it will be the fist time a new sta dium has been built in a World Heritage City and will see the Rec’s use increase massively outside of match days.

Bath Rugby chief executive Tarquin McDonald told a media briefig on Thursday 5th December: “We hope to submit plans in the new year. Thee will be people massively in favour, those with ques tions and one or two less in favour.

“We believe passionately in what we’re trying to do here. “We want to create one of the most amazing places in the world to play and watch rugby. Thetest of our ambition is to create somewhere for everyone.”

Thee is a vocal contingent against the club’s plans, but Mr McDonald is confidet they are in the minority.

Addressing some of the challeng-

club will

face, he said: “We don’t own this land. It’s a functional flod plain. It’s a conservation area, surrounded by heritage assets, in a World Heritage Site. It’s important to get this right.

“We won’t be allowed not to have an exceptional design.

“Thisis a unique opportunity. It will be somewhere people can use 365 days of the year.

“No one has ever developed a new stadium in a World Heritage City before. I sincerely hope it happens. It will be a great thing for the city.”

Asked how much the project would cost, Mr McDonald would not give specifics but said it would be more than £30million.

He said one of the key design features is raising the pitch 3.8 metres out of the flod plain, with a 550-space car park underneath.

Themuch-lamented existing pitch is at risk of floding and contamination that could mean

it is unusable for months, and the neighbouring leisure centre is on stilts to avoid such issues.

Opponents have raised concerns about the visual impact of increasing the overall height of the stadium and the resulting threat to Bath as a World Heritage City.

Theclub has not yet fialised the overall height of the stadium, but Mr McDonald has previously said that status would not be at risk.

Critics have also argued the club is effectively privatising income from parking spaces that currently goes to Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Theauthority is demolishing Avon Street’s multi-storey car park as part of its flagship Bath Quays redevelopment, while the Manvers Street and Cattlemarket sites are allocated in its development plans.

Mr McDonald told the briefig: “Our ambition is to be sustainable.

“Thecar park is a key part of the scheme –the seating capacity,

hospitality and car park are all integral.

“A lot of stadia have supermarkets or hotels on site.

“We can’t do that here. Thecar park will provide 550 spaces, replacing spaces lost at Avon Street, Manvers Street and Cattle Market.

“Thee will be no additional journeys into the centre but there will be some local diffeences.

“It will be open 365 days a year. Theimpact on nearby residents will be an improvement.

“Thestadium will be bigger. It will look completely diffeent, but deliveries will be less disruptive.

“Thee will be disruption during the construction period but not the ongoing disruption [of putting up the temporary stand and taking it down again each season].”

He added: “We will submit our plans in the new year and move as quickly as the process allows. Even getting to the planning stage is a huge step for the club.

“We will confim details of where we will play during the application. We’ve been focusing on a challenge where we play on the outfield t the Rec.

“It has its operational challenges and residents have legitimate concerns.

“We could have a temporary stadium in Bath, or we could rent one.

“We’re weighing up the pros and cons. We want to make sure the rugby isn’t interrupted.”

Tarquin Mcdonald with a view of how the stadium could look (Existing trees are not included in the CGI) | Photo © Stephen Sumner

Image © Stadium for Bath

Police ask for help to keep communities safe this Christmas

Musical showcase raises over £6k for school PTFA and performing arts

ON Friday 29th November, students, staffand parents of St Gregory’s Bath came together to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary with a gala evening of musical entertainment and fundraising.

Theevent raised over £6,000 for the school’s performing arts provision and PTFA.

Theschool has a long-held ambition to build a community theatre at St Gregory’s and the money raised will be used to support a range of projects across the school as well as supporting the cost of a feasibility study and architectural planning needed to bring this dream to fruition.

Theevent was supported by students past and present as they wowed the audience with musical performances from across the four decades, 1979-2019.

AVON and Somerset Police are supporting the latest Counter Terrorism Policing campaign to help keep crowded places secure over the festive period. Thecampaign calls on the public and those who work in busy towns and cities to remain vigilant and report any concerns to staff, security or – in confidence – to Counter Terrorism police at www.gov.uk/ACT.

It also asks everyone to be the extra eyes and ears of the police, so the community can work together to tackle terrorism.

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Cullen said: “We’re asking everyone out and about enjoying the festive season to look after each other and if they see something which doesn’t look right, to report it.

“Neighbourhood offics will be patrolling our communities throughout the Christmas period, including Christmas Day itself, just as they are on every other day of the year.

“Project Servator deployments will also be carried out across the force area – these are unpredict-

able deployments involving specially trained offics who turn up announced at various locations to provide the public with reassurance and to disrupt a wide range of criminal activity, including terrorism.”

ACC Cullen added: “Thechances of being caught up in a terrorist incident are extremely low. But sadly, as we saw just last week in London, attacks can be carried out anywhere and anytime.

“Thenational threat level remains Substantial, meaning an attack is likely, so we need to remain vigilant.

“Our message to people across the Avon and Somerset force area is not to worry that you might be wasting our time. If you see something suspicious – ACT.

“Speak to a police officeor report it to local security or staffor via www.gov.uk/ACT and let us check it out.

“A few minutes of your time could help save lives.”

For more information about Project Servator, visit: https://www. avonandsomerset.police.uk/ about/project-servator/.

Theschool orchestra led the musical ensemble with vocal and dance performances from shows including Fame, TheGreatest Showman, Mamma Mia, 42nd Street, Mary Poppins, Miss Saigon and Les Misérables.

Students were also joined on stage by students of the school’s resident theatre company, Curtain Up Thatre School.

Theschool were generously supported by a huge number of local businesses who supported the event through donations to the Silent Auction and Raffland also sponsored the beautiful fare of food and wine on offe.

St. James’s Place Wealth Management, through their Charitable Foundation, have also kindly donated £300 as part of their Local Community Grant programme.

Head of Performing Arts, Andrew Psirides, was overwhelmed by the amount of money raised and the generosity of the local community.

He said: “We owe a huge debt of thanks to our sponsors, Bath Building Society, Hobbs House Bakery, Bath Crockhire and Hookways who went above and beyond to help us get this show

“Theirgenerosity and support meant that we could raise even more money for performing arts at Saint Gregory’s, more than we ever dreamed of being possible.

“Thewhole event was a real team effot with everyone coming together and working their socks off o put on a show like no other.

“Theevening was a great success and to raise over £6,000 in one night is quite staggering, testimony to the dedication and perseverance of everyone involved.”

Performing Arts is a well-established specialism at Saint Gregory’s and their Performing Arts faculty is well-regarded for the high quality of its school productions such as the Les Misérables, TheSound of Music, High School Musical, Miss Saigon and Beauty and The east.

Students are already well into rehearsals for next year’s production of Into the Woods, on stage from Wednesday 29th – Friday 31st January 2020.

Headmistress, Ann Cusack, was pleased with the success and

thrilled to be moving the project forward. She said: “Thetalent of our students and staffto put on a show like this is quite incredible. “I was moved by the brilliance of our students and the outpouring of support and enthusiasm shown by everyone. Thewhole school community were behind this event, definiely making it one for the history books and a fantastic celebration of 40 years.”

“We welcomed back alumni who started their performing arts journey at Saint Gregory’s many years ago and who have now gone onto great individual success in their own professional careers.

“Each and every one saw the value in giving up their time and talents to support the event, sharing our long-held dream for a professional theatre for our students to perform in. Thestandard of performances on the night proves unreservedly that our students deserve to have high-quality facilities in which to showcase their talents and I will be doing everything I can to make this happen.”

Pub in the Park set to return to Bath Volunteers highlighted during

FOLLOWING on from its success in 2019, Pub in the Park has announced the touring festival will return to Bath in 2020.

Tom Kerridge and his chef pals will be heading across the UK once again bringing great pubs, tasty food and brilliant music to each location.

Pub in the Park is proud to support and celebrate local talent, as well as present some of the biggest names in food and music. At each venue, there’ll be Michelin-starred and award-winning pubs and restaurants serving tasting dishes showing their signature style.

Every event will celebrate the very best food the country has to offe, combined with great live music, chef demonstrations, top quality

shopping and other festival fun.

Tom Kerridge said: “Wow, what a summer. Pub in the Park was an absolute blast.

“I’ve had a sneak peek at the line-up for 2020, and wow, it looks good; tasty food, more amazing chefs and awesome musicians all in your local park”.

Steve Lane, Pub in the Park Managing Director, said: “We’re thrilled at the prospect of bringing our brilliant food, drink and music festival to eight towns in 2020 including two brand new venues.

International Volunteer Day

B&NES COUNCIL has highlighted how volunteers strengthen local communities and encouraged people to think about how they could help others in support of International Volunteer Day.

including building confidenc, increasing the chances of paid employment and the satisfaction of giving something back to their community.

“Tom or one of his incredible band of Chef friends will be hosting each festival – watch out for more line-up announcements and tickets on-sale in January!”

Pub in the Park will be in Bath at Royal Victoria Park between 19th - 21st June 2020.

International Volunteer Day was designated by the United Nations in 1985 as an international observance day to celebrate the power and potential of volunteering.

Volunteers not only make a signifiant contribution to neighbourhoods in Bath and North East Somerset but their roles also benefitthem in a variety of ways

Stafffrom Bath Central Library showcased their volunteering opportunities at the library and championed the existing volunteers by publishing their book reviews on the Bath & North East Somerset Libraries Facebook page.

You can findout more about the various volunteering opportunities available across B&NES here: https://bathecho.uk/2rWWfTQ

Students performing at the fundraising evening | Photo © Patrick Holland up and running.

University of Bath appoints Rydon as contractor for new £70m automotive research facility

THE University of Bath has awarded Rydon the contract for the construction of its new automotive propulsion research facility as part of the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems.

Theconstruction of the world-leading £70 million research facility has already begun and marks the latest stage in the development of the Institute for Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems (IAAPS).

It is scheduled to open in 2021 at the Bristol and Bath Science Park at Emerson’s Green, Bristol.

Following the recent announcement that AVL has been chosen as the equipment supplier for the facility, the University will work closely with both AVL and Rydon to ensure the building and the equipment to be installed are fully aligned with future research to be carried out there.

Following the construction of the building envelope, installation of the new equipment will begin in early 2020, with a number of research facilities operational from early 2021.

IAAPS will be a global centre of excellence, delivering transformational research and innovation and supporting the automotive industries in meeting future air quality standards and the new facility is a key component in delivering this vision.

It will support the automotive

industry in the development of future generations of ultra-low emission vehicles and attract sector-related businesses to the region, generating economic growth.

Rydon is a growing and well-established contractor in the region and has delivered a number of high-profileschemes in the commercial and educational sectors.

Prof Gary Hawley, Dean of the University’s Faculty of Engineering & Design and Executive Director of IAAPS, commented:

“We are pleased to have appointed Rydon as the contractors for the new facility. Thisis an important component in realising the overall vision of IAAPS.

“TheInstitute will place Bath at the forefront of future vehicle development in Europe, both from a technical perspective, and in terms of developing the talent that the industry will need in the future.”

Paul Barber, South West Regional Director for Rydon, added: “We are delighted to be delivering this much-anticipated research and innovation facility for the University of Bath.

“Thisbuilding will house some of the world’s best engineers in a state of the art facility that will positively impact the region and the UK automotive industry.

“We are proud to bring Rydon’s sector expertise with a passion for considerate construction and

look forward to delivering this scheme to an exceptional quality.”

£10 million has been allocated to IAAPS by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership through the Local Growth Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority. West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, said: “I’m proud that the West

“Supporting innovation like this is key to our ambition for clean economic growth, and will help us to attract even more innovative businesses into our region.”

Professor Steve West, Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “Supporting

businesses to innovate to drive new clean technology is key to our Local Industrial Strategy. “IAAPS will also support the development of a much larger and more competitive automotive business cluster in the region, providing access to its state-ofthe-art facilities to start-ups and small to medium-sized companies.”

College entrepreneurs enjoy business success at market

TWO teams from Bath College’s BTEC Level 3 Business course have spent the last three months creating their own businesses in the lead up to this year’s Bath Christmas Market.

Each team assigned a Managing Director, came up with a team name and product idea, followed by a business and fiancial plan for how their business would run. During the months leading up to the Christmas Market, they have been working hard behind the scenes, alongside lectures and project work, coming up with posters and sourcing materials to make their products.

Once they had completed their business plans they went head to head for the fist time, competing for a £50 investment from Metro Bank.

This£50 would be a baseline cost to buy materials for their products and print posters and flyers. Thepitch to Metro Bank was styled like Dragons Den, with the two teams outlining their business plans and fiancial forecasts to the Director and Manager of Metro Bank, Chris and Yani.

Chris and Yani couldn’t pick a winner and so agreed to invest £50 in both teams.

Theteams worked closely with local businesses and business leaders, in particular Taste of Bath and Minuteman Press.

Helen from Taste of Bath, who has had held a stall at the Bath Christmas Market a number of times, shared her knowledge of how to sell and grab people’s attention, as well as provide advice on their products and set up.

She also introduced them to Dave at Minuteman Press, who provided large posters free of charge to help their stall stand out.

Theteam at Minuteman also helped with printing the teams’ hand-drawn cards, and Helen from Taste of Bath visited the students at their stall to motivate them and give them some last-minute pointers.

Helen said: “It’s been wonderful to see the Bath College Business students grow in confidenceover the months leading up to the Bath Christmas Market, and now all their hard work has paid off and they have had a successful

two days of sales.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the process, and I’m glad that I’ve been able to help and offer advice on both their products and TheBath Christmas Market, well done Bath College Entrepreneurs!”

Thetwo teams ran the Charity Chalet at the Christmas Market last Wednesday evening and all day on Thursday.

Theteams named themselves ‘Eutur’ and ‘Giving Gifts’. Eutur sold scented and festively wrapped Reed Diffuers, and was made up of Fergus Blythe (Managing Director), Dala Hodgson, Emily Hayden, Will Davis, Will Dugan, Eleanor Higham and Alex Godrige.

Giving Gifts were selling handdrawn Christmas Cards and an array of jewellery. Thy were made up of Ben Betteridge (Managing Director), Freddie Coulson, Emily McCarthy, Mitch Hooper, Kirsten Harkness, Libby Cartwright and Jack Ewings.

Between the teams, they made a total of £697 over the two days, and each team will be donating

50% of their proceeds to a chosen charity.

Eutur have chosen to donate 50% of their proceeds to Make a Wish, whilst Giving Gifts will donate 50% to Children’s Hospice South West.

Kate Knights, Business Lecturer who has led on this project said: “Our BTEC Level 3 Business Students have been working tirelessly for the last 3 months in preparation for this event, do-

ing everything from bidding for investment to market research to manufacturing the products themselves.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work they’ve put in and it’s been great to see them reap the benefitsand be quite so popular at the market.” Team Giving Gifts Managing Director Ben commented: “I’ve learned how competitive Market stalls are and the importance of good advertising.”

A CGI aerial view of the IAAPS building | Photo courtesy of the University of Bath of England is set to lead the world in the development of ultra-low emission vehicles.

King Edward’s ranked in South West's top-performing schools

KING Edward’s School, Bath has once again been ranked as one of the top-performing schools in the South West, according to The Sunday Times Parent Power survey.

For the fourth year running King Edward’s is among the top fie performing independent schools in the South West, securing 4th spot in this year’s survey. Thesurvey also confimed King

Edward’s position as Bath’s highest-ranked school, and the only school in Bath to make the region’s top 10 schools. It is also the best performing independent co-educational school in the South West.

Now in its 27th year, the Parent Power survey is widely acknowledged as providing one of the most comprehensive rankings of secondary schools based on

the percentage of examination entries gaining A*-B grades at A-Level this summer and entries returning A*/A or 9/8/7 grades at GCSE.

Commenting on the survey’s findigs, Martin Boden, Headmaster of KES said: “I am delighted to see King Edward’s maintain its position as one of the top performing schools of any kind in the South West, and the high-

est ranked independent co-ed school in the region.

“Of course the School’s sustained academic achievement is only part of the success story here at KES. Our pastoral programme is rated ‘excellent’ by independent inspectors and ensures pupils thrive and are happy, whilst our vibrant co-curricular programme continues to provide a wide array of exciting opportunities.

“Indeed, the creative side of life at KES continues to flurish with the Independent School Parent magazine voting KES School of the Year for Performing Arts in last year’s award scheme.” For more information on The Sunday Times Parent Power Survey, visit: www.sundaytimes. co.uk/parentpower where the top 2,000 state and independent schools can be found.

Community comes together to transform school library

WITH the help of local Independent Usborne Organiser Clare Harding, Mulberry Park ET Primary Academy in Combe Down has transformed their library, with an incredible £1507 of free books being given by Usborne Books at Home, a division of Usborne Publishing.

To achieve this, Clare held pop-up bookshops at the school as well as challenging the children to take part in a week-long Sponsored Read Event. Clare also contacted local businesses to ask them to support the fundraiser through a Community Book Pledge, with three companies generously donating. Theevent has been deemed a great success and showcased what can be achieved when the local community comes together.

Funds raised for the library's new books included:

• Sponsored Read & Pop up bookshops: £405

• Community Book Pledge: £575

• Curo: £325

• Bellway: £100

• Building Design Partnership (BOP): £150

• Additional free books added by Clare through the initiative: £527.

Head Teacher Emma Garnett said: "Our children and staffare very excited to have received such an amazing amount of books to promote our love of reading.

“Thy will be a great addition to our school library and will make such a diffeence to the children's reading experiences and the curriculum that we offe.

“Thank you to Clare and all who made this possible!"

Theprovision of adequate libraries in schools with up-todate learning and reading resources has declined sharply in recent years.

Evidence shows that reading for pleasure has a more powerful effct on life achievement than socio economic background.

According to the National Literacy Trust, children who enjoy reading are three times more likely to have good mental wellbeing than children who don't enjoy it.

Christmas fun continues at Bath on Ice Advertising Feature

AS we head towards Christmas, the team at Bath on Ice are reminding residents and visitors across Bath that there's still plenty of time to get their skates on and take full advantage of their huge ice rink and enjoy a game of glow in the dark mini-golf.

Thugh the Bath Christmas Market is finishig this Sunday, the festive spirit doesn't have to end as Bath on Ice in Royal Victoria Park continues right through until Sunday 5th January, open until 10pm every day except Christmas Day.

Thisyear’s rink is once again a whopping 1000 square metres in size, giving everyone on the ice plenty of space to have fun and show off their skating skills.

Thee are also penguins and sleighs galore for young children, with friends and families able to watch all the action with a hot drink from the rink-side Moguls Alpine Bar.

Every ticket at Bath on Ice includes skate hire and 1 hour on the ice, so you'll have ample time

to get to grips with staying upright before having plenty of fun.

If ice staking isn't really your thing, don't worry as there are plenty of other things to do while the family have fun on the ice.

Thewarm comforting glow of the on-site Moguls Alpine Bar could be just the place to visit, with

hot mulled wine, wood fied pizzas, deluxe hot chocolates, log burners, warm rugs and a range of festive beers and wines available.

Alternatively, try your hand at the glow in the dark mini-golf which has returned this year, with the 18-hole course lit up in full splendour once again.

With glow in the dark balls and atmospheric lighting, families and friends can challenge each other to a festive game amongst beautifully lit surroundings. Prices for an hour on the ice start at just £10 for a child (under 16), concessions cost £10.50 and adult tickets are £11.50. A family ticket (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children) is available for

£37. Unfortunately season passes have now sold out, but there's still plenty of time to get out on the ice. If you'd like to take advantage of the after dark mini golf, tickets cost £6 for a child, £6.50 for concessions and £7 for adults. A family ticket is also available for £23. From Monday 16th December, Bath on Ice will be open at 10.30am every day.

Decorating your Christmas tree

Top tips and useful information

You may have already put your Christmas tree up and decorated it, but if you opt to do so 12 days before Christmas or perhaps on Christmas Eve, we've put together some useful information and top tips to make sure it looks fantastic.

Real or fake?

The fist decision you'll have to make to ensure your tree looks as professional as possible is whether to go artifical or buy a real one. Both have their advantages and disadvantages - we prefer to use an artifical tree inside and decorate a real tree outside (when space allows). If you are going for a real tree this year, make sure you spend plenty of time looking through the options available. Staffat local garden centres, tree barns and farms will be happy to let you have a good look at their stock. You could also buy a real Christmas tree in a pot and keep it growing throughout the year! Choose one that's the right shape for your home to start with - if the tree has to squeeze into the hallway or only has limited space in your living room, make sure you choose one that's tall and thin. Getting back home and spending half an hour trying to cut a Christmas tree up isn't the best start. If you're using an artifical tree, make sure you spend plenty of time fluffing up the branches. As they've been packed into a box for the past year, they will need a bit of TLC to ensure they look just as good as they did last Christmas.

Which lights?

Decorations - part 1

If you're using an artificial tree, don't forget to 'fluff ' out all of the branches

Chosen a real Christmas tree this year? Keep it well watered to reduce the risk of fire

Before you add the majority of your decorations, it's time to choose the colour scheme for your Christmas tree. Some households like to match a colour in the room where the tree is located, while others like to stay traditional and choose red and gold or silver. With many shops stocking a huge range of colours, the choice really is down to you. Our top tip is to choose a colour, or colour scheme, and stick to it. When you've decided on your chosen colours, make sure you add the biggest size baubles onto the tree fist, dotted around in a random pattern. Don't place them too close to each other, but don't worry if there are big gaps as these will be filld later on with smaller baubles and decorations. Make sure you use strong hooks to ensure your baubles don't move, and if they're wired, you'll be able to carefully position the individual decoration on each branch.

Tinsel?

Now the tree is sorted, the next thing to think about is what type of lights you are going to use. Thee's always a huge selection of lights available, from incandescant through to LED, though some of the newer LED sets can be a bit bright and colourful for a Christmas tree inside your home. To make your tree stand out, keep colour for your decorations and only use a warm white coloured LED set of Christmas lights. The amount of lights you'll need depends on the height (and width) of your tree, but a rough guide would be 50 bulbs per 1ft of tree. If you choose a 6ft tree, you'll need at least 300 lights to give an even coverage. Depending on where your tree is positioned, wrapping the lights around the tree may not be benefical. In this case, weave the lights back and forth across the tree, giving a consistent space between each layer to ensure the spread of lights is as even as possible.

bles being used as the tree gets taller and thinner. If you've got some decorations that you use every year that aren't part of the colour scheme but have sentimental value, you can add these in once you've finishd offwith the smaller baubles, fillig any spaces that have been left over. One of the latest tips being offered is to use ribbon and fake snow spray to give your tree an extra festive boost. Choosing a wide ribbon, which you can then knot to create bows, can be very effctive in fillig any leftover gaps, and adding a little spray of fake snow here and there gives the branches a little extra touch.

Taking the tree down

Whether to add tinsel to your tree is down to personal taste, however many designers either don't recommend using it, or advise using it sparingly. Using too much tinsel on your tree can take away the effct of your lights or the carefully chosen decorations.

Decorations - part 2

Switching to LED Christmas lights can reduce energy usage by up to 80%

Now the tree is lit, has some large baubles on and a little bit of tinsel, it's time to add in some more smaller baubles and decorations. If you've stuck to a single colour scheme for your tree, you can add some smaller baubles with a slightly varying shade. If you've gone for two colours, use a variety of both to fillthe gaps left between the big baubles, the tinsel and the lights. Thebigger of the remaining baubles should be placed at the bottom of the tree, with increasingly smaller bau-

When it comes to taking your Christmas tree down after the big day, taking a few simple steps can make life a little easier for next year. If you've got an artifical tree, carefully pushing the branches back together before placing it back into the cardboard box will help ensure it lasts for another year. If you have a real tree, make sure it is disposed of properly. Bath & North East Somerset Council are once again offeing their recycling service. You can take your tree to one of the council’s recycling centres or put them out for collection between 20th January and 10th February on garden waste collections days (even if they don’t have a green bin) and the council will collect them free

of charge. Make sure you cut them up small enough to fitin the lorry and ensure they are free of decorations. Alternatively, if you live in BA1, BA2 or BA3, Dorothy House are once again offeing to collect real trees for a small donation to the charity. For further information or to register your tree for collection, visit www. charityxmastreecollection. com. The suggested donation per tree is £10, but any doniaton is welcomed. The charitable collections will take place between Friday 10th January and Sunday 12th January.

The Bath Echo Christmas short story competition

Christmas Watchers

By Emma Strange

Red Gull gently wriggled backwards on the golden stone, his feathery rump pushed into the triangular corner of the pediment. The shallow shelf offered the best vantage point above Milsom Street for watching the comings and goings, provided that he sat very still; a nudge to the left or right had the ptential to impale the watcher on one of the rusting spikes installed to prevent such a pastime. Below him, people meandered through the wooden houses, stopping, pausing and moving slowly to the next.

ʻIncoming!ʼ

A shriek startled Red Gull. His head jerked towards the sky as a white and pale grey missile made a sharp turn, performed a loop, and arrived clumsily beside him, down feathers falling gently like snow around them. ʻI wish you wouldnʼt do that, Scooterʼ, sighed Red Gull. The two pale figures settled themselves together and watched the throng build below, the bright lights reflecting in their unblinking eyes.

Red Gullsʼ attention was caught by a person on wheels. Their chariot was adorned with long red sparkly garlands cleverly woven around the spokes. Red Gull was mesmerised by the way it glistened in the light as it slowly weaved through the crowd. The individual, snuggly wrapped in a fur blanket, arrived at a wooden house full of pictures. The double doors had been pinned back as though revealing its contents in a fanfare. ʻPeter Green - Bath Resident Artistʼ, read a plaque. The gulls watched, their eyes moving in unison as the seated person picked out a large blue canvas with a boat depicted in the centre. ʻI met a Starling last week who said that was called the sea. He said the sea is like the River Avon, only endless and wavier. He said heʼd flown nearly a thousand miles over the sea to get to Bath! Ha!ʼ, Scooter scoffed.

As the sweet scent of caramelised nuts and cinnamon drifted around the birds, a soft rhythmic sound above them grew closer. The two gulls, unmoving, said in unison, ʻHi Schrodingerʼ.

The black purring figure slowly stopped and draped itself along the narrow ledge, itsʼ paw overhanging the protruding stonework, dangling just above the gullsʼ heads, notionally stating its superiority.

ʻI donʼt know why you sit here every evening. Whatʼs the attraction? Garish colours, dazzling light, music! Urgh!ʼ. As the cat spoke his eyes drifted towards the wheeled person. The sight of the deep plush fur blanket caused his paws to emptily kneed the cold air in front of him.

The gulls sat contentedly, captivated by the sights and sounds below, watching as couples walked hand-in-hand, children excitedly bounced around their parents, families grouped and re-grouped, dogs in jumpers trotted alongside their owners and happy faces chatted and smiled.

As the crowd finally began to thin, the wooden houses had their wares carefully packed away, the doors were closed and locked, and their lights extinguished. Red Gull withdrew his gaze and looked towards his friend. ʻSame time tomorrow?!ʼ. ʻYou bet!ʼ, came the reply.

Seasonal Work

By Waheeda Hales

It is the first day of my Christmas job and I am fighting through the crowds to get to work. I push past the mob of locals and tourists gathered around the stalls in the Christmas Market.

I see carollers coming out of the Abbey, doubtless fortified by mulled wine and mince pies. I wonder if there will be such privileges in my work? Given that I am helping the community and supplying a national staff shorage.

I had thought of nothing but the job since the interview last week. I tried not to be fazed by the questions that they asked me: "Have you ever worked over the Christmas period, or on Christmas Day itself, before?"

"Certainly. As a chalet girl in France I served up turkey and all the trimmings to a family on Christmas Day. Followed by a traditional French Yule Log-a `Bouche Noel."

The turkey was late and the family complained, and I ended up sobbing on the phone back to my family in the UK.

I didn't mention this, however.

"Do you have much previous acting experience? Can you sustain a

A Few Nights Before Christmas

By Nicola Edwards

The familiar scraping sound of the attic door moving signified it was Christmas, and Ethel the fairy smiled. She straightened her dress, brushed her hair and filled her pockets with fairy dust from the supply she kept nearby. Moments later, she could hear excited voices as the box she lived in was lowered down the attic ladder. She was carried haphazardly downstairs with the other decorations and tree.

Some hours later, she breathed a sigh of relief from the top of the tree. The family had gone to bed and the house was in darkness. She leaned over and peered around the curtain before waving her wand, a signal that she was ready.

She wriggled uncomfortably and made her escape. Moments later, she sprinkled fairy dust around the window causing it to open just enough for her to fly out, and away she went into the chilly night.

A flashing wand to her left showed tht her three fairy colleagues were waiting for her.

ʻHello Girls. Are you ready to go?” She asked.

Annabel and Gladys nodded excitedly but it was Mavis who spoke in a very serious voice. “We have a very important job to carry out over the next few nights. We have been chosen to check Father Christmasʼ route for Christmas Eve.” She glanced at the others. “Have you all got your special satnav devices?”

The fairies all nodded understanding the seriousness of their task.

“I have divided the City into sections. You will visit each area noting down where the 20mph speed limits are, because although Father Christmas has to be fast, he mustnʼt break the law. You will check for any new or old houses, and anywhere there has been a change of family since last year. If you must investigate any particular building, make sure you are economical with the fairy dust. Is that clear?”

Ethel rolled her eyes.

“Even we are having austerity cuts!”

Mavis glared at her. “Right girls, here are your routes. Switch on your satnavs and off you o.” Moments later, several sets of special fairy lights could be seen around the City of Bath. Ethel checked her instructions and flew to Weston. She followed the route she had been given, flying along every road taking in all the necessary information she could. Down through the village where she flew over the RUH very much hoping Father Christmas wouldnʼt have to visit too many children in there this year.

After the hospital, she flew to Newbridge just managing to dodge past a little girl looking curiously out of her bedroom window- she mustnʼt be seen! Eventually she got to Milsom Street and paused on the roof of Jollysʼ to catch her breath, but just as she did, she heard a clock chime.

“Oh no!” Her time was up. She gathered up her satnav, smiled as she looked over the most beautiful city she had ever seen and took off ino the night.

Milsom Street would be her starting point tomorrow….

character, and a voice?"

"Sure! In fact I first came to this city to study Drama and English at Bath Spa University. I have performed in a pantomime, at Christmas."

That's how I met my husband. He was the front end of a pantomime horse and I was the legs.

"Finally, what is the best Christmas present that you have ever received?"

"This is easy. My son. He was an IVF miracle and born on Christmas Day. The doctors and midwives who delivered him in the RUH were undoubtedly my Christmas angels."

This answer seemed to clinch it as I was offered the job on the spot, subject to a successful DBS check, no more questions asked. My son and husband are at the local garden centre right now, probably fighting over the most appropriate tree for the family Christmas.

I collected wolf whistles from both as I left the house this morning. "You look great, Mum, and red's definitely your colour. Just keep

your cool and all will be well!"

Encouraging words from the kid. I struggle into my small, allotted cubicle and take a few moments to compose myself before encountering my first visitor.

This is a friendly little girl who wants to tell me all about her performance as Third Shepherd in her school's Nativity play. I can barely get a word in until she asks me a direct question: "Santa, do you have any little girls of your own at home? Like me?"

I answer truthfully. "No I don't, only boys."

Clearly, the deep, resounding voice that I had practised painstakingly at home isn't that effective. My visitor smiles and laughs. "You can't be Father Christmas. You're a lady!" Rumbled, I improvise a response.

"OK, I'm not Father Christmas. I am one of Santa's Helpers, Mary Christmas. Merry Christmas!"

I give my young friend a broad grin.

We'd like to thank everyone who entered this year's Christmas short story competition. You can read the brilliant entries from our first, second and third place winners below.

Festive recipes from Richard Bertinet

All of the recipes on this page have been kindly provided by The Bertinet Kitchen. Find out more at www.bertinet.com

Mince Pies

What You'll Need

• 1 batch of sweet pastry (recipe provided below)

• Jam tart tray

• Flaked almonds to decorate (optional)

For the filing

• 1 jar of luxury mincemeat (shop bought or recipe below)

For the creme d’amande

• 200g ground almonds

• 200g caster sugar

• 200g unsalted butter

• 2 large eggs

• 50g flur

• 2 tbsp rum or brandy

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180°C. Butter the tray. Roll out a piece of pastry on a flured surface until it is quite thin.

• Using a cutter, cut out rounds and push the pastry lightly into the moulds. Leave in the fridge to set.

• For the crème d’amande, beat the butter in a Kitchen Aid or Kenwood until very soft. Keep the mixer beating and add the sugar and ground almonds.

• Add the flur, then the egg and fially the alcohol.

• Transfer the crème to a small bowl and place in the fridge for 15 minutes. Remove the tray and the crème from the fridge.

• Half fillthe pastry cases with mincemeat using a spoon then cover with crème d’amande using another spoon or piping bag if you prefer.

• Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 25 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the moulds and leave to cool.

• Thee can be frozen between layers of greaseproof paper in a Tupperware box until Christmas.

• Defrost at room temperature or for a few minutes in a warm oven.

• Ser ve immediately.

Making Sweet Pastry

Poppy Seed Stars (Makes 12 stars)

What You'll Need

• 1 batch of brown dough (recipe provided below)

• 50g of poppy seeds

Method

• Using the rounded end of your scraper, turn out the dough. With the flat edge, divide it into 12 pieces (about 70g each) and roll them into balls, cover with a tea towel and rest for 5 minutes.

• Scatter the poppy seeds onto a plate and filla shallow bowl with water.

Making Mincemeat

• Flatten one of the rolls with the palm of your hand, dip the top into the water, then immediately into the seeds and press them in with your hand.

• Place on your lightly flured surface, seed-side up, and then flatten a little with your hand.

• Using the short end of a clean credit card, make a diagonal cut across the centre of the dough – the cut shouldn’t reach the edges of the roll, but should go all the way through it to hit the work surface.

• Thenmake two other diagonal cuts that intersect the fist one equally, so that the three cuts form a star shape.

• Carefully push the roll from underneath with your figertips, and turn it inside out so that the points of the star push upwards and outwards, resulting in the points being on the outside.

• Place the stars on a baking tray, seed-side up, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for about 45 minutes until the stars have nearly doubled in volume.

• Put them in a preheated oven, mist the inside with a water spray, and bake them for 10-12 minutes.

• Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.

Making Brown Dough

You'll need

• 350g plain fl ur

• 125g caster sugar

• 125g softened butter

• 1 egg yolk

• 2 eggs

• 5g salt

Method

• Place the butter, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl and mix with a wooden spatula or using the paddle on a Kenwood or Kitchen Aid. Add the flur and the egg and mix until all of the ingredients are bound together.

• Place the dough onto a lightly flured surface and work into a ball shape.

• Wrap the dough in cling filmand leave to rest in the fridge for at least an hour before using.

Note: the dough can be kept for up to 10 days in the fridge or a few weeks in the freezer.

You'll need

• 4 medium Bramley Apples

• Zest and juice of 3 lemons

• 1kg soft brown sugar

• 50g almonds, chopped

• ¼ tspn ground cinnamon

• 500g raisins

• 500g currants

• 500g suet

• 125ml brandy

• 100g candied orange peel, finey chopped

• 100ml Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur

• ¼ tspn ground ginger

• Method

• Core the apples and place them in a lidded dish. Bake for 1 hour or until soft in an oven heated to 200°C/400°F. Squeeze all the pulp from the apple skins into a large bowl. Add the lemon juice and zest, then stir in the rest of the ingredients.

• Cover the mince and leave it in a cool place for a couple of days. Give it an occasional stir. Fill the mincemeat into sterilised pots or jars, taking care to remove any air bubbles. Seal and store in the larder. It will improve with age.

You'll need

• 300g strong wholemeal flur

• 200g strong white flur

• 10g yeast (fresh if possible)

• 10g salt

• 350g water (350ml – but weighing is more accurate)

Method

• Preheat your oven to its highest temperature.

• Rub the yeast into the flur (or mix in if using dried yeast).

• Add the remaining ingredients and the water.

• Mix well for a couple of minutes until the dough starts to form.

• Transfer the dough onto your working surface.

• Continue to mix the ingredients by stretching out the dough and folding it over onto itself.

• Keep mixing until the dough comes cleanly away from the work surface and is not sticky. Lightly flur the work surface, place the dough on the flur and form the dough into a ball.

• Place the dough into a mixing bowl and cover with a tea towel.

• Rest for at least 20 minutes in a draught free place (a kitchen cupboard will do).

Photo © Jean Cazals from Dough by Richard Bertinet

Photo © Jean Cazals from PASTRY by Richard Bertinet (Ebury)

Stuffing

What You'll Need

• 120g Bertinet breadcrumbs

• 50g butter

• 1 small onion

• 1 egg

• 4 tablespoons of water, wine or stock

• Small bunch fresh parsley

• Salt and pepper to season

Method

• Melt the butter in a microwave or small pan.

• Put the breadcrumbs in a bowl and stir in the melted butter.

• Peel and finey chop the onion and blend into the breadcrumbs.

• Season with salt and pepper; beat the egg lightly and mix into the breadcrumbs.

• Finely chop the herbs and add enough stock to give a moist but fim consistency.

Christmas Wordsearch

Bread Sauce

What You'll Need

• 85g Bertinet breadcrumbs

• 1 onion

• 1-2 cloves

• 1 bay leaf

• 1 pint milk

• 30g butter

• Salt and pepper to season

Method

• Put the breadcrumbs in a bowl and cover with a little of the milk. Leave to soak. Peel the onion.

• Put the onion, bay leaf, cloves and the rest of the milk in a pan and bring to the boil.

• Remove the pan from the heat, cover with a lid and leave to infuse for 15 minutes.

• Add the breadcrumbs and the butter.

• Cook the sauce, uncovered, over the lowest possible heat for 15 minutes, then remove the onion, cloves and bay leaf.

• Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Find all 75 words!

• Advent

• Angelic

• Baby

• Bauble

• Birth

• Bread

• Cake

• Camel

• Candy

• Cards

• Cedar

• Chimney

• Choir

• Christ

• Comet

• Crowds

• Cupid

• Dasher

• Dolls

• Donner

• Eggnog

• Elves

• Epiphany

• Exhausted

• Fir

• Flock

• Gift

• Gold

• Gravy

• Happy

• Holy

• Immanuel

• Inn

• Ivy

• Jesus

• Joseph

• Joy

• Lights

• Lord

• Magi

• Mary

• Mass

• Merry

• Micah

• Miracle

• Myrrh

• Noel

• Party

• Pie

• Pine

• Port

• Prancer

• Prophecy

• Punch

• Red

• Ribbon

• Sack

• Sales

• Sauce

• Season

• Sing

• Sled

• Snowmen

• Spirit

• St Nick

• Star

• Tinsel

• Toast

• Toys

• Traffi

• Tree

• Turkey

• Vixen

• Winter

• Yule

The Bath Echo team would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Photos © Anna Prideaux

Christmas Crossword

Your chance to win a £50 shopping voucher!

Clues - Down

1 Make younger (10)

2 Often roasted on Christmas Day (6)

3 Raymond Briggs's came to life (7)

4 Last century (9)

5 Reviewed Sam's epic flight of fancy (8)

6 Spelunking sites (5)

7 Politically powerful few (9)

8 Pearl Harbor location (8)

9 Where 35 Across first saw the light (6)

10 Military student (5)

11 Football whistleblower (3)

12 Disposable pre-paid mobile (6)

20 Christmas is one (8)

24 Bethlehem is just outside it (9)

25 Image of a deity (4)

27 Thick slab (5)

30 Hissy fits (8)

32 Hollowed inward (7)

33 Shavers (6)

36 Selected passage (7)

38 Unlike Lady Godiva (7)

39 Short-range snaps (5-3)

40 Wood smoother (9)

42 Kenyan capital (7)

44 One of Rudolph's colleagues (6)

46 Fragrant climbing flower (5,3)

49 What we wish New Year to be (5)

51 Christ was laid in one (4)

54 Historian (10)

55 No details rearranged on telephones (4,5)

56 Reduce the quality all round (5,4)

59 Got back (8)

60 Sources for synonyms (8)

62 Ice hockey start (4-3)

64 Jesus, Joseph and Mary, the Holy --- (6)

65 Agreeable fragrances (6)

67 "Thou art the thing ---" (Shakespeare, "King Lear") (6)

68 Seasonal song (5)

69 Practically pristine (2-3)

74 Business abbreviation (3)

Clues - Across

44 Currency in 8 Down (6)

45 Influences unfairly (6)

47 Throw in the towel (9)

48 Monkey business (8)

50 Jurisdictions whose decisions may be appealed (5,6)

52 The Royal Mail's December mainstay (5)

53 Esteem (7)

57 Such as gold or frankincense (4)

58 Working as a domestic (2,7)

60 It's lit at Christmas (4)

61 "--- is mine ..." (Balthazar) (5)

63 Not seldom (5)

65 They serenaded the shepherds (6)

66 Disclosures (11)

70 Nuclear, chemical or biological devices (1,1,1)

71 Golden white-tailed steed (8)

72 Wrap in bandages, like Christ (7)

73 Under the weather (4)

75 Every dish is undercooked perhaps - very unusual (3,3,4)

76 Often raised in surprise (7)

77 Shot (6)

How to enter and win!

For your chance to win a £50 shopping voucher, send your completed crossword along with your name, address, phone number and email address (if you have one) to Bath Echo, PO Box 5395, Bath, BA1 0YA by Friday 3rd January 2020. Thewinner will be contacted using the details they've provided, and a £50 high-street shopping voucher given for a store of their choice.

Terms & Conditions

• Thiscompetition will close at 5pm on Friday 3rd January 2020. All correct entries received before this time will be entered into the prize draw.

• One entry per household is permitted.

• Entrants must be 16+ and are happy to have their name published in an upcoming issue of the Bath Echo newspaper if required.

• A £50 voucher will be provided to the winner, for a high-street store of their choice.

• No other prize is available and it is not transferrable. No cash alternative is offeed.

Special owl sculpture in memory of teenage girl goes on display at the RUH

A SPECIAL owl sculpture decorated in memory of a teenager called Evie Clover has gone on display at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Evie’s parents, relatives, friends and staffgathered on Friday 29th November to see it in the garden of the RNHRD and Brownsword Theapies Centre.

Evie’s parents Patsy and Bryan won a plain, unpainted owl model at the Minerva Owls auction that followed the public art sculpture trail, which featured over 80 individually decorated super-sized owl sculptures in Bath and surrounding towns – and the idea of Evie Owl was born.

Bryan Clover, Evie’s dad said: “After we won a blank owl at auction we decided to have it painted with Evie’s favourite toys from when she was little.

“It seems fiting that the decorated owl has come here to the hospital, where it will be seen lots of families and children, and where Evie’s name and memory will be maintained.”

Evie was 13 years old when she passed away from an aggressive brain tumour in January 2018.

Polly Bates, RUH Paediatric Oncologist who helped care for Evie said: “Evie was truly a remarkable young woman and it was our privilege to care for her at home when she was so poorly. She leaves a legacy and a bit of magic and it’s so nice to have this special owl to remember her.”

Bath artist Laura Fearn who dec-

orated Evie’s Owl said: “It was really lovely to try to commemorate Evie using her favourite personal toys.

“I’ve tried to produce something that’s appropriate and I wanted it to be just right. I’m very happy with the end result and glad that the owl is on display to help to remember Evie’s life.”

A plaque underneath Evie’s Owl reads ‘Evie Owl celebrates the life and memory of our wonderful

daughter, Evie Clover. Thank you to the RUH Oncology Unit staff who supported her at home during her illness.

‘Evie loved sport and was a talented scholar and musician. She was full of energy and would wish that you, like her, live your life to the full.’

After Evie passed away, her parents set up a charity and called it Evie’s Gift. Thecharity aims to give fiancial assistance to

parents whose children have been admitted to hospital with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition and to fund research into the rare brain cancer that Evie had.

Evie’s Gift aims to pay for two or three nights’ accommodation locally and help meet other costs associated with being near your child while they are in hospital. For more information, visit www. eviesgift.org.uk.

Legacy gifts help fund vital Eye Unit equipment

PATIENTS being treated for serious eye conditions at the RUH in Bath are to benefitfrom new high tech medical equipment thanks to the hospital’s charity receiving a number of legacies totalling £121,000.

TheForever Friends Appeal worked with Ophthalmology staff to purchase an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) retinal scanner and two slit lamps for the hospital’s busiest outpatient department.

TheOCT retinal scanner will monitor patients with a range of conditions including macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic macula oedema and retinal vein occlusions.

Theslit lamps are important tools and will enable ophthalmologists to detect eye diseases.

Helen Broadbent, Head of Optometry, RUH said: “We are so grateful that these legacies have allowed us to purchase this additional equipment that is over and beyond what is provided by the NHS.

“Having a fourth OCT retinal scanner means that we can expand the service as we see a huge amount of patients every year.

“On average, 167 patients attend our eye outpatient’s clinic and over 18,000 patients were seen last year.

“Having this equipment is inval-

uable in the prevention of sight loss for many patients. In the case of one form of macular disease, Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the sooner it is caught the better, as treatment is more likely to be effctive earlier on in the condition.”

According to the Macular Society,

Mental Health with Karen Bray LONELY THIS CHRISTMAS?

CHRISTMAS is all about togeth erness. The media and social media are full of programmes, adverts and posts that emphasise celebrating with friends and loving family. But research shows that more and more of us in Western societies feel lonely, and the Christmas festivities can emphasise our isolation. Like all our feelings, loneliness has a purpose. It tells us we need more connection with others, just like hunger tells us we need food. Isolation is bad for our health. But our fears can get in the way of reaching out. Even otherwise confidet people can feel embarrassed to admit to loneliness. Others tend to feel uncomfortable around people generally, because of unhealthy relationships in the past. And long-term loneliness can reach a tipping-point, where isolation gets comfortable.

around 600,000 people in the UK currently have sight loss caused by AMD, with around 70,000 new cases every year or nearly 200 every day.

Ophthalmology is now the busiest outpatient specialty in the UK, dealing with nine million outpatient appointments every year, with a predicted increase in demand of 30-40% over the next 20 years.

Jan Witt, In Memory and Legacy Offic, TheForever Friends Appeal said: “We are very grateful to have received these legacy gifts from former patients.

“Gifts left in Wills to our hospital make a huge diffeence and help ensure our hospital can continue to provide the very best treatment and care to patients now and in the future.”

If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will to help the RUH care for patients in the future, please contact Jan Witt Legacy Officeon 01225 825819 or email jan.witt@nhs.net to arrange a visit or a chat on the phone.

Whatever the reason for findig it difficult to connect, the answer is always the same: good boundaries. Thee are the limits we place on how we will relate to others, which make relationships mutually safe. Thy can be about anything from how long we choose to spend with someone - making sure we don’t get fed up with each other - to what information we share and how involved we get in each others’ lives. Unclear boundaries often create social awkwardness, while good boundaries actually allow for greater closeness - as you can learn at https://positivepsychology.com/great-self-care-settinghealthy-boundaries/ or from the book “Boundaries” by Jennie Miller and Victoria Lambert. Classes, clubs or charities are a great way to start making connections in a boundaried way. If findig something on your own feels difficult, contact BANES’ social prescribing service (call 01225 310077 or search online for “MyScript Bath” which will research options that meet your interests and circumstances. An even gentler way to reach out is through the online community at https://www.elefriends.org. uk/ But if your sense of isolation is overwhelming and unbearable, get immediate help by contacting your GP or calling Samaritans on 116 123. If you do findyourself feeling lonely this Christmas, listen to what the feeling is telling you. Resolve to build connections over the coming year so next Christmas can be diffeent.

Karen Bray (MBACP) is a counsellor with a private practice in Bath. Her website is at www.karenbray.co.uk

Evie's family gathered with friends and staff for te special unveiling

Mental health trust named in UK’s Top 50 inclusive employers

FOR the third year in a row, the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) NHS Trust has been named as one of the Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers. TheTrust, which provides inpatient and community-based mental health care for people living in Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire, has been ranked at number 32 in the list.

Theranking demonstrates improvements to embrace diversity and create an inclusive organisation.

In 2018, the Trust was ranked in 36th place and in 45th place in 2017.

Dominic Hardisty, Chief Executive for AWP, said: “Thisis fantastic news for the Trust, our staff, patients, families and carers as it demonstrates continued improvements over the last three years.

“Creating an inclusive, fair work-

Number of people with dementia set to soar by 36% in the next decade

ing environment and putting equality, inclusion and diversity at the heart of everything we do is really important to us, so to have that work recognised in this way is testament to the hard work of all our staffto treat each other, our patients, carers and families with equality, dignity and respect.”

TheInclusive Top 50 UK Employers is a list of UK based organisations that promote inclusion across all protected characteristics, throughout each level of employment within their organisation. Julian Feasby, Director of Human Resources for AWP said:

“We strive to create a working environment where everyone feels welcome and accepted regardless of their diffeences.

“Thehard work and commitment from our staffto ensure our recruitment procedures, retention work, training and other initiatives are inclusive is really making a diffeence as we are continuing to see improvements year on year.”

THE number of people with dementia in Bath and North East Somerset is set to soar by 36% in the next decade, from 2,698 people in 2019 to 3,670 in 2030, a report has warned.

Thereport was commissioned by Alzheimer’s Society from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

It predicts that as the population ages, a higher proportion of people with dementia will have higher care needs for longer, driving up the average amount spent on care.

It shows more than 60% a year of social care costs in England will fall on people with dementia and their families.

Previous research by Alzheimer’s Society has shown that someone with dementia will typically have to spend £100,000 on their care. With the number of people living with dementia set to almost double by 2030, Alzheimer’s Society’s call ahead of the general election, from its Fix Dementia Care campaign, is for all political parties to commit to radically reform dementia care.

Thecharity says it should be funded like other public services, such as the NHS and education, where the cost is shared across society,

protecting individuals and their families from the devastating costs of specialist dementia care.

Alzheimer’s Society released the figures as it launched its election manifesto, ‘Demanding action on dementia’.

Marion Child, Alzheimer’s Society South West Head of Region said: “Dementia is heart-breaking for families. It’s not right that those going through it have to battle to get the care they need on top of battling the disease.

“From the working mum struggling to findhundreds of pounds every week to ‘top up’ her mum’s council-funded care home place, to the woman who had to sell her home of 50 years to pay for her husband’s care – families affcted by dementia are already at breaking point.

“With costs set to treble in the next two decades, how on earth will they cope?

“Thecost of dementia care is too much for an individual to bear. It should be spread between us – just like schools, the NHS and other public services.

“Every party must go into this election with a solid plan to radically reform dementia care. Families in crisis need action, and they need it now.”

Philip Scott’s mum Sylvia, 90, is in the late stages of dementia, and her house was sold to help pay for her care. Philip, 59, said: “Mum wouldn’t survive more than 48 hours without nursing care. Why has she had to spend £160,000 to make sure that doesn’t happen?

“Thewhole process of having to argue again and again why my mum needed support was really harrowing. It took three attempts before we managed to get Continuing Health Care funding for her, and even now we are afraid that the funding will be taken away. People with dementia have been side-lined and treated very diffeently to those with other diseases.”Alzheimer’s Society is calling on people to back their Fix Dementia Care campaign by signing up at alzheimers.org.uk/ ficampaign.

Residents being urged to take up free flu accine offe

Now recruiting for Nurses, Care Assistants and Support Workers.

Offering many great benefits, including holiday pay, free uniforms and a discount scheme. We offer paid training, flexible working options, a local supportive office team and an employee assistance programme.

To find out more, pop in today or call us for more information.

PUBLIC Health England and NHS England are urging eligible people across Bath & North East Somerset to take up the offer of a fee flu vccine. Theprimary schools-based flu vaccination programme is once again underway, following a temporary pause in the ordering of the nasal vaccine, which was caused by delays from the manufacturer. Primary school clinics will be rescheduled as soon as possible and children in high-risk groups should visit their GP if their school session has been delayed, to ensure that they are protected early. GPs have now been advised to call in all eligible children for vaccination by early December.

Dr Jon Roberts, PHE Screening and Immunisation South West, said: “We are now starting to see cases of fluaffcting schools, care homes and hospitals in the South West.

“Thebest defence is the fluvaccine, flucan be serious and sometimes fatal illness.

“If you are in an eligible group, visit your GP or pharmacist as soon possible to ensure you are protected.”

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England national medical director, said: “Flu can be extremely serious and even kill in some cases and getting vaccinated is the best protection against it.

“NHS services across England continue to work hard to prepare for the winter season, including staffgetting their free flu jab, and now we’re appealing to the public to ‘Help Us, Help You’ by ensuring that they and their eligible children or relatives get vaccinated, now.”

Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, added: “Influenzacan be a very unpleasant illness, and while it is not generally a serious illness for most people, for those in at-risk groups, such as young children, elderly people, those with long-term conditions and pregnant women, fluhas the potential to trigger life-threatening complications.

“Thebest defence against the fluis to be vaccinated and we strongly urge all patients in at-risk groups to get vaccinated and for parents to ensure their young children receive their vaccine as soon as possible.”

Public Health England is working closely with NHS England and Improvement and the Department of Health and Social Care to ensure that all eligible children receive their flu accination as soon as possible. Theadult fluprogramme has continued as normal and PHE is reminding all those aged 65 and over, pregnant women and all children and adults with underlying medical conditions to visit their GP or pharmacist to get their flu accine.

What's On

19th-century Paris coming to Bath at Victoria Art Gallery exhibition

RESIDENTS are being invited to experience the sights and sounds of 19th-century Paris at a major new exhibition, Toulouse-Lautrec and the Masters of Montmartre, at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath.

Theexhibition will open on 15th February and run until 26th May 2020.

For the fist time in the UK, Lautrec’s complete collection of posters, which revolutionised the world of graphic design, will be exhibited together.

More than 80 iconic posters, many of them rare and seen here for the fist time, will go on show. Thy will be displayed in their full colourful glory, many in giant format from flor to ceiling, recreating how they were originally seen on the streets of Paris.

Theexhibition will include 32 posters by Toulouse-Lautrec along with works by other celebrated poster artists of the day such as Alphonse Mucha, Pierre Bonnard and Thophile-Alexandre Steinlen.

ThePost-Impressionist French painter, printmaker, caricaturist and illustrator Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 – 1901) moved in the ‘celebrity’ circles of 19th-century Bohemian Paris.

Hugely influencd by the flamboyant, vibrant, eclectic, free-spirited, debauched lifestyle of the time, his work was known for its provocative nature, highlighting Paris’s colourful nightlife, stripping away the glamour to bring the Parisian underworld to life.

Beginning in Montmartre in the

1880s, the exhibition examines Toulouse-Lautrec’s work as a printmaker and shines a light on the celebrated stars of the stage, and the styles and fashions of the time.

His work features Paris’s most popular cafés, cabarets, and entertainers including stage star Yvette Guilbert and famous dancers like Jane Avril and Loïe Fuller. Theexhibition also draws parallels between Bohemian Paris and Bath, which itself was a mix of high society and a more debauched underworld in the Georgian and Regency periods. Bath also became a centre for lithography when Thoas Barker set up one of the fist lithographic presses in the country outside London.

Jon Benington, Victoria Art Gal-

Coming up this week in Bath

The Spirit of Giving

Holburne Museum

11th December, 6.30-8.30pm

An evening of festive treats, carols and art at the Holburne Museum, with six local charitable organisations coming together to host a special Christmas party all for a good cause.

Be

auty & The Beast

The Theatre Royal, Bath

12th December - 12th January

One of the most popular fairy tales of all. The tory of Belle who finds heself imprisoned in an enchanted castle by a prince who has been transformed into a hideous beast by an evil sorceress.

A Christmas Celebration

Bath Abbey

13th & 14th December, 7pm

Bath Abbey’s annual Christmas Concert featuring the Abbey Girls’ Choir and the Melody Makers, the Abbey’s youngest choir of 6-11 year olds. Tickets cost £16 from Bath Box Offi.

Pantomime Preview | Beauty & the Beast

Theatre Royal Bath

STAR of TV and stage

Wendi Peters leads the cast in the award-winning pantomime Beauty & The Beast alongside Bath favourite Jon Monie and dazzling Dame Nick Wilton at the Theatre Royal this Christmas. One of the most popular fairy tales of all, Beauty & TheBeast is the story of Belle who findsherself imprisoned in an enchanted castle by a prince who has been transformed into a hideous beast by an evil sorceress.

lery Manager and exhibition curator, explained: “Toulouse-Lautrec elevated the status of the colour poster such that it became the street art of the 1890s.

“His iconic images for the Moulin Rouge Cabaret and other palaces of popular entertainment were so desirable that fans ripped them from their hoardings.

“Other leading artists who followed in his wake, such as Mucha, Steinlen and Bonnard, also feature in this stunning one-off show.”

Toulouse-Lautrec and the Masters of Montmartre is supported by Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants, 131 Art Happens with Art Fund donors, and the Friends of the Victoria Art Gallery.

The Story of Christmas

The Rondo Theatre

12th - 22nd December

The tory of Christmas is long and complicated and hotly debated by serious historians. Luckily, this Yuletide, you can experience the short, simple and seriously silly version!

Origami: Christmas Magic Stars

The MEAA

13th December, 6.15-7.30pm

Join the popular Christmas origami workshop series, get creative with paper-folding techniques, and make your own Christmas decorations to take home. £10 admission charge.

Meet St Nick

The American Museum

14th & 15th, 21st & 22nd December

Ho, ho, ho! St Nick taken time out of his busy schedule to stop off t a special, colourful grotto at the American Museum & Gardens. £6 per child, includes gift from Santa. 20 minute time slot.

Can Belle see beyond the beast’s appearance and fall in love with her captor? Will the beast return to the world he once knew and win the hand of the girl who has melted his heart?

With a cast of larger than life characters, side-splitting comedy, sumptuous costumes, fabulous scenery and a thrilling transformation scene, this traditional family pantomime written by Jon Monie won Best Script at the Great British Pantomime Awards 2019 after receiving its world premiere at Blackpool Grand Thatre last Christmas.

Beauty & TheBeast continues Bath’s tradition of outstanding family pantomime guaranteed to delight audience members of all ages.

Produced by UK Productions,

Beauty & TheBeast is directed by Michael Gattrell who returns to the Thatre Royal after his hugely-praised productions of Peter Pan in 2018, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 2017, Aladdin in 2016 and Jack and the Beanstalk in 2015.

Michael Gattrell said: “It’s my fifthconsecutive year in Bath and I’m really looking forward to working with Jon Monie on his award-winning script which is fresh, really funny and completely family friendly. It is, it’s hilarious.”

Beauty & TheBeast runs at the Thatre Royal Bath from Thursday 12th December 2019 to Sunday 12th January 2020.

To book, contact the Thatre Royal Bath Box Officon 01225 448844 or book online at www. theatreroyal.org.uk

On the way in Bath next week

Christmas Evening

Toppings Bookshop

17th December, 3.30pm

Celebrate a literary Christmas in Bath with a warming glass of mulled wine, mince pies, and a cosy browse in the bookshop. The shop ill be open until 9pm and admission is free.

Carols by Candlelight

The Pump Room

19th & 20th December, 7.30pm

Bath Bach Choir’s much-loved annual entertainment, marking the true start of Christmas in Bath, includes seasonal songs, a touch of jazz, young virtuoso musicians and local children’s choirs.

A Silver Frieze

St James the Great Church

21st December, 7.30pm

Join Noctis Chamber Choir for a feast of festive music, featuring Walking in the Air and White Christmas, as well as winner of Radio 3’s carol competition, John Merrick’s setting of the Bee Carol.

Winter Wonderband

Ring O Bells, Widcombe

17th December, 8pm

Maclaine Colston, Saul Rose, Jennifer Crook and Beth Porter team up once again to celebrate the music born out of the great British winter. Doors at 7.30pm, duration of 2hrs inc. interval.

Carols in the Circus

The Circus Green

20th December, 7pm

Each year The alvation Army Band play under the trees on the Circus Green for the annual carol singing charity event. Organised by CARA (Circus Area Residents' Association) but open to all.

The Baths Before Christmas

The Roman Baths

22nd & 23rd December

Enjoy an after-dark glimpse at the waters, before moving upstairs for dinner. Enjoy a three-course festive menu by candlelight, accompanied by music from resident pianist, Mr Jools Scott.

Image © Musée d’Ixelles-Bruxelles / Courtesy of Institut für Kulturaustausch, Tübingen

Photo © Freia Turland

Review | Ten Times Table Theatre Royal Bath

Landscape-wide advent calendar to bring festive cheer to Prior Park

Whilst Ayckbourn cites his personal involvement with committees whilst moving theatre spaces as inspiration, time has not been kind to this dated and disappointing play.

Thecast works hard with a limited script and barely sketched stereotypical characters, but the pace falters and simple scene changes become arduous and unnecessarily time-consuming. Ray (Robert Daws) has the unen-

viable task of chairing the committee. His wife Helen (Deborah Grant) is outspoken and definiely in opposition to the Marxist teacher, Eric (Craig Gazey).

Laurence (Robert Duncan) drowns his marital woes with whisky and Tim (Harry Gostelow) sees warfare as the answer to most things.

The cast of Ten Times Table | Photo © Pamela Raith Ten Times Table written in 1977 is a lengthy and unlikely play that is based around a committee planning the Pedon Folk Festival and its aim to celebrate and dramatise a local historical event based loosely on the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Unsurprisingly it becomes a battle of personalities and political agenda.

All of this on a single set of the Swan Hotel which captures the mediocrity of the town perfectly. Theplay feels less successful than other Ayckbourn scripts; the humour is heavily reliant on the clashes of class, gender and race which are generally well-received by the audience. However, there is something missing that allows it to feel like an Ayckbourn classic.

Petra Schofiel

THIS December, a landscape-wide advent calendar is coming to Prior Park Landscape Garden in Bath, and residents are being invited to explore the grounds with the whole family. Exploring the garden, you will come across a whole host of decorative little wooden doors, which open to reveal festive finds and challenges. Trail sheets, to help you findall the doors, can be collected from visitor reception.

Prior Park Landscape Garden, looked after by the National Trust, is currently undergoing a large restoration project to restore the Georgian dams. Thework is in the early stages, and while the garden is a hive of activity for the project during the week, at the weekends when the gates open to the public over the winter, the diggers will be silent and allow for peaceful winter wanders.

TheTea Shed, now relocated to

the Cabinet at the top of the garden, is on hand every weekend with a selection of hot drinks to warm up chilly figers, plus lunchtime paninis, cakes, scones, snacks and cold drinks. While winter opening is limited to weekends only (November to January), Boxing Day and New Year’s Day provide another opportunity to explore the winter garden and to stretch the legs after the indulgences of Christmas Day.

Additional Bath date announced for Michael Bublé concert

FOLLOWING on from the announcement that Grammy-award winning global megastar Michael Bublé will herald the return of live music to the Royal Crescent in Bath, a second date has now been announced due to phenomenal demand.

Theshows on Friday 24th July, and the newly added date of Saturday 25th July, will see the stage set on the private lawns of the Royal Crescent.

Set to be some of the most vocally and visually stunning concert shows of 2020, the forthcoming ‘An Evening with Michael Bublé’ summer tour will blend his world-class showmanship with the impressive grandeur of magnificet venues, for an unforgettable musical experience.

Michael has already completed six sold-out world tours, won four Grammy Awards and sold over 60 million records over the course of

his extraordinary career.

Bublé’s shows will be the fist at the Royal Crescent since the world-famous shows in 2003, when TheThee Tenors performed to mark the completion of Bath’s Millennium Project and the opening of the Themae Bath Spa.

Richard Hall, who fist proposed the concert and is a director of local business group Bath Percent Club, said: “As a World Heritage City, Bath offes a spectacular setting for world class performance.

“We hope that the added benefit of this event will be to open up more music opportunities for local children as well as to develop new commercial opportunities for local businesses.”

Promoter Ollie Rosenblatt, MD of Senbla said: “I’m so delighted to be bringing Michael Bublé to the iconic, unique and stunning Bath Royal Crescent."

Photo © National Trust images / Rachel Beaumont

Photo © Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

Expert advice on offer o help keep your home warm this winter

EXPERT advice to keep your home warm and the support to do so are available from Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Energy At Home Advice Service – but volunteers are needed this winter to help spread the word to vulnerable residents.

Theservice offes help to anyone who needs advice on heating insulation and renewable energy and is looking for volunteers who could spare a few hours a month or more to help people living in particularly cold homes.

Thecouncil’s declaration of a climate emergency and target to make the district carbon neutral by 2030 includes supporting residents and landlords to make improvements to existing buildings to become more energy efficit and install renewable energy. Amongst the support the Energy At Home Advice Service offes to vulnerable residents is an affordable warmth grant, signposting to entitlements such as winter fuel allowance and how to access priority services.

TheAdvice Service is open to anyone living in the district who is looking for independent advice on smart meters, heating or how to get a low-cost energy loan through Wessex Resolutions for insulation or renewable energy installations.

John Wilkinson, the council’s director of Economy and Growth,

said: “Our Energy At Home Advice Service is there to help all our residents with a range of issues such as reducing their energy bills, how to tackle condensation in cold weather or which energy saving improvements are suitable for their homes.

“Thiswinter, we’d like as many vulnerable people in the district as possible to have the help they need to keep their homes warm and stay healthy. By volunteering to join the team people could make a real diffeence in their community by supporting those who’d really benefitfrom energy efficiey measures, especially during cold weather."

Full training on energy efficicy will be given, including the opportunity to study for a City & Guilds qualifiation. Volunteers

Find out more about free wellbeing retreat at open-doors day

could become involved in a range of activities including visiting older people to help them take advantage of grants or running local energy advice events, under the guidance of the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) which runs the service on behalf of the council.

Thee are regular team meetings and one-to-one support for volunteers. Find out more at https://www.cse.org.uk/news/ view/2399

Free advice on keeping warm and energy efficiey can be found at https://www.energyathome.org. uk/ or by calling 0800 038 5680. Anyone needing emergency help for a cold home should call the council’s Housing Standards and Improvement Team on 01225 396444.

‘Spirit of Giving’ event invites all to celebrate city’s generous donors

ON Wednesday 11th December, six of Bath’s charitable organisations will come together once again for the 2019 ‘Spirit of Giving’ Christmas celebrations, and everyone is invited to join in the festivities.

Now in its second year, the Spirit of Giving will bring together Bath Spa University, Bath Abbey, TheRoman Baths Foundation, University of Bath, Bath Percent Club and this year’s venue hosts, TheHolburne Museum, as they invite the public to an evening of fun and thanking local donors for their support, while recognising the impact that philanthropic donations have made to the city.

Theevent runs from 6.30pm until 8.30pm and entertainment includes carols and songs from Bath Spa University Ladies Choir, refreshments, a rafflprize draw and a view of The Holburne’s latest Rembrandt and Matisse exhibitions. Entry is £10 and all proceeds from the evening will go towards further enabling the world-class research, education, art and heritage that is delivered in the city.

Dr

Andy Salmon, Pro-Vice Chan-

cellor of External at Bath Spa University, said: “Building on the success of last year’s effots, we are delighted to be bringing this heart-warming event to Bath once again to give thanks and celebrate.

“We are extremely fortunate to have the support of such generous philanthropic individuals and companies. We are looking forward to sharing with them how their contributions have made a signifiant diffeence to the lives of so many in the city.”

Last year, more than 140 guests enjoyed an evening at the Roman Baths and Pump Rooms.

Tickets for this year’s celebrations can be purchased via TheHolburne Museum.

BETWEEN 1pm and 4pm on Friday 13th December, Curo’s Wellbeing House in Bath is opening its doors, giving local people the chance to look around this free retreat overlooking the city. TheWellbeing House, which won the UK Housing Award in 2018, provides a retreat for those experiencing mental health distress. It’s a place where people can stay for a few days, getting support to help them stabilise themselves, and prevent a deterioration in their mental health and wellbeing.

Curo Wellbeing Project Office

Fabiana Vitorino said: “Open day visitors will be able to look

around the house and gardens, and hear how people can benefit from a stay with us.

“If you’re a health, social care or housing professional, or simply someone interested in how the Wellbeing House could help you or a loved one, please come along and findout more about this award-winning service.”

To book your open day place and for more information about the event, including the address and directions, contact Fabiana on 0300 123 2466 or email wellbeing. house@curo-group.co.uk.

For more information about the Wellbeing House, visit www.curo-group.co.uk/wellbeing.

Community programme launched to improve Snow Hill

THE community of Snow Hill have come together at the Gateway Centre in Bath to celebrate the launch of #LoveSnowHill, a year-long programme to improve and brighten up the estate.

Theprogramme will focus on Snow Hill’s gardens and outdoor spaces.

Organised by the newly formed Snow Hill Residents’ Association in partnership with housing association Curo and Bell Decorating Group, residents and local volunteers, including local Police Community Support Offics

Gemma and Chloe, spent the day planting 900 spring-flwering tulip bulbs across the estate.

Thiswas followed by the official launch where residents took part in making bee box hotels under the watchful eyes of Bathscape and Avon Wildlife Trust, and planted bulbs for the home, assisted by Aaron from Avon Greens.

TheResidents’ Association is encouraging members of their community to get involved in all the great events that are planned for the next year.

Thee include establishing a forest school, setting up a regular gardening club for children and adults, and harvesting the wildflwer meadows that have recently been planted all over the estate.

Local garden designer Rosie Nottage, along with the Bathscape project, will be helping the residents turn the Snow Hill estate into a beautiful haven for wildlife and bio-diversity that can be en-

joyed by the whole community. Rowan Edwards, Chair of the Residents’ Association, said: “We are so excited to launch the Love Snow Hill project and get our estate looking beautiful.

Age UK B&NES makes wishes come true for older people

STAFF at Age UK B&NES have been making wishes come true for some of the older people they support across Bath & North East Somerset.

Michael wishes he could go dancing, Jude would like to eat her mother’s paprika chicken again, Joan would like to visit Las Vegas and the day club choir would like to record a Christmas single.

Whilst Christmas is a time of joy for many, it can make some older people feel even more isolated, knowing that they could be alone on one of the most special days of the year.

At Age UK B&NES, the team feel that older people deserve to experience the magic of Christmas whatever your age, so they are granting wishes for some of the 12,000 older people who use their services, and need Bath residents to get involved.

Helped by many generous local business who are donating time, money or goods, Age UK B&NES staffelves are working round the clock making these wishes come true.

Talented Choir leader, Matt Finch, has donated his time to the charity, and with St Michaels Day Club and children from Widecombe Juniors, has written their fist ever Christmas single which is on sale now.

Thecharity have also brought

the magic of Vegas to Joan, who’s wish it was to go, by having a Las Vegas Day.

Monday Day Club members were treated to rat pack crooner, Gavin Lazarus, followed by a trip for a ‘just for fun’ game at Bath's Century Casino, who made mocktails also donated towards the charity. Some wishes are more simple, with friends, Marion and Beryl wishing they could go shopping together.

Janet Dabbs, Age UK B&NES CEO said: “Christmas is a time of joy but for many people it can also highlight loneliness and isolation.

“Some of our older people may well be on their own for Christmas and this year we don’t want another one to pass them by without some special memories.

“So yes, we can’t take Joan to Vegas but we will be bringing Vegas to Joan and giving Jane the chance to garden again.

“But we need your help and that’s why we are appealing to people and businesses of Bath to make these wishes happen.”

Imagine not having anything to look forward at Christmas?

Sadly, the reality for many older people is the same daily routine.

A donation from you, whatever the amount, can help give experiences and memories that last a lifetime.

If you’d like to help make a wish come true for an older person in your community, or you are a business that could donate time, money or goods, visit www. ageukbanes.co.uk

showing that we do have a wonderful community of people, determined for change. You can join us by going to www.fb.me/ lovesnowhill.”

Julie Evans, Curo Executive Director of Property Services, said: “Theresident-led Love Snow Hill project is a brilliant example of what happens when a community gets together and comes up with their own great ideas. Snow Hill has a fantastic community spirit and I’m really looking forward to seeing these ideas become a reality over the year.”

Jon Wiltshire, Regional Manager Bell Group UK (Bristol) added: “We are delighted to be supporting the residents as they improve their community and create a safe, beautiful and welcoming environment in which they can live and play.

“As the main contractor leading the re-roofig works on the estate we can’t wait to get stuck in to all the fantastic events planned for next year.”

“Snow Hill has an unfortunate long-standing reputation of having issues and we are working really hard to change this.

“We are focusing on addressing a lot of the legacy problems and

Lucy Bartlett, Bathscape Community Projects Officesaid: “Bathscape and our partner Avon Wildlife Trust are really excited to be working with Snow Hill residents over the next few years. “We’ll be creating a forest school area and helping to keep the new meadow area full of wild flwers and great for bees and other wildlife.”

Chance to help adults learn to read in Bath

THE national charity Read Easy are forming a group in Bath to help those who cannot read. Thestark reality is that 2.4m adults in the UK cannot read, while 2.5m struggle to read. Read Easy Bath Pioneer, David Hassard said: “On a practical level, this means that even carrying out everyday tasks can be challenging, if not impossible.

“Many of our readers have never been to the doctor as they’re too embarrassed to have to read and fill in foms.

“Being unable to read and write is associated with higher mortality, depression, isolation and mental health issues.

“Sadly, statutory provision for the most disadvantaged groups by local authority adult education does not look likely to improve, with funding increasingly cut and little opportunity for those at very early levels.

“Even where such classes are available it can be challenging for potential readers to come forward for help in a classroom environment where they are likely to have to fillin forms and explain their difficulties to staff

“We know from experience that people who cannot read are nervous and embarrassed about joining adult learning groups.

“Thisis the motivation behind the Read Easy model: to provide

accessible, free, and confidetial one-to-one reading coaching wherever the need is greatest. And this why we need your help!"

Read Easy are looking for support to get the ball rolling on a brand new Read Easy group in Bath.

Over 4,000 adults in Bath cannot read or struggle with everyday reading and Read Easy’s aim is to change that with the proven, confidetial programme of free, one-to-one, volunteer-led adult reading coaching.

Read Easy are currently looking for local people who could support the development of a new group by volunteering as Management Team members. Later they will be looking for coaches to work with the readers. A volunteer will be given support and full training, meet a diverse range of people, and be part of a genuinely life-changing organisation. Read Easy say: “From experience, we know that learning to read really does changes lives and being part of that process is special. “Becoming a management team member is an exciting chance to play a key role in changing peoples’ lives and to make a diffeence.”

To learn more about becoming a Read Easy Management Team volunteer in Bath, contact David Hassard on 07976 160838 or on bath@readeasy.org.uk.

Some of the Snow Hill community making a bee box at the launch event

Developer of the Year award for council-owned company

BATH & North East Somerset Council’s property development company has picked up an award for its work on the Riverside View project in Keynsham.

Aequus, set up by the council to develop and deliver property for rental and ownership, was presented with the 2019 Developer Award at the Bath Property Awards on 15th November.

Theprestigious award came in recognition of Aequus’ Riverside View development on the site of the council’s former officein Keynsham, where 95 contemporary studio, one and two bedroom apartments have been created as a key part of the town’s regeneration.

TheBath Property Award judges noted that Aequus’ “vital work is helping Keynsham’s regeneration, including the success of Riverside View, with 80% of units sold off-plan. It’s becoming an exemplar developer, delivering affodable, low-energy homes in the locality.”

Martin Shields, the council’s Corporate Director, said: “Aequus has done some excellent work in redeveloping this important

site that supports Keynsham’s regeneration.

“I am pleased to congratulate Aequus on the industry recognition it has received for developing this empty building, which provides much-needed housing in the town.”

Aequus Developments Ltd was established in 2016 by the council to develop, deliver, own and manage property for both the rental and homeowner market. It has a number of objectives including supporting the council’s ambition to help create an ongoing supply of modern energy-efficit and sustainable homes, to be fully compliant in the provision of affodable homes, to improve the supply, quality and quantity of private rented housing across the district and to generate income for the council.

Aequus Chairman Charles Gerrish and Non-Executive Director Les Kew collected the award. Charles Gerrish said: “I was delighted to collect the award on behalf of Aequus which l believe recognises our approach to regeneration and sustainability and reflcts the hard work of all those directly involved.”

Pure Planet staff iven trees as sustainable Christmas presents

RENEWABLE energy company

Pure Planet is giving every staff member a tree as a Christmas present.

All 80 staffat the Bath-based business will have the option to plant the tree at home, in a local community space or have it planted in a sustainable forest. It comes at a time of climate crisis and when figures show Christmas is the most wasteful time of year. Up to 30 per cent more rubbish than usual is created over the Festive period, using more than 300,000 tonnes of card and sending more than 100 million bags of garbage to landfill Christmas waste such as cling filmand plastic toys cannot be recycled and take 1,000 years to break down in landfill

The80 trees are to be purchased by Pure Planet through the Woodland Trust shopping portal, team members can add a personal touch to their present, choosing the particular tree species they’d like delivered, either to their home or to a local community space.

Pure Planet team member Anna Mountford is going to be donating her tree to a local community initiative aiming to enhance community green spaces in the village of Winsley, Wiltshire, with a further aim to reduce the CO2

levels in the area.

Digital Marketing Manager of Pure Planet Anna said: “Planting a tree is a Christmas gift which can be nurtured for generations to come, without any waste ending up in landfill.

“I’ve decided to donate my tree to Winsley’s local parish council, and will be bringing in the help of my daughter’s classmates to plant the tree in the village.”

According to the government’s offial climate change advisers, the UK needs 1.5bn more trees to suck up carbon dioxide and help restore wildlife.

Pure Planet co-founder Steven Day said: “At Pure Planet we want to help everyone contribute to a zero-carbon future, and that starts here with our team.

“So many officeopt to do Secret Santa at Christmas, which quite often accumulates pointless stocking filles that end up in landfill afer the festive period.

“We decided enough with the pointless plastic gifts, instead opting to give all our staffa tree for Christmas.

Bath Riverside wins bronze for Best Regeneration Scheme

CREST Nicholson’s Bath Riverside development has won Bronze for Best Regeneration Scheme at the 38th annual WhatHouse? Awards.

Theannual awards brings together industry professionals to celebrate the best new home developments in Britain.

“Thediffeence with giving everybody a tree is that whether they choose to plant it at home or donate it to a local conservation project it can last for centuries and helps the planet.

“Thereaction to the trees has been very positive, our team thinks it’s great to get something engaging and a bit diffeent, with so much tat out there, it’s nice to receive something meaningful that also positively impacts the environment and well being of our communities.”

As an extension to the scheme, new employees of Pure Planet also get a tree when they start working at the company, encouraging sustainable gifting throughout the year. We urge other companies to ditch pointless gifts and think about giving a tree to their staffinstead."

Astronaut Tim Peake hosted the event alongside the comedian and television presenter, Dara Ó Briain. TheBest Regeneration Scheme category showcased outstanding examples of housebuilder’s championing urban or rural regeneration, as well as growth and renewal.

In their report, the WhatHouse? Awards Judging Panel commented on Bath Riverside:

“Unsurprisingly, local authorities get very nervous about development in England’s only World Heritage City; however, the trust they showed in Crest Nicholson was not misplaced.

“Thefact that the site had been derelict for 25 years reflcts the scale of the challenge that Crest Nicholson undertook when it signed up to redevelop the former gasworks. It also illustrates what is possible with the right developer.

Bath Riverside offes sumptuous

flats, private pockets of greenery and lavish communal spaces; however, its biggest asset is direct access to Bath’s famous riverside. “Set on the banks of the river Avon, the developer revived the canal path giving locals a more scenic route into the city centre. Thedevelopment has also generously donated to the public realm with the opening of a new park. Thenew development looks at ease in its surroundings and Bath’s rich history is honoured with architectural details inspired by the city’s Georgian splendour. TheRomans set the bar for Bath’s built environment some 2,000 years ago, and Crest Nicholson seems to be continuing the legacy." Marcus Evans, Sales & Marketing Director at Crest Nicholson Regeneration commented: “We are thrilled to have received the Bronze Award for Best Regeneration Scheme for the stunning Bath Riverside. Thisis a fantastic achievement for a truly special project. We are extremely proud of Bath Riverside and the work we do at Crest Nicholson Regeneration, striving to make a real diffeence by transforming challenging sites into thriving new communities.”

Aequus

Chairman Charles Gerrish and Non-Executive Director Les Kew receiving the award

The Wheatsheaf named as the region's Most Dog-Friendly Pub

THE Wheatsheaf in Combe Hay has been named Bristol, Bath and Somerset’s Most DogFriendly Pub at the prestigious Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards.

Recognised for its outstanding dog-friendly welcome to four-legged customers, The Wheatsheaf scooped the award beating stiffcompetition from some of the region’s finet pubs. Adele Barton, owner of The Wheatsheaf received rapturous applause as she collected their award at the ceremony on Thursday 21st November at Marriot Bristol.

Thiswas the fist year that the category, supported by Devonbased natural pet food makers Forthglade, was featured at the awards, and was created to encourage local pubs to offerthe very best in hound hospitality and help celebrate the pupfriendly pubs that go the extra mile to make dogs truly welcome.

Thefialists for Bristol, Bath and Somerset’s Most Dog Friendly Pub were nominated by members of the public throughout the summer, before being judged by some of the county’s most discerning four-legged friends and their owners from the Tourism Awards.

A total of 2,500 pubs were nominated from across the South

West. ThePrince of Wales, Stoke Sub Hamdon and TheBlue Ball Inn, Triscombe received Bristol, Bath and Somerset’s Silver and Bronze award for their fantastic canine welcome.

Upon winning the coveted title

‘Most Dog Friendly Pub Award’

Adele Barton, owner of The Wheatsheaf in Combe Hay and owner of Margaux, Gloria and Lyla, Lucky and Poppy said:

“Margaux, Gloria, Lyla, Lucky & Poppy would like to say what an honour and a privilege it is to receive this esteemed honour on behalf of all our humans at TheWheatsheaf Combe Hay, the most doggy friendly place in the world!

“We would like to thank all our dog friends and our human family (especially chefs!) and other human visitors, we love you all! Woof, woof, woof, woof woof.”

TheWheatsheaf will now be put forward as a fialist for the South West Tourism Awards whose panel selects winners for the regional fials.

TheSouth West fial takes place at Exeter Cathedral on 6th February. Here, they will go head to head with the very best in canine hospitality across Devon, Cornwall and Dorset.

Nell Barrington, organiser of the Tourism Awards said: “We’ve

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the Schmidt Bath

been amazed by how popular the new dog friendly award has been. “It seems that the dog friendliness of a pub is more important to us

than ever before.

“With the help of Forthglade supporting the award, we’ve been are able to recognise and reward

TheWheatsheaf for all the work they’re doing to make the dogs of Bristol, Bath and Somerset feel truly welcome.”

New commercial development to offervariety of opportunities

A NEW commercial development in the centre of Bath is offeringa unique opportunity to businesses looking for a prime citycentre location.

6 John Street, a development by Longacre, is currently under construction and due for completion in February 2020. Theunit is located on John Street in the heart of Bath, between Queen Square and Milsom Street. It will provide a large frontage onto the street in a period style to match the neighbouring buildings and would be suitable for a range of occupiers.

Thenew unit, which was granted planning approval in June 2017, will offera total of 1,141 sq ft of modern ground flor and basement accommodation with room for up to 15 employees.

Thefleible, energy-efficit space also benefitsfrom BT fibe optic broadband, making it suitable for a wide range of uses from traditional retail through to design studios or tech-based operations. Longacre has a well-established reputation across the city for quality refurbishment and development projects which are sensitive to their settings. Previous schemes undertaken by the company include One Bilbury Lane, Great Pulteney Street’s Fitzroy House and

Milsom Apartments on Milsom Street.

Director Mark Tyrrell said: “Longacre is pleased to be bringing forward this development which will provide a fantastic central location for a business looking for new premises in Bath.

“As a company Longacre prides itself on quality, sensitive redevelopment projects and we’re looking forward to unveiling the finishd project in 2020.”

Allan Lloyd from agents Colston & Colston added: “Thebuilding is situated in a unique city centre location within easy walking distance from the train and bus stations as well as Charlotte Street car park.

“We’re anticipating a lot of interest in the property as it brings the best of both worlds – modern, fitfor purpose commercial space within a historic and central setting.”

Politics Accusations of attempts to “distort election” after signs ripped down

Stephen Sumner Local Democracy Reporter

LIBERAL Democrats claim their opponents are trying to “distort the election” after four campaign signs opposite Conservative incumbent Jacob Rees-Mogg’s house were pulled down.

TheTories condemned the vandalism and theft – acts they said were commonplace – but the Lib Dems said it was beyond the normal cut and thrust of pre-election politics.

Other parties have not reported widespread damage to their signs but said it was a “real shame that some people are resorting to such tactics”.

A Lib Dem spokesman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service his party had around 250 signs up across Bath and North East Somerset, adding: “Across the two constituencies about 20 boards have been stolen or destroyed and 30 have been vandalised.

“Thetheft of four boards directly opposite Mr Rees-Mogg’s manor house took place in broad daylight on Monday (December 2).

Thehouseholder’s stone wall was also damaged.

“It looks like our opponents are rattled by our campaign to beat Mr Rees-Mogg.

“Sadly this sort of childish vandalism happens in most campaigns but the scale of this series of attacks is way beyond normal.

“It’s not just petty crime, it looks like a concerted attempt to distort the election.”

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman confimed the case had been looked into and had been fild, pending further information being made available.

Anyone with information should contact the police and quote crime reference number 5219278542.

Representing Mr Rees-Mogg, a spokesman for the North East Somerset Conservatives said: “We are strongly against defacing, damaging or removing political posters.

“A signifiant number of our Con-

servative posters have been taken down or defaced.”

A spokesman for the party in Bath, where Annabel Tall is standing, added: “We have our signs stolen all the time. Every election we have to replace our signs pretty much throughout the election.

“Some are defaced, mostly it’s just theft.

“It’s been going on since I was a small boy. It’s part of being a Conservative.

“We just accept it’s part of the experience. We certainly don’t go around damaging anyone else’s.”

Mark Huband, Labour’s candidate in North East Somerset, said he was not aware of any damage to his signs.

He said if the Lib Dems were picking up votes from anyone it was from the Conservatives.

A Bath Labour spokesman said some of Mike Davies’ boards had been removed but it was unclear if it was politically motivated or drunken behaviour.

Fay Whitfield,the Green candidate for North East Somerset, was unaware of damage to any of her

signs, as was independent Bath candidate Bill Blockhead, who said: “I have erected no signs and so have no damage to report.

“It’s a real shame that some people are resorting to such tactics.

“Some people are extremely politically angry, especially true these days. “Other people appear to get a

Bath academics launch website to match people with their ideal political parties

A NEW interactive voter preference website could help improve turnout at the upcoming General Election, according to researchers at the University of Bath.

With the December general election only days away and a mixture of party agendas and manifestos now on the table, many voters remain undecided about who to vote for.

A new online voting tool, WhoGetsMyVoteUK, aims to tackle this issue.

Developed by academics at the University of Bath’s Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies and the Institute for Policy Research along with colleagues from a consortium of UK and European universities, the interactive online tool launched on Monday 25th November, and is designed to help users identify which party best fitstheir own political views and values.

Website users are asked to state the extent to which they agree with a series of policy statements. A graphical display then shows which political party best aligns with their views. It also breaks down the party matches into diffeent themes, meaning users can see which party is the best fit on issues such as ‘Brexit/Europe’, ‘Taxes/Spending’ or the ‘Envi-

ronment’.

Previous versions of WhoGetsMyVoteUK were trialled during the 2017 General Election, as well as at recent European elections, and have been accessed by more than 100,000 voters.

Thee is evidence that advice offeed by the site can affct voters’ party preferences, and more generally, strong evidence that voter information tools can lead to increased voter turnout, particularly among younger vot ers.

Prize Fellow from the Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies, Dr Micha Germann explained: “It is more vital than ever that voters are provided with accessible means to make an informed choice.

“Theoutcome of the snap election will crucially shape Britain’s future, including Britain’s future relationship with the European Union. Thisis where WhoGetsMyVoteUK steps in.

“Thesimple-to-use interactive website will help its users identify which party best fitstheir political views. Users read a series of salient policy statements selected by a team of political scientists

and state how much they agree with them.

“WhoGetsMyVoteUK then establishes the extent to which users are similar or dissimilar to the various parties contesting the election.

“Results are represented in a graphical display showing which political party best matches users’ views.”

Prize Fellow in the University’s Institute for Policy Research, Dr Iulia Cioroianu added:

“Recent surveys show that UK voters are still confused about the policy positions of major political parties in these elections.

“Thislack of information contributes to the general sense of political disengagement and has been cited as one of the main reasons for reduced turnout. Thisis an issue especially among young voters, who are much less likely to vote.

“WhoGetsMyVoteUK provides the knowledge young voters need to make informed decisions and identify the party that best represents their interests.

“Similar tools are very popular in several European countries and have been shown to increase

political participation, especially among young and undecided voters. We expect our tool to have similar effcts.”

Dr Peter Allen, of the Department of Politics, Languages & International Studies and Deputy Director of the Institute for Mathematical Innovation at the University of Bath, added: “By generating ‘big data’ on users’ views on critical election issues, current voting intentions and past voting records, WhoGetsMyVoteUK is also an important tool for researchers exploring how successfully the main parties are getting their message across to diffeent groups of voters as the election campaigns progress.”

WhoGetsMyVoteUK can be accessed from a computer or mobile device at www.whogetsmyvoteuk.com. Thesite does not collect any personal identifying information and all data is anonymous. Thedata will be shared by researchers at the partner universities and will be saved on secured online servers managed by Oxford Brookes University. Theconsortium of universities involved in this project also includes Oxford Brookes University, the University of Oxford, the University of Surrey, Swansea University and the University of Zurich.

kick out of vandalism.”

Also standing in North East Somerset is independent candidate Shaun Hughes.

Jimi Ogunnusi will be representing the Brexit Party in Bath.

TheLib Dem candidate for Bath is Wera Hobhouse, while Nick Coates is standing in North East Somerset.

Residents invited to meet council leaders and have their say

Residents in B&NES are being invited to attend public events where they can give their views on the council’s plans directly to cabinet members and the chief executive. As part of the council’s commitment to giving local people a bigger say, the council is holding two events where its cabinet will be setting out their priorities and fiancial plans. Under discussion will be the climate emergency, social housing, transport and many other issues of concern locally, including the council’s budget. Will Godfrey, Chief Executive of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “We encourage residents to come along to one of these events and findout what our plans are for our area. We’ll be setting out how we propose to deal with the fiancial challenges we face and we are keen to hear people’s views. The council is here to improve people’s lives so I hope lots of residents will come along to engage with us on shaping the future of Bath and North East Somerset.” The essions are as follows:

Date: 17th December 2019

Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm

TheBanqueting Hall – First Floor, The uildhall, Bath

Date: 19th December 2019

Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm Community Space, Keynsham

Lib Dem signs up in West Harptree opposite Jacob Rees-Mogg’s house have been ripped down

Sudoku

Easy Medium

Bath Metro Bank hosts rugby legend for festive charity evening

Bath-based start-up wins gold at awards

A HIGHLY-RATED holiday let on Widcombe Parade in Bath has been awarded the Gold New Tourism Business Award at this year’s Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards 2019/20.

TheApartment, Bath – a twobedroom luxury holiday home located in the heart of Widcombe – received the top accolade at a prestigious industry dinner in Bristol on Thursday 21st November, having opened to guests ahead of the Bath Christmas Market in 2017.

business so thrive on providing each guest with a genuinely personalised welcome and tailored recommendations for local places to eat, drink and visit during their stay.

ON Tuesday 26th November, Metro Bank’s store in Bath held a Christmas networking event for local businesses in association with local charity Children’s Hospice South West. Thefestive evening welcomed more than 30 local business people in area including Visit Bath, Savills and Monahans and many more. Attendees enjoyed an evening of drinks, nibbles and networking and were able to hear from the event’s guest speaker, rugby legend, David Flatman. David is an English sports pundit and former rugby union player who represented England eight times between 2000 and 2002.

He spoke about his experience commentating on the Rugby World Cup in Japan, and his successful career playing for the Saracens and Bath rugby clubs. Thenetworking evening was hosted by Metro Bank and local charity, Children’s Hospice South West.

Thehospice has been caring for children with life-threatening conditions and providing professional family support services for more than 25 years.

Karen Mathie, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser at Children’s Hospice South West said: “It’s been a brilliant evening at the Metro Bank Bath store, seeing so many local business

people raising money for the Hospice and getting in the Christmas spirit.

“Thank you to everyone who joined us and to Metro Bank for hosting this festive event.”

Yani Fernando, Local Business Manager at Metro Bank in Bath, added: “At Metro Bank we want our stores to give local people and businesses more than just a place to do their banking.

“We are a hub for the local community. We’re really proud to be supporting the Children’s Hospice and the amazing work they do. Thank you to all the local businesses who came along and to our outstanding guest speaker David Flatman.”

Adam Powell, who has lived in Bath for over 16 years and owns and manages TheApartment, Bath around his education and skills consultancy career, said:

“We're absolutely thrilled to have received these awards. Being recognised across Bristol, Bath and Somerset on the eve of our 2nd birthday is the best possible way to thank the 600 guests from over 25 countries we've welcomed since opening.

“It’s also testament to the brilliant team of local artists, interior designers, skilled tradespeople, cleaners and retailers who have helped us provide guests with exceptional and memorable stays.”

“We’re a single-property

“As a young business, we're responding directly to the changing tastes and demands of leisure and business travellers.

“Our customers stay and spend in Bath (particularly in our local neighbourhood economy of Widcombe), before leaving our home away from home relaxed, refreshed and with lifelong memories of our special city.”

“It was fantastic to celebrate with dozens of brilliant fialists from across the tourism sector in Bath and beyond alongside sponsors and key industr y figures.

“Thisaccolade is a wonderful way to start our third year of welcoming overnight visitors to Bath, Bristol and the surrounding areas.”

Codeword

Juby and Tamara Downes from CHSW, David Flatman, guest speaker and rugby commentator, Yani Fernando, Local Business Manager at Metro Bank Bath and Karen Mathie, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser at CHSW

World firt as artifiial neurons developed to cure diseases

FOR the firsttime researchers successfully reproduced the electrical properties of biological neurons onto semiconductor chips.

Artifical neurons on silicon chips that behave just like the real thing have been invented by scientists – a fist-of-its-kind achievement with enormous scope for medical devices to cure chronic diseases, such as heart failure, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases of neuronal degeneration.

Critically the artifical neurons not only behave just like biological neurons but only need one billionth the power of a microprocessor, making them ideally suited for use in medical implants and other bio-electronic devices. Theresearch team, led by the University of Bath and including researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Zurich and Auckland, describe the artifical neurons in a study published in Nature Communications.

Designing artifical neurons that respond to electrical signals from the nervous system like real neurons has been a major goal in medicine for decades, as it opens up the possibility of curing conditions where neurons are not working properly, have had their processes severed as in spinal cord injury, or have died. Artifical neurons could repair diseased bio-circuits by replicating their healthy function and responding adequately to biological feedback to restore bodily function.

In heart failure for example, neurons in the base of the brain do not respond properly to nervous system feedback, they in turn do not send the right signals to the heart, which then does not pump

as hard as it should.

However developing artifical neurons has been an immense task, because of the challenges of complex biology and hard-topredict neuronal responses.

Theresearchers successfully modelled and derived equations to explain how neurons respond to electrical stimuli from other nerves. Thisis incredibly complicated as responses are ‘non-linear’ – in other words if a signal becomes twice as strong it shouldn’t necessarily elicit twice as big a reaction – it might be thrice bigger or something else.

Thy then designed silicon chips that accurately modelled biological ion channels, before proving that their silicon neurons precisely mimicked real, living neurons responding to a range of stimulations.

Theresearchers accurately replicated the complete dynamics of hippocampal neurons and respiratory neurons from rats, under a wide range of stimuli.

Professor Alain Nogaret, from the University of Bath Department of Physics led the project. He said: “Until now neurons have been like black boxes, but we have managed to open the black box and peer inside. Our work is paradigm changing because it provides a robust method to reproduce the electrical properties of real neurons in minute detail. “But it’s wider than that, because our neurons only need 140 nanoWatts of power. That’s a billionth the power requirement of a microprocessor, which other attempts to make synthetic neurons have used. Thismakes the neurons well suited for bio-electronic implants to treat chronic diseases.

“For example we’re developing smart pacemakers that won’t just stimulate the heart to pump at a steady rate but use these neurons to respond in real time to demands placed on the heart –which is what happens naturally in a healthy heart. Other possible applications could be in the treatment of conditions like Alzheimer’s and neuronal degenerative diseases more generally.

“Our approach combines several breakthroughs. We can very accurately estimate the precise parameters that control any neurons behaviour with high certainty. We have created physical models of the hardware and

£2m to be spent on automation to get police back out on beat

Stephen Sumner Local Democracy Reporter

AVON and Somerset Police is spending nearly £2 million to get officers away from repetitive admin tasks and back out on the beat.

Theforce is investing in new technology to automate more services in a bid to free up valuable time and cut the risk of human error.

Themove comes a year after it spent £12 million on laptops and smartphones so offics can file reports within the community rather than back at the station, cutting the time they spend travelling and boosting their public presence.

A force spokesman said offics use a complex set of systems and processes. Many are integrated but sometimes data needs to be re-entered from one system to another, taking up valuable time.

A contract notice said there is “signifiant potential to automate

a large number of processes”, with benefitsincluding potential cost savings, greater levels of consistency, reduction of human error and better quality data.

demonstrated its ability to successfully mimic the behaviour of real living neurons. Our third breakthrough is the versatility of our model which allows for the inclusion of diffeent types and functions of a range of complex mammalian neurons.”

Professor Giacomo Indiveri, a co-author on the study, from the University of Zurich and ETF Zurich, added: “Thiswork opens new horizons for neuromorphic chip design thanks to its unique approach to identifying crucial analog circuit parameters.”

Another co-author, Professor Julian Paton, a physiologist at the University of Auckland and the

University of Bristol, said: “Replicating the response of respiratory neurons in bioelectronics that can be miniaturised and implanted is very exciting and opens up enormous opportunities for smarter medical devices that drive towards personalised medicine approaches to a range of diseases and disabilities”.”

Thestudy was funded by a European Union Horizon 2020 Future Emerging Technologies Programme grant and a doctoral studentship funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPRC).

Extinction Rebellion supporter acquitted following arrest

JOHN Coghlan, resident of Conkwell near Bath, has been acquitted following his arrest in April whilst taking part in the Extinction Rebellion protest in London. He was arrested alongside other protesters from Bath for refusing to comply with the Section 14 notice of the Public Order Act, which requires people to move on when asked to do so by the police.

Mr Coghlan was holding a banner and singing on Waterloo Bridge alongside other protesters when he was asked to move to Marble Arch.

Outside the court room John Coghlan said: “We were all thrilled to be acquitted in what might turn out to be a signifiant ruling against the lawfulness of the police tactics during the protests in April.”

Over 1100 people were arrested during the April protests and a further 1800 in the October protests.

Over 100 of those arrested in October had all cases against them dropped when the high court ruled that the section 14 order obtained by the Metropolitan police, which declared that XR “must now cease their protests within London”, exceeded the police powers.

Photo © Ink Drop / Shutterstock.com

The£1.9 million investment signed offby police and crime commissioner Sue Mountstevens will fund the creation of a process automation centre of excellence.

Ben Jones helps Great Britain reach fial of the Master’U BNP Paribas Bath scholar Kirsty Way secures third team DMT silver medal

UNIVERSITY of Bath sporting scholar Ben Jones helped Great Britain reach the fial of the Master’U BNP Paribas – the world’s leading student tennis team tournament – for a third successive year when the 2019 edition took place in Grenoble, France.

TheUnited States took the gold, successfully defending the title they had reclaimed from GB 12 months ago, but it was another impressive week of competition for Chemistry student Jones and his international colleagues.

GB won all of their rubbers in the fist round against Italy, progressing 7-0, and lost just one match in their semi-fial against Belgium as Jones – supported by a Buchan Jones Sports Scholarship – produced doubles master classes with Dan Little and Ella Taylor.

Thefial saw Jones edged out 6-3 6-2 by Aleksandar Kovacevic in his men’s singles match as a strong United States team recovered from losing the

opening rubber to claim the title but they were made to fight all the way by the British team.

Team Bath Director of Tennis

Barry Scollo was once again an on-court captain for GB along with Alastair Higham.

It is the fourth year running that a Team Bath Tennis player has been part of the GB Master’U squad, during which time the country has won one gold, two

silver and a bronze.

“It was another big performance from GB students and reaching the fial for three years running is special,” said Scollo. “Ben played a big part across all three days and is a leader in the team. I am very proud of this group of players and the staff. I must thank all the organisers and sponsors BNP Paribas for another fantastic event.”

KIRSTY Way won the third World Championships medal of her career as the University of Bath sporting scholar secured a superb silver for the Great Britain double mini trampoline (DMT) team in Tokyo.

TheSport & Exercise Science student, supported by a King Sports Scholarship, was the fial Brit to compete in the women’s team fial and stuck her landing brilliantly to score 35.600 – the highest individual score of all those competing. That secured second spot for the GB team, which also included Kim Beattie and Ruth Shevelan, whose total of 104.500 was just 0.200 behind the United States. Themedal emulated their podium placings of 2015 and 2017.

Reigning European Champion Way, from Dorchester, also achieved her pre-tournament goal of qualifying for the women’s

individual fial in finestyle with the fourth-highest total score of 69.500.

Unfortunately she suffeed a fall on her second landing in the fial which required medical attention but she still scored a total of 61.600 to finishseventh in the world overall – an excellent effot after undergoing knee surgery in June.

Applications are now being taken from current and prospective University of Bath studentathletes for the 2020-21 Sports Scholarship programme.

Team Bath pay penalty for mistakes and misses as Northumbria extend wait for BUCS Super Rugby home win

MISTAKES once again proved costly for Team Bath men’s 1st XV as a narrow 25-23 defeat to Northumbria extended their wait for a win at the University of Bath Sports Training Village, this BUCS Super Rugby season. Thevisitors had only won once this season but belied their lowly position in the table with an excellent performance and led for all but fie minutes of the game.

Team Bath – sponsored by Fulkers Bailey Russell – struggled to build any sustained momentum on a frustrating evening but did have chances to win the game to no avail, including two missed penalties in the closing stages. Head of Rugby Aaron James said: “It was a well deserved win for Northumbria, they played well and really wanted it, but once again we are very frustrated by our mistakes.

“It’s hard to take positives when we didn’t produce the performance we know we can. “Thepain of another loss at home will strengthen our resolve and we’ll keep going.

“We know that we are the architects of our own demise at times and that is the frustrating thing.

“Mistakes in certain areas are costing us but we are going to keep working on those and get better – when we do, we know we have a game plan that works and that is what is driving us on.” Northumbria only arrived at the STV an hour before kick-offdue to traffidelays but they were fist to draw blood in the 11th minute, with centre Jonny Ashman going over under the posts after a good spell of pressure to leave Oscar Yandall with a simple conversion. Team Bath responded with two George Worboys penalties in quick succession but Yandall replied with one at the other end before Ashman went over for his second try, the centre on hand to finishoffafter a fantastic break by flanker Alex Todd had sliced through the home defence.

Theresponse was immediate as Team Bath forced a penalty from the restart and kicked it to the corner before unleashing their trademark lineout drive, which ended with Alex Nisbet burrowing over.

However, it was Northumbria who grabbed the fial points of the half as they forced another penalty in front of the posts and Yandall’s kick put them 18-11 up at the break.

Team Bath closed the gap seven minutes into the second half, replacement hooker George Holroyd scoring on his debut following a lineout drive, and then went ahead just before the hour mark after the best move of the night. An incisive break from Paul Altier put them on the front foot and the ball was swiftly moved to the right where Harlequins Academy flanker Jack Kenningham barged through a couple of tackles before off-loading for co-captain Ed Rimmer to finish in tyle. Worboys’ conversion gave Team Bath a 23-18 lead but they conceded a penalty from the restart, allowing Northumbria to quickly regain the momentum.

A kick to the corner led to exerted pressure on the home line and Callum Burke eventually forced his way through to level the scores before Yandall’s conversion put the visitors ahead again.

A brilliant last-ditch tackle by Cal Barrett prevented Chidera Obonna putting Northumbria further ahead and that looked to be crucial when Team Bath forced two penalties in the

closing stages.

However, Worboys was narrowly offtarget with both as the visitors held on for the points.

Team Bath complete their home run of fitures on Wednesday 11th December when they welcome old rivals Loughborough to the STV.

Kick-offfor what is always a wellcontested contest is 6.30pm and admission is free.

Visit rugby.teambath.com for further details.

Photo courtesy of Team Bath