Path celebrates 'unique and wonderful' rugby link

FRAMPTON Cotterell’s international rugby connection has been recognised, with the naming of a footpath on a new housing estate.

Parisis Path on the Blackberry Park estate in Coalpit Heath will be named after the French district, on the northern outskirts of Paris, which has had sporting connections with Frampton Rugby Football Club dating back 45 years.

It began in 1977 when Frampton juniors travelled to Parisis to play a match. Since then the two communities have retained the connection, with twice-yearly return fixtures.

To celebrate their 45th anniversary, the Parisis veterans team, Vieux Loups - which means Old Wolves in Frenchcame to Frampton for a special match between the clubs.

The French vets took on their Frampton counterparts – and among the players were two players who competed in the original match as teenagers: Frampton's Mike Weaver and Philippe Colin, of Parisis.

Mike said that while today’s juniors from the two communities carry on the annual tradition, the older players also have a chance to play each other, in their respective veterans' teams.

He said: “As players have got older the vets have carried on the rugby relationship also, and that has gone on for many years.

“It's a truly unique and wonderful rugby relationship across two countries, and both teams enjoy the rugby, food and one or two beers and glasses of wine.”

At the most recent meeting there was a breakfast barbecue and dinner celebration, where Vieux Loups captain Erik Vassell was presented with a mock-up of the Parisis Path street sign to take home to France.

On the field the Fram vets won back the Victory trophy 30-12, so they keep the trophy until the next time they meet – in Parisis in November.

The new name was confirmed by Westerleigh Parish Council, which covers the area and is changing its name to Westerleigh and Coalpit Health Parish Council this year.

Parish clerk Sue Simmons said: "It is always good to involve the Community and at the point we were considering names for Blackberry Park in 2019, we were delighted that the rugby club attended and had such an interesting suggestion. “We are looking for another parish councillor and a new resident of Blackberry Park or nearby would be ideal.”

A jobs fair is being held to showcase full and part-time opportunities on offer at a new stroke rehabilitation unit at South Bristol Community Hospital opening soon.

Across Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, health, care and voluntary sector partners are working together to improve services for people affected by stroke.

This includes work to improve the prevention of stroke, as well as to provide the best possible stroke emergency care, rehabilitation and care at home once individuals are discharged from hospital.

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the UK, and one of the largest causes of disability. Working with other healthcare partners, the aim is to ensure local people have the best opportunity to survive and thrive after stroke.

As part of this work, Sirona care & health is recruiting to a number of new positions for a dedicated rehabilitation unit, otherwise known as a Sub-Acute Stroke Rehab Unit (SSARU).

The unit will meet the needs of people who are unable to return home immediately after a hospital