Yate & Sodbury Voice January 2023

Police

legal battle

A TWO-year legal battle has been fought to protect the identity of a police dog, which bit a woman at an illegal rave in Yate.

The dog was part of the police response to a lockdown-breaking rave at an empty warehouse in Millbrook Road on the Stover Trading Estate in 2020.

It bit one of the revellers, Jessica Mae Andrew,

who called in a solicitor and made a formal complaint about the incident.

A request was also made under Freedom of Information laws for the dog's name and past record to be made public - a move the police resisted. Turn to page 4

Guilty of murder

TWO former workers at an abattoir near Westerleigh have been convicted of the "sadistic, senseless and cruel" murder of two other men.

PAGE 2

Shops shut suddenly

TWO shops in Yate Shopping Centre have closed suddenly, with the owner of one hitting financial trouble and mystery surrounding the future of the other.

PAGE 3

Bus protest

CAMPAIGNERS who want to see a complete change to the way the area's buses are run made a highvis protest as they took their case to South Gloucestershire Council.

PAGE 5

Recycling bikes

VOLUNTEER mechanics have found new homes for 250 of Yate's unwanted bikes, just six months after setting up their project.

PAGE 13

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February deadline

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n NEWS

Abattoir workers guilty of murders

TWO former abattoir workers have been convicted of the "sadistic, senseless and cruel" murder of two other men.

Ionut-Valentin Boboc, aged 22, and 46-yearold Jacob Bebe Chers were found guilty of the murders of Denzil McKenzie and Fahad Pramanik by a jury at Bristol Crown Court in December.

Boboc, who was living in Fishponds, Bristol, had admitted murdering Denzil McKenzie at an earlier court hearing and was also found guilty of murdering Fahad Pramanik.

Chers, of Speedwell, had denied both murders but was convicted after a month-long trial.

The pair, both former workers at the Pilgrim's Pride/Tulip Fresh Meats abattoir near Westerleigh, were each jailed for life on December 21. Boboc was told he must serve a minimum of 37 years and six months, and Chers a minimum of 40 years, before being considered for release.

Avon and Somerset Police said officers found the bodies of both victims at Mr McKenzie's home in Wood Street, Easton, after a relative of Boboc called 999 on September 12, 2021.

They found what was described in court as “a house of horror”.

The jury was told Mr McKenzie had been stabbed 23 times and Mr Pramanik three; the tip of a knife had been left in Mr McKenzie's breastbone and Mr Pramanik had been disembowelled after his death, in a "gruesome echo" of the defendants' work butchering pigs at the abattoir.

Detectives gathered hundreds of hours of video footage, including some showing the two men arriving at Mr McKenzie's house on the night of the murders, leaving with jewellery, audio equipment and electronics they had stolen.

They were also recorded visiting Coombe Brook nature reserve in Fishponds, where police later found evidence had been dumped.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Mark Almond described the killers of Mr McKenzie, who was 56, and 27-year-old Mr Pramanik as men with a "dangerous propensity for violence and cruelty".

He said: "This has been a highly distressing investigation, especially for the families of Denzil and Fahad, who’ve had to endure the terrible ordeal of hearing how their loved ones were murdered.

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"The offences carried out by these defendants were sadistic, senseless and cruel. They’ve shown no remorse for their actions and have put the families of the victims through further torment as a result."

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A member of the

Ionut Boboc

Jacob Bebe Chers

Sudden closures for two town centre stores

TWO shops in Yate Shopping Centre have closed suddenly, with the owner of one hitting financial trouble and mystery surrounding the future of the other.

M&Co in West walk closed its doors as its owner went into administration in December - the second time the company, which has 170 shops nationwide, has had to call in administrators in two years.

Drapers Shaws in South Walk has also shut up shop, along with the company's other stores in the area, although there had been no official announcement about the future of the business as the Voice went to press.

In branches of Shaws around the region queues formed at tills in mid-December, as stores put up posters advertising an "everything half price" offer.

Most shelves were quickly left bare, with the branches shutting once there was no more stock to sell.

One member of Shaws staff told the Voice they had not been told anything by the company about their future.

A reporter contacted Shaws' head office in Cardiff and was asked to send an email, so a 'Mr Shaw' could get back with a comment - but there was no response as the Voice went to

press.

The firm is known for its range of home accessories and furnishings, such as bedding and curtains, as well as underwear, knitting and crochet equipment.

M&Co announced it was calling in administrators Teneo on December 9 and while some stores, such as its Thornbury branch, remain open, the Yate shop has closed.

A spokesperson for Teneo said: "Like many retailers, the company has experienced a sharp rise in its input costs, which has coincided with a decline in consumer confidence leading to increased pressure on cash flows and trading losses.

"No immediate redundancies have been made and the joint

Heat plan for mines

DISUSED mines could start providing energy again - without removing a single lump of coal.

South Gloucestershire Council is investigating the potential use of former mine workings in the district as a source of renewable heating and cooling for buildings.

Old mines are flooded with water, which is naturally heated by underground geological activity.

The council believes the heat could be tapped, to supply either "single buildings such as schools, hospitals and offices, or a heat network serving multiple buildings or a district", by using pumps to raise the temperature to the level required for heating and hot water.

The government's Coal Authority has made an initial study of records of local disused and abandoned coal mines, which "identified a number of areas of interest".

The council is now looking for funding to undertake a further study of the areas believed to have the greatest potential, to "better understand the size of the energy resource and investigate how it could be best utilised".

The council believes up to 26,000 homes and businesses are near to former mine workings: near Yate, Coalpit Heath takes its name from its former time as a mining area.

But the council says the initial areas to be investigated are further south, around Oldland Common and Speedwell in Bristol, and there have been no physical investigations yet.

administrators are exploring a potential sale of the business in an accelerated time frame, during which time the company will continue to trade from its stores and website."

A Yate Shopping Centre spokesperson said Shaws had not formally advised them of a potential closure of their store, and the centre as a whole had "bounced back after the difficult time for traders during Covid".

Yate town councillor Chris Willmore said it was sad to see shops people loved, which seemed to be well-used, closing.

She said: "We need to help the shops, pubs, restaurants, small firms and other facilities we rely on to weather this economic storm.

"Some change is bound to happen as we shop online, but we need a balance - if nothing is done there could be nothing left."

Shaws in South Walk

M&Co in West Walk

Police dog's name stays secret after two-year battle

Five people were jailed for crimes committed in connection with the rave, which took place on the night of October 31, 2020, while coronavirus lockdown restrictions banned any large gatherings and restricted travel.

Others had to pay fixed penalty fines, and equipment used by the organisers was seized.

Up to 700 people attended the rave and police were attacked as they stopped hundreds more getting in to the warehouse, which was trashed.

Ms Andrew was left needing surgery after being bitten as police broke up the event. She claimed the dog mauled her leg while she was dancing and said at the time that it had left a "gaping hole in my calf bigger than my fist".

She complained to the Independent Office for Police Conduct after an initial Avon and Somerset police investigation concluded in 2021 that there was no indication the doghandler had behaved in a manner requiring disciplinary action or individual training.

The Freedom of Information (FoI) request was made to Avon and Somerset Police a few weeks after the incident happened, by a man called Edward Williams.

Damage caused to the warehouse during the rave, shown in a picture released by police.

He asked the police force to reveal the names of the dog and its handler, the dog’s police records and the handler’s training record and qualifications.

Mr Williams also asked the police whether the handler commanded the dog to attack Ms Andrew, and why the dog attacked her.

But the force refused to reveal the information, saying rules covering personal information and ongoing investigations meant it did not have to.

Mr Williams then asked the police for an internal review into its handling of the FoI request.

When this didn't happen he took the case to the Information Commissioner, which acts as a national regulator for data requests.

But the data was still not published, and Mr Williams appealed to a legal body, the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights).

That organisation has now dismissed the appeal, marking the end of a two-year legal battle, concluding that naming the dog could also reveal the name of its handler, which is exempt from publication under FoI law.

First Tier Tribunal judge Anthony Snelson said: "There is no room for any doubt that these are all requests for personal data of the dog handler.

"It is not in question that identification of the dog would inevitably reveal his or her handler; likewise, identification of the dog’s records."

Publishing its decision, the tribunal did not give any further details of Mr Williams, including whether he had any connection with Ms Andrew.

Avon and Somerset Police previously apologised to Ms Andrew for her injury, saying: "Any injury sustained during police contact is regrettable."

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Bus protesters light the way to change

CAMPAIGNERS who want to see a complete change to the way the area's buses are run made a high-vis protest as they took their case to South Gloucestershire Council.

Supporters of the Reclaim Our Buses coalition, which brings together climate activists, trade unions, community groups and passengers, braved a freezing evening to stage a torchlit demonstration outside Kingswood Civic Centre, with many wearing reflective jackets.

They then came in from the cold to read out an open letter, signed by more than 1,500 residents, to the council meeting on December 14.

Written by pressure group the West of England Shared Transport and Active Travel Network (WESTACT), it called for the power to set fares, timetables and routes to be taken from First and other commercial operators.

The deregulated system would be replaced with franchised bus services, provided under contract through the West of England Combined Authority in cooperation with local councils - a system already used in London.

The campaign has gathered momentum as First has made a series of cuts to services during the past year, citing driver shortages.

Yate, Chipping Sodbury and nearby villages have been badly hit, with the Y2 to Downend and Fishponds withdrawn and the

Y4 via Hambrook and Frenchay cut back to the park and ride in April.

Less than six months later the Y4 was axed completely, along with the Y3 via Iron Acton and the Y5 via Staple Hill.

It left Iron Acton with no services until a subsidised commuter bus was arranged, with one journey in each direction per day.

The cuts left the area with the Y1 direct Bristol service, the hourly-or-less Y6, which goes via Frampton Cotterell and Winterbourne to Bristol via Bristol Parkway, Cribbs Causeway and Southmead Hospital, taking more than an hour, and the 47, introduced as a "partial replacement" for the axed services and travelling from Yate to Bristol via Pucklechurch, Emersons Green and Downend.

Among around 30 demonstrators outside the meeting was Geoff Randall, of Yate, who said: "Since they've

Crash witness appeal

POLICE are trying to trace witnesses and dashcam footage following a crash on the main road from Yate to Bristol, which left a man injured.

The collision happened at the junction of the A432 Badminton Road and Down Road, near Winterbourne Down, on November 23.

Police say a silver Skoda Octavia and a blue Ford Focus collided, and a passenger in the Focus, a man in his 60s, was taken to hospital with whiplash injuries.

An investigation is currently underway into the circumstances, although no arrests have been made.

A police spokesperson said: "Officers are keen to speak to witnesses who saw the collision, or either vehicle in the time leading up to it.

"They are especially keen to identify and speak to a lorry driver who we understand was in the vicinity of the incident and may have seen something which will aid our investigation."

Anyone who has information should call the police on 101, quoting the incident number 5222 281 850.

taken away the Y2 service there's a lot of people in Yate that can't travel to work any more, and disabled people who can't get to places in Downend and Fishponds.

"From my point of view my social life is gone completely, because I had a lot of friends in Fishponds and Downend that I can't see in the evening and have a beer with any more.

"In so many ways the Y2 was more useful than the Y1, which goes directly down the ring road and M32 but completely bypasses Downend, Fishponds and Eastville. Cutting the Y2 has taken away a way of life for a lot of people who work there, attend disabled centres or go out socially.

"The 47 is a waste of time, and the last one to Yate is at 7pm - there's nothing after that. It's useless."

Pearl Conway, of Winterbourne, said: "To get to Bristol takes me an hour and if

you miss a bus or it's cancelled, you have to wait two hours for the next one."

Harriet Burgato, of Winterbourne Down, said: "They want you to take the bus but if you try to take it into Bristol and connect to other places, like Clevedon, it just gets impossible."

WESTACT member Laura Fogg-Rogers, who is also chair of Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group, said: "We are calling on South Gloucestershire Council to champion this issue to the West of England Combined Authority, to support our most vulnerable residents. We need to reclaim our buses with local control through franchising."

The protesters' cause was given a lift when Bristol City Council voted to support bus franchising, the day before the South Gloucestershire meeting.

The move increases the public and political pressure on Dan Norris, the West of England Metro Mayor, to explore how a bus franchising model could solve the wider region’s bus crisis.

Mr Norris has said franchising was still “on the table but not a quick fix”.

He added: "The biggest issue we face in the West of England currently is a bus driver shortage. That would be exactly the same challenge whatever system was in place to run the buses."

'20 deaths' from blunder

A BLUNDER at a covid testing lab which resulted in almost 40,000 people being given false negative results may have caused more than 20 deaths, a report has found.

South Gloucestershire residents using the NHS Test and Trace facility in Mangotsfield between September and October 2021 were among those whose PCR test results falsely said they did not have coronavirus.

An investigation by the UK Health Security Agency into "errors" at the private Immensa laboratory in Wolverhampton found threshold levels for reporting positive and negative results were incorrectly set. Around 10% of people who were tested were told they did not have COVID-19 when they did have the disease.

Experts who worked on the investigation estimated that the mistakes caused an extra 55,000 infections, 680 hospitalisations and 20 deaths.

UKHSA Chief Executive Jenny Harries said in November that many of the report's recommendations had already been implemented.

Dante Labs, which owns Immensa, did not respond to our request for a comment.

Reclaim Our Buses protesters in high-vis jackets at their torchlit demonstration

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council’s cabinet has agreed a raft of proposed cuts to go forward for next year's budget.

Green waste collections will nearly double in price from £30 to £55 a year, street lights will be dimmed and staffed library hours reduced if the plans to plug a £29.3 million shortfall are approved by the full council in February.

Among the raft of planned savings, which are now open for a public consultation, are premiums on council tax bills for second and empty homes, fewer guided escorts for home-toschool transport, scrapping taxi marshals in night-time economy hotspots and higher fees and charges across the board.

The authority’s cabinet agreed the proposals at a meeting in December, despite many of them lacking details.

Opposition councillors aired concerns about the draft 2023/24 budget, which will be put before a full council meeting in February.

Cabinet members said the

Green bin charge rise and budget cuts proposed

squeeze on costs was caused by Vladimir Putin and high interest rates rather than the government and that the authority was in a better position than most because of “prudent financial management”.

They said most frontline services would be unaffected and car parking would remain free.

But Liberal Democrat Yate North ward councillor Mike Drew told the meeting that the draft budget was dependent on the local government financial settlement, which Whitehall had yet to announce and was likely to be far less favourable than hoped.

He said: “There appears to be absolutely no criticism of the government mismanagement of the economy.

“South Gloucestershire will have to put up with it and yet

you go along and pretend that you can solve all those problems which our central government is causing.”

Conservative council leader Toby Savage replied: “The report talks about how inflation is the principal driver of the council’s worsening financial position.

“It has nothing to do with the mini-Budget, it has everything to do with the fact we have a global war and that is playing havoc with the global economy and the prices we are all having to pay.”

Asked about potential redundancies as part of a £641,000 cut from the council’s trading arm Integra, which supplies services to schools, cabinet member for corporate resources Ben Burton said: “I’m going to be very cautious in my comments in this forum, because obviously this line of the budget

very much reflects members of staff who are within Integra.

“We have for some time been under significant pressure with Integra in terms of the services they can deliver, in particular in terms of staff pay and also vacancies for a variety of different roles that have been hard to fill."

Lib Dem group leader Claire Young said £400,000 of cuts to the council tax reduction scheme from 2024 could harm the “most vulnerable members of our society”.

The second stage of public consultation into the budget runs until January 15 at www. southglos.gov.uk/budget.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Pride at 'family' school

THE education watchdog has praised a Yate primary school for its high standards and expectations of children.

North Road Community Primary School in Yate has been awarded an all round 'good' rating following a visit from Ofsted in October.

In their report, published in December, inspectors Marie Thomas and Darren Preece said: “The positive relationships between staff and pupils ensure learning and playtimes are enjoyable for all.

"Parents describe the school as a ‘family’."

Pupils were well behaved, caring, believed everyone should be treated with respect and knew the difference between bullying and falling out, the report said, adding that school values helped pupils "make the right choices".

The inspectors said school leaders had "created an ambitious and clearly sequenced curriculum", adding: "Their high expectations for pupils’ learning are shared by all staff.

"Leaders have rightly made learning to read a priority. Children are introduced to highquality texts right from the start.

"Staff skilfully support children to use the wellorganised indoor and outdoor learning environments to explore stories successfully."

Inspectors highlighted the mathematics department's use of an activity called “fluency five” which is used to help students retain their knowledge through practice.

They said the school had a good system in place across most subjects. although

some still needed to improve, recommending activities be put in place to help recap previous learning when studying history.

The school’s safeguarding arrangements were considered effective, with staff trained to help identify the needs of vulnerable pupils and children were also given lessons about how they can help keep themselves safe.

The report also praised the school for having measures in place to identify the requirements of students with special educational needs, and swiftly provide sufficient support.

The school, which has 104 pupils aged four to 11, was assessed as good in all areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management and overall effectiveness.

It maintained its good rating from its previous inspection, in February 2017.

Head teacher Sarah Stillie said: "The whole school family are delighted and proud of our latest Ofsted report.

"We have fantastic pupils, supportive families, a very dedicated and talented teaching team who are supported by a committed governing body.

"All members of our school family thoroughly deserve the recognition that our school is a good school. North Road Community Primary School is a great place to learn, play, work and grow."

Chair of governors Sue Rigby said the report “has really captured the essence of our school ethos and culture”.

Sewage threat sparks row

URGENT action is needed to tackle untreated sewage entering the River Frome, councillors say.

Sewage can often enter the river through storm overflow drains during heavy rainfall, causing pollution and damage to wildlife.

The issue of storm overflows and sewage sparked a fierce debate during a South Gloucestershire Council meeting in December, as councillors disagreed on the best way to tackle the problem.

Liberal Democrats urged the council to ask the government for more cash to tackle sewage discharges and tighten up rules on installing new sewer connections.

They called on the government to enact powers under Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act, to make a new regulator responsible for approving new connections of surface water drainage to the public sewer and stop developers from installing inadequate drainage systems.

A motion was put forward by Frampton Cotterell ward councillor Jon Lean, who said: “Sewage discharge in our rivers primarily happens when storm overflows operate, when

large volumes of rainwater and agricultural run-off enter the sewer network through the surface water drainage system.

"Schedule 3 is an important piece of legislation which would enforce the use of sustainable drainage and keep storm water out of our sewers.

“The local Conservative group say that storm overflows have no place in the 21st century, but they also support a government plan that seeks to manage storm overflow discharges until at least 2050.

"If we’re truly going to get rid of storm overflows, that plan needs to be far more ambitious.”

The motion called on the council to write to Wessex Water to ensure that the Frome and Ladden Brook were classified as high

priority sites, required to demonstrate no adverse ecological impact by storm overflows by 2035.

But the motion was amended by Conservative councillors, who said the council should instead set up a new scrutiny committee to come up with some “achievable actions” which could be considered at a later date.

Council leader Toby Savage said: “The original motion submitted by the Liberal Democrats on storm overflows was very poorly worded and contained ambitions beyond the council’s direct control.

"We tabled an amendment to ask that a special scrutiny committee be established to look at the issue in more detail and to produce some achievable actions.

“Wessex Water have set out a number of improvements they intend to make to the local water network, including a 25% reduction in the number of hours of storm overflow discharges by 2025. "Upgrades are planned at discharge locations at Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell, Doynton and others.

“Thanks to our amendment, residents can feel reassured this important issue will get the scrutiny it deserves. This will allow us to take meaningful action to protect our waterways and public health."

Alex

Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting

Service

The Frome at Black Rocks

School show will bring Chicago to Yate

A YATE school is preparing to bring a hit musical to life on its own stage.

Members of the Brimsham Green Performing Arts team have been busy rehearsing for the production of Chicago.

The show, exploring crime, celebrity and corruption in the 1920s, is the longest-running American musical in Broadway and West End history, and was turned into an Oscar-winning movie.

The Brimsham Green performers are up for the challenge.

Head of Drama Katie Hitchcock said: "I have been hugely impressed by the way in which our students have taken on the leadership of this show.

"They have choreographed and then taught some truly fantastic musical numbers and I am so excited to see the end result.

"This production promises to be a very exciting and dynamic

performance.

"The performance not only show cases the incredible acting, dancing and singing talent of the students - but also their abilities as choreographers and directors, as the students have taken the lead in almost all of the many dance scenes."

The show will be staged from

February 2 to 4 at Brimsham Green School, with each performance starting at 7.30pm.

Tickets will go on sale in the new year, priced at £6 each and available from student reception, with all welcome to attend.

In December the school's musicians staged a Christmas concert.

The school has also been recognising the achievements of pupils in the classroom, with 50 Year 7 students invited for hot chocolate and cakes with head teacher Kim Garland and deputy Sue Marquis in recognition of their excellent ‘attitude to learning’ grades in a recent assessment.

Ms Marquis said: "Following a primary school education no doubt impacted by the pandemic, it was good to see such a positive culture of hard work and aspiration amongst our Year 7s."

Brimsham Green School pupils rehearsing for their production of Chicago.

Ambulance service asks Army for help

AMBULANCE service leaders are urging people to "think carefully before dialling 999" and have called in military assistance to help respond to emergencies on strike days.

South Western Ambulance Service appealed to people to only call 999 "when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk" as it faced challenges from "cold weather, busy hospitals and the likely impact of the upcoming health service strikes".

The service said that on one Monday evening in December - when no strike action was taking place - there were 420 patients waiting for ambulances and 152 ambulances waiting outside hospitals to hand over patients across its region, which runs from Cornwall up to Gloucestershire.

A spokesperson said: "On days where there is strike action, patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency. Ambulances

will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is the most immediate risk to life."

For other situations people were being asked to call 111 or go online for help, and to "arrange alternative transport".

Trust chief executive Will Warrender said: "We are sorry that we are unable to respond as quickly as we would like.

"We are doing all we can to manage winter pressures and the upcoming industrial action, including receiving military support during industrial action days, which will allow our ambulance clinicians to crew more ambulances and reach patients more quickly.

“Please do not call back asking for an estimated time of arrival of an ambulance. We cannot provide this information and it blocks our lines from other callers reaching us."

Ambulance workers in the NHS trust were taking part in two strikes at the end of

December.

UNISON, Unite and the GMB said they were among 3,500 paramedics, emergency care assistants, call handlers and other staff striking on December 21 and 28 in a dispute over an imposed 4% pay award and staffing levels.

It follows the first ever strikes by members of the Royal College of Nursing in December.

GMB National Secretary Rachel Harrison said: "Ambulance workers – like other NHS workers – are on their knees.

“No one in the NHS takes strike action lightly – today shows just how desperate they are.

“This is as much about unsafe

staffing levels and patient safety as it is about pay.

"A third of GMB ambulance workers think delays they’ve been involved with have led to the death of a patient.

“Something has to change or the service as we know it will collapse."

“GMB calls on the Government to avoid a Winter of NHS strikes by negotiating a pay award that these workers deserve.”

Picture: South Western Ambulance Service

'We’ve waited 20 years for better healthcare'

PEOPLE in South Gloucestershire are being let down by the continuing failure to deliver health services promised nearly two decades ago.

That’s the view of councillors who have now agreed to a new review of the impact of the reduction in hospital beds and shortage of minor injuries treatment provision across the district.

South Gloucestershire’s Health Scrutiny Committee heard that the Bristol Health Services Plan, drawn up in the early 2000s, had envisaged acute services at a rebuilt Southmead Hospital in Bristol with intermediate care beds at new community hospitals in Thornbury and Frenchay, as well as minor injuries units (MIUs) around the district.

But Thornbury and Frenchay hospitals have both closed and have yet to be replaced, and South Gloucestershire has just one MIU at Yate, which cannot

meet the demand, while efforts to secure a second MIU at Cossham Hospital in Kingswood have been unsuccessful.

Campaigner Barbara Harris - a former member of Frenchay Community Hospital Groupsaid a total of 348 hospital beds were lost through the Frenchay and Thornbury hospital closures, while many of the beds at Southmead Hospital were currently occupied by patients who could not be discharged because follow-up community care was not available.

She and fellow campaigner Daphne Havercroft told the meeting that the problem would only get worse as South Gloucestershire’s population continued to increase, having already grown from 250,000 in 2005 to 296,000 now.

Mrs Harris called on MPs Luke Hall, Jack Lopresti and Chris Skidmore to take action, describing the healthcare situation as “the biggest scandal”

in their constituencies.

Opposition councillors successfully called for a working group to be set up to scrutinise the failure to deliver the BHSP and find out why plans for community hospitals were abandoned so that a case can be made to the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board for improved provision.

Yate Central ward Liberal Democrat councillor Ruth Davis said the Yate MIU often had to turn away patients because of high demand from across the district.

People then had to travel to already over-subscribed emergency departments at Southmead Hospital, Bristol Children’s Hospital or the Royal United Hospital in Bath, which was especially difficult for those who did not have cars.

She said: "We have got a system that is just broken. People are travelling all over the

place. But the bus services that join up various places don’t exist any more."

Staple Hill & Mangotsfield

Labour councillor Ian Boulton said the original BHSP had been a good plan, but it had not been delivered, and it was time new measures were put in place to address changing needs.

A BNSSG Integrated Care Board spokesperson said: “We understand the committee is drawing up terms of reference for this working group and we look forward to receiving further details.”

Yate councillor Ruth Davis

Census reveals picture of population

MORE than nine out of ten South Gloucestershire residents are white - about 10% above the average for England and Wales.

Figures from the 2021 Census on ethnic groups and national identity have been released as part of a programme by the Office for National Statistics to provide a detailed picture of the population.

Nationally, 81.7% of usual residents in England and Wales said their ethnic group was white, with 74.4% of the total population saying their ethnic group was 'White English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British'.

In South Gloucestershire 91.3% of residents said their ethnicity was white: 85.8% ticking the White English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British box, with the other white options on the census form being Irish (0.5%), Gypsy or Irish Traveller (0.2%), Roma (0.1%) or 'other White' (4.7%).

A total of 3.4% of residents

identified as Asian: the only option selected by more than 1% of respondents was 'Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh: Indian', which was picked by 1.7% of residents.

Another 1.6% of South Gloucestershire residents were 'Black, Black British, Black welsh, Caribbean or African', more than half of whom were African.

Another 2.5% of residents said their ethnicity was 'mixed or multiple ethnic groups': within that category the biggest group was 'white and black Caribbean' (0.9%) followed by 'white and Asian' (0.7%).

In neighbouring Bristol 81.1% of residents were white - close to the national average - with 71.6% describing their ethnicity as 'White English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British'.

The 2021 Census also asked people to describe their national identity - a more subjective question as it allowed people to choose between English or Welsh

only, English and British, Welsh and British or British only, as well as other combinations of UK and non-UK identities.

The ONS has not provided a breakdown of how people in South Gloucestershire and other areas of the country chose to identify within the various UK identities: its published figures say only that 92.1% of residents had a UK identity, 1.6% had a mixed UK and non-UK national identity and 6.3% had a non-UK identity.

However nationally the most striking change was a reversal in the numbers of people saying their identity was 'English' versus 'British'.

In 2011, 57.7% of people had only said their identity was English, with 19.1% saying British, 8.7% saying 'English and British' and the rest either saying Welsh, non-UK or another combination of identities.

But in 2021 54.8% of people ticked the 'British' box, with only 14.9% choosing 'English' and

13.6% choosing 'English and British'.

Numbers identifying only as 'non-UK' rose from 8% to 9.7%.

Census Deputy Director Jon Wroth-Smith said: "Today’s data highlights the increasingly multicultural society we live in.

"The percentage of people identifying their ethnic group as ‘White: English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British’, continues to decrease.

“But despite the ethnically diverse nature of society, 9 in 10 people across England and Wales still identify with a UK national identity."

In London just under twothirds of people identify with an ethnic minority group, he said.

For more details on ethnic groups visit bit.ly/3hDmmJq and on national identity visit bit. ly/3v6z9Hm.

Losing our religion

LESS than half of South Gloucestershire residents consider themselves to be Christian - and more people in the district say they have no religion at all.

The decline in religious observance is one of the fastest-moving trends in the UK population to be highlighted in results of the 2021 Census, published by the Office for National Statistics.

The ONS said that for the first time in a census of England and Wales, less than half of the population (46.2%) described themselves as “Christian”, a 13.1% decrease from 2011, when the figure was 59.3%.

In South Gloucestershire the number of people identifying as Christian was even lower, at 44.1%, with 'no religion' the most common response, given by 46.1% of residents.

Muslims made up 1.6% of the South Gloucestershire population, followed by Hindus (1%), Buddhists (0.4%), Sikhs (0.3%) and Jews (0.1%), with 0.5% of respondents ticking 'any other religion' and 6% not answering the question.

In Bristol the majority of residents (51.4%) said they were nonreligious - a huge increase on the 37% who gave the same answer in 2011.

Local area figures showed many contrasts within South Gloucestershire.

In Yate more people described themselves as non-religious than Christian, particularly in South Yate where 53.6% or people said they were non-religious and 38.5% Christian.

By contrast, in Chipping Sodbury 50.5% of people said they were Christian, with 41.8% saying they had no religion.

In Iron Acton 47.6% of residents said they were Christian and 44.3% said they had no religion.

The number of non-religious people in the district is ahead of the national average, which was 37.2% - up from 25.2% in 2011.

Andrew Copson, of non-religious group Humanists UK, said: "These results confirm that the biggest demographic change in England and Wales of the last ten years has been the dramatic growth of the non-religious."

To see more details visit bit.ly/3Bzk592 online.

Volunteer mechanics 're-cycle' 250 bikes

A GROUP which takes unwanted bikes and brings them back into use is celebrating rolling out its 250th machine, just six months after being set up.

Yate Community Bike Hub, based in North Walk at Yate Shopping Centre, accepts unwanted bikes which would otherwise be thrown away.

Then a dedicated team of volunteer mechanics upgrades them, before they are either given away or sold at low cost to local families.

Such has been its success that the hub celebrated a "major milestone" with the distribution of its 250th bike in December, six months after it first opened for business.

Bob Keen, from the hub, said: "Most of these bikes were either wheeled through its front doors by thoughtful local donors or salvaged from a metal scrap bin, with the support of Suez at the Yate Sort It Centre.

"Any surplus income received from grateful recipients of the occasional better-value bike

is spent on the spares needed to return neglected bikes to a usable condition."

The hub has proved very popular with Ukrainian refugees who have come to live in the district after having to leave their homes and possessions behind after the Russian invasion of their country.

It has been given "generous support" from Yate Shopping Centre, Yate Town Council, individual local councillors and the Joint Cycleways Group, of

which Bob is vice-chair.

Starting from a Climate Action Yate and Chipping Sodbury initiative to promote affordable, green travel choices in the community, it has also been hosting regular Dr Bike bike maintenance training and police bike marking sessions.

The hub also provides information on route planning, cycle training, safety, accessible bikes, e-bikes and cargo bikes.

Bob said: "The success of this initiative has been strengthening

the identification of Yate as a '15-minute town', where all the facilities needed by locals can be reached in 15 minutes by walking, cycling or wheeling."

The town has also been shortlisted for the award of 'Mini-Holland' status, under a scheme designed to emulate the cycle-friendly nature of Dutch roads and paths, which could bring the town government funding to help minimise the number of short local journeys made by car.

The hub workshop is currently accepting both adult and children’s bikes in fair and good condition (preferably stored indoors).

It also has capacity for more volunteers to join its 'meet and greet' team each Saturday, from 10am-3pm.

More information can be found on the Yate Community Bike Hub Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram accounts or by emailing yatecommunitybikehub@gmail. com.

STROUD AUCTION ROOMS

Free valuations every Friday 9am-4pm at our saleroom, free home visits or email

Yate Community Bike Hub volunteers with some of the bikes they have refurbished.

Train passengers up

PASSENGER numbers at Yate station more than doubled last year, as more people returned to trains after the pandemic.

Figures from the Office of Rail and Road showed the total number of entries and exits from the station between April 2021 and March 2022 was 177,122 - up 158% from the 68,562 recorded over the previous 12 months.

But the total is only just over half the 341,800 passengers who used the station between April 2019 and the end of March 2020, when the first coronavirus lockdown had just been introduced.

The picture at Yate station is similar to others across the country.

The nation's busiest station, London Waterloo, had 41.4 million passenger visits last year - but that number was less than half the 86.9 million estimated to have used it two years previously.

Waterloo regained top spot from London's Stratford station.

Across the West, Bristol Temple Meads remained the busiest station: passenger numbers recovered to 6.6m from 2.4m in 2020/21, but were still only just over half the 11.6m recorded in the year before the pandemic.

Bristol Parkway had 1.4m passenger visits in 2021/22, up from just 367,000 in 2020/21 but still well below the 2.37m from the previous year.

Use of Filton Abbey Wood reached 384,584 last year after falling to 115,624 in 2020/21 but was less than half the 976,150 passengers estimated to have used the station in the year to March 2020.

London Paddington's 23.9m passengers in 2021/22 was almost four times the 6.4m entries and exits in the previous 12 months, but still little more than half the 44.9m who used it in the year to March 2020.

In the year to March there were 24 stations in Britain with more than 10 million passenger entries and exits, compared to five the previous year and 43 two years ago.

Office of Rail and Road director of planning and performance Feras Alshaker said: "It is heartening to see passengers return to travelling by rail, following what was a difficult period for the industry during the pandemic.

"There’s still some way to go in order for station usage figures to return to pre-pandemic levels.

"Once again it is important to thank all those in the rail industry, who continue to work hard to help people travel safely and with confidence."

Play centre shuts after losing fight

A SOFT play centre in Yate has lost its battle to stay open, as a new gym is set to take over the building.

More than 5,000 people signed an online petition to save Little Giggles, which operated above shops in the Riverside Retail Park.

The business had been behind with the rent, and its landlords had told it to move out by midNovember.

The company, run by brothers Laurie and Joss Coventry, had been trying to get a stay of execution, as it paid off thousands of pounds in back rent.

But it was forced to close its doors for the last time in December.

A statement announcing the closure on the company's Facebook page said: “Over the years we have had some fantastic staff members, however we finished with an exceptional team, with so much talent.

“We cannot thank them enough, each one of them are

exceptional.”

Tamasyn Russell, who started the online petition, replied that she was "so sorry" the business lost its fight to stay open.

Co-owner Laurie Coventry told the Voice the business had been booming in recent times, with hundreds of users a day in the under-eights soft play area and cafe, plus parties and themed nights for adults.

He said they had hoped to repay outstanding rent and stay

Recruiting Now

The Abbeyfield Gloucestershire Society is an independent living charity which provides sheltered housing for people over the age of 55.

We pride ourselves in making our houses, homes. We can’t do this without a staff team who are willing to go the extra mile for our clients.

Abbeyfield Gloucestershire is always on the lookout for excellent staff.

We have roles for anyone who can provide fresh home cooking for our clients and take a genuine interest in their lives

We are also on the look out for volunteers who can provide IT support, befriending services, activity coordinators, gardening or any special skills you might want to share with our wonderfully curious clients

We have houses in Chipping Sodbury, Cheltenham and Prestbury.

For more information please get in touch with our General Manager, Stacey, on 07368 135 025 or email us on

hello@abbeyfieldglos.org.uk

open.

Laurie said: “Sadly it was not to be, and we have had to close.

“We want to thank everyone for their support – we have enjoyed helping so many people make happy memories, and hope to do so again in 2023.

“We are desperately on the lookout for new premises, and hope to be in business later in the year.”

He said the next venture might not be another soft play

facility but could be a different leisure facility, such as a sports bar.

Some customers told the Voice they were owed money by Little Giggles after booking sessions which could no longer take place.

Caroline Dorney said: “I have emailed them several times and never a reply - just the odd general message goes out saying it’s on its way.”

The company said it had £4,000 of refunds to action and was waiting for online payment system Stripe to refund the money.

In a statement on its Facebook page the company apologised for the "delay and inconvenience" and said it was "out of our hands", adding: “We know this is far from ideal and we were expecting it to be a much quicker resolution.”

Gym operator PureGym has confirmed to the Voice they will be moving into the premises and expect to open in the spring.

Co-owner Laurie Coventry with Little Giggles staff members. Picture: Little Giggles

Try something new in 2023 and become an inspiration for girls & young women

GIRLGUIDING introduces girls and young women to a world of new opportunities and challenges. As volunteers, we help them to realise their full potential and share some unforgettable moments along the way.

By volunteering with us, you can help girls build their confidence, have adventures, learn new skills and have loads of fun – no matter your experience, your background or how much time you have spare.

Becoming a role model doesn't need a full-time commitment – we need volunteers in all sorts of roles. So, if you want to help behind the scenes, at special events or get involved every week, there’s loads of ways to inspire girls with GirlguidingBSG.

Register your interest today by visiting https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/ get-involved/become-a-volunteer/register-your-interest/ We’d love for you to join us!

Joe's amazing snowman

A SNOWMAN built by a Chipping Sodbury boy amazed passersby with its gravity-defying tilt.

Sevenyear-old Joe Duddridge made the snowman with his aunt during December's cold snap.

Its head and body started leaning over, so Joe, a Year 3 pupil at Woodlands Primary School, straightened it up and went to bed.

When he woke up the next morning it was leaning in the opposite direction - but the sub-zero temperatures meant it stayed frozen in place for days before the thaw.

His creation was nicknamed the Drunken Snowman.

Joe's dad Sam said: "He is very proud of the snowman. "Everyone that walked past commented on the way it was leaning."

Crowds throng streets for Victorian Day

THOUSANDS of people crowded the streets of Chipping Sodbury as the town's Victorian Day returned for the first time since the pandemic.

The event on December 4 brought traders, community groups and local performers together in the town's historic centre to launch the festive season with stalls, entertainment, Victorian attractions and fancy dress.

Switched to a Sunday as it returned for the first time since 2019, the six-hour event included performances by Rock Choir, Sodbury Players, Razzamatazz, Dixie Belles and CryptoHead, and a visit from the Original Santa Float to brighten the evening.

It is organised by a committee including traders, representatives of Sodbury and Dodington councils, schools, and volunteers from Chipping Sodbury Lions and Rotary, the Chipping Sodbury Festival Society.

Photographer Doug Lodge captured some of the spectacular costumes and sights on the day.

Chipping Sodbury Rotary report: Page 25

The golden age of parks and gardens

A TIME traveller to the Yate area 120 years ago would be struck not only by the very rural surroundings but also the formal gardens and estates, which would have dominated the local landscape.

The late Victorian era was the golden age of the formal garden in Yate.

There had been palatial houses here for several centuries hitherto. But in the second half of the 19th century, new families in Yate established impressive gardens in imposing houses, notably Ridge House, Poole Court and Stanshawes Court.

Edward Burges, of Ridge House, was an avid collector of plants. He travelled abroad to obtain the flora that adorned Ridge House estate, including many of the trees we still see in Ridge Woods today.

By 1900, Robert Hooper of Stanshawes Court had created gardens equalling those of Edward Burges.

Hooper was a friend of the Burges family and would no doubt have been inspired by the Ridge Estate, which was well established as a leading garden in the area before Hooper arrived in Yate in 1871.

Hooper built Stanshawes Court, which was undoubtedly the preeminent home in Victorian Yate, in 1874. It replaced the decaying medieval Stanshawes manor house.

Hooper clearly had grand designs for the site and, by 1900, had significantly altered the gardens and estate adjoining his new Victorian creation.

The most prominent feature for the first-time visitor would have been the extensive drive, developed from the estate's earlier one.

From the drive, one would have seen ornamental lakes, lawns

and shrubs, with extensive tree planting.

The whole effect would have made quite a statement: with flat farmland in the immediate environs, it would have stood out over a considerable area.

Hooper was clearly in the 'A-list' of local families.

Any family of any note had its own kitchen garden. The Stanshawes kitchen garden was designed with a serpentine brick wall, still visible today north of Stanshawes Court. The garden boasted hot houses and greenhouses, fruit trees and herbaceous borders.

The produce of the kitchen garden fed into the operation of the house and gardens. Flowers grown there graced the dining table when visitors came - a regular occurrence.

The extent of produce was remarkable. The estate was effectively self-sufficient for fruit and vegetables. It was said strawberries could be obtained anytime during the year: unheard of at a time when fresh food was

January 17-March 12: Parks and gardens of the Yate area. Examining the formal gardens, yards, allotments and local parks which have been a feature of the local landscape for the last 200 years.

January 24, 7.30pm: Yate Lecture Series, 18th century crime in Bristol – the trial and execution of John Horwood.

decidedly seasonal.

Hooper, of course, would probably only have directed operations verbally.

The head gardener was effectively in charge on a day-today basis. Four other gardeners and boys would have ensured the

smooth operation of this vital cog in Stanshawes operations.

To the east of Stanshawes Court, Hooper built stables, a coach house and grooms' lodgings, in which local businesses reside today.

The raison d’etre of the stables was hunting, but they performed other roles. Manure from the stables was ideal for sustaining good produce in the kitchen garden, and enabling grapes to be grown from within the stables.

We complete our story with the southern part of the Hooper gardens, which was given over to fields for grazing animals.

It is mainly this area that we are able to enjoy today as Kingsgate Park.

Many of the trees we see today in Kingsgate were planted during Hooper’s time at Stanshawes.

Happy New Year to you all.

David Hardill, with research from the late Harry Lane

Stanshawes Court formal gardens in around 1910

Christmas traditions return at schools

AFTER two years of online performances and cancellations, schools across the Yate & Sodbury area celebrated the approach of Christmas with the return of many events they had not been able to hold since before the pandemic. Two schools share their experiences.

Woodlands Primary School

YEAR 5 children represented Woodlands Primary School at Clifton Cathedral for a celebration of the festive season bringing together schools from across the region.

Almost 3,000 children and staff from 50 schools took part in Sparkle and Joy in December, for songs and performances.

Woodlands head teacher Rachel Dean said: "The children really enjoyed practising the Christmas songs over the term, ready for the amazing performance that took place.

"The Mayor of Yate made a guest appearance during the performance and some of our children got to meet her.

"All of the children left with big smiles on their faces after experiencing the lovely atmosphere that they and the other schools had created!"

Iron Acton Primary School

IRON Acton Primary School celebrated its "strong and meaningful links" with St James Church in the village with its annual Christingle service.

Children made the Christingles together during the morning before the service, with

help from representatives of the church.

Executive head teacher Mike Riches said: "Father Ben led the service and families were invited; the children explored what each element of the Christingle meant and sang some carols.

"During the service, the candles were lit as the children joined together to sing Away in a Manger – a very special moment marking the importance of the Nativity at Christmastime.

"We were also very pleased to receive a donation from the church as part of their annual ‘Comfort and Joy’ initiative, which aims to raise vital funds to support those members of our school community who need it most at Christmas.

"School was able to pass this on, along with a further donation from local village charity Acton Aid, in the form of food vouchers to a number of our families."

Woodlands Primary School representatives meet Yate Mayor Cheryl Kirby

Children from Iron Acton Primary School with their Christingles

Pupils think of others

CHILDREN at a Chipping Sodbury school decided to help others before Christmas by holding fundraising events.

Pupils in Year 1 and Year 5 at Raysfield Primary School both made commitments to raise money for charity after learning about how they can help others.

Head teacher Claire Hill said: "We pride ourselves on growing young people who are kind and caring, and want to make a positive change to the world they live in.

"During our project lessons this term, Year 1 have been thinking about how toys have changed over time, and how they can support charities.

"They took a vote to decide on a charity to support and donated a toy they no longer use to their 50p toy sale.

"The Bristol Animal Rescue Centre were the lucky winners and they raised £36."

Year 5 pupils made Christmas crafts and then sold them to parents and friends to raise money for charity School in a Bag, which provides school bags with equipment for children living in poverty around the world.

The equipment includes pens, pencils,

maths sets, books, water bottles and lunch boxes, which help children who might otherwise not be served their only meal of the day.

Mrs Hill said: "This action was inspired by the book The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Q Raúf, which is about a refugee boy who is forced to travel to England because his

country is at war.

"Year 5 have dealt with the themes of the story with incredible maturity and empathy and showed us how caring they are by wanting to support others less fortunate than themselves."

More information about School in a Bag can be found online at schoolinabag.org.

Yate Town Council Update

New Year Message from

Councillor Cheryl Kirby, Mayor of

Yate

On behalf of Yate Town Council, I wish everyone in our town a happy and successful New Year.

Certainly, 2022 unfolded in a way which presented great sadness and challenges which had not previously been experienced before in this country, for many years.

However, it was heart-warming to see how the people of Yate came together to move forward and to deal with challenges and opportunities as much as they could. I have seen, first-hand, the great efforts made by people to work together, showing kindness and generosity, as they strive to share a positive message of hope.

I would like to give my grateful thanks to everyone who has helped support our local community groups during the past year, working so hard to enable everyone to enjoy the facilities and activities around the town.

Our very own Yate Town Council staff have worked, and continue to work, tirelessly to keep services, such as parks, youth services, Yate Ageing Better activities, heritage services, “Warm Welcome” venues, food bank, Town Council properties and events running throughout the year, and we owe much to their selfless dedication.

On behalf of Yate Town Council and Councillors, we would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2023.

Councillor Cheryl Kirby at “Carols in Kingsgate Park” 2022

Year 5 pupils at Raysfield Primary School sold crafts they had made to raise money for other children.

UK is taking a leading role against persecution

THE advocacy group Open Doors is launching its 2023 ‘World Watch List Report’ this month, looking at the persecution of Christians globally, after considering what further steps potential steps the UK Government can take to help.

As regular readers of my monthly Voice columns will know, tackling Christian persecution is something of great personal importance to me. At the launch of the 2022 report, I wrote here expressing my horror at learning persecution of Christians had reached the highest levels in the 30 years that Open Doors has been carrying out research.

Open Doors' new report provides in-depth research and analysis into the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution, making

clear how violent persecution impacts those who are already vulnerable due to poverty, gender-specific reasons, social status, or a denial of access to justice.

They have highlighted the cases of people forced to leave their homes in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians in Nigeria have been killed, attacked and their homes destroyed by Islamic militant violence. There is great concern that such violence is spreading and increasing across Nigeria and West Africa, targeting Christian communities.

They have looked at stories of people in India, where families have been falsely accused of religious conversion, and as a result, brutally beaten for their Christian faith. Open Doors

have even seen instances where victims of violence have arrived at local hospitals in a critical condition and been refused vital medical help, as staff had been pressured by their attackers.

Here in the UK, it is vital we do what we can to help. In 2019 the Bishop of Truro, the Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen, carried out and published an independent review of Foreign Office support for persecuted Christians.

The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religious Belief, Fiona Bruce MP, is working with the Foreign Office to drive forward the implementation of the 22 recommendations for reforms made in the Bishop’s review.

I am delighted that those recommendations have been

taken forward in a way that will make real change to people’s lives.

This progress is vital for so many people across the world, and I am delighted to see the UK taking a leading role in tackling this persecution.

This report marks another important step in encouraging the Government to do all it can to tackle this most important of issues.

Luke Hall MP writes for Yate & Sodbury Voice

Henry, 6, raises £1,400 after beating leukaemia

A FRAMPTON Cotterell schoolboy has celebrated beating leukaemia – by getting his whole school to raise money for Bristol Children's Hospital.

Six-year-old Henry Shafto was given the all-clear in November after three years of chemotherapy.

Now he and fellow pupils at Frampton Cotterell C of E Primary School have raised more than £1,400 for the Grand Appeal charity by baking cakes and asking friends and family to make online donations.

Year 2 pupil Henry hopes the money can go towards buying items for the appeal’s wish list of toys to be kept in 'treasure chests' on the wards, for children in the hospital's care to enjoy.

Teaching Assistant Karlie Starr said Henry had been undergoing treatment, including daily oral chemotherapy, and lumbar punctures every three months.

Karlie said: “Henry had leukaemia for three years, three

months and three weeks.

“He rang the bell on the 21st of November and had a party at the Miners Social Club in Coalpit Heath, for friends, family and school to celebrate.“

Cancer patients often ring a ceremonial bell to celebrate the end of their radiation treatment or chemotherapy.

Karlie said: “He’s been doing fundraising because he wanted to give something back when he reached the end of his

treatment.”

Henry said he wanted all his friends at school to make cakes and hold a huge cake sale for the appeal, which supports families of children being treated at the BRI.

He said: “The nurses and doctors at the hospital worked hard, they were good. They made me happy and smile. And I made some friends with other sick children at hospital.

“My friends and me made

some cakes for a cake sale. I like the Mario cakes best!”

Karlie said schoolchildren helped decorate cakes and sold them to other pupils, staff and parents, and raised £500 on the day.

She said: “Henry is very brave. The class really supported him. They made signs and cakes to sell. They were amazing.”

Henry's mum Gemma said: "Henry is our hero."

She thanked the school for the way Henry had been looked after through his illness, saying: "They will always be part of our family and we are grateful to them everyday for their care towards our son."

At the time of going to press Henry’s efforts had raised more than £1,400, including an online fundraising page that had reached nearly four times his original £250 target.

To contribute, visit Henry’s online fundraising page at gofund.me/a6afce78.

Henry Shafto with school friends Spencer Starr and Isabelle Gallagher at his cake sale.

A taste

UNLIKE a lot of people, I believe, I’m one of not so many who enjoy the coming of the new year.

Without sounding too 'preachy', I like the idea of trying to do better this New Year than last.

I hope for better things across the world and I try to be positive. A new year, a new beginning

Chinese

Chinese New Year - or any other time you fancy.

It’s economical and it hits the spot when you fancy something that will give you a warm, happy feeling.

So, Happy New Year - or Xin Nian Kuai Le Kuai Le, in Mandarin.

Authentic Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs

nally Sesame seeds to sprinkle Prawn crackers - optional

and a year of potential.

Bear Grylls doesn’t talk about his alarm clock, but rather his opportunity clock. I like that.

So why not take the opportunity to try new recipes?

This month I’m giving you a super-tasty, super-easy Chinese spare ribs recipe to be enjoyed at

This is a great appetizer for a Chinese supper with friends. Marinate the ribs 2-3 hours ahead, or better still, the night before. You can even do the first roasting in the oven beforehand, and then the dish only takes 30 mins to finish cooking.

Marinade ingredients

Clear honey - 4 tbsps Malt vinegar- 4 tbsps Soy sauce, dark – 2 tbsps

Tomato juice - 250 ml Chilli powder – 2 tsps

Garlic – 2 cloves, crushed Szechwan pepper – ½ tsp Chinese spice powder – ½ tsp Dash of Worcestershire sauce

Mix all the marinade ingredients together, put the spare ribs into a shallow ovenproof dish and pour the marinade all over (turn the ribs so that they are well-coated). Cover and leave to one side, for at least a couple of hours.

Other ingredients

Pork spareribs – 1kg (2lbs) Spring onions - 1 – 2, sliced diago-

Preheat the oven to 200C/425F/ Gas Mark 7

Cook the marinated ribs in the preheated oven for 15 mins.

Transfer the spare ribs to a tin with a roasting rack.

Spoon a little of the marinade over the ribs to prevent them getting too dry when you roast them. (It’s a good idea to line the tin with foil, to help with easy cleaning.)

Lower the oven temperature to 190C/375F/Gas Mark 5 and cook the spare ribs for a further 30 minutes, until brown and crisp.

Meanwhile, place the original ovenproof dish on the top of the cooker over a moderate heat. Bring the cooking liquor to the boil and continue cooking until reduced to a thick sauce.

Arrange the ribs on a warmed serving dish and pour the sauce over them. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Garnish with the chopped spring onion and serve with green veg like pak choi, green beans or crispy thinly sliced green cabbage cooked in sesame oil. A side dish of prawn crackers is optional.

Ann Murray founded the Cooking4 Cookery School based in Chipping Sodbury. She’s teamed up with Yate & Sodbury Voice

Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club

THE decision to move the Chipping Sodbury Victorian Day to a Sunday appears to have paid off for our club.

Helped by a packed high street, our mulled wine and mince pies stall proved very popular, with a significant increase in sales from last year.

The crowds really did come out

to watch the emergence of Santa, on a very impressive float.

On December 1 the club, in collaboration with the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society and the support of members of Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel club, staged its second tea dance.

Some 95 guests attended, and again enjoyed an afternoon of dancing and singing, made all the more enjoyable with light refreshments, including homemade cake.

Two further tea dances will take place on February 1 and March 1, at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall at 2pm, so spread the word and get dates in your diary.

Over 60 members, partners and friends booked in for the club’s traditional Christmas dinner at Chipping Sodbury Golf Club on December 19 - the return of this event for the first time since 2019.

Along with

other club members and ladies of Inner Wheel club, I helped at the Oasis Memory Cafe Christmas event in the Baptist Church in early December.

The room was full. An enjoyable morning was had by all, with

entertainment provided by the U3A Ukulele Band and Sea Shanty singers.

Finally, on behalf of the club I would like to wish everyone in our local community a healthy 2023.

Stuart Fraser

Visitors to the Chipping Sodbury Victorian Day queued for mulled wine and mince pies at the Rotary stall. Picture: Doug Lodge

float. Picture: Doug Lodge.

Friends of Kingsgate Park

FRIENDS of Kingsgate Park donated a cypress tree to be used as the park's Christmas tree.

Money was raised by selling bird seed at the Vintage Bird Cage Cakery. The 12ft cypress tree was planted near the main entrance to the park by Rob and Luke from the Yate Town Council estates team.

For the second year running, pupils from St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Yate made decorations for the tree.

These decorations are amazing, and show excellent art work by the young artists.

Friends of Kingsgate Park say a big thank you to those pupils.

As it was really too cold for the pupils to stand around in the park, Liam, Luke and Andy decorated the tree for them.

On December 9 Friends of Kingsgate Park and Yate Town Council were pleased to hold another successful night of singing carols in Kingsgate Park, led by Methodist minister Rev Leigh Maydew, and Rev Hywel Snook, of St Mary’s Church.

Although the temperature was very low this did not deter the singing, and the evening was enjoyed by all.

The Christmas tree was well-lit for the occasion.

Mince pies, mulled wine and orange juice were handed to the members of the public and voluntary helpers to encourage the singing on such a cold night.

We are definitely looking forward to next year’s Carols in the Park.

Sue Swanborough

Park workers decorate the tree. Picture: Sue Swanborough

Carols in the Park.

Picture: Phil Jones

Clubhouse makeover

CHIPPING Sodbury RFC's clubhouse had a makeover courtesy of a volunteer team from property services company Ian Williams.

Staff from the company's Chipping Sodbury head office and Bristol painting team painted the outside cladding and external doors of the clubhouse at the Ridings, using paint donated by Dulux Decorator Centre.

As well as being used on match days the clubhouse hosts the town's weekly Parkrun, a

n PHARMACY BLOG

cafe for people using the Ridings and is hired out for events.

Club chairman Adrian Page said: "We really appreciate the contribution that Ian Williams has made, helping to keep our facility in good order so the wider community can enjoy rugby at The Ridings for many more years to come.”

Ian Williams’ managing director Andy Havard, who took part as a volunteer, said: “Part of our strategy is to support the local communities in which we live and work across the country, so we jumped at the chance to donate our skills and time to spruce up the rugby club.”

Parliament visit

A GROUP of 50 Chipping Sodbury residents had a trip to the Houses of Parliament for a guided tour by Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall.

After being suspended during the pandemic, the MP has restarted tours as part of an initiative to give more members of the community with the opportunity to visit the seat democracy.

The tour included access to the Queen’s Robing Rooms, the Royal Gallery, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Residents also attended a question and answer session with the MP, followed by pictures in Westminster Hall.

Mr Hall said: "I am so pleased that my tours to parliament are up and running again and am

Here for you this winter

ONE thing that frustrates everyone is the hassle of navigating through the NHS to get the care needed quickly at the right place.

Systems that were strained before covid are now under extreme pressure.

The first thing to note is that nothing pains NHS professionalspharmacists, nurses, GPs, all clinical and admin colleagues - more than knowing people cannot reach us for the help we desperately want to provide.

We all work well beyond our contracts: late working is our everyday norm, and this forms part of the basis of ongoing industrial disputes.

Community pharmacies are part of the NHS and will play a key part again this winter.

We regularly call patients after hours to discuss their care, just after the nurse or GP gets off the phone. It is undoubtedly not more dedication, but better solutions that are needed.

So how can we help each other this winter?

Starting the journey right is critical. Order any repeat medications at least seven days before you need them. You can use the NHS App, your GP or pharmacy processes.

Consider using your local pharmacy rather than online services, which, when they fail, leave your local to come to the rescue - but if you fail to support local providers, you will lose them.

If you run out of medicines, don’t panic - speak with your local pharmacy. Emergency medicine supply may be possible.

The NHS is now better linked up: if you contact NHS 111 or a local GP, you may get a formal referral to a community pharmacy, with your clinical details shared. Why? Pharmacists are trained clinicians and experts at identifying the right treatment for you and your loved ones.

Our local NHS is committed to making the most of this broad expertise by allowing pharmacists to issue prescription-only medicines for certain conditions.

You can reach us on 01454 313193.

Ade collects MBE

ABBOTSWOOD Pharmacy superintendent pharmacist Ade Williams has been to Buckingham Palace to collect an MBE.

Ade was recognised in the 2022 New Year Honours list for services to the NHS and the community, particularly during COVID-19.

He led a team delivering thousands of coronavirus vaccinations, helped deliver medicines and other essentials during lockdown and regularly appeared on national and local media to offer advice.

already looking forward to the next one!"

Sodbury Mayor James Ball and Chipping Sodbury RFC's Adrian Page and Ian Aldous with Mark Reynolds, Tim Kingscott, Blake Field, Mike Turner, David Sewell, Andy Havard and Jason Gorin of Ian Williams and Richard Morgan of Dulux Decorator Centre.

Ade Williams

n WHAT'S ON

January 2

n CELEBRATION FRAMPTON SINGALONG with The Jays and The Rosettes, 2-3.30pm, to welcome in New Year and The Jays’ 50th wedding anniversary with a glass of non alcoholic fizz. Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell. £5, carers free - refreshments included. All profits to UNICEF supporting children affected by the Ukraine War. Bring a friend free. Contact Hilary on 07515 351813 for details.

January 9

n BRISTOL BUDGERIGAR SOCIETY, Little Stoke Baptist Church, Kingsway, Little Stoke, 7.30pm. Talk on genetics by Dr Aileen Kenneson-Adams. Visitors welcome, without charge. More details from Ron Ramplin on 07748 740794 or email ronnie.ramplin@btinternet. com. Annual membership subscription: adult £10, juniors and first year new members free. Meetings held on the second Monday of each month.

January 10

n GREAT WESTERN SOCIETY BRISTOL GROUP MEETING, BAWA, 589 Southmead Road, Bristol, 7.30pm. Talk on the Vale

of Berkeley Railway presented by Howard Parker. Meeting open to all: no admission charge, suggested donation of £3 to help cover expenses.

February 7

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

REGULAR EVENTS:

Monday

n GENTLE YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga class 9.30am. Easy to follow gentle yoga, ideal for back pain relief and joint issues. A slowerpaced, mindful and lighter yoga in Chipping Sodbury with experienced teacher. Beginners Welcomed. Sodbury Masonic Hall, 1 Hatters Lane, Chipping Sodbury. From £6.00. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n YATE & SODBURY ART & CRAFT CLUB meets every Monday, 7-9 pm at Ridgewood Community Centre. Painting, drawing, collage

and many other crafts in a friendly informal setting. £5 per session. More information at yateandsodburyartsociety.weebly.com or call Roz on 07941 946412.

n FLOW-IN YOGA WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga classes 6.15pm & 7.45pm in Chipping Sodbury. Become more flexible, worry less and sleep better with an easy to follow flowing yoga. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

Tuesday

n YATE POETRY GROUP meets every Tuesday morning. Small, informal and friendly group to share and enjoy poems. For details and to learn more about the venue, contact Tony on 0770 4140682 or email yatepoetrygroup@gmail.com.

n SUNRIDGE GOLF CROQUET CLUB meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Coalpit Heath and has players at all levels. Learn how to play, club equipment is available to use. To find out more contact croquet@wilko.eclipse. co.uk or call 07977 201440.

n SOUTH COTSWOLD PROBUS GROUP meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month at Masonic Hall Sodbury, 10am. Contact president Pete Chaplin for more details. 01454 324956.

n YATE & SODBURY ART & CRAFT CLUB (POTTERY SECTION) meets every Tuesday and Wednesday, 7.30-9.30 pm at Ridgewood Community Centre. Tuition available. £5 per session. More information at yateandsodburyartsociety.weebly.com or call Roz on 07941 946412.

n YATE CHORAL SOCIETY rehearses at St. Nicholas' Church Centre, Chargrove, Yate, 7.30 - 9.30 p.m. For details call 07833 597114

n PUCKLECHURCH FOLK DANCING CLUB, Pucklechurch Community Hall, Abson Road, every other Tuesday from 7.3010.15pm. All welcome, with a partner or solo. Call Alan on 07812 508396 or Linda on 07843 240414 for more details.

Wednesday

n LINE DANCE CLASSES AT RIDGEWOOD COMMUNITY CENTRE, Wednesdays 9.30am to 12. Cost £5 No partner needed. A fun way to keep fit, reduce stress, improve memory and make new life long friends. Contact Gill 07837 784816, or FB gill.butler.90

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

n GENTLE YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly yoga class 9.30am (term time). Easy to follow gentle yoga, ideal for back pain relief and joint issues. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcome- first visit free so come along and give us a try. For information contact Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@blueyonder.co.uk Thursday

n YOGA-IN WITH NAZAMA Weekly Flow-in Yoga 6.15pm & Calm-in Yoga 7.45pm in Chipping Sodbury. Become more flexible, worry less and sleep better with an easy to follow yoga. Beginners Welcomed. Chipping Sodbury Sports Centre. From £6.00. Book online www.yoga-in.co.uk or call 07804598353

n THURSDAY: EXERCISE AND SOCIAL FOR SENIORS

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

n BRISTOL MALE VOICE

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

Yate & Sodbury District U3A

teacher Jess Marsh got everybody up to speed for the November event.

This year, an amazing total of 7,596 people took part and collectively raised £29,136.

Tap Dancing is just one of around 90 different activity groups available in the Yate and Sodbury area for people no longer in fulltime work.

Tap is definitely not just for youngsters!

Jean Crispin

Yate WI

ON a very snowy, chilly night, Yate WI members ventured out and celebrated Christmas with a bring and share meal, concentrating on puddings.

meeting at Poole Court on January 9, 7pm for 7.30 start.

Sharon Bower

Yate-Genieri Community Link

WE have recently been able to send some very basic equipment to the day care centre where we pay two teachers to look after between 40 and 50 children each day.

One of our supporters was on holiday in Gambian capital Banjul and was able to contact someone from the village, four hours away, to collect the equipment from her and carry it to Genieri.

EVERY year tap dancing groups across the UK all learn the same routine and perform it at the same time in leisure centres, hall venues and dance schools for the UK's official annual Tapathon.

Proceeds for Children in Need are raised through the purchase of T-shirts.

Many of the u3a tap group are building up quite a T-shirt collection by this time, as the Tapathon has become an annual fixture for the group.

It was generally agreed that this year’s dance was quite challenging – a speedy set of steps to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now.

The group started learning it in August and

A huge variety of scrumptious Christmassy puddings and some savoury dishes were brought and shared by the members, amongst much chat and laughter.

We followed this with some fun games, including drawing Santa Claus and some very strange looking reindeer.

Yate WI meet in the evenings on the second Monday of the month at Poole Court.

We also meet in smaller groups for craft evenings, coffee mornings, supper club and, when the weather improves, for local walks.

If you would like to join us you will be assured of a warm welcome.

Please see our social media pages for more information, or just come along to our next

Basic toys, which seem normal and commonplace to us, are a massive treat and privilege to the children of Genieri.

We need help: the (very old) phone used by the teacher with whom we communicate, mostly on WhatsApp is not working any more.

If you have bought or received a new Android phone for Christmas, please consider giving your old one to the Yate-Genieri Link.

I personally guarantee that the phone will be completely wiped, with a new SIM card, before use. Please call me on 07837 588362 if you can help.

Gilpin

Marian

U3A tap dancers supporting this year’s Tapathon event, with teacher Jess Marsh.

Postponements frustrate Bluebells

POSTPONEMENTS have frustrated Yate Town's efforts to pull away from the relegation zone under new manager John Rendell.

The Bluebells recorded back-to-back wins at the end of November and start of December, starting with a ninegoal thriller which saw them edge out Gosport Borough 5-4 at Lodge Road.

The visitors had gone in front in the first minute before goals from Kyle Tooze, Ben McLean and Zak Drew put them 3-1 up after 21 minutes.

Gosport then pulled a goal back just before half-time, and levelled on the hour.

But it took Yate less than five minutes to go back in front, again through Tooze.

Drew then added his second after intercepting a back pass to make it 5-3 after 75 minutes, before Gosport pulled a fourth goal back. But the Bluebells held on through six minutes of stoppage time to seal the points.

A 1-0 away win at Metropolitan Police followed, with Kyle Tooze getting the only goal of the game from the penalty spot, early in the second half.

Hopes of a third win on the bounce were dashed when

Yate's next home game ended in a 3-0 defeat to promotionchasing Chesham United, with Tooze sent off near the end after picking up a second yellow card.

The Bluebells then suffered three postponements in a row. The home game against Hendon

on December 10 was called off after a pitch inspection only a couple of hours before kick-off, with Rendell insisting the pitch had been "fine" and apologising to away fans who had already set off.

Away matches at Hayes & Yeading and Hanwell Town were also called off as the cold snap bit, although the Hayes & Yeading fixture was rearranged for December 20, with the home side winning 3-0.

The Bluebells' first match of the New Year is a bank holiday fixture at Dorchester Town on Monday January 2, at 3pm.

Home fixtures against North Leigh and Tiverton Town on January 7 and 28 respectively come either side of away games at Gosport Borough on the 14th and Winchester City on the 21st.

Rendell added a fourth new signing to his squad in December, with full back James Byrne following him from Paulton Rovers.

Darren Mullings executes an acrobatic bicycle kick during Yate's match against Chesham. His shot was saved by the visitors' keeper

Picture: B.East Photography

The Heathers Nursing Home

Our aim is to give a high standard of nursing and personal care in a traditional, homely and friendly environment. The Heathers is a home of great character and charm. The interior architecture, with many of its original features, gives a perfect setting for the home comforts we aim to provide.

The Heathers Nursing Home is a privately owned, Grade 2 Listed Georgian manor house, situated within walking distance of the town centres of Chipping Sodbury, and Yate.

First Class Facilities and Support

• A history of providing 24 hour, high quality care in South Gloucestershire

• Each resident is unique to us and treated as such

• The home is small and family run, offering a highly personalised service

• Exceptional standards of cleanliness and hygiene

• Respite, residential care and day care available

• Special diets catered for by our expert Chefs Get in touch and speak with our team, or arrange a viewing to see our facilities for yourself.

Aneesh – Registered Manager • Julie – General Manager