trenches
Ava reaches final FORMER Winterbourne
Academy pupil Ava Mannings sang her way into the final of TV talent show The Voice UK.
PAGE 7
Ed wades in on sewage
LIBERAL Democrat leader Ed Davey has described the number of sewage overflows into the River Frome as a "disgrace" - and called for changes at Wessex Water.
PAGE 5
THE Frome Valley's road network has been placed under extreme strain by a motorway closure diverting thousands of cars onto smaller roads – and storms repeatedly flooding them. The planned closure of the M4 over the weekend of October 18 to 21 saw up to 4,000 cars diverted onto South Gloucestershire A roads, while work to divert utilities from the closed A432 Badminton Road bridge was carried out.
While the official diversion was away from the area, there were long queues on Westerleigh Road as motorway drivers mixed with traffic on the local diversion away from the bridge. Other roads around the area have been repeatedly flooded – and Henfield Road is shutting for five days of repairs.
M4 closure: Page 3 Flood damage: Page 4
Restaurant raid
IMMIGRATION enforcement officers arrested two people in a raid on a Winterbourne restaurant.
PAGE 2
John's last carnival
THE chair of Winterbourne Down Village Carnival has stepped down, after 34 years of service on the organising committee.
PAGE 9
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A MAN has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after his car crashed on the M32 at Hambrook, killing a passenger. Avon & Somerset police said a man in his 30s died at the scene of the accident, at the northbound exit slip road for junction 1 of the motorway.
He was a passenger in a grey Citroen C4 car which crashed at around 10.15am on October 6.
No other vehicles were involved.
The man who died has not been named by police.
The driver, who is also in his
30s, suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital.
He was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing death by drink driving.
After being discharged from hospital he was taken into custody and later released under investigation, while further enquiries take place.
Police have appealed to any witnesses or drivers with dashcam footage who have not yet been in touch to call 101, quoting the incident reference number 5224 263 220.
POLICE have arrested a man suspected of carrying out eight burglaries in Winterbourne, Hambrook and Yate, after finding him hiding under a bed.
Officers coaxed the man out from under the double bed at a house in Coalpit Heath on October 1, after arriving at the address with a warrant for his arrest.
The 43-year-old man is suspected of stealing garden machinery, power tools and bicycles from garages and garden sheds in the area.
He has since been bailed pending further investigation.
The incident was part of seven days of action between September 25 and October 7 carried out by South Gloucestershire’s
Neighbourhood Policing Team, who worked with operational support units and roads policing officers to target areas of community concern.
A day of action targeting motorbike theft and crimes carried out using motorbikes in the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area led on September 25 to the recovery of two stolen bikes and seizure of a van linked to motor vehicle theft.
Officers on a "proactive" road safety patrol arrested a drinkdriver in Yate on October 2.
Neighbourhood Inspector Dudley Bond said: "We wanted to prioritise the areas of highest concern affecting our communities, including business crime and burglary, motorcycle theft and exploitation."
IMMIGRATION enforcement officers arrested two people in a raid on a Winterbourne restaurant.
The Home Office said the "intelligence-led" visit to the Royal Raj Indian restaurant on the High Street on the evening of September 22 led to the arrest of "individuals who had no right to work in the UK".
Immigration cases have now been opened, along with enquiries over the circumstances
of the workers' employment.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We are determined to clamp down both on illegal working and the exploitative treatment of illegal workers.
"Vulnerable individuals can find themselves trapped in unsafe and insecure conditions, facing exploitation and even modern-day slavery, often facilitated by organised criminal gangs."
THOUSANDS of motorway drivers snaked their way through South Gloucestershire roads when the M4 was shut for a weekend.
The motorway was closed in both directions between the Bristol and Bath junctions, at Hambrook and Tormarton, from 7pm on October 18 until 6am on October 21, as part of the project to replace the A432 Badminton Road bridge between Winterbourne and Downend.
National Highways said the motorway usually carries up to 4,000 vehicles an hour at weekends, and had warned drivers in advance to avoid the area if possible during the closure.
Throughout the weekend there were queues not only on the diversion route – along the M32, A4174, A420 and A46 – but on other roads in the area.
Although National Highways appealed to drivers to stick to the signposted diversions and not follow alternatives suggested by smartphones or satnavs, there were long queues on Westerleigh Road between Emersons Green and Dodington, with eastbound traffic approaching the A46 backed up for two miles beyond Codrington at some points during the weekend.
The bridge next to the Wick Wick roundabout, which carried the main road between Bristol and Yate, has been closed to motor traffic since last summer after inspectors found "structural failures" during a routine inspection.
The concrete and steel bridge was built in 1966 and was designed to last for 120 years.
National Highways, which is responsible for the bridge, has drawn up plans to remove it in March or April next year, with a replacement due to open in early 2026.
But before the bridge can be removed the utility supplies which currently run through it –water and gas mains, electricity and fibre optic cables – have to be re-routed under the motorway.
People living near the works were warned to expect noise as workers used a 55-ton chainsaw to cut through the road surface,
before digging out trenches to bury ducts for the utilities, then resurfacing the motorway.
Up to 70 people worked in shifts on the project over the course of the weekend.
Utility companies will then have several months to move the pipes and cables into the new ducts.
National Highways Route Manager Sean Walsh said: "There's no good time to do something like this.
"We carefully plan our schemes to limit any inconvenience, but sometimes it's not possible to carry out the work that's needed without a closure."
Signs warning of the closure were put up as far away as London, Cardiff and Manchester.
There will be a second weekend closure for the bridge to be demolished and a third to install the 55 metre steel supports for the new bridge.
Mr Walsh said that since the bridge was closed a lot of work had been going on behind the scenes to design its replacement, liaise with utility companies and councils.
He said: "Work hasn't stopped at all. It's not all about digging a hole – that's the easy bit."
Mr Walsh said he understood people's frustrations at the length of time the bridge was out of use.
The agency had listened to suggestions about installing a temporary bridge but, having considered the options, decided
demolishing and replacing the bridge with a new permanent structure was judged to be the quickest and most economical approach.
He said: "We will do everything we can to expedite it.
"What people see when they use a bridge is a flat surface but what they don't see is that every bridge is different and you need to understand the conditions.
"You can't just go to Bridges R Us, and most of the work you have to do for this bridge would have to be done for a temporary bridge."
Drivers in the area were also bracing for a five-day closure on Henfield Road, which has seen heavy use since the bridge was shut, as the Voice went to print.
A section of the road from Westerleigh Road to Ram Hill was due to close to all traffic between October 28 and November 1 to repair damaged kerbs.
The official diversion was through Yate, Chipping Sodbury and Dodington.
EXTREME rainfall in September and October has left roads and pathways in the Frome Valley swamped.
South Gloucestershire Council says that in the 45 days from September 1 to October 15, a total of 397.3mm – more than 15 and a half inches – of rainfall was recorded at one of its monitoring stations.
A single storm lasting a few hours on October 8 brought 35mm – almost 1 1/2" - inches of rainfall, leading to 23 call outs to tackle flooding.
A council emergency team delivered more than 300 sandbags that night to residents whose properties were affected, many of them in Frampton Cotterell, Winterbourne and Coalpit Heath.
They also waded through water to shut roads and help monitor the conditions around the network.
A council worker clearing a drain in Henfield Road between floods
Among the worst affected roads are Henfield Road in Coalpit Heath, and Mill Road and Swan Lane, Winterbourne, which have been subject to repeated closures between late September and the middle of October.
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said:
“Our StreetCare team has dealt with around 50 reports of flooding over the past weeks with
Amy Ford took this picture of rain damage to Pendock Road in Winterbourne, caused during a downpour on October 8
over 40 roads affected and 10 properties.
"September was one of the wettest on record with heavy and sustained periods of rainfall across the region causing rivers to overflow and surface water to run-off from fields directly onto local roads, causing significant disruption.
"Our StreetCare team has been out in all weathers and working
around the clock when necessary to manage the impacts and support residents by distributing hundreds of sandbags and reopening the affected roads as quickly as possible."
The spokesperson said council teams had repeatedly visited Mill Road, Swan Lane and Henfield Road to clean drains and it has a regular planned programme of maintenance to drains but they can be overwhelmed by extreme rainfall, with run-off from nearby private land also a factor.
Pendock Road in Winterbourne, where floodwater washed away the road surface around a drain on October 8, had been put on a list of repairs.
The Met Office said Bristol's 167.7mm of rainfall recorded in September was 173% more than the long-term average for the month, while Gloucestershire's 212.2mm was 240% more than average.
LIBERAL Democrat leader Ed Davey waded in to the River Frome – and described the number of sewage overflows into the river as a "disgrace".
Sir Ed, who walked through the water near the Globe pub at Frampton Cotterell with Thornbury & Yate MP Claire Young, said Wessex Water "should be ashamed" of the number of spills from combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
He called for the waste water disposal and treatment firm to be turned into Public Benefit Company – a business that is legally required to prioritise the public good over profit.
Sir Ed said: "Almost a quarter of the sewage pollution in the River Frome has been forced upon families and businesses in Frampton Cotterell; it is an absolute disgrace and Wessex Water should be ashamed.
"Our towns and villages are becoming victims of the sewage
Ed Davey and Claire Young in the water
scandal as their beautiful rivers and coastlines are pumped full of raw sewage by water firms putting profit before people.
"The Conservative government gave water companies a free pass to dump human waste into our precious waterways for far too long. Enough is enough.
"Wessex Water needs to be turned into a Public Benefit Company so they can begin to repair the damage they have
caused without raising bills for hard working families."
Earlier this year the Voice reported Environment Agency figures that showed the river, which flows through the area on its way to Bristol, suffered a total of 4,058 hours of spills from eight CSOs - which automatically discharge combined rainwater run-off and foul waste water from homes washed into waterways during times of heavy rain to mitigate flooding – between Iron Acton and Winterbourne.
Sir Ed said a quarter of all spills into the Frome were from the six CSOs in Frampton Cotterell, where Wessex Water has been working since April on a project to alleviate the problem.
It is building three huge storage tanks, at Church Road, Nightingale Lane and off Cloisters Road, Watley's End, to store rainwater during heavy
storms and keep it out of the overflows.
A Wessex Water spokesperson said: “We're aware that our licensed storm overflows in Frampton Cotterell operated frequently in 2023. While it protected local properties from flooding in what was the fourth wettest year since records began, we agree that overflows are outdated, so we are investing £3 million a month to improve them.
“This includes a £5 million project currently underway in Frampton Cotterell to build three large storm water storage tanks, which will increase capacity and reduce how often the nearby overflows will operate.
"The local Liberal Democrat MP Claire Young was briefed about this work taking place earlier this year, and it is on track to be completed in January 2025."
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DETAILS of new parking charges in South Gloucestershire Council car parks, including in Winterbourne and Yate, have been confirmed.
The council says the charges will "go live" at 22 car parks in the district next spring.
There will be separate long and short stay charges, with short stays costing between 70p for an hour and £4.50 for the maximum four hours.
In long stay car parks, the minimum charge will be £3 for up to four hours, rising to £9 for a day.
Long stay season tickets will be available, costing from £24 a week to £1,008 a year.
The council says "at least 10% of spaces" in short stay car parks will be free for stays of up to 30 minutes.
Blue badge holders will be able to park free for four hours in both short and long stay car parks.
The council says there will be a "validation system" in some car parks, so people using them
to visit a GP or other essential service will not be charged.
Winterbourne's Flaxpits Lane car park has both long and short stay spaces.
In Yate, the Kennedy Way and Yate Leisure Centre South car parks will both be short stay, with a validation system.
Payments will be cashless, using cards or an app.
Charges will apply between 8am and 6pm, Mondays to Saturdays, with parking remaining free on Sundays and Bank Holidays, excluding park & ride and station car parks.
The Yate park & ride, Cranleigh Court Road, Abbotswood and Longs Drive car parks are among those where charges are not being brought in, because they would either be unlikely to pay back the cost of installing machines, or charging would go against council policies to encourage more public transport use.
The authority estimates that the charges will raise more than £800,000 per year.
THORNBURY & Yate MP Claire Young has stepped down from her role as a South Gloucestershire councillor to concentrate on her work in Westminster.
Her resignation will trigger a byelection in the council's Frampton Cotterell ward, which will be held on November 28.
Liberal Democrat Ms Young overturned a 12,369-vote majority to oust Conservative Luke Hall in the Thornbury & Yate constituency, which includes Frampton Cotterell, at July’s general election.
She quit as council leader shortly afterwards, and said at the time she would also stand down entirely from the council in due course, after dealing with outstanding casework, in order to "focus on doing one job well".
Ms Young has been a councillor for more than 17 years, first for Westerleigh ward then for Frampton Cotterell after boundary changes in 2019.
She said: "It’s been a real honour to represent local people on South Gloucestershire Council – and I look forward
to keep fighting for our area in Parliament.
"It has been a great privilege to serve local people for the last 17½ years.
"I would like to thank officers and members for their hard work and dedication to supporting the people of South Gloucestershire. It has been a pleasure to work with you all."
In her resignation letter Ms Young listed her proposal for a climate emergency declaration by the council in 2019 and her work as leader from 2023 to make the authority a "genuinely listening council" among her achievements.
Frampton Cotterell is a threeseat ward. Its other two members are Liberal Democrats Tristan Clark and Jon Lean.
In 2023 the Lib Dems received 55% of the vote in the ward, ahead of the Conservatives on 38%, with the Greens and Labour a distant third and fourth respectively.
Nominations for the vacant council seat opened on October 25 and will close on November 1.
MP's column: Page 8
• Re-Felting & Battening
• Complete Roof Re-Fits
• Re-Pointing of Ridges, Chimneys & Walls
• Exterior Painting
• Lead & Valleys Renewed or Repaired
• New Soffits, Fascias, Guttering & Cladding
• EPDM Rubber Roofs - inc Flat Roof Repairs
FORMER Winterbourne Academy student Ava Mannings has reached the final of TV talent contest The Voice UK.
Ava, whose performance in the blind auditions of the hit ITV Saturday night show saw all four celebrity coaches bid to put her on their team, had to get through two more stages to reach the final.
She was one of ten acts on the team of McFly stars Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones who were whittled down to three on the show's Callbacks episode, screened in October.
Tom and Danny were joined by Little Mix star Perrie Edwards as they put the acts through their paces.
Ava and two fellow team members were given the task of making Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit their own.
Perrie described Ava's soulful version of the song as
"captivating", saying: "I felt like my body was hovering over itself watching that performance."
Ava was chosen by Tom, Danny and Perrie to go through to the semi-finals, alongside Kyra Smith and Olivia Rogers.
Ava told the Frome Valley Voice that finding her own take on such a well-loved song was a challenge.
She said: "Once I found my sound I just let the words flow. I would love to say I went and figured it all out bit by bit but honestly, I just let it flow."
Tom and Danny then had to choose just one singer to send into the final against the other three coaches' picks.
Ava chose to sing God Only Knows by the Beach Boys – and once again left the coaches reaching for superlatives.
LeAnn Rimes said Ava had "moved" her, adding: "You're
really a special artist."
Sir Tom Jones said: "You made the song your own – you did it the way you felt it, and I loved that."
Ava, who is 21, shook with emotion as Danny and Tom announced that they were
sending her to the final, before running off stage to embrace mum April Dickie.
She told them: "It's just been incredible, being able to sing such a powerful song, and I'm so grateful that you can understand where I'm coming from."
Ava performed in stage productions at Winterbourne Academy and also sang in the choir at Hambrook Primary, where she was inspired by choir leader Sue Cessford, who passed away in 2019.
After leaving school she cut short plans to study music, and sang to the dogs at the Top Groom parlour in Downend to help her through the day.
The series was recorded earlier this year but the result was being kept secret ahead of the final on October 26, which was due to be screened on ITV1 from 8.10pm.
ONE hundred – it’s a landmark number.
Whether it’s a message from the King on a special birthday, a century for a cricketer or a perfect exam score, it is always viewed as special.
In the world of politics, there’s been a lot of talk about the first 100 days of the new government, but it’s also a landmark for newly elected MPs like me.
I may have now passed 100 days as an MP but the job started from day one – in my case with an urgent meeting on July 5, the morning after the election.
There was no time to ease into the job.
I arrived in Westminster three days after being elected and since then have received rapidly approaching 2,000 cases of people seeking my help.
My team and I are hard at work to answer and help
everyone who’s been in touch, prioritising those most in need.
I’ve also been able to meet with a lot of those in South Gloucestershire whose decisions can have a real impact on our lives.
Here is a brief run through of some of the things I’ve done over the past few months as your new MP.
Over the summer, I met the managing directors of Stagecoach and FirstBus to raise the challenges for bus users in our area. Both were clear that we need leadership from the West of England Combined Authority to stop the continued decline of these services and I’m still pushing for a meeting with the mayor.
I also met the joint chair of North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust
to discuss the situation facing our local NHS and care services, especially in some of our most rural areas.
In Parliament, I raised the systemic underfunding of local schools and secured a meeting with the minister to discuss funding and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision across our area. This is a key issue for many parents, who feel like their children are being let down.
I also secured a promise of funding for the development of further flood defences at Severn Beach from the rail minister, and joined a meeting with the flooding minister about the support being made available to help with rebuilding work after the recent floods.
It really has been a whirlwind first 100 days as your MP, challenging but hugely enjoyable and rewarding.
Of course it’s still the early days of this Parliament, and over the coming years I will do my best to ensure your voice is heard in the corridors of power at Westminster.
If you need my help or want to book an appointment for one of my advice surgeries, please email my office at Claire.Young.MP@ parliament.uk or call my team on 0207 219 7829.
THE chair of Winterbourne Down Village Carnival has stepped down, after 34 years of active service on the organising committee.
John Turner broke the news to fellow volunteers as the committee held their annual meeting.
It came after the committee reported that this year's carnival, which had the biggest crowds seen yet, had raised £3,200 for chosen charity, Suicide Prevention UK.
The money raised will be used to support operating the National Suicide Prevention helpline and expanding patrols at high-risk locations.
Local churches Winterbourne Down Methodist and All saints received donations of £1,000 and £750 respectively.
And with some new volunteers joining, the carnival is set to return next year, " bigger and better than before".
Carnival committee spokesperson Kathryn Hopes said: "With the popularity of the carnival increasing exponentially, our existing members have been working above and beyond the call of duty to keep the Carnival running safely and smoothly.
"And of course it should be recognised that our chair, John Turner, has taken on that responsibility for a number of years and therefore it was very sad to hear that John will be stepping down as WD Carnival Chair.
"John has been an active member of the
committee for a whopping 34 years, so it is only right to pay a particular tribute to him.
"Vice-chair Pete Allchorne gave a very poignant farewell speech, remarking on John’s immense hard work and dedication to ensure the success of the carnival for so many years.
"Steering us through the challenging pandemic years, John never faltered and the carnival survived, when many others did not: it’s a true testament to his leadership.
"It is without any doubt that the carnival has since gone from strength to strength.
"John remained steadfast in his resolve to keep the ethos of our village carnival alive whilst injecting his own personality and new ideas.
"On behalf of the committee and the entire extended community who have enjoyed the carnival for so many years, we offer our sincere thanks and look forward to welcoming him back to the carnival, next time as a visitor!"
Local resident Nick Roden has volunteered to take on the role next year.
YATE'S historic tumble dryer factory will close at the end of this year, it has been confirmed. Beko Europe says the factory in Station Road, which employs 150 people, will close on December 31, bringing to an end more than 90 years of
washing machines and then tumble dryers, and it has made Creda and Indesit brands under a series of owners, most recently
Beko Europe in a merger earlier the new company said it was
plant, saying it was making a "significant loss".
Beko Europe has now confirmed the closure, saying: " All those affected have been notified. We are continuing to provide support to all of our employees and are grateful for their continued efforts and engagement throughout."
The factory site was bought from Whirlpool by South Gloucestershire Council in 2021 for just under £10 million.
A council spokesperson said it was "actively supporting the current workforce" towards their future employment.
The spokesperson added: “In the coming months we will consider how the existing site and facilities, which is close to road and rail links, the busy town centre and existing homes, could be used."
MP Claire Young said: "The confirmation that Beko will be closing its factory doors in Yate forever is a big blow for the town."
YATE'S Cineworld cinema has shut its doors for the final time.
The cinema at the Riverside retail and leisure park in Link Road is one of six across the UK which the company said were “commercially unviable”.
Cineworld, which went into administration last year, announced consultations on the site's future during the summer. It closed for the final time on October 13.
A spokesperson said: "As part of the restructuring process we regret Cineworld Yate closed permanently on October 13.
"We would like to thank all of our customers for choosing Cineworld Yate as their local cinema."
The company refused to reveal how many jobs had been lost as a result of the closure or whether any staff were being redeployed.
In a message on the Yate cinema's Facebook page, staff said: "We’re grateful for all of the love and support you have shown us in our time, and hope to see you at one of our nearby Cineworld cinemas soon."
The nearest branch is now in Swindon, after the firm closed its South Bristol multiplex last year.
VILLAGERS in Winterbourne took advantage of a rare sunny Saturday to celebrate their community.
Winterbourne and District Community Association (WADCA) held its family fun day on September 28 at its base in Watleys End Road.
People were able to climb into a Coast Guard Rescue boat, dress up as a firefighter and get in a fire engine or experience the inside of a police custody van.
Animal-themed activities included the chance to two visiting goats from urban farming project Street Goat and learn about bees with South Gloucestershire Beekeepers Association.
Some original stalls and games included a 'human fruit machine', clockwork pig racing and a pirate-themed games den.
Villagers entered a bake off competition, and there was entertainment from Keep Fit and Winterbourne Musical Theatre. A memory walk in the WADCA
grounds led by the Wellbeing Friends Group raised over £900 for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Maggie Williams, of the organising committee, said: "The sun shone down on a hugely popular community event, full of activities, entertainment, and fun.
"The day was organised by the community groups attached to WADCA and everyone put their heart and soul, and every ounce of energy they could muster into the day."
A date has already been set for next year's event, on September 27.
IT'S well-known that music of all types can lift the soul, and is good for our well-being.
I do not profess to have any musical talent, apart from happily shaking a tambourine, beating a drum to a rhythm, ‘tinging’ a triangle, and singing along to a tune – admittedly with far from a chorister’s voice!
If we use Christian words, music can sound like a heavenly symphony, where every sound enhances the overall effect.
A quote from the late Desmond Tutu describes this perfectly.
He said: "There is a chap at the back carrying a triangle. Now and again the conductor will point at him, and he will play a ‘ting’.
"That might sound insignificant but-something irreplaceable would be lost to the total beauty of the symphony if that ‘ting’ did not happen.
"We may feel that we have a small position in Christianity, but everyone of us matters – matters
to God, and to the plan he has here on earth. Never forget you are special!"
Yes, we are all special – even if at times we become downhearted or feel distant or insignificant.
Thinking of the Last Night of the Proms, it is important that the ‘ting’ is there in the symphony. Without that one sound, the magic would lose its impact.
Funerals show how important the final symphony of a person's life is and how music celebrates their worthy presence whilst on earth.
Popular choices are Frank Sinatra singing My Way and the hymns Amazing Grace, Love Divine or Lord of all Hopefulness.
Others include Sarah Brightman singing Time to Say Goodbye, Tina Turner's Simply the Best and the melodious voice of Elvis, recalling special memories of time gone by.
Finally, there’s Celine Dion and My Heart Will Go On, even though it reminds me of Titanic and a
Maria, Bristol “ ”
sinking ship.
The list goes on, attempting to describe a vibrant personality or a humbler quiet soul.
At a recent funeral of someone who was quiet yet had a good sense of humour, I recall listening to a different expression of melody – a comedy recording from Laurel and Hardy entitled Another Fine Mess. This was chosen by the deceased as a loving description of words often spoken in a humorous way. It was a ‘ting’ moment, among others in the funeral which concluded with Bring Me Sunshine, sung by Morecambe and Wise!
These songs, and many more, give a ‘ting’ to the memory of a loved one, some of whom may not have reached the pinnacle of their ambitions or potential but have importance in the family, and are an example of a full life in preparation for eternity.
that ‘ting’, and no piece should be dismissed as irreverent and quickly swept away as though it does not matter any longer.
It was hard but I’m so glad we had that conversation.
It was hard but I’m so glad we had that conversation.
Because we need to celebrate difference, funerals should include
Music can be enchanting and uplifting, can touch our senses and bring us closer to God – even on those dark days.
Together we planned a proper send off for mum, a whole morning to celebrate her life with the music and poetry she loved. In a peaceful natural setting where our family and friends had plenty of time and space to share stories and memories.
Together we planned a proper send off for mum, a whole morning to celebrate her life with the music and poetry she loved. In a peaceful natural setting where our family and friends had plenty of time and space to share stories and memories.
So “always look on the bright side of life”, as Eddie Idle sang, and never forget you are special.
It was hard but I’m so glad we had that conversation.
Together we planned a proper send off for Mum, a whole morning to celebrate her life with the music and poetry she loved. In a peaceful natural setting where our family and friends had plenty of time and space to share stories and
THIS month Frampton Cotterell Nature celebrates its third anniversary.
Our AGM will be held at the Royal British Legion at the Memorial Hall in Ryecroft Road, on November 13 at 7pm.
Everyone is welcome to join us to celebrate what we’ve achieved over the last three years, and help us plan for the future. There will be a cash-only bar!
The group was set up in 2021, to help people connect with nature and improve our local environment for wildlife.
Our achievements so far include:
*Organising guided nature walks looking at birds, butterflies, trees, wildflowers, bats and fungi. Our Facebook group shares photos and sightings, helping people identify what they find – we have over 850 members.
*Developing a proposal for a nature reserve on areas threatened with development, part of a successful campaign leading to South Gloucestershire Council agreeing to create a flagship river nature reserve.
*Creating and improving habitats for wildlife at the Glebeland, Centenary Field, the Brockeridge Centre, Ridings Road and along the River Frome.
*Carrying out surveys of breeding and
wintering birds, swift and house martin nests, wildflowers, slow worms, harvest mice, otters, bats, insects, butterflies and fungi, and holding a monthly moth trapping club. We’ve helped organise an annual bioblitz, and keep a parish species list, which now has over 1,300 species.
*A River Frome survey which included water quality testing, press coverage of pollution issues, outreach work in schools and the development of a Black Rocks Nature Trail leaflet (available from the Brockeridge Centre).
*Launching a community nature reserve to
enjoyed traditional entertainment from Morris dancers and minstrels to ferret racing at Winterbourne Medieval Barn's Orchard Harvest Day.
The event on October 6 was the last big community event of the autumn at the barn and included performances from 5678 Dance school, Winterbourne Down Border Morris and pirate band Piratitude, along with face-painting and craft activities, artisan displays and food and drink.
Winterbourne Down Border Morris
In November the barn will be holding festive workshops to make your own fused glass decorations, willow reindeer or Christmas wreaths, along with a wine-tasting on the 9th. Halloween-related children's craft activities are being held on November 2.
The final Community event of the year will be Carols in the Barn on December 7 and 8: tickets will go on sale shortly.
For more information about Winterbourne Medieval Barn visit www.winterbournebarn.org.uk.
support people to manage gardens and other green spaces for nature, and working with the Hedgehog Heroes group to promote hedgehogfriendly gardens. We have set up a small tree and plant nursery and are growing trees and wildflowers at the community allotment.
*Giving conservation advice to parish councils, schools, faith groups and landowners. We put together a detailed response to South Gloucestershire Council’s Local Plan, and supported parish councils to respond to the consultation.
*Working with local primary schools to survey school grounds, plant fruit trees and hedgerows, run lunchtime nature clubs and lead children on guided nature walks.
A huge thanks to everyone who has supported the group and taken part in our activities. More volunteers are always needed – do come and join our friendly group and help us to help nature! Find us on Facebook or email framptoncotterellnature@gmail.com
Donations to support the work of the group are welcome. Our bank details are: Frampton Cotterell Nature, sort code 30-98-97, account number 54017263.
David Hanks
are offering two free Nature Wellbeing sessions at the Frome Valley Growing Project! In partnership with One Planet Matters, these sessions aim to boost skills in biodiversity and sustainable growing while supporting health and wellbeing. Enjoy engaging, community-focused activities that connect you with nature and help you grow and thrive.
gardening group for over 50s
Weekly 3 hour drop in gardening session for people aged 50+. Sessions explore a range of activities to promote mindfulness, growing food to improve biodiversity, no-dig gardening methods and much more. Sessions are running from the 12th September to 28th November.
Gardening
WINTERBOURNE Musical Theatre is putting on the wonderful panto The Twelve Days of Christmas, written by Alan Freyn, this month. The show is suitable for all ages but contains the normal pantomime humour and innuendo. It is packed with wellknown music and plenty of jokes.
The story starts in a village counting down to a grand festive ball that a wicked wizard is trying to thwart. Village shopkeeper Gertie and her companions have to race against time, with adventures in different lands, to make sure the ball happens, while the wizard tries to stop them.
The panto takes place at WADCA Community Centre in Watleys End Road from November 27 to 30.
The bar opens from 6.45pm for 7.30pm performances and 1.45pm for a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday.
Tickets cost £10 and can be booked online at tinyurl.com/ drvztxnj. If you do not have internet access, or need an accessible space, call 01454
317408.
WADCA is a fully accessible venue, with free parking.
More information is available at www.winterbournemusical.co.uk
Louise Harrison
THE days are well and truly drawing in, but there is a sprinkle of joy in the air every Monday night as the Crossbow Singers practice together.
We are preparing for our concert, There’s Snow Time Like Christmas, which will have an unapologetically snow-related theme.
It will be absolutely guaranteed to get you in the Christmas mood, with some audience participation and a couple of surprises thrown in. We will also have some guest performances from a local bell ringers group and our very own talented pianist.
The concerts will be on December 9 and 10 at Crossbow
House, from 7.30pm. Tickets go on sale from November 18 and can be purchased for £8 each, by calling Rose on 01454 772675 for Monday tickets and Mary on 01454 887885 for Tuesday.
Louise Lewis
THIS autumn is a busy time for the choir.
After singing at the Cromhall Flower Show and Village Fayre in September, we are learning new songs and refreshing some old favourites for our Christmas concert on December 13 at Zion United Church.
The choir is also performing at Frampton Cotterell Primary School November 29, the Big Sing on December 3, a charity event for Southmead Hospital outside John Lewis in Cribbs Causeway on December 15 and St Augustine’s Church, Downend, on December 20.
New songs include some for the choir’s centenary in 2025, when several exciting events are being planned, including a large-scale production and a public recital on board the SS Great Britain.
There will be some music hall numbers sung at the very by the male voice choir at its very first concert in 1925.
As part of a community outreach programme, choir members sing at various care homes and nursing homes. Please contact the choir if this is something you would like to know more about.
We warmly welcome anyone wishing to join – rehearsals are every Friday at 7.30pm, at Zion United Church in Frampton Cotterell.
No previous experience is necessary, so come along – you might be surprised at how enjoyable it is.
For more information visit the fcmvc.com website or contact sec. fcmvc@gmail.com
David Nelson
1. Look after your boiler. Get it serviced early, so it can keep your home warm.
2. Find your stop tap. You’ll be able to turn the water off quicker in an emergency.
3. Going away? Remember to keep your heating on low (min 14ºC).
4. Check your outdoor tap. Fix any drips, and wrap it up or fit a tap jacket.
5. Protect exposed pipes. Wrap up pipes that are exposed to cold air (e.g. loft or garage) to stop them freezing/bursting.
CHILDREN dressed in Victorian costume for an old-style black and white photo to help celebrate Iron Acton Primary School's 150th anniversary.
To honour the milestone, the school embraced the spirit of the age.
Pupils in Reception, Year 1 and 2 explored the world of Victorian toys and how playtime has evolved.
Children in Year 3 and 4 examined objects from a Victorian school to discover the educational experiences of children, while Year 5 and 6 pupils considered what life may have been like for children in Iron Acton before the school opened.
A range of traditional Victorian games in the playground were provided by the school's Friends community.
Head teacher Mike Riches said: "This anniversary celebration not only highlighted the rich history of our school but also provided a wonderful opportunity for our students to engage with the past in a lively and interactive way.
"Thank you to all the parents and staff who contributed to making this day memorable.
"Here’s to the next 150 years of learning, growth, and community spirit at Iron Acton Primary School!"
PEOPLE in need of emergency help will benefit from donations made by families in Frampton Cotterell.
Watermore Primary School collected donations for Yate Foodbank as part of learning around the traditional Harvest festival.
The foodbank, based at the Candle in Station Road, provides emergency meals to people in short-term financial crisis, who are referred by support services such as GPs, social workers or Citizens Advice.
Assistant head teacher for Lisa Richards said: "We would like to say a very big 'thank you' to all of our families who made a fantastic contribution to Yate Foodbank as part of our Harvest Celebration assembly.
"We had a great response to our request for donations and our Year 6 team, who assisted in collecting and displaying the donations before loading them into the van, were delighted."
For more information on Yate Foodbank call 0117 472 5172 or visit nbsg.foodbank.org.uk
NOVEMBER 2
n FLORAL FRIENDS OF FRAMPTON
Family Autumn Fayre, the Brockeridge Centre, Woodend Road, Frampton Cotterell, 10am-noon. Raffle, gifts, plants, activities for children, refreshments, pumpkin competition – bring along your carved Halloween pumpkin. Supporting flower displays in the village.
NOVEMBER 9
n WINTERBOURNE DOWN
ART GROUP Exhibition in aid of Great Western Air Ambulance, All Saints Church Hall, Church Road, Winterbourne Down, 10am-5pm. Free entry, donations welcome. Refreshments, raffle and original art works to buy. Cash only.
NOVEMBER 10
n REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
EVENTS at Fromeside Benefice churches: All Saints Winterbourne Down, parish communion, 9.15am; St James Iron Acton, all-age Remembrance, 10am; St Michael's Winterbourne, Remembrance service, 10.30am; St Peter's Frampton Cotterell, Remembrance and communion, 10.45am; Whiteshill Common Hambrook, Remembrance, noon; St Saviour's Coalpit Heath, Remembrance parade, 3pm.
NOVEMBER 21
n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP at the Greenfield Centre, Park Avenue, Winterbourne, 2pm. Illustrated talk by Francis Burroughs, The Wonderful World of Glass. More details from Sally on 07946 508316.
NOVEMBER 27-30
n WINTERBOURNE MUSICAL THEATRE presents pantomime The Twelve Days of Christmas, WADCA Community Centre. Evening performances 7.30pm, matinee 2.30pm. Fully accessible venue. Free parking. Tickets £10 from tinyurl.com/ drvztxnj or call 01454 317408.
MONDAY
n 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 WINTERBOURNE DOWN LADIES
PROBUS CLUB meets at meets at 2pm on the third Monday of each month at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Join us for an interesting talk and refreshments. £3.50 visitors, £25 annual membership. Call 01454 773647 for
more details.
TUESDAY
n WINTERBOURNE SHORT MAT
BOWLS CLUB meets every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1.30 until 4.30 pm at WADCA, Watleys End Road, Winterbourne. All welcome. Free trial and tuition available. Call 07542 052837 for more details.
n WINTERBOURNE DOWN
METHODIST CHURCHDrop in for free cup of tea and chat or play board games, every Tuesday from 2-4pm.
n 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 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 OPEN DOOR at Winterbourne Down Methodist Church, Down Road, every Tuesday 2-4pm. Social gathering - enjoy tea, coffee, cakes, games, music and friendship, especially for those who live on their own.
WEDNESDAY
n GENTLE SHIBASHI TAI CHI AND RELAXATION, accessible to all, 10.30-11.30am, 11.45am12.45pm and 1.30pm to 2.30pm, Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne.Contact Jenny on 07855 560257 or jksmith@blueyonder. co.uk for more information.
n SINGALONG WITH THE JAYS AND JOY, first Wednesday in the month at Crossbow House, School Road, Frampton Cotterell, 2-3.30pm. Themed singalongs, friendly welcoming group with live music, refreshments. £5 carers free. Details from Hilary, 07515 351813.
n TABLE TENNIS Henfield Hall, Ram Hill on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 2-4pm. All abilities welcome. Equipment provided. £2 per session including tea, coffee, biscuits. For more details email henfieldhall@ yahoo.com or call 0785 119 8434
THURSDAY
n WINTERBOURNE WINDS, friendly amateur wind band rehearses at Holy Trinity Church, Bradley Stoke, every Thursday from 7.30-9.30pm. New members welcome. For more information email winterbournewinds@yahoo.com
n WINTERBOURNE DOWN WI meets on the first Thursday of each
NEW staffed opening times for Winterbourne Library have been announced by South Gloucestershire Council.
The only change to previous staffed hours is that the library will close at 3pm on Tuesdays, two hours earlier than before, but some activity times are also changing.
The library will be staffed on Tuesday from 10am-3pm, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-5pm and on Saturday from 9.30am-12.30pm.
Open Access, when the library is unstaffed, remains between 8am and 7.30pm, every day.
Half-term holiday activity What a Hoot takes place on Friday November 1 from 10.30am. Free children's seasonal craft session – you can also collect a craft bag to take home. Suitable for children aged four to 11.
Lego club meets on November 2 and 30 from 10-11am, for children of all ages – all children must be accompanied by an adult.
Adult craft group meets on November 9 and 23, from 10am-noon: join a friendly group, do your own work and chat – refreshments available by donation. Staff Crafty Saturday is on September 21.
Coffee morning is 11am every Wednesday: coffee, chat, friendship and crafts.
Rhymetimes will now take place on Wednesdays at 10am: suitable for babies aged up to 18 months.
Story time for children aged 18 months to four years on Fridays now also starts at 10am.
Computer Thursdays take place during term time – enrolment with SGS College is required. For further information contact Cindy on 0117 909 2296 or email cindy.corbett@sgscol.ac.uk.
A digital champion can help people get online, use a PC or phone or print documents. The volunteer is available on Friday mornings: booking is essential.
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.
month in All Saints Church Hall, Church Road, Winterbourne Down, at 7.30pm. Speakers, demonstrators & craft evenings. Guests welcome. More details from aspbury.m@gmail.com.
n WINTERBOURNE DOWN ART GROUP meets on Thursdays from 2-4pm at All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Friendly non-profit making group welcomes new members of all abilities. More information from Alison Sansum on 01454 775133
THURSDAY
n FRIENDSHIP AND EXERCISE GROUP FOR SENIORS St Saviours Church: Thursdays 101130. A friendly group, exercising for over 5 years together. We aim to improve balance, strength and fitness in a fun and friendly environment. An hour of gentle exercise, followed by a cup of tea or coffee and a chat. £5 per session. Contact Adam: 07875503586 Adam@alwaysdeveloping.co.uk
n 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 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 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 details call the secretary on 07788 882386
FRIDAY
n 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.
SATURDAY
n WINTERBOURNE AND FROME VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP repair cafe, every third Saturday of the month, 10.30am, All Saints Church Hall, Winterbourne Down. Free electrical, textile and woodwork repairs, with voluntary donations going to the work of Winterbourne and Frome Valley Environmental Group.
ONCE the leaves start to fall and the weather turns chilly, my mind begins to think about wonderful, warming, comfort food.
Top of my list for pudding is a steamed pudding.
This month's recipe is a proper British favourite with a twist: the addition of cardamom seeds.
These puddings are quick to make and cook, and can be frozen for up to a month.
Once cooked, take the puds out of their container, cool and wrap in foil.
When needed, defrost for a couple of hours at room temperature, then heat through in the oven at 180C for 5-8 mins.
For all these reasons these make a perfect dinner party pudding, or indeed a prepare-ahead alternative to Christmas pudding.
If you’re not keen on apricots,
you can use seasonal fruit like plums, pears or tangerines.
Makes 6 individual puddings
Cook’s Note: Little puddings are best steamed in a bain-marie (hot water bath) in the oven, so I've given instructions
Ingredients:
6oz/170g soft, dried apricots
4oz/110g muscovado sugar
4oz/110g butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Seeds from 8 cardamom pods, ground with a pestle and mortar
6oz/170g self-raising flour
2 tbsp brandy, amaretto liqueur or water
Here’s what you do:
Heat the oven to 350F/180C/gas mark 4.
Grease 6 individual pudding moulds or full-size muffin tins or ramekins.
Cut each apricot into three or four parts.
Cream the sugar and butter, then
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.
beat in the eggs and cardamom seeds. Fold in the flour and brandy, liqueur or water to make a soft dropping consistency. Stir in the apricots. Divide the mixture between the pudding moulds. Cover each mould with greased foil.
Arrange in a baking tin and pour in boiling water to come about halfway up. Cover the baking tin with another sheet of foil and bake for 25-30 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
Eat with cream or custard.
Bristol-based home improvement company, The Window Hub, has been nominated for a prestigious industry award, and is the only one to represent the whole of the South West.
“The G-Awards celebrate the very best in the double glazing industry in the UK, and we are super excited to have been shortlisted in the Installer of the Year category,” The Window Hub’s managing director Danny Robb said. “We may only have been in business for four and a half years, but the judges have selected us alongside six other fantastic retail companies as representing the cream of the crop.”
Bristol-based window installation company, The Window Hub, was launched during lockdown in 2020 by seasoned industry professional Danny Robb, who wanted to create a business that was “built on quality rather than greed”.
From humble beginnings, The
Window Hub now operates from a head office and showroom in Staple Hill in Bristol with offices, showrooms and installation depots across the South West.
Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.
“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone into your home can be stressful, so we have introduced as many initiatives as possible to be fair and reasonable in our approach to give our customers the best experience possible,” he said.
“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And you know what? It is so easy to be amazing if you don’t cut corners.”
And the Window Hub has the customer reviews to prove it.
90% of reviews for The Window Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism,
friendliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.
As well as being open and honest, The Window Hub is keen to raise environmental awareness.
“All of our products will help homeowners reduce their energy usage because they are extremely energy efficient,” Danny said. “We also buy the majority of our products from companies in the South West.
“When we remove old windows and doors, everything is recycled, and we are currently planting a tree for every customer at a wildlife park near where we are based.”
The winners of G-Awards will be announced at a glittering gala dinner at the Park Lane Hotel in London on November 29.
For more information, please visit TheWindowHub.co.uk
BADMINTON & Pucklechurch
Ladies (Baps) have certainly made themselves known going into the new winter league. Michelle Gapper celebrated her first hat trick in a very impressive 8-1 pre-season friendly victory at Knowle.
Next, Keynsham 4's development team gave the Baps a good run around, but experience shone through and Baps finished with a 5-0 win.
An away trip to Hanham was a challenging game, but with sleek passing and great communication, the goals flowed again from Naomi Bailey, Charley McCafferty, Heidi Gardiner and Lisa Rigby. Another clean sheet made it 4-0 to the girls in teal.
Now on a roll, Baps were back on home soil to face Dursley 1sts in the closest battle so far.
Dursley took the lead and some stunning saves from Vanessa Hall stopped them increasing it.
A determined Baps were not going to give in, and strong play
throughout the pitch led to an attacking short corner for the Baps.
Straight off the training ground, a perfectly timed pass from Anna Williams saw Rigby hit the backboard to ensure an exciting, end-to-end performance ended 1-1.
With such a great, positive start, the Baps Ladies are looking stronger than ever and looking forward to the next upcoming games.
Lisa Rigby
BRISTOL & West Hockey Club have started the new season with impressive results across the board, helped largely by a massive boost in player recruitment.
The Men’s 1s have had a solid start to their Premiership League campaign with two draws (2-2) against Taunton Vale and Truro, as well as an impressive win against former National League side Cheltenham (2-3).
The Men’s 2s started with three wins, against Swansea A, Cardiff University A and Keynsham, and sit top of the table, where they intend to be until the end of the season.
Men’s 3s have also won all of their first three games and are joint top of their table.
The Ladies 1st team sit in second place, with two wins and a draw from their opening games as they look to bounce back from last year’s relegation. Ladies 2s are holding their own after last year’s promotion, in mid-table
with a win, draw and a narrow loss. The 3rd team are also in a solid mid-table position after their promotion last season, with two out of three wins.
Congratulations to 3 members of the club that have travelled away on international duty to represent their countries at the Masters World Cup in Cape Town.
Mike Wingent is representing England Over-65s, and is already off the mark with a goal in their two wins out of two.
Adrian Dann is in goal for the Wales O60s, while Murray Bishop has also travelled with Team Wales for the O45s.
Good luck and congratulations to all.
If you are interested in getting involved or finding some more information about the Club, please search for us on social media or visit www.bandwhc. org.uk.
Harry Bryant
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OUR latest speaker was Rob Jones, who gave an interesting but grisly talk about his work for the Crime Squad catching the killer of Shirley Banks, all before DNA evidence had been introduced. Scarecrow volunteers have been getting creative over the last few weeks to put together our contribution to the half term trail. Our scarecrow is on the bench outside the entrance to St Saviour’s church.
Members have been preparing poppy letters for the Badminton Road fence, which will be put up at the beginning of November.
Our book club has selected Lucy Worsley’s biography of Agatha Christie as their next read, following on from the Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham.
We meet on the first Wednesday of each month in St Saviour’s church hall at 7.45pm. Our next meeting is our AGM on November 6, followed by Christmas crafts on December 4.
You can find us on Facebook @ WICoalpitHeath.
GLASS expert Francis Burrows gave us a really fascinating talk about the history of glassware. We got to see and handle many beautiful examples of glass work, some of which were around 2,000 years old or more – most of us had not realised that glass has been around for such a long time!
Jeanne Long from the Happy Handbags charity initiative was giving us our October talk as the Voice went to press.
Our November 26 meeting is our AGM and quiz night, at St Peter’s Hall on School Road at 7.45pm.
Our Christmas social and reindeer drive is on December 12.
Watch this space and our Facebook page for confirmation of future event dates and more details.
MEMBERS could feel the night drawing in with a chill in the air, as autumn welcomed us to our 68th birthday meeting, celebrated with wine and a piece of beautifully iced cake.
A big surprise for me was the presentation of our WI cup, which the president said was awarded to someone who had been of
considerable help in our WI – and it was handed to me! I was a bit taken aback, but will treasure it and keep it clean for the next recipient.
Our speaker Sally Helvey talked about the restoration of the Cleveland Pools in Bath. Sally was involved in this restoration project from its beginnings. Many people, even Bath residents, were not aware of its existence. Fortunately the site has been preserved and, after much fund-raising, the renewed swimming bath, changing rooms and café will be ready for swimmers and visitors next year.
Our next meeting on November 14 is also our annual meeting, with a flower demonstration. We meet in St Michaels Junior School, Linden Close, Winterbourne at 7.30pm.
Visitors are always very welcome.
Susan Marshfield
OUR October meeting was our AGM, followed by a demonstration of the art of Shibashi Tai Chi by Jenny Smith.
Jenny first came to practice Tai Chi following an accident and hip replacement. Before she knew it had started her own classes for children and adults.
Shibashi Tai Chi combines movement with deep abdominal breathing. It is an ancient form of exercise which dates back to 4,000 years, and is promoted by the NHS and Age UK.
We all took part in a short exercise programme and were left feeling extremely relaxed and chilled. We are holding a talent contest for members at our
November meeting, which will include some poems, stories and music.
We meet on the first Thursday of the month in the All Saints Church Hall in Winterbourne Down at 7.30pm, and welcome all visitors.
We are also holding a coffee morning on November 11 at the Beehive Café in Downend.
Carol Tremlin
CLUB members joined with Winterbourne Down and District Horticultural Society on a visit to Waddesdon Manor.
Now owned by the National Trust, the Manor was built in the style of a French chateau in the late 1800’s for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild as a weekend residence for entertaining and to house his collection of arts and antiques. The house and collection were fantastic and the gardens were beautiful.
Our next event is the president's lunch, which will be held in November at Kendleshire Golf Club.
The club is also the venue for our regular coffee mornings, at 10.30am on the last Wednesday of the month.
Visitors are always welcome at our meetings. The next one is at 2pm on November 18, when Lyn Morton will be talking to us about DNA, solving crimes and finding ancestors.
For more information contact 01454 773647.
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Frampton Cotterell Parish Council @
Coffee & Cake Volunteers Needed
We need volunteers to help support our Coffee & Cake mornings.
These sessions run every Tuesday morning from 11am to 1pm at The Brockeridge Centre in Frampton Cotterell.
Whether you can help regularly, occasionally, or even as a one-off, your help could make all the difference.
We’d love to hear from you if you can help!
When? 11am - 1pm, every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month Where? The Brockeridge Centre
Brockeridge Centre, Woodend Road, Frampton Cotterell, Bristol, BS36 2LQ
Upcoming Meetings at the Brockeridge Centre
Full Council
Thursday 31st October, 7PM
Climate & Nature Tuesday 5th November, 6:30PM
Finance & Governance Thursday 14th November, 7PM
Full Council Thursday 28th November, 7pm
Finance & Governance Thursday 12th December, 7PM
When? Thursdays, 1PM - 3PM. Where? The Brockeridge Centre, BS36 2LQ. Cost? Free!
Socialise, make new friends, share thoughts, ideas and concerns and support one another – or simply find a warm place to sit and read the paper with a cup of tea!
Men of all ages welcome!
