Yate & Sodbury Voice April 2023

Cycle lane safety 'shambles'

A CONTROVERSIAL cycle lane built to improve journeys between Yate and Bristol is still missing a key safety feature – 14 months after it was built.

Raised bike lanes alongside a mile-long stretch of the A432 between the town and Coalpit Heath have been criticised as hard to see in the dark or wet weather.

They should have been painted green soon after

NEW YEAR,

installation in January last year but the delay was among 14 “safety problems” highlighted in an audit, as well as skid risks on ramps along the route.

South Gloucestershire Council says all measures will be carried out “in the required timeframe”.

But the situation has been labelled a "shambles" by a town councillor.

Turn to page 3

White Lion saved

YATE'S historic White Lion pub will reopen as a restaurant and bar.

PAGE 5

Factory brings jobs

MORE than 130 new jobs will be created in Yate when a packaging company moves its factory to the town.

PAGE 4

'Unsafe' vans

POLICE who stopped vans and other commercial vehicles in a day of action in Yate found almost all of them were "in an unsafe condition".

PAGE 8

Had its chips

A FISH and chip shop in Yate has shut after 65 years of frying.

PAGE 11

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Misconduct officers still on force

TWENTY-six Avon & Somerset Police officers are still serving despite committing misconduct or gross misconduct, the Chief Constable has revealed.

Two kept their jobs after findings of gross misconduct for sexual harassment and one for racial discrimination.

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During a grilling by Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford in March, Sarah Crew said she was awaiting results from the national police database to check if any others had slipped through the net.

The chief constable told the PCC’s performance and accountability: "I fully acknowledge the concerns that the public have around standards of professional behaviour – I share these concerns.

“Within Avon & Somerset we’ve uplifted the resources within our professional standards department and we are checking all our officers and staff against the police national database to look at any intelligence or information that we might not have been previously aware of.

“It’s important to say that dismissal is not an available sanction when it is misconduct. That leaves nine officers who have a finding of gross misconduct.

“In those cases those officers have received a final written warning, and those would normally be in place for a set period of up to five years.

“Of those – because I know this is where the public concern is – two officers have received gross misconduct findings for sexual harassment or conduct preliminary to sexual harassment and one officer had a finding of discriminatory comments of a racial nature.”

Ms Crew said these three cases were subject to police misconduct panel hearings in 2019 and 2020, chaired by an independent legally qualified chair, adding: "It’s important to say that in the latter case, the discriminatory comments, that case was taken to judicial review by the then Chief Constable to explore and overturn that sanction. However, that wasn’t allowed by the court."

The chief constable she expected information to come back from the national police computer system in the next few weeks and a team was being created to pore through it to see if "there are any additional concerns needing an investigation".

A previous meeting heard that every Avon & Somerset Police misconduct case chaired by a chief constable in the last five years had seen the officer was sacked, or they had already resigned.

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the

The other cases all involved independent chairs.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

A member of

From page 1

Cyclist Tony Sharp, a member of the council’s Cycle Forum, said while the new cycle lanes were welcome, they had draw backs.

He said: “When driving the route at night, and in particular in the recent bad weather, the kerb defining the new cycleway doesn’t seem to be that clear. The cycleway and resurfaced road, both new black tarmac, can easily blend into each other.”

The audit also highlighted areas where debris and gravel became trapped by ramps on and off the cycle lanes –potentially causing skid risks for riders.

Tony said: “The cycleways do seem to stop and start a lot for driveways, and at those points there is a lot of silt and general rubbish building up – a puncture danger.”

South Gloucestershire Council says it will carry out regular street cleaning to prevent debris building up.

Other problems related to risks of collisions caused by motorists being confused by old white line markings left on the road, missing bollards and missing markings.

Yate Town councillor Chris Willmore called the cycle paths a “shambles”.

She said that even by March this year, many of the points raised by last September's safety audit had not been addressed with work.

Councillor Willmore also said the narrow carriageway caused by the cycle lanes was a concern, as wide lorries and buses now passed within two feet of each other.

She said: “We want a route that is safe for everyone.

"South Gloucestershire needs to get on and do what the safety audit says.

"We have an A-road surrounded by fields, with lots of heavy lorries and buses, which is now only just wide enough for them to pass, with a 50cm gap.

"We have to hope vehicles don’t end up hitting each other."

South Glos Liberal Democrat group leader Claire Young said the green painting was needed to make the edges of the cycle lanes clearer and appeared in the original plans, so she was disappointed it had not been done last year.

She said: "I have been approached by cyclists who are

Council must 'get on and finish safety measures'

concerned that if they do not see the edge, they could slip off into the road, or lorries could mount the kerb onto the cycle lane.

"It feels like money wasted that they have had to come back and make changes."

The new raised cycle lanes were built by the council on both sides of a one-mile stretch of the A432 Badminton Road between Nibley and Coalpit Heath early last year.

The cycle lanes resulted in the carriageway being narrowed – which meant regulations came into force downgrading it from 40mph to 30mph.

They are part of a four-stage plan to improve connections for cyclists and pedestrians between Yate and the A4174 Avon Ring Road, four miles away. More are planned.

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: "Dedicated cycle lanes have been installed which are raised from the road surface and will help to keep cyclists segregated from traffic.

"The scheme has been supported by (transport charity) Sustrans and has been implemented around national guidelines for the design of highquality, safe cycle infrastructure.

"It is standard practice for a road safety audit to be carried out following the completion of schemes such as this, so that any opportunities to improve safety

are identified and implemented.

"Following the audit, we have been carrying out the work in

the required time-frame and it will be finished in the coming weeks."

A cyclist travels on part of the lane where issues were raised in a road safety audit

Factory move brings new jobs to Yate

MORE than 130 new jobs will be created in Yate when a packaging company moves its factory to the town.

Graphic Packaging International has announced plans to move from its current site in Bristol to a building on the Great Western Business Park, which was previously used as a supermarket distribution centre, by Morrisons and then Sainsbury's.

The US-owned firm, which makes cartons, cups and other containers for the food and drink industry, currently employs 230 people at a site in Filwood Road, Fishponds, where it has been based for more than 100 years.

But it says the current factory, which was built in the 1930s

is "no longer fit for purpose, hampering expansion and job creation".

The US-owned firm says it has now secured a long-term lease on a 250,000 sq ft building in Armstrong Way and will move in this year.

As well as relocating its 230 existing workers, Graphic Packaging International says the move will allow it to expand its operations, creating 134 new additional jobs "in the medium term" and bringing the total number of workers on the site to 364.

Graphic Packaging

International general manager Martin Sheppard said: "We’ve planned this move for a long time and – finally – have secured a bespoke building on a longterm lease that will allow us to invest in significant growth that will create 100 new jobs in the medium term.

“Our Filwood Road site sits in the middle of a mainly residential area, with a primary school among our nearest neighbours.

"Running a large industrial business – with lots of HGVs coming in and out throughout the day – is not ideal."

The company's new home was built in 1984 and was the biggest cold store in Europe at the time.

It was used by both Morrisons and Sainsbury's but was empty for several years before undergoing a £6 million renovation and being renamed Titan.

Graphic Packaging International is planning to sell its current site to a developer and has unveiled outline proposals to build 260 new houses and flats on the site, part of a wider scheme called Atlas Place to transform a large area of Fishponds with more than 1,000 new homes.

The business's roots in Bristol go back to 1844, when predecessor ES&A Robinson was founded making paper bags for grocery shops.

It became part of the Dickinson Robinson Group (DRG), one of the world's largest stationery and packaging companies, in 1966, and was later part of Rexam.

Current owner Graphic Packaging is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

The former distribution centre on the Great Western Business Park which Graphic Packaging International will move into this year.

White Lion reopening as restaurant

YATE'S historic White Lion pub has been saved – and part of the building could even enter a new life as a community hub.

Work is underway to renovate the interior and carry out external repairs, and it is due to re-open as an Italian restaurant and cocktail bar by mid-May, three years after it closed.

Yate Town Council is in talks with the new owner about proposals to turn the old skittles alley into a community centre.

Last July the Voice reported concerns by local councillors that the pub in Church Road could be redeveloped for housing.

The Grade II-listed building has been a pub since 1644, but closed at the start of the pandemic. The town council failed in an attempt to have it listed as an Asset of Community Value, which would have provided extra protection from redevelopment.

Town councillor Chris Willmore says it could have an exciting new lease of life – but there were still potential concerns in the future.

She said: “After all our fears for this site, for now I am feeling quite positive.

“What happens further down the line, who can tell… the new owner has been clear that he may want to build on some of the car park eventually.

“But for now it will be good to see the business open once again for public use.

“If we can agree use of the old skittle alley for the community, that will be of great benefit.”

The town council is in talks with the owner of the property over taking a long lease on the former skittles alley, to use it for activities including keep fit, parent and toddler sessions, and other classes.

New restaurant general manager Giorgio Merlino told the Voice he is currently recruiting 15 local people to staff the restaurant and cocktail bar.

He said: "The building needed a lot of work, and so it is being refurbished and fitted out.

"When we open, it will be a traditional family-run Italian restaurant, serving Sicilian cuisine updated to suit modern tastes.

"I used to live in Yate, and this will give the town a place to go for a special meal.

"It will have a separate cocktail bar with tapas.

"We are employing full-time professional staff, and would be interested in hearing from students to work part time.”

Mr Merlino said the pub gardens would eventually be refurbished to offer outdoor dining.

The pub has room for 200 diners inside, and ten guest bedrooms across two floors, and boasts many period features including beamed ceilings and old fireplaces.

The White Lion has been shut since 2020.

Plea to save bus service dismissed as 'bribe'

AN attempt to extend a bus service running linking Chipping Sodbury and Yate to Thornbury and Cribbs Causeway until June has been dismissed as an “election bribe”.

The 622 service will be axed from the start of April, along with many other subsidised bus routes in the West of England region.

The three councils in the region, including South Gloucestershire, said they couldn’t afford to increase the amount they pay to subsidise all of the services enough to cover rapidly-rising costs.

Conservative council leader Toby Savage urged Labour Metro Mayor Dan Norris to pay £785,000 to keep some routes going for a couple more months, until the new dial-aride WESTlink service, which launches in April, beds in.

But Mr Norris claimed the real reason behind the calls to keep the 622 service running was the local elections on May 4.

The two politicians disagreed on the request for extra cash during a meeting of the West of England Combined Authority on March 17.

Cllr Savage said: "The councils did want to extend a number of supported services over several months, and we built into our budgets the increased costs next year, at the levels

New 'stop-tostop' buses launched

PEOPLE living in the Yate, Sodbury and surrounding villages will be able to book a new minibus service to link them to major bus routes from April.

The green WESTlink minibuses do not run to a timetable - instead they are booked up to 24 hours in advance by phone, online or using an app, similar to a dial-a-ride service.

advised by WECA.

“Those costs have now come in higher than anyone thought they would. It’s now too late for councils to get approval for those costs.

"“If this doesn’t happen today, there will simply be no link between Yate and Thornbury. This will mean over 5,500 journeys will not be catered for."

Cllr Savage suggested the £785,000 could come from the West of England’s reserves. But one issue is that the West of England has some of the lowest financial reserves of all 10 combined authorities in England, according to WECA bosses.

Mr Norris said: “What Toby has said about not being able to make an emergency decision is simply not the case. There are processes that you can adopt if you wish to do that.

"I’m going to be a politician now and say that this is more about an election bribe than anything else."

The amendment to spend £785,000 of the West of England’s reserves on keeping some routes going was voted down.

Afterwards Chipping Sodbury & Cotswold Edge ward Liberal Democrat councillor Adrian Rush said: "The whole situation is a

But the destinations for the buses will be limited to existing stops elsewhere on the transport network, such as railway stations, bus stops for metrobus or park and ride services, and WESTlink is not a “substitute for getting a taxi,” according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris.

The "stop-to-stop" service, funded by the West of England Combined Authority using £3 million from the government's Bus Service Improvement Plan, will eventually include 30 minibuses across the region in areas which do not have a regular mainstream bus service.

Single fares will cost £2 for adults and £1 for children, for any length of journey, with concessionary and older people’s bus passes accepted on the services, which will run

farce - the 622 was only going to be extended for two months to tide the Tories over the elections in May, the people relying on this bus service were still going to be struggling in June. The new council would have no time to set up a replacement bus service after the elections."

Meanwhile a new hourly subsidised service, the 525, is being introduced from April between Yate and Emersons Green, to replace the 47, which has been axed after only six months of operation.

A school bus service which lost funding has been saved at least until the end of the summer term - but fares are more than doubling.

The 967 from Westerleigh to Brimsham Green School in Yate has been dropped by Stagecoach but taken over by another operator, Transpora Group.

However, fares are going up from £1.20 to £3 for a return trip.

Yate town councillor Chris Willmore said the bus served "some of the poorest people in the community" who cold not afford the rise.

Meeting report by Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

from Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7pm.

People will have the option of paying in advance or in cash on the minibus.

The new services are the largest “demand responsive transport” scheme in the country, having only been run before on a much smaller scale.

Mr Norris said: "This is a major investment for a key project. And it’s new to us all, so it certainly won’t be plain sailing. Undoubtedly things will go wrong, but we’re ready to learn as we go along."

The services will be run by two operators, global public transport, logistics and tech company Via and WeDRT, which has experience of working with Transport for West Midlands.

Pupils climb the wall after playground revamp

A PLAYGROUND revamp is proving to be a big hit with pupils of a Yate primary school.

St Paul's Catholic Primary School has spent nearly £30,000 redesigning the area and installing new equipment, after planning, saving and fundraising for it for several years.

The biggest hit is the new climbing wall, which provides a physical challenge while also being "so much fun" to use, according to pupils.

The old equipment had been in place at the school in Sundridge Park for around 20 years, and head teacher Maxine Sewell said it had "come to the end of its natural life".

It was removed and replaced in February so the children got to use the new playground over the last term.

Mrs Sewell said: "The introduction of the new Early Years curriculum gave us an opportunity to re-think and re-design the provision.

"The play area for Reception class now includes many more opportunities for child-led learning through play, open ended activities, physical development activities and creative play.

"The children are really enjoying the challenge of the climbing wall and developing their skills.

"I am pleased that many years of planning have finally come to a conclusion with a wonderful play area for the youngest children in our school.

"It’s great to see them working with each other and developing language skills.

"I’m also proud to be able to showcase this provision to future parents and children of the school.”

A team from St Paul's took part in

Ear Wax Removal

this year's Institute of Engineering and Technology First Lego League competition held at Yate's Whirlpool factory in March.

The St Paul's team won the Rising All Star Award at the competition, where children from eight schools in Bristol and South Gloucestershire were given a series of fast-paced challenges and games, using programmed Lego robots they had built at school.

Foot Clinic

Police find 26 of 30 vans are safety risk

POLICE who stopped vans and other commercial vehicles in a day of action in Yate found almost all of them were "in an unsafe condition".

Out of 30 vehicles stopped during the crackdown, 26 were issued with prohibition notices by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which meant they had to be taken off the road immediately due to the risk they posed to other road users.

Avon & Somerset police said that in addition, five vehicles were in a "dangerous" condition, ten had insecure loads and one in five were illegally overloaded, with defective lights and worn tyres also reported.

Five drivers had no insurance, two had no licence for the class of vehicle they were driving, three vehicles had no MOT and one was not taxed.

One person was arrested after failing a drug-driving test and three people were seen not using a seatbelt.

A total of 52 offences were

recorded and in addition to the 26 prohibitions, three vehicles were seized, three motorists given warnings, 17 reported for traffic offences and three ordered to repair defects.

The day of action in February, named Operation Trader, also involved council licensing teams, trading standards, the Environment Agency, HM Revenue & Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Sergeant Steve Whatley said: “While it is disappointing to find such a high proportion of vehicles fail to meet the necessary safety standards, it has highlighted the value of agencies working together.

“Using a poorly-maintained vehicle at the very least increases the risk of mechanical breakdown but worse, can cause a collision which would put both the driver and innocent parties at risk.

“One vehicle was found to be carrying 50 per cent over its weight limit, which had the potential to dramatically affect the driver’s ability to steer and brake safely.

“Road safety is incredibly important and we hope these findings are a wake-up call to those who found their vehicles were not at the required standard."

He said similar events are planned across the force area throughout the year.

DVSA director of enforcement Marian Kitson said: "This operation has served to remind drivers of their responsibilities to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy, safely loaded, and their drivers are fit to drive. There is no excuse for poorly maintained vehicles on the road."

Environment Agency staff checked details of waste carriers, who were all found to be registered.

Police and officials check vans pulled over during Operation Trader.

Crowds in the park for last year's festival

Yate Rocks festival plans revealed

ORGANISERS of Yate

Rocks…in the Park have confirmed the dates for this year's two-day free festival.

The event, hosted by Yate Town Council in Kingsgate Park, will return on June 24 and 25 for its 16th incarnation.

As in previous years there will be performances by local musicians and dance groups on the Saturday, with a 'Praise in the Park' outdoor church service on Sunday morning, followed by a "relaxed and entertaining" Great Choir Showcase in the afternoon.

Local acts already lined up for the Saturday include The Breakdowns, Decanter, S Glos School

Jazz Band, V-Dubz, Sonic Sunrise, Elevation, Kaiju Blue and Beacon Rise, performing alongside local dance groups including Danceworks, 5678 Dance, L A Dance, Stapleton Dance Group, Redds Dance & Drama and StreetCred.

Saturday's events will run from noon until 8pm.

Event Director Robert Goodwin said: "Fun rides for the children include bungee trampolines, giant inflatables, football games, side shows, a testing mobile climbing wall and for the younger children the popular go-karts plus a 'Wipe Out' inflatable - for the adults to join in as well!

"Sideshows, arts & crafts and community stalls will offer a wide range of local products and novelties, a beer tent and drinks stalls providing different alcoholic beverages alongside a variety of catering units for food and refreshments."

Sunday's events will run from 10.30am until 4.30pm, with Raysfield School, Fascinating Rhythm, Bristol Show Choir, Bromley Heath CC, ChoirJam, and the Rock Choir performing throughout the afternoon.

Last year's event, which was the first since the pandemic, attracted a record crowd of around 3,500 people for the Saturday's music and entertainment.

A stilt-walker picks his way through the stalls

End of an era as chippy shuts after 65 years

A FISH and chip shop in Yate has battered its last cod and closed its doors, after 65 years of frying up chip suppers for local people.

Pisces was opened in Station Road by the Holbrook family in 1958.

But Kip and Julia Holbrook, who took the business over from Kip's dad in 1988, retired last March after running it for 34 years.

The lease was taken over by Jose Gil, who manages Frydays in Cranleigh Court, a month later.

But last year the landowner was given permission to change the business from a food outlet to a shop or hairdresser, and build five houses on the car park and surrounding land, and the shop closed at the end of last month.

Staff put a handwritten poster in the window saying: “Due to the land being used to build houses, Saturday 25th March will be our last day open.”

One regular customer since the 90s, Yate resident Laurence Green, told the Voice Pisces was a part of the town’s fabric and would be sorely missed.

He said: “As a regular, one gets to know the clientele, and get to have a good chat whilst waiting for the lovely meal being freshly prepared. I will miss seeing the folk very much indeed.

“Pisces, to me, is a social hub and most certainly part of the very fabric of Yate.”

Mr Gil did not respond to the

Voice's request for a comment.

In December last year South Gloucestershire Council gave permission for outbuildings to be demolished and five homes to be built on the site.

In a report to councillors, planning officers said the shop originally served workers at the nearby Newman’s electric motor factory.

In the 1980s a cottage on the site was demolished to extend the car park, to cater for people driving to buy their chip suppers.

A number of local people had objected, saying the new homes would overlook their houses, and voicing concerns about bats living on the site.

Yate Town Council also objected, saying it was overdevelopment.

Planning officers said the general and detailed architectural approach was “very positive”.

They said: “The scheme is considered to be a very good example of a modern approach, which references older styles, in fenestration, form and materials. The principle natural stone material relates well in particular with the older properties along the southern side of Station Road.”

They said the former chip shop would be marketed as a beauty salon or hairdressers.

They said the outbuildings were assessed for their bat roosting potential and were found to be “of low potential”.

Pisces in Station Road has closed for good

Row over new voter ID rules

MORE than 8,000 voters could be "disenfranchised" at South Gloucestershire’s elections because of a new law requiring them to show proof of identity at the polling station, it has been claimed.

The elections in May will be the first for which residents will have to show an accepted form of ID - and face being barred from voting if they do not have one.

Frampton Cotterell ward Liberal Democrat councillor Tristan Clark told a council meeting in February: “The number of voters who lack an accepted form of ID in South Gloucestershire could, under the Cabinet Office’s own assessment, exceed 8,000 people.

“Will polling station staff be recording the number of people they turn away for lacking the requisite form of ID, so that proper analysis of the residents disenfranchised by this rushed and ill-conceived legislation can occur?”

Council cabinet member Ben Burton

insisted that the changes in last year’s Elections Act had not been rushed.

The Frenchay & Downend ward Conservative councillor said: "I’ll follow up with democratic services whether they will be recording the amount of people turned away."

He said a trial in 2018 in Swindon had been followed by a "a robust and comprehensive review" by the Electoral Commission of the number of people voting.

Cllr Burton said: "In that instance it did not cause a significant change in voting habits, and actually turnout was higher than the previous election in 2016.

"The arrangements are in place to ensure that the democratic process remains secure and that voting will hopefully remain high.

"The actual list of acceptable forms of ID is incredibly long. We are talking passports, driving licence, biometric immigration document, identity cards, MOD ID, blue badge, national identity, old person’s bus card, Oyster card, freedom passes and a whole host more.

“So actually the chances of someone not having those is relatively small, and we will make the arrangements where we are able to support those who do not have an acceptable

form of ID.”

More information about ID and how to apply can be found online at beta.southglos. gov.uk/voter-id.

Anyone who is not online can also apply in person, by calling South Gloucestershire Council on 01454 863030 and making an appointment to visit the council offices in Yate.

People applying for the free ID need to have their National Insurance number and a recent photo to hand.

Cllr Burton said that 56 people in the district had applied for a free 'voter authority certificate' by early February.

Electoral Commission research found voters less likely to have an accepted form of ID are over-85s, people with disabilities, trans and homeless people.

The deadline to register to vote is April 17, postal vote applications must be made by April 18 and proxy vote and for free ID applications by April 25.

Anyone who would like to stand for election in this year has until April 4 to submit their nomination.

For more information about becoming a candidate, visit beta.southglos.gov.uk/ stand-for-election, call 01454 863030, email electoral.services@southglos.gov.uk or write to Electoral Registration, PO Box 1953, Badminton Road, Bristol, BS37 0DB.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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We are looking for hard-working and reliable people (13 years+) to join our team.

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Trustees Needed

South Gloucestershire Youth Housing (SGYH) is a small charity based in Kingswood. Bristol offering supportive temporary housing for young people aged from 16 years to 25 years old.

We are looking for willing people who can offer their time to join us and help move the charity forward in these challenging times. We are looking for people from many walks in life including those who have knowledge of Accounting/Money Management, Housing and Employment law. We ask Trustees to attend a meeting every other month so just six meetings a year.

We have a website to view - www.sgyh.org

If you are interested in joining us or would like further information please contact E- Mail Mandy.Osborne@sgyh.co.uk

Club's rallying cry to scooter riders

A SCOOTER club is calling on enthusiasts to fire up their Lambrettas and hit the road to join them at a rally in Chipping Sodbury.

This year Yate and Sodbury Scooter Club is hoping hundreds of riders will join ride around the district which is one of the highlights of their three-day festival in June.

The club was founded by Andy Davis and his brother-in-law Kevin Milford in 2016 via a Facebook page.

Now it draws enthusiasts from across the region to events.

Andy said many members were like them – people who were returning to two wheels after many years away.

He said: “We both had scooters when we left school, and grew up, having families and cars and the rest.”

Andy was originally unsure if the club would get much support but he said: “As word spread it was surprising how many older guys have old Lambrettas and Vespas, tucked away in a garage for the past 25 years, and haven’t used them for a while but would love to use them back on the road.”

Throughout the last few years, Andy and Kevin have run multiple events, raising more than £6,000 for local charities. The pair started out with music events at local venues where they raised £350 for Bristol Children’s Hospital. The second event raised £630.

In 2019, they started running soul nights, and in 2022 held their first scooter rally.

This year’s rally takes place at Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club from June 16 to 18, and features bands including The Corsairs and the Sex Bristols.

Andy said: “All profits from our events go to charity and as a club we have raised and donated over £6k in the last few years.

“This year’s event plans to be bigger and better than last year, with three live bands on both Friday and Saturday.”

The event will include a 'ride out' on the Saturday lunchtime, where scooter riders will go in convoy around local villages and through Chipping Sodbury High Street.

As well as running charity events, the club meets for regular catchups where people with an interest in scooters can talk, eat and ride around together.

The club is very inclusive and is always looking for more members. Weekend tickets including camping are £25, and day tickets are £15.

You can find out more about the club and the event by emailing Andy at ad.davis@btinternet.com.

Scooter club members didn't let the rain spoil last year's 'ride out' in Chipping Sodbury.

n STROUD AUCTIONS

Fabulous earrings bring flurry of bids

A TRULY fabulous pair of 19th century earrings prompted a flurry of bidding at Stroud Auctions’ March sale.

The Victorian Etruscan Revival gold earrings, in the form of an urn set with rubies, were made by Italian maker Carlo Giuliano, a goldsmith and jeweller who moved from Naples to London in 1860 and worked for a number of leading jewellers before setting out on his own.

Selling for £9,484, more than anyone expected, they proved once again that prices for the best antique jewellery are still on the increase, and were the auctioneer’s favourite lot.

The specialist sections of jewellery, silver, coins, watches, clocks and bijouterie are always popular, and some other really remarkable prices were also achieved.

A pair of Corinthian column candlesticks dating to 1902 realised £589 – once again these were of the best quality and pretty much

an ideal size, and the eventual hammer price was really pleasing.

The highest price achieved among the 1,690 lots was £10,336, for a Cartier Tank 18ct gold gentleman's wristwatch.

The surprise result of the sale was a William IV hallmarked silver-

topped travelling dressing table set, comprising ten silver topped pots with hobnail cut glass bases, all contained in a brass inlaid wooden box.

Made in London in 1826 by Archibald Douglas, it sold for £1,459.

A total of 1,288 online bidders from 38 countries joined the sale.

The next auction will be on May 10 and 11, and includes guns and weapons, medals and militaria, bladed weapons, taxidermy, sporting, ceramics and glass.

If you’ve never thought of buying at auction, why not come along to our public viewing day on May 9th between 10am and 6pm?

We are also still accepting items for our June auction, which will once again include jewellery, silver, watches and coins. This will be our first auction in our brand new purpose-built saleroom just outside Stroud, and we couldn’t be more excited. If you would like to see us in our new location then we are open for viewing as usual on Tuesday June 13th from 10am to 6pm.

If you are thinking of selling, please give us a call on 01453 873800 to book a valuation or just email and ask for advice from one of our specialists.

STROUD AUCTION ROOMS

These Victorian earrings fetched more than £9,000

Orchard will bear fruit for future children

A CHIPPING Sodbury primary school has teamed up with an environment charity to plant an orchard which will one day provide classes with fresh fruit.

Raysfield Primary School's trees include five varieties of apple, two types of pear, plum, damson and cherry.

The school and parents' group the Friends of Raysfield worked closely with environment charity One Planet Matters, which provided the trees planted in the school's forest area.

A planting event was held at the end of February, with children mucking in to help plant the trees that the school hopes will bear fruit for generations of future pupils.

The school is also aiming to improve biodiversity and inspire pupils to help the environment.

Locally-based One Planet Matters runs a schools network providing nature-based learning in line with the curriculum and allows schools to share biodiversity information and

wildlife-friendly activities. It has helped plant more than 1,000 fruit trees in school in the past two years.

Friends secretary Holly Woodruff said: "We'd like to thank One Planet Matters

Recruiting Now

The Abbeyfield Gloucestershire Society is an independent living charity which provides sheltered housing for people over the age of 55.

We pride ourselves in making our houses, homes. We can’t do this without a staff team who are willing to go the extra mile for our clients.

Abbeyfield Gloucestershire is always on the lookout for excellent staff.

We have roles for anyone who can provide fresh home cooking for our clients and take a genuine interest in their lives

We are also on the look out for volunteers who can provide IT support, befriending services, activity coordinators, gardening or any special skills you might want to share with our wonderfully curious clients

We have houses in Chipping Sodbury, Cheltenham and Prestbury.

For more information please get in touch with our General Manager, Stacey, on 07368 135 025 or email us on hello@abbeyfieldglos.org.uk

for supplying the trees and their continued assistance in our growing areas, which will eventually help supply the class rooms with fresh fruit and vegetables.

"We'd love to inspire other

schools to work with One Planet Matters to introduce more growing on their sites and bring back more orchards in the community."

Pupils from Raysfield Primary School picked up forks and spades to help plant the orchard.

n YATE HERITAGE CENTRE

Holiday times past

SOME of the holiday activities remembered by Yate's older residents would make modern parents' jaws drop, as David Hardill discovered.

IN the midst of the Easter holiday period, I am reminded of the profound differences between the activities of modern day families and children of yesteryear.

Today, for many children there is more organisation in their lives.

If families are not going on holiday, days are organised around local shopping trips or visits to activity centres or family attractions.

Local oral history confirms that for children of previous generations holiday time and weekends were pretty laissez-faire.

Parents allowed children to roam and explore local farms. The remnants of local mining and quarrying proved too exciting for children to miss.

Before the 1960s, many children could play in local farms. Several farmers were relaxed about children entering the farmyard and were trusted to avoid dangerous machinery or animals.

As John Dyer of Old Sodbury (1935-2020) recalled: “You did go

up to the local farm.

"Farmer Batten did let us ride on the back of the shire horse, the hay cart and generally we did have the run of the farm.”

Playing in local fields was de rigueur for most children. Some were particularly inventive as a result.

Tom Lewis recalls making bows and arrows from willow twigs, hazel sticks for catapults and hay bales for dens.

Making river dams was also a welcome challenge. Tom recalled procuring stones and clay for damming up the Frome.

The industrial landscape around Yate afforded endless fun for children. Before the mid-1960s, pools from mineral workings littered the area between the modern shopping centre and Stanshawes Court.

Children learnt to swim in these, while their fathers used them for angling.

The remnants of coal mining to the west of Yate was an especially rich source of fun.

Bob Williams and Stuart Ovens recalled the old Frog Lane Colliery spoil tip. Children slid down the steep embankment on shovels, or rode on motorbikes around the tip when they were teenagers.

Access to industrial remains

Diary dates

country, c1900.

Until May 13: The Office - exhibition on the history of office life and equipment in and around Yate in the 20th century.

April 3, 10am or 1pm: Easter craft workshops. Booking essential April 12, 10am or 1pm: Chinese culture workshops. Booking essential.

April 22, 10.30am-4.30pm: St George celebrations. All-day entertainment, activities and stalls with a traditional English and Medieval history theme. Free event.

April 25, 7.30pm: Yate Lecture Series – Presentation on Sir Watkin Morgan, a colourful 17th century Gloucestershire gentleman, by Malcolm Watkyns.

Call 01454 862200 or email infoyateheritage.co.uk for more information.

was unlimited. Stuart recalled making swings in trees to sail over the mineral railway line when trains went past. Failing that,

throwing old tiles down mine shafts, to gauge the depth, offered alternative entertainment for the fun seeker.

A child visiting Yate Market, around 1970. Visits to the market were a holiday option for children in the area's more agricultural past.

Picnics in the

School meets exacting standards

AN INDEPENDENT school has successfully met the standards required by the sector's regulator.

Tockington Manor School, in Tockington, was visited by the Independent Schools Inspectorate for a regulatory compliance inspection in January.

The ISI has now published its report on the co-educational day school, which has 273 pupils aged from two to 13 on its roll, divided into a nursery section for two to four-year-old children, a lower school for pupils aged four to seven and upper school for those aged seven to 13.

Inspectors Hilary Wyatt and Richard Raistrick spent two days observing lessons, talking to pupils and looking at their work,

as well as attending assemblies and extra-curricular activities.

They also held discussions with staff, examined the curriculum and documentation.

Questionnaires completed by staff, parents and pupils from both the school and nursery were also taken into consideration.

The report said: "The teaching enables pupils to make good progress, encompasses effective behaviour management and is supported by suitable resources."

The ISI inspectors report on

the school’s compliance with the Independent School Standards Regulations and, in Tockington Manor's case, the Early Years Foundation Stage.

All independent schools are required to meet the standards and the findings validate the school's performance in a variety of areas, including: quality of education; the health, safety and welfare of pupils; quality of leadership and management.

The report highlighted the use of the school's 28-acre grounds, saying: "The school

strives to make full use of the outdoor spaces around the site to engender a spirit of adventure within the pupils and prepare them with the attitude and aptitude for senior schools and beyond."

This latest report builds on a more comprehensive inspection at the school and nursery in 2018. The ISI’s Educational Quality Inspection Report found that Tockington Manor School produces pupils who “demonstrate self-confidence and self-awareness of the highest quality”.

It also commended the school on the personal development of pupils, which it said was excellent.

Headmaster Stephen Symonds said: "I am incredibly proud of the excellent team effort which resulted in our school meeting every applicable standard required.

"Tockington prides itself on its high standards and this is a testament to our hard work."

The full report can be found at www.tockingtonmanorschool. com/isi-inspection.

Tockington Manor School and Nursery

Tockington Manor headmaster Stephen Symonds with children who are in Year 1 at the school.

Nik's gruelling marathon challenge

A FOOTBALL fan from Coalpit Heath was given a rousing standing ovation by fellow Bristol Rovers supporters, after completing seven marathons in seven days for charity.

Nik Weeks has raised more than £9,700 so far for the club’s community trust in tribute to Rovers left-back Nick Anderton, who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer last summer.

He timed his seven marathons to take place in the week before his team took on Portsmouth at the Memorial Ground on March 18, and was introduced on the pitch to a rousing reception.

Nik, a police Sergeant at Bristol Port Authority, was joined for the last leg of the run by his son Archie – wearing a number 16 shirt to represent Anderton, who is being treated for osteosarcoma.

Nik was tearful as he was presented with a replica Rovers shirt with “Weeksy 183.4 miles” printed on the back, in honour of

Yate Town Council Update

Warm Welcome

As we welcome spring, and reflect on the winter season, nothing could have prepared Yate Town Council for the generosity and support we have received from our community, for the Warm Welcome project.

the seven 26.2-mile marathons he had completed.

Interviewed after the presentation, Nik said he couldn’t believe the reception.

He said: "I know what I achieved is pretty good - without blowing my own trumpet - it's been hard work, but walking around that pitch and everybody shouting out and clapping...I walked around with my little boy and the Pompey fans were brilliant as well."

He even got a mention on Sky’s Soccer Saturday programme where presenter Jeff Stelling praised his efforts.

As he neared the end of the challenge Nik's wife Emma told supporters he had received a message from Anderton during the challenge, which made him even more determined.

Bristol Rovers Community Trust chief executive Adam Tutton said: “When Nik came into our office and told us about

WECA Planting

this challenge, we were all gobsmacked.

"We are so grateful that he’s taken on the 7 For 7 Challenge to benefit the Community Trust.

"The funds raised will make an enormous difference for many people within our communities.”

The trust runs inclusion, health, education and sports participation projects in the Bristol area.

In 2020 Nik set himself the challenge of running five marathons in five days for the Trust – raising £13,300 for the Community Trust and charity TOFS, which offers support for those born unable to swallow.

He was inspired for this year's challenge by the team's 7-0 nil over Scunthorpe last May, which secured promotion to League One on the final day of last season.

Donations to Nik’s online fundraising page can be made at justgiving.com/campaign/ sevenforseven

As part of Yate Town Council’s Local Nature Action Plan (LNAP) which aims to protect and enhance biodiversity and wildlife, the Town Council was awarded nearly £15,000 by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Pollinator Fund, to help rewild the town and protect our pollinators!

In partnership with organisations, businesses, faith and community groups across Yate and the surrounding parishes, the Warm Welcome has provided more than 50 weekly warm space dropin sessions and since its launch in October 2022, more than 1,200 sessions have been open to our community – along with countless cups of coffee, biscuits and many hot meals!

The community’s role in hosting these facilities has provided a lifeline for many, and we cannot thank our partners enough for their role in the Warm Welcome’s success.

Yate Town Council and a selection of partners will continue to provide Warm Welcome spaces throughout the year. You can find more information regarding Warm Welcome spaces that will remain open after 31st March 2023, on the Yate Town Council Website.

The first phase of the project involved the planting of more than 12,000 flower bulbs, 70 native trees and 40 fruit trees; and also, the installation of coir rolls in Brinsham Lake to help the lake establish vegetation, which is vital for pollinating wildlife. The next phase of the project, set to take place in mid to late spring, will include the reinstatement of the conservation pond at Brinsham Fields; millions of wildflower seeds will be sewn and hundreds of nutrient rich shrubs will be planted across North Yate to provide essential habitat and delicious food. In addition, the community will help create two new mini beast mansions (also known as bug hotels) for small but mighty insets, who need somewhere to rest, after doing a blooming good job pollinating our plants!

To watch this project flourish, visit our parks and green spaces at Peg Hill Skate Park, Halifax Road, Millside and Brinsham Fields!

To keep up to date with these projects, events and all things Yate! follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, visit our website or contact us at info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk

Nik Weeks (left) is interviewed on the Memorial Stadium pitch at the end of his challenge. Picture: Bristol Rovers

n LOCAL MP

Celebrating some big steps forward

WE have taken some big steps forward in South Gloucestershire, but there is much more to do.

Half-hourly train services from Yate to Bristol have finally been confirmed following my debate in Parliament.

More funding has been made available, and we can expect half-hourly train services from May, providing a more reliable transport option for people locally, reducing journey times, taking cars off the road and reducing emissions.

Planning permission to reopen Charfield Railway Station was also granted, following strong community support which demonstrated to the council and the combined authority the need to get these plans over the line.

The village’s railway services will be a vital asset for people in our community to commute to work, visit friends and family, or travelling to school and college.

We have also delivered the new park and ride in Yate, and re-

opened the right-hand turn from Heron way onto Kennedy Way.

Improving safety is vital, and in March a new pedestrian crossing was proposed for Old Sodbury, vital for providing appropriate infrastructure for the village.

I am also constantly pressing to ensure we get our fair share of police officers locally. Britain is ahead of schedule in recruiting 20,000 new officers in England and Wales, and Avon and Somerset now has 412 more officers than in 2019.

I will continue to fight to make sure that our local towns and villages get the police presence that we need to tackle speeding and antisocial behaviour.

We have had positive national announcements for school funding, with South Gloucestershire’s per pupil funding increase of 6.9%, significantly above the national increase.

This will help with plans to build a new primary school in Yate

and refurbish school buildings locally.

However, there is still more to do. I have met with the Health Minister, as we await announcements on the future of Thornbury Health Centre.

South Gloucestershire Council have purchased the site of the old Thornbury Hospital, removing a key barrier, and I will continue to push for the Department of Health and Social Care to accept our £13 million bid. This will deliver greater primary care and outpatient services, mental health provision, more social care beds, and a specialised unit to help and support the elderly community receive care in their home.

Soft plastic recycling has been trialled successfully in Sodbury and Olveston, and I will make sure we see this rolled-out across South Gloucestershire soon.

We will continue to fight excessive development and oppose the plans to increase the

size of Chipping Sodbury by 35%, with 750 more houses. We will continue to oppose inappropriate projects and defend our beautiful natural countryside.

We have made a huge amount of progress, but there is lots more still to do. We will continue to fight to keep South Gloucestershire as the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family.

Rapist is jailed for attacking woman and girl

A RAPIST who attacked a woman at a remote barn in Charfield has been jailed for 20 years.

Leon Austin, aged 31, raped the woman multiple times after plying her with alcohol.

After his arrest he was then charged with attacking a teenager in Gloucestershire in 2018.

Austin, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to five counts of rape – two relating to 2018 and three to 2022 – and one count of attempting to choke, suffocate or strangle with intent to commit rape in January.

He was jailed at Bristol Crown Court in March.

His Honour Judge Michael Cullum described Austin as a dangerous offender and a man who posed a significant risk to women.

He also praised the victims’ for their courage.

Officer in the case DC Carl Spicer said: “Austin is sexual predator who targeted younger vulnerable and alone females, providing them with drink or drugs. He then ignored their wishes when they did not consent to sex.

"Both women have shown incredible levels of bravery and courage to report what happened to them and they should feel proud that by doing so has meant a dangerous man is behind bars.

"While I hope this sentence brings them both some closure, it is important to recognise the impact of what they have been through is far-reaching and this hearing doesn’t magically erase what has happened."

The court heard that in August last year Austin and a woman in her 20s, went to a number of pubs before visiting the home of one of his friends.

The following morning Austin offered to drive the woman home but made sexual advances to her in the car, and when she said no he stopped at a remote barn and raped her.

The woman ran away and managed to flag down a passing motorist and called the police, while Austin drove from the scene.

In a statement read to the court, she said been "crippled by an overwhelming fear to do anything" on some days since the attack, and had struggled to sleep or return to work.

She said: "My friends struggle to understand what happened, they don’t want to be around me because I am not my usually happy self. I am often difficult to be around.

“My relationship and outlook on men in general has completely changed. I am so scared and

intimidated of any man."

Austin's earlier victim, who was 17 when she was attacked at a caravan he was staying at in Berkeley, said her self-confidence had been "completely destroyed".

Leon Austin

MP visits school

THORNBURY & Yate MP Luke Hall visited St Mary’s CE Primary School in Yate to hear pupils' views on improving the community and engaging young people in politics.

The MP heard children's views on climate change and green energy, recycling, animal welfare, road safety, support for families, speeding and road safety, and how to get involved in politics.

He also spoke about his own background as a local supermarket manager before becoming an MP and explained some of the machinery of voting and elections.

Mr Hall said: "As a local man educated in South Gloucestershire state schools, it was a pleasure to talk to pupils at St Mary’s about how democracy works and the importance of raising issues with their local politicians.

"As a community we are incredibly proud of our local schools and the work they are doing."

Toby to step down

THE leader of South Gloucestershire Council will step down in May at the local elections.

Toby Savage has led the council for five years but said he has had a “promotion” after the birth of his second child in February.

Cllr Savage has represented the Longwell Green ward for the Conservatives since 2015, but decided not to stand for re-election so he could dedicate more time to his young family.

He will lead the party in South Gloucestershire into the elections on May 4, after which a new leader will then be chosen.

Cllr Savage said: “I have recently been given a promotion to dad-of-two and will therefore be standing down from South Gloucestershire Council at the forthcoming elections on May 4.

"I have been council leader for just under five years, and it has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the area in which I was born and brought up.

"These past years have been unprecedented and exhausting. We have led the local responses to a global pandemic, a war and a worldwide cost of living crisis.

"Throughout all of this I have been honoured to work with extraordinary people both inside and outside the council, who serve local people with dedication and distinction."

Labour group leader Pat Rooney has also announced she will retire after the elections.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

School places

AN extra 170 children applied for places at South Gloucestershire's secondary schools in September compared with last year.

The council received 3,334 applications from families with children heading into Year 7 after the summer holidays, up from 3,164 in 2022.

It meant that, while more children in total than last year were given a place at their first-choice school, the number who were offered none of their three preferences rose by 45%, from 85 to 123.

The number of children being offered their first-choice school was 2,887 or 86%, compared with 2,807 or 89% last year.

Another 264 (8%) were offered their second-choice school, up from 228 (7%) in 2022.

Third preference places were offered to 56 children (2%) up from 44 (1%) in 2022.

Schools in the area are under pressure for places as plans for a new secondary school in Lyde Green continue to be delayed. The council announced in March that it will no longer be open in time for September 2024 - two years after the date originally announced.

Luke hall talks to pupils at St Mary's

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

All aboard! Introducing WESTlink

THE West of England Combined Authority is trying something new.

The Big Choices public meetings I held last summer with residents talking all things buses showed me that the status quo doesn’t work. People want change.

It’s one reason why I’m introducing WESTlink, the brand-new stop-to-stop minibus service offering tailor-made journeys for locals.

The first passengers will be able to book a WESTlink from their local bus stop from April - dropping them off at another bus or train stop to continue their onward journey. WESTlink will continue to fully roll out over successive months.

I saw the first WESTlink a few weeks ago. The bright green minibus, which was taking part in testing, is one of what will eventually be a new 30-strong fleet that residents in the West of England will be able to book by phone, online or with a dedicated app.

That bus will be ready from April, with

more WESTlinks to follow until we reach the first milestone of 30 full-time minibuses.

It is all thanks to a £3 million investment my West of England Combined Authority is making.

This is a big moment for the West of England, and our local transport journey.

Similar schemes have been trialled in other areas of the country, but never on such a scale. This scheme will grow to become the biggest in the UK.

It comes hot on the heels of my decision to bring forward a £7 million package of big bus improvements, including adding more main route buses to areas where WESTlink is arriving.

Now, I’ll be frank with you – it certainly won’t be plain sailing at the start.

We’re over a dozen drivers short at present. And there are other things we need to iron out to ensure people get to the places they need to go to as easily and efficiently as possible.

In the first instance, you will need to consult a bus or train timetable to check the best way to make your onward journey, whereas in the future you will be able to do that all in the app.

But I’m determined we get on with trying something innovative and something different, so I need your help.

Please play your part by trying WESTlink yourself. Tell me how it needs to change and improve. By doing so, together we can grasp this fantastic opportunity to shape our transport future for the better.

Whatever your funeral wishes

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

Memorial to covid's lost lives

A MEMORIAL orchard has been planted in Yate to mark three years since the start of the Covid pandemic.

The memorial trees on Yate Common, by Westerleigh Road, are dedicated to all who were affected by the pandemic – and the health workers and others who helped the nation through it.

It has been created by Yate Town Council as a permanent memorial, on common land, with permission of South Gloucestershire Council.

Rector of Yate Rev Ian Wallace joined councillors and volunteers planting 25 apple and pear trees, and dedicated the orchard.

The town council said the trees were funded by the Tree Council’s Branching Out fund for projects in local communities.

A spokesperson said: "These fruit trees were planted in memory of people who lost loved ones, friends whose health has been affected long term, and

in recognition of key workers and all the volunteers who gave up their time to support the community during the height of the pandemic.”

Town councillor Chris Willmore said three years on from the first lockdown felt like a suitable time for reflection.

She said: “It feels like a time

Slug menace

SLUGS and other small creatures are shorting out traffic lights across South Gloucestershire, it has been revealed.

They squeeze their way into control boxes for warmth and shelter but are singed when they come into contact with the electrical wiring, which knocks out a set of lights in the district about once a month.

The council has now set up its own in-house team of dedicated engineers to try to prevent the damage caused by the pests and keep the local road network running.

The team is carrying out preventative maintenance to seal holes and make sites watertight.

we can reflect on what happened over the past three years, and start to say thank you to all those who did so much to help us all, and to remember those who we lost.

“We hope it will grow into a place where people can visit and spend a little time to reflect and remember.”

A council spokesperson said: “Keeping our roads safe is one of our main priorities and slugs, snails, spiders and mice are all attracted by the warmth of our traffic light control cabinets but they can cause major issues – spinning webs that channel condensation or sliming across and shorting expensive circuit boards."

A dedication ceremony at the new memorial orchard

Cup match will help football in Albania

A FOOTBALL club's managers and coaches will take to the pitch themselves to help children in Albania.

Ian Bright, the manager of Yate United Under-13s and Under-18s, has been visiting Albania for about 12 years with his family, for two weeks in the summer holidays.

On their visits they help out in an orphanage, street children's centre, elderly people’s home and a safe house, and also help run football camps.

This year Ian has persuaded his fellow managers and coaches at the club to stage a charity football match where they will play against each other in front of players, families and friends welcome.

Ian has even had a trophy

engraved to present to the winning team, and has named it the Albania Cup.

Ian said: "It’s great that the club are joining us to help raise money for Albania.

"I need to raise money to buy football boots, footballs, medals and equipment.

"I also need to purchase arts and crafts to run activities. All money raised helps to contribute to the work we do while in Albania."

The Albania Cup match will take place on April 21 at 6pm, at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, and supporters are welcome.

It is just one of a number of fundraising events planned.

A few days after the match, Ian

Award for gardeners

THE owner of a garden that has opened to the public for more than 60 years to raise money for charity has been given an award in recognition of her achievement.

Barbara Naish and her daughter Sonya hold open garden days to share the spring flowers at Algars Manor, in Station Road, Iron Acton every year for the National Gardens Scheme.

During that time the family has raised around £47,000 in donations for the charities supported by NGS, including a variety of health, nursing and gardening charities.

The organisation presented Barbara with a garden clock in recognition of their work at its March local garden owners meeting.

The garden will be open next on April 23 for the magnolias, and camellias, rhododendrons and other spring flowers, along with nearby Algars Mill garden.

and friend Tim Fletcher will set out on a mammoth walk of 190 miles over 12 days.

The Wainwright's Coast to Coast Challenge, starting on April 26, is on a long-distance footpath between the west and east coasts of Northern England, starting at St Bees in Cumbria and finishing at Robin Hoods Bay in North Yorkshire.

It passes through three national parks: the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.

An online fundraising page has been set up for the challenge at bit.ly/3noVKhP and a Facebook page has been set up called Wainwright's Coast to Coast for Albania.

Last year Ian and a team raised £2,300 for his work in Albania walking the Jurassic Coast from Swanage, Dorset, to Exmouth in Devon.

Coeliac UK local café meet-up

DO you have coeliac disease? Do you need to live gluten Free? Do you know someone who does?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then why not pop along to a new Coeliac UK local café meet-up?

These events are run by Coeliac UK volunteers and offer relaxed and informal support for anyone affected by the disease or needing to live gluten free.

We will be meeting on the third Thursday of each month, starting on April 20, from 10-11.30am at Iron Acton Garden Centre café in Wotton Road.

Just pop in for a chat any time during the event.

The Coeliac UK volunteers will be wearing an orange t-shirt.

The local café meet-up is free to attend, with car parking available.

Why not buy a drink and Gluten Free snack or Gluten Free cake while you're there?

Everyone is welcome, including family, friends and carers (under 18s should be accompanied by a parent or guardian).

You don’t need to be a member of Coeliac UK or live locally to attend.

For further information on the above café meet-up email volunteering@coeliac.org.uk.

Coeliac UK is a charity for people who need to live without gluten –the website can be found at www.coeliac.org.uk.

Ian Bright with the Albania Cup

Barbara Naish (second left) receives her award

The heritage trail plaque

IT is now easier than ever to find out about Chipping Sodbury's history after QR codes were added to the town's illustrated heritage trail.

The codes, alongside the ceramic plaques on six of the town's historic buildings, can be scanned by mobile phones to provide residents and visitors with information about their past.

The plaques have been put

up by Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club, working in conjunction with the town council and Tourist Information Centre.

The Chipping Sodbury Heritage Trail was created in 2011 using funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The original idea was for people to pick up a heritage trail leaflet from the Tourist Information Centre in the High Street to guide them from building to building.

The introduction of QR codes means the information on all six buildings can be found by scanning one with a phone, with the heritage trail website

Yate Library news

YATE Library is holding a series of Easter holiday activities for children. There is a drop-in Dinosaur Stomp on April 4 from 10.30am-noon, a Doyouthinkhesaurus Dino Party on April 6 from 2.30-4pm (booking required).

The following week there are Discover Dinosaurs crafts on April 13 from 10.30am-noon and a

Dinosaur Island Lego challenge on April 14 from 10.30-11.30am (booking required).

Craft bags are available from April 1, while stocks last.

A Coronation cream tea with music from Fingers & Frets (banjos, mandolins and guitars) takes place on May 5. Home-made scones, cream and jam. Tickets £2.50.

The regular Lego club takes place on April 29 from 10.30-11.30am for 4-10 year olds (booking required).

Donations of Duplo will be gratefully received for a new club for younger children.

Reading group ‘Have You Read’, to enjoy tea and a chat with like-minded book lovers, takes place every fourth Friday in the month, from 10.3011.30am.

Craft Group meets on April 1 and 15, from 10am-noon, for tips on knitting, sewing or crochet.

Regular events include Wriggle & Rhyme: rhymes and songs for parents and babies/toddlers to enjoy together on Thursday and Friday, 9.30-10am. Free family-friendly story time, with crafts for preschool children, takes place on Tuesdays from 9.30-10am.

Computer support with digital champion volunteers is on Saturdays from 10am-noon.

To book a session call 01454 868006 to speak to a member of staff.

A Vision West of England information, advice and support drop-in takes place on the second Thursday of the month from 10am-noon.

Legal advice from Wards solicitors, 10am-noon, April 6.

For bookings and more information on any event call 01454 868006, speak to a member of staff at the library or email yate.library@southglos.gov. uk.

The library is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 10am-5.30pm, Thursday from 10am-5pm and Saturday from 9am-2pm.

Open access (unstaffed) is from 8am-7.30pm every day.

also being updated to make the historical information more comprehensive.

Rotarian Keith Pattison, who lead the initiative, said: "As a resident of Chipping Sodbury for some years I have increasingly felt that, with the availability of modern technology, more could be done to promote the existence and whereabouts of these historic buildings and associated ceramic plaques, hence the idea of QR codes.

"This town is steeped in history and I hope that this modest development will encourage more and more people to look into the background relevant to these six buildings and indeed the history of Chipping Sodbury more broadly."

More information can be found at the Tourist Information Centre.

Stuart Fraser

Easter eggs all round

THE Friends of Kingsgate Park, in conjunction with Yate Town

Council, have announced details of the town's Easter Egg Extravaganza.

The annual event, which includes an Easter egg hunt and prize bonnet parade, will take place in Kingsgate Park on Easter Monday, April 10, from 10am to noon.

The event is open to all children aged under 12, and entrance is free.

Children who complete the treasure hunt will be given a chocolate Easter egg (while stocks last).

The Easter Bonnet parade will take place at 11am and the child with the best one wins a prize. Families who want to take part are being advised to make sure children are registered by 10.55am, in time for judging to take place. Yate Town Council would like to thank local businesses and organisations who have sponsored this event.

There is a separate area for children aged 5 and under. For more information email info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01454 866506.

Heritage trail joins digital age

Yate WI

AT Yate WI’s March monthly meeting we had lots of fun making Easter bonnets, with 16 made in total!

We had four new members join us for the evening and 15 current members - a lovely time was had by all.

Yate WI meet in the evenings on the second Monday of the month at Poole Court, although in April we will move to the third Monday.

We endeavour to vary our monthly meetings and have a variety of activities, from speakers to simple games and demonstrations.

We also meet in smaller groups for craft evenings, coffee mornings, super club and, when the weather improves, for local walks.

If you would like to join us, you will be assured of a warm welcome. Please see our social media pages for more information, email us at yatewiavon@gmail.com or just come along to our next meeting at Poole Court on April 17, 7pm for 7.30pm start.

Sharon Bower

Yate and Sodbury District u3a

THE u3a is a UK-wide movement which brings together people who are no longer in full-time employment, to develop their interests in a friendly and informal environment.

There is no upper or lower age limit, so if you wish to pursue existing interests, develop new skills, meet people and make new friends you are welcome to join us.

The annual membership fee is just £8 a year, which gives you access to around 80 local interest groups, a monthly speaker event at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall and local and national newsletters.

You can visit any one of our groups or attend our monthly speaker meeting twice to experience the u3a for yourself, before joining us as a member.

For further information on the Yate and Sodbury District u3a, visit our website at u3asites.org.uk/yate-sodbury/welcome Pauline Mullholland

Yate Community Bike Hub

YATE Community Bike Hub is confidently gearing up for an anticipated increase in the interest in re-homing bikes, which will accompany the arrival of spring weather.

Some of these will be bikes which the team of volunteers, who freely devote their time at the hub, have been stockpiling during the colder months.

Given the limited storage space in their current generouslydonated shop in Yate Shopping Centre, they did find it necessary to slow the uptake of bike donations for a few weeks, although accessories, especially clothing, were still being accepted.

Nevertheless, the total number of donated bikes now approaches 400 and, since the hub commenced operating last summer, more than 350 bikes have already been rehomed.

They have been especially

n PHARMACY BLOG

welcomed by families in need, such as refugees from Ukraine, unwaged students and individuals needing means of transport in these financially-challenging times.

The hub volunteers have been encouraged by the chair of South Gloucestershire Council’s public recognition of Rebecca Bennett’s achievements in promoting cycling

How buses can beat hay-fever

A BUS stop, a post box and a community pharmacy are the top three things wanted within a 15-minute walk or cycle from our homes, according to a recent YouGov poll.

Rather than the community pharmacy, let's talk about the first and how bus stops can improve health.

A well-functioning public transport system reduces traffic congestion, encouraging us to walk and cycle more. This reduces air pollution, which impacts our health, especially children, older people and people with heart, breathing and underlying health conditions.

Better air quality could also mean welcome relief for hay fever sufferers.

An allergic reaction to pollen from grass, trees or flowers, when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat, research has found twice as many hay fever sufferers live in built-up towns and cities than the countryside.

In built-up areas, pollen particles get trapped closer to the ground because of traffic pollution and dust clouds, which hang around on days when there is no wind to break them up.

So, better-running buses could mean fewer hay fever sufferers. Sneezing, runny noses, itchy eyes, and throat are common hay fever symptoms.

To manage hay fever:

• Keep windows closed in homes and cars as much as possible

• Put Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen

• Wear wraparound sunglasses outdoors to help prevent pollen from getting into the eyes

• Shower and change clothes after being outside and at night to wash pollen off

• Avoid drying clothes outdoors when the pollen count is high.

• Vacuum regularly and use an air filter/purifier with a HEPA filter

• Tie your hair up and wear a hat when outside

• Stay indoors and avoid grassy areas when the pollen count is high. Start antihistamines and preventative treatments at least a month before the hay fever season starts – ie now.

Help is always available at Abbotswood Pharmacy; ask us for advice on prevention and symptom treatments.

in Yate.

Recently Sanjay Shambu has marked this by appointing her as a Community Hero.

In accepting this prestigious award, Rebecca has dedicated the unique trophy and attendant certificate to the team of dedicated volunteers at the hub, who have assisted her in efforts to help make

Yate a safer place for walking, cycling and wheeling.

This of course is the reason why WECA is bidding for Yate to be identified by central government for significant investment in its infrastructure improvements.

Rebecca also paid tribute to the generous in kind help and financial encouragement that the hub had received from several supporting organisations, which notably include Yate Town Council.

The hub workshop is again accepting both adult and children’s bikes in fair and good condition (preferably having been stored indoors).

Currently there is capacity for more volunteers to join its meet and greet team each Saturday, from 10am-3pm.

For more information and details of the full programme of activities for summer 2023, including a Coronation celebration ride on bank holiday Monday, follow Yate Community Bike Hub on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram - or simply email us at yatecommunitybikehub@gmail.com.

Bob Keen

Hub volunteer Rebecca Bennett, seen here on a cargo bike, has won a Community Hero award.

n WHAT'S ON

Starting April

n PILATES - NEW CLASSES @ Goldney Wellness Centre, Chipping Sodbury

Wednesday 9.30am General Pilates

Small & friendly classes. Beginners, refreshers, a little rusty, Full on enthusiasts or just intrigued Everyone welcome.

To book contact: Debbie 07771 544549 bristol@mm-pilates.co.uk Mindful Movements Pilates @mmpilatesbristol

April 6

n GREAT WESTERN AIR AMBULANCE CHARITY discovery day at Yate charity shop, North Walk, Yate Shopping Centre. Pop in and ask questions about the service, find out about volunteering and career opportunities, learn life-saving CPR skills and defibrillation, take part in colouring competitions, trail, raffle, and Easter tombola.

April 10

n FRIENDS OF KINGSGATE PARK AND YATE TOWN COUNCIL Easter Egg Extravaganza, Kingsgate Park, 10am-noon. Treasure hunt, Easter bonnet parade. For under-12s, with separate area for under-5s. Entry free.

April 10

n BRISTOL BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY talk on show preparation, Tom Jackson, Swindon Budgerigar Society, Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke. Visitors welcome without commitment to join. More details from secretary Ron Ramplin at ronnie.ramplin@ btinternet.com or 0774 874 0794.

April 11

n GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY BRISTOL GROUP meeting, BAWA, Southmead Road, Bristol, 7.30pm. Talk: ‘In search of the Red Dragon’, by Colin Brading. All welcome, no admission charge but donation of £3 suggested towards costs. More information from Dave Winter, 01454 324230.

April 18

n CHIPPING SODBURY MUSIC SOCIETY CONCERT: Meera Maharaj and Dominic Degavino, flute and piano. Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £15 on the door, school-aged children free.

April 25

n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY practice class - learn to make

a spring arrangement using a pin holder. The Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm. For more information contact Mrs R Cummins 0117 937 3836.

April 29

n SING OUT CHARITY CONCERT for Great Western Air Ambulance, Apollo Wind Band and Yate & Sodbury Good Afternoon Choir, St Mary's Church, Yate, 7.30pm. Adults £8, under-16s free. Call 01761 472468 for tickets. More details at www.goodafternoonchoir.org.

May 13

n YATE CHORAL SOCIETY Spring Serenade charity concert, supporting Save The Children, St Mary’s Church, Yate, 7.30pm. With special guests Oldland Brass. Conductor Carol Cook, accompanist Margaret Roy. Tickets £10 from Chipping Sodbury Tourist Information Centre, 01454 313907, and choir members.

REGULAR EVENTS: Monday

n GENTLE YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga class 9.30am. Easy to follow gentle yoga, ideal for back pain relief and joint issues. A slowerpaced, mindful and lighter yoga in Chipping Sodbury with experienced teacher. Beginners Welcomed. Sodbury Masonic Hall, 1 Hatters Lane, Chipping Sodbury. From £6.00. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n FLOW-IN YOGA WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga classes 6.15pm & 7.45pm in Chipping Sodbury. Become more flexible, worry less and sleep better with an easy to follow flowing yoga. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n YATE & SODBURY ART & CRAFT CLUB meets every Monday, 7-9 pm at Ridgewood Community Centre. Painting, drawing, collage and many other crafts in a friendly informal setting. £5 per session. More information at yateandsodburyartsociety.weebly.com or call Roz on 07941 946412.

Tuesday

n YATE POETRY GROUP meets every Tuesday morning. Small, informal and friendly group to share and enjoy poems. For details and to learn more about the venue, contact Tony on 0770 4140682 or

email yatepoetrygroup@gmail.com.

n SUNRIDGE GOLF CROQUET CLUB meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Coalpit Heath and has players at all levels. Learn how to play, club equipment is available to use. To find out more contact croquet@wilko.eclipse. co.uk or call 07977 201440.

n SOUTH COTSWOLD PROBUS GROUP meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month at Masonic Hall Sodbury, 10am. Contact Pete Chaplin for details. 01454 324956.

n YATE & SODBURY ART & CRAFT CLUB (POTTERY SECTION) meets every Tuesday and Wednesday, 7.30-9.30 pm at Ridgewood Community Centre. Tuition available. £5 per session. More information at yateandsodburyartsociety.weebly.com or call Roz on 07941 946412.

n YATE CHORAL SOCIETY rehearses at St. Nicholas' Church Centre, Chargrove, Yate, 7.30 - 9.30 p.m. For details call 07833 597114

n PUCKLECHURCH FOLK DANCING CLUB, Pucklechurch Community Hall, Abson Road, every other Tuesday from 7.3010.15pm. All welcome, with a partner or solo. Call Alan on 07812 508396 or Linda on 07843 240414 f.

Wednesday

n LINE DANCE CLASSES AT RIDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTRE, Wednesdays 9.30am to 12. Cost £5 No partner needed. A fun way to keep fit, reduce stress, improve memory and make new life long friends. Contact Gill 07837 784816, or FB gill.butler.90

n GENTLE YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga class 9.30am (term time). Easy to follow gentle yoga, ideal for back pain relief and joint issues. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n CRAFT MORNING, St Mary's Church, Yate, 10am-midday. Bring a project, get help learning something new or just come to sit and chat, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit. Small donation requested to support church heating.

n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcome- first visit free so come along and give us a try. For information contact Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@blueyonder.co.uk

Thursday

n COELIAC UK LOCAL CAFÉ

WE WOULD LOVE TO PUBLICISE YOUR EVENT

Send details of your events and activities in the following format: WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words. Send by email, with 'what's on' as the subject, to contact@ yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

MEET-UP, every third Thursday of the month from April 20, 1011.30am, at Iron Acton Garden Centre cafe. Join us to share experiences of living gluten-free. For further information contact volunteering@coeliac.org.uk.

n GOLDEN OLDIES SING & SMILE SESSIONS, Cambrian Green Court, Wellington Road, every third Thursday from 10.3011.30am. Sing along to hits of the 50s onwards, chat and laugh with friends. £3 donation to attend. Call 01761 470006 for more details.

n YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA

Weekly Flow-in Yoga 6.15pm & Calm-in Yoga 7.45pm in Chipping Sodbury. Become more flexible, worry less and sleep better with an easy to follow yoga. Beginners Welcomed. Chipping Sodbury Sports Centre. From £6.00. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n BRISTOL MALE VOICE CHOIR Always been keen to sing? Come along to our rehearsal nights, 7pm - 9.15pm on Thursdays in St Andrew's Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. No need to read music, no audition, just a voice test to establish whether you are tenor, baritone of bass. We cover many musical styles, enjoy singing in a great social vibe as we prepare for our regular concerts in local and national venues. From the Beatles to Mozart, from classical choruses to classic pop. Ffi : www. bristolmvc.org.uk ; facebook; or contact Steve: secretary@ bristolmvc.org.uk;or ring 07776447699; or 07587143

Yate-Genieri Community Link

THE Yate-Genieri Link held a wonderful Taste of The Gambia supper.

We introduced our 62 guests at the event in February to new and exciting recipes from The Gambia.

This was followed by an illustrated update on the progress of the projects we have been supporting now for many years in this rural village in West Africa.

The evening raised over £1,200, and this will support the salaries which we pay monthly to a teacher (£87.30), a teaching assistant (£28), a school cook (£28), a caretaker (£14), a gardens

manager (£24.50), a gardens caretaker (£22.20) and a community nurse (£47) - a total of £251 per month.

These funds raised will enable us to help the village to maintain its nursery school, the women’s vegetable gardens and tiny primary healthcare centre.

Many thanks to all who came to the supper, and to all our supporters in the Yate community.

Many thanks also to Yate Town Council for sponsoring the event – valuable help that was gratefully received.

If you would like to receive our quarterly newsletter, please contact me at marianjgilpin@ btconnect.com, or go to the website www. yategenierilink.org.uk for more information.

Marian Gilpin Chairman

Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club

MEMBERS of our club have regularly supported the North Bristol & South Gloucestershire Food Bank and the Blonde Angel Street Team with donations of food and toiletries.

At our last two monthly meetings, we have have donated Easter Eggs for these two very worthwhile groups, to try to bring a smile to those who may be struggling at the moment.

Our March meeting took a somewhat

different style from our usual speaker meetings, and we listened to each other instead, sitting round tables, chatting and eating cake!

So we learned a little about new members Debs and Fay; discovered how Annie had become a nurse and then a midwife; were enthralled by Margaret’s brushes with royalty and marvelled at Pauline’s crafty skills and beautiful cushions.

Six Inner Wheel members are also members of Yate Rock Choir, so video clips of their performances during last summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations were shared.

Next year the club will celebrate its 40th anniversary and we brainstormed ideas to celebrate - our oldest member liked the idea of a weekend in Paris - others were thinking more local. Watch this space!

We were delighted to hear of the growing success of the tea dances organised by the Rotary Club at the Town Hall, and are happy to have helped serving refreshments, providing cake and chatting to the guests. Another takes place on May 4, and Inner Wheel will be there in support once more.

Liz Pattison Club Correspondent

The Taste of The Gambia supper

CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

James Scrimshaw of CUR A CLINIC AL explains how new technologies are providing ef fec tive answers to people’s pain and suf fering

CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT

MBST : Hip & knee arthritis

MBST Cell regeneration: What is MBST?

James Scrimshaw of CUR A CLINIC AL explains how new technologies are providing ef fec tive answers to people’s pain and suf fering

Construction of MRI and MBST devices

death and cell reproduction.

- Optimising cell oxygen levels

- Improving Cell energy production

I’ve also just discharged Kate 5 months following treatment for her arthritic knees (she’d already had a half knee replaced). She’s now pain free… I anticipate these results will last a number of years.

She’s now pain free… I anticipate these results will last a number of years.

The results we’re seeing now in patients with varying injuries and conditions is really remarkable.

Susan came to me 8 months ago with severe hip pain which was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis 12 years ago! Pain was on sitting, walking, getting in/out of the car and turning in bed was very sore. She is keen to postpone/avoid surgery so we treated her with a hip cartilage regeneration course of MBST. The above photo was at discharge with a happy patient.

- Optimising intercellular signalling pathways

- Reducing inflammatory mediators

MBST uses the same method of electromagnetic energy transfer as MRI scanning which is how it was discovered in Germany 20 years ago.

This translates to you and I as a healing process in the tissue the energy is applied to which leads to a reduction in pain and an increase in the natural mobility and lifestyle of the patient without any need of invasive

- Readjusting cell circadian clock-leading to less cell death and cell reproduction.

This translates to you and I as a healing process in the tissue the energy is applied to which leads to a reduction in pain and an increase in the natural mobility and lifestyle of the patient without any need of invasive therapy.

Since then it has been adapted, updated and improved to achieve remarkable results for patients with varying conditions such as: Osteoarthritis, muscle tears, Tendon /ligament damage and Bone injury in all areas of the body.

Obviously there are limitations of the effects relating to a number of factors such as severity and complexity of a patient’s case, however the technology is constantly being improved and we’re getting better at selecting the right patients and conditions in order to get higher success rates and better overall results.

Obviously there are limitations of the effects relating to a number of factors such as severity and complexity of a patient’s case, however the technology is constantly being improved and we’re getting better at selecting the right patients and conditions in order to get higher success rates and better overall results.

It’s growing in popularity in the UK as a safe non invasive and natural way of tangibly healing our bodies and as more and more people are seeing that the results are actually for real it’s acceptance within the medical profession is also increasing significantly.

The results we’re seeing

Rob (above) is a great example of how MBST heals cartilage in a moderate to severe arthritic knee. 15 months after his MBST therapy he now runs, plays racket ball and golf without any pain and that’s without his braces. He’s recently done a course on his severe arthritic neck and has significantly less neck pain and improved mobility. Over the next 6 months I expect his condition to reach over 90% improvement.

without his braces. He’s recently done a course on his severe arthritic neck and after 3-4 months has significantly less neck pain and improved mobility. Over the next 6 months I expect his condition to reach over 90% improvement.

Knees were where I mostly started using MBST and I’m still seeing great results in 90% of the patients who are appropriate candidates for the therapy. I now also see a lot of spinal arthritis, shoulders, hands hips and ankles, really helping patients for whom there were few other options.

Another fine response to MBST. I discharged Valerie 5 months after doing a course of cartilage regeneration for her knee arthritis. She’s gone from a 9/10 pain in the mornings to 95% improvement. Thank you for the testimony Val.

Jonathan Webb has seen great benefit from MBST for his patients

Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club

PAUL Harris was the founder of the worldwide Rotary movement.

Fellowship awards in his name are made to members who have made an outstanding contribution within it.

One was recently made to Nick Cragg, a long-standing member of Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club and a well-known member of the community, in recognition of his significant contribution to club activities over many years, as well as the numerous other organisations where he is a prominent personality and contributor.

In conjunction with the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, the club staged its fourth tea dance on March 1.

A record number of 105 guests attended and enjoyed another very pleasant afternoon

Chipping Sodbury Morning WI

WE have had a busy few weeks, celebrated our 30th birthday with cake, balloons and are hoping to arrange a day out to Gloucester docks when the weather is warmer. We celebrated a win at skittles, only to be knocked out at our next match. But for us it is more a chance to meet up, have some fun and hopefully improve our bowling

of dancing at the town hall. Once more, the ladies of the Inner Wheel Club of Chipping Sodbury served refreshments, including the delicious home-made cake. Such has been the positive reaction to this latest series of tea dances that the club has now added a fifth, to be held on May 4, again in the town hall.

On March 10 our club, in conjunction with the South Gloucestershire Council Care Forum, staged a Ukrainian Evening at the Yate Outdoor Sports

aim, so we will continue to get together and play for fun.

We enjoyed a sunny walk in February at The Ridings to check up on a tree we planted in 2009.

In March we had a wander around Kingsgate Park, which is beautiful at any time of the year; both walks finished off with a visit to a local cafe.

We managed two visits to the cinema and enjoyed Empire of Light and What's Love Got To Do With It - we are now planning our next visit.

Our February meeting was a chance to learn to play

Complex.

Its aim was to bring Ukrainian guests together with local community representatives from a range of organisations, including businesses, sports clubs and schools.

Over 70 people attended and had a very enjoyable and informative evening.

Following our financial contribution to the Kyiv Rotary Club to support the Ukrainian International relief efforts, we have made a financial donation

bridge, which was great fun and competitive, once the cellophane came off the deck of cards.

In March we learnt about the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a fascinating and informative talk.

But we are all looking forward to welcoming a much-loved local celebrity on April 18 - Marina from Gogglebox - so make sure you put the date in your diary now!

We usually post each month's meeting details in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall window the week before. You can also call us on 07809 543107 to find out what we

to Shelterbox, an international organisation that provides emergency shelter during major disasters.

The donation will support the efforts in Syria and Turkey following the recent earthquake.

On the social front, a number of club members enjoyed a friendly skittles match against our Rotary colleagues from Thornbury, prompting a low-scoring game due to the uncharacteristically thin pins and resulting large spaces!

Stuart Fraser

have planned.

As well as the above events we have agreed the next 12 months' meetings, to include a Coronation celebration, beetle drive plus many interesting and amusing speakers. We also have a book club.

You would be very welcome to visit us on the third Tuesday of the month at 10am.

We meet in the Masonic Hall, Hatters Lane, Chipping Sodbury. We are a friendly group of ladies, always have good biscuits and would love to see you.

Sue Bird

Nick Cragg with his award. Picture: Doug Lodge

The Ukrainian evening at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex.

Picture: Doug Lodge

The Yate club that trains champions

TARGET Sprint is the internationallyrecognised air rifle discipline that combines running with target shooting.

It is a heart-racing, exhilarating sport for all, combining target shooting and athleticism with skill and accuracy.

Competitors run 400m, then shoot five knock-down targets at 10m as quickly as possible, then run another 400m, shoot another five targets and sprint 400mflat out to the finish - first past the post wins.

It's simple, it's fast and it's fun!

Right here at Yate Outdoor Sport Complex, Sedgemoor Target Sprint meet and train once a month over a weekend.

Sedgemoor is a grassroots target sprint hub club, meaning that beginners can join and train in groups alongside seasoned and experienced target sprint athletes.

And when we say experienced, we mean Sedgemoor athletes are world champions!

If you want to find out more, we would love to welcome you to a training weekend, to try this sport for yourselves. It really is fast, exhilarating and fun!

Our nest three training dates are April 2223, May 20-21 and June 17-18.

Sedgemoor are currently collecting Tesco Blue Tokens in stores around the town that will enable more teenagers and adults access

to this sport.

You don’t need specialist equipment, we can provide that - just trainers, comfortable clothing to move in, plenty of water and a packed lunch if you are joining us for a day's training.

Why not give Sedgemoor a vote next time you do your shopping and come and give this

sport a go for yourselves?

For more information and to book a place on our April weekend at YOSC, email training@target-sprint.co.uk – see you there!

Thank you Tesco for giving more opportunities for sport right here in Yate.

Catherine Ayers

Sedgemoor athletes Luke Spittles and Findlay Ayers at the range during the recent target sprint national finals. Picture: British Shooting.

Jim sets out five-year plan for success

JIM Kendall has been a busy man since taking over as chairman of Chipping Sodbury Cricket Club recently, setting out a five-year plan to ensure impressive recent progress is maintained on and off the pitch.

He’s leading a drive to extend the main pavilion at The Ridings in order to improve facilities for women and girls as well as disabled players and visitors, along with replacing an aging equipment store and potentially building a two-lane indoor school on the adjacent Jim Cowles ground.

Jim, aged 51, also wants to see teams, from the senior first XI right through to the under-9s, take steps forward out in the middle to continue improving and developing.

He said: “I’m fortunate to be taking over with the club in fantastic shape, thanks to so much hard work by my predecessor Andy Shield.

“It’s important that we build on everything that has been achieved in recent years and continue to be a community club

that welcomes everyone.

“Our first XI is, in many ways, our shop window and we were all delighted that the team was last season promoted back to WEPL.

“We now want to see the ‘ones’ consolidate in WEPL and for our 2nds, who play several divisions below, to close that gap and strengthen the pathway for players to progress, with our 3rds and 4ths continuing to be developmental teams.

“We’re lucky to have a strong youth section, with our under-11s, 13s and 15s all enjoying success last year and a tremendous

number of players being selected at county and representative levels.

“Our volunteer coaches and parents play important supporting roles, and we’re keen for our junior sides and our women’s and girls teams to make further progress.

“The message is that we are a fully inclusive family club that welcomes players of all ages, abilities and genders.”

Jim’s first cricketing memories at Sodbury revolve around scoring 3rd team matches involving his late father, Jim senior, and making his debut for the under-15s back in 1984.

He added: “These are exciting times to be involved and we can’t wait for the new season to start.”

Sodbury’s first pre-season friendly is away to Marshfield on April 15.

Outdoor nets begin on April 7 for seniors and April 28 for juniors.

Steve Hill

Home fixtures:

April 21: Sway (T20, 5.30pm)

April 22: 2nd XI v Coalpit Heath II (1pm)

April 23: Travellers (1pm).

April 29: Royal Wootton Bassett (12.30pm), 2nd XI v Bristol Pakistanis II (1pm).

April 30: Carsons & Mangotsfield (1pm).

Society

Chipping Sodbury Cricket Club chairman Jim Kendall

Yate hit bottom with games running out

A RUN of ten successive defeats has seen Yate Town sink to the bottom of the Southern League Premier Division South.

The Bluebells finished March in deep trouble, nine points from safety with just five games left to play.

Most damaging were the home defeats to relegation rivals Hartley Wintney and North Leigh at the beginning of the month.

Yate had gone into the Hartley Wintney match on March 4 aiming to stop a losing run that had already stretched to six games at Plymouth Parkway the previous weekend.

But a single second-half goal was enough for the visitors to take the points - and they would move above the Bluebells on goal difference later in March courtesy of a point at home to play-off contenders Poole Town.

North Leigh were the next visitors to Lodge Road the following weekend, and scored two goals in the opening 25

minutes.

Yate fell further behind in the 70th minute before substitute Zak Drew - who has since left to join Frome Town - pulled a goal back within five minutes of coming on, in off the post from a tight angle.

But it was not enough, and the Oxfordshire side leapfrogged the Bluebells, before pulling further away with a shock 2-0 win over league leaders Weston-

Zak Drew scored Yate's consolation in their 3-1 home defeat to relegation rivals North Leigh.

Picture: B.East Photography

super-Mare a fortnight later.

After the match Yate's Kyle Tooze, who had been unlucky to see a shot hit the bar and bounce off the line after beating the keeper, wrote on Twitter that the side's performance had been "simply not good enough", adding: "Have to keep believing we can get out of this."

An away trip to mid-table Beaconsfield Town ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 stoppage

time defeat, with the hosts scoring in the 91st minute after debutant Lucas Tomlinson and Ben McLean, with a header from a deep cross, had kept the Bluebells in contention for at least a point almost to the end.

Yate have continued to make signings to aid their cause, with 27-year-old former Hereford, Taunton and Weston-superMare Lewis Hall, a Bristol City academy product, joining from Swindon Supermarine just in time to make his debut against Bracknell Town.

But a goal in each half from the promotion-chasing Berkshire side meant Yate ended the month with another home defeat and facing a massive task to stay up.

Four of their five remaining fixtures in April are against top-half sides in fifth-placed Chesham, Metropolitan Police (7th), Merthyr Town (9th) and Swindon Supermarine (6th), before they travel to thirdbottom Harrow Borough for the last match of the season.

The Heathers Nursing Home

Our aim is to give a high standard of nursing and personal care in a traditional, homely and friendly environment. The Heathers is a home of great character and charm. The interior architecture, with many of its original features, gives a perfect setting for the home comforts we aim to provide.

The Heathers Nursing Home is a privately owned, Grade 2 Listed Georgian manor house, situated within walking distance of the town centres of Chipping Sodbury, and Yate.

First Class Facilities and Support

• A history of providing 24 hour, high quality care in South Gloucestershire

• Each resident is unique to us and treated as such

• The home is small and family run, offering a highly personalised service

• Exceptional standards of cleanliness and hygiene

• Respite, residential care and day care available

• Special diets catered for by our expert Chefs

Get in touch and speak with our team, or arrange a viewing to see our facilities for yourself.

Aneesh – Registered Manager

• Julie – General Manager

www.3abcare.co.uk