Mangotsfield vicar Teresa Taylor is to retire in October after 11 years at St James Church.
PAGE 9
Mangotsfield United has announced plans for an artificial pitch and new floodlights at its Cossham Street football ground
PAGE 3
A NEW supercomputer research centre at the Bristol & Bath Science Park will put it “at the centre of the AI revolution”.
The new Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (AIRR) will be a multi million-pound facility, run by Bristol University and based at the National Composites Centre on the science park in Emersons Green.
It will be home to Isambard-AI, which is
expected to be the most powerful supercomputer in the UK and among the most powerful in Europe when it opens next year.
It will be used by a wide range of organisations from industry and research bodies across the UK to harness the power of AI, in areas ranging from data and robotics to drugs and climate research.
Turn to Page 5
Emersons Green and Blackhorse schools are among 13 primaries forming the new Leaf Trust multi-academy group.
PAGE 16
A competition for wildlife photos for an Emersons Green and Lyde Green calendar drew more than 100 entries
PAGE 17
SUTTON Chiropractic in Downend specializes in keeping the whole family healthy, active and doing what they love. As such, active ageing is at the very core of our practice. We love to see people getting the most out of life, helping them to pursue their hobbies with passion at any age.
The key is having your physical health in check, which is often overlooked until it’s too late. We love to see people getting the most out of life as they enter their later years, helping them to pursue their hobbies with passion. So we’ve put together a guide for you
to get the most out of life and not miss out on those precious moments with your friends, children or grandchildren.
In an effort to get healthier our exercise levels increase, however many people develop injuries from this. The most common issue is when the spine, neck or pelvis are out of alignment and injuries start to develop. It’s not uncommon for these to spread to the knees, elbows and shoulders too. This is why the body must be assessed and helped back to
proper alignment to ensure you keep healthy and active as time goes by. Matt often tells patients this is how we make people grandchild proof!
This ensures keeping you healthy will be fun, making it easier to stick at and get the benefits preserving your quality of life. If you’re a comfortable swimmer then make the pool part of your regular routine. Equally if you’re a keen walker or gardener prioritise these activities. It’s certainly horses for courses, so choose what gets you fired up.
Consider the level of impact the activity has on the body. We recommend low impact activities with two key caveats – make sure it gets you slightly out of breath and stresses your joints and bones moderately. Challenging your breathing will help preserve the heart and lung function and the physical stress on your frame will keep the joints strong reducing the chances of Osteoporosis. Activities like walking, swimming, Tai Chi are fantastic at achieving this, but see what works for you with these caveats in mind. Remember, challenge the breathing and stress the joints and bones.
Science has shown that
spending time in nature is fantastic for the body and mind. This can be a gentle lap of the park, walking in the Mendips or along the flat Strawberry line. A wonderful alternative if you’re not as good on your feet is to simply spend time in a garden tending to the pots and plants. Good for the soul and great for the body.
Even the most introverted of us are still social animals at heart and loneliness most even more important especially in later life. Why not enhance and preserve your health with others at the same time?
If you’d like to know more about how we can help you get the most out of your years, we’d love to help. We want to help provide you with a strong foundation for enjoying your hobbies and time with your loved ones for many years to come. Remember, its not just about aging, it’s about moving and having fun.
MANGOTSFIELD United Football Club has unveiled plans to replace the pitch at its Cossham Street ground with artificial turf.
The club says it can increase accessibility and use of the ground by schools and other organisations by installing the all-weather surface as part of a £1.2 million revamp.
The project also includes replacing the floodlights with more energy-efficient LED lighting, which will reduce light pollution in neighbouring areas, and upgrading the clubhouse.
Work on the pitch will include levelling it - there is currently a 2.2m (7ft 2in) drop between its highest and lowest corners.
The margins around the sides of the pitch will also be widened, to meet new safety guidelines to prevent head injuries to players. That will involve expanding the ground on one side, moving the boundary 5m into the neighbouring Hut Field, which is used by the community as well as for some club training sessions.
Details of the project were unveiled at a meeting for fans and neighbours held at the Cossham Street clubhouse in September.
Glyn Ashton, who as well as being the first team manager is a trustee and chair of the Mangotsfield & Blackhorse Sports and Community Association, said: “There’s lots of things we can do with a playing surface that’s available pretty much every day of the week.”
The current grass playing surface can only stand limited use but Glyn said an artificial surface could be used by children from nearby schools both for special events, such as tournaments, or PE lessons.
The artificial pitch would be available for training not only by the first team but by partner clubs including the juniors, women’s side and AFC Mangotsfield, rugby teams, walking football teams and disability sports.
Glyn said: “We see this as a really underused facility that can be reborn for the benefit not just of the football clubs that play here but for the community as a whole.”
Funding for the scheme would come from the club’s own fundraising and the Football Foundation, the charity which awards Premier League, FA and
POLICE arrested a man in his 20s after a group of up to 40 people on motorbikes and quad bikes rode them on roads, pavements and green spaces across the area.
Some of the bikers were reportedly seen “riding antisocially” in Howsmoor Lane and on Lyde Green Common during the incident on the afternoon of September 2, with complaints being made further afield across Kingswood and Bristol.
An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said officers arrested a man in his 20s in Eastville at about 3.40pm for driving offences, and took him into custody. A suspected stolen motorbike was also seized.
The spokesperson said: “Officers on the ground were supported by the drone unit and the National Police Air Service helicopter to safely monitor the group, several of whom were reportedly in their mid-teens and not wearing helmets.
“Police will review footage submitted by the public as well as that recorded by the drone and helicopter units in order to investigate and take action against those involved in this anti-social behaviour. Thankfully no injuries have been reported.”
Anyone with information should call 101 and quote the crime reference number 5223 212 767.
Government money to grassroots football facilities.
The club has been working with specialist contractors McArdle Sport Tec on the plans.
Tom Fearn, from the company, said the designs would have to get planning permission before funding could be finalised.
The scheme involves installing eight new columns
for LED floodlights, which at 15m (49ft) tall would be shorter than the existing four 18m (59ft) columns on each corner a.
If permission is granted the club hopes to have funding in place by next April, with work starting at the end of the season in May. It would take about five months, which means the team would have to start the 2024/25 season at another ground before moving back to Cossham Street.
Club chair Steve Brown said there were some “viable candidates” for a ground share, although nothing had been agreed as yet.
He said the plans would enable the club to generate more income so its facilities were “selfsustaining” and did not need to rely on a dwindling number of volunteers for their upkeep.
Steve said: “The work a lot of people have put into this could end up bringing a large investment into the local area, that’s going to benefit everybody who uses the site, now and in the future.”
A 56-YEAR-old man from Pucklechurch has been charged with the attempted murder and sexual assault of a woman after an incident in the village.
Police were called to an incident in Shortwood Road overnight in the early hours of Monday September 11.
An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said Ashley Joyner, of Shortwood Road, had appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on September 13, charged with the attempted murder and sexual assault of a woman.
Joyner did not enter a plea to the charges and was remanded in custody, pending an appearance at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday 11 October.
The spokesperson said: “Police were called after the ambulance service found an injured woman at the address on Monday morning. The woman went to hospital, where she remains for treatment to injuries which are not life-threatening, and she will be offered appropriate support.”
A SERVING police officer has appeared in court to deny four criminal charges.
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A member of the
PC Mitchell Curtis, aged 33, has been charged with two counts of engaging in coercive and controlling behaviour, a domestic abuse offence.
He also faces one charge of intentional suffocation of a woman and of criminal damage to the same woman’s car.
The court heard the charges relate to allegations dating between February 2021 and October last year in South Gloucestershire.
Curtis, of Charnhill Drive, Mangotsfield, pleaded not guilty to all four charges when he appeared at Gloucester Crown Court in September, following an earlier appearance before Bristol magistrates.
A trial has been scheduled to take place in October of next year and is expected to last four weeks.
Curtis, who had been based in Bristol, was granted conditional bail.
The court heard that he has been suspended from duty with Avon & Somerset police since being arrested on the day the allegations were made in October of last year.
A police spokesperson said: “A parallel investigation is being carried out by our Professional Standards Department (PSD), which will focus on whether the standards of professional behaviour have been breached.”
From Page 1
The university says the AIRR will be used by researchers and industry experts using artificial intelligence to lead innovation and scientific discovery, and “places Bristol at the centre of the AI revolution”, putting it on the global map
Bristol University is already home to the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Interactive Artificial Intelligence and is due to install the Isambard 3 supercomputer later this year to support research in AI and machine learning.
The IsambardAI project is being led by the university’s Professor Simon McIntoshSmith and Dr Sadaf Alam and their High Performance Computing (HPC) team, working with the universities of Bath, Cardiff and Exeter, known together as the GW4 Group.
The supercomputer is part of a £900 million investment to transform the UK’s computing capacity first announced by the government in March.
Prof McIntosh-Smith said: “We’re delighted to be chosen as the site to host the UK’s first ever Artificial Intelligence Research
Resource.
“Isambard-AI will be one of the world’s first, large-scale, open AI supercomputers, and builds on our expertise designing and operating cutting-edge computational facilities, such as the incoming Isambard 3.”
The university believes the project will put the region “on the global map” for AI and highperformance computing..
Figures for the cost of the new centre and the number of people it will employ are not yet confirmed but it is expected to open next summer.
Bristol University’s pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise, Prof Phil Taylor, said: “AI is expected to be as important as the steam age, with ramifications across almost every area of academia and industry. Bristol is proud to be at the forefront of this revolution.
“We have unique expertise in rapidly building and deploying large-scale research computing infrastructure and we’re excited to play an integral part in establishing the UK as an international hub for AI.”
Politicians from across the political divide have welcomed the announcement.
Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “The Isambard-AI cluster will be one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, and will help industry experts and researchers harness the game-changing potential of AI, including through the mission-critical work of our Frontier AI Taskforce.”
Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “This is a massive vote of confidence in the West of England, and our world-leading researchers and high-tech and science sectors. I’m sure it’s something Brunel himself would have been incredibly proud of.”
MORE than 6,300 children took part in this year’s Summer Reading Challenge at South Gloucestershire libraries, reading 117,000 books during the school holidays.
Primary school-aged children from across the district read library books in return for incentives including free swim vouchers and seeds.
Council chair Mike Drew presented some of the children and volunteers at Emersons Green Library with medals and certificates, and said the number who took part was “outstanding”.
Carolina Cheasley, whose children received medals and certificates at the event, said: “It does make a difference. It encourages them, especially in a very busy time as holidays are. They love completing the challenge and it makes them feel very proud.”
Babita Bisen, whose daughter also received a medal and certificate, said: “She loves reading and visiting the library. Every year she looks forward to participating in the event. It’s a very good way to engage children in reading.”
CHOOSING a new pair of frames can be frustrating. There are so many colours and styles to choose from, and that’s before you’ve taken into consideration your own lifestyle and preferences.
Enter Reykjavik Eyes.
Now, it’s not often I dedicate this column to one product, but when I come across something truly groundbreaking, I am always keen to share that as widely as possible, because unless you’re working in the industry, you may not be aware just how far eye care has advanced.
Reykjavik Eyes was born from the creative vision of Gunnar Gunnarsson, an Icelandic frame designer. During his childhood, Gunnar spent his summer holidays helping at his parents' opticians in Iceland repairing lost screws and damaged glasses, and from this Reykjavik Eyes was created.
Who are these for?
Each style of frame comes in three vibrant colours, all taking inspiration from the striking Icelandic scenery. They are perfect for those who want their glasses to be lightweight, and flexible, but strong.
I recently put their durability to the test by wearing them for an assault course (not recommended, but these things happen.) I was relieved to find my glasses intact and slightly amused that I had the contact lenses I was intending to wear still in my pocket!
Such is their light weight and comfort, lost in the moment of preparation for the course, I genuinely forgot I was wearing my glasses. They really are durable and suitable for so many activities, both indoors and outside.
Why these frames?
Our collection of Reykjavik Eyes offers cutting-edge and classic styles, so you really will be spoilt for choice. Every detail of these frames has been carefully considered, allowing you to express yourself without compromising on technicality.
As shown in our photo, I am modelling the orange pair and was first attracted to these frames by the vibrant colour. They are super comfy to wear – literally like wearing air.
Match them with...
As well as looking stylish these frames can be matched with our clear comfort lenses, in both single vision, computer lens and varifocals, giving you the best in lightweight style, quality and clarity of vision.
At Turners Opticians, we want you to look and feel your best in your new glasses. That’s why we offer a VIP fitting experience to help you choose the perfect pair that suits your style and gives you maximum comfort.
Our frame stylists are available at both branches to help you pick the perfect pair, taking your lifestyle, face shape, and personal preferences into consideration.
Call our Henleaze team on 0117 962 2474 or Fishponds team on 0117 965 4434 to find out more about our VIP-fitting service or visit our website at www.TurnersOpticians.co.uk for further information about our glasses range.
LYDE Green’s Summer Sizzler fizzled out as the British weather did its absolute worst, keeping visitors away.
The free fun day at Bristol & Bath Science Park had already been rearranged after a storm hit on its initial date in July, and suffered extreme bad luck on the rearranged date of September 17, when torrential rain meant only a handful of hardy souls turned out.
But organisers Lyde Green Community Association are refusing to be downhearted by the setback - and are already planning next year’s event.
Community centre manager Helen Crew said: “It was perfect when we were setting up but then the wind and rain blew in. You pray to the weather gods and sometimes it goes in your favour, sometimes it doesn’t.”
Despite the horrendous weather a dog show and live performances by HD Dance, covers band The B Sides and teenage singer Amelie Russ, from Downend, went ahead.
Amelie’s performance fulfilled a promise to perform an outdoor concert to raise money for r Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal for
The 13-year-old Downend School pupil sang a set including songs by Adele and Whitney Houston through a downpour on the event’s mobile covered stage, raising a total of £245 from online sponsorship and cash donations at the event.
Dad Stuart said having to perform as the rain poured down was a “characterbuilding experience” for Amelie, who also had a weather-affected gig at the South Gloucestershire Show in August
But he said she was determined to raise money for the children’s hospital, having been treated for chronic asthma as an inpatient when she was three years old.
Stuart said: “Amelie remembers being in the children’s hospital and afterwards when we drove past she would always refer to it as ‘my hospital’.
“After the performance she was sopping wet but smiling - I gave her a big hug.”
Helen said the community association has already set a date - July 20 - for next year’s event.
There will also be a change of venue to School Square, in the centre of Lyde Green, where there will be indoor space available at the community centre as a fall-back option if it is wet again.
Helen said: “We’re very grateful to all the trustees and volunteers who helped out on the day - we couldn’t do it without them.
“We’re already planning for next yearand looking forward to it.”
Emersons Green Town Council is looking to expand its team with the addition of 8 passionate individuals! Are you someone with a keen interest in local affairs? If you’re enthusiastic about representing your community, and you are over 18 years old, we invite you to consider joining us.
What is a Town Councillor?
Town Councillors are elected representatives who serve specific geographic areas known as Wards or Parishes. While 8 Councillors have already been elected, there are still 8 Co-option spaces available for you to apply for.
What do Councillors do?
1. Decision-making: By participating in meetings and committees with other elected members, Councillors have the power to influence activities, allocate funds, deliver services, and implement policies that shape our community.
2. Monitoring: Councillors ensure that their decisions result in efficient and effective services, by overseeing their
implementation and assessing their impact.
3. Local involvement: As local representatives, Councillors have responsibilities towards their constituents and local organisations. These duties vary depending on the Councillor’s goals and availability, which may involve attending meetings of local organisations, engaging with community bodies, and advocating for public concerns.
Time commitment: Being a Councillor requires dedication, and our most committed Councillors dedicate many hours of their time each week. However, being a Town Councillor is ultimately a highly rewarding way to contribute to your community and help improve its functionality that will be worth the effort. As a minimum, you will be expected to attend monthly meetings of the Town Council, typically held at 7:00 pm on the last Thursday of each month.
Who are we looking for? You will receive support in your role and be provided with training opportunities. However, a positive can-do attitude is essential for collaborating effectively within our team. IT and organisational skills would be helpful too. Above all, we’re looking for people who are invested in the local area and keen to improve services.
How to apply: If you find this opportunity intriguing, please complete the application form, which is available on the Town Council website or Facebook
page. You can also request a copy by reaching out to the Town Clerk via email at: clerk@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Town Clerk, who will be delighted to assist you. Alternatively, if you would like to meet with a Councillor, to find out what’s involved please use the contact details below.
Please join us in shaping the future of our community!”
Alka Mehta-Graham alka@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk
Bobbie Sunderland bobbie.sunderland@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk
Graham Hutter graham.hutter@emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk
VICAR Rev Teresa Taylor is preparing to say farewell to her “church family” as she retires.
The vicar of St James Church in Mangotsfield, whose parish includes Emersons Green and Lyde Green, will take her last service on October 8 at 4pm, bringing to an end 11 years which have seen many changes.
Teresa worked as an NHS local health visitor before she began her career in the clergy as a deacon in 2002.
She was installed at St James in 2012, having been an assistant minister in Kingswood, at first combining the post with a parttime role as a chaplain for adults with learning disabilities.
From 2015 Teresa’s work at St James became a full-time role, as the church became deeply involved with the development of the new community in Lyde Green. She became a founder trustee of the Lyde Green Community Association, a role
she continues to this day.
The vicarage moved to Emersons Green when Teresa took over, to base her more centrally in the parish.
Teresa says the biggest change since then has been demographic, with Lyde Green and Emersons Green families joining the Mangotsfield residents who used to take walks across the fields where the developments now stand.
She said: “We’ve lost some very faithful members of our church family through old age, but we’ve also grown, with younger families joining.”
Her time has also seen the church building undergo a £700,000 renovation, including new flooring, heating, seating and, for the first time, toilets.
Despite complications caused by the lockdown and a builder going bust, the Create 800 project was finished in time for the church’s 800th anniversary
We have proudly been providing childcare to children within local communities for over 19 years and are looking forward to relocating to an amazing purpose built facility in Emersons Green from Monday 2nd October.
Our new location in the Resound Centre, Blackhorse Road, is very easily accessible, offering ample parking spaces for parents/carers to drop off and pick up in safety. The preschool space is a purpose built venue which is fantastic for offering our children free flow opportunities throughout the day. Free flow play gives children the choice to explore both their indoor and outdoor environment and allows their interests to continue to flow and expand. We are excited for our new Abacus adventure and look forward to welcoming children aged 2-4 years old to join us as we prepare them to become independent learners and thrive whilst learning through play.
We are open term time 8:00am-4:00pm with some planned activities during the school holidays, offering funded sessions.
Abacus Pre-School would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mangotsfield United Reform Church and Castle Green for fully supporting us during our time in Mangotsfield.
If you would like to enquire about a space in our new venue, please contact us on 07803124099 e-mail enquiries@abacuspreschool. co.uk to arrange an informal visit. We look forward to meeting you.
last year. The church hall in Richmond Road has also been improved.
The pandemic made the church more active online, recording and live-streaming most services, and further expanded its community focus.
Teresa said: “Our mission statement is ‘Creating a Christcentred church, caring for the community’. It’s always been a caring church but over the last decade, I’ve seen us much more involved in the community.”
Teresa and husband Chris, who works in social care, recently became grandparents for the first time and one of her priorities after retirement will be to “do some granny duties”.
She also hopes to be able to return to some activities she enjoys, including playing piano, crafts and “serious cooking”.
Teresa said: “There’s a mixture of feelings - of sadness, because this is the best church
family, but I’m looking forward to a bit of a rest, because it has been a bit full-pelt!”
For more information about St James Church email stjamesmango@gmail. com or visit the website at stjameschurch.co.uk
AN INSPECTOR has praised a primary school’s work to improve the quality of pupils’ education.
Ofsted says that Barley Close Community Primary School remains a ‘good’ school overall, after making a short visit in the summer.
But the education regulator said there was evidence that the school’s rating might not be as high were a more detailed ‘graded’ inspection to be carried out.
An inspector recommended that this should be done next time around, after finding “weaknesses in some aspects of the curriculum”.
Inspector Julie Carrington visited the school, which has many pupils from Lyde Green because of delays to plans to build the estate’s second primary school, in June.
Her report, published during the summer holidays, said: “The school sits at the heart of the community. There is a strong family feel.
“Throughout the school caring adults are on hand to provide pupils with any emotional support they require.”
The inspector said pupils’ physical and mental health was a “top priority”, highlighting the benefits of the school’s swimming pool, where children started lessons in reception, ‘daily mile’ run, forest school and yoga lessons.
She said: “There is a sharp focus on raising pupils’ aspirations. Examples include attending workshops at a local university and learning from firefighters and sportspersons about perseverance and achieving personal goals.
“Pupils study a broad range of subjects. However, there are weaknesses in some aspects of the curriculum that pupils receive.
“Staff’s expectations of what pupils can achieve and how they should behave vary. At times, pupils lose concentration in lessons.”
The inspector said school
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leaders were “working systematically to improve the quality of education pupils receive”, reorganising the timetable and “revamping subject curriculums effectively”.
She added: “In the recent past, some pupils did not master essential subject content. Leaders are ensuring that staff are addressing pupils’ gaps in knowledge head-on. However, they are only part way through this work.”
The inspector said changes to maths teaching had improved teaching of multiplication and number fluency, although gaps in some pupils’ knowledge still needed to be addressed.
Work on teaching early reading across the school, including extra teaching for pupils who need to catch up, was “paying off” and children’s reading was improving as a result.
But the inspector added: “Nonetheless, there are some weaknesses in the implementation of subject curriculums. Leaders have not ensured that all staff have strong subject knowledge in all the subjects they teach.”
The report also highlighted “low-level disruption” in some lessons and said staff did not address misbehaviour at lunchtimes swiftly.
The visit was Ofsted’s first to Barley Close since May 2017, when it was also judged to be good.
The regulator usually visits schools every four years. It says it will return for a full graded inspection within the next two years.
The Voice has asked Barley Close for a comment on the report.
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EMERSONS Green Health Centre provides good quality care in all areas, the health regulator says.
Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission visited the centre in St Luke's Close in July.
They were following up an inspection last year which found that, while the surgery provided safe, effective, caring and well-led services, it required improvement in the fifth area rated by inspectors: responsiveness to patients' needs.
The new CQC report, published in September, said that the GP practice now had a 'good' rating for providing responsive services because patients "received effective care and treatment that met their needs" and could access care and treatment "in a timely way".
The report said: "The provider re-established the Patient Participation Group and introduced new roles in the practice to enhance patient participation and satisfaction."
It highlighted a new "signposting system" and "care navigators" to help patients find appropriate services and ensure they were all treated equally.
The inspectors added: "There was a team of care coordinators that supported people with longterm conditions, ensuring they have appropriate support and regular reviews as needed."
The CQC also visited the surgery's sister practice, Leap Valley Medical Centre in Beaufort Road, Downend, and produced an identical report, rating it good in all areas.
It said both practices, run by Green Valleys Health, should continue improving their services, "particularly in regards to access and patients' feedback".
Two years ago the CQC said both practices required improvement overall.
A Green Valley Health spokesperson said: “Both the Partners and the team at Green Valleys are delighted that the efforts and changes put in place over the last few years have come
to fruition and Green Valleys have now achieved a ‘Good’ rating.
"However, we know that there are services that still need to improve, such as wait times with regard to call waiting.
"Over the next year we have several improvements that will be put in place ensuring that we continue to build on the positive aspects of the CQC report. ”
"As a team we are committed to providing a better experience for our patients to ensure we put them at the heart of everything we do.”
This year's NHS patient survey found that 85% of patients at Leap Valley and 77% of Emersons Green patients still had problems contacting the surgeries by phone, although this was down from 89% and 98% respectively last year.
The Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board, which is responsible for funding health care, said the results were "very welcome".
Another practice in the area, Christchurch Family Medical Centre in Downend, has been told it must improve after the CQC said it "did not always provide care that kept patients safe", highlighting concerns over monitoring of medicines, safety alerts and patients with longterm health conditions.
Downend Health Group, which runs the Christchurch practice and the Willow Surgery, said it was working with the CQC "to implement changes to our systems and processes".
The practice also apologised last month for any “misunderstanding or concern” after patients were sent a message telling them they would no longer be able to book appointments with doctors by phone or in person.
The apology came two days after an announcement that all requests for clinical appointments should be made through the online consultations service, eConsult caused an outcry on social media groups.
LEMON Jelly Pantos presents Goldilocks & The Three Bears, the family pantomime that’s just right! Visiting Emersons Green Village Hall on Saturday 25th November 2023 at 2.30pm & 4.30pm. Featuring all the traditional pantomime ingredients, this one hour, laughter packed show features colourful characters, hilarious comedy, world class circus acts, fantastic music, lavish costumes & stunning sets.
Join Goldilocks, the Three Bears & a multi-talented cast on Dame Betty Barnum’s circus adventure!
IN September, the Cleve Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Centre celebrated an important milestone - our 20th anniversary, meaning 20 years of Tim Button’s chiropractic career.
On September 2 2003, the 2033rd chiropractor on the UK register officially saw his first patient in the back room of Cleve Rugby Club.
Through that first year, Tim established himself as the chiropractor for Bath Rugby Club, Bristol Rugby and then Bristol Rovers, for whom Tim has been first team chiropractor for 20 seasons.
On Mondays and Fridays he would travel to Minehead to see patients, later switching to a Fishponds GP practice.
In 2010, Tim made his first big move, from the safety of a single room to a fourroomed clinic, with an X-ray machine and his first member of staff.
Three years later, Tim branched out, building Next Step Physiotherapy Centre, diversifying his multidisciplinary clinic from Chiropractic and Sports Therapy to Physiotherapy too, and in 2016 Keith Graham joined forces with Tim to develop the physio department.
Over the next nine years, Cleve
Chiropractic outgrew its surroundings again, and in 2019 moved into the amazing building we work in today.
Twenty certainly seems to be a key number for Tim and Cleve Chiropractic. The first clinic building was at number 20, and is our present home.
So it is fitting that on the 20th anniversary of the clinic, we have seen almost 20,000 patients through the doors, as well as having
20 individual clinicians working within the building.
On behalf of the staff team here at Cleve Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Centre, I want to thank Tim for creating a business at 23, straight out of uni with a portable bench, shed loads of debt and one patient.
It has flourished into a multidisciplinary clinic providing care to the local community that is very much my family here in Bristol. Every member of the team emulates the values Tim started this business with, and patients should feel incredibly well cared for in their hands.
I first met Tim in his other role, when we were both board members of the British Chiropractic Association, very much the youth of the board and brimming with energy.
We bonded over our passion for sports chiropractic, shaking things up and making a change. So, one month later when he was asked to step up and be my right-hand man as I stood for BCA President, he threw caution to the wind.
We have been shaking things up ever since, with the same energy and appetite that has made Cleve Chiropractic grow into a special place.
So, to Tim - congratulations!
Tim’s column: Page 28
LIFE-saving kits to control bleeding after someone suffers a traumatic injury will be installed at Emersons Green Village Hall and Pucklechurch Community Centre.
The bleed control kits are being installed on the side of defibrillators at 144 sites across the Avon & Somerset Police region, in a project the force is coordinating and funding with NHS England South West and defibrillator manufacturer HeartSafe.
They include dressings and tourniquets to help manage bleeding, as well as surgical gloves, scissors and a colour-coded instruction guide on what to use depending on the type of injury being treated.
The initiative is part of police work around knife crime, but the kits can be used in any incident where a person is suffering from major bleeding, whatever the cause.
The idea is for people to use them in the time between a 999 call and the arrival of an ambulance, in any life-threatening emergency involving major bleeding.
Police knife crime lead Chief Inspector Mike Vass, said: “We employ a number of different tactics to deal with knife crime and prevent it at the source but in the unfortunate event that a person is seriously injured, we hope that these kits will go some way to preventing tragic loss of life.”
NHS England South West medical director Dr Michael Marsh said: “NHS ambulance crews and trauma teams do a great job when confronted with a patient who’s losing a lot of blood, but we wanted to go further in those crucial minutes when an ambulance was still on its way.”
You can find out more about bleed kits and their locations at www.heartsafe.org.uk.
DOWNEND School has hailed the "exceptional" performance of this year's GCSE students.
The government announced there would be a "return to pre-pandemic grading" this year, following three years of assessments and adjustments to grades due to the pandemic.
The Department for Education said the results announced at the end of August would be comparable to those awarded in 2019.
But this year's GCSE candidates have had years of disruption to their education because of the lockdowns during the early part of their time at secondary school, which meant they spent large parts of Year 8 and 9 learning from home.
At Downend School, headteacher Linda Ferris said this year's candidates had
produced "an exceptional set of GCSE results".
She said: "Whilst the number of passes and top grades fell nationally to pre-pandemic levels, students at Downend have seen an improvement in a number of areas from last year, and significant increases from 2019."
Mrs Ferris said 99% of the almost 2,000 exam entries across the year were passes, with 79% of grades at 9 to 4 and 27% at the top grades of 9-7.
She said: "These results sit far above national averages (71% 9-4). 77% of students achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and Maths and 56% achieved a grade 5 or above in these two key subjects.
"As a result, our young people are all set to progress onto the sixth forms, colleges and
apprenticeships of their choice.
"There were a number of students with a string of top grades, but the hard work and dedication of all our students has allowed them to achieve personal bests, regardless of their starting
points. "After a really disrupted and difficult part of their secondary education, we couldn’t be more proud.
"These results are a testament to the commitment of both students and staff at the school."
AT independent Collegiate School, staff said Year 11 pupils had achieved excellent results, despite “doom and gloom” predictions of a fall in top grades nationally.
A spokesperson for the school in Stapleton said staff were aware this year’s candidates would be measured against their pre-pandemic predecessors, and students had responded by “getting their heads down and working really hard” to prepare for their GCSEs.
The spokesperson added: “They have reaped the rewards for that hard work!”
The school reported 58% of all grades at 7 to 9, equivalent
to A or A* under the previous marking system, with 17% of grades at 9 and one in five students achieving all their grades at 7 or above.
Collegiate head teacher Jeremy McCullough said: “While it is important to remember that our students always learn far more than simply what is required to pass exams, it is certainly very rewarding to see them achieve such good examination results. We know that these brilliant young people have also excelled in sport, music, drama and other areas too. In addition, their holistic education will have helped them develop a great many
other personal qualities, such as resilience and determination, that will stand them in good stead for the future.
“Congratulations to all the Year 11s for achieving their best.
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“We welcomed the majority of students back in September to begin their sixth form journey with us, and we are excited to be joined by a strong cohort of candidates from other schools.”
LEADERS at Mangotsfield School say they are “delighted” with the results Year 11 pupils achieved in their GCSE and Level 2 BTEC exams.
The school says this year’s candidates produced the best progress scores - recording the improvement in performance during the course of their time at secondary school - that Mangotsfield has ever received.
This year’s GCSE candidates had two years of disruption as lockdowns during 2020 and 2021 meant most pupils spent much of Year 8 and 9 learning from home.
They were having their results graded in line with those
awarded during the last precovid year in 2019.
Head teacher Hetty Blackmore said: “These results are testament to the improvement journey the school has been on in the last few years.
“Huge congratulations to the students who have done so well, and thank you to the dedicated teachers who have supported them throughout.
“Despite facing challenges with lockdowns in the early part of their secondary school career, these students have excelled, moving into their chosen post-16 pathway at sixth form, college or an apprenticeship.”
Among the students whose
LEADERS of Winterbourne Academy say students showed “skill, ambition and determination” to record a “strong set of GCSE results”.
Staff said this year’s exam candidates showed more progress than those who sat GCSEs in 2019, the year the government said their performance should be compared with, following three years of adjustments for the pandemic.
The school draws some of its students from Emersons Green and Lyde Green.
Head teacher Jenny Cartwright said students “needed particular resilience and effort to prepare for exams in the context of their Covid-19 interrupted learning from earlier years”.
Among the “standout individual academic performances” the school highlighted were: Joel Tew - nine GCSEs at grade 9 and one at grade 7; Olivia Lane, (eight 9s and two 8s); Alice Tanner (seven 9s, one 8 and two 7s) and Anna Barlow, Daniel Rawling, and Sophie Winter-Alsop, who all achieved six 9s, as well as recording nine 8s and two 7s between them.
The school said 35 students gained at least one grade 9, with 65 gaining a 9 or a distinction*, the highest grade in vocational subjects.
In benchmark results for English and maths, 74% of pupils gained at least a 4 in both subjects, with 53% gaining 5 or higher in both.
The school also highlighted subjects where overall performance was particularly strong, including art, where 86% of candidates gained at least a 4 ‘standard pass’, English language (82%), English literature (81%), French (100%), maths (80%), music (83%), photography (92%), Spanish (98%), statistics (89%) and biology, chemistry and physics (all 97%). In vocational subjects, 89% of candidates gained a Level 2 pass in health and social care, 81% in media and 93% in sport.
successes the school has been celebrating are Kailas Metcalfe, who achieved four GCSE grade 9s, four 8s and a 6, and Aston Prideaux, who achieved two grade 8s, three 6s and a 5.
Mangotsfield School is part of the Castle School Education Trust, which also includes Downend School and Lyde Green Primary School.
The school shares a sixth form centre with Downend School, which is based at Downend’s
Westerleigh Road site.
Mangotsfield leavers also go on to colleges including St Brendan’s and SGS, as well as apprenticeships with local employers.
The school was given its first ever ‘good’ rating by education watchdog Ofsted last year, after inspectors found the school was “rapidly improving”, with leaders who have raised expectations and pupils who are “working harder”.
THIRTEEN schools in South Gloucestershire have joined together to create a new academy trust.
The Leaf Trust formally started work at the beginning of the new academic year in September.
It brings together schools which were previously local authority controlled, some of which had already formed federations to work more closely together.
The schools in the Downend and Emersons Green area to join are Blackhorse Primary, Emersons Green Primary, Mangotsfield Primary, Stanbridge Primary, Staple Hill Primary and The Tynings Primary.
Elsewhere in the district, Bowsland Green Primary in Bradley Stoke, Cadbury Heath Primary, Hanham Abbots
Juniors, Kings Forest Primary in Kingswood, Samuel Whites Infants in Hanham, St Barnabas Primary in Cadbury Heath and Wheatfield Primary School in Bradley Stoke have also joined.
After the government announced it wanted all schools to be part of an academy trust
Members of the Leaf Trust leadership team Faye Kitchen, Ross Newman and Simon Botten
by a leadership team of former Mangotsfield Primary School executive head Faye Kitchen, who has also been head teacher of Bromley Heath Junior school, Blackhorse Primary and Emersons Green executive head teacher Simon Botten, former Wheatfield head teacher Phil Winterburn and Blackhorse school business leader Debbie Beazer.
by 2030, the 13 schools came together to form their own.
It is the only primary school-only trust in the area, and head teachers have been working together for 18 months to get it up and running, holding consultations with staff, parents and the community.
The trust's chief executive is Ross Newman, who was previously executive head teacher of the Forest Hill partnership between Kings
Forest Primary and Staple Hill Primary School.
He said: "I am incredibly grateful to each and every one who made this enormous undertaking possible.
"We have spent the past 18 months planning together, and we are looking forward to making sure we have a positive impact upon all of the learners in our care, in our new family of schools."
Mr Newman is supported
Tynings head teacher Lois Haydon said: "the opportunity of working together in a more formal way is extremely exciting.
"The Trust values of ‘Belong, Grow, Succeed,’ align with those of the schools in the trust, and the drive for excellence for all of the children in our schools is something we wanted to be part of from the very beginning.
"These are exciting times for the children and families in our area, as well as for the staff who work in our schools."
PEOPLE from Emersons Green and Lyde Green captured some “stunning” views of nature on camera for a fundraising calendar.
There were more than 100 entries in this year’s nature photography competition, organised by Emersons Green Town Council, with the theme ‘Nature in our community through the seasons’.
The best 12 were picked to be on the calendar by a panel of judges, who were not told who had taken each picture. Photographers were allowed to enter more than one picture, and some had more than one chosen for the calendar.
The overall winner was Ellen Hartguard, whose picture of frost on a flower, titled ‘Ice and Warmth’, will be on the cover.
The other winners were Agnieszka Ali, Alastair Jack, Lily Hui, Nikki Whitelock, Patricia Morgan, Paul Balmer, Stewart Martin and Tara Perry.
Entries were on display at an awards evening at Emersons Green Village Hall on September
7, when the winners were announced. The pictures are now on display at the library.
Town councillor Bobbie Sunderland said: “We have had some stunning photos this year.”
The event also had a presentation from professional wildlife photographer Nick Wilcox-Brown and update on the area’s community nature reserve, which now has 232 gardens registered.
Wildlife seen in the area includes the Jersey tiger moth and hedgehogs, while evidence of otters has been found in waterways and a house martin survey has been organised.
The next nature event will be at the village hall on October 22 form 2-4pm, including apple pressing, crafts and a plant swap.
Copies of the calendar are being given by the town council to community groups in the area for them to sell to raise money to support their activities.
For more details of the community nature reserve and the calendar visit emersonsgreen-tc.gov.uk.
TEACHERS at Mangotsfield Church of England Primary School have joined thousands of their colleagues across the country in welcoming the next generation of pupils to big school for the first time.
The school in Church Farm Road, Emersons Green, is one of the biggest primaries in South Gloucestershire, with three forms in each year.
Early Years Foundation Stage and Year 1 lead Jo Sihag said: “Our new littlest learners have settled into EYFS well and we’re so proud of their lovely manners and turntaking.
“We have spent some time in school for half a day, had a practice lunchtime with grown-ups and are now in school full-time.
“They love playing in the sand and mud kitchen, using gross motor skills on the climbing apparatus, learning sounds in phonics, practising fine motor skills with cutting and drawing, and getting to know lots of new friends.
“They have been learning our school song, ‘Be you, Bravely’, and all look super smart in their school uniform!”
A NEW free shuttle bus being laid on to help people stranded by the closure of the A432 bridge over the M4 will provide a link from Emersons Green to Yate.
The half-hourly weekday service starts at 7am and was launched in September to ferry passengers along Badminton Road from Yate Park & Ride via Coalpit Heath to Cuckoo Lane, just north of the bridge.
From there pedestrians can walk across the bridge to reach the metrobus m3 stops on the Avon Ring Road by the Wick Wick roundabout in Downend.
This means that people from Lyde Green and Emersons Green can travel to Yate using the metrobus and the free YCL bus.
It is being paid for by National Highways, which closed the bridge in July after cracks were found in the concrete structure, and run by bus company Transpora under contract to South Gloucestershire Council.
Each journey is expected to take nine minutes, with the first buses of the day leaving Cuckoo Lane at 7am and the last one back from Yate leaving at 6.38pm.
Meanwhile parents are reporting that a school bus service from Emersons and Lyde Green to Winterbourne Academy is becoming “dangerously overcrowded” after another service was axed.
The 459 is now making its first pick-ups before 7am each day.
But a parent told the Voice it was arriving late at the school because children from Downend who used the axed 458 service have been getting on it.
Olympus Academy Trust, which runs Winterbourne Academy, is using its post-16 bus, which usually transports sixth form students between secondary school sites during the day, to pick up some pupils who used the 458 last term.
But in a letter to parents, the school said it recognised the new service would not suit all pupils - and there have been reports of it running more than 30 minutes late in the mornings.
Death and dementia are upsetting issues to think about, yet you know you need to see a law firm to make sure your legal affairs are properly sorted to protect those you care about.
We are so lucky to have Bristol Children’s Hospital covering our area. It provides an unrivalled level of service when our youngsters are most in need.
Our local legal experts in this area of law are Simpson Solicitors and they offer our readers:
● An understanding service, whether your concerns are guardians for young children or protecting against care home fees.
● Use of plain English (not legal jargon).
● Help you make changes – so everything works in the way that is right for you.
● See you to sign your Will and LPAs – to make sure everything is legally valid.
● A friendly service when you phone to find out about booking a FREE meeting on 01454 322 722.
● Feel welcome and wanted when you come to see us in our Chipping Sodbury office (opposite the Coventry).
Local solicitor John BadenDaintree says, “The Bristol Children’s hospital literally saved our 6 year old daughter’s life –mobilising an expert team not available elsewhere. During her slow recovery we saw how The Grand Appeal charity covered the many extras that the NHS cannotmaking life a bit more bearable for sick children and their families at the toughest of times”
● Put you at ease as they guide you through your various options for making a Will to provide for those you most care about.
This October our local Will experts – Simpson Solicitors – have again teamed up with The Grand Appeal.
● Help deciding the best options for you in the event you lose the ability to manage without support by setting up our Lasting Powers of Attorney.
● Take as long as you need when having your FREE review meeting.
● Home or Hospital Visit service if getting to the office is difficult - at no extra charge
● Clear fixed prices with no hidden costs if you decide to instruct them.
The scheme allows you to leave a legacy to support the Children’s Hospital in your Will. With nothing to pay now, they hope that people will use their Will to give a small percentage of their Estate to The Grand Appeal - making a tremendous difference to help future generations of local sick children.
Under the scheme (for a limited number of people), Simpson Solicitors will prepare a Will (or 2 mirror Wills for a couple) absolutely free to you. You will still receive their full award-winning service. As a further thank you, if you also need Additional Trust Protection or Powers of Attorney, Simpsons will take 30% off the usual full cost.
● Provide a complementary aftercare service that leaves you feeling cared for.
It all adds up to a service that leaves clients with peace of mind. They currently have a special offer of 20% off the price of LPAs for our readers.
To book your free review pop into our Chipping Sodbury office (opposite the Coventry) or call 01454 322 722
Michelle Baden-Daintree says “I hope many people will take advantage of the scheme and leave a generous gift in their Will to the Grand Appeal. Call our friendly team on 0117 960 8594 saying you’d like to make a Grand Appeal Scheme Will. Then by leaving a donation in your Will, you can gift a sick child a brighter future.”
Ensure your family and loved ones are protected and your assets pass to those you choose to inherit.
WHAT a crazy few weeks we have seen, with plenty of rain and not a lot of sunshine.
We talk about the seasons and how things are rapidly changing over the years - just think back to a decade ago (for older readers), and how summers were hot and winters were cold!
Now we see a vast change in our seasons and a lot of this, in recent years, is due to the jet stream affecting our northern hemisphere.
The jet stream is a band of wind about six miles up in the atmosphere that pushes a channel of air all around the globe in a westto-east direction.
If the jet stream lowers in its position, this will draw colder air South and bring with it lower pressure, causing all sorts of problems like those we are currently experiencing.
We also have to look at the recent wildfires across the globe, with intense heat having a massive impact for drier states.
Portugal, Greece, Canada, Hawaii and even Cannich in Scotland, where there was a substantial wildfire earlier in the summer.
This has devastating impacts on wildlife and farming, so we hope governments will
start to take the issue of climate change more seriously than ever before, as we need action now.
Locally, we can all do our bit by ensuring we are conscious of the planet and our actions to prevent these devastating events.
In Lyde Green our open spaces have had a really good watering this year and, although welcomed by gardeners, we must bear in mind this is without its challenges.
Crops that are used to long dry spells will ruin and plants that need the sun will wilt.
September 1 is officially Autumn, but what the weather will hold and how the jet stream will behave is anyone’s guess lately, so we will monitor, react and adapt accordingly as we always do here in Lyde Green.
We have been a bit quiet of late, as we are in a slight transition to join the team at the Lyde Green Community Association.
This needs to happen, as we have no ‘backroom’ staff to keep the group constituted in its current form.
Once things are in place we will go all-out again in the new year and align our priorities with the current setup.
We plan to be creating projects and events for all you lovely residents to get involved in and will be working hard to make our wonderful Lyde Green a fantastic place to live alongside our wildlife and nature.
Keep your eyes peeled for more info and updates coming soon - we are certainly not going away.
To get involved, raise concerns or queries, message us @lydegreenopenspace or email lgopenspace@gmail.com.
Laurence Binks Chair, Lyde Green OpenSpace GroupSO summer, such as it was, is now over as we are heading for cold crisp mornings and darker nights.
For our September meeting, we welcomed Andy from East Bristol Auctions, now known as Auctioneum as they have opened another branch in Bath.
Andy was brilliant - he gave us a slide show and a fascinating look into the world of their auction house, with stories and the history behind just a few of the items they have been asked to auction. They included Star Wars memorabilia and the Green Cross Code Man outfit owned by our very own Bristolian David Prowse, and the Ronnie Barker script of the famous “four candles” sketch from The Two Ronnies.
He finished the evening with us trying to guess the value of a selection of items. Some, surprisingly, had little or no value but it was not surprising that the highest value items were a First World War gas mask tin, minus the gas mask, and a talking Action Man.
Andy very kindly donated his fee to the Jessie May Trust.
After the raffle and a cuppa and biscuit, we had news and views and, although we were running a little later than usual, we decided to do the ever-popular ‘Dingbats’ quiz, set by Caroline, our resident
quiz master.
Our October meeting is our AGM and our 16th birthday, so we will be celebrating with cake and games.
We are a friendly bunch and will 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, and our next meeting is on October 12 at 7.30pm.
For more information, or just a chat, please email us at millhousejoinery@aol.com, with the heading Shortwood Village WI.
Lynne MillerWHAT an amazing week we have just had.
After such a long wet spell, it was beautiful to see the sun beaming in the sky, with red and sweaty faces all around us...well, we British don’t do hot very well.
Some of our members may even have been tempted to try a bit of open water swimming after being given plenty of advice from Maggy, an amazing and inspiring lady from Open Minds Active, who talked to us about the health benefits of open/cold water
OUR September meeting marked the start of our second year. We decided to have a harvest supper with crusty bread and cheese, inviting all those with an abundance of produce in their garden to bring some along to share.
We printed up song sheets of ‘We Plough The Fields and Scatter’ and for a rousing rendition.
Because cups and saucers are twice as much washing up, and because we have a new name, we have decided to purchase bone china mugs with a ‘Dolly Mixtures’ design.
These will make tea or coffee drinking even more enjoyable and fun, plus faster washing up.
We are in the final stages of organising our cocktail evening at the Chew Valley Distillery.
Husbands have offered to drive and we will have three cocktails, one gin-based, one vodka and one rum, plus a pizza delivery in between.
We have a member whose friend has impaired vision and has kindly offered to come along to our meeting in the hall at the end of October, with her dog, to talk us about her and her dog’s experiences.
For our social calendar in November some of us are going to the Hippodrome in Bristol to see ‘Pretty Woman’.
In December we are working on a trip to a Christmas market. Last year we did Wells Xmas Market and we are looking this time to try Stroud.
For more information email carol@applause.co.uk.
Carol Coombs - Mangotsfield Ladies - carol@applause.co.ukswimming in our August meeting. Research has been carried out into the effects of cold-water swimming and the results have really made doctors sit up.
Maggy passed on hints and tips about where to swim and how to stay safe and the best bit: open water swims have to end with coffee and a piece of cake, it’s a by-law or something!
One of our very brave members did a workshop with Maggy at the beginning of the year and was so inspired by her, she did her first ever open water swim in water below 5 degrees, which made her an ice swimmer. The only ice I like to get close to is in a G&T, but even I thought this sounds amazing.
We will soon be able to swim in Bristol docks, as there will be a certain area where open water swimming will be allowed.
A group of us gathered at a very nice bar in Millennium square during a glorious evening, to have a very nice cool drink, some very nice conversation before we voluntarily allowed ourselves to be Locked in a Room. We had an hour to solve the puzzles, find the keys, unlock the padlocks and escape. I think even two hours would have seen us still trying to line up the numbers on the last padlock. It was a great night and neither group escaped, so in a way that was a result.
Our WI year is nearly at an end: we only have October’s and November’s meetings to go before we take our break in December. We have our Christmas meal to look forward to, then January will see our 2024 programme begin.
We already have some amazing things planned - keep your eye out for our 2024 programme.
If you would like to know more about our WI please contact us via email at beechmerebelles@gmail.com
HERE at Lyde Green Community Centre we are delighted to be planning our activities for half term.
The September ‘return to school’ seems a long time ago already, so check out our Facebook pages for some spooky fun, including a Halloween Disco with DJ Bobtastic on Thursday 26th at 3.30pm. Tickets are on sale now for our ever-popular fun pantomime (Treasure Island) and our familyfriendly New Year’s Eve party. Fabulous local band Stupid! are joining us again. There is a DJ, cash bar and fun guaranteed.
All our events are ticketed through our online box office at buytickets.at/lgca
Would you like to volunteer to help at future events or to join the team of trustees that make up Lyde Green Community Association?
We are looking to recruit a treasurer/trustee - email laura@ lydegreenca.org for information.
It’s a great way to get to meet people while supporting the community!
If you’d like to get in touch with us you can find us on Facebook @lydegreencommunity association and @LydeGreenCC.
You can also email info@ lydegreenca.org or call us on 0117 957 0410.
For party or event bookings, email Bookings@lydegreenca.org.
Helen CrewOctober 1
n DOWNEND AND KINGSWOOD
BRANCH RNLI coffee morning, 10am-noon, Staple Hill Methodist Church, High Street, Staple Hill. Cakes, bric a brac and sales table, everyone welcome
October 5
n MANGOTSFIELD AND CASTLE GREEN URC are holding their Annual Coffee morning in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Appeal. Tea, coffee and caakes, etc.will be served at their Cossham Street premises from 10.30 a.m.to 12 noom. Everyone is very welcome . Please contact June Watts on 0117 9566625 with any queries.
October 7
n STAND-UP COMEDY WITH ANDY FORD, 7pm-10.30pm, Emersons Green Village Hall. Tickets £17.50, available online at www. egvh.org.uk/events-tickets. Small bar with a limited number of drinks, accepting cash or cards.
October 10
n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT
SOCIETY practice class, The Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm, Create an upright crescent shape titled ‘Harvest from the garden’. Craft session on October 24 at same time and place. For more information call 0117 937 3836 or email rosemary. cummins2@gmail.com.
October 23
n HARRY POTTER-THEMED POTION MAKING CLASS, 1-2.30pm, Emersons Green Village Hall. Tickets in advance from www. egvh.org.uk/events-tickets.
October 25
n SPOOKY INFLATABLES FUN DAY WITH DIDDI CARS, under-3s’ soft play and refreshments. Three sessions between 9.30am and 2pm. More details and bookings online at www.egvh.org.uk/events-tickets.
October 26
n HALLOWEEN DISCO at Lyde Green Community Centre, 3.30pm5pm. More details and tickets at www.tickettailor.com/events/lgca.
October 28
n FISHPONDS BAPTIST CHURCH craft group craft sale, 2-5pm at the church on Downend Road. All proceeds to the foodbank at the church, which is part of the Trussel Trust East Bristol group of foodbanks. Christmas gifts, cards, refreshments.
Monday
n PUCKLECHURCH SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB Meet every
Monday, Wednesday evening
7.30 - 10.00 and Sunday 2.30 - 5.00. Refreshments inc. All levels really Welcome. Ring Kath 07517 1297
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.
n TAI CHI CLASS at Downend Folk House, Overndale Rd into your listings for the Downend and Fishponds publications - Tuesdays 7.30-8.30pm, please contact Georgina Green on 07845 748568 or georginagreen@ mindfultaichibristol.org.uk to book a place/make enquiries.
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 and 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.
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, start and finish at Kingsmeadow@ Madeforever Community Centre, Fisher Road, BS15 4RQ, 1pm to 2pm. Free and open to anyone who feels they will benefit from joining a group who walk at a gentle pace around Siston Commons. Contact James on: 07588622372
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 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.
n MESSY VINTAGE Come and Share God-centred fun & fellowship for the Older Generation at Badminton Road Methodist Downend 2nd Friday monthly 9.30am to 12 noon. For Information 0117 2395984
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.
n YOGA & PILATES FUSION CLASS: 9:20 – 10:20 at Christ Church Parish Hall, North Street, Downend. First class free, then pay as you go. Contact Kerry on 07919 051019 or email kerry@ yogaandpilatesforlife.com for further details and full class timetable
Sunday
n BADMINTON ROAD METHODIST CHURCH In-person
Send details of your events and activities in the following format: WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words: email us at: news@emersons greenvoice.co.uk or call us on 07715770377
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 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.
DETAILS of this year’s Downend Round Table fireworks display, which takes place on November 3, have been announced.
The display on King George V playing fields is the 52nd staged by Downend Round Table to raise money for good causes, and is again expected to be the biggest in the Bristol area.
The 2022 event raised a record £50,000 for charities and good causes, including Alzheimer’s research charity BRACE, disability cycling group Warmley Wheelers, learning disability charity PROPS and women’s mental health and housing service Missing Link.
This year’s show will again feature a quieter children’s display at 6.30pm, the main display at 8pm, a bonfire, sparkler area, and stalls.
Ticket sales are online only, from Oct1 at www.downendrt.co.uk.
PUCKLECHURCH Players are rehearsing hard for their biannual pantomime.
Dick Whittington and His Cat will be performed on November 30, December 1 and 2 at Pucklechurch Community Centre.
Evening performances will begin at 7.30pm and end about 10pm, with a Saturday matinee beginning at 2pm and ending around 4.30pm. Tickets cost £10 (£9 for concessions) and will go on sale from October 1 using online booking system Eventbrite.
A FRIENDLY group of fretted string musicians (currently mandolin, guitar, banjo – other instruments welcome) is seeking new members.
Fingers & Frets rehearse most Monday evenings between 7.45pm and 9.45pm at St Barnabas Church Hall, in Warmley.
Visit fingersandfrets.wordpress.com or call 07815 841069.
At the end of 2022 due to his weight, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol and a High BMI Keith was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This increased his risk of stroke and heart disease as well as reducing his life expectancy. Keith was given options of four weight loss clinics on line. His daughter Siobhain was part of Lesley’s Slimming World group at Lyde Green Community Centre and she encouraged me to join. Caroline, Keith’s wife had done Slimming World before so they both joined the group. Before starting Slimming World Keith would have things like Pie and chips, McDonalds and Chinese takeaways on a regular basis. He now enjoys more fresh foods and a variety of meals. He has become much more careful when shopping and has a better understanding of which foods are healthier options. Food Optimising has become the norm. He has made other changes in his life also. He started growing his own vegetables, he
Libraries Week (2-8 October) is a celebration of the nation’s libraries. This year the theme is focussing on ways to be green at your local library so why not try some of these ideas:
• recycle your used ink cartridges using drop off boxes in the library
• borrow your next read, don’t buy it
• be inspired by our green book collections
• Try out a local walking trail and spot some local landmarksDownend Treasure Walk or Mangotsfield Meander (pick up a trail sheet at the library)
Love Lego? Then come along to Lego club and get building:
Saturday 7th October: Emersons Green library 10-11am and 11.30am12.30pm (booking required)
Saturday 7th October: Downend library 10.30-11.30am (drop in)
Saturday 14th October: Staple Hill library 10.30-11.30am (drop in)
Too small for Lego, drop in to Mini Builders: Friday 13th October, Emersons Green library 1-2pm
With the October holiday on the horizon check out the free Autumn Antics craft activities at Downend, Staple Hill and Emersons Green libraries:
Monday 24th October: Downend library 10.30-11.30am
Tuesday 24th October: Staple Hill library 10.30-11.30am
Tuesday 24th October: Emersons Green library 2-3pm
These are most suitable for ages 4-9, just drop in, no need to book
used to drive to the local shops but now walks to them most weekends to buy fresh foods and meat. He used to use the lift at work to go up one floor but now uses the stairs everyday. He is now able to do much more with his young grandchildren. Recent tests show that his blood pressure is back to normal along with his cholesterol levels. His BMI is now within the normal range. Keith has been told that If he maintains or reduces his weight until at least the end of the year then his diabetes will be in remission. He has reduced his waist size from a 44” to a 38”. Caroline and Keith have both lost 2 stone. Caroline has reached her target weight and Keith has reached an Interim target. He has lost the weight steadily and feels in control and fully able to keep the weight off. Both Keith and Caroline have not looked upon Food Optimising as a ‘diet’ but as a change of mindset and lifestyle. Making healthier choices whilst not missing out on their favourite foods ensuring that the changes can be maintained. Keith also says that it is very important to stay to
the IMAGE therapy sessions as you share your experiences, hints and tips shared on different food options and what works for other people. Also how other peoples lives have changed, sharing each others experiences and celebrations. You learn to identify what part of your life is effecting your weight and how to take control for
yourself. Keith recognises that stress in his life affects what he eats and affects the way he thinks and relates to food. Keith says ‘I am still learning to identify things like habits that I want to change, and I know that I can and will make those changes with the support of Lesley and the other members of the group’
ANNOYING, unsightly, scruffy - choose your own word.
I’m referring to telecoms cabinets that have been the target for tagging. It wouldn’t be so bad if the people who do it created works of art, but they don’t.
However, if you report an instance of graffiti or tagging to the owner, almost certainly Virgin Media O2 or Openreach (BT), then they’ll come and sort it out.
To report to Virgin you can email the location to NAM@virginmedia. co.uk.
For Openreach, follow the instructions at tinyurl.com/338bh4cy.
The response won’t be immediate but it does seem to work.
Sadly, due to retirement our friend and supporter Rev Teresa Taylor, of St James Church, is leaving us - she really will be missed.
Teresa has been a great supporter of ours, and we thank her for joining with us in recent years with community services such as Remembrance, the Dame School carol service and others, including the Ukraine vigil.
She will be missed especially by our chair and community pastor, Clive Heath, who has always found it a pleasure sharing such services with her.
We wish Teresa and husband Chris all the very best for the future!
Some dates for your diary: On September 30 our Hour a Month (HAM) is litter picking around the Hut Field, next to Mangotsfield United FC.
Mangotsfield Festival has its rescheduled AGM on October 3, at 7.45pm in the scout hall opposite the Lamb. They really need more support to organise and run the event, so why not go along?
Our next Red Lion coffee morning will be on October 4, at 10am.
October’s HAM, on the 28th, is bulb planting on the common by the Lamb.
If you want to get involved, get in touch at MangotsfieldRA@gmail. com, via the ever-popular Mangotsfield Matters Facebook page, call Clive on 07507 168700 or me on 07918 701881.
Chris AmosSOME fascinating photographs have shown a glimpse of the formative years of what is now Downend School.
Local resident Adrian Ainsley found the pictures, from 1956/7, showing how the school looked when his mother Elizabeth attended in its early days.
Back then, it had an outdoor swimming pool – can any readers shed a light on when and why that was closed?
The school arose out of several mergers, most recently between Page School for Girls and the coeducational Stockwell Hill in 1982.
Before that it was Staple Hill Secondary Modern School, and had separate departments for boys and girls.
Voluntary history group Downend Community History and Art Project (CHAP) aims to gather memories like these and share them widely in the community.
We are keen to learn about other readers’ memories of attending local primary and secondary schools, and recollections of how education has changed over the decades.
If you have a photograph or a memory you would like to share, please contact CHAP by email at big.gin@talktalk.net or by letter at CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS.
CHAP’s website is at www.downendchap.org.
CLEVE RFC have appointed the youngest captain in the club’s history.
Will Warman has stepped into the breach at the age of 20 this season, having started as a five-year-old in the minis and junior section.
He has worked his way through the year groups, gaining experience and development from his early Cleve coaches.
On his way towards 18 he also played college rugby at SGS and Bristol Academy.
When the young scrumhalf joined the senior setup, he immediately impressed the coaches and was promoted into Cleve’s first team.
He has shown over the past year he has great passing ability, speed and physicality.
The opening game of the season reflected the development Cleve are going through by putting young players in tough roles.
Cleve blooded five new
players. Opponents Longlevens, on the other hand, fielded a team full of experience and size, with most Cleve players outgunned by one or two stone and a number of years, so it was no surprise Cleve started the match under pressure.
For the first 10 minutes they were pinned in their own half and it felt inevitable when the Longlevens centre punched a hole through the Cleve defence and scored.
The visitors used their experience and skills to move the ball well and score on the wing.
Cleve started to put things together, however, and an attack into the Longlevens half saw a penalty awarded, which Will stepped up and scored.
But Longlevens again started to turn the screw, building a 24-3 lead before Cleve's forwards started to win ball and drove towards the line, going over and ending the first half down 31-8.
At the start of the second Longlevens continued to put Cleve under pressure, but the home side started to play with commitment and desire. Will passed the ball well and, during a really good phase of play, Arni Jarvis outpaced the Longlevens defence to score.
The match finished 15-57 to the visitors.
Cleve are trying to develop young talent and are running a colts team this season for the 16 to 18 age group.
They are regularly trained by senior coaches and often involved with first XV training sessions.
The Colts are entered in a league this year, however we are recruiting for more players. Rugby teams are using 23 strong so there are great opportunities for youngsters at Cleve.
About 100 sponsors, wives, volunteers and guests attended a three course meal as Cleve celebrated the opening of the Rugby World Cup in the Bromley Suite.
A meal of French onion soup and steak and frites was had before the hosts' opening match against the All Blacks was shown on the big screen.
MANGOTSFIELD'S FA Cup hopes disappeared for another year following a heavy 5-1 defeat at last year’s FA Vase winners, Ascot United.
Ascot were ahead inside two minutes but the Mangos battled well until the home side found their way through again in the 40th minute, going 3-0 up by half-time.
Ascot then made it 4-0 within 60 seconds of the re-start and, while a consolation from Jaydn Crosbie on 70 minutes made it 4-1, the home side's Brendan Matthew completed a hat-trick from the spot to make it 5-1 in stoppage time, with the penalty decision also seeing Mangos defender Stuart Tovey red-carded.
Next came a disappointing 1-0 Hellenic League away defeat to Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
In a close contest, the only goal came on 43 minutes when a low cross caught the Mangos defence off guard, with the home side's Bailey Gallagher producing a cool first-
time finish at the far post.
The Mangos then began their other potential route to Wembley via the FA Vase, commencing with a strong 3-0 home win against Thornbury Town.
Jaydn Crosbie (23 & 86) & Luke Bence (50) bagged the goals against a lively Thornbury side who, to their credit, kept going until the end. Overall it was a good performance by the Mangos, who now receive a bye in the next round.
However, two consecutive 2-1 home league defeats inside a week dampened the atmosphere around Cossham Street.
In the first Corsham Town, one of the title favourites this season, went ahead on 26 minutes, but Jaydn Crosbie levelled right on half time. A tense second half, with both sides going close, climaxed with an 85th-minute winner for Corsham.
The next defeat, this time to Slimbridge, was down to yet another late goal.
After Theo Clayson had put Slimbridge ahead in the early part of the second half, the Mangos equalised on 82 minutes through Lewis Short, only to see Romaine Campbell strike in the fourth minute of stoppage time to claim the victory. And there was still time for Mangotsfield’s Isaac Flynn to see red two minutes later.
The team returned to winning ways the following Saturday, with a 2-1 away win at Lydney Town.
After a goalless first half, Jack Hicks put
the Mangos ahead on 51 minutes. Lydney levelled after 70 minutes but the Mangos kept plugging away and for once a late goal went our way, with Will Ashton's 85th minute strike clinching a hard-earned away win.
The Mangos began their defence of the Hellenic League Cup with a 4-0 away win at Almondsbury against league new boys FC Bristol.
A sometimes feisty encounter saw the hosts reduced to nine men after two red cards. The Mangos used their numerical advantage well and could have scored more than their goals from Josh Pandolfino (4 & 78), Will Ashton (45+2) and Kyrese Morrison (49).
They travel to Warwickshire side Southam United in the next round.
September 27 Roman Glass St George (away)
September 30 Longlevens (home) Family Fun Day – Free Admission
October 3 Fairford Town (H)
October 7 Hereford Pegasus (A)
October 10 Brimscombe & Thrupp (H)
October 14 Hereford Lads Club (H)
October 21 Cinderford Town (A)
October 25 Southam United (A - league cup)
October 28 Worcester Raiders (H)
Dave Smale
WHO says life can sometimes seem to be just one long party?
Well, it certainly seemed that way for me at the end of the summer when September brought us back home from our holidays with a bang. Almost as soon as I returned from a wonderful three weeks away with the rest of the Buttons, it was straight into preparations for Cleve Chiropractic’s big 20th anniversary bash!
In all honesty, I didn’t really have too much to do with the party planning – thanks to the hard work put in by my colleague Catherine Quinn.
While I was sunning myself and enjoying mai tai cocktails in the south of France, Catherine was running wild to get things organised and, with access to the company card, she was clearly enjoying herself. Joking aside, she did a wonderful job – apart from some last-minute trips to the supermarket for fizz and blowing up a few balloons, it was all sorted.
It’s funny how I seem to treat everything as a job and often forget to just enjoy the party.
However, as soon as the guests began to arrive for the celebrations at the clinic, I started to relax. From the get-go, I was feeling a bit humbled by how lovely everyone was and how kind it was that so many people came to mark the occasion with us.
We had a great mix of patients, friends, family and colleagues and it’s always fun to see everyone get along. I have always been blessed by being surrounded by lovely, kind and generous human beings.
When Catherine gave me fair warning about a few special guests she had invited it put me into best behaviour mode. This month Catherine and I are travelling to the World Chiropractic Assembly being held in Australia. The head of the World Chiropractic Federation who run this event is our friend and colleague Richard Brown. I couldn’t believe that he had accepted the invitation to come to our little party in Mangotsfield… I immediately re-read and rewrote my speech.
She also invited our friend Peter Dixon who has been the head of every major chiropractic
organisation in Europe for 40 years… I decided to wear a tie. Then, for the icing on the cake, I discovered that Alan Martinovic, my old deputy head teacher at Colston’s School – and one of the country’s most successful schoolboy rugby coaches – would also be coming… I rewrote my speech, pressed my suit and polished my shoes.
So no pressure then… Catherine kicked off the speeches with what could have been my eulogy. I didn’t expect to be so moved by what she said but I guess, after all these years of seemingly sprinting uphill to create the modern clinic we have today, it finally got to me. Those who were there would have heard it in my voice when I started to deliver my heavily rewritten response.
After not being able to cough, or slow the annoying emotional lump in my throat, I panicked and did what I always do – I told a joke that I had thought of earlier and decided not to say…
‘Listen’, I said, ‘Everyone understands that you can’t do this
without a huge team effort and, as you have all heard before, there is no “I” in team… however, if there was, it would sound a bit like Tim’. Only kidding!
At least people kindly laughed – probably at me – but I could talk clearly again and managed to say some nice things and didn’t forget to thank all the important people. So after a wonderful few hours that felt gloriously self-indulgent for me and my beautiful family but also a great ‘thank you’ exercise for the greatest multidisciplinary staff team in the world, I felt thoroughly happy, relaxed and looking forward to the next 20 years supporting the people of Mangotsfield and beyond…
For some of us, though, the party wasn’t over, as we went out, out in Bristol… but that’s another story.
CARSONS and Mangotsfield Cricket Club had a successful end to the season.
On the penultimate weekend, the Under-16s (pictured right) played in the Gloucestershire T20 Development Final against local rivals Frenchay.
Batting first, Carsons and Mangotsfield scored 155, with Harry Ravenscroft 52 not out and Matt Clatworthy scoring 42.
Following some tight bowling, Frenchay were restricted to 133. The stand out bowler was Mani Ponting, who took 3-2 in three overs.
On the final weekend of the season the 1st
XI went in to their match against Patchway knowing a win would secure promotion. Patchway were dismissed for 165, with
George Sutton taking 4-23. The target was overhauled in the 30th over, with Tom King 82 not out and Oliver Clatworthy 35 not out. The following day the U19s played in the Gloucestershire T20 Development Final, also against local rivals Frenchay.
In a closely-contested match, Carsons and Mangotsfield scored 145, with the main contributions coming from Kieran Gallagher (50) and Tour Ponting (34), both of whom were not out.
Frenchay reached the target with four balls to spare, for the loss of five wickets.
Ian Coles
