Thornbury Voice September 2023

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September, 2023 Issue 76

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Rosie triumphs over heart condition

Murderer dies in jail

A PSYCHOPATH who murdered Thornbury's vicar because of an obsessive hatred of the church has died in prison, more than a decade into a whole-life sentence.

PAGE 5

'Unsustainable' homes TOWN councillors have raised a series of objections to new plans to build 32 homes on a field on the outskirts of Thornbury.

PAGE 6 Thornbury student Rosie Gwyther has picked up her results and is ready for the next stage in her life after undergoing two heart operations during her A-level course.

Full story: Page 7

New supermarket on the way DISCOUNT retailer Lidl has unveiled plans to open a supermarket in Thornbury.

The company has launched a consultation ahead of bringing a formal planning application to take over a site off Midland Way, currently occupied by clothing supplier Alexandra Workwear.

Lidl says it would create up to 40 new jobs at the new store, which it describes as a "multi-millionpound investment".

The move would see Alexandra Workwear leave Thornbury after being based in the town for almost 30 years.

Full story: Page 3

Turbines on horizon

FOUR sites near Thornbury are on a list of potential sites for new large onshore wind turbines.

PAGE 11

Sofa so bad

A THORNBURY man who was caught dumping his mum's sofa in a lay-by has been ordered to pay almost £2,600 in fines and costs.

PAGE 12

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Thornbury Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Thornbury Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Richard On 01454 800 120 or contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

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September, 2023

n NEWS

Lib Dems pick Claire again SOUTH Gloucestershire Council leader Claire Young has been selected to fight the Thornbury & Yate constituency for the Liberal Democrats at the next general election.

It will be the third time the Frampton Cotterell ward councillor has stood for election as the area's MP, having stood for her party at the 2017 and 2019 elections won

by Conservative Luke Hall.

The seat is a top target for the Lib Dems, who topped the poll in every council ward in the constituency in May's local elections.

Current MP Mr Hall has held the seat for the Tories since 2015, when he beat Lib Dem Steve Webb, who had been the pensions minister in the Coalition government and had held the seat and its predecessor, Northavon, since 1997.

He had a majority of more than 12,000 at the last two general elections.

Cllr Young, who lives with her family in Coalpit Heath, has been a South Gloucestershire councillor since 2007.

She is a Cambridge maths graduate who worked in the software industry, with tech giant IBM and local high-tech start-up businesses, and has also performed academic research into the environmental impact of information technology.

Cllr Young said: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to stand at the next election and win this seat for the Liberal Democrats.

"Living locally and running the Council I know just what is needed in the area - it’s time for an MP who speaks up and delivers."

The next election is widely expected to take place next year, although the latest it can be held is January 2025.

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September, 2023

3

n NEWS

Supermarket plan for town unveiled DISCOUNT supermarket Lidl has revealed plans for a new supermarket in Thornbury.

The retailer wants to move on to the site near Midland Way currently occupied by clothing provider Alexandra Workwear, which has been based in the town for nearly 30 years.

Lidl has set up a website to show details of the proposed supermarket to residents and ask them to leave their comments.

It says the store would have 95 parking spaces, including parent & child and accessible bays, and would also have rapid electric vehicle chargers.

The German retailer says up to 40 new jobs would be created at the store, which it describes as a "multi-million-pound investment".

It would have a new pedestrian access from Midland Way, as well as a main vehicle and site entrance off Whitebridge Gardens.

Lidl says there would be new landscaping around the supermarket, including tree and shrub planting "to aid biodiversity", and solar panels on the roof.

Lidl GB head of property Glen Stidever said: "Representing a multi-million-pound investment, the proposals also include the creation of new jobs for the community.

"We are keen to gain feedback from as many people as possible to ensure the plans best meet their needs ahead of submitting a planning application.

"We look forward to sharing

Lidl's plan for the site includes new pedestrian access (1), EV chargers (2), covered bike parking (3), a service area (4), accessible parking (5) and (7) either side of the entrance (6) and parent and child parking (8). The vehicle entrance is to the right (9) and discussing our plans with everyone."

The supermarket, which has built its British presence to more than 960 stores and 13 distribution centres since entering the market in 1994, has more than 31,000 employees across the country.

It is inviting people to visit a website at thornbury. newsite.lidl.co.uk to give their views before a formal planning application is made.

The move looks set to end Alexandra Workwear's presence in Thornbury, where it moved to a purpose built office, warehouse and embroidery unit in 1995.

It moved into its current building in 2011, a year after the company went into administration and was bought out by US firm Men’s Wearhouse

and many of its functions were shared with Derbyshire-based Dimensions.

The company is now part of global uniforms company Mi Hub.

A Mi Hub spokesperson declined to reveal when the company planned to relocate or where its new base would be, saying it was still in the "final negotiation stages" for the site.

The firm also declined to reveal how many employees currently work at the Thornbury site, and whether there would be any change in the size of the workforce as a result.

The spokesperson said: "After an extensive search of the area we are pleased and excited to be moving into a new office and continuing our long-standing Alexandra relationship with the Bristol area. Our new location is just a few miles away, with great transport links, and has been greeted with enthusiasm by our Thornbury based colleagues."

Alexandra Workwear traces roots back to a Bristol drapery business founded in 1850, which was renamed in 1880.

The Alexandra Workwear base off Midland Way

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n NEWS

September, 2023

No extra cost or discount as bin strike ends SOUTH Gloucestershire Council did not incur any extra costs from the recent strike by bin workers but is not paying contractor Suez any less for the reduced service.

Around 150 members of union Unite went on strike for more than a month, from June 26 until July 31, in a dispute over pay.

During the strike, kerbside recycling and green bin collections were suspended as the council and its contractor prioritised black bin collections, keeping recycling centres open and operating temporary 'deposit points' for people to take food waste and recycling.

A spokesperson for the council said any extra "direct and indirect costs" incurred because of the strike were being carried

by Suez, including the increase in pay negotiated to end the strike.

However the amount the council pays Suez under its contract to collect, recycle and

dispose of waste is not being adjusted to account for the fact that a full kerbside collection service was not being provided for the duration of the strike.

The spokesperson said: "The contract between the council and Suez, as a third-party provider, insulates the council from the cost of any pay award but there are no mechanisms within the arrangement to seek recompense for the strike action."

The council said there had not been an increase in reports of fly-tipping in the district over most of the period of strike action, including an earlier oneweek walk-out from June 12 to 16, although there was "a slight increase towards the end of July".

Unite members voted to strike after rejecting an 8% pay offer from Suez, which the union said represented a "significant real terms pay cut" as it was well below inflation. The union called for a 15% rise.

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A proposed 9% rise was also rejected before Suez came back with an offer of 10.1%, which was accepted at the beginning of August. The strike was suspended from July 31 for the workers' vote.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Suez workers in South Gloucestershire stood firm in their union and secured a significantly improved offer.

"This is a well-deserved result for them and more evidence that Unite’s focus on enhancing jobs, pay and conditions is winning for our members.”

Unite members at Bristol Waste and Suez in Somerset also won bigger rises following disputes.

A Suez spokesperson said: "We are pleased that we have been able to agree a solution with the union and that further industrial action has been cancelled.

"We are extremely grateful to our employees for their important work and would like to thank the residents of South Gloucestershire for their patience during this time."

The contractor said it was "conscious that residents had high volumes from the suspension of the service" and said it used extra resources to catch up on the backlog and resume normal services as quickly as possible.

Bulky waste collections restarted on August 14, the same date the Revive shop at Thornbury Sort It centre reopened.

Asked by the Voice if penalty clauses for contractors unable to deliver a service would be inserted into the new waste contract due to be introduced in 2025, the council said it was "working to ensure a robust approach to contract arrangements".

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n NEWS

Killer of Thornbury vicar dies in jail A PSYCHOPATH who murdered a Thornbury vicar has died in prison.

Stephen Farrow was more than ten years into a whole life sentence imposed for the killing of the Rev John Suddards in February 2012 and a retired teacher, Betty Yates, a month earlier.

The 58-year-old was being held at Frankland Prison in County Durham, a high-security Category A jail.

A Prison Service spokesperson said: “HMP Frankland prisoner Stephen Farrow died on 21 August.

"As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”

Farrow attacked Mr Suddards, who was 59, at the vicarage in Castle Street, next to St Mary's Church, after knocking on his door on the evening of February 13, 2012.

He stabbed the vicar seven times and taunted him as he lay dying, before leaving a bible and other items on and around Mr Suddards' body and staying overnight in the house, watching a DVD and drinking beer.

Mr Suddards was found the following morning, by builders who were working on the vicarage.

Farrow had left DNA evidence at the vicarage and

Stephen Farrow Pictures: Avon & Somerset police

John Suddards

at the home of Mrs Yates, who he had stabbed to death in Worcestershire in January that year.

He was arrested a few days later at the channel port of Folkestone, in Kent.

At his trial in October and November 2012 Farrow denied murdering both of his victims, although he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Suddards on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Farrow had been diagnosed as a psychopath and his defence barrister argued it substantially affected his ability to exercise self-control.

However a jury at Bristol Crown Court convicted him

of both murders, along with a burglary at another house near the vicarage in Thornbury, where he had left a note pinned to the householders' table accusing them of being "Christian scum" and saying he would have killed them had they returned home.

The trial heard Farrow had an obsessive hatred of the church, claiming he had been sexually abused by a priest at a boarding school.

He had set fire to a church altar aged ten and had a longstanding fantasy about killing a vicar.

Trial judge Mr Justice Field said Farrow had "acted sadistically" in carrying out both "horrific" murders.

Mr Suddards was a former barrister who had been a vicar for 22 years and had only been at Thornbury for six months, having moved from a parish in Essex.

In a radio interview shortly before his death he had spoken of the importance for the church of taking in strangers, despite the dangers.

He said: "Christianity is always about risk – or it should be – and we always have to take risks. But we believe they are the risks we are called upon to take."

After his death a memorial garden at St Paul's in Thornbury, and funds to support homeless people and buy books for priests in training, were set up in his memory.

His sister made a donation towards equipping a children's corner he had set up at St Mary's.

At a memorial service held around the anniversary of Mr Suddards' death his successor, Rev Dr Jan van der Lely, said he had been known for sharing food with those in need and trying to "show the love of Christ to the apparently unlovable".

She said: "This way John trod, opening his door, giving help to strangers, not defending himself when threatened.

"He lived, that last night, in the most Christlike way possible."

roud to present our 6 candidates standing in Kingswood, dstock on 4th May in the South Gloucestershire Local Elections.

es for Kingswood

e your hardworking team for s a child psychologist, Sean has years ools, families and children with Special ties POTHOLES (SEND).

Leigh’s background is asthosearoads and they would in South Mark King, head of transport Gloucestershire are getting “a and waste services at the council, be more robust and resilient, munity youth and little bit worse each year” council education said: “We struggle likeservices. a lot of but unfortunately we’re not in chiefs have admitted. other local authorities in the that situation and it’s a bit of a for youth and community services, South Gloucestershire country to maintain our network firefighting exercise.”

Council would resurface roads to a reasonable level. Because Until May this year the “in an ideal world”, but one new Town we have a declining network, council was run by a Conservative he new Kingswood Council. cabinet member said that the and mainly on our unclassified administration. But after local

Potholes 'worse every year' government does not pay councils enough money to keep all the roads across the district in good condition.

The problems are particularly affecting unclassified roads, councillors heard during a meeting of the scrutiny commission at South Gloucestershire Council on July 26.

network, we do suffer with potholes and defects.

“Over the winter is bad obviously, from October through to February that’s when we have our peak period. We have to supplement the gangs and we have additional gangs on site to keep the network safe, and that’s what we aim to do. In an ideal world, we would resurface

elections, a new cabinet has taken power with a coalition of Liberal Democrats and Labour councillors.

Labour cabinet member for communities Leigh Ingham said: "The pothole situation is a symptom of decades of underinvestment by governments across the local road network, which has become particularly

die Davis and Matt Palmer for New Cheltenham

Leigh Ingham acute in the last 13 years.

"We only spend about a third of what we should be spending to maintain at a standstill the quality of roads we have at the moment.

“Things are getting a little bit worse each year."

ie and Matt are delighted to be standing for election to h Gloucestershire council to represent all the residents of

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service Cheltenham. They are passionate about holding regular surgeries, supporting New Cheltenham’s various community groups who play To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120 Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk al role. Sandie and Matt have both served as Councillors previously,

thornburyvoice

6

September, 2023

n NEWS

Council objects to 'unsustainable' homes plan TOWN councillors have raised a series of objections to new plans to build 32 homes on a field on the outskirts of Thornbury.

Developer Newland homes has applied for outline permission for housing on the site at Post Farm, north of Butt Lane, on farmland currently used for cattle grazing.

It is next to a number of new developments, but has open fields to the north.

Residents had made 33 objections to the plans as the Voice went to press, with just one person writing in support.

Objections include "an unacceptable loss of natural habitat and green land," as well as "increased through traffic and noise in an area with lots of young children and animals" and infrastructure that was already "beyond breaking point".

In their planning statement

supporting the application, agents Pegasus Group said the 32 homes "can be sensitively accommodated on-site, limiting the impact of the scheme in the wider landscape setting".

They added: "The layout also allows for the retention of important landscape and biodiversity features and provides sufficient open space with houses orientated to provide natural surveillance."

The agents said the homes would be "Net Zero Carbon", and 35% or 11 of them would be classed as 'affordable' available for social rent or shared ownership schemes.

They say existing trees and hedges around the boundaries of the site, which is subject to a tree preservation order, would be retained, the site would include an orchard and other landscaped public open space and supporting

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infrastructure, including sustainable drainage.

They concede that the site is not within the town's settlement boundary but said: "The site does not lie within the Green Belt nor is it restricted by any landscape designation."

The developers originally approached South Gloucestershire Council nearly two years ago with proposals for a scheme of up to 37 homes. An earlier planning application by Linden Homes to build up to 39 homes on the site was rejected by the council's strategic sites planning committee four years ago.

The town council's objection said the application would have an adverse effect on nearby listed buildings and is on agricultural land that was "amongst the most productive in the country".

The councillors also said the homes would add extra

pressure to local facilities, including doctors, dentists and schools, saying: "Parents have reported that primary schools in Thornbury cannot offer places to children moving into recently occupied houses on the adjacent development, forcing them to travel to village schools such as Oldbury and Olveston."

They said building on the site was "unsustainable" and added: "Councillors noted the low density the developer is proposing and questions this, as there has been a proliferation of large detached houses built on the edge of town and there is a need for smaller, more affordable housing to meet the needs of the community."

The plans can be viewed by searching for application P23/02091/O on South Gloucestershire Council's planning website.

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September, 2023

7

n NEWS

Rosie succeeds after heart surgery WHEN Rosie Gwyther became unwell before her mock exams, she thought it was a panic attack.

But the racing feelings in her chest turned out to be an undiagnosed congenital heart condition that required surgery.

Rosie, from Thornbury, ended up having two operations - but a year on she has recovered to sit her A-levels, achieving an A in Sociology, Bs in Psychology and Geography and A* in her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).

Rosie thought she was suffering from anxiety ahead of her Year 12 mocks at V6, the co-educational sixth form at Bristol's Montpelier High School, last year.

She said: “I thought it was just a panic attack but my heart went crazy and I had to be rushed from school to the Bristol Heart Institute. It was quite scary.

"I have had two operations and had to miss a few weeks of school but my teachers have been absolutely amazing in supporting me.

"A big shout out to Ms Blything and Ms Slijkhuis. They always made sure I caught up and was not too stressed before the exams.

"My friend Sophia was great as well,

Ben Mallett, Alex Jiang, Joe Wiles, Sean Novak, Adam Eastman with their results visiting me every day in hospital.

"I had to push myself too. I am so excited to be going to the University of Gloucestershire to train to be a primary school teacher.”

Rosie’s mum Kate Gwyther said the family had had no idea about the heart condition.

Kate said: "One minute she was in school, the next she was in resus at the heart

hospital. It came totally out of the blue.

"Rosie has had two operations and will have to be monitored throughout her life.

"We are beyond proud of her. Her resilience and determination has not faltered throughout the two years.

"We really did not know what to expect for her results because she had not sat exams before but she has done brilliantly."

Another South Gloucestershire student at V6, Katie Aries, earned A grades in chemistry, biology and maths, and will study medicine at Exeter University.

Rosie, Katie and other A-level students were sitting their first public exams this summer, as their GCSEs grades were assessed by their teachers in 2021 because of the pandemic.

More than one in five grades awarded at V6 sixth form was an A or A*, while overall outcomes were broadly in line with 2019, the last pre-Covid figures.

V6 head of sixth form Caroline McClean said she was proud of students like Rosie who had made "considerable progress in the sixth form, some of them in the face of adversity”.

Exam results: Pages 8 & 9

Row over free parking future FREE parking could soon be scrapped in South Gloucestershire car parks – and a row has broken out over who is to blame.

Opposition Conservatives say Labour – one-half of the new coalition administration with the Liberal Democrats – discussed introducing charges at councilrun car parks at a recent group meeting of its members.

Tory leader Sam Bromiley said there was "no financial need whatsoever to start charging people".

But the coalition has fired back, saying the Tories disguised a line in the annual budget last February, when they still ran the local authority, that promised £5 million of extra money for council coffers - but kept it a secret that this would be from new parking fees.

The Lib Dems and Labour say they would have opposed it had they known and that they have now been left to implement charges that have been effectively introduced by the Conservatives, unless they can somehow find the

money from other services.

At July's cabinet meeting council leader Claire Young (Lib Dem, Frampton Cotterell) warned that the organisation needed to find £40 million of cuts over the next four years to balance its books.

She said the new administration had concerns about the lack of detail in some of the proposed savings in the 2023/24 budget, agreed at full council in February with support from Labour while most Lib Dems abstained.

The coalition says it was only after May’s local elections that they were told by officers that a vague-looking “review of income generating opportunities” in the budget to generate £5 million over three years was a review of whether to introduce parking charges.

In a joint statement the two partners said: "Let it be known this was a Conservative idea.”

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

8

n EXAM RESULTS

September, 2023

'Remarkable' GCSE results for post-covid students TEACHERS at schools in the Thornbury area have spoken of their pride at the achievements of pupils who sat their GCSE exams this summer.

The government announced there would be a "return to pre-pandemic grading" this year after several years of adjustments in marking due to the pandemic, and said results would be comparable to 2019.

But this year's GCSE candidates have had years of disruption to their education because of the lockdowns during the early part of their time at secondary school.

The Castle School THE Castle School in Thornbury said its 265 Year 11 students had achieved "a remarkable set of GCSE results", with 79% achieving standard grade 4 passes in both English and Maths, and 55% obtaining a good pass in both.

Head teacher Joe Docherty said he was "thrilled" with the results and praised students for their "fantastic work ethic and resilience".

He said: "The students have had three years of their secondary education disrupted by the pandemic and sat exams with no additional support measure in place nationally.

"When we compare these results to 2019, the last time students sat externally-marked GCSE exams, we are delighted to see an improvement in many of the key measures of achievement across the board.

"The reality is that this means so many more students are able to take up their preferred next

Daniel Harrod, Amaury Perez Martinez, Sam Griffiths and Edward Heming celebrate receiving their GCSE results steps in their education and career paths.”

The school said staff were

Marlwood School AT Marlwood School in Alveston staff paid tribute to the "amazing" group of students who had achieved a "sound" set of results despite the challenges of spending much of the early part of their time at the school in lockdown.

Head teacher Seema Purewal said: "We are pleased with the outcomes, however feel that greater concessions should have been made to support students still suffering the effects of the pandemic and the impact it has had on their learning.

"This was the second cohort of pupils who sat public examinations following two years of disruption caused by the pandemic, a cost of living crisis and a series of teacher strikes.

"Pupils have worked exceptionally hard, with an exemplary level of maturity, despite the numerous challenges thrown at them."

Ms Purewal said 66.7% of pupils had achieved 'standard' passes including English and Maths at grade 4 or above, an increase of 6.5% on the last pre-pandemic year of 2019.

"particularly proud" of results that showed "incredible personal achievement and significant

She said: "Unsurprisingly, attainment has dropped compared to our 2022 ‘transition year’ outcomes and is more inline with 2019 results, which is the case nationally.

"Nevertheless, well deserved credit goes to this amazing group of young people who despite the challenges of recent years who collectively have secured a sound set of results."

Among the high achievers who achieved "a string of top grades 9-7" were Ellie Bishop, Sophie Mansbridge, Millie Harbidge, Mabel Young, Amelia Clark and Hattie Davies.

Ms Purewal said there were many other students who made "exceptional progress" and achieved grades to be proud of, overcoming significant personal challenges, including James Lawrence, Layla RollingsFowler, Emily Shaw, Akira Paterson, Boyesoko Gimba and Grace Elder.

She said: "All our students are moving on to pursue post-16 qualifications at nearby sixth form schools and colleges, training or apprenticeships.

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

progress".

Staff highlighted students Amaury Perez Martinez, Ihnat Kopylov, Max Davis and Alice Goodman, saying "in each case we are sure that their families and friends will be just as proud as we are of their achievements".

Three students - Kaite Lyons, Ellen Sayers and Daisy Townson - all achieved nine top grade 9s and one grade 8.

Abbey Bonnett and Justine Yeung achieved eight grade 9s, and a further 37 candidates had at least one grade 9 in their results: the total of 569 grade 7s, 8s or 9s across the year was described as "an incredible feat".

Mr Docherty said: "I’m very proud of the work of all the staff in supporting our students, they regularly go above and beyond to ensure our students get the care and support they need to flourish and I thank the parents for working so positively with us to enable this success.”

Millie Harbidge and Mabel Young were among the high achievers at Marlwood School "These excellent outcomes are also a tribute to the very dedicated and committed staff, who always go above and beyond to support our pupils as do our superb community of Marlwood parents and carers."

School awards: Page 13

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

September, 2023

thornburyvoice

9

n EXAM RESULTS

A-level students rise to challenge A-LEVEL students sitting their first ever formal exams at Thornbury's sixth form centre achieved an "impressive" set of results in their first formal exams.

A nervous wait for teenagers across the country ended on August 17 when this year's results were published.

This year the government signalled a "return to prepandemic grading" after three years of assessments and adjusted grades because of the covid pandemic.

It meant the sixth formers sitting their exams were told they would be judged in line with the standards of 2019, the last prepandemic year.

They had not sat nationallyset exams before, as their GCSEs took place in 2021 when classroom-based assessments were being carried out.

The Department for Education said that as a result of changes to grading, the proportion of top A* to A grades had fallen from 35.9% last year to 26.5% this year - although this was still above the 25.2% in 2019.

The number of A-levels given grade A* to B was 52.7% nationally, compared with 51.1% in 2019.

At the Castle School Sixth Form, which teaches post-16 students from both Castle and Marlwood schools, the average grade achieved across the cohort of 151 students was a C+ for the

Ben Mallett, Alex Jiang, Joe Wiles, Sean Novak, Adam Eastman with their results A-level courses and a Merit for the vocational courses.

Head of sixth form Catherine Cheese said: "We are delighted with these results, especially considering that these are this cohort’s first set of formal examinations, having not officially sat their GCSEs in 2021.

"The students have worked with these additional challenges to secure an impressive set of results.

"We are very proud of these students, who have shown great commitment and resilience to their studies throughout the past two years.

"They have shown great

Harry Cundy, Luke Maunder, Emma Townsley, Grace Atkinson, Zoe Henderson receive their results

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

ambition to achieve their goals as well as forming a great community as a year group."

Among the highest achievers were Richard Usherwood with 4 A* grades, Amy Lyons with 3 A* grades plus an A* in her EPQ, who both have places at Oxford University. Richard will study engineering and Amy will study law.

Bethany Hyndman (4A) will study global politics at Exeter University, while Zoe Bonnett (2A*, 2A) will study global sustainable development at Warwick University.

Other students who made "significant progress" and have secured places on their first-choice course include: Natasha Weston-Kemp, who will study primary education at UWE; Rocco Shaw, (journalism and communications, Cardiff University); Hannah Wilson (medicine, Exeter University) and Joe Gillespie (international relations and politics, Oxford Brookes University).

Ms Cheese said the "vast majority" of students had secured their first-choice university place, while others were going on to degree apprenticeships, including Tom Stolliday and Matilda Davis, who will be training in project management with engineering firm Atkins.

Others were moving into employment or training, such

as Ellie Clark who is already working in an accounting department.

Head teacher Joe Docherty said: “We are proud of all individuals and their destinations, which differ between a range of university courses, employment and apprenticeships.

"Many students have made such personal progress throughout their time at Sixth Form, and a number of students have gained results beyond their expectations.

"My thanks go to all the staff who have supported and taught the students throughout their time at Sixth Form, and to parents and family members for supporting them. I wish the students success for the next stage in their lives."

Richard Usherwood is heading to Oxford University

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

10

n NEWS

thornburyvoice

September, 2023

See cycle Tour in South Gloucestershire MORE details of the visit of some of cycling's top riders to South Gloucestershire for the Tour of Britain have been revealed.

Stage Seven of the race, on Saturday September 9, will start in Tewkesbury and finish at Gloucester Docks.

On the way the peloton is predicted to pass through Chipping Sodbury High Street at about 1.53pm, Station Road in Yate about three minutes later and head from Iron Acton to Cromhall at around 2pm to 2.10pm.

The cyclists could arrive up to 15 minutes earlier or later, depending on the weather and other conditions which could make their pace faster or slower: organisers say the earliest they are likely to reach Chipping Sodbury is 1.35pm, Yate is 1.38pm and Wotton-under-Edge 2.02pm.

The riders are expected to reach Gloucester some time between 2.54pm and 3.43pm.

The stage was originally intended to be part of last year’s Tour of Britain, but was cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Organisers say it will be "an undulating route to really test the riders on their penultimate day and will showcase the incredible scenery and landscape that Gloucestershire has to offer", covering 170.9km (106.3 miles) of road and climbing 2,200 metres on the way.

South Gloucestershire Council leader Claire Young said: "We are excited to welcome the Tour of Britain to South Gloucestershire this September.

The route passes through Chipping Sodbury, Yate, Iron Acton, Cromhall and Charfield.

"The event is a great way to bring communities together to spectate as the riders pass through our countryside, towns and villages and will also showcase our wonderful area to its global audience of millions.

"The excitement of the race has the potential to inspire more people to get out on their bikes in the local area and enjoy the benefits of cycling and travelling sustainably."

Race director Mick Bennett said: "We know how much people in Gloucestershire were looking forward to our planned stage in 2022, so, a little later than expected, we’re excited to be heading to this beautiful part of Britain!"

South Gloucestershire Council

Last year's winner Gonzalo Serrano wins Stage Four. Picture: SWPix.com is reminding anyone driving to see the race to plan in advance and leave plenty of time for journeys.

Traffic around Yate and

Chipping Sodbury could be heavier because of diversions following the closure of the A432 Badminton Road bridge over the M4.

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September, 2023

thornburyvoice

11

n NEWS

Big turbines could be on horizon

FOUR sites near Thornbury could become home to large new wind turbines.

Ahead of the expected lifting of a ban on onshore wind, local planners are exploring which areas in the district could best be used to generate low-cost renewable energy.

South Gloucestershire Council is drawing up a new Local Plan, a wide-ranging document which sets out where new developments should be built over the next few years, which includes energy generation.

The council will consult the public on the Local Plan this winter, and it will come into effect in 2025.

A draft map showed seven potential areas where they could be allowed, including two to the north of Thornbury near Shepperdine and Oldbury Naite, one to the south between Pilning and Almondsbury, and another to the east, near Wickwar and Charfield.

The others are east of Little Sodbury, between Tormarton and Acton Turville, and running along the M4 south of Chipping Sodbury.

Opposition councillors warned building wind farms could be “controversial” in some parts of the district, during a meeting of the council's scrutiny commission on July 26.

Severn Vale Conservative councillor Matthew Riddle said: “In the Local Plan consultation so far, there was a map showing safeguarding areas for wind turbines, which is probably a little bit more controversial in the Severn Vale than solar panels.

"Two of those sites that were identified for safeguarding had already gone through the planning process and been refused at appeal. Is it right that those sites are still safeguarded?”

Building onshore wind turbines was effectively banned by the government in 2015, although late last year ministers

A map shows two sites north of Thornbury and one to the south appeared to signal they would lift that ban.

The government recently consulted on changing rules in its National Planning Policy Framework to make new onshore wind farms much easier to build — but is reportedly now backtracking on these plans.

Labour has promised to lift the de facto ban, if it wins a general election.

The new Local Plan will be less detailed than usual, due to a failure of politicians to agree a region-wide version last year.

Liberal Democrat cabinet member for planning and regeneration Chris Willmore said: “The next draft will have a strong policy commitment, as you would expect from the current administration. "It’s not necessarily going to identify sites. The abandonment of the Spatial Development Strategy last May means that getting that big picture protection in place is the most important thing."

The work on the new Local Plan began before the Liberal Democrats and Labour took power in South Gloucestershire, and staff are now quickly reviewing the plan to check it matches the policy ambitions of the new administration, including renewable energy generation.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

12

n NEWS

thornburyvoice

September, 2023

Thornbury man dumped mum’s sofa in lay-by A THORNBURY man who dumped his mum's sofa in a lay-by has been ordered to pay almost £2,600 in fines and costs.

Stephen Mitchell, of Frome Court, was prosecuted by South Gloucestershire Council after the sofa was dumped in Hambrook Lane, Stoke Gifford, on New Year's Eve last year.

A doorbell camera at a home nearby recorded a rental van stopping in the lay-by and then driving off, leaving the sofa behind.

The van was traced to Mitchell, aged 31, through the rental company.

Documents found in the sofa by a council A doorbell camera recorded this sofa being left clean-up team on January 6, came from an behind by a van hired by Stephen Mitchell, of address in Hambrook Lane, which was also Thornbury linked to him. around the back of the van to a waiting car Mitchell was then interviewed under and got back in, having been paid £175 in caution by council officers on January 20, cash. telling them he and a friend had collected the However he was told the doorbell cam sofa from his mother’s home. footage showed no-one had got out of the A council spokesperson said: "He said passenger side of the van. that upon getting in the van, his friend had The spokesperson added: "On being made some phone calls and found someone shown photos of the sofa he agreed that he who wished to purchase the sofa and agreed would not pay £175 for it. to go to the Hambrook Lane lay-by for the "He then stated that money was no object exchange." and if we wished to fine him for it, he would Mitchell told the officers he stayed in the pay the fine." van while his friend got out, carried the sofa WB Generic ads 2023 AW.qxp_Layout 1 30/03/2023 10:33 Page 4

Mitchell was reported for summons to court but failed to attend twice and had to be arrested on warrant before he was brought before Bristol Magistrates Court on July 28.

He pleaded guilty to fly-tipping and was ordered to pay a fine of £1,400, £639 costs and a £560 victim surcharge - a total of £2,599.

Afterwards cabinet councillor for environmental enforcement Leigh Ingham said: “I hope this latest prosecution acts as a deterrent to anyone who considers fly-tipping in the area.

"South Gloucestershire Council will pursue anyone who dumps their rubbish illegally through the courts and our award-winning environmental enforcement team has a 100% record of securing successful prosecutions for this type of offence."

The council is encouraging people to take large items to Sort It recycling centres or have them removed via its bulky waste service, which can be reached on 01454 868000.

Anyone who sees illegal fly tipping should call the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, email streetcare@southglos.gov.uk or visit www.southglos.gov.uk/flytipping.

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thornburyvoice

September, 2023

13

n NEWS

Celebration of success for schools

PUPILS from the Castle School, Marlwood School and Charfield Primary School were among children whose achievements were celebrated at an awards ceremony.

The second annual Castle School Education Trust Celebration saw children from seven schools across South Gloucestershire gather at the University of the West of England Business School lecture theatre at the end of the summer term, to recognise some "remarkable achievements".

Amaury Perez-Martinez from the Castle School won the CSET Outstanding Individual Progress award.

The trust said Amaury had joined the school just over a year ago, adding: "From having had little English, he has not only learned the language but has also just taken his GCSE exams.

"The school praised his determination and hard work,

as well as his positivity and kindness to others."

Olivia Hurley from Marlwood School won the CSET Award for Sporting Achievement.

The trust said: "Olivia is a scuba diver and was the youngest female in the world to gain her Open Water Course qualification aged just 10.

"She is a master scuba diver and a young ambassador for the sport."

All of those invited had already won awards in their own schools for a variety of personal and group achievements, including sporting prowess, environmental actions, contributions to the wider community and outstanding personal progress and resilience.

The audience shared "some remarkable stories of personal achievement and support of others, often against a background of challenge and adversity".

Amaury Perez-Martinez from Castle School receives his award for outstanding individual progress The event also included performances from every CSET school, including dancers from The Castle School and Marlwood students who impressed with a

cello and piano duet.

CSET chief executive Will Roberts praised all those present.

He said: "It is wonderful to be able to celebrate together what it means to be such a strong community of schools, with a shared vision and values.

"To have such a variety of pupils together, from five to 18 years old, and to celebrate their achievements along with family members, is a great privilege.

"All those invited had already won awards in their own schools for their personal and group achievements, including sporting prowess, environmental action, contributions to the wider community and outstanding personal progress and resilience.

"Those gathered were able to share in some remarkable stories of personal achievement and support of others, often against a background of challenge and adversity."

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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

14

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

thornburyvoice

September, 2023

Bristol Care Homes supports staff development DEVELOPING your career as a carer to becoming a nurse has always been a challenge to those who need to earn a living.

Nurses require a degree in order to register for practice, however going to university to achieve this is not for everyone. Fortunately, a local social care provider has implemented a pathway which supports employed care staff to develop into nursing professionals while maintaining their employment.

Bristol Care Homes has four high quality care homes in north Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

They pride themselves on the quality of care they provide, and the investment they put into the development of their staff team.

Their latest investment has come in the form of a pathway to support care staff to attend the University of the West of England and qualify as a Nurse Associate.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council describe the Nurse Associate role as “a member of the nursing team in England that helps bridge the gap between health and care

assistants and registered nurses.”

Bristol Care Homes has four members of the team who have followed this pathway so far. Elena from Glebe House, Sarah from Quarry House and Shahira from Field House have all successfully earned their foundation degrees from UWE Bristol. Jemma from Beech house is still on the course and due to qualify in the next few months. Elena, Sarah and Shahira have all decided to progress onto a top up course with UWE which will see them achieve their full Nursing Degrees and become Registered Nurses and Jemma will do the same once she has completed her Nurse Associate studies.

“Here at Bristol Care Homes, we care about our staff just as much as we care about our residents," says Richard Crocker, CEO of Bristol Care Homes.

“It is important for us that we can identify talent within our organisation and support them all to achieve their maximum potential. As part of this latest investment, we decided to fully support our Nurse Associates to

attend university once a week for study, attend their required placements and achieve the required off the job hours within their overall contracted hours all whilst paying them their full salary.

This support continues for them as they progress on to the degree. We are very proud of the achievements of this dedicated group, and we look forward to supporting many more of our team through the same route in the future.”

Bristol Care Homes is committed to providing excellent lifetime care to residents and great career opportunities to staff. Two of its homes have CQC ‘Outstanding’ rating, whilst its resident fees remain extremely competitive

and good value. The career development pathways ensures that people who join or work in the company strive to provide that excellent standard of care to residents while also growing professionally within the company.

Other staff benefits expected when joining the Bristol Care Homes teams are: • Up to £250 welcome bonus • Up to £250 refer a friend bonus • Great rates of pay • 10% enhancement salary rate on hours worked on weekends • Time and a half at Bank Holidays • Profit share bonus scheme • Excellent induction programme • Excellent training and development opportunities • Valuable career development pathways • holiday, retail & leisure discounts • Employee assistance programme • Cycle to work scheme • Free meal on +8 hours shifts.

If you are keen to work for an employer who invests in staff support and development visit www.bristolcarehomes.co.uk to see the latest opportunities.

At Beech House care home in Thornbury, the safety, care and well-being of our residents are at the centre of everything we do.

If you are looking for a home or a home for a loved one, we would be happy to show you around our beautiful, family-owned home in Thornbury.

• Competitive prices for high standards of quality • Idyllic garden & grounds • Fully automated care plan & medication systems • Adapted wheelchair cars available for all

• In-house physiotherapist • Constant redecoration project • Great monthly activities programme • Various & nutritious fresh meals • Spacious rooms

Contact us: 01454 412266 beechhouse@bristolcarehomes.co.uk

Beech House Care Home, Prowse Close, Thornbury BS35 1EG

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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

September, 2023

thornburyvoice

15

n NEWS

New play area unveiled THORNBURY Town Council says a play area in the town has been "totally transformed" after being refurbished.

New equipment including swings, a climbing frame, standing see saw, balance beam and activity trail has been installed at the play area in Eastland Avenue, while two existing slides have been refurbished and Picnic tables provided.

The refurbishment is part of a "rolling replacement programme" for all play areas run by the town council.

It followed a consultation with residents, including asking for votes on some of the equipment to be installed.

Chair of the town council's open spaces committee Helen Harrison said: “We are so pleased with the new facilities at Eastland Avenue play area and really hope that children and

Thornbury town councillors at the new Eastland Avenue play area families have hours of fun using the brilliant new equipment.

"The new activity trail is

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

especially exciting, as there is nothing else like it in any other play area.”

Meet your councillors THORNBURY Town councillors have launched monthly ‘Meet Your Councillor’ sessions.

Taking place in the Town Hall on the High Street from 10am to 12.30pm on the last Saturday of the month (except August and December), the sessions are an opportunity to meet your local elected representatives and to let them know your thoughts, concerns and hopes for the town, to help make Town Council decision making representative of the community.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.

The next session takes place on September 30.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

16

September, 2023

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

Birthday Bus passengers enjoy the benefits OVER the Summer, I’ve been meeting some of the first ‘Birthday Bus’ passengers - West of England residents enjoying free bus travel throughout the month of their Birthday.

You can sign up too at www.birthdaybus. co.uk.

I have to say, people are really buying into the benefits of this scheme.

People like Helen, who works in a chocolate shop. I got chatting to her a few weeks ago and she told me she’s been using her Birthday Bus pass to travel to work when she’d usually take the car.

She said it’s given her a reason to leave her car at home and try the bus, and she’s really loved helping the planet.

Or people like Pauline, who told me Birthday Buses was a really good way to help ease a bit of financial stress during this frightening cost-ofliving crisis.

The verdict is clear, so for those who haven’t already done so, please do apply for your free month of birthday travel at www.birthdaybus. co.uk today, and tell your friends and family too.

There’s nothing to lose and lots to gain!

When I was coming up with the idea for Birthday Buses, I knew we needed a plan that

ticked lots of boxes. There are so many crises at the moment, with the cost-of-living crisis and the environmental emergency always at the forefront of my thinking.

Birthday Buses ticks that cost-of-living box, with a whole month of bus travel for free. That’s one twelfth off your annual transport bills.

It’s also about tackling the climate emergency. A huge 44% of our carbon emissions currently come from transport, with fewer than one in ten regional commutes made on public transport. Shockingly, there are 300 preventable premature deaths due to air pollution every year. That’s why we need new ideas to encourage people out of their cars and onto public transport.

Like many regions, our buses are struggling to match pre-pandemic performance. While most people who used to use buses are doing so again, they are travelling less.

Delve in and this makes sense. It reflects changing demand, as working from home practices displace commuting patterns and many face-to-face meetings, like GP appointments, move online. But with people making fewer journeys, there is less fare income coming in.

That means cuts, and a downward spiral.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice Other places have tried free travel for a day or a week, but this is a whole month. Why? Because if you try our buses, I think you might like them - maybe even love them. And after a whole month, you might never look back.

We have to try something new.

Just throwing taxpayers money at subsidising buses isn’t sustainable. You spend the money and it runs out. And then you need more.

Instead, I’m determined that we invest to encourage new passengers to use our buses. It is the only long-term solution to grow a thriving bus network.

So to Helen, Pauline and especially to you: many happy returns - and singles!

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September, 2023

17

n NEWS

Fun Palace returns to Thornbury A COMMUNITY event aimed at bringing people and organisations together returns next month.

The Thornbury Fun Palace event will return on Saturday October 7 for its third year of celebrating what the town's community has to offer.

Fun Palaces are community events celebrating the skills, passions and cultures of people and are run by, for, and with the community.

Events will take place across the country over the first weekend of October.

Thornbury Fun Palace is put together by a community planning committee, including representatives from charity JIGSAW Thornbury, South Gloucestershire Council, Thornbury Town Council, the Swan pub, My Thornbury, KRUNCH Southwest, Safari Rock Softplay and the St Mary Centre.

A spokesperson for JIGSAW Thornbury said: "The event is being planned by a team of co-producers representing our community, and all of the activities at the event will be led by people and organisations volunteering to share something they love with local people.

"Everyone was able to join in and discover something new at the 2022 event, with 25

Children had the chance to meet a Roman legionary at Thornbury Library during last year's Fun Palace event fun, free activities happening across 10 locations around Thornbury High Street.

"There were over 1,000 visitors to Thornbury Library, which hosted five different activities, including meeting a

Roman soldier from Thornbury and District Heritage Trust.

Residents told us there was something for all ages on offer, with some people spending hours at the event.

"Fun Palaces create events that bring together arts, science, craft, tech, digital, heritage and sports activities – but above all people – to work together, create together, have fun together, and in doing so, connect our own communities, from the grassroots up."

This year the event will take place in new host locations at Thornbury Leisure Centre and the Skate Park, as well as some familiar and new places in the St Mary Centre and High Street.

There will be a series of free activities aimed at the whole community and all age groups between 10am and 4pm.

JIGSAW will be leading children's events and there will also be activities from BALPA street dance and Thornbury Library.

For more information about this year's Thornbury Fun Palace visit funpalaces.co.uk/ fun-palace/thornbury-fun-palace-3 or email the organisers at thornburyfunpalaces@ jigsawthornbury.org.uk.

n NEWS

New traveller pitch approved PLANS for a new Gypsy and traveller pitch in the Green Belt south of Thornbury have been approved after councillors said their hands were tied by recent appeal decisions.

A council meeting heard the community was producing a neighbourhood plan that earmarked scrubland at the junction of Northwick Road and Bank Road in Pilning, along with other land behind the GP surgery, for extra-care housing for up to 40 older people.

But South Gloucestershire Council planning officers recommended approving the proposed pitch for a mobile home, a touring caravan and a day room building, with a kitchen and bathroom.

They said the council was short of 61 Gypsy and traveller pitches and the needs of the applicant’s child outweighed the harms.

They said planning inspectors had upheld recent appeals

against the authority turning down pitches for similar greenbelt land.

The council’s development management committee was told available sites for housing in the village were “severely constrained” because of the flood zone, railway line, motorways and the A403.

Pilning & Severn Beach Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group chairman Richard Edwards said: “If this is approved, the loss of land would make our plans unviable on what remains.

“The objectives of the neighbourhood plan will be severely inhibited.

“The family of the applicant already has three approved traveller pitches on the north side of Bank Road and there is ample space between those for a further Traveller pitch.

“There should be no such site on the south side of Bank Road.”

Liberal Democrat ward

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councillor Simon Johnson told the committee: “The community has welcomed traveller sites in recent years but a number of other sites within 50 metres of the proposed site are currently operating below capacity.”

He said granting permission would significantly impact the community’s wishes for years to come.

Pilning & Severn Beach Parish Council chairman Nick Davies said: “The cumulative effect of this and previous consents for traveller sites in the adjacent area of greenbelt will be a sprawling area of unacceptable development at the very point where the openness of greenbelt should be most apparent.”

Cllr Tony Williams (Lib Dem, Severn Vale) said: “To expect one parish to take the needs of the traveller sites for the whole area is over the top.

“It sounds like we are giving the green light for any traveller to go to Pilning and put in an

application and we have to accept it."

Principal planning officer David Stockdale said: “The occupants are a couple with a young child.

“Recent appeal decisions have placed the rights of a child at the highest level of what should be considered."

Mr Stockdale said the neighbourhood plan had not yet been adopted so only little weight could be given to it.

Committee member Michael Bell (Labour, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) said: “I sympathise with the residents but our hands are tied. If it went to appeal, they would be likely to win the appeal."

Members voted to approve the plans by 8-1.

By Adam Postans.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

18

n WHAT'S ON

September 4 n ALVESTON GARDENS ASSOCIATION MEETING, Jubilee Hall, Alveston, 7.30pm. Talk: From Oasis to Sandy Point, by Pam Turner. New members and visitors welcome.

September 5 n THORNBURY ART CLUB, Tuesday Painting Studio Group, every Tuesday, St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury, 1.30-4.30pm. Call 01454 414433 for more details.

September 7 n THORNBURY ART CLUB, Thursday Painting Studio, St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury, every Thursday 1.30-4.30pm. Call 0777 627 1010 for more details.

September 8 n THORNBURY PICTURE HOUSE presents Tell No One, based on Harlan Coben’s best-selling novel.

Thornbury Methodist Church Upper Hall. Doors open 7pm. Members free, guests £5. For more information visit www.thornburypicturehouse.org.

September 9 n HERITAGE OPEN DAY at St Mary’s Church, Thornbury. Church open to all, with craft exhibitions, tea/ coffee and refreshments. Church tower open for free tours - booking essential at by emailing thornburybenefice@outlook.com or calling 01454 281 900.

September 11 n THORNBURY CHORAL SOCIETY Welcome Evening, United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, Thornbury, 7.30pm. If you enjoy singing and are looking to meet new people, come and find out more about this group. More details at www.thornburychoralsociety.org.uk.

September 12 n EASTWOOD GARDENERS' CLUB meeting, Turnberrie's, Bath Road, Thornbury, 7.30pm. Talk: Nature and wildlife on our doorstep, with Paul Raven. Visitors welcome.

September 17 n OCTOPUS DRAMA GROUP cast readings for pantomime King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Christ the King Church Hall, Castle Street, Thornbury, 3pm. Also on September 20 at 7.30pm and September 24 at 3pm. Email Abi.ingham@yahoo. com if you would like to attend.

September 21-23 n COLLABORATIVE PRODUCTIONS presents Calendar Girls, Rangeworthy Village Hall, supporting charities BUST and Blood Cancer UK. Evening performances 7.30pm, Saturday matinée 2.30pm. Over-16s

thornburyvoice only. Tickets £12 (£10 concessions) via TicketSource on 0333 666 3366 (fees apply) or in person with cash at the Rose & Crown, Rangeworthy.

September 22 n THORNBURY PICTURE HOUSE presents Living, starring Bill Nighy, Thornbury Methodist Church Upper Hall. Thornbury Methodist Church Upper Hall. Doors open 7pm.

Members free, guests £5. For more information visit www.thornburypicturehouse.org.

September 23 n FAMILY AND LOCAL HISTORY FAIR, BAWA centre, Southmead Road, Filton, 10am-4pm. Free event hosted by the Bristol & Avon Family History Society. Talks, tips and advice from regional family history groups on researching your ancestors. More information from www.bafhs.org. uk, BAFHS Facebook page or fhfair@ onmicrosoft.com.

September 26 n THORNBURY ART CLUB monthly Club Night, St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury, 7.15pm.

Oil painting demonstration with Vicki Norman, including tips and useful observations for painters in all media.

Visitors welcome. Non-members £5.

Call 01454 414433 for further details.

September 27-October 4 n THORNBURY ARTS FESTIVAL, various venues and acts including the BIG Gospel Choir and Alfie Moore, Visit the festival website www.thornburyartsfestival.org.uk for full details about events and tickets.

September 27 n ALVESTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Alveston Methodist Church, 7.30pm. Talk by Professor Richard Coates about local place names. Visitors are welcome - entry £5.

September 27 n DEMENTIA AWARE AWARDS, Westbury-on-Trym Baptist Church, Reedley Road, 3pm-5pm. Bristol Dementia Action Alliance ceremony to celebrate and showcase the achievements of businesses and organisations across Bristol in becoming dementia aware. For more information call 07741 142701 or email office@bdaa.org.uk.

October 16 n Thornbury and District u3a welcome meeting, St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury, from 3.30p.m.

REGULAR EVENTS

Monday n SEVERN VALE FLOWER CLUB meets on the second Monday in

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

September, 2023

n LIBRARY NEWS Thornbury Library is hosting community learning events on September 2 and 9, from 9.30am-noon each day.

Come along, find out about and sign up for free courses throughout the autumn with Aimee from South Gloucestershire Community Learning.

The Summer Reading Challenge - Ready, Steady, Read - continues at Thornbury Library until September 9 for primary school-aged children. Come and get your certificate, medal, and free swim voucher when you have read six books.

Ukrainian storytime sessions take place every Monday at 4pm - tell your Ukrainian family, friends and colleagues about Zoya, a Ukrainian teacher who will share stories, reading and more from Ukraine.

The Have You Read book club meets on September 1 from 2-3pm no set novel, just drop in for refreshments and a chat about books.

Lego club meets every Saturday from 9.30-10.30am - no booking required.

Rhymetime takes place every Monday and Friday, from 9.30-10am.

The last Sight Support West of England drop-in support and advice session for people with visual impairments will be held on September 18 from 10am-1pm. After that they will be at Sight Support Charity Shop & Resource Centre, 18 High Street, Thornbury.

A computer volunteer is ready to help with your IT and online questions on Thursday mornings, with one-to-one sessions available from 9.30am. People can enjoy a free hot drink in the library every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday from 9.30am-4pm, use the computers or WiFi with your own iPad or phone, read a book, a newspaper, browse the shelves, enjoy a communal puzzle or just relax The library is open 9.30am-5.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday.

Open access is from 8am-7.30pm every day. For bookings and home library service call 01454 868006, email thornbury.library@southglos. gov.uk or visit the website www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries. the month at 2pm in St Mary's Hall in Eastbury Close, Thornbury, for classes, demonstrations and competitions. For more information contact Sally on ssjjtaylor@hotmail.co.uk or Hazel on 01454 885213.

Tuesday n THORNBURY ART CLUB hosts live talks and demonstrations by established artists on the fourth Tuesday of the month at St Mary's Church Hall, 7.30pm. Non-members welcome: £5 entry. For more information call Mary Drown on 01454 414433 or email mary.drown@blueyonder.co.uk. n CITIZENS ADVICE South Gloucestershire sessions at Thornbury Town Hall Tuesday 10am-noon. No appointment needed. n JUST SEW IT SEWING CLUB, every Tuesday 6.30-9.30pm at the Chantry Community and Arts Centre Castle Street, Thornbury. Come along and sew with others bring your sewing machine & materials/pattern. Call Carrie 07753 236095. n THORNBURY MEMORY CAFE is open on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (except August) from 10.15am until 11.45am.

Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Thornbury. For information contact

Sue Rowley on 01454 412941 or Louise Wright on 01454 260371. n SUNBEAMS TODDLER GROUP, 1.30-3pm every Tuesday in term time, Thornbury Methodist Church Hall (off Castle Court). All families welcome, no need to book, £2 per family includes snack and drink.

Thursday n THORNBURY GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR, Thornbury URC, Chapel Street, 1-3pm. For info visit www.goodafternoonchoir.org, email gac@grenvillemusic.co.uk or call 01761 472468.

Friday n HAVEN MEMORY CAFE, Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, first and third Fridays of the month from 10.15-11.45am.

More details from Stuart Hill on 07913 241437 or Sue Walton 07794 370903.

Saturday n THORNBURY PARKRUN, 9am, Mundy Playing Fields. Free.

Sunday n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION branch meeting, last Sunday of the month at the Black Horse, Gillingstool, Thornbury, noon.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

September, 2023

19

n ARTS

Songs, laughter and letters at arts festival A GOSPEL choir who wowed TV audiences and a cop turned comedian are among the headline acts for this year’s Thornbury Arts Festival.

An engaging reading of wartime letters exchanged between actress Celia Johnson and her husband Peter Fleming is also part of the festival programme this autumn.

Festival organisers say the closure of the town’s Armstrong Hall complex is still causing major difficulties, but they have found alternative venues for the events planned.

The volunteers hope a mix of three evening shows, a variety of lunchtime talks and a guided walk will appeal to a wide range of festival-goers.

The festival programme will run on seven days between September 27 and October 4, with the first evening performance featuring Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists the BIG Gospel Choir.

The singers have regularly appeared on TV and their powerful voices and beautiful vocal arrangements will fill St Mary’s Church on September 28.

Comedian and former police officer Alfie Moore, star of the hit BBC Radio 4 comedy series It’s a Fair Cop, will entertain an audience in Tytherington Village Hall on September 29.

Alfie spent 20 years on the beat, where a keen sense of humour was key to his success and his survival, and dealing with everyday incidents generated a host of “just couldn’t make it up” stories.

BIG Gospel Choir

Comedian Alfie Moore.

Picture: Tony Briggs

On September 30 Marlwood School's drama hall, in Alveston, will host Posting Letters to the Moon.

Letters written by Celia Johnson and her writer husband Peter Fleming during the Second World War will be read by their daughter, Lucy Fleming, and Simon Williams, who plays Justin Elliott in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers.

The letters tell how Celia coped with a house full of evacuated children, learning to drive a tractor, dealing with rationing and becoming an auxiliary policewoman, while continuing to her career - including the classic 1945 film Brief Encounter - while Peter wrote about his adventures and trials working on wartime deception operations in India and the Far East.

Lunchtime talks will be given in

Thornbury’s United Reformed Church, with topics ranging from Land Girls (speaker Fiona Warin) and the NHS at 75 (Dr Nancy North) to writing a debut novel (Justine Pullan) and the life of an auctioneer (Philip Taubenheim).

The festival’s popular guided walk will see local historian Meg Wise leading a party around Thornbury on October 1, to discover where some of the town’s ancient inns and beer houses used to be and learn about the history of pubs still open today.

For more details and tickets, visit the festival website www.thornburyartsfestival. org.uk.

Lynne Hutchinson

Calendar Girls ready to raise money FINAL preparations are underway for a charity performance of hit show Calendar Girls at a village hall near Thornbury.

There will be four performances of by Collaborative Productions at Rangeworthy Village Hall from September 21 to 23.

The event is raising money for two cancer charities: BUST, which supports the breast care centre at Southmead Hospital, and Blood Cancer UK. BUST provides the hospital with advanced equipment to aid and speed up diagnosis and treatment, from ultrasound scanners in every consulting room to the latest additions for mammography and MRI technologies.

Blood Cancer UK funds world-class research into all blood cancers to take them

The cast of Collaborative Productions' Calendar Girls closer to a cure and to ensure everyone affected has access to the right support at the right time, as well as campaigning for better treatments and offering information and support to

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

patients.

The play is based on the inspiring true story of eleven WI members who persuaded one another to pose nude for a charity calendar to raise money

for the Leukaemia Research Fund.

Evening performances take place at 7.30pm and there is a Saturday matinée at 2.30pm.

The play is suitable for those over 16 years.

Adult tickets cost £12 and concessions £10, bookable online via www.ticketsource.co.uk/ collaborative-productions or by calling 0333 666 3366 (booking fees apply), with a free ticket for group bookings of ten or more.

Tickets are also available in person with cash at the Rose & Crown in Rangeworthy.

Organisers are asking audience members to bring cash to but programmes, raffle tickets and refreshments on the night to help keep costs to a minimum.

Sue Smith

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

It’s good to talk…

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A whole morning or afternoon costs about the same as a brief service at a crematorium. Burial or ashes internment. Complete burial service from £1,495.

Visit www.memorialwoodlands.com or call 01454 414999

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thornburyvoice

September, 2023

21

n ARTS Bristol Ensemble returns to Thornbury

ARMSTRONG Arts Group present a return to Thornbury for the Bristol Ensemble at the United Reformed Church, Chapel Street on October 14.

Pianist Viv Mclean joins the ensemble to perform Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, a jazzy, optimistic, richly-textured work packed full of fabulous tunes and toetapping rhythms.

It was commissioned by Walter Damrosch, conductor of the New York Symphony Orchestra, the day after he heard the premiere of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, which is also part of the programme for the October concert.

Philip Glass’s breakthrough work, music for the iconic film Mishima, Copland’s lively and evocative work Hoe Down and Bernstein’s West Side Story Suite complete a distinctly American programme.

The programme has been specially arranged for piano and strings quintet for the Bristol Ensemble: Marian Givens on violin, Carl Hill on viola, Harriet Wiltshire on cello and Jub Davis on bass.

The performance starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £18 and are available from AAGThornbury@gmail.com.

Jane Parfitt

Bristol Ensemble returns to Thornbury

Choral society resumes rehearsals

CONGRATULATIONS to Thornbury Choral Society on reaching its 60th anniversary!

After our Summer break, Thornbury Choral Society resumes rehearsals on Monday September 4 at 8pm.

As usual, our rehearsals will take place at the United Reformed Church. The first rehearsal will be preceded at 7.30pm by the AGM. We shall be preparing for our Autumn Concert, which will be in St Mary’s Church on Saturday, November 25 at 7.30pm.

The choir will be performing The German Requiem by Brahms and some pieces by Mendelssohn.

On September 11 we will be holding a welcome evening at 7.30pm prior to the rehearsal.

If you are interested in finding out more about us, do come along.

We are always looking to recruit new members. We are sure that there are many new residents who have come in to the area and enjoy singing and are looking to meet new people. Do come and find out more about us!

For more information visit our web site at www.thornburychoralsociety.org.uk.

Angela Hughes

Octopus Drama Group

CALLING all budding thespians - Octopus cast readings for our next pantomime, King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, will be held in September, in Christ the King Church Hall.

They will take place on Sunday September 17, at 3pm, Wednesday September 20 at 7.30pm and Sunday September 24 at 3pm.

The Panto will run from January 10 to 13, with two Saturday shows.

Rehearsal nights are Wednesday and Sunday at 7.30pm Please contact the director via Abi. ingham@yahoo.com if you would like to attend any of the readings.

Jenny Dennis

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

Trend for direct cremations A GROWING number of South Gloucestershire families are choosing to have unattended cremations followed by burial of ashes when a loved one dies.

Since the beginning of the year Bristol Memorial Woodlands has recorded that around 30 per cent of funerals at the woodlands see friends and families gather for a life celebration, with ashes being buried so that families have a place where they can remember their loved one.

Bristol Memorial Woodlands founder Christopher Baker said: “Direct cremations, where there is no ceremony at the crematorium, have been growing in popularity since David Bowie chose that way to leave the world.

"The latest Sun Life Report shows that direct funerals have grown in popularity from just 2% of all funerals in 2018 to 18% last year.

"But we have found that those left behind do want to have an event to mark someone’s passing and often families want a place where they can go and remember a loved one. There is also the practical issue of what to do with the ashes after a direct cremation.

"The majority of our funerals are still burials where people appreciate that we are creating a 100-acre woodland that is protected in the future, so that future generations will be able to walk here and remember their ancestors.

"But we have seen a strong demand to use the woodland setting as a venue for the final act following a direct cremation. People can spend a half day or whole day here remembering their loved one in the way that they wish, with ashes at the centre of the event rather than a coffin."

Many of the direct cremations that then use Bristol Memorial Woodlands are carried out at nearby Westerleigh Cemetery & Crematorium.

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

22

n PUZZLE PAGE

The FIEND

Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

NOTE After feedback from readers, we have made The Fiend SLIGHTLY easier!

1 6 4

2 8 6 9 5

September, 2023

For younger readers

Find the summer holiday words in this word search puzzle.

8 7 2

9 4

3 1

8 8

Use the phone keypad to decode the clues.

For example: 2 could be A, B or C ... and 5678 could be LOST

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For You:

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Solving all your legal Across problems….

Down locally….

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Rules the same as the Fiend, but only four numbers in each box, row and column

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Theme: Human body

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Accident and Injury | Cohabitation | Conveyancing | Court of Protection | Crime Disputes | Employee Relocation | Employment Family Law and Divorce | Medical Negligence | New Homes | Notary Public | Probate | Probate Disputes | Wills and Mental Capacity

For Your Business:

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Get in touch: 01454 204899

Wards Solicitors, 41 High Street, Thornbury BS35 2AR Email: contactthornbury@wards.uk.com Offices in: Bradley Stoke | Central Bristol | Clevedon | Henleaze | Keynsham Nailsea | Portishead | Staple Hill | Thornbury | Weston-super-Mare | Worle | Yate

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

wards.uk.com Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

September, 2023

23

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Marlwood School goes over the rainbow MARLWOOD School pupils performed a show to remember at the end of the academic year.

The school's production of the Wizard of Oz included a spectacular twister scene, strong lead and supporting cast performances, choreography designed by students and an "amazing" set.

Lead by school head of drama Becky Ferguson, with musical direction from head of music Alistair Stewart, the show also include a student backstage crew and a team making props designed by art teacher Holly Birkin during lunchtimes.

A Friends of Marlwood School spokesperson said: "The Marlwood pupil cast and crew, under the masterful directorship of Mrs Ferguson, supported by other gifted members of staff, created a wonderful show which reminded us all what is the most important – family and love!

"Mrs Ferguson enables so

Dorothy, the Lion and Scarecrow

The Tin Man

many young people to join in and be a part of this summer production journey.

"Her ‘can do’ attitude means she always says ‘yes’ to a last-minute request as well as encouraging those school clubs

to take part. Throughout the academic year her talent spotting eagle eyes ensure pupils are nurtured and create some magic moments in her production.

"Mr Stewart’s musical direction, not only in person as

leader of the Emerald City Brass Band, also ensured the Cyclone Percussion and Samba Band enhanced the production.

"Mrs Barnes supported vocal work so that all the singers gave assured performances which enable them to shine in their singing. English teacher Mr Blunt was assistant director and also a skilled follow spot operator.

"On Friday evening it was an emotional moment as the cast gathered for their final ‘curtain’ call.

"Let us not forget that these young people did this production whilst juggling end of year exams, normal school classes and other external commitments.

"They should be so proud of themselves, no matter what part they played because they all came together as a ‘whole’ and made memories for themselves as well as their audience."

“A safe and supportive environment for all residents. Staff are friendly and provide great care.

Thank you for looking after my mother so well.”

Jane, Daughter of Resident at Beech House (source: carehome.co.uk) At Beech House care home in Thornbury, the safety, care and well-being of our residents are at the centre of everything we do.

If you are looking for a home or a home for a loved one, we would be happy to show you around our beautiful, family-owned home in Thornbury.

Contact us: 01454 412266 beechhouse@bristolcarehomes.co.uk

Beech House Care Home, Prowse Close, Thornbury BS35 1EG

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

ADVERTISING FEATURE

ADVERTISING FEATURE

CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT Lucas: Severe knee arthritis

ADVERTISING FEATURE

James Scrimshaw of CURA CLINICAL explains how new technologies are providing effective answers to people’s pain and suffering

MBST Cell regeneration: James Scrimshaw of CURA CLINICAL explains how new technologies are providing effective answers to people’s pain and suffering What is MBST? Construction of MRI and MBST devices

MBST Cell regeneration: What is MBST?

MBST uses exactly the same technology as MRI scanning, just without the detector coils and imaging software. MBST stands for Molecular Biophysical Stimulation.

It was discovered by a German doctor who noticed that some of his MRI patients Sweep coils · Electromagnets Gradient coil had reduced symptoms following their MRI scans. He then assembled a team of Superconductive magnets biologists and physicists to research these positive effects at a cellular level.

Cells that had not functioned properly due to damage , were stimulated in such a MBST uses exactly the same technology as MRI scanning, just without the detector way by the energy transfer that they could again fulfil their original tasks.

RF coils coils and imaging software. MBST stands for Molecular Biophysical Stimulation.

It was discovered by a German doctor who noticed that some of his MRI patients had reduced symptoms following their MRI scans. He then assembled a team of RF coil It does this at cell level in a number of ways: biologists and physicists to research these positive effects at a cellular level.

Cells that had not functioned properly due to damage , were stimulated in such a - Optimising cell oxygen levels way by the energy transfer that they could again fulfil their original tasks.

- Improving Cell energy production The results we’re seeing Scanner & - Optimising intercellular signalling pathways now in patients with varying control unit - Reducing inflammatory mediators It does this at cell level in a number of ways: injuries and conditions is - Readjusting cell circadian clock-leading to less cell Control unit with Detector coils death and cell reproduction. really remarkable.

- Optimising cell oxygen levels interactive display - Improving Cell energy production RobThe (above) is a great example of computer results we’re seeing ThisHigh-performance translates to you and I as asignalling healing process in the - Optimising intercellular pathways how MBST heals cartilage in a with special imaging software tissue energy is applied to which leads to a now in with knee. varying -the Reducing inflammatory mediators moderate to patients severe arthritic I’ve also just reduction in pain andcell an circadian increase in the natural mobility injuries and is - Readjusting clock-leading to less cell 15 months after hisconditions MBST therapy discharged Kate (left), and lifestyle the cell patient without any need of invasive deathofand reproduction. he now runs, plays racket ball and really remarkable.

5 months following therapy. golf without any pain andwho that’shad treatment for her Lucas came to see me off the recommendation of a good friend without braces.

Rob his (above) is aHe’s greatrecently example of arthritic knees This translates to you and I as a healing process in the knee arthritis. He was suffering seen remarkable results with her severe done a course his cartilage severe in a how MBST on heals Obviously there are limitations of the effects relating to a (she’d already had a tissue the energy is applied to which leads to a due to have same condition and was both knees replaced in knee. arthritic neck and after 3-4 months moderate to severe arthritic also just number of with factorsthe such as severity and complexity of a halfI’ve knee replaced). reduction in pain this and an increase inafter the natural mobility has 15 significantly lesshis neck paintherapy months after MBST January year.

One the other. discharged Kate (left), patient’s case, however the technology is constantly She’s now pain free… and lifestyle of the patient without any need of invasive and improved mobility.

OverIthe he now runs, plays racket ball and 5 months following being Intrigued bygetting his friends and after an assessment where felt improved and we’re better atresponse selecting the I anticipate these therapy. nextgolf 6 months his withoutI expect any pain and that’s treatment for her there was enough movement in the joints to warrant it, we embarked on 2 right patients and conditions in order to get higher results will last condition tohis reach over He’s 90%recently without braces. arthritic a number ofknees years. success rates and better overall-Cartilage results. courses of MBST AND Bone. done a course on his severe Obviously there are limitations of the effects relating to a improvement. (she’d already had a We’ve that treating the boneofmarrow odoema with MBST as well as arthritic neck and after 3-4 months number of factorsfound such as severity and complexity a half knee replaced). significantly less neck pain the cartilage more advanced Arthritic caseshas is essential. patient’s case, howeverin the technology is constantly She’s now pain free… improved mobility. the We gotand together 3 months treatment toand astonishingly goodOver results. being improved we’re getting better atpost selecting the I anticipate these next 6 months I expect his He had no pain. He’d played holes of golf on Saturday which constituted right patients and conditions in order to get56 higher results will last condition to reach over 90% a number of years. success and better overall results. anrates 18 mile walk.

Pretty unbelievable isn’t it!? improvement.

We’ll monitor throughout the

year but it’s one of my best responses so far on this journey.

thornburyvoice

September, 2023

Thornbury And District U3a

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Sight Support West of England OUR local sight loss charity has just opened their new Thornbury Hub. The hub combines the first Sight Support West of England charity shop with a services and resource centre for client consultations via appointments.

The charity shop is designed with accessibility in mind, particularly for people with sight loss.

It has wide spacing on the shop floor, high contrast colours for the check out and door frames, and an accessible till system designed with visually impaired volunteers in mind.

Sight Support West of England is the only charity providing local face-to-face support to help blind and partially sighted people in Thornbury and the rest of South Glos continue living active and independent lives.

25

The shop is situated in Thornbury High Street.

The resource centre and consultation space is on the first floor of the building (the charity are hoping to install a stairlift soon).

The centre includes a range of resources such as lighting, magnification tools, kitchen equipment and reading aids, as well as expert advice on living a full and independent lift despite the challenges sight loss can pose.

Whether someone is newly diagnosed with sight loss, or wondering about new advances that are available, Sight Support can help. Anyone wishing to make an appointment is encouraged to contact the local Community Sight Loss Advisor Charlie, on 0117 322 4885 Karen Cole

HAVE you recently retired or reduced your commitments leading up to retirement?

Are you new to the area and looking to make new friends?

Thornbury u3a promotes keeping us mentally and physically engaged and active in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere.

“Learn, Laugh and Live” is the u3a motto, and we aim to provide opportunities for members to do so without having to travel too far or enrol in expensive courses.

We have around 1,500 members and around 85 different groups meeting at various venues throughout the area, but there is always room for more.

Our numbers have greatly reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic and to this end, we would like to invite anyone who is interested in what we are about to come along to our next

welcome meeting on Monday October 16 at St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, Thornbury, from 3.30pm. Our Groups mainly meet during the day and interests range from Archaeology to YOYO (you on your own).

Some meet weekly, others less often, and they include physical activities, wine tasting, lunches out, crafts, board and card games, language lessons, organised visits to gardens and churches, concerts and theatre as well as purely “educational” topics.

Details of all our groups can be found on our website, www. thornburyu3a.org.uk.

Please come along; we would love to meet you.

For further information visit our website, call me on 01454 858438 or our chairman, Roger Steer, on 01454 294371.

Jackie Gitsham Membership Secretary

n LOCAL MP

Best of luck for the new school year IT'S that time of year again when the suitcases are swapped for pencil cases, and the sandy beaches are traded in for the school run, as our children head back to school for a new academic year.

I would like to congratulate all those students who received their results over the summer, and the best of luck to everyone ahead of the new school year.

The good news for our local schools this year is that school funding in South Gloucestershire is set for a record boost and will be increased to the highest ever level.

The Government have also released some figures which show that South Gloucestershire schools are due a significant funding boost for the 2024-25 academic year, with school funding reaching almost £60 billion, and here in the Thornbury and Yate constituency, record funding will reach £61,381,240.

For local secondary schools such as Brimsham Green, Castle School, and Yate Academy, the change in total funding will see increases of 11.2%, 6.9%, and 4.6% respectively.

Meanwhile, the per pupil funding for our rural primary schools will also see increases, including schools such as Cromhall Primary (+10.5%), Iron Acton CofE (+6.5%), Charfield Primary (+3.8%), Hawkesbury Primary (+3.5%), The Ridge Primary (+3.3%), and Watermore Primary (+2.8%).

Ensuring South Gloucestershire schools receive their fair share of funding has long been a priority in my positive plan for education, which I have raised with government ministers time and time again.

Significant rises in high needs funding have also been allocated.

Funding for children and young people with special

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

educational needs or disabilities here in South Gloucestershire, we will receive a record amount £51,230,394 for high needs – although of course there is more to do.

This news follows work which is currently underway on the Two Bridges SEND Academy, which is set to open in September 2024.

The special needs school will offer 112 spaces for pupils from nursery age to sixth form and will provide specialist support for children with autism and severe or multiple learning difficulties.

Nationally, there have been further positive announcements regarding schools.

Altogether 88% of schools in England are ranked as good or outstanding; we have seen significant rises up the international league tables in reading and maths as a result of focused and evidence-based reforms.

Luke Hall MP writes for Thornbury Voice

In England, there are also now 27,000 more teachers than there were in 2010.

Around 12,000 young people in England will also benefit from a wave of new free schools, which includes Cabot Sixth Form, a 16-19 school set to open Bristol in the next three to four years.

Free schools are funded by the government, however they are run by other organisations such as academy trusts and universities.

We are incredibly lucky to have so many amazing schools in our area, and my thanks to all our local head teachers, teachers and support staff for all they do.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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thornburyvoice

September, 2023

n LETTERS

Memories of Olive and Sid An appeal by Voice reader Linda Hunt for information about a Thornbury couple, Olive and Sid Box, after she found a presentation plate from the 1960s inscribed to them jogged some memories: OLIVE and Sid Box were landlord and landlady of the Ship Inn in Oldburyon-Severn during the 1960s.

They catered for my wedding reception on March 28 1964, in Oldbury Village Hall.

I remember that Sid was quite a large man with a handlebar moustache, and that they were a very nice couple.

Anita Abrahams I KNEW Sid & Olive - what a wonderful couple they were. Sid was such a character!

I believe their daughter, Margaret, still lived in Thornbury as recently as eight years ago.

Jan Cason IT was fascinating to read Linda's letter. Sid was the landlord of the Ship Inn at Oldbury-on-Severn for many years. He was very friendly with Mr and Mrs Hext and their daughter, Brenda, met her future husband Roger Savery there. Roger and Brenda went on to be the landlord and landlady of The Windbound.

Ann Jones

27

Find out about family history ARE you interested in either family or local history?

The Family and Local History Fair, on September 23 at the BAWA Leisure Centre on Southmead Road, Filton from 10am to 4pm, is a free event and is the first of its type since the Covid pandemic interrupted such activities three years ago.

Organised and hosted by the Bristol & Avon Family History Society, the exhibitors will include a number of regional family history societies who will be able to offer you advice and guidance on research into your ancestors, with tips on how to crack those brick walls to unlock the stories

behind those old family rumours and mysteries.

Also in attendance will be local Record Offices (Archives) and national organisations.

A number of local history groups will be attending to reveal the work they have done on their districts and communities, and to give tips on how to research and record the history of your own areas.

For more information and details see the website www.bafhs.org.uk, visit our Facebook page or email contact fhfair@onmicrosoft.com.

Geoff Gardiner BAFHS

CASTLE School Friends is searching for a new committee secretary.

This is a vital role, as the postholder helps ensure CSF business is conducted in an effective manner.

Organisational skills are paramount, along with time-keeping and the ability to problem solve.

An interest in school life is also essential, although you do not need to have children at Castle School to apply.

As with all our committee posts this is a volunteer role and unpaid. The monthly commitment is roughly four

to five hours, working closely with the chair to set our monthly meeting dates, times, places and to record the minutes.

As a full member of the committee, the Secretary is free to join all our discussions and get involved with organising events, as little or as much as you would like.

To find out more please drop us a line at enquiries@castleschoolfriends.org

Can you help school?

Justin Warr

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Together we can make policing better I HAVE launched a campaign called Together We Can… to raise awareness of the work being done by my office to improve, change and challenge policing.

Together We Can… is a call to action for residents to get involved in policing to ensure our communities are safe.

The campaign is also an opportunity to highlight how the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) continues to work for local people.

My Police and Crime Plan, launched in 2021, includes four priorities – preventing and fighting crime; engaging and supporting communities and victims; leading the police to be efficient and effective; and increasing confidence in the criminal justice system.

Many people are not aware of the work that the OPCC carries out and, crucially, when they can turn to us for support to address issues or concerns they have with policing.

We work hard to tackle so many varied issues that may affect all our lives at some point – from violence against women and girls and racial disproportionality to fraud and anti-social behaviour.

My job is to hold Avon and Somerset Police’s chief constable to account and to keep striving for policing that serves everyone equally, so we all feel safe and supported in everyday life.

For more information about Together We Can… and my police and crime priorities visit the OPCC website, www.avonandsomersetpcc.gov.uk.

I would also like to take the opportunity to highlight the recently-opened preventing victims fund. The fund is an opportunity for any Avon and Somerset-based group that already provides services to victims of crime to apply for a grant of up to £20,000.

The Preventing Victims Fund is being delivered in partnership between the OPCC, Somerset

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Community Foundation and the Quartet Community Foundation.

The fund aims to complement groups providing services to victims of crime, enabling them to explore different approaches that could prevent people from becoming victims in the first place.

This prevention focus is one of the Police and Crime Plan key priorities.

Finally, I urge local people to remain vigilant over an emerging scam involving fake emails purporting to be from mortgage lenders.

It has come to my attention that Action Fraud received 538 reports in just a two-week period relating to these emails that claim to offer limited-time deals to low-rate mortgages.

Heartless criminals are taking advantage of people’s concerns relating to mortgages to lure them into phishing scams. The websites set up by criminals disguise themselves as a trustworthy source in order to steal personal and financial data for their own gain.

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford We need to let as many people know that such scams are circulating, to ensure we prevent people from falling victim.

Remember if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have doubts about an email or message, contact the organisation directly before sharing any personal or financial information. Do not use the numbers or addresses in the email – use the details from their official website.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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thornburyvoice

September, 2023

29

n SPORT

Hockey club prepares for Division 1 THORNBURY Hockey Club's Ladies 1sts are hoping to emulate their performances over the last two years when the new season gets underway.

Successive promotions mean that Jo Deas's side will play in Berkeley Division1 this season.

Last season the team were undefeated in Berkeley Division 2, with the only points lost being against UWE, who held the team to a draw.

The team scored a record 144 goals, with Coz Deas the leading scorer in all divisions of the West league, on 53.

The team are expecting the opposition teams to provide sterner tests when league games start on the last Saturday in September, a visit to old rivals UWE being the first game.

The first home game is against Westberries 3rds on October 7.

The club's 2nd team will continue to play in Berkeley 3, and their first home game is also on October 7, when Knowle 3rds

Thornbury's men's team start their season at home to North Somerset 2nds visit Castle School.

Last season Thornbury entered their first ever men's team in the league.

This year Pardip Bhogal will again skipper the side, who start the new campaign with a home

Tennis in the community

THORNBURY Tennis Club and its coaching partner, Taylor Tennis Coaching, are working with charity JIGSAW Thornbury to bring tennis to children and young people with additional needs or disabilities.

Since Easter, children and young people supported by JIGSAW have been enjoying learning new tennis skills.

Tennis coach Emma Nicholls, from Taylor Tennis, uses a series of games and activities to introduce participants to the sport.

The emphasis is on having fun and enjoying being on court as well as learning some tennis.

The club and Taylor Tennis worked closely with JIGSAW to understand how to make tennis inclusive and accessible for young vulnerable people in small group sessions, split by age.

The Tennis Club is set in green space at the end of Mundy Playing Fields. The sessions are held on a quiet court to ensure no-one feels overwhelmed.

The children are accompanied by a parent or carer and a familiar JIGSAW staff member to help settle them in, so they can get to know Emma.

JIGSAW Thornbury have received

game against North Somerset 2nds on September 30.

The club's junior section continues to develop, and fixtures are played against other clubs at under-16 and under-14 level.

wonderful feedback from member families on the tennis sessions held at the club, with all the participants saying their well-being had improved as a result.

The impact of these sessions is best described by three quotes from the parents or carers of those who took part.

One said: "Emma was a brilliant coach.

We were early as a sibling had done the previous session. Whilst waiting for the others to arrive, Emma took the time to have a short game and chat with our son rather than just have him standing and waiting around. Emma was brilliant at encouraging the young people and made the emphasis on fun whilst learning skills."

Another said: "His confidence has increased, he's really proud that he's able to participate in tennis again as it was pitched at the individual's level."

The third said: "Great for his confidence and self esteem, good exercise and opportunity to improve his tennis skills, great opportunity for him to connect and reconnect with other young people."

Thornbury Tennis Club, Taylor Tennis and JIGSAW are proud to have joined forces to provide opportunities that make such a difference to our young and diverse community.

These sessions with JIGSAW will continue from the start of the new school year in September, on Saturday mornings from 9am to 10am.

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

The club have been active throughout the summer, with the ladies playing in fixtures organised by South Gloucestershire Hockey Club at Bradley Stoke School and the men playing games against other clubs, both home and away.

Thornbury organised a mixed hockey tournament, which attracted a number of sides, with matches played weekly at Castle School.

The first training session of the new season is on Monday September 4 at Castle School, with junior sessions from 6.307.30pm and adults from 7.308.30pm, with an optional extra half hour until 9pm.

New players are always welcome: anyone new to Thornbury can email thornburyhockey@gmail.com or turn up to a training session, where you are sure to get a warm welcome from this friendly club.

David Parry-Jones

A coaching session organised by Thornbury Tennis Club and JIGSAW Further information and bookings can be made via www.jigsawthornbury.org.uk/ events.

For further information about playing tennis at Thornbury Tennis Club visit www. thornburytennisclub.co.uk.

For coaching information, visit clubspark. lta.org.uk/TaylorTennisCoaching.

Claire Hawkins

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

30

n SPORT

thornburyvoice

September, 2023

Thornbury learn a lot from friendlies THORNBURY are building for the new league season and have played two matches in preseason. They lost to Lydney in a tough game, against one of the top teams from the league above, but learnt a great deal from a young side that included several teenagers making their debuts.

This was followed by a fascinating home match with Staffordshire club Lichfield, which ended in a 33-33 draw.

With both clubs rotating players throughout the game, fortunes fluctuated.

Thornbury let a 26-7 lead slip and only a try from new skipper Luke Panting in last play ensured honours would be even at the end.

The match was preceded by a presentation by former Thornbury Junior player Jimmy Halliwell, now a player with Bristol Bears, of the international jersey he was awarded when playing for

England in the recent U20 World Cup. Thornbury's early September matches see the first XV start their league campaign at Devizes on September 2, before playing their first home match with Drybrook the following weekend.

The Second XV are home on the 2nd to Frampton Cotterell but are away to Whitehall on the 9th. The Ladies begin their league campaign at Greyhound RFC in Hereford on the 17th.

Thornbury Colts put on a fine performance against Cardiff club Rumney in midAugust, and have further friendlies on Sundays in early September before starting their league season on the 24th of the month at home to Royal Wootton Bassett.

Dave Fox

Former Thornbury junior player Jimmy Halliwell presents his England U20 shirt to club chairman Geoff Sprackman. Picture: Dave Fox

Away woes leave Thornbury waiting for first win THORNBURY were "harshly denied" their first league points of the season after losing a "frantic" match at Corsham Town.

Both teams ended the game with nine men, with Corsham having two players sent off and the Thorns having two temporarily "sin binned" before the full time whistle.

Corsham, who have been tipped for promotion from the Hellenic Premier Division dominated the first 45 minutes and were 2-0 up at half time.

But shortly after the break one of their scorers, James Rusby, was sent off for a foul denying a potential goalscoring opportunity.

Harry Brock then got a goal back before providing a cross for 18-year-old striker Joe McLaughlin to score his first goal for the club since joining from Forest Green Rovers in the

summer.

But as Thornbury pushed for victory, Corsham controversially retook the lead from a free kick taken ten yards away from where the referee had given the decision, then took advantage of a defensive error to win a penalty that was converted to put the hosts 4-2 up.

Alex Hallett then became the second Corsham player to be shown a red card after he dragged back Brock, who was clean through on goal but the home side held on.

Thornbury manager Richard Joyce said the club's third straight league defeat was "disheartening" and called the crucial free kick a "poorly-applied decision on the positioning of the ball".

Thorns' start to the season was delayed by building work at the club's home at the Mundy's, where they had yet to play as the

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Voice went to press.

Their first match, on August 15, was a 4-1 defeat at Mangotsfield United.

The Mangos went into the break 1-0 up.

Although Thornbury summer signing Matt Toghill buried a deflected shot from close range to level early in the second half, Mangotsfield restored their lead minutes later and as Thorns pushed for an equaliser they scored two further late goals.

Thornbury's second league game was another heavy defeat, 5-2 away at Slimbridge, who have just been relegated from the Southern League.

The hosts scored after 12 minutes, after which there was a long delay when their striker George Neill was injured in a collision, and an ambulance had to be called.

Thorns then took the initiative, equalising before half

time with a diving header from Will Fowler before taking the lead after the break through Harvey Pritchard.

But the hosts fought back to score three unanswered goals, with Thornbury reduced to ten after Joe Guest was sent off for handling the ball in the box, conceding the penalty for the fifth goal.

Thornbury have also been knocked out of the FA Cup and FA Vase competitions.

The cup defeat came to Southern League side Bishops Cleeve, 1-0 in an extra preliminary round 'home' replay played at Tytherington Rocks, after Thorns came within seconds of knocking their higherranked opponents out during a 3-3 draw four days earlier.

Mangotsfield were responsible for Thorns' exit from the FA Vase, winning 3-0 at Cossham Street on August 26.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

September, 2023

31

Discover church heritage on open day THORNBURY'S St Mary's church is inviting people to visit and find out more about the historic building as part of this year's Heritage Open Days event.

All are welcome to come and visit on Saturday, September 9.

Take a close look at this beautiful local example of Norman transitional-style architecture, with later additions and replacements from the Victorian age.

The stunning stained glass

East Window has been recently refurbished and is looking spectacular in the summer sunshine.

There is a nationwide theme to the Heritage Open Days campaign, which is creativity, and in support of this the church will be showcasing some of the local artistic and crafting talents.

There will even be some relaxed, drop-in workshops and demonstrations in the afternoon for those interested to learn about

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crochet, painting, batik, glass engraving, poetry writing and flower arranging.

The Mothers Union will have a stall with produce and crafts and refreshments, and cake will be available all afternoon.

The tower will be open, allowing you to see the beautiful vista of the South Gloucestershire countryside, and there will be a talk about the bells in the ringing room.

The tower is not for the faint

of heart, with 133 uneven stairs to climb and is only suitable for children over eight years of age.

For tower tours booking is free but essential, and weatherpermitting. To book your tour please email thornburybenefice@ outlook.com or call 01454 281 900.

Wheelchair access only to the Church, not the Tower.

Ride and Stride in support of Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust also takes place on September 9, and participants are welcome at St Mary's Church from 10am.

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Thornbury Choral Society Conductor: Steven Kings

Do you enjoy singing?

Are you new to the area?

Do you want to meet new people?

Come and join us, we rehearse on Monday evenings at 8pm at the United Reformed Church, BS35 2BA We would love to see you at our

Welcome Evening September 11th, 7.30 to 8.00pm

Contact:secretary@thornburychoralsociety.org.uk