Yate & Sodbury Voice February 2023

is 'good' again

School vision praised

AN inspector has praised the support from a school for children with special educational needs that enables them to learn "exceptionally well".

PAGE 9

Buses on demand

A NEW 'on-demand' transport service enabling people in the area to 'hail' a minibus will be launched - as dozens of subsidised services face the axe.

PAGE 4

Sex abuser jailed

A FORMER Yate man who sexually assaulted two children has been jailed for 16 years.

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A SECONDARY school is celebrating receiving its first 'good' rating from inspectors for almost 15 years.

The praise from education watchdog Ofsted marks a turnaround at Chipping Sodbury School, which head teacher Katherine Turner said was "testament to hard work by staff, students and

governors".

The school was described as nurturing and inclusive, with "high expectations for every child".

Ms Turner said the report was a validation of the school's many strengths, and said she was "enormously proud".

Full story: Page 3

Regulars buy pub

CUSTOMERS of a much-loved Chipping Sodbury pub teamed up to buy it when the landlord and landlady retired.

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Sex abuser jailed after 'shattering' children's lives

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A FORMER Yate man who sexually assaulted two children has been jailed for 16 years.

Matthew Nicholas, aged 50, attacked his victims on multiple occasions over a five-year period, Avon and Somerset police said. He denied the offences but was found guilty of 10 counts of sexual assault of a child under 13.

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Nicholas, of no fixed address, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court.

The victims' mother said the assaults had robbed her children of their childhood and left her unable to trust anyone.

In a statement read to the court before Nicholas was sentenced on January 20, she said: "His actions have shattered the lives of my children. He has robbed them of their childhood.

"One of my children used to be outgoing and giggly. Now they lack confidence around big crowds and have become angry and easily frustrated.

"My other child cries often and suffers from constant nightmares - their sleep has really been affected by the trauma.

"I found out about this just as the pandemic hit. I was very isolated and the only contact I had was with Anna, the police officer on the case.

"I am unable to trust anyone with my children."

Nicholas was also made subject to an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order barring him from access to vulnerable people and two restraining orders to stop him contacting his victims.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down, investigating officer Detective Sergeant Anna Toogood said: "I must commend the incredible bravery and strength of the victims, shown throughout this case after suffering horrific crimes like this over such a long period of time.

"This was a particularly vile case, where Nicholas, who was in a position of power, took advantage of two young children.

"I hope this sentence reassures both the victims and their families that people like this are dealt with swiftly and get the justice they deserve."

Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in Yate & Sodbury Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

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Details of organisations who can offer help and support to victims of rape and sexual abuse can be found online at avonandsomerset.police.uk/report/rape-and-sexual-assault.

A member of the

Secondary school is back in inspectors' good books

THE head teacher of Chipping Sodbury School has thanked staff, pupils an governors for work which has brought the school to a 'good' rating in its latest inspection - for the first time in almost 15 years.

At its previous inspection by regulator Ofsted, in 2018, the school was deemed to 'require improvement'.

Since then, it has taken on a new head teacher and in 2021 it converted to an academy under the Athelstan Trust.

Head teacher Katherine Turner, who was appointed permanently in 2018, said the report marked a strong turnaround for the school, which last received a 'good' rating in March 2008 and had been given one 'satisfactory' and three 'requires improvement' ratings since then.

She said: “I am delighted that Ofsted have recognised the many strengths of Chipping Sodbury School.

"This is a testament to the hard work by staff, students and governors to improve our school further.”

The inspection by a fourperson team from Ofsted in November found that the school, which has over 739 pupils aged 11 to 18, to be “good” in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision.

During the two-day inspection, it was found that the school was nurturing and inclusive, with core values such as responsibility and aspiration running through all aspects of school life.

The report, published in January, said: "Chipping Sodbury is a nurturing and inclusive school.

"There are strong relationships between staff and pupils. Pupils enjoy school and feel safe.

"Parents agree that staff will go the ‘extra mile’ for pupils.

"Leaders have high expectations for every child. The school’s core values, such as responsibility and aspiration, run through all aspects of school life."

The report said pupils show positive attitudes towards their learning, and are well prepared

for their next steps in education or employment.

It also highlighted the wide range of extra-curricular activities, including a recent trip to New York for sixth formers.

The inspectors praised pupils for making contributions to school life, through being a member of the senate council, a learning mentor in the sixth form or a trained mental health ambassador.

Lead inspector Kelly Olive said: "Since the previous inspection, leaders have made significant improvements to the curriculum.

"It is now broad and ambitious for all pupils, including those with special educational needs or disabilities.

"Students in the sixth form value the wide and varied choice of courses available to them."

She said in most subjects, the knowledge pupils need and the order in which they will acquire it has been carefully considered, although some subjects needed more detailed long term planning.

The report said that while most pupils enjoy their lessons and listen attentively, a minority of pupils are removed from lessons due to persistent disruptive behaviour, but a new approach to managing unacceptable behaviour was starting to have an impact.

Pupils benefit from a wellplanned curriculum to support their personal development and there is an effective careers programme in place for pupils in years seven to 13.

The inspector also found that there has been a significant strengthening of the effectiveness of governance, with members of the local governing body, trustees and trust leaders, holding leaders to account.

They said in some subjects,

the knowledge that pupils need to learn over time is not planned in sufficient detail, adding: "As a result, pupils cannot always build effectively on what they already know."

The inspectors recommended that leaders ensure core knowledge pupils need to learn is "explicit in all subjects of the curriculum".

Ms Turner said: "Having worked at Chipping Sodbury for a number of years, it is a school of which I am enormously proud and to have this important external validation of our many strengths is immensely gratifying.

"We are not complacent and continue to work hard for our school community."

Head teacher Katherine Turner

Pupils at Chipping Sodbury School, which has just received its first 'good' rating from Ofsted since 2008

Plea over assault on boy

POLICE want to talk to this man about an assault on a nine-year-old boy at a Yate shopping precinct.

The incident happened outside a convenience store in Abbotswood at about 3.35pm on Friday November 4.

Police were told a man assaulted the boy, who was on a mountain bike and fell to the ground. He did not sustain any physical injuries.

After an initial plea for information shortly after the incident, police obtained the CCTV image of a man who "visited a nearby shop around the time of the incident and may have information which could help".

The image was shared online, including on the Voice website and Facebook page, after it was issued at the end of December.

But no-one has yet been able to identify the man, which means police have had to close their investigation for the time being.

An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said: "We are grateful to the witnesses who came forward and the people who shared the appeal or got in touch with information.

"Despite following up these lines of enquiry, no suspect has been identified and the investigation has been filed pending any new information coming to light.

"We've continued to keep the boy's family updated and carried out targeted patrols in Abbotswood in the days after the incident."

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

Suspended sentence for woman

A SOUTH Gloucestershire woman who assaulted a 12-year-old boy with a paddle on a riverbank has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Fay Johnson, aged 32, admitted a charge of causing actual bodily harm to Antwon Forrest and was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court in January.

Avon and Somerset police said Antwon suffered an injury to his head during the incident on the banks of the River Avon in Brislington last March.

The court heard a group of up to 30 children on the riverbank had been throwing mud and rocks that hit passing boats, canoeists and paddleboarders on the water, including members of Johnson's family, and she had gone to confront them.

During an altercation she hit Antwon, who suffered a wound that left a scar.

The court heard there was no evidence Antwon was one of the children who threw anything.

Johnson was arrested but police then decided no action should be taken "based on the evidence gathered at the time".

That led to a campaign by relatives of Antwon, which was shared on social media along with video of the incident and images of his injury.

A police spokesperson said: A review of evidence, including new video footage, statements and a re-examination of 999 calls, was launched as senior officers became aware of the "significant public concern".

In addition to the four-month suspended jail sentence, Johnson has also been ordered to pay Antwon £500 in compensation.

Chief Inspector Mike Buck said: "We recognise the strength of community concern following the initial outcome of this case and the perception that Antwon was treated differently because of his race."

Ear Wax Removal

Foot Clinic

New 'on-demand' buses for Yate & Sodbury

A NEW 'on-demand' transport service enabling people in the Yate & Sodbury area to 'hail' a minibus will be launched this year.

The aim of the 'WEST link' service is to enable people who live in areas with little or no bus service to reach a stop or station where they can pick up another bus or a train.

Funded by the West of England Combined Authority, out of £3 million from the government's Bus Service Improvement Plan, the minibuses will run between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday.

The service was originally set to start in the summer but a meeting of the West of England Combined Authority in January heard it could start in April.

The new ‘demand-responsive transport’ WEST link minibus services will cover all of South Gloucestershire north of the M4, and other rural areas of the district, as well as large parts of North East Somerset and some parts of South Bristol.

People will be able to phone, go online or use an app to call up

a minibus as a "feeder service", to reach a stop linking them up with main commercial routes.

The system works by splitting the region into zones and using an algorithm to work out when requests by several people in a zone can be combined into one minibus journey that collects

them all.

It has no timetable, and ticket prices will match regular fares on the region's buses, which have recently been reduced to a £2 flat rate single.

Details of how many minibuses will be provided and how far they can go from each

town or village covered by the scheme have yet to be finalised.

The idea grew out of consultations held by Metro Mayor Dan Norris last year to try and find solutions to the public transport crisis facing the region.

He said the government had insisted that Bus Service Improvement Plan money cannot be spent to subsidise existing services but must instead be invested in "innovative and new" schemes.

Mr Norris said: "Everyone knows the buses don’t currently work as well as we need them to, so it’s time to try something new.

"WEST link will provide a much-needed new public transport option to help people get out and about to their destinations."

The Metro Mayor also hopes running a fleet of smaller minibuses will help solve the shortage of more than 250 drivers on the region's bus network: they are easier to drive and quicker to train on than a large bus, as drivers don't need a public service vehicle (PSV) licence.

Subsidised bus services face the axe

BUS passengers face further cuts to the struggling public transport network, with around 42 subsidised services facing the axe across the region from April.

The service cuts were signed off by the West of England combined authority on January 18, despite the region’s political leaders hearing that many of the services were crucial in connecting isolated communities and persuading drivers to use public transport instead.

Among the routes facing cuts in the Yate and Sodbury area are the 626 Wottonunder-Edge to Bristol - which is the only current service for Iron Acton - the 622 Chipping Sodbury to Cribbs Causeway, the 84/85 Yate to Wotton-under-Edge and the 202 Chipping Sodbury to Winterbourne.

School services the 967 Westerleigh to Chipping Sodbury School and Brimsham Green School and 680 North Yate to SGS College Filton will be funded until the end of the school year in July under the plans.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris blamed the leaders of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils for paying the combined authority too

small a transport levy, which was less than inflation, so service cuts had to be made.

He said: "We have a real term cut in supported bus services because the levy has not increased. The levy is much lower than in other parts of the country.

"At the moment we have about £20 a head per year for our transport levy, and that compares to the ones at the top of the combined authorities in other parts of the country, that are £60 a head. "There are huge reserves in some of our council areas that could perhaps be used in a way that deals with exactly these concerns, and that’s a political choice."

Mr Norris repeatedly denied that new WEST link on-demand minibuses were replacing the subsidised services.

South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage said many of the council’s reserves are for specific areas and can’t be spent on saving subsidised bus routes - and countered that WECA was wasting money.

He said: "I’ve raised concerns in the past about the West of England’s new offices, and over-reliance on interim staff that are often much more costly."

He said comparing the £20 a head WECA area levy to other regions with trams or metro systems was "comparing apples and pears" and not particularly helpful to the public.

Liberal Democrat group leader Claire Young spoke at the WECA meeting and said some services, such as the 622 and 626, were "the only regular bus for some villages".

She said: "We strongly support using demand responsive transport to supplement regular services - but not to replace them."

Cllr Young also raised concerns that replies to the Metro Mayor’s 'Big Choices on Buses' consultation last year did not appear to have been seen by officers working on WEST link, despite it being "the biggest shake-up in bus services in decades".

She added: "We don’t know whether the feedback was shared with the councils to help them decide which services to support in their area."

Meeting report by Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Extra trains: Page 9

A map of 'WEST link' coverage in South Gloucestershire (in green) includes the Yate & Sodbury area.

Shop closes permanently

THE Yate branch of Shaws the Drapers has closed permanently after the company went into liquidation.

The shop in South Walk closed with no notice or explanation in December, following a sale in which stock was sold off at half price.

It was one of 28 stores nationwide run by the Cardiff-based company, which had been trading for more than 100 years, selling soft furnishings and craft supplies, including wool and yarn.

At the time of the closure there was no explanation from the company but, after the last of the stores closed two days before Christmas and the company's website, Shawsdirect.com, also shut down it was revealed that the company had ceased trading.

An email to staff, shown to the BBC, said they would be paid in full up to Christmas Eve and thanked them for their service.

It said: "I hope that you will understand that after 100 years of trading, this hasn't been an easy decision for us to make, and we fully appreciate the consequences for you, but the business simply is not viable and we cannot see a way of making it so."

A spokesperson for insolvency specialists Stones & Co confirmed they had been instructed by the directors of Shaws to help place it into creditors' voluntary liquidation, under which the company would be formally closed.

Its remaining assets would then be valued and sold to help meet its debts.

Ex-employees entitled to redundancy pay or pay in lieu of notice were being referred to the government's Redundancy Payments Service.

Time capsules buried

SCHOOLS in the south of the Yate and Sodbury area have been burying time capsules with items collected to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Dodington Parish Council invited the four schools in the parishAbbotswood Primary, Wellesley Primary and Culverhill School in Yate, and Raysfield Primary in Chipping Sodbury - to fill the commemorative capsules with memories from 2022, with a view to digging them up in 40 years' time.

The first one, from Raysfield, was buried in Lilliput Park in December, with Culverhill's buried in Woodchester play area in January.

Wellesley's capsule was due to be buried at QEII Playing Fields and Abbotswood’s at Wapley Bushes in February.

They contain school lunch menus, toys, artwork and written accounts giving a snapshot of school life.

Parish clerk Hannah Saunders said: “Councillors and I have loved working with the schools over the last six months. It has been wonderful to hear why the children felt the Platinum Jubilee was such a special and important event to be commemorated”.

Year 6 pupils of Raysfield Primary School and Ken Thomas of Dodington Parish Council as the school's time capsule is buried in Lilliput Park.

£6m for Frome flood projects

A SERIES of projects to help protect homes and businesses near the River Frome from flooding has won £6 million in government funding.

South Gloucestershire Council has been working with neighbouring Bristol City Council, Wessex Water and the Environment Agency on the programme, which has been named Resilient Frome.

Six different types of projects will be carried out over the next five years to help better protect areas at risk from flooding and ensure new building projects do not add to problems.

The Frome rises at Dodington, and passes through Chipping Sodbury and Yate before heading to Frampton Cotterell and Hambrook on its way to Bristol's Floating Harbour.

In rural upstream areas, including the Ladden Brook, which flows into the Frome between Iron Acton and Frampton Cotterell, part of the funding will be used to support "sustainable land management practices", including creating new ‘storage’ ponds and woody dams.

South Gloucestershire Council is using the government funding to work with landowners, farmers and communities over the next five years to "deliver sustainable solutions to land and water management, improve flood resilience, respond to climate change and bring a range of benefits".

A spokesperson said: “Around £600,000 will be invested in the delivery of natural flood management (NFM). This is a way of working with natural processes to help manage the risk of flooding, whilst also improving water quality and habitat.

"We will be focusing delivery of NFM interventions within the headwaters of the Ladden, Bradley Brook and the headwaters of the main River Frome, because benefits downstream are maximised when we work in the river’s headwater and tributaries.

“We are currently beginning to engage and discuss possible NFM interventions with landowners and community groups.”

Other projects will focus on areas including monitoring river flow, improving urban planning and sustainable drainage systems to better manage storm water drainage.

Council cabinet member for the environment, Steve Reade, said: "Climate change is happening now, and the Resilient Frome project will help in our response to protect and future proof the whole River Frome area.

"The river’s catchment is largely rural, but all the water flows downstream and meets in the centre of Bristol. Therefore, a whole system approach and working across local authority boundaries is needed and we’re pleased to be collaborating with partners Bristol City Council, the Environment Agency and Wessex Water on this.”

The issue of untreated sewage entering the River Frome through storm overflow drains during heavy rainfall recently sparked a political row in South Gloucestershire Council, over whether to toughen rules on new surface water drain connections.

Wood dams like this one could be created in rural upstream areas of South Gloucestershire to help tackle flooding on the River Frome. Picture: South Gloucestershire Council

Rob says goodbye at 'living funeral'

A SOUTH Gloucestershire man was the guest of honour at his own funeral, after being told he has months to live.

Aerospace engineer Rob Hale, who is 33, arranged the “living funeral” to say goodbye to friends and family.

Rob, from Thornbury, has been fighting cancer for two years – but in December was told he only has months to live. So he decided he wanted to hold a special event and “go with a smile”.

Friends and family gathered at Cattle Country, near Berkeley – an old favourite with Rob for family outings when he was a child.

Rob said the living funeral was his way of thanking those around him.

He said: "I'd never seen or heard of one before so I really didn't have any expectations, but I was blown away by the love and kindness everyone showed me.

"I had told my parents I wanted an event where I could properly say goodbye to everyone - and because everyone I have known since childhood all have children of their own now, I wanted to hold it somewhere they could come.”

Rob became ill in early 2021 with coronavirus, and when his symptoms persisted, he assumed he had long covid.

When he finally sought help, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia, a form of blood cancer that affects cells in the bone marrow.

He had three bouts of chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and then stem cell treatment.

In December he put out a plea for more

people to donate stem cells.

Writing about the 'living funeral' to the many people who have followed him on Instagram and Facebook, he said: "I am so glad I got to see such a happy funeral rather than the usual sombre sad affair they usually are.

"I really am glad I was given the chance to say goodbye to you all, and I can't stress enough how overwhelming it was seeing and feeling the love.

"Most people never get the chance...to say goodbye properly.

"Death is usually so sudden and final and full of regret for things left unsaid. I feel like when I go, I can go with a smile."

Rob, who had to give up work because of his illness, has also drawn up a bucket list of visiting all the castles in the UK before he dies.

A fundraising page has already topped £4,300 to help pay for the trips.

People can visit Rob’s fundraising page at www.gofundme.com/f/roberts-bucket-list or follow him on Instagram at @robs_cancer_ journey and @robs_final_dance.

To find out more about the stem cell register visit the Anthony Nolan Trust at anthonynolan.org/help-save-a-life/joinstem-cell-register.

Jabs plea as remedies run short

HEALTH leaders say it is not too late to have a flu or COVID-19 vaccination.

The NHS in the region is calling on people in eligible groups - including over-50s, frontline health workers, pregnant mums and people with long-term health conditions, to come forward if they have not been fully vaccinated by February 12.

And it says an offer for all 16 to 49-yearolds to have a covid booster will end on the same date. Anyone who has been invited but has yet to come forward is being urged to do so before that date, after which covid booster jabs will be targeted at people deemed to be at more risk of serious illness.

The call comes as a surge in winter illnesses has seen a shortage of cough, cold and flu remedies in many pharmacies and supermarkets in recent weeks.

GP Dr Geeta Iyer, the clinical lead for the Mass Vaccination Programme in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, said: "Covid-19 and flu are continuing to circulate in our communities, with lots of people catching the viruses and many ending up in hospital.

"We’re calling for eligible people, particularly those with long-term health

conditions, to come forward if they have not been fully vaccinated yet.

"Vaccination is the most effective protection we have. While a vaccine won’t prevent you becoming unwell from the viruses, it will reduce symptoms for the vast majority of people and help you get back to your normal self, sooner."

People who are eligible can contact their GP or local pharmacy for information and details of how to book and locations for walkin vaccinations are also updated regularly online at grabajab.net.

In early January concerns over shortages of cold and flu medicines led to a meeting between health minister Will Quince and the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies.

Pharmacist Ade Williams, who runs Yate's Abbotswood Pharmacy, said: "A return to everyday social interaction has seen more respiratory viruses circulating this year, especially colds and flu.

"This has certainly increased demand for cold and flu remedies, well beyond what we have seen in the pandemic years, with intermittent shortages ensuing.

"The key message is to always remember

that if a particularly trusted brand of medical product is not available, the pharmacy team has the expert knowledge and expertise to recommend something with similar formulation, which may also come with a cost saving.

"Self-care advice offered does not also always require purchasing medicines - taking honey and lemon, using steam inflation amongst other useful advice.”

The Department of Health and Social Care said supply problems were "sporadic and localised".

Rob Hale with his dog, Brian

Ade Williams

Pride as Ofsted 'validates' work of special school

AN inspector has praised the support from a school for children with special educational needs that enables them to learn "exceptionally well".

Inspectors who made a short visit to Culverhill School in Yate confirmed its 'good' rating, but were so impressed they said it would probably be upgraded to “outstanding” if a full inspection was carried out.

The school in Kelston Close has 146 pupils, aged from seven to 16, with complex learning difficulties or disabilities, who attend from across South Gloucestershire and some neighbouring districts.

New head Chris Walker, who was promoted from the role of deputy head last September, said he was "extraordinarily proud" of his team and the work they do.

He said: "Our recent Ofsted result has validated the work we do and gives our school community the confidence to accelerate and support our incredible pupils' ambitions.

"Our pupils often return later in life presenting as wellrounded, successful people, and

we are very proud of this."

The Ofsted report said the school, which is part of the Enable Trust, was 'good' in all areas, including the effectiveness of leadership and management, the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment, and the personal development, behaviour, and welfare of pupils.

Inspector Susan Aykin said the inspection, which took place in October, showed pupils at Culverhill School feel safe and happy, and make progress through their love of learning.

She said the school's curriculum was designed to

Half-hourly

HALF-hourly train services linking Yate to Bristol and Gloucester could be up and running by May.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman said the Great Western Railway service would be doubled from one to two trains per hour in each direction as part of the region's MetroWest rail improvement scheme. The announcement was made at a

Culverhill School head teacher

Chris Walker with Year 8, 9 and 10 pupils in the school's sensory garden

meet the needs of pupils with additional needs and that it inspired pupils to be the best version of themselves and prepared them for life beyond school.

The inspector said: "Leaders, staff and governors share a highly aspirational vision for all pupils.

"They have designed an ambitious curriculum that enables pupils to succeed academically, socially and emotionally.

"Pupils' education, health and care plans (EHC) are central to the design and teaching of the

curriculum.

"As a result, all pupils receive bespoke support that enables them to learn exceptionally well.”

The report also highlighted the quality of teaching at the school, stating that teachers are highly skilled and knowledgeable and that they create a "positive and inclusive learning environment".

The report also highlighted the effectiveness of leadership and management at the school, stating that leaders have a clear vision for the school and are highly effective in ensuring that the school's vision is translated into action.

Chair of governors Gill Edgington praised the dedication and attentiveness of the school's staff and the curriculum they have developed.

She said: "Our staff are very dedicated and attentive to each pupil and their individual complex needs.

"The curriculum, developed by the school, inspires each pupil to be the best version of themselves as well as preparing them for life beyond school."

trains to Bristol on the way

debate called by Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall, who said: "This is fantastic news for our community. Half-hourly train services will make rail a more viable option for many people locally, reduce journey times, take cars off the road and reduce emissions."

Mr Merriman said: “I am happy to confirm that, subject to the provision of the necessary funding by the West of England

Combined Authority, services between Bristol and Gloucester will be doubled to two trains per hour from the May 2023 timetable change as part of the wider MetroWest scheme."

A spokesperson for Metro Mayor Dan Norris said the new service was subject to the agreement of local councils at a meeting due to be held at the end of January.

Emma's treat is great-grandad's final wish

A YOUNG girl has taken the trip of a lifetime – thanks to her great grandfather’s dying wish.

Seven-year-old Emma Lowe had been through two tough years, losing three greatgrandparents and one of her grandparents.

Then she was diagnosed with scoliosis, an abnormal curving of the spine. It means she will have to wear a back brace for the next ten years.

But Emma, a year three pupil at Woodlands Primary School in Yate, kept smiling through.

And her reward was a trip to see Father Christmas and his reindeer in Lapland.

Mum Maria said that her grandparents - Emma’s greatgrandparents – Eve and Alb Young had a special relationship with Emma, and Alb’s last wish was to make sure she was given a special treat after his death.

She said: “Me and mum gave palliative care to my grandfather and he said to make sure we spoiled her once he was gone.

"Unknown to me, my mum went into a travel agent and booked Lapland!”

Maria and Emma’s dad Dominic decided to keep the trip a secret, but gave Emma an advent calendar with pieces of a

jigsaw, which came together to make an invitation to see Father Christmas in Lapland.

The family of three flew out the next day with Maria’s parents Carolyn and Keith Williams.

Maria said: “Emma has

been dealing with all that has happened so well.

"Losing special family members, and then her diagnosis, have been a tough time. She knows she will have to wear a back brace until she is 16 or 17.

“She has dealt with so much and seems to take it in her stride.

“Lapland was a thrill for all of us. When Emma met Father Christmas and fed the reindeer it was magical.”

Woodlands head teacher Rachel Dean said: “During her trip Emma’s favourite thing to do was to feed the reindeer with lichen!

“The family enjoyed the Northern Lights - or the aurora borealis seeing beautiful green and orange in the sky. Emma said the best thing was seeing Father Christmas.

"When Emma returned in January, she shared a beautiful scrapbook with Mr Gabb and Maple class.”

Emma Lowe and mum Maria

Census gives first ever snapshot of sexuality

DETAILS of the number of people in South Gloucestershire who identify as straight, gay or bisexual have been revealed for the first time.

A question on sexual orientation for people aged 16 and over was added to the 2021 Census by the Office for National Statistics.

A question on gender identity - whether a person identified with their sex as registered at birth - was also included among the questions for the first time ever.

The ONS says the information it has received as a result will be "vital in helping shape services in years to come".

However, as the questions were voluntary, one significant factor is the number of people who declined to answer either of them.

In South Gloucestershire, just over nine out of ten respondents (90.64%) said they were straight or heterosexual.

A total of 2.82% of respondents identified with a sexuality the ONS described as LGB+, with 1.29% saying that they were gay or lesbian; 1.24% bisexual; 0.19% pansexual (defined as attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender identity); 0.07% asexual (no sexual attraction to others), 0.02% queer (non-conventional sexuality) and 0.01% wrote in another sexual orientation.

However the second largest group was those who declined to answer the question about sexuality, who made up 6.53% of the population - more than double those who identified in an LGB+ category.

In Bristol 85.45% of respondents said they were straight or heterosexual.

More than twice the proportion of the Bristol population as in South Gloucestershire - 6.06%identified with an ONS LGB+ category: 2.2% said they were

gay or lesbian; 3.08% bisexual; 0.49% pansexual; 0.11% asexual 0.13% queer and 0.05% stated another sexual orientation.

An even higher proportion of Bristol residents, 8.48%, did not answer the question.

Nationally, 43.4 million people (89.4%) identified as straight or heterosexual, 1.5 million people (3.2%) identified with an LGB+ orientation and 3.6 million (7.5%) did not answer the question.

In response to the gender identity question, 94.59% of South Gloucestershire residents said theirs was the sex they were registered with at birth, while 5.02% of respondents did not answer the question.

Of the remaining 0.38% of respondents, 0.14% said their gender was different to birth but did not give any specifics, 0.07% identified as a trans woman (registered female at birth, but now identifies as a man), 0.07% as a trans man (registered female

at birth, but now identifies as a man), 0.06% were non-binary (not identifying as a man or woman), and 0.04% wrote in another gender identity.

In Bristol, 92.45% or respondents identified with their sex at birth, 6.73% did not answer the question and 0.82% identified with a different gender.

Nationally, the ONS said 262,000 people in England and Wales identified with a gender different from their sex registered at birth, representing 0.5% of the population or around one in every 200 people.

ONS director Jen Woolford said having figures on gender identity and sexual orientation at a local level was "crucial" to "better understand the extent and nature of disadvantage which people may be experiencing in terms of educational outcomes, health, employment, and housing".

Fewer people in work

THE percentage of South Gloucestershire residents in work has fallen in the past decade, the Census has found.

Office for National Statistics figures show 62.2% of residents aged over 16 were "economically active and in employment", including self-employed, on the day of the 2021 Census, down by 2.3% on the 2011 figure of 64.4%.

In neighbouring Bristol the number of people in employment has gone up by 0.9% since 2011 but at 61.2% is lower than in South Gloucestershire.

A total of 2.5% of South Gloucestershire residents said they were economically active and unemployed, compared to 3.6% in Bristol.

In England and Wales, around 27.8 million over-16s were in employment (57.2% of the population), 1.7m were unemployed (3.4%) and 19.1m were economically inactive (39.4%), including people who were not looking for work or could not work because they were retired, students, looking after a home or family and long-term sick or disabled.

Other facts about South Gloucestershire and Bristol from the Census published by the Office for National Statistics include:

*36.6% of South Gloucestershire residents own their homes outright, while 36.8% have a mortgage, other loan or shared ownership, 10.8% rent socially and 15.8% rent privately - in Bristol 25.2% own outright, 29.7% have a mortgage, 18.7% rent socially and 26.4% rent privately.

*Around one in eight South Gloucestershire households (12.3%) have no car or van, while 40.1% have one vehicle, 34.1% have two and 13.4% have three or more. In Bristol more than a quarter of households (26.1%) have no car; 45.8% have one, 21.6% have two and 6.4% have three or more.

For more Census information visit www.ons.gov.uk/census.

Mike and dog Falcon are agility champs

A DOG trainer based near Chipping Sodbury has won a prestigious national competition.

Mike Bendell and his dog Falcon beat hundreds of other dogs and their handlers to win the Kennel Club Agility Stakes large dog final, held at the London International Horse Show.

Mike and his four-year-old Working Sheepdog - kennel name Lookylooky Blue Falcon - competed in qualifying heats across the country to earn their place in the national final, held at ExCeL London just before Christmas in front of Kennel Club Championship agility judge David Isbister and assistant judge Dave Deaville.

Mike said: “It is my first time in the final at the Kennel Club Agility Stakes and it’s a privilege to run against the fellow competitors.

"I’m overwhelmed!"

Mike and Falcon have been competing in agility contests for almost two years.

Mike said: "He absolutely loves it - he likes to go as fast as he can whilst making as much noise as possible.

"We are also competing at Crufts in March this year, in the championship agility classes as well as the International agility.

"Winning the Large Kennel Club Agility Stakes class at the London International Horse show was just a dream come true."

Mike has also competed in agility with two other border collies, Star - who has now retired - and Spy, an eight year old who won the British Open Agility Finals at Crufts last year and the team event in 2020.

He and his wife Jo do all of the training with their dogs and run their own dog agility and puppy training club, Dark Star Agility, at Dodington.

Mike, who lives in Mangotsfield, said: "In 2019 I decided to give up my day job and start to teach agility full-time; this was the best decision I ever made!

"It really is the best job in the world."

Kennel Club events executive Vanessa McAlpine said: "Congratulations to Mike and Falcon for their impressive performance; the pair demonstrated great excellence in agility and should feel very proud of their win.

"The Kennel Club Agility Stakes is a tough competition and requires dedication from all competing dogs and their handlers in the training and qualifying process."

The competition, sponsored by Skinner's, is divided into small, medium, large, intermediate and large ABC (anything but collie) categories.

A guide for anyone interested in getting started in agility contests with their dog can be found online at thekennelclub.org.uk/ newtoagility.

With free career coaching from Future Bright, Richard gained the skills and confidence needed to rebuild his life, and begin moving towards finding a job suited to his aspirations.

“With regular meetings with the coach, I have always had a positive and proactive route map, as well as feeling in total control of my achievements.”

Future Bright offers free, one-to-one career coaching and support to help you take your next step at work.

You are eligible if you are:

• Aged 18+

• Resident in South Gloucestershire

• In paid work (including zero hours and selfemployed)

• Receiving benefits/ tax credits OR earning below the Real Living Wage of £10.90 per hour

Go to www.futurebright.org.uk or call all us at 01454 866008 for more information.

“The impact from engaging with Future Bright, on all aspects of my life, has been life changing.”

n STROUD AUCTIONS

Games, toys and cartoons surprise at sale

STROUD Auctions’ January sale featured more than 1,000 lots in specialist sections of pictures and paintings, books, stamps, ephemera, cameras and binoculars, Asian art, vinyl records, musical instruments and toys.

As usual, there was a lot of interest, with almost 1,500 online bidders from 41 countries, most notably for the musical instruments, where three of the top selling lots were found.

The best of these comprised a 19th century rosewood cello, which sold for £4,600, a 1790’s Georg Hornsteiner violin (£3,200) and a W E Hill & Son violin bow (£2,900).

The auctioneer’s favourite lot

Signed and titled to mount "Let's get one of these bloody planes in the air and catch up on

Nintendo games console (£340) and six Lego sets (£530).

More traditional items also

More top results were found in the specialist camera section, where a Nikon D810 digital SLR camera realised a pleasing £850.

The next auction will be on February 8 and 9, and includes guns and weapons, medals and militaria, bladed weapons, taxidermy and sporting and ceramics and glass.

Our biggest gun auction ever, this one looks exceptional, with over 700 lots of guns and air weapons alone.

If you’ve never thought of buying at auction, why not come along to our public viewing day on February 7, between 10am and 6pm?

We are still accepting entries

STROUD AUCTION ROOMS

This cartoon by Giles of the Daily Express sold for £2,200

Retired headteacher turns to crime writing

A FORMER Yate primary school head teacher has started a new chapter in his life as a crime novel writer.

David Beeley is so pleased with his first book, Secrets, Lies and Rhubarb Pies, that he is about to publish a sequel.

The novel centres on the intrigues of allotment holders trying to defend their patch from a housing development. David used to be chair of his local allotments committee in Thornbury, but insists he has not based his story on real people.

David, who is 73, was the head teacher at The Ridge Junior School in Yate for eight years until 2009, head of Trinity Primary School in Acton Turville for seven and also served as deputy head at Crossways Junior School in Thornbury during his 38-year career.

He said: “I have been wanting to do this since I was a lad – I started writing 60 years ago, but things got in the way - like family and jobs.

"I was inspired to have another go by my three granddaughters, E.J, Willow and Nora, who taught me determination, creativity and a zest for life.

“This book was written for them and a sequel for my beloved wife, Eveline.”

David self-published the novel, and has words of encouragement for other budding

authors to do the same.

He said: “I always thought self-publishing was a vanity thing, but nowadays with Amazon Kindle, it is up and coming - and of course in the past people like Charles Dickens did it too.”

The novel is described as a story of “hope, redemption, and deep everlasting love" including a birth, marriage, two deaths, treasure and rhubarb pies.

It follows the allotment holders' attempts to save their tranquil haven, with each having their own dark secrets, conflicts and fears.

David said: “It all kept my mind occupied and the best bit was family and friends saying they enjoyed it.

“Some even asked for signed copies – it’s so brilliant and nice to have a book with your name on it.”

David says once he finished his first book, he found himself so interested in the characters he invented that he decided to write a follow-up to see what happened to them next.

He hopes Secrets Lies and Two Leg Byes will be available later this year - as the title suggests, this time it involves the goings-on at a local cricket club.

Secrets, Lies and Rhubarb Pies is available as a paperback or Kindle edition by searching for the title on the Amazon website.

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

David Beeley with his debut novel

Aqua Park set to open

WE are excited to announce the opening of our new AquaPark on 1st April! This state-of-theart facility features a variety of water slides, jumps, bounces and obstacles and is perfect for families and thrill-seekers.

In addition to the AquaPark, we are currently open for outdoor swimming, paddle boarding, water-ski, RC Boating and other water sports. Our beautiful outdoor setting is the perfect place to enjoy

the great British outdoors and get some exercise. Whether you're a seasoned swimmer or just looking to have fun, we have something for everyone.

Our café is also open for good cheer and refreshments, offering a wide range of food and drinks to keep you fueled throughout the day. Whether you're looking for a quick snack or a full meal, our café has everything you need to enjoy your time at our water park.

We are also excited to announce that there will be various special events and activities throughout the year, including live music, movie nights, and more, making our venue the perfect place to spend a day with family and friends.

So mark your calendars and join us for the grand opening of our new AquaPark in April! We can't wait to see you there!

Expert predicts tough election fight for Tories

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council's ruling Conservatives face a serious fight to stay in power in this year's local elections, a polling expert predicts.

Independent statistician Nigel Marriott, who is credited with making the most accurate forecast for the last General Election, says the district bucked the national trend in the last local authority elections four years ago - but may not this time.

In 2019 the Tories retained overall control in South Gloucestershire, in contrast to nearby North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset, where the party lost power to an independent-led coalition and the Liberal Democrats respectively, with the unpopular government of Theresa May blamed.

Mr Marriott, of Bath, has crunched the numbers on how residents in each of the four unitary authority areas in the region have voted at local, general and EU elections since

2009.

He says there are some striking similarities between South Gloucestershire and North Somerset in particular, as well as crucial differences.

Mr Marriott says the outcome this year depends on whether South Gloucestershire is once again apparently immune from national trends, as happened in 2019, or if that result was a one-off.

He said: “South Glos and North Somerset are similar politically, with Tories dominant and having grown their vote share notably since 2009.

“The vote shares are practically identical for South Glos and North Somerset.

“One difference is that North Somerset has been more open to independents, so the advance of independents in 2019 at Tory expense was not completely unexpected.

“South Glos has no history of independents or even minor parties, other than in EU elections.

New ID rules

VOTERS in South Gloucestershire will need to show an accepted form of identification at upcoming council elections.

Recent changes to the law mean people unable to show ID such as a driving licence, passport at polling stations could be barred from voting in the elections on May 4.

People who do not have an accepted form of ID will be able to apply online or by submitting a paper form to their council for a free ID card — although details of how to do this had yet to be confirmed as the Voice went to press.

But opposition politicians have raised questions about the new rules, particularly over which forms of ID will be accepted.

Liberal Democrat group leader Claire Young told a council meeting in December that it was "outrageous ageism" that photo travel passes for older people are set to be accepted as ID but those for younger people aren’t.

She called on the council to commit to ensuring free ID was available in good time for the local elections.

The Electoral Commission says research shows people less likely to have an accepted form of ID include those over 85 and people with disabilities.

But council leaders said a recent pilot scheme showed that most people have “an acceptable form of voting”.

Conservative cabinet member Ben Burton said: "The most important thing to ensure is that the democratic process is well run and the people who can vote are able to vote. I have every confidence in the democratic services team, with their experience of elections, to get the message out there in terms of what people can vote with, how they can vote, and to ensure that the electoral process goes smoothly."

The deadline to register to vote for the next local elections is April 17.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

“It is a solid three-party council and, unless something else is happening on the ground, I think you have to expect it to remain like that at the next election.”

Nationally, the Conservatives are polling at similar levels to May 2019, at around 25%.

Mr Marriott said it was hard to predict whether the Lib Dems or Labour – the second and third biggest party groups respectively – would benefit most in South Gloucestershire.

In May 2019 Labour was polling around 24% nationally, with the Brexit Party on 18%, Lib Dems on 16% and Greens on 7%. The first national YouGov poll of 2023, however, put Labour on 46%, with the Lib Dems on 9%, Greens on 6% and Reform UK on 7%.

Mr Marriott said: "The Tory vote in 2019 in South Glos was very resilient.

"Given the Tories are polling the same level again today as May 2019, if they are still polling 25 per cent come May 2023 then

Nigel Marriott

that points to an unchanged Tory vote in the election.

“The question for South Gloucestershire, though, is whether 2019 was the anomaly that corrects itself in 2023 –ie, big losses – or 2019 is the baseline, in which case they could be unchanged.”

The perils of forecasting individual elections are clear

- Mr Marriott predicted the Conservatives would win the 2021 Metro Mayor election, which was won by Labour.

Mr Marriott’s blog can be found online at marriott-stats. com/nigels-blog/

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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n YATE HERITAGE CENTRE

Our changing relationship with animals

ONE of the outcomes of our research into parks and gardens has been the significance of livestock and back gardens in the lives of ordinary people.

The majority of us today, if we own an animal, see it as a beloved pet and part of the family.

For many ordinary families before the 1960s, animals were often a source of food.

Village communities around Yate would keep animals to help feed themselves or to share with neighbours, engendering a stronger community spirit.

Pigs were kept in local yards and gardens before the 1950s.

They were fattened for eating, and a local butcher would come to despatch the beast. Some children did get close to the pig in the yard, but it was understood that it would ultimately feed the family and friends.

Nearly every part of the pig, if not all of it, was consumed in some way.

As well as the usual cuts, chitterlings were created from the intestines and tripe from the stomach. Trotters were also popular.

The remains of the pig also served other purposes. The bladder was often made into a football. Remembering his childhood in the 1940s, Bob Williams, of Coalpit Heath, recalls: "My grandfather had pigs, and Maurice Ovens, the butcher, would come down and kill them.

"I can remember having the pig’s bladder on a stick, like a balloon. We used to blow them up, put them on a stick and run around."

The other main source of food from domestic livestock was chicken meat and eggs, from hens. Pigs could be kept in the back yard, but most working families had sufficient back gardens to keep numerous hens.

John Dando, of Coalpit Heath, recalled having over 200 hens at one point in the family garden. Butcher Maurice Ovens had a similar number of hens wired off at the top of his garden.

In the 1950s he kept over 100 rabbits for live sale, meat and fur.

Not all animals were kept for food.

Racing pigeons was a hugely popular pastime in the mining areas west of Yate.

Before the 1970s, most streets had a number of pigeon fanciers, as they are known, who kept coops in their back gardens or had pigeon lofts.

Remembering the 1940s and 1950s, Bob Williams said: "They used to race pigeons...they used to take these pigeons all over the place.

"I can remember when I first

started at Coalpit Heath station, pigeons would come in baskets, and we used to have to release them and fill out the time when we released them.

"Everybody had a pigeon loft."

Diary dates

Until March 12: Parks and Gardens of the Yate area. We examine the formal gardens, yards, allotments and local parks which have been a main part of the local landscape for the last 200 years. February 13, 10am or 1pm: Holiday workshops. Make your own Venetian masks. Booking essential. Ideal for children aged five to 12. February 21, 7.30pm: Yate Lecture Series, Bristol burial sites from the 15th century, with historian Helen Frisby.

DOMESTIC animals in our area haven't always been kept just as pets, as David Hardill explains.

Pigs at Hall End Farm, around 1914.

Charlie Thornell (right) receives an award at a Pigeon Fanciers event at the Railway Pub, Yate, in around 1960

Year 6 pupils at Abbotswood Primary School meet MP Luke Hall

Children quiz their MP

PRIMARY school children studying democracy from Ancient Greece to modern times wrote to their MP, then got to ask him questions faceto-face about his work.

The Year 6 pupils at Abbotswood Primary School spent last term studying a topic called How do we Live Together?

They studied Ancient Greek civilisation and how the past has shaped democratic society today.

To finish the topic they invited Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall to the school in January.

Head of School Sarah Willoughby said: "After writing him letters at the end of Term 2, we couldn’t wait to meet him in person and have the opportunity to ask him about life as an MP.

"He very kindly replied to every child’s letter about the issues that they feel most affect Yate.

"We are very grateful that he took the time out of his busy schedule to not only acknowledge our letters but to come and teach us about the day-to-day life of a member of parliament too.

"We look forward to (hopefully!) seeing some of his promises put into action!"

Entering Brunel's world

CHILDREN from a Yate primary school followed in Brunel's footsteps - and even tried on some clothes like those he would have worn - on a trip to his iconic ship the SS Great Britain.

The Year 2 pupils at Woodlands Primary School visited the ship in Bristol's Great Western Dockyard in January.

The school planned the trip as it fit several areas children were studying, from geography to history.

Head teacher Rachel Dean said: "We are extremely lucky to have this historical ship in Bristol where it was first built.

"The children are learning about the continents and oceans. They have tracked the journeys made by the SS Great Britain to many continents and countries across the world.

"The SS Great Britain was also used to ship soldiers to the Crimea. This made a perfect link to Florence Nightingale, whose work in the Crimean hospitals changed the way hospitals are run today."

A Woodlands Primary School tries out some Victorian costume at the SS Great Britain

Regulars team up to buy their local

WHEN four friends heard their local pub landlord and landlady were retiring, they decided to buy the bar and run it themselves.

Now the Horseshoe on Chipping Sodbury High Street has relaunched under new management.

Landlord Matt Lewis says he hopes it will continue to play a role in the town’s thriving pub scene.

Matt was bar manager for six years until landlords Gill Dyer and Dave Jeal, who founded the pub in what was previously their house, announced they were planning to retire last year.

He said regulars Tony Wiggington and Steve Sands, who run a local logistics company, and accountant Paul Freeman, came together and bought the place in December – and asked him to stay on as a co-director and landlord.

Matt said: "They are great influence and support, and I get

their guidance on the business, but they let me get on and run the pub.”

Even Matt’s wife Joanne has joined the team as pub landlady, working behind the bar serving customers.

The pub is in one of the town’s oldest buildings, dating

Yate Town Council Update

Yate Town Council installs its first full renewable energy system, at Yate Heritage Centre!

Yate Town Council is pleased to announce the installation of our first full renewable energy generator, at Yate Heritage Centre!

In 2021, Yate Town Council began investigating the replacement of gas boilers at our buildings, where boilers were near the end of the product life-cycle. Following research and survey investigations, an Air Source Heat Pump was chosen as the best possible option for renewable energy generation, at Yate Heritage Centre.

In November 2022, when Yate Heritage Centre experienced a boiler failure - with faults that could not be repaired - and risks of damage to the building and the irreplaceable items within it, the Town Council immediately actioned a renewable energy replacement.

The new heat pump will return many benefits for the climate and the community. Heat pumps are low maintenance, with a long service life, (on average lasting longer than 15 years, compared with gas boilers which last, on average 10-15 years). This replacement will reduce costly maintenance and replacements before the next 15 years has passed.

Using electricity from the Town Council’s “green energy” supply, and the underfloor heating system already in place, the heat pump captures heat from outside and moves it indoors, and will save the Town Council an estimated £1,600 each year on gas heating bills.

While providing a reliable heating system all-year round, heat

back to the 15th century, but only became a pub in 2013.

Matt said: “It is such a fantastic hustle and bustle pubwe are not changing much.

“We closed for a day to refresh some of the paintwork, but we want to keep the existing atmosphere.

“I think Chipping Sodbury is a real destination for people looking for a good pub, and all the pubs in the town work together to support each other in making Chipping Sodbury a great place for a night out.”

pumps are more than 300% more efficient than a standard gas boiler, reducing the Heritage Centre’s carbon footprint by THOUSANDS of kilograms, of CO2, per year!

Councillor Chris Willmore said “this is a brilliant step forward for the Town Council and the climate.”

Councillor Alan Monaghan, Chair of the Environment and Community Committee said “we are thrilled with this installation and we are excited to continue this journey, to reduce our carbon footprint”.

For further information about the Town Council’s Climate and Planet declaration and project work, please visit our website or contact Yate Town Council at info@yatetowncouncil.gov.uk or telephone 01454 866506.

Steve Sands, Paul Freeman, Matt Lewis and Tony Wiggington behind the bar of the Horseshoe.

n LOCAL MP

Extra funds will benefit our schools

IN my role as your local MP, supporting schools and families has been an integral part of my positive plan for South Gloucestershire.

It is one of the key public services that defines our future.

I was delighted to see that the government has announced an extra £2.3 billion will be invested in schools across the country. As part of the commitment to increase funding, schools in Thornbury, Yate and the surrounding villages will see a large increase in funding from next year.

This is great news for our community in South Gloucestershire, where funding for schools will increase by over £13 million next year, representing a cash increase of 6.9%, above the average increase

for schools in England.

South Gloucestershire has historically been one of the lowest-funded local authorities for education, which is something I campaigned to change for some time.

These announcements mean we are now seeing the increases we need.

Many of our local schools will benefit, with secondary schools set to receive at least £5,715 a year per pupil, and at least £4,405 for each primary school child.

On top of this funding boost, £500m has been made available to schools and colleges to support energy efficiency upgrades, and to save on bills and manage energy consumption.

The government is also

giving further funding for young people in post-16 education: £125 million is being made available for schools, colleges and other education providers to 16 to 19 year olds next year, for investing in resources and skills qualifications that will offer more learning for students and access to high-quality qualifications, including T-Levels, A-Levels and technical qualifications.

This will make sure our young people can explore a wide variety of technical and vocational routes, giving them the qualifications needed to build successful careers.

I will continue to press for more support for our local town and village schools, to ensure we are not left behind.

Our positive plan for schools and education will see us

continue to invest in our local schools, to ensure our children get the best possible standard of education.

Improving school standards in South Gloucestershire is an absolute priority, so pupils living in our community have the best learning environments possible, and the opportunities they deserve to fulfil their potential in life.

Chipping Sodbury Lions Club

WE thank the people of Yate and Chipping Sodbury for generously supporting us through the past year, from our Easter egg fundraiser and carnival to Santa's sleigh.

In May, when we were all so aware of the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, we arranged for a coach laden with food and humanitarian supplies to travel to Krakow in Poland, where Kyiv Lions Club arranged for the supplies to be distributed where most needed.

We had arranged for 39 refugees with visas to travel back to this country on the coach and onto their host families. They arrived in Yate in June.

We held our annual youth awards ceremony at the Old Grammar School in June, with local youth organisations receiving awards ranging from £1,000 to £100.

On Chipping Sodbury Carnival Day the torrential rain cleared just in time for the annual procession of floats, with a theme of 'platinum and gold'.

An ongoing project which serves the community is the collection of used spectacles, which we pass on through Lions HQ for use in developing countries.

We have collection boxes in various locations in Yate and Chipping Sodbury and collected,

with the support of the public, approximately 5,000 pairs in 2022. If you would like to support this project please call 01454 882655.

In November we held our annual Wine and Cheese evening, where members and friends celebrated over a glass of wine or two, and looked forward to another Lion Christmas.

The year ended with an amazing Christmas fundraising month in December, with Santa and his sleigh touring the local area and visiting local supermarkets.

We thank the local community once again and look forward to seeing you again this year.

If you are interested in joining the club, please call 01454 882655.

Christine Dodd Past President

Yate WI

YATE WI started the year off with a very interesting talk about traditions of death and burial.

This may sound a sad subject for the New Year, but proved to be extremely fascinating in explaining how traditions have changed over the years.

Yate WI meet in the evenings on the second Monday of the month at Poole Court, except for April this year, when it will be in the third week.

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

We always enjoy a hot drink, biscuits and general chit-chat.

Meeting in a small, cosy room means no one is left out. Making friends is our main aim.

We also meet in smaller groups for craft evenings, coffee mornings, supper 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 February 13, at 7pm for 7.30pm start.

Sharon Bower

Lions members with the coach sending supplies to Ukraine

Saying 'I love you' with chocolate cake

JUST when you thought you’d eaten all the goodies from Christmas and there was no more huge calorie intake to be had, along comes Valentine’s Day. You therefore feel you should make an effort and give a gift to your partner.

Nothing says “I love you” like

something chocolatey.

Apparently, chocolate releases endorphins and serotonin into our bloodstream, which makes us feel happy. Serotonin is also released when we meet someone and begin to fall in love, so that may explain the connection!

This recipe makes 12 cupcakes,

so my advice - if you don’t want to undo all that good work at the gym after Christmas - is to either freeze most of them for another day or pass them on.

Don't put them in a Tupperware box, where they will be winking at you every time you walk past them!

Whatever you do, be kind to yourself and your partner.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s chocolate cupcakes

Makes 12 deep cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the cake:

Unsalted butter, softened

Cold water – 125ml

Dark chocolate- 70% cocoa solids (I use Green and Black’s)- 60g

Eggs – 2 large

Ground almonds - 40g

Self raising flour - 100g

Light Muscovado sugar – 200g

Best quality cocoa powder (I like Green and Black’s) 2 rounded tbsps

Frozen raspberries - 100g

For the decoration:

Best quality cocoa powder – 2 tbsps.

Icing sugar, – 80g

Raspberry jam – warmed and strained - 110g

Prepared fondant icing: 900g chocolate, 150g each – red and white

Pink food colouring

Extra fresh raspberries

Here’s what you do :

Preheat oven to 170°C/Gas Mark 4 Line 2 x 12-hole standard muffin pans with 12 paper cases. Melt butter and water in a small saucepan on a low heat, stirring until smooth. Leave to one side to cool slightly.

Meanwhile, beat eggs, butter and sugar together in another medium bowl until well combined. Use

a handheld electric mixer if you have one. Otherwise, it’s a wooden spoon and energetic mixing until just combined.

Sift the cocoa into the flour. Add the almonds, then the warm chocolate mixture.

Fold in the frozen raspberries gently.

Divide the mixture between the cases, filling each one 2/3 full. Smooth the tops.

Bake for about 40 mins. Check they are done by inserting a cocktail stick in the middle - the stick should come out clean, with no gooiness.

Turn cakes onto wire trays to cool. Leave to cool before icing.

To decorate:

I like to do a very simple decoration of a few extra raspberries, halved, and stuck on the cake with a dab of raspberry jam. Sieve a little icing sugar over the top of the cake before placing the fruit on top. If you want to be more swanky you can cut 3 different sized hearts and place them on the top of the cake using a dab of the jam again. Knead a couple of drops into the white fondant icing to give a pale pink heart.

Cook’s tip: These cakes will freeze beautifully.

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.

Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club

aims of the Inner Wheel movement, and this was certainly in evidence as we all mingled and chatted.

Volunteers from the Rotary Club acted as wine waiters and washer-uppers for us, doing a fine job.

After our meal we were wonderfully entertained by Lady Jo and Lady Sam, aka the Tudor Ladies, who demonstrated the art of getting dressed during Tudor times with many fascinating snippets of Tudor history (and gossip!).

At our first meeting of 2023 we gave yoga a go, ably guided by Nazama, who runs classes in the area.

Much of what we did could be done from a chair, but many stood and afterwards we all felt more supple and relaxed, and would be paying more attention to our posture in the future!

We have made donations to support the Torches for Ukraine appeal and Gympanzees.

OUR interclub event has made a very successful and enjoyable return, after the break enforced by the pandemic.

Inner Wheel Clubs organise an event each year to which members from other clubs are invited, with Chipping Sodbury arranging a lunch in the first week of December.

Members and guests from other clubs from Pershore in the north to Clevedon in the south, sat down to a lunch prepared by Sodbury members, and all were so happy to get together again. Promoting friendship is one of the key

We were saddened to hear of the recent deaths of two of our members: Sylvia Newnham had been the second president of the Club in 1985-6, and Jill Worlock was an active attendee until very recently.

Both will be much missed.

Yate & Sodbury District U3A

Liz Pattison

WITH the price of everything going up, Yate and

Sodbury District U3A are beating inflation.

The annual membership fee is being held at £8 for another year - for the price of a couple of cups of coffee, you get access to around 90 local interest groups, a monthly event at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall and local and national newsletters.

The U3A brings together people who are no longer in full-time work to develop their interests and continue to learn in a friendly, informal environment.

It runs on a volunteer basis and everyone learns from each other. Most of the annual fee goes towards the Third Age Trust, which is the U3A national body.

One of the important principles of U3A is that it should be as affordable as possible.

Some groups have additional costs for hiring rooms or equipment but these are kept to a minimum. Some groups, such as the walking group, have no additional charges at all.

You can visit any of the U3A groups or attend a monthly meeting twice before joining, but then you need to become a member for insurance purposes.

Yate and Sodbury U3A was founded in 2005 and now has around 1,400 members.

Why not come along and see what it’s all about?

Find out more at u3asites.org.uk/yatesodbury/welcome.

Jean Crispin

District chair Phyllis Charter and Chipping Sodbury president Binny Fraser with the Tudor ladies.

Rain water is common sewage problem

FURTHER to your article on sewage entering the river Frome (Voice, January), when I lived in South Africa I spent many years working on the design and installation of pumping equipment for fluids, ranging from sugar juice to sewage!

One of the most common problems with sewage systems is rain water drainage from buildings entering the sewage system of the local town or industrial area.

I live in Bredon, and the first thing I noticed when I moved into this house was that run-off from the rear roof was so positioned that it would run into the sewage man hole.

I took ten metres of rain water drain pipe and led this water away, to the rear of the property.

I am certain that all of the houses in this area will have the same set at the back of the property, where it will eventually enter the drainage system for Bredon.

Chris Pilcher

Police dog ruling was the right one

I WOULD like to comment on the article on the ‘Police dog legal battle’ (Voice, January) to stop a dog and handler being named.

As a former dog handler, I was quickly drawn to the article, remembering the actual incident from news reports.

I was delighted to read that the Information Tribunal judge, Anthony Snelson, dismissed the claim.

Many of us will recall the incident and anyone who was there was in breach of the law. The police had a duty to disperse the people.

The use of dogs is always a very serious decision, made by senior officers on the ground, and I can only conclude that the situation was possible on a level of an ‘affray’, which was putting the police in a vulnerable position.

Sadly the police do come under a lot of criticism (sometimes its their own fault) but on this occasion, I fully support them.

Chris Pickett

Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club

AFTER a frustrating and challenging year in 2021, thankfully the situation improved dramatically in 2022, when day-to-day living very much returned to normal.

In fundraising we enjoyed a very successful charity golf day, yet another highly successful classic vehicle run, supported the Sodbury Slog and a very successful mulled wine and mince pie stall at the Chipping Sodbury Victorian day.

For the community we staged a comprehensive health and well-being day in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, supported bimonthly memory cafe sessions at the Baptist Church, staged two tea dances at the town hall and made a good number of financial and other donations, including to the Blonde Angel Street Team and Caring in Bristol charity.

We also provided financial assistance to schools and youth groups, staging the young innovator competition for students from our local secondary schools to demonstrate their talents.

On the international front the club made a sizeable financial donation to Kyiv Rotary Club in support of Ukrainian international relief efforts and contributed to the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal.

In conjunction with Bristol Rotary Club we supported a major educational project in

n PHARMACY BLOG

Lebanon, and hosted a Rotary twinning visit with colleagues and their partners from Toulon and Mannheim.

And we still had time for fun. Starting with a very entertaining Burns Night supper, many social events followed, culminating in our annual Christmas dinner at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club and a very enjoyable lunch at the home of one of our members.

Membership has remained steady, although we would be delighted to hear from anyone with an interest in joining the club. Please contact us at csrotaryapplication@gmail.com.

Stuart Fraser

Chipping Sodbury Morning WI

WE finished 2022 with a Christmas party, mulled wine, quiz raffle, a visit from Father Christmas and good wishes for 2023.

This year, our 30th year, started with a walk under a beautiful rainbow for a few minutes, before the weather warning kicked in, cutting the walk short.

But good food and company at a local Brimsham cafe made it all worthwhile.

Fingers crossed our next walk is drier.

Our January meeting had a talk from Dr Burroughes, who is always very interesting and can make us laugh. Coffee, cake and chat was on the diary for the 31st.

Our next meeting is on February 21 and offers a chance to learn to play bridge.

We meet at 10am every third Tuesday of the month, in Chipping Sodbury Masonic Hall, Hatters Lane.

We have a monthly book club, walks, meals out, cinema trips, and skittles team.

You are guaranteed a warm welcome, and plenty of biscuits.

Why not join us? We would love to see you. Call 0780 953 4107 to find out more.

Sue Bird

Keeping your resolution

IF you made a New Year's resolution but it's not going as well as you'd hoped, please don't despair - and certainly don't give up!

Research has shown that we place too much emphasis on willpower as a driver for positive changes regarding our physical well-being and diet.

The most significant factor is, in fact, enjoyment.

The wrong ideas about willpower drive us to work to unrealistic timescales or goals for adopting new behavioural patterns and habits.

Take diet changes: every time we exercise self-control, we build willpower. Saying no to feasting on treats, especially when no one is watching, makes it easier for you next time.

Celebrate all your wins, no matter how small.

Research shows that immediate rewards from new habits help us stick to them. It is a big step in the right direction for you.

Focus on developing good habits rather than just meeting set goals. Count steps and keep increasing them. Drink more water and aim to eat at least five portions of fruit and veg. Don't just be focused on counting calories and the bathroom scales.

Keep things fun and achievable. Self-criticism is linked to less motivation and poorer self-control. Be supportive of yourself and others. Learn from books and examples but remember that you are a unique individual.

Find your preference, whether it's doing activities in the morning, being part of a group, or using gadgets to support you. Your choice, your way.

The positive link between physical and mental well-being is better understood. We also know that for many of us, the challenges we face with mental health may mean we struggle more with adopting positive changes.

Rather than feeling you are letting yourself down, all that is important is getting the right help you need.

Your pharmacy team offers access to confidential NHS advice, with patience and kindness.

We are here for you.

The Rotary young innovator competition

n YATE LIBRARY

YATE Library is holding a series of half-term holiday drop-in activities.

Beasts and Belles crafts take place on February 14 from 10.30am-noon; a Once Upon a Time crafts activity and a panto party take place on February 16, also from 10.30am-noon.

Craft Bags are available to take home from February 6, while stocks last.

A dragons and dungeons Lego challenge takes place on February 17 from 2.30-4pm for children aged four and over.

The regular Lego club takes place on February 25 from 10.3011.30am. Booking is required for both events.

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, is on Feb 24 from 10.30-11.30am.

A coffee morning for Cancer Research takes place on February 23 from 10am-midday.

The library is a Warm Welcome drop-in place - help yourself to a free hot drink during opening hours, relax and do a puzzle or read a paper.

Craft Group meets on February 4 and 11, from 10amnoon, for tips on knitting, sewing or crochet.

Digilocal@yate helps children learn about coding and develop problem-solving skills, every Wednesday from 6-7pmregister at digilocal.org.uk/eoi.

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.

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

For 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 10am5.30pm, Thursday from 10am5pm and Saturday from 9am2pm. Open access (unstaffed) is from 8am-7.30pm every day.

n WHAT'S ON

February 7

n CHIPPING SODBURY MUSIC SOCIETY presents Bristol Chamber Choir at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets on the door: £15. School-aged children free.

February 13

n BRISTOL BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY AGM and member of the year award at Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke, 7.30pm. Visitors welcome without commitment to join. For more details contact Ron Ramplin at ronnie.ramplin@btinternet.com or call 0774 874 0794.

February 14

n GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY BRISTOL GROUP Andrew Hook Memorial Meeting, incorporating annual meeting, and update on the Heyford station rebuilding project at Didcot Railway Centre. BAWA, Southmead Road, Bristol, 7.30pm.

February 28

n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY demonstration: Barking Mad, with Jenny York. The Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury, at 7.30pm. Meetings take place every fourth Tuesday. For more information call 0117 937 3836.

March 4

CRAFT AND GIFT FAYRE, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, Saturday 4th March 10am - 4pm Local Crafts, Papercraft Supplies, Gifts & Collectables, Cakes, Refreshments and More! Voluntary Entrance Fee (20p) to be donated to The Friends Of Horton School. For more info, please email bythewoodsfayres@hotmail.com

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 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.

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

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 president Pete Chaplin for more 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 for more details.

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 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 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 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 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

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.

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.

A jobs fair is being held to showcase full and part-time opportunities on offer at a new stroke rehabilitation unit at South Bristol Community Hospital opening soon.

Across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, health, care and voluntary sector partners are working together to improve services for people affected by stroke.

This includes work to improve the prevention of stroke, as well as to provide the best possible stroke emergency care, rehabilitation and care at home once individuals are discharged from hospital.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the UK, and one of the largest causes of disability. Working with other healthcare partners, the aim is to ensure local people have the best opportunity to survive and thrive after stroke.

As part of this work, Sirona care & health is recruiting to a number of new positions for a dedicated rehabilitation unit, otherwise known as a Sub-Acute Stroke Rehab Unit (SSARU).

The unit will meet the needs of people who are unable to return home immediately after a hospital

New year, new NHS career?

stay as they need specialist rehabilitation following their stroke.

The team is made up of a variety of clinical and support professionals, including registered nurses, therapists and support workers, who all work together

to deliver the best rehabilitation experience possible for people. There will be on-the-day interviews available, too.

Join us – it’s free:

Thursday 2 February

09:30 – 16:30

South Bristol Community

Hospital, Hengrove Promenade, Hengrove, Whitchurch Lane, Bristol BS14 0DE Register via our website – https:// www.sirona-cic.org.uk/

If you can’t make the jobs fair –Sirona can be contacted by email via sirona.recruitment@nhs.net.

Town exit drop zone

A WIN and a draw from their three games after Christmas saw Yate Town pull clear of the Southern League Premier South division relegation zone.

The victory, 1-0 away at Gosport Borough, completed a league double and enabled the Bluebells to leapfrog their Hampshire hosts, along with Winchester City and Harrow Borough, to put them 15th ahead of the last fixture in January at home to the team immediately above them, Tiverton Town.

Kyle Tooze scored the winner at Gosport early in the second half but it was goalkeeper Martin Horsell who was named man of the match, after saving two penalties - one in the first half to keep the score at 0-0 and the other on the hour, after Yate had gone ahead.

The win followed a 2-2 home draw with Merthyr Town on Boxing Day and a 2-0 defeat at promotion-chasing Dorchester Town on the New Year bank holiday.

Against Merthyr, Yate went a goal down inside 10 minutes before a 25-yard strike from Zak Drew and a header from Toby Raison put them 2-1 up just before the hour mark.

But Merthyr equalised two minutes later and the points were shared, in front of a crowd of 429 fans.

The defeat at Dorchester came courtesy of two first-half goals from the home side.

Yate have continued to strengthen their squad, with Bristol City under-21s striker Brandon Oputeri

and prolific Hungerford Town striker Leighton Thomas, who was managed by Bluebells boss John Rendell at Paulton last season, both joining on an initial month's loan.

Experienced midfielder Ross Staley has signed on a dualregistration with Taunton Town, which means he can play for Yate but will go back to Taunton as and when they need him.

Cricket sponsor commits

CHIPPING Sodbury

Cricket Club has been handed a perfect start to 2023 with the news that Chartwell Funding is to continue as principal sponsor for another two years.

The local property finance specialist has supported the club for the last three seasons, and has now agreed to extend the partnership.

Club chair Andy Shield said: "The company’s name is emblazoned on our shirts, as well as on the wicket covers for both of our grounds. But their support goes far deeper, as this partnership goes a very long way towards helping sustain a vibrant and ambitious club which has its heart in the local community."

Chartwell Funding managing director and founder Robert Winfield said: “It’s a different place from when we first became involved. Tremendous investment has been made off the pitch in terms of facilities and the first team has been promoted back to the leading league in the region."

Sodbury’s preparations for the new season begin in earnest on February 5, with winter nets at Chipping Sodbury School.

New players of all standards are welcome.

For more information, visit the website at chippingsodburycc. co.uk or check the club's Facebook or Twitter pages.

Steve Hill

Andy Shield and Robert Winfield

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