The Bristol Eight magazine - May 2015 by Andy Fraser

A free community magazine for the residents and businesses of BS8. Delivered each month through 8,000 letterboxes in Hotwells, Cliftonwood and Clifton.

May â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;15 Issue 74

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The Editor’s Small Piece May. Probably my favourite month of the year. I moved to Bristol in May 1989 and remember the glorious weather that month that accompanied my search for digs. If this month is as good I’ll be a happy camper. Plenty within these pages as usual including the details of the Green Squared & Secret Gardens event in early June which is one of a number of local events going on in the coming few weeks and listed herein. The deadline for the June issue of the Bristol Eight is 15th May so please don’t be late if you want a mention or take advantage of the advertising potential of the magazine. And advance warning ‐ there will be no August issue of the magazine this year as I draw breath and emerge from my of ice for a change. In the meantime I hope you have a great month. Cheers. T. 0117 968 7787 M. 07845 986650 E: andy@thebs8.co.uk Tw. @BS9Andy P. 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY

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Useful Information & Train Times Contact Numbers Gas Emergencies 0800 111 999 Electricity Emergencies 0800 365 900 Water Emergencies 0845 600 4600 Avon & Somerset Police Non‐Emergencies 101 (new no.) Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 Southmead Hospital 0117 950 5050 Bristol Royal In irmary 0117 923 0000 Bristol Children’s Hospital 0117 342 8460 NHS non‐emergency 111 Bristol Blood Donation 0117 988 2040 The Samaritans 08457 909090 Alcoholics Anonymous 0845 76975 55 ChildLine 0800 11 11 National Rail Enquiries 08457 484950 Telephone Pref Service 0845 070 0707 Mailing Pref Service 0845 703 4599 West of England Care & Repair ‐ help, advice and information 0300 323 0700 Postal Services Late Post ‐ there is a late post box at the main Post Of ice sorting depot on the A38 at Filton. Currently the late post is at 7pm. Local Libraries Clifton ‐ tel. 903 8572 Mon, Weds, Fri, Sat ‐ 10.00 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 17.00 Redland ‐ tel. 903 8549 Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat ‐ 09.30 to 17.00, Thurs ‐ 09.30 to 19.00, Sunday ‐ 13.00 to 16.00 Public Transport Visit the excellent Bristol City Council website www.travelbristolorg to plan out your routes in, around or out of the city ‐ whether you are planning to go by bus, train, ferry, air, bike, car or foot. Recycling and Household Waste The Household Waste and Recycling Centres at Avonmouth and St Phillips on Kingsweston Lane, Avonmouth are now open summer

hours from 8.00am to 18.45 7 days a week. Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000 Trains to / From Temple Meads Trains depart from Clifton Down Station to Temple Meads at the following times ‐ Mon‐Fri 0625, 0643, 0740, 0816, 0849, 0929, 1016, 1049, 1130, 1216, 1248, 1330, 1416, 1448, 1531, 1616, 1647, 1729, 1816, 1911, 1945, 2016, 2151, 2232, 2316 Sat 0647, 0731, 0816, 0847, 0930, 1016, 1048, 1131, 1216, 1246, 1331, 1416, 1448, 1531, 1616, 1647, 1731, 1816, 1929, 2009, 2152, 2231, 2316 Sun 1008, 1104, 1204, 1304, 1404, 1504, 1604, 1707, 1806, 1834 Trains depart from Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton Down at the following times ‐ Mon‐Fri 0514, 0548, 0630, 0703, 0803, 0836, 0916, 1003, 1034, 1116, 1203, 1234, 1316, 1403, 1434, 1516, 1603, 1635, 1713, 1803, 1847, 1933, 2034, 2137, 2216 Sat 0603, 0634, 0716, 0803, 0834, 0916, 1003, 1034, 1116, 1203, 1234, 1316, 1403, 1434, 1516, 1603, 1634, 1716, 1803, 1903, 2034, 2140, 2216 Sun 0908, 1023, 1123, 1223, 1323, 1423, 1523, 1623, 1652, 1753 Journey time is approximately 15 minutes in each direction

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the places that you have visited. As a reviewer, you will get emails from TripAdvisor telling you how many people have read your reviews. Travellers can give When it comes to other reviewers a “Helpful badge” if they ind planning a trip, be it in their reviews useful. this country or abroad, TripAdvisor www.tripadvisor.co.uk You can work your way through the ranks of reviewers and become a top contributor after can come in very handy to help you decide where 50 reviews, and get a gold star by your name. to stay and what to visit You can hide your full name, and appear under your irst name, and where you live. and where to eat. You are drawing on the Owners really appreciate your comments, and experience of thousands of fellow travellers, often thank you for them. If you have made who give their unbiased opinions on this any negative comments or put forward valuable website. You can also see photos suggestions, the management can also taken by people who have visited the places comment about that. listed. It is free to use and one of the biggest travel websites in existence. 280 million TripAdvisor has suffered from it’s fair share of people visit the site every month. controversy. There were instances of guests being bribed to leave good reviews of a hotel Incredibly, Trip Advisor has existed for over in Cornwall, and of reviewers posting an 15 years and you will now be able to ind alarming amount of reviews of places in too reviews on hotels, restaurants or tourist attractions in any country or city in the world. short a short time to be possible. One hotel in Blackpool ined guests £100 for leaving bad The logo of the owl is now well recognized reviews, and rival hotels busied themselves worldwide. Had you ever noticed that one of writing negative reviews about each other! it’s eyes is red and the other green? This There have even been spoof listings of non‐ symbolizes how travellers use the site. Red existent places, which climbed up the rankings means don’t go and green means go. and took some time to be spotted. The site Travellers give places a rating, which is measured in circles or bubbles and not stars. has now started to check reviews, and only posts them once they are satis ied that it is The highest rating is 5 bubbles. genuine. Some of the reviews are not from I ind that you do get some bad reviews. Some real travellers, so I do urge you to read through at least 10 reviews before making a of them are really quite funny. People who are annoyed with small things will sometimes decision. lash out at the owners of hotels or restaurants If you are planning your summer holiday, get by posting a bad review. You can usually sift help from TripAdvisor before you travel. through all the latest reviews and get a good overall feeling for a place. Don’t let one bad review put you off. There is a wonderful country pub just outside Bath which we visit from time to time. The landlord there seems to polarise opinions on TripAdvisor. Some ind him charming, and others describe him as being rather too jovial. I enjoy writing reviews for Trip Advisor as well as drawing on it for guidance in planning trips. Once you start reviewing, it can be quite addictive, and a nice way to keep a record of

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Cashing in your pension – beware of the tax trap From the beginning of this tax year and providing you are aged 55 or over, it has been possible to cash in your pension and receive a lump sum. Previously your options have been restricted and for many this meant purchasing an annuity to provide you with a guaranteed pension for life. Under the new rules you will now be able to access the entire fund and invest it or spend it as you wish. While I can’t advise on whether cashing in your pension is a sensible move or not, I can advise on the tax implications. Before taking any action to cash in the whole or part of your entire pension, you need to be aware of how much you will lose in tax. 25% of the fund is tax free, but the remaining 75% is taxable and the tax liability could be signi icant. The taxable pension is added to your other income in the year and could easily mean that a proportion of your pension is taxed at 40%. If the pension pot is sizeable and takes your income over £100,000 then the position is made worse as at this point

you start to lose your entitlement to your personal tax allowance. In order to minimise the tax you could consider cashing in part of your pension each year. For example the higher rate tax threshold for this year is £42,386 and so if you have an income of £30,000 and a £60,000 pension lump sum then your would lose £15,523 in tax. But, if you were to spread the pension withdrawal equally over two years then the tax would drop to £13,046 and by spreading over 4 years, the tax would drop to £9,000. You will have spent many years saving for your pension and so make sure that you keep as much of it as possible. If you want to discuss this in any depth, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me ‐ pjones@wilkinsonandpartners.co.uk. Phil Jones is a director of local independent tax and accountancy firm Wilkinson & Partners, based on Jacob Wells Road here in BS8. www.wilkinsonpartners.co.uk or call 0117 921 1222

The Downs Recorder ‐ Richard Bland Deep Litter on the Downs On the last Saturday of every winter month a gallant band of volunteers from the Friends of the Downs gather together, armed with high viz jackets, black plastic bags and litter‐ snippers and dive into the thickest clumps of brambles and privet and snowberry on the Downs to seek out the litter that has been dumped out of sight by the ignorant and thoughtless. Any casual observer crossing the Downs will always ind it looking immaculate, and this is the result of the ceaseless activity of the Downs Ranger’s men, and their mini pick up, which every day, including Sundays and bank holidays, checks over the whole two hundred hectare site, emptying every one of the 42 discreet litter bins, some for dogs only, that are spread at fairly regular intervals across the surface. And most people, and most dog owners, even at the height of summer during the Balloon Festival, try to leave their rubbish close to a litter bin even if the bins are full. Because they appreciate that they can make the job of the Ranger’s men easier thereby. And there are also many who clean up after themselves, and leave nothing but their footprints behind them. Would there were more. And what is the fate of the litter that is collected? It goes to a commercial recycling irm, who sort it, recycling the metal and glass, burning the combustible to make electricity, composting the compostable, and sending little but ashes to land ill. But there is other waste to dispose of. Grass cuttings are not collected, but rot down almost at once to renew the fertility of the thin soils. Leaves on paths are gathered in autumn and dropped down a wooded slope where they create the inest leaf mould. The meadows have their hay cut in late July and August, a complex operation that needs there

to be three ine dry days so that the plants can be cut, dried in the sun, and bailed, and the hay is then sold. Scrub is increasingly being cleared on the Zoo Banks and around the Observatory to increase the accessible area of the Downs which is diminishing every year, and to increase habitat for the native plants for which the Downs are famous. This material is turned into bark mulch which is used in places where the wear is heavy, such as in front of seats, and at the Peregrine Watch site. And inally every year the new young trees that were planted after the Dutch Elm Disease forty years ago have their crowns lifted by removing lower branches, so that they develop with clean straight trunks. And this material is used to reconstruct the dead hedges that provide a boundary to the meadows along Circular Road. This is done to ensure that the runners are not tempted to widen the track their feet have created by trampling over the orchids that are the wonder of the meadows in June.

And who rebuilds these dead hedges? Why, the gallant volunteers of the Friends of the Downs. Why not join them? Membership is just £10. Contact Robin Haward at robinhaward@blueyonder.co.uk 0117 974 3385

Clifton Guide Price £545,000 A charming end of terrace 4 bedroom Victorian Villa with landscaped garden. Stylish accommodation is arranged over 3 loors with numerous period features. Viewing is highly recommended. EPC – E

Clifton £525,000 Superbly presented larger than average three bedroom lat with parking space and good sized private rear garden set in an attractive Victorian building. Master bedroom with en‐suite facilities. It offers generous accommodation and is located mid way between Whiteladies Road and Clifton Village. EPC – D

Montague Hill South £149,950 This purpose built lat would make a great irst time buy or a great buy to let, producing a yield of 6% at the asking price. Outside you will ind well tended communal gardens and that ever important PARKING SPACE! No onward chain. EPC – D

Redland £235,000 Stamp your own mark onto this roomy ground loor purpose built apartment overlooking The Downs. In brief: Large Sitting/Dining Room, Kitchen, Sun Room/Conservatory, 2 double bedrooms and bathroom. Single garage located in a block. No chain. EPC ‐ D

Redland £285,000 A rare opportunity to purchase a brand new purpose built 2 bedroom top loor lat with small balcony, brand new kitchen with appliances and gas central heating throughout forms part of this small development located just off Hampton Road. EPC – B

Redland SSTC Extended four bedroom detached 1930's home with large open plan kitchen/family living area. Located adjacent to Redland Green School. The house is well presented. Single garage with drive to the front providing off street parking. EPC ‐ D

Selling? Call us today on 0117 974 1741 for a FREE market appraisal | Here to accommodate

GREEN SQUARES AND SECRET GARDENS ‐ 6th & 7th JUNE 2015 There is something intriguing about an enclosed garden; few of us can resist the temptation to explore, so for a second year we are giving people the opportunity to ind some secret places in Clifton, Cliftonwood and Hotwells. A number of the communal gardens will open their gates to the public as well as a selection of other interesting squares and gardens. The gardens can choose when they will be open. After expenses have been taken out, the money from the sale of tickets is divided between eligible participating gardens.

Richmond Terrace The aim is to make this a fun and interesting event for families and all age groups. O ne ticket (£3.00 and free for those under 16) gives entry to all the participating gardens on both days. Ticket holders will be given a map showing the location of the gardens, a booklet with information about them and a tree trail in St Andrew’s churchyard This is also an opportunity for the garden owners to raise money, so there may be entertainments, refreshments or stalls selling cakes, plants etc. Sorry, only assistance dogs are allowed in the gardens. From mid‐May information, including opening times will be on the CHIS website (www.cliftonhotwells.org.uk) and on the CHIS

notice board at the Clifton Library in Princess Victoria Street, Clifton.

Bellevue TICKETS CAN BE BOUGHT IN ADVANCE from GSSG, 11 Goldney Avenue, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4RA. Please send a sae [9 x 6.5 inch (23.5 x 14 cm) envelope] or a stamp and your address and enclose a cheque made payable to CHIS. Tickets are £3.00 per person. Free entry for those under 16. On 6th & 7th June from 11.00 a.m. tickets will be on sale outside the Arch House Deli which is between Victoria Square and Boyce’s Avenue. Organised by Clifton & Hotwells Improvement Society (CHIS).

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Prize Wordsearch This month we have an avian theme to the prize Wordsearch as we are looking for garden birds. Listed below are 21 of our favourite and most commonly seen garden birds. 20 of the birds are also hidden in the wordsearch grid ‐ written forwards, backwards, up, down or on a diagonal. Simply search the grid to ind which bird hasn’t made it in, then send the name of that bird in to me. You can enter by post (8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY), email (andy@thebs8.co.uk), telephone (0117 9687787), text (07845 986650) or appropriately Twitter (@BS9Andy). Entries must be submitted no later than 31st May to be in with a chance, after which one correct entrant will be randomly selected to win the prize. Speaking

of which the prize this month is a lovely 1,000 piece RSPB garden birds jigsaw and a 192 page birdwatchers guide from the Wildlife Trust. Right, here are your birds ‐ happy hunting:‐

Blackcap Wren Starling Blue Tit Bull inch Robin Redwing Coal Tit Dunnock Jay House Sparrow Green Woodpecker Great Tit

Blackbird Song Thrush Chaf inch Magpie Goldcrest Gold inch Wood Pigeon Green inch In the meantime thank you to everybody who entered the March cheese wordsearch, The correct answer was Emmental and the irst name out of the hat, winning the Gromit Unleashed Monopoly board game, was from Javier Freire‐Banos. Congratulations Javier, your Monopoly game is on its way, and if you didn’t win this time do please have another go.

203 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2XT “Normally most properties in Bristol will sell or let relatively quickly but occasionally we get one that takes longer. Often there is some quirky issue that many buyers or tenants consider a flaw. We will always be successful in the end because we know what we’re doing. Here at CJ Hole Clifton we have overseen thousands of sales and rentals over the years. Don’t let any agent tell you that buying, selling and letting is always a smooth and perfect process. It isn’t. What you need when things aren’t straightforward is an agent that really knows how to deal with the rough as well as the smooth.” - Howard Davis, MD Clifton These are just a few of the things that have been said about the Clifton team in the last few weeks… “Both Molly and Lara have been highly efficient, professional and friendly in the letting and management process, readily 'going the extra mile' unprompted..” Kevin F (landlord) “Really good experience. We even got given some chocolates and champagne on the completion of our move. Very efficient information given throughout the process and helpful staff.” Matthew B - (Tenant) “Rachel was professional, she wasn't pushy, she responded to questions raised and helped to meet a tight deadline. The cava & tea - a nice touch, thank you.” Yvonne C (Buyer) “Vince dealt with the sale, however all members of staff we dealt with were excellent. Always professional both in rental and sales.” Mr & Mrs H (Vendor)

For Sale £575,000 Clifton A four bedroom terraced house with integral garage and rear patio garden and roof garden. Beautifully presented.

SOLD SUBJECT TO CONTRACT Clifton A versatile Victorian house currently arranged as flats and maisonette, retains a great deal of original charm and character.

Clifton Lettings 0117 946 6588 www.cjhole.com

clifton@cjhole.co.uk

SOLD SUBJECT TO CONTRACT Clifton A four bedroom house in Clifton with rear garden and parking area. Great location for not only Clifton Triangle and Village but also City Centre.

SOLD SUBJECT TO CONTRACT Clifton Three bedroom apartment on the first floor of a Victorian building. Generous and versatile interior in a tree lined street off Whiteladies Road.

To Let £1,450 pcm plus fees Redland A bright and spacious three bedroom maisonette in a quiet Redland Road. Can be furnished or unfurnished. Ideal for sharers. EPC - F

To Let £950 pcm plus fees Hotwells Two bedroom waterfront apartment. Allocated parking and available unfurnished from May 20th. EPC - B

To Let £1,200 pcm plus fees Cotham A truly unique two bedroom garden maisonette. Ample parking space for two vehicles. Great central location. EPC - TBC

To Let £1,250 pcm plus fees Failand A four bedroom bungalow in Failand. Lovely lawned garden, conservatory and parking. EPC - F

www.cjhole.com Clifton Sales 0117 923 8238

Active Eight ‐ Keeping it in and around BS8 with Kayna Tregay

and power. Yoga, Pilates or training with weights are all perfect ways improve whole body strength. And remember to stretch out at the end of your workout to keep you injury‐ free! The Bristol 10k: Training for an iconic road race Finally, ensure you have tested your By Kayna Tregay, Pilates teacher and Personal equipment. Race day is not the time to try out that shiny new pair of trainers for the irst Trainer time… Priced at £26, the Bristol 10k is one of the more expensive events on the running calendar. However, you may ind it’s well worth the cash to be amongst thousands of fellow runners streaming under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and snaking along Bristol’s sparkling waterfront. Plus, with a lat course, and guaranteed crowds to cheer you on, it’s a golden opportunity to set a new personal best! On Sunday 31 May, 12,000 runners will gather Visit www.runbristol.com to enter today. on Anchor Road for the 2015 Bristol 10k. Fancy being one of them? If you’re already running at least 5k and want the challenge of a longer distance, you’ve got less than a month to prepare! Here’s how to maximise your training over the next 3‐4 weeks: Aim to train 3‐4 times a week. If you haven’t previously run 10k, increase your distance gradually until you are running 8‐9k. Race day adrenaline will give you the push to complete 10k. Complete a mix of steady runs and interval sessions on hills or the lat. Intervals really increase the ef iciency of your cardiovascular system and are a great way to improve your overall speed. A simple interval structure is a 1 minute steady run, followed by 30 seconds of running at a pace where you feel puffed. And repeat for 10‐15 minutes in total. Increase the interval duration and overall running time as your itness improves. Incorporate resistance training once a week to boost your running posture

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For more information, please visit www.chironcentre.co.uk or call 0117 962 0008 Next TASTER DAY 6th June 1‐5pm. Come and have a ‘taste of complementary healthcare. Free entry, tea and cake. Only £5 for a 20min taster

Walking Whiteladies ‐ with Brian Leith The Whiteladies Time Machine If you were a Martian and only visited planet earth every 75 years or so, how would you know at a glance what had changed on our local high street, Whiteladies Road? Easy. You'd pick up an interstellar copy of 'Kelly's Directory' for the year you're interested in to look at what shops and businesses existed in that year... I'm not a Martian, but I did pick up a Kelly's Directory for 1931 recently and it's made me think about all the changes that have taken place on Whiteladies Road in the last 75 years. Very revealing it is too... See if you can guess which shops and businesses have survived since 1931, and which ones have gone to the wall? I'll give you a clue: the changes have been far greater than you're probably guessing.

Whiteladies Road c. 1932 ‐ photo courtesy of Paul Townsend — ”Brizzle Born & Bred” on Flickr Predictably perhaps, it's the banks that have been least changed. Several of our leading high street banks are not only still there, but with the same name, and at the same address. 'Barclays' and 'Lloyds', which lank the end of Burlington Road, existed in the same places 75 years ago, and perhaps this is hardly surprising: banking ‐ storing and keeping track of our money ‐ is probably the dominant business of our culture, despite the crashes of recent years. A few other banks have moved or changed name: in 1931 there was a Westminster Bank' on the corner of Apsley Rd, on the site of the present River Cottage Canteen. As some of us recall, this ultimately became the 'Nat West' Bank just a few years ago.

Apart from the banks only a handful of shops and businesses which existed in 1931 are still there today: Giles Brothers (sporting goods), Buxton and Grant (the chemists), and Chappell and Matthew (auctioneers and letting/estate agents) have survived, much to their credit, but that's about it. (Surprisingly perhaps, Harold Hockey ‐ just recently closed near the top of WLR ‐ didn't exist just 75 years ago.) Other businesses which were obviously common just a 2 or 3 generations ago have entirely vanished from our lives and society. In 1931 several 'coal merchants', 'furriers' and 'milliners' were all to be found along Whiteladies Road. Today, there are probably many kids who don't even know what a 'milliner' is! Other businesses which were common then have clearly been replaced today by larger multinational concerns, like the several 'confectionery' shops. And there are a few businesses which existed then which have vanished altogether ‐ and thank goodness! In 1931, at number 12 (right beside the existing Commonwealth Institute there stood the 'Institute of Electro‐Therapeutics' ‐ apparently a working place for 'medical electricians' ‐ which (thank goodness) has since closed down! I wonder where the electrodes went? One of the most glaring indications of changing times for us all is the number of 'car'‐ related businesses which have vanished since 1931, from 'charabanc proprietors ' to 'motor coach manufacturers' and rather grand‐sounding 'motor car showrooms' ‐ a dozen or more along WLR, all which have long since gone... the present‐day closing of most of our garages and petrol stations was obviously anticipated long ago. One place that existed in 1931 and that we're promised may yet return is 'Whiteladies Picture House' (and accompanying Picture House Cafe...). Let's keep ingers crossed for the happy return that's on the cards! It's sad that enjoying cinema ilms has become a solitary activity ‐ pursued mainly at home using internet connection via our TV sets nowadays. The other absence from Kellys' Directory in 1931 that rather surprised me was the BBC ‐ which I thought (having worked there for many years) had been built at its current address back in the 1920s... but I was obviously wrong. © Brian Leith 2015

Book Review ‐ “The Hill” by Andy Stafford As mentioned before in previous book reviews I have huge admiration for anyone who writes and publishes a novel. However I’m also a bit cynical of reviews on Amazon. Last year I read a novel, following a request by the author for a review. I battled to the end getting increasingly resentful of spending several hours of my life reading what was an exercise in complete tosh ‐ only to ind that all six reviews on Amazon had given it 5 stars. The power of getting friends to write reviews eh? So the irst thing I did when being asked by local author Andy Stafford to review his debut novel “The Hill” was to check out what Amazon punters had said about it. 52 reviews. Average score ‐ 4.9 stars. Now I’m an average bloke and I don’t even know 52 people, let alone be able to get them to write nice things about me, so I assumed that for once the reviews online had some unbiased credibility and that Andy Stafford had written a good book. So I embarked on chapter 1 of 159 with enthusiasm. And you know what? By the time I’d got to chapter 159 I fully understood why 52 people had taken the trouble to say some great things about The Hill. For it is a terri ic novel and every bit as good as the previously mentioned book was awful. And to add to the terrif icness it is a novel set largely right here in NW Bristol. The book opens with the brutal murder of Ben Walker, a young policeman with a bright future, in a savage attack by a group of local lowlife that also leaves his girlfriend in a coma. The location ‐ the bronze age burial mound in Badock’s Wood known as Mill Tut, “the Hill” of the title. The story starts off along the path of a “normal” crime thriller. The

reader knows who the murderer and his accomplices are, but the police (an uneasy team of maverick DCI Markland Garraway and untrusting Sergeant Colin Matthews) don’t ‐ and there is very little obvious evidence to go on. The reader might anticipate that modern forensic policing would kick in ‐ but no, not a bit of it. Traditional policing gets the team nowhere, and when clues do painstakingly appear they come from a far less scienti ically proven source ‐ the world of the paranormal. I don’t want to ruin the enjoyment that readers will I am sure get from Andy Stafford’s story by giving away too much in terms of plotlines, but suf ice to say that when a toddler, born in Bristol Maternity Hospital the exact moment Ben Walker is killed, starts to talk and display an inconceivable knowledge of the events surrounding the murder it all gets a bit surreal. And creepy too, to be honest. I found the way Andy Stafford weaves real life and his vision of life beyond the grave compelling, thought provoking and genuinely gripping. It is also emotionally well scripted, portraying the fears and sadness of not just those directly involved in the attack ‐ the murderer and his victim ‐ but also the families left behind, the investigating team, the “innocent” witness and the parents of the troubled toddler who becomes so central to the story. The local setting adds to the readability of the novel ‐ Badock’s Wood is not just the scene of the crime it is also central to the solution ‐ but even without the Bristolian location the story stands up brilliantly as a debut novel ‐ an accomplished tale that weaves the sadness of the real world with an optimism that comes from life after death. “The Hill” is available through Amazon.

30 humanitarian mission to Africa. When pirates attack their boat, they are taken hostage and discover the real In his new historical Africa and the real people who biography, The Greatest live there, including a Knight, Edward Asbridge kidnapper with an astonishing paints a vivid picture of background. This is a frank mediaeval society while and often brutal novel of death telling the story of William and survival but, as always with Khadra, an Marshal, the property‐less entirely convincing one. Despite its horrors, younger son of a twelfth the beauty of Africa shines through and makes century nobleman. Marshal Kurt’s inal decision entirely comprehensible. rose to become the King’s Champion and loyally served four English Marie Jalowicz, a young Jewish monarchs. He gained a fortune from woman born and brought up in ransoming the ive hundred knights he Berlin, was seventeen when the captured in tournaments and was renowned throughout Europe. A crusader, he also fought war began. Instead of waiting meekly to be transported to a in wars across England and France. He was concentration camp, she the only man to unhorse Richard the disappeared. Gone to Ground Lionheart in single combat and was also is her story, in her words. She instrumental in the bringing about of Magna was helped to survive by many Carta. Hollywood couldn’t have made up the ordinary compassionate non‐ life told in this fascinating and always Jewish Germans. She lived on her wits, made gripping book. marriages of convenience and was decisive and bold. After the war, she stayed in Berlin In Barbara Trapido’s novel because its people had kept her safe at a time Sex & Stravinsky, both sex when farewells were said with the words, and Stravinsky turn up but ‘Stay alive.’ Her book is not merely the more important idea is enthralling from the irst to the last page, it is that of displacement. In a a revelation. kitchen in London, super ef icient Australian, Caroline, Finally, here is an meets Josh, a South African. environmentalist story from Years later, their daughter the seventies, when the Zoe’s longing to learn ballet is fuelled by a environment had hardly been South African author’s dance stories. When heard of. Edward Abbey’s The Caroline’s mother from hell turns up, their Monkey Wrench Gang brings lives go haywire. Add in another awkward together Doc Sarvis, George family situation in South Africa, not to Hayduke, Seldom Seen Smith mention the very striking but mysterious Jack, and Ms Bonnie Abbzug; as and a complicated dance pattern begins. unlikely a bunch of madcap crusaders for Though appallingly dark currents swirl beneath a civilised surface, this is an excellent nature as you could imagine. Together the four roam the American desert lands and and highly entertaining novel – and how you sabotage developers busy strip mining, hope everyone will end up with the right building roads and damming rivers. A deep partner! love of lora and fauna and the country’s In The African Equation by Yasmina Khadra, breathtaking landscape underlie the desperate escapades in this provocative and Kurt Kraussman’s life is destroyed by his wife’s suicide, so he joins his friend Hans on a very funny novel.

Book Reviews with Bruce Fellows

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR GARAGE Your garage is a fantastic asset if you use it properly. Not just a place to park your car but a vital part of your home - providing a space for storage and hobbies. For 30 years family-run Up&Over Doors in Glenfrome Road, Bristol have been helping people make the most of their garage space. So start your Spring clean and clear out the clutter. Throw away all those old paint tins and rusty “things that will come in handy.” Then check the garage door functions properly. Up&Over Doors have spares for most doors – springs, rollers and locks may need replacing.

To use the space think about letting light into your garage. Doors with windows enable garage space to be used for hobbies or as a workshop. You can see examples on the website www.upandoverdoorsltd.co.uk or at the Bristol showroom. Consider installing automatic opening doors if you have restricted mobility – or if you simply don’t want to stand in the rain fumbling for your keys. Your garage works better as a store with racking. Up&Over Doors is offering some free racking with all new doors ordered until the end of May. Contact 0117 300 0700 for more details,

1) Switch off all devices – including your phone ‐ at a certain time each night. The time can vary ‐ it will help to wind down and cut stress. How are your habits? 2) Have a power hour – an hour once a week on the same night to do the Those of you who have been following my non‐urgent tasks you keep putting column for a while now will have heard me off. speak of Gretchen Rubin. She used to be a lawyer and is now a writer. She is 3) Give yourself external accountability dedicated to digging into everyday life to for something you’ve been wanting ind the unwritten rules that boost to do for yourself. Tell your friends wellbeing and make life better. In her third or family or work colleagues that book ‘Better than Before’ she gives tips to you are going to do it – they can transform our lives simply by changing our support and help you achieve it. habits. She believes that we repeat about 45% of Louise England is a our behaviour almost daily. So habits add Lifestyle and Home up over time, until they are life‐changing. For example, if you do 10 minutes of Pilates Assistant and her service aims to free‐ a day it may prevent a bad back; an hour a week on your expenses will save you an end up your free time. Her passion is ‐of‐tax‐year panic. to make a positive The starting point is to cultivate the habits difference to people’s lives by helping them that work for you. Once we have a habit, we don’t have to make decisions or choices sort things out and complete jobs in their or use willpower – which are all very draining. It is easier to stick to habits when homes quickly and ef iciently. you’ve worked out what suits you. On Monday morning I go to circuits – this is a Website: www.louiseengland.co.uk habit, I don’t think about it, it’s just what I do, and I love it. Full stop. Mobile: 07780 474256 Email: louise@louiseengland.co.uk Here are 3 good habits you could consider: Twitter: @L_England

Louise’s Tips for an Easier Life

Being Brilliant This week I had the pleasure of a meeting with some two‐percenters. As you do. Actually they had names ‐ Sophie, Ailie, Jaden, Henry and Jacob. They are year 5 pupils at Westbury on Trym Academy and they are taking part in a Bristol‐wide project of positivity called Being Brilliant. Being Brilliant is led by local author Andy Cope who is also a happiness expert and oozes positivity. He gets people to think differently and to achieve huge unbelievably great goals (HUGGS). His project aims to empower the children of Bristol to deliver 'positivity', 'happiness' and 'brilliance' across their schools and communities. The aim is to transform lives and embed 'brilliance' into the school ethos. And the two percenters are those people who are permanently happy and keen to pass on that happiness and positivity to their friends, families and beyond. The children I met have certainly bought into the project ‐ as they told me “there are too many 'mood hoovers' in this world – people who moan and grumble and are negative. We want to make everyone feel positive and as great as they can be”. A sentiment echoed by teacher Emma Wood who, working alongside Marie‐Elaine Carroll class teacher and Deputy Head, is working with all the Year 5’s to spread the happiness. “We think 'Brilliant Bristol' will equip the children to deal with challenges. We also think it will set kids up to be confident, positive, upbeat, passionate and happy…things that go well beyond the classroom. The children are now looking at ways of “spreading the brilliance”. They told me that being positive and happy makes them feel good, makes them smile and that this is infectious. So they are aiming to have that effect on

their classmates and family, who in turn can impact positively on some of their friends and family and so on “until the mood hoovers are beaten.” These little ambassadors of happiness are looking at all sorts of ways of spreading the message ‐ by being positive about receiving homework, feeling good about being themselves rather than pretending to be something they aren’t, “being the best I can be”. And by telling as many people as possible about the project and how good they feel about it ‐ so a YouTube video is planned and, with teachers assistance, other traditional and social media broadcasts are likely. At then on 25th June the Westbury on Trym academy students, with pupils from other Bristolian schools, will be taking part in Random Kindness Day, a record breaking attempt at conducting the most “acts of random kindness” in a day ‐ little spontaneous things that make them feel good and the recipient of the act good as well. “We want people to turn their frown upside down!” seems to be their mantra. So I offer my good luck to the children for the remainder of the project ‐ and thanks for putting a smile on my face by sharing your positivity and enthusiasm.

Brilliant two‐percenters from Westbury on Trym Academy ‐ from right to left Ailie, Jaden, Henry, Jacob and Sophie

Holy Communion, Christening and Occasion wear for boys and girls. www.blessedboutiquebristol.co.uk info@blessedboutiquebristol.co.uk Tel 01179147913 New showroom now open ‐ 76 Peverell Drive, Henbury, BS10 7LJ 10% off when you mention this advert.

G G Travel Executive coach travel

Highgrove Garden Tours on Monday 1st June & Thursday 27th August Price £38.50 Tea or Coffee at The Hare & Hounds. Includes entrance to garden 2 hour walk. Time to have lunch at Highgrove after tour of the garden To book contact Merryn Gillam Tel: 01275 543721 or Mob:07966 486251 Flat 7 Averill Court, 37A Hill Road, Clevedon. BS21 7NE email; ggtravelinfo@gmail.com

Pick up Points - Nailsea / Clevedon / Portishead /Water Tower / Durdham Downs / Henleaze Road / Westbury on Trym

“No Prize” General Knowledge Quiz 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

12.

Apart from Rolls‐Royce cars, Crewe is the manufacturing “home” to which other form of vehicle? Name the “Big Five” game animals found on an African safari.

Cheese Rolling competition take place?

13.

What is the name given to a person who only eats fruit?

If you lew into Funchal airport which country would you be visiting? Name the four “houses“ at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter novels. Name these cars

The Strait of Dover is how wide at its narrowest point? Name the UK Prime Minister, the German Chancellor and the French President on 1st January 2000.

14. 15 16. 17.

In which decade were the irst a) Conservative (not Whig), b) Labour and c) Liberal Democrat MP’s elected to the House of Commons? What is the currency of Hungary? What is the origin of the word “tapas”? Put these three gents in age order starting with the youngest ‐ Brad Pitt, Nigel Farage and Jose Mourinho.

Who is the Greek goddess of wisdom? And who is the Greek god of the sea? Name the most easterly USA city and the most westerly Russian city with populations more than 500,000. In which year were the following ilms released?

Where speci ically does the famous

18.

And put these three ladies in age order, again starting with the youngest ‐ Kylie Minogue, Louise Minchin and Kate Winslet.

19.

What is 17 squared? Answers on Page 44

Anne Thistlethwaite a Solicitor and Mediator at AMD Solicitors considers a recent case on Spousal Maintenance and a judge’s comments on when a mother should be expected to return to work

contributing inancially, whilst itting in with her child care responsibilities. Before the marriage she had worked as a Legal Secretary and an Administrator. The Judge said that there was “a general expectation that once a child is in Year 2, most mothers can consider part‐time work consistent with their obligations to In 1973 the their children”. Matrimonial Causes Act came into being. By 2012, the husband’s inancial This is still the circumstances had worsened so he legislation we apply applied to the court for the maintenance to sort out a couple’s to be reduced. It seems that in the inancial assets and intervening years, the wife had not made obligations on any effort to ind employment. It is also divorce. When I reported that the wife was rather evasive started in practice in on questions about her own earning the 1980s, Judges capacity. Her spousal maintenance was talked about a 10 to 12 year marriage reduced. being a “medium length” marriage and a “long marriage” was 15 to 20 years. Over This case is fact speci ic as are all cases this time however many more couples you hear about, each case depending on are divorcing after 30 years or more so it the circumstances. There are a number of makes a 10 year marriage seem quite factors, not just the length of the short. Nevertheless, in a 10 year period, marriage and ages of the children that say, a wife may have given up her job and are relevant to the inancial outcome in have three young children in primary each case. school. Why do I mention this? Mrs Wright was in the news recently as a If you are in the process of separating or Judge told her that she is expected to go want to review an existing spousal back to work now that her children are maintenance order AMD Solicitors can 16 and 10 years old. advise on all the inancial implications. When the original maintenance order AMD Solicitors have of ices in Henleaze, had been made, in 2008, the youngest Clifton and Shirehampton and Anne or child had been only 3 years old. The one of her colleagues can be contacted on Judge at that time said that within a 0117 962 1460 or by email to couple of years the wife should be annethistlethwaite@amdsolcitors.com © AMD Solicitors 2015

38 Garden, The Holmes, Stoke Park Road, Bristol BS9 1JG 0117 331 4906. For further details and to book your place please see: Listings for community events, not‐for‐ www.bristol.ac.uk/botanic‐garden/education/ pro it clubs and charitable activities are Barn Dance and Hog Roast in aid of Children's free of charge. If you have something of this Hospice South West to be held in St Mary's nature that you would like listed please get Church, Stoke Bishop on Saturday 16 May 7 ‐ in touch with Andy Fraser by telephoning 10.30pm. Tickets £15.00 available from Just so 0117 968 7787 or 07845 986650, post Balloons, 158 Henleaze Road or from Alison details in to 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY or 0117 9629715. Licensed Bar. emailing andy@bcmagazines.co.uk (in email or Word format ‐ no PDF’s please). All East ield Food & Craft Market. 2nd Saturday of notices must be received by the 12th of the every month, 10‐2pm East ield Inn, Henleaze preceding month to guarantee Rd, Bristol, Over 25 artisan stalls; veg from consideration for inclusion. Wrington Walled Garden, Gourmet Sausages freshly baked breads, local honey, preserves, Drop In Healing Sessions held at The Friends cakes, pastries veggie bakes and more. Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, Redland Handmade crafts, photography and artwork, BS6 6JE on Thursdays from 5.00 pm to 6.30 bags, cushions, babyknits, jewellery, plants pm. Run by NFSH The Healing Trust trained plus more. Pub open for teas/coffees/food volunteers on a donation basis. Healing can help whether you're feeling stressed or in need 'Normal Service will be Resumed ...' A musical of support or just want time for yourself. comedy from the Ministry of Entertainment Everyone welcome, no need to book. For more (as seen at the Tobacco Factory) starring Kate information phone 07748 358206. McNab and Ross Harvey. St Mary Magdalene Church, Stoke Bishop. Saturday 23 May 7.30pm. Tickets £10 from Church Of ice 0117 We are the Bristol U3A – an organisation of lively and interesting people who offer all sorts 9687449 (9‐12.30) of ice@stmarysb.org.uk of groups for enjoyment, friendship and learning. If you are no longer in full‐time work, Team members needed. At Bristol Child Contact Centre in Henleaze children of all ages we have a wide range of over 100 different activities, including art, computing, languages, spend time with the parent they no longer live music, walking, and science. Please visit one of with, in a session supported by our volunteers. Most of the ‘contact parents’ are fathers, so we our social groups, either at the East ield Inn, would especially welcome more men to join us. Henleaze, on the irst Monday every month at The volunteer team prepares the hall and toys, 10.30am ‐ phone Barbara 0117 9629331. Or come to Browns Restaurant by the Museum on serves refreshments, welcomes parents and children, listens non‐judgmentally when the third Wednesday or the fourth Thursday needed, and keeps everyone safe and happy. If every month at 10.15am ‐ phone Jenny 0117 this appeals to you, and you’d be free to join 9043697. Details: www.bristolu3a.org.uk. our Saturday volunteer rota every 4‐6 weeks, Don’t stay at home, come and join the Bristol do get in touch for further details. You will get U3A! an enhanced DBS check, training and support, plus the satisfaction of maintaining a much‐ Willow Weaving Sculpture Workshop with Sarah Webb at the University of Bristol Botanic valued service which helps families stay in touch after separation. See our website at garden. Saturday 23 May 10am. A great www.bristolchildcontactcentre.org.uk. and/or opportunity to create a willow sculpture or ring Helen or Anna on 07511 290505. plant support to enhance your garden. Places on the course are limited to allow Sarah to “Re lections” A Mixed Art Exhibition from the provide adequate support for newcomers to the craft. All materials provided. £55.00. Venue Re lections Group. The Guild Gallery, 68 Park Street, Clifton, Bristol. May 16th – June 6th for courses: The University of Bristol Botanic

What’s On & Community News

What’s On & Community News 2015. This popular group will be showing an eclectic mix of artworks, including paintings, prints, ceramics, glass, enamels and textiles. There is bound to be something to please all visitors, whether their interest is in igurative or abstract images, jewellery, sculpture or pots. The exhibition starts on Saturday 16 May at The Bristol Guild Gallery, Park Street, Clifton with an opening party for all visitors to celebrate the start of the new exhibition. It runs until Saturday 6 June and the gallery is open between 10am and 5pm, Monday to Saturday. Bristol Cathedral Choir School Choral Society is always looking for new singers to join our choir! We are an enthusiastic amateur choir specialising mainly in classical works (ancient to modern). We are loosely associated with the Choir School, joining in with some of their concerts and using the school (on College Green) for practice on Wednesday evenings. There is no audition and no requirement for musical expertise, just an urge to sing! Contact Matthew Smith mattmsmith@virginmedia.com if you are interested. Tuesday 2 June, 7.30pm Free talk on Spiritual Identity at the Christian Science Church, 51 North View, Westbury Park, BS6 7PY. The Over 40’s Club is a non‐pro it making social club. New members always welcome. Our weekly club nights start at 8.30pm every Thursday. We have a varied programme of events ranging from meals out and walks to gliding and badminton. For further info please contact our New Members Secretary Lynn on 07757780201 or visit our website www.bbivc.org.uk Bristol Cabot Probus Club is for retired and semi‐retired professional and business men to maintain contact and fellowship with people of similar interests. Meets third Wednesday each month in BAWA Club Southmead Rd, for lunch followed by a speaker on a wide range of interesting subjects. Extensive programme of social events including holidays, day trips, Sunday lunches and skittles to which ladies and friends are welcomed. Contact John Howard‐

Cairns on 968 3134 for more details. The friends of Henleaze library are proud to present Professor Timothy Mowl, local architectural and landscape historian. He will be giving an illustrated talk on Bristol on Thursday 21 May at Henleaze library. Tickets £3 each to include light refreshments, available from Henleaze Library , Northumberland Drive BS9 4HP 0117 903 8541 Stoke Bishop Open Gardens. Sunday 28 June 1‐ 5pm. In support of Sneyd Park Nature Reserve, Stoke Bishop Hanging Baskets and the Botanic Garden. The third year of the hugely successful trail features nine gardens, all of them located in the Sneyd Park Area of Stoke Bishop. This year’s trail features gardens in Julian Road, Pitch and Pay Park Lane, Mariners Drive, Old Sneed Park and Bramble Drive. Teas will be available in Bramble Drive and St Mary’s Church Hall. Entry to the garden and the trail map is provided by a passport, £5 per person ( accompanied children are free). These can be purchased from 1 June at Aimee’s Wine House, Stoke Bishop and during the afternoon of the event at St Mary’s Church, Aimee’s Wine House and all participating gardens. For further information contact ‐ stokebishopopengardens@gmail.com The Probus Club of Bristol for semi or retired Professional Business men, meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at BAWA Southmead Road. At these meetings we have a three course lunch with a speaker. In addition there is a substantial programme of social events to which our Ladies are invited to participate. If you are interested in joining our club, please contact our Membership Secretary Martin Harker on 01275 857324, email probusbristol@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.bristolprobus.org.uk Rotary Club of Bristol – we meet at the Bristol Hotel, Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QF at 7.00pm for 7.30 pm on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays and at 12.30pm for 1.00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. Meetings start with a meal and are followed by a speaker. New members are very welcome – see www.bristolrotary.org or contact our Club Secretary Martina Peattie at mpeattie@btopenworld.com for more details.

42 Bristol Shambhala Meditation Group offers free meditation instruction at the Open House evening each Wednesday from 7.30 ‐ 9.30 pm at 17 Lower Redland Road, BS6 6TB. For further Clifton Rotary Club welcomes new members. All information please see our website: we ask is that people give their time, are www.bristol.shambhala.info interested in making new friends, building business contacts and using their skills to help Volunteers needed to support carers. Could you others. We meet Wednesday lunchtimes at please help us to develop and increase our Redland Lawn Tennis and Squash Club. Please support to carers, people who are looking after ind out more about us by visiting an unwell, disabled or elderly family member or www.cliftonrotary.org or emailing friend? If you are outgoing and could offer two secretary@cliftonrotary.org mornings a month to greet and give information to carers when they visit their GP Practice or Bristol Brunel Probus Club for retired you could offer two to three hours a week to sit professional and businessmen meet at BAWA with an older or disabled person so that their Southmead Rd, once a month to enjoy lunch and carer can have some time off, we’d love to hear a mix of social events, regular speakers, visits from you. Full training and support provided. and outings, to which wives and friends are Please contact Mike Hatch, Carers Support warmly welcomed. For more details please ring Centre volunteer on 07503 577830 or e‐mail Fred Martin on 968 3875. gp_volunteers@outlook.com Stoke Lodge History and Archaeology Group ‐ Learn a health maintenance routine. This course from 2015 we meet on the second Thursday of gives you a simple set of techniques based on every month (instead of the irst Thursday) at the BodyTalk System to help enhance and the Friends Meeting House in Hampton Road, maintain your well‐being. Sat 13 June, The Redland, BS6 6JE at 7.30. We host a rich Natural Health Clinic, Cotham, £100 (early bird diversity of lectures. New members are always £80). FFI phone Helena Kangai 07817 651006 made very welcome. For further details please or email helena@bodytalkbristol.co.uk contact Annette Martin on 0117 979 3209 Saturday May 16th 10am to 4pm in Old Sneed The Bristol Branch of the English Speaking Park Nature Reserve. “Celebrating the Honey Union welcomes guests to their meetings which Bee” with local apiarist Heather. Everyone is are held in the Apostle Room of Clifton welcome at any time during this event to learn Cathedral at 7.15 p.m. for 7.45 p.m. There is about and celebrate bees and their importance ample parking and entrance is £5. The aim of for us all. There will “crafts, cakes and lots of the English Speaking Union is to encourage information” and items of interest for all friendship and global understanding through ages. The entry to the reserve is in Glenavon English. Our forthcoming meetings include May Park. There will be no charge. For more info 21st "What we should really be teaching our visit our website www.spnaturereserve.com. children" Dr Bob Acheson, former Headmaster of Clifton College Preparatory School Do come Tuesday 2nd June at 10.30 am. A guided walk along to any of our meetings, preferably by round Old Sneed Park Nature Reserve to look at telephoning the Chairman, Tony Williams on the lowers on the reserve, led by expert 2393187 or the Secretary, Jenny Haines, on botanist Tony Smith. Everyone is welcome and 9628075. there will be no charge. If it is raining the walk will take place the following week the 9th, and if The Bristol Philatelic Society meets on the 2nd there is doubt about the weather please phone and 4th Thursdays of each month in the meeting 9686799 for more information. Meet at the room of the United Reform Church at the Glenavon Park entrance to the reserve just bottom of Blackboy Hill (Whiteladies Road) before 10.30. starting at 7.30 p.m. Contact 0117 956 7853. The Elgar Society is dedicated to promoting the

What’s On & Community News

adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV Parts 1 and 2. This colourful two‐hour production focuses on the lovable, larger than life rogue Sir John Falstaff and his adventures with Prince Hal (the future King Henry V); an historical drama which brings to life the humanity, politics, battles, and humour of mediaeval Britain. Gates open from 6.00pm (Upper Lawn) for picnics; bring your own food, drinks, seating, rugs etc. Play starts at 7:30pm on the Lower Lawn. Buses 3c, 8, 9, 501, and 509 stop in nearby Regent Street. Wheel chair access available from the York Gardens entrance (BS8 4LN) Tickets priced, £15 for Adults, £9 for Under 16’s are available from the Cornish Riviera Box Of ice on‐line at http://www.crbo.co.uk On Friday 5th June picnic on the beautiful telephone 01726 879 500 or by e‐mail lawns of historical Royal York Crescent (BS8 4JX) and York Gardens in Clifton and rycgardencommittee@yahoo.co.uk be entertained by the skilled and energetic Pro its go towards maintaining the Gardens. Festival Players in their spirited

Get In Touch ‐ it couldn’t be easier:‐ works of Sir Edward Elgar, our greatest English Telephone: 0117 968 7787 / 07845 986 650 composer. The Society has regional branches, and the South‐western Branch is based in Email: andy@thebs8.co.uk Bristol. Our next meeting is on Saturday 30 May Post: 8 Sandyleaze, Westbury at 2.15 at the Bristol Music Club, 76 St Paul’s on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3PY Road, BS8 1LP. Limited free parking is available Twitter: @BS9Andy at 1 Pembroke Road. Admission for visitors What’s On & Community News

costs £3.00 inc. refreshments. Our speaker will be Michael Butter ield who will give a talk entitled “Elgar’s 7th” and will include musical examples showing how we are able to identify the composer of an unfamiliar piece of music because it bears a resemblance to other music that we already know by that composer. FFI visit www.elgar.org/elgarsoc/branches/south‐ western/ West Bristol Orchestra. A Chamber Orchestra, playing a wide range of Classical Music arranged for the smaller orchestra, meets at the United Reformed Church, Muller Road on Thursdays 7.15pm.to 9.15pm. Additional String players of Grade5+ standard welcomed. Experience of orchestral playing not essential. For more info please contact the Secretary on 968 3998. Welsh National Opera Friends present Tales From the Opera: A Singer’s Life from High Notes to Low. Angela Hickey, distinguished mezzo‐ soprano and now singing teacher, talks about her life as a singer on the operatic stage and concert platform. Hard work, drive and dedication – with a dash of ambition – are the ingredients required for a successful career. 7.15 pm on Wednesday 20th May, 2015. All welcome at The Performing Arts Centre, The Red Maids’ School, Westbury Road, Bristol BS9 3AW. Pay at the door: Friends £5, Visitors £7, Students £1. Further details from 0117 974 3615 or pkieran@tiscali.co.uk Lip‐reading class. An evening lip‐reading class to help you cope with your hearing loss runs in Clifton from 6.15pm to 7.45pm every Monday at Redland Park United Reformed Church, Whiteladies Road. Fee is £5 per session. For more details email the tutor, Mary Hall at lipreadingmary@yahoo.com or telephone 07790 283 939.

Deadline for inclusion in the June issue ‐ 15th May 2015.

The Bristol Eight is published by Bristol Community Magazines Ltd (Co. No. 08448649, registered at 8 Sandyleaze, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3PY). The views expressed by contributors or advertisers in The Bristol Eight are not necessarily those held by Bristol Community Magazines Ltd. The inclusion of any business or organisation in this magazine does not imply a recommendation of it, its aims or its methods. Bristol Community Magazines Ltd cannot be held responsible for information disclosed by advertisers, all of which are accepted in good faith. Reasonable efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine but no liability can be accepted for any loss or inconvenience caused as a result of inclusion, error or omission. All content is the copyright of Bristol Community Magazines Ltd and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of Bristol Community Magazines

Quiz Answers from page 35 1. Ice cream vans; 2. Lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros; 3. Madeira; 4. Gryf indor, Huf lepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin; 5. Ford Anglia, Renault 6, Vauxhall Viva; 6. 20.6 miles; 7. Tony Blair, Gerhard Schroder, Jacques Chirac; 8. Athena; 9. Poseidon; 10 Boston and St Petersburg; 11. 1975, 1939, 1993; 12. Cooper’s Hill near Gloucester; 13. a fruitarian; 14. 1830’s, 1900’s and 1990’s; 15. the forint; 16. the Spanish verb “tapar” meaning “to cover”; 17. Farage (51), Pitt (51), Mourinho (52); 18. Kate Winslet (39), Louise Minchin (46), Kylie Minogue (46); 19. 289.