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December 2018 • Issue 3
SPORT P13 | WHAT’S ON P16-17 | BUSINESS P21 | DIRECTORY P30 BEST CHRISTMAS LIGHTS DISPLAY IN THE STOKES? SEE PAGES 8 & 9
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PLUS , IN YOUR 32-PAGE STOKE GIFFORD MAGAZINE
Gipsy Patch Lane works
Plans outlined at public meeting
Little Stoke Primary School
P4-5
Emotional farewell to Mr Howes
P20
l Bridge strike brings renewed calls for pedestrian tunnel l Remembrance Sunday in Stoke Gifford l The comings and goings of the Parkway goats l International football debut for local teenager l Stoke Gifford Toy Library proving a big hit l Three-day closure of Hatchet Road over Christmas period l Emotive displays mark Armistice anniversary l This year’s Santa sleigh tour dates for the Stokes l Christmas lights switchon goes off with a bang l Consultation on phasing out recycling bags l Digital bells coming soon to St Michael’s
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING ~ at ~
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December 2018
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News Bridge strike brings renewed calls for pedestrian tunnel
A
n incident in early November in which the roof of a double decker bus was sheared off as it passed under the Hatchet Road railway bridge near Parkway Station has brought renewed calls for a pedestrian subway to be created alongside the bridge. The bus involved in the collision is understood to have been hired by GWR to transport passengers between Parkway and Temple Meads during a planned three-week railway closure. There were no passengers on board the bus at the time, and the driver was reported to be “unhurt but shocked”. Fortunately, there were also no pedestrians passing along the narrow footways under the bridge; if there had been, the outcome might have been much more serious (see Cllr Brian Allinson’s column on page 20). In 2013, South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) agreed to
Left: Bus (less roof) at the Church Road mini-roundabout. Right: Roof of the bus on the road under Parkway Bridge
commission Network Rail to investigate options for improving pedestrian safety at the bridge, since which time there have been no further announcements. In response to an enquiry from the Journal, an SGC spokesperson said: “We recognise the need to improve the environment for pedestrians and cyclists at Bristol Parkway’s western access and therefore a subway for pedestrians and
cyclists through the embankment to the east of the railway bridge is a strongly held aspiration.” “The work agreed by a council committee in September 2013 has been undertaken by Network Rail. This has involved the completion of feasibility and outline designs for a subway, and we also subsequently provided additional funding for ground investigations to be carried out on and near the railway embankment to help
provide more certainty for future stages of work.” “The work undertaken has shown us that the construction of the subway would be a very complex scheme due to the close proximity of the railway above. We are considering a number of potential funding mechanisms for the subway delivery and as this is ongoing we are not yet able to comment on possible delivery timescales.”
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December 2018
News ‘MetroBus 2’: Councillors push for early formation of Gipsy Patch Lane works liaison group Contact Us
Public meeting hears residents’ concerns over 2-year scheme to replace railway bridge and create bus lanes
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. 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.
Standing room only at the packed public meeting on 19th November
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ocal councillors concerned about the impact of a twoyear programme of work to replace the railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane have called for a residents’ liaison group to be set up as soon as January 2019, despite Network Rail having yet to appoint a contractor for the project. A packed public meeting held in Little Stoke Community Hall on 19th November, attended by around 100 local residents, heard two officers from South Gloucestershire Council present an overview of the planned work, which they said would require an anticipated eight-month full closure of the road in the vicinity the bridge during 2020. Wider works east and west of the bridge, to create new bus lanes for the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension scheme (CPME), will require road closures in one direction only, or the use temporary traffic lights. To minimise disruption, a site compound will be created on a parcel of land within the Horizon 38 development (former RollsRoyce East Works site). The replacement bridge will be precast here and manoeuvred into position during a 12-day closure of the railway currently planned for Easter 2020. The bridge replacement and
directly associated highway work is being undertaken by Network Rail (NR). The procurement process for a contractor is ongoing by Network Rail, with a contractor expected to be confirmed in early 2019. The other (highway) works, away from the bridge, will be done in-house by SGC’s Streetcare division, with possible subcontracting of small elements. Officers stated that while there is likely to be traffic disruption during 2019, the greatest disruption for road users is likely to be in 2020 and 2021. Vehicle diversion routes will be planned in advance and well signed and advertised. This will include “diverting as much through traffic as possible away from the area”. It is anticipated that a shuttle bus will be provided to mitigate the impact on non-motorised users and it was stated that the possibility of providing a pedestrian and cycle link via the railway bridge linking Little Stoke Park with the Rolls-Royce site is being investigated. Residents at the meeting expressed concern at the prospect of increased traffic along Little Stoke Lane, particularly in the vicinity of Little Stoke Primary School but also passing close to three other primary
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Railway bridge
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Gipsy Patch Lane
Site compound for precasting new bridge
Little Stoke Lane
Smithcourt Drive
Above: Proposed new bus lanes on Gipsy Patch Lane (indicative only; refer to planning application PT18/0987/R3F for definitive drawings).
schools further up the road in Stoke Lodge. Concerns were also expressed about the possibility of RollsRoyce workers leaving their vehicles in residential streets within Little Stoke when there is no access through the bridge. Officers stated that SGC would consider introducing temporary parking restrictions to counter this. Ward councillors noted that an area-wide review of parking restrictions within Stoke Gifford parish is planned for 2019, with one stating that the outcome might involve residents having to
pay for parking permits. A condition of the planning permission already granted for the bridge and highway work on Gipsy Patch Lane is the formation of a stakeholder liaison group “to exchange relevant information (including proposed traffic management measures), to respond to local comments and to maintain good community relations”. Residents interested in joining the liaison group were encouraged to attend the next full meeting of Stoke Gifford Parish Council in January.
spine
and bodyworks
Delays and cost pressures could still scupper project While SGC’s officers are continuing to plan ahead for the Gipsy Patch Lane bridge replacement to take place at Easter 2020, there are two dark clouds on the horizon which throw doubt on the feasibility of achieving this timescale and might even jeopardise the whole CPME scheme. The first relates to the fact that one of the four planning applications associated with the scheme, specifically the one for a new bus link between the southern edge of the Horizon 38 Site and North Way (near the NHS Blood centre), is yet to be granted consent due to an objection from the Environment Agency. The delay in obtaining planning permission for this element of the scheme is having a knock-on effect on the submission of a full business case to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), which was most recently said to be due in “late 2018” but has now had to be put back to “February 2019”. Secondly, as we were going to press, SGC revealed that Network Rail’s latest estimate for the bridge replacement is now “significantly higher” than when the current design option was selected in 2015, meaning that the revised cost for the overall CPME scheme is now “between £60m and £75m”, compared to the £35m funding tentatively approved by Weca.
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December 2018
News
Hundreds remember the fallen at Stoke Gifford ceremony
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Top: Wreath layers wait to step forward. Above: Schoolchildren place crosses.
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unday 11th November saw hundreds of people attend the Remembrance Day commemorations at the cenotaph on The Green in Stoke Gifford. The turnout is thought to have been one of the largest ever, with police estimating a crowd of between 500 and 600 people. The service was started by local ministers and included the traditional Act of Remembrance which involved the Exhortation, the Last Post, two minutes silence, Reveille and the reading of the moving Kohima Epitaph taken from the Kohima 2nd Division Memorial. After the service, a number of wreaths were laid at the cenotaph by members of local youth groups including; Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. Flag bearers Leah and Claudia and wreath layers Sienna, Imogen and Ruth represented the Rainbows and Brownies of Stoke Gifford at the service. Alix, leader of the Rainbows said: “I’m so proud of the girls for representing Rainbows and Girlguiding at the Remembrance service. Leah was an excellent flag bearer, and Sienna and Imogen laid our wreath really well. All the girls painted clay poppies which are now on the memorial – so even if they weren’t able to be there on the
day, our Rainbows remembered the fallen.” For Andrew Phelps, Scout leader, it was an emotional and poignant ceremony as he led his groups to the cenotaph to pay their respects. He said: “The Remembrance Day parade in Stoke Gifford was a great success and a fitting tribute to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. The 1st Stoke Gifford Scout Group, comprising of two Beaver colonies, two Cub packs and two Scout troops, paraded at The Green in Stoke Gifford after marching with other uniformed groups from the village. The OSR flag was carried by Oliver Dron and the wreath ceremony party included our very own Alison Emsley, in her Scout uniform, laying the wreath for the ladies of Stoke Gifford.” The Old School Rooms Scout troop has been researching the fallen on the memorial as part of their Poppy Badge. I’m sure, like me, they were going through the names of each and every one of the brave men from Stoke Gifford who gave their lives so that we could have a better today.” Wreaths were also laid by many organisations, including the Police, the Parish Council, and the Stoke Gifford Branch of the Royal British Legion. Cllr
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News
Brian Allinson, who was there to lay a wreath on behalf of South Gloucestershire Council, was very impressed with the service, saying: “It was a magnificent turnout by the people of Stoke Gifford. It was so nice to see so many children there. It was very poignant – a very special occasion. Having so many groups there such as the Scouts and Guides made it very special.” After the laying of the wreaths, children from St Michael’s Primary School placed wooden Remembrance crosses at the war memorial. They had been asked by Stoke Gifford Royal British Legion chairman John Moloney to represent all the countries that sent men to help out in WW1 and also to place the ‘Thank You’ message wreath at the memorial, which they did. Mark Freeman, headteacher of St Michael’s, said: “We were very pleased to be asked to lay a wreath and crosses at the war memorial on behalf of the children in St Michael’s School. We held a special theme day in school shortly before Remembrance Sunday where everyone made poppies in different styles: these
are now on display around the school. Many of the children have been keen to share stories of their grandparents’ and greatgrandparents’ experiences in the two World Wars, which has helped bring home the impact these wars had on so many people in our community. The children who were chosen to lay the wreath and crosses were very proud to play their part in the Remembrance Service.” Once the Remembrance ceremony had finished, many of the people present went on to attend Remembrance services at St Michael’s Church and Stoke Gifford Baptist Church.
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December 2018
News
Mike & Terry
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‘OFFER OF THE MONTH’
Bradley Stoke charity lights are “biggest and best ever seen”
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he owners of a Bradley Stoke house which has built up a reputation for staging extravagant Christmas lights displays are claiming to have created the “biggest and best display the town has ever seen” for 2018. Terry James and Mike Checkley have again transformed their home in Watch Elm Close into a Christmas wonderland to raise money for St Peter’s Hospice. This year’s display has over 30,000 lights and is now one of the biggest displays in the whole of Bristol and South Gloucestershire. New additions for 2018 include a herd of 12 reindeer, a new Merry Christmas silhouette, a new penguin silhouette and two new Santa silhouettes. In addition, the display for 2018 will include a large Ho-Ho-Ho silhouette and a Santa Please Stop Here silhouette together with an additional 4,000 bulbs within string and icicle lights. Mike said: “We decided to raise money again for St Peter’s Hospice as they are a charity very close to our hearts. Most people know that they are a Bristol charity caring for adults with life-limiting illnesses both in the Hospice and at home, but they also support families and friends and teach other healthcare professionals about how to care for people at the end of their lives”. He added that “All of St Peter’s care is provided free of charge, but it costs around £20,000 a day to provide that care. In addition, St Peter’s ‘Room to Care’ Appeal is aimed at developing their new Inpatient Unit to meet the complex needs of patients in the 21st century”. Terry and Mike, with the invaluable help of their window cleaner Kris, spend nearly four weeks putting the display together. “It’s a big task,” said
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Terry, “but, despite its size, we still aim to stay true to the theme of ‘A Classic Christmas’.” “People come from across Bristol and South Gloucestershire to see the display and last year we also had people from Devon, Somerset and The Midlands visiting. The oldest person visiting last year was a very proud 97-year-old grandmother!”. Last year, the couple set themselves a target of raising £2,000, but this was smashed with £3,022 being the final total. For 2018, Terry and Mike have decided to set themselves an ambitious goal of £4,000. To help achieve this, several local businesses have been approached to make a donation of £50, and the names of those business who have donated can be seen on a banner displayed on the driveway. There will be collecting buckets out every night for donations from visitors who come to see the lights and donations can also be made online via a My Donate page: https:// mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/ watchelmchristmaslights
● Watch Elm Close is off Baileys Court Road in Bradley Stoke – postcode BS32 8AN. The lights will be on every night from 5pm to 9pm, from 1st December 2018 to 1st January 2019.
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December 2018
News
The comings and goings of the Parkway goats
T
he placement of a herd of goats next to the park & ride site on Hunts ground Road behind Bristol Parkway Station has brought joy to many members of the local community since January 2018. Members of the public have enjoyed seeing them grow, taking them food and seeing them return after they went to Goblin Combe (by Bristol Airport) during spring. The goats have made a huge impact on the grassland by clearing the brambles and encouraging wildlife to flourish. The goats were initially introduced as part of a project to increase the population of the small blue butterfly, an insect which has been declining over recent years and is classified as a ‘priority species’ in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. This species of butterfly feeds solely on a wildflower called kidney vetch which grows at the site
near the car park. With the goats clearing the brambles and shrubs, this makes way for more kidney vetch to grow which will then hopefully increase the numbers of small blue butterflies. Sally Pattison, who has been working on this project, said: “From a wildlife point of view I want the goats to eat as much as possible and help restore the site to special wildflower-rich grassland. The kidney vetch is the all-important plant and I planted 150 plug plants of this with some volunteers last month within special fenced areas. The kidney vetch is the only overwintering
Goats devouring brambles behind the fence at Hunts Ground park & ride
site of the rare small blue butterfly and by working with national charities Buglife and Butterfly Conservation we are hoping to get the habitat condition just right.” Over the last few months the number of goats at the site near Parkway has changed as new goats have arrived and others have left to go and graze elsewhere or were taken away to be used for their meat. The female goat, Betty, and the kids went out to Goblin Combe when four billies came back to the site in September. In November, one billy went to Grimsbury Farm and the other three were used for their meat. That has left the two youngest billies at the site to continue grazing. Carol Laslett, who helps look after the goats, said: “The big goats and the number of goats
have really made a good impact on the site this year. There are now two billies left at the site how long they stay will depend on what food is left for them!” The crucial time for the kidney vetch wildflowers to grow is February through to August so the remaining goats will definitely have been removed by the end of January 2019. If you haven’t yet seen the goats and would like to, make sure you pay them a visit soon! But don’t worry if you don’t get a chance, the plan is for more goats to be brought to the site sometime next year when the brambles have all grown back and need clearing again. For more information about the project or to keep up to date with any news, visit www.streetgoat.co.uk or email streetgoats@gmail.com
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Advertising
In Brief
‘Tis the season to sparkle!
We hand-deliver 5,000 copies of this magazine
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limmers in South Gloucestershire know a little preparation goes a long way and that’s why they’ve been spreading some festive cheer ahead of schedule. Christmas is a magical time of year and the weeks running up to it are often full of fun celebrations. If you’re feeling unhappy with your weight though, it can also be a very challenging time – from hating the way you look in every party outfit to feeling uncomfortable at events. If you’ve already embarked on your journey, you might worry that the busy run-up to Christmas, temptations of the next month, and the cold weather that often means we’re less inclined to be active, could derail your weightloss campaign and you’ll end up reaching January struggling even more with your weight. But Slimming World members, men and women alike, won’t
have to miss out on the magic of the season! Each week in our groups we’ll share recipes, advice and ideas for coping with potential challenges, from Christmas parties to shopping trips, and help one another to enjoy the fun of the festive season while still achieving our dreams. So join Slimming World now – we have the motivation to support you, so you could be a stone lighter before Christmas!
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! January magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 10th December info@stokegiffordjournal.co.uk
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Sport
Local teenager makes international debut
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toke Gifford resident Joseph Budd recently made his debut for the Welsh U17 football team at an international tournament in Portugal. Joe, who is 16 and attends Abbeywood Community School, started playing football when he was just five years old. He used to attend ‘soccer camps’ during the summer holidays and joined the Stoke Lane U7 team when he was six. As he got older and his skills developed, his coach Steve Moore took him to Bristol Rovers for a trial and he signed his first youth contract with them when he was nine. Explaining what he loves so much about football, Joe said: “Football keeps me fit. I enjoy training and the challenge that comes with trying to play such a physical and demanding sport. I always enjoy the challenge of testing myself against different opponents that you come up against each week and I’m always striving to get better.”
Hungary trip
Since signing his first youth contract, Joe has gone from strength to strength and in the summer of 2018 he was called up to play for Wales U17s in the Telki Cup in Hungary. The tournament took place in September and, whilst there, he played against Croatia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.
Describing the experience, Joe said: “Hungary was a fantastic experience. Although I was nervous, I was lucky that the captain was a good friend with whom I played at Rovers, and all the boys and coaches made me feel very welcome. I was still only 15 during that trip, but I qualified to play because of my year of birth. I was really happy that I made two substitute appearances and started the second game.”
Tournament in Portugal
As soon as Joe returned from Hungary, he was called up by Wales to attend a training camp in Newport and it was here that he was told that he had been put on the reserve list to play in the UEFA qualifiers in Portugal in October. Joe then had an agonising wait to find out if he would be going to Portugal but when the Welsh U17s coach, Rob Edwards, watched him score two goals whilst playing for Bristol Rovers U16s, he received the call saying he would be joining the rest of the squad. Joe was in Portugal for a week where he made two second-half substitute appearances and started the third game against Portugal. Joe said: “I was so proud to start my first competitive international game, especially as my mum, dad, gran, nan and both grandads had flown out to watch me.” Although Joe has so far
Joseph Budd
achieved wonderful things in the world of football, it hasn’t come easily and he has had to work extremely hard to get to where he is. He currently trains for three hours twice a week and has another two-hour training session later in the week. He then plays his games on Saturday mornings. Because he has to spend so many hours training, he also stays late at school two days
a week to catch up on any school work that he may have missed. After his success with Wales, Bristol Rovers have now offered Joe a scholarship which will start next season. This involves training with the squad four days a week and attending college once a week with a game at the weekend. The scholarship will end after two years and Joe is hoping that he will have impressed them enough to be offered a professional contract. His dad, Matthew Budd, said: “The whole family are extremely proud of Joe’s achievements so far. It’s not been all glory and roses for him though and they are tested physically and physiologically by the coaches. We’ve had plenty of tears over the years but the last few months have given Joe a massive boost after making his international debut with Wales and signing a scholarship with Bristol Rovers.” Keep an eye out for the name ‘Joe Budd’ in professional football in the coming years!
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December 2018
News
Stoke Gifford Toy Library proving a big hit
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he Stoke Gifford Toy Library has been open since the beginning of September 2018 and has so far proven to be a roaring success. The phone box, located opposite The Green on North Road in Stoke Gifford, is proving very popular with the local community as there has been a high turnover of items and sometimes too much stuff to fit inside! Although it is hard to say how many people have been using the Toy Library, many people have been contacting the 2nd Stoke Gifford Rainbows to ask about the project, wanting to donate items or just commenting on what a nice idea it is. The ‘Stoke Gifford Toy Library’ Facebook page has 197 followers, and their Facebook ‘reach’ has peaked at 3,152 which is very impressive. Currently, the library contains plenty of toddler and pre-school toys, but it doesn’t have many for older children. The Rainbows are now looking for donations of board games, puzzles and other things that older children would be interested in. Alix, leader of the 2nd Stoke Gifford Rainbows, has been really pleased with the response from the public, saying: “The box is very well looked after by the public – initial fears that we may be vandalised haven’t come to pass so far. The majority of toys don’t get returned (which isn’t a problem, as we have plenty), however those that do are fine to be borrowed again; we’ve not had anything returned which has had to be thrown away.” Since the Toy Library has been open, the Rainbows and Brownies have been decorating it to different themes. As you walk by, you may have noticed colourful butterflies, spooky Halloween decorations and bright red poppies. The phone box is currently decorated with an array of colourful spots which were put up to represent Children in Need on Friday 16th November. The Rainbows and Brownies are planning new themes of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’
and ‘Christmas’ throughout December and then ‘Chinese New Year’ in January. Now that the Toy Library is fully up and running, the Girlguiding groups are starting to think about their next projects. Recently, they have collected advent calendars for the North
Bristol Food Bank and they are collecting new toys for the Salvation Army toy appeal. Parents are also donating baby items to the Baby Bank. In the future, they are looking at putting a geocache (a small, waterproof treasure box that people can search for using GPS coordinates)
into the phone box, and maybe finding another box to convert elsewhere in the Division area. To keep up to date with the Toy Library news, follow their Facebook page or to enquire about joining Girlguiding as a member or a leader, just search ‘Girlguiding’ online.
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December 2018
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15
News Three-day closure of Hatchet Road over Christmas period
No motor vehicles will be able to pass under Parkway Bridge during the road closure
Rail passengers wishing to access Parkway Station on 24th December advised to allow extra time for journey
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etwork Rail is warning motorists and bus passengers of a threeday closure of Hatchet Road, in the vicinity of Parkway Station, over the Christmas period. The closure is necessary because a crane needs to be positioned in the carriageway in order to install a large, new signalling structure across the tracks. The closure will affect local traffic which normally passes under the Parkway railway bridge across all three days, and rail passengers needing to access the station on 24th December (no trains run on 25th or 26th December). The section of road to be closed stretches from the miniroundabout at the North Road
junction, under the bridge, to the mini-roundabout at the Church Road junction. The closure means that motor vehicles will not be able to access Parkway Station from Hatchet Road between 6.00am on 24th December until 4.30am on 27th December and will instead need to access the station from the east via Hunts Ground Road. Walking routes will remain in place for pedestrians. Cyclists may use the walking route, but should dismount. Public buses will not use the station bus stops during this time. Therefore, station users will need to use the bus stops marked ‘Ratcliffe Drive’ on Hatchet Road (these are the ones north of the roundabout at the
junction of Ratcliffe Drive and Sandringham Road). Anyone of limited mobility who requires assistance to travel between the bus stops and the station is asked to call 03457 000 125 (on 24th December only). A Network Rail spokesperson said: “The installation of the signalling structure is part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, improving capacity at Bristol Parkway. A fourth platform, new track layout and overhead electrification equipment have already been installed, paving the way for
longer, greener trains and more services.” “Work to install the structure across the tracks just west of the station will take place while the road is closed to vehicles. However, please note we will not be working between 8.00pm on Christmas Eve and 6.00am on Christmas Day.” “During the period of the road closure, please leave extra time for your journey, whether travelling by car, bus or on foot.” For more information, visit http://bit.ly/nr-south-glos
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December 2018
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Christmas Events
This year’s Santa sleigh tour dates for the Stokes Bradley Stoke Lions Club
The Float Group / Southmead Hospital Charity
Bradley Stoke Lions look forward to bringing their Santa Claus sleigh round the streets of Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford this December on the following dates. All collections start at 5.45pm and typically run for around an hour-and-a-half, lasting until 7.15pm or 7.30pm. Date
Route
Starting from
Tuesday 4th
Ratcliffe Drive
Tesco Express
Thursday 6th
Dewfalls Drive & Wheatfield Drive
Brook Way
Tuesday 11th
Hawkins Crescent
The Spinney
Thursday 13th
The Worthys & Berkeley Mead
The Worthys
Sunday 16th
Static collection
Willow Brook Centre
Tuesday 18th
The Bluebells & Meadow Way
Tesco Express
Thursday 20th
Saxon Way & Courtlands
Brook Way
N.B. All collections are subject to weather conditions. If raining or inclement weather, collections will be cancelled. For updates, search for ‘Bradley Stoke Lions Club’ on Facebook.
This enormous carnival float, towed by a tractor, will be visiting the Stokes on the following dates. Raising funds for the Emergency Department at Southmead Hospital. Date
Route
Starting from
Saturday 8th
Webbs Wood Road area
Tesco Express
Friday 14th
Ratcliffe Drive area
Tesco Express
N.B. Routes are indicative only, based on those used in previous years. For updates, search for ‘The Float Group’ on Facebook, where a link to a live online tracker is usually provided on the night.
Wishing you a warm & cosy Christmas, from all at Ocean Estate Agents Bradley Stoke Call: 01454 205 070 Mail: bradleystokesales@oceanhome.co.uk oceanhome.co.uk To advertise in this magazine or on our websites, phone The Journal’s sales team on 01454 300 400
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December 2018
Christmas Church Services Church of Christ the King
Mautravers Close, Bradley Stoke Sunday 16th December 6.30pm: Carol Service Monday 24th December 3pm: Crib Service Tuesday 25th December 10am: All Age Christmas Communion
Community Carol Service
Willow Brook Centre, Bradley Stoke Wednesday 19th December 6pm: Brass Band and Free Refreshments 6.30pm to 7.15pm: Carol Service
Holy Trinity Church
Broad Croft, Bradley Stoke Sunday 16th December 6.30pm: Carols and Candles Monday 24th December 4.30pm: Christingle Service 11.15pm: Midnight Communion Tuesday 25th December 10am: All Age Christmas Celebration
Cafe Church
Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church
4a Amberley Road, Stoke Lodge Sunday 9th December 10am-2pm: Real Life Animal Nativity Sunday 23rd December 5.30pm: Family Carols Tuesday 25th December 10.30am: Christmas Day Service
Baileys Court Road, Bradley Stoke Sunday 16th December 10.30am: All Age Christmas Celebration Monday 24th December 6pm: Carols by Candlelight Tuesday 25th December 10.30am: Christmas Day Service
St Michael’s Church
The Green, Stoke Gifford Sunday 16th December 4pm & 6.30pm: Carol Services Monday 24th December 3pm: Crib Service* 11.15pm: Midnight Communion Tuesday 25th December 10am: Family Communion* *In St Michael’s Centre
Holy Family Catholic Church Southsea Road, Patchway Monday 24th December 6pm: Christmas Family Mass 11.15pm: Hymns and Readings to welcome Christmas Tuesday 25th December 12am: Christmas Mass at Midnight 9.30am & 11am: Christmas Mass
Carols on the Green
The Green, Stoke Gifford Saturday 8th December 6.15pm: Carol singing, brass band, mulled wine, hot dogs & festive fun
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December 2018
News
Emotive displays mark Armistice anniversary
N
ovember has been a very special and emotive time for people across the whole country as the signing of the Armistice treaty 100 years ago has been remembered. In Stoke Gifford, this important piece of our history has been marked with a number of different poppy displays going up on and around The Green in the centre of the village.
Tommy silhouettes
Andrew St Quinton is a local carpenter who lives in one of the cottages facing The Green. His mother, who lives next door, has some beautiful fairies in her front garden and she asked Andrew if he would be able to make her something to go in the garden for Remembrance Day. Using the Tommy silhouette for inspiration, Andrew used freehand to draw an outline and then carved the figure. Although it looks like it is made of cast iron, like the original Tommy silhouettes, Andrew actually used his carpentry skills to make it out of wood. When Andrew’s wife saw the silhouette, she wanted one for their house as well and so the project began. When the silhouette was put in the garden it blended into the garden too much so Andrew decided to put them up on the walls so that they would stand out against the white background. He then decided to try different shapes, including a figure kneeling down and a cross. Andrew said: “It has been really good to mark the 100 years with a special display, especially as I have many friends and family who have served in the armed forces – this is my tribute to them. They were quite easy to make – I completed them all over the course of a long weekend. And now that we have them, it can become a tradition that we put them up every year for Remembrance Day”.
Top: Tommy silhouettes. Above right: Adrian Kerton with a lamppost poppy. Above left and below: Knitted poppies.
Poppies on lampposts
When travelling through midWales recently, local resident Adrian Kerton noticed many of the villages had attached giant poppies to the lampposts to celebrate the ending of the First World War when the Armistice was signed on 11th November 1918. A phone call to Brian Hewitt, MBE, president of the Stoke Gifford branch of the Royal British Legion, resulted in Adrian receiving a quantity of the giant poppies from local Poppy Appeal organiser John Moloney, which Adrian posted around the cenotaph on the village green. Armistice Day holds a particular memory for Adrian as five years ago, when returning home from the Remembrance service held at the cenotaph, he suffered a heart attack. Thanks to the swift response by the ambulance service and treatment at the Bristol Heart Institute, he is now enjoying life again.
Knitted Poppies
The St Michael’s Yarn Bombers (SMYB) have been busy again this year, putting up another beautiful display of the poppies that they have knitted and crocheted. Over 20 people have spent over 9,000 hours knitting and crocheting a variety of poppy patterns to create the display that has been put up outside the St Michael’s Centre. Most of the poppies have been made using Royal British Legion approved patterns; however there are also some different patterns which gives the display a variety of colour. This year, the SMYB have used the 700 knitted and crocheted poppies to create a display which includes poppy wreaths and the words ‘Lest We Forget’. If anyone would like any more information about the St Michael’s Yarn Bombers, or would like to join the group, please contact Kia and Debbie, who founded the group in
February 2016, at s.m.y.b@ outlook.com. Alternatively, you can visit their Facebook page (‘SMYB’) to find out when their next knitting session takes place.
Send us your news! January magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 10th December
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December 2018
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Advertising
New Stoke Gifford pre-school opens soon ABACUS PRE-SCHOOL are proud to announce they will be opening new provision in the Poplar Rooms, North Road, Stoke Gifford from January 2019! Nicky Pontin and Jayne Baggott have been providing childcare for children between the ages of 2 and 4 for fifteen years and have been rated outstanding by Ofsted in two of their established settings based in Bradley Stoke and Mangotsfield. Abacus@Stoke Gifford will operate term-time only every day 8.30am to 3.30pm, with the opportunity for the children to attend sessions in Bradley Stoke during the school holidays. Abacus believe it is important to give parents the opportunity to access their free nursery entitlement of 15 or 30 hours funding and to continue providing care in the Poplar Rooms after the closure of Stoke Gifford Pre-school, which had been a valuable part of the community since 1996.
Kirsty Goodman and Kerry Hall, who are both currently part of the Abacus management team in Bradley Stoke, are looking forward to managing the new provision. Some of the children who already attend sessions in Bradley Stoke will be transferring to Stoke Gifford from 7th January 2019, and will be meeting their new friends for a Stay and Play on Monday 10th December, between 10.30am and 11.30am. If you are interested in meeting the Abacus team and would like to make an enquiry, you are welcome to arrive between 9am and 10.30am, before the Stay and Play session starts. We will be happy to show you around and answer any questions. We look forward to meeting you. For more information, visit abacuspreschool.co.uk, call 01454 867285 or email enquiries@abacuspreschool.co.uk We look forward to hearing from you!
Kirsty Goodman (left) and Kerry Hall, managers of Abacus@Stoke Gifford
Play equipment in the Poplar Rooms
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December 2018
Schools
Councillor Column Commuter parking blight and Parkway Bridge
I
have lived in Stoke Gifford, now since 1984, and have grown to love the village and the surrounding parish. Most of my extended family still live here, and enjoy the facilities that we all share. Our village green is probably the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Stoke Gifford, and the overlooking St Michael’s community centre, helps to foster the strong community spirit that exists here. As one of the three district councillors allocated to the Stoke Gifford ward, my responsibility is to be vigilant in preserving the quality of life that we enjoy here, and to minimise those issues that are seen as a threat. There are two main issues that are causing major concern to me at the moment, and of these, the most immediate is that of commuter parking. This problem is rapidly growing more acute as Parkway Station grows in importance, and the numbers of commuters using the station increases year on year. Initially we introduced restricted parking measures in the roads immediately adjacent to the station, but that only caused the problem to move further out. It rapidly became evident that many commuters are willing to walk quite long distances in order to avoid paying parking charges at the station. Today almost the whole of the village suffers from serious parking blight during the working week. With that in mind, I am currently working with South Gloucestershire Council in researching a suitable scheme that will bring relief to residents, by reducing the level of on-street commuter parking. The second major threat to our quality of life here in Stoke Gifford, is the Parkway Railway Bridge. The bridge itself was first built many years ago, and was later extended as the main line to Swansea and other destinations became
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more important. At the same time, the levels of traffic passing under the bridge has increased rapidly, despite the opening of the Stoke Gifford By-Pass earlier this year. Now both bus and HGV traffic comprise a major part of that increase. Yet several times a day, many hundreds of schoolchildren as well as adults, are expected to walk through the narrow footpaths on either side of the road under the bridge. Last month, a double decker bus with a driver unused to the area, misjudged his clearance, and the top deck of the bus was sliced off, landing in the roadway and onto one of the pavements under the bridge. Had anyone been walking there at the time they would have been killed. Yet in 2017, South Gloucestershire Council, reacting to the pressure exerted by Stoke Gifford councillors, had prepared working drawings of a large pedestrian and cyclist tunnel to be constructed parallel to the road tunnel, on the station side of the existing tunnel. Sadly, those mature plans were later withdrawn, due, it was claimed, to a shortage of money to pay for it. I am resolved to overturn that decision, before someone is seriously hurt using the existing tunnel. Cllr Brian Allinson Stoke Gifford parish councillor and South Gloucestershire councillor for Stoke Gifford ward
Former deputy steps up to take on headship at Little Stoke Primary
New head Anne Sargent presents Scott Howes with the fingerprint tree picture
E
very day is an opportunity for learning for the staff and children at Little Stoke Primary School. That was even true at the end of October when attention turned to the departure of the headteacher, Scott Howes, who was leaving the school after six happy and successful years, to take on a new job in Northern Ireland. “Learning how to deal with goodbyes is an important life skill that we’ve been able to share with the children as Mr Howes leaves,” said Anne Sargent, who has now taken over as headteacher having previously worked alongside Mr Howes as deputy head. “We talked about change and about looking forward to the next chapter of our learning adventure at Little Stoke.” In his final week, staff and pupils turned their well wishes into personalised songs, videos and other activities during assemblies that created special memories for everyone involved. As part of these celebratory activities, Mr Howes received a number of gifts and presentations from the children which reflected the warm feelings of the whole school community. These included a beautiful framed ‘fingerprint tree’ which
every child contributed to and a very special ‘coat of memories’ adorned with written memory stars from every child and member of staff. The school also celebrated by holding a quiz for Mr Howes to test his knowledge about the teaching team. For example, asking which teacher also had their glider licence? His correct answers resulted in winning tools that would help him complete tasks at the end: painting a selfportrait, building a tower from spaghetti and marshmallows and decorating a cake. The children, of course, found this very amusing! Stephen Wells, chair of governors, thanked Mr Howes for being such an important and lasting positive role model for the children and a person who would be long remembered by those at the school. Scott Howes joined the school six years ago at a time when it had falling pupil numbers. Since then he and Mrs Sargent have made a number of significant changes resulting in the school becoming popular with parents and being rated ‘good’ by Ofsted. “I have very much enjoyed my time at the school and will take away many happy memories,” said Mr Howes.
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December 2018
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21
Business
Reflections celebrate ten years at Willow Brook STAFF and clients at Reflections Bradley Stoke celebrated the salon’s tenth anniversary at the Willow Brook Centre with a special event on the evening of Friday 9th November. Guests were treated to a glass of bubbly on arrival and enjoyed party nibbles, complimentary party hair trials and manicures. Product goody bags were also handed out to the first 50 guests. The salon welcomed its first clients on Monday 13th October 2008, being one of the original tenants at the centre when Willow Brook opened for business. Since then it has seen a number of developments, including new services such as balayage, gel nails and eye-lash extensions. Salon manager Paige said: Reflections Bradley Stoke is such a great Salon to work in and I have a fantastic team. No two days are ever the same but the one constant is that we end the day smiling!”
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December 2018
News
Christmas lights switch-on goes off with a bang
B
radley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre got the festive season off to a bright start on the evening of Friday 16th November with a programme of entertainment in the town square rounded off by a spectacular fireworks display. A packed crowd enjoyed performances by Britain’s Got Talent finalist Andrew Bourn, who sang a selection of Christmas songs, and fire jugglers Loz and Marky who wowed the crowds with their daredevil act which included fire eating and firecracker whips. Children enjoyed fairground rides and a giant inflatable slide set up in the bus stop corner of the square while food and drink stalls did brisk business throughout the two-and-a-half hour programme. The culmination of the evening was the switching on of the centre’s Christmas lights, which occurred simultaneously with the start of a five-minute fireworks display launched from the roof of the centre. More photographs from the event, including some great shots taken from a drone circling above the centre, may be viewed on the Willow Brook Centre’s page on Facebook. ● Just a few of the comments left on the BS Journal Facebook page: • “Brilliant, thanks to the Willow Brook and BSR for a fab Christmas lights switch-on” • “Kids loved it; brilliant night” • “Definitely best one yet! Fireworks were a brilliant addition!”
Top row: Spectators marvel at the fireworks display. Above (l-r): Fire juggler Loz and swing singer Andrew Bourn
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December 2018
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News
Council consults on phasing out recycling bags
S
outh Gloucestershire Council has launched a public consultation on a proposal to stop providing white and green bags for kerbside recycling collections and instead ask residents to use green boxes for all of their recycling materials. No changes are being proposed on how materials need to be separated and presented for collection, i.e. plastics and cans mixed together and all other items grouped separately in the boxes. Cabinet member for communities and tourism Cllr Paul Hughes said: “This change has been proposed for a number of reasons, the main ones being that the current bags are not biodegradable and plastic fragments are released into the environment as the bags deteriorate. They also need to be replaced regularly and are currently sourced from overseas. Removing the bags from the
South Gloucestershire councillor Paul Hughes with green recycling boxes
service could save us around £100,000 a year and the boxes also last far longer.” “We will continue to support those residents who cannot physically manage the boxes, through our assisted collection service, where the crews collect and return the containers to an agreed point.”
A council spokesperson explained further: “In 2017 we simplified and improved our recycling collections with the introduction of weekly recycling for all household recycling material – plastic, cans, paper, cardboard, textiles, small electrical, glass and food. At the time, residents could continue to
use white bags for plastic, green bags for cardboard and boxes for other material, or choose to just use boxes. Extra recycling boxes are provided free of charge.” “We are now consulting on stopping the future supply of recycling bags. Any bags already in use can continue to be used, but would be replaced by boxes when the bags deteriorate.” The consultation is open until 25th January 2019, and it is expected that a decision will be made by March 2019. To take part: • Visit the council’s consultation page consultations.southglos. gov.uk, read the consultation document and complete the online survey • Pick up a paper copy of the survey from libraries or One Stop Shops and, once completed, post it to the council • Telephone the council on 01454 868154
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Northavon Carpentry
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December 2018
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News Get well · Stay well
D
by Craig de Groot, chiropractor at Willow Brook Clinic
Let’s talk about stretching
on’t get caught out by a stiff, sore body during the winter months. It is easy to stay indoors on the sofa during the blustery grey days, but it can take its toll on your body. Some stretching exercises could help you get through the winter with a pain free body and a smile on your face. Joint range of motion – how far you can move a joint in various directions – is determined by many things, including joint type and the structures surrounding it. Stretching exercises can help extend this range of motion. To understand how, it helps to be familiar with these structures and how they can help (or hinder) a joint’s flexibility: Joints are the junctions that link bones together. The type of joint – that is, whether its structure is a hinge, pivot, or ball-in-socket – determines how the bones can move. Muscles surround joints and provide the energy used to move them. The amount of tension in the muscles surrounding a joint is a key factor in how much range of motion that joint can achieve. Muscle tension can be affected both by passive factors, such as tissue scarring or your habitual posture, and by active factors, such as involuntary muscle spasms or purposeful muscle contractions. Tendons are flexible cords of strong tissue that connect muscles to bones and make
movement possible. To move a joint, energy from the muscles is transferred into the tendons, which tug on the bones. Ligaments are tough, fibrous bands of tissue that bind bone to bone, or bone to cartilage, and stabilise a joint. When you stretch, you’re working muscles and tendons rather than ligaments. Ligaments are not supposed to be elastic. An overly stretchy ligament wouldn’t provide the stability and support needed for a safe range of movement. Chiropractors help keep your joints moving the way they should. If you are in pain or you have lost your range of motion, contact your chiropractor for treatment and advice on how to get those joints moving and muscles stretched to regain the pain free range of movement your body is capable of. Willow Brook Clinic www.willowbrookclinic.co.uk
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December 2018
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25
News
“Fantastic” fireworks at St Michael’s School
T
his year’s fireworks display at St Michael’s School took place on Saturday 10th November. Starburst Fireworks put on a show that thoroughly impressed the 1,300 people who attended and DJ Jay Dormer, from ‘Make it a Success’ mobile disco, entertained the crowd with great music. Although the number of people who attended was lower than the previous year, most likely due to the weather, the event still raised an impressive £2,000. This money is going to be used towards replacing some old playground equipment that is no longer safe for the children to play on. The school’s Parent, Teacher and Friends Association (PTFA) are hoping that this will be done in the new year, especially if they receive any additional funding from the Aviva Community Fund. The PTFA has received some fantastic feedback from the event, including: • “All we can say is AWESOME and THANK YOU to all those involved with making the event such a brilliant spectacular.” • “Tonight’s firework display was brilliant, best yet!” • “Great evening as always, the fireworks, music and organisation were 10/10.” • “We have been to Disney World and seen their fireworks show and nothing has ever
come close to that. However, I think they might have some stiff competition now from St Michael’s in Stoke Gifford!” The St Michael’s PTFA have spent a long time planning and organising this event so they were incredibly pleased that it was such a success. Laura Walker, chair of the PTFA, said: “The fireworks event kicked off our fundraising year in spectacular style; we would like to thank all our volunteers and in particular Gary and Claire Locke, and Jay Dormer for their outstanding organisation and running of the night itself. We would also like to thank Almondsbury Garden Centre and Monkeyfist Construction for sponsoring the event.” Also in attendance at the display was St Michael’s headteacher Mark Freeman. He was extremely happy with how smoothly the event went, saying: “Well over a thousand children and adults enjoyed another super fireworks event, organised by St Michael’s School PTFA. Once again the fireworks were amazing; together with the music and stalls it all combined to be another special community event, which has been running for nearly 20 years. Numbers were down a little on the previous year, due no doubt to the threat of rain. Fortunately this stayed away, and many people commented favourably on the
quality of the fireworks. Many thanks to everyone who helped ensure the event ran safely and smoothly, and to Stoke Gifford Scouts for once again manning the barbecue.” To keep up to date with the installation of the new
playground equipment or to find out more about upcoming PTFA events, visit www.stmichaelssg. co.uk/parent-zone/ptfa
January magazine Deadline for contributions: Monday 10th December
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December 2018
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27
News
Digital bells coming soon to St Michael’s
A
fter decades of silence, the sound of church bells will soon once again ring out across the village green at Stoke Gifford. Reverend Canon Simon Jones, of St Michael’s Church, commented: “The installation of a digital bells system is a unique marriage of a medieval structure and 21st century technology. We will now be able to call parishioners to worship, celebrate weddings, mark funerals and herald local and national celebrations in a quintessentially time-honoured fashion.” Three years ago, local residents were told that the existing bells, one of which dates back to 1450, were unsafe and beyond economic repair or renovation and were invited to hear a trial of electronically-reproduced bell sounds from the church tower. The feedback from this trial was overwhelmingly positive.
St Michael’s Church, The Green, Stoke Gifford
The church authorities are taking a great interest in the project as St Michael’s is the first church in the Bristol Diocese to install such a system. It has, therefore, taken time to gain the various ecclesiastical permissions, to make safe and preserve the original three bells and to evaluate a modern, state
of the art, digital sound system, which will be installed in the newly re-roofed and refurbished church tower. Once the system is in place (4th December) there will follow a 15-month appraisal period, after which an application can be made to retain the system permanently.
Rev Jones added: “The new digital bells will be in operation in time for our annual Carols on the Green service on 8th December, when the hundreds of people who attend this popular event will be able to hear – many for the first time – the sound of bells ringing out across The Green.” The digital bells system will take a few days to install and commission. Over this period they will be tested at various times in order to perfect the sound and decide which of the many available peals will be appropriate for St Michael’s. Among the many advantages of digital bells is that they are relatively inexpensive, easy to operate, virtually maintenance free, faithfully reproduce pre-set peals – and do not require bell ringing practice sessions! For any further information, please contact the St Michael’s Church office on 0117 969 2486.
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December 2018
What’s On
S
tokes Singers are putting the finishing touches to the programme for this year’s Christmas concert and we’re all set to entertain, writes Sue Callow. ‘Sing Noel’ on Saturday 8th December sees us returning to the Church of Christ the King, Bradley Stoke with a mix of traditional and modern music including a keyboard solo from Phil Lawrence and opportunities to sing along under the baton of Sian Walters. Oldland Brass Ensemble, led by Bob Lavis, are our special guests. With cornets, flugelhorn, tenor horn, euphonium and bass they will play music ranging from ‘Mozart to Modern’ especially arranged by Bob. Our chosen charity for the evening is Parkinson’s UK, which works to change attitudes and find a cure for this progressive neurological condition. Donations made for interval refreshments will help to secure their programme of support and information for those diagnosed with Parkinson’s, their families and carers. Advance tickets at £5 for adults and £2.50 for children (5 -16 yrs) are available from choir members and from Liz on 01454 614148. Some tickets will be sold on the door at £6 and £3 but please buy early to be sure of your seat. Doors will open at 7.00pm for the 7.30pm performance.
Stokes Singers Christmas concert
Our Christmas concert is always an enjoyable evening and a chance to relax and enjoy the start of the festive season, so do come along and share in the celebrations. If you can’t be with us on Saturday 8th, there will be a second opportunity to hear Stokes Singers perform when we are guests of Cameo Orchestra at their concert at St Barnabas’ Church, Warmley on Tuesday 11th.
Saturday 8th December Church of Christ the King Bradley Stoke
For more information on our Christmas activities, please visit our website www. stokessingers.org.uk
“Happy Christmas from Stokes Singers! We look forward to seeing you soon.”
Stoke Gifford WI in November and December President Sue Grimsted welcomed everyone including new members Val Mead, Lilian Clark, Wendy Rimell and Joyce Nelson to our November AGM meeting, writes Carolyn Snell. Our skittles/ploughmans evening in October was a great success and raised £130 for our club funds. The treasurer presented the financial statement, which was carried by a show of hands. This was followed by the secretary’s annual report, which was a good reminder of our activities during the year. Sue then gave the president’s report and thanked members and the committee for their support during the year. Sue said how rewarding it is that our membership has continued to grow during the year with many new members. Two of our committee members are standing down next year, however they have been replaced by Rosemary and Ronnie, and we look forward to welcoming you to the committee in the coming year.
Our group representative Angela has decided to stand down after many years. Sue thanked her for her contribution and hard work over the years and presented her with a bunch of flowers. Thanks were given to the president and committee for another successful year. Votes were then counted and Sue was elected as president for the coming year. Congratulations Sue! Our group carol service will be on Monday 10th December at 7.30pm at Winterbourne Down church followed by mince pies. The federation carol service will be at St Mary Redcliffe church on 17th December at 2.30pm. Our December meeting on Wednesday 5th will be an American supper. The speaker will be Sarah Harris and her subject will be Marie Antoinette’s Guide to Farming. 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.
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29
News
Local running group celebrates 5th birthday
O
n a cold, dark November evening, Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook shopping centre was turned green by the ever-growing numbers of the popular North Bristol Running Group (NBRG). The group had gathered together to celebrate five years of running in the community, and friends, families and runners met together for a slice of celebratory cake, a group photo and, of course, a run! The local group, founded by running couple Alan and Sheila Wilcox, has over 1,000 members signed up to the NBRG Facebook page and offers weekly 5k and 10k runs as well as a ‘Couch to 5k’ course on an annual basis. The group’s members include trained leaders in running fitness, mental health ambassadors and runners of every ability. From the early days of trying to find other runners to train with, NBRG has multiplied and has become known as ‘the green family’, in recognition of the bright green t-shirts its members wear. A highlight of the group has been the creation of a running community within the Stokes area. Joint founder Sheila Wilcox said: “It really feels like a community group and through our ‘Couch to 5K’ course, it’s a great way to introduce people to running … and now we have this wonderful network of local people who support each other to do something fantastic!”
Above: Members gather at the Willow Brook Centre. Right: Celebratory cake
One of the members has even recently set up a social coffee catch-up on a monthly basis – perfect for all members, including those taking a break from running due to other commitments or injury. NBRG supports many charities through its running activities, as individuals raising money for specific fitness challenges or as a group – currently NBRG members are looking forward to dressing up as elves and supporting Santa himself as he makes pre-Christmas visits to
Bradley Stoke with his sleigh! NBRG member Louise commented: “Its always nice to run with someone rather than on your own and everyone is so friendly and encouraging. You can get so much advice and support … it’s lovely.” Sheila concluded: “Thank you to everyone who has been a part of NBRG over the last five years. Here’s looking forward to the next five years! Happy Birthday North Bristol Running Group!” If you would like to join NBRG or find out more about the local
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