Mike O’Neil Joins Local Councilors

Mick O’Neill-Duff joins your local Lib Dem team Mick O’Neill-Duff joins your local Lib Dem team We are delighted to introduce the newest I was involved in the formation of lunch clubs member of the Greater Brislington Lib Dem for elderly residents and supported various team. other clubs that helped disabled people. I also worked closely with our local community Here’s Mick in his police officer, and during my time as a counown words: cillor we managed to cut crime dramatically in the ward. “Hello! May I introduce myself I will use my skills and experience to serve as your candidate the residents of Brislington East to the very for next year’s local best of my ability. I take councillor work very elections? I am Mick seriously and as your Lib Dem councillor, I O’Neill-Duff and I promise to fight hard for the issues that affect have lived in Bristol you. As an experienced local councillor, I for 21 years. I have been happily married for know how to get things done.” 17 years (my second marriage) and I am very much a family man with 8 grown up children Mick will be working alongside our two between us, 7 Grandkids and 2 Great Grand- councillors, Cllr. Tony Carey (Brislington East), kids! Cllr. Jos Clark (Brislington West) and councillor candidate, Andrew Varney Before moving to Bristol, I was a local coun- (Brislington West). Cllr. Tony Carey said, “I am cillor for 10 years in Milton Keynes. I worked delighted to welcome Mick to join our team in hard for local residents, regularly badgering Brislington East. His experience as a Counthe council for better funding for my ward. As cillor and School Governor combined with a councillor I was especially keen on mental his local knowledge will be invaluable as we health issues and working with disabled peo- strive to improve conditions for our residents”. ple, the elderly and the young. My proudest Cllr. Jos Clark said, “As the councillor for the achievement was obtaining funds to turn a neighbouring ward, I am delighted to be workburnt-out building into a thriving youth club, ing with such a worthy candidate”. Andrew local hairdressers and Snoezelen (a con- Varney added, “I’m really looking forward trolled multi-sensory room for people with to working with Mick on cross-Brislington autism and other developmental disabilities, issues”. dementia or brain injuries). I’m pleased to say this centre is still going strong to this day. By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.jos.clark@brisI was a School Governor for two schools in tol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370429 Milton Keynes and I am also a School Governor for two schools here in Bristol. Tony Carey, Liberal Democrat Councillor Another achievement was working with (Brislington East) Email: cllr.tony.carey@ local schoolchildren to paint giant murals on bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 0758 4370428 an under pass by their schools. It certainly brightened up their daily commute to and from Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor school! Candidate (Brislington West) Email: andyvarney@hotmail.com Mobile: 07544 667968 Mick O’Neill-Duff, Liberal Democrat Councillor Candidate (Brislington East) Email: yewtreemick@gmail.com Mobile: 07730 343333 23

MW FUNERAL DIRECTORS GO THE EXTRA MILE

A Bristol funeral directors is going the extra mile to enable people to pay their respects while there are restrictions on attending funeral services due to Covid-19.

Routes to cemeteries and crematoriums are being planned by MW Funeral Directors so that those prevented from attending a service or self-isolating can pay their respects.

Hearses are able to stop at significant points where family members live, social clubs or sports grounds with mourners able to socially distance while paying their respects, and often applauding.

MW Funeral Directors cover the whole of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and further afield, planning and directing burials and cremations to the individual requirements of families.

Ella Abbott, funeral director, said: “It seems certain that sadly the restriction of a maximum of 30 people at a funeral is going to be with us well into 2021. We have always arranged funerals in a truly bespoke way, to allow for personalisation and to meet the needs of the family and friends of the person who has died. “It is proving very difficult for some families to decide who should come to the service and how it will be organised and we have been working with them to find ways to ensure that the whole funeral and service honours the person who has passed away. “One solution is webcasting of the service, which is now very common, but even that can feel lonely and remote to someone who was very close to an individual.

“One solution we have found is to put some more time into the journey to the service and work with families so that there is a timed route, often with pauses and stopping places where people can stand at the roadside or in a special place – such as a sports club – and pay their respects.

“It is proving very comforting for families and makes more of an event before then they go to their laptop or computer to watch the service.”

MW Funeral Directors say it is important to work alongside families and friends of the deceased to put together a memorial that will live on in the hearts of guests for many years and this should not be curbed by the current

restrictions. The team have organised funerals themed for special interest groups, such as bikers, environmentalists or animal lovers and for those of all faiths and of none.

Said Ella Abbott: “There is a lot of flexibility around funerals. Sometimes cost can be an issue for a family so we keep our basic packages for a funeral early in the day when crematorium fees are low at £1,995 and there are even options for unattended funerals.

“But in these difficult days it seems to be more important than ever for families to mark the event in a memorable way and we work with them to ensure that happens despite all the restrictions we all now face.”