Stoke Gifford Journal, November 2018

Delivered FREE to 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford & Little Stoke

November 2018 • Issue 2

SPORT P4-5 & P11 | LETTERS P8 | WHAT’S ON P15, P22 & P26 | DIRECTORY P30

200TH JUNIOR PARKRUN IN LITTLE STOKE PARK

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PLUS , IN YOUR 32-PAGE STOKE GIFFORD MAGAZINE

Weekly run for children still going strong despite ending of main run in 2016 due to charging row

Report: Pages 4 & 5

Royal British Legion

Corbyn in Stoke Gifford

Local Poppy Appeal launched P3

Labour leader rallies FaBS troops P16-17

Where later life is for

LIVING! NOW OPEN! - See page 3

l Bradley Stoke to host finish of world famous RAC classic car rally l Firework display to round off Willow Brook lights switch-on l Abbeywood student becomes kickboxing world champion l Green light for 1,290 new homes between Stoke Gifford and the M32 l Public meeting called to discuss 2-year roadworks on Gipsy Patch Lane l Great results for local Marie Curie fundraisers l Stoke Gifford Community Library one year on l Local groups looking for YOUR vote to win funding l Students visit graves of local WW1 heroes l Local history: Stoke Gifford’s medieval barn

FREE day trips for the over fifties If you are over fifty and want to discover exciting new attractions as well as meet new people, then SGS College has the course for you.

Locations and dates available: • Artes Mundi/Cardiff Museum – 1st/2nd December – English course • Bletchley Park – 2nd/3rd February – Maths course

Held over a weekend, the Discover course will allow you to explore different locations and gain a qualification in English or maths at the same time. For further information and to book your place please visit www.sgscol.ac.uk/discover The real fun begins on a Sunday, when you and or contact Sarah Kopera on 0117 909 2327 your peers will be driven by coach to one of the exciting venues around the region. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a culinary connoisseur or a green-fingered gardener, you will find an experience that is right for you.

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November 2018

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Chelsea Pensioner launches local Poppy Appeal

T

he Stoke Gifford branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL) launched its 2018/19 Poppy Appeal with a ceremony in the foyer of Bristol Parkway Station on Friday 26th October.

The branch was pleased to welcome a special guest, Chelsea Pensioner Dennis Morgan, who cut a ceremonial ribbon to mark the start of the local appeal.

Mr Morgan, 71, retired from the army in 1987 following 23 years of service with the Royal Corps of Signal during which he completed overseas tours of duty in Borneo, Germany and Cyprus.

Mr Morgan has been a resident of the Royal Hospital Chelsea since January 2017. He is very active in his support of military charities and recently travelled to Spain to take part in an Armed Forces Day event. He is due to visit Paris later this month to attend an international ceremony

Jack Lopresti MP and Chelsea Pensioner Dennis Morgan at the launch event

marking the centenary of the end of World War 1.

The Parkway event was also attended by Jack Lopresti MP (RBL branch vice-president), members of local uniformed groups and motorcyclists from the Bristol RBL Riders.

Parkway Station is one of the main sites for the branch’s fundraising efforts, along with the Asda store in Filton, Sainsbury’s in Stoke Gifford, the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke and The Mall at Cribbs Causeway.

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Money raised through the Poppy Appeal goes to the RBL’s Welfare Fund, which is used to give help and support to serving and ex-service personnel and their families.

If you or someone you know needs help from the RBL, please contact the national helpline on 0808 802 8080.

The RBL has a drop-in centre at 60 Union Street, Bristol, where people can call in for advice and information on the charity’s support and community services.

The Stoke Gifford branch has raised around £50,000 for the Poppy Appeal in each of the last two years. It is always looking for volunteers for its work; if you are interested, please contact Billy Wylde on 07874 895993 or email rblstokegifford@gmail.com ● This year’s local Remembrance ceremony is on Sunday 11th November at the cenotaph, North Road, starting at 10.15am.

Stoke Gifford Retirement Village An ExtraCare Charitable Trust Village

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NOW OPEN! Stoke Gifford Retirement Village, Off Coldharbour Lane, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS16 1EJ *Subject to availability. Charges will apply. Details of any costs associated with your home, care and village services will be provided as part of your application. The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, registered charity number 327816, is a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales as company number 2205136. Its registered office is at 7 Harry Weston Road, Binley Business Park, Binley, Coventry, CV3 2SN. Copyright © 2018 – The ExtraCare Charitable Trust.

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November 2018

Sport

Celebrations mark 200th junior parkrun Contact Us Editor: Stephen Horton info@stokegiffordjournal.co.uk 01454 300 400 83 Snowberry Close Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 8GB

Local reporter: Laura Mortimore (Covering Stoke Gifford Parish) Find us on Facebook: StokeGiffordJournal Follow us on Twitter: @TheSGJournal

About the Stoke Gifford Journal The Stoke Gifford Journal website and magazine are published by North Bristol Press, a trading name of Snowberry Media Ltd; company number 8451178 (registered in England and Wales); registered office: 7 Chelford Grove, Stoke Lodge, Bristol BS34 6DD. Our other publications include the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine & website, the Patchway Journal website and the Filton Journal website.

North Bristol Press is independent of any other media company or network operating in the Bristol area.

A

nyone walking their dog or taking an early morning stroll through Little Stoke Park shortly after 9am on Sunday 7th October may have been surprised to see scores of children dressed as cartoon characters running enthusiastically around the perimeter of the park. It’s not exactly the usual time of day to host a birthday party, but this wasn’t a child’s party, rather, it was a special celebration to mark Little Stoke Junior Parkrun’s 200th event.

Although the venue’s main weekly 5km parkrun event

have their barcode and finish token scanned so that the results can be processed and published later.

There are those who come to achieve a new personal best or a new milestone (and have a free wristband awarded for running the equivalent of a half, full or ultra-marathon). Then there are those who love coming for social reasons – new friendships are formed and kids run together, play in the park and spend more time with one another outside of the Sunday run.

One participant, Ruby, aged 11, said: “I like going to junior Runners just love cake!

Special 200th birthday cake baked by one of the organisers.

We accept no responsibility for anything stated by advertisers, who are themselves responsible for complying with all relevant legislation.

Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or article author. © North Bristol Press 2018. Content published in our magazines or on our websites may not be reproduced in any form without our express written permission.

folded in 2016 after the parish council withdrew permission for free use of the park (amid widespread criticism from the running community both locally and nationally), a 2km junior parkrun continues to be staged at 9am every Sunday, attracting an average of 60 youngsters in the 4 to 14 year-old age range.

Children taking part in the milestone event were given the option of completing it in fancy dress and were treated to a specially prepared 200th birthday cake baked by one of the volunteer organisers.

Junior parkrun is open to all and taking part is very straightforward: having signed up for free on the parkrun website and printed their personal barcode, runners turn up at Little Stoke Park shortly before 9am on Sunday, listen to the run briefing, take part in a short, fun warm-up routine, run a lap and a bit of the park, then

parkrun because it’s fun and it keeps you fit and healthy.” So far, she has taken part in 45 junior and 11 standard parkruns and volunteered on eight occasions.

Parkrun is based on two main principles. It’s inclusive, so you are welcome to come no matter what your background or abilities are – and you will never be the last one to finish – the tail walker is always at the end! It’s also free of charge, so it costs you nothing to register, run or to get the time and position listed. The milestone wristbands may act as encouragement for the runners to gain some consistency and form healthy active lifestyles – and – you guessed it – they come free of charge as well! So why not round up your family and come to Little Stoke Park on Sunday just before 9am? ● To find out more, visit www. parkrun.org.uk/littlestokejuniors or search for ‘Little Stoke junior parkrun’ on Facebook.

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November 2018

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News

Bradley Stoke to host finish of world famous classic car rally One hundred classic cars to visit RAC Supercentre as part of one of the oldest rallies in the world. Spectators are welcome to attend the event free of charge.

T

he landmark RAC Supercentre in Bradley Stoke is to play host to the finish of one of the most iconic rallies in the world, the RAC Rally of the Tests, on the afternoon of Sunday 11th November, from 2pm.

The first of 100 classic cars competing to win the event will arrive at the RAC in Great Park Road at around 3pm. Over the course of two hours, each will take part in a driving skills test in the car park with the winner of the rally being waved across the finish line.

Promising to be a rare spectacle, the rally – which is open to vehicles built before 1st January 1986 – follows a 750-

mile route, starting in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on Friday, travelling through the East Midlands and South Wales, and finishing in Bristol.

First staged in 1932

Along the way, competitors and their co-pilots will take on multiple driving tests and navigational challenges. The 2018 RAC Rally of the Tests will, in fact, feature 20 ‘regularities’ where competitors drive on public roads aiming to arrive at their destination as close to a pre-set time as possible, together with 30 ‘driving skills’ tests.

The rally, which dates back to 1932, started life as a reliability test with competitors driving

1,000 miles. Over the years, it transformed into modern stage rallying with the fastest time being the all-important factor. The RAC Rally became synonymous with stage rallying and the RAC name stayed with the event until 1998 when it became the Rally of Great Britain and, several years later, Wales Rally GB.

Authentic tests

In 2001, however, the Rally of the Tests was revived for classic vehicles encompassing authentic regularity and skills tests similar to the original 1930s’ RAC Rally.

In 2016, the RAC name was returned to the event, now run by the Historic Endurance Rally Organisation (HERO), as a result of a sponsorship arrangement between RAC Motoring Services and the Royal Automobile Club.

Spectators are welcome to come along free of charge to see the final test and finish of this year’s rally at the RAC Supercentre in Bradley Stoke from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. This year, there will be a chance to get a close-up look at the cars taking part, which include eight cars from the 1950s, 44 from the 1960s, 28 from the 1970s, seven from the 1980s and one from the 1930s.

Among the most notable cars

are four Volvo PV544s – two from the late 1950s and two from the 1960s, a 1966 Morris Mini Cooper S, a 1963 Porsche 356B, a 1954 Austin Healey 100/4 BN1, and, of course, a 1936 Bentley Derby 4¼.

The two newest cars taking part this year are a 1985 Porsche 924S and a 1985 Porsche 944.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams, who is organising the event at the RAC in Bradley Stoke, said: “There are not many events where you can get to see such a fantastic range of classic cars up close and free of charge, so we encourage everyone, whether they are motorsport fans or not, to come along and enjoy the spectacle.”

“It offers the chance to see some truly amazing cars of yesteryear being put through their paces over a small but challenging course. From an RAC perspective, it will be great for a business that has always been at the heart of British motoring to play host to the finish of one of the most famous rallies which once again carries its name.”

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November 2018

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Photo: Shaun King

Photo: Graham Bloomfield

Photos from a stage of the rally held at the RAC Supercentre in 2016

Refreshments and food will be available to buy. Spectators are urged to use on-street parking nearby or public transport (First Bus services 73 or T1).

To find out more, visit the RAC Rally of the Tests 2018 page on the HERO Events website heroevents.eu

Sunday 11th November RAC Supercentre Great Park Road (off Woodlands Lane) Bradley Stoke Bristol BS32 4QN

Stoke Gifford Journal

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November 2018

Letters

Willow Brook salon invites all to tenth Why not ask local MP about police numbers? a hearty welcome to Cllr Cranney is a Conservative. anniversary celebration on 9th November Firstly, the long awaited Stoke Gifford Why doesn’t he write to his Journal magazine!

Regarding Cllr Cranney’s concern over police numbers (page 3 of October issue), which as a recent victim of crime I share, why write to the police and crime commissioner? She has little or no cash for extra officers, and indeed the scrapping of the pointless extravagance of this post, and its staff and (no doubt) plush offices, would perhaps free enough funds for a dozen more beat officers.

On Friday 9th November, Reflections Hair Salon, Bradley Stoke will be hosting an event to celebrate ten years at the Willow Brook Centre. Guests are welcome to attend from 7pm and can enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival, party nibbles throughout the evening, a product goodie bag for the first

50 guests, complimentary party hair trials (max of 30mins per guest), manicures, competitions and 20% off all products (£20 off GHDs) purchased on the evening. All guests are welcome, you don’t have to be a current client! Reflections, 9 Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke BS32 8BS Tel: 01454 610 318.

fellow party representative Jack Lopresti, our local MP from 2010, since which date 20,000 police posts have been axed and 600 police stations closed, all of which Jack will have voted through?

I also note that on page 21 of the same magazine, Mr Lopresti regales us with tales of swanning around the constituency on many and various pointless ‘jollies’, so, probably, he has the time to take up this important issue.

John Crese, Little Stoke

Have your say: Reader letters Do you have strong views about something that’s happening in or around Stoke Gifford?

Want to pass comment on something you’ve read in the Journal or another local publication?

Send your letter to letters@stokegiffordjournal.co.uk or post it to: Reader Letters, Stoke Gifford Journal, 83 Snowberry Close, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 8GB Please include a phone number, in case we need to contact you.

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November 2018

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Firework spectacular to round off Willow Brook Christmas lights switch-on event New Friday evening spot for popular festive function

T

he official start of Christmas festivities at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre will be celebrated with a spectacular firework display on Friday 16th November.

This year’s seasonal lights switch-on is set to be nothing short of sensational, with live music from Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) finalists, fire jugglers and more.

The town square will start to come alive around 5pm with music being played by Bradley Stoke Radio.

Centre manager Andy Wynn, said: “We’ve got a build-up of music and entertainment for more than two-and-a-half hours before the official Christmas lights switch-on at 7.30pm. We’re extremely excited about all the events we have planned for the evening. This will definitely be a night not to miss!”

Born to Swing, who reached the final of BGT in 2014, will take to the stage with live performances at 5.30pm and 6.45pm. Meanwhile, at 6.15pm, fire jugglers Loz and Marky will wow the crowds with their daredevil act.

The big lights switch-on will take place at 7.30pm and will be

followed by a firework display high in the Bradley Stoke sky.

Andy said: “We’re always trying to think of ways to make the start of the Christmas season a fun, family time to bring the whole community together, so we’re delighted to have a whole evening of entertainment planned.”

There’s plenty taking place at the Willow Brook Centre during the festive season, including a Christmas Craft Fayre on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th November.

Small, local and vintage businesses are still welcome and encouraged to book a stall to sell their gifts and goodies.

Stalls are £20 each and can be booked by emailing info@ bertandgerts.co.uk. The weekend is sure to be popular with Willow Brook visitors and is being organised by a national firm that specialises in this type of event.

Live music will provide Christmas entertainment throughout December, with the City of Bristol Brass Band performing on the evenings of Friday 7th and Thursday 20th.

Andy said: “We’re also looking forward to welcoming the Bradley Stoke churches and schools’ carol service, accompanied by a brass band, on Wednesday 19th

Archive image from the Willow Brook Centre’s lights switch-on event in 2015

December. What better way to feel extra Christmassy than with Christmas carols?”

For more information on upcoming events at the Willow Brook Centre during November

and December, visit the website: www.willowbrookcentre. co.uk or follow on social media: Facebook @WillowBrookCentre, Twitter @WillowBrookCtr, Instagram @willowbrookcentre

The Stoke Gifford Journal is an independent newspaper, produced without subsidy from the public purse

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November 2018

Journal magazine distribution areas from October 2018

Bradley Stoke

Bradley Stoke Journal Delivered to all 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke

Combined distribution: 13,700 copies per month

Stoke Gifford

Stoke Gifford Journal Delivered to 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford, Little Stoke and Harry Stoke

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Sport Abbeywood student becomes kickboxing world champion

A

bbeywood Community School student Liam Holden has recently been crowned junior kickboxing world champion at a tough competition which was held in Venice, Italy.

Liam, who has been kickboxing since he was 6 years old, is now 13 and competes in about ten tournaments a year, both here and abroad. The world championships that took place in Venice between 16th and 23rd September saw over 1,000 competitors from 64 countries battling it out to be named world champion. With the temperature in Italy being a toasty 26 degrees and the arena not being air conditioned, it was tough conditions for Liam to fight in, however, having trained in similar conditions, he was well prepared for the tournament.

Liam won his fights every day of the competition, beating opponents from Hungary, Argentina, Slovenia and Russia.

On Saturday 22nd September he faced a player from Ireland in the final. His opponent was tough, but Liam was in control from the beginning and maintained good scoring all the way through the fight. After a week of fights, Liam was crowned Junior kickboxing World Champion. His mum Kelly, who was there supporting him during the tournament, said: “I don’t think I could ever explain the emotions I felt when Liam stepped out to fight in his final, and when they lifted his arm as the winner, it was one of the proudest moments of my life! I was so pleased for him, he works and trains so hard and gave up his whole summer to train every day.”

Liam can’t quite believe his success, saying: “It still hasn’t really sunk in that I am world champion; it was just the best feeling to stand on top of the podium hearing the national anthem being played!”

Since returning from Italy, Liam has competed in the Bristol Open which took place over two days at the City Academy.

Here, 700 competitors from 14

Above: Liam with trophy and medal. Right: Arm raised to indicate victory in his final; Liam’s name on the big screen

different countries took park in the tournament and after four successful fights, Liam was once again crowned champion.

If you are interested in taking up kickboxing as a sport, you would need to be prepared to work hard and put in a lot of time as at the moment Liam trains

four to five times a week. Some sessions are an hour-and-a-half, and twice a week he trains for three hours.

Describing his favourite sport, Liam says: “I love the fitness kickboxing gives me and I am learning and developing new skills all the time. My advice for

anyone wanting to do the sport is to always try your best and be dedicated.”

Liam completes his kickboxing training at GB Fit in Horfield. To find out more about their classes and what kickboxing involves, visit their website www.iamgbfit. com

Thinking of re-mortgaging?

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News

Winterbourne Road

M4

Stoke Gifford

Railway Line Parkway Station

Hambrook Lane

SGTL

M32

Ring Road

M32 J1

OPEN MORNING Wednesday 21st November 9.30am – 11am Let your child’s learning adventure start at Little Stoke Primary School

OPEN MORNING AT LITTLE STOKE PRIMARY SCHOOL If your child is due to start school in September 2019 please come along to our session to find out more about our school. Please visit our website for further information or ring the school to book a visit.

November 2018

Please ring the school to book a place.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

LITTLE STOKE PRIMARY SCHOOL Little Stoke Lane Little Stoke Bristol BS34 6HY www.littlestokeps.co.uk

Tel: 01454 866522

Green light for 1,290 new homes between Stoke Gifford and M32

H

ouse builder Crest Nicholson has been granted outline planning permission to build nearly 1,300 new homes on farm land between Stoke Gifford and the M32. The decision, which follows seven years of preparation and negotiation, was reached by South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) Development Control (West) Committee on Thursday 4th October, following a site inspection on 21st September.

The land to which the planning permission relates forms part of the East of Harry Stoke (EoHS) New Neighbourhood, specifically the area in Crest’s ownership or influence (shown with a red outline in the plan, left) south of the railway line.

The development will be accessed from two new junctions on the recently opened Stoke Gifford Transport Link (a.k.a.

Stoke Gifford By-Pass). One will be a signalised junction approximately 130m north of the existing Oxleigh Way junction.

The second will be a signalised crossroads a short distance south of the existing Hambrook Lane crossroads. There will also be access from Old Gloucester Road, at a point 80m north of the bridge over the M32.

The Hambrook Lane junction with the SGTL will be modified to be ‘left-in and left-out only’ on the west side. There will be no access for motor vehicles to or from the east side.

Andrew Dobson from Crest Nicholson commented: “We are pleased that councillors supported our application to deliver 1,290 new homes in South Gloucestershire, helping the council to meet its fiveyear housing land supply on a site allocated for residential development.”

“This development will also deliver numerous benefits to the local community including

providing opportunities for local shops, a community building as well as landscaping and open spaces for play areas and allotments.”

“The committee’s decision follows an extensive process of public consultation prior to the submission of the application and post-submission engagement with planning officers and statutory consultees.”

“We will continue to work closely with the local community on these proposals.”

Once the accompanying legal agreement has been signed and planning permission granted, Crest Nicholson will begin developing detailed proposals in order to submit ‘reserved matters’ applications, which will set out the finer detail of the scheme.

Subject to planning permission being granted, Crest Nicholson says it hopes to be on site by spring 2019, with the first homes being sold by the end of 2019.

There is a further ‘hybrid’ planning application (i.e. for a mixture of full and outline permission) for Crest Nicholson’s proposals relating to land under its ownership or influence north of the railway line. This will deliver up to an additional 327 homes, as well as land for a new primary school.

This application will be processed in accordance with SGC’s new system for processing planning applications, which came into force on 1st November.

An SGC spokesperson told the Journal: “We anticipate that the ‘Crest north’ application (PT16/4928/O) will go to the new Strategic Sites Delivery Committee at the end of November. There is likely to be a site inspection beforehand and this will fall under the new system. This will also take place sometime in November, but a date has not been set as yet.”

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Gipsy Patch Lane and new build infrastructure

A

Great results for local Marie Curie fundraisers

Group members display the amount they have raised since forming in 2014

raised at the highest level within South Gloucestershire.

We may be a lone voice, but one which will certainly be heard.

Other issues such as the pending changes to the planning process are also being addressed to ensure residents are given a fair hearing.

On a positive note, the Little Stoke Community Hall build is now nearing completion and will shortly be open to all.

Please check noticeboards and the parish council website for further information.

Cllr Ernest Brown Chair of Stoke Gifford Parish Council and South Gloucestershire councillor for Stoke Gifford ward

Facebook page reaches 2,000 likes The Stoke Gifford Journal’s Facebook page has reached a significant milestone by breaking through the 2,000 ‘likes’ barrier.

Our Twitter feed (@TheSGJournal) has also seen an increase in followers, breaching the 1,500 mark in recent weeks.

Journal editor Stephen Horton comments: “Our Facebook page enables us to keep residents informed of important local news between issues of our print magazine. It also allows readers to easily comment on stories that have appeared in the magazine and to start new discussions by posting their own news items,

November 2018

News

Councillor Column s a Stoke Gifford district councillor, my main objectives are those concerning the residents of the parish and ensuring they receive a fair hearing at district level. At present, my priorities are Gipsy Patch Lane roadworks and new build infrastructure.

With Gipsy Patch Lane, we need to ensure that residents and community representatives on the Project Liaison Group comment on proposals and mitigate the impact in advance of any works commencing. To that end, a provisional meeting has been called on Monday, 19th November 2018 at Little Stoke Community Hall, starting at 7pm (see page 15).

Secondly, a topic which is causing real concern is the lack of new build infrastructure.

Developers cannot keep getting away with building new homes without providing infrastructure such as schools and GP surgeries. Adequate public transport should also be in place for the local community. Stoke Gifford is overcrowded and yes, we need more houses, but not at any cost. The above have been

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which appear in the ‘visitor posts’ section.”

“Readers can also send private messages to our Facebook page and they will usually receive a response within minutes.”

“The Journal is proud to be the only community news publication dedicated exclusively to the parish of Stoke Gifford. Reaching this latest milestone shows just how much local residents appreciate our multi-channel offering at a time when many other local news publications are in decline.” ● Check out the other Facebook pages for the Bradley Stoke, Patchway and Filton Journals.

T

he Five Stokes Fundraising Group for Marie Curie met for their AGM on Monday 17th September. The group have been very busy over the year and have organised daffodil collections, serviced collection tins and held a Blooming Great Tea Party. Since forming in 2014, the group have now raised an impressive £37,430.19, which will be enough money to fund 1,871 hours of local nursing care in the community.

Last month, the group organised a hugely successful online auction to raise funds for Marie Curie. The auction ran during the last week in October where members of the local community bid on a wide selection of prizes, including cinema tickets, beauty products and even a signed Worcester Warriors rugby shirt. The auction ended on Sunday 28th October and the final amount raised will be posted on the group’s Facebook page.

Jane Marshall, a member of the group, said: “We chose to end the auction on 28th October as when most of us are enjoying an extra hour of sleep, Marie Curie nurses will be working an extra hour. The middle of the night can be the hardest times for patients and families and it is in those darkest hours that this care can make the biggest difference.

Our Marie Curie nurses, work through the night, providing an extra hour of care to people living with a terminal illness, and their families.”

The group are currently getting ready for their upcoming

events, including running a stall at the Thornbury Christmas lights switch-on, which is taking place on Tuesday 20th November between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, and their big Christmas fundraising event, a wreath making workshop. This will be taking place on the evening of Wednesday 5th December in Stoke Gifford with a minimum donation of £25 to secure your place before the event. This will include all wreath making materials, guidance on making your wreath and refreshments.

For ticket enquiries, please email thefivestokesfundraisinggroup@ gmail.com or contact Jane on 07909 966367.

They are also looking for people to help collect for the charity this festive season.

Signing up for a Christmas collection with Marie Curie is easy and collecting can be extremely enjoyable. If this is something you might be interested in, please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/getinvolved/collecting to find your nearest collection or contact community fundraiser Helen Isbell (details below).

The group warmly welcomes new members and if you are interested in helping to make a difference through raising funds in your local community and would like to find out more about the fundraising group in north Bristol, please call Helen Isbell on 0117 924 7275 or 07880 503513 or email Helen.Isbell@ mariecurie.org.uk ● Facebook: ‘Marie Curie Five Stokes Fundraising Group’

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November 2018

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15

News Public meeting called to discuss planned two-year roadworks on Gipsy Patch Lane

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toke Gifford Parish Council has called a public meeting to discuss the impact of planned major roadworks on Gipsy Patch Lane which are expected to require the road to be fully or partially closed for around 21 months.

The works, which centre around the railway bridge near the Station Road junction, are associated with the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) scheme, which will provide a direct express bus link between Bristol Parkway Station and The Mall bus station via the forthcoming new developments on the Filton Airfield site.

Works planned on Gipsy Patch Lane include the demolition of the existing railway bridge, the construction of a new railway bridge to provide a widened carriageway, footways and cycle lanes and works to lower the highway beneath. Works to widen Gipsy Patch Lane between

Public Meeting to discuss planned works on Gipsy Patch Lane, Little Stoke 7pm, Monday 19th November Little Stoke Community Hall, Little Stoke Lane, BS34 6HR Agenda Artist’s impression of the proposed new railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane

the junction with Titan Road and the junction with Bush Avenue are also planned.

The closure of the road is expected to have a significant impact on traffic flows on roads through Stoke Gifford and Bradley Stoke as motorists seek alternative routes. It is anticipated that a shuttle bus will be provided to mitigate the impact on non-motorised users.

According to the latest information released by South Gloucestershire Council, the road closures will commence in July

2019 and last until March 2021.

A full closure of the road at the site of the railway bridge will be needed for 344 days between January and November 2020.

The public meeting has been called unilaterally by the parish council with a view to forming a stakeholder liaison group, as required by a condition on the CPME planning permission.

The aim of the liaison group will be “to exchange relevant information, to respond to local comments and to maintain good community relations”.

1. Welcome and Introductions 2. Discussion on planned works at this location 3. Open forum to discuss relevant matters 4. Discussion on mitigating factors during construction works 5. To consider forming a liaison group 6. Summary of meeting and closure Organised by Stoke Gifford Parish Council Enquiries: 01454 865202

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November 2018

News

Corbyn in Stoke Gifford to rally the FaBS troops

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round 250 members of the Labour Party packed into the St Michael’s Centre in Stoke Gifford on Thursday 11th October to hear a motivational speech by leader Jeremy Corbyn, in support of Mhairi Threlfall, the party’s new candidate for the Filton and Bradley Stoke (FaBS) seat.

The members-only event was organised as part of a day-long visit to Bristol by Mr Corbyn in connection with Black History Month, during which he visited the Alone with Empire exhibition at City Hall and met civil rights campaigner Paul Stephenson (known for his role in the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963).

Also addressing the Stoke Gifford meeting was Labour’s shadow minister for women and equalities Dawn Butler, who earlier in the day had joined Mr Corbyn in announcing plans to set up a new educational trust to promote the teaching of slavery and the struggle for emancipation.

Labour supporters in FaBS were buoyed by the performance of their previous parliamentary candidate Naomi Rylatt, who, in the 2017 general election, recorded a 15 percentage point increase in the party’s share of the vote and reduced current MP Jack Lopresti’s majority to just over 4,000. This was despite Mr Lopresti’s share of the vote

increasing by three percentage points to almost 50 percent. The constituency now ranks fourth in Labour’s list of target seats in the south west, which likely explains the reason for Mr Corbyn’s visit.

Speaking after the meeting, Ms Threlfall said: “It was fantastic to welcome Jeremy to Stoke Gifford. Before speaking to members, I discussed the key issues facing our local area with him – namely policing, education and transport.”

“Crime levels hit a high in Bradley Stoke in June. Cuts have meant we have lost a significant number of police in our area – so we discussed a commitment to community policing and the vital work they do.”

“SGS College has also recently joined a campaign for better college funding. Jeremy reiterated our pledge for a National Education Service that will support education and training needs throughout our lives.”

“And, for the last 15 months I have worked as cabinet member for transport at Bristol City Council, so we spoke extensively about local transport issues.

I am so passionate about the constituency, that I’ve made the decision to step down from my cabinet role and focus exclusively on FaBS.” “It was wonderful to have the Labour leader commit so vocally to our area.”

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November 2018

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Top (l-r): Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for FaBS Mhairi Threlfall and Labour’s shadow minister for women and equalities Dawn Butler pose for photographs at the end of the event. Above: Jeremy Corbyn addresses a packed house in the St Michael’s Centre.

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November 2018

Business

Local accountants scoop marketing award

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radley Stoke accountancy firm Dunkley’s, well known locally for its support of the Wallace and Gromit sculpture trails, has been named ‘Marketing Innovation Firm of the Year’ in a competition organised by a leading supplier of accountancy software.

On Tuesday 9th October, the crème de la crème of IRIS Accounting Solutions’ customers gathered and celebrated the inaugural IRIS Customer Awards in London.

Dunkley’s were nominated for the ‘Marketing Innovation Firm of the Year’ award, which recognises “the creative thinking and skilful marketing that has enabled a practice to make a market impression, gain new clients and stand out from the crowd”.

Dunkley’s have developed a unique approach to marketing, which includes Gorillas, Gromits,

Shauns and T-Rexs, and with this creative twist included in their application, hopes were high. Managing director Mike Dunkley and marketing manager Nicole Crompton attended the ceremony, held in the members’ lounge at Twickenham Stadium, and were delighted to be announced as the winners!

Lisa White, one of the directors at Dunkley’s, described the achievement as “a reflection of all the effort put in by our marketing manager, Nicole.” She added: “Her ideas, energy and enthusiasm are refreshing. Her commitment to the campaigns undertaken is inspirational!

Winning the award is a real testament to her constant hard work.”

Mike Dunkley commented: “We live in a snowstorm of information and Nicole always ensures our message stands out as a beacon of enlightenment.”

In centre: Marketing manager Nicole Crompton and Mike Dunkley

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November 2018

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19

News

First anniversary for Stoke Gifford Community Library

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he Stoke Gifford Community Library, located in the mezzanine above the Tea Rooms in the St Michael’s Centre, North Road, has recently celebrated its one year anniversary.

The volunteer-led library service first opened its doors on 10th October 2017 after it was announced that South Gloucestershire Council’s mobile van service would no longer be running. The library was originally run by a team of three volunteers who gave up their time every other week to provide this service to local residents, many of whom are unable to travel to the main library in Bradley Stoke. Since then, the number of residents visiting the Stoke Gifford facility has increased significantly and there are now seven volunteers who run the library, which is now open once a week.

In the last four months alone, they have issued 21 new library cards to members of the public and numbers have increased so much that the volunteers are considering opening the library twice a week.

Peter Day, one of the original volunteers, said: “There has been a steady growth of people coming to use the library. Even though

we only have a small selection of books here, we are able to order books for free, which has been a really popular service with the local residents. We are really happy to see that people of all ages are coming in to use the library and are thrilled that we’ve been able to keep this service going for the community.”

The services that the library offers have proven to be very popular with the residents of Stoke Gifford as they are able to order books which can then be collected at the library and borrow DVDs for free. Both of these amenities come with a charge at the Bradley Stoke library.

The length of time that you can borrow books for is also one week longer than at Bradley Stoke.

Jack McGinley, another volunteer, said: “We are giving people the opportunity to read for free and it is nice for the older folks in the community to come and see a friendly face.”

Carol Clare, who has also volunteered since the library first opened, added: “It is very exciting seeing the numbers of people coming to the library increase so much. During the first quarter we had 33 people come to take books out of the library and by the fourth quarter this had risen to 121!”

Community library volunteers (l-r): Rachal Gunn, Jeremy Gunn, Jack McGinley, Jackie Day, Carol Clare and Peter Day

After requesting a wider selection of children’s books, the community library has recently received a delivery of over 30 picture books and chapter books which are now available to borrow. To take a look at any of their new or existing books, please pop along to one of their sessions; their opening hours for November are: • Tuesday 6th Nov, 2pm-4pm

• Thursday 15th Nov, 9am-11am • Tuesday 20th Nov, 2pm-4pm • Thursday 29th Nov 9am-11am The library is also offering a new service, called Borrow Box, where you can borrow free eAudiobooks online or with the library app. For more information on how to download the app or eAudiobooks, please speak to one of the volunteers at the library.

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November 2018

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21

News

In Brief

Tuning up for the festive season!

Next Stoke Gifford community forum

By Sue Callow, Stokes Singers e may not have started Christmas shopping just yet but Stokes Singers have a few new festive tunes in our repertoire already!

Our autumn rehearsals at Coniston Community Centre are going well and we’ve been pleased to welcome new singers who’ve quickly settled in to our 30-strong mixed choir. Our two musical directors, Phil Lawrence and Sian Walters, have chosen a great mix of traditional and modern music in preparation for our Christmas concert.

On Saturday 8th December, we’ll return to the Church of Christ the King in Bradley Stoke for our annual celebration of all things festive. We are especially pleased to confirm that our guests will be Oldland Brass who will accompany the traditional carols as well as playing their own choice of music. Founded

The next Community Engagement Forum (CEF) for Stoke Gifford, UWE and Cheswick takes place at Little Stoke Community Hall BS34 6HR on Wednesday 28th November, starting at 1pm.

South Gloucestershire Council’s CEFs, previously known as Safer and Stronger Community Groups, are about listening and responding to local people’s real issues. People in their communities know best what works for them and what their real needs are.

CEFs have been developed through working with various partner agencies including Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire & Rescue, health authorities, town & parish councils and local organisations.

To find out more, visit www. southglos.gov.uk/cef or phone the community engagement team on 01454 868113.

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in 2002, the ensemble is led

by Bob Lavis and comprises cornets, flugelhorn, tenor horn, euphonium and bass. Such an unconventional line up demands some skilful arrangements from Bob resulting in a repertoire that covers everything from ‘Mozart to Modern’ and we look forward to welcoming the players.

Tickets will be on sale from mid-November from choir

members or from Liz on 01454 614148. Our summer concert at the same venue was a sell out so please get your ticket in advance to be sure of your seat.

For further information visit our website www.stokessingers. org.uk where we will soon be announcing the nominated charity for the evening.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

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November 2018

News

In Brief

Meade Park friends news in October

We hand-deliver 5,000 copies of this magazine

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ctober has been a busy month for the Friends of Meade Park group with the official formation of a committee and a new picnic bench being installed in the park.

On Tuesday 16th October, the Friends group held a meeting at Little Stoke Youth and Community Centre where a new and functioning committee was set up and terms of reference adopted. Jenny James, who revived the group said: “At the meeting, it was acknowledged that the Friends of Meade Park would continue to work collaboratively with Stoke Gifford Parish Council (SGPC) and local businesses, particularly with their community champions, and Friends of Forty Acres. Once a bank account is established by the committee, we are planning to go for grant funding applications.”

The Friends of Meade Park are

A new picnic bench has been installed in the park by Stoke Gifford Parish Council

also hoping to start tree walks around the park after Christmas for those who are interested in finding out more about what grows in and around the park.

If you would like to join one of these walks, look out for more information their Facebook and Twitter pages.

In other news, the Friends of Meade Park were pleased to see that a new picnic bench has been placed in the park by the parish

council, some work has been completed on the path at the back of the park and some new walnut trees have been planted. Jenny said: “We would like to thank the members of the parish council for their continued support.”

If you would like to join the Friends of Meade Park committee or would just like to find out more about their future plans, email Jenny on friendsofmeadepark@gmail.com

As well as being delivered to 5,000 homes in Stoke Gifford parish (north of the A4174), we leave a further 200 copies of this magazine at public locations in Stoke Gifford and Little Stoke.

These include shops, doctors’ surgeries, takeaways and pubs.

Larger quantities are left at St Michael’s Coffee Shop and Ratcliffe Drive post office.

Although we don’t presently deliver to Cheswick, copies of the magazine are available from the Co-operative store there.

The Journal Send us your news!

December magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 19th November info@stokegiffordjournal.co.uk

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November 2018

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News

Groups looking for YOUR vote to win funding

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number of local groups across the Stokes are looking for the support of the community as they hope to win funding for their projects from the annual Aviva Community Fund. The competition, which will finance over 500 projects across four different fund levels, runs over four months allowing time for applications to be submitted, voting by the public to take place and then final judging with the winners being announced in January.

Last year, one of the successful applicants was the Friends of Holy Trinity Primary School in Bradley Stoke. They received funding of £1,000 which was used towards making significant improvements to the outdoor learning areas for the Reception and Year 1 classes.

Local projects that have applied for funding this year include: • The Parents, Teachers and Friends Association at St Michael’s School, Stoke Gifford have applied for funding up to £5,000 which they would like to use towards replacing a large wooden outdoor obstacle course which was well-loved but is now old and deemed unusable.

• Safe Space in Little Stoke, a charity that supports children with additional needs, are hoping for funding up to £1,000 to buy new toys for play therapy including football goals and balls.

• Aretians RFC in Little Stoke are looking for funding up to £25,000 which they would use to extend the clubhouse as the existing building is too small for the number of children and adults who are a part of the rugby club.

• Unit 70 “Avonation” Scout Group based in Little Stoke

would like to use the £1,000 that they have applied for to provide First Response First Aid training for all 40 of their members.

• The 1st Bradley Stoke Scout Group have applied for funding up to £5,000. They are hoping to purchase two giant inflatable stand-up paddleboards which would be used with their water activity unit to develop skills and provide new opportunities for the children.

• Wheatfield Primary School in Bradley Stoke are hoping to receive funding up to £25,000.

The Friends of Wheatfield Primary School are hoping to create a new outdoor Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) in the grounds to allow the school and community to better utilise a rundown field area prone to flooding, creating an all-weather surface for engaging physical play.

• The Friends of Bowsland Green Primary School in Bradley Stoke are looking for funding up to £25,000 which they would like to use for their ‘playground regeneration project’. At the heart of this project is the redevelopment of an area known as ‘the green area’.

Within this area there is a large wooden ‘ship’ structure as well as some basic wooden climbing equipment. The surface in this area has begun to crack and the wooden elements are tired, dated and not fit for purpose.

• Bradley Stoke Youth FC have applied for funding of £1,000 and are hoping to use this money to purchase some winter training clothing as well as new training equipment such as mini hurdles, training ladders and slalom poles to ensure training sessions remain engaging and interactive for the children.

How to vote

Now that all of the applications have been submitted, the entrants are vying to get enough votes from friends, family and supporters in the community to get their project entered into the finals, where a judging panel will award the funds. The voting for the competition is open from 23rd October until 20th November

2018. Anyone who lives in the UK and registers on the Aviva Community Fund website (www. avivacommunityfund.co.uk) will have ten votes to use during this time and can vote for just one project or spread their votes across different projects. The finalists will be chosen later in November and the winners will be announced in January 2019.

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November 2018

News

Parkway to Temple Meads line closed until Sunday 18th November

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reat Western Railway (GWR) is reminding passengers that trains are currently not able to run between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads stations due to a three-week period of major engineering work which continues until Sunday 18th November.

Network Rail is laying new track in the Bristol area for two additional railway lines that will relieve congestion at a major bottleneck on the network.

When complete, these additional lines will provide four tracks – two in each direction – between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway stations from early 2019; and will allow for more frequent and punctual services.

With enabling works having already taken place, contractors are now laying the new track between Lawrence Hill and Filton Abbey Wood stations.

Buses are replacing trains between the stations affected and Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway both remain open.

GWR Operations Manager Rob Mullen said: “I would like to thank customers for their

Sleepers for the two new tracks in position on Filton Bank

patience during this further period of works. The work to double the tracks in north Bristol will in time allow for more frequent and quicker journeys between Bristol and London, and more punctual services; enabling us to offer the full benefits of new Intercity Express Trains.”

“The trains are already operating on routes between London and South Wales and London and Bristol Temple Meads; providing thousands more seats every day than the trains they are replacing.”

Customers travelling towards Bath Spa from South Wales, Bristol Parkway, Cheltenham

Spa or Gloucester can travel via Swindon instead of Bristol Temple Meads.

Further work to connect the new track to the existing railway is expected to take place on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th November, as well as Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd December.

Network Rail Project Manager Kate Trevorrow said: “This upgrade will transform rail travel for passengers across Bristol. It will enable GWR to run more frequent and quicker services between Bristol and London Paddington providing more seats and better journeys. It will also ease congestion on the network

between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway.”

“We thank passengers and the communities that live near the railway for their patience whilst we carry out this vital upgrade.”

Services which normally call at Bristol Parkway will be affected as follows: • Between Portsmouth/Taunton and Cardiff Central, services will run between Portsmouth/ Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads. Connecting buses will run to Bristol Parkway for trains towards South Wales.

• Between Worcester/Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads, services will divert after Bristol Parkway and will run to Cardiff Central. Change at Bristol Parkway for coaches to Bristol Temple Meads.

• CrossCountry trains will be diverted between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Temple Meads – calling at Swindon and Bath Spa instead of Bristol Parkway.

For more details visit GWR. com/Bristol2018 The current railway closure follows earlier ones this year to install a new signalling system in the Bristol area and electrify the line through Parkway.

DECEMBER ISSUE Do you have a news item that you think would be of interest to our readers?

Do you have an event planned for the period Sunday 2nd December to Sunday 30th December?

We would love to include your news in the next issue of our magazine.

Please get in touch by the copy deadline of Monday 19th November Tel: 01454 300400 stokegiffordjournal.co.uk/ contact-us Or send us a message via our Facebook page ‘Stoke Gifford Journal’ To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400

November 2018

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info@stokegiffordjournal.co.uk

News

Students visit graves of local WW1 heroes

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wo Year 11 students from Abbeywood Community School recently travelled to Belgium and France as representatives for the legacy project that is being run by University College London alongside the government. Tom Wallington and Anish Kataria spent three days in October exploring battlefields and seeing key sites from World War 1, with the main focus being around the battlefields around Ypres and the Somme valley. They were accompanied by their teacher, Miss Traynor, who said: “Both students were exemplary and their behaviour and conduct was positively commented on, both by the hotel and the trip organisers.

It was an amazing trip and one that we hope to be able to carry out again with younger students.”

Now that they have returned from the trip, the idea is that Tom and Anish will come up with their own legacy project in order to share their experiences of the battlefields with the other students at Abbeywood.

Miss Traynor’s account of the trip is reproduced below…

On the Friday evening, before our departure, we spent some time researching soldiers from our local area who we would try to locate during our time on the battlefields. The two soldiers we came across were Alfred Luke Cannon and Duncan J Thompson. Alfred was from Southmead and Duncan lived on Filton Avenue.

On our first day, we visited Lijssenthoek and it was here amongst the many, many graves that we discovered the only woman in the cemetery (and only one of five commemorated in cemeteries), namely, Nellie Spindler. This cemetery in particular showed us the diverse

nature of the people fighting in the war – different nationalities, religions etc. who were all buried together as comrades.

On day two, we visited the Somme valley which witnessed some of the bloodiest battles of the war, with as many as 50,000 casualties on the first day. Whilst here we also visited Thiepval memorial where Alfred Cannon is commemorated. At Thiepval, there were also some elements of the Shrouds of the Somme, which will be soon be shown in its entirety in the Olympic Park in London. This will commemorate the 72,000 missing soldiers from the Somme battles. That evening, we visited the Menin Gate, which was an emotional experience. Hearing the bugles which perform the Last Post was spine tingling. Anish was lucky enough to present the memorial wreath from our group and did an excellent job.

On our last day, we visited Tyne Cot cemetery and memorial.

This is the largest British and Commonwealth cemetery in the world. It was here we found Duncan J Thompson, who was engraved on the wall. He has no grave as he is one of the missing.

We left a cross by his name so Abbeywood could celebrate and thank a soldier who lived on a road where many students (past and present) have lived.

Tyne Cot was one of the most mesmerising elements of the trip and it is a fitting tribute to all the courageous soldiers who gave their lives. After we had some moments to reflect, a passage was read by our guide, Barney, and this particular line resonated with us: “They sacrificed their today for our tomorrow.” We are thankful to the soldiers who gave their lives, and in particular Alfred and Duncan who were from our community.

Top: Tom and Anish at the Menin Gate, Ypres. Above: (left) Cross left beside name of local soldier Duncan J Thompson; (right) Lijssenthoek Cemetery.

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Get well · Stay well

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by Moira de Groot, foot health practitioner at Willow Brook Clinic

Look after your feet

ur feet are the workhorses of our bodies, yet we give them so little respect. It’s easy to take our feet for granted. They’re just there, putting up with a host of challenges; from being tucked away in shoes and socks, jammed into ill-fitting shoes, taking you on long road runs and heavy workouts in the gym.

Spending just a few minutes a day on foot care and choosing the right shoes can keep you free of problems that may lead to pain and discomfort.

Make sure you wash your feet, especially between your toes, with soap and water, carefully and regularly. If you can’t balance safely, use a longhandled brush or sit on a chair outside the bath to wash your feet under the taps. Be sure to dry feet completely, especially in-between your toes. This wash-and-dry system lessens problems such as athlete’s foot, odour, bacteria and fungus.

If you like to soak your feet, use warm water and a little soap. Use salt water if you are concerned about infection or bad odour. Moisturise your feet after washing, especially if you suffer with dry skin. Something is better than nothing – your foot health practitioner can advise you on what is the best moisturiser for your feet.

Alternate the shoes you wear each day. Change socks or stockings every day.

Your feet should not hurt

– ever. Tight shoes can be uncomfortable and can affect the way that you walk. If you wear high heels, try not to walk any distance in them. Ensure that your shoes have a wide toe box. To protect your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia, regularly wear pairs of shoes with differing heel heights.

Choose shoes with broad heels, arch supports and good shock absorbency.

Pregnancy, aging and diabetes all affect your feet.

Look after yourself and look after your feet.

Check your feet for problems every day and see a foot health practitioner or podiatrist for advice and a regular check-up to ensure your workhorses are as well as they can be.

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November 2018

News

By Adrian Kerton, local history enthusiast n 2014, an archaeological century planned farm which had investigation was carried sealed the masonry of a probable out by Absolute Archaeology medieval tithe barn. on behalf of the Trustees That such a barn existed was of the Old School Rooms not surprising, considering that prior to the construction of Stoke Gifford was primarily an the new St Michael’s Centre agricultural community which which was designed to serve continued into the 1970s. Indeed, the communities of Stoke when one looks at the older Gifford, Bristol and beyond. maps, one can see little change It was opened in 2015 as part until the arrival of the Bovis of the audacious Heart of ‘Royal Estate’ off Sandringham the Community project at St Road in 1978. Tithe barns were Michael’s Church, Stoke Gifford. the repository of the produce What was discovered surprised required from the farmers of and delighted the archaeologists the rural community when, in as the foundations of a medieval medieval times, the church took barn which had disappeared a tenth of everyone’s income in from the minds of the good folks addition to any taxes they paid to of Stoke Gifford was uncovered. the crown, and this barn would Beneath the old engineering have been an essential part of the works was evidence of a 19th life of Stoke Gifford.

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News Local history uncovered: Stoke Gifford’s medieval barn (continued from facing page) The site had previously formed part of Court Farm, which was a planned farmstead founded in 1862 as part of the Beaufort Estate programme of modernisation. This was the year when the Beauforts constructed the school, the Court Farm farmhouse and the two cottages around the green which form such an iconic representation of Stoke Gifford.

The Terrier of 1757 (a record of farms) cites a number with a barn, stables, an orchard and garden, perhaps ours belonged to Widow Millet who also owned Court Paddock. The 1842 valuation shows the farm had grown but the farm was very unproductive and run down and the surveyor suggested bringing ‘Bristol dung’ to the farm to improve its

productivity. No doubt the farm was improved when it was taken over by the Beaufort Estate.

Unfortunately, we do not have a sketch of the barn, or do we? A sketch on an early 18th century map shows a barn like structure, the sketch is different to the other sketches of houses around the village; it is much larger so perhaps it is our barn. The sketch is very small and faded, so some detail is lost.

Finding such a significant building points to the importance of archaeological investigations of brownfield sites. The complete archaeological report, courtesy of Absolute Archaeology and the Trustees of the Old School Rooms, with site photos by Kalvin Smith, can be found on our local history site at www.stokegiffordhistory. wordpress.com

Excavations carried out during the building of the St Michael’s Centre on North Road, revealed the foundations of a probable medieval tithe barn

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November 2018

News In Brief Stoke Gifford WI October meeting President Sue Grimsted, welcomed members and guests Joyce Nelson, Val Mead, Lilian Clark, Rachael Kent, Carol Smith, Sue Gibbs, Wendy Rimell and Avon Federation WI advisor Trish Ladd to our October meeting, writes Carolyn Snell.

Sue said that BBC Bristol’s Emma Britton, our speaker in September, gave us good coverage on the morning show following our meeting, and said how much she enjoyed the home made goodies that we provided for her.

Our group representative Angela told us about her visit to the WI annual meeting in September at the Winter Gardens pavilion in Weston Super Mare.

The first speaker was on behalf of Hearing Dogs for deaf people, and Angela told us that it costs £45,000 to train each dog. The second speaker was midwife Eleanor Stuart who started her career as a nun in France

teaching English in schools, and later training to become a nurse and midwife, just like the TV series Call the Midwife.

She finally left the holy order to return to England and later wrote a book called Kicking the Habit.

With Christmas coming, we were reminded of the Federation Carol Service at St Mary Redcliffe Church on 17th December, starting at 2.30pm.

Our speaker for the evening was one of our own members, Alison, who is a qualified black belt judo instructor teaching groups of all ages. She spoke about self-defence, and stressed the importance of being aware of your surroundings and not putting yourself into situations where you could be at risk.

She also gave us an excellent demonstration on how to react if attacked.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 7th November. There will be no speaker as it will be our AGM meeting, followed by a beetle drive, which should be fun.

You will always find a warm welcome, so please come along and join us. Meetings take place in the Trust Hall, North Road Stoke Gifford, starting at 7.30pm.

First Bus to launch £2 flat fare in Bristol Bus operator First West of England has announced it will be making changes to some of its fares in Bristol and the surrounding area. Amongst the changes, which will come into effect from 11th November, are the introduction of a flat fare for all single trips in Bristol, simplified fare zones, further incentives for customers to save by purchasing tickets before they board the bus, and significant savings for customers who currently buy West of England Zone tickets.

The flat fare will apply to all single trips in the greater Bristol area (currently the Bristol Inner Zone), which covers a radius of approximately 6 miles from the city centre and includes Bradley Stoke and Aztec West.

The flat fare will be £2.00 for those purchasing a pack of five singles on the mTicket app or Travelwest smartcard, while for those for those paying on the bus, the flat fare will be £2.50 (instead of £2.00 for a single short trip and £3.00 for a single long trip at present). The £2.00 single fares will also apply on the MetroBus buy-before-you-board services.

A spokesperson for First said: “The new flat fare system will make bus travel in Bristol simpler and equitable for all, with

customers being able to travel in the confidence that their Bristol Zone journey will be the same price, regardless of distance.”

Other changes will bring increases for many on-the-bus payments, e.g. the popular 3-stop-hop ticket will increase to £1.20, the first change since 2013. ● Full details of all the changes: www.mynewticket.co.uk

Volunteering opportunity at new retirement village The ExtraCare Charitable Trust’s Stoke Gifford Retirement Village, located off Coldharbour Lane, near UWE, is due to open in midNovember.

Working in partnership with South Gloucestershire Council, the trust is planning to open a community library, located within the village itself.

The library will be opening its doors to allow the wider community to make use of its extensive facilities, with effect from the village opening date.

The library will be fully led by volunteers, therefore ExtraCare is recruiting now for volunteers to support the opening and running of the new facility.

The volunteers will also have the opportunity to join the ‘Friends of the Stoke Gifford Retirement Village Community Library’ group, due to be established soon.

If you are interested in volunteering, please phone Laura Jones on 01173 216 632 or email laura.jones@extracare.org.uk for an application pack. ● www.stokegiffordvillage.co.uk

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November 2018

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Directory of Advertisers Accountants & Bookkeepers C&M Services, Page 16 Dunkley’s Chartered Accountants, Page 6 Alternative Therapies Willow Brook Clinic, Page 9 Bathrooms Concept Property Maintenance, Page 9 Beauty Salons Beautilicious Beauty Room, Page 25 Car Dealerships Drive Vauxhall, Page 13 Carpentry & Joinery J. Earle Carpentry & Joinery, Page 30 Northavon Carpentry, Page 7 Children’s Activities Willow Brook Centre, Page 32 Chiropractic Cool Green Planet, Page 5 Willow Brook Clinic, Pages 9 Domestic Appliance Repairs Kitchen & Laundry Appliance Care, Page 26 Double Glazing Visit directory on SGJ website Education & Learning Charlton Wood Primary School, Page 16 Little Stoke Primary School, Page 12 Olympus Academy Trust, Pages 22 SGS College, Page 2 & 31 Estate Agents Ocean Estate Agents, Page 27 Events Olympus Academy Trust, Pages 22 Willow Brook Centre, Page 32 Financial Services Crystal Clear Financial Planning, Page 11 Foot Care Willow Brook Clinic, Page 9 Garage Services Bristol Caravans, Page 18 LCM Automotive, Page 7 Gardening Services Garretts Landscapes, Page 24 Gyms & Health Clubs Visit directory on SGJ website Hairdressers The Filton Barbers, Page 16 Reflections, Page 8 Healthcare Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Page 23

Home Improvements & Furnishings Door Express, Page 19 Launderettes Wash Shop Plus, Page 29 Mortgages Crystal Clear Financial Planning, Page 11 Opticians Specsavers, Page 21 Oven Cleaners OvenGleamers, Page 19 Painting & Decorating A. Worsfold, Page 30 Digby Decor, Page 30 Pest Control Aman Pest Control, Page 29 Pet Services & Supplies Rosie Posie Pet Services, Page 29 Physiotherapy Willow Brook Clinic, Page 9 Plumbing & Heating Assist Plumbing and Heating, Page 29 Concept Property Maintenance, Page 9 Gregor Heating, Page 1 Low Cost Plumbing, Page 29 M.S.M Plumbing & Heating, Page 29 Panache Plumbing, Page 29 S. Berryman Plumbing & Heating, Page 29 Property Stoke Gifford Retirement Village, Pages 1 & 3 Property Maintenance Concept Property Maintenance, Page 9 David Coombs Services, Page 30 P.J.R Plastics, Page 29 Rubbish Clearance Bradley Stoke Rubbish Clearance, Page 30 Self Storage Admiral’s Yard Self Storage, Page 28 Solicitors Bevan Evemy Solicitors, Page 4 Slimming Clubs & Consultants Slimming World, Page 15 Sport & Leisure Shanthi Yogalay, Page 29 Taxis & Private Hire Bradley Stoke Cabs Ltd, Page 29 Z Cars, Page 28 More in directory on SGJ website Tiling Services Tileworx Tiling Services, Page 29

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YOUR FIRST REAL CHANCE AT SGS! Join us at our Open Event and find out about SGS College’s wide range of full/part-time and Higher Education study programmes, including those starting in September 2019.

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