Frome Valley Voice July 2022

fromevalleyvoice www.fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

July, 2022 Issue 107

FREE EVERY MONTH IN WINTERBOURNE, FRAMPTON COTTERELL, COALPIT HEATH, IRON ACTON & WINTERBOURNE DOWN

Giuseppe's a WI showstopper!

A WOMEN'S Institute branch is set to become the envy of Great British Bake Off fans across the nation after a visit from a very special guest – series winner Giuseppe Dell'Anno.

Community News: Page 25

Tributes paid to an 'excellent father'

THE family of a man who died after being stabbed at his home have spoke of their "deep sadness" at his loss.

PAGE 2

Farm's future in focus

THE future of a large farm in Frampton Cotterell is at the centre of a political debate after a call to make it a nature reserve to protect it from possible future development.

PAGE 5

'We have a good school again' INSPECTORS have confirmed the turnaround in the fortunes of Winterbourne's secondary school by giving it a 'good' rating.

Ofsted has made its first inspection of Winterbourne Academy four years after it replaced the Ridings Federation Winterbourne International Academy.

The report comes five years after the education

watchdog found the predecessor school to be inadequate – and ten years after its last good rating.

Head teacher Jason Beardmore said he was "thrilled" at the new report, which was "official recognition that we now have a Good school for the local community again".

Turn to page 3

Fan is jailed

A COALPIT Heath man has been jailed for his part in violence before a Bristol Rovers match.

PAGE 4

103 not out

A RETIRED builders' merchant whose business helped the growth of Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath for decades has celebrated his 103rd birthday.

PAGE 11

4 Flaxpits Lane, Winterbourne, BS36 1JX - Tel: 01454 252 140 Email: info@aj-homes.co.uk

4 Flaxpits Lane, Winterbourne, BS36 1JX - Tel: 01454 252 140 Email: info@aj-homes.co.uk

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Local information South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk Environment/trading standards 01454 868001

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July, 2022

n NEWS

Family's tribute after man is stabbed to death THE family of a man who died after being stabbed at his home have spoke of their "deep sadness" at his loss.

Marcus Dunkerton, who was 40, died from a stab wound at his home in Thames Close, Charfield, on June 24.

A 46-year-old man, Grant Bradley, of Blackwell Street, Kidderminster, has appeared in court charged with his murder.

A tribute from Mr Dunkerton's family has been issued via Avon & Somerset police, A picture of Marcus Dunkerton released by his who are appealing family for information to help their investigation.

His partner, parents and other family members said: "No words will ever be able to express the deep sadness and loss that we feel as a family.

"Marcus was a much-loved son, brother, partner, father, stepfather, uncle and son-in-law who was very much loved by us all.

"He was an excellent father. We are heartbroken. He will leave a huge hole in our lives and will be greatly missed. We ask that people respect our privacy at what continues to be a very difficult time for ourselves and all those who knew Marcus."

Police say Mr Dunkerton was found injured at home after being "stabbed several times".

Although ambulance crews were called, he could not be saved.

Bradley appeared before Bristol Magistrates' Court on June 27, charged with murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

He was remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Bristol Crown Court.

The police investigation continues, and anyone with information which could help, who has not yet spoken to officers, is urged to contact the Major Crime Investigation Team on 101, quoting the crime reference number 5222 150 363.

Detectives particularly want to hear from anyone who was in the Railway Tavern in Wotton Road, Charfield, between 9pm and 11pm on June 24, or has video footage from the area on the night of Mr Dunkerton's death.

The murder inquiry is being led by Detective Chief Inspector Phil Walker of the Avon and Somerset police Major Crime Investigation Team.

He said: "Our hearts go out to Marcus's family as they face such a devastating loss. They are being supported by specially-trained officers and have asked for privacy in their grief."

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July, 2022

n NEWS From page 1 Ofsted rated the 1,758-pupil school 'good' in all five areas – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision.

Writing after a two-day visit in May, the team of five inspectors said: "Pupils appreciate the high expectations the school has of them and most rise to meet them.

"Pupils take pride in their work and most strive to do their best. They are polite and courteous.

"The school’s ‘PRIDE’ values of participation, respect, integrity, determination and enthusiasm help pupils to develop their character."

The inspectors praised the "ambitious" curriculum, including work to increase the number of pupils who studying both humanities and a language, and the range of courses allowing the 297 sixth form students to "follow their individual interests and aspirations", including those at other schools run by the Olympus Academy Trust, which took over the school in 2018.

The inspectors said: "Pupils have positive attitudes to their learning. They are keen to learn, and most work hard, even when they are finding work challenging."

The report said pupils' behaviour was "orderly" and any instances of bullying were "dealt with effectively by staff", as well as by anti-bullying ambassadors among the students.

The inspectors made criticisms in two areas – the use of "discriminatory language" by

3

Good rating for academy after 'journey of improvement'

Head teacher Jason Beardmore with Winterbourne Academy pupils some pupils, which makes others "feel less welcome in the school", and not always identifying "gaps" in some individuals' learning.

They recommended that the school further strengthen the curriculum "to ensure that it is effective in preparing all pupils for life in modern Britain" and work to identify and close gaps in learning.

Head teacher Jason Beardmore said: “I am thrilled to announce that Winterbourne Academy has been judged to be a Good school in every category, a source of immense pride for everyone at Winterbourne and The Olympus Academy Trust, and marking the culmination of an epic school improvement journey in our climb to success.

"This report is fantastic news for the Winterbourne

community and brings the official recognition that we now have a Good school for the local community again.

“The Olympus Academy Trust sponsored Winterbourne Academy in 2018, appointing me, an experienced Headteacher, shortly afterwards, following a period of turbulence which included a very different and challenging inspection outcome in January 2017 when the school was judged to be inadequate.

"The challenge was daunting at times but I always believed we could do this."

He said the report reflected a transformation of the school culture and a "great deal of work by the senior leadership team and staff in the school", adding: "I would like to thank our

excellent staff for their efforts during the last four years and to congratulate our students for the way in which they conducted themselves during the inspection."

Mr Beardmore said he was proud that the inspectors had noted pupils take pride in their work.

He said: "I would also like to thank parents and carers for their continued support and contribution to the school and throughout the inspection process."

The Voice reported last month that Mr Beardmore is set to leave the school at the end of term to take on a new role in Devon. His successor, Victoria Boynton, is already working alongside him ready to take charge in September.

Olympus chief executive Dave Baker said: “This recognition from Ofsted is timely and welldeserved.

"Mr Beardmore and his team have shown great qualities in securing this positive outcome and all staff, students, parents, governors and trustees can rightly be proud of Winterbourne Academy.

"They are now poised to push on to further successes, putting the challenges of the last few years firmly behind them.

"My thanks go to everyone involved in this journey of improvement over the last five years."

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July, 2022

n NEWS

Fan is jailed for football violence A COALPIT Heath man has been jailed for his part in violence before a Bristol Rovers match.

William Dinham-Mead was sentenced to ten weeks' imprisonment at Bristol Magistrates Court for his involvement in what police described as "pre-match disorder" in Gloucester Road before Rovers' home game against Swindon Town on October 2.

Dinham-Mead, aged 27, of Badminton Road, pleaded guilty to a public order charge in relation to an incident in which a Swindon fan was kicked on the ground.

He was also given a six-year football banning order when he appeared in court on June 15.

A Kingswood teenager who admitted the same charge received a five-year football banning order and a 12-month community order, with 220 hours of unpaid work.

Football banning orders prevent offenders from attending any match in the UK for the duration of the order or going to certain areas near football stadiums on match days.

They must also surrender their passports ahead of England international matches outside UK. Inspector Mark Nicholson said: “Threatening behaviour and actions that could potentially endanger public safety will not be tolerated.

“Thousands of football fans enjoy games across Avon and Somerset without issue every season. I am sure they will welcome the bans handed down by the courts to individuals who have acted irresponsibly.

“We will continue to proactively work with football clubs so match days remain an occasion all fans can enjoy and safely attend.”

Frontline crews and chiefs honoured MEMBERS of the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity critical care team are among the serving frontline members of the emergency services, prison services and Armed Forces who have been awarded Platinum Jubilee Medals.

To be eligible for a medal, crews had to have been in paid or voluntary service, dealing with emergencies, for five or more years.

GWAAC specialist paramedic in critical care Fleur Mosley said: "I was really honoured and excited to receive my medal, James Yates with his which commemorates such a special and Jubilee Medal momentous occasion."

Avon and Somerset's chief constable and the area's former chief fire officer are among those recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for the Platinum Jubilee.

Sarah Crew, who was appointed Avon and Somerset's first woman chief constable last November, has been awarded a Queen’s Police Medal for her commitment and dedication to improving the policing response to rape and serious sexual offences, an area where she is the national policing lead, and improve policing in the region.

Former Avon Fire & Rescue Service chief fire officer Mick Crennell was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal for distinguished service in recognition of his 30-year career as a firefighter, which included five years in charge of the region's fire service.

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July, 2022

5

n NEWS

Future of Frampton End Farm in focus THE future of a large farm in Frampton Cotterell is at the centre of a political debate after a call to make it a nature reserve, to protect it from possible future development.

Frampton End Farm, which stretches north of the village towards Iron Acton between Frampton End Road and Bristol Road, is partly owned by South Gloucestershire Council and has been included as a potential development site in the council’s local plan.

The 102-hectare farm is seen as a wildlife haven: writing elsewhere in this month's Voice, David Hanks of the group Frampton Nature described it as "home to many important and threatened species".

The farm was brought into the spotlight when a call to create a new nature reserve and green space at the farm was made to a meeting of the council's cabinet on June 13.

The call was made by Frampton resident Tom Howell, and announced in a press release by the village's Conservatives, in which Mr Howell was backed by parish councillors Tim Niblett and Andy Pullen.

But Liberal Democrat councillors say they first alerted residents to the issue more than a year ago – and have already "made it clear that local people would not accept houses being built on this land" Addressing the cabinet meeting, Mr Howell said: "While no specific proposals for its future use have come forward as yet, there has been a lot of speculation in the village that this could lead to more housing.

“Arguably there is a much better use of land for this site. I appreciate that more housing is needed and I think the community overall would support the council’s approach to plan-led sustainable development. But we feel that housing on this site would be inappropriate, particularly given the potential loss of biodiversity and the loss of green space.

"Preserving the site as a nature reserve would turn it into a really positive community asset, help support the council’s climate and nature goals, help to boost biodiversity, and help

A map shows the land covered by Frampton End Farm

to preserve local wildlife in the village."

Setting out where major future developments will be built, the local plan is being redrafted and is expected to come into force in 2024.

The council has agreed to create five new nature reserves elsewhere as part of its Green Infrastructure Strategy.

The Conservative-run council's cabinet member for corporate resources, Ben Burton, said: "Frampton Cotterell is an area which I know well, I have family locally so I’m well aware of how well that area is particularly treasured.

"We share a commitment more widely to biodiversity and ecology. Your comments will be taken on board as we look to bring forward proposals for the future use of Frampton End farm.”

Lib Dem ward councillor and group leader Claire Young said she and her fellow South Glos ward councillors had raised the future of the site with residents in April last year, after seeing it included in the local plan's “Call

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Frampton End Farm for Sites”.

Cllr Young said: "We want this area to be protected for nature and well-being, and have been pressing officers to share plans for doing that with local people ever since 2020.

"More recently in a meeting with council officers in January we again made it clear that local people would not accept houses being built on this land.

"People value the countryside between Frampton Cotterell and Iron Acton highly for its wildlife and as a place to walk, cycle and

ride horses.

"We hope that the recent interest from the Conservatives is a sign that their council cabinet members have had a change of heart and now recognise this land should be protected.

"Having once again discussed this with the council's Chief Executive, we hope to be able to update local people soon.”

Meeting report by Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service Frampton Nature: Page 19

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6

n NEWS

fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

Reprieve for threatened bus services

A DEAL to keep the region's subsidised bus services running for the next seven months has been hammered out by political leaders.

Behind-closed-doors negotiations lasting more than four hours between Metro Mayor Dan Norris and the leaders of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils succeeded in breaking a deadlock over who pays how much.

The rescue package means an initial seven-month extension to current contracts for 80 supported bus services which are subsidised because they are seen as important but are not commercially viable.

Had agreement not been reached, a total of 26 services could have been axed.

They included: the 202 Chipping Sodbury to Winterbourne; 680 North Yate to Chipping Sodbury to SGS College

in Filton, which calls in Coalpit Heath; 626 Wotton-UnderEdge to Bristol, which calls at Winterbourne and Frampton Cotterell; 963 Patchway to Winterbourne Academy; the 84 and 85 Yate to Wotton-underEdge.

The deal will allow time for an urgent review of where buses should run across the region ahead of new four-year contracts for services to be introduced from next April.

The political leaders agreed that supported services would be funded through a combination of contributions from the West of England Combined Authority and the three local councils.

They also agreed that any subsidised routes in future would be subject to a “value for money mechanism” - a suggestion which had seen talks being adjourned without agreement in May. Mr Norris had made this a "red line" in negotiations,

after saying he was shocked to discover the 948 school bus, from Pucklechurch via Mangotsfield to Sir Bernard Lovell Academy in Oldland Common, was costing taxpayers £426 return, per pupil, per day.

Mr Norris said: "This is a victory for common sense. We now have a long-term plan, over a four-year period, that will offer stability for passengers and bus companies who want to invest.

"Leaders agreed with me to end the bonkers situation where bus routes are funded to extraordinary levels through an historic accident – and to instead plough that cash straight back into more bus services."

Mr Savage said: "Securing this agreement to protect our bus services while we conduct an urgent wider review is a really positive step forward, providing reassurance to our communities who would otherwise face sudden cuts – on top of cuts

Metro Mayor Dan Norris that have already occurred – at a time when we really need to be rebuilding confidence in public transport.

"We need more people on buses, not fewer, and for that we need a resilient network. I look forward to the understanding this review will bring and working together across the region to deliver the services we all need."

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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July, 2022

n NEWS SCHOOLBOY fundraiser Toby Fletcher is finally finishing a whopping 718 kilometre charity run.

And the 11-year-old Winterbourne Academy pupil, who has already raised a massive £18,000 for St Peter's Hospice, is calling on supporters to help the final total top £20,000.

It all started last year when Toby set himself a target of raising £6,000 for St Peter’s Hospice, where staff cared for his much loved grandmother, June, until her death in February 2020.

Known as Nanny Ju by her grandchildren, June shared Toby’s love of rugby, and used to take him to watch Bristol Bears.

So in her honour Toby pledged to run 1km for each point the team conceded last season.

But he never realised the scale of the task he had set himself.

The previous season the Bears had topped the table and let in 379 points, but in the season just ended they were fourth bottom and conceded 718!

The Frampton Cotterell

7

Finishing line in sight for Toby

Toby Fletcher with Bristol Bears' Nathan Hughes at Ashton Gate Under-12s rugby player had just 16km left to complete his challenge as the Voice went to print.

He said: "Some of the running has been fun but some has been really difficult.

"The hard weeks were when I had to run 52km. The really rainy weather and the storms were hard. I have also found the

really hot weather difficult too.”

The Bears supported his efforts – Toby has met the team, seen them training and was cheered when he ran out onto the Ashton Gate pitch at half time at the last home game.

His mum Claire says Toby's success has come through all the support of local people and family, sponsoring his huge run.

Toby said: “My friends think what I am doing is really good.

The Bristol Bears fans and other club fans think I'm a hero and lots follow me on social media which is nice."

Toby is planning to run his final kilometre on July 5, from St Peter’s Hospice to the Bristol Bears’ home ground at Ashton Gate, and he will also be doing a "lap of honour" at an event in Coalpit Heath on July 9.

Then it will be time to rest his weary legs.

Toby said: "I am resting for the summer as it’s been so difficult – I do lots of other sports so will still be very active.

"I'm looking forward to watching Bristol Bears next season without worrying about the score. They will probably be amazing next season and concede very few points!”

To donate to Toby's appeal online visit justgiving.com/ fundraising/claire-fletcher22.

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n NEWS

fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

Crowdfunding bid to help create accessible jobs A SOCIAL enterprise based on a farm near Iron Acton has launched a crowdfunding appeal to help create more jobs for people with learning disabilities.

Organic Blooms, based on a nine-acre farm in Latteridge, sells and distributes around 100,000 certified organic cut flowers a year nationwide.

It offers work experience to people with learning difficulties, autism and long-term mental health issues.

Now Jo Wright, who leads the team, wants to build a new classroom and pack house to create six more accessible jobs.

She has launched an online crowdfunding page to bring in donations towards the project.

Jo said: "We have already raised around £15,000 ourselves but we need a further £35,000 so that we can construct a purpose-built accessible, timber construction workshop, which would be invaluable.

"We support people of all working ages who can come here

Organic Blooms workers spread the word about the appeal and learn to propagate, grow and bring on flowers and help out in all sorts of other practical ways, with the eventual aim of obtaining full or part-time employment, either with us or others in our industry.

"Besides the practical side, it’s amazing to see the many other beneficial effects that can be experienced through working

with flowers."

Writing on the appeal website, Jo said just 5.1% of working age adults with a learning disability and receiving support were in paid employment last year, along with only 9% of people using secondary mental health services.

She said: "From our 25 years

of working with people who have long term support needs, we know that they have the same dreams and aspirations as anyone else, including the desire to have a paid job.

"We pride ourselves in the fact that we are really good at what we do! We don't trade on the 'sympathy vote' - we produce a quality product that customers value and we have adapted our business so that people who are normally excluded from the labour market are central to its production and share the rewards of its success – both a sense of pride and wages."

Jo and her team are also looking for corporate sponsors who could support the project and visit the farm to take part in team-building exercises.

As the Voice went to press the appeal had made more than £3,800 towards its target.

Online donations can be made at crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ organic-blooms-is-havinganother-growth-spurt-1.

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fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

n NEWS HAZARDS including dog mess and an open knife left in the grass are among the reasons a Coalpit Heath school is fencing off part of its field.

The field at the Manor C of E Primary School, beside Badminton Road, has been entirely open for public use for many years.

But now the school says a section of the field will be enclosed with a 6ft wire mesh fence in the next few months, as its current unsecure state safeguarding issues.

The school has put posters around the field saying: "Children attending school currently have limited access to the field for a number of reasons.

“It is not possible for children to play freely unless a number of adults are also with the group.

Staffing levels within school mean this is not always possible.

“The field is completely open to anyone to use. This does mean unfortunately that at times waste is left which is incredibly dangerous. An example of this was an open Stanley knife left on the field where the children were about to take part in a PE lesson.”

The school says that, while the majority of dog walkers using the field clear up after their pets, it has had "multiple incidents" of dog mess being left in areas staff children were trying to use.

The field is owned by South Gloucestershire Council, and leased to the school, which acts as custodian.

The council has £16,000 towards the cost of the fence, which will surround between quarter and a third of the field.

A council spokesperson said: "Providing the children with a safe and secure outdoor space will support their health, wellbeing, and development, and the majority of the school field will remain open for public access."

Some residents have voiced concerns on social media, with one telling the Voice they felt local people had not been given much time to comment.

“Some of us were shocked that the enclosure will take up a third of the field and were concerned about whether the community will have free access to the enclosure, at weekends and in school holidays,” they said.

Frampton Cotterell ward councillor Claire Young said

9

School says fence will improve children's safety

The Manor Primary School's field in Coalpit Heath has signs asking people to clear up dog mess that while the school did not need planning permission, it was important for local people to be consulted: a meeting was being held by Westerleigh Parish Council just after the Voice went to print.

Cllr Young said: "It’s the only playing field in Coalpit Heath.

Until now local people have been able to access all of it freely, so it’s understandable there was concern when the fencing materials appeared.”

Some regular users of the field have backed the fence.

Coalpit Heath FC, who play regularly on the field, have been told they will be allowed to use the new fenced area.

Chair Stuart Aris said: “We will have the same number of marked out pitches this season as we did last season, the difference being this year we won’t need to check the fenced area for any dog fouling before games or training!”

Louise Alleyne, who runs Fitquest fitness classes three times a week on the playing field, also supports the fence.

She said: "My three children went to the school.

"It makes perfect sense because it’s a resource that is unusable. It's just to make it a useful, friendly, safe place for the children to play, and I'm all for that.

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"It means the schoolchildren will get more chances to get

outdoors and take part in activities in the fresh air."

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10

n NEWS

July, 2022

Rule change planned as five prisoners abscond THE government is planning to toughen the rules on which prisoners can be sent to open jails.

The announcement was made days after a convicted rapist failed to return to Leyhill Open Prison, near Thornbury, from day release – one of five to abscond since the beginning of May. Sean Phipps, who is 51, remained at large as the Voice went to press, having last been seen in Bristol city centre, where he was on day release, on June 1.

Police said Phipps has convictions for rape dating from 1989 and 1993, and kidnap from 2002.

Detectives say that in addition to being "capable of carrying out dangerous crimes", Phipps is likely to steal food, clothes and bikes, is likely to change his appearance and is known to use "false sob stories" to con people into helping him.

They believe he may still be in Bristol or South Gloucestershire.

Phipps is white and about 6ft 2in tall and was wearing a black coat, blue top and jeans and Timberland footwear when he absconded.

Police say anyone who sees Phipps should not approach him but should instead call 999 and give the reference number 5222 130 002.

On June 12 two other prisoners, Shawn Dibble and Carl Perry, absconded from Leyhill, where they were serving sentences for burglaries, theft and robberies.

They were both recaptured, as was Colin Hogben, a 73-year-old prisoner is serving a sentence for rape dating from 1994, who failed to return to the prison near Thornbury on June 23.

Hogben, who used a mobility aid and was believed to have been travelling by public transport, was detained by police

in Cumbria two days later.

In May 61-year-old William Javoric, who was convicted of murder in 1984, was found to be missing from the open jail.

He was later arrested after being spotted by a member of the public in a Bristol park, following an appeal for information.

The five prisoners who have been subject to police appeal represent more than the total of four prisoners who absconded from Leyhill in the year to March 2021, the last year for which figures are publicly available.

The Ministry of Justice was not able to tell the Voice the total number of prisoners who had absconded from the jail in the following year or so far this year.

But the Ministry has announced that from now on all indeterminate sentence offenders, including murderers and rapists, will face much stricter criteria to move from closed to open prisons, with the

Sean Phipps went on the run after being let out on day release from Leyhill.

Deputy Prime Minister given the power to block those who cannot prove they are "highly unlikely to abscond".

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Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

11

n NEWS

Reg is still going strong at 103 A RETIRED builders' merchant whose business helped the growth of Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath for decades has celebrated his 103rd birthday.

Reg Holbrook was born and raised in Frampton Cotterell, and has seen many changes in his lifetime.

He was born in Alexandra Road, close to the old Star Inn, and went to the old village school, which was then in Woodend Road.

Reg said: "When I was 14 I left there. At that time everyone in the village knew each other – I could name every person in the village.

"Ninety percent of them worked in the pits, like my father and brother, and when I left school they asked when I would be joining them, but my dad helped get me a job at Pountney’s pottery in Fishponds instead.”

During the Second World War Reg was in the Home Guard, then served in the Royal Navy and travelled the world.

In the 1960s he founded Holbrook Builders Merchants, and supplied many of the companies building houses in Frampton and Coalpit Heath as it expanded in the 60s and 70s.

He said: "That was how I made a few pounds, all those houses were being built in the area."

At 103, Reg is keeping up with 21st century life, and only stopped driving a Toyota hybrid car after his 100th birthday.

He said: "I have an iPad and I send emails – I have an iPhone too, but don’t use it much.”

Reg Holbrook at his 103rd birthday party.

Picture copyright Dave Bruten Reg, who now lives in Cambrian Green Court in Yate, joined South Cotswolds Probus to improve his social life, and recently treated members to a meal out to celebrate his birthday.

He said: "I lived on my own after my wife died, and they have been good for my social life."

Probus stands for Professional Retired Businessmen’s Club – it started in the UK in 1965, and latest figures put membership nationally at 400,000 people.

Club president Peter Chaplin, a retired police dog handler, said: "It’s a boys' club for grown-ups.

"It is ironic that while Reg is a great member, we do need

some younger people to join. I’m 69, but I’m the youngest in our branch.

"We have a few in their 90s and lots in their 80s and 70s, ranging from retired bank managers to farmers and people from the aerospace industry."

While some Probus clubs have men and women members, Reg's Second World War medals South Cotswolds has traditionally been month at Chipping Sodbury for men only – but Peter says Masonic Hall. they are interested to hear from Anyone who would like more women as well. information should call Pete on South Cotswolds Probus meet 01454 324956. on the first Tuesday of every

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Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

12

n NEWS

App problem is zapped THE puzzle of electric car charging at a Yate’s new park and ride has been resolved after the Voice contacted the operators of a leading smartphone app.

Last month we reported confusion, after electric car app Zap-Map claimed people plugging their cars in for more than 90 minutes would be fined a £10 “overstay” charge.

Local councillors and the AA said the information was putting people off using the park and ride, especially as it is aimed at commuters and shoppers travelling into Bristol – an hour each way on the bus.

Now the founder of the app has been in touch with us and apologised, and corrected the information on the app.

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder of Zap-Map, said: "We apologise for any confusion which may have been caused by the information provided, and are grateful for it being brought to our attention.

"Zap-Map is the UK's leading charging map for EV drivers to search for charge points, plan longer journeys and share updates with other EV drivers. The accuracy of our data is of paramount importance and so the description of this location has been amended."

South Gloucestershire council opened the £4.5 million park and ride beside their offices on Badminton Road, Yate, in February, and included 38 electric charging points with free parking.

A spokesman said there has never been a £10 overstay charge – and they had also raised the issue with the app operators.

Yate Town Councillor Chris Willmore, who has an electric car and highlighted the issue, said she was glad the confusion had been resolved.

Chris said: "It’s brilliant news that Zap Map responded so quickly to the Voice, as EV users rely on Zap-Map."

July, 2022

Dancing at Disneyland STUDENTS of a dance school based in Frampton Cotterell and Iron Acton have showed off their talent at Disneyland Paris.

ROKH Dance first successfully auditioned in 2019 but their performance ROKH dancers at Disneyland Paris was postponed in 2020 and 2021.

But 20 students aged from five to 15 finally made it to Paris during recent half term holidays.

The trip included a workshop with cast members from Disney, a performance on the main stage at Videopolis in the park and performing in the pre-parade throughout the park.

Principal Kathryn Hurley said: "The trip had been greatly anticipated and has excelled all expectations.

"The girls have been treated like VIPs, with a backstage tour of the Studio Park and workshop where they learnt choreography from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

"The performance on the stage at Videopolis was just magical.

The girls were outstanding and the head of performing arts at Disney actually requested to see us after the performance, to congratulate us on our professionalism and quality of our performance.

"I am incredibly proud of each student. It has been an absolutely magical time, full of special memories."

Help create a vision for

Bristol Parkway Station A G AT E WAY TO T H E R E G I O N AT T H E H E A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y



Join the conversation by attending one of our public drop-in events at St Michaels Centre, North Road, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8PD on:

  

Thursday 14 July, between 2pm and 6.30pm Wednesday 27 July, between 2pm and 6.30pm We are holding an online event on Wednesday 3 August, between 6pm and 7.30pm.

Email regeneration@southglos.gov.uk to receive a link so you can join the Microsoft Teams meeting.

For more information visit www.southglos.gov.uk/parkway-station-masterplan



Share your views and ideas by 14 August 2022

� �

Facebook.com/ sgloscouncil @sgloscouncil

South Gloucestershire Council working in partnership with the West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail and GWR. Funded by the West of England Combined Authority & Local Enterprise Partnership through the Investment Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

13

n NEWS

PCSO Jacqui Mccormack & PC Paula Stone with Elm Park head Carol Bond, pupils and Councillor Nicholas Labuschagne

Elm Park pupils celebrate the jubilee

Friendly warning for school run drivers A WINTERBOURNE school is the first in the village to receive some new signs aimed at reminding parents on the school run to park safely.

Neighbourhood beat team PCSO Jacqui Mccormack and PC Paula Stone worked with Winterbourne parish clerk Sally Watkinson and South Gloucestershire ward councillor Nicholas Labuschagne to find funds to pay for new road safety signs and bollards for three primary schools on their beat, with the first to be given Elm Park.

Jacqui said: "Parking around all our schools is a problem.

"It’s hard to be at every school as we have three primary and one senior school on the beat and work shifts, so we cannot be at all drop-off and pick-up times, so this is an added initiative to help keep the children safe.

"It's a polite reminder to all parents and family who drop off their children to think about where they park and to keep the zigzags clear – regardless of whether it’s just for

a short time, even a minute!"

Elm Park has also been celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, with pupils given medals funded by the PTFA, dressing in red, white and blue, and Year 6 pupils serving families and friends at a special afternoon tea.

Head teacher Carol Bond said: "It truly was a remarkable way to join together and celebrate such an incredible achievement."

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fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

15

n NEWS

All the fun of the medieval fair AROUND 500 people visited Winterbourne Barn as some of the sights and sounds of the Middle Ages were recreated for its annual Medieval Fayre.

The event on June 12 included a programme of costumed demonstrations from the Company of Chivalry, shows and talks, and live music from Bygonz Minstrels, Linda Hall, The Barrelscrapers, and the Bristol Waites.

Wandering actors entertained the children, who also enjoyed dressing up and making shields and crowns, while adults made the most of sitting in the sun with a lamb burger and a beer from local producers!

The Medieval Barn has a range of activities coming up for July, including a proper barn dance in a real barn.

Starting with a tea and tour event at 2pm on July 7, the barn hosts fused glass workshops the following day at 10am and 1pm, and a pottery taster workshop on July 16 at 1pm, where people will hand build, glaze and decorate a bowl.

July's theatre show is a "delightfully daft" production of Rapunzel, on Sunday July 17 from 2pm, featuring slapstick, puppetry, wicked witches, lovable trolls, and miles of golden hair.

The month finishes with a Summer Barn Dance on July 30 at 7pm, when Gloucestershire band Sargent’s Mess and expert caller Rob will provide rousing tunes and lots of fun.

All events need to be booked in advance.

For bookings and more information visit www. winterbournebarn.org.uk Louise Harrison

Minstrels, archers, suits of armour and medieval fashions were on display at Winterbourne Barn

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fromevalleyvoice

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July, 2022

n NEWS

Developer fined after dumping rubbish

A PROPERTY developer whose rubbish was dumped near Hambrook has been ordered to pay more than £6,500 in fines and costs.

Ishtiaq Ishaq was prosecuted

by South Gloucestershire Council’s environmental crime team after waste from homes he owned, as well as his business, was found next to Bromley Heath Road at Moorend, and three other sites in the council's area – Overscourt Woods in Siston, Beech Lane in Hawkesbury Upton and Brewery Hill in Upton Cheyney – over an 11-day period in September 2020.

One of the fly-tips contained details of his home address in St George and his business address.

The others contained documents from a property he owned in South Wales.

The council said Ishaq, aged 62, refused to be interviewed by council investigators.

He provided a statement in which he claimed he had paid someone to remove bags of waste

The rubbish dumped in Bromley Heath Road from his Bristol addresses. He said the removal of waste from the South Wales property he was developing would be the builder’s responsibility.

Ishaq claimed he had acted in good faith and denied flytipping the waste but a council spokesperson said he had failed to identify or provide any details of the people he said he had paid to dispose of the waste, or how to

contact them.

As a result, he was summonsed to court for failing in his duty of care to ensure his waste was properly disposed of and to keep records of who took it away.

Appearing at Bristol Magistrates Court in May, Ishaq pleaded guilty to the offences and was fined £3,692, ordered to pay court costs of £2,255, clear-

up costs of £512 and a victim surcharge of £190 – a total of £6,649.

Afterwards, cabinet councillor for environmental crime Rachael Hunt said: “This case saw flytips take place at four separate locations across the area, without any thought given to the impact it would have on our residents or the environment.

“Our award-winning environmental enforcement team has a 100 per cent record of securing successful prosecutions for this type of offence and if you fail in your duty of care and allow rubbish to be fly-tipped here, you can expect to be caught and brought before the courts."

People are advised to take unwanted goods, household or garden waste to one of the council’s Sort It centres.

Anyone who sees illegal fly tipping should call the StreetCare helpdesk on 01454 868000, email streetcare@southglos.gov. uk or visit www.southglos.gov. uk/flytipping.

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

Reasons to be optimistic: brilliant West of England green jobs

I CAN’T get a new NHS dentist for love nor money. I’ve got constituents telling me they can’t renew their passports, or pay HMRC, or get a driving test, or that you have to ring back tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow to see the GP. This is Backlog Britain, and it is letting West of England families down.

Couple this with lorry driver shortages and Brexit bureaucracy-related delays, especially when full UK border controls came into force at the end of January and there are a whole series of other problems grinding us down - getting an electrician, or frankly a full choice at the local supermarket. Chlorine shortages at swimming pools and even the great British classic of fish and chips is facing an uncertain future.

Some of these problems were unforeseeable - let’s be fair - but others could have been avoided with some governmental horizon-scanning.

After all, with an ageing workforce the lorry driver shortage has been on the cards for years.

Given the environmental crisis we face and the need for rapid change, one thing I want to ensure is that we in the West do some green

horizon-scanning and get ahead of the curve when it comes to jobs of the future. So I made that the focus of this year’s Jobs and Skills Summit which I run. Change is coming.

Soon, when you take your electric car to the garage, you’ll want to speak to a mechanic who’s been trained in up-to-date tech, not who can get a rusty petrol banger started. When the central heating is playing up, it won’t be a plumber you’ll need but a heat pump engineer.

That future is coming very, very soon. It means training workers right now.

So it was great to meet brilliant students from Chew Valley school, who are the first to be taking part in a new West of England Combined Authority-funded programme to encourage local youngsters to consider green jobs.

At round-tables I heard from union reps, talented tradespeople (including those working at Bristol’s Urbane Eco, who are retrofitting homes across the region) and South Gloucestershire engineers working on ‘cleantech’. I asked them about what encouraged them into their careers.

With a £20 million skills budget, it is so im-

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Metro Mayor

Dan Norris

writes for the Voice

portant for me to hear direct what skills training works, what needs improvement and to find out local people’s top tips to get more people enthused.

Opportunities abound for decent, well-paid and fulfilling jobs which will get Britain working again and are vital if we are to reach our very ambitious and necessary West of England net-zero targets. You can’t just scrape by on a wing and a prayer, whatever the PM thinks.

I’ve never been a “what will be, will be” person – I think the future is, very much, ours to see.

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

19

n COMMUNITY NEWS Frampton Cotterell Nature: the importance of Frampton End Farm CONCERNS about the future of Frampton End Farm and the surrounding areas of farmland have been raised at council meetings this month.

The area is partly owned by South Gloucestershire Council and has been put forward by them as a potential site for development as part of their Local Plan.

It was local opposition to proposed development in the 1990s that resulted in the Frome Valley being added to the Avon Green Belt, but this is now under review and South Gloucestershire are expected to start allowing more development on Green Belt land.

Parish councils along the Frome Valley are considering holding a “single issue survey” to assess public opinion on the issue.

Frampton End is a much-loved area of countryside, and has been identified by Frampton Cotterell Nature as a key site for biodiversity in the parish.

The area is home to many important and threatened species, including significant numbers of declining farmland birds, such as skylarks, yellowhammers and linnets.

Harvest mice nests have been found for the first time in decades and otters have recently returned to the river Frome, which runs alongside the farm.

Just this month the rare white-letter hairstreak butterfly has been found here for the

A white-letter hairstreak butterfly. Picture: David Hanks first time. This species lives only on elm trees, and its population was decimated by Dutch elm disease, causing a 96% reduction in its population.

The area is not just important for wildlife but for people, too – this is the main area where Frampton Cotterell residents enjoy access to nature and the open countryside.

The Frampton Cotterell Nature group is developing proposals for a nature reserve in the area – it’s an ideal site for a river and farmland nature reserve, with excellent potential for public engagement, education and connection with nature.

We want the best areas of farmland here to continue to produce food, and to adopt naturefriendly farming practices.

There is potential to develop and create new habitats, including constructed wetlands and reed beds, which would help alleviate flood risks and mitigate pollution.

New woodlands would contribute towards South Gloucestershire’s commitment to double tree cover. The restoration of meadows would support invertebrates such as bees and other pollinating insects.

Species-rich wetlands, woodlands and grasslands all store carbon and mitigate the effects of climate change, as well as extending the range and diversity of wildlife and providing high-quality green spaces for people to enjoy.

Whenever I walk around Frampton End, I’m constantly being reminded of previous experiences with nature I’ve had here: walking with my grandfather and hearing my first cuckoo; the hare that bolted from under our feet, and grey partridges shuffling across a field; little owls bounding along the hedgerows and the mournful calls of bullfinches; house martins collecting mud from the spring and woodpeckers feeding their young; finding an intricately-woven harvest mouse nest; walks with my children through puddles and ice.

Memories like these combine to create a rich sense of place, and a deep connection with that place. We need to foster that sense of connection with local nature to stand any chance of dealing with climate change and biodiversity loss.

Our very existence depends upon nature and our relationship to it. We’ve already lost so much, and we need to fight to protect and restore what we have left.

The Frome Valley and Frampton End must be protected for wildlife, for people and for the future. The fight to save them starts here!

David Hanks

Village Action: Himalayan balsam along the Frome.

PEOPLE enjoying a walk along the Frome Valley Walkway during the summer months may notice some tall plants with attractive pink flowers, growing in large numbers along parts of the river bank.

These are Himalayan Balsam, a non-native invasive plant, which grows in damp places such as the banks of the river Frome.

It is an annual plant, which can grow from seed to an impressive 2.5m in a single season.

Each plant is capable of producing up to 800 seeds and it quickly forms dense clumps, which prevent native wild flowers from developing.

When these clumps die back in winter, the exposed riverbank becomes more prone to erosion.

To prevent balsam from becoming a problem, it is important to stop it from producing viable seeds. One of the most effective ways of doing this is by hand pulling, which is relatively easy as the plants are very shallow rooted, though they do often grow in places which can be challenging to reach.

During the summer months, Frampton Cotterell Village Action leads volunteer groups to clear balsam along the Frome between Nightingale’s Bridge and Cogmill.

No experience is necessary and it gives an opportunity to explore parts of the river which

A working party tackling Himalayan balsam on the river Frome are not normally seen from the footpath, as well as helping the environment.

Anyone interested in joining one of these sessions can contact Village Action via email,

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

framcottva@hotmail.co.uk, or via the Facebook page @FCVillageAction.

Phil Handy

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

20

July, 2022

n WHAT'S ON July 2 n FRAMPTON COTTERELL RUGBY CLUB BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL, Crossbow, Frampton Cotterell, from 3pm. Also features gin, BBQ and live music. £10 entry includes two drink vouchers and cup.

July 4 & 5 CROSSBOW SINGERS SUMMER CONCERT, Love Changes Everything, Crossbow House, 7.30pm.

Tickets £5 per person, from Rose (Monday performance) on 01454 772675 and Mary (Tuesday performance) on 01454 887885.

Refreshments available.

July 9 n FRENCHAY FLOWER SHOW, Frenchay Common, by the Friends' Meeting House. Selection of plant, charity and food stalls open from 12.30pm. Vintage & classic vehicle show on main showground. Details and entry forms available at www. frenchayflowershow.com.

July 16 MEADOW MONITORING AT CENTENARY FIELD, 10am.

Record wildflowers, grasses,

and more. Training provided (free). Contact Daisy on nature@ framptoncotterell-pc.gov.uk or 01454 864442 to reserve a space.

REGULAR EVENTS n MONDAY: WINTERBOURNE FLOWER CLUB now meets at WADCA in Watleys End Road, Winterbourne. Meetings are on the second Monday of the month between 2pm and 4pm. Call 01454 776753 for details. n THURSDAY: EXERCISE AND SOCIAL FOR SENIORS £5. Come and join us for a dose of weekly exercise! We aim to improve your strength, balance, posture and flexibility in a fun and friendly environment.

To register your interest please contact Adam Dyer on 07875503586. St Saviours Church , Coallpitt heath, every Thursday 10-11:30am Beesmoor Rd, Coalpit Heath, Bristol BS36 2RP n TUESDAY: WINTERBOURNE

Loft Boarding & Insulation

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0117 2980810 INFO@USEYOURLOFTSPACE.CO.UK To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

DOWN METHODIST CHURCHDrop in for free cup of tea and chat or play board games, every Tuesday from 2-4pm. n TUESDAY: SUNRIDGE GOLF CROQUET CLUB meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in Coalpit Heath and has players at all levels. Learn how to play, club equipment is available to use. To find out more contact croquet@ wilko.eclipse.co.uk or call 07977 201440. n THURSDAY: WINTERBOURNE WINDS, a friendly amateur wind band who play a wide range of music including pop, musicals and classical, rehearse at Frenchay Village Hall from 7.40-9.30pm.

New members, especially flute, oboe, trumpet, horn and percussion players, are welcome.

For more information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com. n FRIDAY: FROME VALLEY ART GROUP meets at the Greenfield Centre, Winterbourne each Friday 2-4pm or 7-9pm.

Thriving club with demonstrations and workshops from visiting professional artists. More details online at fromevalleyartgroup. wordpress.com or email fromevalleyartwinterbourne@ gmail.com

WE WOULD LOVE TO PUBLICISE YOUR EVENT Send details of your events and activities in the following format:

WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words.

Send by email, with 'what's on' as the subject, to contact@ fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

n FRIDAY: EXERCISE AND SOCIAL FOR SENIORS £5.

Come and join us for a dose of weekly exercise! We aim to improve your strength, balance, posture and flexibility in a fun and friendly environment.

To register your interest please contact Adam Dyer on 07875503586. Cambrian Green Court community centre 2:153:45pm Yate, Bristol BS37 5AD

Winterbourne library news WINTERBOURNE Library is hosting this year's Summer Reading Challenge for primary school aged children, from July 9 to September 10.

This year's theme is Gadgeteers, encouraging a love of science, experimenting and exploration.

All children aged 4 to 11 are invited to pick up a free bag of Gadgeteer goodies, read six books over the summer holiday and collect stickers to complete their Gadgeteers poster and get a medal and certificate.

There will be free reading challenge activities at the library from 10.30-11.30am on August 3, 12, 19 and 26.

The library welcomes everyone, whether browsing and borrowing from the shelves, using a computer, bringing children to the library or meeting friends.

Rhymetime, Wednesdays, 9.30am-10am, most suitable for 0-18 months – limited spaces.

Storytime, Fridays, 9.30am-10am, most suitable for 18 months to four years – limited spaces.

Lego club meets twice in July, on the 2nd and 30th, from 10am to 11am – for children aged four and up.

All children’s activities places need to be booked at www.southglos. gov.uk/childrenslibrary due to limited spaces and children must be accompanied by an adult.

An adult craft group meets on July 9 and 16 from 10am-noon: join a friendly group of crafters to make your own work, knit, stitch, craft and chat – refreshments available.

For more details, visit the library or email Winterbourne.library@ southglos.gov.uk.

The library is open and staffed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 5pm, and on Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Open Access, between 8am and 7.30pm, enables you to use the library when staff are not there, including free Wi-Fi, PCs and printing, issuing and returning books. Library members need to complete a one-off induction session first to register to use it.

More information is available online at www.southglos.gov.uk/ librarychanges.

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

n NEWS

Sporting contests back at school PUPILS at Iron Acton Primary School have been enjoying a return to competitive sports – among themselves and against other schools.

The school held its first sports day in front of parents since before the pandemic in June, on the hottest day of the year so far.

Executive Headteacher Mike Riches said: "The children were Iron Acton Primary School's amazing and worked together football team as a team, supporting and encouraging each other throughout.

"We had a fantastic turn out of families with us, too – so many came to see their children for the first time in several years.

"Our PTA put on a colour run and family picnic afterwards too."

The school's football team has revived its traditional annual friendly match against North Road Primary School in Yate.

Once part of the village's annual May Day celebrations it was reinstated a few years ago but then had to be cancelled for the last two years because of covid restrictions.

North Road won the match 3-2.

The school is currently working with residents to prepare craft activities, including pine cone creatures, dream catchers and sock puppets, for the Iron Acton Horticultural Show, which takes place on September 10 at the parish hall.

21

Georgina set to carry Commonwealth baton A DISABILITY campaigner who grew up in Frampton Cotterell has been nominated for a key role in the Commonwealth Games baton relay.

Georgina Moore, who now lives in Chipping Sodbury and founded the GEM Boccia Club in Yate, will carry the baton on the pier at the Wave surfing lake in Easter Compton as it visits the region on July 5.

Georgina, who has a severe physical disability, hit the headlines in 2019 when she won the BBC South West Unsung Hero Award for her work with the accessible sports club and was nominated as a baton bearer by her dad and says she was "delighted" when the games organisers got in touch.

She said: "I was so excited and honoured.

"As a para athlete myself, I have always watched the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, so it was a real honour to be selected as a Baton Bearer.

Georgina has been given a uniform and her part of the relay will take place over a mile from Badgers Lane in Almondsbury to the Wave.

She said: "They advise anyone who comes to watch stands at the start or finish to cheer me on.

"I hope there will be lots of people there to support me as I’ll be feeling very nervous and hope I don’t drop the baton!"

The baton relay covers more than 2,500 miles by land, air and sea, visiting more than 180 communities in England on a 25-day tour before it is taken to Birmingham in time for the games' opening ceremony on July 28.

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July, 2022

23

n THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

Let us pursue all that makes for peace WE have just come through a period in the church calendar which looks at the interactions of Jesus with his disciples following his death and resurrection, leading to the festivals of Ascension and Pentecost.

During those interactions we repeatedly hear the words "peace be with you".

Jesus is not alone in his longing for peace – many of us would love to see an end to war.

We think of course at this time of Ukraine, and we are reminded of war and unrest in Afghanistan, Syria, Myanmar, Ethiopia and Libya, to name but a handful.

It used to be a bit of a standing joke that those

entering beauty contests, in their speech, would say they longed for world peace.

It seems so fanciful and unachievable, especially as everybody knew they were off stage scratching each other’s eyes out and pulling hair!

That is because we are trying to achieve something on a grand scale that we fail to achieve on a much smaller scale.

Is there peace within our households? Are we truly at peace with our immediate neighbours? Are we at peace with people who we do not always agree with? Are we at peace with those who are not like us? Are we at peace with those from other places?

If the answer to any of these

is no, then what can we do to make peace a reality for us?

Being a peacemaker is hard work, and we are often better at advising others how to be peaceful without addressing our own issues of living at peace with others.

If peace is to be achieved on a wider scale, we have to start with ourselves, we have to practice forgiving those who wrong us. We have to try not to wrong others. We have to apologise when we get things wrong. We have to put aside our own interest and often selfish ambition, and ensure those who are not like us are treated with care, respect and love.

Jesus did not teach hatred of others, he went out of his

Rev David Jones, Curate, Fromeside Benefice way to extend love to all, including those of different faiths. He tasked his disciples to show love to the ends of the earth. He did not say tolerate others, but love them.

Let us pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life.

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fromevalleyvoice

24

July, 2022

n RECIPE OF THE MONTH Ann Murray founded the Cooking4 Cookery School based in Chipping Sodbury. She’s teamed up with Frome Valley Voice to pass on her wealth of experience in the kitchen.

An easy meal for hot days FEELING too hot and don’t know what to cook?

On some days – like the day I wrote this article, with the temperature hovering around 30C – I often feel I don’t know what to cook and I’m not really hungry.

Judging by the a few overheard comments in the supermarket, I wasn’t alone in this feeling.

So I hope my recipe for this month hits the spot for you when you are sweltering in the heat.

It looks pretty enough for a dinner party but is easy enough for a mid-week supper.

If you want to make it even easier, and your supermarket has a seal and cook in the bag facility on its fish counter, you can use that and just make the horseradish sauce and veg, to go with the fish.

Easy peasy – and no fish smells in the kitchen!

A top tip on dealing with fishy smells – if you burn a candle in the kitchen when cooking fish, it helps to eliminate the odour. Any scented candle will do: it doesn’t have to be a so-called chef’s candle, which is usually more expensive.

Hope all that helps you next time you are in sweltering heat.

Rainbow trout with horseradish yogurt and balsamic beets Serves 2 Ingredients: Sea salt and freshly ground black

pepper 4 x 100g rainbow trout fillets, skin on Olive oil 2 heaped tbsp natural yoghurt ½ lemon 1 heaped tsp grated horseradish for a real kick or creamed horseradish for a milder taste 4 cooked beetroots, quartered – optional Balsamic vinegar Knob of butter 2 handfuls of watercress, washed and spun dry Extra virgin olive oil Serve with boiled baby potatoes, roasted fennel and courgettes.

Watercress as a garnish.

Here’s what you do: 1. F irst prepare the yogurt and beets. Using a small bowl, mix the yogurt and the horseradish with the juice of half a lemon and a pinch of sea salt. Taste to see if it’s to your liking. In a

separate bowl, dress the beets with a good splash of balsamic and a little pepper.

2. Then put a large frying pan on a medium heat. Season the trout on both sides with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add a good glug of olive oil to the pan and let it heat up.

3. Once hot, put in the trout, skinside down (you may have to do this in two batches). Press down on the fish with a fish slice, to help the skin crisp up. Cook for four minutes, jiggling the pan every now and then, and turning for the last 20 seconds or so to finish it off – you want to cook it about 90% of the way through on the skin side.

4. Place 2 fillets on each plate and top each portion with a good dollop of horseradish yoghurt, a spoonful of dressed beets and a little watercress. You could serve with boiled new potatoes.

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July, 2022

n COMMUNITY NEWS

fromevalleyvoice

25

Bake Off winner Giuseppe Dell’Anno with members of Frampton Cotterell WI

Frampton Cotterell WI WHAT a summer it has been for Frampton Cotterell WI! Members welcomed a very special visitor at St Peter’s Hall on June 21 – none other than Giuseppe Dell’Anno, the winner of Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off 2021.

Giuseppe lives just outside of Bath and, thanks to a personal contact within our group, we were treated to a talk and given the opportunity to ask questions about

his time on the show.

It was quite a coup for our WI and a great way to help celebrate our 70th anniversary this year.

Two days later saw our members' trip to the Bristol Hippodrome to see the musical Mamma Mia – postponed for almost two years following the pandemic, followed by Wing Commander Ryan Morris attending our regular June meeting to tell us about his life and tours undertaken in the RAF. All in all, quite a busy events schedule for us all to enjoy.

We’re also looking forward to

our next talk, on July 26, which will be from Sarah Weaver and is on the subject of holistic health.

Other confirmed events for the coming year include our summer picnic or social event in August – date TBC, Flying Adventures (photography) with Steve Slade on September 27 and a craft evening on October 25.

We'll be celebrating our 70th birthday in style on November 29.

Watch this space and our Facebook page, where you can also get in touch if you’re interested in joining, for future event dates and

details.

Visitors and new members are welcome to our monthly meetings at St Peter’s Hall on School Road at 7.45pm, on the fourth Tuesday of the month.

There is a charge of £3.50 for the evening and any new members can also join by paying a membership fee. Special interest groups that meet separately include a book club, craft group, gardening group and our skittles and darts teams.

Coalpit Heath WI

Winterbourne Evening WI

COALPIT Heath WI members put up their display on the Badminton Road fence in time for the bank holiday Jubilee celebrations.

Flower heads made from fir cones had been painted by the members during a previous meeting, using paint from left over sample pots. An evening was spent attaching them to the frame around the outlined 70 made from platinum painted cones.

To finish off the display some red, white and blue bunting was created from fabric off-cuts.

At our monthly meeting, we welcomed Jean Burnett, who gave a talk entitled 'Jane Austen made me do it!'

We heard about the worldwide interest that there is in Jane Austen's heroines, Americans being particularly enthusiastic followers. Versions of Austen's five most well-known novels have been rewritten by modern authors for the Austen project, including by Alexander McCall Smith and Val McDermid, but there are also many spin-offs following the lives of different characters, and in some unexpected forms. Fitzwilliam Darcy is a rock star in one version, and others include aliens and vampires!

To end, Jean read an extract from one of her own books, her chosen character being Lydia Bennet, as she said that bad girls were more interesting. Lydia was certainly having a very exciting time on the Grand Canal in Venice.

Alyson Hurst, the 'Bee Lady', is giving her talk on July 6 and on August 3 we have Clair Armstrong from Paul's Place.

Search @WICoalpitHeath on Facebook to find out any further information and updates.

We meet on the first Wednesday of each month in St Saviour’s church hall at 7.45pm.

If you fancy coming along and seeing what we have to offer, you would be most welcome.

Caroline Johnston

WE started our celebrations of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee by attending the Winterbourne Parish Council tea party at the Greenfield Centre.

The hall was a sea of red, white and blue, with flags and balloons, a huge table of food and drinks, and a magnificent jubilee cake in the centre.

We were entertained with a quiz Steph Sidney and patriotic music, and wish to thank the parish council for a very happy and enjoyable time.

Next was the decorating of the green opposite the Co-op with a portrait of the Queen surrounded with swags and artificial flowers made

by WI members and friends.

The display survived all the rain and high winds, and made a focal point for the village and passing traffic.

The speaker at our June meeting was Steph Sidney, a member of the Guild of Soap Makers who gave us a history of soap making.

She makes products of the highest ethical standards, which she sells at local markets and online. Soaps have been made all over the world for thousands of years, using mostly animal fats and soda ash. Today, oils such as olive and coconut are more popular.

Lye is mixed with oil to produce a cake-like batter, which can be coloured in different shades to produce petty marbled effects before it is poured into moulds and left to set, before being cut up and packaged.

After her talk, members were able to buy her soaps, lip balms and body butters, which smelt and looked most attractive.

Our next meeting will be on July 14 at 7.30pm, at St Michael's School in Linden Close, when Susan Marshfield will talk on life in the WI. Visitors are always welcome.

Diana Woodman

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

26

July, 2022

n LOCAL MP

Free swimming scheme made permanent WITH three young children, I know how important it is for our local health and family services to receive support and investment.

This is why, working alongside Circadian Trust and South Gloucestershire Council’s public health team, I was delighted to have helped launch a new scheme offering free swimming to local expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy.

Swimming has numerous benefits specifically for pregnant women, such as preventing diabetes during pregnancy, reducing the need for caesarean sections, improved fitness and reducing high blood pressure.

Swimming can also have a long-term effect on a child’s development beyond birth, with further research suggesting that it has a potential for improving the mental and physical health of children well into adulthood.

The Free Swimming Pilot scheme was launched in March 2020, however due to the pandemic was postponed for few months, before being relaunched in April last year.

I am delighted that following the pilot scheme’s year-long trial, Circadian Trust are now working with our local public health team to extend the scheme permanently, and make this a permanent fixture and service for pregnant women living in South Gloucestershire.

The free service has been offered in Active Leisure Centre across South Gloucestershire, including Yate and Thornbury.

Further details and guidance for women who are interested in the scheme will be announced very soon.

Delivering this promise of free swimming has been an incredibly important objective in my

®

positive plan for health and family life here in South Gloucestershire.

The idea for such an initiative came from new research which demonstrates the huge benefits of exercise, and in particular swimming, for pregnant women.

The Royal College of Midwifery welcomed reports from NHS England, as well as recommendations from the Government’s Chief Medical Officer, who advised parents to aim for 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity during pregnancy.

Swimming is widely recognised as a low-impact method of aerobic exercise, and is particularly good for pregnant women, as it can be performed safely in all three trimesters.

The news is a great step forward in achieving the first stage of my positive plan, to improve family life and our local

Luke Hall MP writes for Frome Valley Voice

health provision.

In addition to this latest success, we are making further progress with our bid to redevelop Thornbury Health Centre, investing over £200,000 in local playgrounds, and continuing to push for a return of health services to Frenchay.

With your valued and ongoing support, we can keep on delivering these vital improvements for our community.

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July, 2022

n COMMUNITY NEWS

fromevalleyvoice

27

Pupils help Floral Friends of Frampton YEAR 3 pupils from Watermore Primary School helped Floral Friends sow marigold seeds and plant summer flowers in the sensory garden at the Brockeridge Centre, for everyone to enjoy.

They also had fun looking for minibeasts in the garden and colouring flower pictures.

Meanwhile, the wild flowers planted by Floral Friends and Culverhill School pupils are now flourishing at the Glebeland wildflower strip and already beginning to attract insects, including damselflies.

Floral Friends plan to develop this area by extending the wildflower strip and adding an informative wildlife wooden sculpture.

A big thank you to all the children who are helping to make our village beautiful while supporting wildlife in the community.

Floral Friends volunteers planted up a section of the Beesmoor border with purple, white and orange bedding and added some bunting and posters in celebration of the the fundraising Plant Sale and Coffee Morning Platinum Jubilee. held on May 28 made over £700.

Meanwhile the planters have now been Thank you to all who supported this event: replenished with summer bedding plants and a special thank you also to Edwina, at Nisa, for the hanging baskets have arrived in the village donating the drinks and biscuits for this event. and look beautiful already, in bright royal The refreshments were much enjoyed. colours.

If anyone would like to support us but was Hopefully the planters will soon be in full unable to attend on the day, online donations flower too – weAW.qxp_Layout just need some more sunshine! 15:56 WB Essentials 1 09/02/2021 Page 1 Floral Friends are delighted to announce that are always welcome.

We are entirely funded by donations, so if you would like to help out by making a donation on-line (either a one-off or a regular one is very much appreciated) our bank details are: Floral Friends of Frampton, Lloyds 30-98-97, account 70582363.

Please help us to keep the village blooming!

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Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

28

July, 2022

n LETTERS It's not just eels who need help in the river I WOULD like to question some things in the article "Eels given a helping hand" (Voice, June) and put forward an alternative view.

Environment Agency experts saying that eels are long and thin, so can't swim very well, makes no sense at all, as eels migrate to the Sargasso Sea, which is the other side of the Atlantic, to spawn.

Clearly this makes them good swimmers. As any angler will tell you, eels fight very well for their size.

Helping smaller eels upstream around Yate is all good, however there are larger weirs in Frampton and lower down the river that are harder to pass, and one must remember that on wet nights eels migrate over land, to get to ponds that are not connected to rivers.

The Frome also supported many other large fish only a few years ago, including chub over 4lbs at Frampton Cotterell, however they were wiped out by the otters, who have also eaten all the large eels that used to inhabit the river and local pools.

Problems in the river started several years ago, when a major pollution incident wiped out most fish from Doddington to Cog Mill.

That section of the river has taken many years to recover as it has not been restocked and fish moved in from the Ladden and Westerleigh Brook.

The Ladden has its own problems, due to pumping water from Sodbury quarry.

The increase in otters, combined with increasing pollution and less water flow over the years, has contributed to the river's decline.

While I agree that anything positive done to the river is only good, it is a shame that there is no long term aim to restore balance in the river, which may include control on the number of

otters, providing better habitat, restocking and controlling pollution.

Martin Powell

Only rain down the drain DID you know that surface drains at the sides of roads lead directly to your local watercourse?

This means that anything poured down the surface drain, such as litter, car oils or shampoo, weedkillers or mop bucket wastewater can harm river wildlife.

Fish, invertebrates and other river life need our help! Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is taking action in your local area to educate everyone that only rain should be going down the drain.

Throughout June 2022 BART ahas been running an exciting Yellow Fish campaign in the local area to help improve water quality in the Bristol Frome, holding a series of Yellowfish events with local schools and community groups.

Volunteers have joined us to mark a yellow fish shape next to surface drains and are handing out posters to remind everyone that only rain should be going down the drains, in order to protect our rivers and their wildlife.

Keep an eye out for a yellow fish near you and spread the message: only rain down the drain!

Thank you to the Coop for funding the events and support from South Gloucestershire Council and Yate Town Council.

To get involved please contact Rozy@bristolavonriverstrust.org.

Rozy Gray Project Manager, Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

£250,000 goal is in sight THE Frampton Cotterell WaterAid support group has raised very

Frampton Cotterell WaterAid support group members at a recent fundraising event nearly £250,000 since we started in 1985, only needing another £5,000 to reach our target.

We want to thank the local community and press for your wonderful support in raising funds and awareness of over the years.

The situation that WaterAid seeks to address is that threequarters of a billion people only have dirty water to drink, and two billion people don't have a private, hygienic toilet. The result is that one child dies every two minutes from diarrhoea caused by dirty water and lack of a toilet.

Lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene education robs people of their lives, their health, their time, their education, their dignity and their hope of working their way out of poverty.

Climate change is making a bad situation even worse. For all these reasons the group is very keen to achieve its target this summer.

Huge thanks to everyone who has supported the many events and appeals of the group over 37 years.

Pat Spry Chairman Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath WaterAid support group

Thanks for supporting Christian Aid Week MANY thanks to everyone who supported this year’s Christian Aid Week.

It was great to see things beginning to return to ‘normal’, with several community events taking place: a coffee morning and plant sale in Iron Acton, a coffee morning and soup lunch at Saviour’s, Zion’s Big Brekkie, and a sale of knitted toys.

There were also generous donations from church members and the wider community.

We are delighted to report that we raised £2192.82, with an additional £263.38 of Gift Aid, making a total of £2456.20.

A big thank you to everybody for your support & generosity.

Don’t forget, as well as donations, Christian Aid needs our action and prayer – why not take a look at christianaid.org.uk to see how you can become involved?

Alison Bray Together for Fromeside

HAVE YOUR SAY Let us know your feelings go to our Facebook page or email us at: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

July, 2022

29

n SPORT

Premiership prize inspires juniors FRAMPTON Cotterell's Under-12 juniors enjoyed an unforgettable day at Twickenham, meeting former British & Irish Lion Sam Warburton and watching the Premiership Final.

As a reward for their success in the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup, reported in last month's Voice, the sponsors invited the team to the home of English rugby.

Discovery player of the tournament Thomas Marsh and Frampton U12 captain Max Baigent were presented with medals and the team had a photo on the pitch, followed by a lap of honour at half time.

Max saw the experience as inspirational and well-deserved following his team’s triumph.

He said: "I’m very proud of my team.

"We were very happy when we won our final game. We went back to the campsite and celebrated.

"I’d like to play in a stadium like Twickenham one day – that would be cool."

Coach Matt Marsh, 41, added: “When we won it, it was absolutely amazing. There was lots of hugging and cheering.

“We had a few tears along the way, losing one game and drawing one game, but it was amazing at the end.

“It’s fantastic to be here. I think the lads have done a really great job and hopefully it’s the start of many of their rugby careers."

Warburton, a Land Rover ambassador, met hundreds of youngsters from the national grassroots initiative.

He said: "Sport's so important because it teaches kids how to communicate, how to win and how to lose, that comradery and a

The Frampton Cotterell Under-12 team and coaches at Twickenham with Sam Warburton. sense of belonging.

"That's why I love rugby – being a team sport, it's physical and it's tough, but it's a great feeling and you get that at a professional level as well as grassroots.

"The Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup is a great taste of that success, when you can see hundreds of kids around you play.

"As a young person that's an amazing sense of achievement, so I love how this is the opportunity we give these kids.

"Just to give them that bit of motivation.

Some kids will just enjoy the moment for what it is but I think there will be a penny that drops for a few of them that are ubercompetitive that will kick them on to greater things.

"So it's great to give them that incentive."

Land Rover has been supporting grassroots rugby in the UK for nearly two decades, through the Land Rover Premiership Rugby Cup. For more details visit landrover.co.uk.

Alec McQuarrie, Sportsbeat

Players wanted

Frampton veterans with their French counterparts from Parisis RFC

Veterans visit France

FRAMPTON Cotterell vets (Toads) visited our French veteran friends the Vieux Loups (Old Wolves) in June to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Vieux Loups trophy.

The rugby relationship and celebration at Parisis RFC in Paris had been on hold due to covid, so it was great to be back together again.

Old Wolves won a tight game 5-0 and therefore

won the Victory trophy, the shield played for every time we play.

Although this was the 30th anniversary of the trophy, the rugby relationship between the two sides actually started 45 years ago with the juniors, and continues to this day: the two junior sides will meet again next May. Several players were present during the weekend who were there in 1977 when it all began, including myself, Mike West, Dave Moulsdale and Frenchman Phillipe Colin.

Mike Weaver

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

A FRAMPTON Cotterell football club is on the lookout for new members.

Ridings FC, which was previously based in Winterbourne, is now playing at Beesmoor Road in Frampton, and playing in the Bristol and Suburban league.

Manager Gary Dunn sad: "We have great facilities and a clubhouse.

"New players welcome for the upcoming season.

Pre-season training and friendlies will be starting in mid-July."

Anyone who is interested in joining should call Gary on 07395 092443.

Email: contact@fromevalleyvoice.co.uk

fromevalleyvoice

30

July, 2022

n MESSAGE FROM SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL

Leading the way in delivering new affordable housing HOUSING is a major topic of our time.

Constantly-rising prices can make it difficult for younger people to take their first steps onto the property ladder or limit their ability to stay in the communities they grow up in if they want to.

Having a safe, secure, affordable home is a fundamental need for everyone at every stage of life, which is why I am so pleased with our record in delivering the high-quality, affordable homes South Gloucestershire needs.

Over the past year, more than 560 new affordable homes were completed, of which more than 280 were for social rent, 56 for affordable rent and 224 for shared ownership.

This council has a strong track record of affordable housing delivery, having seen almost

1,200 new affordable homes built since 2018.

In fact, over recent years, South Gloucestershire has regularly delivered more than 40 per cent of all new affordable homes in the West of England region.

It is particularly pleasing to see when the shock waves of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt acutely across all sectors, including in construction.

Although we have been making real progress, there is always more to do. So, we will continue to work closely with housing associations and developers to make sure that we get the new homes we need, built so that our communities grow in a sustainable way.

Glancing at new estates, it can sometimes appear that developers have taken a one-size-fits-all,

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We all know that the country needs more homes. But we also know that we need to be careful that in helping more people to live in our communities, we preserve what makes them so attractive in the first place.

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