Fishponds Voice Newspaper January 2016 by Fishponds Voice

FREE EVERY MONTH IN THE GREATER FISHPONDS AREA

fishpondsvoice January, 2016 — ISSUE 11

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE - PAGES 26-27 | BUSINESS OF THE MONTH PAGE 38

Let’s build a park to be proud of 2016 could be the year that Fishponds Park is brought into the 21st century. The park in the centre of the shopping area is one of the most popular in Bristol – but the children’s play equipment has seen better days. This year it is hoped that local people will come forward to support moves to give the park a major revamp. Greater Fishponds Neighbourhood Partnership has got the ball rolling by handing over nearly £20,000. Now it needs parents and other community members to form a Friends of Fishponds Park to raise money and decide what is needed in the park. Yvonne Sadler, chairwoman of the environmental subgroup, told the partnership meeting: “Fishponds Park is already a lovely green oasis but the children’s play area is quite tired. “The fact is that a lot of the mums there now used to play on it when they were toddlers.” The GFNP will allocate £19,579 of Section 106 money – contributions to the community

Reindeer trail is red-hot hit Sparkles the Reindeer at the Fire Basket is one of 40 on a trail in shop windows that is proving very popular.

Page 3

Chapel plans in the spotlight A scheme to create 14 flats at the former Ebenezer Chapel on Fishponds Road are under scrutiny from Fishponds Planning Group.

Page 13

Hillfields wins back its buses Bus operator First is restoring the 81service between Kingswood and Fishponds through Hillfields following a campaign by locals.

Page 17 from developers – for the park project.Volunteers who join the Friends will be able to work with council neighbourhood officers to apply for grants and other help to create a play park of similar quality

to others around the area. Fishponds Voice’s Caroline Galvin, a mother of three young children, welcomed the move. “Fishponds is changing and it needs a modern park,” she said.

Pre-school set to run centre The tenancy of the former Harry Crook Centre has been handed to a pre-school, to the dismay of the group that restored it..

Page 18

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ﬁshpondsdsvvoioiccee January, 2016 — ISSUE 11

WHAT’S ON GUIDE - PAGES

Dry Cleaning available

TEL: 0117 329 0640 07877 737143 101 High Street, Staple Hill, Bristol, BS16 5HF

26-27 | BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

PAGE 38

Reindeer trail is red-hot hit

Custom Tailoring and Alterations

Sparkles the Reindeer at the Fire Basket is one of 40 on a trail in shop windows that is proving very popular.

Page 3

Chapel plans in the spotlight

A scheme to create 14 ﬂats at the former Ebenezer Chapel on Fishponds Road are under scrutiny from Fishponds Planning Group.

Page 13

Hillﬁelds wins back its buses

Bus operator First is restoring the 81service between Kingswood and Fishponds through Hillﬁelds following a campaign by locals.

Page 17

from developers – for the park project.Volunteers who join the Friends will be able to work with council neighbourhood ofﬁcers to apply for grants and other help to create a play park of similar quality

Pre-school set to run centre

The tenancy of the former Harry Crook Centre has been handed to a pre-school, to the dismay of the group that restored it..

to others around the area. Fishponds Voice’s Caroline Galvin, a mother of three young children, welcomed the move. “Fishponds is changing and it needs a modern park,” she said.

Page 18

TO IS YOUR NEW YEAR RESOLUTION

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January, 2016

A Happy New Year to all our readers WE at Fishponds Voice are looking forward to 2016 and hope the new year will see a continuation of the growing community spirit in our neighbourhood. It is less than 12 months since our paper came into existence but already we see that Fishponds is a diverse, vibrant and special place. More and more people are coming forward to get involved with ventures to benefit the area, such as the Fishponds Planning Group and the market and other events and activities centred on the Kingfisher Cafe. The first Christmas lights for 12 years, organised by the Fishponds Business Forum, might not have been quite as spectacular as first hoped but they were a great start to build on - and the Reindeer Trail is proving very popular. We are happy to throw our weight behind the new project to develop Fishponds Park, to give the youngest members of the community a safe and up-

fishpondsvoice Publisher Gary Brindle 0117 907 8585 07799 461169 ADVERTISING sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk Tel 07453 954261 Tel 07799 461169 E D I TO R I A L news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk Letters to the publication can be sent to the above e-mail address or by post to Letters, Fishponds Voice, 6 Elkstone Walk, Bitton, Bristol BS30 6JT. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter. DEADLINES Our February edition will go to print on February 1. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us at the latest

to-date play area. Fishponds achieved many deserved accolades for its floral efforts in 2015 and no doubt more great things are planned for this year, including the My Wild City initiative. There’s also a group planning some knitting projects to brighten the area – more of that next month. Our aim is to reflect all sections of our community. If you have a photo to share with us, or a story to tell, do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you via email, Facebook or Twitter or you can write to us at 6 Elkstone Walk, Bitton, Bristol, BS30 6JT. Our email address is news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk. If you are planning an event, we will be happy to list it free of charge in our What’s On pages. We hand-deliver more than 7,500 free copies to homes in the area every month and aim to increase our circulation area over time. But if your street is not covered yet, you can also pick up the Voice at libraries and cafes in the area. Happy New Year!

Journalist Linda Tanner 0777 0700579

Journalist Jayne Taylor 0788 0731148

by January 27. Advertisers are also asked to contact us by the same date. LOCAL INFORMATION Bristol City Council http://www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999 NHS 111 Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Anti social behaviour team

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ fishpondsvoice

Sales Caroline Galvin 07453 954261

asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk Environment/trading standards 01454 868001 Well Aware Health and social care information www. wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252 PUBLISHER’S NOTE

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

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Dashing through snow and rain, dear NOW, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer, and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all! (And let’s not forget Rudolph.) Have you spotted any of these reindeer in Fishponds over the festive season? If not, there’s still time to get out and look. More than 40 businesses are supporting the Reindeer Trail, organised by Fishponds Business Forum, with themed windows. One of the most popular displays is at the Fire Basket in Fishponds Road, which boasts a spectacular gold reindeer. The business reports that hits on its website have rocketed since Sparkles the Reindeer made an appearance – and the character is well worth seeing for real too. You can pick up a trail form from a participating shop and see how many reindeer you can find. Entries must be returned to Fishponds Conservative Club by January 10. Prizes of £20, £15, £10 and £5 are available for the correct entries.

There are also prizes for the best window display and the best reindeer. The prize draw and presentation to winners will take place at 7pm on Tuesday January 19

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at Fishponds Conservative Club. Ken Blanchard, from Fishponds Business Forum, said the trail was a great way for local people to get out and about and support local shops.

“It is something for children to do with their parents in the holiday time and it will encourage trade in Fishponds Road,” he said.

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January, 2016

Brandon Trust opens new farm shop LEARNING disability charity Brandon Trust has opened a new farm shop at its Elm Tree Farm project in Stapleton. A grand opening took place with farm supporter Kerry McCarthy, MP for Bristol East and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, cutting the ribbon during a public open day. The new shop sells a range of fresh, seasonal produce, along with other products from the on-site wood workshop and plant nursery social enterprises. Elm Tree Farm project coordinator Keily Elvin said: “It’s been a long time in the making and everyone on site is really excited. We’ll be selling seasonal stuff that we’ve grown organically, and items we have preserved, such as jams and chutneys, as well as supporting other Brandon Trust projects such as Fired Up by selling their products. We’ll also sell kindling and eggs and pricing is very competitive. “Please spread the word and feel free to pop along to get your five-aday; it’s local, it’s fresh, it hasn’t been flown in from the outer regions of the world, and it’s all produced with love and care.” Another key focus of the new farm shop will be to give further

Kerry McCarthy in the Elm Tree Farm shop opportunities and new work skills to the many people in the area with learning disabilities that benefit from accessing the project. Keily explained: “The people we support have so much input in to growing and producing at the farm, so the shop is a ‘showcase’ of their

achievements. How many other farm shops do you go to where you meet the farmers and producers? Here you can. “It’s all grown organically; the animals are all free-range and well kept. All the money made will be reinvested to improve the services

we offer at the farm.” Elm Tree Farm Shop is open throughout the year, Monday to Friday, from 9.30am-2.30pm, with ample free car parking on-site. The address is Park Road, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1AA. Contact 0117 958 6206.

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We’re walking in a Fishponds wanderland HOT on the heels of the popular Fishponds scarecrow trail comes a new community event aimed at brightening up the often grim period which follows Christmas. During the area’s scarecrow trail back in September, residents were encouraged to decorate their front gardens with a hero or villain from a children’s film. People were given maps so they could visit the colourful creations and try to guess their characters. It proved a huge success, providing fun for all the family as well as an opportunity for people to meet their neighbours. Now residents are being encouraged to let their imaginations run riot and decorate their front windows in preparation for an evening walking trail. The event - called Window Wanderland - takes place on February 6 from 6-9pm and has been based on the success of a similar event which took place in Bishopston last year. Angie Seward, who is helping to organise the event along with Rachel Fry, said: “Fishponds is a creative and lively place to live so this new community event will provide an opportunity to let your imagination

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These striking windows sprouted up in Bishopston last year and organisers hope Fishponds residents will embrace the Window Wanderland initiative in February

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run riot, meet your neighbours and brighten up that gloomy post Christmas period. “If you have a thick garden hedge in front of your window, don’t worry, use an upstairs window or decorate your hedge instead.” Rachel said: “We hope everyone can get involved from households,

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More information is available at www.windowwanderland. wordpress.com where you will find lots of inspiring ideas and photos of previous window displays. People can sign up via the website which will enable Angie and Rachel to create a map of the trail.

societies, shops and businesses; all you need is a window. Let your imagination run wild - maybe show your hobbies or collections or make something special to entertain your neighbours.” There is only one specification and that is all displays should be family friendly.

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RESIDENTS of Frenchay have achieved a double success in their efforts to safeguard the village in the redevelopment of the hospital site. Frenchay Park House, most recently the headquarters of North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), will be restored by a local family and 23 acres of the beautiful Frenchay Hospital grounds will become a village green. The preserved woodland and open space will link to the existing Frenchay Common with a new entrance path alongside Cedar House. It will also separate the 430 homes being built by Redrow on the hospital site from the common. The deal, in which NBT will voluntarily register the 23 acres as village green, has been reached following lengthy discussions between the Frenchay Residents’ Association and the trust, led by Frenchay resident and charity campaigner Bob Woodward. Mr Woodward, who has lived in the village for 55 years, said that the initial plans for developing the site were not acceptable and would have resulted in the loss of many trees. But by working together with the trust and the developers, the association had been able to build bridges and reach an outcome that benefited all parties. Mr Woodward said it gave him great joy to know that the village

January, 2016

Delight as deal secures village green for Frenchay

A red letter day for Bob Woodward, front left, and Alan Jocelyn, watched by Charlotte Alsop and Andy Cake. Photo courtesy of Gloucestershire Gazette green was guaranteed for the people of Frenchay in the future

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family. The association’s chairman Professor Alan Jocelyn said the success of the campaign was down to the leadership and drive of Mr Woodward. “Thanks to Bob, we have saved this magnificent green lung in the heart of north Bristol,” he said. Frenchay Park House has not been a private residence for 99 years. NBT is selling it to master builder Andy Cake, who with his daughter Charlotte Alsop, plans to restore the Georgian mansion and adjoining stable block to house four generations of their family. It is a gargantuan task; the property had 33 rooms a century ago but these have been divided so it now has 110. The residents association has agreed to relax the boundaries of the proposed village green to allow the house to be sold. A ceremony was held at the property to mark the signing of the agreements. Among the guests were representatives of Redrow, which plans to start work on the new homes early in 2016.

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Karate kid Joe demonstrating to Japanese

JOE Rawle from Fishponds has been studying karate since the age of eight. Now, 13 years later he found himself demonstrating some of his skills at a prestigious national karate meeting in Tokyo, Japan. Joe, who hones his skills at the KEBBA junior karate club at Page Community Hall, Staple Hill, said: “It was a nerve-racking but thoroughly enjoyable experience.” Along with members from the adult karate group Zenshin dojo, Joe was invited to Japan to participate in a 50th anniversary celebration of a karate cub based at the Fujitsu headquarters in Tokyo. Zenshin dojo was the only UKbased group attending the event, which also included clubs from across Europe and Japan. Joe, the youngest participant, was given the unusual honour of performing a solo kata (set pattern of moves) in front of 180 karate masters assembled from all over Japan. The two week visit wasn’t all hard work as Joe and the rest of the group enjoyed visiting the Tokyo sights, Mount Fuji and a Zen Temple. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and experience and spurs me on to continue my karate studies,” said Joe. ADVERTISEMENT

It’s not all about shouting and aggression MENTION the word karate to most people and it conjures up images of breaking bricks and other misconceptions. But many people are unaware of the breadth and variety of karate styles and philosophies. The phrase horses for courses comes to mind. If you want to win medals or learn about power and dominance there are places to find it, but Zenshin dojo membership is quite different and would probably appeal, if only people weren’t turned off by the word “karate!” In today’s world it’s easy to lose focus, perhaps your children are getting older or your sporting ambitions have reached their natural conclusion. But personal focus and direction are important if we want to make sense of the world and remain stable when things occasionally fall around us. Karate practice can offer that stability. Metaphorically karate, like life, is a path. Sometimes the path is easy to navigate; other times it’s muddy and unpleasant but the message is a simple one, stay on the path and keep moving forward whatever the weather. But to have meaning the path needs a destination, an objective. The wise Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland recognises this as Alice arrived at a fork in the road, “where do you want to go?” asks the Cheshire cat, “I don’t know” replied Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which road you take!” said the cat smiling. Karate can provide a map for your path, and offers a chance for you to overcome your personal limitations. What’s stopping you trying it?

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January, 2016

Taking a walk on the wild side Linda Tanner sees the Frome Valley through the eyes of Bristol’s answer to Ray Mears, wildlife expert Steve England STEVE England is a man on a mission – to make more of us aware of the amazing natural history on the doorstep in our part of Bristol. “It is literally underneath our feet,” he says. “With every step you take from Stoke Park towards the Frome Valley, you are travelling back in time 100,000 years.” Steve left school without qualifications but has built up encyclopaedic knowledge of the area he has lived in all his life. At almost 50, he still has the infectious enthusiasm of a schoolboy about the wildlife and geology all around him. I have walked from Snuff Mills alongside the River Frome to Frenchay dozens of times but will see it with new eyes after treading the path with Steve in the mild early part of this winter. He leapt about, discovering fossils and fungi, spotting flowers blooming out of season, and pointing out birds and insects. “A seven-spot ladybird, a

woodland buttercup (lesser celandine), an arum lily – we should not be seeing these,” he exclaimed. “It is all evidence of climate change.” Steve is a man who likes to ask questions and study evidence, and he believes school children and adults can learn a great deal from getting out in the wild and doing the same. “The Frome Valley is a goldmine. Its potential has never been exploited,” he said. “What excites me most about it is its geology – three sets of time periods – and its incredible diversity of wildlife.” Steve’s studies were boosted three years ago when a professor of palaentology from Imperial College and two students came down to help him “read the rocks”. “We combed every rock looking for evidence of prehistory. Rocks are like a book. Each layer is like a page. They tell a story of what happened 300 million years ago,” he said. “We won’t find any dinosaurs

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in the Frome Valley, because it predates them. It was formed in the Carboniferous period. Probably the Amazon basin is the closest to how this place would have looked then.” Towards Duchess Gates, evidence is found from the Triassic period, 200 million years ago when Bristol resembled a tropical island. “It was like the Bahamas, with a deep blue ocean. The remnants of it can be seen in the sandstone cliff at Frenchay Park Road.” Stoke Park dates back to the Jurassic period, 120 million years ago. Fossils showing some of Steve’s findings are on show in the Glenside Museum, while many more can be discovered in the Frome Valley.

Treasures Steve has uncovered include a Bronze Age worked flint, which would have been used 3,000 years ago to scrape rabbit skins, and an Ice Age horse tooth. He has found evidence from relatively more recent history too: from the 11th to 14th centuries when the area was owned by the Priory of St James in Bristol, through the 16th century when Pennant stone from the Frome Valley was quarried to build the Dower House at Stoke Park, to the present day. The mills along the river and the quarrying have left their mark. Quarrying ceased much earlier on one side of the river than the other,

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which has had an impact on the landscape. Twentieth century history includes a tree carved during World War Two by a jilted local with the words Yanks Go Home to the site of the filming of Robin Hood for television in the 1980s. “It is like walking through a museum,” said Steve. “I used to play here when I was a boy and I have always been fascinated by the history and wildlife of the area. Now I want to pass it on and leave a legacy.” While global warming might be bringing some alarming signs, not all change is bad. The River Frome in which Steve used to swim as a lad “before health and safety was invented” was very polluted in the 1970s but today its quality is much improved – as evidenced by the fresh water mussels to be found in the waters. Steve is a master forager – quite the Bear Grylls – and one of his popular wildlife walks helps people identify food for free and, of course, to know which plants are safe to eat and which are definitely not. “You could find up to 100 species of mushroom in Stoke Park - I found 11 on one beech tree,” said Steve. While some are delicious cooked or raw, others could be deadly. Fungi have other useful properties too, from health

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benefits to sharpening knives; plants and their uses is another of his walk themes, as are craft activities involving natural materials such as ivy and sedge grass. The birds of the Frome Valley are another delight: on our walk

we saw a buzzard, a kingfisher, and longtails (aka lollipop birds). Dippers, tawny owls and ravens can also be seen regularly. Steve carries out wildlife and natural history walks all over Bristol, but especially in his home habitat of the Frome Valley and Stoke Park and in 2016 is increasing his offer

to schools, bringing in support from other experts. He would like to see more Bristol children learning about their area, rather than travelling to other places for field trips. More information can be found on his website, steveenglandoutdoorlearning.com

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January, 2016

Celebration of peer support

DISABLED people enjoyed a winter celebration at the Beechwood Club in Fishponds organised by WECIL (the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living). The event was to acknowledge the success of the Peer Support Project, which gives disabled adults the opportunity to get together informally, share experiences and advise and support each other. Sessions are run by disabled people who have been through WECIL’s specialist volunteer training programme: so far, 118 disabled people have been trained to run over 500 sessions, with WECIL’s support. The volunteers and participants identify which topics, speakers, activities would be useful and relevant to the group at that time and then go on to organise the content. A monthly Peer Support social evening takes place in the Old Post Office pub in Fishponds, on every second Tuesday of the month from 6-7.30pm. WECIL also runs a range of other projects. The charity supports more than 3,000 people every year in Bristol and the surrounding area. To find out more, contact Valentina Cavallini on valentina.cavallini@wecil. co.uk or call 0117 947 9942.

Cleeve Singers raise over £300 THE Cleeve Singers raised more than £300 in three hours for Great Western Air Ambulance by singing at The Mall at Cribbs Causeway on December 1. They were joined by the Concorde Clarinets. The money - £315.50 – will go towards the cost of enabling blood transfusions to be carried out in the air as patients are being transported to hospital.

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January, 2016

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fishpondsvoice

Former Frenchay stained glass window to go on display

A STAINED glass window rescued from Ward 25 in Frenchay Hospital is about to go on display at Frenchay Village Museum. The colourful celebration of Pudsey Bear and Children in Need was originally in a room that was housed the children’s hospital radio, Radio Lollipop. Roy Oaten of JB Glass removed and repaired the window. Richard Thomas of PTIT Solutions in Frome Valley Road and Jeff Feltham of Exhibition and Displays Direct in Staple Hill offered to make an illuminated display panel to allow the stained glass to be shown to its best advantage. The restored window was delivered to the museum in early December and volunteers were due to install it on the landing over Christmas. Alan Freke, from the museum, said: “We’d like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to those who have so generously supported us in this project. We hope people will visit in the new year to see the window.” The museum also has an exhibition by the Frenchay bellringers to mark 25 years since Frenchay church had a ring of bells installed by parishioners and friends. The was the first new ring of bells in the Diocese of Bristol since 1932. The museum is at the junction of Begbrook Park and Frenchay Park Road, just inside Entrance

“B” of the hospital. It’s open from January 6 on Sat. and Sun. 2-5pm, and Wed. 1-4pm. Entry is free.

Shootings: man bailed A MAN in his 20s who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder has been released on police bail. It follows an incident in Greenway in Hillfields which resulted in two men - aged 44 and 45 - suffering gunshot wounds at around 1am on Wednesday December 16. One man has life changing injuries and the other has less serious injuries. High profile patrols by police community support officers have been introduced in the area to provide community reassurance and also take information from members of the public. Bristol Superintendent Rhys Hughes said: “Firstly, I would like to reassure the local community that a robust police investigation has been launched and you will see a heightened police presence in the local area. “The mobile police station is currently at the scene along with PCSOs on high visibility patrols. “If anyone has any concerns in the area, I would ask that you contact your local neighbourhood police team – details of which can be found on our force website. “I would urge anyone with any information regarding this incident to come forward now. Any information, regardless of how insignificant you may think it is, might prove crucial to this investigation.” Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers, where information can be left anonymously, on 0800 555 111.You can also give information online.

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St Stephen’s CE Junior School In an article in our December issue about the remarkable success of St Stephen’s Junior School in moving from an Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement to Outstanding in two years, we got the name of the head teacher wrong. We apologise to Louisa Wilson for the error, and again offer our congratulations to her and the school on their achievements.

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January, 2016

Tynings children sign slates for new roof

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The importance of regular health checks REGULAR health checks for our pets are an important part of their care. All pets should have a thorough vet check when they come in for their yearly vaccinations, but really once a year is not enough. Our pets can’t tell us when something is not right and some problems are not easy to spot at home. A check will let us keep an eye on your pet’s weight – unexplained weight loss or weight gain can be a sign of health problems, and if there is no medical cause for changes in weight we can help you with dietary and exercise advice. Any change of appetite or thirst can be significant and so are worth mentioning. Six month dental checks are highly recommended. Plaque can gradually build up over time, and leads to sore gums and gum infections. Dealing with the plaque earlier is far better waiting until problems have developed. As our pets get older,

problems such as arthritis and diabetes start to become more common. At a check, our vets can look for any signs of old age problems developing. If there is anything wrong , the sooner we can start treatment the better our chances of helping your pet. Care plans, such as Complete Care, are developed to help with the care of your animal. Complete Care spreads the costs out into affordable monthly payments and includes preventative care such as flea and worm prevention, vaccinations and twice yearly health checks with a vet as well as other extra perks. For our senior pets we have a much more comprehensive care plan which includes routine blood and urine tests. If you would like any more information, or to arrange an appointment, please call us at Kingswood Vets4Pets on 0117 9616417.

CHILDREN from The Tynings Primary in Staple Hill were among thousands of people who signed slates for the new roof at Dyrham Park. The stately home has made a feature of its major repairs over the past eight months, inviting visitors up the scaffolding and on to the roof to view the work going on. The pupils from Falcons and Otters classes saw their slates put into position on the roof timbers when they visited. They also toured the deer park, saw Mr Blathwayt’s apartment and sampled hot chocolate with chilli! Teacher Miranda Ponsford said: “Our day was fabulous. I was taken aback by how overwhelmed the children were with all aspects of the house. Obviously going onto the roof was a highlight, but I hadn’t realised how few of my class had been inside a stately home.” More than 9,000 slates were needed to replace the 150-year-old leaking roof at the mansion, Most of them were signed by visitors, contributing £40,000 towards the £3.8m National Trust project. Dyrham Park has seen a record number of visitors in 2015, proving that it made the right decision in staying open during the conservation work.

Willowdean Court, 247a Charlton Road, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 1LT Telephone: 0117 961 6417 To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

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January, 2016

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Chapel restoration ‘important for area’s heritage’ THE chance to preserve one of the most historic buildings in Fishponds in the best possible way must not be missed. That’s the response from Fishponds Planning Group to the latest scheme to convert the former Ebenezer Chapel into flats. Members are pleased that there is an opportunity to save and enhance the Victorian building, which has been used for car sales, tyre and exhaust services and most recently a car wash, for the last 20 years. But they are concerned that the proposed single storey glazed office extension is out of keeping with the conservation area. They are also worried about the traffic impact of residents of the 14 flats entering and departing from the development by car. The group’s chairman, Joseph Hassell, said that the United Free Methodists chapel at 683 Fishponds Road was an important part of the area’s streetscape. “It is one of the last vestiges of historic Fishponds and we are keen to see it retained and restored,” he said. “We think there is a poor relationship between the proposed office building and the Victorian

stone chapel frontage. We would like to see a better and more integrated design.” The group has also expressed concern about the effect on traffic in Station Avenue South, which is already heavily congested, and the risk to pedestrians and cyclists. Planning permission for the creation of eight flats in the chapel and six in an extension has already been granted but developers have applied to revise the scheme for the building, known locally as the Clock Chapel. They say their new “more sensitive” proposal retains more of the existing chapel and has other improvements such as replacing dormer windows with roof lights and allowing full height church windows in the first-floor flats. The scheme for the building opposite the old Fishponds Library includes residents’ parking on the ground floor of both the chapel and the extension, accessible via garage doors. There is still time to comment on the plans on the city council’s website. The reference is 5/04152/X.

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January, 2016

Tense time for park lovers as they await lottery bid announcement

PEOPLE living in Staple Hill and surrounding areas have just two weeks before they learn the fate of a bid for more than £1.5 million of lottery cash to restore Page Park to its former majestic glory. It is proving a nail biting time for members of the Friends of Page Park who had originally hoped to find out the result of the bid back in September. If successful, the money would be used to restore the historic park whilst adding modern touches such as a cafe and community room. The Friends group, which has been working closely with South Gloucestershire Council on the bid, had previously won £117,000 to evolve plans and take them through to the next - and final - stage. The application was resubmitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund on June 25 and a final announcement

will be made on January 14. Plans for the cafe, community room and toilets have already been approved by the council so should the application to the Lottery Heritage Fund be successful, it will be full steam ahead with the ambitious scheme. Although the Friends are currently on tenter hooks, they have already received one lot of good news after finding out the park’s historic clock tower building restoration project has received a £50,000 boost. The cash has come courtesy of a grant from SITA Trust, made through the Landfill Communities Fund. It will enable major structural repairs to the clock tower, along with painting and decoration, and improvements to the park’s plants and paving around the building. The restoration of the clock

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January, 2016

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Heather Goddard said: “We’re delighted that SITA Trust has given us this support to restore the Page Park clock tower building. “Page Park is the most important green space in Staple

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Page Park is the most important green space in Staple Hill and has been much loved by generations of local people

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Hill and has been much loved by generations of local people since it was given to the public in 1910. The clock tower was one of the first buildings erected in the park, and it is great to know that we can now proceed with our plans to restore the clock tower so that future generations can continue to enjoy it.” It has been a long standing aspiration of the Friends of Page Park group to restore the clock tower building, which is the most iconic building in Page Park and one of the most recognisable in Staple Hill itself. Friends of Page Park representative William Lee said:

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“We are really pleased that this grant has been secured to enable the restoration of the clock tower. This is the building that first springs to mind for most people when they think about Page Park and so its restoration is a really vital part of the exciting project to restore and enhance the park.” Marianne Ivin, of SITA Trust, said: “This is the second project that the Trust has funded in Page Park, with the bandstand receiving £30,000 previously. It is a fantastic park with some very beautiful structures that are really worth preserving. “The Friends of Page Park are a very proactive and determined group and we are delighted to be able to help both them and South Gloucestershire Council with further restoration work.” SITA Trust distributes funds contributed by the recycling and resource management company SITA UK. The restoration work is expected to begin in Spring 2016.

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Replica children’s ward helps nurses gain skills TRAINEE children’s nurses in Bristol now have the chance to practise their skills in a replica ward at UWE Bristol’s Glenside campus. A new suite has opened including a simulated children’s ward and a sensory room. The ward has all the features of a real hospital setting – from emergency call buttons, to oxygen that works, suction, hospital beds and cots, and medicines for dispensing at the nurses station. Life-like child mannequins that have physiological features such as pulse and temperature can be programmed with conditions such as an asthma attack by the tutor for the students to respond to. The facilities enable students nurses to develop skills and practise them in a safe environment, improving their confidence and ability when they go out into hospitals. The Children’s Focused Nursing Simulation Suite is being dedicated to Princess Campbell MBE who was Bristol’s first black ward sister, and who worked and studied at Glenside in Fishponds. Princess Campbell campaigned tirelessly for disadvantaged communities, It was opened by Kath Evans, of NHS England, who said: “We know that the experience of care can improve our patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing, so it’s essential that nursing students have the opportunity to develop the way they interact with the children, young people and families that they care for. I’m delighted to see that the University of the West of England has created this stimulation suite to help prepare our nurses of the future.” In addition to the ward, a new sensory room for children with learning disabilities will also be used for teaching purposes. The room, with coloured lights, music and sound, soft play and different textures and materials that respond to touch, can be used either to stimulate or practise calming techniques with children. It is typical of the type of facility that students would come across in practice. The sensory room will also be used as a resource by other Departments in the University – such as the Education Department and the Music Therapy course.

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January, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

fishpondsvoice

Petition plea achieves U-turn on the buses PEOPLE power has resulted in bus services being restored to Hillfields and Lodge Causeway. Transport operator First has announced that from January 10 the 81 service from the UWE campus at Frenchay will once again run between Fishponds and Kingswood. The changes, which include continuing the service through to Hanham, have been made after local people protested after the route was axed in August, leaving people isolated. More than 420 people signed a petition organised by local campaigner Rita Blanchard, who worked with Hillfields councillor Craig Cheney on the campaign. Mrs Blanchard said people in Hillfields and Lodge Causeway could not get to Cossham Hospital in Kingswood or to the centre of Fishponds for the doctors’ surgeries and shops there. Shops on Lodge Causeway also found their trade had been hit. Mr Cheney took up the matter

with cabinet councillor Simon Cook and launched an epetitition. He also wanted to see the route extended at the other end, to run from UWE to Parkway Station to allow people from east Bristol to get to the colleges and workplaces in the north fringe without changing buses. The revised route for the 81 through Fishponds and Kingswood will be via Stoke Lane, Frenchay Park Road, Broom Hill, Blackberry Hill, Manor Road, Fishponds Road, Lodge Causeway, Lodge Road, Soundwell Road, Two Mile Hill Road, Regent Street, then on to Hanham. James Freeman, managing director of First Bristol, said the service had been restored to Hillfield and Lodge Causeway because of the outcry. “We listened to feedback from residents in Hillfields who were affected by the service changes in August which saw them lose their direct service to and from Fishponds. South Gloucestershire Council have

Police station is staying open FISHPONDS Police have allayed fears that changes to shift patterns could mean the closure of the police station. The officer in charge of the area, Superintendent Rhys Hughes, said the station at 853 Fishponds Road would continue to be open to the public from 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday in 2016. “Please let me reassure the community that Fishponds Police Station will remain open,” he said. “From January 2016 there will be a slight change in that Fishponds staff will start and finish their shifts at Trinity Road Police Station to attend joint briefings, and then deploy to their respective beats. This will improve the operational capability of staff working across the East Central local policing area of Bristol, as teams will be able to share local knowledge, which will in turn, benefit the communities of Fishponds and beyond. He added: “Since March 2015, our neighbourhood and response teams have combined to become a local policing team. This has improved the local knowledge of all staff due to their closer working relationships. “There are only a limited number of staff working at Fishponds Station at any one time, as officers and PCSOs are usually deployed operationally on their beats. An increased use of mobile technology will also enable our staff to be out and about more in the community, without the need to return to a station to complete forms and carry out enquiries. “The staff who currently work from Fishponds Station will still be able to use it as they do now and the community will still be served by a local policing team, dealing with local issues. “There will be no change to the front office.”

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worked with us to re-instate this link and also to provide a better frequency for customers travelling between Kingswood and Hanham.” Mrs Blanchard said the loss of the direct bus had caused hardship and she was delighted at First’s change of heart. She thanked Mr Cheney and the Causeway shops that had hosted the petition, which was reported in Fishponds Voice. “Thanks to you, the voice of Fishponds was heard,” she said.

First is also altering the timetables of the 17A from Keynsham to Southmead Hospital in an effort to improve reliability and punctuality of the services. It plans to allocate double-decker buses to the route to alleviate overcrowding. The timetable of the X49, which runs between Yate and Bristol via Fishponds and Staple Hill, is also being changed to improve punctuality.

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To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

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Theatre company looking for support A THEATRE company which raises large sums of money for children’s charities in and around Bristol is looking for support after an error led to their latest panto not being advertised. The non-profit making Starlite Productions puts on a show every year at the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton, which is normally advertised in the theatre’s winter brochure. But their production of Mother Goose failed to appear in the pamphlet this year, leading cast and crew to worry this would impact on ticket sales and reduce the amount of money raised for charity. A spokesperson from Starlite said: “Due to management issues at the Redgrave they did not include us in their winter brochure which has had a detrimental effect on our ticket sales.” Redgrave theatre manager Sam Hollis-Pack said: “There has been a change of staffing but we are working hard on social media to push their show and make sure people do know about it.” Mother Goose will run from December 30 to January 9 at the Redgrave Theatre. For ticket details call 0117 965 8598 or visit www. starliteproductions@hotmail.co.uk

January, 2016

Group left out in the cold as pre-school takes over VOLUNTEERS who have spent three years reviving a Fishponds community centre are shocked that Bristol City Council is handing the building over to another group. Bristol 5 Community and Leisure Centre says it has been left out in the cold following the decision to grant a tenancy to the Happy Dayz Pre School. It had been planning to apply to run the centre in Moorlands Road, formerly known as the Harry Crook Centre, under a Community Asset Transfer. But former Hillfields councillor Phil Hanby, who has been leading the group, found out in mid December that the pre-school had been granted the tenancy. “We have spent three years refurbishing the building and making it useable again,” he said. “We have lots of activities going on for young people such as kick boxing, taekwondo, film making and a computer repair project. The centre was booked up most nights a week. Now that has all been stopped without prior notice. It is a real kick

in the teeth.” Ironically, Bristol 5, which was maintaining and running the centre with the blessing of the leaseholder Young Bristol, invited Happy Dayz to move in to the centre at the start of 2015 after the pre-school had to leave its previous base in Speedwell. In a statement on the Greater Fishponds Neighbourhood Partnership website, John Bos, community assets manager at the city council, said Young Bristol had surrendered its lease early and the council had signed a tenancy agreement with Happy Dayz to enable it to stay open. He said a lease was being negotiated, making the pre-school responsible for all running costs and the upkeep of the building and for making it available for community use in the evenings and weekends. “We are confident that these arrangements will help to give the Harry Crook Centre a secure future, so that it remains available to meet the needs of the local community,” the statement said.

“The new lease has prevented the closure of the pre-school and will protect the much-needed early years places and secure continued community use of the Centre. It also ensures that the building will continue to be repaired and maintained in the future.” Vanessa Carter, director of Happy Dayz, said she was delighted to have secured the tenancy, enabling the pre-school to continue offering places for two, three and four-year-olds five days a week. “We will continue with our early years provision and we have plans to develop the Harry Crook Centre for the of the local community,” she said. The centre opened in 1974 and was used by youth organisations for many years but had fallen into disrepair until Mr Hanby and other residents got together to restore it for the community. Anyone interested in hiring the centre can get in touch via the Happy Dayz website.

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January, 2016

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School celebrates play bonanza

LUNCHTIMES at Minerva Primary Academy have just got a lot more creative. Playground-based art and construction activities are now running every day for Key Stage 2 children at the school in Hillfields. The range of activities on offer includes giant Lego, giant Jenga and arts and crafts. Pete Hallam, the new principal of MPA, feels strongly that playtimes should offer children a wide variety of creative and artistic opportunities which will stretch their imagination. So, together with the support of the Friends of Minerva, the parent group which raised the funds, students are now able to access new lunchtime resources and activities. Along with the lunchtime support staff, the children have been enthusiastically immersing themselves in the new creative opportunities and the school hopes to extend the activities to Key Stage 1 and Early Years over the next few terms. Mr Hallam said: “It is really great that the children are enjoying the new equipment whilst at the same time being creative and learning to work in teams.”

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January, 2016

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January, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

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E BE H T

January, 2016

Check your locks to protect against ‘creeper’ break-ins with Sgt Anthony Westwell

T’S a new year, which seems a great time to start my monthly column here. I’m the local neighbourhood sergeant covering Hillfields, Fishponds, Eastville and Broomhill, and my teams are out and about on your streets every day, getting to grips with issues which matter to you, and working to keep you safe. Please

do say hello when you see them. You may have heard rumours about the future of Fishponds Police Station. Please rest assured that the station is staying open, with no changes to the times which the front office is open to the public. The only difference is that local teams will now start and finish their shifts with other colleagues down at Trinity Road Police Station. This way they can attend joint briefings, which will help them to share knowledge and intelligence, and then deploy to their respective beats. They will be able to work from Fishponds Station throughout their shift, but with the increased use of mobile technology, hopefully officers and PCSOs will be able to spend more time out in their communities,

rather than having to return to the station to fill in forms. Burglary continues to be an issue in our area, with a number of ‘creeper’ style break-ins, where thieves gain entry whilst the resident is home, usually asleep. Unfortunately, people are often making it easy for thieves by not properly locking their doors and windows when they go out, or before they go to bed. In fact one in four burglaries in Avon and Somerset happens because a property has been left unsecured. Properties which have a certain type of door handle, known as a paddle or stub handle, are being targeted by thieves, as many people don’t properly lock them before they go out or go to bed. Simply lifting up the handle until it clicks does not fully lock the door, you also need to turn the key, as thieves can easily disengage the lock mechanism if it hasn’t been locked with a key. When you are inside, always remove the key from the lock, to stop burglars hooking keys

out through the letterbox. You may have heard about the dreadful incident in which an elderly lady had her handbag containing her pension money snatched on Fishponds Road in November. An appeal for information led to CCTV images of a person we wanted to speak to and a subsequent arrest of a man who has now been bailed whilst our investigation continues. The one good thing to come out of this horrible attack is the community response. Having seen our social media appeals for information, a local group started a fundraising page which raised over £400 for the victim. Proof if it were needed of the amazing community spirit at work in Fishponds. Happy New Year! Sergeant Anthony Westwell

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January, 2016

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Designers visit Bristol Met A TEAM of designers from 375 brand agency and a representative from Avon Wildlife Trust visited the Art Department at Bristol Metropolitan Academy. The Wildlife Trust have commissioned 375 to create branding and campaigns to encourage children and young adults to become more aware of and involved in the environment. Natalie Bush, art programme leader at the Fishponds secondary school, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our students had the task of mind mapping and sharing their thoughts and ideas on how 375 might tackle this tricky challenge. Needless to say, the art group were fantastic and did us very proud.â&#x20AC;?

New care home set to open A NEW care home for people with dementia opens in Fishponds this month. Quarry House in Adelaide Place will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Bristol on January 8. The home is set over four floors and includes palliative care. It will be run by Bristol Care Homes, which is also selling 17 apartments on the opposite side of the site.

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EAT FOR FREE

AT THE BURGER JOINT To celebrate opening our 3rd restaurant in Fishponds, we are offering 500 people the chance to eat for free during our pre opening week at the end of January.

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January, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East

writes for Fishponds Voice

HOPE you had a great Christmas and New Year. In my first column of 2016, I would like to start by covering some of the most important things happening in Parliament in the coming year, and outlining my key local priorities for east Bristol.

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One of the topics which will dominate politics in 2016 will be the referendum on whether Britain should remain in the EU. Many of David Cameron’s backbenchers have already expressed deep scepticism about his attempts at EU renegotiation, and it is expected that these rifts will only become more apparent as the year progresses. We know that the referendum will take place before the end of 2017, with the exact date becoming clearer soon. While I do believe reform is needed, I will be campaigning to remain in the EU, given the many advantages of membership: whether it’s jobs, free movement, employment rights, or environmental protections. In 2016, Labour will be committed to opposing Government cuts to benefits for working people through the introduction of universal credit, and resisting efforts to scrap the Human Rights Act. The Government will also be pushing ahead with its Investigatory Powers Bill, which focuses on increased surveillance of internet activity. Devolution will also be another important issue in the coming year. In the longer term, the Devolution Bill will likely result in many regions – including maybe the West of England – receiving extra powers in return for following the ‘metro mayor’ model. The powers

granted via Scottish devolution will similarly be a hot topic, as will the elections for the Scottish and Welsh parliaments. The related introduction of the incredibly complex system of English votes for English laws, which benefit the Government, will also result in renewed attempts to push forward with unpopular policies, such as bringing back fox hunting. The major event in Bristol’s political calendar this year will be the council and mayoral elections in May. I will be out campaigning in the next few months for our Labour councillor candidates, and our fantastic mayoral candidate Marvin Rees. I believe that only by having a strong Labour voice in Bristol will we have a council which genuinely listens to local residents, and have a city which works for everyone. In 2016, I will continue to work with local residents on major issues affecting east Bristol. Some of my personal priorities for Fishponds will be reducing litter, pushing for appropriate development of empty buildings (particularly on Fishponds Road), and improving local transport links. So, there is lots to do in the coming year, but please never hesitate to contact me if there are any problems you would like help with, or if there are local issues you would like to raise with me.

Rescue for library building

A PLAN to turn the Eastville Library building into a community hub has been given the go-ahead by the city council. Residents hope to create a community cafe and shop, space for events such as toddler groups and coffee mornings and for hire for activities such as yoga, zumba and martial arts, and an outdoor play area and garden. Another idea is to have provide an online library ordering and book collection service and a community book swap at the volunteer-run centre. Eastville Library will close in April as part of a cost-cutting programme in Bristol. A number of other libraries that had been earmarked to shut are remaining open with reduced hours. Campaigners who tried to save Eastville Library said there was a lack of community facilities in Eastville and Lower Lockleaze. The plans that have emerged since the closure decision aim to put that right, preserving the building as the only publiclyaccessible building in the neighbourhood. The council intends to provide a new library facility in Lockleaze.

Stapleton Pharmacy WE DELIVER! Free Prescription Collection & Delivery Service From the following surgeries: Fishponds Family Practice Maytree’s Family Practice Seymour Family Practice

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December 30 - January 9 n Starlite Productions present Mother Goose, Redgrave Theatre, Clifton. Call 0117 965 8598 or visit starliteproductions@hotmail.co.uk for ticket details January 8 n Tea Dance, 1.45-3.45 pm, Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn. Pay at door. January 14 n Downend Horticultural Society meets at the Assembly Hall in Salisbury Road. Caroline Sheldrick will give a talk on Medicinal Herbs in the Garden. Starts 7.30pm. Non members welcome. Call Roger Davis 0117 9571703 or Hilary Walton 0117 9792832. January 22 n St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church), Living after Loss, an informal bereavement group, 11am-12noon. January 23 n Bristol North Ankylosing Spondylitis Society social morning at Coffee#1 Fishponds 10am, for sufferers and family and friends January 28 n Launch of a new ladies’ group called The Rising Stars. It will meet at The Miners in Coalpit Heath on the fourth Thursday of every month from 2-4pm. Please come along to the inaugural meeting for tea, cake and a chat. Everyone welcome. February 5 n Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn, Tea Dance, 1.45-3.45pm. Pay at door February 5 n St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church), Living after Loss, an informal bereavement group, 11am-12noon. February 9 n Downend Folk House, Lincombe Barn, Speaker morning plus coffee – Mike Britton “Let’s send a Postcard”, 10 for 10.30am. Pay at door. February 19 n St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church), Living after Loss, an informal bereavement group, 11am-12noon. March 4 n St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church), Living after Loss, an informal bereavement group, 11am-12noon. March 18 n St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church), Living after Loss, an informal bereavement group, 11am-12noon.

Regular events in the Fishponds area Mondays n 9am Holistic Massage - St

Ambrose Beehive Centre 10:30am Tiny Tots - All Saints Community Hall n 11am Bereavement and Wellbeing support - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm Computer Group - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm Ping Pong (Table Tennis) for over 55’s - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm Welcome Club for Retireds+ - St Aidan’s Church Hall n 3pm Messy Church - St John’s Church n 6:30pm Prayers - St John’s Church n 9.30-10.30am Zumba, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n 2pm Improve your Ballroom dancing with Teresa, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. Tel 965 0203 for details n 7/7.30pm, Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n Zumba keep fit. Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 9.30-10.30am. Contact Sally 07712776753 n Ballroom tuition, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 2- 5pm. Contact Teresa 0117 965 0203 n Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 6.309pm. Contact Ami 07462 727229 n 9.30-10.30am Zumba keep fit, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. For details call 0734 1813559. n 11am-12.30pm U3A social history members only. Seconds Monday member’s only , Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. n 2-5pm Ballroom tuition with Teresa 0117 965 0203, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. n 6.30-9pm Slimming World, Ami 0746 2727229, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. Tuesdays n 9:15am Morning Prayer - St John’s Church n 9:30am Fishponds Play Cafe - All Saints Community Hall n 9:30am Foot Care Sessions - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 10am Coffee and Craft Morning St John’s Church n 10am Sing and Sign for babies / toddlers - All Saints Community Hall n 10am Level 1 Walking Group - starting at St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 10:30am Music for Toddlers - St Mary’s Parish Rooms n 12:30pm Lunch Club - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm Film Club for over 55’s - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2.15-2.45 pm Pre-school Storytime/Rhymetime, Fishponds Library n 3pm Eucharist with signing for the Deaf - Hillside Court, Batten Road, St George, Bristol, BS5 8NL n 3:15pm Messy Church Fishponds CofE Academy n 6pm Woodcraft - All Saints Church Hall / Link n 7pm Evening Prayer - St Aidan’s Church n 7pm Evening Prayer - St Ambrose Church

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January, 2016

n Frenchay Parent and Toddler group, upstairs in the Frenchay Village Hall, 9.45-11.45am n Fishponds Townswomen’s Guild meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 2pm at the Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. The programme changes monthly but includes coffee afternoons and outings. All welcome. For details call Barbara Davies on 965 3557. n Fishponds Townswomen’s Guild, second Tuesday of the month, 7.15pm at Briarwood School, Briar Way, Fishponds. For further information please call 07799 108890 n 7.30-9pm (Term Time only) Scouts (10-14 years) at Fishponds Baptist Church Youth Hall. Contact: 151bristolscouts@gmail.com n 7-8pm Zumba, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n 9.30am, Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n Townswomen’s Guild (1st Tuesday in month), Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 2-4pm . 01179 656660 n Slimming World, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 9.30am to midday, Contact Ami 07462 727229 n Diabetes UK, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 6.15- 8.15pm. Meeting in small room. n Zumba, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 7-8pm. Contact Anna 07799180437 n Badminton at Downend Sports Centre, 8 - 10pm. Call 0117 9400706 or email ridgewaydownend@yahoo.co.uk n 2 - 4pm ‘Friends and Neighbours’, a friendly, sociable group, usually with a speaker and followed by a cup of tea, meets in Fishponds Methodist Church Hall, Guinea Lane, on alternate Tuesdays, commencing September 8th. New members welcome. n 2-4pm Towns Women’s Guild, 1st Tuesday in month, 0117 965 6660, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds n 9.30am12noon Slimming world Ami 0746 2727229, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds n 6.15-8.15pm Diabetes UK meeting in small room, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds n 7-8pm Zumba, Anna 0779 9180437, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds Wednesdays n 9:30am Fishponds Play Cafe - All Saints Community Hall n 9.45pm Songs for Little People – The Kingfisher Cafe. £4 per little person, siblings £2. n 10am Eucharist - St Ambrose Church n 10:30am Arts and Crafts - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 10:30am Coffee Morning - St Ambrose Church n 11am Tai Chi - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 1pm Level 3 Walking Group starting from St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 1:30pm Arts and Crafts - St Ambrose Beehive Centre

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n 2pm Punjabi Dance and Song - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm Support and Activity Group - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm Chair based exercise class St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2:30pm Ladies Circle - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2:30pm Wives Group - St John’s Church n 3:30pm Messy Church - Air Balloon Primary School, Hillside Rd, St George n 6:30pm Home Group - Location varies n Phoenix Art Club. Every Wednesday morning, 10am --12noon, Fishponds Methodist Church Hall, Guinea Lane, Fishponds. All mediums, all abilities. New members welcome. n 10-11am Dancing Tots, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road n 2-4pm Hannah More Club for senior citizens, 2 weekly, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n 2 -3.30pm Reading group 4 weekly, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n 7-8 pm Keep Fit, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n Dance Tots, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 7-8pm. Contact Eric 07914 006589 n Hannah More senior citizen Fun and Entertainment (fortnightly), Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 2- 4pm. 965 0356 n Fishponds Reading Group, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR (four-weekly) 2-3.30pm. Contact gwenczek@yahoo.co.uk n Keep fit class, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 7- 8pm. Contact Beryl 0117 977 4534. n Cycle CCTV, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 8-10pm. Winter months only n Lodge Causeway Townswomen’s Guild meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 7.15pm at Briarwood School, Briar Way, Fishponds. (except August). Different speaker each month plus handicrafts and walking group. For details, please call 07799 108890 n 11am-noon, St Mary’s Parish Rooms, back entrance of church. Living after Loss, an informal bereavement group. Please note this group is fortnightly, with the next sessions taking place on November 13 and 27 and December 11. For details call Lizzy on 965 0856. n 9-11am, Dance Tots, Eric 0791 4006589, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds n 2-4pm, Hannah More senior citizen “Fun and Entertainment”, fortnightly, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. n 2-3.30pm, Reading Group, monthly, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds n 5.45-6.45pm Yoga Nikki 0752 5735500, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds n 7-8pm keep fit class. Beryl 0117 977 4534, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. n 8-10pm Cycle CCTV. Winter months only, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds.

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January, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Thursdays n 9:15am Morning Prayer - St Aidans Church n 9:30am Fishponds Play Cafe - All Saints Community Hall n 10am Coffee and Craft Morning St Aidan’s Church n 10am Free Beginners Computer Classes - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 10am Eucharist - St John’s Church n 10am Eucharist - St Mary’s Church n 10am Parent and Toddler Group St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 12pm Ballroom Dance Class - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm Exercises and Sing-a-long Activity Session - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm Fit Steps - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2-4 pm (fortnightly) Knit & Natter, Fishponds Library n Frenchay Parent and Toddler group, upstairs in the Frenchay Village Hall, 9.45-11.45am n 3.30-5pm Friendship club for senior citizens, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n The senior citizen Friendship Club, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 3.30-5pm Spencer@ sporting-change.biz 07825155954 n Sequence Dance class. Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR . 7.30- 9.30pm. Contact John 01454 261498 n Beginner’s Taoist Tai Chi, Fishponds Methodist Church, Guinea Lane 7-8.30pm. Come and enjoy better balance through Taoist Tai Chi practice. Moving meditation for body, mind and spirit. taoist. org.uk n Zumba Gold with Cressida, Royal British Legion, Kendall Road, Staple Hill, 1.30pm-2.30pm n Fun dance & exercise class to music from around the world. Ideal for beginners to Zumba or older students.Special offer -first class £3. Tel 01173 309549 / 07808 581739 n Zumba Gold with Cressida, Royal British Legion, Kendall Road, Staple Hill, 1.30pm-2.30pm Fun dance & exercise class to music from around the world. Ideal for beginners to Zumba or older students.Special offer -first class £3. Tel 01173 309549 / 07808 581739 n Fishponds and Downend Rotary Club meets weekly on a Thursday evening at: The Langley Arms, Guest Avenue, Emersons Green, Bristol BS16 7GA. The club is actively seeking new members to share fun, fellowship and community service. Full details on website Google “F&D Rotary” and look for homepage. n 11am-1pm, Baby Bebop Mums, babies up to one year, Ruth 0796 6032414, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. n 2-3pm, Cressida dance keep fit and Zumba gold, 0780 8581739, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds. n 7.30-9.30pm, sequence dance class, John 01454 261498, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road, Fishponds.

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Fridays n 10.30 - 11.30 am. Weekly Coffee Morning every Friday in Fishponds Methodist Church Hall. Greeting cards sold in aid of St Peter’s Hospice. n 9:30am The Friday Playgroup - All Saints Community Hall n 10:30am Line Dancing - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 11.30am-noon Rhymetime for babies and toddlers, Hillfields Library n 12pm Senior Citizens Bingo Club with optional fish and chip lunch - St Ambrose Beehive Centre n 2pm The First Friday Film Club All Saints Church Hall n 5:30pm Taekwondo - St John’s Church Hall n 6pm Silent Meditation - St Mary’s Parish Rooms n 7pm Grove Road Youth Club - All Saints Community Hall n Sensible keep fit to music for older ladies. Good company and a chat over coffee. From 9am at Hillfields Park Baptist Church, Thicket Avenue, Fishponds. For further details call 956 1231. n 11am-12noon, St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church), Living after Loss, an informal bereavement group. Please note this group is fortnightly with the next sessions taking place on June 12 and 26. For further details call Lizzy on 965 0856. n 9.30-10.30pm Zumba, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n 7-9pm History group, 1st Friday in month, Zumba, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n 2-4pm 2nd Friday in month, Alzheimer’s group, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. n Zumba keep fit, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 9.30-10.30am. Contact Sally 07712 776753 n Baby Bebop (Mums / Babies up to 1 year old) Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 11am to 1pm Contact Ruth 07966 032414 n Alzheimer’s meetings ( 2nd Friday in each month) Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 2-4pm 0117 9756 441 n Fishponds History society ( 1st Friday monthly) Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR 7-9 pm Contact John 0117 965 8110 n 11am-12noon in St Mary’s Parish Rooms (back entrance of church). Living after Loss, an informal bereavement group. Meetings are fortnightly, with the next dates being the next meetings are August 7 and 21 and September 4 and 18. for details call Lizzy on 065 0856 Saturdays n 2-4pm 2nd Saturday, 2 monthly <September > Diabetes group, Beechwood Club, Beechwood Road. Sundays n 10.30am Morning Worship and children’s group at Speedwell Methodist Church, 378 Speedwell Road. Friendly, informal and lively. n 8am Eucharist - All Saints Church n 10am Eucharist - St Mary’s

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Church with Giggle Sunday Club in Parish Rooms n 10am Eucharist - St Ambrose Church n 10am Eucharist or Lay-Led Service - St Michael’s Church n 10:30am Eucharist or Lay-Led Service - St Aidan’s Church n 10:30am Eucharist or Lay-Led Service - St John’s n 10.30am Eucharist or Lay-Led Service - All Saints Church n 6pm All Sorts Youth Group (fortnightly) St Aidan’s Church hall n 6:30pm Evensong - St Mary’s Church n Staple Hill Methodist Church invite you to join them in worship at 10.30am and 6pm every Sunday. A creche is available for little ones and Sunday Club. Taize Worship is held on second Sunday evening of the month and communion is taken on first morning and evening of the month. All are welcome, come and join us on the High Street. If you would like any further information please ring 0117 9575221 and leave a message and someone will get back to you. n 10.30am Morning Worship and children’s group at Speedwell Methodist Church, 378 Speedwell Road. Friendly, informal and lively. n Fishponds Baptist Church (opposite the Cross Hands pub) - we are a friendly, welcoming church with people from a range of backgrounds, nationalities and ages.

We warmly welcome you to join us at 10.30am every Sunday, with children and youth provision for all ages. We meet at 6.30pm every Sunday, apart from the 3rd Sunday in the month when we have our ‘Messy church’ at 4pm with crafts, food and fun for all the family! There is a songs of praise service on the 4th Sunday at 3pm. n Redemption Life, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR 9.30am to 1pm n Church Group, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR 1-pm n ARC, Beechwood Club, Fishponds BS16 3TR. 3.30- 5.30pm or 7- 9pm * For bookings and other inquiries about Beechwood Club, contact Terry King, tk007h9736@ blueyonder.co.uk 0117 965 020, after 4pm. n 10.30am Morning Worship at Speedwell Methodist Church, 378 Speedwell Road. Friendly, informal and lively. n 10.30am Morning Worship at Speedwell Methodist Church, 378 Speedwell Road. Friendly, informal and lively. n 10.30am Morning Worship at Fishponds Methodist Church, Guinea Lane. n 10.30am Morning Worship at Speedwell Methodist Church, 378 Speedwell Road. Friendly, informal and lively. All Age Worship on the first Sunday

NEW

Indoor/ Outdoor Market NOW OPEN

Every Thursday 9am - 4pm Fishponds Trading Estate, Bristol BS5 7UN (Approx 75 yds from Rajani superstore (BS5 7EW) All traders welcome

Bargains galore 1000’s of bargains, just in time for Christmas Fabulous food selection All trade enquiries contact

07842756865 or 07770022091 Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

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Council houses completed NEW council homes in Eastville are the first to be completed in a new construction project to increase the city’s housing stock. The properties at Crabtree Walk, and others at Mill House, Easton, have been built to help address the shortage of large family homes available. Many of the sites being built on make good use of disused housing land including ex-garage sites that have become uneconomical to rent or fallen into disrepair. The programme will deliver around 100 new homes over the next two years. George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, said: “I have been determined to deliver more affordable homes since I came into office, which has not been made any easier by the new Government’s actions on rent and right to buy, but I am pleased that we are now working to increase the numbers of new council homes in the city.” Later phases are likely to focus on smaller homes. To keep up to date with the developments visit www.bristol.gov.uk/ newcouncilhomes

January, 2016

Book Review from Fishponds Library

A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler READING novels shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize is an excellent way of keeping in contact with contemporary fiction and to read novelists that one might not normally come across or consider reading. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler falls into this category. Anne Tyler was born in Minneapolis, Miota in 1941 but her formative years were spent in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is a prolific author and has had 20 novels published, one of which, Breathing Lessons won the prestigous Pulitzer Prize and more recently Anne Tyler was given The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence. Roddy Doyle and Nick Hornby in 1994 nominated her as the greatest novelist writing in English. Anne Tyler’s, A Spool of Blue Thread, is set in the American city of Baltimore and follows the life’s of 3 generations of the Whitshank family from the years of the Great Depression through to the present day. Very little seems to be known of the Whitshank family prior to their arrival in Baltimore from the state of Virginia. Linnie Mae

The Fishponds Conservative Club 761 Fishponds Road BS16 3UP Telephone 0117 965 2532 www.fishpondsconservativeclub.co.uk SERVING THE COMMUNITY IN THE HEART OF FISHPONDS A place to relax with friends or fellow members during your busy day. We have two bars with large spacious comfortable lounges as well as three snooker tables, carpet bowls, pool and darts. We offer a full range of social events including live entertainment, theme nights, tribute nights, quizzes, bingo and raffles.

FOR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION OR MORE DETAILS VISIT OUR WEBSITE, TELEPHONE OR CALL IN TO DISCUSS

Published 2015 by Chatto & Windus

and Junior Whitshank establish a successful construction business in Baltimaore and through hardwork and cunning Junior Whitshank is able to prurchase a large 8 bedroom mansion type house in the city, which he had originally designed and built. Much of the novel’s action takes place on the property’s large porch where relationships are formed and break up. A Spool of Blue Thread traces their lives, intertwined with that of their son Red and social worker wife Abby and their offspring. The main focus of the novel is on Red and Abby as they get older and much frailer and reach a point where they are physically and mentally unable to cope with the pressures of maintaining and living in such a large house. Their adopted on Stem who now manages the construction company moves in to the house with his wife and family as well as Denny, their other son who turns up unexpectably. Denny has drifted from job to job and from relationship to relationship and tension and rivalry exists between him and Stem.

The novel moves seamlessly backwards and forwards through the decades capturing the changes social mores and economic circumstances. references are made to the music of Billie Holiday and The Beach Boys song, ‘Good Vibrrations’ as well as the folk music of Virginia. I enjoyed the simplicity and straightforwardness of Anne Tyler’s writing style. She is very direct and concise in describing the various tensions and rivalries that exist within the Whitshank family and the secrets which lay hidden over the years. Also she creates a realistic picture of the aging process. I highly recommend this book. Copies are available at Fishponds Library. Knit and Natter meet at 2pm on 7th and 21st January and on 4th February 2016. Storytime is at its usual time of 2.15pm on a Tuesday afternoon during term time. Rupert Hopkins (Fishponds Library)

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January, 2016

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CHILDREN from primary schools in Fishponds and across Bristol have been taking delivery of their own fruit trees to plant in their back gardens. As part of the One Tree Per Child Bristol project, all primary school children are offered the chance to take home a tree to plant with their family. The children are given free dwarf stock apple and pear trees and receive an instruction leaflet on how to plant and care for the trees. Catherine Archer, lead learning mentor at Minerva Primary Academy in Hillfields, said: “We have fruit trees in our own school garden, and the children love looking after the trees and reaping the rewards of

fishpondsvoice

Children happy to plant trees our school-grown fruit. “The children now have the opportunity and responsibility to look after their own trees.” More than 10,000 pupils have now chosen a tree and between 50 per cent and 75 per cent are taking up the offer in most schools. The giveaway focuses on pupils in Key Stage 1 and 2 although trees have also been given away in secondary schools and nurseries. George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, said: “This is a brilliant way to engage young children and allow

Children at Minerva Primary Academy receive their trees

them to bring strong messages woodland, hedgerows and individual about the environment and healthy trees. eating into their homes, involving The Friends of St George’s Park the whole family. and St Patrick’s Primary School YOU can also get involved in Bristol’s efforts to improve the environment “I am extremely proud of last month planted 22 large trees by sponsoring your own tree. Bristol’s One Tree Per Child project and some smaller ones in the park The service is simple - an interactive map displays the trees that are which is making a real difference. to enhance the stunning avenue of available. The locations have been pre-determined by tree experts/officers. Giving those children who have tress that dates back over 100 years. Two options are available, with prices starting from £175. Packages gardens their own trees to plant One Tree Per Child is an include a certificate with your choice of wording and a map indicating the at home helps us to reach our Anglo-Australian initiative founded tree’s location, and you can also include a plaque to mark the occasion for ambitious target of 36,000 trees by Olivia Newton-John and an additional £25. planted in the city by March.” environmentalist Jon Dee. Bristol George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol, said: “This is a unique opportunity The figure set represents one has embraced it as an important for people to celebrate a special occasion and help to improve the natural tree for every primary school aged part of its year as European Green landscape in Bristol. child in the city. Over 15,000 trees Capital, vowing to plant 2,015 “The online service is one of the first of its kind, and it makes it really have already been planted in Bristol species of tree. easy for people to get involved.” in the last year. For more information on the For more information on how you can sponsor a tree visit https://www. Thousands of trees are being project, and how you can get Right at Home is oneRight of the UK’s most at Home is one of the UK’s most bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/tree-bristol-sponsorship planted in parks and green space involved as a volunteer visit www. trusted care companies. Our local trusted careincluding companies. across the city new Our localbristol.gov.uk/onetreeperchild team of friendly, reliable CareGiver’s team at of friendly, reliable Right at Home is one of the UK’s most Right Home is one of theCareGiver’s UK’s most specialiseOur in assisting people who may specialise in assisting peopleOur who local may trusted care companies. local trusted care companies. Right at Home is one of the UK’s most need a helping handteam withaofday-to-day need helping hand with CareGiver’s day-to-day team at of friendly, reliable CareGiver’s Right Home is one of the UK’s most Quality care and trusted care companies. friendly, reliable Our local tasks in their own home. tasks in their own home. specialise in assisting people who may team of friendly, trusted reliable CareGiver’s care companies. Our local specialise in assisting people who may Companionship specialise in assisting people who may need a helping hand with day-to-day team of friendly, reliable CareGiver’s need a helping hand with day-to-day need a helping hand with day-to-day Our services include: Our services include: in the comfort of tasks in their own specialise home. tasks in their own home. in assisting people who dementia may taskscare in their own home. care Specialist Specialist dementia Our services include: your own home need a helping hand with day-to-day Companionship Companionship Ourcare services include: Specialist dementia Our services include: tasks in their own home.Transportation and errands Companionship Transportation and errands Specialist dementia care Specialist dementia care Transportation and errands Help with washing, dressing Help with washing, Companionship Ourdressing services include:Help with washing, dressing Companionship and personal care personal care Transportation and personal care Transportation andand errands and errands Light Housekeeping Specialist dementia care Housekeeping Help Meal preparation Companionship Light with Housekeeping Help with washing,Light dressing washing, dressing Medication reminders preparation and Mealpersonal preparation and personal care Transportation andMeal errands care Post-operative support Holiday and respite cover Medication reminders Light with Housekeeping Help washing,Medication dressing reminders Light Housekeeping and much more... 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andand yrecare team of friendly, friendly, reliable reliable CareGiver’s CareGivers out how we can help care for you or your family, call team of find out how we can help care you or your family, call 602502 at Home is one ofTo the find UK’s most 01793 602502 team of friendly, reliableRight CareGiver’s young mothers agedfor16-25 years. much more... 01793 To onship Quality care and specialise in people who who may care companies.and anionship trusted Our local specialise in assisting assisting people may specialise in assisting people who may need a helping hand with day-to-day team of friendly, reliable CareGiver’s Or visit www.rightathomeuk.com/swindon Or visit www.rightathomeuk.com/swindon need aneed helping hand with a helping hand day-to-day with day-to-day Excellent creche for under 5’s To find outwith how we can help care forRight you or Commission. your family, callatfree their own home. mfort of Companionship specialise in assisting people who may 01793 602502 comfort oftasks the Care Quality Commission. at Home office is independently owned and operated Registered with Each the Care Quality Each Right Home office is independently owned and operated tasks in intasks their 01793 602502 inown theirhome. own home. need a helping hand with Registered day-to-day Free use of the Gym • Arts, Crafts & Cooking in the comfort of tasks in their own home. include: Or visit www.rightathomeuk.com/swindon Our services include: home wn home Our services Or visit www.rightathomeuk.com/swindon Summer trips & holidays • Assertiveness courses 01793 602502 Registered with the Care Quality Commission. Each Right at Home office is independently owned and operated Specialist dementia care care Our services include: Specialist dementia your own home Registered with the Care Quality Commission. Each Right at Home office is independently owned and operated Specialist dementia care Companionship Companionship Or visit www.rightathomeuk.com/swindon Companionship Transportation and errands Transportation and errands Meeting at Hillfields Youth Centre Transportation andQuality errandsCommission. Each Right at Home office is independently owned and operated Registered with the Care

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Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

fishpondsvoice

T: 0779 9461169

DISADVANTAGED families were given a happier Christmas this year after a Bristol business donated hundreds of presents. Staff from National Windscreens delivered more than 230 gifts to the Fishponds regional office of children’s charity Barnardo’s. The presents were then shared with services across the region where families would otherwise have struggled to afford a festive celebration. Barnardo’s received the donations from National Windscreens staff Nicky Coatsee, Rebecca Teague and Natalie Howitt. Rebecca said: “Around 80 members of staff took part in the collection and were joined by some of their own children who spent their pocket money on toys for the less fortunate. “It’s more personal than donating money and reminds us that Christmas is about giving. One colleague took his own children shopping for the toys so that on Christmas Day they would remember what they had bought for others. “It’s a really nice way of sharing a bit of Christmas spirit with young people who need some sunshine in their lives.” Barnardo’s regional director Hugh Sherriffe said: “We are sincerely grateful for this generous donation and would like to thank

January, 2016

Hundreds of gifts are handed over to give families a happy Christmas

everyone who took part in the collection. “There are many families who cannot afford to celebrate

Christmas this year but these gifts will help them to realise that they are not alone and they have not been forgotten.”

Barnardo’s works with children and young people who are challenged by poverty, abuse, disability and discrimination.

Hundreds of courses for adults starting in 2016 Whether you want to progress your career or start a new hobby, City of Bristol College has a huge range of courses for you to choose from.

Bridge Community Church meets every Sunday at 10:30am at Downend school for vibrant modern worship and relevant talks on life and faith. We also provide a crèche for tots, and fun activities for older kids. Find us at : Downend School, Westerleigh Road , Downend, Bristol BS16 6XA

Come to our open event: 0117 312 5915 enquiries@cityofbristol.ac.uk

To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Tuesday 12 January 5pm – 7.30pm College Green Centre, St George’s Road

Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

January, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

BMX tricks wow Minerva pupils

fishpondsvoice

Glenfrome Primary School children sing carols to raise money for homeless

PROFESSIONAL BMX rider Lee Musselwhite wowed children at Minerva Primary Academy with a breathtaking performance of amazing tricks. Lee, UK Flatland Champion and Guinness World Record Holder, had a motivational and inspirational message for the Fishponds pupils, encouraging them to stay healthy, fit and active by riding their bike, remembering cycle safety, always wearing a helmet and the importance of practice to achieve their goals. Cath Archer, learning mentor, who organised the event, said: “I would like to thank Lee for taking time out of his busy schedule to perform for our students. Staff here at Minerva actively encourage our students to have a healthy fit lifestyle and this demonstration underpins that message.”

CHILDREN from Glenfrome Primary School sang carols so beautifully at Tesco in Eastville that they were asked back a second time. Their efforts raised £366.97 for the local charity Caring at Christmas. A school spokeswoman said: “We are so proud of the children and grateful to all the adults who turned up to support us.”

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January, 2016

E: news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Eye Blog . . .

fishpondsvoice

with Jonathan Best of Marian Blake Opticians

New Year’s resolution eye care advice for contact lens wearers

S healthy vision top of your New Year’s resolution list? Most of us consider having a New Year resolution, even if it is only halfheartedly - knowing that we barely make it out of January before they are broken. Of course some are far more determined and seriously try to improve their health by giving up smoking, losing weight or drinking less. One easy resolution that could make a big difference to your wellbeing would be to have an eye test. The eyes may not be the romantic windows on the soul but they are certainly windows onto aspects of your health. You may have perfect sight and not need glasses, but the eye test is so much more than that, the optometrist will be able to examine different parts of your eyes and look for signs of how your general health is doing. Blood pressure, raised cholesterol, diabetes and thyroid problems are just a few of the things that can show themselves in the eyes let alone conditions that are specific to the eyes such as cataracts. This year at Marian Blake Opticians I have come up with useful and easy tips to help contact lens wearers get inspired in the New Year.You can kick start a good habit, remind yourself of some good practices when wearing contact lenses or try new products that will suit your lifestyle better. 1. Take care of your eyes - Are you suffering from dry eyes? It is normal to experience burning or irritation after long hours working at the computer, reading or driving, especially if you wear contact lenses. Taking care of your eyes will help to alleviate these symptoms. I recommend Hycosan Eye Drops from Scope Healthcare as all Hycosan eye drops are preservative free, reducing the chance of allergic reaction, and can be used with contact lenses. 2. Attend an eye test - Set a reminder to book your eye test this year. It is important your contact lens prescription is correct and updated.

3. Start a good contact lens care routine - Having a good care routine will help you to enjoy the most comfort when wearing your lenses. Remind yourself to disinfect your contacts on a regular basis and invest in a good cleaning solution; there are a wide range available at Marian Blake Opticians, including all-in-one solutions to keep your contact lenses clean with less time and effort. 4. Change your case every 3 months - When was the last time you changed your contact lens case? If you can’t remember when it was, you should know that it is a good practice to change your case at least every 3 months as this will help to prevent build-up of bacteria and infections. 5. Have a break from your contact lenses - Make sure not to wear daily disposable or monthly contact lenses for extended periods of time. Remind yourself to take out your contact lenses at night and avoid sleeping with them in. Nowadays you can also opt for special extended wear contact lenses, which are safe to sleep in due to a specific technology, like Air Optix Night & Day from Ciba Vision. 6. Always have a spare pair of glasses - Keep a pair of up-todate glasses, with the correct prescription, to substitute for your contact lenses and give your eyes a rest at least one day a week. 7. Try something new! - This new year, why not try a new brand or type of contact lens? Come and have a chat with me about updated lenses available for your prescription; it may be possible to move to a lens that will give you greater comfort. There’s no better time of the year to do something for yourself and for your eyes. Start from today and see the difference. Myself and the team at Marian Blake Opticians wishes you a happy and healthy 2016! Book today on 0117 9651861.

Community rallies round after heartless robbery MEMBERS of the Fishponds community have rallied round following an incident where a 92-year-old woman was robbed. People in the area were sickened after learning the elderly woman had her bag snatched as she walked along Fishponds Road towards Chasefield Lane on November 24. The robbery happened after she had just withdrawn her pension from the Post Office at the Co-Op in Straits Parade at around 2.30pm. When residents heard about the crime, they took to social media to vent their anger and offer money to help the lady. More than £440 has been raised through the Go Fund Me website. One woman who donated £10 said on the website: “This won’t touch the trauma, but hopefully will go some way to restoring some semblance of faith in humanity.” Another donation of £50 was made, with the message alongside saying “Best wishes from your community xxx”. PC Rich Glanville, from the

Hillfields team, said: “Although not physically injured, the victim has been left shaken and her family is clearly very upset by what has happened. “The community is equally sickened by this, with many people taking to social media to express their disgust and donate money to the victim. I believe more than £400 has now been raised, which is a great reflection of the strength of local support. “Anyone with information on this incident and who hasn’t yet contacted us, should do so now.” A 41-year-old man was arrested on December 4 in connection with the incident and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. Anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area at the time is asked to contact PC Glanville on the non-emergency number, 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. • See our new police blog on page 22.

Capital Air Travel 0117 965 7138 0751 28 28 248 www.capitalairtravel.com 675 Fishponds Road, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 3BG Tickets to Amsterdam from £27 Flight Coaches to London from £1 Worldwsi to Weekends Rome/Vatican City from £199 Destinat de ions We are a National Express agent Holy Trails-Umrah/Hajj/Vatican/Amritsar (Sikhs) The only MegaBus agent in Bristol

Epiphany in Care Limited “CARING ABOUT YOU WHILST CARING FOR YOU” We are experienced in providing flexible, practical and personalized services to younger adults and older people who require a domiciliary care or supported living service within their own home. We provide care and support up to 24hrs a day, Personal Care and Guidance, continence Care, recreational Service, companionship, meal preparation, assistance with shopping and attending health care appointments.

Jonathan Best Bsc (Hons)MCOptom Optometrist ‘Jonathan qualified in Optometry from the University of Manchester and recently moved to Bristol to be closer to family. He lives with his wife and 18 month old boy Noah in Staple Hill’.

To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

Want to know more? For a free no obligation consultation, contact us on 07979877742 or visit us at The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, BS16 2QQ. You can also inquiry by email: info@epiphanycare.co.uk

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

OUG

H T

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T: 0779 9461169

T H

E MO

With

Paul Donovan

Pendennis Good News Church Staple Hill

January, 2016

Into the unknown

NEW year, fresh hopes and resolutions. Plans and goals are good but of course none of us knows fully what tomorrow, let alone the the year ahead, holds for us. You may have checked your horoscopes or tealeaves but they are no guarantee of the state of your health, work, finances, security and relationships in the year ahead (not to mention the state of the nation or world). We all go very much into the unknown of 2016. I write as Major Tim Peake is soon to be launched into the vastness of space. There is so much knowledge and information in our world today - libraries, the World Wide Web, media, hospitals, universities and space exploration programs - and yet, still so much that is unknown or misunderstood. You and I may dislike someone who comes across as a ‘Know-it-all’ (because we know they don’t!) but there is one who does have all knowledge, understanding and control of the past, present and future. Knowing him takes away all fear of what we do not know and, because he is completely righteous and loving, we can trust him with those things that we are aware of and experiencing. You may rightly ask, ‘Well, how do you know that? Are you Mr Know-it-all?!’ No, certainly not

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- just ask my wife and kids! The Bible tells us that God has made himself known through what he has made - just look at the magnificence, intricacy and beauty of creation. Furthermore God has always spoken into this world either through God the Holy Spirit, messengers or by coming himself. We now have this recorded for us in his word, the Bible. And, he has shown himself supremely in Jesus Christ who was also called Immanuel - God with us, the one whose coming we have just celebrated. Jesus came so that we might not simply know about God factually, but that you might know him relationally. He was born, lived, died, rose again and returned to God the Father to achieve what we cannot. Wonderfully, in a world of uncertainty, we can certainly know God. You and I may step in to a year of the unknown, but when we reach out to God through faith in Jesus Christ we can be sure that God’s hold is unshakeable, his wisdom unsearchable and his love unfathomable. Paul Donovan Paul is married to Rachel and they have four children. He is the Pastor at Pendennis GOOD NEWS CHURCH in Staple Hill. www.pendennisgoodnews. co.uk

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ABBIE Hoyle is celebrating losing Amy 07462and 727229 over to be able visit3thestone website for learning delicious recipes to cook healthy meals for the whole slimmingworld.co.uk family. 897 8000 2 Years0344 ago, Abbie, 21, found herself overweight, and pregnant with her little boy Freddie. ‘It was a particularly tough time finding out that I had to have a glucose test to test for gestational diabetes. Luckily my results were fine, but it was scary, and a bit embarassing, to learn that my weight could have been effecting mine and my little boys health’. After her son Freddie was born, Abbie joined a local Slimming World Group, and went on to be so successful that she was offered the opportunity to run her own group, which will be launched on Wednesday 30th December at Glenfrome Primary School, Cottisford Road at 7.30pm, and then run every Wednesday thereafter. Abbie says ‘I just love how Slimming World fits in around me and my family, we are all eating healthy meals, and a favourite of ours is homemade burgers, which is something I never dreamed I would be able to enjoy while still losing weight. All our meals are freshly prepared and I know I’m helping my son to grow up eating healthy too’. Losing 3 stone has given Abbie her confidence back, she loves shopping, eating out and taking part in a buggy bootcamp. She also wears a bikini on holiday, something she never would have dreamed of before. ‘I was scared the first time I went to group,’ says Abbie ‘but at a Slimming World group you only get support and everyone is so welcoming’. If you’d like to join Abbie at her Slimming World group, you don’t need to book, just turn up, or you can give her a call on 07703 834215. For details of other local groups, please go to www.slimmingworld.com

Will Writing & Estate Planning

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0117 382 2149 0777 3744492 Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

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fishpondsvoice

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January, 2016

Passport of the Imagination: art exhibition is a unique experience STAPLE Hill library is the temporary home of a new exhibition which is the result of a collaboration between artists and people living with dementia. Their work has been created as part of the Re:Mapping initiative, a series of creative projects taking place in South Gloucestershire libraries. These are run by local performance artists and aimed at people with experience of dementia and people who want to improve their mental well-being Performance artists from Liz Clarke & Company have been working with small groups of people at Staple Hill Library since September. Those taking part and the artists collaborated over six weeks using text, performance, recorded sound and film. Together they’ve taken voyages through their imaginations and have created passports as scrapbooks of their journeys, which will be on display at the library. Communities chair Cllr Heather Goddard said: “We are delighted to have the support of

Arts Council England to enable us to provide these sessions. Libraries provide a safe haven for many of our residents and it’s wonderful

• Photo restoration • Slide & film scanning • Image printing to any size • Digital camera cleaning • Professional sensor cleaning • And more upon request Contact: Oliver Booty 07710 988697 / 0117 239 2276 obphotoservices@gmail.com facebook.com/obphotoservices

to watch the participants thrive through exploring their lives and their creativity. Come along to the exhibition at Staple Hill Library to see the excellent work they have created.” Artist Liz Clarke said: “During our sessions the group took many journeys – including into memory and forwards into the future, across barriers and with friends. The ‘Passport of the Imagination’ is the result of the work we have created together. Each page has been designed and created by the group as a whole. The Passport of the Imagination is our way of sharing this unique group experience so that others can make their own journey using the Re:Mapping experience as a guide.” The Re:Mapping project will span three years and will visit different library locations. So far the project has taken place in Yate and Staple Hill, and will be visiting

Hanham in early 2016. The exhibition will run at Staple Hill Library until February 19. Visit the Re:Mapping blog to follow the project http://lizclarkeorg. blogspot.co.uk/ The next season of Re:Mapping will take place at Hanham Library on Wednesdays 6, 13, 20 and 27 January and 3 and 10 February 2016. There are two different sessions each day, the first from 11am to 12.30pm for people looking to improve their mental well-being, and the second from 1.30pm to 3pm for people experiencing dementia. Carers, support workers, friend or family members welcome to attend too, and both sessions give the opportunity to explore what it means to experience these conditions and how the arts can be used to improve or stimulate well-being.

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WITHIN BOOTS, SHOES & MORE 108 HIGH STREET, STAPLE HILL To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

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TEL 0117 9568606 Got News? Call Jayne On 0788 0731148

January, 2016

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Townhouses on the way in £23m scheme to continue expansion of UWE Bristol campus THE transformation of the University of the West of England’s Frenchay campus will continue in the New Year with a £23 million student accommodation development. More than 550 bedrooms will be created in Wallscourt Park in a mixture of townhouses, apartments and studios. Work will start in January and be complete by Easter 2017, adding to the 396 rooms built last year in the new village to the south of the campus. Construction will run parallel to the development of a new £50 million Faculty of Business and Law centre and comes three months after the opening of UWE’s £9.8 million Students’ Union building. The new accommodation, which represents the second phase in a three-stage development, will comprise 561 rooms in four, five and six storey buildings designed to complement neighbouring blocks. The scheme will include a laundry along with a common room for residents. Preparatory works have already begun, with construction due to get underway in January. The first wave of students is expected to move in during September. William Marshall, pro vicechancellor at UWE, said:“Wallscourt Park offers a variety of good quality accommodation for students. Such accommodation is known to be a key factor in providing an enjoyable student experience. The first phase of Wallscourt Park has been a great success.” In keeping with the first phase of the development, Capita will manage the project and Interserve Construction will deliver the scheme. Paul Gale, divisional director for Interserve, said, “We are delighted to have been appointed by the University of the West of England

to complete the next phase of their student accommodation. “We share in the university’s vision of creating a positive student experience and recognise that the delivery of new, high quality student accommodation is a key part of the long term vision and masterplan of the university. “Our team look forward to providing future students with a choice of living accommodation.” Wallscourt Park is part of the UWE Bristol development plan, a vision to build a university for the 21st century. The latest development, which provides a wider range of housing at lower rent levels than the existing accommodation on campus, will help meet the growing demand for high-quality rooms for first year students at Frenchay. There is further student accommodation in four courtyards to the north of Frenchay campus:

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11 Haynes Lane, (off Pendennis Road) Staple Hill, Bristol, BS16 5JE For all enquiries and appointments: 0117 9563978

Wednesday 8pm-10.45pm Kingswood Community Centre Classes resume January 13 Sunday 4pm-6pm St Francis Church Centre, Ashton Gate Classes resume January 10 With dance teacher DEREK KNAPMAN 07549 590269 dereklionstores@gmail.com www.jivefusiondance.co.uk

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Rachael Chappell talks about Wine on Wheels

ESTSH IN N MO BFUTS HE

January, 2016

B OF

SINE U

fishpondsvoice

E MO

Wine on Wheels Rachael Chappell – Managing Director

Tell us about your business

Wine on Wheels is a Bristol based company that offers great deals on wine with free delivery. I left a long career in the Civil Service as I wanted the freedom to run my own business. Wine was the obvious choice as my family has been in the trade for many years so we already had a lot of connections. We started in 2010 and have built up a strong, regular customer base in Bristol. We keep our business very simple and deliver cases of wine direct to your house or place of business, the minimum order is just one case (six bottles). We pride ourselves on a friendly, efficient service and want all our customers to be happy with their purchases. Our top priority is 100 per cent customer satisfaction!

What service do you provide to the people of Fishponds?

We deliver top brand and independent label wines at discounted prices. Delivery is free of charge direct to your home or workplace. Wine can be ordered online at www.wineonwheels.biz or by phone, text or email. By far the most popular seller is our specially selected “Mixed

Cases”. These change every month and give customers the chance to try different varieties at heavily discounted prices. We offer a weekly email service whereby each Monday customers are sent our list of discounted wine and Mixed Case deals. Prices start from just £27.00 a case, that’s only £4.50 a bottle! There are no subscriptions or memberships involved. Customers can order as and when they like, the minimum order is just one case of wine (six bottles) We like to keep ordering as simple as possible and believe in great personal service.

We aren’t wine snobs…you really don’t need to pay a large amount of money for a good quality bottle of wine! We are very flexible and believe that’s why we are so popular, nothing is too much trouble, we want to know our customers likes and dislikes!

work but a very happy trade to work in. Working with a great team is also really important and we are fortunate to have a brilliant team of people who ensure the business runs smoothly. Also of course, sampling new wines is a benefit! It’s always exciting when a new wine arrives that we haven’t tried before.

The best part of running our business is getting to know our customers and helping if they are unsure about what to order. We also enjoy catering for social gatherings and parties. It’s hard

What makes your business different from other companies?

What is the best part of running your business?

Unlike many of the much larger wine companies, our flexibility and personal service is what makes us different. Our customers really do matter and their satisfaction is the most important aspect of our business.

What are your plans for the future?

The business is growing really nicely and we want this to continue fairly organically. We are in the process of redesigning our website with a view to updating our ordering and payment system. We’re also talking to local brewers as our plans for next year are to stock ales and ciders.

Wine on Wheels 0117 908 3827 / 07778 023661 Wineonwheels.biz Contact – info@wineonwheels.biz

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January, 2016

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Planning matters This month independent planning consultant Chris Gosling looks at the subject of planning permission for householders wanting to extend their homes A HAPPY New Year to all Fishponds Voice readers. With the festivities now behind us, January is traditionally a month for planning ahead. It may be no more than the sort of New Year’s resolutions which don’t survive beyond the first weekend of January, but as the new calendar goes up on the wall, the impulse is there to think about the coming year. In planning departments up and down the country it is the season for answering enquiries about whether extending the house in the way you have in mind would require planning permission. And that is this month’s topic. One quick word of warning at this point: Over the period from the mid 1960s to the millennium it has been common practice to remove the permitted development rights on new housing estates. It still happens sometimes these days, although tends not to get applied indiscriminately. If the permitted development rights have been removed for a house, depending on the details of those missing rights,

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extensions will require planning permission. When the response to your enquiry for that extension comes back from the planning department explaining that permission will be required, thoughts often turn to what can be done that doesn’t require the uncertainty of applying for planning permission. The first answer to that is often a loft extension, but even those are not as straightforward as they may at first appear.

Loft conversions The basic rule of thumb for a loft conversion is to keep within the existing envelope of the building, hence avoiding the need to extend the house at all. A staircase will be required to access the loft and in most cases this will not already be in place. The first thing to think about is where the staircase will go. The next step defines the project as a three-dimensional challenge as you will have to achieve the requisite head room at the top of the staircase to satisfy Building Regulations. Otherwise you can still end up creating an extra room, but it won’t ever officially be called a bedroom. Achieving the head height normally pushes the new staircase further into the house than you had originally intended and you find yourself on the brink of losing a room to accommodate access to the new floorspace. All this at the same time as you were trying to create an additional room or two in the loft. The only way to avoid losing a room or a significant part of one then puts you back in the realms of requiring planning permission, as you will need to change the shape of the roof. This can be a tortuous process, but that is often the case when you try to work around the opportunities offered by the General (Permitted Development) Order - the guidelines for what does and doesn’t require planning permission. There are necessary

compromises between what you want and what you can achieve and be able to start work straight away after a trip to the local DIY superstore. Meanwhile, back in the attic… you come to the conclusion that the costs of losing space for the staircase may outweigh the benefits of working within the envelope of the house. But if the project is worth pursuing the next problem is how you provide windows for the loft. Roof lights again allow you to work within the existing building, but if you, once again, need the head height which is always at a premium with all those sloping ceilings to contend with, then adding a dormer is the only option.

Dormers Thanks to the constraints of planning legislation, the market has developed some very strange solutions involving what can best be described as collapsible dormers. Using the more traditional tried and trusted building methods, however, the golden rule is that dormers on the front of the house will require permission, whereas on the rear they won’t. With headspace at a premium, at this point, many people decide to maximise the build by going for a box dormer on the back of the house. At least everyone walking past on the street is spared having their attention drawn to an ugly growth on an otherwise reasonable-looking house and that is doubtless why this elevation alone is normally allowed free reign for dormers. But given the bulk of the box dormer there is little option for improving the look of this sow’s ear. For the same reason as you may want to maximise the headroom, box dormers are necessarily roomy from the inside and out-ofproportion to the roof from the outside. So you have finally arrived at a solution for extending your house which sidesteps the almost 200 pound fee for a planning application

Chris Gosling and the chance of getting the application refused, but you either gain little or end up with a loft extension that you can hardly bear to look at from the outside.

Aesthetics

I would argue that it is always better to attempt to design something that looks good from the outside and adds value to your house through an extra room or two, while preventing the house from looking out of balance. That way you will often find that your planning application sails though, unless the scheme would have an adverse effect on the neighbours. That way, both yourself and the neighbourhood reap the benefit. It is also a conclusion that is easier to arrive at, as you can apply the most straightforward rule of design: K.I.S.S. or Keep It Simple, Stupid. On the other hand, taking the view of avoiding the need for planning application at all costs can not only make a small saving in the overall cost of an extension, but also lead you down some very strange, contrived corridors of design. Engaging with the planning system doesn’t have to end in tears. Chrisgoslingplanning@gmail.com

If you have a news story - email us at news@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

DANCE CLASSES FOR ALL AGES in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Tap, Irish, Street & Hip Hop, Musical Theatre & Contemporary

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Lodge Causeway, Fishponds Sundays at 10.30 am with activities through the week Serving the community - worshipping God

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January, 2016

Somewhere in Bristol …

Members of Lincombe Barn Camera Club rose to the challenge when asked to create photos representing place names of areas of Bristol. Can you work out the areas these pictures represent?Answers on page 43

c b

Ways to Wellbeing

Social Prescribing Service in Greater Fishponds Ways to Wellbeing is a service which aims to help improve quality of life and social and emotional wellbeing. We provide free and confidential services to adults living in and around Fishponds in Bristol.

Would you like… • Support to improve self-confidence? • Information about services in your area? • To learn new skills and find hobbies ? • To meet new people? You can volunteer with us and gain skills in front line health and social care Receive training and support to help others to improve their lives, make friends and build their community, by becoming a Wellbeing Supporter. A Wellbeing Supporter is a volunteer who meets with an individual for a limited number of sessions. They will talk about the person’s interests, find opportunities to suit them and help them to take part. If you are interested in our service or in volunteering for Ways to Wellbeing, please get in touch.

Email: waystowellbeing@thecareforum.org.uk or Call: 0117 9589309 or 0117 9589360 To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

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January, 2016

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d: Temple Meads e: Broadmead f: Frenchay

Answers:

DO YOU HAVE ANY STAR WARS FOR SALE?

a: Henbury b: Filwood c: Totterdown

Community space FOR HIRE

Cash Paid - I am looking for Star Wars items both vintage and modern, large and small. If you need to clear out ready for the new movie or want to cash in on the interest in Star Wars because of the new movie, please contact me. Also looking for other collectables, Art Deco, vintage toys, vintage clothes, records, DVD’s and CD’s.

Ideal for training, social functions, sports activities also office space for long term lease. Building including large sports hall, meeting room, art room, therapy room, car park, wifi, crèche by arrangement.

Tel: 07444 141947

e-mail: building@hymg.org Contact: Jan or George on 07799521007 Thicket Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol BS16 4EH

attictreasuresltd@gmail.com.

Attic Treasures Ltd

dayz e e ks

eNGLIsH & JaMaICaN CUIsINe 662 Fishponds Road, Bristol

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EAT-IN & TAKEAWAY DAILY SPECIALS OUTSIDE CATERING AVAILABLE Call in on Sundays for Traditional Roast Dinners and a selection of Homemade Puddings

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January, 2016

The Star pub - Bristol Rovers’ first dressing room THE LANDLORD of a Fishponds pub is calling on the community to share their knowledge of the history of the building. Eimear Hawes travelled to Fishponds from his native Ireland just over a year ago to run The Star in Fishponds Road. As a keen historian, Eimear is fascinated by the pub’s history and is keen to find out as much as he can. Already many of his regulars have been sharing their memories but he would love more people to come forward. “Back home I did a local history course so I’ve got an avid interest in history and thought it would be good to know where the Star had come from,” he said. “A lot of people who have drank here over the years have donated photos and are very interested in finding out more about the pub’s history.” The Star is owned by Eimear’s brother who originally asked him to come over to England to help him rebuild the pub. “There are very few original fixtures in the pub as most of them have been taken out. But anything which was there which could have been reused, has been,” he said. Among items of interest was the old hanging hand-painted exterior sign which has found a new home

inside the pub. So far Eimear, 58, whose son Cillian works at the pub alongside him, has learnt the building was originally a laundry and wash room servicing miners from the nearby Star mine. It was also the original dressing room for the Black Arabs, later to be called Bristol Rovers. Eimear’s curiosity was roused after being sent a letter and two old photographs from a lady who said her grandfather and great grandfather - Charles King Jnr and Charles King - were landlords of the Star. Her information disproves that the pub is circa 1906, a fact claimed on the sign which was outside the Star. Having checked the registers at the pub, Eimear found an early list of landlords stating Charles Knight ran the pub from 1853 to 1856 with Charles King taking the reins from 1856 to 1880 and his son, Charles King Jnr, from 1883 to 1886. Eimear said: “The lady also stated that her grandfather had rented out a field to the back of the pub to a fledgling football team called the Black Arabs who were later called Bristol Rovers but threw them out for fighting! “ I invited her down to the Star when we reopened the garden and

The oldest known photo of the Star which Eimear believes dates back to around 1892 she informed me that when she was a child in the 50s there was a large raised pond adjoined to the back of the alley. The brickwork in the skittle alley is the same as that of the building, leading us to believe it was part of the original building. “She said the pond was about three and a half feet tall and had steps up to it and all around the perimeter. In the early 1800s most water was drawn from a well or river. This pond she referred to is obviously a rainwater collection

pond for the laundry, or the laundry itself.” Eimear said he has settled in well and enjoys living in Fishponds. “I love it here. It’s totally different from where I come from on the West Coast of Ireland but I love the people here. There’s a great sense of community at the pub.” If you have any further information you can share with Eimear, you can get in touch with him at the pub or via the Star’s Facebook page.

Fishponds Veterinary Centre

Too many treats over Christmas?

Bring your pet in for a FREE weight check* January to February

Get 2016 oﬀ to a healthy start! Our team can provide expert diet and nutritional advice to help your pet lose weight slowly and healthily. To book an appointment call

0117 9654413 or visit ﬁshpondsveterinarycentre.co.uk to book online

* Terms & Conditions, offer is for weight check only with a vet or nurse

10, Straits Parade, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16 2LA

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OPER

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January, 2016

A stunning 1930â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property located in a cul-de-sac in the Thingwall Park locality. Internally this beautifully presented home has been refurbished and extended with a lounge, large open plan kitchen/dining room, cloakroom, three bedrooms and bathroom. There is also a double garage, OSP, and gardens. This property is truly stunning and would suit many buyers offering modern and period mixed decorations throughout.

Besley Hill 764 Fishponds Road Bristol BS16 3UA Tel: 0117 965 3162

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January, 2016

Large entry for The Allen Classic Trial A TOTAL of 75 cars with drivers and navigators gathered at The Bull in Hinton for the start of the Allen Classic Trial. Their day would consist of a relaxing tour around the hills surrounding Bristol punctuated with adrenaline fuelled ascents of muddy rock-strewn hills. Each hill was attempted in turn, starting at Tog Hill and finishing at the legendary John Walker, where cars descend through a river before climbing up a heavily rutted track and bursting out the top into fantastic views of the countryside. By the time the last car had rolled into the finish, the sun had set and Nick Farmer was declared the winner, having climbed every hill except Fry’s Bottom near Keynsham. On January 14, a team of drivers from Downend will be providing free passenger rides at Autosport International, the racing car show at Birmingham’s NEC as part of Go Motorsport’s Autosolo Display Team. Aside from giving lots of people happy faces, the team will use the event as practice for the second season of the Vincenzo & Son Bristol MX5 Challenge. This year, there will be six rounds to the challenge that anyone can compete

Phil Tucker of Stroud entering the water at John Walker, courtesy of Jack Flash Photography in using a road going Mazda MX5. If you’ve ever thought you might make a good racing driver, then you really

should make a new year’s resolution to do it. Bristol Motor Club run several events that you can compete

in using your every day road car, whether it’s a Perodua or a Porsche, a Ford or a Ferrari.

Dave

PREVIOUSLY MOT TESTING AT REGAL GARAGE NOW MOT TESTING AT

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MOT testing Cars • Light Vans • Motorcycles FIND US ON

Very long established with a modern approach. www.downendautos.co.uk To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

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On the treatment table

with Tim Button, Doctor of Chiropractic at Cleve Chiropractic and Next step in Mangotsfield Blog 24 – Post Baby number 2 So all of the waiting finally paid off and baby 2 has arrived!! It all started on Tuesday the 8th of December when I got the 1am poke in the ribs from Jenny, “It’s happening” she says. “what’s happening?” I reply. “IT! It, is happening!” “Oh.” So I rang my Mum and Dad and they got round pronto considering the time and we left to go to Southmead once more. This time the place was packed with future mums and dads and there was plenty of howling coming from behind closed doors which was pretty unnerving! We were checked in and Jen was 4cm dilated and the waters were breaking, so we were admitted. After a few questions about how well the last birth went with Molly and how well the pregnancy had been, they deemed us low risk thankfully and were transferred to the Mendip Ward and into a massive corner suite with a double bed, aromatherapy oils, music and nice Jacuzzi spa for me. We had the newly appointed head midwife Rachel and her 4th year medical student, Harriett, to help us along but Jen didn’t need much help we all just sat and watched her have contractions on some special birthing mat on the floor with nothing but a very hot water bottle on her back for pain relief. At 5:40am Jen decided that she need to ‘get up’ and got to the bed. The experienced midwife realised that it was time

and rushed out to get some more sheets for the bed leaving Jen standing leaning on the bed with just the medical student and me for company. Jen reliably (forcibly) told the medical student that this was “It”. I knew what she meant and from the look of horror on her face, so did the student. After 4 years of medical training I could see what was going through her mind, “Is it my duty to deliver this baby? Should I do this? Can I do this?” Harriett promptly ran out of the room citing that she would get help leaving me on my own standing behind Jen like a pro quarter back ready to receive the ball. With all my own medical training all I could think was “hut, hut”. Seriously what’s wrong with me? I should be concentrating - I can do this! Luckily after what seemed like hours, the midwife ran back in and took control. I have to say that I was slightly disappointed. Two pushes later and I saw what ‘it’ was. “It’s a boy!” Harrison Michael Button was born with a healthy scream and a squished face at 5:50am. He was 8 lbs exactly. I didn’t realise how much I wanted a boy until that point. I am so happy, my perfect little boy, ready to captain the England rugby team and be Prime Minister one day. No problem. Jenny was fine after the birth and we were moved to a nice quiet room and were discharged to go home later that day. We have been living as a family with Harry, Molly, Mummy and Me for a week now and all is going well. He is feeding and sleeping well and has already regained and

overtaken his birth weight. Next week we shall bring him in to see our chiropractor Hannah for a ‘baby check’ to see if after the trauma of childbirth that he is all in one piece. I’m so lucky that I have access to Hannah to run a simple check on Harry. I would happily advise that any baby can be checked by your local baby chiropractor specialist. It’s such a gentle treatment and it gives you peace of mind that your baby is ok. Just give the clinic a ring if you think Hannah can help you. Anyway, Baby Harry, Toddler Molly, everybody at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step wish you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year!

Tim Button 0117 957 5388

drtimbutton@clevechiropractic.com www.clevechiropractic.com facebook.com/clevechiro twitter.com/clevechiro

Put your FEET first! Mrs Sara Turner MCFHP MAFHP

Foot Health Professional Appointments available in your home during the day, evening or weekend.

Dr Timothy Button MSc (Chiro) DC FRCC (Sports)

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Ring or email for an appointment. General foot care, diabetic foot care, corns and calluses, verrucae, ingrown toe nails, infections etc.

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The practice of pain relief Member of the British Chiropractic Association

CLEVE CHIROPRACTIC 20 St James's Place, Mangotsfield, Bristol BS16 9JB

Contact

0117 957 5388

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January, 2016

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0800 696 5810 • 01225 807828 GARDEN SERVICES

Ben Valentine Garden Services

Services include: Garden Tidy ups • Grass and hedge cutting • Domestic and commercial maintenance • Waste Removal • Fencing • Turfing •Plus more. For a free quote at competitive prices please contact

07513147694 or 0117 9396068 Email bvgardens@outlook.com

HOUSE CLEARANCE

Offers services of Song writing Studio recording CD printing CD selling Contact

yawo d’almeida

Flat F 44 Abingdon Rd Bristol BS16 3NZ Mobile phone 07799599619 Email yawodalmeida@gmail.com

J L Painting & Decorating Jason Lee Painter & Decorator No Job too small Free No obligation quote

07474573780 PAINTING & DECORATING

Local Qualified tradesmen Internal / external decorating Fast, reliable & friendly service No hidden extras FREE QUOTES

Full Load £199

www.junkmonsters.co.uk

HYPNOTHERAPY

Want to

Feel relaxed and free from anxiety and stress Have a good night’s sleep Stop smoking, lose weight Overcome fear of flying, dentists or other phobias Get relief from migraine, irritable bowl syndrome

Hypnotherapy can help For more information and a free initial consultation contact Gerry Monaghan Solution Focused Hypnotherapist

Call Scott 07515523623 Tel 0117 3824411

Your Local Gas, Boiler and Heating Engineers • Boiler Repairs • Gas Fires • Safety Certificates

Call Dan on

Tel/text: 07719 553 587

www.gerrymonaghanhypnotherapist.com

To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261

LOCAL PLUMBER

assistplumbingandheating.co.uk

ACCOUNTANTS

RUHID ACCOUNTANCY (Accountants and Tax Consultants) www.ruhid-accountancy.co.uk

We offer professional, friendly and reliable Accounting & Taxation Services for Sole Traders, Partnerships, Limited Companies, Charities and Landlords. Fixed fees for all inclusive services that’s tailored to suit you. We guide your business towards success. Please contact us for no obligation quote on:

Tel: 0117 941 5311, Mob: 0772 3372010

EASTON BUSINESS CENTRE FELIX ROAD, BRISTOL BS5 0HE

ZUMBA CLASSES

PLUMBING & HEATING

• Boiler Installation • Central Heating Installation • Gas Boiler Servicing

E-mail: info@blueflameservice.co.uk www.blueflameservice.co.uk

**NO VAT** **O.A.P. DISCOUNTS**

Tel: 003 Tel:07592 07592 506 506 003

3/4 Load £179

TEL: 0117 939 1389

10% OFF

Boiler Service when you quote Fishponds Voice

0117 9564912

Telephone:

Professional Decorating

Half Load £139

• All gas appliances installed • Green Deal - Eco free boilers • Oftec registered - Service, repair and install oil boilers. • Service, repair and install LPG appliances.

• REPAIRS/BURSTS • STOPTAPS • TANKS, TOILETS • TAPS, WASHERS • BALL VALVES • LEAD-PIPES

SJM DECORATING 1/4 Load £89

• Gas safe registered • Boiler Service & Repairs • Boiler installations • Landlord gas checks • 2 Hour Appointment Time Slots • OAP Discounts • Gas fire servicing • Hot water cylinders

PLUMBING

PAINTING & DECORATING

House, Garden, Office Clearance

House, Garden, Office Clearance - Plus Plus All Your Other Waste Removal Needs too! all other cheaper than a skip. waste removalOn-Average On average cheaper than a skip

PLUMBING & HEATING SPECIALISTS

0117 214 0949

Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk

NEW CLASS

at the Beechwood Club

FIRST CLASS IS £2

Every Tuesday from 7pm and every Saturday from 10.30 am.

Email bristolzumbies@gmail.com

Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579

WINTER SALE durdham painted with oak bedsides from

£85

chests from

£219

double wardrobe from

£369

stanton rustic oak 4 chair styles

£89

oak sideboards extending tables from from

£199

£329

weston oak bedroom bedsides from

£69

2 over 3 chest

£249

double wardrobes from

£329

weston oak dining 2 chair styles

£89

oak sideboards extending tables from from

£199

£299