Meadows to Meaders 2017 © Paul Blakemore
THE RETURN OF THE SOUTHMEAD SOAP FROM MYERS-INSOLE LOCAL LEARNING
Southmead Development Trust and Meadows to Meaders is back by popular Bristol Old Vic on this second episode of everybody’s favourite local Soap Opera demand: ‘Meadows to Meaders, A New which begins in the 1930s housing crisis, Direction’ is in the making and is being when people were moved from all over made possible by funding from Bristol Bristol to 1,500 newly built houses on City Council’s Culture Team and Team the outskirts of the city. Southmead. The many fascinating stories provided by The script draws on real events, the people of Southmead have, this time, remembering the war years, recalling the bitter winter of 1947, celebrating the been woven in to a script by local building of the 1000th house, and life for residents to reveal further insights into kids on the estate right up to the 1960s. the lives of everyday folk growing up in Please join us for the performance on Southmead. Myers-Insole Local Learning Community Saturday 30th March to follow the continued stories of your favourite Interest Company are delighted to be Meadows to Meaders characters and working in partnership again with the find out . . . cont on page 2 . . .
TWO-PART SPECIAL FEATURE EDITION Pages 1 to 9 SOUTHMEAD’S PAST: MEADOWS TO MEADERS Pages 19 to 23 SOUTHMEAD’S FUTURE: COMMUNITY LED REGENERATION
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MEADOWS TO MEADERS: THE TRUE STORIES Continued from front page . . .
● If Rose Meadows has enough rations to make Edgar’s favourite pie? ● Will Norma Meader be able to get to the doctor’s in her lunch break? ● Why is Iris throwing her husband’s trousers out of the window, before she’s even ironed the other leg? If you are online, or can ask a neighbour to show you on their computer, visit our website at: www.locallearning.org.uk/meadows2meaders
to go behind the scenes. You can see how Meadows to Meaders evolved; read THE MEAD 3 interviews with the stars; and also read choice extracts from the very first episode. You can watch films capturing memories of the early years of Fonthill Road School, the Baptist Church Youth The people best placed to tell stories Fowler, Brian Fowler, Mary Fowler, Pam Club, and take a peek inside some of the about Southmead’s history are residents Fowler, Sher Fowler, Marion Garland, first houses to be built in Southmead. who have grown up in the area and been Brian Harding, Muriel Harding, Sue Hare, Students from Orchard School Bristol there from the start. For the second Henry Horseman, Kathleen Horseman, joined forces with film company Calling episode of Meadows to Meaders we Oddvá Lauritsen, Mike Murch, Ruth the Shots to interview and film residents wanted those storytellers to be involved Myers, Pat Newport, Deana Perry, Alison about Southmead’s past. from the outset, plotting together, to Prince, Susan Richards, Bea Roberts, Myers-Insole Local Learning is a small, combine old and new themes. Pearl Rodd, Ron Rogers. Bristol-based, community interest Southmead is full of stories and histories, If you are online you can go to company exploring our local heritage www.locallearning.org.uk/memories some of which were woven with all members of the community to and listen to some of the into our first episode, uncover and share what we learn about stories we collected but we always knew our past. We have been very happy to be that reveal another there were more. back in Southmead working together part of So we have with residents at every stage of the way, Southmead’s revisited familiar from providing the initial stories, shaping history and hear characters, such the script, and devising and co-producing recollections of as matriarchs an entirely new piece of drama, to cows being Rose Meadows rehearsing and performing the show. herded along and Iris Meaders, Third year History undergraduate from Ascot Road, but introduced a the University of the West of England, memories of the few newcomers to Oddvá Lauritsen, has been working first Teddy Boys, the estate. We and the story of one of alongside Ruth Myers from the beginning recall again the war the area’s longest serving of this new direction – writing, recording, years, but also the interviewing and acting - playing a vital residents about how she aftermath and the bitter role both on and off stage. winter of 1947 when Henleaze Lake was tricked an Air Raid Warden into a spot of If you would like to get in touch contact frozen so thick with ice that people could gardening. skate on it. We celebrate again the sense Tot Foster from Wildman and Herring Ltd Ruth Myers, email: recorded stories from the community to ruth@locallearning.org.uk, of community and goodwill that has or leave a message for Ruth at the inform the original soap opera and always been present, but also the great Greenway Centre on 0117 950 3335. exhibition of objects. friendships that were forged as some Southmead families opened their homes We are particularly grateful to Bea to German children whose families were Roberts, the original scriptwriter for struggling to rebuild their lives and Meadows to Meaders, for allowing us to homes after the war. build upon her initial concept and for the support she provided throughout the The Meadows to Meaders, A New writing process. Direction script has been shaped and produced by: Julie Boston, Ron Brooks, pics from weekly rehearsals Joan Clifford, Barbara Cowell, Andie at the Greenway Centre
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MEADOWS TO MEADERS: OUTREACH
Meadows to Meaders 2017, Photo © Paul Blakemore
The Made in Bristol team is a group of twelve young people aged 18-25 who on two days each week, for a year, become resident at Bristol Old Vic. The team worked with students from Orchard School Bristol and Badock’s Wood Primary School to explore Southmead’s connection to the seventy year old friendship between Bristol and Hannover, from 1947, when a defeated and demoralised Germany were emerging from the devastation. Many people were destitute, had little food or clothing, with some even without footwear. Children from across Bristol sent food parcels, toys and pairs of shoes to schools in povertystricken Hannover The people of Southmead were among the first to take those tentative footsteps forward and, building on that earliest gesture of goodwill, welcomed German children into their homes. (full story on page 6). We are particularly indebted to Orchard’s Partnership Manager, Helen Howard, who always champions our projects and works very hard to promote opportunities such as Meadows to Meaders so that Orchard students can enjoy the rewards gained from working with members of their community.
POETRY IN THE PERFORMANCE
You can read a sample of Pam’s and Ron’s poems on the next page, and read more online on The Mead website, and it will be read at the performance on Saturday 30th March.
The convention for including poetry in Meadows to Meaders began when Southmead Resident Kath Horseman provided poems to ‘book end’ the original Meadows to Meaders soap opera. Beyond this, Kath also ensured that we strike the balance between family entertainment and honestly telling Southmead’s history, and we hope that this balance has been maintained for our second episode ‘A New Direction’, for which the poetry has been written and will be performed by Pam Fowler and Ron Brooks. Kath Horseman at Meadows to Meaders 2017, photo © Paul Blakemore
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SOUTHMEAD’S HANNOVER CONNECTION
Guests & pen-friends: middle row, 3rd from left Gretchen, Mary’s friend, 5th from left Brunhilde, Jeanne’s friend.
By Mary Fowler FORMER SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT
In 1948 a Sunday School teacher at Southmead Baptist Church suggested to her class of girls that they should write letters to a class in Germany. These letters were taken to a similar group in the Hamburg area and replies were duly received. In the following year, 1949, the then Minister at Southmead Baptist Church arranged to go to Hamburg to bring this group
of children, and others, to Southmead. With the help of one of the Sunday School teachers they brought 17 children to Southmead to stay with families on the estate. They arrived on the 23rd March and stayed until 28th June. From 1947 -2017 there has been 70 years of friendship between these two cities, with school exchanges taking place for many Bristol schoolchildren. These still continue today, all because
of that first goodwill mission. After running the first Meaders to Meaders project, Ruth Myers was so interested in hearing about this she made her next project the story of the Bristol and Hannover link. This project is called ‘In Someone Else’s Shoes’ as when it was agreed to link Bristol with Hannover it was found that many children in Hannover had no shoes to wear. Hannover had been virtually destroyed and the children of Bristol were encouraged to collect shoes which could be sent to the poverty-stricken children in Hannover. The school in Mina Road, Bristol, collected 100 pairs to be sent off. The opening reception of ‘In Someone Else’s Shoes’ took place on Tuesday 30th January 2018 at City Hall, with an opening address by Mayor Marvin Rees. Joan Clifford and myself were invited as we were part of that Sunday School class in Southmead, back in 1948, who had girls to stay with us. After corresponding for many years Joan lost touch with her friend, but I am still with mine 70 years on! You can find here more about the story in Meadows to Meaders, A New Direction. And learn more at: www.locallearning.org.uk/in-someone-elses-shoes-2
Hiltrud (top right), age 13, from Hamburg, to stay with a host family in Southmead for three months in 1949. Photo courtesy of Joan Clifford.
Children from Bristol sent shoes to children in Hannover
left to right: Madge Horseman, Joan Clifford, Mary Fowler, & Ruth Myers, at City Hall
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POEMS & RESIDENTS’ ARCHIVE PICS V for victory – painted to celebrate the end of WW2, courtesy of Ron Brooks
(below) The 1000th house to be built on Southmead’s new estate, Sept 1947, courtesy of ‘Know Your Place’ (www.kypwest.org.uk). Alderman G S James, the Lord Mayor of Bristol, with other dignitaries and residents at 9 Burnside Close, the new home of Mr & Mrs H A Symons and family. They had been living in two small rooms before being informed on the previous Friday that they had been allocated the house, for which they were to pay 14/6d per week, plus 7/6d for rates and water.
The ‘V’ sign By Ron Brooks The war is over hip-hip hooray! And Winston Churchill has won the day What can we do, young Florence thought, To celebrate, we really ought. After five long years of fighting away Dad will be coming home to stay Something is needed to welcome him back Something quite specia l with plenty of crack I know, she said, it would be cool To paint Churchill’s V sig n on a wall On either side of the fro nt door portals That will do nicely she gaily chortles In the shed are pots of paint But what we don’t want is something faint What we need is someth ing quite bright What about that tin of white Two feet high and one inch thick That will be so very slic k What about some Morse code too Three dots, one dash tha t should do. Come out Mum and see my painting Mum emerges almost fainting Rules are rules and the Council’s pedantic What can she do, she is totally frantic. Ron Brooks, who plays Mr Fleece, the Rentman, was inspired to write poetry by the script-writing sessio ns.
In the cadets at Fonthill Road School, 1940/41, courtesy of Ken Ledbury (below) Doncaster Road School 1937, courtesy of Brian Gould
Pam Fowler, who plays Betty, began writing poetry at the Southmead Creative Writers’ Group. War - By Pam Fowler Being a child brought up in the war I saw many things a child today wouldn’t have to bear, Running to the shelter in the middle of the night, With the sky lit up all orange and bright, Mum making sure she had all five of us. The baby had been forgotten once, what a fuss. She had a bag that she always had ready A torch, a bottle of water and if we were lucky She’d made bread and jam in case we got hungry. The enemy aeroplanes crossed above The searchlights shining, it was so exciting. The next day out in the street we went Looking for shrapnel was our intent. And when the night came, the sirens would go. It would start all over again.
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SOUTHMEAD SOAP STARS: INTERVIEWS
Meet the Meadows and the Meaders: two fictional families who were in Southmead from the beginning. The cast and crew were interviewed during rehearsals to find out what Meadows to Meaders means to them: DEANA PERRY plays Rose Meadows “What I’ve enjoyed the most about being a part of Meadows to Meaders has been the comradery. It’s been lovely making friends. I still see people from last year’s play and I’ll shout at them on the streets, ‘Remember, I’m your mum, and I’m watching you!’ It’s amazing that you get to act another person’s life out and their experiences from years ago. I have learned so much about Southmead history by hearing these personal stories. There is so much drama in everyday life, you don’t need to make anything up, because it’s all here.” SHER FOWLER plays Iris Meader “What I love the most about Meadows to Meaders is that we’re all getting together as a family. For the first Meadows to Meaders, I wasn’t gonna do any acting, I was gonna help out behind the scenes. And surprisingly I was given a role. What I think is important is that we get to know what it was like for the people who lived back then, especially with the wars and everything. I’m quite glad I missed it, to be honest! This is a play about real life in Southmead, written by local people, events which happened in our local area. It’s a fun play although there are quite a few dark subjects.” JANET MORETON plays modern-day Iris Meader “There are so many aspects of Meadows to Meaders that I've enjoyed. I’ve enjoyed pretending to be someone I’m not or someone I’d like to be. I’ve enjoyed making friends. A lot of these people I know of, but actually getting to know them is another step. If I were to tell someone else about Meadows to Meaders I’d say it’s about the people of Southmead, by the people of Southmead, done for the people of Southmead, and we need to
pull together one way or another to make a stronger and better community of Southmead, and this is it, this is one way to do it.” ANDIE FOWLER plays Ruby “What I’ve liked most about being a part of Meadows to Meaders is the sense of community and being a part of something. I was a part of the first Meadows to Meaders and I played Annie. Back then I just came to tag along with my mum, wasn’t very confident or interested, and then they told me to do some lines. All of a sudden, they were just like, ‘okay, that’s it, you’re in, you’re a natural.’ Now that I’ve done it once, I just feel so much more confident, and I’m like, ‘yes, let’s do this.’” MIKE MURCH plays Edgar Meadows, and Mr Whittingham (Headteacher) I was a part of the original cast, so it was nice to be included this time as well. It has been really enjoyable. Originally I heard about it through the Southmead community, which I am highly involved with. I’m a part of the Southmead History Group, so I’m very familiar with Southmead history. It has been great to see history come alive in this way. When I was in the Church Youth Club, we did various
things there with acting. Other than that and last year’s production, I haven’t done any acting. I would tell everyone I know, ‘Come and see the true Southmead!’” ALISON PRINCE plays Norma Meader, and Delphine “It’s been nice this time around because I got to be a part of writing the script, which we didn’t do last time. That’s been very special for me, probably my favourite thing this year. I was a part of it last time, really really enjoyed it, so of course I wanted to be a part of it this year again. Last time I only came to make the teas, but then they gave me a part. I didn’t know about the 1000th house, and what’s funny is that I’ve learnt about it, I helped write it and now I’m playing that scene.” MARION GARLAND plays modern - day Rose Meadows “I am feeling so excited about the performance. Everyone keeps asking me about it, and I keep telling everyone that it is really funny. Being a part of Meadows to Meaders has brought back so many memories. RON BROOKS plays Mr Fleece, the Rentman “For me, being a part of the production has taken me back to my life in Southmead, it has brought back a huge amount of memories, many good, some very sad, but very important. I had blocked a lot of memories, especially the war memories, but Meadows to Meaders has forced me to think about them,
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WITH THE CAST & PRODUCTION TEAM
and it has been very good for me to do that. I became involved because I love Southmead. I grew up here, we played in Badock’s Wood, in the Lake where we shouldn’t be, I met my wife in Southmead in the Southmead Baptist Church, went to school here, etc. As a result of Meadows to Meaders I’ve started writing poetry, and it brings tears to my eyes. My mum had to bring up four kids on her own, and after the war, when everything was fine, she wasn't. What has hit me is that she had post traumatic stress disorder, and that’s what I’m writing about. I wouldn’t have started this process without Meadows to Meaders.” PAT NEWPORT plays Vera Meadows I was in the first M2M and everyone who was in the first one wanted to be in the second one, for obvious reasons - it’s great fun! For the first one, I guess I was in it because I was on the [grants] board that allotted the funding, so I wanted to make sure that it was used properly. I turned up just to figure out what it was all about, and then I got caught up in it. In for a penny, in for a pound sort of thing. It is a play based on peoples’ memories from those times, and that’s what I liked about it. DANIEL BRYAN plays Bert “I was a part of M2M last year, and it was excellent. I played the husband, and I actually met the guy I was playing at the performance, which was so fun! This year I am playing Burt, and who knows if I’m gonna bump into him. Before I did this, someone got me into acting, and I
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love it. And then Ruth contacted my mum last year, and I got a part for the first episode. And then I got persuaded and tempted to become a part of it again this year. The first time I met everyone, I was nervous, but then I got to know them better, and now they’re my friends. Everything surprised me about being a part of the project. The first time I came, they gave me homework, and I had to go home and watch soap operas. I am so happy about this new director, Craig is amazing, he is the life of the party. I would tell everyone to come and see the play, it’s fantastic.” JACQUI SEARLE plays June and Elsie “I think it’s the community spirit that really comes out in a project like this. It’s all age groups across the board, and anyone can be a part of it, and that’s what I love about it. You also meet so many new people [. . .] I have learned loads of new things about the history of Southmead, especially because I didn’t grow up here. I used to be a district nurse here so that’s when I first came, and I just fell in love with the community. Come along and learn a bit about your own history. What’s important about Meadows to Meaders is that it explains a lot about
the older generations and why some of them are what they are, and what they had to go through. It makes you appreciate them more.” PAM FOWLER plays Betty “It’s a community thing, and I think it’s important to get the Southmead community together. I really did enjoy watching the last one, I think it was great, so this time I thought I would participate. I have learned so much about Southmead from this production. I lived on one side of Southmead and a lot of interesting things happened at the other side of Southmead that I didn’t know about. I have told everyone about it, I’ve said this is a play about us, about Southmead people, and it’s lovely to see how we are all so different, it’s lovely to get us all together and reminisce. Being part of Meadows to Meaders has definitely had an impact on my well being.” MICHAEL SHIELDS plays Stanley “My favourite part of M2M has been connecting with the history of Southmead and how it’s evolved, and getting to know people that I see on the streets but haven’t gotten to know. I came here offering my support on the prop-side, and landed in a character role, I’m not quite sure how that happened to be honest. I wasn’t aware that Greenway had appointed a professional director, and that has been fantastic. We’re all amateurs but he has been the glue that has made everything work. In Southmead, you see the same people week in and week out, but you never make contact. This has given us a platform to make this possible.” SUSAN RICHARDS plays Miss Dawson “I’ve really enjoyed being a part of Meadows to Meaders. My favourite part has been meeting everybody, the atmosphere, the excitement of producing a play, being involved in the play, and all being equal in the participation to tell what our thoughts
. . . INTERVIEWS continued are. I have always wanted to do drama, and even though I’m not a youngster anymore, it’s always been something I’ve wanted to tick off my list, but I just haven’t been given the opportunity. I feel really excited and positive about the end result. I would encourage people to come and see it, and tell them how easy it is to join in in projects like these. People get very self conscious, but people like Ruth and Oddvá have been so incredibly welcoming, and I think that really helps.” JULIE BOSTON plays the German Teacher “I have really enjoyed being involved. I heard about Meaders to Meaders from Deana who absolutely loved it. I like being involved in community stuff. I am very interested in local social history, I think it is the most important history of all. What I like in particular is the polarised views of the two families - the Meadows and the Meaders, because it represents that we live in such a polarised world. I think the performance will be excellent, I think it will go well. I’ve felt very welcomed being here. I would say M2M is a very positive thing, everyone should get involved if it happens again. What is going on here every ignored estate needs.” CRAIG EDWARDS is the Director “What I have enjoyed about being part of Meadows to Meaders is how much fun it has been and how moving it is to see and hear the people of Southmead tell their own stories. I can't wait to have an audience in to see all our hard work.”
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PAIGE TAYLOR is the Asst Director “I have loved working on Meadows to Meaders and seeing how the community has come together for its production. It's inspiring to see how important the history of Southmead is to everyone through the generations of the cast [. . .] I came in to this project because I've had a long history with community theatre, but I've never worked on a story quite like this that truly lives and breathes through its cast.” ODDVA LAURITSEN is the Associate Project Manager and plays Edna “As a history student it has been amazing to experience history coming to life through acting. It makes it a lot more personal and fun. It has also made me realise that if people don’t share their memories, and if we don’t connect with previous generations, many valuable stories could be forgotten about. Nevertheless, my very favourite part of this experience has been working with Ruth Myers whose hard work continues to impact communities.” RUTH MYERS is the Project Manager “I have just loved being welcomed back into this community again and this time working in partnership with the people of Southmead right from the beginning to shape the many fascinating stories that continue to emerge. Meadows to Meaders, A New Direction has been the result of a collaboration, a coming together of talented individuals generously sharing their thoughts and insights. As with last time, it is the
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process that I have most enjoyed and uncovering more of Southmead’s heritage; but this time I had a pretty good idea of how much fun it was going to be along the way.” Myers-Insolde Local Learning would like to thank everyone who has helped so far including: Letty Anderton, Annemarie Ayton, Natalie Bailey, George Descaillaux, Suzanne Daggar, Hattie de Santis, Joe Elwood, Ben Foster, Holly Gifford, Greenhouse Cafe Team, Lisa Gregan, Stephen Haddow, Helen Howard, Lucy Hunt, Molly Ingle, Carlota Matos, Rebekah Milward, Lindy Morgan, Esther Myers-Insole, Maisie Newman, Nathan Richards, Carlos Sandin, Brook Tate, Chloe Thurlow, Hannah Tudge. Read all the items in full at: www.themead.org.uk Thank you to Meaders to Meaders, A New Direction, for all your wonderful articles. We can’t wait to see the show!
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MARCH DATES TO REMEMBER Turn over for Southmead’s What’s On guide of weekly events. Or view the online calendar at www.themead.org.uk You can self-publish and amend your notices and dates for events you’d like us to share and print in the next issue.
BS10 Parks & Planning Mtg
Mon 11th March - 6 pm Brentry & Henbury CC enq: 0117 950 3719
Inclusion Southmead Mtg Tues 12th March - 11 am The Meeting Rooms 0117 914 052 Team Southmead Mtg Tues 26th March - 11 am Southmead Library enq: 07790 426 609 Meadows to Meaders: A New Direction Saturday 30th March 12 pm & 2.30 pm Greenway Centre Tel: 0117 950 3335
FRIENDS OF BADOCK’S WOOD
BS10 PARKS & PLANNING GROUP
FROM FOBW SECRETARY, FRANCES ROBERTSON
FROM BS10 SECRETARY, MIKE MURCH
Come along to the Friends of Badock’s Wood Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 26th March 2019 at 7.30 p.m. at the Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, BS10 5PY. All welcome - the meeting is free and open to all. You do not need to be a member of the Friends of Badock’s Wood.
Bristol City Council have published their proposals to mitigate the likely impact from the development of the former Filton Airfield and surrounding areas. The traffic from these new areas is likely to have a significant effect on all our lives. Read details of these proposals at:
This is a chance to hear the latest news about Bristol City Council’s Parks plans and budgets, new protection for parks and green spaces, and the Parks Forum’s newly adopted Vision ‘A Positive Future for Bristol’s Parks and Green Spaces’. We will hear about what is happening in Badock’s Wood, about plans for projects and events in and around the wood and how you can get involved in anything from litter picking through to nature conservation activities.
Discussions have already taken place at various locations across the area with more planned, but it is really important that as many people as possible use the various platforms to let the Council know our views. It has already been said that some of these proposals are good, but many are not, and are likely to make getting around our area significantly more difficult. Please take this opportunity to let the Council know what you think.
We are a friendly group and look forward to seeing you at our meeting and hearing your views and ideas.
people to get online and develop their digital skills will now run two mornings a week in Lockleaze. Volunteers can help homes, perhaps after a change in with filling in online forms, claiming circumstances such as ill health or Universal Credit, searching for bereavement. We can do a information and jobs and more. benefits check to make Sessions run on Tuesdays and sure you are claiming Thursdays, 10.30 – 12.30, all your The Langley Centre, entitlements; help Lockleaze. To book with form filling telephone: (such as benefits 0117 951 5751. Our lines forms, blue badge, can be busy, especially on charity Mondays, so if you can’t applications); look at get through please leave a ways to reduce message with your name and household costs; and number and we will call you back. signpost to local services and Alternatively, you can fill in an enquiry support (covering Southmead, Lockleaze, form on our website and we will get back Horfield, Henbury, Brentry, Henleaze, to you. To view all our appointment Shirehampton and Lawrence Weston). times and locations, or fill in an enquiry In addition, North Bristol Advice Centre’s form, please visit our website popular Get Online drop-in to help www.northbristoladvice.org.uk
NEW SERVICES FOR SOUTHMEAD
Two new advice services will be available in Southmead from 25th February thanks to funding we’ve secured. They will help people maximise their income and improve financial wellbeing: Southmead Advice Appointments Weds a.m. at the Greenway Community Practice, to help with benefits queries including paperwork queries, benefits checks, appeal requests or mandatory reconsiderations. If you need additional, specialist you will be referred into other NBAC services. Booking is essential. Home visits for over 50s - to help older people to stay independent in their
www.bristol.gov.uk/a4018improvements
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WHAT’S ON WEEKLY BY VENUE - MARCH 2019 GREENWAY CENTRE - tel: 0117 950 3335 MON
TUES
WED
THURS
09:15 AM 10.30 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM 19.00 PM
STRONG by Zumba Forever Active Staying Steady Circuits Myofascial Release
19.00 PM 09:15 AM 10.30 AM
Badminton Club Piloexercise Creative Writers Group
11.00 AM 14.00 PM
Tai Chi Staying Steady
18.00 PM 18.30 PM 19.00 PM 19.30 PM
Insane X (High Intensity) Zumba Boxercise TNT Gym (Circuit Training)
09.15 AM 10.00 AM
STRONG by Zumba Walk for Health (Gentle Walking through Badock’s Wood)
10.30 AM 11.45 AM 13.00 PM
Better Breathing Intermediate Pilates Singing for Lung Health
15.30 PM 17.00 PM 17.30 PM 18.00 PM
Reach After School Club Music Course for 11-16s Greenway Pool Club Legs, Bums & Tums
19.00 PM 19:00 PM 09.15 AM
Core & Stretch North Bristol Wellbeing Choir Morning Boxercise Imps Toddler Group Forever Active Gardening Group (ends December 2018) Insane X (high intensity) Skip Box Westbury Art Club Support for Mental Wellbeing TNT Gym (Circuit Training) Cubatone Better Breathing Southmead Knit & Natter Tai Chi (Improvers)
09.45 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 18.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.30 PM FRI
09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 11.00 AM 12:30 PM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM
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09.30 AM 11.30 AM 10.30 AM
MON WED SUN
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MON TUES WED
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17.00 PM 17.00 PM 18.30 PM
Scrabble Club Staying Steady Pilates Forever Active Circuits Community Church Service ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH - tel: 0117 950 7164 Baby & Toddler Group C of E Communion C of E Service SOUTHMEAD YOUTH CENTRE - tel: 0117 377 3605 Open and all welcome Open and all welcome
OPEN: 11:30 AM
LPW Friendship (ages 13-24) HENBURY & BRENTRY COMMUNITY CENTRE tel: 0117 950 3573 Coffee, Tea and Cake Drop In Coffee, Tea and Cake Drop In Art Group for Over 55s Soup Club SOUTHMEAD LIBRARY - tel: 0117 903 8583 Tues 11-5 pm | Wed 11-5pm | Fri 1-5pm | Sat 11-5pm Story time Takeover
11.15 AM 11.15 AM 14.00 PM 12.00 PM 02:00 PM
Story & Rhyme - Baby Bounce Art Club on the Mezzanine (Adults) Southmead Shares Reading Junior Art Club Saturday Stitch (Adults)
10.30 AM 09:30 AM 10.30 AM 12.00 PM
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SAT SUN
09.30 AM 10:30 AM 13.30 PM 05:30 PM 09.30 AM 12.30 AM 14.00 PM 14.00 PM 17.30 PM 19.15 PM 10.30 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 14.00 PM 16.15 PM 17.30 PM 18.30 PM 18:30 PM 19.30 PM 09.15 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 12.30 AM 13.30 PM 13.30 PM 17.00 PM 19.15 PM 19.30 PM 09.00 AM 10.30 AM 16.15 PM 09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.00 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM 19.30 PM
SOUTHMEAD COMMUNITY CENTRE - tel: 0117 950 1187 Slimming World 3 Trees Skittles Art & Sensory Slimming World Line Dancing GC Lunch Club (eat at 13.00) Ladies Club SCC Bingo Slimming World SCC Bingo SCC Coffee Morning & Bingo Southmead Young Mums SCC Sensory Session SCC Tai Chi Distraction Dance Bristol Keralites Association Frantic Fitness Christ Embassy Group SCC Sequence Dance Cubatone Brandon Trust Music Group SCC Knit & Natter Real Economy Southmead Harmony Bingo SCC Sensory Session Precision Dance SCC Bingo Precision Dance Bristol Alexander School Bristol Rugby Community Foundation Walking Rugby Distraction Dance Bristol Alexander School Southmead Somali Association Southmead Somali Association Christ Embassy Group Senegambian Cultural Group SCC Bingo Irish Dancing SCART SHOP - tel: 0117 950 6823 Benefits Advice (Appointment Only)
MON
10.00 AM
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10.30 AM 09.30 AM 13.00 PM
THURS FRI
10.30 AM 10.30 AM
MON
11.30 AM 18.00 PM 10.00 AM 18.00 PM 18.00 PM 11.00 AM
Keep Fit for Living (also 09.45 AM at Scout Hut, Tranmere Ave, Brentry) Aadra Kalaa Dance Southmead History Group Girls Brigade - 3rd Bristol Aadra Kalaa Dance United Reformed Service ACTIVITIES AT OTHER VENUES
10.00 AM 10.30 AM 17.00 PM 09.20 AM 09.30 AM 18.15 PM 12.00 PM
Activities for 60+ at Westbury Fields, tel: 0117 377 3700 Coffee Morning at Pentecostal Church, tel: 0117 987 1327 Wicketz - ages 8-11 at Bristol Free School, tel: 07398 211 598
WED THURS SUN M-F MON TUES WED THURS
09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 10.45 AM 11.00 AM 18.30 PM
Bristol Credit Union Job Club Stop Smoking Advisor Bristol Credit Union Bristol Credit Union NEW BRUNSWICK URC - tel: 0117 950 7776
Westbury Walkers - meets in W-o-T, tel: 0117 330 1194 Debt Advice appts - Greenway GP Surgery, tel: 0117 924 1930 BS10 Community Bingo, The Woodnook, tel: 07968 277 787 Chill & Chat, Bethany Baptist Church, tel: 0117 969 5672 SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Catholic Mass at St Vincent’s Church C of E Service at St Stephen’s Church Community Church at Greenway Centre Bethany Baptist Church New Brunswick United Reformed Church Pentecostal Holiness Church
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WHAT’S ON WEEKLY BY VENUE - MARCH 2019 GREENWAY CENTRE - tel: 0117 950 3335 MON
TUES
WED
THURS
09:15 AM 10.30 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM 19.00 PM
STRONG by Zumba Forever Active Staying Steady Circuits Myofascial Release
19.00 PM 09:15 AM 10.30 AM
Badminton Club Piloexercise Creative Writers Group
11.00 AM 14.00 PM
Tai Chi Staying Steady
18.00 PM 18.30 PM 19.00 PM 19.30 PM
Insane X (High Intensity) Zumba Boxercise TNT Gym (Circuit Training)
09.15 AM 10.00 AM
STRONG by Zumba Walk for Health (Gentle Walking through Badock’s Wood)
10.30 AM 11.45 AM 13.00 PM
Better Breathing Intermediate Pilates Singing for Lung Health
15.30 PM 17.00 PM 17.30 PM 18.00 PM
Reach After School Club Music Course for 11-16s Greenway Pool Club Legs, Bums & Tums
19.00 PM 19:00 PM 09.15 AM
Core & Stretch North Bristol Wellbeing Choir Morning Boxercise Imps Toddler Group Forever Active Gardening Group (ends December 2018) Insane X (high intensity) Skip Box Westbury Art Club Support for Mental Wellbeing TNT Gym (Circuit Training) Cubatone Better Breathing Southmead Knit & Natter Tai Chi (Improvers)
09.45 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 18.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.00 PM 19.30 PM FRI
09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 11.00 AM 12:30 PM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM
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MON WED SUN
09.30 AM 09.30 AM 10.00 AM
MON TUES WED
TUES FRI
TUE WED
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Scrabble Club Staying Steady Pilates Forever Active Circuits Community Church Service ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH - tel: 0117 950 7164 Baby & Toddler Group C of E Communion C of E Service SOUTHMEAD YOUTH CENTRE - tel: 0117 377 3605 Open and all welcome Open and all welcome
OPEN: 11:30 AM
LPW Friendship (ages 13-24) HENBURY & BRENTRY COMMUNITY CENTRE tel: 0117 950 3573 Coffee, Tea and Cake Drop In Coffee, Tea and Cake Drop In Art Group for Over 55s Soup Club SOUTHMEAD LIBRARY - tel: 0117 903 8583 Tues 11-5 pm | Wed 11-5pm | Fri 1-5pm | Sat 11-5pm Story time Takeover
11.15 AM 11.15 AM 14.00 PM 12.00 PM 02:00 PM
Story & Rhyme - Baby Bounce Art Club on the Mezzanine (Adults) Southmead Shares Reading Junior Art Club Saturday Stitch (Adults)
10.30 AM 09:30 AM 10.30 AM 12.00 PM
MON
TUES
WED
THURS
FRI
SAT SUN
09.30 AM 10:30 AM 13.30 PM 05:30 PM 09.30 AM 12.30 AM 14.00 PM 14.00 PM 17.30 PM 19.15 PM 10.30 AM 10.30 AM 13.30 PM 14.00 PM 16.15 PM 17.30 PM 18.30 PM 18:30 PM 19.30 PM 09.15 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 12.30 AM 13.30 PM 13.30 PM 17.00 PM 19.15 PM 19.30 PM 09.00 AM 10.30 AM 16.15 PM 09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.00 AM 14.00 PM 18.00 PM 19.30 PM
SOUTHMEAD COMMUNITY CENTRE - tel: 0117 950 1187 Slimming World 3 Trees Skittles Art & Sensory Slimming World Line Dancing GC Lunch Club (eat at 13.00) Ladies Club SCC Bingo Slimming World SCC Bingo SCC Coffee Morning & Bingo Southmead Young Mums SCC Sensory Session SCC Tai Chi Distraction Dance Bristol Keralites Association Frantic Fitness Christ Embassy Group SCC Sequence Dance Cubatone Brandon Trust Music Group SCC Knit & Natter Real Economy Southmead Harmony Bingo SCC Sensory Session Precision Dance SCC Bingo Precision Dance Bristol Alexander School Bristol Rugby Community Foundation Walking Rugby Distraction Dance Bristol Alexander School Southmead Somali Association Southmead Somali Association Christ Embassy Group Senegambian Cultural Group SCC Bingo Irish Dancing SCART SHOP - tel: 0117 950 6823 Benefits Advice (Appointment Only)
MON
10.00 AM
TUES
10.30 AM 09.30 AM 13.00 PM
THURS FRI
10.30 AM 10.30 AM
MON
11.30 AM 18.00 PM 10.00 AM 18.00 PM 18.00 PM 11.00 AM
Keep Fit for Living (also 09.45 AM at Scout Hut, Tranmere Ave, Brentry) Aadra Kalaa Dance Southmead History Group Girls Brigade - 3rd Bristol Aadra Kalaa Dance United Reformed Service ACTIVITIES AT OTHER VENUES
10.00 AM 10.30 AM 17.00 PM 09.20 AM 09.30 AM 18.15 PM 12.00 PM
Activities for 60+ at Westbury Fields, tel: 0117 377 3700 Coffee Morning at Pentecostal Church, tel: 0117 987 1327 Wicketz - ages 8-11 at Bristol Free School, tel: 07398 211 598
WED THURS SUN M-F MON TUES WED THURS
09.00 AM 10.00 AM 10.30 AM 10.45 AM 11.00 AM 18.30 PM
Bristol Credit Union Job Club Stop Smoking Advisor Bristol Credit Union Bristol Credit Union NEW BRUNSWICK URC - tel: 0117 950 7776
Westbury Walkers - meets in W-o-T, tel: 0117 330 1194 Debt Advice appts - Greenway GP Surgery, tel: 0117 924 1930 BS10 Community Bingo, The Woodnook, tel: 07968 277 787 Chill & Chat, Bethany Baptist Church, tel: 0117 969 5672 SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES Catholic Mass at St Vincent’s Church C of E Service at St Stephen’s Church Community Church at Greenway Centre Bethany Baptist Church New Brunswick United Reformed Church Pentecostal Holiness Church
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WRITERS IN RESIDENCE MARION’S MEMORY LANE: CLARK’S PIES
By Marion Garland SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT The price of food today is unbelievable. The other day I fancied a Clark’s pie. I went into the shop to buy one and asked how much they were. The young girl said the price was £1.75 each! Well I nearly fell off my walking stick! I remember as a kid my grandmother would tell Auntie Lil, her youngest daughter, to take me to Clark’s pie shop on Gloucester Road. Granny said buy five pies, that was four for our dinner, and my aunt and I could share the other one while waiting for the bus to bring us home. I think we paid four old pennies, but when talking to other older people they said they thought the pies were even cheaper than that! Last week at the shops I could smell something delicious, I went into the bakers to buy a hot pasty and paid £2.95! I think I must have had a senior moment! Thank you Marion. And we looked up a bit of history (below) for any other Clark’s Pies fans out there . . .
KATH’S TEA, CAKE & POETRY
By Kathleen Horseman SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT We have been to tea and cake with our neighbours at the Brentry and Henbury Community Centre. We, members of Southmead Creative Writers’ Group, had gone to share work from our book – ‘A Way With Words’. We had practised our delivery and timing to fit in with a busy and structured programme. We were met with warmth and genuine interest. But going to Henbury reminded me, communities do not just happen but are made by people pulling together. So Jess [at BHCC], if we are invited again, we will be there – with or without cake. If you would like to come and join the Southmead Creative Writers’ Group, you would be most welcome. We meet every Tuesday, 10.30 am - 12 pm at the Greenway Centre. For further details, please contact Kath Horseman on 0117 950 0587
DAWN’S POEM ‘WITH LOVE TO JANINE’
By Dawn Payne SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT Joy you brought right from the start Angel eyes melted by heart No one can ever love you more I still miss you not walking through the door Near and loving we both became Eternally grateful your Dad gave you your lovely name Three years ago we said Goodbye but memories and love for you will never die
s.net
rkspie es website: http://cla From the Clark’s Pi r its pastry, k’s Pie is famous fo ‘The traditional Clar foil tray. gh to eat without a which is thick enou s first e ingredients as it wa Made with the sam ox kidneys, d years ago : beef, re nd hu a er ov e ad m d our special gravy. potatoes, onions an s from have had many tale Over the years we d have an rld velled the wo ‘locals’ who have tra Pie, k’s Bristol for a Clar yearned to return to th turning from war wi especially soldiers re even job done just to the Korean war and ed our lads get the lp Germany in the 40s, he we k in th to e - one mother ts. We’d lik rgetting the lasses fo t more recent conflic no d An . es pi r story of turn back to ou o and recounted a ag s ar ye enable a speedy re w fe a st Po e Bristol Evening her pregnancy.’ got in touch with th r Clark’s Pies during fo g in av cr e th d an nant when she was preg
Indeed, The Mead has had lots of interest about Marion’s story of travelling by train to Severn Beach and The Blue Lagoon - it seems to have struck a chord with many who’ve stopped us to chat about their own memories of going there. Remember The Mead would love to print your memories, and of course your letters, so please make sure you submit your items in time for the April edition (details on the back page).
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SPRING: TO CLEAR OUT OR COLLECT?
CAR BOOT HEAVEN
A Poem by Susan Hare, SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT
The alarm clock shrills its racket. Is it already six ‘o’clock? Haul myself from my bed. Dress. Damn, where’s my other sock? Today that elusive bargain, I hope to discover, don’t you know For I dream of appearing on ‘Flog It’ that well known TV show. It’s out there somewhere, waiting to be eventually found Perhaps I’ll sell it on eBay. No really, it only cost a pound! Arriving now, I see vendors unpacking heavy, bursting cases, Buyers standing in queues. Why it’s just like Wacky Races. Swarming round, traders are appearing in great force Seeking bargains, to make a few quid. That’s life of course! Tardy arrivals pounce on sellers, as they frantically arrive Engulfed by bargain hunters, just like bees around a hive. All manner of goods are now on view, anything that you could wish, Piles of teddies, toys and games. Why there’s even a singing fish. Gaudy ceramics, dusty dull brass, piles of new and used books’ Old cosmetics, unwanted postcards, rusting tools, utensils for cooks. Pirate videos, birthday cards, PC games and fake designer labels, Bookends, broken picture frames and unwanted 60s coffee tables. Collectors, for you, some Sylvac, Beswick, even some Wade, Royal Doulton, Poole and Denby. What price have you paid? There’s Monopoly, Cluedo, Scrabble, Ludo and Buckaroo, Lots of glasses and over there, why it’s puppets, Sooty and Soo. Homemade goodies. Pastries, cakes and sweet almond paste. Home preserves, some honey. No good for my expanding waist. I stop at a stall, ‘How much please are that pair of trendy Kickers?’ ‘Three quid love. A bargain and I’ll throw in these sexy knickers!’ AA batteries, light bulbs, lighters, sunglasses, kitchen and toilet rolls Pet food, tobacco, ‘wish you were here’ ornaments, porcelain dolls. ‘Here you are pet. A great little number. The colour is really you’ ‘You’re having a laugh’ I reply, ‘It’s a size ten and I’m a twenty two!’ Vinyl’s and CDs on this pitch, all scattered, all thrown around, There’s a great variety here and my joy knows no bounds. The Tremolos, The Kinks, Cliff Richard, REM, Oasis, Pulp and Blur, The Beatles, Kylie and there’s one of my favourites Sonny and Cher. The King smiles sweetly at me for over Elvis I once did swoon, The Stones, the Jam, Prince and more. Oh what a great boon. There’s crooner Frankie Lane. You’ll remember him of course That real old classic that he sang. Champion the Wonder Horse! I stand remembering and all this music recalls my long lost teens, Herman’s Hermits, Manfred Mann, Mark Winters’ ‘Venus in Blue Jeans’. I haggle and purchase several items; my heart feels happy and light Great music. It will soothe my soul. I will play them all tonight. The car boot is nearly over, why there’s a clock with an attractive face, Is it my bargain find? Oh no! ‘Made in Taiwan’ is printed on the base. Tired but happy now, my bags now bursting with bargains galore, Spent out, brassic but you can bet, I’ll be back next week for more! Photos top left: a stall from the Southmead Festival Car Boot 2018, and a treat for Sue: Paul Martin from the BBC’s Flog It series!
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
TIRED OF FEELING TIRED? By Clarie Miles SOUTHMEAD RESIDENT & COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPIST
We all struggle occasionally with sleep whether it’s a new-born baby, shift patterns at work, or stress-related, we can find ourselves struggling to fall asleep, or conversely waking up early in the morning and unable to get back to sleep again. Sleep deprivation impacts every area of our life - our relationships, our mood, our efficiency and even weight gain have all been connected to lack of sleep. So what goes wrong with our sleep? Two hormones play an important role melatonin, which sets our body clock, and adrenalin which is part of our fight/flight system. Understanding how these hormones work can help us make effective changes in our sleep pattern. Our body clock hormone, melatonin, responds to daylight and to our eating routine. We see this with babies - newborns eat and sleep around the clock, but as they get older their bodies shift into a pattern of feeding in the day and sleeping at night. Getting into habits such as eating late at night, or using screens such as TVs, tablets and phones disrupts our melatonin production, making our bodies stay awake instead of sleeping. During the day time, not getting exercise or sunlight or taking naps makes our bodies think it is night time, worsening our sleep. Adrenalin is produced when we are anxious and will keep us awake. If we are worrying late at night we release adrenalin, making it hard to sleep. And how many of us have lain awake at night, watching the clock, worrying about how little time we have left to sleep in, and how tired we are going to be the
following day? These thoughts increase our anxiety levels, releasing even more adrenalin, and making it even harder to fall back to sleep. Caffeine and nicotine also mimic the effects of anxiety on our bodies by raising our heart rate, which can make it harder for us to sleep. So how can we improve our sleep? Well, the experts suggest something called ‘Sleep Hygiene’ - another name for good sleep habits. These work by helping to regulate our levels of melatonin and adrenaline, getting our body clock back into order and lowering our adrenalin levels at night. Maybe you could follow one of the suggestions below and see if it works for you: ● Have your last cup of coffee or tea of the day by 4 pm, and switch to decaf after that. ● During the day, try and get outdoors for some sunlight or exercise. ● Try to wake up at the same time each day. ● Get a bedtime routine - have a bath, a milky drink, and time to wind down before sleep. ● Put your phone on to charge downstairs and switch off all screens an hour before bed time. ● Turn your clock away from your bed so you can’t see the time when you wake up in the night. There are lots of other strategies to try too. If your sleep could still be improved after trying the ideas above, why not go on a Sleep Management or CBT for Insomnia course run by Bristol Wellbeing Therapies? If you are online you can sign up at https://iapt-bristol.awp.nhs.uk, or telephone: 0117 982 3209
FROM BRISTOL WELLBEING COLLEGE The following workshops are free, but you will need to complete our booking form online at: www.second-step.co.uk to guarantee your place, or telephone: 0117 914 5498 ALL SESSIONS: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, BS10 5PY telephone: 0117 950 3335 BUILDING RESILIENCE (BOUNCING BACK) Date: Monday 4th March When life gets challenging what do we do to cope and carry on? Within this session we discover how we might approach a difficult situation, what behaviours / actions might hold us back and what approaches move us forward. DISCOVERING GOOD MENTAL HEALTH Dates x 3: Monday 18th March - 1st April Much of the conversation about mental health focuses on mental ill health, but there’s more to mental wellbeing than simply being without mental illness. Within this course we will be seeking to discover what it means to be in good mental health, and what we can do to foster our own mental wellbeing. We will reflect on the areas in our lives which help and hinder our wellness and identify ways in which we can flourish, feel good and work towards a balanced life. ART & CRAFT SESSION Date: Monday 11th March A safe and supportive place to explore your creative side with arts and crafts. We provide resources and ideas for you to get creative, from making pom-poms, cards, dream catchers or you can free style with some mindful colouring or painting. You don’t need to be good at art, the sessions are about us coming together to promote our wellbeing.
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FAREWELL TO A LITTLE TREASURE By Irene Thornley RETIRED SOUTHMEAD VOLUNTEER Southmead is about to lose a little treasure. Something which has meant a great deal to many people down through the years. In 1938, 600 children attended the Sunday School of Southmead Baptist Church. After the war, the Youth Club was a hive of activity. The weekly programme included table tennis, country dancing, quizzes, physical exercises. There were bicycle rides to places like Severn Beach and camping holidays at Woolacombe and Exmouth. For at least five years the Central Y.M.C.A. Hall in Colston Street was hired for an ‘Annual Demonstration’ of the Club. This included a performance of a drama. Many Southmead young people met their lifetime spouse through Southmead Baptist Youth Club. Speak to anyone over the age of 80 who lived in Southmead in the early days and you will probably find that they have memories of the church and especially the Youth Club. The original Church (pictured here on the right) used to occupy the junction of Eastleigh and Westleigh Roads, what is now Westleigh Close. There was a piece of grass, where Westleigh House is, which was an ideal meeting place for young people. In Southmead’s troubled past, in the late 80s and early 90s, this seemed to be the centre of the riots. Eventually the Church building was closed following an arson attack in 1993. However the Church continued in its new home, in between the Area Housing Office (Southmead House) and the Southmead Community Centre, in Greystoke Avenue, becoming known as Bethany (main picture above). Down through the years there has been a warm welcome for everyone and many have enjoyed social occasions at the Church. The main purpose of the Church has always been to worship God. Being a
Bethany Baptist Church on Greystoke Avenue
Baptist Church, the funding for the Church has been raised from among its members. It is a wonderful achievement that since its beginning in Fonthill School in 1933, the Church has had a minister for most of that time. Two years ago, Ian Thornley retired and the Church has been unable to appoint a successor. However countless lives have been deeply affected by the ministry of the Church. People have found faith in God, had faith rekindled, strengthened and deepened. Lives have been changed and the closure of the Church will not alter that. The people will no doubt attend another church, but will always be grateful for the spiritual impact on their lives that Southmead Baptist Church has had. Did you know that there was a Southmead Festival in 1975? Our minister, Rodney Ward, was the Chairman of the committee for the then ‘Southmead Community Festival’. The Church helped with the Flower Festival, indoor fete and hobbies exhibition. In the following year, the Church’s Women’s Bright Hour held a special meeting for the women of Southmead, and Women’s
Club, and the Guides arranged events which were open to all. The Church has always had a deep commitment to the Festival. For many years Ian Thornley and Pete Richards kept the Festival ticking over. It is wonderful to see it now flourishing at the Greenway Centre. Who remembers ‘Southmead Contact’? This was the neighbourhood newspaper from 1967, for which the Church used to write articles and assist with distribution. This was the forerunner to The Mead which has also been well supported by members of Southmead Baptist Church. Yes. Southmead is about to lose a treasure, but this treasure leaves a legacy which will never be forgotten.
Thank you Irene for this heart-felt piece, and thanks to you, and to all your group members for the wonderful legacy left from the vital work you all begun, and developed, in Southmead’s Baptist buildings. It’s sad when much loved places have to close, but the prospect of new ones is exciting; read on for part two in this special issue: Community-led Regeneration, and find out how to become involved in the decision making process about new buildings in Southmead. Please write for The Mead. Publish your items yourself at www.themead.org.uk and we will print them for you in the next edition.
Community Led Regeneration
HELLO TO NEW INVESTMENT
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Community Led Regeneration
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THE FUTURE OF GLENCOYNE SQUARE FROM ARNSIDE & GLENCOYNE SQUARE REGENERATION PROJECT You might have heard about this – seen posters at the SCART shop, flyers at the Greenway Centre, pictures online of what Glencoyne Square might look like in the future ? Some big changes are around the corner and the community of Southmead is in the driving seat. So what exactly is the Southmead Regeneration Project? Who is involved in it – and how is the community leading it? Well, the story begins with the Southmead Community Plan. The development of the Community Plan, which surveyed 900 local people, identified Glencoyne Square and Arnside Road as needing major improvements to make them an attractive centre that people want to use, as well as there being a need to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime. To take on the issues and aspirations identified in the Southmead Community Plan, the Arnside and Glencoyne Regeneration Project Team was set up. This consists of local people, the Southmead Development Trust workers and Trustees, United Communities Housing Association, and Bristol City Council representatives. Then Bristol City council, with the support of the Southmead Development Trust and United Communities, won some government funding for works on the Arnside area to improve it, as well as works to enable some development on Glencoyne. Next, we hired Nash Partnership (the architects) to work with Southmead Development Trust, as well as community representatives, to run public consultation events and to produce a masterplan for the area. What will the project deliver? The aim of the project is to improve this central part of Southmead for residents now and in to the future. It is also hoped that the development will generate income in years to come to help pay for and support the neighbourhood and its priorities; for example, this might be funds to pay for workers to tackle the priorities in Southmead e.g. youth workers and/or other community-based workers.
What is the Glencoyne Square Project? This is the first phase of the communityled regeneration project for the centre of Southmead and is likely to provide about 120 homes, as well as new community amenities and improved open spaces on Glencoyne Square. What will be built on Glencoyne Square? To date the following have been identified through the ‘Masterplan’ process carried out between June and October 2018 via community consultation and working with Bristol City Council: ● Approximately 120 new homes ● A new play area ● Improved roads and paths ● Provision of new community amenities which are not all known at this stage but are likely to include a new health centre as well as other possible facilities/businesses.
tenancies. There will be a local lettings policy agreed with Bristol City Council to make sure many of the homes are available to people with a local connection. Future phases on other sites in the area will see the development of family houses. What are the Arnside Road improvements? At the same time as we are working on proposals for Glencoyne, Bristol City Council are developing ideas for the Arnside Road shopping area and Greystoke Avenue. Bristol City Council are likely to start on site in spring 2020. Bristol City Council are responsible for liaising with people on these particular works, but are providing regular updates to our group, AGRP, and where it is possible the Southmead Development Trust will enable consultation and discussions with the community and traders. How are the community involved in the Who will the homes be for? Glencoyne Square Developments? The Community Plan identified that there was a need for smaller homes for Southmead Development Trust, the community organisation owned and run older people who would like to by the community, is supporting the downsize but stay in the local area. Also younger people who would like to project and is working with the Arnside and Glencoyne Regeneration Project live near their families, as well as key team. Our vision is to engage with as workers such as hospital workers. The many people in the community as intent is to build one and two bed possible as we know the key to success apartments available via a range of of this project is community tenures; for example, affordable rent, involvement. discounted market rent, shared ownership and market rent on longer cont . . . Page 22
Community Led Regeneration
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You can view a large version of this plan at the SCART Shop or Greenway Centre, or online at www.southmead.org
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There will be lots of opportunities for residents to help to shape the project; if you live or work in Southmead, or have other connections to the area this is your chance to get involved: MARCH 2019 We’ll have a number of pop-up events around the community, in local groups, and at schools, where you can give your thoughts on the project design and uses of the public space and park.
rest will be through borrowing from How do I stay updated on event banks. The amount borrowed is linked to information and other news? the income from the rents (we have to ● Visit: the SCART shop on Arnside; a make sure we can pay back the loans!). whole window is dedicated to our updates and information. Who are United Communities? ● Visit: the Regen Info board at the They are a Bristol based housing Greenway Centre. association with a lot of experience in ● Telephone: Hannah Walker at the developing affordable homes and Southmead Development Trust, working on community led projects like Greenway Centre, on 0117 950 3335. Glencoyne, this is why they were ● Email: hannahwalker@southmead.org selected at Southmead Development ● Join: the e-newsletter list (email as Trust’s partner. You may already know APRIL 2019 above to be added to the list.) There will be an event with the architects them from the Dunmail School site ● Online: visit our website for news regeneration. where you’ll be able to see the plans, item and regular updates, as well as What will United Communities do? and feedback to the team. to read the Masterplan, and the They are working with the Southmead MAY & JUNE 2019 background to the project. Go Development Trust, the community, the The architects will be working hard to to www.southmead.org and click architects and the contractor to help feed your comments into the design of Southmead Regeneration Project Glencoyne Square, ready to showcase in design the project and work out the ● Follow: on Social media; we share costs. United Communities are also July. regular updates on Facebook likely to take the lead when it comes to JULY 2019 /Greenway Centre, and on Twitter managing the build contract and will own We’ll be showcasing the final design at @SouthmeadDT and manage over half of the homes built. the Southmead Festival on Saturday 6th July, so come and take a look! This redevelopment will be the largest community-led development in the UK to date; we want to make sure that Southmead Residents and the wider Bristol How will the project be funded? community are fully informed and have the chance to be involved in The funding for the project will be partly regenerating Southmead. We want the redevelopment to be a long standing grant funded, which the Southmead source of revenue which gives back to the community for many years to come Development Trust and the housing and continually improves the area for the people who live and work here. association partner, United Communities, will have to bid for. The
SOUTHMEAD ‘KNOCKS OUT’ MINISTER The Government’s Housing Minister, Kit Malthouse MP, visited Southmead at the end of January to hear about Southmead Regeneration and meet some of the local people who are on the steering group for one of the largest community-led housing projects in the UK. He described the project as a “knockout transformation that came from local people” - we're glad he noticed! He was joined by Regional Mayor, Tim Bowles. Members of Arnside and Glencoyne Regeneration Project team (AGRP), the group of local residents and stakeholders leading the Regeneration Project, led a tour of Glencoyne Square and explained the vision behind the masterplan. Trenna lives in Southmead and is one of the people on the steering group: “this project is going to help make the great community of Southmead even greater! I’m hoping it will help to make spaces which are warm, welcoming and vibrant, that jobs and homes will be created, and that as a community together we can be the change that is needed and wanted.” MP Kit on tour with the Regen Team
Community Led Regeneration
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SOUTHMEAD TAKES ON URBAN DESIGN We are well into the design phase of Southmead Regeneration Project. What does that mean? Well, the architects, contractor and other partners are working with the community to decide the finer details of what Glencoyne Square will look like in the future when it is home to new apartments, community spaces and a landscaped park (amongst other things). There are many decisions that need to be made about how the space looks and feels, what the buildings Square – as well as the design they look like, and how it will be used. wouldn’t like to see. In February the Regeneration team There are lots more opportunities went on ‘design tours’ with local to get involved with the urban residents, investigating different design of Glencoyne Square, and if aspects of the design of buildings you’re local to Southmead we’d and community spaces. Local love to hear what you think. We’ll residents analysed what kind of be hosting a number of pop up design they’d like to see on events and workshops looking at Glencoyne the following aspects of design:
● Buildings – the shape and height, the finishing, the colours, and the materials. ● Green, open and play space. What makes a safe, useful and enjoyable open space? ● Streets and parking, pavements, roads, open areas and paths we all use them, what makes them work well? ● Private and outdoor spaces, and gardens – how do residential spaces interact with public spaces? Please get in touch via the contact info listed on page 17, and we look forward to seeing you at our next event.
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For donations this month to: * Meaders to Meaders Project * Brentry & Henbury Children’s Centres * Arnside & Glencoyne Regeneration Project * Southmead Development Trust We rely on donations, however small, and advertising, to pay for our printing costs. We are run by Volunteers. Please help to keep The Mead in print by donating or volunteering to help with distribution, advertising, our website, and IT - everyone is welcome. Since we moved to monthly publication we usually print 2000 copies and distribute them to all the main locations in Southmead where you can pick up your copy. One of our Volunteers personally delivers copies to residents in sheltered accommodation to ensure they are kept in touch. IF you usually receive one through your letter box it is because a neighbour on your street or one of our Volunteers is kind enough to pick up a batch and deliver them. The Arnside and Glencoyne Regeneration Project team arranged for a printrun and the delivery of 5000 copies of this special edition of The Mead; this means every home in Southmead will get one through the letter box. A huge thanks to the team for doing this and making sure each home is kept in the community loop. If you would like a copy through your door every month, we can print a batch for your street for you to deliver. Just let us know and then collect them each month from the Greenway Centre. Go on, please volunteer to help us to keep our community connected . . .
MONDAY 9:30 am, 11:30 am, 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm TUESDAY 5:30 pm, 7:30 pm at Southmead Community Centre, Greystoke Avenue, BS10 6BQ Call Nicola on: 07873 818 193
To get your item printed in the next issue just submit it to our website by the next deadline. Not online? Don’t type? Just contact us and we will find you someone who can help. telephone: 07895 477 379 email: editor@themead.org.uk