The explosion happened at around 6.50am on April 29, as many residents were still in bed.
Caralyn Jones, who lives in nearby Warren Way with her parents, told the Voice how she and another neighbour, Luke Wood, ran out to help rescue a woman from one of the homes.
She said: "I felt a massive boom, the house shook, and the partition doors were shaking violently.
"Everything went still; then there was roof debris flying in the air.
"There was a guy in a blue shirt and suit who said there was a lady in the house next door to the one that burnt down. We started grabbing the debris off the floor and smashing the window.
"The guy got some wadding to put over the glass – I climbed in – there was smoke everywhere.
"I looked and ran upstairs. There were four doors and all were shut. Luckily, the first door I tried opened. Fire and smoke were filling the room – and there was a huge gap in the wall.
"A lady was laid down in bed covered in debris – I didn’t think she was alive at that time.
"Luke also then appeared in the bedroom. He got her arms and I got her legs.
"We couldn’t get past the chair lift, but somehow managed to get her over the top of it. Luke fell downstairs with her on top of him.
"But we got to the front door, then couldn’t find any keys. I could hear people shouting ‘get out, get out’.
"By chance I saw the key on the floor.
"As I opened the door, the lady said ‘My dog, my dog’. I ran back in, looked, but couldn’t see a dog.
"People were shouting to get out. I ran out behind Luke and we took Margaret to a grass verge where she was treated for smoke inhalation."
Caralyn went home covered in blood, small burns, bruises and fragments of glass, and was checked over by a paramedic. She said she believed Luke, who was "absolutely amazing," was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation
Speaking the following day,
Caralyn said: "I can’t believe it - I’m still a bit shaky, and a bit black and blue, with massive bruises on my legs. I can’t believe it happened.
"I would do it again in a heartbeat."
In the aftermath residents and businesses stepped forward to help all those who had been evacuated by police and firefighters as they dealt with the fire and leaking gas.
The nearby Farmhouse pub and Ladden View care home opened their doors to
offer shelter and refreshments after residents were evacuated, while the Portcullis in Chipping Sodbury offered free rooms for those in need.
Matt Miller, who lives nearby with his wife and two daughters, aged ten and seven, said: "We live at the end of the street, about eight houses up from the explosion, and not only heard the explosion but felt it.
“I rushed out of the house to see what was going on, only to see the middle of the row of five terraced houses with a huge hole
in it, and then it started to go up in flames.
“I checked in on my friend’s parents who live on the terraced row. They seemed fine, just heavily shook up.
“We were evacuated at 7.30am to The Farmhouse, who were amazing, and came back home at 5pm.”
Matt said his friend’s parents are unable to return to their home as it is structurally unsafe.
Ladden View care home offered free refreshments and space in its cafe for those who were evacuated.
Customer relations manager Daniel Glover-Winfield said: “Our immediate reaction was to help those impacted by the explosion in any way we could."
People have also been supporting an online fundraiser for the couple whose home was destroyed.
The Gofundme site was set up by one of their grandchildren, Storm Boulton, and had raised more than £3,000 by April 30.
Writing on the fundraising page, she said: "My Nan and Grandad’s lifelong home was destroyed in a gas explosion. They’ve lost everything they’ve ever owned, and it’s absolutely devastating.
"We’re reaching out to ask for any support no matter how small to help them replace essential items and begin to rebuild.
“Thankfully, Jane, Paul, and their dog Poppy made it out. They’ve suffered some burns and are in shock, but we’re incredibly grateful they’re alive.
“A huge thank you to the firefighters who responded so quickly and bravely, and to everyone who’s already offered help and kindness today. It means the world.”
The fundraising page can be found at tinyurl.com/3yusx3tx. Avon Fire and Rescue Service sent nine appliances to the scene of the explosion and although the fire was quickly put out, they remained at the scene for more than 13 hours as the gas supply and structures were made safe.
Station manager Chris Bengey said the people inside the house that was destroyed were "very lucky" to be alive.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but it is suspected to have been started by a gas explosion.
Flames billow from the home where the explosion happened. Picture: Matt Miller
A badly damaged party wall exposed by the blast
New homes are 'accident waiting to happen'
A CUL-de-sac of new houses planned off a busy road through a village is an “accident waiting to happen”, it has been claimed.
Developers have been granted planning permission by South Gloucestershire Council to build 15 houses on a field in Rangeworthy, near Iron Acton.
Due to the lack of facilities in the village, future residents will likely need to drive to get to places like jobs or shops.
They will need to navigate out of the new cul-de-sac onto a bend at the busy Wotton Road, where cars and lorries are often seen driving above the 30mph speed limit.
Developer Cotswold Homes Ltd has promised to pay for a new flashing road sign reminding drivers of the speed limit.
Despite the concerns about the impact on traffic safety, councillors on the development management committee voted to grant them permission on April 17.
Committee chairman Tristan Clark (Lib Dem, Frampton Cotterell) said: “The access is onto a bend on Wotton Road where speeding has historically been an issue.
"Also, there have been issues with road traffic accidents.
"Just to the south of the access is the junction with Manor Road.
“This has had a number of accidents over the years, because cars coming out of Manor Road grow impatient having to wait. They tend to misjudge the speed of the traffic on the Wotton Road and try to drive into a gap that simply isn’t there, and end up getting T-boned.”
Paul Hughes (Con, Bitton & Oldland Common) added: “That’s an accident waiting to happen.
"I cannot understand why on earth there’s not better mitigation. I’m absolutely
astounded.”
Transport experts at the council said they had analysed the visibility of the new turning into the cul-de-sac, and were satisfied with how much drivers will be able to see around the bend. An independent audit was also carried out looking at how safe the road is.
Ashley Grant, planning manager at Cotswold Homes, said: “An independent stage one road safety audit has been undertaken, and no issues were raised. The forecasted trips from the development are an average of just one additional trip every 10 minutes in peak hours.”
Five of the 15 new homes will be affordable.
*SOUTH Gloucestershire Council faces a “hefty bill” to fight a likely planning appeal after refusing plans for 47 homes in the village of Cromhall, near Wickwar.
Members of the senior spatial planning committee confirmed an earlier decision by the development management committee to reject the application by Redcliffe Homes in April, even though officers recommended that it be approved.
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
The access onto Wotton Road
Hat's a winner!
FAMILIES defied the rain to show their creative side at this year's Easter bonnet competition in Yate's Kingsgate Park.
Part of the Easter Egg Extravaganza, there were 43 entries in the competition, with a variety of decorations from eggs, feathers and bunnies to glitter and balloons.
The contest was judged by Yate deputy mayor Aziz Chowdhry and the town's MP, Claire Young, who picked Esme Court as the winner, with Alice Cutler second and Noah Jackson third.
Almost 500 Easter eggs were given to children who completed the Easter themed hunt around the park at the event, which was organised by Yate Town Council
and the Friends of Kingsgate Park.
A town council spokesperson said: "We would like to say a huge thank you to the friends and volunteers who helped to make sure the event ran smoothly, and to the organisations and businesses who sponsored the event."
Bridge contract awarded
NATIONAL Highways has announced which contractor has won the bid to replace the Badminton Road bridge over the M4.
The old bridge, which carried the A432 from Yate to Bristol across the motorway next to the Wick Wick roundabout, was demolished in March, 20 months after being declared unsafe when “accelerated deterioration and cracking” was found in the concrete.
The same contractor responsible for the demolition work - Taylor Woodrow - has now been appointed to deliver the new bridge, which has already been designed and is expected to cost about £20 million to build.
The first stage of work to install the new bridge - driving in the piles which will form its foundations - is expected to start in May or June.
National Highways, which is responsible for the bridge as part of the motorway network, says work to plan the new bridge has been going on "at pace" since
the start, as it aims to reduce the normal replacement timescale from five years to three.
A spokesperson said: "We’ve been working to accelerate this scheme through options, planning, design, and construction, while ensuring we deliver something that is both safe and will last – reducing the risk of more closures in the future, and keeping the local community and road users, both on the bridge and motorway, as safe as possible.
"We thank users and the local community for their patience whilst we work to deliver this scheme in early 2026."
Voice readers have asked whether the bridge site has been considered for a new junction for the M4, which has been on the region's political agenda for more than 25 years.
National Highways says the site was discounted during a study carried out by South Gloucestershire Council in 2018, which found that all potential options for a new junction were "very expensive".
Winning bonnet maker Esme Court, with sister Maggie, receives her prize from MP Claire Young. Picture: Alan Monaghan
n VE DAY
VE Day remembered - by a soldier who was there
AS communities across the country prepare to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the Voice met one of the last surviving South Gloucestershire Second World War veterans who fought in Germany in May 1945.
ASK Leonard Trewin where he was on VE Day - May 8, 1945and he can give you the answer in a flash.
"I remember it all well," he says. "We were at Wismar on the Baltic, trying to keep the Russians out!"
Len is 100 now. His hearing isn't what it used to be, he isn't very mobile and dementia has affected parts of his memory.
But there are still some events that are etched in his mind, from seeing action for the first time during the Battle of Normandy in 1944 to meeting his German wife-to-be at a labour camp liberated by his battalion.
Len also carries a permanent reminder of the war, in the form of a piece of shrapnel lodged above his left eye, which has remained there for the last 80 years.
Born in Cornwall and brought up in Devon, Len volunteered for the Home Guard in 1940.
He was called up in 1943, aged 19, and trained with the 13th Warwickshire Regiment and the Devonshire Regiment before volunteering for parachute training.
Len first saw action in August 1944, when he joined the Battle of Normandy in Herouvillette as part of the 8th (Midlands) Parachute Battalion, 3rd Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division.
He said: "We were reinforcements. We saw action straight away.
"That was three days before the break-out. We finished up by Le Havre."
Len's battalion returned to England in September but he and his comrades were called into action again in December, when they crossed the Channel on Christmas Day to take part in the Battle of the Bulge.
They helped to counter the German offensive in the Ardennes that had been
launched to try and turn back the Allied advance.
"We went to get the Americans out of trouble," Len says.
Joining the battle at Anhee on the River Meuse in Belgium, they advanced to Houyet and then Rochefort, as the Germans were finally pushed out of Belgium.
In January 1945 Len's division moved into Holland, where his mortar section fired on German positions across the river Maas, before returning to England for training to take part in the Rhineland offensive.
On March 24 he was one of 16,000 paratroopers dropped onto German territory on the Eastern bank of the Rhine as part of Operation Varsity, the biggest and most successful airborne operation ever carried out on a single day at one location.
Len's battalion was the first to land, near the village of Hamminkeln, with the aim of clearing the drop zone for the other troops.
He jumped with three mortar shells strapped to his legs.
A list of the 16 paratroopers in the Dakota aircraft with Len shows that one - a sergeantrefused to jump.
One was killed on the day of the drop and another was listed as missing, while two others
were wounded, three weeks into the campaign.
Len himself was injured three days after the drop by a piece of shrapnel, which narrowly missed his eye.
He said: "We were going along the road and they were firing 20mm anti-aircraft guns at us."
One of the rounds exploded and shrapnel pierced Len's skin just below his eyebrow.
He was taken to a field hospital, where medics decided not to try and remove it and, after a night in the hospital, Len returned to his unit.
After the war he was asked if he wanted the shrapnel removed but he told doctors to leave it there.
Len said: "It's not done me any harm - it's been here long enough!"
Through the final weeks of the war, Len's battalion fought through Osnabruck, Minden and Lubeck before reaching Wismar on the Baltic with the 11th Armoured Division, as the Allies raced to occupy German territory before the Nazi surrender.
It was while in Germany that Len met his wife Gerda, an inmate at a labour camp on Luneberg Heath, near Hamburg, that his battalion liberated.
Gerda had grown up in
Braunschweig, or Brunswick, a city near Hanover.
Len said: "She was in a labour camp because she had refused to do war work in a munitions factory - there were lots of them that had refused."
After VE Day Len expected to be deployed to the Far East but Japan's surrender in August meant that he was instead sent to Palestine, then governed by Britain under a pre-war League of Nations mandate.
Len left the 8th Battalion in 1947 and was discharged from the Army that October, but rejoined the following month, serving in the Devonshire regiment and Parachute Regiment in Germany, Cyprus and Egypt until 1953.
Len and Gerda married after the war and raised a family of three sons at Lyndhurst and Fawley in Hampshire, where Len worked at the Esso oil refinery. They moved to Yate in 2000 to be closer to son Mike and his wife Michelle, with whom Len now lives.
Gerda died in 2010.
In recent years, Len has received new honours for his wartime service.
He was made a knight of the French Legion D'Honneur in 2018, receiving his medal in June 2019 at an event to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
He was invited to Ahnee in the Ardennes in 2023, when he was made an honorary citizen of the commune.
Having previously stopped attending commemoration events on the continent due to his age, Len went back after Mike offered to accompany him, and it was only then that he started talking to his son about his wartime service.
Closer to home, Yate retirement development Trewin Lodge was named in his honour in 2019.
He has recently been photographed in a replica Para uniform for the Standing With Giants project, which has produced banners to commemorate VE Day that will be displayed in public spaces across the country.
Len is the last surviving member of the 8th Battalion who took part in the Normandy and
Len Trewin with his medals
Experience quality dementia care, led by experts
At Care UK’s Ladden View care home in Yate, our team is passionate about supporting your loved one to maintain independence and make choices, whilst receiving the very best dementia care in a place they can call home.
Care you can trust
We work with academic partners and respected leaders in the field, to ensure we stay up to date with the latest approaches to dementia care. We have worked closely with the Association of Dementia Studies to create bespoke programmes of dementia training. Whilst Dr Nori Graham - a renowned dementia expert and Vice President of Alzheimer’s International – supports the development of our dementia strategy with Suzanne Mumford, a Queen’s Nurse and Head of Nursing, Care and Dementia at Care UK.
Living well with dementia
Our dedicated team will work with you and your loved one to deliver a care and lifestyle plan entirely tailored to their unique needs and preferences and our busy activities schedule is always packed with meaningful activities that support them to live life to the full.
Purpose-built facilities
At our purpose-built home, everything from colour schemes, signage, and furniture to the design of our crockery, has been carefully chosen to support residents living with dementia to be as independent as possible.
Each floor at Ladden View is divided into smaller suites that create a calm atmosphere, keeping hustle and bustle to a minimum.
Ladden View also has a Namaste care room and trained Namaste care practitioners, who provide a calming sensory experience using soothing lighting and gentle hand massage, for people living with advanced dementia.
Ladden View care home in Yate is part of Care UK, the country’s most awarded large care provider. We’ve been delivering high-quality, personcentred care for over 40 years.
That’s why over 9,000 families trust us to care for their older loved ones.
To find out more about Ladden View, call 01454 513 106 or scan the QR code.
Our aim is to give a high standard of nursing and personal care in a traditional, homely and friendly environment. The Heathers is a home of great character and charm. The interior architecture, with many of its original features, gives a perfect setting for the home comforts we aim to provide.
The Heathers Nursing Home is a privately owned, Grade 2 Listed Georgian manor house, situated within walking distance of the town centres of Chipping Sodbury, and Yate.
First Class Facilities and Support
• A history of providing 24 hour, high quality care in South Gloucestershire
• Each resident is unique to us and treated as such
• The home is small and family run, offering a highly personalised service
• Exceptional standards of cleanliness and hygiene
• Respite, residential care and day care available
• Special diets catered for by our expert Chefs
Get in touch and speak with our team, or arrange a viewing to see our facilities for yourself.
Aneesh – Registered Manager • Julie – General Manager
History man calls time on role
A HISTORIAN who has helped Yate residents learn about their heritage for 25 years has retired.
Yate Town Council's community heritage officer David Hardill stepped down from his post at Yate Heritage Centre at the end of April.
As part of his role he has educated Voice readers with regular columns containing fascinating insights into the town's history, from prehistoric settlements to wartime bombing and the town's post-war growth.
His most recent column brought the town's history up almost to the present day, covering the South Yate community from the 1960s onwards in tandem with the heritage centre's latest exhibition.
David has also been an invaluable source of knowledge when the Voice has covered events of historic significance, such as the 80th anniversary,
in 2021, of the first air raids on Parnall's aircraft factory.
A town council spokesperson said: "David’s dedication to
preserving and sharing the rich tapestry of our community’s history has left an indelible mark, not only on our collections and community activities, but on every visitor, colleague, and student who has had the privilege of learning something new about themselves, and the community around them.
"David’s passion for storytelling and conservation hasn't just preserved the past, it has inspired future generations to value and protect the people, places and things around them.
"We’ll miss David’s deep well of knowledge that brought the past to life; as David turns the page to a new chapter, his legacy in the heritage field will continue to guide and inspire.
"We thank David for 25 years of extraordinary service and wish him all the best in the journey ahead – he’s more than earned it!"
Free festival returns to Yate
YATE'S free two-day community festival in Kingsgate Park returns next month.
Yate Rocks...in the Park will take place on June 21 from noon to 8pm and June 22 from 10.30am until 4.30pm.
It is the 19th Yate Rocks festival and will include music from local bands, dance displays from local clubs and academies, stalls, rides - including a giant inflatable and go-karts - and games on the Saturday.
There will also be food and drink, including a beer tent.
On the Sunday, a Praise in the Park outdoor church service, from 10.30am until noon will be followed in the afternoon by the Great Choir Showcase, a sing-along for local school and community choirs.
The event is supported by Yate Town Council - for more details visit yatetowncouncil.gov.uk.
o
n o n - p r o f i t m a k i n g o r g a n i s a t i o n s . T h e s e o r g a n i s a t i o n s w o r k f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f Y a t e p a r i s h i o n e r s , w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f i m p r o v i n g t h e r a n g e o f s e r v i c e s a n d a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e
t o w n . A p p l i c a t i o n s t h a t r e s p o n d t o t h e c l i m a t e a n d e c o l o g i c a l c r i s i s w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r
T h e T o w n C o u n c i l r e c o g n i s e s a n d s u p p o r t s t h e v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n m a d e b y t h e v o l
David Hardill
n RECIPE OF THE MONTH
A bank holiday buffet lunch
HERE we are again, with May upon us: two more bank holidays, providing opportunities for social gatherings.
If you’re thinking about a lighter buffet lunch or even brunch, I’ve got just the thing for you.
It’s luscious halloumi, cooked with honey, served over a freekeh salad which, as Peter Kay once said, is a taste sensation!
Freekeh is an ancient grain, which is nutty and smoky and really brings out the flavour of the other ingredients.
Serve this on your buffet table and I guarantee people will be coming back for more!
Honey and sesame halloumi with jalapeño yogurt and freekeh
A clever new way to serve your favourite squeaky cheese. Honeyed halloumi sits on top of a freekeh salad, with punchy jalapeño yogurt.
Ingredients
• ready-cooked freekeh 500g
• red onion 1, finely chopped
• cherry tomatoes 200g, quartered
• olive oil 2 tbsp, plus a drizzle for frying
• lemon 1, juiced
• sesame seeds 2 tbsp
• halloumi 2 x 250g blocks, sliced
• runny honey 1 tbsp
• flat-leaf parsley a small bunch,
stalks finely chopped, leaves chopped
• coriander a small bunch, stalks finely chopped, leaves chopped
• pomegranate seeds 50g
Jalapeño yogurt
• Greek yogurt 300g
• pickled jalapeños from a jar 50g
• lemon 1/2, juiced
Here’s What You do
To make the jalapeño yogurt, put all the ingredients and a little seasoning in a small food processor or blender with 1-2 tbsp of water and whizz until smooth. Tip the freekeh into a bowl with the red onion, tomatoes and a little
Ann Murray founded the Cooking4 Cookery School based in Chipping Sodbury. She’s teamed up with Yate & Sodbury Voice to pass on her wealth of experience in the kitchen.
seasoning, and toss with the olive oil and lemon juice.
Tip the sesame seeds onto a plate and use to coat the halloumi slices, patting to stick. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over a medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil and fry the halloumi slices for 4-5 minutes or until golden on both sides. Turn down the heat, pour in the honey and turn the slices until glazed. Stir the herbs and pomegranate seeds through the freekeh tabbouleh. Spread the yogurt across a serving plate, pile on the tabbouleh and top with the halloumi.
Let us know how you get on at contact@yateandsodburyvoice.co.uk
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Carol's 61-day challenge
A CHIPPING Sodbury woman took on a two-month challenge to help raise money for the charity that helped her when she was diagnosed with a visual impairment.
Carol Bowen walked for a
total of 305km around the town, taking on 5km every day, to raise £250 for the Macular Society.
Carol, aged 67, was looking forward to retirement last year when she was diagnosed with age-related macular
degeneration (AMD) last year, which means she has limited central vision.
Following her diagnosis, Carol was given help and advice by charity the Macular Society.
She said: "I wanted to give
something back to the Macular Society. It offers so much support to people and for the research it has funded, so I’m very grateful.”
Carol used her passion for walking both to raise awareness of macular disease and to help raise vital funds towards macular research.
AMD is the biggest cause of sight loss and there is no cure for it or any other form of macular disease.
The two-month challenge included walking on Christmas Day.
Carol said: "There were days when I thought, ‘Why have I picked 5K every day?’ but I was inspired to carry on.
"I was motivated to give something back, and people were kindly making these donations, so it made me more determined.
"Family and friends supported me, they came out with me and I’m very grateful to people who have sponsored and donated."
Carol, a keen photographer, says she was inspired by the support she received to complete the Macular Society’s Step Around the World challenge – a fundraising initiative enabling people to pick their own destination or distance, while completing the challenge from the comfort of their own home, doing laps of the garden or taking on local walks.
Carol shared her fundraising on Facebook to encourage people to have conversations about sight loss.
She said: "More awareness can hopefully lead to more funds for research, and change attitudes so that more help can be put in place for people with sight loss."
For more information on macular disease, call the Macular Society Helpline on 0300 3030 111, email help@macularsociety.
Carol Bowen
Relay For Life needs you
YATE residents are being urged to pick up the baton for Cancer Research UK and help raise funds at this year's Relay for Life.
The charity is urging people to form teams with family, friends and colleagues to take part in the 24-hour event at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex on July 5-6.
The charity says teams of all ages, levels of fitness and from all walks of life are welcome to join a celebration the power of the community to raise money to find new ways to support its research into more than 200 types of cancer.
People are being asked to hold fundraising activities in the months leading up to the event, from bike rides, to bake sales and bingo, and seek out donations ahead of the event, which will also honour everyone who is affected by the disease.
Members of the event’s committee in Yate are calling on people to sign up now.
Volunteer chair Keith Hatherall, himself a cancer survivor, said: "Nearly 1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime, but all of us can support the research that will beat it. That’s why we need everyone in Yate to get involved.
“Thanks to our relayers – and supporters across the UK - every day, people are being diagnosed earlier, have access to kinder and
more effective treatments, and in some cases, cancers are prevented completely.
“Every relay, every team and every pound raised is helping to bring about a world where everybody can hope to live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
“We know the community spirit in Yate is incredibly powerful, so we’re urging supporters to show their solidarity, take part and help bring hope to more people affected by this devastating disease.
"Together, we are beating cancer."
Team members take it in turns to complete laps of a track, while teammates and supporters urge them on, rest, eat or enjoy some of the activities on offer at the event, including a variety of music from local performers.
A key part of the event is the Candle of Hope ceremony, starting at dusk, when bags decorated with messages to loved ones and filled with sand are lit up with candles around the track.
Cancer Research UK is the world’s largest charitable funder of cancer research and can trace its history back more than 120 years, during which time it has supported research into treatments that have benefited millions of people and helped to double
cancer survival rates in the UK over the past 50 years.
To get involved in Relay For Life or find more information visit cruk.org/relay or call 0300 123 1026.
Two of last year's fundraisers at the Relay for Life. Picture: Rich McD
Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club
CHIPPING Sodbury Rotary Club is currently preparing for two of its major fundraising events.
Cars taking part in the Rotary Classic Run. Picture: Doug Lodge
Yate library
25% OFF during Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) Month
Our annual Golf Day at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club takes place on Friday, May 12, followed by the Classic Run from Chipping Sodbury High Street on Sunday, June 29.
YATE Library is hosting two afternoon tea events with authors this month: Chloe Ford on May 3 and John Connolly on May 10, both at 2pm. Tickets cost £5, including refreshments, and are available from sglibraries.eventbrite.com or Yate Library.
The library will be closed over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Storybuilders family friendly story and Duplo session for pre-school children is on Tuesday mornings at 10.30am.
Stay & play Duplo and trains, Thursday mornings at 10.30am, term time only.
There is still time to enter a team for the Golf Day or, if you are a local business, sponsor one of the holes.
February 2025 is LPA month at local experts Simpson Solicitors. Call their friendly Kingswood Team on 0117 960 8594 and quote LPA25 and our readers get a fantastic 25% off their full cost.
The day is to raise funds for the Julian Trust Night Shelter and Andy’s Man Club, so all sponsorship money and entry fees go to two very worthwhile causes.
Details can be obtained from Rotarian Ian Joseph at ianjoseph@ blueyonder.co.uk
A Will covers your wishes when you die. An LPA is how you make sure your wishes are followed when you are alive. It is how you appoint those you trust with your finances and decisions about your health and treatment.
Entry forms are now available for our Classic Run, open to all cars, motorcycles and light commercial vehicles manufactured before 2000.
The route this year starts in the High Street and finishes at the Ridings on Wickwar Road, taking entrants around approximately 80
• Peace of mind: With Simpsons there are no long forms for you to complete. Their Complete Service covers so much more than paperwork. It includes Certifying your mental capacity and registering them with the court
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Powers of
miles of Gloucestershire countryside, with a half-way coffee stop at Dowty Sports and Social Club in Staverton.
(OPG) and providing solicitorcertified copies.
More details and entry forms can be obtained from Mark Benstock at rotary.classic.run@hotmail.co.uk.
• Aftercare: No one want to be a burden, so their service also includes support to your Attorneys in activating and using them when the time comes.
At our last meeting we made some of the donations from supporters at our autumn and winter tea dances available to Chipping Sodbury Memory Café.
Powers of Attorney are so important. Arguably even more important than Wills. Go quickly.
This will allow them to take a group for a Willow Trust boat trip on the Sharpness Canal from Saul Junction and enjoy a picnic lunch, as well!
I don't care how old you are. I got mine at 35. It's always best to go through solicitors
Money Expert MARTIN LEWIS on ITV’s THIS MORNING
SOLICITOR CERTIFED COPIES:
John at Simpsons says, “We just
During April a few members attended a district meeting during the event our president, Ian Hodgson, received a certificate in recognition of our support and donations to Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign. Doug Lodge
Wriggle & Rhyme: Rhymes and songs for parents and babies/toddlers, Fridays from 10.30am.
Lego Club is on May 3, 7 and 31, 10.30-11.30am. Drop-in sessions. Suitable for children 4-10 years, must be accompanied by an adult. Reading group ‘Have You Read’ takes place on May 23, from 10.3011.30am.
make it easy for you and those you appoint. For example your Attorney is likely to need a copy of your LPA certified by a solicitor. Being a firm of solicitors this is not extra hassle for them - we can just provide it when needed.”
Craft Group meets on May 10 and 24 from 10am-noon, for knitting, sewing or crochet projects.
Computer support with digital champion volunteers is on Saturdays & Tuesdays from 10am-noon – book in advance.
Vision West of England information, advice and support drop-in every second Thursday, 10am-noon. Contact Marc on 0117 322 4855 or marc. gulwell@visionwofe.org.uk
Legal advice with Wards Solicitors on first Thursday of the month, 10am-noon; Bevan Evemy, Saturdays by appointment.
LPAs are essential protection in case you need help paying bills, managing money or deciding on treatment options. It is not just about dementia but - perhaps due to severe stroke, illness, injury, an operation going wrong or just old age.
Staffed times are 10am-5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9am-12.30pm on Saturday.
Open Access, at times when the library is unstaffed, between 8am and 7.30pm daily.
For more information call 01454 868006, enquire at the library, email yate.library@southglos.gov.uk or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries.
So contact Simpson Solicitors today. They are opposite Costa Coffee in the Kings Chase shopping centre. Quote LPA25 for 25% off the full cost!
“We
“You
Club supports Annah's Paralympic dream
CHIPPING Sodbury Rugby Club is helping a wheelchair rugby player chase her dream of representing Team GB at the Paralympics.
Annah Vickery, 33, plays wheelchair rugby for Taunton Gladiators, as well as the sport's five-a-side variation for the Somerset Gladiators and fours for the Leicester Tiger Swifts.
Two years ago Chipping Sodbury members raised more than £6,180 by holding a 24-hour touch rugby marathon for Matt Badman, of Coalpit Heath, who also plays for Taunton Gladiators as there are no wheelchair sides near his home.
Matt raised a total of around £10,000 - enough to not only buy his own custom wheelchair but help other players on his team.
Chipping Sodbury members are now helping Annah, who has cerebral palsy, raise funds for a made-to-measure chair.
Annah said: “A made-tomeasure chair would help improve my game so much.
Annah Vickery in action for Taunton Gladiators
"I would love to be able to play for the women’s GB team and to be selected for the Paralympic team in the future.
"Last year I won the players' player award for the Gladiators. I can’t wait to see what this year brings."
Chipping Sodbury RFC will again host a non-stop 24-hour touch rugby match, starting on Friday June 20 at 7pm and continuing until 7pm the next day.
The club has set a target of £6,000 for the event.
Club vice-chairperson Lucy Lawson, a former Chipping Sodbury player and the club’s touch rugby team manager, said: “This is a club that prides itself on inclusion, which extends far beyond the teams into the wider community.
"We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to play and be involved with rugby, whether it be contact, touch or wheelchair.
"We are delighted to be helping Annah on her journey to reaching her full potential within the sport."
Anyone who would like to join in or support the match, offer a raffle prize or make a donation can get in touch by email at CSRFCtouchrugby@yahoo.com.
AN INTERNATIONAL school-age boxing tournament being held in South Gloucestershire is looking for sponsors to help make it a success.
Last year 130 boxers aged 10 to 13 from all over Europe took part in the Bristol Box Cup. It is organised by Downend Boxing Club, which is looking for sponsors for banners, corner and side pads for this year's event at Thornbury Leisure Centre on June 21-22. Anyone interested should email Bailey Phillips at Bailey@ bristolboxcup.com.
An online fundraising page for the event has also been set up at tinyurl.com/bdx3nhzs.
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Yate Town pop
Bluebells win title
YATE Town fought off a late challenge from rivals Evesham United to win the Southern League Division One South title in front of a record home league crowd.
A seven-point advantage earlier in the year had been gradually clawed back by Evesham, who went top with two games to go.
But the Bluebells won four games out of five in April, while their rivals stumbled, losing their last two.
A 2-0 win at Helston for Yate was followed by a defeat at Mousehole, conceding a late goal on their second visit to Cornwall in a week.
That saw the Bluebells
knocked off the top of the table briefly - by a goal difference of just one - but a 4-2 home win against Cinderford Town on Good Friday, followed by an excellent performance at Bristol Manor Farm, where they secured a 3-0 win on Easter Monday, put them back on top by a threepoint margin.
It meant Yate needed just one point from their final game at home to Didcot Town on April 28 to secure top spot, and the only automatic promotion place.
A first-half header from captain Joe Guest saw them over the line, in front of a league record gate of 1,514 at the South West Interiors Stadium in Lodge Road.
Fourth place for Baps
THE Badminton & Pucklechurch Ladies have certainly done themselves proud this season, with some action-packed games.
An incredibly hard-fought game against top-of-the-league South Glos that unfortunately ended in a 1-0 defeat was a highlight.
A 4-1 victory against Wick, 3-0 win
At the full-time whistle fans flooded onto the pitch, and Darren Mullings’ squad were able to celebrate after the formalities of the medal ceremony and lifting the championship shield.
The player presentation evening is on May 9 in the clubhouse.
Before that the club is hosting a cider festival during the May Day bank holiday weekend, on May 4.
For all the latest information about what is happening at Yate Town FC, visit the club website at www.yatetownfc.co.uk
Bob Chester
Memorial match
A YATE Town legends side will take part in a charity match in honour of former former player Scott Hendy in May.
Scott, a central defender
against Firebrands and a goalless final match away to Redland saw Baps finish a very respectable fourth place in the league.
With many partners and family relatives who regularly come to cheer us on, we thought it was only fair to invite them for a game to end the season.
The children took to the pitch first, while the men took time to learn the 'basics'.
With the teams equally mixed, the competitive side soon appeared, with siblings
who played seven games for Yate Town during the 1996-97 season, went on to play for clubs including Clevedon Town and Bath City.
The father-of-three died in March last year, aged 46, following an assault.
One of Scott's other clubs, Mangotsfield United, held a match to raise money for his family last year.
This year the Scott Hendy Memorial Cup match returns to raise money for Children's Hospice South West.
The match will be held at Cossham Street on May 18, when the Yate Legends side takes on a Mangotsfield United Legends team.
Kick-off is at 12.30pm and admission is just £3, with under16s free.
There will also be music, an auction, raffle, food and a bar.
and couples desperate to not be out-done!
For most, it was the first time they've played a hockey match but some impressive and committed play was had - despite the occasional clattering of sticks.
We pride ourselves on being a welcoming, family club that involves all, and are looking forward to holding our next family fun day in the summer.
Lisa Rigby
open the Champagne as captain Joe Guest raises the Championship Shield
Strong finish to season for Yate Rugby
WHAT a fantastic season it’s been for Yate Rugby!
Both our 1st and 2nd teams have shown tremendous heart, commitment, and passion throughout their league campaigns, and we couldn’t be prouder of the progress we’ve made as a club.
Bristol-based home improvement company, The Window Hub, is aiming to plant 3,000 trees over the next three years as part of its commitment to being a climate conscious business.
The 1st XV wrapped up the season with a strong thirdplace finish, showcasing real grit, consistency, and unity throughout the campaign.
The trees will be planted at Boyd Valley Lake, which is located in Bitton. This is in addition to continuing its policy of recycling all old frames so they don’t end up in landfill.
With some big performances and hard-fought wins, the squad has truly stepped up, and laid a solid platform to build on next year.
is welcome. This is your chance to get involved, get fit, and help build towards an even bigger year ahead.
Bristol-based The Window Hub progresses on green goals
Yate Rugby is committed to making rugby accessible to everyone. All sessions are completely free, ensuring that players of all ages and abilities can get involved.
you know what? It is so easy to be amazing if you don’t cut corners.”
And the Window Hub has the customer reviews to prove it –90% of reviews for The Window Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism, friendliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.
We have sides from tag rugby to secondary school boys and girls, a ladies' team and walking rugby, a slower-paced version of the game offers a fantastic way to stay active, while enjoying the camaraderie rugby brings.
The team spirit has been unmatched, and the hunger to push even further is already building.
The window installation company was launched during lockdown in 2020 by seasoned industry professional Danny, who wanted to create a business that was “built on quality rather than greed”.
In fact, a new showroom is scheduled to open this month.
From humble beginnings, The Window Hub now operates from a head office and showroom in Staple Hill in Bristol with offices, showrooms and installation depots across the South West.
The 2nd XV had an impressive season of their own, securing a fifth-place finish and proving just how much talent and depth there is across the club.
Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.
With new players integrating well and experienced heads leading the way, the 2s played competitive, exciting rugby and pushed their opposition every week. Their growth has been one of the season’s real highlights.
and supporters who made this season one to remember.
The journey continues for Yate rugby - preseason training begins on Tuesday, June 24 at Yate Outdoor Sports Complex.
into your home can be stressful, so we have introduced as many initiatives as possible to be fair and reasonable in our approach to give our customers the best experience possible,” he said.
The hard work of Danny and his company was also recently recognised and commended, with The Window Hub being named the ‘Best in the South West’ at the G24 Awards last year.
Whether you're an experienced player, a curious newcomer or just looking for a way to stay active and make new friends, Yate Rugby has something for everyone.
Let’s keep the momentum going - bring on 2025/26.
In 2025, The Window Hub will grow to cover domestic homes between Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and Lands End in Cornwall.
Up the Yate!
“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone
A huge thank you goes out to all players, coaches, volunteers,
a FREE no obligation quote from the
Whether you’re a returning player or looking to join the club for the first time, everyone
“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And
company in the South West & South Wales in the final of the industries Prestigious G24 Awards!
For more information, please visit TheWindowHub.co.uk.
