Emersons Green Voice July 2024

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Festival's future at risk

ORGANISERS of the Mangotsfield Village Festival have warned that the future of the event is at "serious risk".

This year's festival on June 8 was attended by up to 3,000 people – but despite an appeal for festivalgoers to donate £3 each towards costs, only £800 was given on the day.

The organisers now need to raise £7,500 to secure next year's event. They also need new volunteers – and are calling on people to "step up and get involved" when the festival holds its annual meeting in July.

Full story: Page 3

Tributes paid to ‘incredible’ Sandie Family, colleagues and friends have hailed the “incredible legacy” of foster mum and councillor Sandie Davis, from Emersons Green, who has died at the age of 70.

PAGE 4

General election: the candidates

As voters prepare to vote in the general election on July 4, the Voice has invited all the candidates in the three local seats to tell us about themselves.

PAGES 8-13

Teen creates free local audio tour

Teenager Lenni Langreiter has created a free audio tour of our area. The 3.7 mile route takes in 14 points of interest with commentary and interviews available via smartphones.

PAGE 23

The Sambistas lead this year's Mangotsfield Village Festival parade through the streets

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DEADLINES

Our August edition deadline is July 17.

LOCAL INFORMATION

South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

Police

www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk

general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999

Fire

www.avonfire.gov.uk

General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

Emergency: 999

NHS 111

Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009

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

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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. Emersons Green 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@emersonsgreenvoice. co.uk.

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Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Emersons Green Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour.

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

A member of the

New school bus operator needed

A SCHOOL bus service used by children in Lyde Green and Emersons Green needs a new operator after the current one announced it was pulling out after the end of term.

Stagecoach, which runs the 459 to and from Winterbourne Academy, says it will no longer be able to run the service on a commercial basis.

South Gloucestershire Council has responsibility for funding services where pupils are entitled to free transport to school, which includes some children using the 459.

A council spokesperson said: “Stagecoach have advised us that they will no longer be able to operate services 427 and 459 on a commercial basis from the end of this academic year. We will be beginning the process for tendering their replacement and will keep the school informed of our progress.

The council said the West of England Combined Authority was working on the tender on its behalf.

A WECA spokesperson said “solutions have been found” for both the 427 and 459.

However some parents have warned that overcrowding on the 459 could become worse from September, as a service for Downend and Fishponds pupils is set to be axed.

The school says it can no longer bear the £30,000 cost of running its own replacement service for the 458.

Parents whose children currently use the 458 say that if no solution can be found, more families will try to use the 459, which already sometimes has to leave some pupils behind to catch the school’s late bus in the afternoon.

Shared path finished

WORK to create a shared-use path linking Pucklechurch with Shortwood and the Avon Ring Road has finished.

South Gloucestershire Council started work on the path next to the B4465 Shortwood Road last year, but completion of the final section, next to a dangerous bend just outside Pucklechurch, was delayed because the council hadn’t bought the land.

Work on the final phase began in April and included a number of closures and temporary traffic lights.

The work was completed following two daytime closures during the first week of June, to allow a specialist tarmac team to lay the surface on the new path.

The shared-use path, for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, provides an off-road connection between the village and the existing cycle path on Shortwood Hill.

Step up to save the festival

PEOPLE need to "step up and get involved" if the Mangotsfield Village Festival is to continue next year.

Members of the festival's organising committee say the event's future is at "serious risk" because of a shortfall in funding and volunteers.

A vote on its future will be taken at a meeting in July.

The organisers say this year's festival on June 8 attracted between 2,000 and 3,000 people to the North Field at Pomphrey Hill, and was a "memorable day".

The committee said: "We were thrilled to welcome back the Sambistas, who kicked off our festival in the right way by drawing in the crowds with a joyful noise.

"The diversity of displays, attractions and performers at the festival truly enhanced the spirit of the event, and indicates the level of enthusiasm for such things in the Mangotsfield and wider community."

But the event only went ahead after receiving a £5,000 grant from Emersons Green Town Council – and an appeal for festival-goers to donate £3 each towards the costs raised just £800.

Before the pandemic, the festival was held at Cleve RFC's ground but its move to the North Field when it returned last year means organisers cannot charge an entry fee to help towards the estimated £16,000 costs.

The organisers said: "The future of the event is at serious

risk, for two main reasons, so this may be the last time we see the festival run in its current format.

"We love putting on the festival and we want to ensure its future, and even though 2,000 to 3,000 people attended the event, we only received £800 in donations.

"Rising costs for equipment hire, along with dwindling external donations to the event, have made it touch and go as to whether we could financially proceed with this year's event, but a grant donation from Emersons Green Town Council secured the event for this year.

"The committee have discussed at length the reliance on an individual source of funding and have concluded that we should establish our own funds generation scheme.

"To that end we plan to start crowdfunding, the details of which will be posted on our Facebook page.

"We need to raise £7,500 by next year's event and ask that if every attendee to the festival could contribute just £2, the future of this highly popular and well-regarded event will be secure.

"In addition, we now actively need to seek new volunteers. The existing committee is made up of just 11 individuals, and a good proportion of them have been involved since the event's inception over 30 years ago.

"We are asking people who would like to pick up

the torch and carry the event forward for the next 30 years to get in touch with us at the earliest opportunity, so that we can continue to provide this well-loved event for future generations."

The festival committee holds its annual meeting on Tuesday July 9, at 7.30pm, in the Scout Hall in Northcote Road.

The committee said: "We plan

to hold a vote at the meeting to make a final decision on the future of Mangotsfield Village Festival – if the community want to see the festival survive they need to step up and get involved."

The committee can be reached via the festival Facebook page, by emailing chair@ mangotsfieldfestival.co.uk or calling 07765 201435.

Children from V Dance Academy performing at this year's Mangotsfield Festival.

Picture: Tony Bundy

Children from Emersons Green Primary School put on a display of traditional dances

Sandie leaves an ‘incredible legacy’

FAMILY, colleagues and friends have hailed the “incredible legacy” of foster mum and councillor Sandie Davis.

Sandie, who lived in Emersons Green, died on June 8, less than three months after being diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer.

Sandie’s husband Jim said she was a pioneer of “standing up for people with disabilities”.

A South Gloucestershire councillor, charity trustee and school governor, it was Sandie’s personal dedication to improving life for people with disabilities as an adoptive and foster parent that brought her national recognition.

Born in London in 1954, Sandie started nursing after leaving home at 16 and moved to Northampton, where she and Jim met, for her training.

She specialised in the care of disabled children but became disillusioned with the hospital practices of the time, which she described as “changing nappies all day”.

She and Jim, a police officer, married in 1974 and started a family, having three children – Louise, Charley and Liam –between 1976 and 1984.

They then started fostering, and soon decided to adopt. Jim says they were drawn to children with Down’s syndrome and adopted three – Kate and Jamie, who now live independently near the family home, and Jack, who also had cerebral palsy and died in 2013. They adopted a fourth child, Darren, who has the progressive genetic condition myotonic dystrophy.

Jim said: “Back in the 70s and 80s, people with a disability were just dismissed and shut away.

“We both felt that just because somebody’s got a disability, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be treated the same as everybody else.”

Over the years Sandie and Jim fostered around 35 children, from a baby who was brought straight from the hospital at five hours old to a teenager who arrived with only a carrier bag containing three pairs of odd socks.

Moving to Downend in the late 1980s, they set up a youth group and the Sticky Fish playgroup at their house in Overnhill Road.

The family moved to Emersons Green in 2000, while Sandie was undergoing successful cancer treatment.

She supported Incredible Kids, a Bristol charity for families of children with disabilities, from its foundation 12 years ago, becoming a trustee in 2017.

Incredible Kids said Sandie “genuinely cared about improving the support for disabled children and challenged the status quo”, and had left an “incredible legacy”.

She had helped the charity and its services survive through the pandemic, even when she was unable to leave home herself.

The charity said: “Without Sandie’s unwavering support, Incredible Kids would not have reached its current success. Thanks to her, 6500 individuals from Bristol and beyond have found a place where they are

accepted, welcomed, and understood.”

Sandie, who had six grandchildren, was also a trustee for Keynsham Mencap, and a governor at Warmley Park special school and St Stephen’s Junior School in Soundwell.

She was elected as a Labour councillor for South Gloucestershire’s New Cheltenham ward, which includes the Siston Hill estate, in 2019, stepping down in March because of her illness.

Fellow ward councillor Matt Palmer said: “Sandie Davis was a fantastic councillor who was conscientious, helpful and thoughtful to every single person that needed her help.

“The world has lost an incredible, kind, loving and honest woman.”

Sandie’s dedication was recognised with awards, including the Caron Keating Foundation’s Inspirational Mother award in 2014 and Parent Carer of the Year at the 2022 Include Awards.

Sandie began to feel unwell in last autumn and, after delays in being able to see a GP, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer the day before the couple’s golden wedding anniversary in March.

Jim and Sandie had planned some special holidays to celebrate their anniversary year. Instead, Sandie had to move in to St Peter’s Hospice on the day before her 70th birthday.

They held the party they had planned for the family at the hospice. Rather than asking for presents, Sandie set up an online JustGiving fundraiser for Incredible Kids and encouraged people to donate.

The donation page can be found at tinyurl. com/2p9kzcez and had raised £895 as the Voice went to press.

Sandie died less than two weeks after her birthday.

Since then Jim has received an overwhelming number of messages showing love and appreciation, including from people Sandie had never met.

Jim said: “She said she was quite happy she’d achieved everything she wanted to achieve.

“She had a remarkable life, and her family is her legacy.”

n Sandie Davis had her 70th birthday at St Peter’s Hospice shortly before her death

Revel brings village together

ORGANISERS of this year’s Pucklechurch Revel say the village festival was judged to be a big success by villagers who came along.

Revel day on June 15 saw a traditional parade from Hill View along Castle Road, Westerleigh Road, Abson Road and back to the Recreation Field for a fair with stalls, children’s entertainment and live music.

The field also hosted a two-night beer and cider festival, with a family evening on the Friday followed by an adults-only night.

Omie Flook, one of the organisers, said: “We were extremely lucky with the weather

on Saturday day time, and the parade was brilliant.

“All the village groups embraced the ‘all creatures great and small’ theme.

“The winners of the parade were the guide group with their Very Hungry Caterpillar entry.

“The day was very well attended with lots of stalls and food.

“People enjoyed a magic show, a farm visit, races, a tug of war, dog show and live music from Decibels and Angie.

“The rain affected attendance to the

evening events, but the people that were there had a brilliant time, with a large variety of cider and beer, and fantastic music from You Me and the Dancefloor on Friday night, and Stupid on the Saturday night.”

All money raised from the event will go towards local causes.

Organisers are inviting anyone interested in helping run the event to volunteer at their annual meeting in September – the date will be published on the revel’s Facebook page nearer the event – or to get in touch by email at pucklechurch.revel@gmail.com.

The 1st Pucklechurch Guides won the award for the best parade entry

The Pucklechurch Revel committee with Saturday’s night’s headline band, Stupid

TURNER'S VISION

Five things to help protect your eyes this summer

WHO doesn’t love summer? Longer days, an abundance of sunshine and endless opportunities to get outdoors make it a favourite season for most. Although the extra time outside is appreciated by many of us, it also means more exposure to harmful UV rays which can increase the risk of developing macular degeneration, cataracts and other serious eye conditions.

Here are our top five tips to help keep your eyes safe this summer:

1. Shield your eyes with 100% UV sunglasses

As well as burning your skin, UV rays can burn your eyes, so sunglasses are essential when spending time outdoors. When choosing your next pair, make sure they offer 100% UV protection. We have a wide range of sunglasses available such as Zeal, Ray-Ban and Oakley that will keep your eyes safe – and keep you looking stylish when spending time out in the sun.

2. Use eye drops

Eye drops are a great solution for those who suffer from dry eyes in warmer weather. At Turners Opticians, we have a range of eye drops specially formulated to maintain your tear film and provide essential hydration for your eyes. Keep a bottle with you to instantly soothe and moisturise your eyes so you can go out and enjoy your day without worrying about dry eye.

3. Stay hydrated

It can be easy to overlook staying hydrated when enjoying long days at the beach or summer barbecues with family and friends but drinking plenty of water can help to keep your eyes soothed and moisturised. Remember to drink water throughout the day to help reduce eye strain so you’ll be less likely to experience discomfort and eye fatigue.

4. Protect your eyes from allergies

Wraparound sunglasses are a great solution for those who suffer from allergies. In the summer there is an increased amount of dust and pollen which can cause discomfort and irritation to your eyes. Our protection eye drops can also provide soothing relief from allergy symptoms, ensuring your eyes stay comfortable and irritation-free.

5. Book your next advanced eye examination

Regular eye exams are the key to keeping your eyes healthy and are a great opportunity to pick up on any underlying eye health conditions –it’s better to be proactive than reactive after all!

Our friendly team is here to give you an advanced eye examination and make sure your eyes are in great shape. Your eyes deserve the best care, so make eye health a priority – especially during the summer.

At Turners Opticians, we want to help you protect and care for your eyes, no matter what the weather’s doing. To book an appointment or view our range of sunglasses, call our Henleaze team on 0117 962 2474 or Fishponds team on 0117 965 4434.

Mum tells court how one punch tore a family apart

THE family of former Mangotsfield United footballer Scott Hendy have told a court how their lives have been "torn apart" by his death.

Statements from Scott's mother and one of his children were read to Bristol Crown Court before his killer, George Baylis, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison on May 29.

Baylis, aged 30, threw a single punch that knocked Scott to the ground during an altercation in a pub car park in the early hours of March 2.

Father-of-three Scott suffered a head injury and died the following day in Southmead Hospital. He was 46.

Baylis admitted a manslaughter charge in April.

In her statement, Scott's mother Jennifer Hendy described the impact his death has had on the family.

She said: "Not a day that goes by where we don’t think about Scott.

“He was the kindest, loveliest character and all-round amazing son. His personality was infectious and was always one for being the joker.

“His sense of humour was legendary, and his loss will be felt from all over Bristol, such was the reach of his infectious personality.

“This is a horrendous situation we find ourselves in, and our lives will never be the same.

“We know this would never have happened if Scott wasn’t punched.

“However, we understand this has probably ruined the offender’s life as well – if anything we feel sorry for him and his family. We don’t have any hatred towards him; we accept he probably didn’t mean to kill our son.

“However, we are now left feeling our entire life has been torn apart, and don’t think we will ever come to terms with living our lives without him."

Scott's eldest son Lewis said his dad was the "heart and soul of the family" and was "idolised" by his children.

He said: “One of the hardest

things to accept is that I can no longer reach out to Dad.

"There will be no more phone calls to ask for his advice, no more texts to share a quick joke, no more chats about work or life.

"I still pick up the phone to call or message him, eager to share something funny that’s just happened. Then reality kicks in and I get that sinking feeling again, because he’s no longer there.

“It feels like I’ve lost my compass, my guide, and the person I could always turn to when I needed help.

“There are events that have not yet happened that I know will be incredibly bittersweet, such as the birth of my first child and my wedding: this also applies to Harvey and Holly.

“Dad will never get the opportunity to become a grandparent, to walk Holly down the aisle and to show us all up with his dance moves at our weddings.”

The court heard Baylis punched Scott once in the car park of the Kings Arms pub, in Redwick Road, Pilning, at around 12.10am on March 2.

Police were called and spoke to witnesses, before arresting Baylis, who lived in the same road, about half an hour later.

A police spokesperson said: "He broke down in front of

officers and apologised for what happened, adding he did not want to hurt anyone.

"During police interview he admitted to punching Mr Hendy."

The court heard Baylis would serve at least half of the sentence.

After Scott's death was announced, tributes were paid by former teammates and the clubs he played for, which also included Clevedon Town, Yate Town and Bath City.

Mangotsfield United, where he made almost 400 appearances, said: "More than just a great player, he was a great person and was well thought of by fans, managers and teammates alike."

Friend and former teammate Geraint Bater, who played alongside him at both Mangotsfield and Clevedon Town, said: "Scott was loved by everyone who met him; he was funny, genuine and the life and soul of any party."

Up to 700 people attended his funeral, and a charity match he was due to play in at Mangotsfield United's ground in March became a memorial event, attended by around 900 people and raising more than £5,000 to support his family.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Almond, of the police major crime investigation team,

said: “Scott Hendy was clearly a very popular man and our sympathies are with his loved ones at the conclusion of these legal proceedings.

"George Baylis has shown remorse for what occurred throughout the course of enquiries, and also pleaded guilty early on to manslaughter.

"While there is no evidence of any intent on his part to cause the fatal injuries he did, this case highlights the tragic reality that one punch can kill.

"In that split second he lashed out, he unintentionally took Scott’s life and now has received a prison sentence."

Scott Hendy with children Harvey, Lewis and Holly. Picture from Hendy family via Avon & Somerset police

George Baylis admitted the manslaughter of Scott Hendy

General election 2024: your candidates

VOTERS in the Emersons Green area will be among millions around the country electing a new government on July 4.

Three parliamentary seats are being contested in the area covered by the Voice – and residents of Emersons Green and Lyde Green will have a new MP on July 5, whoever wins.

Both areas are becoming part of the Filton & Bradley Stoke constituency, which is expanding eastwards from Downend as part of boundary changes introduced at the general election.

Previously all of Emersons Green, and most of Lyde Green, was part of the Kingswood constituency, which has been abolished. The other parts of Lyde Green were in neighbouring Thornbury & Yate.

The Siston Hill estate was also in the Kingswood constituency before the boundary change, but is now part of a new seat. Bristol North East has been created by combining four South Gloucestershire wards from the old Kingswood constituency – New Cheltenham, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, Kingswood and Woodstock – with four Bristol wards that have been moved out of neighbouring Bristol East.

Pucklechurch and Shortwood are still part of the Thornbury & Yate constituency, and are joined by Siston village, which had previously been part of Kingswood.

The Voice has contacted the candidates standing in the three constituencies, and all of them have sent statements to tell readers something about themselves and their priorities if they are elected.

They appear on our pages in the same order they will be found on the ballot paper.

In Filton & Bradley Stoke, Conservative Jack Lopresti, who has held the seat since it was created in 2010, is defending a majority of 5,646 from the 2019 election. Labour has been second in all four previous contests.

In Bristol North East Labour’s candidate is Damien Egan, who became Kingswood’s MP in a by-election in February, after Tory Chris Skidmore unexpectedly resigned.

Kingswood was Conservative from 2010 until this year’s by-election, which Mr Egan won by 2,501 votes; Bristol East has been held by Labour since 1992.

In Thornbury & Yate, Conservative Luke Hall is defending a majority of 12,369 from the 2019 general election.

He won the seat from the Liberal

Democrats in 2015, and Lib Dem candidate Claire Young, the current leader of South Gloucestershire Council, was second in 2017 and 2019.

As the Voice went to print, two opinion polls had been published predicting the results in the three seats.

Both YouGov and Survation were predicting wins for Labour in Filton & Bradley Stoke and Bristol North East, and a Lib Dem win in Thornbury & Yate.

Voting will take place from 7am until 10pm on July 4, with the votes being counted immediately afterwards and results expected to be declared early on July 5.

The deadlines for registering to vote and applying for a postal vote have already passed.

This will be the first general election where voters are required to present photo ID at polling stations.

Voters can use passports, driving licences, Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) cards, blue badges, Defence Identity Cards and some concessionary travel cards as proof: the full list of ID that will be accepted can be found online at tinyurl.com/t3yspjdz.

I'M campaigning for our community on both a local and national stage for action to tackle the housing crisis, cost of living crisis, the NHS crisis and the ongoing sewage scandal.

I'm a former local councillor and deputy leader of the successful Somerset West and Taunton council and remain a dedicated community campaigner. During my tenure, the council began work on the first council houses to be planned and built in west Somerset for more than 30 years.

For years our area has been taken for granted by an out-of-touch Conservative Government that has failed to get the basics right and lurched from crisis to crisis – now it’s time for a change.

We need to see a return to politics that not only works for the country, but for our local communities.

Local health services have been brought to their knees, people’s mortgages and rent have skyrocketed and water companies have been allowed to pump their filthy sewage into our rivers and beaches.

All this by a Conservative government more interested in fighting between themselves than standing up for the country.

People are at breaking point and the simple fact is that we need change at the very top.

This government is the first in almost a century to make the average person poorer. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote for a fair deal. It’s a vote for a party and a candidate that will stand up for our community and our health services.

Benet Allen (Liberal Democrats) Election candidates Filton & Bradley Stoke

GENERAL

Stephen Burge (Reform UK)

My name is Stephen Burge. I have lived in and around Filton and Bradley Stoke most of my life, my father worked for Rolls-Royce, my children grew up and still live here, my friends live here, and I care about this community.

I’m an ordinary person, someone just like you, and I’m standing because I feel this constituency has been let down.

Issues like the Hambrook Lights which cause traffic chaos, the link road bridge to Winterbourne, the asylum seekers in the local hotels, the talk of 30,000 new houses on the Woodlands Golf Course; how would the infrastructure cope that's already jammed at peak times?

I want to be your voice.

That’s the reason I’m standing: we have been let down locally.

Of course we also need to look at the national issues, but locally is what is important to you, this is what impacts your lives.

Enough is enough, this is why I have decided to stand, to try and make a difference for this community.

Vote Reform UK.

I LIVE in Stoke Gifford and am from a family of teachers, NHS workers and RAF service members – their sense of public service runs deep in me.

I've worked in leadership roles for trusted national charities and in politics on big issues, including the housing and environmental crises. I knock on doors all year round and share your concerns.

We live in great communities but our potential is being held back.

As your strong voice in parliament, I’ll act to:

*Reduce the cost of living. Getting energy bills down with a proper windfall tax on oil and gas giants. Keeping bills down by switching on Great British Energy.

*Get our public services back on their feet. More doctors, dentists, teachers and police where needed most, and service reform. Funded by closing tax loopholes and exemptions.

*Build good and affordable homes, with infrastructure. Support local people to stay, while protecting the character of our growing communities.

*Public transport that works. Speed up bus franchising and give communities the opportunity to take back control of local bus services.

*Action on climate and good, local green jobs. Protect nature for future generations and back the skills we need, in aerospace and beyond.

This will take time, but I’ll work every day to deliver for you, serving as a visible, impactful and approachable MP you can be proud of.

Labour’s always been the strong second here. I hope I can earn your trust in the most important election in a generation.

Jack Lopresti (Conservative)

IT’S been an honour to represent you as your Member of Parliament for the last 14 years.

Over that time, we have achieved so much together for our area, but there’s still more to do.

Our country is at a crossroads. We have all faced very difficult years: a global pandemic – the first in over a century, and the first full-scale invasion on the continent of Europe in 70 years. We have had to make difficult decisions to steer our country through these dark times.

Locally, I have been working hard to improve connectivity in Downend and surrounding areas like Frenchay and Emersons Green. I presented a petition to Parliament restore Hambrook Junction so traffic can cross the junction in both directions.

I’ll continue to push to reinstate bus services which have been cut by Labour’s West of England Mayor Dan Norris who, despite receiving £105 million to improve buses, prefers to waste money on gimmicks like a birthday bus pass, and adverts of himself and his dog.

When it comes to public services like health and education, I secured £49.9 million for Southmead Hospital and I’m working to improve access to local GP surgeries.

As for education, 93% of South Gloucestershire schools are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted. Moreover, having already delivered a new school in Winterbourne, we must look to build another in Emersons Green.

We’ve turned a corner – we have a plan. We seek the opportunity, honour and privilege to continue to serve the British people.

WE need to see a step change in how we fund our public services. As someone not far out of school and as the brother of a soon-to-be children's nurse, I have seen the devastation of austerity on our public services.

As a Green MP, I would fight to ensure those with the broadest shoulders paid for public services that are fit for the future.

We need to protect our waters, air and land. I have grown up appreciating our local nature and seeing the failure of the government to address the climate crisis.

As a Green MP, I would fight for sewage-polluting water companies to come under public ownership and for real ambition from the government to provide a green future for the next generation.

We need to deal with the cost of living with more than a sticking plaster.

I have met with many people feeling the squeeze while some large companies post record profits.

As a Green MP, I would fight for the tax on income from shares in companies to be raised to equal what you pay on your salaries from work, so that we can pay for a fairer, greener society for all.

I have lived in this area since I was two years old, I have seen promises made and then broken.

I believe in real hope and change for our communities. That’s why I’m asking you to vote for me on July 4th.

Read more about the Green Party in our manifesto: greenparty. org.uk/about/our-manifesto

Claire Hazelgrove (Labour)

James Nelson (Green)

My name is Asif Ali. I am a born and bred Bristolian.

Morality has become absent in our politics. We, the electorate, have become the sacrificial lambs our political leaders present at the altar of the mega rich. We need a reset button on how this constituency is represented in Westminster.

I live locally and my education from primary school to graduation all took place in Bristol. Now I work as a courier in this constituency.

There is a wise saying that states:

“Take advantage of 5 before 5,

Youth before old age

Health before sickness

Wealth before poverty

Free time before busyness

Life before death.”

Central to embodying these beautiful words is building a caring community and that is my goal.

With funding to local services cut back to the bone, adult social care completely dysfunctional and isolation of the most vulnerable in society, our current political system needs uprooting and needs resetting.

My priorities are to revive funding to the voluntary and community sector and create pop-up GP surgeries in community centres and primary schools during holiday periods to deal with increased demand. The quicker people are healthy, the quicker they can become contributing members of society.

The cost of living crisis and the rise in homelessness has been artificially manufactured to benefit the rich. Innovative housing solutions can certainly be pursued to bring about short, medium and long term solutions to the undignified mess left by a conservative government and labour council.

Vote Independent. Vote Asif Ali.

I AM standing as your Green Candidate in the new Bristol North East constituency.

I was re-elected in May to Bristol City Council as councillor for the Eastville ward, which forms part of the new constituency.

I have been affiliated to the Green Party since 2010, eventually standing as a parliamentary candidate in Bristol East in the 2015 and 2017 general elections. In February I stood as the Green candidate in the Kingswood by-election.

My love of this part of Bristol and South Gloucestershire has led me to stand again. I want to ensure that people who look like me, as well as people who relate to my politics, continue to have hope for a better and equitable political system.

I also see myself as an advocate for Health and Social care and want to see Social Care reform, including better funding. This is an issue I know well from my work as a social worker.

I am an activist and supportive of other activists wanting to keep our NHS as a public and accessible service and I am passionate about equality and fairness.

If you want an MP who cares about Bristol and South Gloucestershire, the UK, climate change and making the world a safer place, it is time to vote Green.

Green politics is progressive and sound.

Read more about the Green Party in our manifesto: greenparty.org.uk/about/our-manifesto

I’M standing to be your Labour MP for Bristol North East, I’m from Kingwood and live locally.

In February, I had the honour of being elected as the MP for Kingswood, and I’ve been working hard to represent people in Parliament and solve your issues.

After 14 years of the Conservatives, for the first time in our history, we have a government that has left people worse off.

But Labour has a fully costed and funded plan for the country.

Labour will:

*Deliver economic stability so we can keep taxes, inflation, and mortgages as low as possible. Under Labour, there will be no increases in income tax, national insurance, or VAT.

*Cut NHS waiting times by offering more evening and weekend appointments, make it easier for you to see your GP and offer 700,000 more emergency dental appointments.

*Launch Great British Energy which will produce renewable energy and new jobs across the country helping to lower your energy bills.

*Set up a Border Security Command that will speed up asylum applications, target criminal gangs and save money by ending the use of asylum hotels.

*Tackle crime with 13,000 new neighbourhood police officers and PCSOs with tough new penalties for offenders and tackle shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.

According to ‘Tactical.Vote’ there was just 1% separating Labour and the Conservatives here in 2019. A vote for anyone else will risk five more years of chaos with the Tories.

If you want to see change, vote Labour on Thursday 4 July.

Louise Harris (Liberal Democrats)

LOUISE grew up in the constituency, attending Chester Park primary and Rodway (now Mangotsfield) secondary schools. She was born in an RAF hospital in Germany and many people know her father, popular local musician Chris Harris.

After school Louise went to Kingston University in London, where she studied European Politics and Economics and started her political career as Chair of the Liberal Club.

She has worked in the voluntary sector for over 30 years, supporting vulnerable people, and currently manages a charity in Wiltshire providing advocacy for people with mental health issues and learning disabilities.

Louise is a South Gloucestershire councillor and Cabinet member for the Climate and Natural Emergency. In opposition she worked to get cross-party backing to declare a climate and nature emergency in 2019. Fighting to protect our environment is an issue Louise is passionate about and is proud of her record on this, going back to campaigning on acid rain as a student in the 1980s. Louise loves the natural environment locally and says Eastville Park was her childhood playground, so she is very keen to continue her campaigning on the climate and nature emergency as the local MP for Bristol North East.

If elected Louise will stand up for all local people in our community, focusing on improving local healthcare and housing provision, fighting for social justice and protecting our environment.

Away from politics, Louise enjoys reading, music, theatre, travelling and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Asif Ali (Independent)

Lorraine Francis (Green)

Damien Egan (Labour)

GENERAL ELECTION - Election candidates

I'M so excited to be your Parliamentary Candidate for the upcoming general election for Bristol North East.

A thing to know about me is that I am not a politician, I’m a business woman and my core values are simple…transparency, integrity, and honesty.

I will not make false promises to win your vote, but I can be honest with you … and here is what I can do:

1. I promise to always let you know the full circumstances of the situation and what I am able to do to help and the choices available to us.

2. I will sit down with the key community groups post election and discuss the pressing matters, prioritise them with the community and work on a strategy to fight for those changes at Westminster.

3. I will look for opportunities to bring new jobs, enterprise and investment to our constituency.

4. I will work with our national banks to push for more small business loans and grants to ensure that our high streets are growing and servicing our community to the highest level.

5. I will make sure that our ageing population is well looked after, as well as those in the care industry.

6. I will make sure that new builds offer a percentage of homes within the price range based on the average salaries in our constituency.

Take a leap of faith with me on the 4th of July.

Rose Hulse for Bristol North East, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate.

www.rosehulse.com

AS an experienced trade unionist, I'm standing for the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition because workers urgently need our own political voice. The Tories have presided over the cost of living crisis, lack of decent housing and the selling of our NHS. We can't take any more, but what's the alternative?

A Labour Party that has expelled socialists and abandoned all of its principles. That has refused to increase vital funding for public services and to bring them back in-house. That have done all they can to appeal to the interests of greedy big businesses.

Other parties also represent more of the same. This includes the Greens, who have voted for cuts in Bristol rather than used their position on councils to fight austerity.

TUSC would properly fund our NHS and pay nurses and doctors fairly to end the staffing crisis. We would immediately renationalise energy, rail, water and other key industries.

We oppose the brutal devastation of Gaza.

Moreover, as an MP I would take a workers’ wage to ensure I stay committed to representing the interests of Bristol North East not the interests of the privileged in Westminster.

In my trade union work I have shown that I am committed to those principles and would be a fighting to voice for all those forced to go to food banks, struggling to access healthcare, get a roof over their head or suffering from the impact of war.

That's why I'm standing for TUSC – for a genuine working-class, socialist alternative.

I’M a retired Electrical Engineer, with a long career in British industrial companies.

I was born in North-East Bristol and live here now.

I’m standing for parliament not because I want a second home in London paid by someone else, but because I’m appalled at our non-functioning political system that has become remote and disconnected from ordinary people, run by an elite managerial class with their own agenda, who disrespect our own needs and cares.

I can list lots of things wrong with Broken Britain and so can you, but immigration is the big one because it causes so many other problems. Britain has always welcomed people from other lands, races, and cultures and has benefitted from that over the centuries.

But over one million immigrants arrived here last year and another million and more will come this year. Where will they live? The government hasn’t built enough new houses for them (rented housing is disappearing fast) or hired enough new doctors or dentists.

Where will they get health care – and where will you?

It cannot go on. Annual immigration must be cut down from a million to a few thousand and only Reform UK do this, because all the other parties want it to continue.

Taxation and energy prices are far too high already and will get higher under Labour. Net Zero madness is ruining Britain. You know reform is needed – vote for it. Vote Reform UK.

DO you feel as a country we’ve been governed poorly by both Tories and Labour? You’re not alone! The Social Democratic Party offers the electorate an alternative to this failed duopoly. We’re a working-class, traditionalist party – and we represent you, the forgotten majority.

The past 40 years of neoliberal economics has delivered us an economy with flatlined growth and productivity. We’ve become indifferent to our country’s growing inequality and decline.

One of the clearest signs of this is the Housing Crisis, which both parties have been equally complicit in creating. We simply don’t have enough social and private housing stock for our growing population. As a result, high mortgages and rents harshly burden ordinary hardworking families.

As a communitarian party, we will not stand for this. The SDP would undertake large-scale government-led housebuilding, as well as bringing an end to mass migration, back down to 50,000 people per year.

This is just one example of where the SDP will advocate for a confident state that intervenes to get our country back on the right track.

Another sign of decline is the increased sense of disunity and antisocial behaviour. We desperately need to revive our sense of togetherness and patriotism. But there are those in other parties who continually push divisive identity politics.

The SDP believes in supporting a virtue-led cultural renewal, which builds stronger families, stable communities and ultimately a happier society.

We’re standing 122 candidates at this election, so vote for us and join us: www.sdp.org.uk.

Rose Hulse (Conservative)

Dan Smart (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)

Anthony New (Reform UK)

Tommy Trueman (Social Democratic Party)

GENERAL ELECTION - Election candidates Thornbury & Yate

MY name is Andy Banwell, and I am honoured to stand as the Reform UK candidate for Thornbury and Yate. With a career spanning various roles including bus driver, lorry driver, and IT engineer, I’ve gained a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by everyday working people.

As a long-serving parish councillor for Dyrham and Hinton Parish Council, I’ve been committed to serving our local community, working tirelessly to address issues that matter to residents. My dedication to public service is rooted in my belief that effective representation starts with listening to the needs and concerns of the community.

If elected, my priorities will focus on strengthening our local economy, enhancing public services, and ensuring a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. I am passionate about supporting local businesses, improving transportation infrastructure, and ensuring access to high-quality healthcare and education.

I also believe in the importance of preserving our beautiful countryside and promoting sustainable development that respects our environment. As a family man with two grown-up daughters and three grandchildren, I am committed to building a future that provides opportunities and security for all generations.

I am determined to bring a fresh, common-sense approach to politics, advocating for policies that are practical, fair, and focused on improving the quality of life for everyone in Thornbury and Yate. I look forward to the opportunity to represent you and work together to make our community an even better place to live.

Thank you for your support.

I HAVE lived in South Gloucestershire all my life. I grew up here, I am raising my own family here, and I want to make sure we keep delivering for our community.

We’ve got a lot done in the last few years, but I know there is more to do. Together, we managed to defeat the unsustainable proposals to build thousands of houses at Chipping Sodbury and Buckover, but now we need to fight the plans to overdevelop our towns and villages, and make sure Bristol takes a fair share of housing, too.

We are opening a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities school, and now we need to refurbish rural schools and ensure we have strong mental health support in local schools.

We’ve made progress on transport, introducing half hourly train services, opening the park and ride, and scrapping the Severn Bridge Tolls. Now we need to go further, by reopening Charfield Station and securing better bus services.

We supported businesses through Covid, but now we need to open ‘Banking Hubs’ and defeat the Council’s plans to introduce car parking charges.

We are tackling crime. There are over 500 extra police officers in Avon and Somerset, but I am fighting to see more of them on the beat in South Gloucestershire.

On Health, we have secured the money to rebuild Thornbury Health Centre, and expanded services at Yate MIU. Now I want to see more services delivered at Frenchay, and crucially, get the rebuild of Thornbury Health Centre done.

Andy Banwell (Reform UK)

Luke Hall (Conservative)

WE’VE just had the hottest month since records began, and climate change is the biggest challenge facing humankind – but to read the news you’d sometimes be hard pressed to know there was a problem. I feel let down by the main political parties and their failure to address this issue, which is the main reason I’m standing for the Green Party in this election.

The Greens are passionate about protecting more than just our environment. We are focussed on delivering a fairer deal for everyone in society. We want to restore the health of the NHS, ensure affordable, quality housing is built in the right places and to enable everyone to have a decent quality of life.

I’ve grown up near Thornbury and raised my family here. I work in a local school and also as a gardener, and I volunteer with Homestart, helping families with young children. This gives me a wealth of experience of some of the challenges we all face. I’m already working hard in public service and as a volunteer to help others, and I’m ready to take this further as your member of Parliament.

We are so lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country, where we have a great opportunity to make things even better. I’m ready to serve the people of Thornbury and Yate and help your voice get heard where it matters. For real hope and real change, vote Green.

Read more about the Green Party in our manifesto: greenparty. org.uk/about/our-manifesto

THE country is looking for change – to move forward after fourteen years of division, low growth, high prices, high taxes and poor public services.

To take just one example, people are waiting too long for NHS treatment, while the current government is content to blame doctors and nurses for delays, rather than providing the support that the healthcare system needs and which the British public have a right to expect.

Labour is offering a positive choice – a choice of economic competence, shorter NHS waiting times, green energy, investment in schools and better policing. This is the change that the country needs.

Thornbury and Yate is a fantastic community, and somewhere personally important to me. My wife’s side of the family is based just outside Thornbury, and this is why we moved to the West of England when our first daughter was born, 17 years ago. We’d never leave now.

Thornbury & Yate needs a parliamentary champion who will contribute to this positive vision, and who will stand up for the local area. Yate and Thornbury can be vibrant, bustling town centres that are simple to travel to and full of life, but sadly previous politicians have not stood up for the things that matter to the local area, while our town centres have fallen behind. Re-opening Thornbury High Street as a popular destination has to be the first step.

We can change this. Labour can change this.

I hope you choose Labour.

WHATEVER your political views I think we can all agree something has to change.

We can’t carry on with an NHS that can’t treat people in A&E for 24 hours or offer doctors’ appointments for weeks.

We can’t leave family carers to cope with a care system that doesn’t work for them.

We can’t keep dumping sewage into our rivers and we can’t afford high food and energy bills.

I’ve lived in this community for 25 years, and I have fought against the impact of government policy on our local towns and villages.

I am standing to be your MP because, alongside other Lib Dem MPs, I want to take that fight to Parliament.

For example, the Liberal Democrats have costed plans to invest in 8,000 more GPs and to fine the water companies for sewage discharges.

I’ve been a councillor here for 17 years and am now Council Leader. I’ve introduced measures to tackle the changing climate and fought to protect our beautiful countryside. I’ve helped businesses get support and been there for residents when times have been tough. I’ve helped many of you over the years. I know I can make an even bigger difference as your MP.

The national polls show Labour in the lead. Here in this seat the situation is different. Labour have never won this seat, and it’s a close race between myself and the Conservatives. So if you think it’s time for a fresh start, please support me on July 4.

Alexandra Jenner-Fust (Green)

Claire Young (Liberal Democrats)

Rob Logan (Labour)

Mangotsfield's big day in pictures

Photographer Tony Bundy captured some

Mangotsfield Ukulele Jam

Emersons Green Deputy Mayor Bobbie Sunderland opens the festival with Ross Janes from the committee.

A young member of V Dance Academy performs in the arena

A cub races to take part in the parade

Headline band The Soul Destroyers

Festival-goers soaking up the atmosphere

The 67th Kingswood/1st Mangotsfield beavers in the parade

Teachers climb for cancer charity

TEACHERS from Mangotsfield School are climbing three mountains in a day to help a charity that has supported a Downend teenager with cancer.

Thomas Humphries is 15, and is halfway through two years of intensive treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, after being diagnosed last summer.

During his treatment the Downend School pupil had to spend time in isolation. To help him stay in contact with his friends, charity Molly Ollys gave him a PlayStation 5, new handsets and FIFA game so he could play online with them.

His mum Shelley said: “Thomas is a crazy football fan and loves physically playing but his illness has meant that he is not able to do this.

“This has been so important in allowing him to reconnect with his friends and also gives him something to focus on when he is at home on his own.

“It has improved his mental health and allows him to feel that he is still part of his friends’ lives,

even if he can’t be with them.”

Shelley is head of geography at Mangotsfield School and to say thank you to the charity, 16 members of staff are scaling the Welsh peaks of Snowdon, Cadair Idris and Pen y Fan.

The mountains are between 880m (2,887ft) and 1,080m (3,543ft) tall and 115 miles apart.

The challenge has been organised by Mangotsfield’s assistant head and PE teacher

Gareth John, Shelley’s colleague of 14 years.

He said the team was aiming to complete the challenge within 12 to 18 hours, with the weather and different fitness levels the main concerns.

But he said: “It will never be far from our minds why we are doing this. We are very aware of the challenging times that Shelley and the family have gone through.”

Recruitment of Assistant Clerk

Emersons Green Town Council

Salary Scale: NJC SCP 18 – 23 (currently £29,269 to £32,076 p/a inclusive pro-rata). (depending on experience and qualifications, pay award pending), 16-20 hours / week.

Plus – Local Government Pension Scheme, Relocation Package and Free Parking.

Emersons Green Town Council is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, proactive part time (16 – 20 hours / week) Assistant Clerk to join a small team of staff at a really forward thinking, aspirational local Council. The Assistant Clerk will have responsibility for ensuring that the financial matters of the Council are correctly managed as well as be involved in the day-to-day activities of the Council. Flexible working is in operation. Days and times of work are negotiable by agreement.

The Council has a Strategic Plan which was originally adopted in 2021.

The Town Council has met a number of its original aims and objectives and continues, as a part of its vision for the Town, to drive an ambitious programme of growth, with aspirations to ensure the very best services and facilities are provided for its residents and visitors. There are also a number of projects which the Council wishes to undertake and complete as soon as possible.

The Assistant Clerk will have a key role in supporting and assisting with delivering these aims and objectives. The post holder will be a key component in ensuring that this aspirational Council meets its stated aims and objectives within the Town.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have relevant experience – a track record of managing budgets and financial matters, service achievement and innovation, as well as be motivated, community focused, and possess sound IT, communication, and organisational skills.

Shelley said Thomas’s diagnosis was “devastating” for her and husband Ben, but his cancer is the most treatable and he has been given a “99% chance of survival”.

She said: “For the school to do something like this is incredible. I think Molly Ollys is an amazing charity and we’ve already done loads of fundraising for it as a family.”

Warwickshire-based Molly Ollys was set up in 2011 by Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw after their eight-year-old daughter Molly died from a rare kidney cancer.

It fulfils wishes, donates toys and books, and funds hospital consultants: it has so far raised more than £4 million and supported more than 16,000 children.

The Mangotsfield School team had raised more than £3,000 as the Voice went to print, ahead of their challenge on June 22.

People can donate via the Justgiving page at tinyurl.com/ bdh53v9n.

Candidates should ideally have a knowledge of local government but this is not essential. Occasional attendance at evening meetings and weekend events may be required, for which time off in lieu will be granted.

Emersons Green Town Council is committed to Equality of Opportunity and actively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. A relocation package will be negotiated for the right candidate.

This process is being managed by a third party acting for the Town Council. For an informal discussion and to access the Recruitment Pack then please call Mr Reg Williams on 07494 760535.

• The closing date for the receipt of applications is 12 Noon on Friday 12th July 2024.

• Formal interviews will take place in Emersons Green on Friday 26th July 2024.

• It is hoped the new Assistant Clerk will commence their role around Tuesday 27th August 2024.

n Thomas Humphries and mum Shelley

Unique music festival returns for fourth year

A FESTIVAL which brings top class professional musicians and community music workshops together in an Emersons Green garden is back for its fourth year.

Ham Farm Festival is a charity set up by professional classical musicians Emily Andrews and Francisco Correa.

They host the festival in their own garden in Emersons Green Lane.

All events happen outside under a large marquee, to keep the rain at bay – but when the sun shines people can have picnics in the farm's orchard or by the pond.

This year the festival will run from July 25-28.

Emily said: "Our concerts cover many genres, but primarily classical, folk, Latin-American and jazz.

"Our evenings are deliberately double-bills across genres, encouraging people to discover something new as well as attend genres they know they like.

"We select artists that we – as professional musicians ourselves – think have something special, and are doing something totally

unique, either by crossing over into drama or cabaret, or with their own material."

This year's headline acts are The Furrow Collective, CarmenCo and Elkin Robinson – all of whom, Emily says, are "highly in demand across many countries".

During the day three workshops will be held, which cost £5 each and provide the chance to take part in a children's choir, play the ukulele and explore Caribbean rhythms.

There are three free drop-in concerts, featuring a brass band, guitar orchestra, and rock and pop school, for people who want to come and enjoy the gardens and beautiful music informally.

There is also a children's concert and one for people with autism or special needs and their families: tickets to both are sold on a 'pay what you can' basis.

Emily and Francisco employ local teenagers on paid work experience to deliver flyers,

steward and serve at the bar, as well as student sound engineers, supervised by a professional, working on the concerts.

A bar selling drinks and ice creams will be open for every concert, including daytimes, and a single vendor will sell home-made food in the interval between the two concerts.

Emily said: "People are also welcome to bring drinks and food with them, as long as they take away all rubbish.

"We try hard to make our festival affordable for everyone, and by allowing in picnics and drinks it's really inclusive. Of course we like people to buy drinks, because it supports the festival, but it's not compulsory!"

The festival is supported by Emersons Green Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council, as well as Cleve Chiropractic.

Emily said: "They regularly fix our wrists and backs, keeping us in top shape for performing, so we know them well."

Downend and Blackhorse Schools are also helping by lending chairs, tables and the stage.

Furrow Collective

Elkin Robinson

CarmenCo

Lady Nade at last year's festival

On their marks ...

CHILDREN at Mangotsfield C of E Primary School pushed themselves to the limit to find out who could run the fastest and jump or throw the furthest at their annual sports days.

Pupils dressed in their house colours and took part in a range of athletics events, cheered on by classmates and parents who were invited in for the sports days in late May.

School curriculum lead Becky Hart said: “Our Year 6 Sports Leaders supported younger children to take part in activities, demonstrating the skills needed and cheering the teams on.

“We were lucky to have such lovely weather each day and were very grateful for the wonderful support our parent community gave us.

“The children showed our school BRAVE values exceptionally: aspiring to new heights, showing resilience when activities challenged them and supporting their team by cheering.

“Well done Team Mango!”

Will you help check our rivers?

PEOPLE are being asked to help check the health of the Folly Brook, Feltham Brook and other waterways in a ‘citizen science’ project.

Charity Bristol Avon Rivers Trust runs the annual RiverBlitz every summer, and invites residents to help sample water in local rivers, streams, and ditches to find out pollution levels.

People can apply for a free water testing kit, including a sampling tube and testing paper to collect data on nutrient pollution levels. Samples can be taken between July 5 and 12 for the project.

Anyone who would like to take part should sign up before July 1 on BART’s website at tinyurl.com/66zfue89.

Electricity poles get a new life

OLD electricity poles on Lyde Green Common have been turned into homes for birds and bats.

South Gloucestershire Council’s Common Connections team asked National Grid contractor Hi-Line if the four wooden poles could be reused rather than chopped down. The company agreed and put a new kestrel box and a little owl box on two separate poles, adding four bat boxes and five boxes for smaller birds to the remaining two poles.

A council spokesperson said: “It made sense that rather than being cut down and thrown away, the poles could be usefully repurposed.”

Grazing plan for Siston Common

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is working on a plan to bring grazing animals back to Siston Common.

The council’s Common Connections team has told the parish council a planning application for fencing, gates, and infrastructure needed is being prepared, after a consultation showed support. However, even if permission is given, an application must be made to the government for permission to carry out works on common land.

Boys ready to race on sports day

Changes to dentist website criticised

CHANGES to the website showing which dentists have places available for NHS patients have been criticised by the leader of the profession’s representative body.

The Voice reported earlier this year that people in the Emersons Green area faced a 32-mile trip, to Westbury in Wiltshire, to reach the nearest dentist accepting new adult NHS patients.

For children aged 17 and under, the nearest practice open to new NHS patients on the NHS Find a Dentist website was almost nine miles away, in Bath. Another seven dentists within five miles said they would treat NHS patients given a referral for specialist dental care.

Since then the website has changed

the way it lists dental practices: instead of stating whether they are accepting patients or not, it says “when availability allows, this dentist accepts new NHS patients”.

The change means that, as of June 19, nine practices within five miles the middle of Emersons Green were listed as accepting NHS patients subject to availability, the nearest in Staple Hill.

But the site no longer indicates whether any places are actually available at the time patients search it.

The Voice asked NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care why the change was made, and whether there is any way for patients to find out which practices are taking on NHS patients other than contacting each practice individually.

We also asked if practices were still reporting, to either NHS England or their local integrated care board, when they have places available for new NHS patients.

In response the DHSC said: “The website was updated in April to make it easier for members of the public to identify practices that might be able to accept new NHS patients.”

However the department did not say whether practices were still reporting whether they had NHS places available, even though it said the website provided “operational information at the current point in time to show where an individual

can find an NHS dentist”.

The changes were made after the announcement of a ‘recovery plan’ aimed at increasing access and funding millions of extra appointments and treatments nationally, which included an announcement by ministers that 500 more practices were taking on new NHS patients.

But the changes were criticised by the chair of the British Dental Association, Eddie Crouch, who said: “They like to talk about how 500 more practices are now taking on new NHS patients.

“They are sidestepping the fact that they’ve just changed the definition of access from a simple ‘yes’ or a ‘no’, to taking on new patients ‘when capacity allows’.”

Writing in a blog reflecting that dentistry was now “at the forefront of voter concerns”, he said: “We’ve called on all parties to offer real urgency and ambition to save the service and put a halt to widening inequalities.”

Earlier this year the NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, which is responsible for NHS services in the area, said access to NHS dentistry in the area was “challenging”.

The ICB said people with an urgent dental need could call 111 to access one of 64 appointments available each week.

Chicken Dansak, Lamb Dansak, Chicken Rogan Josh, Lamb Rogan Josh

Side Dish: Bombay Aloo, Sag Aloo, Mushroom Bhaji, Cauliflower Bhaji, Vegetable Curry

Rice or Naan: Pilau Rice, Boiled Rice, Plain Naan, Garlic Naan, Peshwari Naan

Side Dish: Bombay Aloo, Sag Aloo, Mushroom Bhaji, Cauliflower Bhaji, Vegetable Curry

Rice or Naan: Choose Pilau Rice, Boiled Rice, Plain Naan or Garlic Naan (TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY)

Starter: Onion Bhaji, Chicken Kebab or any Samosa or Chicken Tikka Starter

Main Course: Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma, Lamb Korma, Chicken Bhuna, Lamb Bhuna, Chicken Patiya, Lamb Pitiya, Chicken Dopiaza, Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi, Lamb Jalfrezi,

Starter: Onion Bhaji, Chicken Kebab or any

Samosa, Chicken Tikka Starter

Main Course: Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Korma, Lamb Korma, Chicken Bhuna, Lamb Bhuna, Chicken Patiya, Lamb Pitiya, Chicken Dopiaza, Lamb Dupiaza, Chicken Tikka Jalfrezi, Lamb Jalfrezi, Chicken Dansak, Lamb Dansak, Chicken Rogan Josh, Lamb Rogan Josh

Dinosaur garden launched

A VANDAL attack and stormy weather couldn’t stop the launch of Emersons Green’s dinosaur garden.

The Friends of Emersons Green Park started building a living willow dinosaur sculpture, named Dinomite, next to the park’s willow domes in February.

Modelled on a saltasaurus, one of the titanosaurs that roamed the Earth 100 million years ago, the sculpture has been a talking point for visitors to the park, and its opening marked the start of this year’s Earthfest celebration of nature.

Before the opening could take place the dinosaur’s original head was broken off and vanished, and had to be remade in time for the launch event on May 25, by which time the willow had started to take root, with leaves breaking out on the sculpture.

Earthfest lead organiser Chris Sunderland said: “On a wet day, sheltering in tents from the rain, around 50 people gathered to celebrate the new dinosaur garden in

“Spirits were not dampened by the weather, as young and old set to making little dinosaurs out of willow and casting dinosaur footprints in plaster of Paris.”

The opening event featured a story called ‘The Earth and Us’, written by Chris and told with the help of storyteller Michael Loader and musician Fiona Barrow.

Chris said: “It starts when all the Earth was just rocks and water, takes us through the origins of life as tiny bacteria and, of course, leads to dinosaurs, and finally humans.”

Chris said the event was a “fitting

opening” to this year’s Earthfest, which was founded in 2021 as the Three Greens Festival and is organised by the Friends.

This year it has expanded from a one-day event in the park to a series of activities over four weeks, which culminated in a picnic in the park on June 22.

Chris said the original dinosaur head has mysteriously reappeared, having recently been found lying by the dinosaur.

Dinosaurs also feature in the ‘Earth Trail’ which was launched in the park in June, with QR codes placed on six posts at various locations for visitors to scan and listen to recordings telling the history of the planet.

Emersons Green Park.

Willow dinosaurs made at the launch event

Taxi crisis prompts wheelchair rethink

SOUTH Gloucestershire is at risk of running out of taxis – and councillors are so worried, they could scrap a planned rule that every one must be made accessible for wheelchairs.

The number of hackney carriages, which can be flagged down by passengers on the street, has plummeted from 300 in 2016 to 81 this year.

Seven years ago, the council decided all taxis must be wheelchair accessible. But the deadline for compliance has been pushed back twice and the rule has never come into force: only 25 of the current fleet have the necessary ramps and facilities.

Now councillors have agreed to delay the deadline again, until June next year, while officers review the authority’s licensing policy and consult the public.

The biggest concern is the huge cost of converting a vehicle, at a time when many drivers have already given up on the trade.

A report to the council's regulatory committee in May said that, should the decline in the number of hackney cabs continue, the district "runs a risk of having no, or so few, Hackney Carriage taxi vehicles that any policy would be ineffective and be of detriment to all members of the public".

The total number of licensed vehicles has increased, from 450 in 2016 to more than 3,000 last year. But this includes a huge rise in private hire vehicles, which have to be prebooked, including via apps like Uber.

The report said most wheelchairaccessible vehicles currently available are diesel powered, and there is "genuine concern" drivers will be required to buy hybrid or electric vehicles if the council’s goal is for all licensed vehicles to be electric by 2030.

The report said wheelchair-accessible electric vehicles are "currently prohibitively expensive", and the council could not force private hire vehicles to be accessible.

Imploring councillors not to scrap the policy, David Redgewell, of South Gloucestershire Disabilities Equalities Network, told the meeting in May: “We’re very concerned about the level of wheelchair accessible taxis in the district. We only have 25 to cover an area from Filton right up to

Wickwar, Charfield and the villages.

“It’s very difficult to get a wheelchair taxi in South Gloucestershire.

“We would urge you not to go backwards.”

Council service director for place Andrew Birch said a "full-scale review of the whole taxi policy", including a 12-week public consultation, would happen this year.

Mr Birch said the number of wheelchairaccessible vehicles had fallen from 31 in 2016 to 25 now, prices were rising and moving from a saloon car to a wheelchair-accessible vehicle costs drivers "tens of thousands of pounds extra".

Mike Drew (Lib Dem, Yate North) said: “Ideally any disabled person should be able to hail down any passing taxi and make use of it."

But he said the "very difficult situation" meant councillors had been weighing idealism against practicality.

Keith Cranney (Con, Stoke Gifford) said there was not a "gigantic" number of people wanting to take a wheelchair into a taxi.

He said: "How can you just hail a taxi and expect them to have a wheelchair ramp and hoist and everything else on board? It comes at a great cost."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

New hydrogen storage tank for IAAPS

PLANS for a new tank to store liquid hydrogen at an engineering research and innovation centre in Emersons Green have been unveiled.

The new cryogenic tank at IAAPS on the Bristol & Bath Science Park would be able to store 7,000 litres or 490kg of liquid hydrogen, to be used in the centre’s research and development of new ways of powering vehicles, ships and aircraft.

Bath University, which owns IAAPS, has applied for planning permission for the new tank, which would store the fuel at an extremely low temperature: hydrogen condenses at -253C, just over 20 degrees above ‘absolute zero’ or 0 Kelvin.

The £70 million research centre produces its own ‘green’ hydrogen on site, using electricity to separate it from oxygen in water, and already has one storage tank.

Architects DKA said there was a need to expand the centre’s infrastructure to accommodate the work on new technologies being carried out.

They said the tank would be surrounded by a 3m (9ft 10in) tall protective fire wall and a 22m (72ft) tall venting flue to take any flammable hydrogen vapour away from the existing building’s ventilation systems.

Building the tank’s concrete base will require some young trees and shrubs

How the new tank, circled, and flue will appear next to the IAAPS building

previously planted as part of the centre’s landscaping to be transplanted elsewhere on the site.

Agents Jones Lang LaSalle said the 490kg capacity of the tank was well below the twotonne threshold requiring special hazardous substance consent.

They told South Gloucestershire Council: “The development proposals for the liquid hydrogen storage tank will expand the existing research, innovation and business service capabilities at IAAPS and specifically develop sustainable propulsion technologies to aerospace and other industries,

accelerating net zero emissions targets.”

The agents said funding for the new tank has been secured through the West of England Combined Authority’s Green Recovery Fund to provide the power needed for “zero emission” advanced propulsion technologies, especially “net zero flight”.

The IAAPS application includes a letter of support from Tim Hope of aerospace engineering firm GKN, who is in charge of a £54m programme aiming to “decarbonise the aviation sector” by developing a liquid hydrogen propulsion system for aircraft.

He said: “Our organisation intends to use the proposed IAAPS hydrogen storage to undertake validation and testing of a variety of complex hydrogen aircraft propulsion systems for several years.

“This proposal will undoubtedly accelerate not just progress towards IAAPS’ net zero targets but IAAPS’ capability in working with organisations such as GKN to deliver the next generation of innovative sustainable powertrain technologies.

“This will have far-reaching impact in reducing the global reliance on carbon in the aerospace propulsion sector and beyond to other sectors.”

The plans can be viewed on the council’s planning website by searching for application P24/01288/F.

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Adam completes month of runs for Tyler

A FRIEND of a former Mangotsfield School pupil who was killed in a lorry crash has completed a month-long fundraising challenge.

Adam Young pledged to run 5k every day in May in memory of Tyler Carley, who died aged 20 in December when the lorry he was a passenger in overturned on the Avon Ring Road near Mangotsfield.

Adam, a fellow Bristol Rovers fan who got to know Tyler and his dad Mark from attending away games with them, embarked on the challenge because he was abroad on the day when other friends and relatives of Tyler took part in the Great Bristol 10k to raise money for the foundation set up in his memory.

Adam, who grew up in Downend and is now living in Chipping Sodbury, ran a total of 155km over the course of the month, including several runs during a trip to Lanzarote.

He did the other runs around Pucklechurch, Yate and Sodbury, finishing on Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club's parkrun 5k route.

Adam was running for a total of 12 hours 15 minutes and 51 seconds and, as the Voice went to print, had raised more than £1,300 on his JustGiving page, which is still open for donations at tinyurl.com/dffmwdbz.

Adam, who works at Bristol Airport, said: "It was a really enjoyable experience, the support I received from people was beyond what I imagined and I am very grateful for that.

"To smash my fundraising

target was incredible, and I can’t thank people enough for donating.

"The toughest part of the month was running after my shifts – my energy was always low, so I really had to dig deep to get those runs done.

"Having my friends and family at the finish line for my final run was a very nice feeling and an emotional moment. I haven’t run since!"

Tyler's dad Mark, mum Gemma and siblings Kylan, Skye and Ronni-Irene founded The Road Forward – Tyler Carley Foundation to support road accident victims' families in the light of their own experience.

Its initial fundraising will go to two charities which helped the family in the aftermath of Tyler's death: SCARD (Support & Care After Road Death & Injury), which provides a helpline, counselling and other support for families affected by road deaths and serious injuries, and 2Wish, which supports the families of children and young people who have passed away.

Among those who ran in the 10k was Tyler's aunt Abbie Dickinson, who works at Emersons Green Village Hall.

Abbie said taking part in the event was "hard but truly special".

She said: "Lots of Tyler's loved ones were all together, running to raise money for The Road Forward – Tyler Carley Foundation.

"I managed to complete the 10k in 59 minutes, which was a personal best for me.

Craig Anthonys

HAIR DESIGNERS

Here at

can

Anthonys

To arrange a no obligation consultation

you to everyone who sponsored me and to my Manager Nikki Frost at Emersons Green Village Hall for her support."

On July 7 Tyler’s mum Gemma, her family and friends will be climbing Welsh mountain Pen y Fan to raise money for 2wish.

More details of fundraising

activity can be found at the Road Forward – Tyler Carley Foundation Facebook page.

*A 37-year-old man arrested in connection with Tyler's death was later released under investigation. Police say their enquiries into the circumstances of the collision are ongoing.

"Thank

Adam Young after one of his runs

Abbie Dickinson after finishing the 10k

A TEENAGER from Emersons Green has created an audio tour to help people discover more about the fascinating places on their doorsteps.

Lenni Langreiter has created the Emersons Green Audio Tour as part of his work towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

With help from dad Marcus and support from local historians, South Gloucestershire Council, Emersons Green Town Council and Staple Hill & Mangotsfield Parish Council, Lenni has created a 3.7-mile route with 14 points of local interest, from relics of the area’s mining and chocolate production heritage to giant earth sculptures.

The 15-year-old Winterbourne Academy student devised the free guided audio tour to give families an activity over the summer, providing both exercise and a chance to learn something more about the places they pass every day.

Starting outside Emersons Green Library, the 90-minute circular route is brought alive through commentary and interviews that people can hear

Lenni launches free family audio tour

by scanning QR codes with a smartphone.

The codes can be found on green and orange signs placed along the walking route, which covers Emersons Green Park, Mangotsfield, Rodway Common, Mangotsfield Station, Pomphrey Hill, The Dramway and cycle path.

The audio will be accessible between July 1 and September 30.

Lenni said: “It’s my second year of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

“It was a challenge to find a six-month volunteering placement, so with the support of Emersons Green Town Council and local history groups, we created our own unique project.

“I’m so grateful for everyone’s help.”

Maps of the route and more information can be found online at emersonsgreenaudiotour.com.

Lenni and his family have funded the project, and have set up an online donation

1,100 hours of service

DOWNEND School students put in more than 1,100 hours of voluntary service to the community as part of an awards scheme.

Nearly 100 pupils in Years 9 and 10 have spent the last six months working towards their bronze or silver Duke of Edinburgh awards.

To achieve the award they have to develop a new skill or interest, improve their fitness, complete an overnight expedition and contribute to their community by volunteering.

Downend students have volunteered at Rainbow or Beaver Scout meetings, coached younger children in sports and carried out charity work, putting in a total of 1,105 hours.

The final challenge is an overnight expedition, and pupils went on practice runs during the recent half-term holiday to hone their navigational, teamwork and survival skills ahead of the assessed expeditions in July.

School D of E manager and maths teacher Chris Ashworth said: "It’s great to see so many students build confidence, self-belief and resilience through the programme. The skills and experiences such as problem solving, presentation and communication skills are not only fun but can also help open doors to colleges, universities, and employers in the future."

The school is appealing for donations of rucksacks and walking boots to help more students get involved next year.

page where any walkers or sponsors who would like to help towards the costs can make a contribution.

Donations received will contribute to the production

costs and a camp in Kenya which Lenni will attend next year as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award.

The Gofundme site can be found at tinyurl.com/bde4j6r5.

n Downend students on their practice expedition in May

Lenni Langreiter with one of his audio tour posters

July 6

n FRIENDS OF PAGE PARK

25TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY in the Park, 11am-5pm, wit music on the bandstand and food stalls. More information from friendsofpageparkbs16@gmail. com. Please leave your car at home and walk if you can.

July 9

n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

SOCIETY practice class, the Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm: create an allgreen pedestal. Same venue and time on July 23, demonstrator Caroline Cooper presents ‘The Language of Flowers’. Visitors £5. More information from Kate Bryant on 0777 353 7148 or katebryant186@gmail.com.

July 12

n THE FILTONES CHOIR

ANNUAL CHARITY CONCERT in aid of charity Jessie May, St Teresa’s Church, Gloucester Road North, 7.30pm. Tickets £10 from choir members or at the door (cash or cheques only). More information from 07870 984760.

July 13

n FRENCHAY FLOWER SHOW on Frenchay Common. Stalls and attractions open from noon-6pm, marquee and exhibits open from 1.30pm. Entertainment, classic cars and cream teas. Entries to be submitted by July 10. For more details visit www. frenchayflowershow.com. Entry £4 adults, accompanied under16s free. Tickets on the gate or from tinyurl.com/yxu6cp63.

July 20

n LYDE GREEN SUMMER SIZZLER, Lyde Green Community Centre and School Square, Lyde Green, 11am4pm. Live music and performances, dog show, miniature ponies, games, rides, activities, stalls, food and licensed bar.

July 25-28

n HAM FARM FESTIVAL.

World-class double-bill evening concerts, plus daytimes packed full of workshops for all ages, free daytime concerts, children’s concerts and an autism/SEND specialist concert, all in an intimate garden setting in Emersons Green. Tickets and more information from www. hamfarmfestival.com.

REGULAR EVENTS

Monday

n PUCKLECHURCH SHORT MAT

BOWLS CLUB Meet every Monday, Wednesday evening 7.30 - 10.00 and Wednesday 3.15pm-6pm, Sunday 2.30 - 5.00. Refreshments inc. All levels really Welcome. Ring John 0117 9372873

Tuesday

n RIDGEWAY BADMINTON CLUB meets every Tuesday Evening from 8-10pm at Downend Sports Centre for informal badminton doubles/ singles matches between adults of all ages. First visit free. More info from Graham on 07968 050320.

n PUCKLECHURCH FOLK

DANCING CLUB Pucklechurch Community Hall.Abson Road every other Tuesday from 7.30 to 10.15p.m. All welcome either with

a partner or solo. Enjoy an evening with us. Call Sue on 07742114566 or Linda on 0784324014.

Wednesday

n THE WOMEN’S SECTION OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 2pm at the old school hall now known as the YOU Foundation by the car park in Page Road Staple Hill. Speakers, quiz’s and handy craft afternoon finish’s with tea. If you are interested please telephone Madeleine Bills Secretary. 0117 9560805.

n WEDNESDAY CAFE FOR SENIORS, at Badminton Road Methodist Church (BS16 6NU) every Wednesday 10am to 12 noon. All Welcome – just come along – make new friends over a cuppa and cake. Information: 0117 239 5984

n MANGO JAMS PARENT/CARER AND TODDLER GROUP meets every Wednesday at Lyde Green community centre, 9.15am to 11.15am. Warm & friendly group run by volunteers from St James Church.

n WARMLEY JAZZ CLUB, every Wednesday £5 on the door. Cadbury Heath Social Club. Doors open 7.30pm. More details at warmleyjazz.co.uk.

toddler group meets at Emersons Green Village Hall on term-time Friday mornings, 10-11.30am. All welcome. For more details email church.egbc@outlook.com.

n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH regular coffee mornings, held on the first Thursday of the month, 10.30am-noon at the church in Cossham Street. Coffee, cake and a chat.

n LATER LIVE MUSIC, Resound church, Blackhorse Road, Mangotsfield. Every second Friday monthly, except August & December, 8-10pm, £2.50. More details at facebook.com/ lateratresound.

Saturday

n STAPLE HILL METHODIST CHURCH Coffee mornings in our beautiful building every Saturday 10.00-12.00 in aid of church funds or charities. Enjoy Fairtrade coffee, tea and cake, and stalls.

Sunday

n BADMINTON ROAD

METHODIST CHURCH In-person Sunday worship continues weekly at 10.30am, all are welcome. For information contact: Revd Samuel Uwimana: 0117 239 5984 or www. badmintonroadmethodist.org.uk

n FRENCHAY FOLK DANCE CLUB meets alternate Wednesdays, English and American folk dancing to live music, 7.45-10.15pm, Frenchay Village Hall. New dancers always welcome. More details at www.frenchayfdc.co.uk or email FFDCSecretary@gmail.com.

Thursday

n NEXT DOOR BOOKS welcomes new members. Book club meets on the last Thursday of the month at 11am, depending on numbers. Normally meets at Emersons Green library, email jessica.callaway@ hotmail.co.uk.

n COFFEE, CAKE AND COMMUNITY MORNING at Emersons Green Village Hall, 11am1pm. Free tea, coffee and cake - all welcome. Supported by Emersons Green Town Council.

n WALKING WITH FRIENDS, free group walks at a gentle pace around Siston Commons. Start and finish at Kingsmeadow@ Madeforever Community Centre, Fisher Road, BS15 4RQ, 1-2pm. For more details email kingsmeadowmade4ever.org.uk or call 0117 301 8739

Friday

n PAGE PARK UKULELE CLUB, Bean Tree café, Fridays at 1pm. All abilities welcomed. Places £4 each. For further details call or text ‘Ukulele’ to Ben on 07910 668258. n RAINBOW TOTS parent and

n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN UNITED REFORMED CHURCH hold regular weekly Sunday morning worship at Cossham Street. Services start at 10.30 a.m.with different speakers each week. New members very welcome. For more details please contact Peter Redding (Ch.Sec.) on 0117 9657075.

n STAPLE HILL METHODIST CHURCH, High Street BS16 5HQ Sunday services 10.30am + Sunday Club for ages 5-17. Holy Communion 2nd Sunday of the month – all invited. Taizé worship 6.00pm 3rd Sunday of the month. Contact Rev Dr Aboseh Ngwana 07482 550888, Philippa Church Liaison at staplehillmethodist@ hotmail.co.uk or www. staplehillmethodist.com

n EMERSONS GREEN BAPTIST

CHURCH services are held every Sunday morning from 10.3011.30am at Emersons Green Village Hall, Emersons Way. We also hold regular craft services. Contact Simon on 07765 201435, visit www.emersonsgreenchurch.org or Facebook page for more details.

n LYDE GREEN LITTER PICKERS meet at 10.30am on the first Sunday of the month outside Lyde Green Community Centre, Thistle Close. Spend an hour litter picking to help make Lyde Green look more tidy and beautiful! See www. cleanupuk.org.uk/groups/lydegreen-litter-pickers for information.

Royal British Legion and Royal Observer Corps representatives raise their standards after the beacon is lit.

Beacon burns to remember D-Day

HUNDREDS of people attended events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.

Siston Parish Council said about 300 people attended the lighting of a commemorative beacon on Siston Common on the evening of June 6, the anniversary of the start of the Allied invasion of Normandy which hastened the end of the Second World War.

The event included songs from the 1940s sung a cappella by The Songsmiths Quartet and a bagpipe performance by James Meiklejohn.

A service by Rev Rosemary Radcliffe culminated in the beacon being lit simultaneously with more than 1,000 others across the UK, Channel Islands and Overseas Territories.

Council chairman Andrew

Stacey, who lit the beacon, said: "It was a great privilege for Siston Parish Council to host the lighting of the beacon ceremony in honour of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

"It was attended by around 300 residents and was a very emotive occasion.

"The parish council is very grateful to Ian Adams, who managed the organisation of the event and also to Reverend Rosemary who led the service, James Meiklejohn, the very talented piper and last but not least the amazing Songsmiths quartet, who ensured an electric atmosphere".

Three days later another crowd attended a service of commemoration in Page Park, which included wreath laying at the war memorial.

Right: Piper James Meiklejohn

The Songsmiths Quartet

BEECHMERE BELLES WI

HELLO from Beechmere Belles WI: hope your year has been wonderful so far.

It’s hard to believe that by the time you read this, the days will be getting shorter – even harder as our summer really hasn’t arrived yet (or, I should say, the warmer weather hasn’t).

Those who came along to our May meeting left knowing so many bat facts thanks to Stewart, Kiri and Rowan from Bristol Bat Rescue, who talked to us about these amazing mammals.

Our June meeting was equally interesting – the history of Concorde is so tied to Bristol and our speaker for the evening, Lindsey, was so knowledgeable.

We have lots more to look forward to in 2024, so if you would like to know more about our WI, please contact us via email at beechmerebelles@gmail.com or follow our Facebook page, which is Emersons Green & Lyde Green WI Beechmere Belles.

You can also come along as a guest for the evening: it’s free for your first visit and we promise you a warm welcome, as well as tea or coffee and cake!

We meet at Emersons Green Village Hall at 7.30pn on the fourth Thursday of each month, except December.

Bathing a problem? We

SHORTWOOD VILLAGE WI

FOR our June meeting we had a visit from Garry Bressington of the RNLI, who gave us a very informative talk about all the fantastic work they do to keep our coastlines safe.

He had inspiring stories about the volunteers, both men and women, who put their lives at risk on a daily basis.

The charity requires a massive amount of donations each year to operate, and both he and his wife have been presented with awards at the Palace for their untiring work for this charity.

Thankfully the weather was in our favour for our Cream Teas On The Lawn event. The charity chosen this year is World Cancer Research. This was well supported despite that fact that there was another big local event on the same day.

Disappointingly, we lost our skittles semi-final against a strong team from Rangeworthy WI, but we take comfort from the fact that we had never reached this stage in the past, so next year it could be the finals. Not sure if practising will help, we just need bigger balls!

We have arranged a trip to Kingswood Heritage Museum in July and they are kindly opening especially to give us a tour.

For our July meeting we have a visit from Michelle of Simpsons Law, who will tell us “how to protect your family”, and all that this involves.

We are a friendly bunch and give a warm welcome to new visitors, so just turn up for a complimentary visit to see what the WI has to offer.

If you think this may be of interest to you, we meet on the second Thursday evening of the month in the vestry of the chapel in Main Road, Shortwood.

Our next meeting is on July 11at 7.30 pm.

For more information or just a chat email us at millhousejoinery@ aol.com with the heading Shortwood Village WI.

Lynne Miller

n WHAT'S ON

COMMUNITY NEWS ADVERTISING FEATURE

and gentle exercises from 11am. No charge. www.keynshamdaa. co.uk, ksdaa22@gmail.com or 07392442966.

BRISTOL u3a

THIS month you’ll find u3a’s East & North East Bristol group at three events, starting with the Frenchay Flower Show on July 13.

n Longwell Green Orchestra

If you’re free on July 17, from 2.30pm onwards, we have an informal social at the Crafty Egg in Fishponds Road.

meet each Thursday at Longwell Green Community Centre, 7.30pm to 9.40pm. We have players of all abilities. Email Contact@ longwellgreenorchestra.org.uk or 07972 844073 beforehand to tell us what instrument and what level.

more unusual items. Every second Saturday (same as Keynsham Farmers Market), 10am–12pm. Website keynshamrepaircafe. wixsite.com/home.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Come and learn with us!

Sundays

We’re also at the Patchway Throwback Festival on July 20.

You can meet some existing members and have a chance to find out more about u3a, including what we’re up to in East & North-East Bristol.

n Keynsham Kings Flag American Football. Do you fancy trying out a new sport?

Don’t worry if you can’t make it, as we’ll have more drop-in events around the area in the future.

SOUTH Gloucestershire & Stroud College (SGS) offers a wide range of university-level courses at Levels 4 and 5, including Certificates of Higher Education, Foundation Degrees and Higher National Certificates/Diplomas.

Bristol u3a members have access to over 150 interest groups across greater Bristol, including around 25 local to East & North East Bristol.

n Mat Pilates Classes

Once you are a member, almost everything is free to join, because we provide a subsidy for groups needing premises.

Taught by Physiotherapist Kate Thurs 7-7.55pm (intermediate) Thurs 8-8.55pm (beginners)

You’ll have to pay for external expenses, like cinema tickets, travel and refreshments, and sometimes a small contribution if your group’s costs exceed the subsidy.

These courses are recognised by industry and are equivalent to the first year or first two years of a bachelor’s degree. Key facts about these qualifications:

l They are flexible and can be studied full or part-time

l Tutors are highly qualified and industry-experienced

St Francis Church, Warwick Rd, Keynsham. 6 week block of classes £54. You are welcome to do a trial class first £10. 1:1 sessions also available at my studio in Saltford.

Single membership is just £20, but there are other options available for couples living at the same address and members of other u3as.

If you join now, we won’t ask you to renew until September next year. Most of our communications are by email, but you can request paper copies of our quarterly newsletter at a small extra charge.

Do you love the NFL? Flag American football is taking the UK by storm as a fastpaced, non-contact version of American football. Training: Sundays 10.30am-1pm, Manor Road Playing Fields. Mixed sport - anyone 16 yearsplus welcome. No previous experience needed. Contact us for more info on the Keynsham Kings Facebook or Instagram pages.

Google “Bristol u3a” to find the full list of groups and how to join.

l They are highly vocational, equipping you with the real skills that industries need

l The one to two-year duration means you finish your studies more quickly

Bristol u3a (you in your third age) is for anyone with some free time for themselves.

Book online or by contacting Kate - 07454 047536, www.corerehab-physio.co.uk

Fridays

There’s no lower age limit, but most of our members are retired or semi-retired. We come from all walks of life and have (at least) one thing in common: a zest for living and for trying/learning new things.

Choirs join up for concert

We have no staff and do not provide a service – everything is by ordinary members for other members.

n NEW Pilates Class

Contact learnlaughlive@bristolu3a.org.uk to find out more.

Fridays 10.30am

St Francis Church Hall, Warwick Rd, Keynsham. Mixed ability level, beginners welcome.

6 week block of classes £54. Trial class £10.

Book online or by contacting Kate 07454 047536 www.corerehab-physio.co.uk.

n Cafe Plus at Keynsham Methodist Church (Queens Road, BS31 2NN) during term time. Come and share breakfast, chat and a place to chill and relax, from 8.45am.

KEYNSHAM Music Festival will include a choir concert at St John’s Church on Friday July 5. It will feature the Keynsham Good Afternoon Choir and special guests, the acclaimed Bristol Male Voice Choir.

Lindsay Gough

Saturdays

n Keynsham Sequence Dance Club Monthly Dance, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, Fear Hall, Keynsham, third Saturday of the month. Contact Brian and Jo, Keynsham Sequence Dance Club, on 01179868540 or just turn up. Refreshments (coffee/tea and biscuits), £5 each.

Keynsham Good Afternoon Choir leader Grenville Jones (pictured) said: “This will be a very special concert as part of the festival. The Bristol Male Voice Choir have travelled extensively, and a memorable night of music is guaranteed.”

There are now 27 Good Afternoon Choirs across the West of England, and founder Grenville Jones, Bath’s ‘Mr Music’, conducts the 60-voice Keynsham Good Afternoon Choir.

l If you’re already working, your studies can fit around your existing commitments and help you develop skills or boost your confidence

l Group sizes are kept small, allowing for tailored teaching and learning environments

l Student finance can be applied for, depending on eligibility

l Subjects are varied and include: Education & Learning, Business, Leadership & Management, Specialist Make-up Design, Sports Media, Media Production, Fine Art, Computer Games Design, Game Art, Zoological Management and Conservation

l You can use them as a stepping stone directly into industry or further study

For more details, visit http://uni. sgscol.ac.uk or speak to our friendly admissions team at headmissions@ sgscol.ac.uk

n Volunteers at Keynsham Repair Cafe – a free monthly repair event, with a café, at Keynsham Baptist Church on the High Street – help to fix your everyday household things like toasters and lamps, sew a button onto a jacket, glue a handle back onto a mug, as well as

They rehearse every Wednesday from 2pm-4pm at Keynsham Methodist Church’s Victoria Centre. There are no auditions and new singers are always welcome to go along and discover Singing in the Afternoon.

Tickets for the concert cost £10. They are available from gac.ticketlight.co.uk, from choir members or on the door. The concert starts at 7.30pm, with doors open from 7pm. l Festival preview: Page 30-31

Big boost for Paul's Place

A SOUTH Gloucestershire charity is launching a new service for adults with disabilities, thanks to a £66,000 grant.

Paul’s Place will use the award from national grant giving charity Global to help physically disabled adults share their skills and experience through volunteering.

Paul’s Place supports 37 people across South Gloucestershire.

It is currently based at Coalpit Heath Cricket Club, but is set to take over the Shire Way Community Centre in Yate later this year.

The charity will use the funds "to upskill and build confidence for physically disabled adults to actively volunteer through its brand-new in-house volunteering service".

The charity said: "Many of the people using services at Paul’s Place have untapped skills and knowledge that they’re eager to use in the community. They could also gain vital work experience through volunteering that could lead to future employment. Yet, many volunteer opportunities are not fully accessible outside of our day facility and evening programmes."

The charity will use the money to recruit a volunteer development officer and fund the resources needed to enable physically disabled adults to volunteer.

The project is inspired by Paul's Place member Andy Batten, from Coalpit Heath, who had to leave his career as a builder after becoming disabled following an accident. When the charity discovered Andy was a builder by trade, staff offered him the chance to use his skills around its day facility, doing light maintenance and DIY work, in line with its aim of empowering disabled people.

Paul's Place wants more of its members to get similar opportunities, to either learn skills to enable them to work or to give them the social and personal benefits of volunteering.

The money is coming from Global's Make Some Noise fund. For more information visit www.paulsplace.org.uk.

Join us for family fun

WE are super-busy this month at the Community Centre with all the planning and preparations for our annual Lyde Green Summer Sizzler on July 20.

We have a change of location this year, in an attempt to weatherproof the event, and we will be holding it on site at the community centre and School Square, in the heart of Lyde Green.

We are kicking off at 11am with lots of stalls, activities, entertainment and demonstrations.

We also have miniature ponies and a dog show that you can enter on the day. We will be concluding our event at 4pm, so come along for a day of family fun!

We are always on the lookout for volunteers to work with us.

Earlier this month, we had a display of volunteering opportunities for Volunteer Week 2024 and we now have a display board that we will be updating with new opportunities over the coming months.

If you would like to help with any events or projects that we have coming up, then please pop into the centre, give us a call or visit us online to find out what we have going on.

Do check our socials and website for details of upcoming events and projects.

We continue to be on the lookout for a secretary to join our board of trustees: if you would like to join the team, then we would love to hear from you.

Why not have a chat with one of our trustees to see what’s involved? Email Laura on laura@lydegreenca.org to arrange a time to talk.

If you want to get in touch with us you can do so via Facebook, at @ lydegreencommunityassociation and @LydeGreenCC, by email to info@ lydegreenca.org or by calling 0117 957 0410.

School's golden five

MANGOTSFIELD School has announced the first winners of its new award scheme.

Year 8 pupils Polly Carver and Ryan McLoed of Chase house and Cheick-Hamala Aidara of Pomphrey house, and Year 7s Hattie Watts of Rodway house

and Alfie Dibble of Siston house, won the school's inaugural Gold Awards.

Through the school year points are awarded by the staff for "positive learning and behaviour", with students achieving bronze and silver awards as their total rises, with gold – and a place at the front of the lunch queue – given for 500 points.

A school spokesperson said: "The award embraces our four values of Love Learning, Respect, Challenge and Community.

"We are incredibly proud of our winners and their dedication this year. They have done the right thing every day, and been rewarded for it."

During May 100 students took part in the One Mile Walk around the school track as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.

Other activities to promote positive mental health included weekly sessions focusing on well-being, a yoga session run by head teacher Hetty Blackmore and a visit from counselling and support charity Off The Record.

Show time

GROWERS and crafters have days left to enter the 79th Frenchay Flower Show.

The event takes place on Frenchay Common on July 13 from noon, with events throughout the afternoon up to the produce auction at 5pm.

This year all entry forms have to be submitted before the show, by 6pm on July 10, either online at www.frenchayflowershow. com or at Frenchay Museum in Begbrook Park, where paper copies are available during opening hours on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

In addition to the exhibits in the marquee there will be over 60 stalls, more entertainers, new food outlets, classic cars, displays, exhibitions and WI cream teas in the village hall.

Tickets cost £4 for adults and unaccompanied over-14s: accompanied under-16s are free. They are available on the gate or in advance at tinyurl.com/ yxu6cp63.

Beckspool Road will be closed at the show site from 8am to 5pm on the day.

Award winners Polly Carver, Ryan McLoed, Cheick-Hamala Aidara, Hattie Watts and Alfie Dibble

The 1960s 'house of the future’

IN these days of the climate and cost of living crises, the government’s Net Zero Strategy, and efforts to make houses more energy efficient, things like ground source heating and solar panels may seem to be fairly recent developments.

But Nick Smith from local history group CHAP has found a short video which shows that these exact technologies were already being tested right here in Downend in the mid-1960s.

The black-and-white footage, shared on social media by the BBC Archives, was originally broadcast on BBC One West, on February 15, 1965 and January 23, 1969.

The four-and-a-half-minute report comprises an initial visit to a family who had built a ‘solar house’, and then a follow-up interview four years later.

The homeowner, Mr Cook, explained the energy-saving technology involved: a prefabricated, highly-insulated single-storey building, with a three-foot thick slab built underground to draw ground heat up into the house, and large windows with special insulation blinds to use sunlight to help heat the home. He said that it was working well, and the home was nice and warm to live in.

Keen to know if these developments had lowered the family’s energy bills, the BBC interviewer was so astonished by Mr Cook’s

n Mr Cook, with his young son, being interviewed by a BBC reporter in the house. Picture: BBC

answer - "Our actual heating costs are about £26 a year" - that he checked: "10 shillings a week?".

This contrasted with Mr Cook’s estimate that average heating costs for a house of the same size would be about £104 a year, so his technologically-innovative home was making a huge saving.

You can watch the video at tinyurl. com/5n7chub7

If your family lived in the house, or you can share any more information about this

forward-looking building, please contact CHAP chair Janet Biggin at big.gin@talktalk.net.

Downend Community History and Art Project (CHAP) is a not-for-profit voluntary organisation that aims to build an identity and sense of belonging for Downend and Emersons Green through a community history resource and activities that bring history to life.

For more details visit www.downendchap. org or write to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS.

Helen Rana

n The house viewed from outside. Picture: BBC

MANGOTSFIELD RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Festival needs your support

WE have to start this month with a big thankyou to the organisers of Mangotsfield Festival, for putting on a fantastic event on Saturday June 8.

A great turn out for a lovely local community event.

Long may it continue – we hope people will answer the call to make donations and join in as volunteers to secure its future.

Last month we commented on the excellent work by a few dedicated volunteers on the Dame School garden.

This month we are more than happy that Gill Walding, who spends a lot of time keeping the 'Hut Field' neat and tidy, has volunteered to look after our planter by Mangotsfield United FC.

Thanks Gill, really appreciated.

Did you know there are three more planters at the 'Welcome to Mangotsfield' signs – by St James Church Hall, at the top of the hill on Mangotsfield Road, opposite Page Park and at the junction of Northcote Road and Stanbridge Road – that would love to have someone look after them?

Let us know if you’d be interested in adopting one of them.

A heads-up that we’ll need lots of help later in the year to plant a hedge around the common in Mangotsfield. It will serve

2 purposes: a) to help make our area more wildlife-friendly and b) to stop parking on the common.

Did you know that there is a ukulele group that meets at the scout hall every Wednesday evening? They would welcome new members, so if you are interested please get in touch.

We'd like to remind people to report all crime and anti-social behaviour incidents to the police, and only post on local social media when you have a crime reference number.

We appreciate that many have the view “what’s the point? Nothing will get done” but the more things are reported, the more likely it is that action will be taken, and it helps the police prioritise their efforts.

Our next Red Lion Coffee Morning will be on Wednesday July 3 at 10 am, and all are welcome. We are now getting a really good turnout, so why not come along?

Our next meeting will be on Thursday July 11 at 7.30pm, in the Red Lion.

Note that this is a change of date from July 4, so that we don’t clash with the General Election.

We are making it more of an informal chat rather than a formal meeting, and hoping that encourages more people to come along and get involved.

If you want to get in touch, then please do so

by email at MangotsfieldRA@gmail.com, via the ever-popular Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page or by calling our chair, Clive Heath, on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881.

Presenting our next programme of further afield trips!

We have received some funding from the Quartet Community Foundation to assist with costs for these trips but the fares will be £10 for those with a bus pass and £12 for those without. Huge thanks to Quartet for their grant to enable us to continue these trips at a lower cost for our passengers.

We will endeavour to get every passenger onto at least one trip, we want to make it as fair as possible. We will have two buses for each trip, so we will have buses collecting in different areas but you can meet up with friends when you arrive. These are designed to be Days Out! Generally passengers can choose what they want to do at each destination but if you want some help booking somewhere to eat we’re more than happy to help. Earlier pickups likely to make sure you have a full day out!

Give us a call on 01454

Mon 24th June - Bourton-on-the-Water

Mon 1st July - Bradford on Avon

Weds 17th July - Weston Super Mare

Tues 30th July – Moreton-in-Marsh

Fri 9th Aug - Malmesbury

Tues 20th Aug - Ross on Wye Mon 2nd Sept - Swindon Designer Outlet/ Museum of the Great Western Railway

Tues 29th October - Cirencester

Tues 12th November - Gloucester Docks

Tues 10th December - Bath

Chris Amos Secretary

WILL & PROBATE ADVICE

Free Legal Stock Take meeting

Trust Funds - Who do you trust?

Nowadays we all have so much life admin to sort out – it is easy for things to get out of date.

Setting up a Trust Fund may sound very “Downton Abbey” but it has become a device that can bene t so many people. And it’s no longer very expensive!

Usually they are set up in your Will and only take e ect when you die.

• So when you die, the gift in your Will (whether it is your home or savings or both) is not transferred directly to the person you want to bene t.

A FREE review meeting with our local, friendly team at Simpson Solicitors is like a Free Legal Stock Take meeting. Being a fully regulated law firm there is no pushy follow up as there is no obligation to instruct them. Just the peace of mind that you have received proper legal advice.

• Instead, the gift becomes “looked after” by the Trust Fund and managed by people you trust –appropriately called your Trustees – on behalf of the person you want to bene t.

Michelle says, “At Simpson

The Free Legal Stock Take meeting focusses on making sure your legal affairs are in order and if needed they can help you with a new Will or Lasting Powers of Attorney. It is all about making life as easy as possible for those that you care about - if you were to become seriously ill or die unexpectedly.

Solicitors we o er xed price packages for Additional Trust Protection to be added to our Wills. We will also help you prepare a Letter of Wishes to guide your Trustees and we then o er aftercare to help them.”

√ Checking any existing documents are legally valid: Checking your Will or Powers of Attorney are signed in accordance with the complex rules that apply, with advice to make sure they still reflect your current family arrangements.

Care Home Fees: A popular Trust Fund for couples is to protect the assets of the rst to die, so they do not get used up in paying Care Home Fees for the survivor.

√ Property ownership: Advice to make sure it’s owned in the best way to prevent problems. There is a £3 charge from HM Land Registry.

Vulnerable Person: Here the vulnerable person is not considered able to manage their inheritance – they may have special needs, disability, or an addiction. So, it is protected for them and released as and when needed.

√ Reviewing what you own: Making sure those you trust can find and are legally able to access your bank accounts, investments, and life insurance if you were seriously ill or had died.

√ Inheritance Tax and Care Home Fees: Applying the current rules to your situation with advice so your family don’t receive an avoidable bill for tax or care home fees.

Divorce or Bankruptcy of an Adult Child: This type of Trust Fund protects your child’s inheritance until it is safe for them to receive it - without leaving your family.

√ Free secure storage service: Offered for your legal documents and the information you might want your family to be able to access.

Children's Trust: Used where a couple have children from a previous relationship or might have further children with a new partner after one of them has died. The survivor can continue to live in the home, but the share of the partner who died is guaranteed for their children.

To arrange your Free Review meeting you can pop in to their Kingswood Office or email message@simpsonslawuk.com or call 0117 960 8594

Remember, they offer a FREE home meeting service if you find it difficult getting to their offices.

John says, “To nd out more about how a Trust Fund in your Will may help your family, please call us or email message@simpsonslawuk. com for a Free Review Meeting with advice in plain English.”

Free Will Review

On your own: You choose who you want to inherit from you

Living together: Decide if and how your partner is protected

Parent Wills: Provide for children & name Guardians to raise them

Later Life Wills: Protect inheritance from Tax and Care Home Fees

Lasting Powers of Attorney: Appoint those you trust to make decisions, in case of serious illness or injury

John Baden-Daintree

Michelle Baden-Daintree

European test for martial artists

MEMBERS of a martial arts team based in Lyde Green will be pitting themselves against Europe’s best this month.

Fishponds Taekwondo Academy, which is based at Lyde Green Community Centre, will send a team to the International Taekwondo Federation European Championships, which will take place in Cardiff, from July 18-21.

The team qualified earlier this year at the UK ITF Finals Day in Reading, where three members won national titles and two won silver.

Another 16 medals were won at the Elite Martial Arts Professionals competition at Thornbury Leisure Centre in April: four gold, nine silver and three bronze.

A further 17 – five gold, six silver and six bronze – were won by a team from the academy at the South-West Open Championships in Paignton in May, with the group also supplying four umpires and three coaches on the day to help out.

Instructor Gavin Reader, who

Fishponds Taekwondo Academy junior students at the Elite Martial Arts Professionals competition. The club is also sending an elite team to July’s ITF European championships.

is a 3rd degree black belt in the Korean-based martial art and has been a sports coach for two decades, said he was proud of the students’ efforts.

He said: “Not many people

make it to black belt, even fewer compete and then only a small percentage make it to finals.

“It takes guts to step on the mat and I think those who take part in competitions should be

proud of their achievements –whether they win medals or not.

“Each of the competitors is a credit to the club and their family. They are inspirational young people who have shown grit and determination to get to this stage, and I’m extremely proud to train with them.

“We look forward to watching the team represent Fishponds and the UK on the international stage this summer.”

Gavin and instructor Simon Herrington, who is also a 3rd degree black belt, both took up the sport after their young daughters signed up.

Gavin said: “We pride ourselves on being a familyfriendly club and have many siblings train together, as well as parents and their children.”

The club trains at Lyde Green Community Centre every Wednesday and Friday.

For more information, contact Gavin on 07500 764276 or email fishpondstkd@yahoo. com.

Youngsters have success in the bag

PUCKLECHURCH are the first club to be supported by a new initiative from the Bristol Youth Cricket League aimed at encouraging more juniors to play the sport.

The village cricket club has been presented with a full kit bag complete with everything young players need to play the game.

The number of youngsters across the country taking part in introductory versions of cricket –All Stars (ages 5-8) and Dynamos (8-11) - continues to be strong.

But not everyone goes on to play 11-a-side hard ball cricket, hence the BYCL’s new scheme which aims to provide practical support to grassroots clubs.

Chair Jim Donaldson said: “The league was very fortunate to receive a generous donation from the members when Bristol Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers came to an end and became part of Gloucestershire Association of Cricket Officials.

“We decided that the best way to use this money was to encourage more clubs to take

the next, critical step of moving on to hard ball cricket, by offering them a complete kit bag featuring everything needed to play a league game.

“It has been costed, designed and provided by our longstanding partners, DFCA Coaching, and includes three bats, three pairs of pads, wicketkeeping kit, gloves,

helmets and even left-handed gloves.

“Kit is an essential but expensive part of the process of stepping up from Dynamos, and we hope that the scheme will help make a difference.”

Jim believes the scheme is the only one of its kind currently running.

It is open to clubs that don’t

currently have a hardball youth team and commit to entering one in the league.

BYCL is encouraging more clubs in the area to apply for a kit bag and enter teams in the hard ball leagues.

Pucklechurch chair Dean Freestone said: “We’re very grateful, it’s a fantastic idea.

“We’ve been without hard ball youth teams for about 10 years, and being offered a full bag of kit – and of this quality – to help us restart our under-13s has made the difference as any club would struggle to come up with the kind of money – around £700 – that is needed.

“The hope is that this under-13 team will next year move up and we will have another team coming in behind it, as we need to keep producing players for our senior sides.

“It makes a huge difference to our long-term sustainability if one or two each year step up from youth cricket into either our 2nds or 3rds.”

Steve Hill

n Pucklechurch under-13s with their new kit bag

Cleve train at Premiership base

CLEVE Rugby Club had a taste of life as a Premiership club when they visited Bath Rugby's training base for a day.

The men's senior team travelled to Farleigh House in Farleigh Hungerford for a training session using the facilities set up for international stars such as Sam Underhill and Finn Russell.

The one-off session was offered by the Premiership finalists and sponsors Thatchers cider in late May, ahead of the start of pre-season training on June 18.

The club announced two coaching appointments in June.

Matthew Jarvis has been named as the new backs coach for the 2024/25 season, joining with a wealth of professional experience from spells at Connacht, Ospreys and most recently Pontypool.

Former Bath and Worcester Warriors second row Harry Casson is also joining the coaching team, as a forwards and defence coach.

Head coach Paul Vinicombe said: "We’ve been blown away by the professionalism and value added by both Matthew and Harry already.

"I believe we are really building something special and it’s a very exciting time to be a part of our great club.

"I think the nature of these two absolute quality signings shows our intent and ambition as a club!

"We have a real desire to push on in the league and continue to build on an already solid foundation.

"We’re all super excited to see what Matthew can bring to our very young and exciting senior set-up.

"To have Cass onboard is amazing.

Ruby joins GB team

DOWNEND padel player Ruby Mathias is celebrating a callup to represent Great Britain.

The Downend School Year 7 pupil took up padel –which is similar to tennis but played on a smaller, enclosed court where the ball can be bounced off the sides, as in squash – last year.

She won her first open tournament within months and since then has been training hard and enjoying success in Lawn Tennis Association and other padel competitions.

Ruby was invited to two days of trials, in Derby and Bristol club Rocket Padel, and was selected for the GB under-14 team.

Dad Stuart Mathias said: "The two day selection process was both physically and mentally draining and Ruby was exhausted, however the results are worth every minute.

"It's a massive achievement."

Ruby was due to attend her first team GB training camp at the end of June.

She has also been given a two-year contract with leading racket and clothing company Head.

"Cass personally has deep roots within our club. Both his dad and brother have been integral parts of the 1st XV and he himself is a former Mini and Junior graduate and Colts captain.

"We have been building some very exciting momentum over the past couple of seasons, and to have Harry returning to the Hayfields is just going to fuel

that fire.

"He brings with him a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism.

"I for one cannot wait to get started!"

Anyone who wants to get involved with Cleve can call 0117 957 5775, email office@ cleverugby.co.uk or come along.

For more information visit cleverfc.rfu.club.

n Training on the pitch

n Cleve RFC players at Bath Rugby's Farleigh House training ground

n Ruby Mathias with team GB head coach Libby Fletcher and adult player Lisa Phillips

A trip to Parliament

It’s official – I’ve taken chiropractic right to the top!

During the past few hectic months, I haven't yet had the chance to share the details of my exciting trip to Parliament, where I chaired a meeting at the House of Commons.

Since being elected as president of the British Chiropractic Association last year, it’s my responsibility to represent our profession across the UK in various capacities. This time, I had the privilege of presenting our thoughts and ideas to the highest echelons of British politics at the Palace of Westminster.

For years, I have felt that chiropractic is both underrepresented and underutilised in our healthcare system. Many chiropractors, including myself, frequently hear from patients about the challenges they face within the current UK healthcare landscape—ranging from long waiting times and lists to a lack of feeling heard or understood. I fully appreciate the immense pressures on our NHS, which

constantly strives to deliver excellent population-centred care. Of course, it’s simpler for chiropractors, who primarily operate in the private sector, to provide the patient-centric care that everyone seeks when they’re ill or injured. Despite these differences, chiropractic is an amazing profession that I’m so proud to be part of.

Our patient satisfaction scores are outstanding and our success in treating musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions is undeniable. So why is it that chiropractors, who are part of a regulated healthcare profession alongside doctors, physiotherapists and dentists, are not more frequently considered by GPs to assist with the significant burden of conditions we can effectively address? It’s estimated that 30% of the population suffers from an MSK condition which, in turn, account for 30% of GP consultations, costing the NHS £5 billion annually.

During major sporting events such as the 2012 Olympics, the 2017 World Athletics

Championships, and the 2022 Commonwealth Games, I collaborated with fellow chiropractors, physiotherapists, doctors, nurses, dentists, sports therapists, and even surgeons and radiologists.

These events demonstrated that we can work seamlessly with other healthcare professionals for the benefit of athletes and patients alike. If we are committed to providing the highest standards of care and treatment options for our athletes, why can't we extend the same level of support to every citizen across the UK?

So how did the meeting with our country’s leaders go, I hear you ask? It was a huge success! We heard from other healthcare experts, chiropractic leaders, and MPs. We engaged in meaningful discussions and addressed many of the questions. By the end of the day, there was a consensus that chiropractic care is wellpositioned to help alleviate the UK's burden of MSK conditions.

MPs have offered their support once we develop a feasible

blueprint to help shape the future of healthcare in this country. Whatever the result of the general election, this presents a great opportunity, with all political sides eager to reduce waiting lists. I firmly believe that chiropractic is perfectly positioned to support this agenda.

If you are reading this and wish to contribute, please let your GP know that you value your local BCA chiropractor and would like to see us working alongside physiotherapists, GPs and other medical professionals as a regular part of their team. Maybe you could even consider writing to your new MP.

I know this will make me sound like a politician but… now is the time for change. Let's seize this opportunity and make chiropractic care an integral part of UK healthcare!

Bowls course success Five wins on the spin

PAGE Park Bowls Club is celebrating another batch of successful graduates from its beginners course.

A total of 30 people started this year's course, held at the club over seven weeks between April and June, and 26 completed it, being awarded certificates which mean they can start playing at any club.

More than half of those who took part have applied to join the club, with some joining other clubs in the area. Players who miss out on a place at Page Park are being encouraged to join clubs whose memberships need a boost.

CARSONS and Mangotsfield Cricket Club's first team won 5 games in succession in a very successful May.

There have been several comfortable wins and a tight local derby game against Pucklechurch, which Carsons and Mangotsfield won by 3 wickets, being guided home in a tense finish by George Farmer.

The standout performance was from Kieron Gallagher, who scored 113 not out as the team chased down 183 to secure victory against Congresbury.

The second team were third in their division as the Voice went to print, having won five out of six games.

A one-sided local derby against Pucklechurch, who were dismissed for 105, saw Jack Woodland take 5-24 and James King 4-21 before the target was overhauled for the loss of one wicket.

The top performance was Ben Child who took 4-7 in 3 overs against Mells, bowling the home side out for 89. Carsons and Mangotsfield won by 7 wickets, with captain Harry Ravenscroft scoring 53 not out.

The third team are third in a league where only eight points separate the top four teams.

Captain Cam Lippiatt has bowled consistently well, taking 4-10 against Bristol West Indian Phoenix and 4-6 against Winterbourne. In the same match Andy King scored 106 not out, from a total of 259.

The fourth team are sitting in second place in their division after winning four of their six matches, including another local derby victory against Pucklechurch – by 1 run in the last over.

The Sunday team are sitting comfortably in the North Somerset league, having won 3 and lost 2 of their games. Standout performances were captain George Farmer's 91 in a high-scoring run chase against Bristol Indians, and Craig Woodland's 4-8 and Sam Brayley's 80 in a successful run chase against Hampsett.

Ian Coles

n Some of the club's successful students