Larkahll News February 2013

Produced by the students and staff of St Mark’s Church of England School

The

LARKHALL News Issue 21 February 2013

Alice Park Community Garden £20,000 of funds to help transform this fruitful corner of Larkhall

&

St Mark’s The Valley Schools Report

Award Success for St Mark’s SSCo, Brendan Rouse The Fight for Larkhall’s Loos

Bryan Chalker on the fate of Larkhall’s doomed public conveniences

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Stagecoach Bath has been providing quality part-time training in singing, dancing and acting for over 10 years. As part of the longest running and most successful children's performing arts schools network in the world, Stagecoach Bath is more than just a stage school, theatre school or drama school. We are proud to offer a full and rounded education, teaching life skills to build confidence and stretch imaginations through singing, acting and dance classes.

Our Early Stages sessions are suitable for 4-6 year olds and act as a gentle introduction to the main schools. In the Main Schools children and teens aged 6-18 years, learn to sing, dance and act at weekends during term time.

For children already doing drama in school, Stagecoach complements the skills learned by improving diction, concentration and improvisation technique. For those not already involved with drama in schools, our drama classes are perfect for building confidence, introducing role play

techniques and memorising scripts.

If you are looking for dance classes, singing lessons or acting classes for young people, Stagecoach Bath has it all and under one roof!

We also offer to both non-Stagecoach and Stagecoach children Holiday Workshops in the Easter and Summer Holidays. Come and spend a week singing, dancing and acting working towards a performance for family and friends to watch on the final day. Every child will be given a part suitable to their age and ability, and they will all get their chance to shine.

Stagecoach Bath is now recruiting; we have limited spaces available for our part time classes, so act now! Classes are held on Saturdays during term time at Hayesfield Upper School, Bath. For further information please call Sandra Mayo on 01249 655900, visit our website www.stagecoach.co.uk/bath or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.co.uk/StagecoachBath

Page 3 I am under strict instruction by the powers that be, not to mention the Spr*ng word, just in case it snows again, and we have to close the school! I confess, there is a small (OK, large) part of me that gets excited at the prospect of lashings of the white stuff, but I can assure you, it is not a popular topic in schools!

Alas, Head of School, Chris Ryan, informs me in no uncertain terms that snow is no longer a threat (although I think my job maybe if I continue to worship the stuff) so I am resigned to consider all things...erm...coil-like?! And that most definitely reflects this issue!

Yup! You have guessed it! It’s THAT time of year again.

This always seems a bit of a daft statement to me. I mean, what time of year is it, if not that time of year? Nevertheless, we are indeed at the juncture in the annual proceedings and merriment of Larkhall that inspires creativity, camaraderie and community, that being

of course, the count down to The Larkhall Festival (87 days and counting according to Open Studios co-ordinator, Simon Hodges, page 10).

Thanks to Simon for his take on preparing for this year’s hotly anticipated Open Studios, along with all of our contributors, both regular and new. It is great to be able to bring together all aspects of our community.

We are always interested to hear of your stories and events so please, do keep in touch, so that we can share it!

We hope that you enjoy this issue and all of the ‘bubbling of wateriness’ festivities that February to April brings.

We will, of course, be back in April with the programme of events for this year’s Festival, so do look out for us hitting your doormat again soon.

Phew! Think I got away with it!

Paula Paula Hawkins - Editor T: 01225 312661 E: hawkinsp@st-marks.bathnes.sch.uk

In This Edition:

St Mark’s and The Valley Schools

St Mark’s, St Saviour’s Infants and Swainswick write about Maths, school democracy and green algae?

Valley Added

The second series of workshops took place this February, children write of their experiences

Larkhall Festival & The Diary of an artist...

It’s definitely all in the planning!

The Fight For Larkhall’s Loos

Bryan Chalker is working on changing the council’s decision to close Larkhall loos in 2014.

Alice Park Community Garden

Transition Larkhall celebrates grant of £20,000!

New Oriel Hall Launch Library

Community Library set to open this Spring

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors.

The publisher does not accept responsibility for any inaccuracies or errors in content. Whilst every reasonable care is taken with all material submitted, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage.

For advertising enquiries contact us on 01225 312661 Published by St Mark’s School Editor: Paula Hawkins, St Mark’s School, Baytree Road, Larkhall, Bath, BA1 6ND Tel: 01225 312661 Email: hawkinsp@st-marks.bathnes.sch.uk The Larkhall News is available online at: www.st-marks.bathnes.sch.uk

Enquiries welcome

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StMark’s S c h o o l

St Mark’s, Brian Cox and the Canarians!

Have you had an opportunity to watch ‘Wonders of Life’ on Sunday evenings with the annoyingly talent ed and allegedly ‘good-looking’ Professor Brian Cox? Isn’t it enough that he is an ex-pop star - well, keyboard player - and extremely intelligent with a great TV persona as well as an excellent orator and teacher!

Oh, yes and of course he scuba dives (you may have gleaned a touch of the ‘green-eyed monster’ at work).

You may well wonder how he is connected to St Mark’s School and our small corner of the world in Larkhall? Well, our theme for assemblies this term has been tolerance, anti-racism and consideration of what unites us all as members of the human race.

goodbye to four Spanish students who had been visiting St Mark’s School. The four students, Alejandro, Aitana and two Andreas, joined the school in September 2012 and stayed to help improve their English - and my Spanish - as well as sampling English life. For the elder Andrea, this was her second visit, having previously attended the school two years earlier in Year 7. All four students were a joy and contributed to the life of the school and were reluctant to return to their private school in Las Palmas. I, on the other hand, would have willingly swapped Larkhall for Las Palmas - 2˚C for 26˚C in the blink of a green algae’s eye.

So, the link to the learned professor is if we share 99% of our genes with primates how much closer are we related to each other? If one billion years ago we shared a common ancestor with green algae (and amazingly our eyes possess similar optical substances) then how much more likely are we as humans to share the same view of our city, country and planet? More recently, well, 50,000 years ago our common ancestors walked out of Africa and gradually colonised the planet and consequently we are all biologically related.

When I interviewed them before they left to return home all said that they would miss the intimacy of St Mark’s and the opportunity to mix with students of all ages. Andrea the elder was particularly disappointed as she had already been told that she could not return in two years time due to pressure of exams. However, I like to think that there is a small part of the Canary Isles which will now and forevermore think fondly of Larkhall, just as there is a little bit of algae in us all.

As if to illustrate this interconnectedness, in December 2012 we said

Chris Ryan Head of School, St Mark’s School

Pictured: Alejandro, Aitana and the two Andreas at celebration assembly in December with Chairman of the Council, Rob Appleyard, Raymond Friel and St Mark’s Senior Students

St Mark’s student, Ed, reads Jane Austen to 24,000 people worldwide!

St Mark’s student, Ed Baldock, recently took part in an International Readathon celebratPictured: Ed Baldock with ing the 200th anniversary of England’s most photographed man, Mar tin Salter the publication of Pride and Prejudice at the Jane Austen Centre. The event, which took place on Monday 28th January, was organised by the centre and was filmed for world viewing by The City of Bath College.

The Readathon was streamed live around the globe to over 24,000 people. Ed, representing St Mark’s School, read Chapter 22 of Pride and Prejudice.

Ed had practiced Chapter 25 but unfortunately the event over-ran slightly and he was brought forward. Despite this, he read confidently and was relaxed throughout.

“It’s interesting to know that you’re being watched by people from all around the world, places I’ve never been to or in some cases never even knew existed. It’s amazing really, how so many people who may be completely different are united by just one book,” said Ed. There were over 50 readers present during the 14 hour marathon, with additional contributions via live link from North America, Australia and Canada.

The Governors of St Mark’s Church of England School wish to appoint from April a:

Casual Lettings Assistant

Salary Grade Q - hourly rate £7.64 Closing date: Monday 4 March. Interviews will be held week beginning 11 March

We are looking for someone to join our Facilities team to assist the Site Manager with internal and external lettings to include meetings, events and sports. Hours will be dependent on bookings and be mainly outside the school day, including weekends.

For further information and an application pack visit www.st-marks.bathnes.sch.uk, alternatively you may contact the school office on 01225 312661 or email stmarks_sec@bathnes.gov.uk.

St Mark’s School, Bay Tree Rd, Larkhall, Bath, BA1 6ND We are an equal opportunitites employer. An enhanced CRB check is required for all successful applicants.

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St Saviour’s

Nursery & Infant School

Mathematical Stories

Did you prefer Maths or English when you were at school? Is it possible to bring the worlds of Literacy and Numeracy together?

They are two subjects that are often seen to be poles apart, and many children see themselves as either ‘good at maths’ or ‘good at literacy’. Working with colleagues in 5 other local schools and researchers from The International Learning and Research centre in Bristol we’ve been building the ultimate ‘cross curricula link’...

Following an approach developed to improve standards in writing, teachers have written stories that have practical challenges built into them, sharing the stories with the children through ‘story maps’. The children are encouraged to explore the stories, looking for problems that need to be solved, describing them using mathematical language. They can then use their mathematical knowledge and skills to solve the problems. Perhaps the characters have to work out which direction to travel in, or share out some resources fairly... By embedding the maths in a story the problems have a more understandable context, and the children feel more confident in using the maths concepts they have been learning. “The pictures help me with the problems because I can draw them out...” ex-

pupils in Year 2 enjoyed finding all the mathematical elements in a story about ‘Elvin the Elf’. They made rapid progress and worked well together in pairs or small groups to develop word problems arising from the story, which they could then work to solve.” (Ofsted December 2012) The speed with which the approach has established itself within the school suggests that it is a natural fit, especially with young children who don’t divide the world into separate curriculum areas. My personal experience of being taught maths in the 1970s was that it was an abstract language, spoken only in maths lessons and with little connection to the world around me.Today we’re keen to ensure that children see the relevance of maths to the rest of their lives, and that they make active connections to other areas of their learning.We want them to be fluent and confident mathematicians, writers, problemsolvers and storytellers!

Maddy and Sam with the stor y map for ‘Elvin’s Busy day’

plained one child.

We had the pleasure of a visit from Ofsted before Christmas, and we were pleased that they could recognise the value of this work: “Pupils are responding well to the school’s current initiative to trial a scheme which links mathematics and literacy. As part of this,

NURSERY PLACES: If your child is 3yrs old before 1st Sept 2013 and you would like to apply for a place at our Nursery for September 2013 packs are available from the school office. The application deadline is March 1st.

Ed Harker Headteacher

wainswick

S

Primary

We have a very active school council at Swainswick School. The Council meets with Mrs Kelsall and Mrs Tidswell on a weekly basis with the aim of improving things in the school community and working out ways they can be involved in the local and world community.

Each Councillor serves for half a school year and is presented with a badge to wear in school so that everyone else in school knows who is representing them.

The members of the council also have their photographs displayed on a special board that outlines the projects they’re working on.

Since September this current council has organised the following initiatives which all make a positive contribution in different contexts: - An anti-litter campaign to help all members

of the school take responsibility for keeping the school grounds and the village outside the school free of litter.

- The creation of a digging zone in the school grounds to enhance play for other children.

- Organising Christmas fundraising for Save the Children, including a great Christmas Jumper Day at school; ‘Wear a sweater to make the world better.’

This School Council has also designed its own web page on our school website, written the content for it together, and set up a suggestion envelope in school, which everyone in school can use to suggest charities they would like to support or projects they would like worked on.

As the current School Council finish their term of office at February half term, they have declared Friday 8th February as School

Council retirement day.

Everyone in school has been invited to choose the clothes they want to wear rather than wear uniform, and to make and bring cakes, which the members of the School Council will then share fairly between the classes.

Louise Cripps Headteacher

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Valley Added

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O

n Saturday 2nd of February, a group of students from different schools joined the ‘Roving Reporters’ workshop. Our mission - to report on the other workshops taking place, to take photographs and write a summary for the Larkhall News.The workshops were all about the seasons and being in the wild and using the surrounding materials to survive.

These lovely leaders helped everyone to enjoy the workshops and develop skills. We thank them for being such memorable leaders and hope they have also enjoyed the experience as much as everyone else.

By Phoenix Luna Star Hill,Year 7, St Gregory’s Catholic College

The Crooked and the Crazy This workshop is all about using your imagination, creating a story of your own, giving it a main character, adding whatever you like, it’s all up to you and how you use your imagination to make a story. But not just creating a story but, as well as creating a book, illustrating, and making a cover for your book.

By Marcello Fraser,Year 8, St Mark’s School A Taste of the Wild The students learned how to build a shelter to keep you dry and warm using basic equipment and the surrounding environment. They used trees, a cover and knots to hang the shelter over the tree to keep you dry underneath it.

Felix, a child in the group, said that he found it very good fun and he said it would come in handy one day if you were lost in the wild. Another child said that it was cool to do and when he went outdoors it would be good to know how to build a den. Everyone agreed that it was a great experience, this group was very popular and I could see why because it was fun, exciting and energetic.

By Niall Bowen,Year 7, St Gregory’s Catholic College The children who were taking part in the Valley Added ‘Taste of the Wild’ workshop were cooking outdoors on a campfire using only a fire and a cooking pot. They cooked, sat on logs in a circle, and played a game where you pass a

pine cone in a line and then the person at the back of the line had to run with the pine cone to the front of the line and then start again. All the children looked very happy and cold.

By Emma Buckingham,Year 6, St Stephen’s Primary School The students around the area were learning how to survive and light a fire. They were using a fire striker which is made out of metal. They were rubbing the fire striker against a metal rod. As they rubbed the metal rod and fire striker together above a piece of cotton wool to create a spark, their cotton wool then caught fire. Using a metal rod and a fire striker is completely safe.

I found out that all the students enjoyed the workshop and they would like to do it again.

By Maya White,Year 5, Swainswick Primary School Children were taken outside to make and cook calzone pizzas.

One girl said she liked nature and another said she liked cooking on an open fire.They started by rolling the dough and putting the toppings on.Then they put it into a tin over a fire to cook for a while. After that, when it was ready, they ate it. One boy described it as melted gold. Everybody enjoyed making and eating the pizzas but really just enjoyed being outdoors!

By Oliver Rowley,Year 6, Bathampton Primary School The Reason for the Season There are 8 children who are here to enjoy their dancing and singing. The teachers are very friendly to them. Here is what Laura said: “the teachers are so friendly. I am also enjoying it.” One of the songs was called ‘Summer Holiday’. They are singing about the four seasons and they will sing together and dance. At the end, after they have practiced they will sing and dance with teachers.This is a wonderful workshop.

By Donna Jimmy,Year 6, St Saviour’s Junior School They sang 4 songs, one for each season. The songs were ‘Summer Holiday’; ‘Spring, Spring, Spring’; ‘California Dreaming’ and finally ‘Singing in the Rain’.

They used actions to express themselves and show what the song was about.

I got a report from one of the children doing the workshop. He told me that even though he hadn’t done much singing and dancing he really enjoyed himself and wanted to do the same workshop again.

By Thomas Beresford,Year 8, St Gregory’s Catholic College

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lEFt:the Bath Chronicle Spor ts teacher of the Year, Brendan Rouse (picture cour tesy of the Bath Chronicle) Right: Olympic Festival at St Mark’s School

St Mark’s School Sports Coordinator takes top spot at The Bath Chronicle Sports Awards A local PE teacher has been awarded Sports Teacher of The Year at The Bath Chronicle Sports Awards 2012. Brendan Rouse is School Sports Coordinator (SSCo) at St Mark’s School and works with pupils from St Saviour’s Infants and Juniors, Swainswick, St Stephen’s, Bathford, Bathampton and Batheaston Primary schools to improve the opportunities for participation in sport and physical activity for pupils throughout our area.

This year, Brendan is celebrating 10 years of working with St Mark’s School and over 60 local primary schools throughout Bath and North East Somerset. To complement this landmark year, Brendan was recently awarded Sports Teacher of the Year Award at The Bath Chronicle Sports Awards 2012, where he was selected over the Director of Sport at Wellsway Sports College.

“I have had a really busy ten years supporting PE for a generation of primary pupils,” said Brendan.

“This work was recognised by The Bath Chronicle and I feel really chuffed and pleased at getting an award for something I enjoy and am impassioned about.”

Throughout his time at St Mark’s School, Brendan has helped to organise a huge number of sports festivals, events and activities for children of St Saviour’s Infants and Juniors, Swainswick Primary, St Stephen’s Primary, Bathford, Bathampton and Batheaston Primaries, with many of them held at St

Mark’s School.

During the run-up to last year’s Olympic Games, Brendan helped to organise one of the largest Olympic-themed events in Bath, with over 500 children coming to St Mark’s School in celebration of the city’s Olympic Torch Parade.

“The Olympic event was a really memorable occasion for everyone, including me. Not only did we have the sunshine, we met two Olympians, watched a high-quality, inspirational performance from the St Mark’s School dancers and the event culminated in the release of 100 Olympic colours balloons into the skies above Larkhall. We created a legacy for the children of our area to remember for years to come,” said Brendan.

Brendan was invited to attend a black-tie event at Bath Racecourse to collect his award and was joined by a host of local sports men and women, including Olympic Gold Medallist Sprint Kayaker, Ed McKeever.

“The benefit to children is that they all get to experience high quality sport and physical activity that they may not otherwise get.”

“I hope that the good work that has been done over the past 10 years to improve accessibility and opportunities for children can continue. It has always been my aim to encourage as many children to visit St Mark’s School and use the great facilities on offer there.This has been made possible thanks to St Mark’s students acting as Sports Leaders.”

Unfortunately, the future of Brendan’s role as a School Sports Coordinator is less certain.

Government funding for SSCos has been drastically cut, meaning that there may be an equally drastic cut in opportunities for young people to lead healthy, enriched and active lifestyles.

“Sadly, the funding for my post was cut by 80% last year with the further 20% being lost this year,” said Brendan.

“To date I don't know what will happen in September but I am hopeful that there will be a further review of this policy so that my work, and that of other SSCos nationally, can continue.”

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Big plans for a green oak shelter win £20,000 in funding www.aliceparkcommunitygarden.org

www.facebook.com/aliceparkgarden www.twitter.com/aliceparkgarden

PiCtuRED: the new sign at the entrance to Alice Park Community garden

This spring will see the beginning of an exciting new development in the Alice Park Community Garden. Transition Larkhall, the volunteer group that runs the project, is excited to announce that it has been awarded a £20,000 Community Spaces grant from the Big Lottery Fund.The money will be put towards building a traditional green oak shelter, laying access paths and creating a sensory planting scheme.

The oak shelter – in the market cross style – will be built involving the local community, including students from local schools and colleges.Volunteers will also be involved in the path construction, and in the planting.

Kathy Cook of Transition Larkhall, who first spotted the unused patch of ground and who has been involved in coordinating the garden since its beginnings two years ago, says: “It was clear that better access, shelter, water and storage would all make the project a much more robust, successful and long-term resource.The opportunity for seating a sensory area and a wildlife pond should increase the wider appeal of the garden even further.

“We anticipate the changes will benefit all ages as the space will become more welcoming for schools, parent and toddlers and those with mobility issues, including people who need wheelchair access,” added Kathy.

The shelter means that the group will be able to run training sessions all year round, and more workshops in all aspects of sustainability and food growing. At the same

time the new shelter will create a beautiful visual link to Alice Park itself.

Other plans for the garden – in collaboration with local schools and playgroups – are to develop a wildlife haven around the garden’s pond, construct a wild children’s play area and increase the programme of workshops in gardening, carpentry, cooking with garden produce and children’s crafts.

Kathy added: “Transition Larkhall applied to Community Spaces, along with a variety of grants, with a 'pot luck' approach to growing an idea that our garden space could become a substantial hub and learning environment for the locals.”

THE BIG DIG 2013 Alice Park Community Garden is taking part in the Big Dig this year, an event run by Sustain and coordinated locally by Transition Bath food group.

The Big Dig takes place across the city on Saturday 16 March 11am-4pm. Visit the Bath Area Growers’ website for more information and see www.bigdig.org.uk or telephone 01225 315624.

Discover Alice Park Community Garden on the internet and find details of volunteer days at the garden and other upcoming events, (see above), or email annie@phonecoop.coop

L &L arkhall

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ambridge

Cllr. Bryan Chalker, in response to recent emails from a number of Larkhall residents, is pleased to publish details of facilities available to homeless people and those deemed to be ‘sleeping rough’, when harsh weather conditions are prevalent. He would like to thank those who contacted him about this problem and Cllr.Tim Ball for his quick response.

The Council works with members of the local Homelessness Partnership, to provide services to help homeless rough sleepers. These services include provision of outreach workers, specialist housing advisers and emergency hostel accommodation through Julian House.

Services are available throughout the year and during very cold weather services are extended, which means that Julian House Night Shelter will be open 24 hours a day, providing shelter and food to anyone who would otherwise be sleeping rough. The Council also commissions assertive outreach workers in partnership with DHI who go out on a daily basis to identify rough sleepers and enable them to access services.

If you are aware of rough sleepers you can report them to the rough sleeper helpline on 08009177765 or online www.roughsleeperhelp.co.uk.

Or rough sleepers can use these contacts directly to access services.

The Larkhall

Village Kitchen

The column that puts creativity back into cooking with the majority of ingredients sourced from Larkhall shops, gardens or allotments.

Stuffed Baked Cod with Parsnip Balls Ingredients: 2lbs middle cut of cod 2ozs of breadcrumbs 1 teaspoonful chopped fresh parsley 1 teaspoonful mixed herbs (such as rosemary, basil and thyme) 1 tablespoonful chopped suet Egg or milk to bind Salt and pepper to taste Pinch of onion powder (made from dried onion skins) Beef or pork dripping for basting 2-3 small parsnips pre-boiled Method: Wash the fish and remove the bones. Mix the dry ingredients for the stuffing and bind with a beaten egg or milk. Fill the fish with the stuffing and tie securely with thread. Brush over with egg or milk, coat lightly with browned breadcrumbs and place in a baking tin with sufficient dripping for basting. Cook in a moderate oven for 30-40 minutes, basting well. A rasher of fat bacon may be placed on the fish when cooking. Serve with anchovy or brown sauce and parsnip balls.

Publicised as a ‘New Fish Dish’ during the Second World War, fresh-salted cod was also widely promoted as being ‘grand for children’ as well as grown-ups and what a bargain!’ At that time in history cod was 9p a pound (old money) and did represent good value for money in war-time. Austerity is back with us, of course, and with over-fishing depleting cod stocks, another tasty and cheaper option is Alaskan Pollock or coley.

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The Fight for

Larkhall’s Loos

By Bryan Chalker

T

here has been a public convenience in Larkhall Sqaure since 1907 but the facility is now on the council’s list for possible closure by 2014. If the earlier prospect of introducing parking charges (now cancelled) weren’t bad enough, this latest proposal, which could effect many other areas of Bath, is seen as a step too far.

Cllr Chalker looks at the history of public toilets and the implications for Larkhall if those on the square are closed.

They are known by a variety of names, including wc, bog, lav, privy, dunny, john, latrine, ladies, gents and loo, the latter apparently originating from the French ‘gardez l’eau’ (‘watch out for the water’), referring to the days when people threw their potty waste out of the window, or because the toilet was commonly located in room 100 of buildings and ‘loo’ and ‘100’ look very similar. It has also been suggested that ‘loo’ is short for bordalou, a kind of portable commode carried by eighteenth century French ladies in their muffs.

B&NES Property Services revealed that the original toilet in Larkhall Square was built in 1907, following the purchase of land in 1906. There were a number of cottages on the site and these were demolished by the Council to make way for the public conveniences. Modernisation works were carried out in 1992 by Bath City Council.

This refurbishment was to a building erected in 1958 and the contract, dated November 6, 1958, was given to the firm of G.S. Burgess Ltd of Batheaston. The site plan of that period gives the location of the old conveniences to be removed, as well as the new intended building.

It is 160 years since the first public toilet was opened in the UK and yet in many parts of the country, including

“

Bath (a UNESCO World Heritage Some local authorities Site), this most appreciated of civic think that the only decent facilities is in danger of extinction.

The number of public toilets has public toilet is a closed declined by more than half over the public toilet.” past decade as local authorities up and down the country have tightened their purse strings. Concerns that public toilets PiCtuRED: have become blighted by drug users, drunks and vandals larkhall Square, have contributed to the problem.

Without public loos, people are increasingly turning to the street itself as a toilet, leading to damage to buildings and obvious health hazards.

Dr. Clara Greed, who has researched the decline in public toilets, said, “People have lost respect for the environment, for their fellow human beings and for themselves.

Free and easy access to a public toilet is a human right”.

Richard Chisnell, director of the British Toilet Association, is equally concerned and stresses that “we can either return to medieval days when people urinated in the street or we can try to tackle the growing problem”.

Dr. Greed sees safe, clean and convenient public toilets as a sign of social advancement. “Some local authorities think the only decent public toilet is a closed public toilet”, Dr. Greed stated. Where Larkhall is concerned the alternatives to closing the public convenience in the Square would be to encourage the public to use the Larkhall Inn or Emma’s Café but why should these outlets be expected to operate and maintain their toilets for the benefit of all and sundry, when it ought to be Council’s responsibility to provide well maintained toilets for public use? The simple answer could be to install toilet attendants, as they do in many Continental countries, and implement a small charge. In the case of the Ladies and Gents facility in Larkhall Square, making both sets of toilets ‘walk through’ would mean that a single

cour tesy of Dan Brown, Bath in Time www.bathintime.co.uk

Page 11

“

Surely we aren’t asking too much to expect the public loos in Larkhall Square to be left in tact and operating for the good of one and all?” attendant could be employed, say an OAP or student.

During a recent visit to Prague in the Czech Republic my wife and I were impressed at the large numbers of public toilets operating in this historic city and all, without exception, were manned by attendants – young and old – and the cost of ‘relief’ was minimal, amounting to a few pence.

which remained standard for nearly all public conveniences until decimal currency was introduced in 1971.

Jennings called his toilets ‘ Halting Stations’.

Eventually the great architects of the Victorian and Edwardian period were encouraged by local authorities to design and construct public conveniences of high standard. When they were constructed above ground great importance was given to their appearance and civic pride demanded that these were impressive and used materials like copper, marble, ceramics and decorative tiles.

In the post-war building boom local authorities built new public toilets, frequently demolishing the grand but high maintenance Victorian buildings. The new toilet blocks were built from modern materials which, though fashionable at the time, were to have a lot of problems in later years.

The drab finishes lent themselves to graffiti, and the privacy of public toilets made them a prime target for vandalism.

FLUSHED WITH SUCCESS

A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE PiCtuRED: A george Jennings ‘Monkey Closet’ of 1851, left. thomas Crapper, centre and an Australian ‘dunny’, right.

Most of the great cities of the ancient world had public toilets. They were important to the Romans and the Emperor Vespasian built street urinals, the urine being collected and sold to cloth dyers. With the fall of the Roman Empire came the discontinuation of public toilets and facilities quickly ranged from the non-existent to virtual dung heaps. Leonardo da Vinci suggested that public buildings should always have spiral staircases to make it harder to use them as toilets. In 1358 there were said to be just four public latrines in the whole of London, one of these being on London Bridge and discharged straight into the Thames below.

It wasn’t until Victorian times that public toilets appeared in any large numbers, when the Public Health Act of 1848 called for ‘Public Necessaries’ to be provided to improve sanitation. By 1851, the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace had toilets for visitors and these were installed by a Brighton plumber named George Jennings, who felt strongly that there should be decent public facilities. To offset the cost the Great Exhibition toilets, a 1d levy was charged – hence ‘spending a penny’ – and in 23 weeks 827, 280 visitors made use of them, raising a net profit of £1,790. These water closets were of a type known as ‘monkey closets’, a two-piece forerunner of the washout closet.

The first public street convenience in London was a ‘gents’ in Fleet Street, opened on February 2, 1852, followed by one for ‘ladies’ in The Strand on February 11.

The first municipal public toilets and first underground public toilets came in 1855. The contractor was again George Jennings and these toilets charged 1d, a price

Sir John Harington invented the first flushing toilet for himself and for his godmother, Queen Elizabeth 1, in 1596 but because he was roundly chided by all and sundry for his creation, he was embarrassed and produced just two. The next true water closet would not be seen for nearly 200 years, when it was introduced by Alexander Cummings in 1775, but toilets and bathrooms were an exception to the rule and more common was the chamber pot, stored under the bed (hence ‘gazunda’) and privy or outhouse both away from the home. Lilacs planted by the outhouse disguised the smell while they were in bloom.

The word ‘toilet’ originated from the French ‘toile’, meaning ‘cloth’, used for draping over a lady or gentleman’s shoulders whilst their hair was being dressed and powdered.

The name of Thomas Crapper will forever be linked to the invention of the flushing toilet but his plumbing company merely built such units to the design of Albert Giblin, who patented his ‘Silent Valveless Water Waste Preventer’ in 1819. As for the celebrated S-trap (or ‘Sbend’), this was invented by Alexander Cummings in 1775, and was designed to seal the outlet of the bowl and prevent the escape of foul air from the sewer.

It seems to me that public toilets are a basic civilised right and if flushing toilets were good enough for the Indus Valley Civilization during the 26th century BC, where the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro had a flush toilet in almost every house, attached to a sophisticated sewage system, surely we aren’t aren’t asking too much to expect the public loos in Larkhall Square to be left intact and operating for the good of one and all. After all, the Square is the village focal point and those toilets are extremely convenient for those using the local retail outlets and adjacent bus-stop. The good people of Larkhall want a public convenience, not a Council inconvenience.

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What would you like to see at this year’s

Why not...

Larkhall Festival?

Join the team at St Mark’s on Saturday 4th May from 11am - 3pm for some wacky children’s arts and crafts, wierd and wonderful activities and a spot of lunch in our crafty cafe!

Not to mention the BIGGEST art project of the year (well, in Larkhall!), involving all of the children of the Valley Schools. Look out for more information coming soon!

Spring seems a fair way off yet, but planning for Larkhall Festival, which will take place over the May Day bank holiday weekend, is well underway.

Everything in the festival is organised, performed, demonstrated and supported by people from the local community, so if you have suggestions for the festival or would like to run any activities, showcase what you do, exhibit your work or perform, the festival organisers would love to hear from you.

Over the five years since the festival started, some favourite events and activities have developed – the open studios and exhibition provide the opportunity to see a whole variety of paintings, sculpture, prints and other creations from local artists and the garden trail is a chance to see some charming hidden corners and get some inspiration for your own gardening efforts.

Monday’s regular Party in the Park has grown into a festival within a festival with live music, food, entertainment and even a boules competition for anyone feeling sporty.

The hugely popular Xtra Factory singing competition is back for another year. If you want to join it, look out for the heats over the next couple of months in the local pubs.

A few more competitions will be launched in the run-up to the festival, so keep an eye out for these on the festival website, magazines, posters and newsletters.

If you are reading this in February, there is still time for gardeners wanting to be part of the trail, local craftspeople and makers who want to sell their products at the Sunday craft-market and anyone who wants to run demonstrations or workshops or recruit people to their groups or organisations to be included. The festival programme will be finalised at the beginning of March so get in touch before then if you want to be part of things.

You can keep up to date with the latest festival plans by joining the festival group on Facebook, following @LarkhallFest on Twitter or keeping an eye on the festival website – www.larkhallfestival.org.uk.The full programme will be published in the next Larkhall News.

Countdown to Larkhall Open Studio Trail Diary of an artist.

PiCtuRED: City at Night by Simon hodges

Day 96. Monday 4 February.

Just back from ‘busman’s holiday ‘in The Lake District. Only got about 20 sketches completed whilst there due to snow, hail, rain and strong winds. Wonderful! With only 87 days left before The May Bank Holiday (3-6 May is etched in my mind), I realise that we are now over half way in our preparations for The Larkhall Art Trail in 2013 and still with much to do. Before getting down to painting, decide I had better check my emails. Mistake! Told there is a small space in The Larkhall News for a few words.

Am I interested? Must have before Thursday!

Can’t say no, but what to write? Festival preparations appear to have progressed a lot whilst away with more workshops happening at New Oriel Hall on Saturday targeting teenagers and adults, activities in St. Saviour’s Church for the smaller children and plenty for those in-between at St. Mark’s School. Try to read minutes from last Festival Meeting for the next one tonight but my computer will not let me so go down to the studio. Look at mess and file sketches. Look at where I am with this year’s projects at Hillview Studio for The Art Trail.

I have become interested in Larkhall at night under artificial light and I am hoping to show at least ten large images which go together to cover over five square metres. Not quite Hockney but had to get it out of my system. At the opposite end of the scale, also preparing some English landscapes on 6 by 4 inch pieces of board for those that say they just don’t have room for anymore. Three unproductive hours before preparing dinner.

Festival meeting at 8pm; Arrive on time at Liberal Club. Re-arrived late at Larkhall Inn. Listen in amazement and complete admiration to a handful of few dedicated people with fantastic ideas for fundraising events including Fish and Chip Quiz Night and Masked Ball; wonderful raffle prizes; cooking events (did you know Mary Berry has a house in Swainswick?) music events in New Oriel Hall, Rondo and Alice Park; art demonstrations and workshops in New Oriel Hall on Saturday and craft market on Sunday. More ideas needed for Rondo but someone volunteered that they knew where they could get some daleks....meeting went off on tangent!

Back home around ten, (surprisingly early) and watched something on television but goodness knows what. Went to bed dreaming of daleks doing a song and dance act in The Rondo and what on earth I was going to write for The Larkhall News...

Simon Hodges (Larkhall Open Studios) simon@hillviewstudio.co.uk www.hillviewstudio.co.uk

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Football News at Plain Ham Despite numerous postponements caused by the dreadful weather, 2013 has got off to an excellent start for Larkhall Athletic FC, who have won all their games so far this calendar year. The Larks currently stand at 6th in the Toolstation Western Premier League with 23 games in hand over the teams above and a better goal difference than some. The club are also still in three cup competitions, one national and two regional: the FA Vase (the final of which is played at Wembley), the Somerset Premier Cup, and the Les Phillips Cup. For the second year running the Larks have made it to the 5th round and thus the last 16 of the FA Vase, beating Peacehaven & Telscombe 2-1 on 26th January. Getting the tie played required heroic snow-clearing efforts on the part of some club members. As a reward, the Larks will play either the current Vase holders Dunston UTS or Tunbridge Wells in the 5th round at home on 16th February. Getting to the 5th round means that the Larks are now only three wins away from Wembley! The Larks’ success in the FA Vase has featured on the BBC 5Live Non-League Show three times in recent weeks.

League results have improved too in recent weeks. Although the majority of the Christmas and new year fixtures were wiped out by rain and/or snow, the big local derby against Odd Down did go ahead on Boxing Day and the Larks won that game 3-0 away.

The following match against Wells City saw a similar scoreline with the Larks 3-1 victors.

The most recent league game was against Buckland Athletic in Devon, and the long trip

to Newton Abbot was rewarded with another fine 3-0 win.

Off the pitch there’s also plenty going on. FollowPiCtuRED: the larks 4th Round FA Vase tie against Peacehaven & telscombe. ing a superb Mascots are toby Brooks (left) and Max Burge (right) fundraising effort that saw the club awarded Keep an eye on the club website almost £150,000 from Sport England and the www.pitchero.com/clubs/larkhallathleticfc Football Foundation, work is now underway for all the news, events and match reports. on much improved and extended dressing room and hospitality facilities at Plain Ham. You can also join over 800 people who alMore needs to be done to get the ground ready follow the Larks on Twitter: @Larkhaland clubhouse to the standard required for lAFC. If you’d like to help the club in any way, the Larks to progress to the Southern please contact Tracey Hill by email – League and the fundraising continues.There’s traceh_99@yahoo.com - or via the club a ‘Buy a Brick’ scheme: for £20 you can con- website. tribute towards the development and have your name immortalised on a list of honour in the clubhouse. The club will also be running a couple of fundraising events between now and the end of the season, including a night out at the greyhound races and an auction of promises. Dates to be confirmed – watch this space.

Friendly, helpful service

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New Oriel Hall Diary of Events After the long hard winter we are glad the Hall is buzzing with new activities, weekend ‘open-door’ events and workshops.

There are plenty of opportunities for bargain hunters over the coming months, including a one-off chance to help kit out your home for free. On Saturday 9 March, 10.00am to 1.00pm, New Oriel Hall is hosting one of B&NES council’s ‘Give and Take’ Days. It’s a bit like Freecycle. Some people give away items they no longer need and other people take things they could use. Ideally donated items should be brought in between 9.00 and 10.00am. Please come along, browse and help yourself to anything you could use.

whilst sipping a glass of wine. 20 rails of irresistible second hand clothes will be on offer from 7.00pm.

On Sunday 14 April the hall welcomes back Writing Events Bath who are holding 'The Mid-Point' writing workshop led by Samantha Harvey, novelist and Bath Spa MA Tutor 10.00 am - 1.00 pm.

Saturday 9 March – Give & Take Day Saturday 16 March – Art Exhibition and CD Launch Saturday 16 March - Larkhall Festival Fundraiser Masked Ball Sunday 17 March – Writing Events Bath

For budding young actors, singers and dancers Perform Drama School will be running fantastic new afterschool drama sessions starting in April on Mondays from 3.30pm until 6pm.

Saturday 23 March - Police Beat Surgery.

NEW Mindfulness regular sessions commence

LARKHALL COMMUNITY LIBRARY

Friday 12 April – Massive Spring Clothes Sale

Friday 5 April – Give Blood at New Oriel Hall all day

Sunday 14 April – Writing Events Bath On Saturday March 16, from 2.00 – 4.00pm, you are invited to drop into the hall for an Art Exhibition and CD launch, a fundraiser for cancer charities and Forever Friends, organised by local musician and artist Martin Jones. Later in the day Larkhall Festival Committee are holding a Masked Ball Fundraiser, from 7.00 11.00 p.m.

Huw Griffiths brings his new Mindfulness sessions to the hall on Monday evenings at 7.30pm from March 18, with a taster session on the afternoon of March 10.

Mindfulness helps you to calm the mind and clear away inner tension. When you view life from a less tense and more spacious perspective, you are able to respond to the challenges and stresses encountered in a way that is healthier, rather than reacting with fear and emotional and physical strain.

On Friday 12 April, Sarah is holding her famous Spring Clothes Sales where local ladies can find exciting, affordable bargains

Alongside the official opening of Larkhall Festival, at noon on May 4, a ribbon will be cut to announce the official opening of Larkhall Community Library, an exciting new venture supported by B&NES Library Service.The library will be situated in an accessible ground floor meeting room at New Oriel Hall.

We are looking for volunteers to help run the library and organise events such as book club, book sales, arranging talks with guest speakers, publicity, poster making and collecting donated books.

Suitable books in new condition are requested. Please email : info@neworielhall.org.uk or call 01225 466606 for more information.

To celebrate we are holding a Poetry Competition, open to everyone.The judging panel will be made up of published poets and literary figures and there will be prizes for the best poems, so please check our website and/or notice board over the coming weeks, for full details.

Saturday 20 April – Action Aid Table Top Sale NEW Perform Drama School start regular afterschool classes May Day Bank Holiday Weekend – Larkhall Festival with the launch of the new Community Library on Saturday 4 May STRICTLY FOR KIDS at New Oriel Hall!

Run by professional Latin & Ballroom teacher Joanna Whitehead, the new classes will offer a great way for children to learn dance styles like Cha Cha Cha, Waltz, Quickstep, and Jive.

“Strictly for Kids” is held every Thursday at New Oriel Hall during term times. There are different classes for 6-11yrs and 12-18yrs listed on the webpage.

To find out more, visit Viva La Dance webpage here www.vivaladance.co.uk and click on the “Strictly for Kids”, e-mail info@vivaladance.co.uk or call 01225 339342.

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St Saviour’s Church, Larkhall