Single punch caused death
GEORGE Baylis (above) has been jailed for four and a half years for killing former Yate Town footballer Scott Hendy.
PAGE 16
A YATE pensioner has celebrated her 80th birthday by jumping out of an aeroplane, to raise money for a cause close to her heart.
Full story: Page 3
A CHIPPING Sodbury man has been inspired to organise a huge fundraising effort by his best friend's ongoing fight against terminal cancer.
David Champion led more than 50 friends and supporters of Mark Butcher, 45, who came together at a gym in Iron Acton to take part in a gruelling 15-hour workout which has raised thousands for the two charities helping Mark and his family, St Peter’s Hospice and Bowel Cancer UK.
It was named 'the Mother of all Workouts' after
the 15-hours procedure father-of-one Mark spent having his cancer cut out in a procedure called ‘the Mother of All Surgeries’ by doctors.
As the Voice went to print the fundraising effort had raised more than £17,000, from more than 500 donors.
David said it "proved what an unbelievably amazing place the world can be when people come together for a worthy cause".
Turn to page 3
General election guide
Candidates for the Thornbury & Yate constituency in July's general election have made their pitch to Voice readers.
PAGES 4-5
Lorry ban scrapped
COUNCILLORS have scrapped a ban on HGVs using narrow residential roads in a Yate estate at night, despite more than 200 objections from residents.
PAGE 2
A YATE primary school has been praised for its clear vision and pupils' passion to succeed.
PAGE 7
Our August edition deadline is July 17.
Ken McCormick, Editor contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
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Well Aware
COUNCILLORS have scrapped a ban on HGVs using narrow residential roads at Yate's new Ladden Garden Village neighbourhood 24 hours a day – despite more than 200 objections from residents.
South Gloucestershire Council's spatial planning committee overturned a decision by a lower committee that would have kept restrictions on the times lorries and large delivery vans can drive through the development of more than 2,000 homes.
In April the authority's strategic sites delivery committee rejected a request from developers to remove a planning condition which says HGVs can only use roads on the estate from 7.30am to 6pm on weekdays and 8pm to 2pm on Saturdays, and never on Sunday or public holidays.
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Because that went against officers’ advice to approve the application, it went up to the council’s top planning committee for the final say, and that has now thrown out the decision.
Although it opens the prospect of lorry movements around the clock, another condition means every new company that moves into a unit will have to get its delivery times and types of vehicle signed off by council officers.
Principal planning officer Charmian Eyre-Walker told the committee in late May that this gave the local authority the control to assess any impact on residents and to spread HGV movements over a 24-hour period, so they were not concentrated at any one time.
She said the timing restrictions were deterring more firms from moving in, and affected supermarket and other delivery vehicles, such as Amazon.
She said the planning condition should be removed
because it was not necessary or relevant, and that it was also unenforceable and unreasonable.
But Yate North ward Lib Dem Cllr Chris Willmore, who backed objections from 210 neighbours and the town council, told the meeting: “This isn’t about the small delivery vans under seven tonnes, it’s about HGVs, the big stuff.
“It doesn’t affect Amazon, Ocado or any of the other firms that deliver to our homes in vehicles of various sizes – this is solely about which vehicles go to and from the employment land.
Cllr Willmore said although the developers claimed the condition had put off businesses from moving in, she had spoken to a “significant employer” who wanted to set up a base there.
She said lorries were forced onto the wrong side of the road because of 90-degree turns on the residential roads, adding: “HGVs’ lights at night will be straight into people’s houses.
Applicants BDW Trading’s planning agent Rachel Robinson said the condition limiting HGV times was “not lawful” because it did not meet the required tests under national planning policy.
Committee member John Bradbury (Lab, Bradley Stoke South) said he was reasonably satisfied that the condition could be removed if the other condition requiring approval of delivery times stayed in place to protect residents.
Paul Hughes (Con, Bitton & Oldland Common) said: “If the committee turns this down, it will go to appeal undoubtedly.”
Members voted 6-0 in favour of scrapping the restrictions, with one abstention.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
From page 1
Mark, the marketing director for pharmaceutical company Accord Healthcare, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in November 2021 after feeling an intense pain on his right-hand side.
A scan revealed that his bowel was completely blocked by a cancerous tumour and the cancer had spread to his liver.
He said: "At that point they believed they could cure it so later that day they took the biopsies and found that the cancer was in every section of my liver.
"They stopped counting at 18 tumours and at that point my diagnosis changed to palliative care. It was a huge shock and blow to me."
Last year doctors performed highly invasive surgery on Mark to cut out all the cancerous cells, followed by heated chemotherapy to remove any remaining cancer cells. He lost part of his liver, bowel and gall bladder in the procedure.
Mark said: “It's such massive, invasive surgery that there’s a risk you might not make it through.
"I had scans afterwards which showed no evidence of cancer, but then I had some more scans which showed that some of the
cancer cells have grown back.
"I’m a year down the line now and I wouldn’t have had that extra year if it wasn’t for the surgery. "My life is fairly independent at the moment – I get tired and I have a big scar but apart from that you wouldn’t know that I’ve had an operation of that magnitude, which is incredible really.”
Mark and David grew up and went to school together in Wiltshire and after Mark met wife Vic, from Iron Acton, David met Jo, from Yate, and also moved to the area.
Mark was a regular at the Kokoro Fitness gym where the
fundraiser took place in June, having joined with David.
David said: “The gym’s held a very special place for us and is the perfect place to honour Mark.
"He went into his diagnosis being the fittest and healthiest ever, which did help him in many of the treatments that he’s had.
"We planned a themed workout for every one of the 15 hours.
"We ended with ‘The Butch’, an intense workout reflecting Mark’s endurance.
“The outpouring of emotion and support for Mark was absolutely mind blowing and the money and awareness raised for
From page 1
YATE pensioner Marian Gilpin decided she was not to take turning 80 lying down – and went on a skydive from a plane at 15,000ft.
Marian is the chairman of the Yate –Genieri Community Link, a charity which has been supporting the community and development of a village in The Gambia in West Africa for some 36 years.
Residents of the village are aiming to convert an old schoolroom into a community centre, so Marian decided to raise £1,750 to support the project.
Despite being "totally terrified" by the idea, she decided to mark her 80th birthday by gaining sponsors for a skydive to help fund the new centre's floor, windows, door and electricity supply.
Taking off from an airfield at Dunkeswell near Honiton, in Devon, Marian was strapped to an instructor for specialist firm Skydive Buzz and came back down on target.
She said: "I think I would have been more scared if I had translated the 15,000ft into three miles!
"The most scary part was kneeling by the open door of the plane, waiting for the green light, but being tied to a young, strong instructor who clearly loves his job, and with other skydivers lined up behind me, there was no turning back.
"The free-fall part lasted one minute and then the parachute opened, and we stopped falling so fast and could enjoy the view across to Portland Bill to the south and across miles of wonderful countryside to the north.
"This was an amazing way to celebrate
the charities is incredible.
"Many of us struggled on the day, but knowing what Mark has endured with such determination and perseverance continued to inspire us and kept us going –the fact that he and his family were able to be there on the day was amazing.
“I have to finish by saying that none of this would have been possible without the incredible Kokoro Fitness community.
"More than 50 members took part, 18 of us did the full 15.5 hours but so many others contributed in so many different ways."
Mark said the hospice's support had been "invaluable", including its Emotional Support team, which provides counselling for him, his wife and daughter, and Clinical Nurse Specialist team.
David said: “Mark’s a very special character and he’s very stoic. He’s carried on relentlessly in his pursuit to not take no for an answer.
"We hope by doing this we can raise awareness that bowel cancer isn’t an old man’s disease and raise funds to support these charities.”
Donations are still being collected at the Mother of All Workouts JustGiving page, at tinyurl.com/2s67e3y3.
my 80th year, but most importantly to raise some money to improve the lives of our friends in our linked community of Genieri."
As the Voice went to print Marian's page on the crowdfunder.co.uk website had reached £1,590 and is still open.
To donate, visit tinyurl.com/2p896szs.
VOTERS in the Yate and Sodbury area will be among millions around the country electing a new government on July 4.
Residents living in the area covered by the Voice will all cast their votes in the Thornbury & Yate parliamentary constituency, where Conservative Luke Hall is defending a majority of 12,369 from the 2019 general election.
He won the seat from Liberal Democrat Steve Webb in 2015.
Lib Dem candidate Claire Young, the current leader of South Gloucestershire Council, was second in 2017 and 2019.
The constituency's boundaries have changed since the last general election, as part of a nationwide revamp. The Pilning & Severn Beach council ward has been added to the constituency from neighbouring Filton & Bradley Stoke, and the village of Siston added from the Kingswood constituency, which has been abolished.
The new development of Lyde Green, part of which was previously in Thornbury & Yate, will now be
part of Filton & Bradley Stoke.
The Voice has contacted the candidates standing to be the constituency's next MP, and all five of them have sent statements to tell readers something about themselves and their priorities if they are elected.
They appear here in the same order they will be found on the ballot paper.
The seat is a top target for the Lib Dems, who held it and its predecessor Northavon from 1997 until 2015.
In last year's council election the Lib Dems topped the poll in every ward in the constituency, while in May's Police & Crime Commissioner elections the Tories were first and Labour second across South Gloucestershire.
Two opinion polls using large samples published predictions for the seat before the Voice went to print.
Both YouGov and Survation carried out their polling just over a month before polling day, and were predicting a Lib Dem win.
Betting scandal: Page 14
MY name is Andy Banwell, and I am honoured to stand as the Reform UK candidate for Thornbury and Yate. With a career spanning various roles including bus driver, lorry driver, and IT engineer, I’ve gained a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by everyday working people.
As a long-serving parish councillor for Dyrham and Hinton Parish Council, I’ve been committed to serving our local community, working tirelessly to address issues that matter to residents. My dedication to public service is rooted in my belief that effective representation starts with listening to the needs and concerns of the community.
If elected, my priorities will focus on strengthening our local economy, enhancing public services, and ensuring a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. I am passionate about supporting local businesses, improving transportation infrastructure, and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare and education.
I also believe in the importance of preserving our beautiful countryside and promoting sustainable development that respects our environment. As a family man with two grown-up daughters and three grandchildren, I am committed to building a future that provides opportunities and security for all generations.
I am determined to bring a fresh, common-sense approach to politics, advocating for policies that are practical, fair, and focused on improving the quality of life for everyone in Thornbury and Yate. I look forward to the opportunity to represent you and work together to make our community an even better place to live.
Thank you for your support.
We have received some funding from the Quartet Community Foundation to assist with costs for these trips but the fares will be £10 for those with a bus pass and £12 for those without. Huge thanks to Quartet for their grant to enable us to continue these trips at a lower cost for our passengers.
We will endeavour to get every passenger onto at least one trip, we want to make it as fair as possible. We will have two buses for each trip, so we will have buses collecting in different areas but you can meet up with friends when you arrive. These are designed to be Days Out! Generally passengers can choose what they want to do at each destination but if you want some help booking somewhere to eat we’re more than happy to help. Earlier pickups likely to make sure you have a full day out!
Mon 24th June - Bourton-on-the-Water
Mon 1st July - Bradford on Avon
Weds 17th July - Weston Super Mare
Tues 30th July – Moreton-in-Marsh
Fri 9th Aug - Malmesbury
Tues 20th Aug - Ross on Wye
Tues 10th December - Bath
I HAVE lived in South Gloucestershire all my life. I grew up here, I am raising my own family here, and I want to make sure we keep delivering for our community.
We’ve got a lot done in the last few years, but I know there is more to do. Together, we managed to defeat the unsustainable proposals to build thousands of houses at Chipping Sodbury and Buckover, but now we need to fight the plans to overdevelop our towns and villages, and make sure Bristol takes a fair share of housing, too.
We are opening a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities school, and now we need to refurbish rural schools and ensure we have strong mental health support in local schools.
We’ve made progress on transport, introducing half hourly train services, opening the park and ride, and scrapping the Severn Bridge Tolls. Now we need to go further, by reopening Charfield Station and securing better bus services.
We supported businesses through Covid, but now we need to open ‘Banking Hubs’ and defeat the Council’s plans to introduce car parking charges.
We are tackling crime. There are over 500 extra police officers in Avon and Somerset, but I am fighting to see more of them on the beat in South Gloucestershire.
On Health, we have secured the money to rebuild Thornbury Health Centre, and expanded services at Yate MIU. Now I want to see more services delivered at Frenchay, and crucially, get the rebuild of Thornbury Health Centre done.
THE country is looking for change – to move forward after fourteen years of division, low growth, high prices, high taxes and poor public services.
To take just one example, people are waiting too long for NHS treatment, while the current government is content to blame doctors and nurses for delays, rather than providing the support that the healthcare system needs and which the British public have a right to expect.
Labour is offering a positive choice – a choice of economic competence, shorter NHS waiting times, green energy, investment in schools and better policing. This is the change that the country needs.
Thornbury and Yate is a fantastic community, and somewhere personally important to me. My wife’s side of the family is based just outside Thornbury, and this is why we moved to the West of England when our first daughter was born, 17 years ago. We’d never leave now.
Thornbury & Yate needs a parliamentary champion who will contribute to this positive vision, and who will stand up for the local area. Yate and Thornbury can be vibrant, bustling town centres that are simple to travel to and full of life, but sadly previous politicians have not stood up for the things that matter to the local area, while our town centres have fallen behind. Re-opening Thornbury High Street as a popular destination has to be the first step.
We can change this. Labour can change this.
I hope you choose Labour.
WE’VE just had the hottest month since records began, and climate change is the biggest challenge facing humankind – but to read the news you’d sometimes be hard pressed to know there was a problem. I feel let down by the main political parties and their failure to address this issue, which is the main reason I’m standing for the Green Party in this election.
WE’VE just had the hottest month since records began, and climate change is the biggest challenge facing humankind – but to read the news you’d sometimes be hard pressed to know there was a problem. I feel let down by the main political parties and their failure to address this issue, which is the main reason I’m standing for the Green Party in this election.
The Greens are passionate about protecting more than just our environment. We are focussed on delivering a fairer deal for everyone in society. We want to restore the health of the NHS, ensure affordable, quality housing is built in the right places and to enable everyone to have a decent quality life.
The Greens are passionate about protecting more than just our environment. We are focussed on delivering a fairer deal for everyone in society. We want to restore the health of the NHS, ensure affordable, quality housing is built in the right places and to enable everyone to have a decent quality of life.
I’ve grown up near Thornbury and raised my family here. I work in a local school and also as a gardener, and I volunteer with Homestart, helping families with young children. This gives me a wealth of experience of some of the challenges we all face. I’m already working hard in public service and as a volunteer to help others, and I’m ready to take this further as your member of Parliament.
I’ve grown up near Thornbury and raised my family here. I work in a local school and also as a gardener, and I volunteer with Homestart, helping families with young children. This gives me a wealth of experience of some of the challenges we all face. I’m already working hard in public service and as a volunteer to help others, and I’m ready to take this further as your member of Parliament.
We are so lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country, where we have a great opportunity to make things even better. I’m ready to serve the people of Thornbury and Yate and help your voice get heard where it matters. For real hope and real change, vote Green.
We are so lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country, where we have a great opportunity to make things even better. I’m ready to serve the people of Thornbury and Yate and help your voice get heard where it matters. For real hope and real change, vote Green.
Read more about the Green Party in our manifesto: greenparty. org.uk/about/our-manifesto
Read more about the Green Party in our manifesto: greenparty. org.uk/about/our-manifesto
WHATEVER your political views I think we can all agree something has to change.
WHATEVER your political views I think we can all agree something has to change.
We can’t carry on with an NHS that can’t treat people in A&E for 24 hours or offer doctors’ appointments for weeks.
We can’t carry on with an NHS that can’t treat people in A&E for 24 hours or offer doctors’ appointments for weeks.
We can’t leave family carers to cope with a care system that doesn’t work for them.
We can’t leave family carers to cope with a care system that doesn’t work for them.
We can’t keep dumping sewage into our rivers and we can’t afford high food and energy bills.
We can’t keep dumping sewage into our rivers and we can’t afford high food and energy bills.
I’ve lived in this community for 25 years, and I have fought against the impact of government policy on our local towns and villages.
I’ve lived in this community for 25 years, and I have fought against the impact of government policy on our local towns and villages.
I am standing to be your MP because, alongside other Lib Dem MPs, I want to take that fight to Parliament.
I am standing to be your MP because, alongside other Lib Dem MPs, I want to take that fight to Parliament.
For example, the Liberal Democrats have costed plans to invest in 8,000 more GPs and to fine the water companies for sewage discharges.
For example, the Liberal Democrats have costed plans to invest in 8,000 more GPs and to fine the water companies for sewage discharges.
I’ve been a councillor here for 17 years and am now Council Leader. I’ve introduced measures to tackle the changing climate and fought to protect our beautiful countryside. I’ve helped businesses get support and been there for residents when times have been tough. I’ve helped many of you over the years. I know I can make an even bigger difference as your MP.
I’ve been a councillor here for 17 years and am now Council Leader. I’ve introduced measures to tackle the changing climate and fought to protect our beautiful countryside. I’ve helped businesses get support and been there for residents when times have been tough. I’ve helped many of you over the years. I know I can make an even bigger difference as your MP.
The national polls show Labour in the lead. Here in this seat the situation is different. Labour have never won this seat, and it’s a close race between myself and the Conservatives. So if you think it’s time for a fresh start, please support me on July 4.
The national polls show Labour in the lead. Here in this seat the situation is different. Labour have never won this seat, and it’s a close race between myself and the Conservatives. So if you think it’s time for a fresh start, please support me on July 4.
A YATE primary school has been praised for its clear vision and pupils' passion to succeed.
Ofsted says Wellesley Primary provides an "ambitious" curriculum and staff have a "collective determination to improve the school".
Two inspectors from the regulator visited the school, in Edgeworth, in the spring. Their report, published in June, found it to be 'good' in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.
The inspectors said: "Wellesley Primary School is a welcoming and inclusive school. It sits at the heart of the community.
"The school has a clear vision for the education it wants to provide. Pupils embrace this and are passionate to ‘aim high and reach for the sky’."
The report said the curriculum at the school, which has 208 pupils aged from 4 to 11, sets out the important knowledge that pupils need to learn over time, prioritising reading and developing pupils' enthusiasm as they progress through the school.
It said the school swiftly identifies pupils with special educational needs or disabilities,
to ensure they are supported from the time they start.
The inspectors said: "The school has high expectations for how pupils behave. Pupils meet these expectations and demonstrate positive attitudes to learning.
"There is a calm and purposeful environment in classrooms and around the school."
and show each other care and consideration.
The inspectors said: "The school prioritises pupils’ well-being and safety.
"Staff form positive relationships with pupils. As a result, pupils feel happy, safe and valued.
"Staff morale is high at Wellesley and there is a collective determination to improve the school." The inspectors said the school responded well to address areas for improvement identified at an inspection last year. To further improve, they recommended that assessment is "used effectively across all subjects", to adapt future learning.
The school has been given a 'good' rating in five consecutive inspections since 2010.
Head teacher Heather Small said: "We are delighted with our recent Ofsted report, which recognises the hard work the whole school community puts in to supporting our pupils.
It was hard but I’m so glad we had that conversation.
It was hard but I’m so glad we had that conversation.
The report said pupils celebrate difference and are welcoming, polite and respectful to all, creating an "inclusive environment" where children of all ages play well together,
Maria, Bristol “ ”
"We are extremely proud of our school, where everyone works together for the benefit of the children. It is lovely to see Ofsted acknowledging the good job we are doing.
Together we planned a proper send off for mum, a whole morning to celebrate her life with the music and poetry she loved. In a peaceful natural setting where our family and friends had plenty of time and space to share stories and memories.
Together we planned a proper send off for mum, a whole morning to celebrate her life with the music and poetry she loved. In a peaceful natural setting where our family and friends had plenty of time and space to share stories and memories.
"I would like to thank our pupils, staff, parents and governors for the part they have played in achieving this outcome."
It was hard but I’m so glad we had that conversation.
Maria, Bristol
Together we planned a proper send off for Mum, a whole morning to celebrate her life with the music and poetry she loved. In a peaceful natural setting where our family and friends had plenty of time and space to share stories and memories
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.
• 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
THIS year's Yate Rocks! In the Park event has been hailed as a "great success".
Hosts Yate Town Council said the free event on the weekend of June 22-23 drew large crowds to Kingsgate Park.
On the Saturday, local bands, artists and dance groups performed on a mobile stage and separate performance area.
Bands on stage included Longshots, Rhiannon-Paige & Wild Roses, Limited Edition, Zoom Club, Liquor & Poker, Beacon Rise and The Layers.
Dance performances came from Yasmins, 5678 Dance, LA Dance, Redds Dance & Drama and Streetcred Dance.
There were also rides, activities and a wide variety of stalls and games including a climbing wall, rides and go-karts.
On the Sunday, the morning Praise in the Park event
organised by local churches was followed in the afternoon by the Great Choir Showcase, which included performances by Raysfield School Choir and Fascinating Rhythm Junior Choir, followed by Bristol Show Choir, Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir, Fascinating Rhythm and Rock Choir.
At the end of the event, the choirs joined together for a grand finale singing Green Green Grass.
A town council spokesperson said: "What another fabulous weekend we had in Kingsgate Park!
"We would like to say a massive thank-you to all the businesses, charities, organisations, bands, artists, dance groups and everyone who came to Yate Rocks! this year.
"We hope you will join us again in 2025."
SCHOOLS and groups got into the carnival spirit at the climax of Chipping Sodbury Festival.
The carnival parade on the afternoon of June 22, organised by Chipping Sodbury Lions, took place during an all-day street fair and was followed by a free Music in the Street show in Broad Street.
The carnival included floats and walking displays from St John's Mead and Raysfield primary schools in Chipping Sodbury, as well as Horton C of E Primary, with entries reflecting the festival's Movie Magic theme.
Chipping Sodbury Lions said: "A big shout out and a massive thank you to all those who supported us at the Street Fair and amazing Carnival today.
"Thank you for coming and for joining us on what was a fabulous day. Every penny collected by Lions goes to good causes."
On the following day the festival closed with the Picnic in the Park event at Jubilee Park, which included more live music and children's activities.
It was the last of ten days of events organised by the carnival's volunteer organising committee at venues including Town Hall, Old Grammar School, Goldney House and St John's Church.
There were also ongoing events for people to take part in, including a children's competition to spot festival dog Chips in shop windows and an art trail on the opening weekend.
The festival committee said: "There was a lovely buzz around all the venues, with enthusiastic artists and interested trailers.
"Who knew there was so much creative talent right here in Chipping Sodbury?
"We look forward to doing it all again next year."
• Using latest micro suction techniques
• Treatments carried out by EXPERIENCED PRACTITIONERS
• Very competitive prices
HUNDREDS of people basked in sunshine and the music of Abba at Chipping Sodbury's Big Lunch.
The High Street was closed to traffic for the annual event at the start of June, allowing people to spread out, sit down, have a picnic or get up and dance to the music of tribute trio The Dynamos.
There was an Abba-themed fancy dress competition and there was plenty of glitter face paint and miming with inflatable microphones.
The Big Lunch has been held in the town since 2012 to encourage a sense of community spirit and combat loneliness.
It has a different theme each year: this year's event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the
Swedish pop giants' Eurovision Song Contest win.
Co-organiser Ali Arnall said: "It was definitely one of our best, because the weather was so glorious, and the entertainment was fab.
"It was a fun way to bring the community together and it was good to see so many sparkly, smiley faces in the sunshine."
The event is organised by a committee of about 12 people, with support from volunteers on the day, including High Street residents who came out to marshal the road closures.
Ali also thanked businesses who opened specially for the day and donated prizes for a raffle, which raised a record £1,300 to go towards next year's Big Lunch.
Co-organisers Ali Arnall and Sarah Todd. Picture: Rich McD
Ladden View care home, opening this September will provide high quality care to its residents, as well as a hair salon, café and cinema.
ONE of the organisers of this year's Yate Relay for Life has shared her story, as more than 150 people prepare to take part in the 24-hour fundraiser.
Vicky Murray's traumatic experience of breast cancer has made her a passionate supporter of the event at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, which is being held for the 16th time this year, and has previously raised almost £500,000 for charity Cancer Research UK.
Vicki, 45, who lives in Yate, said: "I was diagnosed with stage 2 HER2 positive breast cancer, which had spread to my lymph nodes, in October 2021.
"My treatment was very hard-going and even now I still have issues that are caused by my treatment.
"I had chemotherapy which caused heart failure, followed by a mastectomy with lymph node removal and radiotherapy.
“After all that, I had further chemotherapy as a preventative measure but, after four rounds, I was hospitalised for six weeks, three of which I was bed bound due to having blackouts when I tried to stand up.
“I lost so much muscle mass that walking was a real struggle and I had to have a lot of physio. I was also diagnosed with neuropathy in my hands and feet which has caused a lot of issues that has so far stopped me returning to work.
“I was then put into forced
menopause – as my cancer was formed from a clump of oestrogen cells, I am not able to take any kind of hormone replacement therapy.
“I am so grateful to all the doctors and nurses who helped me through all this and are continuing to help now."
Vicky had to attend appointments alone as covid was still a major issue and was helped by being able to talk to the nurses treating her.
She said: "The one major thing you don’t get told when going through treatment
is what happens once it’s finished.
"Your life is taken over by appointments and treatments for so long, and you feel secure and supported in your cancer bubble that when treatments finish and you are discharged from services, it can leave you feeling abandoned.
“You also think that when treatment is over, you are going to feel like yourself again. Sadly that is not always the case.
"I felt very lost when I finished my main treatments and needed to find something to occupy my brain and hopefully give something back.
"So I reached out to a friend who used to be on the Yate Relay for Life committee, as I knew they were trying to bring the event back post-COVID. Here I am now, Team Chair!"
return from the pandemic last year, when it was staged over 12 hours.
This year it is back to its traditional 24-hour duration, starting at noon on July 6 and finishes at noon on July 7.
For those who come along to take part or support there is entertainment, a bouncy castle, face painting, crafts, raffle and a bake-off.
Vicky said: “Everyone is welcome to come and join in and support all our amazing teams raising money for Cancer Research UK.
"Without charities like this, my story could be very different. Thanks to all the research that is done, I will be cancer free for two years this July."
Vicky helped the event
For more information or to register, visit yaterelayforlife. org.uk or the event's Facebook page.
ONE of the Conservative Party figures embroiled in a scandal over betting on the date of the general election is a former South Gloucestershire Council political assistant.
Tony Lee, who stepped back from his role as the party's head of campaigning after it was revealed that he and his wife were under investigation by the Gambling Commission, was the political assistant to the Conservative group on the council earlier in his career.
Mr Lee's wife Laura Saunders, a fellow Tory employee, was selected as the party's candidate for the Bristol North West seat at the general election.
But on June 25 the party announced it could "no longer support" her and another parliamentary candidate, Craig Williams.
As well as Labour incumbent Darren Jones, Ms Saunders is also on the ballot paper with Mr Lee's previous partner Mary Page, who
is the Green candidate for the constituency.
After leaving his role at South Gloucestershire Mr Lee, who attended Kingsfield School in Kingswood before studying modern history at Oxford University, went on to several roles within the Conservative Party, including field campaigner, deputy director of voter communication and strategic political and campaign advisor to former Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, who was one of the high-profile casualties in this year's local elections.
A spokesperson for Ms Saunders has said that she will be cooperating with the Gambling Commission investigation, and "has nothing further to add".
Mr Lee has not commented on the investigation.
The Conservative Party said he had taken "a leave of absence" from his role at Conservative Campaign Headquarters.
The party initially said it had
been "contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals" but it "wouldn’t be proper to comment further" while the independent body was conducting its process.
However Mr Sunak later announced that an internal investigation was underway and in its subsequent announcement the party said: "As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as Parliamentary Candidates at the forthcoming General Election.
"We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing."
The investigation was launched after Mr Williams, the Conservative candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr and a close aide of the Prime Minister, was alleged to have
placed a £100 bet on the date of the general election shortly before it was announced by Rishi Sunak in May.
The surprise announcement of the July 4 date caught most politicians, including many Conservatives, off-guard.
Mr Williams has since apologised and said he made a "huge error of judgement".
Both he and Ms Saunders will remain on ballot papers, as it is too late to withdraw.
A police officer from Mr Sunak's police protection detail has been arrested in connection with the scandal, and five other officers were being investigated as the Voice went to press.
The Gambling Commission has confirmed it is "investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election".
However a spokesperson declined to reveal further details or confirm the identities of anyone involved in the investigation.
Do you know a couple who are due to celebrate their 50th/60th/70th Wedding Anniversary or someone who is celebrating a 90th or 100th Birthday this year ?
Yate Town Mayor or Deputy Mayor can deliver, in person, a bouquet to your loved one, helping to make their day even more special. For
To qualify for your complimentary delivery, you must live in the Parish of Yate
information or to arrange a visit, call: 01454 866506 Yate Town Council’s Sunnyside Lane Tennis Courts are open to everyone to pre book and enjoy tennis whatever your age or ability. It is easy to book online. at Kingsgate Park at Heritage
https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/Sunnysi deLanePlayingField
MORE than 15,000 people attended a series of concerts in Yate at the end of May.
The Good Times on the Pitch festival at Yate Town Football Club hosted pop superstars McFly, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Scouting for Girls, Aston Merrygold of JLS and TV presenter-pianist Jools Holland.
Event organiser James Murden said: “I am thrilled that a whopping 15,700 guests joined us at the shows, we had the best time with everyone.
"Our focus is always on the guest experience and the feedback we’ve had from audience members has been outstanding”
Production designer Tom Campbell said: "We had ambitious plans to create a world class production site and I think we achieved it, these are the biggest shows that our area has ever seen.”
James said: “The all-important question on everyone’s lips is ‘will Good Times be back in 2025?' And the answer is, we hope so.
"There are a lot of elements to factor in before committing to next year, however, things are looking good. We are in talks with more amazing acts so watch this space for news soon!"
THE family of a former Yate Town footballer have told a court how their lives have been "torn apart" since he died after being hit in a pub car park.
Statements from Scott Hendy's mother and one of his children were read to Bristol Crown Court before his killer, George Baylis, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison on May 29.
Baylis, aged 30, threw a single punch that knocked Scott to the ground during an altercation outside the Kings Arms pub, in Redwick Road, Pilning, in the early hours of March 2.
Father-of-three Scott suffered a head injury and died the following day in Southmead Hospital.
The former central defender, who played for Yate Town as a teenager, was 46.
Baylis, who lived in Redwick Road, admitted a manslaughter charge in April.
In her statement, Scott's mother Jennifer Hendy described the impact his death has had on the family.
She said: "This is a horrendous situation we find ourselves in, and our lives will never be the same.
“We know this would never have
happened if Scott wasn’t punched.
“However, we understand this has probably ruined the offender’s life as well – if anything we feel sorry for him and his family. We don’t have any hatred towards him; we accept he probably didn’t mean to kill our son.
“However, we are now left feeling our entire life has been torn apart, and don’t think we will ever come to terms with living our lives without him."
Scott's eldest son Lewis said: "It feels
and gentle exercises from 11am. No charge. www.keynshamdaa. co.uk, ksdaa22@gmail.com or 07392442966.
n Longwell Green Orchestra meet each Thursday at Longwell Green Community Centre, 7.30pm to 9.40pm. We have players of all abilities. Email Contact@ longwellgreenorchestra.org.uk or 07972 844073 beforehand to tell us what instrument and what level.
n Mat Pilates Classes
Taught by Physiotherapist Kate
Thurs 7-7.55pm (intermediate) Thurs 8-8.55pm (beginners) St Francis Church, Warwick Rd, Keynsham. 6 week block of classes £54. You are welcome to do a trial class first £10.
1:1 sessions also available at my studio in Saltford.
Book online or by contacting Kate - 07454 047536, www.corerehab-physio.co.uk
Fridays
n NEW Pilates Class
Fridays 10.30am
St Francis Church Hall, Warwick Rd, Keynsham. Mixed ability level, beginners welcome.
6 week block of classes £54.
Trial class £10.
more unusual items. Every second Saturday (same as Keynsham Farmers Market), 10am–12pm. Website keynshamrepaircafe. wixsite.com/home.
Sundays
n Keynsham Kings Flag American Football. Do you fancy trying out a new sport?
Do you love the NFL? Flag American football is taking the UK by storm as a fastpaced, non-contact version of American football. Training: Sundays 10.30am-1pm, Manor Road Playing Fields. Mixed sport - anyone 16 yearsplus welcome. No previous experience needed. Contact us for more info on the Keynsham Kings Facebook or Instagram pages.
like I’ve lost my compass, my guide, and the person I could always turn to when I needed help.
“Dad will never get the opportunity to become a grandparent, to walk Holly down the aisle and to show us all up with his dance moves at our weddings.”
The court heard that Baylis, who lived in Redwick Road, was arrested Baylis about half an hour later after the assault.
A police spokesperson said: "He broke down in front of officers and apologised for what happened, adding he did not want to hurt anyone."
The court heard Baylis would serve at least half of the sentence.
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Almond, of the police major crime investigation team, said:
"George Baylis has shown remorse for what occurred throughout the course of enquiries, and also pleaded guilty early on to manslaughter.
"While there is no evidence of any intent on his part to cause the fatal injuries he did, this case highlights the tragic reality that one punch can kill."
SOUTH Gloucestershire & Stroud College (SGS) offers a wide range of university-level courses at Levels 4 and 5, including Certificates of Higher Education, Foundation Degrees and Higher National Certificates/Diplomas. These courses are recognised by industry and are equivalent to the first year or first two years of a bachelor’s degree. Key facts about these qualifications:
l They are flexible and can be studied full or part-time
l They are highly vocational, equipping you with the real skills that industries need
l The one to two-year duration means you finish your studies more quickly
l If you’re already working, your studies can fit around your existing commitments and help you develop skills or boost your confidence
l Group sizes are kept small, allowing for tailored teaching and learning environments
l Student finance can be applied for, depending on eligibility
l Tutors are highly qualified and industry-experienced
l Subjects are varied and include: Education & Learning, Business, Leadership & Management, Specialist Make-up Design, Sports Media, Media Production, Fine Art, Computer Games Design, Game Art, Zoological Management and Conservation
l You can use them as a stepping stone directly into industry or further study
For more details, visit http://uni. sgscol.ac.uk or speak to our friendly admissions team at headmissions@ sgscol.ac.uk
A CHIPPING Sodbury man has completed a month-long fundraising challenge in memory of a friend who was killed in a lorry crash
Adam Young pledged to run 5k every day in May in memory of Tyler Carley, who died aged 20 in December when the lorry he was a passenger in overturned on the Avon Ring Road near Mangotsfield.
Adam is a fellow Bristol Rovers fan who got to know Tyler, who lived in Thornbury, and his dad Mark from attending away games with them.
He embarked on the challenge because he was abroad on the day when other friends and relatives of Tyler took part in the Great Bristol 10k to raise money for the foundation set up in his memory.
Adam ran a total of 155km over the course of the month, including several runs during a trip to Lanzarote.
He did the other runs around Pucklechurch, Yate and Sodbury, finishing on Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club's parkrun 5k route.
Adam was running for a total of 12 hours 15 minutes and 51 seconds and, as the Voice went to print, had raised more than £1,300
on his JustGiving page, which is still open for donations at tinyurl.com/dffmwdbz.
Adam, who works at Bristol Airport, said: "It was a really enjoyable experience, the support I received from people was beyond what I imagined and I am very grateful for that.
"To smash my fundraising target was incredible, and I can’t thank people enough for donating.
"The toughest part of the month was running after my shifts – my energy was
always low, so I really had to dig deep to get those runs done.
"Having my friends and family at the finish line for my final run was a very nice feeling and an emotional moment. I haven’t run since!"
Tyler's dad Mark, mum Gemma and siblings Kylan, Skye and Ronni-Irene founded The Road Forward – Tyler Carley Foundation to support road accident victims' families in the light of their own experience.
Its initial fundraising will go to two charities which helped the family in the aftermath of Tyler's death: SCARD (Support & Care After Road Death & Injury), which provides a helpline, counselling and other support for families affected by road deaths and serious injuries, and 2Wish, which supports the families of children and young people who have passed away.
More details of fundraising activity can be found at the Road Forward – Tyler Carley Foundation Facebook page.
*A 37-year-old man arrested in connection with Tyler's death was later released under investigation. Police say their enquiries into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing.
CHANGES to the website set up to show which dentists have places available for new NHS patients have been criticised by the leader of the profession's representative body.
The Voice reported earlier this year that adults in the Yate and Sodbury area searching the NHS Find a Dentist website faced a trip of more than 30 miles, to Marlborough in Wiltshire, to reach the nearest one accepting new adult NHS patients.
For children aged 17 and under, the nearest practice open to new NHS patients was 15 miles away, in Bradford-onAvon.
Since then the website has changed the way it lists dental practices. The label indicating a practice was open to new NHS patients has been replaced by one which says a practice will accept them "when availability allows".
That means more practices are now shown as accepting NHS patients – but the site no longer indicates if any actually have places available at any given time.
As of June 26, ten practices within ten miles of Yate were listed as accepting new adult NHS patients subject to availability, including Apple Dental Practice in both Wellington Road and Abbotswood.
The Voice asked NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care why the change was made, and whether there is any way for patients to find out which practices currently have vacancies for new NHS patients, other than contacting each one individually.
We also asked if practices were still reporting, to either NHS England or their local integrated care board, when they have places available.
(adults and children aged 1
SINUSITIS
(adults and children aged 12 years & above)
INFECTED
(adults and children aged 1 year & above)
SORE THROAT
(adults and children aged 5 years & above)
SHINGLES
(adults aged 18 years & above)
URINARY TRACT
(women, aged 16 to 64 years)
BACTERIAL
(children aged 30 days to 2 years)
IMPETIGO
(adults and children aged 1 year & above)
In response the DHSC said: "The website was updated in April to make it easier for members of the public to identify practices that might be able to accept new NHS patients."
However the department did not say whether practices were still reporting available NHS places, even though it claims the website provides "operational information at the current point in time to show where an individual can find an NHS dentist".
The changes to the site were made after the announcement of a 'recovery plan' aimed at increasing access and funding millions of extra appointments and treatments nationally, which included an announcement by ministers that 500 more practices were taking on new NHS patients.
But the changes were criticised by the chair of the
British Dental Association, Eddie Crouch, who said: "They are sidestepping the fact that they’ve just changed the definition of access from a simple ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, to taking on new patients 'when capacity allows'."
Writing in a blog that dentistry was now "at the forefront of voter concerns", he said: "We’ve called on all parties to offer real urgency and ambition to save the service and put a halt to widening inequalities."
Earlier this year the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, which is responsible for NHS services in the area, said access to NHS dentistry in the area was "challenging".
The ICB said people with an urgent dental need could call 111 to access one of 64 appointments available each week.
I HAVE spent a fair amount of my time convincing local people that there is more to the history of Yate than 1960s developments and the Second World War.
Indeed, Yate is an ancient Saxon settlement which was well established before its more “historic” neighbour Chipping Sodbury.
Armed with this knowledge, our main display for the summer is Saxon and Early Yate.
It bears repeating that Yate is of Saxon origin. A lost charter of around 716 – 350 years before the Battle of Hastings – refers to lands at Gete (Yate) while a further charter of 778 mentions Giete when Alfred, King of the Hwicce, gave it to St Mary’s Priory in Worcester.
Historians have cast doubt on the latter charter. However, a further charter of 950 covers the boundary of West Yate, the first incontrovertible evidence of Yate.
Many other surrounding settlements began during this period. Soppanbyrg (Old Sodbury) and Wichen (Wickwar) were established by the 10th century, along with Actune, Frantone and Dodintone, which you may be able to guess.
Although there is relatively little archaeological evidence of Saxon Yate visible in the landscape, there are clues to life before Yate.
The Neolithic period of 4000-2000 BCE, when early agriculture and pottery began, can be seen in long barrows at Starveall (Hawkesbury) and near Tormarton.
The most striking archaeology above ground is on the Cotswold escarpment, east of Yate.
There are five Iron Age (800BCE-44CE) forts to the east of Yate and Sodbury, including Horton and Dyrham.
Old Sodbury is the most dramatic and best preserved. Archaeologists have debated their purpose. Forts were possibly signs of power, obstacles to attack or used as
temporary refuge: probably all three at some point.
Looking at the archaeological record, there are numerous individual finds for the Bronze Age in and around Yate, and evidence of the largest known Roman settlement at Hall End, north of Yate.
Our understanding of early history in the area continues to grow, and a full display on this subject is clearly long overdue.
Yate Heritage Centre is part of Yate Town Council.
David Hardill
Until July 9: Yate in 25 Objects July 10-August 31: Saxon and Pre-Yate. History of the Yate area before 1066. July 13, 10.30am-4.30pm: Early Archaeology Day – Stone Age to the Saxons July 23, 7.30pm: Yate Lecture Series – The 1st Bath Medical Officer. History of Victorian health, with Stuart Burroughs of the Museum of Working Life, Bath. £2 admission, free for Friends of YHC. Booking essential.
More information on yateheritage.co.uk or by calling 01454 862200
We
YATE Town Council is inviting older residents to visit this year's Ageing Better Festival.
The annual event will take place at Yate Shopping Centre on July 17 from 11am until 2pm.
The town council says it will feature community groups offering
social activities and volunteering in sport, music, health, arts, culture, heritage, DIY and many more areas. There will also be a "vibrant programme" of music performances, singing, games, free classes, cream tea and ploughman’s lunches at the Pop Inn Cafe.
A council spokesperson said: "If you’re thinking of making new
partners at Yate Shopping Centre and Active Lifestyle Centre Yate, we look forward to seeing you at the festival, as we celebrate ageing better!"
To find out more about the Yate Ageing Better Festival, visit the council's Facebook, Instagram or twitter pages, visit the yatetowncouncil.gov.uk website, email info@yatetowncouncil.gov. uk or call 01454 869441.
simply capture a photo of our balloon between the dates of the balloon fiesta, post and tag us on either Facebook or Instagram Winner will be announced August 19th
FINAL preparations are underway to welcome Britain’s best-known soprano to Iron Acton as part of a weekend of al fresco music.
Acton Aid, the charity which raises funds for local good causes, is presenting two evenings of live music in the Iron Acton Parish Meadows on July 5 and 6.
Performing on the Saturday night will be Britain’s bestknown soprano, Lesley Garrett, who regularly appears in opera, musical theatre and on television, and has been performing for over 30 years, winning critical acclaim across her international career.
She will be singing popular classical numbers plus songs from musical stage shows.
Backing her will be Bristol’s only professional orchestra, the Bristol Ensemble, who are making their debut appearance in the Meadows. The evening culminates with Last Night of the Proms music and a firework display.
On the night before the Mash in the Meadows event will be headlined by Elton John tribute act Nearly Elton. Frontman Lee Brady and the band play at theatres and festivals throughout the UK and Europe.
Opening the Mash will be Joey the Lips, returning after playing last year. Organisers describe them as “the nation’s funkiest 10-piece band” providing a high-energy show, with well known songs from the last 30 years.
Tickets are available at www. actonaid.org.uk.
YATE residents gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day with an open air ceremony at Tylers Field.
The community event organised by Yate Town Council on June 6 culminated in the lighting of the field's ceremonial beacon at 9.15pm.
It burned simultaneously with more than 1,000 others across the UK, Channel Islands and Overseas Territories, as well as on the four Normandy beaches where the Allied invasion that hastened the end of the Second World War took place on the same day in 1944.
Town mayor Ben Nutland welcomed all those in attendance, before introducing the 1st Yate Boys Brigade Marching Band and performance by the Rock Choir, led by Alex Hawker, who also led the singing of the National Anthem and We’ll Meet Again later in the ceremony.
Church ministers Leigh Maydew, Hywel Snook and Ian Wallace then led a short service of remembrance followed by a performance by bagpiper Tony Hurst.
Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire Susie Hewson read the
International Tribute, remembering all those who lost their lives during D-Day, their families, and all those who successfully contributed to the war effort, from doctors and nurses to miners and air raid wardens.
The Last Post was sounded by George Hale and Kacy Brown from the 1st Yate Boys Brigade, while a representative of the Yate
and Sodbury Royal British Legion lowered and raised the group's standard.
A town council spokesperson said: "We would like to thank all those who attended and participated in this event to mark a significant part of our history and to pay tribute to those who gave their tomorrow for our today."
SODBURY in Bloom has been even busier than usual this spring.
There are a number of new planters in the town centre, which have been purchased with a grant from South Glos Council under their 'Greening the High Street' initiative, bringing the total number we look after to 50!
It’s a lot of hard work but we think the results are worth it, and hope you do too.
The plants this year look rather different, as we are using more sustainable ones so that we don't have to replant every year. We are gradually replacing most of our planting in this way, although we shall still add some bedding plants for colour.
The new planters all have reservoirs, which means they don't need watering as often. The ones at the ends of the benches are made from recycled plastic.
We would like to start a sponsorship scheme for maintaining these planters – if you are interested, leave us a message on our Facebook page. If you would like to help us look after the planters, please get in touch: new members are very welcome, as there seems to be more to do every year. If you would like to come and join us you would be most welcome.
Julia Bernau
AT our June meeting we learned all about the Tudors from our speaker David Hardill, from Yate and District Heritage Centre. This was a fascinating talk about important Tudor figures who lived in the Yate and Sodbury area, and where it is possible to still see traces of their time here.
Our next meeting on July 16 will be a beetle drive, a chance for our ladies to show their nimbleness and competitive sides. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month at 10am in the Masonic Hall, Hatters Lane, Chipping Sodbury.
We would welcome any ladies who wish to find out what a friendly group we are.
Call 07809 534 107 to find out more.
Sue Bird
WHAT do the following have in common: shopping trolleys, tyres, buckets, footballs, bottles, cans, plastics and a lone welly boot?
They are all items that have been found in the River Frome in Yate and removed by members of the Upper Frome Friends. It’s such a shame to see these
items in the river, along with the wildlife that belongs there: ducks and ducklings; fish, including brown trout; European eel (a critically endangered species); otters; kingfishers, and a beautiful white egret have been spotted on our regular walks.
Himalayan Balsam Bashing sessions have begun to try to control this invasive non-native species from the riverbanks. It grows very quickly so it’s important that we have regular clearance sessions. We are running out of time to remove it before it flowers and sets seed, so we really need some help with our regular Balsam Bashing sessions this month.
It’s a great way to meet new people, connect with our environment and training is provided.
Please join the Upper Frome Friends Facebook Group or contact riverfromereconnected@ southglos.gov.uk for more details.
Jane Davies
JUNE wasn’t so flaming this year, so I’m hoping July will be scorching.
And to keep you cool and give your taste buds a sensation, do try my newest frozen dessert.
It’s dead simple, doesn’t require an ice cream maker and, whilst it has a fabulous flavour, it’s lower in calories than traditional ice cream. Bonus!
It’s called a sherbet and I only came across it a couple of years ago.
It’s like a cross between an ice cream and a sorbet in that it has a little dairy, but not as much as an ice cream.
Funnily enough, I was on holiday in Malta a month ago when I had this particular recipe made, with blood oranges. It was so delicious I wanted to try and reproduce it when I got home.
I served it the other night to my sister, who doesn’t give compli-
ments easily. She thought it was delicious.
See what you think.
A refreshing, clean, light dessert, ideal after a rich or spicy main course. When blood oranges are in season (between December and May) they make a beautiful pale pink sherbet because of the red colour of the juice. But you can make it all the year round with ordinary oranges.
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
● Juice from 6 blood oranges –about 275ml
● Whole Milk 200mls (6 fl oz)
● Caster Sugar – 300g (10 oz)
● Liquid Glucose – 4 tsps (available in the supermarket baking section)
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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.
● ¼ tsp good quality vanilla extract or paste
● Greek Yoghurt – 400 g (14 oz)
● Double Cream – 75 ml (2½ fl oz)
● Natural orange extract (Waitrose do a good one) – ½ tsp
● 2-3 waffle ice cream cones –smashed into a powder with a rolling pin or pestle and mortar
● Fresh raspberries to serve
Here’s what you do:
● Squeeze the oranges into a medium sized bowl with the milk. Then stir the vanilla extract or paste, the Greek yoghurt and cream into the milk/orange mixture.
● Pour the mixture into a suitable 1 litre container, cover and freeze. (This will take 3 or 4 hours).
● Take the sherbet out of the
freezer about ¾ hour before you want to serve it and put it on the top shelf of the fridge to allow it to soften slightly.
● Put a couple of small scoops into glass bowls.
● Add some fresh raspberries or fruit in season. Sprinkle with some of the smashed waffle cones for a little extra texture.
Cook’s Tips:
● For a slimmer’s version, you can use half vanilla yoghurt and whipping cream instead of the double cream.
● As with all home-made frozen desserts, they are best eaten as soon as possible after being made. I try to make mine the day before I need it.
● Do not store in the freezer for longer than 1 month, as the flavour will be diminished.
July 5
n MASH IN THE MEADOWS AT THE PARISH MEADOWS, Park Street, Iron Acton, 6-11pm. Outdoor music festival with Nearly Elton and Joey the Lips. Tickets available from www. actonaid.org.uk.
July 6
n WAPLEY BUSHES LOCAL NATURE RESERVE WORKDAY. Meet at the Shire Way entrance to the woodland, 10am. Deep clean and cut back vegetation along woodland paths to get the reserve ready for summer visitors. Please bring your own gloves and wear stout footwear if possible.
July 6
n LESLEY GARRETT & THE BRISTOL ENSEMBLE – Live in the Meadows, at the Parish Meadows, Park Street, Iron Acton, 6-10.15pm. Includes Last Night of the Proms music and firework display. Tickets available from www.actonaid.org.uk.
July 7
n TEAS ON SUNDAYS AND BANK HOLIDAY MONDAYS at Old Sodbury Church, 2.30-4.30pm.
July 9
n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT SOCIETY practice class, the Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm: create an all-green pedestal. Same venue and time on July 23, demonstrator Caroline Cooper presents ‘The Language of Flowers’. Visitors £5. More information from Kate Bryant on 0777 353 7148 or katebryant186@gmail.com.
July13
n SODBURY FEST BEER, CIDER AND LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL, Chipping Sodbury RFC, The Ridings. Live music, free entertainment for kids and selection of food from local vendors. Tickets are available online at tinyurl.
com/bdff34ra. Adults £20, under-18’s free but must be accompanied.
July 17
n YATE AGEING BETTER FESTIVAL, Yate Shopping Centre, 11am-2pm. Meet community groups in sport, music, health, arts, culture, heritage, DIY and more, with music, singing, games, free classes and food. More information at yatetowncouncil.gov. uk or call 01454 869441.
Monday
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 & 7.30pm in Chipping Sodbury. Become more flexib le, worry less and sleep better with an easy to follow flowing yoga. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353
month. More details from Ron Ramplin at ronnie.ramplin@btinternet.com or 07748 740794. Visitors always welcome without commitment or charge.
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 SERENGETI BRASS BAND, small band for improvers, meets every Tuesday from 9.45-11.45am at Yate Methodist Church in Moorland Road. Straightforward pressure-free music making in good company. For more information email SerengetiBrassClass@gmail.com or phone Paul on 07851 239500.
n SUNRIDGE GOLF CROQUET CLUB meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Coalpit Heath and has players at all levels. Learn how to play, club equipment is available to use. To find out more contact croquet@wilko.eclipse.co.uk or call 07977 201440.
n SOUTH COTSWOLD PROBUS GROUP meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month at Masonic Hall Sodbury, 10am. Contact Pete Chaplin for details. 01454 324956.
n LINE DANCE CLASSES AT RIDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTRE, Wednesdays 9.30am to 12. Cost £5. No partner needed. A fun way to keep fit, reduce stress, improve memory and make new life long friends. Contact Gill 07837 784816, or FB gill.butler.90
n GENTLE YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga class 9.30am (term time). Easy to follow gentle yoga, ideal for back pain relief and joint issues. Book online www. yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353
n YATE AND CHIPPING SODBURY GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR, St Mary’s Church, every Wednesday from 2-4pm. New members welcome, especially men, to thriving community choir, with no auditions. First rehearsal free. For more information phone Jody on 01761 472468.
Thursday
n GOLDEN OLDIES SING & SMILE SESSIONS, Cambrian Green Court, Wellington Road, every third Thursday from 10.30-11.30am. Sing along to hits of the 50s onwards, chat and laugh with friends. £3 donation to attend. Call 01761 470006 for more details.
n GENTLE YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga class
9.30am. Easy to follow gentle yoga, ideal for back pain relief and joint issues. A slower-paced, 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 BRISTOL BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY holds open meetings at Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke, at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each
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 7.30-10.15pm. All welcome, with a partner or solo. Call Alan on 07812 508396 or Linda on 07843 240414
Wednesday
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 COELIAC UK LOCAL CAFÉ MEET UP occurs every third Thursday of the month, 10-11.30am, at Iron Acton Garden Centre cafe. Join us to share experiences of living gluten free. For further info contact volunteering@ coeliac.org.uk.
n YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly Flow-in Yoga 6.15pm & Back Care Yoga 7.30pm 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
OUR latest trip was to the RNLI training establishment in Poole, where we were provided with a tour of the establishment and lunch.
The tour included a go in the simulator used to train potential lifeboat crew.
On the day of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings we learnt more about another WWII event.
The talk about the Dunkirk Little Ships was given by Paul Barnett, about the rescue of 338,226 troops form the beaches by small
boats from the UK in 1940, known as Operation Dynamo as it was planned in the dynamo room of Dover Castle. In total 851 ships and boats were used including merchant and civilian vessels, of which 251 were sunk.
Paul was ex-navy with a passion for naval history, and gripped the attention of the audience throughout the talk.
Our next meeting is on August 1 at 7.30pm in the Town Hall, with a talk from William Reddaway titled A Ride Round England: One Man, One Horse, 2,700 miles and 30 Cathedrals.
Visitors welcome – why not give us a try?
Jeanette Oakley
THE u3a Philosophy Group is a thriving and growing group of individuals who meet once a fortnight on a Thursday morning to hear about a range of philosophical ideas, which inevitably leads to a lively discussion.
This term we are looking at what is meant by a “good life”, considering the views of ancient Greek philosophers, the beliefs of Eastern religions, as well as what Richard Dawkins has to say on the matter.
There are no right answers, and everyone’s view is encouraged. Come along – you will be very welcome.
We meet in the Watkins Room at the Old Grammar School in Chipping Sodbury at 10am on alternate Thursday mornings.
Annual membership of the u3a is just £8 a year.
For more exciting u3a groups visit our website at u3asites.org.uk/yate-sodbury/welcome
Pauline Mullholland
CHIPPING Sodbury Rotary Club has been collecting old carpentry tools, spanners and socket sets to hand over to a fantastic charity called Tools for Self-Reliance.
Old tools are taken to a workshop and refurbished so that they can be reused. They are then made into complete toolkits and sent to developing countries to enable students to train as carpenters and mechanics, to support their families.
It's a win-win project! Old unused tools are recycled and reused instead of being trashed, and they can benefit whole families.
If you are clearing out your shed and have tools you don't need any more, call Clive Wilmott on 0117 932 2673 or Marian Gilpin on 07837 588362. We collect.
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THE club's annual golf charity day, held at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club on May 24, was a resounding success.
With 13 teams competing and support from generous sponsors, £3,525 was raised, which will go to PROPS, a Bristol-based charity which empowers adults with learning disabilities to achieve purposeful and rewarding work opportunities.
In mid-June, 16 club members and partners travelled to Mannheim for a three-day Rotary twinning meeting hosted by the Mannheim-Kurpfalz Rotary Club, also attended also by the Toulon Rotary Club in France. The highlight was a gala dinner at the renowned Schwetzingen Palace. On June 2 members and guests met at the Kendleshire Golf Club for a celebratory lunch to mark the culmination of a very successful
year for our club President, Steve Young.
From the proceeds from our last round of tea dances the club made a significant financial donation to the Alzheimer’s Society. We also made donations to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity and supported the annual ‘Kids Out’ event at Cattle Country, Berkeley, inviting 19 students and teachers from Culverhill School in Yate.
Stuart Fraser
WE had an interesting talk from Becs Griffiths and Annwen Jones at our June meeting.
They are both practising medical herbalists from Rhizome Clinic in Bristol and showed how to preserve herbs in vinegars and how to make herbal teas.
It was quite enlightening that most of the herbs are readily available in our gardens – it will make me think again at what
I thought was just a bunch of weeds!
Looking forward, we have a talk on how colour can impact on our mood and well-being, and an evening ‘Exploring Fizz’: trying different bubbles from prosecco to champagne!
If you would like to know more or to come along to one of our meetings, on the first Wednesday of the month in Old Sodbury village hall, you are very welcome.
For more information call Sue on 01454 315161.
Linzie Clark
THE celebration of the 40th anniversary of the club was a wonderful event as members and guests gathered at Chavenage House near Tetbury.
Many of us wore red to acknowledge the ruby anniversary link. We were delighted to have a
number of our founder members with us and all enjoyed looking back at the old photo albums so assiduously put together before the digital age.
After an excellent lunch we enjoyed a fascinating talk from Caroline Losely-Williams who told us about Chavenage’s links to the D-Day planning as well as more recent filming experiences with Poldark, Wolf Hall and most recently the latest Jilly Cooper adaptation.
Our AGM a few weeks later looked back at the past year. We have made donations totalling more than £2,000 to a range of charities both local and international.
We wished our skittles team luck when they meet Gloucester IW club in the district final shortly. After our handover lunch we shall be back to our regular meetings, on the second Monday of the month, in September at the Town Hall.
Liz Pattison
CHIPPING Sodbury's electric car racing team has high hopes of getting all of its drivers onto the grid at the Greenpower national finals, after a good day at Castle Combe.
The Chipping Sodbury School Rotary Racer Greenpower team has seven drivers racing in two categories in the competition, and all were in attendance for the home race in June as the team's RR9 and RRX cars competed in the F24 and F24+ categories, for drivers aged 11-16 and 16-25 respectively.
The first 90-minute race of the day saw the F24 team come through a 72-car grid to finish in sixth place for RR9 and eighth for RRX, as other teams ran out of battery.
In the tightly-contested F24+ race, the RRX car finished seventh and RR9 tenth.
The result meant both cars qualified for the F24+ final.
In the final F24 race of the day, both cars started near the back of the grid but got off the line well. After a red flag delay, the race resumed and some well-executed pit stops and smooth running saw RRX cross the line in sixth, just ahead of RR9 in seventh.
The distances achieved on the day mean the team now has a great chance of qualifying for the final at Goodwood in October with RRX. RR9 has already automatically qualified, after a podium finish last time out.
Potential sponsors can contact the team at rotaryracergp@ gmail.com.
Alfie Gendall
CHIPPING Sodbury rugby club has installed new facilities to support their youth players, thanks to a grant from a councillor.
They include a calm zone in the clubhouse, where children can relax.
Chairman and under-10s coach Mike Wigmore said: "Our youth players are the future of the club. We have been working closely with Star* Scheme this season to support their mission, to make a material difference in the lives of young people who have multiple adverse childhood experiences or mental health issues.
"This calm zone will provide an important safe space to support our young players."
He said the club was "incredibly grateful" to South
Gloucestershire Chipping Sodbury and Cotswold Edge ward councillor Becky Romaine, for the grant.
Becky, who is allocated member-awarded funding to support local causes, said: "I am absolutely delighted to be able to score a try for Chipping Sodbury rugby club with this donation.
"Local councillors are here to support groups doing fantastic work in the community and the rugby club is one of Chipping Sodbury's treasures. I'm sure the club's youngsters will find these new initiatives hugely beneficial for years to come."
The club's registration day for next season is on September 1, from 10am.
Alexis Rogers
Setting up a Trust Fund may sound very “Downton Abbey” but it has become a device that can benefit so many people. And it’s no longer very expensive!
Usually they are set up in your Will and only take effect when you die.
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• Instead, the gift becomes “looked after” by the Trust Fund and managed by people you trust –appropriately called your Trustees – on behalf of the person you want to benefit.
Michelle says, “At Simpson
Solicitors we offer fixed price packages for Additional Trust Protection to be added to our Wills. We will also help you prepare a Letter of Wishes to guide your Trustees and we then offer aftercare to help them.”
Care Home Fees: A popular Trust Fund for couples is to protect the assets of the first to die, so they do not get used up in paying Care Home Fees for the survivor.
Vulnerable Person: Here the vulnerable person is not considered able to manage their inheritance – they may have special needs, disability, or an addiction. So, it is protected for them and released as and when needed.
Divorce or Bankruptcy of an Adult Child: This type of Trust Fund protects your child’s inheritance until it is safe for them to receive it - without leaving your family.
Children's Trust: Used where a couple have children from a previous relationship or might have further children with a new partner after one of them has died. The survivor can continue to live in the home, but the share of the partner who died is guaranteed for their children.
John says, “To find out more about how a Trust Fund in your Will may help your family, please call us or email message@simpsonslawuk. com for a Free Review Meeting with advice in plain English.”
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YATE Town manager Darren Mullings has been adding quality to his squad for next season while trying to keep much of the squad that performed so well in the second half of last season.
Captain Joe Guest and defender James Taylor have signed contracts to stay for next season.
However, last season's Golden Boot winner Nick McCootie has decided to resume his career at National League South level and has signed for Weston-superMare, after scoring 14 goals in 18 games since signing for Yate in January.
Mullings has added left-sided midfielder Lucas Tomlinson following the departure of Calum English-Brown, who has joined Taunton Town.
Tomlinson, 23, signs from Welsh League side Barry Town, where he spent last season.
A youngster at Bristol Rovers, who has played for Torquay United, Bath City and Gloucester City, he made seven appearances
for Yate Town, scoring three goals, in the final stages of the 2022-23 season.
Another major signing is vastly experienced midfield player Ross Stearn, 33, who has scored goals regularly in the National League South and National League for Weston-super-Mare, Bath City, Sutton United, Eastleigh, Chippenham Town and joins from Taunton Town.
Full-back Will Christopher (25), joins from Cirencester Town.
Pre-season training started in the final week of June. Friendlies in July start with away games against Portishead, Barry Town, Corsham and Gloucester City, before the Bluebells host Tiverton Town on July 29 and Bath City on August 3.
The Southern Football League Division One South season starts on August 10, when there will be 22 teams in an expanded division.
For more information visit the club website at www.yatetownfc. co.uk
Bob
Chester
SODBURY Tennis Club celebrated its 70th birthday with a week of events.
The club, based at the Ridings, Chipping Sodbury, marked the milestone with various events culminating in a Fun Tennis Day on May 26.
A wide range of activities throughout the day included walking and social tennis, parent/ adult and junior matches and the opportunity to test the speed of your serve.
Other activities included a bake off with our own 'Prue and Paul', hog roast and a disco into the evening.
Members were each allocated a house team – Wimbledon, Roland-Garros, Australian Open and US Open – to add a colourful competitive edge to events throughout the week.
The points tally was displayed throughout the week, with the Roland-Garros team crowned champions following the final tennis-themed relay competition.
A programme marking the event and club history has been produced to provide a lasting souvenir.
Club chair Kathy Ryan said: "It was a great week of tennis events, enjoyed by many members, and followed a lot of hard work put in by the organising committee – all volunteers."
For the second consecutive year, Sodbury Tennis club has won awards in the Avon Tennis round of the national LTA awards.
STC won the Connecting Communities category for its outreach work in schools and other organisations to encourage more people to play tennis in a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment.
Head coach Pete Caseley won Development Coach of the Year for his work in delivering a coaching programme that is creative and follows LTA coaching frameworks.
Abi Matthews won an unsung hero award. She is a member of the coaching team and Ladies Club Captain. She is a great role model and an inspiration for others.
LTA President, Sandi Proctor visited STC to personally congratulate the club on its achievements.
Jan and Mark Belcher
CHIPPING Sodbury Cricket Club moves into the second half of the cricket season with plenty of optimism and hope after a highly encouraging start to the 2024 campaign.
Relentless rain led to the cancellation of countless matches and dampened enthusiasm in the early part of the summer, but the club is now in a buoyant mood matching the improved weather.
Chair Jim Kendall said: "Playing numbers across the board have been very strong, both at junior and senior levels.
"Our junior sides also continue to make us very proud. Thanks to the work of our fantastic volunteer coaches, teams across all age groups are developing exceptionally well with a new wave of players being introduced into the senior ranks on Saturdays and Sundays.
"The future appears to be very bright."
This was clearly demonstrated on Father's Day with a unique
line-up in a home friendly against Frenchay.
A team featuring Jamie Wakefield along with sons Riley and Cooper; Jay Penfold plus sons Matt and James; Chris Meredith and sons Archie and Barney along with Raj Manchikalapati and son Gautham, managed to defend a total of 130, winning by one run. And dismissals by the team of 13 (using rolling subs) included
a Caught Penfold Senior bowled Penfold Junior, and a Caught Wakefield Senior bowled Wakefield Junior!
Sunday numbers were so good that Sodbury also played Coalpit Heath on the main pitch at The Ridings, where Pete Frost and son Ewan helped secure a 22-run win.
Steve Hill
ONE of cricket's best-loved figures has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Gloucestershire Cricket said it was "devastated" to announce that former player and current president David ‘Syd’ Lawrence has been diagnosed with the debilitating brain and nerve disease, which has no known cure.
The 60-year-old former England international, who is Gloucester born and bred, Syd played in 280 matches for his home county between 1981 and 1997 and took 625 wickets during his career at Nevil Road.
Chief Executive Will Brown said: "David is an icon of the game, a club legend and a trailblazer as the first British-born Black player to play for England.
"More than that he is the best of people, kind, loving, considerate and an inspiration to all of us here at Gloucestershire.
“I know I speak for everyone associated with the Club in sending all our love to David, Gaynor and all of their family and friends.”
