yate&sodburyvoice www.yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
June, 2019 Issue 52
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The luckiest man on earth They saved my life A MAN is cycling the length of the country to raise money for the medics who saved his life. PAGE 7
Treat for Queen and Abba fans
Iron Acton’s summer music event will feature two leading tribute acts this year. PAGE 5
Promotion joy for Bluebells Chipping Sodbury PC Ben Perrin (second left) with the critical care team from Great Western Air Ambulance, who were part of the huge effort to save his life. A POLICE officer who had a sudden heart attack at Chipping Sodbury police station has been reunited with the group of more than 20 people who helped save his life. Ben Perrin collapsed after returning from an incident
and was found unconscious by colleagues, who did CPR and used a defibrillator to keep him alive. But that was only the start of a huge team effort to keep Ben alive involving paramedics, air ambulance and hospital staff.
Now, just over two months on from the emergency which very nearly claimed his life Ben has met them all to thank them and said: “I feel like I’m the luckiest man on earth.” Full story, Page 3
Yate Town are preparing for life in the Southern Premier League after winning the play-offs. PAGE 46
Dismay at league switch Chipping Sodbury Town are appealing after the FA moved them out of the Western League. PAGE 45
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£95,000 bill for fake trainer seller
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A WICKWAR man has been ordered to pay back nearly £95,000 that he had made from the sale of fake branded trainers – 10 years after he was originally convicted. Martyn Davis, 38, of Canters Leaze, appeared at Bristol Crown Court on May 13 to face action under the Proceeds of Crime Act to recover money he made from selling the counterfeit footwear. He was originally investigated by South Gloucestershire Trading Standards in 2008 when he was found to be selling fake trainers online and 355 pairs of fake branded trainers were seized from his then home in Yate. He pleaded guilty to 13 offences under the Trade Marks Act in June 2009, following a lengthy trading standards investigation, and was found to have made £96,000. But when he was sentenced the following year his available assets were assessed at just £2,000, which he paid. Last year, however, trading standards established that Davis now had enough money to pay the rest of the amount, having discovered that he had recently bought a house and was paying into a pension fund. They took him back to court, as the Proceeds of Crime Act allows confiscation orders to be re-visited where the financial circumstances of an offender have improved. He agreed to pay the remaining £94,807.15 or face a year in jail. Cabinet Member for Communities Rachael Hunt said: “We are pleased to see this case finally reach its conclusion with the repayment of these ill-gotten gains.” Anyone who suspects they may have been sold counterfeit goods should call trading standards on 03454 04 05 06.
Driver’s jaw broken in road rage incident POLICE are trying to trace witnesses to a road rage incident involving a driver and cyclist, in which a 71-year-old man suffered a broken jaw. The pensioner who was injured has died since the altercation in Church Road, Frampton Cotterell, although Avon and Somerset police say his death is not connected to the injuries he suffered. Police say the altercation followed a collision involving a car and bicycle at around 2pm on April 1. A spokesperson said a 45-year-old man had been interviewed by officers, who were calling on anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward, especially if they stopped at the scene or had dashcam footage.
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June, 2019
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It took them all to keep Ben alive WHEN police officer Ben Perrin collapsed after attending an incident, it took all of these people to keep him alive. Ben, 44, felt unwell when he returned to Chipping Sodbury police station in the High Street on March 17 this year. Shortly afterwards colleagues found him unconscious and not breathing. They did CPR and used a defibrillator and he was taken to hospital. But that was only the start of the fight to save his life. Ben had a severe pulmonary haemorrhage – bleeding on the lungs – and a second cardiac arrest. He then developed potentially lethal sepsis and a type of pneumonia, and had to be put into an induced coma for three weeks. The odds were stacked against him, but he survived. Now just over two months after the emergency that almost claimed his life Ben has recovered. He was invited to the Avon and Somerset police headquarters in Portishead to meet all the police, ambulance and hospital teams who responded to the emergency call out. Ben said: “I can’t even remember going to work that day. But I feel like I’m the luckiest man on earth. I shouldn’t be here – I should have died. “I’m very grateful for all the care I received from everyone including my colleagues. “If you find someone unconscious and not breathing,
Ben Perrin (centre, in the checked shirt) met all of the people involved in the effort to save his life after he collapsed at Chipping Sodbury police station in March. stay calm and call 999 for an ambulance. And try CPR because you can’t make the situation any worse.” It was PC Nathan Sollis, a close friend of Ben’s, who did CPR and used the defibrillator. Nathan said: “The adrenaline took over, and we got on with it until the ambulance crews took over. “We were told he wasn’t going to recover. It was difficult to comprehend what had happened to a very good friend. “But he managed to pull through. Ben’s a miracle man!” South Western Ambulance Service operations officer Rhys Griffiths was one of the first responders to arrive. He said: “Ben is a success story, where early intervention
from his colleagues no doubt saved his life. Without their rapid actions, Ben’s story may have been different. “Police staff laid a great foundation for SWASFT to continue resuscitation and utilise our advanced treatment. They deserve much praise for their swift actions on the night of his cardiac arrest.” The team of over 20 responders included paramedic land crews, specialist cardiac arrest paramedics, and critical care team from the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), who all made continued efforts to resuscitate Ben. Rhys added: “This was an ultimate team effort from police, hospital staff, air ambulance and
ambulance staff.” Ben was treated at Bristol Royal Infirmary. The hospital’s clinical chair of surgery, Dr Sanjoy Shah, said: “Ben suffered a cardiac arrest and his survival is a testament to the teamwork of the SWASFT team and the Bristol Royal Infirmary emergency department, cardiac catheter labs and intensive care unit teams. “He was critically ill, however with excellent care and a huge amount of hard work and determination from the staff, Ben, his family and his police colleagues, we're delighted that he has recovered so well. “We’re thrilled with Ben’s recovery and wish him all the best for the future.”
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Big Lunch goes country and western THIS year’s Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch will be a street party with a Texan theme, with line dancing, riding rodeo and a Dolly Parton tribute act. There will be a whole afternoon off free family activities at the bring-a-picnic event on Sunday June 2, from noon to 6pm, including a tin can alley shoot-out, children’s fancy dress competition and free face painting, with the rodeo rides on an inflatable bucking bronco. Big Lunch chairperson Alexandra Womack said: “What could be more fun? Hay bales will line our beautiful High Street and we have a packed line-up of amazing entertainment this year. “All you need to do is pack a picnic and come along for a day of free fun.” Blazing Saddles hoedown dance group will lead the line dancing, and top tribute artist Diamond Dolly will perform Dolly Parton’s greatest hits. There’ll also be performance from Stapleton School of Dancing and singing from the West Country Communion band. The entertainment stage will SCHOOLS are being sent free boxes of products to be given to girls at risk of ‘period poverty’. South Gloucestershire Council says research by a leading global charity has found that 1 in 10 girls in the UK cannot afford to buy sanitary products and an estimated 137,000 are missing school because of their periods. It has launched a public
Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch committee members are looking forward to this year’s Country and Western themed event on 2nd June. Photo: Rich McD Photography be decorated specially in the style of the American West. Local businesses are taking part, with the Little Cheese Shop selling quesadillas and flatbread pizzas, Jon Howell the butcher running a hog roast, and the Squire Inn serving hot foot outside their premises on Broad Street. The big lunch in Chipping Sodbury is part of the national Big Lunch initiative to tackle loneliness and encourage
community spirit. All it requires is for people to have lunch together on the first Sunday in June. In first started in the town 7 years ago for the Diamond Jubilee, organised by the town council. In 2003 the event it was taken on by Alexandra Womack and Sarah Todd and it is now run independently with its own committee of volunteers. There is also a Christmas Big
Lunch for elderly and vulnerable people and fundraising events throughout the year. The committee recently won a group award in the 2019 Chairs’ Community Awards run by South Gloucestershire Council. Entertainment at the event is free as it is funded through grants and fundraising. For more information visit the Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch page on Facebook.
Boxes fight period poverty health period positivity project to ensure girls who are unable to afford the products can access them, placing the boxes in school toilets. The council says it is also distributing information to help improve understanding of periods and reduce any stigma
or embarrassment around menstruating in the school environment. Schools in the Yate and Sodbury area involved in the project include Brimsham Green and Chipping Sodbury secondary schools, and Tyndale and Woodlands primaries.
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Director of Public Health Sara Blackmore said: “We want to make sure that no young woman in our area misses out on her education because of her period, and are pleased to be able to support them with these boxes of free products.”
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June, 2019
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Top tribute acts will rock Meadows fest IRON Acton’s summer music event, which raises thousands of pounds for local charities, will feature two leading UK tribute bands this year. Queen tribute band Flash went down a storm last year and will return for this year’s Mash in the Meadows by audience demand. They will be joined by Arrival, regularly voted the best UK ABBA tribute band. Arrival have toured in more than 29 different countries worldwide including the USA, India and China. Each act will put on a 90 minute show at the Mash. One of Bristol’s top groups, the Lewis Creaven Band, will open the event with well known rock and blues numbers. Mash in the Meadows, which takes place on Friday July 5, is the first of two nights of music on Iron Acton Parish Meadows. The second on Saturday July 6 is Proms in the Meadows, dedicated to classical music. Event spokesman Richard Hunter said: “This will be the 7th Mash and each year the event has become more and more popular. When Flash played at last years’ event, we had so many people asking for them to return again, as it was one of the best gigs they had ever been to.
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“This year it will be even better with the addition of Arrival. “Why not make a party of it and get a group of friends or work colleagues along for what will be a fantastic night? I hope that we will see members of the audience suitably dressed in Abba or Queen attire!” Saturday’s Proms concert features the Bristol Millennium Orchestra, the Iron Acton Community Choir plus other singing and dancing groups will also perform. The evening ends with a ‘last night of the Proms’style celebration and a firework display. Audience members are encouraged to bring posh picnics and Union Jack flags to wave. Music in the Meadows is organised by the village charity Acton Aid, whose members give up their own time to plan it for months in advance. They even buy their own tickets, so that as much money as possible goes to good causes. Money raised has previously gone to local primary schools, Christmas parcels for pensioners, school trips for children from low income families and the refurbishment of the village phone box. The annual bucket collection can raise up to £2,000 and in
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Queen tribute act Flash are back at Mash in the Meadows by popular demand 2018 that money went to Streetlife, a Bristol homeless charity. Tickets are available from www.actonaid. org.uk
PROMS IN THE
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An evening of quality rock and pop music from two of the UK’s top Tribute Bands playing legendary hits from Abba and Queen.
FRIDAY 5TH JULY 2019 IRON ACTON PARISH MEADOWS, BRISTOL. Buy tickets at www.actonaid.org.uk THE LEWIS CREAVEN BAND
The Hits of ABBA A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120
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Repairs for church hit by lead thieves
WORK is about to start to repair the roof of Old Sodbury church, months after the lead was stolen. Last October the church council was just getting ready to launch an appeal to raise funds to pay for much needed work to the church tower when the theft happened, leaving it with an even larger bill. After the theft was reported in the Voice, there was a huge response from local people. Around £90,000 has been raised by way of individual donations from villagers and well-wishers, grants from Hanson and the Allchurches Trust, and large private donations. It was members of the church community who organised the fundraising events, launched appeals, and put in grant applications. Canon David Bowers said: “Church members are delighted that work on the roofs will start in mid June, which will
overcome the draughts and noise of the temporary roof covering flapping in high winds during services, weddings and on other special occasions. “The work to the stonework to the tower will start in mid August. An alarm will also be fitted to both sides of the roof, which will be monitored to overcome future thefts.” One event which is still going ahead is a flower festival, which
was suggested by the Friends of Old Sodbury Church. When the appeal reached its target the planning for the festival was already well underway, so the organisers decided to go ahead and put any money raised towards other church projects. The theme is All You Need is Love, with the Chipping Sodbury and Yate Flower Arranging Society displaying floral interpretations of Beatles’ songs
Lady Madonnna, Strawberry Fields, Norwegian Wood and The Long and Winding Road, among others. Festival organiser Alan Watts said: “The Beatles theme was chosen because 2019 is the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' final performance and there are, apparently, links with Bristol. “Paul McCartney claims that Eleanor Rigby was inspired by the group working with actress Eleanor Bron on the film Help! and Rigby was taken from the name of a shop in the centre of Bristol. The shop is thought to be Rigby and Evens, Wine and Spirit shippers based in King Street. McCartney noticed the shop while visiting Bristol to watch his then girlfriend, Jane Asher, acting in a play.” The festival takes place from June 28 to 30, from 11am to 6pm. Entrance is free, although donations are welcome. Cream teas will be on sale.
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June, 2019
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They are the reason I survived A CYCLIST will pedal the length of the country to raise money for the medics who saved his life. Dan Coles, 39, received emergency treatment after he crashed into a wall and suffered a serious head injury while out cycling. He is embarking on a solo challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise funds for the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity after its paramedics saved his life. In 2015 Dan, from Iron Acton, was out riding with a friend and about to descend Harptree Hill towards Chew Valley lake in the Mendips. Somehow he lost control of his bike, but he doesn’t remember what happened. Dan said: “When my friend got to the bottom he thought I must have had a puncture but after riding back up the hill he saw blood running down the road. “Fortunately, the first people who stopped happened to be anaesthetists from the BRI who tried to do emergency first aid, but I wasn’t having it. When you have severe head trauma you are not yourself – you are in shock.” Dan had a bleed on the brain, had fractured his pelvis, split his knee open and broken his shoulder plus the wrist and thumb of his right hand. When the air ambulance arrived the paramedics tried to put lines into him but he wouldn’t let them. So the helicopter team flew off to collect a doctor. When they came back and Dan had been sedated, they
Dan Coles is raising money for the air ambulance which saved his life after a cycle crash found they couldn’t get him into the aircraft on a stretcher because of the angle of the blades. He had to be taken to hospital by a normal ambulance. Dan said: “The Air Ambulance was scrambled and, in short, their critical care is the reason why I survived. When I found out how much it costs to launch the helicopter each time, I felt like I had had two goes, and I feel forever indebted to them.” Dan left Southmead Hospital after three weeks and had four months off work, then started thinking about how he could get fit and raise money. Before his
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accident he’d signed up for the Bristol to Bath marathon. He said: “I was stubbornly thinking even if I shuffle across the line, I’m going to do it.” Dan went on to do it in 3 hours 20 minutes. He now commutes by bike 30 miles a day to work and back, and he’s training for his next challenge, the unsupported ride from Land’s End to John O Groats. It’s always been on his bucket list to do it before he turns 40 this summer. Dan said: “I’m going to do it over 11 days without a day off from the saddle so it will be
75-120 miles a day. Climbing the hills is the big thing so I’m doing anywhere between 1,600 metres and 3,000 metres climbing a day.” Dan is hoping to raise over £2,000. He’s also a member of Acton Aid, an Iron Acton village group, which has chosen GWAAC as its charity to support this year. Dan has four bikes – but he’s chosen to get back on the same bike that he was riding on that day in 2015 for the challenge. You can find Dan’s JustGiving fundraising page online at bit. ly/2JSDUy1.
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Andy is the world’s fastest unicorn A YATE man has claimed a world record by completing the London Marathon while dressed as a unicorn. Andrew Taylor needed to complete the course in under four hours to secure the Guinness World Record in the “fastest marathon dressed as a mythical creature (male)” category on April 28. He did it with just under two minutes to spare, finishing in 3 hours, 58 minutes and 5 seconds, and was presented with a certificate at the end of the course to prove he had the record. Andy took on the challenge to set the new record and boost funds for South Gloucestershire children’s hospice at home charity Jessie May. So far he has raised more than £1,400 for the charity. Andy, who became a father to twins Evelyn and Jackson in December, has run four
Andy Taylor after finishing the London Marathon marathons before, including two previous London Marathons. The owner of Blast Fitness gym in Yate, who proposed to his
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now wife Charlotte on the finish line of the London Marathon in 2014, said: “What a day Sunday turned out to be. Congratulations to all the other Jessie May runners – I hope they all had a successful day too. “Fancy dress had to be the best decision I’ve ever made. The crowds were phenomenal; there was a Mexican wave of screams the whole way round. I’ve done London twice before, but never known an atmosphere like this was. “I spent the first 20 miles smiling, laughing and waving the whole time. The last 6 were
pretty tough. I knew how close I was to the record, so had to really dig deep and persevere through the burning and the cramps. With about 800m to go I was pretty sure I had the record in the bag so I chucked in a little sprint finish just to be sure. “The feeling of crossing the line was unreal. I made great friends with many other record breakers too. I felt a bit dizzy and sick for a few hours after, but by 6pm was settled in a pub with a mixed grill and a lager!” Helen Mackie, Senior Community Events Fundraiser at Jessie May, said: “We are so proud of Andy – what a magical achievement! We are thrilled he set the new world record and absolutely loved his unicorn attire! “Andy also smashed his £1,000 fundraising target for Jessie May which is incredible. Every penny of the £1,423.22 raised will help our nurses continue to provide their vital support to families in their homes. Thank you so, so much Andy for your amazing support. “We’d also like to say a huge thank you to all our other fantastic London Marathon runners! What a team.” You can still sponsor Andy’s fundraising by visiting his Virgin Money Giving page at bit. ly/2ZuBlru.
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yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
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More beer and more music at festival THE South Cotswold Beer and Music Festival promises to be bigger and even better this summer. With more than 80 real ales and craft beers, 25 types of cider and perry, plus good wines, Prosecco, hot food, and 15 hours of live music over two days, the volunteer-run event, which raises thousands for charity every year, is celebrating its 24th festival in style. The festival is open from 6pm to 11.30pm on Friday July 12 and noon to 11.30pm on Saturday July 13. Members of Yate and District Rotary, who organise the event, have kept ticket prices the same for the last two years, at £10 for the Friday and £16 for the Saturday. Re-entry is allowed. David Picton, from Yate and District Rotary said: “This started as just a beer festival with some cider but has now grown, as popular demand and tastes have changed. “Quality music is a must throughout the festival and Friday this year will see a disco revival and Saturday will end with a great ska band. “Beer is still important but now even more space will be given to serving Cider, and the wine will also include Prosecco for the second year running.” Friday evening kicks off with the classic rock trio the Ray Jones Band, followed by Planet Boogie playing pop and funk favourites. On Saturday five bands are playing: the Three Pieces playing rock, funk, blues
and pop, Lorise Eaton and the Steelers with rock and roll, blues and soul, the Filthy Casuals playing modern covers, Wildcard with rock, indie and pop, and Natty Daps, a ska party band. All profits to go charity. Over 23 years Yate Rotarians have raised £250,000 through the festival. Last year they donated £7,000 to local community projects and individuals, over £1,000 to national charities, and over £2,500 to international projects including eradication of polio and disaster relief. The event takes place at Chipping Sodbury Rugby ground. Tickets, which include a commemorative beer or wine glass, are available from
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June, 2019
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Could you join Stephen fighting fires in South Gloucestershire? AVON Fire and Rescue Service is looking for people to join the team of on-call firefighters who answer emergencies in Yate. On-call firefighters are paid and fully-trained but rather than being full-time they hold down other jobs, answering calls as they are needed. The service is currently looking for new recruits who live within five minutes’ drive of the town’s fire station in Station Road. Stephen Hales, 40, has been an on-call firefighter in Thornbury for two years and is urging people in Yate to consider the part-time role. Stephen, who is married with two teenage children, already did a lot of community work with Thornbury Round Table and was a cub scout leader for a number
Stephen Hales is one of Thornbury Fire Station's on-call firefighters of years before taking on his firefighting role. In his early days in the job he was part of a team dealing
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with an explosion at a hotel in the early hours of the morning. But it’s the diversity of the work that he enjoys, not just the firefighting. He said: “You do everything from fires to helping the community and the bit that I get most enjoyment out of is seeing that we’ve assisted a local person. “There are some people who are in a desperate situation and we can help improve their lives, for example elderly people in their houses. We might gain entry for the ambulance service and assist with lifting them from the floor into a comfortable position.” There are several stages to the selection process: an interview, a fitness test, written tests, and a physical test. Then there’s the training. Stephen said: “It was really good varied training – they took you through from the basics of pitching a 13.5 metre ladder, to running multiple pumps, and then on to hot scenarios using breathing apparatus. “Search and rescue in a smoke-filled environment is a great, challenging exercise to prepare you for the real thing. Teamwork is the key to
completing the job in the best way.” Stephen took 25 days off from his job as a design engineer at Applied Vacuum Engineering in the town to train. He said: “I am very grateful to my employer for this flexibility and their commitment to the local community.” Stephen said it was important for anyone applying to get a feel for the on-call firefighter’s role. “Go down to the local station and have a chat with the men and women there to find out what the job entails and what impact it’s going to have on your life,” he said. “I got a lot from talking to people about what would be expected of me when I was in the role.” The service says on-call firefighters provide a lifesaving service to the community and earn a second income. A spokesperson said: “You can work flexibly around other work and family commitments, while still being an important part of Avon Fire & Rescue Service by responding to emergency calls when you’re needed.” All the application information is online at bit.ly/2TJ6tzq
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June, 2019
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Nick wants to give something back WHEN Nick Howitt had chest pains as he was working out at the gym, he thought it was indigestion. A few minutes later he had a heart attack at the wheel of his car and crashed into a Yate DIY store. Now the Winterbourne man wants to give something back to the team that saved his life. Nick, 48, is raising funds for the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. He said: “It’s only fair, because of what they did, to give something back and it’s self-motivating. To be honest you see them every other day in the sky and they are busy. You don’t know they are there until you need them.” Nick’s accident happened after he left a session at Yate Active gym with his girlfriend Hayley Hutton. While he was working out, he had pain in his chest. Nick said: “I have no medical history at all, I was 47 at the time and the last thing on my mind was that it was a heart issue. I thought it was indigestion or heartburn.” They left Yate Active gym, with Nick driving. As he was going into the roundabout, he lost consciousness and put his foot on the accelerator. He went over two lanes, over the verge and through the B&Q car park, hitting three cars and a lamppost. Nick said: “Hayley by this time has unbuckled herself and is holding me back, and she has the foresight to push the button ignition to slow the car down,
Nick, his girlfriend and her family: Emma Nightingale, Tom Nightingale, Keri Hutton, Nick Howitt, Hayley Hutton
so we ended up hitting the B&Q store. Because she’d turned the engine off, we were probably only doing about 10 miles an hour. I didn’t hurt anybody else apart from Hayley, who banged her head and her knee quite badly.” Three passers-by got Nick out of the car and one of them started CPR. An ambulance was there after a couple of minutes, and he was told that his heart stopped for 90 seconds before they started it again with a defibrillator. Nick was taken to the BRI, where he was in a medicallyinduced coma for four days. Doctors fitted a stent to his heart before he came home and explained that his condition is hereditary. Ten months later, he is on medication but feels well. In May, Nick and his girlfriend Hayley and her family
ran the Simplyhealth Great Bristol 10k, and raised over £800. Nick’s employer has since donated £400. Nick said: “I want to give something back to the GWAAC. They were going to
call the helicopter out but then it wasn’t necessary, but it’s all the same team.” You can donate via Nick’s fundraising page at bit. ly/2VGqAiD.
Nick in hospital after his heart attack
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12
June, 2019
n NEWS
Boxing club needs new home YATE Amateur Boxing Club is working with Yate Town Council on plans for a new, purpose-built premises. The club is currently based in an ancient temporary building next to the Yate Outdoor Sports Complex, with no heating. The cabin is too small to have men and women together or to accommodate paraboxers. It’s also damp, so equipment goes mouldy. Yate mayor Karl Tomasin said: “We are very impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of the coaches, who are all volunteers, and the discipline and commitment they instill in the young people.” The new building would be on the same site as the YOSC. The club’s vision is to be totally inclusive. It would be run by volunteers as a social enterprise, in particular supporting vulnerable people who would benefit from the personal and physical opportunities of boxing.
Members of Yate Amateur Boxing Club and coaches with Yate town councillors and others working on the new building project.
Social worker is struck off for fraud A SOCIAL worker has been struck off for fiddling South Gloucestershire Council out of almost £3,500 by falsely claiming 385 hours she did not work. Jane Rosalind Gordon manually recorded her clocking-in-and-out times deliberately incorrectly over a two-year period. When her boss became suspicious, he told her to use the authority’s automated swipecard system to register her working hours. But Mrs Gordon reverted to manually recording her start and finish times,
prompting an internal investigation which uncovered the fraudulent hours claimed between 2015 and 2017, totalling £3,468. A health and care professions tribunal in London ruled that her dishonesty amounted to misconduct and her fitness to practice was impaired, and ordered her to be struck off the register. Mrs Gordon, who worked for the council between 2001 and 2017, latterly as a social work senior practitioner, had insisted the clocking-in timings were a “data error” and
“unintentional”. But the panel rejected her arguments. Making their ruling, the tribunal panel said: “Given the serious nature of the misconduct, which involved dishonesty over a prolonged period concerning a significant sum of money, the panel considered the matter too serious to take no action or for a caution order. “The review panel has been presented with no evidence of reflection or remediation by the registrant.”
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yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
13
n NEWS
Two honours for war veteran Len A NORMANDY veteran form Yate has been given two honours in recognition of his role in fighting for freedom in the Second World War. Leonard Trewin, 94, known as Len, was a member of the Parachute Regiment and joined the battle for Normandy in August 1944, also fighting in Belgium, Holland and Germany over the last year of the war. He also served in the Army in the post-war period, until 1953. Like many other surviving Normandy veterans, Len has been awarded the Legion d'Honneur by the French government in recognition of his role in helping to liberate the country. It is France's highest order of merit. Now he has been given another honour closer to home, having a new retirement development in his home town named after him. Trewin Lodge is being built in aptly-named Normandy Drive, off Kennedy Way. Len said: “I am honoured my name is being used in naming
Leonard Trewin shows his Legion d’Honneur medal to Churchill Retirement Living's Neil Clipston, Jo Ridehalgh and Rob Bolton this development and hope all who live here will have a long and happy retirement.” This month Len is due to go back to Normandy for an official presentation of his medal at a service commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day, although he was sent the medal earlier this year.
The new apartments are being built by Churchill Retirement Living, which specialises in building developments of selfcontained apartments for older people.
The company’s regional marketing executive, Jo Ridehalgh, said: “For every new Churchill development we try to choose a name with a strong connection to the local community. “We are delighted to be able to honour Leonard’s incredible service to his country and the town, and to recognise his more recent achievements by naming Trewin Lodge after him. “He is an excellent example of someone who continues to thrive at the age of 94, and we hope Trewin Lodge will be a place where many others can follow his example and enjoy their retirement years to the full.” The development is set to have 62 private apartments for the over 60’s with support available including a lodge manager, a video entry system, lifts and 24 hour care and support.
New class for very young creatives A NEW class has been launched to foster performing arts skills in pre-school children. Razz Tots has been specially created for children aged two and three and their parents or carers, who can enjoy meeting other adults living locally over tea and coffee at the end of the class while their children play. It has been designed in line with the government’s Early Years Foundation Stage framework to create an enabling environment, which facilitates a secure foundation for a child’s development while they are having fun with their parents or carers. Razz Tots is part of Razzamataz, a national network of theatre schools that is passionate about the positive effects that the performing arts can have on all children, from the youngest at just two to the oldest student at 18. Georgia Davies, principal of Razzamataz Bristol North, said: “These active classes will encourage physical development, explore imaginations and allow your little ones to become confident, capable and self-assured individuals, whilst having fun.” Razz Tots is held every Saturday from 9am-10am at Yate Academy High School, Sundridge Park, Yate. For more information contact Georgia on 0780 970 9003 or email bristolnorth@razzamataz.co.uk.
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yate&sodburyvoice
14
June, 2019
n NEWS
Martin hoofs it for hospice Martin completed the 26.2 miles in 5 hours 26 minutes and 20 seconds as ‘ShoeperMan’, and says he was treated “like a minor celebrity” as he ran the course. His wife Melissa and daughter Zoe were there to support him on the day. He said: “I had enough water and jelly babies to get me round, although the sweets tended to come from the generous crowd rather than the organisers! The crowd support was pretty relentless and so needed. The costume meant I was out on the course much longer than I would have been without it, but I wouldn't have had so much fun.” Martin, 41, and his family live in Thornbury, and were supported by the Charlton Farm Hospice near Bristol, which helped them after they lost Jess, and still supports them by holding bereavement days. Charlton Farm is one of three hospices run by Children’s Hospice South West, the others are Little Bridge House in Barnstaple and Little Harbour in St Austell. Services are free and mainly paid for through voluntary contributions. There’s still time to donate via Martin’s JustGiving page. It can be found at bit. ly/2FeLb7t on the JustGiving site.
Martin Abrahams in his marathon shoe outfit
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A FATHER who lost his daughter to leukaemia completed the London Marathon in her memory, dressed as a giant shoe. Martin Abrahams’ youngest daughter Jess died when she was only 6 years old and the marathon was the latest in a series of fundraising events he has held in her memory. The shoe represented the Children’s Hospice South West, which provided vital support to Martin and his family when Jess died. His challenge has so far raised more than £6,600 for the charity and he thanked his “amazing supporters” for helping to reach that figure. Martin, who was born in Yate and went to Chipping Sodbury School, said: “I think Jess would have loved seeing me in the shoe and I'm sure she would have been proud of the marathon and the fundraising achievements. “The figure raised has really blown me away – my target was £3,000 and I thought that would be challenging, so to more than double it has been astounding. “I want to particularly thank the people of Thornbury, Bradley Stoke, Bristol and employees from the Nationwide Building Society, where we held a successful cake bake raising over £600.”
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yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
n NEWS THE new-look South Gloucestershire Council has been unveiled after the Conservatives held on to power at the local elections. Of the 61 seats available, the Tories won 33, a majority of five. The Liberal Democrats took 17 seats and Labour won 11. But the Lib Dems say their successes in wards within the Thornbury & Yate parliamentary constituency, where they claimed more than half of votes cast, put them in a strong position for the next general election. In Boyd Valley ward, the two seats up for election were won by Conservatives Steve Reade and Ben Stokes, who both polled at least 1,300 votes. In the Charfield ward, Liberal Democrat John O’Neill polled 869 votes, more than 600 ahead of Conservative John Buxton in second. In Chipping Sodbury & Cotswold Edge, Lib Dems Adrian Rush and Patricia Trull took both seats, with the second-placed candidate just 12 votes ahead of Tory cabinet councillor Rob Creer, who polled 1,527 votes. The margin of victory was wider for the Lib Dems in Dodington, where Tony Davis and Louise Harris took both seats by more than 860 votes ahead of Conservative Ian Livermore in third. The Lib Dems took all three seats in Frampton Cotterell, with group leader Claire Young securing top spot with 2,174 votes and party colleagues Tristan Clark and Jon Lean both more than 250 votes clear of the highest-placed Tory, Tom Howell. In Yate Central, Ruth Davis and John Gawn were elected for the Lib Dems, around 800 votes ahead of the Tory candidates. And in Yate North, Lib Dems Mike Drew, John Davis and Ben Nutland were all more than 770 votes ahead of the closest Conservative challenger. On the council’s ruling cabinet, Longwell Green councillor Toby Savage will continue to lead the council after he was unanimously elected by the Conservative group. Jon Hunt has been reappointed deputy leader. The other cabinet members are: Erica Williams (Bitton and Oldland Common), schools, skills and employment; Ben Stokes (Boyd Valley), adults and
Lib Dem gains but Tories hold power in South Glos
The new Conservative group on South Gloucestershire Council public health; Steve Reade (Boyd Valley), planning, transport and strategic environment; Rachael Hunt (Emersons Green), communities and Ben Burton (Frenchay & Downend), corporate resources. The Lib Dems confirmed Frampton Cotterell Claire Young and Maggie Tyrrell (Thornbury) as leader and deputy respectively. The party’s other shadow cabinet members are: Mike Drew (Yate North), corporate resources; James Arrowsmith (Stoke Park and Cheswick), children and young people; Jayne Stansfield (Thornbury), skills and employment; Louise Harris (Dodington), community services and tourism and Adrian Rush (Chipping Sodbury and Cotswold Edge), planning, transport and strategic environment. For Labour, Woodstock councillor Pat Rooney is once again the leader of the Labour group, while Ian Boulton remains deputy leader. Councillor Savage said: “This election has been hard-fought, with a lot of focus being drawn towards national issues, so I
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am pleased by the outcome and that the public continue to put their confidence in us and how we have run the council over the past four years. “I am proud we now have a fantastic team in place, offering a strong mix of fresh enthusiasm and valuable experience, both in the Conservative group as a whole, and in the newly-formed cabinet.” Councillor Young said she
was “delighted” by the results, adding: “We were the only party to increase both our number of councillors and share of the vote.” She said the Lib Dems had won 16 out of the 20 council seats in the Thornbury & Yate parliamentary constituency, which she said put the party “in a strong position to take back the seat from the Conservatives at the next General Election”.
South Gloucestershire’s Lib Dems celebrate their election wins.
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yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
17
n NEWS
New Yate mayor after Lib Dem clean sweep LIBERAL Democrats made a clean sweep of Yate Town Council, winning every seat in Thursday’s elections. Voting took place at the same time as the elections to South Gloucestershire Council, and the Lib Dems added all 17 town council seats to the five they won on the unitary authority. They are now inviting residents to make suggestions to add to the council’s four-year plan of action for the town. The party’s nine candidates in Yate North ward – Mike Drew, Ben Nutland, John Davis, Chris Willmore, Sandra Emms, Jane Winterburn, Wully Perks, Karl Tomasin and Alan Monaghan – all polled more than 1,700 votes, putting them well clear of the leading Conservative candidate Liz Brennan, who received 1,011 votes. Mike Drew topped the poll with 2,006 votes. In Yate Central ward, John Gawn won the most votes, 1,434. The Lib Dem with the fewest votes, Penny Thoyts, received 1,338 – more than 800 ahead of leading Tory candidates Jo Lewis and Amy McNeill. Just two seats were available in Yate South ward. Here, Lib Dems Tony Davis and Cheryl Kirby received 378 and 376 votes, respectively, ahead of Tory couple Ian and Shirley Livermore, who had 116 and 108. Councillor Willmore said: "We are so grateful to local residents for their vote of confidence in our work and for re-electing us all. As a team we can now get on with the task of working together with residents to improve our town.” Karl Tomasin was elected
the new Yate mayor, and Cheryl Kirby his deputy, at the first town council meeting after the elections. Karl, who has lived in Yate since 1992, said: “We are so lucky as a town to have people willing to volunteer to work for their community, unpaid as town councillors, and as members of so many community groups, friends groups and organisations. I want to thank everyone who volunteers in our town and to use my term of office to help them.” He said new initiatives being started at the suggestion of new councillors Jane Price, Sandra and John Emms included a well-being group to help improve mental health support across the town and new traffic and transport initiatives. Anyone with ideas or suggestions for the council’s four-year plan of action for the town can email info@ yatetowncouncil.gov.uk. In Sodbury Town Council’s North East ward, five seats were up for election. The three Lib Dems who stood, Brenda Allen, Linda Boon and Adrian Rush, were the first three elected, ahead of Tories James Ball and Roy Smith. Conservatives Steve Tubby, Susan Leese and Becky Romaine missed out. There were no elections in Sodbury Town Council’s Old Sodbury and South West wards. As there were not enough candidates to force a contest when nominations closed in April, all those people who had come forward were elected unopposed. In Old Sodbury ward, Tories
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New Yate mayor Karl Tomasin and fellow councillors at Yate Town Council’s first meeting after the elections. Scott Gibson and Marian Gilpin, and independent Phil Rumney were elected. In South West ward, independent Linda Banister and Conservatives Gill Dyer, Christopher Hays, Dave Jeal and Matt Lewis were also elected. It means the Conservatives
have a majority on Sodbury Town Council, despite the Lib Dems topping the poll in the only contested election. Parish councils in the area where all candidates were elected unopposed were Cromhall, Dodington, Falfield, Horton, Iron Acton, and Rangeworthy.
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18
n NEWS
TWO Yate schools are among the 10 most oversubscribed in South Gloucestershire, new figures have revealed. Broadway Infant School in Broadway had more than two applications for each place and St Mary's C of E Primary in Church Road had three times as many applications as places for its next intake. Broadway had 159 applications for the 60 places offered to reception pupils in September this year, while St Mary's had 137 applications for 45 places. Some of the families making those applications put the schools as second or third choice, and those parents who did not get a place at Broadway or St Mary's have all been offered places elsewhere. Beacon Rise primary in Kingswood topped the list of the most oversubscribed schools in South Gloucestershire: a total of 288 parents put the school in their top three preferences for their sons and daughters to join from September 2019, but it had just 90 available places.
June, 2019
Schools are oversubscribed Blackhorse primary school in Emersons Green is ranked second, with Stanbridge primary school, Downend, third. Emersons Green and Bradley Stoke primary schools make up the rest of the five toughest schools to gain a place. The Voice reported earlier this month that 9 out of 10 families had secured their first-choice school in South Gloucestershire — a total of 2,864. Six per cent (178 children) got into their second preference, while one per cent (26 youngsters) received their third. No children missed out on being allocated a place to start primary school later this year, the authority’s data showed. The 10 most oversubscribed South Gloucestershire schools 1) Beacon Rise primary, Kingswood Applicants: 288
Places offered: 90 2) Blackhorse primary, Emersons Green Applicants: 211 Places offered: 60 3) Stanbridge primary, Downend Applicants: 204 Places offered: 60 4) Emersons Green primary Applicants: 149 Places offered: 30 5) Bradley Stoke primary Applicants: 144 Places offered: 30 6) Samuel White’s infants, Hanham Applicants: 204 Places offered: 90 7) Christ Church infants, Downend Applicants: 176 Places offered: 75 8) Broadway infant school, Yate Applicants: 159 Places offered: 60 9) S t Mary’s primary school,
Broadway Infant School in Yate had more than two applications for every place.
Yate Applicants: 137 Places offered: 45 10) Bromley Heath infants, Downend Applicants: 151 Places offered: 60 By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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June, 2019
19
n NEWS
Gym staff workout to save a life STAFF at a gym in Iron Acton have been raising money to have a defibrillator installed on the business park where they are based. Employees at SG23 Fitness want all companies at Backfield Farm to have access to it and believe it could save a life. The closest at the moment is a few miles away, in Rangeworthy. They need to raise a total of £2,400, including VAT, to pay for a defibrillators and a weatherproof cabinet for it to be stored in. So far the staff have organised various fundraising events including a quiz night and a fitness event called 'The Battle', where dozens of members compete against each other to win, raising £890 so far. One of the team, Lynn Rubery, ran the Bristol 10k, raising £520. SG23 Fitness has also donated, bringing the total
SG23 Fitness staff Lyndsey Pullen, James Tucker, Will Seaman, Matt Tait, Jon Cook and Katie Reed are raising money for a defibrillator.
to £1,920 so far. Scott Dann from SG23 Fitness said: “The idea for a defibrillator has come about
through our awareness, as health and fitness professionals, that cardiac issues can arise at any time and, when they do, they
need immediate attention to keep the patient alive. “We are incredibly proud of our members and staff for putting so much effort into fundraising for this worthwhile cause. Defibrillators have the power to save lives and we believe there should be access to one in every public area. It means so much to us to be able to provide this potential lifeline for our members and the local community. “Many of our staff and members have loved ones with heart conditions too. According to the British Heart Foundation, for every minute that it takes someone to locate a defibrillator, there’s a 10% reduction in survival rate. If we can do anything to contribute to the saving of lives then we feel this is a very worthwhile investment.” The fundraisers hope to reach their target by the end of June.
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20
June, 2019
n STROUD AUCTION ROOMS
Steaming away to American collector TOYS and transport made the headlines in Stroud Auction Rooms' May sale, with a Victorian 8in gauge live steam tender locomotive, Empress, taking pride of place on the list of highest selling lots. The model, dated 1871, went under the hammer at £30,000 and is now on its way to America, having been bought by one of the world's biggest model steam collectors. A number of pieces in Mark Rozelaar's expanded specialist transport section were also a roaring success, with a 1927 Austin Seven Chummy four seat vintage tourer selling for £9,500. It was discovered in a Gloucester coach house and did particularly well because collectors liked its provenance, unrestored condition and local connection. Also popular with collectors was a 1961 Daimler Dart classic car project, which sold for £8,000, and a 1929 BSA 500cc OHV sloper S3013 motorcycle – ridden to saleroom before the auction – which made
This 8in gauge steam engine is heading for an American collection after selling for £30,000 at Stroud Auction Rooms £6,500. An exceptionally rare 1927 Cotton 350cc OHV works racing motorcycle was, along with its parts, on its way to the scrapyard until it was spotted by Stroud Auctions at an address in Cheltenham. Something of a lucky find, given that it sold for £4,300! Militaria had its usual enormous following and one private collection from Wiltshire received interest from 1,614 online bidders. A fascinating private collection of playing cards included an incomplete set of English playing cards from the reign of James II (1685-1688), with scenes reflecting
the growth of Protestant reaction to James's Pro-Catholic measures, which made £3,200. Stroud Auctions specialise in offering large private collections for auction, so please get in touch if you have a single genre collection which you may consider consigning for sale. Auctioneer Nick Bowkett and toy specialist Stuart Maule always joke before every toy sale that they never sell toys to children, with most being bought by men over 50. This changed at the May sale, when Nick sold a bus stop sign to his youngest ever
bidder – Sebastian Taylor, aged five. Although it was his first bid in an auction, Sebastian has it in his blood because he is the son and grandson of Stroud Auctions’ founders James and Ray. The next auction at Stroud will be on June 12, 13 and 14, when the specialist sections will be jewellery, silver, bijouterie, watches, clocks and coins. Viewing will be on Tuesday, June 11 (10am-7pm) and on auction days from 9am. July’s auction will include vinyl records, stamps, glass and ceramics. For more information see our advertisement below.
STROUD AUCTION ROOMS Entries now invited for our upcoming auction on August 7th & 8th
including guns, weapons, medals, militaria, sporting, taxidermy, toys, scientific instruments, cameras & binoculars
Royal Air Force/ Royal Flying Corps WWI Distinguished Flying Cross medal group Sold for £12,200
Edwinson Green of Cheltenham and Gloucester 12 bore over and under shotgun. Sold for £4300
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FREE valuations every Friday (9am-5pm) & Saturday (9am-12:30pm) at our saleroom, at your home by appointment or why not email us a photograph to info@stroudauctions.com We are currently ranked no 1 in the country for the number of online bidders
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01453 873800 www.stroudauctions.co.uk Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
June, 2019
yate&sodburyvoice
21
n NEWS
One of our dinosaurs is missing A DINOSAUR is on the loose in Chipping Sodbury, and it’s down to children to find out which one it is! This summer’s children’s challenge comes hot on the heels of previous trails which have sent youngsters searching for Gromits hares, sheep, dogs and other wild animals around the town. The hugely successful concept has seen over 1,500 children taking part, and increased visits to the historic town during the summer months. Organised by the Chipping Sodbury Chamber of Commerce, working in partnership with a local soft toy maker The Purple Saurus, children will need to find 25 dinosaurs which have all been made by hand. Purple Saurus owner Rachel Davis said: "We are very proud to be involved in this years’ search and it’s lovely that the search animals will be hand crafted locally.” Chamber of commerce joint chair of the Andrew Webb said: "A great deal of work goes into organising our annual summer search. It’s really great to see all our local retailers and businesses pulling together to make Chipping Sodbury a busy market town." Alice Crowley, who owns gift and
jewellery shop Swagger, said: "Dinosaurs are very popular this year, and we hope many thousands of visitors from around the area will visit Chipping Sodbury this summer.”
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The search is on from July 20 to August 27. The Sodbury Summer Search Facebook page has more information. • Picture: Rich McD Photography
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June, 2019
n NEWS A FRAMPTON Cotterell woman left paralysed from the waist down in an accident has fulfilled her dream of competing on horseback. Sallyanne Haigh, 45, was warned not to ride again after her horse took a fence at the wrong angle and reared up and backwards, landing on top of her, in Chipping Sodbury. She needed nine hours of emergency surgery, was in hospital for six months and left with irreparable spinal cord damage. But the mum-of-two was determined to get back in the saddle and, three-and-a-half years on from the accident, has won her first competition as a para rider. Sallyanne took part in the South West Dressage Championships, a two day event in Bicton Arena in Devon, on a horse called Flynn and won her class. Sallyanne said: “I was absolutely overwhelmed to win. Once the adrenaline had gone, I thought I can’t believe I’ve attended, I’ve competed, I’ve won. I was so happy. “Right from the beginning after my accident I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something that everyone said I couldn’t do. The doctors said ‘don’t ride again because of the risk’. Well, everything that I do is a risk now.” Sallyanne has worked incredibly hard for two years to get to the point where she was physically ready to enter a competitive event. The support of a specialist gym has been essential. She has been working on her core to make sure she has the strength to sits up and stay in the saddle. Just taking part at Bicton was a challenge. Sallyanne said: “Venues aren’t adapted for para riders. We had to do the hoisting in the lorry park. Then I had to navigate from there to the warm-up arena and from there to the arena – nothing’s nearby. Down paths, over rough terrain, through crowds of people. The arena was down a steep slope and people don’t realise how difficult that is for me, I’ve got no core, no feeling from the waist down. I’m not strapped in, staying on is down to my core strength. It was a massive achievement to even get to the arena.” Sallyanne is classified as a grade 2 para rider. The grading
Sallyanne’s amazing journey
Sallyanne Haigh with her rosettes after winning her first para riding competition goes from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most severe disability to 5 the least compromised. She had to qualify to take part at Bicton, which hosted around 200 riders during the championship. She fond it an overwhelming experience. “It was surreal, so emotional,” said Sallyanne. “I was told to forget everything that I had ever done before my accident. When I was first in the arena it was like I was welling up, the adrenaline, the relief, the excitement, the fact that I can do it. I never thought it was going to be this hard.” Sallyanne’s specially adapted saddle has a bar at the front and rolls for her knees and thighs. She uses two whips, holding one in each hand and using them as her legs. She has adapted reins so that she can loop them and doesn’t get pulled forwards. Sallyanne’s horse Flynn has been trained by his owner, Beth Miller at Lone Oak Stables in Old Sodbury. He’s had to learn that the whip isn’t a punishment, and to wait while she’s hoisted onto his back. She has a hoist at home and on the back of the lorry which transports Flynn. The specialist equipment doesn’t come cheap, but Sallyanne is fortunate to have had the saddle sponsored by the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust.
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Her lessons are partly paid for by a grant from the Disabled Sports Foundation, which also funded her weekend at Bicton. She has also recently been awarded a bursary for lessons from the British Horse Society. But financially it isn’t easy. Sallyanne said: “I don’t have any ongoing financial funding. I’m a middle aged lady with children and a mortgage.” She has two teenagers aged 15 and 17. Trotting is next on Sallyanne’s list to master, then competing at a walk and a trot. She wants to visit other competition venues to
learn how to cope with different environments. And she wants to carry on giving something back to the Great Western Air Ambulance whose staff saved her life, and to charities which support those with spinal injury. Her latest fundraising event is a Black Tie Ball at the Grand Hotel in Bristol on 28 September. Tickets are available by email at airball280919@gmail.com If you can help Sallyanne with funding, you can contact her via Lone Oak Stables’ website loneoaksteam.weebly.com/
Sallyanne competing at Bicton.
Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
June, 2019
yate&sodburyvoice
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n NEWS COLD weather didn’t deter the crowds who turned out to celebrate May Day in the village of Iron Acton. The community is one of only a few in the South West which still holds a traditional English festival and hundreds turned out for the event. Tracey Byrne, who is on the organising team, said: “The weather was much colder than last year but it did not stop the crowds coming and enjoying the day.” The celebrations opened with the crowning of the village’s May Day royal party: May Queen Rosie Wright, May King Dan Mora, page Evan Hampson and attendants Sophie Millar and Mia Rushent. Tracey said: “The children looked fabulous in all their finery. Eileen Hughes, a long standing member of the village honoured the children.” The event featured maypole dancing from the children of Iron Acton Primary School, followed by a modern dance display by local dance school ROKH and singing from Junior Fascinating Rhythm. Children from North Road Primary School in Yate then took their turn to dance around the maypole: the village is unusual in having a permanently-sited maypole for children to dance around. There were also all kinds of events in the show ring, from hand bell ringing to a Tae-kwonDo display, marching by the Yate Air Cadets and line dancing. Tracey said: "The turnout for the day was amazing. Stalls selling local wares and crafts were continuously busy and the
May Day celebrations pull in the crowds
The May royal party – Rosie Wright (Queen), Dan Mora (King), Evan Hampson (Page), Sophie Millar (attendant) and Mia Rushent (attendant) – in front of the Iron Acton maypole fairground rides entertained all. Both the food stalls serving hot food and the ice cream sellers were kept busy all day. It closed with music from local band The Lazy Tourist. It was a fitting end to a wonderful day.” Prior to the event it had looked as though there might be complications as a group of travellers had arrived on the village green. But fortunately, the group moved on after being given notice, and a clean-up took place to get the site ready for the May Day event. Primary school children dance around the maypole
Part time ad sales person Brigstowe Media, publisher of Frome Valley Voice, is looking for a person to help sell advertising across all of its local titles. We are looking for a self starter, preferably with previous sales experience. The role is part-time, with flexible hours to suit your situation.
If you are interested and would like more information, email: contact@brigstowemedia.com For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120
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June, 2019
n NEWS
Oli wins junior open A YOUNG member of a golf club near Chipping Sodbury topped a field of 60 to win the Thornbury Golf Club Junior Open. Players from as far as Droitwich in Worcestershire came to compete in the tournament at Thornbury Golf Centre, which was part of the Bristol & District Junior League Order of Merit, as well as a qualifier for the Daily Telegraph Junior Golf Championship. Winner of the Thornbury Rotary Cup for best gross score was Oli Jenkins from the Players Golf Club in Codrington, near Chipping Sodbury, with an outstanding 66, playing off a handicap of 5.
Concert to launch festival CHIPPING Sodbury Music Society has organised a concert to celebrate the first day of the Chipping Sodbury Festival. Any String Goes Sextet will be opening their concert with the Festival theme Summertime, by George Gershwin, made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. This will be followed by several other concert works by Mozart, Brahms and others. It takes place on June 14 at the Baptist Church in the High Street at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12 and are available from Cadeaux & Co in Hatherell’s Yard, Chipping Sodbury, other Festival outlets or online from bit.ly/30BU9oZ.
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Woodchester playground gets an upgrade THE playground at Yate’s Woodchester Park is currently being upgraded, with some new equipment already in place. The recreational area between homes on Woodchester, Maisemore, Blaisdon and Bredon has two new combination goal and basketball hoops, above, and the toddler play area is to get a new play unit, swings, a playhouse and spring toys. The two sections were prioritised because the equipment was the oldest on the site. The junior play area will also be upgraded but at a later date. Most of the funding for the project has come from a legal agreement with the developers of the former care home in Kelston Close. The money was earmarked by South Gloucestershire Council for facilities for children and young people. Dodington Parish Council has commissioned the upgrade, after taking on the lease of the play areas from South Gloucestershire Council a year ago. A consultation was carried out last year so that local residents could be involved with the changes. Dodington Parish Council clerk Hannah Saunders said: “Members of Dodington Parish Council are delighted that work has started at the play area and are pleased with the progress made so far.” The work has been done by Wicksteed Leisure, which was chosen after parish councillors had considered several bids.
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yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
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n PETER'S VISION
The beauty of colour
C
same life would be less interesting right? With the green cones being in the middle of the sensitivity range it’s perhaps no surprise that we can detect more shades of green than any other colour. Around 8% of men and a little under 1% of ladies have reduced colour perception - it’s genetic you see. The thing that really got me thinking about colour was a new range of glasses that we first saw on our trip to London earlier in the year. Now this is no ordinary frame range. The JvG’s signature is the vibrant colour that literally flows out of the frame. Each frame is made using a unique colour addition technique that ensures you enjoy wearing eyewear of the highest quality made in harmony
OLOUR - it certainly makes the world more pleasing to the eye! It’s a rough estimate but us humans can see around 1 million different colours. Oh yes, 1 million. Just imaging trying to choose a wall paint if it had to be one in a million... I mean, honestly just how many shades of taupe does the world need! (I think it’s actually around 2000 paint colours that we have to choose from, or at least 2000 colours give most of us enough choice to be very happy with). The human eye can detect colour because we have retinal cells called cones which are either red, green or blue sensitive. There are always going to be a few who can see more or less shades of colour, but hey if we were all the
with inspirational colours & prints. JvG eyewear is designed to bring a colourful influence to every day, which I highly recommend everyone should at least try once. While at an optical exhibition a few years ago, I spotted a pair of glasses and thought I’ve got to have those! This frame stood out from a collection of literally hundreds. It’s become my signature look, and even the inspiration for my push bike (yup, my glasses match my blue bike with it’s orange bar grip). The contrast on this frame of royal blue front with mid orange sides caught my eye, since then I’ve worn them most days (interspaced with the occasional second pair of course…) and to this day it’s still the frame that gets the most positive
accolade of any I’ve worn. Whether you like your glasses overflowing with vibrant colour, classic two tone or anything in between, you & your family are most welcome to come and see us for your eye care, glasses & sunglasses. To arrange an extended eye exam or frame colour style consultation for yourself or those you love, please call 0117 962 2474 or 0117 965 4434. Appointments can also be booked via our website, or just pop in to our practices in Henleaze or Fishponds and say Hi! We look forward to seeing you soon!
Peter
Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol and also works part time as a Senior Optometrist at the Bristol Eye Hospital.
Vibrant Colour Unleashed Call & Book Your Appointment Today 57 Henleaze Road
768 Fishponds Road
eyecareteam@turnersopticians.co.uk
Bristol BS9 4JT
Bristol BS16 3UA
www.turnersopticians.co.uk
0117 962 2474
0117 965 4434
Turners Eye Care Ltd T/A Turners Opticians Incorporated in England & Wales Reg No. 8201460
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Don’t be left in the cold this winter! We have been installing, servicing and repairing boilers for over 42 years in the local area, building our company on excellent after sales service, with 90% of our work coming from personal recommendations. The Business has grown and expanded by employing local school leavers, training them on recognised gas and plumbing training courses to a high standard. We are approved Worcester Bosch, Vaillant and Atag installers. We are Gas Safe registered for Natural Gas, LPG and Oftec registered for all oil servicing and installations.
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Contact us for a competitive quotation for a replacement boiler. With a highly skilled team of 20 plus engineers, we could quote you for a new boiler, and in most cases, have it installed within a couple of days. We supply boilers that come with 5 – 10 years parts and labour warranties. Our service engineers work on behalf of some of the major boiler manufacturers. If it’s a repair you need, we can help, we currently carry out over 300 service calls each week. As a Which Trusted Trader, our business has been through a vigorous application progress so you can be confident you are hiring a reputable trader
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yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
n LOCAL MP
Tackling climate change
Luke Hall MP writes for Yate & Sodbury Voice
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OVER the past fifty years, the average temperature in the UK has risen significantly. Clear evidence demonstrates that this change in climate is occurring due to rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere; the higher the amounts of these gases in our atmosphere, the warmer our planet becomes. The threat of global warming has never been more apparent: our sea levels are rising, polar ice is melting and extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent. Studies suggest climate change is likely to be the greatest cause of species extinction this century, so it is clear that we must act now, rather than doing so later at a much greater environmental and financial cost. On a national level, we should be incredibly proud that the United Kingdom continues to play a world-leading role in tackling climate change and the transition
to Clean Growth. We are the first country in the world to introduce legally binding long-term emissions targets and have the best performance on a per-person basis of any G7 nation. We have a new 25 Year Environment Plan, which outlines commitments to supporting and protecting the world's most biodiverse forests, supporting sustainable agriculture and enhancing sustainability, and supporting zero-deforestation supply chains. We have already made huge progress. Last year, more than 50% of UK electricity came from low carbon sources, making it a record year for renewable energy such as wind and solar. Solar and hydroelectric plants now generate more energy than nuclear power stations. Just last month, the National Grid announced that Britain's electricity system had been operating fully coal-free for an entire week, the first time this
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had happened in Britain since the Industrial Revolution. This is a major step forward towards our target of phasing out coal by 2025. There is a huge degree of commitment from our government to leave our environment in a better state than we found it, and I will continue to push to ensure this remains a priority. I am also so hugely grateful to the fantastic work of local environmental campaigners and activists across South Gloucestershire who have been so important in raising these important issues and ensuring that clean energy is a priority for this government, and South Gloucestershire Council in their mission to create an effective local climate change strategy. As ever, I am hugely grateful for the thoughts of our community on this most important matter. Contact me at luke.hall.mp@parliament.uk.
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FREE day trips for the over fifties If you are over fifty and want to discover exciting new attractions as well as meet new people, then SGS College has the course for you.
Locations and dates available:
Held over a weekend, the Discover course will allow you to explore different locations and gain a qualification in English or maths at the same time. The real fun begins on a Sunday, when you and your peers will be driven by coach to one of the exciting venues around the region. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a culinary connoisseur or a green-fingered gardener, you will find an experience that is right for you.
• Blenheim Palace – 29th/30th June - English course
• Roman Baths/American History Museum – 8th/9th June - English course
• All Aboard, Watersports Centre, Bristol – 13th/14th July - Maths course • Stratford-upon-Avon – 20th/21st July - English course For further information and to book your place please visit www.sgscol.ac.uk/discover or contact Sarah Kopera on 0117 909 2327
Booking is essential, as there are a limited number of places.
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June, 2019
yate&sodburyvoice
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n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC
Treat 999 call handlers with respect I’M under no illusion how difficult policing is and the challenging circumstances our police officers and emergency services face on a daily basis to keep our communities safe. However, it’s not just our colleagues on the frontline who face abuse; abusive calls to 999 and 101 call handlers is on the rise. Unfortunately, our call handlers have come to expect swearing and name-calling but in more serious cases some of our call handlers have received death threats and threats of rape. One individual even threatened to burn down a call handler’s house with her children inside. The reality that our call handlers face is unacceptable. Our call handlers, who go above and beyond to protect us from harm, deserve to come to work without being worried about potential abuse they might face during their shift. They deserve to be treated with respect and we all need to show
support to these individuals who work so hard to keep our communities safe. Nationally, there has been an increase in 999 calls and within Avon and Somerset we have seen an 8% year on year increase. This 8% equates to approximately an extra 48 calls every day or an additional five hours of call handling per day. Disappointingly, some 999 calls are not emergencies and some are even hoaxes. We need to remember that non-emergency calls to 999 could be blocking a real emergency and this is deadly serious. In May, we supported Mental Health Awareness Week. Many mental health charities now believe that people are more aware and feel more empowered to tackle mental health. It is great that people now feel empowered to speak out about their experiences in schools, workplaces and in
their communities but we now need to turn this awareness into action. We know that mental health services are woefully underfunded and those experiencing a mental health problem wait an extremely long time to be able to access the treatments and the services they need. This all has an impact on our stretched emergency services, particularly policing. For example, in Avon and Somerset, on average, an incident involving someone in a mental health crisis will take four and a half hours of an officer’s time. The majority of contact when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis into the police is by the communications centre as 101 or 999 calls. The average time on these calls is 77.9% higher than the average call and mental health related calls take up 12% of all calls. We cannot offer the best support to those suffering a
With Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens
mental health crisis in the back of a police car; we need to work in partnership to create a longerterm solution that involves all public services to provide those experiencing a mental health problem with the support they deserve.
Party Packages from £449* We also cater for weddings, wakes, christenings and conferences.
*Based on a 6 piece buffet for 100 people Easily accessible, stunning location with a large free car park 2 Miles from Westerleigh along the Codrington road Competitive drink prices, Thatchers Gold £3.50 More info on our website www.theplayersgolfclub.com Contact our events co-ordinator Hayley on 01454 313029 Opt 4 or email Hayley@theplayersgolfclub.com
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June, 2019
n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA n Spanish classes Spanish classes at The Horseshoe in Chipping Sodbury. Learn to speak Spanish in a small, friendly group, 6-week course £60.00. Book Now for June! Numbers limited so please contact Rebecca on 07941 511744.to book a place. May 29 n Cranleigh Court Coffee Time at Tyndale School, BS37 5EX. Come along and enjoy the companionship from 10am-noon. Transport can be arranged within short distance. Contact Brian for inquiries on 0778 018 8146 or just drop in. June 2 n National Garden Scheme opening. Acton Court, Latteridge Road, Iron Acton, Bristol BS37 9TL. Open 11am-5pm, admission £5, children free. Walled 3-acre wildflower meadow and apple orchard with an abundance of old English and wild roses on the grounds of a grade I-listed Tudor manor house (restricted access). Acton Court will be sponsoring several special events on the themes of The Tudors, wildlife and music in support of the NGS days. Homemade teas. Also open on June 9 and 16. June 2 n Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch, Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury. Free street party from noon until 6pm. Country and Western theme with Blazing Saddles hoedown dance group, inflatable bucking bronco, fancy dress competition, tin can alley shoot out and Dolly Parton tribute artist Diamond
23rd June, 2019 10am – 4pm Miners – Coalpit Heath Village Hall, 214 Badminton Road, Bristol BS36 2QB Cloudsong and Spring-Aura Presents:
A one day workshop with a combination of Colour, Meditations, Handpans and much more, which will show you how they all work together to create Peace, Harmony, Relaxation and fun. Please book in advance/find out more by tel:- Barbara- 0772 629 8427
Dolly. Hot food, drinks and ice creams on sale or bring your own picnic. June 8 n Cancer Research UK potted plant sale at the Cancer Research UK shop in Yate Shopping Centre. Prices start from £1. Please come and support the charity as it aims to hit its donations goal. June 22 n Yate Rocks...in the Park festival, Kingsgate Park, noon to 8pm. Festival returns for 14th year with range of music from local bands and performances by dance groups. Arts and crafts stalls, children’s activities, food and drink. Magician, go-karts, inflatable and flight simulator. June 23 n Yate Rocks...in the Park festival, Kingsgate Park, 10.30am-4.30pm. Praise in the Park with local churches providing an outdoor service from 10.30am-noon, followed by Picnic in the Park with the Great Choir Showcase from 12.15pm. June 28-30 n All You Need is Love flower festival, St John the Baptist Church, Old Sodbury. Chipping Sodbury and Yate Flower Arranging Society will display their floral interpretations of Beatles songs including Lady Madonna, Strawberry Fields and Norwegian Wood. Free entry but donations to church funds welcomed. Cream teas and refreshments will be on sale throughout. Open 11am-6pm on Friday and Sunday, 11am-8pm on Saturday. Preview with wine and canapés, June 27, tickets £10 from 01454 324344. n Craft, Craft Supplies and Gift Fayre Saturday 29th June Chipping Sodbury Town Hall 10 am to 4 pm Local Crafts, Paper Craft Supplies, Gifts, Collectables, Cakes and Refreshments. Voluntary entrance fee to be donated to Horton School Tables available - 07895 187292 June 29 n Bristol Chamber Orchestra presents an evening of chamber music including Parry, Purcell, Elgar, Mozart, Dvorak and an oboe concerto by Marcello. Frenchay Parish Church, 7.30pm. Tickets £10 in advance, £11 on the door, (Students £5, Children
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Free). Call 0117 956 2106 for more information. July 5-6 n Music in the Meadows, charity festival by Acton Aid for local good causes at the Mash in the Iron Acton Parish Meadows. Friday night, 6pm-11pm, includes ABBA tribute act Arrival and Queen tribute band Flash, plus Bristol’s Lewis Creaven Band. Saturday night, 5pm-10.30pm, prom concert with Bristol Millennium Orchestra and Iron Acton Community Choir. Tickets and more information online from www.actonaid.org.uk July 12-13 n Yate and District Rotary Club Beer and Music Festival, Chipping Sodbury Rugby Ground. More than 80 real ales and craft beers, 25 types of cider and perry plus wines and Prosecco, hot food and music from seven live bands over two days. Open Friday from 6pm-11.30pm, Saturday from noon until 11.30pm. Tickets, in advance only, include a free collectors beer mug or wine glass. £10 for Friday and £16 for Saturday, available from Meredith’s and Ridgewood Cleaners in Yate, from the tourist office in Chipping Sodbury or online at www.yaterotaryclub. co.uk.
REGULAR EVENTS Monday n Third Monday every month Frome Valley Ladies Probus 2-4pm Charter Suite, Chipping Sodbury Town Hall T 01454 316301. Interesting Speaker each meeting, raffle, refreshments and lunches. n 1st Yate Boys brigade various activities for boys 5+ meet at Moorland road Methodist church 6.30pm. Contact Simon Crocker 01454 329017 n Shire Way Senior Citizens Club meet every Monday afternoon at Shire Way Community Centre between 1.30pm and 4pm. Get together for tea, coffee, bingo, entertainment, raffle meet new friends , all welcome , Yate Community transport, available. Further info 01454317866----07749712351 n Bristol Area Stroke Foundation Weekly Stroke Support Group The group has a varied programme of events and activities. Shireway Community Association, Yate BS37 8YS. Every Monday from 2pm till 4pm. If you are interested in coming along or want to volunteer contact our office on 0117 9647657
n Lunchtime folk music and song at The Beaufort Hunt pub function room, 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month, start at 12.00 till 3.00, all welcome to come have a pint and a meal, sit and listen or play or sing, free entry. Contact Terry 01454 313045 n Bristol Budgerigar Society hold meetings at Little Stoke Community Hall, Little Stoke Lane, Little Stoke, Bristol BS34 6HR. Meetings commence at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month. Visitors always welcome without commitment or charge to see the wonderful budgerigar breeding, exhibition and social experience that Bristol Budgerigar Society can offer. n Macular-support group meets monthly - 3rd Monday 1:303:30pm at Watkins room, Old Grammar School, Highstreet Chipping Sodbury. Contact Tony: 01454314066 Stress Reduction, Mindfulness & Relaxation n Yate Men's Shed meet at Yate Parish Hall, from 1.30-4.30pm. For further details please contact Steven Ringon 01454 323 857, or go to www.yatemensshed.com n Sodbury Short Mat Bowls Club. Old Sodbury Village Hall on Monday evenings between 6.15 and 9pm. New members experienced or otherwise welcome Contact Chairman S Leah on 01454 315161. Email sleahos@gmail.com n If you are interested in learning about the arts, in its widest sense, why not join The Arts Society Severn Valley. We meet in the Town Hall in Chipping Sodbury normally on the third Monday of each month. In addition to the lecture programme, we arrange Days of Special Interest which examine facets of the arts in greater detail, as well as visits to art galleries, museums and gardens plus trips abroad. Full details can be found on our website www. svdfas.co.uk. So come along, have a cup of coffee, enjoy the lecture and, perhaps, do some shopping in this lovely market town. Visitors are charged £6 so, if you would like to “try before you buy”, please e-mail memb@svdfas.co.uk The Arts Society Severn Valley We meet in the Town Hall in Chipping Sodbury on the third Monday of each month. Tuesday n Yate Art Club meet for arts, crafts and pottery on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7 pm at
Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
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n WHAT'S ON CONTINUED
n Sew & Sew at Ridgewood Community Centre from 1.30pm 3.30pm at £2.00 per week. Phone Joan for details on 01 454 314355. n Walks for single people. Solo Rendezvous meet at Downend Cricket Club, every Wednesday, 8.30pm, entrance £3, and walk every Sunday. Please phone for walk details: 01454 775508 / 01454 774984 / 0117 9850210.
South West CAMRA Pub of the Year 2018 N FOR RE AIG
ALE AL
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n Spirals with Carol at Chipping Sodbury School Sports Centre, BS37 6ES. Pilates-Ballet moves to music, designed to improve flexibility, balance, core strength and more. Beginners welcome. 7.00-8.00pm, £7 pw. Contact: 07768 732111 or carol-ramsey@ sky.com.
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n The Sodbury & District Flower Arrangement Society meets every 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month at The Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury at 7.30pm. 12th February - Practice - Willow basket making. 26th February - Talk on Pearls by Pam Slater. Visitors and new members very welcome come along and see what we do. n Yate Poetry Group. All welcome to join our small, informal and friendly group to share and enjoy poems and verse. We meet for an hour 1-2 pm every other Tuesday afternoon in the library, refreshments provided. For the dates of meetings, please contact Tony on 07704140682 or yatepoetrygroup@gmail.com n Tudor Bridge Club meets at the hall behind St Lawrence Presbytery on Broad Street, every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact Christine on 07876334921 n Badminton Club, 8pm at Yate Leisure Centre. People of all skill levels and abilities are more than welcome to join us. Organised by Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church, office@cs-bc.org.uk, 01454 313023 n The Sodbury & District Flower Arrangement Society meets every 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month at The Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury at 7.30pm. 12th March AGM - No Practice class 26th March - Demonstration by Yvonne
Room at the Chantry in Thornbury. Meetings usually start at 8pm We welcome new members and can train people to pass their Amateur radio Foundation and Intermediate Licences. Our website is at http:// tsgarc.uk.
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n Oasis Memory Café - in partnership with the Rotary Club of Chipping Sodbury and supported by Alzheimer’s Society. Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church Hall 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month 10.30am – 12 noon For more information contact Jean on 01454 313023. Email: office@cs-bc.org.uk n Craft and Chat - a fun and friendly craft group for people of all ages and skill levels. Chipping
n SOSA with Carol at Chipping Sodbury School Sports Centre, BS37 6ES. Fun class featuring dance styles like Salsa, Kizomba, Bollywood, Cha-Cha, Bachata, Jazz, Zouk and Jive! 6.30-7.30pm, £6 pw. Contact: 07768 732111 or carolramsey@sky.com.
Berry Sporting Favourites Visitors and new members very welcome - come along and see what we do. For more details contact Rosemary Cummins Tel: 0117 9373836 n Badminton Club, 8pm at Yate Leisure Centre. People of all skill levels and abilities are more than welcome to join us. Organised by Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church, office@cs-bc.org.uk, 01454 313023 n Well-being drop-in, Cranleigh Court Community Hub at Tyndale School (by Tyndale Avenue entrance), 1-2.30pm. Meet new people, learn new skills and improve your well-being through activities including arts and crafts, peer support, mindfulness workshops, healthy eating and games sessions. Wednesday n Art Club, Ridgewood Centre, Yate: 7pm - 9 pm http:// yateandsodburyartsociety.weebly. com. Tel Roz on 01454 316956 or 0794 194 6412 n Thornbury and South Gloucestershire Amateur Radio Club (TSGARC) we meet every Wednesday in the Buckingham
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n Gentle Hatha Flow & Well Woman Yoga Find more freedom, flexibility and strength in body, mind and spirit. Restore balance and energy.Fishponds Vassal Centre Tuesdays 5.30-6.30 (Gentle Flow) & 6.45-8pm (Well Woman Yoga) Frenchay Quaker House. Thursdays 10-11am & 11.15 -12.15pm (Gentle Hatha Flow) St Elizabeth Hall, Hambrook Tuesdays 9.45-10.45am, (Gentle Hatha Flow) Block price £6/ Drop in £7/6.50 concession. Beginners welcome. How to book/contact details: www.letgoyoga.co.uk/ or call 07904073535
Sodbury Baptist Church 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month 10.30am - 12 noon Email: office@ cs-bc.org.uk n South Cotswold Men's Probus Club based in Yate, and reputably the most active in this area, can now take a few new members. Meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesday mornings each month. Information, without obligation, from Jack on 01454 313889. n Monthly social lunchtime meet up for disabled people at the Farmhouse Pub, Wellington Road, Yate, BS37 5UY. Open and friendly group, meets first Tuesday of month 12-2pm. Part of WECIL's peer support community - 0797 962 6569.
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the Ridgewood Centre, Yate, BS37 4AF. For further information please see our website www. yateandsodburyartsociety.weebly. com or tel Roz on 0794 194 6412 n Pucklechurch Folk Dance Club. We meet every other Tuesday at Pucklechurch Community Centre from 7.45 pm to 8.15 pm. Contact Veronica Holder – 0117 937 2818 n Frome Valley Tang Soo Do, open to adults and children 7yrs +, Wellesley Primary School, Edgeworth, Yate every Tuesday 6.45pm - 8.15pm. Contact Rachel Woodford for more details on 07712 729726 n Frome Valley Mens Probus Club. We meet 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. 10 – 12 noon at the Townhall, Sodbury. Guest Speaker every meeting, occasional lunches, day trips. Contact George for further info. Tele: 01454 882908 n Oasis Friendship Cafe - a relaxed meeting place to come along for a chat, a listening ear and to make new friends. (Well behaved) dogs on leads also welcome! Baptist Church Hall in Chipping Sodbury. 2nd, 4th (&5th) Tuesday of the month 10.30am - 12 noon. For more information contact church office on 01454 313023 Email: office@cs-bc.org.uk
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The Fleece Inn, Chapel Lane, Hillesley GL12 7RD T: 01453 520003 | E: fleecepub@gmail.com
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June, 2019
n WHAT'S ON CONTINUED n Yate/Chipping Sodbury Afternoon Choir meets on Wednesdays 2pm till 4pm at St Marys Church Yate. No auditions! Contact Nikki on 01761 472468 for more details or just turn up at the church and have a free sing on the first visit. Look forward to seeing you! n Yate & District Townswomen’s Guild meet on the second Wednesday morning of every month in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. We have a programme of varied and interesting speakers. We are a very sociable group and offer other smaller, activity groups too. Give us a try. Ring Rhona 01454 881532 or Christine 07811665286 n Bellydance class with Sacha at Ridgewood Community Centre every Wednesday 7:30-8:30 (beginner/open level); 8:30-9:30 (intermediate level); £7 an hour or £12 for 2 hours. Contact Sacha for more information www. sachabellydance.co.uk sachabellydance@yahoo.co.uk n Short Mat Bowls. A Warm welcome awaits visitors for the short matt bowls on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at St Saviours Church Hall, Coalpit Heath from 2-4pm. n Frenchay Men’s Probus Club Meetings are held in Frenchay
Village Hall from 10.00 am to 12 noon on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Wednesday of the month. The meeting is preceded by coffee. www.frenchayprobusclub.com n Craft group meeting in St. Mary's Church, Yate each Wednesday from 10am. Everyone welcome, we have knitters, sewers and chatters. Refreshments available for a donation. Please come in and say hello. n Blossoms play groups, 10.30amnoon, Cranleigh Court Community Hub at Tyndale School (by Tyndale Avenue entrance). Resident-run group for parents with babies and young children aged up to five years old. Call Paulina on 0759 212 8965 for more details. Old toy donations always very welcome. n Cranleigh Court Coffee Time. 9.30-11am, Cranleigh Court Community Hub at Tyndale School (by Tyndale Avenue entrance). Resident-led group will be led by residents. Call Brian on 07780 188146 for enquiries or assistance with transport. Thursday n Chipping Sodbury Folk Night Meets on 1st Thursday of each month in function room at Beaufort Pub . 8 pm - 11pm, Huge range of music and performers covering various genres , all welcome, performers slots are available on a first come basis. £1 on the door . Visit our Facebook page for more info, Chipping
Sodbury Folk Night. Or call Jo on 07974 381333. n South Glos. Decorative and Art Appreciation Society is a flourishing group which enjoys excellent lectures on Design and the Arts. Visitors are welcome. 7.00 for 7.30pm at Bradley Stoke Community School, Fiddlers Lane, BS32 7BS on 3rd Thursday of the month. Please.contact 01454 774401 sallykitching@googlemail. com n Directors Duet for Stokes Singers choir. The two MDs would love to welcome new members to Thursday rehearsals at 7.30pm at Coniston Community Centre, Patchway BS34 5LP. n Yate Community Choir. Ridgewood Community Centre 7.30-9pm. Liz Martin 07891036145 n Chipping Sodbury Ladies Probus Last Thursday of every month 1012 Charter Suite Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. Speaker every month and regular trips out. T 01454 327491 n Avon Harmony are a Ladies A Cappella / barbershop chorus. We welcome visitors for a no obligation taster session. We rehearse at the dance studio, Fairfield High School, Allfoxton Road, Bristol BS7 9NL. Every Thursday evening 7.30pm 9.45pm. Tel: Mary 07954170532. n Yate Oral History Group meets 7.30pm,2nd Thursday of the month at Poole Court for interesting
talks, refreshments & summer outings. We are a small friendly group looking for new members. Contact Diana 01454 322811 n Barnardo’s Breastfeeding Peer Support Project provides emotional and practical support to new mothers. Weekly groups are held at venues in Thornbury, Yate and across South Gloucestershire. The Yate group, called Yate BreastFriends, meets at Yate Childrens Centre on Cranleigh Court Road on Tuesdays between 11.30am - 1.00pm. n The Yate and Sodbury District U3A Photography group meet at the St John’s Church Centre, Wickwar Road, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6BQ on the first Thursday of every month (except July and August) at 2p.m. we invite photographers of all abilities to come along and learn more. For more info email Mary Avenin mabr42@outlook.com or call 01179 099471 or visit our website at www. u3aphoto.blog. n Tudor Bridge Club meets at the hall behind St Lawrence Presbytery on Broad Street, every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. Contact Christine on 07876334921 n Zumba Gold Class, Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church Hall, 2.45pm, £3.50 per week. Anyone is welcome, but the class is especially appropriate for people who want low-impact dance-based exercise. Contact offic@cs-bc.org.uk, 01454 313023.
What’s on at Yate Library Staffed opening: Monday: 10am-5.30pm Tuesday: 10am-5.30pm Friday: 10am-5.30pm Saturday: 9.30am-2.30pm Open access (unstaffed) Daily: 8am-7.30pm Speak to a member of staff for more details about registering your card for the open access system, so you can access library facilities throughout the week. You can borrow and return books and use the computers. Wanted: Do you have any old or unwanted Duplo Lego? We would be grateful for any donations for a new Duplo club. Events for children and families: Wriggle & Rhyme: Rhymes and songs for parents and babies/ toddlers to enjoy together. Thursday morning, 10.30-11am, term time only. Buggy Walkers: Every other
Monday – this month, June 3 and 17. Join them at 10am for a walk, followed by refreshments after. Pyjamarama: Come and join us for a special storytime on Thursday June 6 at 5pm. Lego Club: Lego + a story + your imagination = your Lego creation displayed in the library. Saturday June 1 and 29, 10.30 – 11.30am. Suitable for the primary age range, children must be accompanied by an adult. Family Theatre @ Yate Library – Tickets available now for the next two shows: One Little Word, Saturday May 25, 10am and 11.30am (Booking required). Suitable for ages 3+ and their families. Taking Flight, Saturday June 15, 11am and 2pm (Booking required). Suitable for ages 6+ and their families. Pop in to the library or visit www.southglos. gov.uk/childrenslibrary to book tickets. Other events:
For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120
The Craft Group is meeting on June 10 and 22, 10am–noon. New members will always be made welcome by this friendly group. Share tips and ideas for your knitting, sewing or crochet projects. Teen Focus Group: Thursday June 20, 6.30–7.30pm Poetry Group: Tuesday June 11 and 25, 1-2pm. Support and educational groups: Visually Impaired Techno Group: Every Wednesday 1-4pm Vision West of England: Information, advice and support drop-in, first Thursday of every month between 2-4pm. For more information contact Marc on 0117 322 4855 or email marc.gulwell@ visionwofe.org.uk Various free legal advice sessions: ask staff for details. Various community learning courses: Contact 01454 864613 or community.learning@southglos.
gov.uk Memory Café, last Thursday each month. Volunteers wanted: South Gloucestershire Libraries are looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to join the team running Space Chase, the Summer Reading Challenge 2019, talking with children about the books they’re reading and helping at a range of activities. Volunteers must be aged 13 or over. For more information ask a member of library staff or email libraryvolunteers@southglos. gov.uk. The closing date for applications is June 30. For more information on the library, call 01454 868006, email yate.library@southglos. gov.uk or visit www.southglos. gov.uk/libraries. Updates on Twitter @southgloslibs or South Gloucestershire Libraries page on Facebook.
Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
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June, 2019 n Kidz Club THE EDGE at Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church, 6-7.15pm in term time. We have an exciting club for all boys and girls – just come along and join in the fun! n Zumba Gold Class, Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church Hall, 2.45pm, £3.50 per week. Anyone is welcome, but the class is especially appropriate for people who want low-impact dance-based exercise. Contact offic@cs-bc.org.uk, 01454 313023. n Kidz Club THE EDGE at Chipping Sodbury Baptist Church, 6-7.15pm in term time. We have an exciting club for all boys and girls – just come along and join in the fun! n #jobnetworkbristol & computerclub. Tablet and accessible computer club, employment support and signposting to opportunity. Join us for a tea and coffee. Cranleigh Court community hub, Tyndale Primary School, 1.30pm - 4pm. More information from jobnetworkbristol@outlook.com by email. n Emersons Green Quilters meet at Christ Church Centre, Quakers Road, Downend, 7.30pm9.30pm on second Thursday
of every month. Contact Ann Price on 07505 267931 or email emersonsgreenquilters@gmail. com for more details. Friday n Crofts End Silver Band: We are a small friendly brass band who meet in Hanham Tabenacle every Friday evening 7.30-9.00pm We play for enjoyment and not contesting. Used to play? Want to learn? Contact: Denise 07944 887979 or Reg 0117 9652229 n Options, a social meet and craft club (now in its 19th year) meet at The Ridgewood Community Centre, 10am-3pm every Friday. Tea/coffee and biscuits available with Cafe on site. £2.50 a session. Contact Joan for details 01454314355. n Ladies who Latte - free women's networking group for women in business because there's no point being fabulous on your own! We meet on the second Friday of the month at The Horseshoe in Chipping Sodbury from 10.00 - 12.00. Contact: Rebecca writetoreb@googlemail.com n Voices Together. The Old Grammar School. Chipping Sodbury 10-11.30. Liz Martin
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07891036145 n Yate Men's Shed meet at Yate Parish Hall, from 1.30-4.30pm. For further details please contact Steven Ringon 01454 323 857, or go to www.yatemensshed.com” n Cranleigh Court Cycling Club. 10.30am at Cranleigh Court Community Hub, Tyndale School. If you want to get back into cycling this could be for you. More details from Brian on 0778 018 8146. Saturday n The Tourist Information Centre Chipping Sodbury. Open 10am to 4pm Mondays to Saturdays.. Sunday n Indoor short mat bowls at Pucklechurch Community Centre. Established players and beginners welcome. Bowls provided. Sessions Sunday afternoon and Monday and Wednesday evenings. Contact Roger Payne 0117 937 3653. n Teas on Sunday at Old Sodbury Church. From 2.30-4.30pm every Sunday until September 16. Come and enjoy a cup of tea in the tranquility of the church or outside with an amazing view over the Severn Valley. Shopmobility South Gloucestershire, Yate Library,
Yate Shopping Centre The service hires out battery powered scooters and wheelchairs, to help people to retain their independence and to use the facilities of the centre. You can also hire scooters and wheelchairs for longer terms. If you have a S. Glos. Council Diamond card then you can use that on the service. Office is open Tues and Friday 9.30 am - 4 pm, and Thurs and Sat 9.30 am - 2 pm Telephone 01454 868718 or 07999574474 for more information or e-mail shopmobilitysouthglos@ yahoo.com Chipping Sodbury Library is open and staffed by volunteers during the following hours : Tuesdays 09.30 - 12.30 & 13.30 16.30 Wednesdays 09.30 - 18.30 Fridays 09.30 - 12.30 Saturdays 09.30 - 12.30 The usual borrowing facilities are available during the above hours and events for children during the school holidays. Come in and see our monthly displays and borrow a book on the month's theme.
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June, 2019
n NEWS
New lease of life for village pub AN “out of control” village pub which closed after customers began fighting on the main street has been given a new lease of life as a micropub. The Plough Inn, which has been a feature of Charfield life since 1897, has reopened as a tiny real ale house. The pub on Wotton Road closed in February last year after months of worsening noise and anti-social behaviour, which kept neighbours awake until the early hours of the morning. But the new owners are confident their micropub, which opened after extensive refurbishment, will not cause the same problems for residents of the nearby Kings Meadow estate. At a hearing on its new licence last month, Liberal Democrat councillor for Charfield, John O’Neill, said: “We had people fighting on the main road in Charfield, it was that bad. “It was out of control, to say the least.” Mr O’Neill spoke on behalf of an elderly Kings Meadow resident who objected to the licence application from Tankard Developments. He said the widow was naturally apprehensive the previous problems with noise and anti-social behaviour at the pub would be repeated. In the months leading up to the pub’s closure, her husband was dying of prostate cancer and she herself was being treated for breast cancer, he said. “It was a particularly harrowing time and to be faced
The Plough Inn has a new landlord and could become “an asset to Charfield” with all this anti-social behaviour and noise outside their window two or three times a week, we’re talking till half past two, three o’clock in the morning, it was totally unfair,” he said. However, Mr O’Neill said he had every faith the problems would not continue under new landlord Darren Hawkins, who is an investor in Tankard Developments. “I know Darren very well,” he told the hearing. “I completely trust in everything that he’s doing. “I’m sure what the applicant is doing will actually be an asset to Charfield.” The licensing subcommittee heard the first floor and half of the ground floor of the Plough Inn had been turned into a
private dwelling for the pub management team. The main bar area is now only only six metres wide and three metres long. “It’s a tiny room,” Mr Hawkins said. “We’ve invested considerably into a very small space in the pub to make it smaller and more cosy and also [to create] an environment in which the manager can see everyone who’s present so can be in full control.” The management would ensure customers did not walk off with the glassware and leave it in residents’ gardens on the way to the Railway Tavern, as used to happen, he added. Mr Hawkins said he had also put up signs restricting customers’ vehicles to the pub
car park and asking them to leave quietly and respect the neighbours. He told the hearing the new micropub, which has been operating on temporary licenses since it opened on April 12, had had no problems so far. The licensing subcommittee granted Tankard Developments a licence to operate from 11am to midnight every day of the week. The license permits the Plough Inn to sell alcohol, late night refreshments, and host live and recorded music and performance dance. Mr Hawkins said he intends to close at 11pm except on special occasions, and the entertainment tends to be acoustic musicians. By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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June, 2019
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n VIEW FROM YATE HERITAGE CENTRE DURING July 2019 both Yate & District Heritage Centre and St Mary’s Church will be focussing on Tudor life and our heritage from that era. St Mary’s Church will be hosting a fortnight of Tudor displays, which will also include a new guide, daily tours, 16th century music and one off performances. Parts of the church building, including remnants of the ancient stairs by the organ, will be highlighted. On July 13 Yate Heritage Centre is proud to stage Here come the Tudors, with demonstrators bringing to life 16th century crafts, military life, hunting, Elizabethan food and clothing and even rat catching. As well as different historic activities and period singing, there will be a display looking at Yate and Sodbury during Tudor times. So why focus on the Tudors at all? Historians will know the Tudor period ushered in dramatic change to every community in the land. The religious changes from a medieval Catholic way of life to one of a protestant Church of England were profound and
Here come the Tudors
The main farm building at Yate Court is a 16th century building affected everyone. The physical legacy for the Yate area can still be seen: 16th century buildings, including the Grapes
and Portcullis, both in Sodbury and Acton Court, are obvious Tudor buildings, but what can we see in Yate itself?
If we choose to peer beyond the modern townscape of Yate, it is clear there are Tudor remains throughout he parish. Many of our local former farms have Tudor origins. Yate Court, in the north of Yate parish, is a medieval foundation, but one where the main residence is chiefly 16th century, complete with extensive interior features. Whether walking or driving around Yate parish, there is scope to pass a farmhouse with Tudor origins. Brinsham Farm was one of the three manors of Tudor Yate where local court sessions were held, while both Crowther’s and Brickhouse Farms have histories dating back to the 16th century at least. Our local parish churches all have some physical legacy from Tudor times and we all look forward to discovering more of this, at least within St Mary’s church, in July.
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Until June 26: In Sickness and in Health. The history of local medicine, hospitals and staff from the 18th century to the present day. June 1, 10.30am-1pm: YHC Friends Coffee Morning. Coffee and cakes on the green. June 19, 7.30pm: Yate Archaeology Group, Medieval Monastic Routes, with Eddie Proctor. £3 admission or free for members of YaDAG June 25, 7.30pm: Yate Lecture Series, Recruitment into the Napoleonic Army. Opportunities to see some material linked to the period in this hands-on session. Ian and Beryl Furey-King lead proceedings. £2 admission or free for Friends of YHC. Funded by Friends of YHC. June 27-August 13: Youth Groups of Yate and Sodbury. Discover the rich history of some of the scouts, guides and similar groups in the area. Costumes and accessories featured from many of the groups.
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yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
n MOTORING
A guide to pre-owned cars with Richard Cooke
Second hand Style Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost, Mk4: Less is more THE Ford Focus is so much a part of our automotive furniture that it’s hard to remember what a giant leap forward it was from the appalling ‘that’ll do’ Escort. I drove a 1.8 petrol Mk1 Focus in 2001, and it was a revelation. Almost as well built and certainly far better to drive than the contemporary VW Golf, it was positively fun on the roads between Edinburgh and St Andrews. Twenty years after the Focus was first launched, Ford released the Mk4 tested here. Used models are therefore only a year old at most, so if you’re in the market for a Focus should you pay the extra over the previous Mk3? First impressions are that yes, you should. The new Focus is lower and wider than its predecessor, and visually at least that’s a good thing. Not many manufactures are doing this at the moment – top
heavy SUVs are the order of the day. So well done Ford for going down this route, as the Focus looks planted and purposeful. Inside it gets even better. The dash is well built, functional and feels almost premium in quality. The satnav is simply the best I’ve seen in a car at any price point, Tesla and Volvo included. The resolution is superb, it is intuitive and quick to programme. Full marks here and evidence of Ford’s enormous investment capability versus smaller firms. The seats are comfortable, there is plenty of room front and rear (although the boot is far too small) and the cabin generally feels light and airy. The only mark against the interior is the stereo, which comes with standard issue Ford speaker covers that they’ve persuaded Bang & Olufsen to glue their badge onto.
The sound is far too boomy, and the cheapness of the materials used is brand stretch gone too far: like scrawling ‘Petrus’ onto a can of Carling. That aside, it is a case of so far, so good. On the move Ford pull out their ace card: the engine. This Focus comes with a 1.0 litre 3 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, producing 125hp. It is linked to a 6 speed manual gearbox and it is a tiny, thrummy, zingy marvel. At no stage do you imagine you are driving anything smaller than a 2.0 litre, until you either pop the bonnet and wonder where the engine actually is or when you fill up with petrol and realise you’ve been using no more than a gallon of fuel every 45 miles. There is no turbo lag at all and, whilst I’d be pushing it to say the Focus is fast, it certainly never feels
short on power. Under load there’s that delightful slightly off-beat 3 cylinder thrum that boring old 4 cylinder engines just don’t offer. I loved it, and that’s good because the 3 cylinder is here to stay, as manufacturers develop smaller more fuel-efficient engines. The last time I tried one was years ago in a Daewoo Matiz, which also had a charm of its own, but Ford have moved the game on tremendously. Don’t bother with the lower powered 1.0 alternatives though, or you’ll be wondering why you didn’t pay extra for the 125hp every time you climb a hill. It’s still a bit early to say what might go wrong with the Mk4 Focus longer term, but the previous Mk3 had several issues with this 1.0 engine that you would hope have been properly resolved. This included turbo problems causing the car to go into the dreaded ‘limp home’ mode. There were also problems with the automatic gearbox option, which I would avoid on this sort of car anyway. Going from the older model to this one, it is clear that the real leap forwards is in the design of the cabin – once you’ve experienced that excellent satnav you won’t want to trade down. As ever, depreciation is your friend, as buying a year-old Focus will save you about £9k over new and that is my recommendation. Great car. Ford Focus Ecoboost 1.0 125hp: From £18k for a 2018 ‘STLine’ model with 15k miles
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June, 2019
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n NEWS
Shop’s future in doubt THE future of a fashion chain with a store in Yate Shopping Centre is in doubt after it went into administration. Select has a store in the centre’s South Walk, one of 169 across the country selling clothes aimed at women aged 18 to 45. The company, which employs 1,800 people, announced in May that it had gone into administration, citing “prevailing high street conditions” for the decision. The administrators, Quantuma, will now try to find a buyer for the business and says there have already been expressions of interest. All stores are due to stay open while Quantuma “assesses all options” for the company’s future. Last year the company struck a deal called a company voluntary arrangement to cut the rents it paid on its stores. But this failed to keep Select, which was bought out of administration in 2008 by current owner Cafer Mahiroğlu, out of financial trouble. Joint administrator Andrew Andronikou of Quantuma said: “We will continue to trade Select whilst we assess all options available to the business, with the aim of achieving the optimum outcome for all stakeholders. "Options include a sale of the business, in addition to entering into discussions with those parties who have already expressed interest in acquiring the business."
Yate’s sandy beach is back A SANDY beach, much loved by young children, is back at Yate Shopping Centre for the summer season. The beach was due to officially open during the school half-term holidays and stay open until August 31. Centre manager Andy Lowrey said: “The beach is one of our favourite and most successful attractions, appealing to visitors across all ages. It signals the start of the summer months and runs through to the end of August. “As always there will be a programme of fun-filled activities throughout the summer months, the full programme will be published in due course. These events are an important element of our customer relations allowing shoppers to relax in the centre with their families.” Two special activities were taking place to celebrate the beach’s return. On May 28 children were being offered the chance to meet Zog, the keen young dragon who is a character in the book of the same name written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, which was recently made into a film. Meet and greet sessions were due to be held on the half hour from 11.30am until 3.30pm. On May 31, members of the public were being encouraged to dress up as their favourite Disney character to be in with the chance of winning a prize. Face painting and balloon modelling were being offered all day, with three meet and greet character sessions featuring Buzz and Woody, princesses, and Nemo and Dory between 10am and 3pm. More details at www.yateshoppingcentre.co.uk
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June, 2019
n LETTERS Luke’s figures mean little IN response to the optimistic article regarding record employment levels by Luke Hall in last month’s Voice, the employment figures need to be taken in context. Firstly there has been a massive increase in child poverty. There are now 4.1 million children living in poverty. Despite the reported high employment figures, 70% of these children have at least one parent in work. So trumpeting about high employment figures is of little value when child poverty for working families has increased. The average household income has actually fallen, in real terms, since the world-wide financial crisis of 2008 and the average wage is lower than it was 10 years ago. Also, for 25 to 34-year-olds earning
between ÂŁ22,200 and ÂŁ30,600, home ownership has collapsed to 27%, compared to 65% 10 years ago. Unfortunately the OECD has also found that England has one of the largest proportions of lowskilled workers among advanced economies – with young workers being no more skilled than older employees, meaning that our poor productivity is likely to continue. The Conservatives may believe, without evidence, that “work will set you freeâ€? but if work doesn’t provide a decent income, we need a different solution. Simon Luxton Chipping Sodbury
Squirrel cull is murder I WAS disgusted to read about the man murdering grey squirrels in our area. What a disgraceful human being, to want to spend his spare time murdering animals. It’s like squirrel ethnic cleansing. What makes him think it’s okay to decide which animals live or die? I hope he gets a grip, gets counselling and
stops this disgusting murder spree. What a vile human being. Sarah By email
Learn about epilepsy WOULD you know what to do if you saw someone having a seizure? Would you know what was happening and how to help? One in 100 people in the UK have epilepsy. Recent statistics reveal that 36% of the public would be unsure or unwilling to help somebody having a seizure. A
further 57% admit they have little to no knowledge about epilepsy. Helping someone who is having a seizure is simpler than people think. Staying with someone, protecting them from further harm and calling for help if it’s needed are three vital steps. If in doubt, always call 999 and ask for an ambulance. Epilepsy Action has created first aid cards that people can order. They fit neatly into a purse or wallet so people can always have information handy. Posters are also readily available to be displayed in public places, such as schools, workplaces or waiting rooms. People can order these free of charge and find out more at epilepsy.org.uk/epilepsyweek Phillip Lee Chief Executive Epilepsy Action
Let us know your views Email us at contact@yate&sodburyvoice. co.uk
n ABBOTSWOOD PHARMACY BLOG
Measles cases triple
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THE number of measles cases worldwide tripled in the first three months of 2019, according to the World Health Organisation. A disease which is entirely preventable through vaccination is killing people. New York City recently declared a public health emergency, ordering mandatory vaccinations in one neighbourhood. In the UK, take-up of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children reaching their second birthday is decreasing. There are more cases of measles, due in part to children who went unvaccinated 20 years ago, after now-discredited research, by a doctor who has been struck off, caused a scare about the safety of the MMR vaccine. Now the anti-vaccination movement – “anti-vaxxers" – and the false information they spread is posing a significant health threat. Looking after and seeking to protect young children forms part of our innate human behaviour. When people choose not to vaccinate – for all the right reasons but based on wrong information – not only do they put lives at risk, they also start to undo the social norms that mean that vaccination is a choice to protect the whole community as well as the individual. As part of the Bristol Travel Clinic, Abbotswood Pharmacy signposts to free NHS provision where possible, while also providing a service with a low-price guarantee that includes support for the work of charities like Meningitis Now and Water Aid.
Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
June, 2019
yate&sodburyvoice
39
n COMMUNITY NEWS
A really top hat THIS fantastic creation was the winning entry in this year’s Easter bonnet competition at Kingsgate Park. More than 40 children entered the competition and 600 eggs were given out to youngsters who completed this year’s hunt, organised by Yate Town Council and the Friends of Kingsgate Park. Friends of Kingsgate Park secretary Judith Cameron said: “The event was an amazing success. The weather was wonderful and the crowds seemed to keep on coming. “Thanks must go to everyone who helped on the day, also to Yate Town Council for their organization and for collecting all the eggs for the day.” The next big event in the park is the Yate Rocks! music festival taking place on June 22 and 23: see out What’s On section on page 30 for more details.
Cake sale helps charities MEMBERS of the Sodbury Yate and Dodington walking group have raised nearly £200 for charity after holding a cake sale. It took place, appropriately, at the end of a four-mile walk by the group. The money will be split between St Peters Hospice and the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC). The group is part of the Walking for Health and Stepping Forward programme, run by South Gloucestershire Council. It meets every Friday for a 2 to 4 mile walk led by a trained voluntary leader, and participation is free. The aim is not only to exercise, but to get to know the area and socialise. Walks are graded according to ability, and every walk finishes at a café, or a pub, or, as in this case, with a cake sale. New walkers and volunteer leaders are welcome to just turn up, more information is via oneyou.southglos.gov.uk/walking
Quiz raises over £600 Will Writing & Estate Planning for cancer charity
A Will lets you protect your family’s inheritance and decide how your assets are shared out –
if you don’t make a Will, the law says who gets what.
A QUIZ held at Wellesley Primary School in Yate has raised over £600 for Cancer Research UK. Around 60 people went, paying £8 each, which included a ploughman’s supper. The school cook cooked a ham and made fresh bread, and other items were donated by Waitrose in Chipping Sodbury. There was a prize for the winners and losers, and the ever popular raffle. The idea came from Sue Juggins, who will be taking part in Yate’s Relay for Life with her team, called ‘The Juggernaughts’, over 24 hours in July.
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We have a Bristol-based team of trained will writing consultants who provide a home visiting service and can take your instructions in the comfort of your own home.
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Standard single or pair of mirrored Wills £99 Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
yate&sodburyvoice
40
June, 2019
n AROUND THE WI'S Chipping Sodbury Evening WI SPRING is certainly with us and as well as nature starting to show us the beauties hidden over the winter months, a lot of things are now taking shape for the WI over the coming months. Since our last update the ladies of Chipping Sodbury WI experienced a very enjoyable evening at a local hostelry playing skittles. This was certainly an excellent opportunity for people to socialise with the WI members that they do not normally sit with during meetings. It also seems fitting at this point to congratulate the darts team on being in the final – good luck to them. At our meeting we welcomed a number of visitors and five new members. A number of the new members took the opportunity to “try before you buy” and joined us after attending for three months at no charge. Our social outing to Tiverton and trip on a horse drawn barge is fully booked, with names being
taken for the trip to the Three Choirs Vineyard. The talk in May was provided by Lady Sally MacFadyen, who provided us with an entertaining evening talking about her life living and working in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Her photographs showed us where she lived and the garden, which is not open to the public, and explained about the community living there and the role that her husband undertook. Preparations are underway to have a stall at the Chipping Sodbury carnival, so this will give the readers the opportunity to meet a number members. Also discussions are taking place on where to hold the birthday supper evening meal this year. Outings, skittles and craft evenings are open to all members. Take the opportunity to meet new friends, learn new skills and enjoy social evenings by trying out the WI. Our next meeting is at 7.30pm on June 6 at the Chipping Sodbury Town Hall, with a talk by Linda
Dowsett on her journey to the Weakest Link, which is expected to be extremely funny. Come and give the WI a try and explore the opportunities that this organisation can offer like-minded women. Arrive as a stranger leave as a friend. For more information on the WI, visit www.thewi.org.uk Jeanette Oakley Old Sodbury WI THE Women’s Institute in Old Sodbury has always been an important aspect of our village life and this year we celebrated our 100th birthday in great style. The celebrations have included a church blessing, unveiling a new notice board on the village green and an open afternoon, with tea and cake for visitors who could peruse the displays of craft work and memorabilia. We are grateful to South Gloucestershire Council for donating a rowan tree, to Landcare for planting and to Abraham's
Jewellers for providing a beautiful plaque for the tree to mark our centenary. Past members and past presidents were invited to the birthday meeting, where our guest speaker Donna Butcher told of her WI experiences as Avon Chairman and Advisor. Cake and champagne were enjoyed by all on this very joyous occasion. Members look forward to Croquet and a Celebration Dinner in June and a train trip to Broadway in July. We have over 40 WI members who enjoy a varied programme of speakers at our monthly meetings. In June our speaker will be Christine Cole, talking about Williams at Dyrham Park. We meet in Old Sodbury Village Hall on the third Wednesday in each month, at 7.30pm. There is always a warm welcome to visitors and prospective new members at this busy, friendly WI. If you would like to know more about us, please visit or ring 01454 315161. Sue Leah
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yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
43
n RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Ann Murray is from 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.
Summertime, and the living is easy
THESE famous words from the opera Porgy and Bess seem to sum up what summertime recipes should be – nice and easy. So, to this end, my recipe for June is supremely easy and delicious. You can put it together in five minutes, you don’t need a specialist ice cream maker: just pop it in the freezer overnight and you’ll have a luscious ice cream to impress your friends and family. Eat within a month for the very best flavour. If you’ve been really switched, on you’ll have saved last month’s recipe for making your own lemon curd. Failing that, use Duchy Originals or Waitrose Number 1 Lemon Curd.
Serve with the first of the English strawberries and a crunchy biscuit. A Summer dessert doesn’t get much easier or delicious than that!
Lemon Curd Ice Cream Ingredients Best quality lemon curd (homemade or Duchy Original) – 1 x 312g jar. Natural or Greek yoghurt – 500ml.
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Here’s what you do: 1. Put the curd into a bowl, then gradually beat in the yoghurt, then the cream, to make a smooth creamy mixture. 2. Pour mixture into plastic container and freeze until firm. (This takes several hours.)
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44
yate&sodburyvoice
June, 2019
n SPORT
50 trophies for martial arts club MEMBERS of Chipping Sodbury’s Tang Soo Do club brought home 50 trophies after participating at the sport’s national championships in Nottingham. The 24 winners were at all age groups and levels, in disciplines varying from individual fighting to team events. Instructor Paul Townsley said: “It was a very proud day for the local club to stand so strong on the national stage and Chipping Sodbury Tang Soo Do is firmly on the martial arts map.” The club has been running for nearly 15 years. Tang Soo Do itself is a traditional Korean martial art which has been practised for over 1,000 years. The Chipping Sodbury club is part of the World Tang Soo
Members of Chipping Sodbury Tang Soo Do club with their trophies from the national champtionships. Do Association, which ran the championships. It is open to
everyone regardless of age, background or fitness, and has
recently started a new class for people with physical disabilities and mental health issues. The youngest pupil is currently five and the oldest is 50. Paul said: “There is a really good club atmosphere. As an instructor I ask my students to leave their ego at the door along with their shoes, as we train barefoot. I have to say that you could not meet a nicer bunch of people, always willing to help and work with each other, inside and outside the training hall.” The club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Chipping Sodbury School Sports Centre, classes are 7-8pm for children, and 8-9.30pm for adults. There are also free taster sessions. For more information call Paul Townsley on 07860 471232.
Fairytale victory for French at Badminton AN extraordinary finish to the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials saw Britain’s Piggy French secure victory aboard Vanir Kamira in a dramatic final showjumping phase. The popular rider won the most prestigious title in eventing after rising from fourth place after the dressage to second position on her “gutsy little mare” with a bold cross-country round. She then put the pressure on Oliver Townend – the leader with Ballaghmor Class after completion of the tough crosscountry test – by jumping clear and within the time allowed in the deciding showjumping stage. Townend could afford to knock one showjump down and incur minimum time penalties if he was to hang on to his lead and win not only his second Badminton title but also the middle part of the Rolex Grand Slam of eventing challenge. But he looked shell-shocked when, having rolled one pole, he then found himself four seconds over the time allowed. An emotional French was equally stunned at her win. She said: “I can’t believe it and I won’t believe it for quite a while. It’s a complete fairytale. “Oliver’s horse is such a great jumper and I couldn’t believe it
For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120
when the clock turned red.” Townend’s timing error pushed him into the eventual runner-up position by just 0.3 of a penalty. He also took sixth place with Cillnabradden Evo. Christopher Burton was third and fourth with Cooley Lands and Graf Liberty, while 2017 winner Andrew Nicholson was fifth with Swallow Springs. The thousands of people who visited the Badminton estate, near Chipping Sodbury, for the international trials helped celebrate its 70th running. But it was also the final year of sponsorship by Mitsubishi after a 28-year run – one of the longest continuous sporting event sponsorships in the world. By Lynne Hutchinson Photo courtesy of Mitsubishi Motors/Kit Houghton
Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
June, 2019
yate&sodburyvoice
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n SPORT
Chipping Sodbury dismay at league switch
CHIPPING Sodbury Town are to appeal after the Football Association decided to move them from the Western League to the Hellenic League. Although the leagues are both at the same level of the football pyramid, the club is angry at the big increase in travel to away matches. Other clubs in the Hellenic League include Windsor, Virginia Water in Surrey and Brackley Town, which is near Northampton. Sodbury’s club secretary, Geoff Endicott, told the Voice: “On a geographical basis, we seem to be the fall guys. I’m absolutely dismayed by the FA’s decision. “It means travel will increase, there are more costs associated with the move, and a loss of revenue across gate income.” Mr Endicott fears that the loss of local derbies against the likes of Cadbury Heath, Bitton and Bristol-based Roman Glass
will mean a drop in the numbers of visiting supporters. He also fears that sponsors will be less willing to back the club if the team is travelling many miles to fixtures. The situation seems to have been prompted in part by the plight of Street. Promoted as champions from the Western League to the Southern League in 2018, the Somerset club resigned from the higher league because they have lost sponsors, their manager and players. They have now been reinstated in the Western League for next season. The FA’s decision has been blasted by fans, with many declaring it unfair and farcical on social media. Many fans denounced the distance for away matches to teams up to 120 miles away as “crazy”. The appeal to the FA was being lodged as the Voice went to press. Mr Endicott said: “The FA
For Newsdesk Or Advertising contact 01454 800 120
Action from Chipping Sodbury Town’s final match of the season, a 3-3 draw with Plymouth Parkway, which could turn out to be their last in the Western League if an FA decision to move them into the Hellenic League goes ahead. Picture: B. East Photography makes the rules and hears the appeal – it’s not independent. The chances are slim, but we have a good case.” The FA each year has to move teams to balance leagues in the same tier of the football pyramid, but it’s not always a popular task.
Last year there were 39 appeals against decisions. Mr Endicott believes that some clubs in northern counties are flatly refusing to move – something that hasn’t been ruled out by Chipping Sodbury.
Email: contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
yate&sodburyvoice
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June, 2019
n SPORT
Yate promoted after play-off final victory Yate Town 3-1 Cinderford Town YOUNG striker Ollie Mehew hit two vital goals as Yate came from behind to win their play-off final tie against Cinderford 3-1 and secure elevation to the Southern Premier League. After being championship contenders almost to the end of the regular season, the Bluebells ended in third, giving them home advantage in their semi-final against Moneyfields. It took penalties to separate the sides after a 1-1 draw which saw both sides score in the first period of extra time. Cinderford started the play-off final following a run of excellent form, which included beating second-placed Cirencester in their semi-final. It was from a corner that they took the lead in the 17th minute of the final, when Lorcan Sheehan's delivery was met unopposed by central defender Nick Rhodes.
The visitors stayed on top, with Ben Watkins having a shot saved after a flowing five-man move and Ross Grimshaw touching over a header from Rhodes that looked destined for the top corner. But it was Yate who scored next, an Adam Price corner causing confusion in the Cinderford defence and Ollie Mehew deflecting the ball into the net past Alex Harris, after Josh Ford had hammered it goalwards. Yate took the lead just before the break. Jack Twyman and Mike Bryant worked well to thread the ball through to Mehew and the leading scorer steered it into the far corner. Bryant shaved the outside of the upright as the home side started the second half brightly, while at the other end Grimshaw handled cleanly as Cinderford sent over a series of dangerous corners. Ross Langworthy was foiled
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Yate Town players and staff celebrate their promotion after a play-off final victory over Cinderford Town. Picture: John Lester by some brave keeping from Harris, after outstripping the visitors' back-line, before Yate's vital third goal arrived with twelve minutes left, Price rifling a low drive just inside the post after his free kick had been headed back to him outside the box. The victory, watched by 1,091
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