Emersons Green Voice November 2016

emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016 — ISSUE 2

FREE EVERY MONTH IN EMERSONS GREEN, LYDE GREEN, SHORTWOOD & PUCKLECHURCH

Breaking bread together Couple welcome new neighbours with lovely loaves

Royal Fail over Lyde Green post

A MOVE from Emersons Green to Lyde Green gave Nigel and Rosie Brown the chance to set up their own micro-bakery.

They transformed the kitchen of their new home in Pennycress Close so that Nigel could indulge his breadmaking hobby and create sourdough loaves.

The couple then began giving the loaves out to welcome newcomers to the estate, and this led to requests to buy the bread.

Nigel said: “It has been a great way to get to know people in the community. We know almost all of our customers by name, and many have become close friends.

It’s proved to be a great way to settle into a new area.”

Nigel and Rosie have plans to expand the business, but say it will remain a hobby rather than their full-time occupation - at least for the time being.

The people of Lyde Green were overjoyed to get a postbox at last - but less happy when it was not emptied for a fortnight.

Royal Mail has apologised.

PAGES 4 & 5

BMX ace Jensen is West champion Jensen Egan, aged eight, from Emersons Green, has been crowned South West BMX Champion 2016.

PAGE 8

The power of poetry A widow from Emersons Green has told how writing poetry helped her deal with her grief over her husband’s sudden death.

PAGES 10 & 11

Full story: Pages 14 & 15

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2

Thanks for the warm welcome

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2016 — ISSU

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Royal Fail over post Lyde GreenGreen were

Lyde The people of a postbox at overjoyed to get when it . last - but less happy for a fortnight was not emptied apologised.

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Emersons Green A MOVE from gave Nigel and to Lyde Green chance to set up the Rosie Brown akery. their own micro-bmed the kitchen They transfor in Pennycress of their new home could indulge Nigel Close so that hobby and his breadmaking loaves. gh create sourdou began The couple then to welcome out giving the loaves estate, and this the newcomers to to buy the bread. led to requests has been a great Nigel said: “It in the know people all way to get to know almost community. We by name, and rs of our custome close friends. many have become to be a great way It’s proved to area.” settle into a new have plans to Rosie and Nigel , but say it expand the business rather than hobby a remain will occupation - at their full-time being. least for the time Full story: Pages

n BMX ace Jense pion is West cham from eight, Jensen Egan, agedhas been Emersons Green, West BMX crowned South Champion 2016.

PAGE 8

The power of poetry

Emersons Green A widow from poetry has told how writing her grief with helped her deal ’s sudden over her husband death.

PAGES 10 & 11

14 & 15

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Kirsty Winstone described how poetry had helped her overcome grief.

Young people’s successes are always great to record – well done to Jensen Egan, eight-year-old BMX champion! And slightly older ones, too, such as rugby player Amber Reed, whose dad lives in Emersons Green.

We have reports from two WI groups and Fishponds & Downend Rotary, but would love to hear from other groups in the area. Give us a call or email us at news@ emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk Send us your pictures too – we are always glad to receive them.

You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter, and if you’d like to advertise with us, or one of the other 12 Voice papers, contact sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk Our paper is hand-delivered free to 7,000 homes.

Hundreds more copies are available at libraries in Downend, Staple Hill and Emersons Green and at other pick-up points, where you will also find copies of our sister publication, Downend Voice.

WE’RE proud to bring you Issue 2 of Emersons Green Voice – and glad to say that the first edition was very well received.

Our aim is to bring you news from the communities of Emersons Green and Lyde Green and the surrounding area and to give local businesses a platform for advertising.

We will, of course, report updates from councils and organisations: the latest in the continuing saga of “future proofing” libraries and the road works on the A4174 ring road are two examples this month.

But most of all we aim to share stories about the amazing residents of our area – after all, it is the people who make a community.

Do please get in touch if you have a tale to tell.

Nigel and Rosie Brown did just that this month, letting us know about their fantastic micro bakery, while

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South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999

Letters to the publication can be sent to the above e-mail address or by post to Letters, Emersons Green Voice, 6 Elkstone Walk, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6JT. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter.

Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999

December edition deadline is November 21.

Journalist Jayne Taylor 0788 0731148

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Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk Environment/trading standards 01454 868001 Well Aware Health and social care information www. wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252 PUBLISHER’S NOTE Emersons Green Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation.

We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Fishponds Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Gary Brindle on 0117 907 8585 or news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk.

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emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

n NEWS

3

Event is fitting tribute to music-lover Alan DOWNEND'S Alan Yandell was 66 when he died of oesophageal cancer, just six months after receiving his diagnosis.

It is believed he may have had the condition for up to three years but because there were initially no symptoms Alan did not seek help until it was too late.

Now his partner Cynthia Travers-Capper wants to raise money and awareness to help other people suffering with this type of cancer.

She has organised a music fundraiser at Downend's Horseshoe pub on Sunday November 20 and hopes people will come along to support the event.

Cynthia, who had been with Alan for 12 years, said: "Alan had been a BT engineer for 40 years and had only taken early retirement a few years before.

"Just after Christmas 2014 he had what he thought was a chest infection, it was a cough which wouldn't go away. He was also getting a bit of discomfort when

he ate.

"The doctor treated it with antibiotics but after a few months it seemed to be getting worse.

Eventually they sent him for an endoscopy to see what was going on. I'll never forget going to Southmead Hospital to pick him thinking 'Maybe it's an ulcer' but he had been told he had a tumour and they didn't think there was anything they could do."

Alan was referred to the oncology department at the BRI but after a series of test doctors told Alan the cancer had spread to other parts of his body.

"They told him he probably had it for two or three years, perhaps even longer," Cynthia said.

Cynthia, 68, said Alan was so full of life with lots of friends and a passion for music.

He also adored his beloved granddaughter Isabelle.

"He was very fit and healthy and didn't smoke. He would think nothing of walking from his home in Downend to Chipping

Sodbury and back, just for something to do.

He was so active, it came as a huge shock he had this illness. It was just horrible. He went through hell with the chemotherapy for several months but was told it hadn't shrunk the tumour, it was still growing.

"Oesophageal cancer is known as one of the 'silent' cancers. You can have it for several years and not know it but when you do start experiencing problems, it is usually too late for any form of treatment which was the case for Alan."

Alan sadly passed away in June 2015.

Cynthia's fundraising evening starts at 7.30pm and includes singing waiters who sing requests in return for donations, rock band Caught on the Back Foot and a charity auction with auctioneer. Prizes include a spa

treatment, full body massage and circus tickets. Riff Raff choir, of which Cynthia is a member, will also be belting out a few tunes.

"Alan used to drink in the Horseshoe and the landlord John thought it would be a good idea so we booked a date and it's really grown from that. Alan absolutely loved music and had several guitars. We thought a musical evening would be a fitting tribute."

Proceeds from the event will go to Cancer Research UK.

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n NEWS

November, 2016

Independent team praises prison ASHFIELD Prison in Pucklechurch has been highly praised in a report by the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB).

It is described as “a well-run prison which houses prisoners safely and securely but also with dignity, humanity and respect”.

The IMB, in its annual report for July 2015 to July 2016, goes on to say that “this is a prison with a calm and positive atmosphere in which prisoners generally report feeling safe” and where incidents of physical violence are rare.

The Board says it is impressed by the overall standards of dedication and professionalism shown by staff of Serco, which manages and operates the jail on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, and the contracted staff at all levels.

Many prisoners told the

external researchers and Board members that it was the best prison they had lived in.

Commenting on the report, Vicky Pails, contract director at HMP Ashfield, said: “This prison has seen a huge amount of change since it altered its role three years ago and this excellent report is a reflection of the hard work and professionalism of our team at Ashfield, who are fantastic. There are of course areas where we can improve and we are studying this report to see what lessons can be learnt.”

HMP Ashfield is a category C adult male establishment at Pucklechurch near Bristol in Gloucestershire that holds up to 400 convicted prisoners serving sentences for sexual offences.

The IMB Report can be found at http://www.imb.org.uk/ imb-gives-hmp-ashfield-sealapproval/

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It’s red for go elsewhere WHILE there might be red faces over Lyde Green, Royal Mail is delivering on its pledge to repaint all postboxes in BS16 by the end of 2o16.

Lots of boxes around the area have been spruced up lately and look much more cheerful - see the before and after shots of this box near Pucklechurch.

Royal Mail says it paints nearly 1500 boxes a month across the country and the work is dependent on the weather and other factors.

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November, 2016

5

n NEWS

Second-class postal service Royal Fail!

Lyde Green gets pillar box but ...

A FORTNIGHT’s worth of mail has sat uncollected in Lyde Green’s new post box – because Royal Mail forgot to add it to their collection rounds.

Home owners were delighted when the box was installed on October 12, two years after the first residents moved into the housing estate.

But people became suspicious when letters and cards posted into the box failed to arrive at their destinations. It was only when Royal Mail were contacted by a resident that they realised their mistake and arranged to start collecting from the post box on October 24 – nearly two weeks after installation.

This is despite the post box signage claiming that collections would be made at 9am on weekdays and 7am on Saturdays.

Green resident Kate Johnson said: “I posted a birthday card in it last week and it didn’t arrive

for a birthday, so it’s still in there then! Why don’t they just put a sign on it saying ‘not in use yet’?”

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: “We sincerely apologise to customers who posted mail at Honeysuckle Road in Lyde Green between October 12 and 22 for any delays to their mail. A daily collection is now taking place from this box as advertised. Any customer with a concern about their mail should contact our customer services team on 03457 740740.”

Now the post box is in action, locals no longer need to trek to the opposite side of the ring road every time they need to post a letter. Until now the nearest post box was by the village hall in Emersons Green. The new box will serve the eventual 2,800 households planned for Lyde Green.

Emersons Green Town Council, as well as Lyde Green Community Association, have spent many months discussing the lack of post box provision and trying to get one installed.

Councillor Rachael Hunt said: “Along with many others, we’re pleased to see the installation of the post box in Lyde Green, which will be much more convenient for residents and small businesses in the area. We were happy to back the campaign for this important facility.”

Meanwhile residents in Emersons Green are

experiencing their own postal woes, as the battle for a post office in the town continues.

Residents have to travel to Downend or Mangotsfield to access services. It has long been an acknowledged need for Emersons Green to have its own post office, forming part of South Gloucestershire council’s draft town centre profile for the area since 2014.

Now Chris Skidmore, MP for Kingswood, and Emersons Green town councillor Caroline Johnson are meeting with the Post Office to discuss how post office services can be provided locally.

One possible option is to site a post office counter inside an existing shop. Both Downend and Mangotsfield post offices are located within convenience stores, meaning they are open for longer hours than a traditional stand-alone post office.

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November, 2016

n NEWS

Libraries battle enters new chapter WHICH days would you like Downend, Emersons Green and Staple Hill libraries to be staffed under the reduced service from next autumn?

That's the question South Gloucestershire Council would like residents to answer before it makes its final decision on how to “future proof” the district's libraries.

Thousands of people who responded to a consultation earlier this year on proposals to cut opening hours urged the council to protect libraries and make cuts elsewhere.

But members decided to pursue a system that would reduce staffed opening hours – although not quite as much as originally proposed – and introduce a swipe card system to allow registered users access to libraries at other times.

The council is now asking for views on the latest proposals, although it makes clear to respondents to this second consultation that the open access scheme is not an alternative to funding staffed hours.

“If open access was not implemented, then the staffed hours in this preferred option would not correspondingly increase,” the council document says.

The new proposal would see Yate, Bradley Stoke and Thornbury libraries each open for 35 hours a week; Emersons Green, Downend, Staple Hill, Hanham, Kingswood and Filton for 26 hours a week, and Patchway, Winterbourne and Cadbury Heath for 24 hours a

week. Chipping Sodbury is set to be run by volunteers, while the mobile library service would cease.

Libraries have been divided into clusters, with Emersons Green, Downend, Staple Hill grouped together. The idea is that people in the area will have access to a staffed library six days a week. The council's preferred option for staffed opening hours in our area is as follows: Downend - Monday, Wednesday and Friday plus Saturday morning; Emersons Green and Staple Hill -Tuesday, Thursday and Friday plus Saturday morning.

Another option would be to staff every library for shorter

hours every day, but this would not match current usage patterns. The council says it is keen to hear from people about any alternative proposals. The possibility of parish councils funding additional hours has also not been ruled out.

The swipe card scheme, which was not an option offered in the first consultation, would see registered members to use library facilities for 11 hours a day, seven days a week, between 8.30am and 7.30pm. They would be able to use all the services currently available when staff are present – use the quiet space to meet or study, borrow or return books and other items through the self-service kiosks, use the

computers and Wi-Fi, or use the printer/photocopier.

A trial of the technology – which will cost £400,000 to install in all 12 libraries - is taking place in Bradley Stoke to inform the decision in the new year. Changes in hours would come in from October 2017.

Views can be submitted to the council until January 2, 2017.

A consultation document and a frequently-asked questions document are available from all libraries and council offices or online at www.southglos.gov.uk/ librarychanges Public meetings will take place at Yate Library on November 1 and Kingswood Library on November 10 (7pm).

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November, 2016

n NEWS

Jensen crownend South West champion AN eight-year-old BMX rider from Emersons Green is celebrating after being crowned South West Champion 2016.

Jensen Egan, a pupil at Barley Close School, has only been riding his BMX since he was six after inheriting the BMX bug from his dad Jason, who has been a name on the BMX and 4X race scene for 15 years.

Jensen secured the regional title in the South West BMX Championship after travelling to Cornwall to take part in the competition along with his dad.

Both Jensen and Jason ride for a national team called Factory Team Bikes (FTB) with Jensen in the nine-year-olds category and Jason riding the masters category.

Jensen is number one in his category and has had a cracking year. It is the second year that he has been South West champion and he is in his first season of national racing by

travelling to race at tracks across the country.

He finished overall nationally

Pa rkw ay

in 13th place. Jason finished regionally in second place and was nationally 11th.

Jensen’s mum Kiri, said: “It was such an incredible and heart-warming thing to win as father and son on the same day in the sport they love so very much.

“I am so very proud of both

of them they have done so well, especially Jensen seeing he has only been riding for a couple of years. It’s amazing how well he is doing.”

Team Egan would like to thank their sponsor, Factory Team Bikes, and especially Bristol BMX Club for all their support and encouragement.

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emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

9

n NEWS

Public urged to Go Purple 4 Polio PEOPLE in the Emersons Green area are being urged to go Purple4Polio.

Fishponds & Downend Rotary Club, which meets at the Langley Arms, is backing the nationwide Rotary initiative to help rid the world of polio, a crippling and deadly disease.

Events will be held throughout the year to raise funds and awareness. Pete Lawry, president of The Rotary Club of Fishponds & Downend, said: “As a club we have worked to ensure that polio is totally eradicated, and with fewer cases being reported we believe we can end this disease forever.”

As part of the campaign, members have been planting

purple crocuses with Downend & Bromley Heath in Bloom.

Purple was chosen as it represents the colour of the dye which is placed on the little finger of a child on mass immunisation

days, when millions of children are protected against the disease.

Since Rotary’s campaign to end polio started in 1985, over 2.5 billion children have received vaccinations, the amount of

polio-endemic countries has dropped from 125 to three, and only 18 cases of polio have been recorded this year.

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November, 2016

n NEWS

How poetry helped a young widow handl WHEN Kirsty Winstone lost her husband in tragic circumstances, writing poetry helped the mumof-two cope with her grief.

Now her poems are helping others as Kirsty forges a career sideline as a greetings card designer.

Kirsty, from Emersons Green, was left distraught when her 40-year-old husband Justin was killed in a motorbike accident at the Isle of Man TT five years ago.

Her children, Tommy and Ella, were just 13 and 10 at the time and the family faced the bleakest time of their lives.

Her GP mentioned medication but Kirsty was determined to get through it without drugs or drink.

“It shattered my whole world,” 44-year-old Kirsty said.

“I was with Justin for over 20 years so we grew up together. He was really popular and everyone loved him. He had so many friends. To be told one day ‘He’s gone’ was devastating to say the least. It was horrible; I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.My doctor rec ommended some tablets but I wouldn’t take anything. It was something I needed to get through in my own way.”

Her peace was finally to come when she started writing poetry about a year after Justin’s death. As Kirsty got her deepest thoughts out onto paper, the experience was cathartic.

“By writing my emotions down on paper, it was like I was getting my emotions out and it really helped me deal with my grief. The poetry was my way of

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getting through it.”

She found a platform for her poems by visiting spiritual centres and churches around Bristol where she was able to read her work out to others.

“I’ve always been a spiritual person so I started to go to spiritual centres with my friends who encouraged me to read my poems at events,” she said.

“People came up to me to tell me that my words really helped them. Some people would come up to me in tears saying my words were so lovely. It was members of the public who said to me I needed to do something with my poetry like write a book but I didn’t necessarily want to do that.”

Instead Kirsty decided to make cards where her words could help and comfort others.

Although some of her poems include verses relating to death, others are targeted at people who are just in a really sad place.

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November, 2016

11

le her grief help people who are feeling sad.”

The photography used on her cards often features feathers, a symbolic spiritual message typically seen as a sign from the angel or spirit of a loved one .

“A few weeks after Justin passed I looked up to the sky and said ‘You’ve got to send me something so I know you’re OK, just send me a white feather’.

“I get feathers all the time in the most bizarre and unusual of places, like in the fridge or one will drop out when I open my purse. It’s something I find comforting.”

Up until now Kirsty has bought the copyright to use other people’s photographs on her cards but she is now planning to take her own images. Shops in the district - including The Card Shop in Staple Hill, Downend Cards and Gifts and Rosina May florist in Mangotsfield - have started stocking Kirsty’s cards, which go under the name of White Feather Whispers.

“When I delivered my first lot

Angel Hug The beautiful Angels Come and share their love To send you comfort From the Heavens above Dry those tears Don’t be sad Take strength and love From the happy memories you have Your Angels are always close They will help you through Feel the warmth of their wings Wrap around you

A selection of Kirsty’s cards featuring her comforting words and images of cards to a shop I just sat in my car and just cried and cried. How could something so nice come out of something so sad? I always say to people that even though something seems so negative you have to try to somehow turn it round to a positive. ” Kirsty has also penned poems to be placed on memorial trees and more recently has been

asked to write a poem which will be read out at a funeral.

“When I wrote my original poems, I was in the early stages of grief so writing them just helped me but I’m a little bit further down the line now .“I don’t have a grand plan, I’m just going with it. I never even thought it would get to the stage where shops are stocking my

They want you to know You are never alone They are always with you There’s no place like home White Feather Whispers Kirsty Winstone c 2016 cards. All I want is to get my words out there and to know they are helping people.” * To get in touch with Kirsty, email whitefeatherwhispers@ outlook.com

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n NEWS

Revamp begins WORK is under way on the transformation of Badminton Road Methodist Church.

The ambitious revamp of the 1950s building will enable a permanent church worship area within the building as well as play areas and a more regular café.

The minister, the Rev Pearl Luxon, said it was exciting to see the refurbishment - known as the Creations Project - coming to reality. “It will be great to realise our vision at last, but the building work is just another beginning for this place. There's lots more work to do afterwards making the church outward facing and a place for the community as a whole,” she said.

The plans also include a redesigned car park and landscaping, with more easily maintained planting along the roadside bank. It is hoped that further outdoor improvements can be made when funds allow.

November, 2016

More delays on ring road fo EMERSONS Green commuters can expect delays on the ring road for the next 18 months as work is carried out to ensure the route remains safe for the future.

It has been revealed that a programme of repairs is needed on the Bromley Heath viaduct, between the roundabout and the Hambrook lights.

This work is likely to start in April and take a year. It will involve carriageway closures and diversions - with a knockon effect on people living in the surrounding areas - although South Gloucestershire Council says every effort will be made to keep disruption to a minimum.

A council report says that without the essential maintenance, which includes waterproofing and repairs to the deck and parapets, the viaduct would be at risk of failure within a decade.

This would potentially mean permanent lane closures and speed restrictions for safety. The

report says: “Lane closures on this section could cause tailbacks of 8km and delays of up to two hours choking the adjacent road network.”

The westbound carriageway is considered to be most at risk.

The Bromley Heath viaduct is the busiest section of the A4174 and carries about 52,000 vehicles a day. This is forecast to rise to 60,000 a day by 2020 because of the thousands of

new homes being built and the thousands of job opportunities being created at Emersons Green, Harry Stoke, UWE, Filton and Patchway.

The work is part of the £15.5 million Challenge Fund package of measures being carried out on the ring road alongside the creation of the route for the £200 million MetroBus rapid transport route.

Long stretches of the

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November, 2016

n NEWS

or viaduct repairs route are being resurfaced in a programme designed to add 20 years’ life to the road. Cycle paths, footpaths and lighting are also being improved, and structural repairs are being carried out on the Avon Valley Bridge near Hicks Gate as well as the Bromley Heath viaduct.

A council spokeswoman said: “Improvements to our road network are planned up until March 2018 across South Gloucestershire as part of the Challenge Fund. This includes resurfacing further sections of the A4174 ring road, which will involve further closures, and improvements to the A403 in Avonmouth.

“We are currently working on a programme of improvements for the Bromley Heath area, and will publicise details of this work as soon as the plans are finalised.

An agenda item has been added to the next Public Transport Forum meeting in January to discuss the Challenge Fund programme and provide updates on other major infrastructure work in South Gloucestershire.”

She said that, as with the current works, as much work as possible will be done overnight and at weekends to minimise the impact on local people.

Drivers will face overnight closures throughout this month because of resurfacing at the Bromley Heath roundabout. This will involve overnight closure westbound between Wick Wick Roundabout and Hambrook traffic lights from Monday October 31 to Friday November 18, between 8pm and 6am.

The eastbound carriageway will remain fully open during

this period, but with no access to Bromley Heath Road towards Downend. Both the westbound and eastbound carriageways will remain open at weekends and all other times.Once this work is completed, further overnight closures will be put in place for two weeks to resurface the eastbound carriageway towards Yate.

Off-peak lane closures are also likely between Bromley Heath and Wick Wick roundabouts.

Work on the westbound MetroBus stop between Wick Wick and the Lyde Green roundabout, which has also led to off-peak closures, is said to be almost complete, as is the eastbound stop on Emerson Way. Rush-hour commuters are continuing to face long delays on the ring road because of the closure of Stoke Lane to northbound traffic while a retaining wall is built as part of the MetroBus link to the M32.

The team behind MetroBus, including the councils and their contractors, have admitted: “ The work is causing unanticipated congestion in the surrounding area and impacting traffic on the A4174 Ring Road during peak times. The traffic departments at Bristol City and South Gloucestershire Councils are assessing the situation to see what can be done to relieve the congestion without causing further disruption to the wider traffic network.”

But the Stoke Lane Action Group, which met Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees on site last month, says the problems are not unanticipated - its members predicted them from the outset.

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Bridge spooks horses A NEW bridge installed over the ring road was closed to horse riders after its steel construction spooked the animals, raising safety fears.

The bridge replaced a previous crossing that had to be removed as part of the £200 million MetroBus project.

But after those behind the scheme trumpeted that the structure had opened ahead of schedule, they then had to stop horse riders using it as a link between Moorend and Downend while an investigation was carried out.

The old bridge was replaced by one with a longer span due to widening of the road to accommodate a new lane for the MetroBus. Ann Fay, access and bridleways officer for the British Horse Society in South Gloucestershire, said it was “totally unsuitable” for horses.

However, a spokesman for MetroBus said the bridge had been declared “fit for purpose” as a result of the investigation.

Mrs Fay said: “We were delighted when the new bridge was put into place sooner than expected but it soon became clear that it was totally unsuitable for horses due to the metal construction and unsuitable surface.

“The noise made by the horses’ metal shoes spooks them, causing a danger to the rider and anyone on the bridge.”

MetroBus spokesman Paul Marshall said the closure was put in place while the investigation took place regarding a noisy bridge deck.

He said: “The investigation concluded that the bridge meets all design criteria and is fit for purpose. We are waiting for some signs to be made warning equestrians of the noisy bridge deck and pedestrians and cyclists of the presence of horses.

“As soon as the signs are installed, the bridge will be open for all users.”

The bridge is a shared use crossing for riders, walkers and cyclists and the closure did not affect those on foot or bike.

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November, 2016

No business like d Jackie Novels meets a couple greeting newcomers to Lyde Green with freshly-baked bread

DURING the week, they look like any other professional couple heading out to work for the nine to five.

But come the weekend, glorious smells start wafting out of the Lyde Green home of Rosie and Nigel Brown. The pair don their aprons, heat up the ovens, and turn their kitchen into a micro bakery to sell their creations to their neighbours.

Nigel, 56, a software engineer, is the bread enthusiast of the operation. He specialises in sourdough bread – a fullerflavoured, labour-intensive bread that takes 30 to 40 hours to make in order for the flavours of the wild yeast ‘starter’ to develop.

It’s taken him almost a decade – and over a thousand loaves – to perfect the tricky bread. Starting out baking for friends at dinner parties, a move to Lyde Green from Emersons Green in 2015

Nigel and Rosie Brown outside The Green Bakery

finally gave him the kitchen space he wanted for some serious bread-making kit. A proper bread oven with stone shelves and steam pods was imported from Holland, a bread prover took pride of place next to the fridgefreezer, and a wine fridge was turned into a bread retarder.

“You never get better by baking one loaf at a time,” said Nigel. “I wanted to start doing five loaves at once, and for those loaves to all be the same as each other, and the same as the ones I baked the following week.”

He used the loaves he was producing as an ice-breaker with his new neighbours, greeting each family that arrived on the newly-built housing estate with fresh sourdough bread.

“Soon people began telling their friends about the bread, and wanting to buy loaves off me.”

The Green Bakery was born.

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November, 2016

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n NEWS

dough business Every other week, Nigel spends Thursday evening starting to make around 30 sourdough loaves. The processes of mixing, kneading, proving and retarding take until Saturday morning, when Nigel gets up at 5.30am to put the loaves in the oven, ready for customers to buy from 11am.

What started out as a few neighbours asking for bread has snowballed. The pop-up bakery now has 500 Facebook followers, who pre-order their bread online to make sure their favourite loaf doesn’t sell out.

Customer favourites include a cheese and cracked black pepper loaf – which is one third grated cheddar – and savoury ‘pizza’ Chelsea buns containing rocket, pesto, onion, cheese and olives.

Lyde Green residents who have visitors staying often bring them to see the Browns’ kitchen, and loaves have been bought to take as far afield as London, Wales, Portugal and even Australia.

Rosie, 57, who has spent her career as a psychotherapist working at Frenchay and now Southmead hospital, got involved once the bread business Pumpkin sourdough loaf

took off to take charge of cakes.

Her bakes hark back to her own childhood favourites, such as bread pudding, carrot cake and cherry bakewell.

“I have customers get quite tearful when they say my cakes remind them of what their mothers made for them when they were little,” she said. “My mother and nan taught me to cook, so a lot of what I make now is influenced by them.”

Rosie said: “We don’t do anything gluten free. But we do find that a lot of customers who’ve discovered that shopbought bread makes them bloated, don’t have any problems with sourdough loaves. Because sourdough takes such a long time to make, the yeast does all its fermenting before the loaf is baked, not in people’s stomachs causing bloating.”

Nigel admits: “There’s a bit of a meddler in me. I like to try adding different things to bread to see what happens.” Recent creations have included red Leicester and paprika bread, and Guiness, caraway and rye.

Luckily the husband-and-wife team aren’t short of taste testers to try out new bakes: they have 22 grandchildren between them, including one at the new Lyde Green Primary School, which they can see from their window while baking. “My son is a regular customer, and often orders a whole tray of buns,”

Rosie serves up gingerm mini cakes

said Rosie.

In the run up to Christmas, Rosie has another plan up her sleeve to bring the community together and get families involved in baking. “We’re going to have a competition to see which family that can build the best gingerbread house,” she said. “Hopefully it’s something that children will be able to do with their parents then bring along for us to judge.” Full details of how to take part in the competition are at www.facebook.com/groups/ thegreenbakery Next steps for the bakery in Pennycress Close may include building a Dutch barn in a corner

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of their garden, to sell the bread from while freeing up kitchen space for baking. Nigel is also getting in touch with local cafes to see if they would like to stock his bread, and is thinking about running cookery courses. But a fast expansion isn’t on the cards for the culinary couple.

“I don’t want to get to the stage where baking becomes a chore, rather than a passion,” said Nigel. “At the moment it’s a hobby and has been a great way to get to know people in the community. We know almost all of our customers by name, and many have become close friends.

It’s proved to be a great way to settle into a new area.”

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November, 2016

n PEOPLE

Strong, relentless and glorious: Amber Reed World Cup glory in 2014 was addictive for England rugby player Amber Reed. She tells Downend Voice's Jayne Taylor how her side are going all out to do it all over again as they gear up to defend their coveted title THE DAILY Telegraph listed her as one of ten female rugby players to watch as England prepares for the 2017 World Cup. But for centre Amber Reed the game is very much a team effort, although she makes no bones of her desire to retain World Champion status in Ireland next August.

Amber, 25, who lives in Downend, had been making a name for herself with Bristol Ladies but her success reached new heights when she was part of England Women's World Cup squad who were crowned champions in 2014 after a nailbiting final against Canada.

A lot has happened since then, not least a full-time professional contract which winged its way to Amber's door. As a member of England's 54-strong Elite

Player Squad, she was one of 29 players to be awarded a first ever 15-a-side professional contract.

"It was something I never thought I'd get the chance to do," said Amber.

"Following the last World Cup there were sevens contracts given out but with fifteens being my specialist format, I thought I'd miss it in my playing career.

To have the opportunity to go professional and do something I'd always dreamed of is, although it's a bit of a cliche, a dream come true."

Given that her uncle is former British Lions and Scotland lock Andy Reed, it's surprising that Amber's first passion was football.

"I started off playing football because that's what all the boys did at school and I was friends

with them. I joined Bristol Rovers Academy when I had to switch from the boys' team to the girls' team but when I was about 14 I gave up football because I didn't fancy playing it any more.

My school had a sevens team so I joined it and that's where I started playing rugby. Rugby has always been the sport that my family played and I've always been around it, I've just been the odd one who had the round shaped ball instead of the oval one!"

Amber, who has 32 caps for England, said the ladies game has gained momentum since 2014.

"Since the last World Cup, there's more women and girls playing than ever and it's continuing on an upward trend which is something which is really positive. Women's sport in general is growing, having had the momentum of London 2012, then the World Cup win and now the GB athletes coming back from Rio.

"There are so many more role models and so much more media coverage, like the GB hockey girls

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n NEWS

with their gold medal win. They really fought hard to get that medal and now everyone knows their story. It's not kept in the dark any more - they're out in the forefront and all over the news."

Amber's new contract means she has had to give up her job as a PE teacher at Colston's School although she has strong links with the school which is sponsoring her this season at Bristol Ladies.

"I try to help out when I can so I still see them - they can't keep me away that easily!"

At the moment Amber is busier than ever. Part of the week she is based at the new centre for England's contracted players in Bisham Abbey, Marlow, with the rest spent training and playing with Bristol Ladies, who at the time of going to print were three points clear at the top of the Women's Premiership.

She sees November's Old Mutual Wealth Series when England take on France (the team which denied England a grand slam after beating them in the Six Nations final earlier this year), New Zealand and Canada as a chance to lay down a marker ahead of their World Cup title defence.

Amber said: "The Autumn internationals are set to be the toughest and best yet. We get to play some of the best teams in the world. We've got the start of a really exciting squad and I can't wait to see what we can achieve together.

"All the games are going to be really tough and we've got past history with them all. I couldn't really pick a game I'm looking forward to the most but possibly the Black Ferns (New Zealand) because of the nature of the England/New Zealand rivalry and the fact that they are a team we don't necessarily get to play

against as often as the others."

The series will also provide a chance for the team to showcase a new look after a recent rebrand of the women's side by England Rugby.

They will now be known as the Red Roses, providing a clear identity in a similar vein to the England Lionesses football team.

"The idea of the Red Roses is to give us a brand identity that people can look at and we can become renowned for," said Amber.

"It's the idea of us being strong, relentless and glorious.

It's something that has beauty but is actually quite hardy and strong. It's something that will represent us as we move forward to try to retain the World Cup." Although Amber's immediate thoughts are on the Old Mutual Wealth Series, her eye is constantly on the bigger picture.

Come on, England ENGLAND'S first game of the Old Mutual Wealth Series takes place at the Stoop, Twickenham on November 9 against 2016 Six Nations title holders France.

They will face New Zealand, again at the Stoop, on Saturday November 19, before tackling Canada at Twickenham a week later.

The side with travel to Dublin, home of the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, to play Ireland on Sunday November 13.

"The teams that are playing in the Autumn internationals are probably up there amongst the favourites to take the World Cup next year. To get a bit of a head start so early in the season and to see what level we're at compared to them is going to provide a fantastic opportunity for to us to find out what we have to build on over the course of the year.

It's definitely going to allow us to come up with a plan heading into the World Cup next August.

"We want to go out and win the Autumn internationals; it's not something we're going to shy away from but we do have our sights set on retaining that World Cup next year.

"Everything we're going to do is aimed at putting our squad in the best place so we have a competitive 26 players, all of whom could take the field come August and everyone will be in the best position they could be in."

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18

n NEWS

THE number's up for several phone boxes in our area because so many of us now use mobiles.

BT is proposing to remove 93 kiosks across South Gloucestershire that are deemed unnecessary.

However, if you want to rescue a heritage red telephone box for your community, you can 'adopt' it for just £1.

That's what has happened in Shortwood, where the kiosk now houses a defibrillator and is surrounded by an attractive garden area.

In other parts of the country, residents have turned phone boxes into libraries, information centres and art galleries. Some kiosks are also used to house cash machines, while others are sold to private buyers.

The phone boxes at risk of removal include one at Springfield Avenue in Mangotsfield, which, according to BT figures, has not had any calls made from it in the last 12 months. Others on the list include those at Cossham Street outside the former post office (seven calls), Windsor Place (68), Dibden Road (63) and Emerson

November, 2016

Phone boxes up for adoption

The Cossham Street phone box

A vandalised kiosk in Staple Hill

The defibrillator cabin in Shortwood

Way (24). Another near North View in Staple Hill is also on the list, having fallen prey to vandals.

Notices have been posted on all the threatenened kiosks. The full list is available online and people have until November 7 to send comments to BT. South Gloucestershire Council will then

make an initial decision on which should stay and which go. The public will have four weeks to comment on that before the final decision.

Payphones that are still in frequent use, are considered to meet a social need, or are near suicide or accident blackspots,

will not be removed.

The council's consultation document says: “Overall use of payphones has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade and the need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time.”

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Elves on lookout for mischief-makers YOU may have heard a rumour about of a group of little people who are on the prowl in Downend.

Dressed in green and red, they are on a secret mission to monitor the behaviour of children in the lead up to Christmas.

They are likely to cause mischief and mayhem and it seems the police are not remotely interested.

For the little people are Santa's elves and they are currently preparing to take over King George V playing field in a few weeks' time when Downend mum Jemma Bateman hosts a festive elf hunt.

Jemma, 30, is currently on maternity and is filling her time selling elves ready for Christmas.

She has been busy making elf accessories including magical elf doors, elf notes and sparkle dust.

The idea behind the elves is that they live in homes in the lead up to Christmas as part of an 'elf

surveillance' initiative where they monitor the behaviour of boys and girls before reporting back to Santa on Christmas Eve. She is hoping they will really take off with little ones and will

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help add to the magic of the festive season.

Jemma, who is mum to fourmonth-old Edie and two-year-old Mya, said: "I'm on maternity leave at the moment so have a

bit of spare time and wanted to keep my brain busy. I've made frames for weddings and christenings before so I wanted to do something crafty. I'm really enjoying it and people seem to like them. I've had lots of interest so a lot of my time is taken up with making magical elf doors at the moment!

"I just want bring some fun and magic to Downend this Christmas and even better if the elves help promote good behaviour!"

Jemma's elf hunt takes place on Saturday November 26 from 10am-2pm. People taking part will be given a sheet of paper with jokes and they have to find the elves to find the answer to the jokes.

Entry to the elf hunt is ÂŁ3 per child (over two) and ÂŁ1 per adult.

Children will receive a free gift.

For more information about the elves or the elf hunt go to www.facebook.com/ elfinthehouse/

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20

November, 2016

n NEWS

Do you know someone who’s alone at Christmas?

A COUPLE who run a popular cafe are opening their doors on Christmas Day for the first time - and want to give a free lunch to four deserving people.

Jacqueline Gill and George Gaffney have managed the Acorn Cafe in Westerleigh since 2008 and have seen it grow in popularity.

Now they say they want to give something back to the community which has supported them over the years.

George, who has been with Jacqueline for 14 years, said: “We would like to invite four elderly people who would otherwise be sat on their own on Christmas Day. “It would be great to have four deserving people, perhaps war veterans or people who support charities or help out in the community. I don’t want to be too idealistic - we would just like four genuinely deserving people.

“Christmas is a time for sharing and being with people.

Jacqueline Gill Christmas can be the best of times but for some people it can be the worst of times. We want to give something back so people who may not have been anticipating a great time, will have a day they can remember.”

When Jacqueline and George

opened the cafe on Westerleigh Hill Road they had a vision of it being a warm friendly place where people could meet up and enjoy home-cooked food or have a natter over a cuppa.

They say it is down to their regular customers that this goal has been achieved.

“Customers have been asking us for years to open on Christmas Day,” said George.

“One customer told us that if we ever open on Christmas Day to let them know as they could book 25 people in! This year we thought we’d give it a try. We have sold all our places just by word of mouth - we didn’t even have a menu prepared. We’ve got 63 seats and have 73 people booked in so we have to juggle table plans to make room for everyone!”

George said they will be pulling out all the stops to make

December 25th memorable.

“I want to make it special as it’s my Christmas Day as well.

Whoever the four people are who we invite, I want them to experience the wow factor.”

George, who is currently busy organising the cafe’s preChristmas lunches, said the idea came from one of Jacqueline’s friends.

“She had a text from a friend who was doing something to help old people and the seed was sown. I’ve never seen Jacqueline so enthusiastic. She had the idea and just ran with it. She said, ‘You know what? I just want to give something back.’”

If you know anyone who would be deserving of a slapup Christmas lunch, please call George on 0797 0531990.

Transport to and from the cafe can be arranged.

Your one-stop High St print shop for Flyers n Business Cards n Posters n Leaflets n Photos n Banners n Signs n NCR Pads n & much more....

25 Broad St, Staple Hill BS16 5LP TELEPHONE

0117 970 8577 EMAIL

staplehill@westburyinks.co.uk

To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

We stock ink & toner cartridges, paper, office supplies & stationery Delivery service available

Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

November Offer

emersonsgreenvoice

22

November, 2016

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA Saturday November 12 n Christmas Market. Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn.11am3pm. Admission free.

Tuesday November 22 n Speaker morning plus coffee – Tim Lewis - The Wind in the Willows - a lighthearted musical interpretation. Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn.10.00 for 10.30am. Pay at door.

Thursday November 24 n Find out more about growing organically Avon Organic Group Meeting at The Dance Studio, The Station, Silver Street, Bristol BS1 2AG 7pm to 9pm Speaker Maggi Brown former head of Education, Garden Organic – subject: Fruit Growing contact secretaryaog@ gmail.com Saturday December 3 n 10.30-2pm, Christmas fayre, Emersons Green Village Hall. Stalls, cafe, displays on stage and games.

Free entry. Visit to Santa’s grotto £4, includes present.

Saturday December 3 n 12.30-4pm, Christmas bazaar, St Augustine’s, Boscombe Cresent, Downend. Come along and see our many stalls including craft stalls, get a treatment from an holistic therapist or visit Father Christmas in his grotto.

Saturday December 3 n 10am Church Christmas coffee morning, mince pies, cakes, sales table, display of cribs. St Thomas a Becket, Pucklechurch.

Tuesday December 6 n 7.30pm, St.George Singers Christmas Concert. Cheese and wine. St Thomas a Becket, Pucklechurch. Tickets £6 or on door.

Sunday December 18 n 6.30pm, Carols by Candlelight, St Thomas a Becket, Pucklechurch.

Monday December 19 n 10am-noon, Christmas craft morning for children. Tickets £1 in advance from reception. Emersons Green Village Hall.

Monday December 19 n 1.30-3pm, free Christmas film afternoon for under 10s showing Santa Paws. Emersons Green Vilage Hall. No unaccompanied children.

Doors open 1.15pm.

Saturday December 24 n 4pm Christingle service and nativity followed by an 11.30pm Midnight Communion, St Thomas a

Becket, Pucklechurch.

Sunday December 25 n 10am, Family Communion, St Thomas a Becket, Pucklechurch.

REGULAR EVENTS LOCALLY Mondays n Am/pm Star Jumpers-Pre-school gym classes, village hall, contact Steve Denny 0117 9570009 n 10.00—11.00, Coffee Drop-In session—village hall, Free tea or coffee, contact Kevin Donaghy 0117 9575418 n New group, Am/pm Little Elfs— Parent & Toddler Group, village hall, contact Kelly Phillips 07711 007389 n 11.00—13.00, Knit & Natter— Knitting Group, Village Hall. Tel 01454 862182 n 10.15—12.15, Diddi Dance— Preschool dance class, Village Hall contact Emily Norman 07850 983821 n 14.00—16.00, Crib– Card game group for all abilities, Village Hall contact Pat Weymouth 0117 3732017, fortnightly n New class, 16.00—21.00, Wrestling Tuition - for children & adults, Village Hall contact David Sharp 07825 298823 n 17.00—19.00 P.U.M.A. Martial Arts, Village Hall, contact Richard Thornton 0117 9565380 n 19.30—21.00 The Daisy Foundation—Antenatal class Village Hall, Carrie Cherrington 07752 467535 n 19.00—21.00 Ballroom Dancing Class, Village Hall, contact Sam Ellis 07766 101790 n 20.00—21.00 Pilates Village Hall, contact Miriam Roberts 07889 243998 n 19.00 – 20.00 Flow Yoga, Village Hall, Hayley McAlinden 07748 452956 n Zumba Fitness with Sam & Karen, 7-8pm, Downend School n Phoenix Wind Band (20+ concert level players). Emersons Green Library, 7.30-9.30 p.m. Varied and challenging, will appeal to Grade 6 players or above. Call Keith 0117 9049125, e-mail phoenixwindband@hotmail.com.

Web - avonwindbandassociation. com. n Royal Naval Association, South Glos branch. Downend Cricket Cub, 7.30pm for 8pm 2nd Monday of every month. Call Bob Walker 0117 9567617. n Social badminton. Kingswood Leisure Centre, 2-4pm,

To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169

intermediate level. n Drop in art group, Page Hall, Page Road, Staple Hill (please use side entrance), every Monday, 10am-12.30pm. No tuition. A friendly welcome guaranteed. Call Judith on 0117 957 0327. n Indoor short mat bowls at Pucklechurch Community Centre.

Established and beginners welcome. Bowls provided. Sessions Sunday afternoon, Monday and Wednesday evenings. Contact Roger Payne 0117 937 3653.

Tuesdays n Morning Jo Jingles—music for babies & young children. Village Hall, Tracy Bees 077139 43666 n Am/pm Star Jumpers—Preschool gym classes, Village Hall, contact Steve Denny 0117 9570009 n 10.00—11.00, Pilates, Village Hall, contact Emma Hunter 07787 563775 n 09.45—11.40, Sing & Sign-Baby signing class, Village Hall, contact Katherine Amor 07594 460448 n Afternoon/Evening, Ballet, Tap & Modern Dance—for children & Adults, Village Hall, contact Kathy Plaster 0117 9655660 n 18.45—21.00, Downend Art Club—for adults, Village Hall, contact Steve Wheeler 07928 799835 n 18.30-19.30, Weight Watchers Village Hall, contact Lisa Collier 07855 894208 n Evening, Emersons Green Rainbows & Brownies, Village Hall, contact Megan Crossley 07436 104073 n 19.30—20.30 Boogie Bounce— Fitness class for adults, Village Hall, contact Claire Boon 07805 360411 n 20.00—20.55, Emersons Green Community Choir—For adults, Village Hall, contact Rachael Hunt 07908 211174 n Downend Camera Club. 7.4510pm, Assembly Hall, Salisbury Road, BS16 5RA. All abilities and interests catered for but beginners particularly welcome.

Wednesdays n Am/pm Music with Mummy pre-school music group, Village Hall, contact Debra Denny 0117 9574443 n 10.00—11.30 Rainbow Tots— Parent & Toddler Group, Village Hall, contact Kevin Donaghy 0117 9575418 n 10.00—11.25 Book Club, Village Hall, contact Diane Roberts 0117 9566963, Monthly n Am/pm, Baby Sensory—Early Learning for Babies, Village Hall,

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

We would love to publicise your event Send details of your events and activities in the following format:

WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words: email us at: news@emersonsgreenvoice. co.uk or call us on 07770 700579 / 07880 731148

contact Gemma Irwin-Porter bristoleast@babysensory.co.uk n 13.30— 15.30, Bingo—Win Prizes, Village Hall Tel 01454 862182 Fortnightly n 16.00—19.00, Affordable Theatre Company -Children’s Theatre Group Village Hall, Sarah Haworth 07496 550534 n 17.15—18.15, V. Street Dance— Dance group, Village Hall, contact Vicky Moody 07896 664330 n 17.30—19.30 T.A.G.B. Tae Kwon Do, Village Hall, Lee David Newman Tel. 07795 467262 n 18.00—2100 Pilates, Village Hall, contact Emma Hunter 07787 563775 n New class 19.00—21.00 Ante Natal Classes, Village Hall, contact Iona Smith 0777 9579611 n 19.00—20.00, Flow Yoga Village Hall, contact Hayley McAlinden 07748 452956 n 20.00—21.00 Zumba—Dance Fitness Village Hall, Amy Millard 07971 901686

Thursdays n 09.30-10.30, Weight Watchers Village Hall, Sarah Hills 07837 096297 n 11.15—12.15, Diddi Dance— Preschool dance class Village Hall, Emily Norman 07850 983821 n 11.30—15.00 Senior Citizens Social Club Village Hall, 01454 862182, Monthly n 12.45—13.45 Ballet & Modern Dance for Children Village Hall, contact Kathy Plaster 0117 9655660 n 14.00—16.30 Whist Club—Card game group for all abilities. Village Hall, Contact Pat Weymouth 0117

Continued on next page

Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016 3732017 n 16.00.—18.30. 3D Street Dancing—for ages 8—13 yrs Village Hall, Louise Hopton 07754 039059 n 17.30—18.30, Emersons Green Rainbows Village Hall, Lindsey Naldrett 078755 47434 n 19:00—20:00, QI Gong—Yoga for adults Village Hall, Donna Pinker 01454 852719 n From 7pm Emersons Green Town Council Monthly Meetings. Village Hall, Contact Clerk 01454 862180.

Monthly n 20.00—22.00 Craft Group—for adults Village Hall, Cherry Bufton 07986 360890 Monthly n 19.30— 21.15, Beechmere Belles W.I. Evening Group, Village Hall, contact Katie Bateman 07800 981777. Monthly n 19.30—21.00 Real Fitness with Sarah—Fitness class Village Hall, Sarah Buscemi 07975 943589 n 20.00—21.15 Karate—for adults Village Hall, Allan Harris 01179 323249 n Zumba Fitness with Sam & Karen, 6.45-7.45pm Christchurch Infant School

Hall, Kevin Donaghy 0117 9575418 n 09.30 -11.30 Diddi Dance— Preschool dance class. Village Hall, Contact Emily Norman 07850 983821 n 12.00—13.00 Movement & Dance—for adults with learning disabilities, Village Hall, contact Sian Hudson 07952 401424 n 13.30—14.30, Over 50s KeepFit—gentle exercise. Village Hall, Louise Hopton 07754 039059 n 13.30—16.00. Positive Steps— Adult Support Group Village Hall, Tim Dunton 01225 287431 n 14.00 –16.00 W.I Daytime Group Village Hall, Edith Anderson 0117 9573422 Monthly n 18.00—19.15 GKR Karate Village Hall, Mark Woods 07951 947280 n Zumba Fitness with Karen, 9.15-10.15am, Winterbourne Community Centre n Zumba Gold with Karen, 10.30-11.15am, Winterbourne Community Centre n 7-9.30pm Kingswood Photographic Society, St Barnabas Church Hall, Church Avenue, Warmley, BS30 5JJ, welcomes and supports all levels of experience including beginners.

23

n 10.00-11.15, Streetdance—For Children Village Hall, Candice Revill 07432 653685 n 10.00-11.00 Weight Watchers Village Hall, Lisa Collier 07855 894208 n 11.00—14.30. Worldwide Church of God Service, Village Hall, Barry Davies 0117 9676054 n From 12pm T.A.G.B. Tae Kwon Do Village Hall, Lee David Newman 07795 467262

Sundays

n 10.00—11.30 Rainbow Tots— Parent & Toddler Group. Village

RUGBY • BARS • LIVE MUSIC • FUNCTION ROOM

A world of quality A world of choice A world of value

Opening times Monday - Friday 9 - 5.30pm Monday - Friday 9-5.30pm Saturday 9 - 5pm Sunday 10-4pm Sunday 10 - 4pm

dean •nKarndean l s l • Karndean sale ia moemrc Summer m erc m rpetia • Ca •C • Commercial • Vinyls nstio• Lanmsinates solutions utisolu Discover a range of:

NOW ON

�K to t �usinesses in t�e �e are one of t�e �rs rs Tou lity Rea Opening times Monday Friday 9-5.30pm ual Virt tive offer Google Interac

esein�t� Keto�K to sine �ues insst� ss Saturday 9-5pmsSunday 10-4pm ur ve Virtual Reality To Tel: 0117 947 7721

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Di| scover a range of:

n, Bristol BS30 6DL arpetbarn.co.uk |

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arn.co.uk |

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Gates open at 6pm Fireworks at 8pm.

Funfair, food and bar.

Tickets available from Cleve RFC 0117 9575775, enquiries@cleverfc.co.uk

Adults: £6 Children: £3.50 Family: £15

Boozy Brunch!

A world of quality Saturday 26th November 2016 A world of choice 12:30-14:30

Also Cleve V Hornets @ home – KO@ 14:30

• Karndean • Carpets • Commercial • Vinyls A world of quality solutions es inatchoice • Lamof A world to

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�rst �usinesses in t�e

SATURDAY 10th DECEMBER 7.30PM-12AM SATURDAY 10th DECEMBER 7.30PM-12AM

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�e are one A world ofof t�e value l Reality Tours ogle Interactive Virtua offer Go

The Old Coachworks, Road, Longwell Green, Bristol BS30 6DL | The OldBath Coachworks, Bath Road, Longwell Green,

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Friday 4th November

Sober brunch - £15pp

www.thecarpetbarn.co.uk

Green, Bristol BS30 6DL

Fireworks Spectacular

Brunch with A world ofunlimited value prosecco! - £25pp

s Longwell Green, Bristol BS30 6DL | Old R Coachworks, Bathur Road, eality To al |

n Emersons green village hall Monday 9:55 & 10:55 Thursday 11:25 Friday 9:40 & 10:40 Funky preschool dance classes for boys and girls from 18 months.

Contact Emily for your free trial 07850 983821 Emily.norman@diddidance.com

CLEVE R.F.C.

A world of value mer sale

W ON of:

Various Days

n 10.30—11.45, Emersons Green

A world of quality Saturdays A world quality A world of of choice A world choice A world ofofvalue

Fridays

Baptist Church Service, Village Hall, Kevin Donaghy. 0117 9575418

|

Tel: 0117 947 7721

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www.thecarpetbarn.co.uk

Tel: 0117 947 7721

To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169

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Bristol BS30 6DL

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If you would like any information about any of the above please contact

www.thecarpetbarn.co.uk | 0117 9575775 E-mail: enquiries@cleverugby.co.uk the office Tel:

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

FOLLOW US ON

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

emersonsgreenvoice

24

November, 2016

n NEWS

Premium Partners scheme set to launch DOWNEND and Mangotsfield Schools are preparing to launch their ambitious Premium Partners programme this month.

The scheme, which links students with businesses, mirrors one at The Castle and Marlwood Schools in the Thornbury area, which has been running for five years and has proved highly successful, winning several awards and forging links with hundreds of businesses.

More than 200 local businesses have been invited to the launch at the Innovation Centre at Downend School on October 24.

Head teachers Mark Fuller and David Spence will address guests, as will Laara Loomes, who is running the programme.

Mr Spence said: “We aim to become partners with local businesses across a wide spectrum of professions who

share our aims of helping students develop vital employability skills.

“We place a strong emphasis on ensuring that students receive high quality careers education, guidance and support throughout their time with us, starting in Year 7, to allow them to progress on to their choice of employment or higher education.

"During years 7 – 13 students will complete a range of activities and attend a number of career related events.”

Downend and Mangotsfield Schools have a joint sixth form.

Both schools are part of the Castle School Education Trust, as are Castle and Marlwood Schools.

To find out more about Premium Partners, contact Lara Loombes by email L.Loombes@ downend.com or call 01454 862300.

Ladies pamper night will welcome new residents A LADIES Christmas shopping and pamper event takes place this month at the Resound Centre in Mangotsfield.

It features more than 20 stalls including jewellery, make up, holistic therapies, handmade gifts and bespoke cakes.

There will also be a grand raffle with all proceeds donated to two charities which will be decided on by the public.

The event is the brainchild of Claire Tsiopani who runs Natural Beauty by Clarabella.

She said: "I will be organising and hosting the event and my business will be sponsoring it. I decided to organise it to help promote small local businesses in the area and to welcome residents of the new Lyde Green development.

"It will be a wonderful relaxed event where locals will be able to come along with friends, shop a little, get pampered and enjoy a glass of wine or two or grab a warm drink."

Tickets cost £3.50 and include a free glass of wine.

It takes place on Friday November 11 from 7-11pm at the Resound Centre, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield, BS16 9BP. For more information on tickets call Claire on 0758 1097135.

E-mail us at:

news@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

It’s never been simpler to get the carpet of your choice at your LOCAL shop We pride ourselves on our friendly hassle free service Pop into our shop for a great choice on vinyls & carpets We easily compete on price and excel on service Full measuring service with free estimates

View your os ch en samples in your own home

Fitting service available with expert fitters

Free advice on suitability with over 30 years experience

We can move furniture and take away all unwanted waste

Pay us a visit — you won’t be disappointed!

ARMCHAIR CARPETS

30 BROAD STREET, STAPLE HILL To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

TEL: 0117 956 4163 Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

25

n NEWS

Meet the Emersons Green-fingered...

EMERSONS Green residents certainly live up to their name if the recent allotment award are anything to go by.

More than 30 green-fingered tenants and their partners attended the recent annual

Allotments Evening held at Emersons Green Village Hall.

Town council mayor, councillor Rich Nichols, donned his finery to give out a string of awards to plot holders at the Dibden Lane allotments.

Anna Dacey receives her first prize

A talk entitled 'Vegetables without tears' ensued and the evening was rounded off with refreshments.

Results are as follows: First prize - Anna Dacey Second prize - Hywel Evans

It’s second place for Hywel Evans

Third prize - Dave Palmer Highly commended - Bob Gregory Joint best newcomer - Elaine Moore Joint best newcomer - Mark Webster

Dave Palmer bags third prize

Delivery right up to Christmas for your new appliances Open again and delivery available from Dec 28-31

Washing machines • Ovens • Hobs • Dryers • Fridge Freezers • Dishwashers • Cookers etc NO HIDDEN EXTRAS — LARGE RANGE AND STOCK IN STORE

744 FISHPONDS ROAD, FISHPONDS BRISTOL

0117 958 4769 To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

Baby Room Open Day Saturday 26th November From 10am – 2pm

Please join us and discover what it’s like to spend a day at nursery.

Our baby room will be open for the children to play and explore while parents look around the nursery and talk to our qualified staff team.

There will be refreshments available.

31-35 Dibden Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 6UE (Minutes from the ring road, Beefeater Junction)

0117 9566060

Book a place on the day and receive 5% discount on sessions for the

first 6 months (Terms and conditions apply).

emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

27

n RECIPE OF THE MONTH THIS months’ recipe is a version of a Rose Elliot dish that we sometimes made as part of a wedding buffet.

I remembered it when asked if I could make a gluten free vegan tart for someone (it’s a lot more crumbly with gluten free breadcrumbs) Rose Elliot’s version is filled with either mushrooms or leeks in a white sauce but I prefer the more colourful version with Roasted Mediterranean vegetables served with an interesting salad.

If you are feeling brave then press the mix up the sides and across the base of an oiled loose bottom flan tin before cooking ,but don’t worry if it collapses when turned out, just pile the veg on top as normal.

Croustade of Mediterranean Vegetables serves 6 (base can be frozen) 125g soft breadcrumbs 250g finely ground nuts (almonds hazlenuts brazils cashews) 50g butter (or vegan margarine) 1 clove garlic: crushed ½ tsp mixed herbs (dried are fine) 1 pepper, 1 medium courgette, 1 aubergine, 1 red onion chopped into small chunks.

Croustade of Mediterranean Vegetables with Mel of Melanie’s Kitchen Handful of cherry tomatoes cut in half 1 tablespoon olive oil to roast veg in 2 tablespoons of Ayvar/Pindjur (or tomato chutney) Preheat oven to 220c gas 8 Roast veg in the oil until starting to soften, season and set aside.

Mix breadcrumbs, nuts, garlic and herbs together in a bowl. Melt butter or margarine. Mix fat into nut mixture and press firmly into ovenproof dish or flan tin (approx.

23cm or 8” across) Bake for 15-17 minutes until crisp and golden brown. Spoon the ayvar on to the croustade top with the roasted vegetables and decorate with fresh basil leaves.

An alternative filling can be made by frying 450g chopped mushrooms and a clove of garlic in a little butter, seasoning well, then adding a large carton of crème fraiche or soured cream. Return

this to oven to heat through for 10

Melanie’s Kitchen DOWNEND’S OWN DELI & CAFE

minutes or so and serve hot.

The loose cho cola counter is ba te ck!

The shop that’s bigger than it looks!

We have a great range of Westcountry food including wonderful cheeses, chutneys and Cornish grown tea (which you can drink in our cafe).

We can supply whole cheeses for celebrations including weddings - just talk to Peter.

Gluten Free Bread available daily

Looking for gifts?

New for this ye ar giant champa truffles-treat yo gne or Limonce urse llo so buy as many lf or someone special. Sold by or as few as yo weight u like. We can pa them up beautif ckage ully for you.

We make hampers all year round.

Dunoon mugs in stock, Sophie Allport china and textiles, greetings cards (including some from a local artist) 2 Downend Road, Downend, Bristol BS16 5UJ Tel: 0117 957 2662 Follow us on Twitter: @melanieskitchen Like us on Facebook: Melanie’s Kitchen, Downend

To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169

Bring this ad vert and receive in by 18th November 10% o chocolate puff your loose rchase

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

emersonsgreenvoice

28

November, 2016

n PETER'S VISION WITH the darker evenings and increasing rain (did you ever notice it decrease?) I must admit that although a keen cyclist I am taking to the car at least once a week now. I am not sure if you notice an increase in headlight glare each year when driving - it could just be me? I am still a huge fan of my contrast enhancers, particularly on those days I have to drive, either day or night in the mist or rain. The clearer vision from these spectacle lenses is just superb!

Never one to shy away from trying new tech, I was really looking forward to my bespoke frame consultation this week. Yes, even after all these years I still get excited about new frames! I chose a frame made from carbon fibre and titanium. The fitting model was already quite comfortable, but I did have the nose bridge width reduced and the side length increased - making the frame much more comfortable. I never thought I had a big head, but apparently my cranium is a touch larger than some. The thing that really struck me was the quality of the frames; even the fitting model was

Did someone say bespoke?

The team at Turners just superbly manufactured and amazingly light.

The first thing most of us Brits will be thinking by now is golly gosh just how much is all that going to cost? Well to be fair I am not exactly sure. I had a rough quote, and I can say it is more than

Elite HOME CARE Award Winning Care

RECRUITING FOR

Care Workers Competitive Rates of pay £7.98/hr - £10.43/hr Mileage paid from home (if local) 40p per mile

a nice lunch for Jo and I but less than a night for the two of us in a hotel. Anyhow the price is not the point here, this is my treat to myself for passing my exams over the summer. (Yes, yes I know, Jo my wife got 91% and I was behind her with 89%, not that I am competitive but there is always next time…)

This talk of bespoke did get me thinking about our extended eye exam, which has in fact been truly bespoke for almost a year now.

Gone are the days of the ‘routine eye exam’ or the ‘standard sight test’, bespoke eye care is here to stay - at least in my clinic!

The Turners Opticians extended eye exam is a more thorough and in-depth assessment of your eye health and vision. We have time to discuss any concerns you may have as well as reviewing the sophisticated 3D eye imaging scans and detailed peripheral vision assessments. Your eye exam is tailored to your individual needs, resulting in a higher quality of care

Paid Training – Induction with opportunity to enrol in QCF/NCFE Short Courses Distance between service users kept to a minimum Experience preferred but not essential OWN TRANSPORT ESSENTIAL

Call 0117 9562374

Peter

Peter Turner is the lead Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol and also works part time as a Senior Optometrist at the Bristol Eye Hospital.

10% OFF CARDS

16 G NOVEMBER 20 PURCHASED DURIN R HE UC VO WITH THIS

. . . with gifts galore and so much more

Or call in our office

7-8 The Square, Staple Hill, Bristol. BS16 5LR To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169

and more satisfying experience.

I would like to extend personal and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have experienced and then recommended our bespoke eye care.

So how do you book an extended (bespoke!) eye exam at Turners Opticians, well either call in, telephone, email us or visit our online booking page on our website www.turnersopticians. co.uk Our family practices are open in both Fishponds and Henleaze, six days a week. You are very welcome to pop in to either (or both!) practices and say Hi. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

6 Broad Street, Staple Hill.

Tel 0117 957 6959

email: info@thecardshopstaplehill.co.uk

follow us on facebook — The Card Shop

Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

29

n VETS ADVICE

Is your pet scared of fireworks?

E

VERY year we experience a surge of phone calls asking for help just before Bonfire Night. This can be such a stressful time for both pets and their owners. Why not prepare in advance this year?

Top Tips: • Keep pets indoors and exercise them while it is still light outside.

-• Close windows and curtains; turn on lights to reduce the effects of flashes. Keep the Radio/

Television volume high to drown out the loud bangs.

• Allow your pet to hide away somewhere safe: build a den by covering a pet cage with blankets.

Cats feel more comfortable high up.

• New toys or food treats can act as a distraction.

• If you know another dog that is not scared by noises, keeping them together may help them realise that there is no need to be afraid.

• Pets are reassured by a calm owner. Act normally and don’t comfort or fuss your pet as this can reinforce the fearful behaviour.

• Move hutches or cages indoors.

Provide extra bedding to burrow into.

Helpful Products There are many helpful products on the market, but they must be used in conjunction with behaviour therapy to have any success.

We have available: Adaptil products can help your dog cope with fear. It produces a scent that only your dog can smell, and mimics the pheromone produced by bitches when they suckle their pups. The effect is not

immediate, so these products need to be used continually for up to two weeks before the scary event.

Nutracalm is a fast acting natural supplement which is specifically formulated to calm anxious pets and to help reduce unwanted behaviour. For most pets it starts working within 60 minutes.

These Products can be bought over-the-counter at reception. For further advice please contact us.

Vets4Pets Bristol Emersons Green Inside Pets at Home, Emersons Green Retail Park, Emerson Way, Emersons Green Bristol BS16 7AE Call us: 0117 910 9352

Is your pet protected? Vac4Life Vaccinations protect against nasty diseases

Just

£99

*

Lifetime vaccination protection for your pet

• Canine Parvovirus (Parvo)

• Feline Calcivirus

• Canine Distemper

• Feline Herpesvirus

• Infectious Canine Hepatitis

• Feline Infectious Enteritis

• Leptospirosis

• Feline Leukaemia

*Terms and conditions apply.

Visit vets4pets.com/vac4life for full details.

For more information on these diseases visit: vets4pets.com/protectyourpet Vets4Pets Bristol Emersons Green Inside Pets at Home, Emersons Green Retail Park, Emerson Way, Emersons Green, Bristol, BS16 7AE Call us:

0117 9109352 or visit: vets4pets.com/ bristol-emersons-green

To advertise, contact Gary on 07799 461169

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

30

emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

n AROUND THE WIs

BEECHMERE BELLES WI HELLO from Beechmere Belles. Our committee has been busy planning for next year. We have an interesting range of activities planned with a mix of speakers, craft and social evenings, like one in March where we will host a make your own pamper items craft night. Our speakers have all been recommended and include subjects such as travelling in the Middle East, a talk from the Lifeboats in Portishead and a chance to try on a Indian sari. We also have some social activities so members have an opportunity to get to know each other.

In September, we all enjoyed seeing the stars with Stephen Parkinson in his pop-up sky tent. It was amazing to see the constellations and learn some of the history about astronomy.

In November we will be getting Christmassy, making our Christmas crafts for our stand at Emersons Green Village Hall Christmas Fayre.

We will be on our stand from 10.30am-2pm on Saturday December 3 getting into the Christmas Spirit. Come and see us.

Please feel free to come along and join us at out meetings. We meet on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7.30pm in Emersons Green Village Hall. We always give a warm welcome to

visitors so come and see us, no waiting list, just friendly faces and cake!

For more information, please visit out Facebook page: Emersons Green WI Beechmere Belles or email beechmerebelles@ gmail.com Georgina Tankard

MANGOTSFIELD WI THANK you to all our members for supporting the annual meeting on October 24 which is one of the most important in the WI year.

We looked back on all the activities we have enjoyed in the past year, and the President thanked the 15/16 committee and all the members who helped to make the last 12 months so successful and exciting.

We are very excited to be welcoming Nicola Eaton from the Really Expensive Chocolate Club

to our meeting on November 28.

She will be coming to share her experiences with us and I do hope she will be sharing some samples too!

We have a number of interest groups running through the year and you will be pleased to know that no experience is necessary!

If any member would like to join any of the interest groups please contact mangotsfieldwi@ gmail.com We have a weekly singing for fun group, a monthly pub lunch group, a craft club and a reading group. If none of those are enough to tempt you, you can come along to the quarterly supper club.

Our meetings start at 7.30pm and we do not charge for our visitors. You can find out more out the meetings by contacting: mangotsfieldwi@gmail.com or looking at our website: www.mangotsfield wi.org.uk Kate Tarr

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emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

31

n NEWS

TV’s Josie Gibson opens Generous George pub BRISTOL’s glamorous TV star Josie Gibson was the guest of honour as she officially opened a Downend pub following a rebrand.

The Big Brother celebrity visited The Huntsman in Westerleigh Road to officially relaunch it as a Generous George pub on October 24 following an extensive refurbishment.

The brand aims to be generous by name, generous by nature with the tag line ‘Feel Good Inside’ and manager Karl Bryant said he was over the moon with the reaction from his customers.

The new-look Huntsman combines a contemporary and friendly pub atmosphere, serving hand crafted ales, wine and cocktails, with a menu that includes burgers, bagels and pizza.

Karl said: “We were really

excited about re-launching as a Generous George pub, and we’ve got a lot to offer people.

“We wanted to make a fuss about the launch and we were

delighted when Josie agreed to join us to add some glitz and glamour to the proceedings.

“We were over the moon when she agreed to pull a pint and pose in our Generous George chair – a sure spot for a selfie if ever there was one!"

Josie launched the pub at 6.30pm, and chose three charities for the pub to support over the next 12 months.

Karl explained: “Throughout each of our launch events we will be raising money for three important charities; all of which have been chosen by Josie, and these will form The Huntsman Charity Chest, whereby one penny from every meal sold will be donated to one of the causes, with the customer choosing where their contribution goes.

“We’ll be supporting CLIC Sargent, which supports young people with cancer, Meningitis UK and Great Western Air Ambulance."

During the opening week the new-look pub had a bouncy castle, donkeys and face painting as well as a magician.

Karl added: “Every week we’ll be hosting a pub quiz – with free nachos for teams – and we’ll be offering live entertainment on a regular basis.

“We also want people to tell us what they’d like their pub to be; whether they want it to host the local book club or a pool tournament, we want to help that happen.”

Home care under review PEOPLE who receive home care are being encouraged to have their say about proposed changes to the way home care services are provided in the future.

South Gloucestershire Council commissions about 16,000 hours of communitybased support a week including personal care at home and oneto-one support to help people access services and facilities in their local community.

The contract the council has with providers comes to an end in January 2018 and the authority wants to use this opportunity to review the way help is provided in order to meet the growing demand for care services.

A consultation has begun and the council wants to hear from people who receive home care as well as their families, carers, health professionals, care providers and community groups.

The council is exploring the option of appointing a single lead provider for each of its six key geographical areas, rather than multiple small providers, as at present. These areas, known as ‘clusters’, are centred on GP practices.

The consultation will continue until January 5, 2017.

Further information is available at: https://consultations. southglos.gov.uk/consult.ti/ communitybasedservices/ consultationHome

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emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

n NEWS CHILDREN in Africa are benefiting from the change of uniform at Mangotsfield School.

Out of date polo shirts and sweatshirts have been taken out to Rwanda by Thom Manning, from Downend, as part of his voluntary work with the charity Cricket Without Boundaries.

Parents and students donated clean, unwanted uniform and the school contributed obsolete items, meaning Thom was able deliver more than 50 polo shirts and 100 sweatshirts to the Streets Ahead Children's Centre Association in Kayonza, Eastern Province. It looks after young girls rescued from life on the streets, many of whom are orphaned by or living with HIV/ AIDS. Thom, who works for the NHS and plays for Downend Cricket Club 4ths, is CWB’s “country manager’” for Rwanda, coordinating cricket development projects from the UK and leading volunteer projects from the UK once a year.

He explained how he found the centre during his recent visit.

“We didn’t plan to visit this

33

Thom bowls Rwanda girls over with donation of school shirts

particular shelter, but seriously heavy rainfall ended a morning session at the school next door early and we were invited inside to get out of the rain.

“We had been carrying around the Mangotsfield donations for a week looking for the right place and as soon as we saw this shelter we knew we’d

found the ideal place to leave the clothes.

“We played indoor cricket with the girls, danced with them, sang with them and they sang and danced for us. It was a very emotional morning for the team, having earlier that morning rescued a puppy who had got himself trapped in a wire

fence outside our hotel while his siblings looked on! There’s never a dull day on a CWB trip.

“Planning and leading a two week project in Rwanda as a volunteer is a far cry from my day job with NHS South Gloucestershire CCG, and I have a very tolerant and understanding family who allow me to use up some of my annual leave to run around Sub-Saharan Africa extolling the virtues of using condoms at the top of my voice whilst playing cricket!”

Cricket Without Boundaries delivers sexual health education through cricket development to children in Rwanda, Cameroon, Uganda, Botswana and Kenya.

To find out more, visit www. cricketwithoutboundaries. com, email thom@ cricketwithoutboundaries.com or ring Thom on 07758 153 863.

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emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

35

n ON THE BEAT

Join the Neighbourhood Watch team DID you know that joining Neighbourhood Watch is one of the most effective things you can do to prevent burglary? Members are around six times less likely to have their homes broken into.

Bromley Heath Neighbourhood Watch members have been helping to keep their area safe for the past 30 years, and their achievement was recognised in a letter of thanks to the chair, Bill Crocker.

South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Ian Smith, said: “I wanted to personally write to offer my congratulations. To have a scheme running for this amount of time is of huge credit to the community.

I wanted to thank you and all your members for your hard work and dedication.”

In September a group of residents in Lyde Green came together to make their neighbourhood an even better place to live by agreeing to set up

a Neighbourhood Watch. Almost every resident - including children turned out to talk to local officers at a street briefing about the scheme.

Neighbourhood PC Paul Fortune said: "I would like to thank all those who attended.

The residents of Thistle Close who should be applauded for taking the initiative to start the ball rolling!"

Now is a good time to think about your home security, because with the darker nights it can be easier to spot when no one is at home. We’d recommend using timer light switches set to come on at dusk, as well as fitting motion sensing security lights.

Think about all the things you keep in your shed and garage.

Bicycles and power tools are valuables often stolen from outbuildings. Even ladders or hand tools could be used to break into your home, so it’s important to make sure your shed, garage and gates are sturdy and secured with good quality locks.

PC Paul Fortune with the chairman of Bromley Heath Neighbourhood Watch Bill Crocker Other top home security tips include: • It’s important to lock up and set the alarm, if you have one, at night as well as when you go out • We’d also recommend hiding your keys and handbag or wallet safely out of sight, and never leaving your keys in the back of the door • If you hear a suspicious noise in the night please do check your property and call us straight away if you find any damage (call 101) or see someone running away

(ring 999) Your neighbourhood policing team for Downend and Siston includes PCs Paul Fortune and James Rochford and PCSO Katrina Sheldrake.

You can find crime prevention and advice, information about Neighbourhood Watch and get in touch with your neighbourhood policing team online through the police website www. avonandsomerset.police.uk, or by calling 101.

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Remember your poppy POPPY sellers from the Royal British Legion will be collecting to help the armed forces community at Sainsbury's in Emersons Green.

The dedicated men and women will be at the store from Saturday October 29 to Friday November 11, when the store will observe Armistice Day at 11am.

Store spokeswoman Tracy Cannard said: "We will be raising the standard at 11am for this year's Poppy Appeal. Please come along and show your support." * The store is asking customers who knit to bring in baby blankets and hats for the special care baby unit at Southmead Hospital.

Also welcome are warm scarves, which will be passed on to the homeless in Bristol. Any donations should be brought to Tracy Cannard on the last Wednesday of each month who will then forward the items to the relevant charities.

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emersonsgreenvoice

36

November, 2016

n NEWS THE unsightly long grass that has blighted parts of Mangotsfield is set to become a thing of the past.

Residents have been demanding action for a couple of years, ever since council budget constraints reduced a lot of the green spaces to only two cuts each summer. Among the areas affected were Rodway Road, Long Road, Northcote Road and Valley Road. People were concerned that it looked untidy, was dangerous to traffic and made the grassed areas unsafe

Three councillors went to mow ... places for children to play.

Now the three Rodway ward councillors have pledged to use a new funding scheme to pay for additional grass cuts in future years.

Michael Bell, Judy Adams and John Sullivan announced their decision to use money from the Member Allocated Funding (MAF) scheme following a public meeting they organised at the

Gary Spindler and daughter Sophie with neighbour Martin Jackway

John Sullivan, Judy Adams and Michael Bell at the meeting church hall in Richmond Road to discuss the problem.

About 30 people attended to air their concerns. Gary Spindler, of Valley Road, who has been leading the residents' battle, said he had discovered that so-called “amenity grass” was cut ten times a year and “highways grass” just twice.

“I have asked the council to reduce the amenity cuts and increase the highways cuts, but unfortunately they have not been prepared to do that,” he said.

Councillor Bell, who has spoken up for the residents at several council meetings, said that some areas had additional cuts funded by their parish councils, but most of Mangotsfield was unparished.

He suggested that the three councillors each allocated £1,000 of their £3,000 MAF allowance for grass cutting, enabling an additional four cuts of highways grass a year throughout the unparished area.

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emersonsgreenvoice

November, 2016

37

n ON THE TREATMENT TABLE

with Tim Button, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cleve Chiropractic and Next step in Mangotsfield

Blog 34 – Hello there!

New readers start here...

I NOTICED last week that the first edition of the long awaited Emersons Green Voice has been circulated. A huge number of our patients reside in Emersons Green so we are happy to welcome you to the family of readers that include Downend and Fishponds.

It seems only fair to give you a quick introduction into what the monthly blog is about. I run a chiropractic, physiotherapy and Sports Therapy clinic in Mangotsfield.

We have a high tech rehabilitation gym called Next Step and a top injury clinic called Cleve Chiropractic. Over the past 13 years I have developed the practice from a one-man band to a multi-disciplinary clinic and injury rehab centre.

All the way back in 2003 when I was a mere lad, shortly after graduating and starting Cleve Chiropractic at Cleve Rugby Club (hence the name) I got a job working for Bath Rugby in the Premier league. By the end of the season I was working for Bath and Bristol Rugby and Bristol Rovers FC. Since then I have worked in many elite sports environments from the London Olympics and Premier League football to Masters Judo and Athletics all over the world.

I have been fortunate to meet many great people on the way, from world class therapists (a few who now work with me!) to athletes and celebrities that left me

embarrassingly star struck.

This blog is designed to tell you fun stories from the past and present (not just from me but all of our wonderful staff ) and offer advice and information regarding injuries. If you ever have any questions, please contact me using your favourite method of one of the plethora of ways that the modern world enables us to be in constant contact at the bottom of the blog.

So, what story can I think of today? There was one I can think of that I probably shouldn’t tell but it was a long time ago so why not?!

I was invited to the wedding of my dear friends Lee and Danielle Mears. Two friends that I went to school with and Lee was playing rugby for Bath and England at the time. Whilst eating the canapes and drinking the free bubbly I noticed that my childhood crush was there, Kirsty Gallacher. She was married to a rugby player at the time so it made sense.

To put it into context, when I was a teenager I used to have the usual pull out poster of her from Loaded magazine on my wall.

I can honestly say that TV and photographs didn’t do her justice.

From a distance she seemed fabulous.

At this point it seems appropriate to say that I hadn’t even met my wife yet! Now, I had met celebrities before, especially sports ones so I made a mental note to keep my cool and my distance and not act like an old fashioned wally, so I walked the opposite way and went to the bar to get a stronger drink.

I found a quiet bar with nobody

waiting so I stood there, about a foot away from the wall and waited for the barman to come over. As I stood there, and with no warning at all, Kirsty slipped up between me and the wall.

The double take and jaw drop I gave her must have looked ridiculous. It wasn’t fair, I wasn’t ready, I didn’t see her coming and then the most peculiar thing happened…I went deaf. I could see things just fine but I think I panicked so much that blood seem to fill my ears and I couldn’t do anything but gape at her from a few inches away.

Of course the barman came straight over now that Kirsty Gallagher was here and I believe, to her credit, that she said that I was there first but as I was completely deaf I didn’t respond and just blinked at her and the barman with my mouth open in an utter state of panic. The barman just shook his head at me and eventually took her order.

After Kirsty took her drink she turned to me, put her hand on my arm and it looked like she said something that was kind then

smiled sweetly and walked off. To this day I have no idea what she said to as I was deaf the entire time.

After she left, I turned back to the barman and my hearing came back so I asked for a double Gin and Tonic.

I do believe that, that was one of my most embarrassing moments ever.

I can however, say that the same thing did happen to me only one more time and it was the first moment that I laid eyes on Jenny…so I married her…but that’s another story…

Next month (after I have been suitably told off by Jen!) I promise to talk through some common injuries and see what advice we can give to help you through them.

Tim Button 0117 957 5388 drtimbutton@clevechiropractic. com www.clevechiropractic.com facebook.com/clevechiro twitter.com/clevechiro

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emersonsgreenvoice

38

November, 2016

n SPORT

It's an uphill battle for Puckle girls

THE start of the new season saw Pucklechurch Ladies hockey club still with a place in Berkeley division 1.

With players returning from abroad and "maternity" the team were hopeful of improving their position in the league this season.

However, unfortunately losing a couple of players to relocation and another to pregnancy (what a cracking under 5s team we could field!!) it was not to be that simple.

The first league game saw Pucklechurch away to Old Bristolians who had defeated us by quite a margin last season.

Strength in numbers showed us beat them 4-0 with goals from Sophie Edwards, Rhian Phillips, Laura Stone and a cracking strike from Heidi Gardiner.

From triumph to the

realisation of fielding a team with only nine the following Saturday minus also a goalkeeper the "team" were determined not to go down without fighting.

Half time saw our main defender in A&E with a dislocated finger, the team down to eight and only a 3-1 deficit.

Unfortunately tiredness set in and we were defeated 12-1.

Here's hoping Pucklechurch can get a few more wins under their belt and improve on the goal difference in their next few matches.

The team are always looking for more players. Training at Winterbourne International Academy on Monday evenings 8-9 if anyone fancies a go or for more information please email lor84@hotmail.co.uk

Cup exits mean Mangos only have league to play for MANGOTSFIELD United have to concentrate on the league this year, having been knocked out of both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy.

Things were looking good for Dave Mehew’s side in September, when they achieved a 100 per cent record of three league victories, one home and two away. This earned them the title of Team of the Month.

But the team have had a wobble in recent weeks, dropping to third place after a 3-0 defeat at Larkhall United was followed by a 5-1 thrashing at Cossham Street by Shortwood United.

For November, they have no less than six league fixtures to squeeze in with three of them away. The first two home fixtures are on November 12 against AFC Totton and November 19 when Winchester City are the visitors.

A big crowd is expected for November 29, when Mangos entertain Hereford, the current league leaders.

Martin Preedy, from the club, said: “Player wise, the squad is settled, but we may have the odd loan signing to cover suspensions and injuries.”

Laura Stone

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Taps, Washers Toilets, Cisterns Leaks, Blockages Tanks, Overflows Lead Pipes, Stopcocks….etc…

OAP DISCOUNTS and NO VAT

0117

957 5092

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

OsbOrne & sOns

House, Garden, Office Clearance

– registered Waste Carrier Licence Holders

• Gutters • Jet Washing • Fascias• Roofs

City and Guilds Qualified

enquiries@markevanselectrical.co.uk

GUTTERING REPAIRS

J.B. Tree Care

• Tree Care • Total Landscaping • Driveways • Turfing • Patios • Slabbing • Garden Clearance and rubbish removal

SBS PLASTERING Affordable | Reliable | Professional Free Quotations

Trusted Trader

PROPERTY & GARDENS

RECORDS WANTED

extra socket, new lighting, to a complete rewire 0117 956 0695 / 07770 233475

39

Handyman & Property Services

No job too small - Inside and out - give us a shout

Call Tony - 0777 6188595

tony1osborne@yahoo.co.uk Find us on Facebook www.osborneandsons.net

BATHROOM SPECIALISTS

Email: sales@emersonsgreenvoice.co.uk

AMBIENCE WOODBURNERS Stoves supplied and fitted from £1280.00 Contact Paul for a FREE home survey (Chimney sweeping service also available)

07525 479420

info@ambiencewoodburners.co.uk

ADVERTISE HERE

LOCAL SERVICES ss

sine Advertise your bu here from just

.75 5 1 £

Give Gary a call 0117 907 8585 or 07799 461169

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

F O R M E R LY

B R A N C H E S

O F

B R I S T O L

We’re opening The Old Mill Interiors & Furnishings store in the heart of Bristol, bringing the people of Bristol and surrounding areas great value furniture, homewares and gifts with everyday low prices.

On the site of the recently closed Branches of Bristol store, you’ll be able to find a world of oak, pine and painted furniture for all rooms in your home in every look imaginable, from stylish classics to ultra-modern industrial looks. But we don’t stop there, with leather and fabric sofas and chairs, mattresses and more. There’ll also be a great range of rugs, lighting, homewares and gifts. Simply everything you need for a more beautiful home.

WARWICK OAK RUSTIC FINISH LIVING & DINING FURNITURE FROM JUST £99.99

CAMBRIDGE NATURAL LOOK PINE BEDROOM FURNITURE FROM JUST £35.00

NEW LOOK STORE NOW OPEN! ENJOY THESE OPENING OFFERS IN OUR NEW STORE!

5% OFF ANY ORDER SPEND £1000 & GET 10% OFF V A L I D F O R A L I M I T E D T I M E O N LY

Store Opening times Monday - Saturday: 9.30am -5.30pm Sunday: 10.30am - 4.30pm

Stay up-to-date with offers on our Facebook page or visit our website

W W W .T H E O L D M I L L I N T E R I O R S . C O . U K

0117 934 9200

T H E S H O W R O O M S , C I T Y P O I N T, T E M P L E G A T E , B R I S T O L , B S 1 6 P L Minimum spend and delivery radius applies for free local delivery