Frome Valley Voice July 2023

ACTON & WINTERBOURNE DOWN

'I'm so lucky to be alive'

A CARE worker who lost his leg in a road crash says he is "completely overwhelmed" by the support he has received.

Life changed in an instant for Curtis Buca when he was knocked off his motorbike in the collision, on the main road between Frampton Cotterell and Yate.

The keen amateur footballer's right foot was severed and he broke his knee, thigh, pelvis, collar bone, ribs and hand.

An air ambulance critical care team flew in by helicopter and fought to save Curtis's life, before he was taken to Southmead Hospital.

Turn to page 3

Matt raises game

A WHEELCHAIR rugby player from Coalpit Heath has played his first match in a tailor-made chair, after rugby players and fans raised more than £9,000.

PAGE 6

Ofsted praise

A WINTERBOURNE school has been praised for its highlyengaged, hard working children and ambitious curriculum.

PAGE 5

New home plans

A DEVELOPER has announced plans for 38 new homes on fields on the outskirts of Frampton Cotterell.

PAGE 2

Bus concerns

PARENTS of some secondary school children from Coalpit Heath and Frampton Cotterell have been warned that their bus service faces an uncertain future.

PAGE 7

Young engineers from Frampton Cotterell C of E Primary School have won awards for the frog-themed electric car they built and raced in a project with educational charity Greenpower. Full story: Page 13

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38 new homes planned

A DEVELOPER has announced plans for 38 new homes on fields on the outskirts of Frampton Cotterell.

Bristol & England Properties has called a public meeting to give more details of its plans to develop land west of the Bristol Road and south of Perrinpit Road in Frampton.

The developer’s agent Pegasus said the event was to allow local residents to hear about “emerging proposals” for residential infill development.

No planning application has yet been submitted, but local campaigners say they will oppose the plan, as it is for Green Belt farmland.

Pegasus says the development will include about 38 new homes, with “affordable and self-build plots for parishioners, open space, dual access points, sustainable drainage and biodiversity enhancements".

The agent added: "The event is intended to aid discussion on the draft proposals…we would actively encourage any questions about the proposed development.”

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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

Complaints

Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk

General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

NHS Health

Call 111

Well Aware health & social care information www.wellaware.org.uk

Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

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A member of the

Members of the local conservation group VALID, which opposes “excessive development” in the village, are expected to attend to express their concerns,

Chair Dave Hockey said: “I would oppose them building on the Green Belt – the VALID team are looking to make sure the land between Frampton and Iron Acton in the Green Belt stays Green Belt, because of its nature value.”

He said other developments on the Green Belt west of Bristol Road have been on brownfield sites, which were occupied by business or industrial use, but the latest scheme was on agricultural land.

The drop-in event will be held on Wednesday July 19 from 3pm to 6pm, at the Brockeridge Centre, Woodend Road, Frampton.

Driver dies after collision in Frampton Cotterell

A DRIVER whose car was involved in a collision in Frampton Cotterell died in the incident, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called to Ryecroft Road at around 4.30pm on June 7 after the car collided with a wall and a parked vehicle.

Specialists from the Great Western Air Ambulance flew to the scene to join a rapid response paramedic and two other teams who attended in another ambulance.

Police closed Ryecroft Road between Church Road and Rockside Gardens during the incident.

However they were unable to save the driver, who was in his 30s and is believed to have suffered a medical emergency before the collision.

An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said: "The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 30s, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

"Our thoughts are with the man’s family and a specialist family liaison officer will now support them as we carry out enquiries into what happened."

Police are not appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Officers closed Ryecroft Road between Church Road and Rockside Gardens as ambulance workers tried to save the man.

Three fire crews, from Bath, Kingswood and Yate, also assisted the police and ambulance service during the emergency response.

From page 1

Surgeons had to amputate his right leg up to the knee to save the rest of the limb, and he was in the intensive care unit for 11 days after the collision, which happened on the A432 Badminton Road at Nibley on May 22.

Curtis, who was on his way to an appointment with a client in Yate, has undergone several more operations and has now moved from Southmead's orthopaedic trauma unit to a rehabilitation ward at Weston General Hospital.

His girlfriend Stacey Hitchens set up an online donations page to raise money for a blade-style prosthetic leg, so that Curtis can be active again, to fund equipment and adaptations he may need to aid his recovery, and to ease the financial impact of losing his nine-year career.

As the Voice went to press, the page had raised more than £15,000.

Curtis can no longer do the physically demanding job he loved, or continue to be a platelet donor - he had donated more than 100 bags - after receiving 10 bags of blood himself.

Stacey has also left her job, as she was unable to take paid leave to help Curtis, and as a result the couple have had to move out of the flat they shared in Emersons Green, and face rebuilding their lives from scratch.

Curtis has no memory of the collision or the next four days, but soon realised how badly he was injured.

He said: "I knew it would change my life completely, however I was not considering all of the negative impacts.

"I just knew I was so lucky to be alive, and grateful for the amazing doctors who worked so hard to save me.

"The skill of the multiple doctors who put me back together as best they could was outstanding.

"Every single person did their jobs so well, and were so kind to me, and attentive. I love the NHS and I wouldn't be here without it.

"I have lots of options for the future.

"I loved my job but I will continue to help people in other ways. Once I have recovered and got to grips with my new way of life then I aim to be a mentor to amputees in the future.

"I have had to move home but I have a fantastic family, great

Carer thanks 'amazing' doctors and donors after crash trauma

friends and a perfect girlfriend who are all there to help me recover. I'm lucky to have a great network of people."

More than 500 people have made individual donationssome are friends and contacts on social media but many others are strangers who have heard Curtis's story, including bikers and dance music fans.

Curtis said: "I am completely overwhelmed by the support I have received.

"So many lovely people giving up their hard-earned money to help me is just wonderful.

"I want to thank every single donor for their generosity - it has made me cry multiple times with happiness."

Stacey said: "We want to make his recovery as easy as possible.

"Curtis used to play football twice a week and he wants to get back to doing that, as well as walking our dog, Ruby.

"His employers at Prestige

have given him the option of a possible office job but that's not him at all - he'd rather find something he can do to continue helping people directly.

"He's expected to be in hospital for eight to 12 weeks and it's going to be a long process of recovery, but he's lucky he's

alive and had no head or spinal injuries."

The fundraising page can be found at tinyurl.com/5fvwc88e or by searching for Curtis Buca at Gofundme.com.

*Avon and Somerset police arrested a 39-year-old man on suspicion of careless driving causing serious injury and drugdriving in connection with the crash that injured Curtis.

A spokesperson said the driver had been released under investigation.

The collision happened near The Swan pub, in a 30mph section close to the Nibley Lane junction, at about 4.50pm. Badminton Road was closed for more than four hours afterwards.

Police are appealing for anyone who thinks they witnessed the collision or has relevant dashcam footage to call them on 101 and quote the incident reference number 5223 119 312.

Curtis Buca with dog Ruby at the hospital where he is recovering

Curtis and girlfriend Stacey Hitchens

Don't put out recycling during bin strike

PEOPLE are being told not to put out recycling or food bins for collection during strikes by South Gloucestershire's bin crews.

The council has advised residents that it is prioritising fortnightly collections of black bins and nappy sacks by those staff still working during strike action.

Union Unite announced on June 27 that it was extending the strike - originally planned to run until July 9 - throughout the summer to September 3, saying bin contractor Suez and South Gloucestershire Council had "ignored repeated requests by Unite to engage in talks to resolve the dispute".

The action followed a one-week strike earlier in June, staged by 150 workers in response to a pay offer described as a "significant real terms pay cut".

As the second strike began on June 26, the council said there would not be "sufficient staff" to collect recycling or green bins and urged people not to put them out.

It is still advising residents to put out black bins on scheduled days and report missed collections.

A spokesperson said the authority was "aware of residents’ concerns over food waste not being collected for some time, especially in the hot weather".

People were being advised to use a plastic bag or double bag food waste and ensure it is tightly tied up to minimise smells.

Recycling centres in Yate, Thornbury and Mangotsfield were being kept open, with extra

facilities set up to deposit food waste. Union Unite said 89% of workers who took part in a ballot voted to strike, after rejecting an 8% per cent pay offer from he council's waste contractor Suez.

The union said: "With the real rate of inflation, RPI, at 11.4%, this is a significant real terms pay cut.

Unite says Suez made profits of £80.8 million in 2021. The company’s South Gloucestershire bin loaders earn £11.53 per hour - equivalent to around £460 for a five-day week at eight hours per day, or just under £24,000 a year.

Unite regional officer Ken Fish said: “Our members have been forced to take action because Suez refuses to table a reasonable pay offer.

"This is a lucrative contract and the council needs to intervene and force Suez to put forward a fair offer to our members."

Suez says its two most recent pay offers, this year and last, together represent a pay increase of up to 16.75%.

A spokesperson said:

"Industrial action is the very last outcome we want to see - we still believe our offer is a competitive one and our door remains open to Unite Trade Union.

"However, with talks currently stalled, we are developing contingency arrangements with the council so that we can minimise disruption for local communities."

Social workers strike

SOCIAL workers and occupational therapists working in adult services for South Gloucestershire Council joined bin workers on a picket line outside the authority's Kingswood offices.

Their one-day strike on June 12 was the sixth.

Union UNISON has been in dispute with the council since last summer over a decision to award qualified staff in children’s services an extra £3,000 "retention payment" on top of their basic annual salary to stop them leaving the sector - but not giving it to adult services workers.

Social worker Sarah Bramley said: “Current figures show that retention of qualified workers in adult care is worse now than when the payment was agreed for children's services.

"But retention payments are not being considered for us, which makes us feel we are not valued at all. We hold the same qualification as our colleagues in children’s services and our job is incredibly demanding.

"The basic wage is already higher in all neighbouring authorities, so South Glos Council struggles to attract experienced staff and with Wiltshire Council, for instance, implementing retention payments for adult services, this problem will surely get worse."

Unison says 94% of staff voted for strike action in the ballot.

A council spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that UNISON have proceeded with strike action, given our continuing focus on delivering our workplace action plan, which addresses issues staff tell us matter most.

"Staff in all roles in adult social care undertake vitally important work in our communities in South Gloucestershire.

"We very much hope that UNISON will continue to engage with us on the actions agreed after the last period of industrial action."

The spokesperson said the authority had "maintained a good level of service and support to our communities and hospitals" during the strike. Row over black bin cuts: Page 20

Striking social workers and bin crews demonstrated outside South Gloucestershire Council's Kingswood offices on June 12

High standards and hard work at St Michael's

A WINTERBOURNE school has been praised for its highlyengaged, hard working children and ambitious curriculum.

St Michael’s Church of England Primary School, in Linden Close, has kept the 'good' rating it has held for 20 years after a visit from Ofsted in March.

The regulator's report, published in late May, also said the school was welcoming, with warm relationships between children and adults, and a "wide and rich range of clubs and experiences".

Inspector Simon Woodbridge said: "Staff know children well and put them at the heart of everything they do.

"Leaders have high standards for all."

He said parents were “overwhelmingly positive” about the school and its place at the heart of the community.

The inspector said: “Pupils are kind and respectful to each other. They feel safe and happy in school. Pupils say that bullying does not happen.

“Leaders have high expectations of pupils and what they can achieve. As a result, the curriculum is ambitious and pupils love learning.

"There is a high level of engagement in lessons. Pupils listen and work well when completing activities. Pupils work hard."

He said pupils loved to read, starting with a well-structured phonics programme as soon as they started in Reception class, with books matched to each stage and support quickly given to

children who needed additional help.

The inspector said the school, which has 194 pupils aged from four to 11, had a wide-range of "purposeful and creative" play activities at lunchtime, and also helped children understand how to keep healthy through diet and exercise.

The report said: “Leaders have created an inclusive school, where pupils embrace difference and know it is okay to have different beliefs, values and opinions from their own.”

Pupils with special educational needs or disabilities are identified quickly and supported effectively, while leaders have responded quickly to pupils' needs by introducing hubs for nurture and support, said the inspector.

Support and training for staff was also highlighted, creating a "strong sense of community".

The inspector recommended

that the school ensure recent changes to the "design and coherence" of the curriculum are extended to all subjects, including history.

Head teacher Kirsty Robson said: “I was thrilled that the report recognised the strength of the curriculum that we have

worked so hard to create for our children.

"Relationships are at the core of our work at St Michael's and the inspector was impressed during his visit by the warmth that was clearly evident between adults and children."

St Michael’s primary school head teacher Kirsty Robson with pupils

New wheelchair helps Matt raise his game

A WHEELCHAIR rugby player from Coalpit Heath has played his first match in a tailor-made chair, thanks of the kindness of rugby players and fans.

Matt Badman made an appeal for help to buy a specialist wheelchair, after getting hooked on the sport.

And Chipping Sodbury Rugby Club stepped up to help.

A fundraising touch rugby marathon in June brought in more than £6,180.

Matt’s own fundraiser made another £3,300, including £1,000 from Frampton Cotterell Rugby Club, raised during a club tour to Cornwall, and another £500 from Frampton's juniors.

Together the appeals have raised enough not only to buy Matt his own custom wheelchair but to help other players on his team.

Previously he had to borrow a chair that was not made to measure, and was uncomfortable. He said the new chair made all the difference.

Matt, who has cerebral palsy, plays for Taunton Gladiators because there are no wheelchair teams near home.

His first game in the new chair was in a tournament at Stoke Mandeville, known as the birthplace of Paralympics.

Matt said: “I played in all the games, and it was really good.

“It was more or less pain free, because the chair was made to fit me. I was faster and could move about better. You need it to be a snug fit so you can’t slip about. You use your hips to move it, to turn left and right.

“With your own chair, you can really play to your full potential.”

More than 120 players and supporters from Sodbury RFC joined in the club's sponsored event.

It was organised by Lucy Lawson, a former Chipping Sodbury player, who now manages the club's touch rugby team.

Lucy said: “We doubled our target and have now been able to help three additional players from Matt’s team! The extra money raised bought spare tyres, which can be very expensive, as well as a whole chair for one lady player.

“The fund raising also raised awareness – I would love to see a wheelchair team in this area in the next few years.

"It gives people such a lease of life to be so active, which is important for them.”

Lucy said the Chipping Sodbury club members plan to visit Matt at a home game.

She said: "We’d like to be there to support him at a game soon, and we are talking about another event – maybe a 24 hour wheelchair rugby event.”

Matt said: “Lucy spent hours and hours sorting it out and I’m so grateful to her and the rugby club - it’s mind blowing really what the community can do.

“It was great to meet the players. I was overwhelmed how many turned out to help my appeal.

"I'm glad they raised enough to help other team members too.”

My force is racist, says top cop

THE Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset Police says the force is “institutionally racist”.

Sarah Crew said the constabulary is also likely to have a culture of misogyny, homophobia and discrimination against people with disabilities.

In a statement published on the police website on June 16, Ms Crew said that the “system is unfair” on black and other ethnic minority people and vowed to put it right.

Her comments come in the wake of Baroness Carey’s review into the Metropolitan Police, published in March, which she said was a “catalyst for us to examine ourselves”, along with a damning report last year by Desmond Brown, a former chair of Bristol’s Commission for Race Equality, identifying "disproportionality" in areas including stop and search decisions.

Ms Crew said Mr Brown’s findings showed “clear evidence of differential experiences in the way we interact with

people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds, particularly those who are from black heritage communities”.

She said: "When it comes to race, I’m in no doubt that, by Baroness Casey’s criteria at least, Avon & Somerset Police is institutionally racist.

“I think it’s likely to be true for misogyny, homophobia and disability as well, though the gaps in the data don’t give us the sense of scale, impact, or certainty that we have for race.

“I need to be clear – I’m not talking about what’s in the hearts and minds of most people who work for Avon & Somerset Police.

“This is about recognising the structural and institutional barriers that exist and which put people at a disadvantage in the way they interact with policing because of their race."

Ms Crew was accused of "virtue signalling" by Avon & Somerset Police Federation chairman Mark Loker, who

represents rank-and-file officers.

In a statement responding to Ms Crew, Mr Loker said that while the police needed to have "difficult conversations" about racism, her words had done “nothing to drive change or amend culture”.

He said: “I contend that by our Chief declaring Avon & Somerset as ‘institutionally racist’ this will create a false narrative and actually drive a divide between our officers and the communities this is intended to assist.

“We do not always get it right, but in the absence of any data that supports this position and states that we are ‘institutionally racist’, this is nothing more than virtue signalling.”

Both Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford and Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees have backed Ms Crew's comments.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Matt Badman with his new custom-made chair

Matt with members of Chipping Sodbury RFC, who raised more than £6,000

School buses in doubt next term

PARENTS of some secondary school children from Coalpit Heath and Frampton Cotterell have been warned that their bus service faces an uncertain future.

The 460 service, operated by Stagecoach, takes pupils to Winterbourne Academy and back every school day.

It is one of five services, run either commercially or with subsidies, whose future next term is in doubt because of financial issues.

The others are the 427 from Frenchay via Hambrook, the 458 from Fishponds via Downend, the 459 via Emersons Green and Lyde Green and the 936 from Patchway, Bradley Stoke and Little Stoke.

Four of the services are run by Stagecoach, with the other run by Transpora.

Their future in the next school year is undecided as the school, bus companies, South Gloucestershire Council and the West of England Combined Authority discuss how they should be funded.

Parents were sent a letter by Winterbourne Academy head teacher Jenny Cartwright in early June, which said: "We have been meeting with the bus companies, with SGC and with WECA and will continue to do in the weeks ahead to try and clarify the situation, so that we can communicate it clearly and accurately to all parents affected.

"Following a meeting in the half term break, we can report that there is no final, definitive outcome for of any of these routes at present for next academic year.

"With term 6 beginning and the end of the school year approaching, we have been emphasizing the urgency of being able to inform parents as soon as possible and all parties concerned are aware of this pressing need to make the transport routes clear for September.

"However, there remain a wide range of unknown factors that will affect the viability of routes, such as changes in funding, possible additional subsidies and the impact of recent changes in political leadership in the area, which make it impossible to give clear information at present.

"I realise that this will be worrying to many families. Please do raise your concerns with local representatives in South Gloucestershire Council or the West of England Metro Mayor. It is frustrating, as a school who has no control over the buses or bus routes, to have no clear answers."

The school was hoping to update parents by the end of June but after "key person" at the council went on leave, the situation is not expected to be resolved before July.

A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “The West of England Combined Authority is the local transport authority, but we are working closely with them and bus operators around these services as we recognise the importance of children being able to travel safely to school.”

A spokesperson for Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: "The school buses to Winterbourne Academy are supported buses, so the responsibility for funding lies with South Glos Council.

"South Gloucestershire Council have a duty to provide free transport to school if the school attended is the nearest appropriate one, and the distance between home and that school, when measured by the nearest available walking route, is three miles or more for children aged eight years to sixteen years."

Opening in July at 41a High Street, Winterbourne, BS36 1JG

Also at 184 Wells Road, Totterdown, BS4 2AL; Prior Park College, Sports Complex, Ralph Allen Drive, Bath, BA2 5AH.

Hello, We would like to introduce ourselves to the local community. We are well established physiotherapy practice which has been running for more than 10 years. Joint owners, Laura Swarbrick and Kelly Rotheram met 13 years ago and quickly became good friends, united by a love of physiotherapy and finding they had similar drive and ambitions.

Top to toe runs a very successful practice on the Wells Road and for the last 5 years have been running a clinic out of Shaftesbury Park, Frenchay and supporting Dings Crusaders rugby club. However, now with a team of 7 Physiotherapists and Sports Therapists, they have outgrown this and are therefore soon to be leaving in order to expand in Winterbourne.

We have taken on a fantastic opportunity next door to the Taj Brasserie on the main High Street and are looking forward to supporting the local community and surrounding areas.

We offer a wide range of treatments and services. Please pop in and say hello.

Frampton Festival could be on its way back

THE annual Frampton Festival could be ready to return – but not until next year.

New nine metre-wide double gates have been installed at Centenary Field, resolving issues with a collapsed wall in Mill Lane close to the field entrance.

Frampton Parish Council said the new gates will allow larger vehicles onto the site, and said that "all being well" the free volunteer-run event could come back.

Announcing the update online, the council said: “Frampton Cotterell Parish Council is very pleased to let you know that the widening of Mill Lane Allotments gate has been completed ahead of schedule.

“This, we hope, will help to facilitate the return of the Frampton Festival in 2024.”

Festival organisers told the Voice they are hopeful they event can return, but won’t know for certain until they have had talks with the parish council about the

layout of stalls and attractions.

The festival was traditionally held in the Centenary Field every year in mid-July, with rides, stalls, activities and live music building up to a firework display and beacon-lighting finale.

It moved temporarily to

another site, The Park by Crossbow House, when it was last held in 2019, because of the access problem caused by the collapsed wall, but the Centenary Field was agreed to be more suitable.

The following year organisers

were already struggling to find a venue when the pandemic brought an end to all mass events, and the festival has not been held since.

Last year the parish council published a statement about the festival, following speculation in the village, and re-affirmed its support.

Councillors said: “We love seeing the joy it brings to the community every bit as much as you do. We are certainly not opposed to the Frampton Festival.”

The council said plans to encourage biodiversity and make the Centenary Field a nature reserve would not prevent the festival going ahead, or the field being used by dog walkers and others.

For more details about how to support the festival, or get involved as a volunteer, visit framptoncotterell-pc.gov.uk/ frampton-festival.

The new gates at Centenary Field. Picture: Frampton Cotterell Parish Council

Firefighters' paw patrol

FIREFIGHTERS lived up to their “not just fires” catchphrase when they were called in to rescue an overheated dog trapped in sweltering heat.

Golden Labrador Freckles had got stuck under a cargo crate, at Frome Valley Farm on Badminton Road in Coalpit Heath during the June heatwave, on a day when temperatures were up to 28C.

But it wasn’t a case of breaking out the turntable ladder, or high tech cutting equipment… the firefighters used their charm and a few treats to persuade him to squeeze out to safety.

Freckles’ owner Leanne Poole said she was hugely grateful to the team.

She said: “I know it wasn’t a life or death matter, but Freckles was stuck and exhausted.

“She had not been around for nearly an hour when I realised where she was.

"She had crawled under the container and was exhausted trying to get out. We tried giving her treats and she just couldn’t make it.”

Leanne went to get a farm tractor to see if they could get Freckles free – but by the time she returned, the firefighters had coaxed Freckles out, or as an Avon Fire & Rescue Service's official spokesperson put it, "the dog was able to selfrescue itself from the entrapment".

Yate Fire Station watch manager Andy Lavis said: “When we arrived, Freckles was in a sorry state, and clearly distressed.

“With some gentle encouragement from all involved, he managed to crawl out of the tight space he’d been in and free himself.

“We were really pleased to have helped in this situation and to have seen Freckles go free.”

On their Facebook page Yate firefighters posted: “This is why we say #NotJustFires!”

Leanne said: “The fire brigade were fabulous. I’m so pleased they came to help.”

Five days later Yate firefighters were called out again, to rescue a 14-year-old Jack Russell named Boycie who had locked himself in a family car in Hawkesbury Upton.

A spokesperson said: "Luckily, the air conditioning was on and crews formulated a plan to rescue the dog."

The firefighters used tools to open the door and reunite Boycie with his family, adding: "You're joking - not another one!?"

Yate Fire fighters with Freckles and owner Leanne Poole. Picture: Yate Firefighters/Avon Fire & Rescue Service

Freckles wedged under the container

Boycie in his car

A giant leap for young engineers

A PRIMARY school's club for young engineers is celebrating its most successful season yet.

Frampton Cotterell C of E Primary School's engineering club picked up four awards for building and racing an electric car against other schools.

Throughout the school year a team made up of 13 pupils from Year 6 has been hard at work building a Greenpower Goblin electric car, with guidance from Steve Harrison, a retired engineer who runs the club as a volunteer.

It is part of a project organised by educational charity Greenpower to inspire enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and maths through the excitement of motorsport.

Warming to the green theme, the Frampton team named themselves Frampton Frogs and their hard work paid off when they raced their car, Frog Gear, against other schools at three events.

The first was a pre-season friendly against Horfield Primary School and St Michael’s Stoke Gifford, which gave all three teams the opportunity to check out their cars before the bigger events later in the year.

Two official Greenpower events followed, the first against ten other cars at Miskin, near Cardiff, where the Frampton Frogs won the Best Portfolio award and picked up another for coming third overall.

Then against 20 other cars at New Mills, Wotton-under-Edge, they won two awards: Best Bodywork and Spirit of Greenpower.

Steve said it was the engineering club's fifth year, and the school's "most successful season yet".

He said: "They are particularly proud to have won Spirit of Greenpower, because that was awarded for the way they helped other teams who were having technical difficulties, and it shows how well they worked as a team.

"The Frampton Frogs would like to thank the sponsors whose financial support made this season’s success possible: Home Instead, Direct Line Group Auto Services, South West Truck & Van, St James’s Place, Circus Software Solutions, Netbop and Hion. They would also like to thank Tayz of Winterbourne for printing and embroidering their impressive team kit."

Greenpower Education Trust is a UK-

The Frampton Frogs team with their record haul of trophies

based charity that supplies age-appropriate kit cars that can be built in schools and raced at organised events at motorsport venues.

It works with more than 700 teams in the UK, involving more than 10,000 young people from primary school age through to university, and has international teams from the USA to China and India.

For more information visit www. greenpower.co.uk.

Any local primary or secondary schools that would like to know more about starting a team should contact steve.harrison@ greenpower.co.uk.

Join the pollution patrol

PEOPLE are being urged to join in a 'citizen science' event to monitor pollution levels in the River Frome.

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is running its annual RiverBlitz to measure water quality in local waterways from July 7 to 14.

People can sign up online to be sent a monitoring kit in the post, which can be used to take samples of river and stream water to test levels of nitrates, phosphates and other common pollutants.

The RiverBlitz has been running for seven years and enables BART to understand the impact of pollution on the health of river water, and help identify sites in need of further investigation.

Earlier this year the Voice reported how sampling of water in the Frome at Frampton Cotterell, by the Frampton Cotterell Nature group and UWE researchers, uncovered "shocking" levels of potentially harmful coliform bacteria.

The tests showed the water in some places had more than 100 times the Government recommendation for coliform bacteria - the family containing harmful E. coli - for inland bathing waters.

In the tests, two students from the University of the West of England took samples from five spots on two dates in March.

The samples were analysed and the number of colony forming units (CFU) for suspected E. coli per 100ml of water was calculated.

Founder David Hanks told the Voice: “As well as being a threat to human health, the poor water quality is bad for our wildlife. The river here used to be full of fish but now you hardly see any."

RiverBlitz project manager Rozy Gray said: "Our rivers are facing enormous challenges, of which excessive nutrient inputs are a major aspect, negatively

impacting the diversity of species inhabiting our river environments.

"Nitrate and phosphate are important nutrients in rivers, however in excessive quantities they cause problems for wildlife.

"Monitoring nutrient levels, whilst simultaneously raising awareness of their impact, is what RiverBlitz is all about and we hope that people are both interested and excited to get involved to do their bit to support BART’s work in protecting them into the future.”

She said the RiverBlitz project was a "fantastic way for people to get out and spend time by their local river, getting to better understand the ecosystem while also taking an active role to contribute to the ongoing conservation of these spaces".

To take part in the RiverBlitz, sign up online at bristolavonriverstrust.org/ riverblitz/register.

Unicorn trail begins

AN activity park near Winterbourne will have a stop on a fundraising charity unicorn trail being unveiled in July.

Unicornfest is raising money for charity Leukaemia Care with a trail of decorated two metre tall statues, which will be on display across the region between July and September before being auctioned off.

In similar style to previous years' Gromit Unleashed, Shaun the Sheep and Wow! Gorilla trails, people will be encouraged to pick up a map and find the unicorns over the school summer holidays.

The local unicorn will be at West Country Water Park in Trench Lane.

Organisers had not released any images of the unicorn or details of where maps will be available as the Voice went to print.

The trail is due to officially start on July 3 but the statues were being installed from June 26 onwards.

For more information visit theunicornfest.co.uk.

Bringing you news for 10 years

THE Frome Valley Voice marks its 10th birthday this month.

The first edition of the paper appeared in the community in July 2013, with its trademark mix of news and events.

Ten years ago, the paper reported on a financial crisis at St Peter's Church and parking problems at the Medieval Barn.

Schools featured in the paper, with St Michael’s celebrating its 200th anniversary and Frampton Cotterell CofE School unveiling its new logo.

Both schools are in this month's paper, too, with St Michael's celebrating its latest good Ofsted report on page 5 and Frampton's young engineers on our front page.

We have reported on the closure of the Live and Let Live recently, but in July 2013 we were saying farewell to the Star in Coalpit Heath with a look back at its history.

There was also excitement about the resurrection of the Frampton Festival; something we hope to report on in the future once again, following our story on page 8 today.

Council blasted over traveller sites policy

A PLANNING inspector has lambasted South Gloucestershire council for 30 years of failure to provide sites for travellers and gypsies.

The inspector said the council knew it needed 61 new pitches in the district, but had failed to provide them, as he overturned the council’s decision to block a family caravan site in Frampton Cotterell becoming a general site for travellers and gypsies.

Allowing the appeal, inspector Matthew Jones said: "In the absence of immediately available or suitable alternative accommodation, dismissal of this appeal would amount to a breach of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in relation to respect for private and family life.”

In 2017 the council gave permission for the Hegarty family to create pitches for five touring caravans and five mobile homes on land just off Bristol Road, just north of the Perrinpit Road junction.

Although it was in the green belt, special permission was granted because a member of the family was in chronic ill-health, and for child welfare - subject to a condition the site could only be used by five named members of the family and their children.

The inspector said the Hegarty family left in 2019, and the site is currently occupied by three O’Driscoll families, including 12 children enrolled in local schools.

In 2021 the landowner applied to revoke the previous planning conditions, to make the land a permanent Gypsy and Traveller caravan site.

People living and farming nearby had objected, and called for the site to be returned to Green Belt, and in June 2021 South Gloucestershire rejected the application, leading to the appeal.

Mr Jones said: “Policy failure has clearly been a persistent issue in South Gloucestershire, I am led to believe over a long period, approaching three decades."

He said earlier failures had led the government to direct the council to formally allocate enough sites by 2011, but this had "not come to fruition".

Campaigners walk the Green Belt

SUPPORTERS of countryside and planning campaign group VALID held a Green Belt walk around Frampton Cotterell.

David Hanks, the chair of the Frampton Cotterell Nature Group, spoke about the return of otters to Black Rocks, one of the areas visited during the walk on June 17, and the importance of leaving time and space for the many wildlife species the group has recorded.

VALID chair Dave Hockey said: "Walking further upstream towards Iron Acton, David highlighted the dormouse box in a hedge on the riverside- the concern about future possible development in the Green Belt arises because of the associated dormouse survey."

Around 25 people took part, and the group's next walk is being held at 2.30pm on September 2, starting from the bridge over the River Frome by Algars Mill at Frampton End Road, Iron Acton.

All are welcome on the walk.

For more information about VALID and its Save our Countryside campaign, email at validcampaign@gmail.com.

The plot is in the Green Belt, and the inspector agreed it would normally be “inappropriate”.

But he said other considerations, including lack of alternative sites, and effect on the children, far outweighed this and amount to “special circumstances”.

The inspector said he understood traveller site allocations are now intended to be included in the next South Gloucestershire Local Plan.

A council spokesperson said it accepted the outcome of the inquiry, and wanted to move away from a situation where “too many sites like this have received consent following appeal”.

The spokesperson said: “The only way to do this, and to reduce the number of ad hoc temporary camps, is to work through the Local Plan process to ensure there is appropriate provision for gypsies and travellers who are locally based or move through the area.

"We are currently assessing the future level of need in South Gloucestershire and are looking to identify suitable land to deliver new pitches through our new Local Plan, which will be subject to further public consultation in the Autumn.”

More details about the council’s new Local Plan can be found online at beta. southglos.gov.uk/new-local-plan.

Public Consultation Event

Bristol & England Properties will be hosting a public consultation event in Frampton Cotterell and invite local residents to attend to review emerging proposals for residential infill development on land to the West of Bristol Road/South of Perrinpit Road.

The drop-in event will be held on Wednesday 19th July, 3–6pm, at the Brockeridge Centre, Woodend Rd, Frampton Cotterell, BS36 2LQ.

The event is intended to aid discussion on the draft proposals, which comprise c.38 new homes, including affordable and self-build plots for parishioners, open space, dual access points, sustainable drainage and biodiversity enhancements.

There will be an opportunity to provide feedback both at the event and subsequently via frampton@ pegasusgroup.co.uk and we would actively encourage any questions about the proposed development.

Bristol & England Properties are committed to proactive local engagement in promoting the site and hope to meet as many residents as possible at the event.

Residents on the VALID walk

Full

n LOCAL MP

Protecting green spaces must be council's top priority

IN the coming months, South Gloucestershire Council will be taking important decisions about where to build large housing developments, how to support our local bus services, and how much to invest in our roads.

Our towns and villages have seen unprecedented levels of housing in the past few years. We know that South Gloucestershire simply does not have the infrastructure to accommodate thousands more houses. It has never been clearer.

Building on the Green Belt in Coalpit Heath would be a mistake.

It protects the character and identity of Coalpit Heath, prevents an urban sprawl until

merging into Yate, protects our precious countryside and forces councils and developers to prioritise brownfield land. That’s why this new council should place protecting our Green Belt at the heart of its mission.

It should be firm with urban areas like Bristol and Bath that they need to take their fair share of housing, something that government ministers have clearly said should be the case.

Alongside residents, I have taken up the fight to protect our Green Belt time and again, as I did regarding the flawed Joint Spatial Plan that would put 1,500 houses in Coalpit Heath Green Belt. Armed with thousands of residents’ views from my survey,

I urged the government to take the unusual step of intervening to pause the plan to ensure we get a fair deal for our area.

I also recently received clear, written assurances from government ministers that areas such as Bristol should be taking an additional 35% of housing need, to stop further pressure being put on our GP services, our schools and our roads.

With a new council administration now in place, it is vital that the new leaders keep up this fight, and pledge to

from overdevelopment.

South Gloucestershire is the best place in the country to live, work and raise a family. No wonder developers want to build here.

However, we cannot allow the Council to give the green light to developments which put our roads, GP services and schools

Luke Hall MP writes for Frome Valley Voice

PM praises Jeanne for helping vulnerable women

A FRAMPTON Cotterell woman has been recognised by the Prime Minister for her work in supporting vulnerable women in the South West.

Jeanne Long launched ‘Happy Handbag’, an initiative which uses donated handbags that filled with essential items and distributed to vulnerable women across the South West, in 2016.

Among the people the scheme helps are women fleeing domestic abuse, homeless, or leaving prison.

The bags contain items including hygiene products and little luxuries such as make-up to help restore their confidence.

They are distributed to people who need them across the community via public service providers.

Jeanne also gives talks to local women’s groups and since the pandemic has started to build a network for donations so people can more easily provide items.

Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall, who presented the award to Jeanne at his constituency office, said she was the first South Gloucestershire resident to have received a Points of Light award from Rishi Sunak.

The awards scheme was first launched by David Cameron in 2014 to highlight the UK's inspiring and ground-breaking volunteers.

The awards are decided directly by the Prime Minister and recognise individual volunteers who make outstanding contributions to their communities.

In a personal letter to Jeanne, Mr Sunak said: "For someone going through the toughest of times, an act of kindness can make all the difference. That is why your idea is so powerful.

"You have reached out to thousands of women across the South West, just when they need it the most.

“By giving the gift of a handbag, filled not just with essentials but make up and other luxury items, you have helped those women to rebuild their confidence.”

Mr Hall added: “It was an absolute honour to be able to present the Prime Minister’s award to Jeanne, recognising all the incredible work she has done to reach and support so many vulnerable women in the community.

“Jeanne embodies the compassion and kindness of the South Gloucestershire community, and as a leading light, thoroughly deserving this award."

Jeanne said: "It was good to meet with Luke and have an opportunity to discuss the work Happy Handbag does for vulnerable women throughout South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Bristol.

"I was delighted to receive this award and am grateful to all those who continue to support the work of Happy Handbag in the South West"

For more information about Happy Handbag or to donate items, visit the website www.happyhandbag.co.uk.

Jeanne Long and MP Luke Hall with her award.

Row over plan to cut black bin collections

BLACK bin collections could be reduced to just once a month and garden waste fees hiked from £30 to £75 under controversial plans being considered by South Gloucestershire Council.

Opposition Tories have branded the proposals, which include new charges for disposing tyres and plasterboard at tips, as “crazy and irresponsible”.

But the new Lib Dem/Labour coalition running the council says the criticism is “astonishing and rather cynical”, as the work on a new waste contract was “largely done by their previous Conservative administration”.

Changes to how the service is run are needed because the council’s 25-year deal with Suez ends in 2025.

Officers have assessed four options to replace it but every one involves a massive funding shortfall.

The new cabinet has agreed a "direction of travel" aimed at further increasing recycling, ahead of a consultation over the summer and a final decision in October.

A cross-party scrutiny commission on June 14 heard having four-weekly black bin collections from 2026 would save £800,000 a year, with three-weekly collections saving £500,000.

Charges for disposing of waste, such as asbestos and tyres, at tips would bring in £500,000. Fees for collecting bulky waste could also increase.

Increases to the green bin subscription, from £30 to as much as £75 a year, and £25 charges for replacement bins will be considered.

Tory shadow cabinet member Rachael Hunt said: "We have an excellent record of prosecuting people for fly-tipping. These crazy and irresponsible proposals could see that record seriously jeopardised, as people try to avoid charges and deal with the accumulation of rubbish they’ll see when their bins aren’t emptied as regularly."

Labour cabinet member Leigh Ingham said the new cabinet had "inherited incomplete plans for £40m of cuts", adding: “It is astonishing, and rather cynical, that the Conservatives seemingly appear surprised by the proposals as the work on this project which was largely done by their previous Conservative administration."

Officers said “awkward” waste, such as nappies, clinical and sharp objects, would be collected more frequently than black bins.

Hard plastic change

RESIDENTS using council recycling centres are being assured that hard plastics are still being recycled, despite dedicated collection areas being removed.

Council leader Claire Young told June's Frome Valley Community Engagement Forum that new collection bays had to be created for foam-filled furniture because of rules on its disposal.

People had raised concerns that they were being told to put hard plastic items in with general waste at Sort It centres, but these are now being separated later, when the waste is taken a sorting facility in Bristol.

A council spokesperson stressed that hard plastics put in black bins are not removed, however, as waste from bin collections is "compromised" for recycling and treated differently, so people are still being advised to take hard plastic items, like garden furniture, to tips.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Council's new leadership teams are unveiled

SOUTH Gloucestershire

Council's new joint Liberal Democrat and Labour administration has announced the cabinet that is taking on the administration of the council.

Last month the Voice reported that the two parties had agreed to share power after the Conservatives lost their overall majority, with Liberal Democrat group leader and Frampton Cotterell ward councillor Claire Young becoming the council leader and Labour group leader Ian Boulton, who represents Staple Hill & Mangotsfield ward, becoming co-leader.

Following the first meeting of the new council at the end of May, the other cabinet councillors - four Lib Dems and three Labour - and their areas of responsibility were confirmed.

They are:

Alison Evans (Lab, Woodstock) - cost of living, equalities and public health

Louise Harris (Lib Dem, Dodington) - climate and nature emergency

Maggie Tyrell (Lib Dem, Thornbury) - children and young people

John O’Neil (Lib Dem, Charfield) - adults and homes

Adam Monk (Lab, Filton)resources

Leigh Ingham (Lab, Kingswood) - communities and local place

In addition Cllr Young will be responsible for council governance, with Cllr Boulton taking the portfolio for education, skills, employment and business.

Cllr Young said the new cabinet "delivers a broad range of experience across the council’s work areas".

Mike Drew has been elected as this year's chair of South Gloucestershire Council.

Yate North ward councillor Drew, who has 40 years of service, will perform ambassadorial roles, with councillor Franklin Owusu-Antwi (Con, Bradley Stoke North) elected vice-chair.

Cllr Drew is supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association as his charity of the year, after his younger brother died from the disease five years ago.

and to help improve the lives of local people. We want to change the way decisions are made and work with residents and communities to ensure they are supportive of our plans.

shadow cabinet.

Chris Willmore (Lib Dem, Yate North) - planning, regeneration, and infrastructure

She said: "This is an excellent opportunity to put forward a new vision for South Gloucestershire

WB Generic ads 2023 AW.qxp_Layout 1 14/04/2023 11:41 Page 7

The council's Conservative group, which remains the largest even though it no longer has a majority, has announced its

Group leader Sam Bromiley said: "The new administration must put the best interests of residents at the heart of everything it does, and the people of South Gloucestershire can be assured that the Conservative Group will be firmly on their side."

I RECENTLY spent an afternoon in Bristol watching members of HMS Prince of Wales use their right to parade "with drums beating, colours flying, and bayonets fixed", after they were granted the freedom of the city.

When I’m at events like this, or the annual Army/Navy rugby match at Twickenham that I attend most years (up the Navy!) I’m frequently asked if I have served or are serving, and some are surprised when I say no.

Perhaps the shaved head and the leg tattoo give people a different impression of me to the black shirt and dog collar.

The Armed Forces have had a long association with the Christian church. The Royal Navy, being the Senior Service, had a Chaplain of the Fleet in 1683, with the current line going back to 1859.

The Royal Army Chaplains

Department (RAChD) dates its formation back to 1796.

When I was training for ministry, I had the pleasure of spending time with the RAChD. After spending a week learning about their work in general, I then spent a week with chaplains at MoD Lyneham and the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

I heard first-hand from those young recruits completing their Phase 2 training just how important the work that chaplains do is to the morale of our Armed Forces. In the work I do with the Royal British Legion, I hear similar stories of the importance of chaplaincy to those who have previously served.

We’ve heard, through the latest Census, that the number of people claiming to be Christian in this country has dropped

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

2025.

Chaplains still have an important role to play Bright Green Homes

below 50%.

Chaplains, though, the majority of whom are Christian, continue to play an important role in the lives of those they encounter, in all walks of life.

It's not just the Armed Forces where chaplaincy is important. Chaplains can be found in many spheres of life: in education, in the NHS, in prisons.

I have the real pleasure of engaging with children and young people through the chaplaincy I provide to 1st Yate Boys’ Brigade and 37 Squadron (Frampton Cotterell) Air Training Corps.

Why am I going on about chaplaincy? Well, I want to remind you that the church is here for you! The church isn’t just a group for those who belong, but rather we’re here for everyone. We are here for the very youngest to the very oldest,

and everyone in between. In a society where mental health issues are continually on the rise, where the cost-of-living crisis is impacting more families, where people feel rejected by society because of who they are, the church is there for you. Why not search out your nearest church and see how we might be able to support you through the pressures of life?

Over 500 households in Bristol, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset (BANES) are to receive funding for energy efficiency and renewable upgrades to help tackle fuel poverty and cut carbon emissions.

The ‘Bright Green Homes’ project will be delivered across the South West, by Bristol City Leap, an innovative new partnership between Bristol City Council and Ameresco, designed to bring in investments of nearly £500 million in low carbon energy projects and create over 1000 jobs in its first five years.

Energy efficiency upgrades will be determined on a case-by-case basis and will range from insulation measures like loft and cavity walls to the installation of renewable and low-carbon technologies such as solar panels and heat pumps.

Households can apply via the Bristol City Leap website where they will complete a short questionnaire to determine their eligibility.

Home improvements for eligible households will be installed by Bristol City Leap partner, Ameresco from March 2023 and continue until

The three councils successfully bid for funding from phase 2 of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s home upgrade grant, which has already provided over £1.1 billion to low-income households living in England's worst quality, off-gas grid homes.

The latest round of funding will help reduce the carbon footprint of homes while supporting hundreds of households in the south west struggling with energy bills.

David White, Operations Director for Bristol City Leap, commented: “We are delighted that Bristol has been successful in the most recent round of the Home Upgrade Grant scheme. We were able to make a much larger bid than in previous funding rounds due to the additional delivery capability that Bristol City Leap can bring to bear through the partnership between Bristol City Council and Ameresco. As a result, our Bright Green Homes project will help reduce the energy bills of over 500 families in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset, whilst also tackling the climate emergency and creating local jobs.”

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s announcement marks the third time in three years that Bristol City Council has received funding for residents in low energy efficiency and low-income households and builds on the hundreds of homes already benefitting from improved energy efficiency.

Councillor Kye Dudd, Cabinet Member for

Climate, Ecology, Waste and Energy in Bristol, said: “I know many people are deeply concerned about the cost of heating their homes and rising energy bills, so I’m glad that we have secured even more funding through the government’s Home Upgrade Grant.

“This funding is an essential part of Bristol’s commitment to become a carbon-neutral city and it will also make a real difference to eligible residents in the city – saving them money on their household energy bills and making their homes more energy efficient through upgrades like better insulation.

“If you think your household meets the eligibility criteria, then I urge you to complete the online questionnaire. If you have any questions about the project or eligibility criteria, please get in touch with Bristol City Leap.”

More information on the scheme, including eligibility and how to apply can be found on our Bright Green Homes page on our website www. bristolcityleap.co.uk/domestic/bright-greenhomes or by contacting the Bristol City Leap team at 0117 352 1180.

Rev Leigh Maydew Minister, Salem Methodist Church, Watley’s End

20 years for Shopmobility

A CHARITY is celebrating 20 years of making shopping more accessible for people with disabilities.

Shopmobility in South Gloucestershire was set up in July 2003 by the late Keith Holloway, from Thornbury, who called a meeting about the possibility of setting up a mobility scheme for shoppers after seeing a similar scheme elsewhere.

After a meeting in Dodington Parish Council hall, planning started !and the scheme began operations in 2006.

Based in Yate Library at Yate Shopping centre, it provides mobility scooter and wheelchair hire on a daily and longer-term basis to help people who have limited mobility to retain their independence in using the centre accessing other nearby services.

Its opening hours are Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, from 9.30am to 4pm.

Shopmobility South Glos vice-chairman David Bell, who was at the original meeting in 2003 said: "I am so pleased that Shopmobility South Glos is still going strong after all these years.

"We have been able to help so many people in that time."

Trustee Linda Banister said: "What an incredible service this is!

"I survived bone cancer in 2020/1 and unfortunately had to lose a leg in the process. Whilst recovering, a friend mentioned the Shopmobility service to me.

"I visited Shopmobility and the lovely (project manager) Sheridan Crew was kind and extremely helpful. He patiently showed me how to use the scooter, what to do and not to do, and how to dismantle it to go in the back of my friend's Mini. It enabled me to go on my first holiday.

Chair Janet Biggin said: "I am very proud with the service we provide for people who wish to remain independent, in using our wheelchairs and mobility scooters to go shopping, visit friends, or needing to hire a wheelchair following surgery.

"We are aware of the issues with isolation and know that our service helps to overcome this in allowing people to get ‘out and about’.

"We have received many compliments from our service users in being able to do things independently, which they really appreciate."

People can pre-book a scooter or wheelchair by calling 01454 868718 or 07999 574474, emailing shopmobilitysouthglos@yahoo. com or call in to the office at the Yate Library.

Shopmobility South Gloucestershire will be holding a drop-in celebration event at its office at Yate Library on Thursday July 20 from 2pm to 4pm. All are welcome.

Sheridan said: "We have been very dependent on the invaluable support of volunteers to help operate the service and serve as trustees during this time.

"We would welcome to the event anyone who might be interested in volunteering with us to meet with us informally to find out what we do."

Joseph's a hit

ACTORS and those behind the scenes at Winterbourne Musical Theatre are already making plans for their next show after their hit production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The show was staged at WADCA Community Centre in Winterbourne at the end of May.

Louise Harrison,. from the group, said: "The show was a great success, getting an audience of about 80 on the opening night, and then selling out four further performances.

"The Society also did a free performance for South Glos people suffering from dementia, along with their carers, which was very popular.

"It was a true community show, with a local all-age amateur cast."

The society's next show will be Bah Humbug, a comedy based on A Christmas Carol, in November.

Pharaoh struts his stuff. Picture: Gary Woodruff

Shopmobility volunteers and users

n WHAT'S ON

July 2

n WALKS for single people. Meet Sandie at 11am in the centre of Luckington for a figure-of-eight walk. Each walk is 2 1/2 miles long and returns to The Ship for refreshments. You can do either walk or both. More details from Sandie on 0786 659 7104.

July 2

n HAMBROOK CRICKET CLUB Families Day, Whiteshill Common, Hambrook, from noon. Free 6-a-side softball cricket competition, fairground games, bouncy castle, tombola, dog grooming, cake stall. Food and drink, licensed bar. The club welcomes new players for its ladies, allstars (5-7), dynamos (7-11) and youth (11-17) groups.

July 12-13

n SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE DEMENTIA Meeting Centre open days, 1-3pm each day at Bradley Stoke Evangelical Church, Baileys Court Road. For people living with mild to moderate dementia and their carers. To book a free place call Winsome on 07377 197893 or email winsome@aliveactivities.org.

July 1

n MUSIC IN THE MEADOWS with Russell Watson & Guests, Iron

Acton Parish Meadows. Gates open 6pm. UK’s best selling classical artist with the Bristol Millennium Orchestra. Tickets in advance only. More details at www.actonaid. org.uk.

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 MONDAY: FRAMPTON

SINGALONG meets on the first Monday in the month at Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell, 2-3.30pm. Live music from The Jays & The Rosettes. £5, refreshments included. Carers free. All profits to UNICEF supporting children affected by Ukraine war. More details 07515 351 813.

n MONDAY: WINTERBOURNE DOWN LADIES PROBUS CLUB meets at 2pm on the third Monday of each month at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Talk followed by refreshments, £3.50 visitor, £25 annual membership. Call 01454 773647 for more details.

n TUESDAY: WINTERBOURNE 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. Contact croquet@wilko.eclipse.co.uk or call 07977 201440.

n TUESDAY - CRAFTING: Come and join our group of crafters on the first Tuesday of every month in the Red Brick Annexe, Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath, BS36 2TG from 2-4pm. Bring your own project. £4 per session: Kay 07792189276.

n WEDNESDAY: GENTLE SHIBASHI TAI CHI AND RELAXATION, accessible to all, 10.30-11.30am and 11.45am12.45pm, Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne. Contact Jenny on 07855 560257or jksmith@blueyonder.co.uk for more information.

n WEDNESDAY DOWNEND FLOWER ARRANGING CLUB meets at 7.30pm on 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month from September to June at Lincombe Barn, Overndale Road. Call Genise on 0777 245 1217 for information.

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 are welcome. For more information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com.

n THURSDAY: COELIAC UK LOCAL CAFÉ MEET-UP, every third Thursday of the month, 10-11.30am, at Iron Acton Garden Centre cafe. Join us to share

experiences of living gluten free. For more details email volunteering@coeliac.org.uk.

n THURSDAY: CROSSBOW

CAMERA CLUB meets every Thursday evening at 7.45pm at Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell. Small friendly group who enjoy looking at and taking pictures. Call 0789 026 6650 or just turn up for free taster sessions.

n THURSDAY: HAMBROOK

MEN’S PROBUS CLUB meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 10am-noon at Whiteshill Chapel, Hambrook, with a speaker at each meeting. Friendly group, new members welcome. For more details call the secretary on 01454 778250.

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 winterbourneart.uk or email fromevalleyartwinterbourne@gmail. com.

n SUNDAYS: GROUP GUIDED RELAXATION SESSIONS

Manor Hall, Coalpit Heath, from 8pm - 8:30pm ran fortnightly on Sundays. A welcoming and cosy place to just switch off and be guided into blissful relaxation. Contact Julie from Awaken Me awakenmehypnotherapy@ yahoo.com or visit http://www. awakenmehypnotherapy.co.uk

Choir gets a new uniform for a new century

THERE'S some debate over the exact date that marks the birth of Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir.

It has been in existence under that name since 1925 but its origins go even further back, to a choir formed in 1921 to raise money to support miners during a strike at Coalpit Heath Colliery.

At the end of its first century (give or take a couple of years) the choir is still going strong, and to mark this milestone, the choir decided to launch a new uniform.

Chris Fletcher, a member of the working group that came up with the uniform design, said: "We needed something that was smart, distinctive and more consistent

than the old 'wear a dark suit' rule that we used to apply.

"A waistcoat embroidered with the choir logo fitted the bill, and has met with widespread approval from choir members and audience alike."

Embroidery was by Tayz of Winterbourne and the uniform was funded with generous support from South Gloucestershire Council

and Frampton Cotterell Parish Council.

Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir performs in and around the village and has raised over £2,500 for charity in the past year alone.

The choir always welcomes new members: it’s a friendly choir and all men are welcome – there’s no requirement for previous singing experience or musical knowledge,

and definitely no audition. Rehearsals are on Friday evenings, and there will be a special Open Rehearsal on September 15 from 7.30pm in Zion United Church, followed by a beer or two afterwards, for any men interested in giving it a try.

For more information visit www.fcmvc.co.uk or contact Russell at sec.fcmvc@gmail.com.

Calendar Girls show will boost cancer charities

A NEW amateur production of the hit musical Calendar Girls will support two cancer charities.

The show will be performed by new group Collaborative Productions at Rangeworthy Village Hall from September 21 to 23, raising funds for BUST and Blood Cancer UK.

BUST was founded in 1990 and supports Bristol‘s only breast care centre based at Southmead Hospital.

It treats 1,000 new cancer patients a year for the disease, which affects one in seven women and a small number of men.

BUST has raised more than £1.5 million and continues to raise funds to provide the unit with state-of-the-art equipment to aid and speed up diagnosis and treatment, from ultrasound scanners in every consulting room to the latest additions for mammography and MRI technologies.

Blood Cancer UK also funds world-class research into all blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

It funds 360 researchers are being funded across the UK in search of the next breakthrough, and has already helped transform treatments to the point where the

charity hopes the day blood cancer will be beaten is now in sight.

Founded in 1960 as the Leukaemia Research Fund, it has invested more than £500m in blood cancer research since, and rebranded to Blood Cancer UK in 2020.

Calendar Girls is based on an inspiring true story of a group of friends from a Yorkshire WI who do something extraordinary and spark a global phenomenon when they persuade one another to pose for a charity calendar with a difference!

The WI ladies joined forces to raise funds for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research when one of their husbands died of a form of blood cancer, wherein lies our link to Blood Cancer UK, and similarly the local breast cancer charity BUST.

The show is suitable for people aged 16 or over, with three evening performances at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets are on sale from July 1, costing £12 (£10 concessions), with group bookings of 10-plus

receiving a free ticket.

For more details and tickets visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/ collaborative-productions, call TicketSource on 0333 666 3366 or visit the Rose & Crown in Rangeworthy for cash sales.

If you would like to support these two charities by seeing this wonderful play, make sure you secure your ticket early, as it is undoubtedly going to be popular.

Sue Smith

Members of Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir in their new waistcoats.

Members of the cast of Calendar Girls

Floral Friends of Frampton

ONE of the new planters in the Brockeridge Centre's Sensory Garden is very special.

It has been bought and planted in remembrance of local resident Brian Tyrer, whose family kindly donated the funeral collection money to Floral Friends.

Some of Brian’s favourite plants – lupins –have been planted, along with trailing rosemary (for remembrance) and a mixture of colourful bedding plants.

The new planters all have a mixture of perennials and summer bedding plants. As the weather is so warm and dry, they are being watered on a regular basis to help the plants establish and grow well.

A plaque will soon be added to Brian's planter.

Members of his family were able to see the planter in situ at our recent spring fayre and plant sale.

Our thanks to all those who donated raffle prizes for this event, and to all those who donated plants and refreshments.

These helped to make it a very happy event (the weather was glorious and people were able to sit outside to enjoy their coffee and cake), and altogether we raised nearly £600.

This will be used to fund the continued planting and maintenance of the planters around the village.

Winterbourne Library

WINTERBOURNE Library is hosting stay and play sessions for children starting school next term, so they can make new friends.

The date for Elm Park new starters is July 11, from 10am-noon, and for St Michael’s new starters is July 18, also from 10am-noon.

This year's Summer Reading ChallengeReady, Steady, Read - is at the library from July 8 for all primary school-age children: read six books by September 9 to earn a medal, with activities planned throughout the holidays.

The library is hosting a display called the Travelling Library of the World, celebrating

Floral Friends have been busy planting colourful summer displays around the village.

As well as the new Sensory Garden planters, hanging baskets have also arrived and are located around the village. We hope everyone will enjoy the results.

Floral Friends are entirely funded by donations and we would like to thank all who, like Brian's family, have supported us recently by

ethnic diversity and showcasing stories from around the world, until July 14.

A display and sale of paintings produced by members of Frome Valley Art Group is on until July 8.

Lego club next meets on July 8, from 10am to 11am, for children of all ages.

Storytime sessions, on term-time Fridays from 9.30-10am, are suitable for children aged 18 months to four years.

Regular Rhymetimes take place on Wednesdays, 9.30am-10am. Suitable for babies aged up to 18 months.

An adult craft group meets on July 15 and 22, from 10am-noon: join a friendly group of crafters to do your own work and chat –refreshments available.

A digital champion can help people get online, use a PC or phone. The volunteer is

making donations.

You can donate online to Floral Friends of Frampton, Lloyds 30-98-97, account number 70582363.

If you can volunteer, donate or help in any way, we’d love to hear from you.

Please email us at floralfriendsofframpton@ gmail.com.

available on Fridays from 10am-noon: booking is essential.

Computer classes are held on Thursdays (term time only). Enrolment required with SGS College - for more information call Cindy on 0117 909 2296 or email cindy.corbett@sgscol. ac.uk.

The library is staffed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm, and on Saturday from 9.30am-12.30pm. Open Access is seven days a week between 8am and 7.30pm.

For more details of events or bookings, visit the library, email Winterbourne.library@ southglos.gov.uk or phone 01454 868006.

More information is available online at www. southglos.gov.uk/libraries or from library staff.

The Tyrer family with Brian’s memorial planter

Hundreds enjoy Medieval Fayre

AROUND 650 visitors came to the Medieval Fayre on June 11, and had a lovely day, despite some much-needed but annoying light rain!

The Company of Chivalry did a succession of talks and demonstrations throughout the

day about varied aspects of medical life, from cooking and herbs, to clothing and wool, armour, gunpowder and weapons.

Bygonz minstrels entertained with real medieval music.

The Barn Dance on June 17 was also wellsupported, and despite the very warm weather, folk danced all evening to the traditional tunes played by Sargents' Mess, and cooled down in between with a welcome drink!

Coming up in July we have two fantastic professional drama performancesShakespeare's great comedy Twelfth Night, and a family-friendly version of the classic Hercules story.

The Festival Players, an all-male professional touring company specialising in open-air Shakespeare, perform Twelfth Night on July 20 at 7pm.

IKP perform Hercules at 2pm on July 23.

Two other family events follow shortly afterwards - an adult-and-child fused glass workshop on July 25 and a craft session aimed at younger children on August 8.

We have two fascinating talks - one on the local Aircraft Industry on July 13 at 7pm, and one from the amazing Professor Ronald Hutton about Joan of Arc on August 10.

All events can be booked online via the Barn website - for more details visit www. winterbournebarn.org.uk

Louise Harrison

Village needs help

A CHARITY which has spent 30 years providing Ukrainian and Belarusian children with respite holidays to the UK is helping a Ukrainian village after the Russian invasion.

Formerly known as Chernobyl Children’s LifeLine, CCLL - The Helping Hand For Ukraine has partnered with the council in the Ukrainian village of Myrcha, around 60 miles north-west of Kyiv, which was occupied by Russian forces last year.

After being extensively bombed, shelled, and the location for tank battles, the village school and kindergarten were looted and damaged by retreating Russian forces.

CCLL's Bristol Link is currently providing emergency equipment along with a Wi-Fi hub, laptops and printers to help the 130 children’s education.

The next phase will be to restore the school buildings, and set up a psychological support unit to help the children to cope with the trauma of what they have experienced.

The charity has set up an online fundraiser at justgiving.com/page/ccll-myrcha-ukraine, to "help bring light into children's lives during these very dark times".

Wandering musicians Bygonz treated visitors to hurdy gurdy sounds

Coalpit Heath WI

VERNA Clifford gave us a fascinating talk about the life of a blind VIP - visually impaired person - at our June meeting.

She shared with us some of the gadgets she uses in everyday life, like the liquid level indicator and the touch dots she can put on the washing machine, so she knows which setting to use.

After her talk we are all on the hunt for crossing lights which have a rotating cone underneath. It was a interesting and entertaining talk.

The fence on the Badminton

Road has recently had a makeover. This year we have added birds made from recycled milk containers. These were made by members during our meeting. Fortunately, considering the hot weather, we chose a project that didn’t need to be watered over the summer!

The Book Club’s current read is Mr MacGregor by Alan Titchmarsh, which we will review in July. After this meeting, those attending will be able to suggest a book for the group to read next and one will be chosen at random each time.

There was lovely weather for

the afternoon tour of Highgrove gardens, and it was pleasing that the wildflower meadow was starting to bloom.

Other members had a fabulous afternoon tea at the Vintage Birdcage.

Plans are in hand for a return trip at Christmas to Highgrove, and a local Christmas meal is also being provisionally booked.

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

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

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

Our next meeting on July 5 features a talk from Briony May Williams on life after the Bake Off.

Caroline Johnston

Winterbourne Down WI

We held this month’s meeting in Jill’s beautiful garden, on a warm

and sunny June evening.

Our president, Margaret, welcomed our two new members followed by a short business meeting and then our committee laid on canapés, cakes and strawberries and cream.

We then played games on the lawn, including pétanque.

Unfortunately we lost our semi-finals game of skittles against the very friendly Old Sodbury WI team, who are last year’s reigning champions. Good luck to them in the finals!

A number of us gathered at the Forge & Fern, a refurbished and renamed old pub in Staple Hill, where we sat on the patio being served coffee and cake by the very helpful staff.

We hold our monthly meetings at All Saints’ Church Hall on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm –all are welcome.

Our speaker on July 6 is Jenny Bowen, who will talk about ‘The King and his 15 wives’.

We are all very intrigued by this title, and are looking forward to Jenny’s talk.

Victoria Goodman

The WI's fence decoration

Winterbourne Evening WI

THE Resolution 'Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife' was passed at the WI annual conference in Cardiff by 4,007 votes to 742 – an outstanding majority in favour.

This, plus the recent newspaper reports on the heavy pollution of the River Frome, made us decide to visit the Wessex Water Recycling Centre at Charfield in August.

These wetlands are able to absorb microplastics, phosphorus and harmful bacteria, as well as providing a habitat for birds, plants, insects and other wildlife before releasing clean water into the rivers and sea.

On a lighter note, we enjoyed some needle crafting at this month’s meeting.

Using carded sheep’s wool, dyed black, orange, brown, yellow and white, we stabbed it with our needles into an outline traced on fabric until we all managed to make a most life-like bumble bee, complete with wings and legs.

Then we framed our little creatures and mounted them on

cards.

A big ‘thank you’ to Amy Grimsby for teaching us so expertly.

Our next meeting on July 13 has Mark Steeds entertaining us with a talk on 'Mr Douglass comes to Town, at 7.30 pm at St Michael’s School in Linden Close.

Visitors are always welcome. Margaret

Grazebrook

Frampton Cotterell WI

AS we went to press, we were looking forward to a next talk and presentation at our June meeting

from Tim Fussel from Fussels Fine Foods in Somerset.

His visit was to talk to us about the farming and production process for the range of rapeseed oils they produce, followed by a product tasting.

June was a busy month for members, as there has also been a visit to Acton Court and a trip to the Bristol Botanical Gardens.

Other confirmed events for the coming months include Crime and the Serial Killer, a talk by Rob Jones on July 25 and an afternoon cream tea at Tortworth Court, on a date to be confirmed in August.

We have many other events lined up for the coming year, including visits to the theatre, local gardens and other group trips, as well as plans for a murder mystery evening in the Autumn.

We also have a monthly lunch club, open to all members and held at a different local venue each time.

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 £4

for the evening and any new members can also join by paying a membership fee.

In the meantime, if you’re interested in joining us, please get in touch via our Facebook page at FramptonCottWI.

Special interest groups that meet separately including a book club, craft group, gardening group and our skittles and darts teams.

Making needlecraft bumblebees

June's guest speaker Tim Fussel

Celebrate 10k's 10th birthday

THIS year the Watermore 10k will celebrate its 10-year anniversary, and we'd love to have your support.

The race will be on Sunday September 17.

All money raised goes directly to the school, to help pay for extra supplies and experiences for the children.

We hope to have all the usual activities alongside the race: games, BBQs, an ice cream

van and our portable bar!

As it's our 10th anniversary, it's going to be a cake-filled celebration!

Please come along and support the event, be it taking part, standing on the street corner cheering on the runners or joining us for a celebratory beer after the race has finished.

We also have our famous rainbow run open for the children, taking place after the winners’ presentation.

Tickets to take pat in the 10k (over 16s only) and the Rainbow Run are on sale now, online at www.watermore10k.co.uk.

We sold over 50% of the tickets within the first 24 hours, so please be quick to sign up if you would like a place.

The is is the organising committee's last year before we hand the task onto a new team.

We are all volunteers and parents from the school, and are so excited to be able to organise the anniversary race.

Laura Thomas Race Director

A tribute to Midge

My late grandmother, Midge Dando, lived in Winterbourne for over 20 years. I'd like to share the poem I wrote for her funeral with readers who knew her.

We’d walk in country lanes,

and spend time talking about our days. Comparing books we planned to read, have you heard of them, you’d ask me.

Yes, I’d say, and we’d talk some more, our gardens, the weather, am I keeping warm?

I’ve not really done much, you’d say and then recount all the social visits of your day.

You’ve got this dress you think I might like, never mind it’s about three sizes too tight.

I live in Clevedon now, and you know it well, you spent many years here, and have lots of stories to tell.

I remember days at the beach with you, when I was young, you took me to the museum, there was a competition I almost won.

We spoke on the phone, as the years went by, as I say this, I’ll try not to cry.

I’m not sure I told you enough, so I’ll tell you today, thank you for everything Gran, and I’m really sad you’ve gone away.

Lydia Dunford-Anderson

The Watermore 10k gets underway