The Bristol Six - December 2016 by Andy Fraser

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The Editor’s Small Piece Hi there. Just 22 more sleeps before the big day - the shortest day of the year, after which winter will pretty much be over and we’ll be sprinting towards springtime. Before then of course we have the festive bunfight that Christmas has become, so however you choose to celebrate it I hope you get to do so with family and friends and do so warmly, healthily and cheerily. As usual at the end of another year I’d just say a big thanks my team of delivery people who ensure that you receive your Bristol Six each month, come rain or shine - seventeen kindly people without whom the whole thing would collapse. I think I have probably walked every road in BS6 now filling in the gaps when people are off sick or on holiday or revising, but while I thoroughly enjoy delivering the magazine on occasions I am extremely grateful to the team for getting out there each month. I’d also like to thank everyone who receives the magazine (obviously not personally) and feed back their thoughts to me, enter the competitions, send me their content, without which it would be a much duller affair, and support the local businesses who make it all possible. It’s been over a decade since I produced my first magazine and even after that length of time it never feels like a chore - in fact it never really feels like a job at all. Next month there will be a slight change in when you receive the magazine as I’ve decided to merge the January and February issues. This will give me the luxury of not having to cobble together the January issue on Christmas Eve, as is usually the case. So the January joint issue won’t be out until the middle of the month, and then there won’t be anything in February with normal service being resumed at the start of March. As such the deadlines for inclusion are different this time around - 9th January for the Jan/ Feb merged issue and then 15th Feb for the March issue. Back to this month though and I hope you enjoy the new puzzle walk that covers the southern flank of the harbourside around the M Shed and Redcliffe. Weather permitting we’ll be out, en famille, on Boxing Day exploring the area. Have a great December and we’ll do it all again in 2017. Cheers, Andy

Get In Touch - 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY, 0117 259 1964, 7845 986650, andy@bcmagazines.co.uk or @BS9Andy

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Useful Information 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 Infirmary 0117 923 0000 Bristol Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 Cotham Post Office 9 - 5.30 Monday to Saturday Whiteladies Rd Post Office 9 - 5.30 Monday to Friday, 9 - 13.00 Saturday Gloucester Rd Post Office 9 - 5.30 Monday to Saturday Late Post - there is a late post box at the main Post Office sorting depot on the A38 at Filton. Currently the late post is at 7pm.

www.travelbristolorg to plan out your routes in, around or out of the city - whether you are going 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 open from 8.00am to 4.15pm, 7 days a week . Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk - 0117 922 2000 Trains to / From Temple Meads Trains depart from Redland Station to Temple Meads at the following times Mon-Fri 0628, 0645, 0744, 0819, 0852, 0932, 1019, 1052, 1133, 1219, 1251, 1333, 1419, 1451, 1534, 1619, 1650, 1732, 1819, 1914, 1948, 2019, 2154, 2235, 2319 Sat 0650, 0733, 0819, 0850, 0932, 1019, 1051, 1134, 1219, 1250, 1334, 1419, 1451, 1534, 1619, 1650, 1734, 1819, 1931, 2012, 2154, 2234, 2319 Sun 1011, 1107, 1207, 1307, 1407, 1507, 1607, 1710, 1809, 1837 Trains depart from Bristol Temple Meads to Redland at the following times -

Local Libraries Cheltenham Road - tel. 903 8562 Mon 1-7, Tues closed, Weds - Sat 11-5 Redland - tel. 903 8549 Mon closed, Tues 11-5, Weds 11-7, Thurs-Sat 11-5 Henleaze - tel 0117 903 8541 Mon-Tues 11-5, Weds 11-7, Thurs 11-5, Fri 1-7, Sat 10-5 Public Transport Visit the excellent Bristol City Council website

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

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In the Garden with Hilary Barber I am writing these tips in November and the last 10. of the leaves have not fallen, so I think that we will be raking leaves well into the New Year! It has also been a stunning autumn and I have 11. collected many beautiful leaves to press and keep for workshops. Top tips for this month include 1. 2.

Check your winter protection structures are still securely in place Plan and dig new borders

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Check insulation and waterproofing on outside wormeries. December is also a good time for having a bit of a sort out. Go through the many seed packets that you keep ‘just in case’ and ditch the ones that are years out of date and start to make a list of the ones you really will plant next year! And don’t forget the wildlife! Ensure your bird feeders are full, water is available, and that you leave wild patches at the back of your borders, with plenty of leaves and twigs for the ‘beasties’!

Have a very happy festive season and remember the late Geoff Hamilton’s wise words “Whatever the weather, enjoy your garden” !

Prevent ponds and stand pipes from freezing

Prune open-grown apples and pears (but not those trained against walls)

Prune acers, birches and vines before Christmas to avoid bleeding

If the ground isn’t solid, harvest leeks, parsnips, winter cabbage, sprouts and remaining root crops

Native hedges can still be planted and transplanted. These will provide berries and protection for your garden birds

Take hardwood cuttings and divide perennials, and save some money on new plants next year.

Make sure mice can’t get at your stored produce

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Rough Sleeping in Bristol “I arrive at approximately 10.15pm by which time the guests who are staying overnight will ▪ in November 2011 it was estimated there have had their beds allocated to them. Those were 20 rough sleepers in one night; in who don’t have a bed are making their way out November 2015 this number was 97 in the hope that they might be luckier in securing ▪ Bristol has the highest number of rough a bed another night. Already our evening sleepers outside London. volunteers will have served between forty and The Julian Trust Night Shelter is unique within sixty hot meals to all of our guests including the the context of the many agencies in Bristol that ones who will not be able to stay overnight. They will have also distributed fresh clothes, help the homeless, in that it offers open access socks, underwear etc. to food and a bed without the need for a referral. It was founded originally as a Christian organisation in 1986 and whilst the Christian ethos remains its bedrock, most volunteers are not practising Christians but are interested in helping the homeless. Some facts about homelessness in Bristol:

The Julian Trust’s founding principle is to accept people as they are and not try to change them. So our volunteers treat guests in a totally nonjudgmental way.

We then collect in the washing. Each guest’s laundry is individually listed, apart from the socks as they all look the same! Blankets are given out and facilities opened up for showering. We wish them goodnight and encourage them to settle down to sleep. They want to sleep because they’re exhausted from being on the street.

Vera, who is a member of All Saints Church Clifton, has been a volunteer at the Trust for over 25 years. She explains what being an overnight volunteer involves:

As there are always two volunteers on duty, we split the night between us so one goes upstairs to the volunteer’s bedroom to sleep for half the night, while the other volunteer processes the washing and prepares breakfast. By that time it’s my turn to sleep from around 3am-6am then we start serving breakfast at 6.30am. The guests then prepare to leave by 7.30am. The night shelter is staffed entirely by volunteers

Rough Sleeping in Bristol with no paid staff. It is funded solely through donations with no local authority help or government support. Churches and local businesses also help to support the shelter, but inevitably, the need is constant.”

vegetables, washing powder, cleaning sprays, washing up liquid etc. ▪

donating blankets and sleeping bags

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we always welcome concerned people who are willing to help with fundraising.

Although we have no paid staff and we try to keep our expenses to a minimum, there are always basic housekeeping costs such as heating, lighting and catering so individual donations are always welcome.

There are a variety of ways to get involved and help including: ▪ e.g.

donating used young people’s clothing jeans, t-shirts, hoodies etc. Not many people are aware that we welcome second hand pants and socks unlike many other charities!

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overnight volunteers

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volunteer cleaners

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donating non-perishable items such as UHT milk, tinned meats, tinned

If you feel you could help, then please contact Jenny Oates our Volunteers’ Co-ordinator on telephone number 01275 852806 or email her at volunteers@juliantrust.org.uk. You can also find out more on our website at www.juliantrust.org.uk

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No‐Prize General Knowledge Quiz 1

How many animals (not humans) in total are there featured in “The Twelve Days of Christmas”?

In which countries would you find the following lakes? a) Lake Balaton, b) Bow Lake, c) Konigssee, and d) Lake Thun.

Name the first person (seen right) to swim the English Channel and when.

England, and who was his /her predecessor? 11.

A list of London landmarks - can you identify which are north of the Thames and which are south of the river - The Oval cricket ground, Tate Modern, The Millennium Dome (O2 Arena), Wimbledon All England Tennis Club, Lambeth Palace, and The Shard?

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Name these former BBC Radio 1 presenters

Weight for weight, which is the most valuable gift - gold, frankincense or myrrh?

Name the classic albums that these classic tracks come from - a) ‘Second Hand News’, b) ‘Two out of Three Ain’t Bad’, and c) ‘Sledgehammer’?

Name the last three winners of golf’s The Open.

What are the road numbers allocated to these main roads in to Bristol - a) the Portway from Avonmouth to the Cumberland Basin, b) the road from Cribbs Causeway to The Downs, and c) the main road from Warmley down Two Mile Hill to Old Market? 13.

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London receives on average 25 inches of rain a year - how much do a) Rio de Janeiro, b) Istanbul, c) Tokyo, and d) Mumbai receive on average? 14. Good King Wenceslas, seen right, was monarch of which historic European kingdom? Who is the Governor of the Bank of

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In which wars or wars were the following battles fought - a) the Battle of Waterloo, b) the Battle of Agincourt, c) the Battle of Naseby, and d) the Tet Offensive? How many member states are there of the United Nations? Three of them begin with the letter ‘F’, and five with the letter ‘K’ - can you name them? Which swimmer won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1962 and why was this significant? Answers on page 68

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Talking Pets with the Animal Health Centre Christmas presents for our pets Doesn’t it just seem so unfair that we have all these wonderful Christmas gifts while our poor pets look on with envy? Okay, so this may be a huge exaggeration, however if you do fancy buying a little present for your furry friend this Christmas, there are many great options of things to buy. For keeping warm in these winter months, how about a festive themed jumper for dogs, we have some fun jumpers as modelled by Lulu at the practice who loves being kept warm in her jumper. Outside, jackets can keep your dog warm and dry and you can even buy a reflective jacket to make them more noticeable on those dark evening walks! We also have the new super reflective Proviz dog jackets, the hi-viz reflection has to be seen to be believed

Cats should not be forgotten over the festive season, that old toy mouse has become old and frayed, what new toy can you buy them? Toys for kittens and cats should be ones that are played at a distance from your body so they don’t mistake your hands as part of the toy! Fishing toys and laser pens are great for this and can help keep your cat exercising when they are reluctant to go out into the cold. Catnip toys can amuse a cat for hours. A microchip operated cat flap can also be a great Christmas present as no cat likes to come home of an evening and find that the neighbour has eaten his dinner. Don’t forget you can also get a microchip operated dog flap too! And finally for both dogs and cats we have heat mats to place in their beds, great for aching joints. For rabbits and guinea pigs, pet shops often offer very high sugar treats to give your pet, I have found most rabbits and guinea pigs are just as happy if you offer them some fresh vegetables or small portions of fruit. If you want to treat your rabbit or guinea pig, he will probably gain much more fun out of a new toy in their environment, both love to play in tunnels or to knock around balls. Purely practical, buy a water bottle jacket to prevent their water from freezing in the cold. If you would like to see our range of Christmas presents for pets pop in to see us at Animal Health Centre.

For dogs that eat their food too quickly or those on a diet, how about a Fun Feeder Bowl to slow them down and make meal time last a little longer?

Sophie McGill, Veterinary Surgeon at the Animal Health Centre

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Puzzle Walk around the harbourside Boxing Day always seems a good one for going out for a walk, to get some fresh air into the lungs and blow away the excesses of the previous days feasting. So this year if you fancy a walk with some added interest why not have a go at this new puzzle walk? There is a huge amount of development going on in and around our fabulous harbourside, and each time we go down we discover something new. This walk takes you around the south side of the docks, exploring the area from the SS Great Britain along the waterfront to the M Shed and beyond to Redcliffe. Just strolling the route will be a pleasure, especially if you pick a crisp clear winters day, but to add to the interest (useful if you have youngsters with you or are of an inquisitive mind) there are a series of questions for you to find the answers to as your amble round. No prizes, it is just a bit of fun. Answers on page 68. Walk Essentials This walk is largely flat and suitable for all ages and those with buggies and wheelchairs. There is a slight incline up and down around Redcliffe Parade - this can be avoided if, when you get to the turquoise bridge at Bathurst Basin, you turn right and continue along Bathurst Parade rather than crossing the bridge. The section you avoid is in italics and you will miss out quiz questions 9 to 12. Although easy walking the stroll requires care and attentiveness - some of it is on cobbled pavements, some of the route is criss-crossed by tramlines that are easy to get your feet caught in, and there is the potential for trains to be running in the area. Above all the whole walk takes place alongside the harbourside where the water is deep and the edges often unfenced. Please take care especially if you have children with you. There are loads of opportunities to stop for refreshment of all sorts enroute, and there are public toilets in the M Shed. In total the whole walk is about 2 miles and, without refreshment stops, should take you about an hour and a half. Your walk starts in the carpark for the SS Great Britain on Gas Ferry Road, well signposted off Cumberland Road that runs alongside the Avon New Cut from the Create Centre to the old Bristol General Hospital. Walk from the car park out onto the dockside, past the old maritime mine and anchors, then turn right so that you are on the harbourside with the water on your left and with terrific views across to Cabot Tower.

Q1. What is the maximum fine for swimming in the docks? Keep heading towards the M Shed, and look across the water to the café with the dipped roof in the shape of a Pringle, designed so as to not obstruct the line of sight across the docks to the Cathedral beyond. Q2. The pretty boat ‘De Jonge Iede’ won an award in 2016 - what was it? Continuing along the waterside you past the legendary Brunel’s Buttery. Q3. What is the name of the Bristol Ferry Boats stop here where you board and alight the famous yellow ferries? Looking across the water now you will see the circular Lloyds building and amphitheatre come into view and (I hope it is still there) the new ferris wheel. You will now pass the first of five giant dockside cranes. The first one which stands alone is the Fairbairn Steam Crane, a piece of industrial history and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Q4. How many of this type of steam crane are still in service? (Grown ups may need to give little

people a lift to find this answer). Continue a little further past the varied boats moored at the waterside until you reach a largish vessel call simply ‘Bee’. Q5. At what level on Bee’s hull is the Plimsoll Line? (the marking introduced in the UK by Samuel Plimsoll MP in 1876). (continued overleaf)

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Puzzle Walk around the harbourside Now you will have arrived at one of Bristol’s most famous landmarks (unless it has sailed off for the day!) - the ‘Matthew’. Well worth a visit on board.

suffering behind much of Bristol’s maritime affluence. Now turn the corner and walk past the end of the L Shed. Q8. When did Brunel’s SS Great Western make its maiden voyage to New York and how many days did the journey last?

Resist the temptation to walk across the Prince Street bridge, now only open to pedestrians, but cross Wapping Road instead and continue the route of the southern waterfront (Merchants Quay) in what is now a much quieter part of the walk. As you head towards St Mary Redcliffe, clearly in view ahead, look across the water to your left and see if you can see a couple of Bristol’s most famous canine and ovine residents (Gromit and Shaun). Adults of a certain age can also at this point recount to their children their memories of visiting the Thekla in times gone by. Turn right at Q6. When did Giovanni Cabbato set sail in search the end of the terrace (you have no choice! If you of new lands? Older Bristol residents may well want to keep your feet dry), and head up to the remember this from the maiden voyage of the replica turquoise bridge across the Bathurst Basin. Matthew a few years back celebrating Cabot’s original voyage. Cross over with the Ostrich pub now to your left. Walk up Guinea Street ahead of you then, if they are open, walk through You will now be facing the imposing sight of the M- the impressive wrought iron gates of the old Bristol General Shed and the four stunning electric cranes, built Hospital which is now under serious renovation. In this many years later by the same Bath company Stothert courtyard enjoy the terrific architecture that used to part of & Pitt that produced the steam crane you passed BGH including the chapel. earlier. Q7. If you add up the big serial numbers on the four electric cranes what total do you get? At this point of the walk do, if you have the time and / or inclination, visit the M Shed, a brilliant museum showcasing Bristol past and present from many perspectives. To continue the walk though, carry on along the front of the M Shed and past the Balmoral moored outside. If you ever have the opportunity to go on a trip on the Balmoral do take it. Keep an eye out for the poignant memorial plaque on the wall of the M Shed reminding us of the

Q9. What is the inscription at the base of the fountain?

Head back out of the gates, turning right then immediately left, opposite the Golden Guinea (crowned not long ago as Bristol’s Best Back Street Pub), into Jubilee Place. The turn left into Barossa Place and follow the road along and around to the right into Clift Place and then into Redcliffe Parade West.

Q10. What was, or is, No. 10 Redcliffe Parade West the home of? Cross Redcliffe Parade to enjoy the views of the city from the

(continued overleaf)

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Puzzle Walk around the harbourside walls of Redcliffe Parade car park, then descend the narrow sloping road by the car park down to the waterside once more.

Q11. When was Redcliffe Parade built? At the bottom of the slope double back on yourself and walk around the base of the cliff to have a closer look at some of the excavation works going on in this part of the harbourside, and the slavery memorial mural painted on the side of one of the derelict buildings. Retrace your steps now and head back past the base of the sloping path so that Redcliffe is now on your left and the water on your right.

the pedestrian crossing to read more about the bridge if you wish, but return to the north side of the road. You are now at the top of Gaol Ferry Steps, an area with a very interesting, if not necessarily pleasant, past. Q14. How many inmates were released from the gaol when it was stormed as a part of the 1831 riots?

This fascinating area has undergone extensive development recently and is buzzing now as a home for several independent food and drink outlets. (I’ve Q12. What was the small red brick building on not tried them all out but the lunches at Better Food your left used for? are really good and the coffee at Little Victories is as superb as you might expect given that it is the latest Continue around the base of the cliff and round to the left, venture of the team behind Small Street Espresso in trying not to miss the plaque on the wall on your left telling you the Old City). Walk down through the new more about the history of this part of Bristol. You will now pass development of eateries until you get back to the right in front of the Ostrich pub - note the fab gas lamp hanging harbourside. The M Shed will be on your right now over the door. Cross back over the turquoise footbridge and this but you should turn left - you’re on the home straight. time veer leftish along beautiful Bathurst Parade with Bathurst Keep an eye out for the giant mural depicting the Basin and marina on your right. history of Bristol Docks. Q15. What are manufactured in the harbourside premises on the mural, and what is the one girls name that appears? Continue to head away from the M Shed, and enjoy the views across the water up to Cliftonwood, beyond the masts of the SS Great Britain. Q16. Which children's TV characters can you see aboard the boat named Energie which is moored at the dockside? Finally you will arrive back at Brunel Square at the entrance to the SS Great Britain. Q13. Look very carefully - what did Bathurst Basin used to be called? At the junction with Bathurst Bridge and Wapping Road, by the Louisiana pub, cross straight over onto Cumberland Road. Please be very careful here and be wary of vehicle traffic in this area - hold little hands. Keep on the narrow right hand pavement for about 150 yards, past the ruined (and sealed off) walls of the old Bristol Gaol until you come to the new development opposite the Gaol Ferry Footbridge that allows pedestrians to cross the Avon New Cut (I’ve crossed this beautiful little bridge many times in the past, not always sober!). Cross the road carefully at

Q17. How many masts and how many chimneys does the SS Great Britain have? (clue - you don’t need to go aboard, in fact you don’t even need to see the ship). And to finish the walk off have a look at the Great Tile Mural in Brunel Square. Q18. How many white unicorns can you see in the mural? Hope you’ve enjoyed the walk. There will be another Puzzle Walk in the next issue.

Redland & Cotham Amenities Society News High Sherriff, Gold Stars and a Public Convenience Redland & Cotham Amenities Society’s (RCAS) 44th Annual General Meeting took place on Thursday 3rd November at St John’s Primary School, Old Police Station, Lower Redland Road.

owned prefabricated classrooms is welcomed but the selectors have reservations about the two -tone green surrounds to their windows. 158 Redland Road (Owner - John Fellows) This large 1930’s semi-detached house has been much improved by its renovation, with period details retained and emphasised. The landscaping is particularly successful.

This year is rather special as Helen Wilde our Chair is the current High Sherriff of Bristol, and 8 Kersteman Rd (Owners Mark and Kathryn Johnson). The substantial former electricity subthe meeting started with a reception hosted by station space is reused as living space with new Helen. floors over creating a 3 level house. A welcome new use of a redundant building. It adjoins a The Society’s Gold Star Awards church converted to residential use – a former RCAS Gold Star winner. As usual one of the main events was the presentation of the Society’s Gold Star Awards for developments in our area. These have been awarded since 1988. They have covered a wide range of projects, from major new buildings to sensitive improvements to existing houses. This year the Gold Star awards include a large development - the new building in Elmgrove Road for Colston’s Primary School, and two smaller residential projects.

There are also two unusual awards this year. The Gentlemen’s Public Lavatory on Blackboy Hill, a Victorian cast iron structure restored by the City Council. This early example of the public convenience was erected in the 1880’s by Bristol Corporation. The cast iron structure, made in Glasgow, has been carefully restored and the glass roof renewed.

Colstons’ Primary School, Elmgrove Rd. Selective surgery to the evergreen trees that dominated the area revealed a useful site but with difficult levels. These are used to create separate and well landscaped outdoor spaces for different age groups. From the street the timber clad buildings go well with the restored stone boundary wall. The sustainable re-use of council

Also the nearby Downs Haven. This modest and unobtrusive timber shelter was built in 1916 for service personnel who were recovering from wounds in the nearby Hospital. It was in urgent need of repair. It has been carefully restored by volunteers. (con nued overleaf)

Redland & Cotham Amenities Society News RCAS does not grant awards every year so it was (Westbury Park), Clifton Down Community Association, Hampton Park & Cotham Hill especially delightful to see that we had four Community Group, Oakfield Road Residents’ awards this year. Association and many individual residents. The Brewhouse & Kitchen and The Penny PH both located in Cotham Hill also won awards in the category for Pubs. We are also grateful to the Bishopston, Cotham & Redland Neighbourhood Partnership which helped with a small grant.

Three Times Gold! Cotham Hill in Bloom The Cotham Hill in Bloom scheme promoted by RCAS has won a Gold Award and a joint second placement with St Michaels Hill in the "shopping street" category of the Bristol in Bloom Competition. Westbury-on- Trym won a well deserved first place. A Gold Award Certificate was presented at The Garden for Bristol Awards 2016 held at the Ashton Gate Stadium on 21 October. Gillian Penrose (RCAS) attended to receive the certificate but none of the traders was able to attend – which was a pity as it was a good social evening with opportunities for networking. Congratulations to all the traders, community groups and residents who participated and thanks again for your support. This is the third Gold Award in a row for Cotham Hill in Bloom! Special thanks to the sponsors of hanging baskets & planters - Amphora Aromatics, Costa Coffee, Cotham Pharmacy, Ministry of Beauty, Simon Lee, Travis Perkins and Bristol Community Magazines (The Bristol Six) donors Bellita Restaurant, Carillian Print, Cotham Antiques, Dancewell, Dragon Fountain, Falafel King, Galaxy Nails, Hair on the Hill, Jon Hurst Hairdressing, Natural Health Clinic, Shotgun Barbers, The Fancy Dresser, Young & Foodish, Yume Kitchen, Waitrose Ltd.

Future Membership Events: Mayfair - Monday, May 1, 2017 Open Gardens Sunday, June 18, 2017 About RCAS Founded in 1973, currently has membership of approximately 1200 in 700 households. Membership area – broadly bounded by Whiteladies Rd, The Downs, Cranbrook Rd, Cotham Road. Annual subscription £10 Main activities – monitoring planning and Licensing applications, contributing to Council policy making for our Conservation Area. Encouraging appropriate development and good design. Protecting existing trees and planting new in streets and parks. Improvements to Cotham Gardens and Redland Green, including monitoring maintenance and organising working parties. Main Society events. The Redland Green May Fair, the major charitable fair for Bristol. RCAS, and Open Gardens weekend – members open their gardens. To join RCAS please contact: membership@rcas.org.uk

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Music with Duncan Haskell Album of the Month December

Here by Alicia Keys (RCA)

Next Step

The Miseducation of Lauren Hill by Lauren Hill (Ruffhouse / Columbia)

Here is Alicia Key’s most convincing record to For this month’s next date and comes as a step it was a tossup complete surprise after between the eventual her previous two albums, winner and Baduizm The Element of by neo soul supremo, Freedom and Girl on Erykah Badu. Both Fire. It’s not that Keys records would have lost her way with a tune been more than on them, rather they felt slightly flat and worthy and are worth passionless. Blending elements of soul, R&B, checking out but The gospel and hip hop her new release is a Miseducation of Lauren Hill is an album of such commanding and enthralling effort from start to power that it still demands attention almost two finish. decades after its 1998 release. The album begins with The Gospel on which a hip hop beat provides the canvas on which Keys can paint a picture of black history in America, and New York in particular. The vibe continues on Pawn It All as a soulful Keys pours her heart out, singing “I would give you everything / Just so I could start my life over again”. Larger themes present themselves as the album progresses; Kill Your Mama addresses the harm currently being done to the planet and the fear of Mother Earth reaping her revenge.

Hill’s own fusion of styles married together hip hop, soul and reggae and presented a more universal version of the music she had been making with The Fugees. Ex-Factor was an Aretha Franklin-style ballad, aching with palpable hurt. The other big single, Doo Wop (That Thing) was a flashier pop number with more than a little swagger added to the mix.

But this was an album whose riches ran way beyond its best known tracks. Songs such as the Carlos Santana collaboration To Zion, the rhythmic When It Hurts So Bad and the album closing title Here continues in this vein, with Keys looking both track, got under your skin and illuminated the inside and outwards. The stripped back ballad listener. That Hill has never been able to better her Blended Family (What You Do For Love) is a debut, and has spent so much time away from deeply affecting celebration of her own family life, music, somehow makes this album even more especially the relationship with her stepson. The special and turns it into a rare moment in time Latin-flavoured Girl Can’t Be Herself tackles the where everything came together perfectly. pressures society continues to place on women. “Who says I must conceal what I'm made of?” she Gig Of The Month laments. There’s a rawness to her voice that only The Coral @ O2 Academy (Thursday 15th Dec) heightens her message of frustration. As with Alicia Keys, By sharing these songs about inclusivity and The Coral’s most celebrating each other’s differences, Keys sounds recent album Distance more committed and real than ever. There’s also Inbetween was a plenty of hope, none more so than on another supreme return to form standout track, More Than We Know. Over a for the Wirral indie simple beat and piano loop she sings of band. This unimaginable possibilities and you can’t help but be performance at the O2 swept along with her. Academy will give the audience a chance to see tracks from the album Without a doubt, Here is a record that will performed live and it’s sure to be a psychedelic empower those who choose to listen. treat. Throw in a few classics like Simon Diamond and Dreaming Of You and it’s sure to be a rousing end of year spectacle. Duncan Haskell

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This Cotham Life with Duncan Haskell As another year comes to an end and the annual cycle completes another revolution, it’s a moment for reflection, new beginnings and second chances. It’s also the time when I start to make my plans for the forthcoming year; not so much resolutions or any kind of bucket list, more a loose route along which to meander in 2017. However you view the post-Brexit / Trump world, it’s clear that everyone could do with being nicer to each other. It feels like now’s the time to holster the verbal cudgels that have dominated 2016 like no other year in living memory. But how to be more tolerant in everyday life - is it a random act of kindness or perhaps doing something charitable? Thankfully, recent events have taught us that specifics aren’t the most important part of a plan, so I can work on the details at my own leisure.

My intention isn’t to preach, more to show how events steer me to new directions. Writing this column has a similar effect, the more time I spend walking the streets learning about the people and places of Cotham the more curious I become about the area’s history. A trip to Cotham Parish Church soon beckons, as I continue to delve a little deeper into the Marian Persecutions of the mid-16th century, a subject A persistent intention of mine is to make at least matter which may well appear in a future one new friend every year. That may sound column. soppy, and relatively straightforward for some, but it is a challenge that has helped me meet In these ways, time leaves its indelible mark and some wonderful new people, rather than remain the final recurring theme for this year has been in familiar surroundings. We all seem to live in a how quick people are to forget the lessons of hall of mirrors, our thoughts shared back to us history. With that in mind, I hope both my by those we interact with on social media. By successes and failings will point the way forward widening our friendship circles and meeting and that 2017 turns out to be the best one yet. people from different backgrounds, and with Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read opposing values, we can close the gaps in this column, Merry Christmas. society. Duncan Haskell

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Choosing not to work, destroys a daughter's Will dispute Another case of a daughter dispu ng her parent's Will (Ames v Jones) has been in the news recently. This follows the much‐ publicised case of Heather Ilo 's successful claim against her late mother, Melita Jackson's estate. In this new case, Danielle Ames, aged 41, failed to persuade the court to award her any money from her late father, Michael Ames' estate a er he died.

Danielle argued that she had two teenage children, and because she did not work, she had an income deﬁcit of around £2000 each month. She asked for nearly half of her late father's estate ‐ a sum of £300,000.

Elaine's defence Elaine, on the other hand, was 63 and in rela vely poor health and could not work. Her income was largely made up of her pension and was only just suﬃcient to maintain her. The court agreed with Elaine that she should not be required to supplement her income by selling or re‐ mortgaging her home.

Danielle's story was that her parents, Michael and Carleen, divorced when she was young, a er which Michael remarried The court also found that the estate of Danielle's step mother, Elaine. They enjoyed a long marriage and on Michael's £700,000 was not large enough to support both Danielle and Elaine. death, he le all his £700,000 estate to Elaine.

The court's decision

Danielle's claim Unhappy, Danielle applied to court for a share of the estate. All children, whether minors or adults, are automa cally en tled to apply to court to request ﬁnancial provision from their parents' estate, under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Whether they are successful in receiving any award depends on several factors.

At court, the Judge was not impressed with Danielle's evidence. He considered that it was exaggerated in its nature and that, as she was capable of working but chose not to as a 'lifestyle choice' she ul mately had some control over her own ﬁnancial des ny. The court ruled that Danielle should not be awarded any money from her late

father's estate and Elaine retained the whole estate.

Each case is diﬀerent These cases turn on their own individual facts, which is neatly demonstrated by the very diﬀerent results achieved by Danielle Ames in this case compared with the success achieved by Heather Ilo in her claim against her late mother's estate, which we have reported on previously.

facing these types of claims, as both claimant and defendant, having resolved many disputes over the years. The team is experienced in advising on the pi alls of choosing to exclude a key family member from a Will when taking Will instruc ons and can advise on how to reduce the risks of a poten al claim being brought against an estate.

For further These types of claims must be ac oned bespoke advice, promptly to succeed and require specialist contact advice. Michelle Rose at Veale Wasbrough Vizards' Private Client mrose@vwv.co.uk team comprises specialist prac oners in or on both conten ous probate and non‐ 0117 314 5246. conten ous ma ers. The team can provide prac cal advice to individuals

The Downs Recorder ‐ Richard Bland History of the Downs in ten Objects. No 8 The Telegraph Pole at the Observatory. The telegraph pole in the photo is high above the Suspension Bridge by the Observatory, which was a Barrage Balloon site, and has its number and 39 incised into the wood, indicating the date it was put up. Three of the original series of poles, which ran down the slope and across the road to the local Barrage Balloon Headquarters at 3 Caledonia Place, remain. A plaque has recently been attached as a result of the efforts of Maggie Shapland, whose dedicated research is the basis of what follows.

of the balloons took place between March and July 1939 both for training, and to stimulate recruitment. In the event, though the first bombing raid was on June 25 1940, when the first real attack of November 24th 1940 came, the Balloons had little effect. It seems to be clear that some of the sites were deliberately attacked, and more than one balloon was cut adrift, but they entirely failed to prevent massive destruction of many areas of the city, though the key objective, to destroy the operation of the city docks, failed. There were further attacks between January and April 1941, and the balloons continued to be flown, but it was clear by then that fighters and radar were the best defence.

In 1943 the American Second Army came to Clifton, followed by the First Army, and they took The outbreak of war saw the Downs transformed. over most of the buildings around the Downs, and all Protection of Bristol from bombing was the the area to the west of immediate need, and the example of Guernica in Stoke Road which became 1936 had forced both the civil and military authorities to prepare in advance for both popular a major Tank Depot. Large temporary buildings panic and the probability of the use of gas. Plans were carefully laid as the issue of gas masks to all, were established, including and the scattering of London children around the a drainage system down the Gully, and tanks were landed in Avonmouth and thundered up Stoke Hill country, demonstrated. Bomb shelters were to be got ready for action. The entire planning for commandeered or created, and static water tanks erected at locations around the city on the correct D Day was done in Clifton, and the tanks all assumption that water supplies would be disrupted. vanished on June 4th 1944. The damage they did to the surface was massive, and it was not until 1949 that the Downs Football League was able to To prevent bombing attacks on cities barrage resume play. balloons were prepared. They were placed randomly around cities, at a height of 5000 to The Downs are for people, and the 10000 feet to force the bombers either to drop their weapons from such a height that they would management of a vast number of competing interests is sophisticated and subtle. be inaccurate, or to come in low and risk attack from anti-aircraft batteries or fighters. The balloons were 68 feet long, 27 feet in diameter, and If you enjoy the Downs, or use if for your sport, why not become a Friend? Membership is just filled with hydrogen. £10. For more information please visit our website fodag-bristol.weebly.com or contact There were 50 balloon sites around Bristol, 32 Robin Haward by emailing around Avonmouth, and 16 protected Filton. On robinhaward@blueyonder.co.uk the Downs there were sites at the Look Out on 0117 974 3385 or visit Sion Hill, the Observatory, the top of Bridge Valley Road and the Water Tower. Public demonstrations

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Bruce Fellows’ Good Reads Marian Sutro opens the door of her Swiss home and finds an old flame there, Sam. He wants to learn exactly what happened fifty years before when Marian disappeared. Simon Mawer’s tense and exciting espionage thriller, Tightrope, takes us with Sam as he makes his discoveries. Marion, a wartime SOE agent and exconcentration camp inmate emerges as a courageous and passionate woman who walks a tightrope of family loyalties and principles through the forties and fifties, an era overshadowed by the threat of nuclear holocaust. You’ll be glued to this and be rooting for Marion as she exploits her spy craft to make her escape.

dealing, romantic complications, a mad woman, secret doors, a haunted wood, terrible screams in the night and masses of pheasants are shot. It’s a magnificently entertaining book. If you liked The Thirty Nine Steps, you’ll love this.

In Deborah Levy’s gripping new novel Hot Milk, Sofia accompanies her mother Rose to Spain in search of a healer for Rose’s legs. An anthropologist with a half-completed Ph D, Sofia has become Rose’s carer. Sofia spends her days finding the right water for Rose, pushing her wheelchair, and roaming the beach meeting local characters while trying to avoid jelly fish. Then there is Dr Gomez, a miracle worker stroke In his excellent novel All That Man charlatan, and his daughter, Nurse Is, David Szalay tells nine stories of Sunshine. Sofia is also missing her contemporary men across Europe; Greek father, a rich man who left them from youth to old age. A schoolboy seeks a rite of passage, a drop out takes penniless. This is a compelling read and an intriguing examination of a holiday, a bodyguard gets too mother, daughter; daughter, father involved in his work, an academic delivers a car, a developer has to decide relationships. to go for broke, a journalist is ruthless, New York, and Richard Smith arrives a Scotsman finds despair, a Russian oligarch confronts ruin, a civil servant with a bill for £1,000 but there isn’t enough cash in town to pay him. Well, faces life alone. Each man struggles with life: what it is; what it means; he’s wearing breeches and a tricorn hat; success; failure; the passage of time. it’s 1746 and New York’s population is This book enthrals from its first spare only 7,000. What’s to be done? Read sentence to its last. Francis Spufford’s riveting and original novel, Golden Hill, and find out. E. Phillips Oppenheim was a best Smith mingles with merchants, selling author a century ago and The lowlifes, slaves, lawyers and politicians Great Impersonation, probably his and in a month or so experiences more finest novel and recently re-published, ups and downs than come the way of shows you exactly why. Just before the most people in a lifetime. Very First Word War, two old school friends cleverly written, with intriguing meet in West Africa. One is German, characters, from page one this novel one is English. The two are lookalikes never flags. And what does Smith want his money for? and equally fluent in each other’s language. The plot is off on its devious Bruce Fellows - December 2016 route. There’s a conspiracy, double-

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Coaching with Anne Miller that within the client relationship they were assuming all the responsibility and that by asking their client to help, by also taking responsibility for the timing of their input, they were able to relieve the pressure and perform more efficiently within their role.

In a recent article I shared how aware I am of the prevalence of helpful people- both amongst the clients I work with and in my personal experience, when I was encumbered by a broken wrist. So if there are so many people around who like helping, is it ok to ask for help? And perhaps more importantly; what happens when we don’t ask for help? Of course that depends on the situation but broadly speaking we either accept the additional workload/pressure and suffer the consequences: stress, overwhelm, tiredness, reduced effectiveness and therefore less enjoyment in life. Or, if it’s help with our thinking we require; we stay stuck, frustrated, dissatisfied or unhappy. Put simply, we miss out!

A business client who is regularly going beyond their agreed service in order to be helpful and provide additional value is recognising the cost to themselves and choosing to ask for my help to be more realistic about what they can provide, whilst maintaining their pride in the service they deliver. Some of us find it hard to ask for help for fear of it seeming like we can’t cope and appearing inadequate. Whether it be practical or emotional help we could usefully receive, there is a feeling that we ‘should’ be able to manage by ourselves. This particularly seems to be the case for people who are busy, resourceful and helpful themselves!

I believe the opposite is the case: that asking for help is a sign of strength. It’s being honest. It’s acknowledging that we are not perfect or invincible. It’s recognising the value of others’ resourcefulness and honouring their willingness to help. We are human and we function better when we pool our resources. Time honoured expressions If we’re overstretched or unable to manage a “a problem shared is a problem halved” and “two difficult situation well, there are people all around heads are better than one” are good reminders that us who are able and willing to help. Once we have we all benefit when we come together to help each got over any reluctance on our part to ask for help, other. finding someone can often be the easy part. Clients that I work with have usually been trying to Visit www.annemillercoaching.co.uk for ‘sort out’ their thinking on their own for some time more information and to book a free coaching consultation Tel: 07722110228 before accepting that getting some coaching help will enable them to achieve what they want more easily and quickly. They tend to be busy people who like helping others along the way and it is a pleasure to work with them to enable them to enjoy what they do as they work towards what they want to achieve. Quite often during the coaching process they will identify people they know who they can approach for help in one form or another. A member of my small business mastermind group, who was struggling with the pressure of keeping to project deadlines, was able to recognise

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Prize Wordsearch A prize wordsearch with a difference this month as it doubles as a quiz. Listed here are twenty one English counties, but you are not looking for them in the grid. Rather you are looking for the county towns of each of the counties, so first of all you need to work out what their county towns are and then see if you can find them in the grid. There are twenty county towns hidden in the grid, listed forwards, backwards, up, down or on a diagonal. You need to find which is the missing county town and let me know which it is. Get your answers in to me - post to 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY, email to andy@bcmagazines.co.uk, telephone 0117 259 1964, text to 07845 986650 or tweet to @BS9Andy. Entries in please by 10th January 2017, and the first correct entry selected at random after that date will win a boxed set of three full colour Collins geographic guides - a World Atlas, The World’s Most Amazing Places and Fragile Earth, and a fun 1,000 piece “We Love the Country” jigsaw. Remember I just need the missing county town, not the county.

(If you really need some help the county towns are listed on page 68 - but why not test yourself first?) Right, here are your counties, what are their county towns? WILTSHIRE NORTHUMBERLAND HAMPSHIRE CAMBRIDGESHIRE SHROPSHIRE SUFFOLK DORSET BUCKINGHAMSHIRE RUTLAND ISLE OF WIGHT CORNWALL

SOMERSET LANCASHIRE DERBYSHIRE WEST SUSSEX NORFOLK KENT CUMBRIA EAST SUSSEX LINCOLNSHIRE DEVON

Thank you to everybody who entered the October competition. Sadly only one person could win and that person is Joan Tanner who wins herself a copy of the film Golden Years. Joan correctly spotted that the missing Prime Minister was John Major.

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Book Reviews Doing this job often provides me the opportunity to try different things, listen to music I’d not heard of or normally choose, and occasionally read a book which I’d usually not get past the cover of. This month is no different, with books by two local ‘writers’ promised an Editor’s review - and in both cases doing so has been a pleasure. And what a diverse pairing they are. The first is a small offering from local reflexologist Kate McEwan entitled “A Simple Step” - advice from a qualified Foot Health Practitioner on how to look after your health through your feet. I must confess that when Kate asked if I would read and review the book, whilst I was willing I wasn’t sure how I was in any way qualified to comment on a book about feet - other than that I have a pair. I needn’t have worried - I could already vouch for Kate the foot specialist, having experienced the pleasurable relaxation of a reflexology session with her, and I can now praise her for an equally light and enlightening touch as she successfully puts her enthusiasm for and experience of footcare into words.

Ps - if you aren’t an Amazon fan but would like to get hold of a copy of Kate’s book do get in touch with me at The Bristol Nine and I will put you in touch. For the second half of this review I had to spend £1.99 downloading “It Was You” by Henleaze based writer Jo Platt onto my Kindle. I know the cliché is that a book can sometime be hard to put down, but in this case cliché equals fact, and having read it I’m not sure I have got better value out of two quid all year. It would be easy to label “It Was You” as a rom-com - it is after all both romantic and comedic. However in this instance the label would somehow demean what is a beautifully observed and written slice of life that just happens to be funny and with love at its heart.

Set in north Bristol the book follows the lives, loves, friendships, hardships and other emotional tribulations of a group of people bound together by, you guessed it, life, love and friendships, both longstanding and fledgling - oh, and by common readership of short books. Seen through the eyes of Alice, a member of the Short Book Club, “It “A Simple Step” takes a wide ranging view on the Was You” takes the reader through Alice’s attempts impact of healthy feet and good footcare to our to get back on the dating scene, with her friends overall wellbeing, and distils it down into a number of “help”, while those same friends battle with the short readable chapters. As well as an overview of minefields of their own relationships. The story is how and why reflexology might help in ones general littered with warmth and charm, and plenty of state of health, Kate goes on to outline, in an unfussy humour - some of it gentle and whimsical, some of it way thankfully devoid of too much scientific snortingly funny (the battle re-enactment followed by wordiness, the potential impact of reflexology on the hideously awkward drinks reception at the lead issues such as fertility, pregnancy and the menopause, characters most awful client had me, as I uncurled my back pain, migraines and IBS. Further chapters look toes, wishing I could write that well. at common ailments and causes of foot pain, including verrucae, corns, problems experienced by I’d read another assessment of “It Was You” in which runners or those inclined (no pun intended) to wear the reviewer suggested that they could tell where the high heels, hard skin, calluses and nail infections. story would end right at the start. Maybe I’m just an Kate also mentions some of her top footcare tips unperceptive bloke because I couldn’t - but the practical and money-saving ideas on things such as comment made me think that with most journeys good hydration, beneficial foot scrubs and fungal even though you know where you are going to end up infection remedies. it doesn’t stop you making the trip - and that the sheer joy of the ride often makes it all worthwhile. Jo Available online through Amazon (with nine 5* Platt’s latest novel is well worth making that journey. reviews), “A Simple Step” is priced at just £6 and could be worth it’s weight in gold. Rather like a “It Was You” is available from Amazon as a Kindle healthy foot, this is a great little stocking filler. ebook or an audio download if that’s your thing.

Films with Chris Worthington

I, Daniel Blake Directed by Ken Loach

I, Daniel Blake follows the familiar theme of many of the films directed by Ken Loach - the impact of major political forces on people and their relationships. In this film the political force in question is the current policy to assess people for work in a rigid points system with the aim of getting them off sickness benefit and into “the reserve army of the unemployed” (Karl Marx).

essential “referral” from the Job Centre. A recurring feature of the film is the kindness of ordinary people willing to help - the charity workers at the foodbank, the Job Centre adviser who helps Daniel fill in the forms and is disciplined by the management for not following the rules and the shop manager who lets Katie go when she is caught shop lifting for tampons. Daniel is still unable to work and submits an on line claim for Employment and Support Allowance. This is referred to the “decision maker” at the Job Centre and in a scene reminiscent of a Franz Kafka novel receives a recorded message turning it down. His next move is to a “CV workshop” where the class are harangued by a another Job Centre clone, complete with felt tip pens and a flip chart, who informs them that the latest thing that employers need is a CV video sent from a smartphone.

The film opens with Daniel being interviewed tick box style by an incompetent “health care professional” who is more interested in his bowel movements than his recent heart attack. Daniel Blake is an out of work carpenter played by Dave Johns whose background in improvised comedy is evident in the film. At the Job Centre he befriends young mother Katie (Hayley Squires) who is being escorted out with her two kids by a security guard following a dispute with the officious manager. They make an unlikely couple but Daniel helps out with some DIY in Katie’s flat and later, as they get to know each other, looks after the kids while Katie tries to get a cleaning job. Their battle with the Job Centre bureaucracy continues. Daniel tries to get the hang of using on line forms and Katie struggles to get enough money to feed the kids. They end up in the queue at a food bank but only after getting the

Frustrated by the appeal process Daniel turns up at the Job Centre with a spray can and writes that he wants a date for the appeal on the wall outside. A crowd gathers and starts to cheer led on by a group of young women on their way to a party dressed as bunny girls and a street drinker who with total conviction berates the job centre staff and the police as they arrest Daniel for criminal damage. The film ends with Katie finding a note written by Daniel for his appeal hearing. The last sentence reads “I am a citizen, no more or less than that”. Chris Worthington chrisworthington32@yahoo.com

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“From a Post Box near you” ‐ History Notes no. 109 ‐ Julian Lea‐Jones This month many of us will be looking forward to the postman’s rattle of our letterbox hoping for something more exciting than junk mail. Nowadays whether or not the missive is welcome at least it is delivered to our home – it was not always thus. Although the concept of a public mail service was the brainchild of Sir Rowland Hill in 1840 when the Penny Post was introduced, you had to collect your mail from a Post Office which may have been miles away. Within a town the penny post deliveries were divided into districts, with Bristol having 63 of which Clifton with the greatest number of mailings was designated Penny Post Number One. With the increasing popularity of the new service, (Bristol had up to six deliveries a day), it was decided to introduce home deliveries, however the postman or woman, (post person sounds ridiculous), often had miles to walk in all weathers and having reached the address had to wait for the recipient to come to the door. In country districts, dogs were an even greater problem, with one postman near Brockley Combe being issued with a horse whip to fight the beasts off! With more and more mail to deliver, the waiting time often extended the postman’s working day to unacceptable limits. As an example of what all the possible ‘front door waits’ added up to; Bristol’s Post Master and Surveyor of the Posts, Mr R C Tombs, gave most praise to Hannah Brewer of Bitton who’s daily route was eleven miles up and down the Somerset hills around Bitton and by the age of 72, having walked a quarter of a million miles in all weathers, she felt it was time to retire. The postal delivery staff were obviously a hardy lot! The Postmaster also praised Martha Pike of Wraxall who although in her late 80s still managed a three mile round as well as a mile and a half trudge to collect the mail bags from the railway station. The position was often passed down the family, at Stoke Bishop the postmistress and her father had run the office between them for over half a century, until her death at 84. An even longer tenure was that of Hannah Vowles at Frenchay who only resigned at the age of 95!

they were identifiable by being painted in Imperial Airways Blue, with a white enamelled plate bearing the words ‘Airmail’. Clifton had one of these boxes adjacent to the RWA outside Beacon House, once Taylor’s ladies department store, later one of Terence Conran’s Habitat shops and now a Bristol University Student Centre.

Do you remember when, until the recent ‘rationalisation’, whenever the box was emptied the enamel collection time plate was always changed to show the next collection time, (they were stored in a pocket inside the door). Sadly nowadays the plate is often a generalised notice which is of no help if you want to know whether or not you have caught the post - a far cry from when there were up to six deliveries a day. An oft’ quoted account was of people The Post Office’s answer to the long delays caused by receiving a rsvp dinner invitation in the morning and the need to hand the mail directly to the addressee was being able to send a written acceptance for delivery the same day. Before the introduction of Optical this appeal dated in May 1849 which requested every Character Recognition, OCR, enabling automatic mail householder to fit a letter box or slit in their street sorting machines, business districts such as Baldwin door. This would enable a free delivery to the front Street had twin oval boxes, (still there), with separate door; reduce missed calls, obviating the need for the slots for ‘Local’ and ‘Elsewhere’. London boxes were householder to make regular visits the nearest post similarly marked ‘Town’ and ‘Country’ but with the office to find out if there was any mail. added notice, “To avoid delay please post in the proper box.” When an airmail service was introduced between London and Paris in 1935 the Post Office acceded to Nowadays Post Offices, once a familiar High Street or business requests for separately designated pillar neighbourhood presence, are an increasing rarity. The boxes. Although of the standard Post Office style C

History Notes no. 109 location of a former Post Office is often indicated by a standard pillar box but surmounted by a truncated bracket which formerly held an oval cream painted sign bearing the words, Post Office’ in red script - yet another reminder of a service that has gone forever. But before you grieve too much, when was the last time you wrote and posted a personal handwritten letter? Having posed that question, this month many of us will still be writing Christmas letters and cards to family and friends as written communication hasn’t yet been completely supplanted by email, SMS or Skype, although the latter can be a valuable adjunct for far off families.

Lastly, when the Post Office archive was at Freeling House, Glasshill Street in central London the building was named in honour of Bristol’s Redcliffe boy made good – Sir Francis Freeling Bart. Francis rose from apprentice to John Palmer, instigator of the mail coach from the Bush Tavern in Corn Street (still marked by a commemorative wall plaque) to London, eventually becoming Secretary General of the National Post Office. His memorial may be seen in Saint Mary Redcliffe Church almost opposite his 1764 birthplace at 24 Redcliffe Hill.

Further reading: The Bristol Royal Mail, R.C.Tombs, Arrowsmith, Bristol, Perhaps you have a favourite pillar box; 1901. Pillar Boxes, Jonathan Clancey, Chatto Curiosities series, residents in Henleaze’s Owen Grove Chatto & Windus, 1989. are very proud of their particular very Francis Freeling’s surprising career - read chapter seven, ‘a special one (left). It bears the Royal cypher of King Edward the eighth – a fateful decision’ in my book, Bristol Curiosities. Rara Avis indeed! The late Tony Benn’s Bristol Curiosities also has further information on own favourite was the wall box on some of my other 108 articles in this series of history Osea island in the estuary of Essex’s notes. For £10 plus postage, to 23 Henleaze Park Blackwater river. Linked to the shore Drive, BS9 4LH. It would make a nice Christmas by a causeway which is submerged at high tide, the present, (just drop me a letter!). box bears the notice: ‘Collection according to the tides’. Perhaps this caveat also applies to St Michael’s © Julian Lea-Jones FRAeS, 2016 Mount in Cornwall?

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BUYING A PRESENT FOR AN ELDERLY FRIEND, NEIGHBOUR OR RELATIVE If you’re like me, your mind may go blank when it comes to buying gifts for loved ones! As Christmas is almost upon us I thought you may like a few suggestions for presents for an elderly friend, neighbour or relative….. Time. Enjoying time with others is core to our emotional needs. Good company is always welcome, and it shows you want to spend time with them too! Giving them an event or trip to look forward to (in say February) can really help lift the winter blues. And the fun doesn’t stop with the trip itself – they create great memories that can be recounted to others or relived in quiet moments. Yum Yum. Everyone loves a varied and exciting food parcel! Customised hampers from a deli, or perhaps a homemade cake really show you’ve thought about your loved one. If they don’t have a sweet tooth, try a selection of their favourite teas, or perhaps some foods that will bring back memories, for example from where they used to live or visit. …. Of course, with foods we do need to give a thought to any changing preferences or allergies they may now be managing.

Music. Music is the language of the soul! It can lift moods and bring back many happy memories. We can of course browse and buy online for their favourite pieces or artist. Do think about the equipment your loved one is familiar with… MP3 or CD or Tapes even! Don’t forget to buy some headphones so the neighbours aren’t disturbed J. Hobby gifts. Crafts and other hobbies really help with mental stimulation, dexterity and of course mood. Everyone loves to show off their latest creation….. So why not seek a painting or sewing set, of perhaps a colouring book (therapeutic & fun), or weaving set, or puzzle set. Pamper gifts – soaps, perfumes, manicure, massage…. Perhaps subscription to a weekly or monthly magazine – they’ll feel pampered each time it arrives!

Practical Gifts – smoke alarms, torches, hot water bottles, new electric blanket, kettle or Iron (this will Clothing. Many senior folk really feel the cold, and help with home safety too – it’s amazingly easy for a may be worried about energy costs, so a new and worn our item to be overlooked), or perhaps an easy jolly piece of clothing, that makes them feel snug, to use radio, with a large day & date display….. will be most welcome. How about warm socks, How about something for outside?.... boot fingerless mitts, soft scarfs, slippers (new ones may removers, new walking stick, litter-picker-handle prevent a fall), fleece pyjamas, or new dressing (which is great around the house too), and for gowns…. someone who likes to walk how about a florescent jacket, and perhaps a GPS tracker if they wonder Talking Books or Videos too far. – Great for those cold winter evenings an ideal Finally, why not ‘Be a Santa’ this Christmas by for someone who now delivering a present to an elderly neighbour on finds it hard to get Christmas Eve, and label it from Santa….. or even out…… There’s loads to better, invite them to your home for Christmas day choose from – different – that‘s the best gift for a live-alone person! eras, box-set series, life Hope this helps…. I’d best get to the shops now histories, explorer’s tales, …. ! political memoirs, old comedies (e.g. Flanders & Swan or The Goons), and Brought to you by John Moore of Home of course romance or general fiction. Videos are Instead Senior Care – specialising in bring joy also welcome – try and find out their favourite or to the elderly through practical support and fun meaningful film or a perhaps seek a box set from in their homes and nearby. the distance past that they’ll enjoy.

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What’s On & Community News Listings for community events, not-for-profit clubs and charitable activities are free of charge. If you have something of this nature that you would like listed please get in touch by calling 0117 259 1964 or 07845 986650, email andy@bcmagazines.co.uk, or post details in to 8 Sandyleaze, WoT, BS9 3PY.

Carols, Gustav Holst’s Christmas Day, Morton Lauridsen’s beautiful O Magnum Mysterium and Ola Gjeilo’s haunting Ubi Caritas. There will also be congregational carols for all to sing. Tickets are £8 (concessions £6) at the door.

Friends of Welsh National Opera and visitors are all welcome at Redmaids School on Wednesday December 14th to enjoy some Christmas Comedy Crackers. Ian Cartwright presents a programme of light-hearted moments from mainly well-known operas, which we hope will provide pleasure and some amusement using DVD’s and CD's. Members £5 Guests £7, pay at the door.

Sat 17th December 6-7pm a t Westbury Park Methodist Church. Christmas Charity Concert and Carols. With Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio, sung in English by 7 Soloists Chamber Choir in aid of the One25 Charity. Hot drinks and mince pies to follow. Tickets £10 adults £5 students. North View, Bristol BS6 7QB.

Bristol Cabot Choir Christmas Concert – Noel! Noel! - Monday, 12 December at 7.30 pm at Bristol Cathedral, College Green, BS1 5TJ. With the Details shown are accurate to the best of my Bristol Brass Consort and Andrew Kirk on organ, knowledge, but dates, times & locations may we will be presenting a programme of beautiful change without notification. So if you are sacred Christmas music and carols from across the unsure, and to avoid disappointment, please ages for choir, brass and audience. Tickets: contact the organiser listed to double check. Reserved £15 - Unreserved £10/£5 (under 18s) From Opus 13, 14 St. Michael’s Hill, Bristol BS2 Theatre, Concerts and Music 8DT Ticket Line 0117 923 0164/ or via 0117 9626521. www.bristolcabotchoir.org. Retiring Magnetical and The Space Opera Theatre present “Pantomime Shorts’ by Merlin Goldman, Karolina collection for The Bridge Charity. Kew and Stuart Smith from 3rd-8th January 2017 at the Alma Tavern and Theatre, BS8 2HY. The world “The Spirit of Christmas” - Christmas at St of pantomime turned upside down. A kaleidoscope George's. Join us for our traditional sparkling of short plays featuring your favourite characters in evening of uplifting choral music, witty and entertaining readings, audience participation - and new adventures and some behind the scenes lots of brass! For one night only! Saturday 17 revelations. A former TV star returns to a seaside town to play Hook, only to find he’d left more than December 2016, 7.30pm at St George’s, Bristol. Ticket prices from £9 to £20 (students and under memories there. The last thing Little Red Riding 18s - £5, subject to availability) Please contact Hoodie needs is to meet a stoner wolf in the woods… after all, she has her Nan’s weed to deliver. Bristol Bach Choir Box Office (Tel: 0117 214 0721, Online: bristolbach.org.uk/tickets.php or Two princesses get up to no good and won’t let Prince Charming or the Beast get in their way. And email tickets@bristolbach.org.uk) or St George's a glimpse into the competitive world of pantomime Box Office (Great George Street, Off Park Street, horse performers. Tickets £10/£8. To book please Bristol BS1 5RR, Tel: 0845 40 24 001, www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk visit www.almatavernandtheatre.co.uk

Saturday 17th December 2016 7.30 pm. Colston Hall, Bristol BS1 5AR. George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah” Bristol Choral Society and the Corelli Orchestra. Tickets from £11 to £28. (under 25s £5.00, Seniors 10% discount). Full details at www.bristolchoral.co.uk. Book online at www.bristolchoral.co.uk or by phone on 01452 768 928 The Redland Green Choir’s Christmas Concert will take place at 7.30pm on 12th December, at St Alban’s Church, Bayswater Road, Westbury Park. The programme will include a number of twentieth century classics: Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of

Sat 17th December 7.30 pm - Gurt Lush Christmas. A Christmas concert like no other as Bristol’s popular community choir, directed by the inimitable Sam Burns, visit Westbury Park to present a diverse ‘Christmas platter’ including songs from all over the world, in Gurt Lush multi-part harmonies! £10 (£6) Family Ticket (4 people) £30. Horfield Parish Church – Sunday, 18th December, at 6.00 p.m.: Come and join us for our annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols in Candlelight. The service includes the traditional sequence of readings with well-known carols for the congregation and special Christmas music performed by the church choir, including several

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What’s On & Community News settings newly composed for the occasion.

Fitness, Health and Wellbeing

Melody Makers Pop Choir. Come and join a fun new choir for men and women. Starting at The Eastfield Inn 11th January 2017. We will sing popular music, mash ups and medleys, some with groovy moves! There will be termly performance opportunities at local venues and we will rehearse on Wednesday evenings (7:30-9:00pm) during term time. No previous experience or auditions necessary. Get in touch to book your free taster session. www.melodymakerschoir.wordpress.com

The Bristol West Diabetes Group would be grateful if you could include in the next/appropriate edition of 'Bristol 9' our meeting at 2 pm on Thursday 23 February 2017 at the Primary Care Practice in Westbury-on-Trym: Our speaker will be Angeliki Papadaki speaking on 'The Mediterranean Diet.'

Bristol Shambhala Meditation Group offers free meditation instruction from a qualified instructor at the Open House evening each Wednesday from ‘Babbers’ Radio Show every Monday from midday 7.30 - 9.30 pm at 17 Lower Redland Road, Redland, to 2pm on Ujima Radio - 98FM. The show is BS6 6TB and the opportunity for a longer period of organised and presented by older people for older practice on the second Sunday of each month. For people with the aim of helping to reduce loneliness further information please see our website: and social isolation, however the topics we cover are www.bristol.shambhala.info interesting and relevant to all. Tune in, let us know what you think - info@ujimaradio.com Morris Dancing - Bristol Morris Men welcome anyone who wants to try morris dancing. We Exhibitions, Markets and Meetings practise on Thursday evenings in the Sports Hall at (QEH) Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital (School) at Berkeley Place, Clifton from 20:00 to 22:00 (ish). Next year's Redland May Fair takes place on May For more information please visit Day, Bank Holiday Monday 1st May 2017, 1-5pm on Redland Green. If you are interested in having a www.bristolmorrismen.co.uk or call Grant on (0117) 9442165 . stall at the fair and would like to be added to the mailing list or for more information please email Tai Chi Classes for beginners - Start something mayfairstalls@rcas.org.uk and be part of this funfilled family event or visitwww.rcas.org.uk/redland- new in 2017. Always wanted to try Tai Chi? For centuries the Chinese have practised Tai Chi as fair simple but powerful form of exercise for strength, balance and mindfulness. Always want to give it a Free child-friendly family Christmas science try, now you don't have to go to China. The Bristol lecture at the University of Bristol (School of Chemistry, Cantock's Close, BS8 1TS) on Friday 16 School of Tai Chi has lots of daytime and evening December 2016, 6pm start with refreshments from classes in Henleaze and Bishopston starting from the 9 January. Any questions contact Ben Milton 5:30. "A Room with a Boom" will take you from hair gel to a hydrogen explosion in sixty minutes via 0117 9493955, email taichi@bristoltaichi.com or simply visit www.bristoltaichi.com more than a dozen chemistry demonstrations. Explore the importance, Gardening and Horticulture fascination, beauty and fun of science. Arranged jointly by the IET, IMechE, RSC and NI. Please The Alpine Garden Society meet on the 3rd reserve a seat (and a mince pie) at http:// Friday of the month at Westbury Methodist Church, tinyurl.com/Xmas16Lecture. Westbury Hill, at 7.30pm. We have speakers on various topics, plant sales and social events. Visitors The friends of Henleaze Library are proud to are very welcome at £2 a visit. present Jenny Stephens the artistic director of the Bristol Old Vic for an evening talk "Acting the art Henleaze & District Flower Club meets on the and craft". This will be on Tuesday 13 December second and fourth Thursdays of the month at at Henleaze Library. Tickets available from Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road in Henleaze. Flower Henleaze Library £5.00 to include a glass of wine demonstrations are held on the second Thursday, and a mince pie. Doors open at 6.45 for a 7.00 pm practice classes on the fourth Thursday. New start. Henleaze library is opposite Waitrose members always welcome. For more details please Northumberland Drive BS9 4HP. contact Debra Ward on 07974 937741 or email Debra at debragailward@hotmail.com

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What’s On & Community News the first Wednesday in the month. Guests are welcome, it costs £4 per session and it is possible to be a guest 3 times in a year without having to RSVP (Retired & Senior Volunteer become a member. We meet at Westmoreland Hall, Programme). Do you like reading? Do you like helping children? If yes to both, you are just the sort Westmoreland Road, Redland from 7.30pm. of person we are looking for! If you can spare a minimum of an hour a week to hear children read in Soroptomists International Bristol are part of a global organisation founded in Bristol for women a local school you could make a huge difference. Volunteers do not teach children to read, but spend from a wide range of professional and business time on an individual basis with them, hearing them backgrounds who have joined together to give Service, Friendship and have Fun. We meet on the read and talking to them about the stories in their second and fourth Mondays of the month at Long reading books. We want children to enjoy books Ashton Golf Club where we enjoy a two course and reading, and individual attention is always a meal with a speaker. For more details please contact great way to do it. Volunteering is a great way to stay active and to feel useful, so if you are interested our membership officer on 0117 9739894 or email gillbea@aol.com for more details. in joining us please get in touch. Contact Mina on 07860 669953, or explore the website RSVPThe Bristol and District branch of Parkinson's west.org.uk UK meet every first Saturday of the month at St Volunteers needed to support carers. Could you Monica Trust, Cote Lane, BS9 3UN from 10am -12 please help us develop and increase our support to noon. Carers, relatives, spouses and people with Parkinson's - all are welcome for a social and carers, people looking after an unwell, disabled or elderly family member or friend in Bristol and South informative get-together, with speakers from a variety of backgrounds with many diverse interests. Glos? Could you help us develop the support that Please join us. We also meet at The Eastfield Inn, carers can access through their G.P. surgery and Henleaze, BS9 4NQ every second Friday in the other sources? If you are outgoing and could offer month for an informal coffee morning from 11am. two mornings a month to meet, greet and give We are a friendly and supportive bunch, exchanging information to carers when they visit their GP tactics, information and social banter! surgery, I would very glad to hear from you. Full training and support for this role is provided. Please contact me, Mike Hatch, GP Carer Link Volunteer On the first Tuesday of the month the North on 07503 577830: or email your name and telephone Bristol Alzheimer Café opens at St Monica Trust, Oatley House Atrium restaurant, Westbury-onnumber to mikeh@carerssupportcentre.org.uk If Trym, Bristol, BS9 3TN from 3.30pm – 5.30pm. We you look after someone who couldn’t manage provide a relaxed, informal and safe space in which without you, and would like some information issues surrounding dementia can be aired. Our café about our services for carers or would just like someone to talk to about caring for the person you is staffed by trained, caring and experienced look after, please telephone our Carersline on 0117 volunteers. Every week refreshments are served and 965 2200 or visit www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk . most weeks live music is played. There is no charge to attend, free on-site parking is usually available and the number 1 bus stops right outside. FFI or to Friendship, Social and Support register your attendance contact Jacqui Ramus (Dementia Lead for St Monica Trust) on 07854 Senior Film Club - St Peter's Hall, The Drive, 185093 / email jacqui.ramus@stmonicatrust.org.uk Henleaze. Home Instead Bring Joy Foundation is pleased to support the Henleaze Senior Film Club Clifton Rotary Club welcomes new members and bring you the following fun Monday willing to give their time, are interested in making afternoons, each starting at 2pm. December 12th new friends, building business contacts and using “It’s a Wonderful Life” - 1946 Christmas drama their skills to help others. We meet Wednesday starring James Stewart - a fun way to get into the lunchtimes at The Redland Green Club (Redland swing of Christmas. January 16th - "Iron Lady" Lawn Tennis and Squash Club). FFI visit 2011 Film starring Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher. Refreshments (Tea & Cake) £3. Transport www.cliftonrotary.org or email secretary@cliftonrotary.org offered by Dial-A-Ride, Tel 0845 139 875. For further details, please ring 0117 989 8210 Bristol Grandparents Support Group gives Westbury Park WI has changed its meeting day to support to grandparents who are estranged from Volunteering and Charities

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What’s On & Community News their grandchildren due to family breakdown. Family breakdown can be as a result of separation/divorce, alcohol/drug dependency, domestic violence within the home, bereavement or family feud. We give support over the phone, via email, Skype and at our regular meetings held at 9, Park Grove, Bristol. BS6 7XB. Tel 07773 258270 more information or visit www.bgsg.co.uk.

friends? Then come and join the Henleaze Carers’ Group. We meet on the second and fourth Thursday morning of each month, 10am to 12, in Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze. For more information please call Mrs M Rudston 942 6095.

Civil Service Retirement Fellowship. The Westbury-on-Trym group welcomes all retired Civil Servants and their spouses to their meetings held on the first Thursday of the month at Studland Court, Henleaze Road at 2.00pm, Those people without a civil service background are welcome to join our group as Friends of the Fellowship. For more info phone Beryl Webb on 01454 614 451.

Bristol Decorative Fine Art Society (BDFAS) is Bristol’s own society for those who are passionate about the arts. History of Art related events are organised including monthly lectures and study days led by specialists in their field and cover a wide range of topics. We organise stimulating visits and day trips home and abroad, often with special, exclusive visits to places of interest. Lectures are held in the “The Lecture Theatre”, The School of Chemistry Cantocks Close, BS8 1TS. For more information visit our website www.bristoldfas.co.uk.

Instep Club for Widows and Widowers. Weds evenings 8.00 pm-10.00 pm at Stoke Bishop Village Laugh, Live and Learn with Bristol U3A. If you Hall, Stoke Hill. Dancing - Ballroom and Sequence (If you haven’t danced for a long time, don’t worry, have retired from full-time work, and want to take we will help you learn). Social activities Annual part in enjoyable learning with friendship and fun, membership £8. Members: £2 per session. Visitors we have a wide range of groups with over 100 welcome: £3 per session. Come in to see us or different activities, including art, computing, languages, music, walking, and science. Come to one telephone Donna on 01275 832676 or Wilma on 9628895 for further information. of our social groups - either at the Eastfield Inn, Henleaze, 10.30am on the second Thursday and third Monday in every month, phone Barbara 0117 Bristol Brunel Lions Club. We have our business 9629331. Or at Browns Restaurant, by the Museum, meeting at Shirehampton Golf Club on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 for 7.30. On the 3rd at 10.15am on the third Wednesday and fourth Tuesday of each month we have a social gathering Thursday in every month, phone Jenny 0117 normally with food. We raise money for charity 9043697. Please visit www.bristolu3a.org.uk. both locally and beyond through a variety of activities. Lots of fun and fellowship raising money Rotary Club of Bristol meet at the Bristol Hotel, for very good causes. For more details see Bristol Prince Street, Bristol BS1 4QF at 7.00pm for 7.30 Brunel Lions Club on line or contact Bill O’Neill pm on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays and at 12.30pm for 1.00 pm on the 2nd and 4th Mondays. at lion.bill@virginmedia.com. Meetings start with a meal and are followed by a General Interests speaker. New members are very welcome – for more details see www.bristolrotary.org or contact Martina Peattie at mpeattie@btopenworld.com Have lessons and play Bridge at Bristol Bridge Club. Would you like to learn to play bridge? We Do you, or does someone you know, need offer a full programme of lessons for all levels. If support following a relationship breakdown? you can already play try a free taster session at one Over the past 20 years Aquila has helped many of our 7 weekly sessions. Less experienced players people learn to cope and rebuild their lives Mondays at 7.15pm and Fridays at 10.00am and following separation or divorce. Our next 8-week 7.15pm, More experienced players Mondays and self-help course starts on Wednesday 25th January Wednesdays at 1.15pm and Tuesdays and Thursdays in Southmead, Bristol. The course is facilitated by a at 7.15pm. No partner? No problem! On Mondays group of trained men and women who have all just turn up and Terry, the Director, will find you experienced broken relationships or divorce. If you one. He also gives advice on bidding! For more would like to know more call Gill on 07807 058479, details phone Stephen, the Club Manager, on 0117 email bristol@hope-after-heartbreak.co.uk or visit 9291846. 99 Oldfield Rd, Hotwells, BS8 4QQ. www.hope-after-heartbreak.co.uk. www.bristolbridgeclub.co.uk

Calling all Carers. Would you like the opportunity to share your experiences, relax and make new

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What’s On & Community News The Bristol Humanists is a local group for those who make sense of the world using reason & shared human values, who seek to live ethical lives on the basis of reason, humanity and respect for others, and who find meaning, beauty, and joy in the one life we have, without the need for an afterlife. We meet every month on the first Monday at 7.30pm in Kingsdown. Contact Margaret Dearnaley on 07986 555817 (evenings and weekends only) or email bristolhumanists@gmail.com for more information. The National Trust Bristol Centre Talks Programme 2016-2017 continues on Saturday 17th December with a talk on the Life and Music of Irving Berlin. Irving Berlin (1888-1989) was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history. His music forms a major part of the Great American Songbook. Our speaker Terry MerretSmith, who over the years has built up an extensive collection of musical memorabilia, will outline Berlin's story and punctuate his account with examples of the great man's music. There will, no doubt, be an opportunity to join in with a rendition of the Berlin classic White Christmas. The talk will take place at 2.15 in the Hall at St Monica Trust, Cote Lane, WoT. A charge of £3 is made to both members and visitors to help cover the costs associated with the talks programme. This charge includes the provision of tea and biscuits at the end of each talk The Bristol Branch of the English Speaking Union meets in the Apostle Room of Clifton Cathedral at 7.15 for a 7.45 talk which ends by 9 pm. Entrance is £5. The aim of the ESU is to encourage friendship and global understanding through English. On Tuesday 6th December we present “Gurkhas- there is no better place to be in combat than next to a Gurkha (Prince Harry) - 200 years of Service to the Crown”. Brigadier Bruce Jackman, who served with the Gurkhas, will tell us more about this remarkable people from the foothills of the Himalayas, in Nepal

Got a speech to make? Bristol Speakers offers a relaxed environment to practise your public speaking. Learn how to construct and present a speech, gain knowledge from experienced speakers, conquer your public speaking anxiety. Most of all, practise in a stress-free environment where members give helpful feedback. It’s a well structured evening, fun and relaxed with a nice mix of people. Meeting 7.30pm alternate Mondays @ BAWA Southmead Rd. Contact Ben@Bristolspeakers.co.uk The Bristol Astronomical Society host a series of talks each week and we regularly get experts to talk about historical and topical aspects of astronomy, as well running hands-on demonstrations, activities, free Saturday observing sessions at our Observatory in Failand (weather permitting), and often stage "Star Parties" around Bristol and at Tyntesfield. All details are on our website www.bristolastrosoc.org.uk. All welcome, held at Bristol Photographic Society, Montpelier, BS6 5EE. Philosophy Discussion Group. We are a friendly and welcoming group who enjoy taking a turn to bring topic to share. We meet at 7 – 9pm every fourth Thursday evening of the month at Eastfield Inn, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4NQ, and 10 - 12 noon every second Friday morning of the month, also at Eastfield Inn, Henleaze. If you would like to be involved please contact Lorna Tarr on 0770 245 3827. Disclaimer

The Bristol Six 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 Six 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 The Bristol Philatelic Society meets on the 2nd advertisers, all of which are accepted in good faith. and 4th Thursdays of each month in the meeting Reasonable efforts are made to ensure the accuracy room of the United Reform Church at the bottom of the information contained in this magazine but of Blackboy Hill (Whiteladies Road) starting at 7.30 no liability can be accepted for any loss or p.m. Contact 0117 956 7853. inconvenience caused as a result of inclusion, error or omission. All content is the copyright of Bristol North West Bristol Camera Club, are an Community Magazines Ltd and may not be enthusiastic group of amateur photographers who reproduced without the prior written consent of meet each Wednesday at 7:45pm at Westbury Fields. Bristol Community Magazines. New members of any level of ability are most welcome. For details contact Pete on 07870 589555.

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What’s On & Community News Quiz Answers from page 16

Puzzle Walk Answers from page 20

23 (seven swans, six geese, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge; 2a) Hungary, b) Canada, c) Germany, d) Switzerland; 3. Captain Matthew Webb in 1875; 4. Gold at £31,400 per kilo (frankincense resin is about £38 per kilo and myrrh resin is about £75 per kilo); ) 5. ’Rumours’ by Fleetwood Mac, ‘Bat Out Of Hell’ by Meatloaf, and c) ‘So’ by Peter Gabriel; 6. Henrik Stenson (2016), Zach Johnson (2015) and Rory McIlroy (2014); 7a) A4, b)A4018, c) A420; 8a) 42 inches, b) 17 inches, c) 54 inches, and d) 89 inches; 9. Bohemia (now the Czech Republic); 10. Mark Carney was preceded by Mervyn King; 11. They are all on the south bank of the Thames; 12. Annie Nightingale, John Peel, Janice Long; 13. Napoleonic Wars, the Hundred Years War, the English Civil War, and the Vietnam War; 14. 193 countries; France, Finland & Fiji; and Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan and Kiribati; 15. Anita Lonsbrough, the first female winner.

£1,000; 2. Bristol in Bloom; 3. Wapping Wharf; 4. this is the only one; 5. 9 (feet?); 6. 1497; 7. 122; 8. 1838, 15 days; 9. “With thee is the fountain of life”; 10. the St Mary Redcliffe Vicarage; 11. 1763 to 1771; 12. it was the former Fireboat Station; 13. Treen Mill Pond (plaque outside no. 9); 14. 170; 15. Pantoscopic Spectacles, and Miranda; 16. Rosy & Jim; 17. 6 masts, 1 chimney; 18. 3 unicorns. Wordsearch Clues from page 45 The county towns you are looking for are Trowbridge, Taunton, Morpeth, Preston, Winchester, Matlock, Cambridge, Chichester, Shrewsbury, Norwich, Maidstone, Dorchester, Carlisle, Aylesbury, Lewes, Oakham, Lincoln, Newport, Exeter and Truro.

Get In Touch If you are interested in advertising your business, are involved in a community event, local club or society and would like some free publicity, have a story to submit for possible publication or just want to comment on the magazine please do get in touch via one of the following forms of modern and not so modern communication • Telephonic Communication - please dial 0117 259 1964 on your keypad • Textual Communication - send to message to 07845 986650 • Electronic Communication - send me an electronic mail using the address andy@bcmagazines.co.uk • World Wide Web based Communication - please visit my website www.bcmagazines.co.uk and follow the simple ‘Get In Contact’ instructions • Tweeted Correspondence may be sent via Twitter using the catchy handle @BS9Andy • Communicate via the Royal Mail or in person by addressing your letter or indeed yourself to 8 Sandyleaze, Westbury on Trym, Bristol, BS9 3PY, United Kingdom Print Deadlines Please note that the next magazine will be a joint January / February issue. The deadline for inclusion in this issue is the 9th January and the magazine will be delivered week commencing 16th January. Then the following magazine will be the March issue which has a print deadline of 15th February and which will be delivered week commencing 1st March.

Buying a property without building regulation consent for alterations – What are the options? Are you thinking of buying a property but are concerned that alterations have been made to it without the appropriate Local Authority Building Regulations Approval? Laura Wilkinson a Property Law Specialist Solicitor at AMD Solicitors looks at the issues. By law building works carried out to a property must comply with certain standards to ensure that they are safe and energy efficient. However, unfortunately it is quite common to discover that building works have been carried out without the necessary Building Control Consent having been obtained. The reasons for this vary but range from ignorance of the law to a deliberate decision not to apply for consent where it is clear that Building Regulation Approval would not have been granted for the works. Your Conveyancing Solicitor will be aware of the circumstances where Building Regulations would be required. Therefore it is important that you or your surveyor makes them aware of any works that may have been carried out on the property to enable them to make the necessary enquiries. The seller should also disclose any works undertaken at the property in the information supplied to the buyer prior to purchase. What if there is no Building Regulation Approval for the works undertaken?

If there is no Building Regulation Approval for the works, they could be structurally dangerous. The Council could take enforcement action against you requiring you to undertake costly rectification works and causing you considerable inconvenience. If you are a cash buyer you can choose to take on these risks but if you are buying with a mortgage your Conveyancing Solicitor will need to report the facts to your mortgage lender and they will almost certainly require some form of further protection from the risks. What can I do to protect myself against the risks? The best solution for you may be to ask the seller to apply for retrospective Building Regulation Consent from the Local Authority. A building inspector will need to come out to the property to inspect the work and, if they are satisfied that it complies with Building Regulations, they will issue a “Regularisation Certificate”. However, by contacting the Council the seller would not subsequently be able to take out an Indemnity Insurance Policy (as referred to below). Currently the most common way to deal with a non -compliance issue is to take out a Lack of Building Regulation Consent Indemnity Insurance Policy. Your solicitor will request that the seller’s solicitor obtains at the seller’s expense a policy to provide cover for the owner against the cost of any expenses or losses resulting from the Local Authority taking enforcement action against them.

The Indemnity Policy route will be quicker (policies can be taken out online and put on risk A Local Authority can take enforcement action immediately) and may well be cheaper than against the owner of a property (even if that person requesting Retrospective Consent. A typical policy did not undertake the work themselves), requiring premium will be between £100 to £400 and is a the property owner either to undo the works one-off payment. undertaken or to carry out rectification works. However, there can be significant problems in Should you choose to proceed with the purchase relying upon an Indemnity Insurance Policy and of the property despite the lack of Building before choosing this option you should discuss the Regulation Consent you will be exposed to the level of cover and the insurer’s terms with your following risks:Conveyancing Solicitor. An insurance company may refuse to pay out under a Buildings Insurance Policy if there is inadequate Building Regulation Consent for alterations to the property.

Buying and selling a property can be a complex and sometimes stressful experience. Our experienced Conveyancing Team at AMD Solicitors can advise you on issues such as these. If you would like any advice or assistance with the process of buying or selling your property, please give us a call on 0117 9735647or call in to our office at 139 Whiteladies Road.

www.amdsolicitors.com

Index of Adver sers Around the Garden

Food and Drink

Garden Design & Mtce

Hilary Barber

8 Butchers

Molesworths of Henleaze

Garden Design & Mtce

Chandler's Lands. & Tree Surgery

39 Restaurants

Manna

Garden Design & Mtce

Blossom Gardening

67 Restaurants

Prego

Garden Design & Mtce

Red Oak

19 Gi s, Arts, Jewellery & Retail

Garden Services

Declan McManus

4 Retail Outlets

The Mall

Compost & Manure Supplies Mr Manure Man

40 Photography Workshops

Pocket Money Photography

Fencing

EC Fencing

KP Badges & Trophies

Landscaping

Oak Urban Landscaping

61 Trophies & Engraving 57 Jewellery and Gi s

Blinds & Shu ers

UK Blinds Direct

Bathrooms, Wetrooms & Showers

Paul Whi aker

Bathrooms, Wetrooms & Showers

Three Sixty Services

Kemps

54, 55

Around the House Healthcare Services Complementary Healthcare

The Chiron Centre

Complementary Healthcare

Celeste Complementary Therapies

65 4

Alexander Technique

David Harrowes

Counselling Services

Aquila Bristol

Stoves & Hea ng

Toasty Stove

Cleaning Services

OvenGleam

40 19 Home Care Services

Home Instead

Cleaning Services

Home Gleamers

17 Home Care Services

St Monica Trust

Cleaning Services

Bonne Fresh Clean

12 Home Care Services

Premier Homecare

36, 37

Furniture

Gareth Jones Furniture

50 Schools & Educa on

Cleaning Services

Bonne Fresh Clean

12 Schools

Badminton School

Furniture

Gareth Jones Furniture

50 Property & Accommoda on

Interior Design

Park Interiors

57 Estate & Le ng Agents

C J Hole

Upholstery & So Furn

Nice Things for Nice Homes

49 Estate & Le ng Agents

Bristol Property Centre

Richard Harding

71 21

Building Services

Estate Agents

42, 43

Building & Construc on

BS7 Driveways

60 Estate Agents

Ocean

Building & Construc on

Garcia Building Services

63 Estate Agents

Leese & Nagle

Plant Hire

Mark's Mini Diggers

60 Le ng Agents

Air Prepare

Abbeyﬁeld

Windows & Doors

Crystal Clear

Garage Doors

Up & Over Doors

Property Maintenance

Prime Maintenance

29 Electrical Services

Lek‐Trix

Design & Project Mgmt

Oasys Property Solu ons

30 Electrical Services

Paul Daley Electrical Services

Compu ng, A/V & IT Computer Repairs

7 Sheltered Housing 39 Trades

Pain ng & Decora ng

Stephen Carter

James Fox

FAB IT Rescue

40 Pain ng & Decora ng

William Price

G R Kno

Pain ng & Decora ng

Finance, Legal & Business

Sarah's Decora ng Services

Book‐keeping

Walbrook Bureau Services

Coaching

Anne Miller Coaching

41 Plumbing

Bathroom Perfec on

Solicitors

Corﬁeld Solicitors

2,3 Plumbing & Hea ng

John Presland

Solicitors

AMD Solicitors

Solicitors

Veale Wasbrough Vizards

Fitness, Beauty, Sport & Leisure

69 Chimney Sweeps 32, 33 Cars & Motoring

McCall Plastering

23 Plastering 23 Pain ng & Decora ng

Accountancy

Bristle Chimney Sweeping

Garage Services

Autotec

Garage Services

Arley Garage

59 14, 15

5 50

Beauty Treatments

Grace Emmerson

17 Pet Care and Pet Services

Beauty Treatments

Peachey Therapies

19 Veterinary Services

Animal Health Centre

Sports Centres & Gyms

Cli on College Sports Centre

46 Veterinary Services

Vets4Pets

Sports Centres & Gyms

Westbury Trym & Tone

49 Pet Care and Pet Services

Friends 4 Paws

71Â

72Â