Yate & Sodbury Voice December 2022

Respect for the fallen

Hundreds of people, including veterans, members of the Armed Forces and other uniformed organisations, gathered around Chipping Sodbury War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday to honour those who gave their lives in conflict. Picture: Doug Lodge. Report and more pictures: Pages 4 & 5

Lucy's a lifesaver

A TEACHER at a Yate primary school has been commended for her role in helping to save a woman's life.

PAGE 9

Attacks on children

A NINE-year-old boy was attacked outside a Yate shop, while another boy of 15 was hit on the head by a mugger in a park.

PAGE 2

Nursery told it must improve

THE owners of a day nursery in Yate say they have put in place measures to correct faults identified at an Ofsted inspection.

Pressure group the West of England Shared Transport and Active Travel Network (WESTACT) wants Metro Mayor Dan Norris and the leaders of all councils in the area to suspend the deregulated bus market, taking scheduling out of First's control, and provide a franchised bus service under contract through WECA.

As main operator First announced fresh wave of cuts to bus journeys in November - with a total of 1,450 bus journeys a week on its routes being cancelled until April - WESTACT is calling on people to join them with torches, hi-vis clothes and glow paint outside Kingswood Civic Centre on December 14 at 6.15pm, to protest ahead of a South Gloucestershire Council meeting.

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PAGE 6

Carers' lotto win

A GROUP that supports families of children with additional needs and disabilities is celebrating a big injection of funds from the National Lottery.

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n NEWS

Boy, 9 is assaulted

A NINE-year-old boy was assaulted outside a shop in Yate.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened outside a convenience store in Abbotswood on November 4, at about 3.35pm, to come forward.

A police spokesperson said the boy was on his mountain bike when he was attacked by a man, who was described as being aged between 50 and 60, white and of large build, with receding, short grey hair.

At the time of the incident he was wearing glasses, a blue rain jacket and light blue jeans.

The boy fell to the ground but police say he did not suffer any physical injuries.

Police sent out "extra high-visibility patrols" afterwards, while an officer also visited the boy’s family to check on his welfare.

PC James Dixon said: "Fortunately the victim in this case did not sustain any physical injuries in this assault, but understandably it has left him extremely upset.

"The local neighbourhood team has been made aware of the incident, as we try to identify the man responsible.

"This assault occurred in the middle of the afternoon in a busy area, and therefore we are hopeful that a member of the public will have seen what happened and can help our enquiries."

Anyone with information should call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5222 266 465.

Teenager mugged

A TEENAGER was hit on the head by a mugger in a Yate park.

Police said the incident happened some time between 6pm and 6.30pm on October 30, near Brimsham Fields.

An Avon and Somerset force spokesperson said: "A 15-year-old boy was struck on the head during an attempted robbery in Yate.

"The offender tried to take the victim’s phone, but was unsuccessful.

"Officers attended the scene and re-traced the route the victim took, spoke to other members of the public using the fields, and reviewed the area for any CCTV footage, as part of their enquiries. "We don’t have a description of the offender at this time.

"The victim and his family are being signposted to specialist support services."

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An initial appeal for witnesses or anyone with doorbell or dashcam footage to come forward had led to police receiving further information, although there had been no arrests as the Voice went to press.

Anyone who can help their inquiry should call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5222 261 401.

A member of the

Councils 'must lead the way to better buses'

The protest will take place before WESTACT presents an open letter, signed by more than 1,250 supporters of the franchising campaign, to the council.

WESTACT member Laura Fogg-Rogers said: "Public transport is an essential service for a civilised society - to help us get to jobs, education, and families.

"We need to reclaim our buses with local control through franchising, to make sure all local residents can access the city and the services they need.

"This is an equity issuebuses are used more by women, older people, disabled people, and younger people.

"We are calling on South Gloucestershire Council to champion this issue to the West of England Combined Authority, to support our most vulnerable residents."

WESTACT is calling on anyone who has been negatively

impacted by the loss of services, worried about the climate impact of cancellations or "sick of the buses that are left being cancelled or driving past because they're full" to join their protest.

Yate, Chipping Sodbury and nearby villages have been badly hit by cuts this year, with the Y2 to Downend and Fishponds withdrawn and the Y4 cut back in April, before the Y3, Y4 and Y5 were all withdrawn in October, with First introducing the 47

as a "partial replacement". It withdrew services completely from Iron Acton.

Despite those timetable cuts, which were introduced to increase reliability, passengers are still reporting multiple cancellations, leading First to announce a further round of cutbacks in November, although the 47, Y1 and Y6 were not part of the announcement.

First blames driver shortages for the cuts, and says it is

currently 150 drivers short. A company spokesperson said: "The driver shortage is a nationwide problem which is not just affecting First."

Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall has met with First West of England managing director Doug Claringbold and Steve Reade, South Gloucestershire Council's cabinet member for transport, to put concerns raised by constituents to them ahead of a review of bus timetables and routes expected in April next year. Mr Hall said he presented "the key priorities for residents and commuters in our area", including ensuring the Y1 stops directly in the new Park and Ride and reviewing the decision to axe the Y2.

He said: "Over the coming weeks, I will be feeding back to First Bus residents’ comments about their local services and will in particular be asking for First Bus to reconsider the demand for key services, particularly for our rural villages such as Shortwood and Iron Acton."

Amy Beardmore and Laura Fogg-Rogers of WESTACT with other bus users at a Winterbourne bus stop.

Chipping Sodbury and Yate remember the fallen

of

paid their respects to those who sacrificed their lives in conflict at remembrance services in Yate and Chipping Sodbury.

Two-minute silences were impeccably observed on Remembrance Sunday by members of uniformed organisations, relatives and residents who attended the openair services at St Mary's Church and Broad Street.

In the morning Yate Town Council, St Mary’s Church and the Royal British Legion joined together for a parade and service led by the Boys Brigade marching band from the town council offices at Poole Court St Mary’s Church.

Veterans and serving military personnel, Army cadets, members of scouting and guiding groups, the Girls Brigade and representatives of community organisations joined local politicians on the parade.

Following a service in the church the Act of Remembrance and laying of wreaths took place at the Lych Gate.

Connor Crane sounded the last post and a representative from the Army Cadets read the names of those that had died during the First World War and are named at the Lych Gate.

A further Act of Remembrance took place at the Parnall Memorial within St Mary’s churchyard to commemorate the 52 men and women, and 3 unknown civilian employees of the Parnall Aircraft Ltd, who lost their lives as a result of two air raids which took place in 1941 during the Second World War.

In the afternoon it was the turn of Chipping Sodbury to host a parade and Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in Broad Street, which was attended by a large crowd, During the evening a

Remembrance Concert at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall featured performances from Bristol Military Wives Choir, which draws its members from Armed Forces families in the area, and Filton Concert Brass.

A memorial of crocheted poppies was unveiled ahead of Remembrance Sunday at Yate's new Ladden Garden Village estate to remember the fallen in a new way.

For more than six months, the Ladden Garden Village Community Group and other residents spent more than 120 hours producing almost 1,000 poppies which were displayed at the entrance to the housing development on Leechpool Way.

Streets at Ladden Garden Village are named after soldiers from South Gloucestershire who died in the First World War, and over the past two years, the community group has produced information about each of them,

which they posted to residents to help them learn more about the person their street was named after.

Community group member Esther Pickup-Keller said: "It’s been wonderful to see our vision come to life and I hope residents at the development, along with the wider community, will consider this a most fitting tribute to those who are no longer with us."

Cadets, guides and rainbows parade on Station Road in Yate. Picture: Rich McD

Squirrels in Chipping Sodbury. Picture: Doug Lodge

Boys' Brigade marching in Yate. Picture: Rich McD

Luna Moon of David Wilson Homes, resident Esther Pickup-Keller, Mofizur Rahman of Barratt Homes and associate vicar Hywel Snook with the Ladden Garden Village Community Group display.

The Military Wives Choir at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. Picture: Doug Lodge.

Day nursery is told it must improve

THE owners of a day nursery in Yate say they have put in place measures to correct faults identified by Ofsted.

Magic Tree Nursery in Sundridge Park was found to “require improvement” when it was inspected in October.

A spokesperson for owners Just Childcare said additional training and support has already been put in place to address areas for improvement identified in the report.

The education regulator said the nursery, which is based in the grounds of St Paul's Catholic Primary School but is run independently, required improvement in all areas inspected: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.

At a previous inspection in 2020, the nursery, which has 110 children aged under four on its roll, was judged “outstanding” in all areas.

Inspector Charlotte Jenkin said older children show they feel safe and secure in the nursery, but some younger children do not have suitable settling-in sessions, and this leaves them “feeling unsettled and at times distressed”.

She said: “While staff are kind, caring and offer support to help them feel calm, this leaves other children to their own devices.

"At times, younger and less verbal children receive little interaction from staff and wander around with little to do, which does not support their learning.”

The report said the curriculum was not coherently planned to enable all children to make the best possible progress.

The inspector said: "Staff have suitable expectations of the children.

"Young children learn to feed themselves and help themselves to drinks. Older children are helped to find their names on their place mats and to use cutlery when eating.

"However, some hygiene routines are overlooked in the baby room. Staff do not encourage babies to wash their hands prior to eating and do not always wash children's dummies, when those have fallen on the floor."

The report said the manager had struggled to recruit experienced and qualified staff following the pandemic.

However safeguarding measures were effective, and partnerships with parents were positive.

The inspector said: "Children enjoy regular outdoor play and toddlers, and preschool children can play outside in the fresh air when they want. Overall, staff support children's literacy skills well."

Ofsted gave the nursery until the end of November to raise the quality of planning and teaching to a consistently good level.

The inspector called on the operator to review settling-in procedures and tailor them to the individual child, and promote positive hygiene routines consistently across the nursery.

Magic Tree is owned by Just Childcare, which runs more than 60 nurseries.

A spokesperson said: “Whilst we are dismayed by the overall outcome of the recent inspection, we are pleased that the report recognises the incredible work the nursery team do with the children who attend on a day-to-day basis.

“The inspector clearly states that children ‘feel safe and secure in the nursery’, that staff are ‘kind’ and ‘caring’ and are ‘good role models’ and also details the great progress children make across many key areas.

“We look forward to welcoming Ofsted back to the nursery.”

Driver admits causing Yate woman's death

A DRIVER who knocked a Yate grandmother off her mobility scooter as he reversed into a driveway from a main road has admitted causing her death.

Shirley Meaden, who was 83, suffered critical head injuries in the collision, which happened on Westerleigh Road in August last year. She died of her injuries later that day.

At Bristol Crown Court in late October, Abdul Quim was given a one-year community order, with 60 hours' unpaid work, after pleading guilty to a charge of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving.

The 36-year-old motorist, from Essex Street, Northampton, was banned from driving for a year and ordered to pay £750 court costs.

The court heard Quim was visiting a friend in Yate, and was reversing into a driveway when he hit Mrs Meaden’s motability scooter as she crossed the road behind him from a dropped kerb.

She was knocked from her scooter into the road, where she suffered the fatal head injury.

He had not consumed any alcohol but had failed to see her.

The court heard Mrs Meaden's family had no desire to see Quim go to prison for what his barrister described as "an error which he deeply regrets".

After Mrs Meaden's death Avon and Somerset police released a tribute from her sons Mark and Maurice and grandchildren James, Tom, Maddison, Amber and Liam.

They described her as "a lady that had endless giving in any way she could help, from sewing to shopping and just being a friend", adding: "She will be missed by people from all walks of life."

Death in house was not suspicious

AN inquest has ruled out suspicious circumstances in the case of a Yate woman who was found dead in a house in Gloucestershire.

Police initially launched a murder inquiry after 59-year-old Jaqueline Walker, of Firgrove Crescent, was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in Bath Road, Stonehouse, in November last year.

A man aged 53 was arrested on suspicion of murder, but he was later released.

At an inquest held in Gloucester in November, Assistant Gloucestershire Coroner Roland Wooderson recorded a narrative verdict.

A spokesperson for the coroner told the Voice: "The police concluded from their investigation that there was no third-party involvement in the death of the deceased.

"At post-mortem the cause of death was confirmed as blunt head injury in a woman who had taken alcohol."

Shirley Meaden

£275,000 lottery grant for parents' group

A YATE-based group that supports families of children with additional needs and disabilities is celebrating a big injection of funds from the National Lottery.

South Glos Parent Carers (SGPC) has been awarded £275,000 to help with running costs and to continue its expansion further into the community.

The successful bid to the National Lottery Community Fund was the result of months of behind-the-scenes hard work by the group, which is based in Yate but represents families across South Gloucestershire.

SGPC applied for the funding, which will be delivered over five years, to develop its services as a direct result of the increasing numbers of parent carers requesting support.

Some of the money will be used to expand SGPC’s peer support services for parents of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities

(SEND), with the aims of providing:

• a channel through which they can express their views to help shape future services;

• increased knowledge via training, workshops, and peer support;

• a supportive peer community

where families feel listened to by members who live a similar journey, and where their views and experiences will be understood and valued;

• a parent carer community where anxiety and isolation are reduced and the capacity of parents to support their

children is strengthened.

A spokesperson for the group said: “SGPC are an independent community interest company supporting parent carers of children, aged up to 25, with SEND.

"They are not part of the local authority but do partner with local service providers to help them to hear and understand the views of parent carers, in order to improve services.

"SGPC has over 1,800 members and we know there are many more parent carers in South Glos whose voices and lived experiences deserve to be heard.

"Any parent struggling to understand their child’s behaviour is welcome to contact us for further information. We are happy to hear from any parent, regardless of a diagnosis."

Membership of SGPC is free.

Parents can join via the website at www.sgpc.org.uk.

Members of the South Glos Parent Carers group celebrate receiving £275,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund

School's pride in life-saving teacher

A TEACHER from a Yate primary school has been given a commendation for her part in helping to save a woman's life.

Woodlands Primary School Year 2 teacher Lucy Plummer and her friend Olivia Date were walking in Bromley Heath, Downend when they found a woman who was having a mental health crisis in March last year.

Olivia, who is also a Year 2 teacher at Stanbridge Primary School, prevented the woman from putting herself in danger on a bridge over a busy road, while Lucy called 999.

The two friends then stayed with the woman, talking to her and building a rapport as they waited for the emergency services to arrive. They then helped her to engage with police officers and paramedics.

The police officers who attended the incident were impressed by the two teachers' actions in helping to save the woman and nominated them for an award.

Lucy and Olivia have now been awarded a Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation in recognition of the help they gave the woman.

The award, presented at a ceremony at Avon & Somerset Police headquarters

in Portishead in October, cites their "praiseworthy action" in "assisting in saving a woman's life".

Force head of response policing Chief Superintendent Deryck Rees said: “Olivia and Lucy’s quick thinking and the

relationship they managed to build with her meant a very distressed person was able to get the help she needed.”

Olivia and Lucy said: "We were so shocked when we received our invitations to the Avon and Somerset awards ceremony.

"When we were on a walk together, we saw someone who was in need and decided to help them.

"We never imagined that we would be awarded for our efforts to help a member of our community."

Lucy's actions have also been lauded at school. Head teacher Rachel Dean said: "We are so proud of Miss Plummer’s community award.

"We have shared this with our parents in our newsletter and have celebrated this with the whole school in a special assembly.

"Miss Plummer’s Year 2 class, Holly class, are particularly proud of their teacher."

Teachers Olivia Date and Lucy Plummer (right) with Avon and Somerset's chief constable, Sarah Crew.

A SOCIAL worker who posted a video showing the sexual abuse of children online has been barred from the profession.

Rodrigue Ekwelle-Nkwelle was working for South Gloucestershire Council children’s services when he put the video on social media site Instagram.

The 43-year-old locum social worker was living in Broad Street, Staple Hill, when he was given a two-year suspended jail sentence at Bristol Crown Court in April last year, after pleading guilty to distributing an indecent image of a child suffering sexual abuse, and possessing extreme pornography involving animals.

He was also ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work, undergo 30 days of rehabilitation, made subject to a sexual harm prevention order and placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Regulator Social Work England has now removed him from its register, banning him from working in the sector, after a hearing panel ruled that he had committed serious misconduct that created a risk to the public.

Social worker barred after posting sex abuse video

Ekwelle-Nkwelle, who did not attend the hearing and was not represented, worked for South Gloucestershire Council for nearly three years, from October 2017 until the offence in June 2020.

The Social Work England report said he had claimed asylum after arriving in the UK from Cameroon, where the abuse video he shared had been filmed.

He decided to become a social worker as "the best way to repay the UK" - but was accused of making sexual advances towards a woman service user with mental health problems in 2013, while still studying for his social work degree.

Police took no further action because the woman did not wish to support an investigation, the report said, and while Ekwelle-Nkwelle was temporarily suspended from his

degree course, he was allowed to complete it in 2015, then worked with Wiltshire Council from 2016 to 2017.

When he applied to employment agency HCL Workforce, leading to the work for South Gloucestershire Council, he failed to disclose the sexual misconduct allegation.

The Social Work England report, published following a three-day regulatory hearing in October, said: “The panel considered that these were convictions of a very serious nature.

“It was satisfied that children and animals are likely to have been harmed by their involvement in the images which Mr Ekwelle-Nkwelle had dealt with.

“He said that when he had distributed the video it had been to decry some of the ‘ill things’

that were occurring in Africa and Cameroon in particular.

“Mr Ekwelle-Nkwelle expressed his total shame of himself, the shame he had brought on his family and his profession.

“He said that he understood that he ought to have reported the matter to the police."

Ekwelle-Nkwelle told investigators he accepted his fitness to practise was impaired but insisted he would not hurt "any individual", particularly a child.

But the panel said he “had not explained the facts relating to the other conviction for possession of extreme pornography”, adding that there was "a risk of repetition of past behaviour, which involved a risk to the public."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Naomi just misses out

YATE singer-songwriter Naomi Johnson may have missed out on the big prize but says taking part in ITV talent show The Voice UK was "the best experience of my life".

Viewers saw Naomi lose out as the four finalists were whittled down to two during the final, screened on Saturday October 29.

Naomi performed Christina Aguilera's Fighter before teaming up with mentor Will.I.Am in a duet singing Beyoncé and JayZ's Crazy In Love, which Naomi said had left her mind blown.

Writing about the experience on her Facebook page the day after the final was screened, Naomi said: "The best experience of my lifeI'm riding the high from last night! Can't believe it one bit.

"I'm so, so grateful to have been on this journey on The Voice UK - never did I believe I would ever get to duet with the one and only Will.I.Am - are you joking?

"I was so in the moment and loving life that I forgot about the cameras - it was exhilarating and completely unreal.

"Thanks for everything, ITV."

Naomi, a professional singer who fronts her own band called Switch at weddings and corporate events, also regularly busks on Bristol's Harbourside.

She and her family were sworn to secrecy after the show was recorded in front of a live audience almost a year ago.

But last month they told the Voice of their joy and the "surreal" experience of watching the drama unfold on TV.

School catering hit

PUPILS at seven South Gloucestershire schools are going without hot meals at lunchtime because of a staffing crisis, it has been revealed.

The council admits it can provide only cold food, such as sandwiches, or jacket potatoes at best because of the chronic recruitment shortage in catering - but insists youngsters are getting the nutrition they need.

Schools in Thornbury, Downend, Little Stoke and a number of other villages are among those affected by the vacancies, which currently stand at 23 across the district.

The issue was raised at a South Gloucestershire Council cabinet meeting by Thornbury ward Liberal Democrat councillor Jayne Stansfield.

She told the meeting: “Apparently the children in Thornbury have not been having access to the hot meals they expect due to high levels of staffing vacancies. So I would like to know what is being done to ensure that they do get their hot meals now and also into the future.”

The council says schools unable to provide hot food at the time of the cabinet meeting on November 14 were New Siblands School in Thornbury, Tortworth VC Primary School, St Andrew’s Primary School in Cromhall, Little Stoke Primary School, Pathways Learning Centre in Downend, St Augustine’s Primary School in Downend, and Wick CE VC Primary School.

Cabinet member for corporate resources Ben Burton said that Integra, the local authority’s trading arm which provides services to its schools, was finding it as hard as many other hospitality and retail companies across the country in recruiting for roles.

He said: "We are making every possible effort to recruit staff to those roles and we will endeavour to get schools back onto those hot school meals as soon as possible."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Naomi Johnson in the semi-final of The Voice UK. Picture: ITV

Worldwide interest in weapons and uniform collections

STROUD Auctions' November sale saw outstanding results for two large collections.

The first of these was an exceptional group of uniforms and other militaria, consigned by the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum Trust and sold for a total of over £55,000 – the entire hammer price going directly to the museum due to Stroud Auctions’ policy of making no charge for selling on behalf of a charity.

The second collection included in the auction was a private collection of bayonets, collected over a lifetime, which realised an impressive £45,000 and created a huge amount of interest from specialist collectors around the world.

The Stroud Auctions team are very proud of the results achieved for private collections; the care and attention needed to do them justice is considerable, but worthwhile to ensure the owner receives the best possible prices for their cherished items.

The November auction also

featured medals, militaria, sporting items, ceramics and glass. There were pleasing results across the board, but notably for Swarovski Crystal items, particularly lot 45 - a group of seven Walt Disney figurines which realised £1,800 for the delighted owner.

A total of 1,785 lots brought interest from 1,351 online bidders.

The highest price achieved for an individual lot was £14,000 for a 1934 Riley Lynx car.

This five-shot pepperbox revolver, made in Stroud, sold for £8,000

The surprise lot was a Gloucestershire Regiment 5th Battalion WWI tunic, attributed to Lance Corporal Percy Walter Ireland, which sold for £3,900.

The auctioneer’s favourite lot was a Buddings Patent second model five shot pepperbox revolver by Edwin Budding of Thrupp, Stroud, in a lined and fitted mahogany case, which sold for £8,000.

Our next sale on December 7-9

will feature more than 1,500 lots of jewellery, plus silver, watches, coins and the hugely popular fine wines and spirits section of over 200 lots, including some fantastic whisky, port and champagne.

The catalogue will be available online from a week before the auction date.

Entries are still being invited for Stroud Auctions’ February sale.

This will include a large private collection of approximately 200 air weapons, including rare examples, which will be sold alongside the featured sections of guns and weapons, medals and militaria, sporting items, ceramics and glass.

Entries close on December 23.

A preview of the air weapons is already available on Stroud Auctions’ website www. stroudauctions.co.uk.

If you have anything you may wish to consign to an upcoming auction, please contact us or send images to valuations@ stroudauctions.co.uk.

Valuations are completely free and without obligation.

STROUD AUCTION ROOMS

Free valuations every Friday 9am-4pm at our saleroom, free home visits or email valuations@stroudauctions.co.uk

The new sport that's really taking off

YATE athletics track is seeing a new breed of racers…speeding up to 100mph.

The competitors are 'pilots', who fly remote-control drones at high speed in breathtaking races.

South Gloucestershire Drone Club is part of a growing sport – and they are looking for new members to join them at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex in Broad Lane, Yate.

Club Chair Sean Boulton said: "It’s like an out-of-body experience, with all the thrill and no risk to the body.

"It’s F1 car performance in your hands. You are essentially controlling a robot you can take anywhere. It's a very surreal feeling.”

Competitors race their drones, which measure less than six inches across, around specially laid out courses at the athletics track.

They also take part in competitions all over the UK.

They use Virtual Reality headsets so they can experience the flight as if they were on board the drone, and control it from a

remote control console.

Sean said: “The drones can fly up 100mph and reach 60mph in under 0.5 seconds.

“The hobby provides some great benefits to our members both through learning a wide range of science, technological, electronic and mechanical skills such as coding, flight dynamics and 3D printing, but also has huge mental health benefits through positive human interaction within a creative, safe, fun environment.”

He said suitable drones start at about £200 – but members write their own software and use 3D printing to adapt their machines to be faster and more nimble.

Pilots need to have British Model Flying Association insurance, and to be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority, which the club can help people organise.

Sean said: “Drone racing is an up-and-coming new sport, and growing in popularity across the world.

"Anyone can take part, no

matter your age or gender.

"They are very hard to fly. So you need a positive attitude and be open to learning a new skill.

"If any of this applies, then this could be for you.”

Anyone who is interested in finding out more can contact the club by email at info@ southglosdrone.club or visit the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/southglosrc

A drone racing around the course

A drone racer with headset and controller

A drone's view of the Yate Outdoor Sports Complex

Joe plays in World Cup

A FORMER South Gloucestershire schoolboy is representing his country at the World Cup in Qatar.

Castle School old boy Joe Morrell – who wears the number 16 shirt in the Wales Squad - made an appearance as a late substitute in the nation's first World Cup finals match since 1958, a 1-1 draw with the USA on November 21, having already received 28 caps.

The 25-year-old midfielder started showing his talent while at the Thornbury school – and started his professional career with Bristol City, signing his first professional contract aged 16.

Joe’s former PE teacher at Castle School, Lloyd Spacey, spoke to him on the morning of Wales’ match against USA.

Lloyd said: “I spoke to him earlier in the day and he was raring to go.”

Joe, a midfielder, played for Bristol City, Cheltenham, Lincoln and Luton, before signing a three-year contract at League One side Portsmouth in August 2021.

He now lives in Hampshire but his parents Dave and Sian still live in South Gloucestershire.

Joe qualifies to play for Wales through his Welsh mother, Sian. He made his under 21s debut for the national side in October 2017.

He made his senior international debut against Belarus in September 2019 and was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed UEFA Euro 2020 tournament last year.

After the first match he told his Twitter followers: "First game in the World Cup and a deserved point, on to Friday."

Lloyd told the Voice: “When he was at school it was obvious he had a special, special, talent, and he was not just a good footballer but a fine sportsman as well.

"We are tremendously proud of his achievements so far with Wales, and it’s just fantastic to see a Castle School student at the World Cup. He is a true inspiration to all our students and we are so proud of him.”

Joe Morrell training with the Wales squad in Qatar ahead of the World Cup. Pictures: Football Association of Wales

Children name new gritter fleet

CHILDREN from Yate and Chipping Sodbury primary schools were among those who helped name a new £1 million fleet of gritters to keep the area's roads safe.

South Gloucestershire Council launched a fleet of nine new vehicles in November ahead of the cold winter weather.

The new fleet uses 20 per cent less salt than the older models by using technology which can be set to spread a more precise measurement, to suit road conditions, making them more efficient and minimising their carbon footprint.

The council invited children from schools across the district to suggest names for the new vehicles and three suggestions from local pupils were among the nine chosen.

They were Mr Thaw, from St John's Mead C of E Primary School in Chipping Sodbury, and Sponge Bob Grit Pants and The Grittest Showman, both suggested by pupils at St Mary's

CE Primary School in Yate.

The names picked for the other vehicles were Super Salter, Sir Grittalot, Walter the Salting Machine, The Salty Warrior, Guardian Gritter and Knight in Salty Armour.

The council regularly grits around a third of South Gloucestershire’s road network

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

when ice has been predicted, including main A and B roads, and routes to schools, care providers, fire, ambulance and police stations.

Some is spread manually on town centre pedestrian areas, while a small spreader mounted on a tractor is used to treat some of the busier sections of cycle

routes.

Vehicles and staff are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the winter, with arrangements in place from late October until the end of March.

The council stores 5,000 tonnes of salt at its depot at Broad Lane in Yate.

Council cabinet member for transport Steve Reade said: “Ensuring our roads are safe is a top priority for the council and we treat 510 kilometres of roads every night during periods of cold weather to keep people safe and traffic moving.

"I’d like to thank all of the school children who entered the competition to name the gritters and congratulate the winners, there are some very imaginative titles!"

For more information on gritted routes and grit bins visit www.southglos.gov.uk/gritting.

Updates on gritting are posted on the council's StreetCare Facebook page and Twitter account.

South Gloucestershire Council gritting staff with their new fleet.

Census figures uncover

THE latest census has revealed fascinating details about where South Gloucestershire's residents were born.

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics show that one in six residents of England and Wales on census day last year - a total of ten million people - were born outside the UK. That is up from 7.5 million in 2011.

In South Gloucestershire the percentage of residents who were born outside the UK rose from 6.6% to 10.6% over the last decade.

Just under nine out of every ten people living in the district - 259,757 of 290,400 residents in March last year - were born in the UK.

A total of 249,242 (85.8%) were born in England, with a further 7,035 people born in Wales.

The next most common nation of birth was Poland (3,320 people), followed by

residents who were born in India (2,958), just ahead of Scotland (2,667).

The next biggest individual nation of origin was Romania, where 2,084 South Gloucestershire residents were born.

However this number was smaller than the 2,551 people from nine other nations, grouped together by the ONS, which joined the EU between 2001 and 2011, including the Czech Republic and Cyprus but excluding Poland, Romania and Lithuania, which were counted separately.

Other common places of birth outside the UK recorded in South Gloucestershire were Germany (1,101 people), non-EU European

A Diwali celebration was recently held at Bradley Stoke Community School during a year-long council programme to celebrate "the stories of people from India who now call South Gloucestershire home" - almost 3,000 residents of the district were born in India.

Picture: South Gloucestershire Council.

uncover changing roots of population

countries (1,065), South Africa (1,062), South America (997), the Republic of Ireland (977) and Nigeria (841) - all of which were above Northern Ireland (800) in the list.

In neighbouring Bristol, the percentage of residents born outside the UK rose from 14.7% to 18.8% from 2011 to 2021.

A total of 383,495 out of 472,400 residents (81.2%) were born in the UK, with 365,336 (77.3%) born in England.

After Wales (11,722), the next most common nation of birth was Poland (8,770), followed by the ONS group of nine EU postmillennium nations (5,303).

The most common non-UK or EU nation of birth in Bristol is Somalia: 4,654 residents of the city were born in the East African country - more than the 4,626 people in the city who were born in Scotland. By contrast, only 85 South Gloucestershire residents were born in Somalia.

The other most common countries of birth outside the UK for Bristol residents were India (4,381 people), Romania (3,782), Spain (3,616), Pakistan (3,586), smaller pre-2001 EU member countries, including Benelux and Scandinavia (3,543), Italy (3,123) and China (2,638).

Germany and South Africa.

The number of Romanianborn UK residents rose from 80,000 in 2011 to 539,000 in 2021.

Nationally, the most common country of birth outside the UK is India, followed by Poland, Pakistan, Romania, Ireland, Italy, Bangladesh, Nigeria,

SOUTH Gloucestershire's population more closely matches the national average age range than anywhere else in the country, the 2021 census found.

The district's median age of 40 is the same as the England average and the percentage of people in each age group closely matches the distribution of ages nationwide.

By contrast Bristol's median age of 34 is well below the national average: the percentage of people aged between 18 and

Our average age is 40

41 is well above average, while number of 47 to 85-year-old residents are below average, as are six to 17-year-olds.

B&NES has a median age of 39 and a large spike of 18 to 23-year-old residents, representing the city's large student population relative to its size.

While South Gloucestershire is home to many students at UWE's main Frenchay

campus, other parts of the university and accommodation are in Bristol, balancing the numbers of young people who leave the district to go to university.

By contrast, North Somerset and the three districts of Gloucestershire neighbouring South GloucestershireStroud, Cotswold and the Forest of Dean - all have median ages between 45 and 49, with numbers of over-50s noticeably above average and numbers of 18 to 40-year-olds below the England average.

Census deputy director Jon Wroth-Smith said: "We can see Romanians have been a big driver in this change, while there have also been increases due to migration from India, Pakistan and Poland, as well as southern European countries such as Italy." Looking

Have you heard about Shared Lives yet?

What

“I’m proud to be a Shared Lives carer because I believe that everyone deserves to be happy and be themselves, regardless of who they are and that’s exactly what Shared Lives does -placing people in homes with families where they are cared for, loved and respected.”Kwame, Shared Lives carer

Find

Christmas

TUCKED away in the north of the parish of Yate are the remains of Yate Court, a fortified manor house built in the 13th century.

The site once boasted a great hall, gatehouse, drawbridge and moat. Its heyday was between 1504 and 1564, when the mighty Berkeley family leased the property and created sumptuous living quarters to rival any other residence in the wider area.

A Christmas at Yate Court when the Berkeleys were at home would have been a sumptuous affair. Henry Lord Berkeley (1534-1615) was the most extravagant of the Berkeley lords linked to Yate Court; Berkeley on his travels between numerous properties in Southern England often had up to 150 men and women in his retinue, mostly kitted out in the Berkeley dark green livery, or light blue in summer.

The final Christmas he spent at Yate Court was at the end of 1559.

As a popular lord, Berkeley entertained the local gentry and labourers. Indeed, he was renowned for his generosity towards the “lower orders” of the area, and often ate at the lower end of the table with them, unlike

others of his class.

Status was immensely important for Henry Lord Berkeley: food and its presentation the centrepiece of his Christmas appearances in Yate.

During the 1559 to 1560 Christmas season, a contemporary writer noted the extraordinary “gilded dishes and vanities” created by a chef from Bristol, including a whole gilded wild boar as a

centrepiece.

As a supremely wealthy individual, inclined to largesse, no expense was spared by Berkeley. Sugar and pepper from abroad were obtained from a grocer from London. Prodigious quantities of meat were consumed: for the

Yate Court

twelve-day festivities, 130 sheep alone were purchased to cook mutton dishes. Seventy-six gallons of French (Rennish) wine from the Rhone were purchased and a ton of beer made on the estate.

It ought to be said that had you come to Yate Court during other Christmas periods you may have been disappointed. The Berkeley lifestyle was peripatetic. Although the family had fewer properties in the 1504-1564 period, they could still visit at least six favoured venues, including London, where Berkeley stayed at Christmas 1556-7.

When Lord Berkeley was not present, Yate Court would have had a skeleton staff, ensuring there was sufficient food on the table for the steward, cooks and those maintaining the estate. Christmases would have been celebrated quietly without the lavish show of Henry Lord Berkeley.

Happy Christmas to you all.

David Hardill, with research from the late Harry Lane

n LOCAL MP

Hard work will continue after a busy year

WITH 2022 coming to a close, it has been another busy year for delivering on our positive plan for South Gloucestershire.

Together, we have made great progress over the last twelve months.

The year kicked off with the really positive news that South Gloucestershire Council had purchased the land at the Thornbury Hospital site, paving the way for the redevelopment of the town’s health centre. Our bid for funding to deliver a new health and care hub is under consideration, whilst work is ongoing to return health services to Frenchay at long last.

At the beginning of the year, we also officially opened the new Park and Ride in Yate, which is offering direct services into Bristol City Centre and Southmead.

In our bid to get South Gloucestershire moving, we also re-opened the Heron Way Right-

hand turn, saving commuters precious time on their journeys, and reducing heavy congestion in Yate and Chipping Sodbury.

We have worked closely with the Police & Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset to reduce crime in our local area, including doubling the size of the Rural Crime Unit.

We have secured vital funding for our local schools, improving facilities and completing key refurbishments including at Old Sodbury Primary and Castle School.

As we reached the spring and summer, our flagship campaign to introduce soft-plastic recycling was a huge success, with household collections now taking place in Chipping Sodbury and Olveston, with many more villages set to follow in the New Year.

Supporting jobs and the local economy was a vital part of our positive plan as we recovered from

the pandemic, and in the Autumn I was proud to hold our ninth, and most successful yet, jobs fair event.

The hard work to deliver our positive plan will continue in 2023.

Our local train services will be enhanced with half-hourly services between Bristol and Yate, as the reopening of Charfield Station gathers pace.

We continue to progress with plans for a brand-new special needs and disabilities school in Alveston, and new community facilities in the Ladden Village community.

A Park and Share in Falfield remains on the agenda, as does key investment in Frampton Cotterell to repair roads, and take forward plans for a village bypass.

We also must remain on guard ready to defeat inappropriate housing, with Buckover, Chipping Sodbury and Wickwar at the forefront of our minds.

South Gloucestershire really

is the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family.

I am as optimistic as ever for 2023 and remain completely thankful to the community’s support which is continuing to deliver so much for our area.

I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Luke Hall MP writes for Yate & Sodbury Voice

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

The Beautiful Game shows its ugly side

THE World Cup is upon us.

For fans, it’s usually a time of nervous anticipation. I’d like to be having chats about the formation Southgate will play. Have the team been practising their penalties?! Could we follow the success of the women’s team, and this be the year England finally goes all the way?

This time however, sadly like many other West of England sports fans, I find myself with very different questions on my lips.

How can we celebrate the beautiful game in a state that abuses its own peo ple? Why has Qatar been awarded a global platform to promote itself? What is the world doing in the face of Qatar censor ing and jailing journalists and cosying up to Putin? How can we best call out the terrible human rights abuses, blatant hom ophobia and lack of women’s rights?

There wasn’t a single death in the work to build the London Olympics, which should be a huge mark of pride for our great country. It was the safest Olympic

Yate Town Council Update

build in history. In contrast, the current tournament has broken bodies, killed doz ens and maimed and crushed the hopes of abused foreign workers.

And let’s not pretend the Qataris won the hosting rights through merit alone. FIFA’s decision-Making, 12 years ago, was surrounded by rumblings of corruption and bribery. It’s been controversial from the off, because money talked louder than football.

So, what should we do? Of course, I always want my teams - Bristol City and England - to win.

As Harry Kane leads his men out, I hope we can use the power of football to inspire.

We know the World Cup can motivate young people to go out and exercise. We know great cup runs can bring our nation together. The excitement of Euro 96 or reaching the 2020 final last year. It’s also a great chance to back our hospitality sector at local pubs.

But we must also use this tournament

to keep human rights issues firmly in the public eye and to campaign for stronger workers’ rights.

These high-profile international sport ing events come with great kudos and attention for any host country. But it’s the people’s game - so they should come first.

Let’s hope in future the football author ities never place us in this position again where we love our football but are deeply troubled by the circumstances of the tournament.

New for 2023! Yate Town Council Memory Café – Volunteers needed!

Are you kind-hearted, compassionate and empathetic? Are you looking for an opportunity to help your local community?

Yate Town Council is delighted to be launching our first Memory Café in 2023, and we’re looking for volunteers just like you!

If you can spare a little time the first Friday of every month (1.30-3pm), to lend a listening ear, make a few brews, or join in with activities - you’ll make a big difference to those with dementia and their carers.

Anyone can apply, no experience is needed, and all training is provided. For an application form please visit our website, or contact our team. If you are a service or activity provider interested in supporting Memory Café, we’d love to hear from you!

By phone: 01454 869441 or by email: info@yatearmadillo.co.uk Visit us at: yatetowncouncil.gov.uk/jobs

Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

Apollo Wind Band

YATE'S Apollo Wind Band is staging its inaugural Christmas concert.

It promises to be an excellent night of festivities, so don’t miss out!

The concert is taking place at St Mary's Church, Yate, at the same time as the Christmas Tree Festival at the church, so will be very festive.

All proceeds go to charity, to be split between Mindsong, Gloucestershire charity reaching people with dementia through music and song, and the church.

The concert takes place on Saturday December 10.

Doors open at 7pm and the concert starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £8 for adults and £2 for children, and can be purchased from www.ticketsource.co.uk/apollo-windband/t-nojqmdo.

Refreshments will be provided.

We will be playing a mixture of festive songs, as well as music from our repertoire, which includes music from films, musicals as well as more traditional marches, waltzes and other pieces.

Apollo Wind Band is part of the Avon Wind Band Association.

We are always open to new players, so please contact us if you would like to join.

More information about the band can be found at our website, www. avonwindbandassociation.com/apollo.html, on Facebook at www. facebook.com/apollowindband or by emailing apollowindband@gmail.com.

Yate & Sodbury District U3A

YATE & Sodbury U3A quilters have made story bags for Chipping Sodbury Library.

The group divide their efforts between personal projects and charity work.

Come to their fundraising event for Ukraine on Saturday December 3, from 10am to 4pm at the Old Grammar School, Chipping Sodbury.

Coffee, cake, mince pies and cream teas will be available, plus lots of lovely handcrafted items for sale. There will also be a display of the group’s recent work, and entry is free.

U3A Quilters are just one of around 90 groups available in the Yate and Sodbury area for people no longer in full-time work.

For more details, check out our website at www.u3asites.org.uk.

Jean Crispin

The u3a quilters with Story Bags they have made for Chipping Sodbury Library

Jessica Bonham

The Apollo Wind Band in concert

Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury

DUE to covid constraints we had not been able to hold a tea dance since January 2020.

The club was delighted, therefore, to be able to stage, in collaboration with the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society and with the support of CS Inner Wheel Club, our first tea dance on October 26, in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall.

Over 60 guests attended and enjoyed an afternoon of dancing and singing. A further tea dance will be held on December 1 in the Town Hall, from 2-4 pm. All are welcome.

Our President, Bob Holt, laid a wreath on behalf of the club on Remembrance Sunday and felt humbled to be part of the parade and service in Chipping Sodbury High Street.

Again, this year the club made a financial donation to the local branch of the Royal British Legion. Remembrance Sunday was a busy day for the club, given that some of our members volunteered as marshals at the Yate Remembrance Service and a number also acted as marshals at the ever-popular Sodbury Slog.

We have made a number of further financial donations and pledges in the local community recently, to the Blonde Angel Street Team, Chipping Sodbury Big Christmas Lunch, Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church Winter Warm Initiative, Bristol’s Caring at Christmas Appeal (including clothing, food and toiletries) and to a

local family with a child with significant health issues.

Members will be assisting with mock job interviews at Yate Academy on December 1, and we continue to assist with the memory café sessions in the Baptist Church held on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

Finally, it is with great sadness that we learned of the death of club colleague John Myers following a short illness.

John was a stalwart of Old Sodbury Parish Church and the local community.

Our condolences go to his wife Anne and family.

Stuart Fraser

Chipping Sodbury WI

EVERYBODY hurts sometimes, so the song says -

when you are young it is usually with overexuberance but as we age, it is more likely to be over-optimism as to what we can achieve.

At our last meeting Chris Briggs was on hand to show us some techniques for self-massage, to smooth those aches and pains away.

We have in the past had different ideas what a massage is: my husband imagines a slim blonde with essential oils and a light touch (not very PC I know).

Reality is far from this, especially with a sports massage; Chris urged us all to learn various moves to ensure that we all can benefit from this drug-free process for pain relief.

We have had during the year a variety of very different speakers, all with something to say and enhancing our knowledge, as every day should be a school day.

The next meeting is at 7.30pm on December 1 at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, with more of an entertainment vibe as we enter the Christmas month: we will have a performance from

Diana & Fred Ward with their puppets, Whisper and Shout.

The Christmas Carol Service is on December 6 at 7.30pm, in St John's Church. The December outing is to the National Arboretum on the 15th, with lunch and entertainment.

Come along and make new friends - it may surprise you!

Jeanette Oakley

President Bob Holt lays the club's wreath at the war memorial. Picture: Doug Lodge.

A sweet Christmas treat - or present

THOSE of you who read my article regularly will know that I don’t make that many sweet recipes:

I prefer to concentrate on healthy(ish!) savoury dishes.

But Christmas only comes once a year, so I’ve gone for a bit of a

sweet treat.

I’m hoping that my biscotti will delight all those people who hate dried fruit concoctions.

I think these Italian biscuits are a lovely thing to offer to unexpect ed guests over the Festive season.

If you package them in a pretty

box or cellophane with a ribbon, they also make personal, thought ful gifts too.

So, whatever you may be doing for Christmas, I wish you all a happy and relaxing one.

Let’s hope that 2023 will bring a bit more peace and stability into everyone’s life.

Coffee and Hazelnut Biscotti

THESE crisp Italian biscuits, made for dunking in good coffee, are very simple to make and taste much better than shop-bought ones (and are much cheaper too!) At less than 100 calories a go, you can enjoy them without too much guilt!

Makes about 15

Ingredients

Plain flour – 110g (4 oz) Baking powder- ½ tsp Espresso-style instant coffee – 1 tablespoon Caster sugar- 110g (4 oz) Egg- 1 large, preferably, free range Hazelnuts- 150g(5oz), peeled, toasted and coarsely chopped Preheat the oven to 180C, 350F or gas mark 4

Here’s what you do:

Place the nuts in a food mixer or

processor, and coarsely chop. Put in a medium-sized bowl and leave to one side.

With a hand whisk, whisk the sugar and egg together.

Stir in the flour, baking powder and coffee.

Stir the ground nuts into the mixture.

With floured hands, work the mixture together so that it starts to form a sticky dough (Bit tricky, but it will come together, don’t worry if it takes a few minutes of kneading) Keep working it ‘til you can mould the mix into a 28cm log.

With the help of a fish slice under the log, transfer it to a lightly greased baking tray.

Bake in the preheated oven for about 25 mins or until lightly browned and firm to the touch.

Take out of the oven and leave on the baking tray for 10 mins.

Reduce the oven temperature to 160C, 325F, Gas 3

Using a serrated or electric knife, cut the log diagonally into 1cm slices.

Place the slices back on the baking tray(no need to grease again)

Bake for about 25 mins or until dry and crisp, turning halfway through cooking time.

Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack. Store in an air-tight tin once cold.

Cook’s tips:

The biscuits can be stored for up to a month in an air-tight tin, that’s if they last that long before being eaten!

This is how to make the traditional biscotti. If you like your biscuits slightly softer, cook for only 15 mins; 25 mins when you put the slices back in the oven for the second baking.

Ann Murray founded the Cooking4 Cookery School based in Chipping Sodbury. She’s teamed up with Yate & Sodbury Voice to pass on her wealth of experience in the kitchen.

MP hears about health

YATE'S MP met with staff at a community pharmacy to find out more about an initiative to help support people's mental and physical health.

The Self Care Week initiative in November, focuses on promoting healthy living.

Abbotswood Pharmacy's Ade Williams MBE, who has been championing the scheme locally, told Mr Hall about the scheme’s objectives, which include the key message of taking care of your own health through healthy eating, regular exercise, and getting outdoors as often as possible.

They also discussed how to increase uptake of flu and covid vaccinations by unpaid carers, nursing home and social care workers.

Mr Hall said: “Community pharmacies are an incredibly valuable health service in our community and for many are the most accessible gateways for NHS care. Self-Care Week is vitally important as it highlights the small ways in which we can take pressure off pharmacies during busy periods of the year.”

Ade said: "Self Care Week helps create a much-needed positive focus on this unique role of the community pharmacy that underpins how we empower people and ensure efficient use of time and resources in the NHS."

Metro mobility

A SCHEME providing mobility scooters and wheelchairs in Yate Shopping Centre has been given a boost with funding from the West of England Combined Authority.

The authority, which has responsibilities for transport provision in the region, is producing a new poster to encourage more people to use the charity's vehicles to get around town and is also providing £2,000 annual extra funding to help Shopmobility through the current economic storms., on top of its initial £5,000 support for the charity.

Shopmobility chair Janet Biggin said covid and the cost-of-living crisis had affected numbers of people using the scheme.

Mr Norris said: “It’s not just about shops; it is about helping more and more people feel they are part of their community. This support means Shopmobility can look to the future with great confidence."

Anyone who wants to use the scheme can email shopmobilitysouthglos@yahoo.com or phone 01454 868718 or 07999 574474 for further information.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris with Shopmobility members and volunteers

Chipping Sodbury Library

CHIPPING Sodbury Library is going to be busy in December, with a picture competition and Christmas craft activities for children, a book sale and ‘Winter Warmer’ drop-in sessions.

We shall be open on Victorian Day (December 4) selling books to raise funds. We have some nice hardbacks so you might pick up a present or two.

Christmas/Winter Picture Competition runs from December 1-24, for age groups 2-4 years, 5-7 years, 8-11 years and 11+ years.

Children can use any material they like to produce a picture, no bigger than A4.

Please make sure name/age and contact details are on the back of the picture so we know who made it.

Hand in entries at the library: as many pictures as possible will be displayed during December, so the sooner we get them the better. The winners will be announced in the New Year.

If the kids are getting over excited in the run up to Christmas why not book them into one of our Wonderful Winter craft activities sessions on December 19 in the Watkins Room in the Old Grammar School Rooms? There will be two sessions from 10 -11am and 11.15.-12.15 for children aged 4-10. Book in person in the library or calling 01454 864772 during opening hours.

As well as all of this, we are opening up the library for 'Winter Warmer' drop-in sessions.

The sessions will be taking place when the library is closed on Monday and Thursday afternoons, from 2pm to 4.30pm. Why not drop in and have a cuppa and a chat? We'll have newspapers and magazines available and hot drinks.

The library will be closed from 12.30pm on Christmas Eve and reopen at 9.30am on December 30.

We will also be open on December 31, then closed until 9.30am on January 4. Julia Bernau

Yate Library

YATE Library is holding a Christmas Jumper Coffee Morning on December 15, from 10am-noon.

Pop on into the library for a singalong, enjoy a tea/coffee and a slice of cake: all proceeds to Save The Children.

A Reindeer Extravaganza Drop-in will take place on December 19 from 4-5pm, with a Festive Storytime on December 20 form 9.30-10am and Jolly Crafts drop-in session the same day from 10.30am-noon.

A Festive Rhymetime takes place on December 22 and 23 from 9.3010am, with a Frosty Crafts drop-in on December 22 from 10.30am-noon and Santa’s Sleigh Lego Challenge on December 23 from 10.30-11.30am (booking required), suitable for ages four and over.

Further Lego Club session take place on December 3 and 31, at the same time.

Reading group ‘Have You Read’ invites anyone to come along and enjoy a coffee or tea and an informal chat with like-minded book lovers, on December 23 from 10.30-11.30am.

A book group for young people in Year 6 and above meets on December 15 from 4.15pm-5.15pm: Come along and chat about what you're reading - no set book. Refreshments are provided.

Craft Group meets on December 10 and 17 from 10am-noon: Share tips and ideas for your knitting, sewing or crochet projects.

The library is opening its doors as a Warm Welcome Drop-in for anyone who wants to come in, help yourself to a free cup of tea of coffee to keep warm and maybe relax whilst doing a crossword / sudoku or reading the paper.

The library is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 10am-5.30pm and Saturday from 9am-2.30pm.

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

To book a session or for more information about the library, call 01454 868006, speak to a member of staff at the library, email yate.library@ southglos.gov.uk or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries.

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

n WHAT'S ON

December 3

n FILTONES CHOIR 40TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS CRACKERS CONCERT, 7.30pm, Filton Community Centre, Elm Park. Tickets £8 including refreshments, accompanied children free. Tickets from Dot Bryant on 07870 984760 or on the door. Raffle and retiring collection in aid of charity Sense.

December 4

n CHIPPING SODBURY VICTO RIAN DAY, Broad Street and High Street, 11am-7pm. Wide selection of stalls with gifts and food, onstage entertainment from bands, choirs, and dance and theatre groups. Victorian street entertain ers, Punch & Judy and visit from Father Christmas

December 4

n CRAFT AND GIFT FAYRE!

Chipping Sodbury Town Hall Sunday 4th December - Victo rian Day! 10 am to 4 pm Local Crafts, Papercraft Sup plies, Gifts & Collectables, Cakes & Refreshments, and more!

Voluntary Entrance fee (20p) to be donated to The Friends of Horton School. Email bythewoodsfayres@hotmail. com for more info.

December 6

n CHIPPING SODBURY MUSIC SOCIETY, Pelleas Ensemble. Chip ping Sodbury Town Hall, 7.30pm, tickets £15 on the door. School aged children free.

December 7

n WESTERLEIGH CEMETERY & CREMATORIUM annual Christmas carol and remembrance service for families and friends to remember loved ones. 7pm, Waterside Chapel. Please book in advance by email ing westerleighcrematorium@ westerleighgroup.co.uk or calling 0117 937 4619.

December 7

n SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE MINES RESEARCH GROUP meet ing and talk, 17th and 18th Century Mining in Kingswood and the development of the Liberties, by Steve Grudgings. Miners Institute, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath, 7pm. Non members welcome - £2 each.

December 11

n ANNUAL CAROL SERVICE AT ST PETER’S CHURCH, Wapley, 6.30pm. Traditional service of nine lessons and carols, with the Dodington Parish Band. Service fol lowed by mulled wine and mince pies. Also Christmas Eve communion service at 11.30pm on December 24. All

welcome to both events.

December 12

n BRISTOL BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY Christmas Evening with quiz and points cups presenta tions, 7.30pm at Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke. Visi tors welcome. Further details from Ron Ramplin at ronnie.ramplin@ btinternet.com or 07748 740794.

December 13

n GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY BRISTOL GROUP MEETING: The Severn Bridge Railway, with Alan Price. BAWA, Southmead Road, Bristol, 7.30pm. All welcome, no charge but donation of £3 sug gested to cover costs.

December 13

n YATE CHORAL SOCIETY CHRISTMAS CONCERT, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall 7.30pm. Con ductor Geoff Wickham, accompa nist Diana Williams, with guests the Celli Peppers. Tickets £8 - call 01454 313907 or from Chipping Sodbury Tourist Information Centre and choir members. www.yatechoralso ciety.co.uk.

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

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 president Pete Chaplin for more details. 01454 324956.

n YATE & SODBURY ART & CRAFT CLUB (POTTERY SEC TION) meets every Tuesday and Wednesday, 7.30-9.30 pm at Ridge wood Community Centre. Tuition available. £5 per session. More information at yateandsodburyart society.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 for more details.

7pm until 10pm at Filton Commu nity 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 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 THURSDAY: EXERCISE AND SOCIAL FOR SENIORS £5. Come and join us for a dose of weekly exercise! We aim to improve your strength, balance, posture and flexibility in a fun and friendly environment. To register your interest please contact Adam Dyer on 07875503586. St Saviours Church , Coallpitt heath, every Thursday 10-11:30am Beesmoor Rd, Coalpit Heath, Bristol BS36 2RP

Wednesday

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 yateandsod buryartsociety.weebly.com or call Roz on 07941 946412.

Tuesday

n YATE POETRY GROUP meets every Tuesday morning. Small, informal and friendly group to

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

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 BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at

n FRIDAY: EXERCISE AND SOCIAL FOR SENIORS £5. Come and join us for a dose of weekly exercise! We aim to improve your strength, balance, posture and flexibility in a fun and friendly environment. To register your interest please contact Adam Dyer on 07875503586. Cambrian Green Court community centre 2:153:45pm Yate, Bristol BS37 5AD

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

Award for ref's years of added time in football

BILL Bombroff’s dedication to football refereeing has been recognised with a unique presentation.

The 84-year-old from Yate was, as usual, at the referees' changing room as officiating adviser to Bristol’s Downs League when he was stunned to receive a certificate from the Referees’ Association, celebrating his 70 years of “outstanding service” to the game.

It’s thought to be the first time the association has recognised such longevity in its 114-year history, and marks Bill’s remarkable journey from parks football to the top of the game and back to the grass roots.

Bill said: “The camaraderie on the Downs is unbelievable, and that’s what keeps me going - 20 referees in one room and doing your best to help them so they, in turn, can help the players enjoy themselves.”

Bill started off playing as a full-back but at the age of 12 was pressed into running the line for matches in his native Birmingham, quickly moving out in the middle.

He moved to Bristol in 1962, taking charge of matches in Division Six of the District League then the Premier Combination and Western League, before running the line in the then Football League from 1970.

On the Football League’s full referee list for three seasons from 1978, Bill had to stand down in 1981 as he had reached the then-retirement age of 43.

He then joined the Western League Referee Advisory Panel and returned to the Bristol & District League and Premier Combination for several seasons, also serving on the GFA’s assessing panel and GFA Referee Development team.

Highlights of his career include running the line in an

FA Cup quarter-final between Wolves and Manchester United, with Pat Partridge in the middle, while he was also on the line for a UEFA Cup tie in Belgium.

For the vast majority of his soccer career though, Bill has served the grassroots of the game he loves. From 1966 through to 2019 he was engaged in committee work at branch, county, division and national level, being made a life member of the national body in recognition of hundreds of hours of unseen work behind the scenes.

Bill enjoys mentoring young officials but he does wonder if he would stick with officiating, were he starting out now.

He said: “We’re struggling for referees every week and a lot of it is down to the behaviour of players, which has changed so much.

“I began in 1951 and it was probably 1960 before I issued my first caution. It’s very different

now - it was reported recently that 380 bans were handed to players and officials last season for attacking or threatening referees and match officials in England.

“There needs to be a big clampdown on bad behaviour and discipline, if things are going to change.”

Steve Hill

Bill Bombroff.

Picture: John Wheeler.

is Bluebells boss

YATE Town have appointed John Rendell as their new manager.

He had spent 12 seasons as a player and manager at Southern League Division One South Paulton Rovers but said it had "always been a personal ambition" to manage his home town club.

John, who had several spells playing for the Bluebells, also started his management career at Lodge Road as a coach in 2017.

He has brought assistant Paul Tovey and matchday operations manager James Hicks with him from Paulton - both are also local lads, with Paul having played for Yate and James being a long-term supporter.

John's managerial reign started with a 3-3 draw at home to Harrow Borough on November 5, watched by 233 fans.

The Bluebells fought back from a 2-1 half-time deficit with the goals scored by Toby Raison, Jack Stanley and Tyler Ashmead.

A narrow 1-0 defeat to a strong Cheltenham Town side in the Gloucestershire FA Senior Challenge Cup followed, before Town lost their next league match 2-0 at Swindon Supermarine.

A 3-0 away win at Bracknell Town - who had just played Ipswich Town in the FA Cup First Round - came courtesy of first goals for the club for Tom Richards and new signing Kyle Tooze.

A fourth away game on the bounce saw the Bluebells pick up a point at Salisbury City, before a 4-0 home defeat to league leaders Weston-super-Mare brought them down to earth.

It left Yate second bottom of the league as the Voice went to press.

The new boss is continuing to recruit new players, with the latest signing an initial month's loan for Bristol City centre-half Callum Wood, 20, who impressed on loan at Bath City last season.

John said: "I very much look forward to working with a player of Callum’s pedigree."

Slogging for a cause

AROUND 1,300 runners took part in this year's Sodbury Slog, a tough 10-mile cross-country race that promises to leave competitors drenched, muddy and exhilarated.

Some competitors wore fancy dress, from Oompa Loompas and the Seven Dwarfs to the Grim Reaper and a man in a suit.

Runners also raised more than £6,000 for charities including the Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury, Jessie May, the Forest of Avon Trust and the Fire Fighters Charity, in addition to individual sponsorships.

The donations to the Forest of Avon Trust fund the planting of trees and hedgerows in the Slog area.

Organisers are already planning next year's event and are collecting feedback and suggestions via the Sodbury Slog Facebook page.

A competitor jumps into a muddy stream on this year's Sodbury Slog.

Picture: Doug Lodge.