Emersons Green Voice September 2023

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MAYOR NORRIS WISHES RESIDENTS MANY HAPPY RETURNS AND SINGLES

Passengers across Emersons Green are enjoying free bus rides throughout the month of their birthday as part of a major initiative designed to change the way people travel.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris says that he hopes Birthday Buses will help residents during the frightening cost-of-living crisis, and get more people using buses to help take polluting diesel and petrol cars off our streets. With Birthday Buses, every resident in the West of England can make unlimited journeys, at any time, across 350 square miles, throughout the month of their birthday.

We caught up with Helen Jones, whose birthday was on 10 August. She said: “I normally drive to and from work but during August it has been great taking the opportunity to

leave my car at home and trial a month walking into work, and then using my Birthday Bus pass to get the bus home. It’s helped my health and fitness by upping my daily step count and done some good for the environment and saved me money on petrol too.”

Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “It is great to give people a birthday gift but this is a serious plan. I am determined to help people make new habits. I hope that over the course of the month, people grow to like, and maybe even love, travelling by bus and so switch long term.”

This is important as while the majority of people who used buses pre-pandemic are doing so again they are making fewer journeys. It is therefore vital to attract new passengers to use the bus to build a thriving network.

Funding for the scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan. The West of England Mayoral Authority secured the second

VIEW FROM WEST OF ENGLAND MAYOR

There are two vital components to improve buses. One: new bus drivers - to tackle the severe national driver shortage impacting locally so we can run more services. Two: new passengers - to grow ticket income so bus companies want to run routes and taxpayer subsidies decrease. That in turn means fewer traffic jams and helps towards our ambitious net-zero targets.

highest settlement per head nationwide from Government of this fund.

Worked up in close cooperation with local bus companies the phased nature of the Birthday Buses means that over crowding concerns are minimised.

Voice readers can apply for their free Birthday Bus month pass at www.birthdaybus.co.uk.

Mayor Dan Norris

Helen Jones

Metro Mayor Dan Norris announcing Birthday Buses

WELL-SET FOR HIGH-SKILLED JOBS

Thousands of West of England residents have been taking part in free, flexible training courses so they can go on to get in-demand and high-skilled jobs thanks to a £8 million investment by the Mayoral Combined Authority.

One course that some of the learners took part in was to learn welding skills. They were taught in fully equipped workshops by lecturers with a combination of over 30 years of industry experience.

At the end of the course, all two dozen participants got guaranteed interviews with big West of England-located firms like EDF Energy as well as meetings and other opportunities with companies looking for people with the skills they were learning.

One learner said: “I really enjoyed the welding course. I must admit the bootcamp experience went above and beyond my expectations – both personally and professionally. I interviewed and found a great job before I finished my course. What a great opportunity for anyone looking to start a new career.”

Anyone who wants to be sign up for future training courses can visit: https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/skills

WEST OF ENGLAND IS BEES KNEES

The winners of an awards scheme showcasing “bee bestie” West of England groups taking superpositive steps to support bees and other pollinators in the region have been announced.

The unique competition celebrates the amazing bee busy groups who have gone above and beyond to look after the region’s busy bugs through actions like creating a blossoming community patch or nature friendly allotments, and everything in between.

The Bee Bold Awards ceremony took place as part of a fun packed day of performers, live music and pollinator activities, culminating in the 2023 Pollinator Champions being crowned by the Metro Mayor in front of locals.

There will be more Bee Bold Awards in 2024 so local community groups with pollinator friendly projects should keep an eye out for that!

Mayor Dan Norris finds out about welding skills

Jean Vernon (aka ‘Jeanie Bee’) discusses making the West of England the UK’s pollinator capital with the Metro Mayor

GREEN, LYDE GREEN, SHORTWOOD & PUCKLECHURCH

Students of Downend & Mangotsfield Sixth Form Centre celebrate after securing the A-level and BTEC results they need to take them on to the next stage of their education. A-levels

Parents demand school bus rethink

CHILDREN from Emersons Green and Lyde Green who catch a bus to their secondary school will have to be at their stop as early as 6.50am every day from the start of this month.

The 459 service, which takes children to Winterbourne Academy, is leaving 40 minutes earlier than last year - and will drop pupils off at 7.35am, almost an hour before the school day starts.

Parents also fear overcrowding on the bus,

because another service - the 458 from Fishponds and Downend - is being axed, and families who used it are being advised to take the 459 instead.

The new 459 timetable will see the bus leave Emersons Green Science Park at 6.50am, Sainsbury’s at 6.59am and the stop on Emerson Way, near Meadgate, at 7.05am before it heads to Blackhorse, Westbourne Road in Downend, Bromley Heath and Hambrook.

Turn to Page 7

There’s a fox on the postbox!

Guerillla knitters have installed a postbox topper in Emersons Green that celebrates the area’s aspiration to be a nature-friendly community.

PAGE 15

New designs for delayed schools

Revised designs for the longawaited primary and secondary schools in Lyde Green have been unveiled in a new planning application.

PAGE 5

Traffic lights bid to cut hold-ups

Temporary traffic lights at the crossroads of Westerleigh Road and Henfield Road aim to help to cope with increased use while Badminton Road bridge is shut.

PAGE 12

round-up: Pages 16-19

We're good to go!

Back to school

SUTTON Chiropractic in Downend helps you and your family get back to doing the things you love. As the kids go back to school it’s important we give them the best start and a comfortable time in this exciting, sometimes stressful phase. A recent study of primary school aged children found 38% had lower back pain caused by school bags! With this in mind, it’s time to alter those school bags, improve that posture and negotiate on screen time at home.

We want your whole family to be in the best of health, and enjoy life. So we thought we’d put together a few tips that can help the kids and parents get the best start this term.

1. Bags

This is an important factor and has the potential to hinder or help your child’s health if properly cared for. An overloaded, one shoulder carried bag will create postural distortions in the spine, rib cage and lower back – impacting on growth spurts, contributing to Scoliosis and creating problems further down the line. Equally weight and distribution of items within the bag have an important effect.

This can be easily avoided thankfully:

• Wear both straps – if this is totally uncool, encourage them to at least swap from one shoulder to the other regularly

• Keep bag light (less than 15% of their bodyweight)

• Pack the largest heaviest

items in the bottom, lighter smaller objects in the top of the bag

• Have the bag higher up on the back rather than lower down

2. Posture

What is good posture? Simply, posture is the body's position and alignment while at rest or in motion. In fact, did you know that there are actually two types of posture?

• Dynamic posture is simply our whole body’s posture while moving. It’s how we walk, run, lift, and bend.

• Static posture on the other hand is our body’s posture while at rest. It’s how we sit, stand, and lay.

Achieving and maintaining good dynamic and static posture is important because poor posture can have a direct negative impact on our bodies, both physically and mentally. Although back pain is the most commonly associated with poor posture, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Poor posture can also cause or compound:

• Back pain and neck pain

• Headaches and migraines

• Arthritis

• Respiratory issues

In addition to incorporating routine chiropractic care in support of proper spinal alignment and to limit postural imbalances, you can improve your posture with these exercises:

1. Chin tuck. Hold your head upright. Pull your chin in toward your neck; hold

that position for a count of five; then relax. Repeat 10 times.

2. Shoulder blade squeeze. Sit up straight in a chair with your hands resting on your thighs. Slowly draw your shoulders back and squeeze your shoulder blades together. Hold for a count of five; relax. Repeat 3- 5 times.

3. Abdominal pull-in. Inhale; then exhale slowly to a count of five, pulling your lower abdominal muscles up and in, as if moving your belly button toward your spine. Relax and breathe normally. Repeat 3- 5 times.

4. Upper-body stretch. Stand facing a corner with your arms raised, hands flat against the walls, elbows at shoulder height. Place one foot ahead of the other. Bending your forward knee, exhale as you lean your body toward the corner. You should feel a nice stretch across your chest. Hold this position for 20–30 seconds.

5. Arm-across-chest stretch. Raise your right arm to shoulder level in front of you and bend the arm at the elbow, keeping the forearm parallel to the floor. Grasp the right elbow with your left hand and gently pull it across your chest so that you feel a stretch in the shoulder on the right side. Hold for 20 seconds; relax both arms. Repeat to the other side 3- 5 times

3. Screen Time

All guidelines point towards reduction of screen time for children, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, puts it very simply; don’t get addicted, preserve your sleep and set a house rule for the amount of screen time you will all have.

Simple fixes of no phones at the dinner table and replace your phone alarm clock with a small travel alarm clock – keeping the phone out of the bedroom will help preserve sleep properly. We are creatures of habit and the quality of our habits determines the results. Essentially this means what we do today, sets us up for tomorrow. Keep consistent in the pursuit of your health goals and the changes will come.

We are running a Kids posture screening in clinic to help iron out the issues listed above, contact us to find out more.

Matt Sutton

NEW pictures of how Lyde Green’s much-delayed new secondary and primary schools are expected to look have been released by South Gloucestershire Council.

The computer-generated images have been produced for a new planning application, needed because of changes to the designs for the 900-place secondary school and 420-place primary school in Honeysuckle Road.

In a 14-page statement accompanying the updated plans, architects Alec French say the secondary school has been “redesigned to Department for Education requirements with additional rooms and facilities”, as part of the long-running project which is expected to cost at least £41 million.

The changes detailed in the new plans, which supersede plans approved two and a half years ago, include:

• Splitting the building into separate primary and secondary school areas, with separate main receptions

• Removal of an interconnecting door in the wall between the two schools

• A new “pupil arrival court”, with benches, better access to cycle parking and a “safer area for pupils to gather or disperse” away from the pavement and road.

• Fewer car parking spaces, to accommodate the new arrival area - these will now total 138, including 27 visitor spaces

• A secure fenced-off route for deliveries

• Removal of an amphitheatre and playground canopy from the primary school plans

• Enclosing a plant area on top of the secondary school to form a fourth storey for the part of the building - the classrooms will still be contained in three storeys.

To meet low-energy Passivhaus requirements the school will have triple glazing, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, heat pumps and solar panels.

New school designs revealed

The council expects the plans to be approved between October and mid-November, depending on whether they are ‘called in’ for a committee to discuss or left to officers to consider.

They can be viewed on the planning section of the council’s website, by searching for application P23/02334/RVC.

The new secondary school and junior school were originally due to open last year but the date has been repeatedly moved back, and it is currently unclear whether they will be completed by 2025.

In June the council issued a statement reiterating its commitment to the project, along with that of the DfE and the two trusts, Olympus and CSET, which will run the secondary and primary schools respectively.

It blamed “conditions in the construction industry” for the delays and said: “Costs have risen significantly, which has meant that we and the DfE, who are providing most of the funding, have had to look again at the designs to make sure they provide the schools we need, but that they are also affordable.”

The council said it was asking its partners to “agree a realistic timeline” for the project and said it would provide another update in the autumn.

The main secondary school entrance, right, with the primary school entrance recessed to the left.

Pictures: Alec Large Architects/South Gloucestershire Council

What the school buildings will look like from Honeysuckle Road

The primary school courtyard

emersonsgreenvoice

Shortwood bus service restored

A REGULAR bus service will return to Shortwood from September.

The 525 service from Emersons Green to Pucklechurch and Yate, which was introduced earlier this year, is being diverted to run through the village.

It means residents of Main Road and Shortwood Hill in the village will have a scheduled bus service running past their doors for the first time in nearly a year.

An announcement on the Travelwest website, run by the West of England Combined Authority, states that from September 24 the route is being revised to serve Shortwood and Peg Hill in Yate, along with its timetable.

When the Voice contacted Stagecoach about the changes the company was unable to provide any further details, with a spokesperson saying the company was “very much still in discussions” with WECA and South Gloucestershire Council over the service.

However a spokesperson for Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who leads WECA, confirmed that route changes to serve Shortwood and Peg Hill had been registered with the authority for the revised service, with buses using Johnson Road and Pomphrey Hill between Emersons Green and Shortwood.

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A member of the

The spokesperson said there would also be a “timetable shift to provide a new school-time link to and from Yate’s Brimsham Green School”, as the 967 school bus service previously operated by Transpora between Westerleigh and Brimsham Green has been cancelled.

The last bus to serve Shortwood was First’s Y5 service, which ran from Bristol city centre via Staple Hill and Mangotsfield to Pucklechurch, Yate and Chipping Sodbury.

When it was axed last October its replacement, the 47, bypassed Shortwood, using the Avon Ring Road and B4465 between Emersons Green and Pucklechurch.

The 47 was itself cancelled after just six months, ending the direct bus connection between Pucklechurch and Bristol.

Stagecoach stepped in to run an hourly service, the 525, between Emersons Green and Yate, which again used the A4174 and B4465.

The current 525 service runs roughly every hour, from 6.50am to 7.05pm between Emersons Green and Yate, and between 5.55am and 7.10pm in the opposite direction.

Among other changes to bus services announced in August, the region’s biggest operator, First, says an extra m3 metrobus late evening service is being introduced, leaving the Centre at 10.35pm and arriving at Emersons Green at 11.07pm.

For more details of service changes visit the website travelwest. info.

Parents demand rethink on school route changes

From Page 3

The change in the timetable is because the bus taking Emersons Green children to school will have to turn around and pick up pupils on another route, before the start of lessons.

Known as ‘stacking’, it is part of the arrangements to keep the remaining routes running with a council subsidy.

Parents were first told in June that five services, including the 459, faced an uncertain future.

In July South Gloucestershire Council said it had saved the 459 and two other services, the 460 from Coalpit Heath and 427 from Frenchay, using money paid by developers as part of planning deals. But on the last day of the summer term, parents were told the 458 and another service from Patchway were being axed, and the remaining services were being ‘stacked’.

Many of the children from Emersons Green, Lyde Green and Downend who use the buses attend Winterbourne Academy because they were unable to get places at Downend School.

The academy has recently increased its admission numbers to accommodate extra pupils because of continued delays in building Lyde Green Secondary School.

Parents in Emersons Green and Lyde Green described the new bus timetables as “crazy”, “totally ridiculous” and “absolutely shocking”.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the axed services has been signed by more

than 690 people. Parents are calling on operator Stagecoach, the council and Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who has overall responsibility for transport, to take “immediate action”.

Claire Virtue, who started the petition, said: “This decision not only jeopardises the safety of our children but also poses a significant threat to our environment due to increased traffic congestion. Without access to reliable public transportation, many students are now forced to walk long distances, along unsafe roads or rely on private vehicles for their daily commute.”

A council spokesperson said: “The stacked solution was developed in partnership with the school as a way of maximising the impact of available funding to retain as many of these services as possible.

“The school is making arrangements to supervise the children who arrive early, and this was the only way to continue to provide a bus via Emersons Green and serve the northern part of Downend.”

The council also advised Downend parents that they could use the 459.

The spokesperson said: “We are delighted that from September 3 the 459 will continue to serve Downend to help mitigate the loss of the 458 and children in the area can use it to travel to school at Winterbourne Academy.”

However another parent, Jenny Rawling, told the Voice the 459 route was almost half an hour’s walk from many homes

in Downend, which would mean children having to leave home well before 7am to reach it.

She said: “And the fact remains you can’t fit two bus loads of children onto one busthe 458 was pretty much full by the time it reached the Horseshoe (in Downend’s high street).”

A council spokesperson said that WECA, as the local transport authority, “is responsible for bus services in the region” and the council did not have “unlimited resources to fund all the services at risk”.

However a spokesperson for Metro Mayor Dan Norris said was the council’s responsibility to provide free transport “if the school attended is the nearest appropriate one” and three miles or more away.

Parent Simon Turner, from Frenchay, called on the council and Metro Mayor to stop blaming each other and “sit down like grown-ups” to find a solution.

The petition can be found on the change.org website, at tinyurl.com/mvjn9yaf.

Pupils of Winterbourne Academy and their families at a stop where school buses will no longer call, in Downend

what is vision therapy?

n TURNERS VISION

What is vision therapy?

As children settle back into school this term, after a break from focused learning during the summer holiday, it can often be a time when vision issues become known.

Go-to solutions for sight-related challenges are usually contact lenses or glasses, more rarely surgery. But could there be an alternative way to support a child or adult to see more comfortably?

Peter of Turners Opticians

0117 962 2474 0117 965 4434

Vision therapy is a specialised programme designed to help individuals develop and improve their visual skills

it can help with:

dyslexia - strengthening eye muscles and enhancing eye movement control head trauma - refocusing after injury or concussion

behaviour issues - improving behaviour and concentration

Vision therapy is a personalised programme designed to help individuals develop and improve their visual skills when the eyes and brain are not communicating properly. Unlike corrective lenses or eye surgery, vision therapy focuses on training the brain to interpret visual information more effectively.

www.turnersopticians.co.uk

Although suitable for adults and children, vision therapy is a common treatment for children as it is non-invasive and can be catered to a child's specific needs.

Here are some of the conditions where vision therapy can deliver excellent results:

1. Dyslexia

Dyslexia can affect reading, writing, and spelling abilities. While dyslexia usually involves language processing challenges, it has been linked to visual processing issues.

If a child has vision challenges, vision therapy can help them read more comfortably, which can lead to improved contributions in class, giving children a better chance of fulfilling their full potential. Vision therapy could involve exercises to strengthen eye muscles and enhance eye movement control. The best course of action is decided after a thorough assessment.

2. Head trauma

Head trauma, such as concussions or traumatic brain injuries, can significantly impact vision. Children and adults with head trauma can develop blurred or double vision, light sensitivity, and difficulty focusing.

Vision therapy for head trauma focuses on retraining the brain to process visual information by targeting the brain's ability to interpret visual input. This can help ease visual symptoms and improve overall comfort. Some exercises might include improving visual tracking, reducing light sensitivity, and enhancing eye-hand coordination.

3. Behaviour

Behavioural vision therapy addresses vision-related issues that impact your or your child's behaviour and attention. Children and adults who struggle with attention deficits, hyperactivity, or poor focus might have underlying vision problems contributing to these challenges. This form of vision therapy aims to improve visual processing skills and eye movement control, which can lead to improved attention span and behaviour.

Behavioural vision therapy activities may include exercises that require focus and concentration on visual tasks as well as activities that enhance hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.

Vision therapy can deliver highly successful outcomes in many cases, however, it should be viewed as a longer-term solution as it is not a quick fix. A typical therapy programme can take anywhere from 4-12 months to get the most out of it.

At Turners Opticians, we are vision therapy specialists and are happy to offer advice on this solution for either yourself or a loved one.

Call our Henleaze team on 0117 962 2474 or Fishponds team on 0117 965 4434, or visit our website www.TurnersOpticians.co.uk for further information. Peter

Peter Turner is a Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol, who also works as a Senior Optometrist at Bristol Eye Hospital. Peter has a specialist interest in visual development and visual performance.

Village cycle path left with missing link

PEOPLE in Pucklechurch who’ve been waiting decades for a safe route to Shortwood and Emersons Green for all road users will have to wait a little longer.

A section of a multi-use path has been completed over this spring and summer but the final part, on a dangerous bend, has been delayed because South Gloucestershire Council has not yet secured the land.

This means the path into the village currently ends with a ramp into a field. There is a right of way so able-bodied pedestrians can walk through the field to get to another section of path alongside the perimeter of Ashfield prison but cyclists face having to cross the road at a blind spot. In practice, this means they are likely to ride up from Shortwood on the road rather than use the new path.

The first section of the path was built 16 years ago and the part by the prison, which has never been popular with cyclists because of the dangerous exit, some years before that. Some villagers have questioned why the latest work, which necessitated months of temporary traffic lights, was started before all land deals were completed. Others bemoaned the continued lack of access for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

A council spokesman said: “We are committed to delivering the Pucklechurch

shared use path to provide a direct route linking Pucklechurch and other villages with amenities around Emersons Green and beyond, offering a healthy alternative to car travel. We have already built a large section of the path but have now paused construction while we work through legal aspects relating to land ownership along one section.

“Negotiation between the council and different landowners has been required to deliver the shared use path. These negotiations have progressed at different rates, so it was decided to begin construction where agreement had already been reached with the relevant landowners. Once the final negotiations have been completed, we will then be able to start work on the last section

to deliver the shared use path in the shortest timeframe possible.”

Boyd Valley councillor Marilyn Palmer, who was elected back on to the council in May, after the work had begun, said: “The current position is not satisfactory, and I have been assured that the council is working hard to secure the necessary agreements in order to complete the route.

“I have asked that once this is done, improved signage is provided and the overgrown vegetation cut back along the existing cycle path to make it more inviting to cyclists and pedestrians.”

Several trees, including a mature oak, had to be felled for the new path.

The council spokesman said: “A sympathetic landscape design has been developed to provide as much mitigation for the work as possible. Wherever possible the existing hedge and trees have been retained, although an established oak had to be felled. The change in levels between the existing ground/tree and the road/path are such that the oak tree would become unstable if left in place. A more varied mix of tree planting is being delivered with additional lengths of hedging and larger trees being planted. We have also been planting nearby within Pucklechurch to further increase local tree cover.”

The Pucklechurch ramp into a field

Exciting Opportunity: Become a Town Councillor!

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!”

Happy campers hit the TV road

PUCKLECHURCH and surrounding areas offer some fantastic walks – but sometimes dogs and their owners need a change of scene.

That’s what inspired retired teacher Anna Chelmicka to share favourite routes she has discovered from dog-friendly campsites around the UK in two books.

Now Anna and her lovely Labradors Pippin, who’s almost two, and her mum Pearl have found a new audience for their walkies after an appearance on TV.

Anna, 74, and her pets featured in an episode of the Channel 5 series Million Pound Motorhomes. Anna told viewers how she bought her camper van 20 years ago with money from her pension pot. It’s not a luxury vehicle like some in the series but has given her and her dogs, who are well known in Pucklechurch, where some of Pippin’s siblings also live, the chance to explore far and wide in the UK.

In a quirky segment of the programme, which also featured Dragon’s Den presenter Sara Davies visiting the Lake District in a converted delivery van, Anna was seen leaving her home and driving out of the village to a campsite in Hungerford where she talked about her love of Labradors and tea and her dislike of rain.

“It was great fun,” said Anna. “I love my motorhome. I have been to lots of 50 dog-friendly campsites and am busy working on my third book.”

Her first book featured 46 circular walks from 23 campsites and her second, More Wonderful Walks from Dog-friendly Campsites throughout Great Britain…with dog-friendly pubs nearby, 48 round routes. She also write online at Motorhome Musings.

Anna’s appearance in episode 2 of series 4 can be found on Channel 5’s catch-up site.

Motorhome owner Anna Chelmicka with Pippin and Pearl

Charity cup cheers Nick

A CHARITY football tournament has raised more than £2,000 to help a former Bristol Rovers player diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer.

More than 500 people came to Mangotsfield United's Cossham Street ground on July 27 to watch teams made up of influencers from social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitch and YouTube take on a select local side in the NA16 Cup.

The event raised a total of £2,300 to support Nick Anderton, who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma last year and retired from football in April after undergoing surgery and chemotherapy.

Among those taking part were YouTuber Danny Aarons, who has more than 1.4 million subscribers, goalkeeper Big John, who can be seen between the sticks on Sky TV's Soccer AM, and Bristol Rovers content creator Charlie Hayne.

The event was organised by Jake Milsom, 16, a Rovers fan from Emersons Green who has been working for the club after finishing his GCSEs at Downend School, and his cousin Reece Flook, 21, from Kingswood. It was filmed by students from media college Boomsatsuma.

Jake said: "It went extremely well - everyone enjoyed themselves and we've had a lot of good responses."

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Traffic lights for diversion route

TRAFFIC lights have been installed at a junction which has seen a surge in traffic since the closure of a bridge over the M4.

The bridge that usually carries thousands of cars a day over the motorway on the A432 Badminton Road, between Downend and Yate, was closed in July after "structural failures" were found.

August's Voice reported that the bridge, north of the Wick Wick roundabout near the Willy Wicket pub, was expected to remain closed to motor traffic until December at the earliest as experts from National Highways, which is responsible for the structure, carry out further tests.

After reports of road rage and congestion on small lanes near the diversion route, South Gloucestershire Council temporarily closed Coalsack Lane, Ruffet Road and Cooks Lane near the Kendleshire golf course, to through traffic.

It also installed temporary traffic lights at the crossroads between Henfield Road and Westerleigh Road, which have seen an increase in traffic heading to and from Coalpit Heath, Frampton Cotterell and Yate. Regular traffic lights were being installed at the site in August and are due to go live from September 4.

The council said: "These restrictions will remain in place for the foreseeable future but there are no plans to make them permanent."

The authority said the new traffic lights will be removed when the A432 reopens.

Motorists are being advised to use the official diversion, which takes traffic on a loop along Westerleigh Road to the A46 and A420 into Chipping Sodbury from the East, but this adds more than eight miles to journeys between Downend and Yate.

A National Highways spokesperson said work to inspect the underside of the bridge had now been finished and its inspectors were now working on the topside.

Pedestrians and cyclists can still use the bridge and the roads that have been closed near Kendleshire.

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As one of the most used areas in the home, fitted kitchens need to be a flexible space while being able to stand up to daily wear and tear. A new fitted kitchen can be customised to suit any layout and lifestyle.

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As one of the most used areas in the home, fitted kitchens need to be a flexible space while being up to daily wear and tear. A new fitted kitchen can be customised to suit any layout and lifestyle.

As one of the most used areas in the home, fitted kitchens need to be a flexible space while being able to stand up to daily wear and tear. A new fitted kitchen can be customised to suit any layout and lifestyle.

Give your bathroom or wetroom the look it deserves with a beautiful range of traditional and modern styles. We take great pride in our work and we respect clients homes and belongings. All works are fully insured.

Give your bathroom or wetroom the look it deserves with a beautiful range of traditional and modern styles.

Give your bathroom or wetroom the look it deserves with a beautiful range of traditional and modern styles. We take great pride in our work and we respect clients homes and belongings. All works are fully insured.

We take great pride in our work and we respect clients homes and belongings. All works are fully insured.

Blueflame Services also carry out renovations from extensions to Garage conversions. From drawings to the final coat of paint.

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The winning Team Blue celebrates

School is like ‘one big family’

A PREPARATORY school’s “confident, happy and curious” pupils and skilful teachers have been praised by inspectors.

Gracefield Preparatory School in Overndale Road was visited by Ofsted during the summer term.

The regulator’s report found the school was ‘good’ in all areas - quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

The independent fee-paying school has 68 pupils, aged from four to 11, and is owned by Morgan Education Ltd.

Inspectors Malcolm Willis and Hilary Goddard, who visited the school in late June, said pupils were “happy” there, adding: “Many of them use the word ‘fun’ when they describe school.

“They find learning ‘interesting and exciting’.

“Pupils are very proud of their school and work hard.

“Teachers have high expectations for pupils’ learning.”

The inspectors said pupils told them bullying “never happens”, and were supportive and tolerant of each other.

They said: “Pupils say that the school is like ‘one big family’.

“Those from older year groups support the younger pupils. Pupils say that everyone is kind to each other.”

The report said the school had a carefully-designed and well-structured curriculum, with assessment used effectively to identify pupils’ learning needs and inform future learning.

The inspectors said: “Teachers have good subject knowledge and use this to challenge and engage pupils.

“Teachers are skilful at adapting learning for pupils with special educational needs or disabilities, who learn well.”

The school’s “strong focus on reading”, with daily story times, effective phonics programme and well-stocked library, was highlighted, as was work to

revise the personal development curriculum.

Parents had “very positive” views and were well-supported as “co-educators”.

The inspectors said: “The proprietor and leaders are ambitious for the school and its children. They consider the school’s performance with care and plan what needs to improve.”

Head teacher James Gunter said: “I am delighted at the outcome of the inspection, confirming the continued high quality of education at Gracefield School.

“There are so many positive comments to take pride in and I am pleased that they were able to observe the unique features of our school for themselves.

“The report shows that our children are ‘confident, happy and curious’, and I am immensely proud of this as we focus on bringing out the best in them as individuals.

“The whole team are thrilled that their hard work and dedication has been recognised and we will now continue to raise standards further and build on our successful inspection report.”

Gracefield head teacher James Gunter celebrates the school’s report with pupils

See Tour race through South Gloucestershire

TOP bike race the Tour of Britain will pass through South Gloucestershire in September.

Stage Seven of the race, on Saturday September 9, will start in Tewkesbury and finish at Gloucester Docks.

On the way the peloton is predicted to pass through Chipping Sodbury High Street at about 1.53pm, Station Road in Yate about three minutes later and head from Iron Acton to Cromhall at around 2pm to 2.10pm.

The cyclists could arrive up to 15 minutes earlier or later,

depending on the weather and other conditions which could make their pace faster or slower.

The stage was originally intended to be part of last year’s Tour of Britain, but was cancelled following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Organisers say it will be “an undulating route to really test the riders on their penultimate day and will showcase the incredible scenery and landscape that Gloucestershire has to offer”.

Council leader Claire Young said: “The event is a great way to bring communities together

to spectate as the riders pass through our countryside, towns and villages, and will also showcase our wonderful area to its global audience of millions.

“The excitement of the race has the potential to inspire more people to get out on their bikes in the local area and enjoy the benefits of cycling and travelling sustainably.”

Race director Mick Bennett said: “We know how much people in Gloucestershire were looking forward to our planned stage in 2022, so, a little later than expected, we’re excited to

Celebrating pupils’ success

PUPILS from Lyde Green Primary School, Downend School and Mangotsfield School were among those whose achievements were celebrated at an awards ceremony.

The second annual Castle School Education Trust Celebration saw children from seven schools across South Gloucestershire gather at the University of the West of England Business School lecture theatre at the end of the summer term, to recognise some remarkable achievements.

Among them was Amber Degan, from Lyde Green Primary, who won the CSET award for Living School Values.

The trust said: “She was nominated for always going out of her way to check on other pupils and to put them first, always being ready to learn and being a role model to others, even though she is still just five years old.”

The CSET Team of the Year award went to Mangotsfield School’s Year 11 Netball Team, for their “dedication and tenacity over their five years at school,” which includes unbeaten seasons for two years.

The school said the students had become

role models for others.

Downend School pupil Yusuf Al-Habbal won the CSET award for Contribution to the Wider Community.

The trust said he had established a community for Muslim students at the school enabling them to carry out Friday prayers, while making sure they can pray without having their learning disrupted, adding: “His kindness, attentiveness and gentleness were praised by the school.”

The event also included performances from CSET every school, including a solo guitar performance of Queen songs by a Year 7 student from Mangotsfield and two tunes from a guitar ensemble from Downend School.

CSET chief executive Will Roberts praised all those present.

He said: “It is wonderful to be able to celebrate together what it means to be such a strong community of schools, with a shared vision and values.

“To have such a variety of pupils together, from five to 18 years old, and to celebrate their achievements along with

be heading to this beautiful part of Britain!”

The council is reminding anyone driving from the Emersons Green area to see the race to plan in advance and leave plenty of time for journeys, to allow for diversions in place because of the closure of the A432 Badminton Road bridge over the M4.

For more details visit www. tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/ stage-seven/

family members, is a great privilege.

“All those invited had already won awards in their own schools for their personal and group achievements, including sporting prowess, environmental action, contributions to the wider community and outstanding personal progress and resilience.

“Those gathered were able to share in some remarkable stories of personal achievement and support of others, often against a background of challenge and adversity.”

Downend School’s guitar group performs at the celebration

Postbox celebrates nature

A COLOURFUL knitted and crocheted post box topper has appeared in Emersons Green to celebrate nature in the area.

The decoration includes a fox, blue tit, hedgehog, toadstools and foxglove.

It has been fixed on to the post box at the corner of Adderly Gate and Emerson Way, and has been attracting praise from residents on social media.

The topper was created by a group called the Little Knit Club, whose members have asked not to be named.

A friend of the group said: “It’s to celebrate the nature community that Emersons Green is aspiring to be.

“It was inspired by a visiting relative from the USA, who saw one on a visit to Windsor. It was started the day the visitor returned, and the knit club continued and finished it.”

Boost your career with FREE Skills Bootcamps

The naturethemed topper in Emersons Green

'Strong set' of results at SGS

STUDENTS at SGS Sixth Form have achieved a "strong set of results".

South Gloucestershire and Stroud College says 70% of students at its Filton campus achieved grades A*-C in their A-level exams, with 40% of maths and 67% of further maths students securing A* or A grades, and 93% of criminology candidates achieving an A*-C grade.

SGS says 98% of students achieved their qualifications, with six out of ten students on the new BTEC forensics and criminal investigations course achieving distinctions.

Among those celebrating was Bryce Gapper, of Emersons Green, who is heading to

Warwick University to study maths after securing A* grades in A-level maths, physics and further maths.

He also took part in SGS Sixth's Honours Programme, which is designed to "foster a deeper understanding of subjects and encourage critical thinking".

Bryce said: “I have loved studying here.

"I really like my teachers - they are so kind and supportive.

"I have particularly enjoyed studying whilst doing the

rugby academy and I would recommend the programme to anyone wanting to play sport whilst studying.

"I am over the moon with my results. I couldn’t have asked for better."

The college, which draws students from across the district, says 16 students achieved A*s and As in all of their A-level subjects, and many of them have won places at the top 24 Russell Group research universities.

Another SGS Sixth student

mixing academic and sporting success is Isobel Patel, who has won a professional contract at elite women's cricket team Western Storm and dreams of becoming one of the country’s leading female players. She has also achieved A*, A and B grades in PE, biology and chemistry A-levels and will study sport and medical science.

SGS Sixth pastoral head Gary Parsons said: "Our students' achievements are a testament to their hard work and dedication, as well as the tireless efforts of our teachers.

"SGS Sixth takes immense pride in providing a nurturing environment enabling students to flourish academically and personally."

Academic head Becky Riddell paid tribute to staff, saying: "As we celebrate the achievements of our students, it is important to acknowledge the commitment, support, and professionalism our staff has demonstrated this academic year; the late nights, extra revision sessions and countless 121s have been the bedrock upon which our students' success stories have been built.”

Bryce Martin, from Emersons Green, will study maths at Warwick University

Billy Forsey, from Staple Hill, will study maths at Birmingham University after achieving A grades in biology, maths and physics.

Billy said: "I wasn't expecting it to be honest, but I put in a lot of effort. Physics was way harder than I expected so I wasn't expecting an A - I'm so happy about it."

Josh Pearse, of Downend, will study engineering at Bristol University after achieving a distinction* BTEC in engineering, As in maths and physics A-level and a C in history A-level.

Josh hadn't expected to do so well, and said: "I'm over the moon with my results."

Jamie Warren, of Downend, will study medicine at St John's College, Oxford University after achieving A* grades in biology, chemistry and maths.

Jamie said: "The hardest thing has been the wait for the results. It feels like more a relief than anything else, but it's good."

Charlie Palmer-Tulley, of Downend, will study politics and international relations at Sheffield University after achieving an A* in politics, A in history and B in religious studies. Charlie said: "I'm glad I got what I needed for Sheffield - I'm not too bothered about the actual grades."

Students celebrate 'fantastic' A-levels

DOWNEND and Mangotsfield

Sixth Form leaders hailed a "fantastic set of results" for this year's A-level students.

A nervous wait for teenagers across the country ended on August 17 when this year's results were published.

At the sixth form centre, which is based at Downend School but also serves post-16 students from Mangotsfield School, there was tension and excitement as the 90 students who sat exams this year tore open their brown envelopes.

This year the government signalled a "return to prepandemic grading" after three years of assessments and adjusted grades because of the covid pandemic.

It meant the sixth formers sitting their exams were told they would be judged in line with the standards of 2019, the last prepandemic year.

They had not sat formal national exams before, as their GCSEs took place in 2021 when classroom-based assessments were being carried out.

The Department for Education said that as a result of changes to grading, the proportion of top A* to A grades had fallen from 35.9% last year to 26.5% this year - although this was still above the 25.2% in 2019.

The number of A-levels

given grade A* to B was 52.7% nationally, compared with 51.1% in 2019.

At Downend and Mangotsfield the percentage of entries achieving A*-B grades was 46%, which head of sixth form Kate Long said "compares very favourably with previous years".

She said: "Downend and Mangotsfield Sixth Form students are celebrating a fantastic set of results.

"All students achieved passes, with 98% of our 230 entries achieving A*-E, allowing them to progress onto a range of destinations, including Oxford, Manchester, Bristol and Exeter University and prestigious apprenticeships with the Ministry of Defence, Avon and Somerset Police, EasyJet and many more.

"The hard work and dedication they have shown has allowed students from a variety of starting points to achieve their personal bests."

Mrs Long said a special mention should go to students who achieved top A* grades: Jamie Warren (3A*), Ali McCormick (2A*, A), Azaria Tesfaye (A*, 3A), Grace Perry, (A*, 2A), Elliot Sargent (A*, 2A), Alex Sheppard (A* 2A) and Reece Worrow (A* 2A B).

*GCSE results were being

announced after the Voice was published and will appear in October's edition.

'Immense pride' at St Brendan's

MORE than 450 students from St Brendan’s Sixth Form College are preparing to go to university after receiving their A-level results.

The college in Brislington has more A-level students than any other in the region, and 716 candidates sat exams this year.

A spokesperson said more than 95% of students received an A to E grade, with 17% achieving high A-levels or BTEC grades across all of their subjects and 55% of grades at Level 3 BTEC and Applied General courses being either top distinction* or distinction.

The majority of those who applied for degree courses will be going to their first choice university.

Among them is Rosie Moorhouse, from Emersons Green, who will study history

at Cambridge University after achieving two A* and two A grades.

The college says more students than ever before have secured apprenticeships in fields including accounting, law, business, computing and engineering, joining companies across the region including PwC, Burges Salmon, the NHS, Ministry of Defence, Thatchers Cider and Grant Thornton.

George Loomes, from Emersons Green, who will start a business management degree

apprenticeship in September. The former Downend School pupil achieved A, B and C grades after studying economics, business and history at St Brendan’s.

Among the other high achievers were former Downend School pupils Lily Coleman, who will study an art foundation degree at SGS after achieving two Bs and a C, Megan Price (A, C, D) who will study environmental science at Cardiff University, Holly Thorpe (3A*) who will study psychology at Cardiff and

Principal Marian Curran said:

"I am immensely proud of each and every one of our students for their outstanding achievements. Their hard work, determination, and unwavering spirit have resulted in exceptional results.

"They have not only excelled academically but here at St Brendan’s they have also become well-rounded individuals, ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

"I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated staff for their tireless efforts in shaping the future of our students.

The success of our students is a true reflection of the collective commitment of our entire college community.”

Lucy Harper (A, B, C) who will study law at UWE.

St Brendan's students Lily Coleman, Megan Price, Holly Thorpe, Lucy Harper and Gracie Faulkner celebrate their results

Rosie Moorhouse George Loomes

Super success for Collegiate

ALMOST three quarters of students sitting A-levels at Collegiate School achieved A* to B grades.

The independent school in Stapleton has hailed its upper sixth results in A-level, BTEC and CTEC exams this year as "excellent".

The school, formerly known as Colston's School, said 73% of its candidates A-level grades were awarded at A* to B, with 42% either A* or A.

Among the technical exams sat, 54% of CTEC and BTEC grades were either distinction* or distinction - the equivalent of A* or A at A-level.

A total of 19 students - a quarter of those sitting A-levels - achieved the equivalent of AAA or better, and 89% of university applicants secured their firstchoice courses.

Collegiate head Jeremy McCullough said: “Of course it is brilliant when a school’s collective raw results are very good but, as ever, it is the individual success stories that really demonstrate the value

Collegiate

Upper Sixth students celebrate their results

of the education a school has provided; it was therefore fantastic to see so many smiling faces at school.

“Our young people have worked very hard, been terrifically well-supported by their teachers and their parents, and have earned a fantastic set of results.

“Our approach has never been to focus solely on education as a means to achieving examination results.

High grades

STUDENTS at Winterbourne Academy achieved some "fantastic results", with two achieving A* grades in all four of their subjects.

The school in Winterbourne, which takes some of its students from Frenchay, Downend, Emersons Green and Lyde Green, saw 22% of A-level grades at A* or A and 45% of vocational grades achieving Distinction* or Distinction.

In Spanish A-level, 67% of grades were A*-A, with 63% A*-A in computing, 53% A*-A in maths, 64% A*-A in further maths, and 45% A*-A in physics.

"Our holistic approach to school life means that our young people’s learning extends far beyond the narrow confines of any exam syllabus.

"This cohort have contributed to school life in so many different ways and, in doing so, they will have picked up a great many other personal qualities, such as resilience, determination and kindness. These qualities will stand them in good stead for the future.”

Among the high achievers was Ben Aubrey, of Emersons Green, with 3 A*s in maths, further maths and physics and an A in Computing. He will study maths at Bath University.

Head teacher Jenny Cartwright said: "The determination and resilience of these students over the past few years has been inspiring to watch. Teachers and students have worked hard together to achieve these good results in unprecedented circumstances. ”

Where has the summer gone?

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 Group

Marquee saves Ham Farm Festival

A MUSIC festival held in a garden has been hailed as a success despite the poor summer weather.

Musicians Francisco and Emily Correa, who host the Ham Farm Festival in their garden off Emersons Green Lane, said the new marquee to cover both the stage and the audience "made all the difference", providing a "cosy, convivial and intimate" atmosphere, whatever the weather happening outside.

The festival took place over three days from July 27-30, with nine concerts and three interactive music workshops.

Musicians also performed three concerts in care homes during the festival, which is a charity supported by Emersons Green Town Council and South Gloucestershire Council.

Emily said: "As well as the professional double-bill evening concerts, local community groups performed daytime concerts which were free to attend.

"Bristol and East Kingswood Brass Band performed a fabulous set despite the pouring rain on the Sunday, and the festival’s opening

concert featured young musicians from South Glos Rock and Pop school - it was fantastic to see so many teenagers and their families supporting each other.

"As it grew dark, aside from the fairy lights all the light and attention was directed to the stage, where for three nights worldclass performers from different genres (classical and folk, world and Americana and swing jazz cabaret) delighted and surprised audiences."

The festival is now in its third year, and

National Award winners

Festival headliners

Miss Kiddy and the Cads with organisers Emily and Francisco Correa and Colombian composer and tiple player Lucas Saboya

another new addition was a sold-out autismfriendly concert, organised after audience feedback from last year's festival.

Emily said: "A very special event, providing professional music in a nonjudgemental safe space, and enabling the festival to reach more people in the community, this event will become a regular offering at Ham Farm Festival."

Plans are already under way for next year's festival, which will take place from July 27-29.

No extra cost or discount as bin strike ends

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council did not incur any extra costs from the recent strike by bin workers - but is not paying contractor Suez any less for the reduced service.

Around 150 members of union Unite went on strike for more than a month, from June 26 until July 31, in a dispute over pay.

During the strike, kerbside recycling and green bin collections were suspended as the council and its contractor prioritised black bin collections, keeping recycling centres open and operating temporary 'deposit points' for people to take food waste and recycling.

A spokesperson for the council said any extra "direct and indirect costs" incurred because of the strike were being carried by Suez, including the increase in pay negotiated to end the strike.

However the amount the council pays Suez under its contract to collect, recycle and dispose of waste is not being adjusted to account for the fact

that a full kerbside collection service was not being provided for the duration of the strike.

The spokesperson said: "The contract between the council and Suez, as a third-party provider, insulates the council from the cost of any pay award but there are no mechanisms within the arrangement to seek recompense for the strike action."

The council said there had not been an increase in reports of fly-tipping in the district over most of the period of strike action, including an earlier one-week walk-out from June 12 to 16, although there was "a slight increase towards the end of July".

Unite members voted to strike after rejecting an 8% pay offer from Suez, which the union said represented a "significant real terms pay cut" as it was well below inflation. The union called for a 15% rise.

A proposed 9% rise was also rejected before Suez came back with an offer of 10.1%, which was accepted at the beginning

of August. The strike was suspended from July 31 for the workers' vote.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Suez workers in South Gloucestershire stood firm in their union and secured a significantly improved offer.

"This is a well-deserved result for them and more evidence that Unite’s focus on enhancing jobs, pay and conditions is winning for our members.”

Unite members at Bristol Waste and Suez in Somerset also won bigger rises following disputes.

A Suez spokesperson said: "We are pleased that we have been able to agree a solution with the union and that further industrial action has been cancelled.

"We are extremely grateful to our employees for their important work and would like to thank the residents of South Gloucestershire for their patience during this time."

The contractor said it was

"conscious that residents had high volumes from the suspension of the service" and said it used extra resources to catch up on the backlog and resume normal services as quickly as possible.

Bulky waste collections restarted on August 14.

Asked by the Voice if penalty clauses for contractors unable to deliver a service would be inserted into the new waste contract due to be introduced in 2025, the council said it was "working to ensure a robust approach to contract arrangements".

Time to plan ahead to protect your family

Local peace of mind service

Many people are surprised that the law doesn’t always work in the way you would expect, should you become seriously ill or when you die.

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.

Our local legal experts in this area of law are Simpson Solicitors and they offer our readers:

John Baden-Daintree, solicitor says: “Almost every adult needs an up to date Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney, otherwise they may not realise it. Therefore they will often be leaving a legal mess for their family to sort out.”

EXAMPLES INCLUDE:

● A friendly service when you phone to find out about booking a FREE meeting on 01454 322 722.

• Spouse or partner not having the right to insist on you having the treatment or care you would want if you are too ill to speak for yourself.

● Feel welcome and wanted when you come to see us in our Chipping Sodbury office (opposite the Coventry).

• Your savings being frozen with no easy access even to pay for your care as Kate Garraway MBE discovered.

● Put you at ease as they guide you through your various options for making a Will to provide for those you most care about.

● An understanding service, whether your concerns are guardians for young children or protecting against care home fees.

• Depending on your finances and whether you are married, your partner could receive nothing when you die and/or nothing for your children.

• The inheritance you wanted to leave behind being used up in paying your care home fees, as a couple needs to put protection in both their Wills whilst both still have capacity.

● Use of plain English (not legal jargon).

● 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.

the protection they really needed in Wills and Powers of Attorney”. Call Simpson Solicitors - our local experts, fully regulated and insured for your peace of mind. They offer our readers a FREE genuine review meeting and 20% off the full price of Powers of Attorney.

● 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.

● Provide a complementary aftercare service that leaves you feeling cared for.

• The Court (OPG) has issued guidance that everyone over 18 should have powers of attorney in place so someone they trust can make decisions for them. This prevents others taking advantage.

To book your free review pop into our Kingswood Office (opposite Costa Coffee in the Kings Chase shopping Centre) or call 0117 960 8594

● 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

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.

● Clear fixed prices with no hidden costs if you decide to instruct them.

Michelle Baden-Daintree adds, “It is sad when we meet clients who have left it too late to put in place

Ensure your family and loved ones are protected

your assets pass to those you choose to inherit.

Michelle Baden-Daintree

Gaming on your tablet

WHILE consoles and PCs are the most talked-about formats for gaming, the one which actually sees the greatest number of active users is the tablet.

Both iPad and Android tablet each boast thousands of games to choose from. Combined with a tablet’s ease of use, it’s a recipe for success.

So which games are worth checking out if you want to give table gaming a try?

The first is Stardew Valley, available at the App Store and Google Play. In this game, you’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot and, armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin a new life.

The true test is learning to live off the land by growing crops, raising animals, and cultivating a thriving community. It’s cosy, engaging, and for only £4.99, it’s a steal!

The next game to try is Wordscapes, also available on Android and iOS. Great for some quick brain training while on the go, it’s much like a crossword, in the sense of needing to look at the number of letters needed and guessing the word needed to fill in the blank.

The purpose is to create words from the letters within the word wheel to fill out the crossword puzzle on the screen.

Best of all, this game is free to play, with only the occasional adverts on the bottom of the screen.

Finally, try Pikmin Bloom. An augmented reality game, it’s made by the creators of Pokémon Go, and there are many similarities between the two, which encourage you to spend time outside exploring your surroundings. A player’s real-world movements are rewarded with items for Pikmin creatures, and these can be used to power them up or customise your looks.

While having some ‘micro transactions’ in the app, the game itself is free and doesn’t require real money to get the most out of it.

Why can’t a big company keep its car park clean?

I TOOK this photo earlier this summer in the car park of the Emersons Green Premier Inn and Beefeater.

Littering, fly-tipping and unauthorised use by non-customers has been a perennial problem there.

There have been blitz clearances in the past and more recently installation of litter bins. Unfortunately any new initiative to alleviate the continual eyesore of litter, builders tipping and takeaway food did not include an ongoing maintenance programme!

I am saddened when a national company, with adequate resources but no will, allows this to happen.

This car park’s cleanliness and unauthorised use has been disregarded for many years.

I am certain that Whitbread can afford an hour’s labour, twice per week, to completely resolve the eyesore that is this car park.

Paul Gillespie

Poppy Appeal needs help

THE UK’s biggest Armed Forces charity, the Royal British Legion, is appealing for new volunteers to help run its annual Poppy Appeal to raise vital funds to help veterans, current serving personnel, and their families, who have served and sacrificed for their country.

If you are looking for a more active part in the Appeal, we would love to have you as the Poppy Appeal Organiser for Bristol City Centre, Clifton, Westbury-onTrym or Bishopston and Horfield.

This role is crucial to delivering the Appeal and includes distributing poppy boxes, organising a team of dedicated volunteers, and counting money. You will be fully supported, including receiving training before the Poppy Appeal.

To find out more about volunteering, visit rbl.org.uk/ poppyappealvolunteer or call 0345 845 1945.

Louise Dolen, Community Fundraiser, RBL Bristol and South Glos

SHORTWOOD VILLAGE WI

THE weather was looking iffy for our open air summer evening in August but we were lucky and the rain held off.

Thanks to Diane, once again, we all gathered in her front garden for a relaxing evening, with an American Supper and BYO drinks.

Our competition this year was to grow some carrots from the seeds supplied by us and we then judged the categories, to include the heaviest, longest, shortest, fattest, thinnest and the wonkiest. Sadly, despite our efforts, a few of us were not able to grow any at all, so we impartially judged the competition and the winners were rewarded with a luxury bar of chocolate.

Well done to Charlotte, who had organised a quiz to solve the twenty riddles, ordained around the trees, which we tried to solve while eating our American supper.

This proved exceedingly difficult for most of us but it was “Oh yes, of course" when Charlotte gave us the answers.

A typical question was: "What is on the ground but does not get dirty?"

A shadow, of course.

Sheila came out on top by a

country mile, and was rewarded with a box of Heroes.

After a natter, as the light was going, the evening came to an end.

For our September meeting we will welcome Andy from East Bristol Auctions.

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 September 8 at 7.30pm.

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.

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

Lynne Miller

BEECHMERE BELLES WI

AT last, the sun is shining, the ducks have put away their brollies, and it’s safe to put our sandals back on.

A couple of Saturdays ago we had a coffee morning at a local independent coffee shop very close to Emersons Green Village Hall, and I think we witnessed be.

MANGOTSFIELD LADIES (DOLLY MIXTURES)

WE celebrated our first anniversary in August.

We began the meeting by reflecting on the life of our friend and member Esme Lucas, who passed away on Monday August 7.

We celebrated Esme’s 95th birthday back in February; she was a member at St James Church Hall from 1976 and most of us met her in the mid-90s.

She was a hairdresser in Staple Hill, born in the house she lived in and, on a personal note, knew my father and worked with his father in Fishponds.

When Mangotsfield Ladies was formed last August, Esme suggested we call ourselves Dolly Mixtures, so in memory of her we have decided to change our name to Mangotsfield Dolly Mixtures.

For our birthday party we decorated the hall with bunting, flowers, balloons and a first birthday card for everybody to sign.

There is a lovely traditional sweet shop on the high street in Keynsham, where the lady weighed up 25 x 50g portions of dolly mixtures.

We had two lovely fresh cream Victoria sandwich cakes. A first anniversary is paper, so we combined a toast to Esme in paper cups with a packet of dolly mixtures and sang happy birthday to us.

One of our members had brought along a karaoke machine, so we entertained ourselves with song and laughter, starting with Tina Turner, followed by Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones, and finished with a recording from local lad Frankie Johns.

In September subs are due for the year and we plan to have an informal evening.

For our social calendar in October, we have a visit to Chew Valley Distillery for a cocktail evening. In November we visit the Bristol Hippodrome to see Pretty Woman.

Carol Coombs - Mangotsfield Ladies - carol@applause.co.uk

Some ladies arrived intact, hair all lovely, fresh faced; a couple, of which I was one, looked like they had been blown in from Kansas in the middle of a monsoon. Even the rainbows weren’t sure what to do that day.

We had a lovely morning, with great company, great food and great coffee.

Joining a WI is not all about the monthly meetings but the extra events as well. Craft mornings and evening events are just a few of the things we do.

Our last meeting had a lovely speaker who told us all about weddings, their traditions and how certain things came about. Did you know it was Queen Victoria who decided to break with tradition and wear a white wedding dress? Of course, every girl then wanted to wear white.

We asked our ladies to bring either a photo of their wedding or a wedding they had attended, so we could play a game of ‘guess the year’. There was lots of fun and laughter at the fashions over the years - we were rubbish at guessing the year but at least we all got at least one correct, and the winner, with the most correct years, won a bottle of bubbles.

September sees us being educated about the night sky, while October is our AGM.

Our lovely committee is already planning the programme of events for 2024: we have some great ideas and will strive to book varied and interesting speakers.

Pop in if you think you might like to be part of the WI: the first meeting is free.

We meet at Emersons Green Village Hall on the fourth Thursday of every month at 7.30pm. Be warned - there is amazing cake available!

For more details email beechmerebelles@gmail.com.

Don’t miss our Sizzler

WE are currently having fun planning our Summer Sizzler event. We rescheduled from earlier in the summer holidays (due to a forecast of high wind and torrential rain - thanks England!).

The Sizzler will now be on Sunday September 17, at the Bristol and Bath Science Park.

Do join us from 11am-4pm for live music, a fun dog show and some great stalls, delicious food, games and activities.

We would like to thank our main sponsors- Sovereign Housing, Livewest, ALD Automotive and Emersons Green Town Council for supporting this event.

Tickets are now on sale for our fabulous pantomime. This year it’s Treasure Island (ahoy me hearties!), so make sure you book your tickets soon.

All events can be booked on virtual box office at buytickets.at/ lgca.

If you would like to volunteer for future events then please get in touch to hear more about how you can work with your local community to make living in Lyde even better!

You can reach us via Facebook @lydegreencommunityassociation and @LydeGreenCC, email info@ lydegreenca.org or call the office on 0117 957 0410.

For party or event bookings email Bookings@lydegreenca.org.

Helen Crew

September 7

n LONGWELL GREEN ORCHESTRA OPEN EVENING, Longwell Green Community Centre, 7.30-9.30pm. Come and play along, chat with us, listen and find out if it’s for you. All instruments welcome. Free event.

September 9

n DOG SHOW for St James Church at the church hall, Richmond Road, Mangotsfield. Registration from 10am, show starts 11am. Classes include prettiest bitch, most handsome dog, waggiest tail, best rescue, golden oldie (over 7), dog most like its owner and best trick, as well as overall best in show. Entry £1 per class, with rosettes and prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

September 9

n BILLY KART DERBY, Page Park, 11am-5pm. Inclusive family fun day - come and cheer on the local teams who have designed, built and decorated their own karts to be raced around the historic Page Park clock tower.

September 12

n SODBURY AND DISTRICT FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

SOCIETY PRACTICE CLASS, theme: ‘A Triangle Design’. Also on September 26 demonstrator Kathryn Delve presents ‘A Touch of Spry’. (£5 entry for non members). The Old Grammar School Rooms, Chipping Sodbury, 7.30pm. For more information call 0117 937 3836 or email rosemary. cummins2@gmail.com

September 23

n FAMILY AND LOCAL HISTORY

FAIR, BAWA centre, Southmead Road, Filton, 10am-4pm. Free event hosted by the Bristol & Avon Family History Society. Talks, tips and advice from regional family history groups on researching your ancestors. More information from www.bafhs.org.uk, BAFHS Facebook page or fhfair@ onmicrosoft.com.

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.

REGULAR EVENTS

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

HAIR DESIGNERS

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 BRISTOL MALE VOICE

CHOIR are recruiting new members. 7pm - 9.15pm, St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. A varied repertoire, no audition. No need to read music - our regular practices will get you in shape to sing at our regular concerts and enjoy the social vibe. www.bristolmvc.org.uk email secretary@bristolmvc.org. uk Telephone 07764447699.

n COFFEE, CAKE AND COMMUNITY MORNING at Emersons Green Village Hall, 11am-

We would love to publicise your

event

Send details of your events and activities in the following format: WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words: email us at: news@emersons greenvoice.co.uk or call us on 07715770377

1pm. 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.

Here at Craig Anthonys we pride ourselves not only on the styles but also the advice that we can provide. Our award winning team with years of experience in colouring and cutting can provide a style unique to suite you.

To arrange a no obligation consultation pop in or give us a call.

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.

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 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. ADVERTISING

Summer Reading Challenge

NOT finished your challenge or mini-challenge yet? There is still time! Ready Set Read finishes on Saturday 9th September, so keep on reading to gain your smelly stickers, certificate, medal and all those rewards.

Lego Clubs

The next Lego Club at Staple Hill Library will take place on Saturday 2nd September, while at Downend Library it will take place on Saturday 9th September. In both cases the times are 10.30am –11.30am, its FREE and no need to book.

Computer Classes

In September the next FREE SGS College IT course is being held at Downend Library on Tuesday mornings.

Skills you can learn on these courses include:

• video chat with friends and family online

• online shopping and how to buy groceries

• using the internet to search for information

• how to compare prices online

• understanding email, messages and attachments

• learn about safety and security when working online For bookings or further questions please contact Cindy on 0117 9092296 or email cindy.corbett@sgscol.ac.uk

At Staple Hill Library our Community Learning service will be running an IT For Beginners course starting in mid-September on Wednesday mornings.

Enrolments will take place at the library on Thursday 7th September 5pm – 7pm or for details of other enrolment sessions please contact 01454 864613.

At Emersons Green Library we also provide one to one IT support, please ask staff for details.

Can you help for one hour a week?

Helping lower income children

CHILDREN from lower-income families are less likely to achieve academically than their better-off peers.

National education charity, Action Tutoring, works to level the playing field by offering free maths and English tutoring to disadvantaged pupils in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

Are you interested in volunteering, getting more involved in your local community, or doing something a little different with your time? By volunteering as a tutor for just one hour a week at a local school, or online, you can give vital academic support to pupils whose families couldn't otherwise afford it.

It’s a fun and rewarding way to spend your time and no previous teaching or tutoring experience is required. Action Tutoring provide the training and all the resources; volunteers don’t need to plan lessons or be curriculum experts. You are supported every step of the way.

Fill in their short online application form to get started actiontutoring.org.uk

Volunteers provide vital maths and English support

No experience necessary Apply: actiontutoring.org.uk

to pupils from lowincome families

Final bell for Bristol Sporting Club

ONE of the West Country’s oldest sporting institutions is closing after 56 years.

Bristol Sporting Club has raised considerable sums to support amateur boxing throughout the region by holding black tie dinner shows in Bristol.

These featured boxing matches with teams representing the Western Counties Amateur Boxing Association taking on representative teams from around the country, including UK Armed Forces teams.

Many international sports stars have attendeds, including Bobby Charlton, Jim Laker, Pat Eddery, Robin Cousins, Jeremy Guscott and Gareth Edwards.

The club, formed in 1967 by a group of Bristol businessmen, is a registered charity and was the first in the country to be established specifically to support amateur boxing.

Chairman David Rayfield said the rising cost of organising shows and the economic climate since the pandemic had led to the committee taking the difficult decision to close.

He said: “Over the years we have relied heavily on the support of local businesses to support our shows but it has become increasingly difficult to attract new members.

“We appreciate that times have changed for many businesses and the cost of entertaining clients and sponsoring boxing has become

Baptist minister Kevin retires

John Thornell hands over Bristol Sporting Club’s remaining funds to Dennis Stinchcombe

harder to justify in the modern era.We would like to thank all those who have given so generously over the years and wish all amateur boxing clubs in the West Country good luck in the future.”

Club president and founder member John Thornell, 89, of Emersons Green, presented a cheque for £10,000 - the club’s remaining funds - to Dennis Stinchcombe MBE of the Western Counties ABA to support boxing clubs throughout the region.

Nigel Turner

A BAPTIST minister is retiring after 25 years with the church.

The Rev Kevin Donaghy will be retiring as the minister of Emersons Green Baptist church at the end of August.

Church members are now seeking to appoint a new minister and will continue to run services as normal.

Church services are held at Emersons Green village hall on Sunday mornings at 10.30am and all are welcome.

The church also runs a parent and toddler group on Friday mornings during term time only - the group is called Rainbow Tots and meets at Emersons Green village hall from 1011.30am.

For more information about the church, e-mail church.egbc@ outlook.com or call Simon on 0776 520 1435.

Sahbina races world’s best

A BMX rider from Emersons Green has had her first taste of world championship competition.

Sahbina Ashman qualified for a place on Team GB in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, held in Glasgow in August, after competing successfully in all of the qualification rounds of the National championships and winning a trophy at the British championships at the end of last year’s BMX season.

Downend School pupil

Sahbina, 14, took up the sport in 2018. In 2021 she won the South West BMX Regionals, and was the girls’ champion in her category for that year.

To prepare for the World Championships she has been racing some of the best 14-year-old boys in the region.

Mum Chui Green said Sahbina missed out on reaching the quarter finals by just one place, and ended the championships 37th overall in her age group.

Chui said: “She was very unlucky.

“However she took away a lot from the experience, racing with the world’s best on a big stage, with an audience of thousands watching from the stands.”

Sahbina is returning to domestic competition, aiming to better her eighth place finish at last year’s British Championships.

Chui added: “We are very proud of her, she achieved what she set out to do and 37th is a great result for her first world championships.”

Transplant games silver for Clare

A SWIMMER who had a kidney transplant six years ago is celebrating after winning three silver medals at the British Transplant Games.

Clare Balbi competed in the 50m, 100m, and 200m front crawl races at the event in Coventry at the end of July, beating her personal bests at each distance by 7, 14 and 6 seconds respectively.

Clare, of Lyde Green, said: “It was an amazing event and it was fantastic to meet all the people like me who have had transplants, and the amazing things that can be achieved.

“I had the best time, making memories for life, and will be planning to compete again next year.”

Clare received a kidney from her mother, who was found to be a match, in an operation at Southmead Hospital.

Last year Clare and a team of supporters raised £1,400 for Kidney Research UK with a sponsored distance swim at the David Lloyd Emersons Green sports club, but she missed out on competing at the transplant games due to an injury.

Sahbina Ashman

Claire Balbi with her silver medals

Intriguing days out

Visit Dyrham Park this season to explore the newly restored house and soak up the colours of autumn. Less than half an hour from Bristol

nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park

Flyers start season away

DOWNEND Flyers start their new season away to local rivals AEK Boco before hosting FC Chippenham in the FA Cup.

With three senior teams and 19 girls' teams, the club, which plays its home fixtures at Pomphrey Hill, is the largest and fastest-growing female side in the area.

First team captain Alice Baker said: "We are working hard in training and pre-season matches and there is a real buzz around the place.

"The league fixtures are looking exciting and we can't wait to get started.

"It has also been great to see so many of the younger players coming through the ranks from the U16s, stepping up in women’s football.

"We now have a clear pathway from five years old all the way up to our three women’s teams.

"Us women are all about inspiring the next generation too, showing the younger girls where they can be playing in 5-10 years time, which is just amazing.

"As a club we are all looking forward to cheering them on and they can’t wait to cheer us on. We are one big club and that is what makes Downend Flyers so great. Bring it on!"

This season the women's teams have a range of sponsorship packages on offer.

Anyone who is interested in sponsoring a player, a match or being a youth mascot for an afternoon should contact info@ downendflyers.com.

First XI opening fixtures:

September 3: AEK Boco (away)

September 10: FC Chippenham (home) FA Cup

September 17: Weston-super-Mare (A)

September 24: Gloucester City (H)

THE Thursday morning Slimming World group had the honour of raffling a marrow grown in the Community Garden at the Lyde Green Community Centre.

The marrow is one of over 350 FREE foods on the Slimming World healthy Food Optimising eating plan, it is also a SPEED food.

Consultant Lesley was given the marrow by the centre manager Helen to add as an extra prize in their weekly raffle.

Lesley said that she was very excited and felt honoured to be given it and that there are lots of ways to cook marrow making tasty meals for all the family.

Lesley said: “ We are a small

Charity sponsor helps Jags

CHARITY Brunelcare, which supports older people in the region, has turned its attention to youth by sponsoring a girls' under-12s football team.

The charity has agreed a two-year deal to sponsor Emersons Green Junior FC’s Jaguars, providing kit for training and matches.

The Jags have already worn the kit in the recent Ashton FC tournament, which they won.

Brunelcare clinician Sarah Baker, who works at Orchard Grove Reablement Centre, was a footballer herself and is an assistant coach for the Jags, who count her daughter among their players.

Sarah said Brunelcare's support was "truly fantastic", adding: "With their sponsorship, we have received the necessary kit to embark on the girls’ football journeys for the next two years, which includes our eagerly anticipated first competitive season.”

Duncan Gardner

A spokesperson for the charity said it was looking forward to "following the team’s journey" this season.

Community Garden provides raffle prize

and friendly bunch of like minded people, and everyone is welcome to join us. We meet every Thursday at 9.30am. We offer a very warm welcome, friendly advice & support in achieving your dream weight. Food Optimising is a very easy plan to follow and is also a very healthy way of eating. Lesley also runs a group on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm

To find out more about Food Optimising and joining either of the groups, contact Lesley on 07503524459 or simply come along to one of the meetings.

Members of Emerson’s Green Junior Football Club’s under-12s Jaguars in their new kit

Holiday injuries – a postcard from Provence

We’re having a lovely time – but you might not quite wish you were here!

Every year, at some point in August, I sit and write a blog from holiday and, as usual, the Button family are in Provence in the south of France.

I have to tell you straightaway that this holiday has proven particularly dangerous for us as the potential perils of trips abroad are brought into sharp focus. It all started well as I followed my own advice and shared the weight of our luggage evenly over three bags so there wasn’t a single really heavy piece of luggage to hurt my back.

I got everyone to wear comfy trainers for travel through the long day from Bristol airport to Marseille and on to our little holiday villa. We managed to get through this first day and began to relax into the holiday – but then the trouble began.

First, my wife Jenny slipped getting into the pool to leave her with a peach of a bruise on her bum. Then, on the same day, my dad slipped down the stairs and hit his back on the same step.

Taking a tumble when you’re a grown-up is often a cause of serious injuries. When you are four years old, like my youngest son, you are designed to bounce and can, indeed, fall multiple times a day and carry on like nothing happened. When you’re 78, like my dad, then a fall is much more severe and the bruise and cuts over his spine looked nasty.

Initially, there is plenty you can do to help after your first assessment – making sure that the patient hasn’t suffered a fractured spine and is safe to move and doesn’t need A and E, then getting them to rest up with an ice pack. We continued to keep an eye on him throughout the day and into into the next, to check he was improving rather than regressing.

Thankfully the cuts and bruises were the worst part of his injury and, with some light work from his handy live-in chiropractor, we carried on with the trip – although we looked at the pool steps with a bit more caution!

The holiday continues as most trips like this do with lots of ice creams, sunbathing and dragging the kids round ancient

monuments in the vain hope that they somehow absorb some culture into their bones, in between moans about the heat and their incessant need for more refreshments.

During one such fabulous walk around a Roman amphitheatre in Vaison-la-Romaine (look it up, it’s amazing), it was my mum’s turn to join in. By the very nature of this large amphitheatre, there were a lot of steps to walk up and down in the heat and, by the end of the morning, I noticed that my mum was limping. On further investigation, she admitted to having pain in her knee.

I stopped her limping and got her to sit under one of the many Cypress trees. After batting away the immediate pain of my children moaning about the heat (why have we stopped and when can we have an ice cream?) I managed to test mum’s leg and look for the source of her medial (inside) knee pain. Sure enough it was a common injury called a medial collateral ligament sprain. You can test for this quite easily anywhere – I have done it countless times on a rugby pitch.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have my kit bag with me. However, it isn’t usually a serious injury, so I helped her limp to a nearby restaurant, put some ice on it and even managed to get the kids their ice cream. As soon as we got back to the villa I had just the thing in my bag – some kinesio tape.

There is some skill attached to putting this medical tape on. I have been on many courses to find out how to do it just right but, if you get stuck on holiday, try and buy some from a pharmacy and go on YouTube to see how to apply it.

As I write this rather detailed ‘postcard’ we have left the hills of Provence and are staying by the beach in Ramatuelle. The sun is shining and so far the Buttons seem to be recovering from their injuries. Fingers crossed we make it back with no more hiccups!

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer. Best wishes from the seaside.

SPORT

Cleve start preseason with win over Imperial

CLEVE opened their preseason programme with a match to coincide with the club's Cider Festival.

Cleve started strongly, driving into the 22 with a number of pick-and-go moves.

A pick up and dart towards the line had Will Warman scoring the first try of the new season at the Hayfields.

The wind was very strong, and this affected the kicking of both fly-halves, so conversations were hard to come by. During this spell of dominance Cleve went over the line a number of times but failed to touch down.

Imperial were now competing well in the rucks and, from an inside break, scored to make it 5-all.

Cleve then began to show what they have been working on during preseason with new backs coach Lewis McKissick. From a scrum and pickup by the Number

A lineout at Cleve's match

8, the ball was moved through hands out to the wing, where Andy Priddle scored.

The way the ball was being moved along the backs showed how much the team has developed under the new coaching system.

Imperial, however, were

MANGOTSFIELD United started their league season, unusually, on a midweek night with a 0-0 draw away to Fairford Town.

It was a game of few chances at either end, and a draw was a satisfactory start to the season for both clubs.

Next came a very welcome 2-0 home win in the FA Cup, against Royal Wootton Bassett Town.

A good strong performance against determined opposition saw the Mangos go ahead on 22 minutes, thanks to a Jaydn Crosbie penalty.

The game was wrapped up in added time by Marcus Kelly, with the reward a trip to current FA Vase holders Ascot United in the next round.

Mangotsfield’s next league game was a disappointing 2-1 away defeat at Highworth Town, even though it was a closely-fought game.

Highworth opened the scoring when Tom Griffiths burst into the penalty area only to see his shot hit the near post, but the ball fell to Josh Davis, who found the roof of the net

always competitive and again scored after a period of pressure near the line. They managed a conversion for 15-12.

The game became an endto-end affair. Cleve maintained their ability to move the ball along the line and scored again, the kicker hitting the post on the

conversion attempt: 20-12.

At the start of the second half Imperial drove the ball and were able to recycle it well.

It was their turn to move the ball to the wing and score, to make it 20-17, before going ahead when a mistake and an interception by a back-rower saw him score under the posts.

Will Warman came back on and got the Cleve backs functioning well again. There was also a number of impressive drives by front row forward Steve Bush.

The impact of both was immediate, and Cleve scored to make it 25-24, but were not finished.

With a minute to go, the ball was again moved wide and the winger went through and scored under the posts, for a final score of Cleve 32, Imperial 24.

Stephen Bateman

4-1 rout gives Mangos first league win

from 12 yards. Highworth missed a penalty on 53 minutes, with Sol Pryce firing high and wide, but Luke Whelan added a second goal a short while later, with a well-aimed strike.

The Mangos pulled a goal back on 80 minutes, when James White netted with a low drive from 20 yards. Highworth, however, saw out the game to clinch the win.

Mangotsfield bounced back three days later to record their first league win of the season, 4-1 at home to Thornbury Town.

The Mangos dominated most of the first half without creating too many chances, but took the lead on 45 minutes when a short corner was played to Harley Purnell and his cross was headed home by Tom Warren.

On the hour, a defensive mix-up saw Mangos keeper Jakob Glover collide with a team-mate - the loose ball was duly netted by Matt Toghill to make it 1-1.

However, Jaydn Crosbie headed home

just three minutes later to regain the lead for the hosts.

Two late goals wrapped up a very enjoyable win for the Mangos, beginning with a great run by Marcus Kelly, which saw him beat several players. Although his first shot was blocked, he found the back of the net with the loose ball.

Kyreese Morrison added to the visitors’ misery in added time to make it 4-1.

Upcoming fixtures

September 5: Slimbridge (home)

September 9: Lydney Town (away)

September 13: FC Bristol (League Cup, away)

September 19: Wantage Town (home)

September 27: Roman Glass St George (away)

September 30: Lydney Town (home)

with Imperial

Dave Smale

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07 OCT 23, 10:00-13:00

SGS WISE CAMPUS, AT THE HEART OF YOUR COMMUNITY

WEST’S E-SCOOTERS GET A GREEN MAKEOVER!

E-scooters have become a familiar sight on streets across the West of England with over ten million journeys made since 2020.

But it will be a new era come the Winter when the region’s e-scooters change colour - from coral to green - and are branded WESTscoot. The Mayoral Combined Authority has negotiated a brand-new contract where alongside 4,000 e-scooters, there will, for the first time, be 1,500 e-bikes and 20 e-cargo bikes. Plus there will be new parking racks and plans to address residents’ safety concerns. The deal will bring an estimated £9.7 million to the Mayoral Combined Authority over four years to be reinvested in improving transport for local people.

Mayor Dan Norris said: “I hope WESTscoot will build on the successes of e-scooters in our region, but also start to address the concerns I hear from residents over anti-social riding and dangerous e-scooter parking. These bright green electric e-vehicles are an important part of our net- zero ambitions.”

MORE BUS DRIVERS NEEDED!

Could you be a real community hero? After all that’s what bus drivers are. You take kids to school, nurses to the hospital, office workers into town and elderly folk to the shops. You do it with a smile. You reduce carbon emissions. And you keep our communities working. No wonder bus drivers are the most thanked profession! Cheers Drive!

But we need many, many more drivers to add to the 150 drivers who have gone through the training necessary and qualified since the beginning of the year.

New recruits have come from unexpected places, including a local student, Callum, who is working as a driver part-time while completing his studies.

For any Voice readers who might fancy a career change, please to go to www.driveandthrive.co.uk to find out more about becoming a community hero today.

GREAT AVON WOOD

Winnie-The-Pooh sized woodland comes to West!

Metro Mayor Dan Norris planted the first tree in the brandnew Great Avon Wood.

It’s the biggest new forest ever in the region, all made possible thanks to a bumper £700,000 cash injection from the Mayoral Combined Authority.

At over 100 acres it’s even bigger than Winnie the Pooh’s wood! Over the next three years, volunteers will help to plant 40,000 trees over three linked areas, which together will form Great Avon Wood.

Dan Norris said: “More trees please! The West of England will need more woodland areas and green spaces as we aim to reach our ambitious net-zero by 2030 targets locally.

“I’m proud a bumper cash injection from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has helped set the stage for this 100-plus acres of lush woodland which I know so many people in our region are looking forward to exploring and enjoying. I’m proud to back those tree-mendous tree-planting projects which will really make our amazing region an even happier, healthier and more beautiful place to call home”.

BE A COMMUNITY HERO. BECOME A BUS DRIVER

Mayor Dan Norris helps to plant the first tree in Great Avon Wood