Bishopston Voice January 2024 by Emma Cooper

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January, 2024 Issue 132

FREE EVERY MONTH IN BISHOPSTON, REDLAND & ST ANDREWS

Fresh call for SEND provision A new campaign has been launched to bring back special needs education (SEND) at the former St Christopher's School. PAGE 7

We can all help save lives

Over the boundary GLOUCESTERSHIRE County Cricket Club is looking into moving away from the County Ground in Nevil Road,Bishopston, its home since 1889. It has announced it is "exploring

opportunities for a new stadium development in South Gloucestershire", close to the M4 with capacity to host the highest level of world cricket events. Full story: Page 4

Charity fundraiser Simon Brookes is working to install defibrillators in Bristol and wants people to train to use them. PAGE 12

Cheers! Double award success Dunleavy Wines is celebrating two awards - one for its rose and one for its interactive wine bottle labels! PAGE 29

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February deadline

January, 2024

Useful numbers

Bristol City Council 0117 922 2000 Citizens Advice Bureau 0844 499 4718 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk General enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

Emergency: 999 NHS Health Call 111 Well Aware (health and social care information) www.wellaware.org.uk Freephone: 0808 808 5252 We are Bristol helpline Freephone 0800 694 0184 Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm Weekends 10am-2pm

Complaints Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the Bishopston Voice, contact the publisher using the details below. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher. A member of the

Our January deadline is January 10. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us by this date. Advertisers are also asked to contact us by the same date.

Your views Letters for publication can be sent to the above email addresses or by post to Letters, Bishopston Voice, 16 Ashmead Business Centre, Ashmead Road, Keynsham, BS31 1SX. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Bishopston Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Bishopston Voice is distributed each month to Bishopston residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is always welcomed, contact Emma Cooper on 0117 908 2121 or emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk. This month 10,700 copies copies will be distributed around Bishopston, Redland and St Andrews.

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January, 2024

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n NEWS

School mourns 'remarkable' languages teacher Vincent, 35 STAFF and students at Fairfield High School are mourning languages teacher Vincent Le Goascoz. Police divers found Vincent’s body in Bristol’s Floating Harbour on December 6, four days after he was reported missing. Vincent, who was 35, had last been seen in Redcliff Street at about 1.30am on Saturday December 2. In a statement, Fairfield High School said the school community were “deeply saddened” to learn of his death. Vincent taught French and Spanish at the school, which has more than 1,000 pupils, aged from 11 to 16. Acting principal Edel Cronin said: “We in Fairfield find ourselves grappling with the loss of a remarkable teacher, colleague and friend. “Vincent left an indelible mark on both students and colleagues alike, despite only joining us last September. “His smile, relentless positivity and optimism never wavered. “Vincent’s classroom was a wonderfully fun and joyful environment full of learning, filled with laughter, and enthusiasm for his passion for modern foreign languages. “He readily embraced school life to the fullest, including joining a camping trip within his first month of being in the school, his focus was always on bringing joy and creating space for our students to have the best memories of their school experience.

“Beyond the classroom, Vincent was committed to inclusivity and being an ally for minority communities, he dedicated himself to facilitating lunch clubs and building relationships with staff and students outside of the classroom. “The void left by Vincent’s untimely passing is immeasurable, and we extend our deepest condolences to his partner Emily, his family and friends. “His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, and the school will forever be grateful for his contributions to education, diversity, and the spirit of adventure. “We miss you Vincent, but we will do our best in the coming days to channel some of your light.” Vincent had previously taught at Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School in Wotton-under-Edge. His girlfriend Emily Cooper

launched a fund to pay for his repatriation and funeral. By the time the Voice went to print, it had raised more than £17,000 in less than a week. Any surplus funding will be donated to diabetes research.

Hospital trusts move closer together NORTH Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have announced their decision to move to a Joint Chair and Joint Chief Executive as the first step on a journey to establish a Group model within two years. The trusts, which run Bristol's hospitals, say that this is not a merger, but demonstrates clear commitment from both organisations to formally create an environment that will strengthencollaboration, and enable delivery of a Joint Clinical Strategy. "Working as a Group will also enable the trusts to join forces to address shared challenges while still retaining the flexibility to serve their unique communities. These changes are crucial to unlock significant benefits for staff and patients," they say.

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On the gofundme page, Emily told how she and Vincent had been planning to move into their first flat together just before Christmas. She described him as an “incredible human” with “the biggest heart”. :”He was a beautiful soul, who loved his job as a teacher. Even on the hardest days, he still came home and spoke about his students and his class with such pride. He couldn’t wait to tell me hilarious stories that some of his pupils had said or done.. and then say with a smile ‘I love my job’,” she said. Avon & Somerset police had appealed for information from the public after Vincent was reported missing. A spokesperson said: “At this stage the death is not being treated as suspicious. “Vincent’s family has been informed and we’re offering them support. Our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time. “We’d like to thank the public for their help sharing our appeal to find Vincent and for contacting us with information.”

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January, 2024

n NEWS

Gloucestershire Cricket looks to move away from County Ground THE County Ground, which the legendary WG Grace helped Gloucestershire to buy in 1889, is no longer the place where the club sees its future. GCCC has announced it wants to relocate to a site near the M4 to ensure its "competitiveness and long-term sustainability". The club said that discussions with South Gloucestershire Council over several months had identified potential sites and was now ready for active negotiations around a potential move. In a statement last month, GCCC said:“Our intention is to develop a stadium that is not only much more accessible to larger parts of the county of Gloucestershire, but is also purpose built to host the highest level of world cricket events. “Whilst the current ground is still able to deliver the very highest level of cricket and customer experience at Nevil Road, we have to also prepare for the future. As we continue to grow, the strain on infrastructure and facilities at Nevil Road will become increasingly challenging, as will access to and from the ground. The opportunity to relocate is a highly exciting prospect for the club to explore.” GCCC chair David Jones said the board was looking to leave the ground at Nevil Road, its base since 1889,

The County Ground in Nevil Road, Bishopston and was considering two or three possible sites between Almondsbury and Emersons Green. Former board member Adie Britton said the potential sites would be around three times the size of the existing ground, which is in a residential area with no space to expand. The aim would be to accommodate a 12,000seat stadium that could be temporarily expanded up

to 20,000 for international matches, and would also have space for extra facilities, including training areas, other sports and a hotel. It would also be able to host other events that would generate income. Mr Jones said: “This is a significant turning point for cricket in Gloucestershire and Bristol as we look to secure the club’s long-term future in an ever-changing sporting world.

“We look forward to engaging with our members, neighbouring residents, stakeholders and the public as we continue a journey that WG Grace started many years ago.” The club has not responded to a request from the Voice for more details on the site locations. The council also declined to give details of potential sites. A spokesperson said: "We welcome the interest from Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in potentially establishing a new home in South Gloucestershire. Any proposals would need to go through the proper planning processes and local people will be keen to hear more details as they emerge." Richard Gould, Chief Executive at the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said: “It’s always exciting to see County Clubs come up with ambitious plans for growth. ‘’We are clear on the importance of Bristol, Gloucestershire and the South West to the game and recognise that continued investment at all levels is vital for the ongoing growth of cricket across the region. It’s fantastic to see Gloucestershire displaying the ambition to provide cricket fans in the West Country with a stateof-the-art sports and leisure arena.”

Council U-turns on bid to cut council tax benefits PLANS to cut £3million in council tax benefits for Bristol’s poorest families have been scrapped in a major U-turn by the city council. Deputy mayor Cllr Craig Cheney made the surprise announcement on mayor Marvin Rees’s blog but warned the decision meant the authority would have to find savings from elsewhere to balance the books. He said that while the results of a public consultation showed most people supported changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS), “now is not the time” to make them, despite full council approving the proposals last February. It is a huge victory for community union ACORN which has campaigned for months to retain the benefits in full, including the

threat of legal action and disrupting several City Hall meetings. Bristol City Council formally abandoned the proposals on Tuesday, December 5. A report said 40 per cent of the 6,500 respondents to the consultation wanted to keep the CTRS as it was, with 60 per cent favouring cuts. The changes would have seen a workingage household’s entitlement reduced by between 10 per cent and 41 per cent a year – £154.83 and £585.36 per year respectively – depending on which of the 10 options was chosen, affecting up to 22,800 families. Cllr Cheney (Labour, Hillfields) said: “When I was growing up in Bristol, my family was supported by council tax benefit. It was a real lifeline for us.

“Since 2016, our Labour administration has protected our Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which replaced the benefit and is one of the last full schemes in the country. “This means that up to 100 per cent of a household’s council tax bill can be paid for through the scheme, with 75 per cent of eligible low-income households currently having their bills paid in full." An ACORN spokesperson said: “23,000 Bristolian families who otherwise would have been pushed ever further towards food banks, overwhelming debt and homelessness can breathe a sigh of relief. This is the second time Labour has tried to cut it and the second time ACORN has stopped them." By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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January, 2024

n NEWS

Masterpiece coup

A recent Songs & Smiles in Bristol

PM honours Goldies THE Golden-Oldies charity, which runs “Songs & Smiles” sessions in Bristol and across the West, has been honoured by the Prime Minister. Rishi Sunak awarded the Goldies choirs his Points of Light award in recognition of the work they do to support wellbeing. The organisation’s founder Grenville Jones said: “On behalf of the Golden-Oldies charity and the hundreds of older people whose lives are brightened by Songs & Smiles I wish to send a huge mes=sage of thanks to the PM for recognising the value of our work.” Goldies were particularly active in the run-up to Christmas. Their events included festivities at St Werburgh’s Community Centre where they ran a singalong for more than 100 people.

THE Hay Wain masterpiece by John Constable is coming to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery this year. The National Gallery in London is loaning the painting to Bristol as part of its National Treasures event in celebration of its 200th anniversary. In total 12 museums and galleries, in each nation of the UK and each region of England, will receive a painting from the National Gallery’s collection. Each institution, including Bristol Museum, will programme exhibitions, events, and work with their communities to celebrate and learn about their painting. The Hay Wain, painted by Constable in 1821, will be at the museum from 9 May to 1 September 2024. Deputy Mayor Councillor Craig Cheney said: “It is a great honour to be loaned The Hay Wain by the National Gallery, and we are looking forward to sharing it with Bristol next year. Visitors to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery will be able to see it up close and in the context of other landscape paintings, including 11 oil sketches by Constable, on loan from the V&A’s collection, that will be on display alongside The Hay Wain.’ The exhibition will look at the art that influenced Constable, and how he influenced landscape art. Using the museum’s wideranging collections from 17th century Dutch painting to 21st century installation art, it will explore many aspects of the work. More details about the exhibition and how to book tickets will be released nearer the time.

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January, 2024

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At last! Phase 1 of road works finished THE first phase of improvements in Muller Road is finally complete and Bristol City Council says it will seek views on the second phase early in 2024. The finished section is on the northern half of Muller Road, from its junction with Downend Road to Lidl, including Ralph Road, Springfield Avenue, Draycott Road and Brent Road. The new road layouts and bus lane are aimed at allowing buses to move more quickly through traffic, and enabling easier and safer walking and cycling. The first phase of the project included: • resurfacing Muller Road, between Downend Road and Ralph Road • installing a 24-hour bus lane on Muller Road between Downend Road and Ralph Road, which incorporates a bus gate at the junction with Ralph Road • upgrading five bus stops, including new shelters and waiting areas

• installing traffic signals at Ralph Road • creating modal filters on Springfield Avenue, Draycott Road and Brent Road to stop traffic other than bicycles and scooters cutting through from Muller Road The works are needed so that the transport system can cope with continuing housing development in Lockleaze, Councillor Don Alexander, cabinet member for transport, said: “I’m really pleased that this phase of the Muller Road improvements are complete. It took longer than expected due to the discovery of a complex arrangement of uncharted utilities and extreme winter weather conditions. However, these works are now finished, and I would like to thank everyone for bearing with us. This upgrade will help to improve bus journeys and should make walking and cycling in the area easier and safer.

“Early in 2024, we will be asking for local views on plans for the second phase of our Muller Road improvements. This focuses on the bottom half of Muller Road, from the railway bridge by Shaldon Road down to Heath Road, and includes proposals to create sections of 12-hour bus lanes on either sides of road as well as improving infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. The proposals will protect all trees along the route. We hope lots of people will give us their views in the new year through our survey so we can make sure our plans are right for the area. “Making these changes is vital to make sure that our transport network is fit for an area which is seeing so much growth. It will make it easier for residents to access reliable public transport and should encourage people to walk and cycle more.” The improvements to Muller Road are being funded from the

Muller Road bus lane

Housing Infrastructure Fund, provided by Homes England. The public footpath between Muller Road and Dovercourt Road will remain closed to allow for the safe redevelopment of the Brunel Ford site and the diversion of a water main that runs through the site.

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January, 2024

n NEWS Art on our doorstep METRO Mayor Dan Norris brought together 150 regional creative and cultural organisations to launch a £3 million scheme to help children in the West of England access culture. Mr Norris said many youngsters were missing out on the region’s cultural offerings on their doorstep. One in three children say they have not visited a museum in the past year. This rises to nearly 50 percent of less privileged pupils, according to a recent study carried out by UK charity, the Art Fund. Determined to change this, Dan Norris’ West of England Combined Authority and the Arts Council UK have come up with a scheme that will enable schools to organise trips to theatres, galleries and museums. Plus, musicians, painters and poets will head to the classroom for a series of “artists residencies” with local school pupils.

Fresh bid to bring back special education at St Christopher's A NEW bid has been launched to bring back Special Educational Needs teaching at the former St Christopher’s School site in Westbury Park. Families, community groups and politicians in Westbury Park have joined forces to apply for the site to be designated an Asset of Community Value. They say it would protect the site from over-development – after Bristol City Council turned down plans for 116 apartments on the site last summer. And they want future plans to include a return to SEND provision. Julie Owen, whose daughter, Angharad spent nine happy years at the school said the legacy of St Christopher’s must be officially recognised as it helped so many people from across Bristol for so many years. Angharad, 35, has Rett syndrome, a rare neurological disorder, and attended the school in Westbury Park between 1998 and 2007. Her mother believes the care and education Angharad received at St Christopher’s allowed her to flourish. She now lives independently in a flat in Downend, cared for by her mum and brother. Julie said: “It’s crying out to be another special school - there is an opportunity there and the council should grab it because this could help meet the needs of all those children who don't have a place. “There’s just so much potential on that site and so many things it could be - whether it's a respite centre or a day school. It’s an opportunity that shouldn't be thrown away.” She, along with other families and former staff and carers, have joined local campaigners, the St Christophers Action

Julie Owen and daughter Network (SCAN), which is co-ordinating the bid. Westbury Park Community Association, which was instrumental in opposing the development, supports the application saying: “It is aimed at bringing back provision for children with special educational needs to at least part of the St. Christopher’s site, a use that has benefitted the community over many years.” Other backers include Bristol North West

MP Darren Jones who says the idea has widespread support. “Given the careful work that has gone into the preparation of this bid - and the wide support in the community for efforts to make sure the ST Christopher’s site furthers social wellbeing in the future, I fully expect the council to approve this bid.” The bid also has cross party support from councillors from across the city as well as the community in Westbury Park. Peter Lord, founder of Aardman Animations, lives near the school. Aardman was involved in fundraising for the school over many years. He said: "As a near neighbour of St Christophers School, I am very aware of how valuable it was for children and parents alike within the Bristol Community. And speaking as co-founder of Aardman, I’m proud that we engaged in fundraising and promotional activities for that splendid institution. “Now it’s clear to me that the ACV project would be the best and most forward-looking outcome for Bristol and the local community and I’m totally behind it." The SEND Alliance for St Christophers has submitted a 40-page document of with evidence claiming the site benefitted Bristol for 70 years and could do so again. As The Voice went to print members were due to address a Full Council meeting to outline their case. If accepted as an ACV, any future planning decisions would have to take into account the need to use part of the site for community use. BCC is expected to make a decision later this year.

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January, 2024

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Mixed opinions over scheme for flats A PROPERTY developer is planning to convert a large derelict house in Cotham into eight tiny apartments with one bedroom each. Locals are supporting the plans but Bristol City Council staff say they should be refused due to their size and appearance in a conservation area. The four-storey Victorian house, on the corner of Eastfield Road and Cotham Brow, has been left empty since 2021 and is “in a poor state of repair”. FPC Build Ltd would also build an extension on the end-of-terrace house and let the council widen the adjacent narrow pavement. Council planners were recommending that councillors on the development control committee refuse permission for the conversion on Wednesday, December 13. The developer was previously refused permission for a similar scheme, both by the council and on appeal too. Writing to the council, Green Councillor Guy Poultney, representing Cotham, said: “The site is a derelict eyesore in need of substantial investment. The property’s boundary creates a dangerous pinch point where the pavement is unnecessarily narrow,

risky for pedestrians and outright dangerous for anyone with mobility issues or pushing a buggy. “The proposed scheme will both rejuvenate the site, to the relief of nearby residents, and allow people to travel down Cotham Brow safely. The developer has consulted with the community on numerous occasions and responded to every suggestion made, turning a welcome scheme into one that now enjoys significant popular support.” A local resident added: “The design is very in-keeping with the existing terrace and compliments the original house. The pavement running along Cotham Brow is not

only a cause of congestion, but in its current state adds to the eyesore of [the house]. Hopefully this design is accepted because at the moment the house is in a terrible state.” One issue however is turning a family home into one-bed flats. The local area already has a high proportion of flats compared to houses. Generally planners try to reach a balance between family housing and smaller homes — but not always successfully. Another problem for planners is the extension would be built on the house’s garden, and would change views of the Victorian terrace in the Cotham and Redland Conservation Area. Areas such as these, with historic architecture, face special protections from new buildings. A planning officer report said: “The extent of the development is considered to be too large and prominent, detracting from the character and setting of the original property. This is considered to be out of character with the surrounding area, to the visual detriment of this part of the Cotham and Redland Conservation Area.” By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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THE Green Party has announced all of the MP candidates which will be standing in the five constituencies in Bristol in the General Election. The candidate for Bristol Central is Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. For Bristol North West, the candidate is Mary Page, who played a key role in making Bristol a more democratic city by leading the campaign for Bristol City Council to switch to the committee system, which will be taking place after the local elections in May. City councillor Lorraine Francis, a social worker, will contest the new seat of Bristol North East while Naseem Talukdar, founder of the ‘Feed The Homeless’ Charity and CEO of Projects Against Plastic, is the candidate for Bristol East. Running for Bristol Sout is Jai Breitnauer, mum of two, small business owner, education equity campaigner and trustee of a charity.

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January, 2024

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Operation School Street proves a success Tonic starts POLICE made 61 arrests during the first week of the winter drink and drug-driving enforcement campaign Operation Tonic. Avon and Somerset’s roads policing team promised to be "out in force" until the New Year, carrying out roadside checks and talking to motorists about the dangers of drink and drug driving. They have called on the public to contact them if they suspect someone is driving while intoxicated. Officers can then use automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and CCTV information to look for potential offenders on the roads network. Drink and drug driving was a factor in a third of road traffic collisions in 2021, leading to the deaths of 12 people. Police are calling on anyone who suspects someone drives under the influence of drink or drugs, to call 101, report it online via the force website or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Call 999 if the suspect is on the road at the time.

ASHLEY Down Primary School says a scheme introduced in the autumn to protect children and families at school pick-up and drop-off times is proving a success. It is one of four schools to join the city’s School Streets scheme, bringing the total to 11. The streets outside the schools are now classed as walking, cycling, and wheeling zones, restricting car use with temporary barriers across the road at the start and end of the school day. The permanent schemes encourage families to walk, cycle, wheel, scoot or park further away from the school and walk the last part of the journey. Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “I am delighted to welcome four more Bristol schools to our growing School Streets programme. All these schools will benefit from reduced traffic outside their gates, improved road safety for pupils, reduced air pollution, and more children travelling actively to school. “It’s encouraging to see the number of local schools now benefitting from a School Street steadily increasing. Early in

2024 we will start the process of introducing another four more School Streets across the city. I hope further schools will work with us to establish them for the benefit of their school communities.” Amy Sood, Headteacher of Ashley Down Primary School, said: “Thank you to the team for making our School Street such a positive experience. The pedestrian access around the school site has been much safer with less congestion on the narrow pavements.

“Thank you to our families for embracing active travel to school and if having to use a car, parking safely further away, and then walking. “Drivers along Downend Road have been much more cautious and have definitely been slowing down when they see the road closure. "The community response to the School Street has been overwhelmingly positive and we thank the volunteers who are enabling this to continue.”

n NATURE WATCH with Dawn Lawrence I SOMETIMES see the attraction of hibernation. Waking yet again to morning darkness and drizzle I think enviously of the queen bumblebee. She is fast asleep in an underground nest, her metabolism ticking over at an absolute minimum and relying on fat reserves to last until spring. I could do that. Some species spend as much as nine months of the year asleep (packing their entire life cycle into three months – no wonder they’re Buff-tailed bumblebees mate in autumn busy). Some bumblebees can tolerate down before the queen goes into hibernation. to minus 19oC … okay, that doesn’t sound Photo by Rupert Higgins so attractive. The survival of the species depends upon this strategy since all the extra foraging is available. other individuals die in autumn. Inside her All British bats hibernate: a large amount the queen holds the sperm from her autumn of energy is required for flight and insects mating and she fertilises her eggs as soon as are not available in sufficient quantity in a she has established her new colony in spring. British winter. An overwintering roost needs to This is the general rule, but in the 1990s a remain at a constant low temperature making change began, particularly in the buff-tailed caves the ideal location for many species. Cold bumblebee, as a few queens and workers outhouses, lofts and basements can also be were seen to remain active throughout the suitable. Bats will often crawl into crevices and winter suggesting that rarely a new colony holes to hibernate or cluster tightly together. is established in autumn. This reflects our On mild days they may wake and seek a bite to warming climate and seems largely restricted eat or a drop of water but to survive they will to urban areas where winter is less severe and need to sleep most of the winter, relying, like

the bumblebees, on fat stores to keep alive. Their metabolism makes incredible changes to survive this period of torpor; their heart rate can drop to 4 beats per minute (normally 250 - 450 at rest and up to 1000 bpm in flight) and their body temperature can drop to 2oC. If it gets colder than that then the bat may wake and seek a better location, this helps to avoid freezing to death in a very cold spell. Reptiles such as slow worms also over-winter in an inactive state, usually underground. They rely on the sun’s warmth to bring their bodies up to a working temperature and the cold of winter therefore must be avoided. In reptiles this is called brumation rather than hibernation and they do not feed up to fuel their winter torpor, because their body temperature has to drop so low that they would be unable to digest their last meal. Unlike animals that truly hibernate they also need to wake periodically to drink. These are but three strategies which our local wildlife uses to avoid our cold, hungry, wet winters; there are many more. They still sometimes seem preferable to pludging down Gloucester Road for bread in a downpour.

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n FROM YOUR COUNCILLORS In Redland this month... New Year Message \We’d like to wish all our readers and residents a happy holiday and a peaceful new year. These are troubling times and we’d like to pay tribute to all the people working to look after us and each other in the city and contributing to support for vulnerable people everywhere. As always we’re glad to support residents of the ward and if there’s any way we can help advise or signpost residents to get help from the council do get in touch. There might be delays during the holiday period but there’s also plenty of help and information on the council website and ways to report most problems eg https://www.bristol.gov.uk/ residents/streets-travel/report-astreet-issue The holiday opening hours for the council’s Customer Service Centre – tel: 0117 922 2000 – Closed on bank holidays (25 & 26th Dec & 1st Jan 2024) but otherwise open Mon-Fri 8:30 – 18:00 (closed Wed 12:00 – 13:30) Grim council budget news

public services. Cuts could affect all non statutory council services. We’re concerned staff capacity means both major and smaller, local projects – like the long delayed Cranbrook Road crossing - take extremely long times to get delivered. Seasonal recycling changes Look out for the notice about seasonal changes to recycling and waste services and opening times for the city Household Reuse & Recycling Centres. Each bank holiday adds a day to the usual collection schedule and in January garden waste collections will be replaced by christmas tree recycling collections. The timetable as well as plenty of tips for waste reduction and recycling with the 2023-4 collection calendar is here: bristolwastecompany.co.uk/festive Antisocial behaviour at the bottom of Gloucester Road Fi has been holding regular meeting with traders, accommodation providers, our local PCSOs and council officers to try to bring people together to find solutions to some of the distressing problems that residents have highlighted. We’re glad to be able to report that the council street intervention team are now visiting the area several times a week to offer support from a variety of organisations to those who may need it. Information is also being pooled so that those who are breaching behaviour orders can be dealt with effectively.

There are grim prospects for the future council budget, which will be set in February. Some reports say one in five councils may not be able to set a balanced budget - required by law- due to ever escalating costs. Growing pressures on services mean most areas of the council will face significant real terms cuts. Energy, pay, and inflation costs are rising and yet again government funds have fallen for Bristol. Council Tax and Business Rates only cover a proportion of the spending on our

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Obstructive Parking We’ve long tried to get parking better managed in the ward due to road safety and access issues. The Mayor rejected new parking initiatives but we were promised there could be ‘corner protection’ ie double yellow lines [DYLs] where these are missing. Nothing has been done and there are now regular missed recycling and bin collections and worries about emergency access in many narrow streets where corners get blocked. We’ve escalated the issues to involve senior officers dealing with both highways and recycling services. Lack of local funds means we have no budget to deal with the lengthy and expensive legal process to get DYLs. But we don’t want buck passing! Fi has met with Bristol Waste and Martin with the recycling crew on the ground, and got evidence from the company of regular missed streets after the Mayor admitted this wasn’t being collected. We may be able to get warning noticed attached to vehicles in the way. We know obstructive parking

means police have to witness the offence so we are trying to get support from them too. We’re sorry services have been poor and are trying to remedy this. Cranbrook Rd Speedwatch Fi recently joined residents in a community speedwatch scheme in Cranbrook Road to help gather evidence about traffic exceeding the limit. These exercises are supported by the police. Do contact us if you would like to know more. Meanwhile we are as frustrated as residents at the delays to the crossing scheme, in common with most local highway schemes across the city. The legal Traffic Regulation Order for changes to highway rules is now completed. Due to serious cost inflation the council is trying to secure a new list of contractors and the department has agreed to absorb some escalated costs so we’re relieved to say the traffic island project should be ok. They are working on getting the scheme ready for delivery although we regret a construction timeline can’t be promised yet. Fi Hance and Martin Fodor, Green Party Councillors Contacts: Fi: Cllr.fi.hance@bristol.gov.uk. 0117 3534720 Martin: Cllr.martin.fodor@bristol. gov.uk. 0788 4736101 Facebook.com/cllrmartin.fodor or / cllrfi.hance

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Ultimately the root of the problem does lie with the overarching economic situation but we feel that we are making progress in supporting traders, residents and some of the more vulnerable people in the area. If you do see any instances of anti social behaviour we would urge you to report it on the police website (https://www.avonandsomerset. police.uk/report/anti-socialbehaviour/) and let us know as well so that we can monitor the situation.

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Got Got news? news? Email: Email: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

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January, 2024

n NEWS

Simon's on a mission to save lives across city LIFE-SAVING fundraiser Simon Brookes is installing his 31st defibrillator in Bristol - and he says that’s just the start. Simon, aged 72, from Westbury on Trym, is a former volunteer First Responder for the Ambulance Service in the area. He says the easy to use machines could save thousands of lives of people who have had a cardiac arrest. Now he needs more help to pay the running costs of two machines recently installed at Southmead Health Centre and Hartcliffe Community Centre. He told the Voice: “Some areas of the city that are less well-off are more inclined to have people at risk of cardiac arrest, because poverty is linked to poorer health.” The Walkers and Talkers charity, set up by former Gloucestershire cricketer Andy Brassington, raised funds for three new defibrillators after Simon gave a talk at one of the meetings. But Simon says more money is needed to pay the long term costs, including batteries and replacement pads. Simon, who used to work for a printing company, spend 42 years as a Royal Marine reservist in his spare time. Five years ago he started fundraising for defibrillators, and this month is seeing his latest ones installed at Smythe Road, and North Street, in Bedminster, and outside the Lazy Dog pub in Ashley Down Road. Simon spends many hours speaking to

Simon Brookes with one of the many defibrillators he has raised funds to install in his efforts to develop a network of the devices across Bristol shops, pubs and business owners, asking them to help fund defibrillators, which can cost more than £1,700 each, or host them outside their businesses. He also runs free CPR training for groups and clubs, including training 100 staff and players at Bristol Bears rugby. “I am 72 now, and certainly plan to carry on. I don’t like to waste my time sitting around, when I can be busy with this and helping people.” He realised the importance of community defibrillators during his First Responder work. “If someone needs resuscitating, it’s no good to them to think what might have been – if only someone nearby had CPR training, or of there was a defibrillator nearby. That’s no solace to the family - no-one wants a ‘what if’. “Defibrillators need to be within three to

five minutes for the best possible outcome – they hugely increase the chances of survival. I want us to eventually have a network of defibrillators, this is just the start.” He said most defibrillators are locked, but anyone calling 999 will be given the unlock code, and can easily follow instructions to save a life. One of the machines he installed has already been used 13 times to help sick patients. You can find out more about Simon’s fundraising on his website: https://www. defibs4bristol.com/ He is raising £975 for running costs for the Hartcliffe machine here: https://www. justgiving.com/crowdfunding/simonbrookes-121 And £1,300 for the Southmead one here: https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/simon-brookes-724

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A TEN-BED hospital unit for patients with learning disabilities and autism is set to be built in Bristol. The NHS has announced plans for the facility at Blackberry Hill, to be run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust. It will be designed specifically to care for people with a learning disability or autism who need hospital treatment but whose needs cannot be met in a mainstream mental health hospital. NHS England says the unit "will help bring an end to long-distance placements, making life better both for individuals who need hospital treatment, and for their families, friends, and carers". Director of nursing at NHS England South West Jill Crook said: "This is fantastic news for the South West and represents years in the making of hard work to drastically transform the health services available for individuals with a learning disability and autistic people."

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n NEWS FROM OUR MP Supporting residents of Barton House The decision by Bristol City Council to decant Barton House has left residents anxious and in an awful situation. I and my office are in close contact with the Council and are doing everything we can to assist residents. I have also been in contact with the government about how the residents of Barton House can be supported during this difficult time; at the time of writing, I expect to meet the responsible Minister next week. I recently met residents who are being housed at a hotel while survey work continues. I heard from them about the difficulties of living in temporary accommodation and the stress of not knowing whether or when they will be able to go back to their homes. This is a truly difficult time for them. I was pleased to learn about how the council has been able to improve the services being offered – the play area for young kids is a favourite with both children and parents. I’m grateful to council officers,

community groups and people for stepping up to help the families who have had to leave their homes. Helping victims of the contaminated blood scandal After decades of injustice, there is finally progress for the people infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal, with a victory in Parliament to change the law. I was proud to vote in the House of Commons in December, along with my Labour colleagues, to establish a body to administer a compensation scheme for victims of the infected blood scandal. This was tabled by my Labour colleague Dame Diana Johnson as an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill. Thanks to years of campaigning by people affected, leadership in Parliament by Diana and others, and hard work by the Labour team, I am pleased we managed to defeat the government and the amendment was voted through. The Bill, duly amended, will now progress through further

stages of scrutiny and voting in Parliament. Labour will fight hard all the way to defend this progress, and finally achieve justice for those infected and affected by contaminated blood products. Celebrating small businesses Small Business Saturday fell on 1st December this year. I chose to spend the weekend doing my Christmas shopping at some of my favourite independent shops in Bristol. I also met businesses in Swindon during a campaign visit. Small businesses are the beating heart of our economy: breathing life into our high streets; delivering services that make our lives easier; providing the goods we need to thrive. Often small businesses feel neglected by government and not given the respect their sheer economic weight deserves. Labour won’t let that happen. A future Labour government will hardwire the voice of small business into everything we do. It’s not just about the jobs they create or the economic growth they generate – small businesses

Thangam Debbonaire writes for the Voice bring richness and variety to our lives and to our economy. From tackling late payments to boosting exports, fairer taxes to better access to public contracts, Labour’s economic plan will stand up for our small businesses.

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rat ed ‘G oo d’

January, 2024

n NEWS

bishopstonvoice

Clifton's hidden gem LITTLE could Harold Hedges have envisaged that when he set up his jewellery business in Clifton in 1973 he would still be running it more than half a century later. “I’m still in the same workshop, same street and don’t have any plans to move elsewhere or pack up” he said. Harold recalls that he was fascinated by precious metals, especially gold, when he was just fifteen years old. He served an apprenticeship as a goldsmith, trained at the Central School of Art and Craft and the Sir John Cass college in London. He then broadened his experience by working in Montreal, Canada. On returning to England in 1972 Harold Hedges found work in London’s historic jewellery quarter, Hatton Garden. He

had long wanted to run his own business so the following year moved to Bristol. Since then he has been making jewellery at his Dragon Workshop in Princess Victoria Street. “I create anything in gold, silver platinum, or even copper but I’m mainly working with gold or silver”. Most of his customers want specially made engagement and wedding rings with diamonds in them. “I also source diamonds to create

Harold Hedges still at work in Clifton 50 years on jewellery like necklaces and bracelets. Some of my customers come here because they’re parents did some years ago” said Harold. He’s proud to show off his workshop, which is behind his reception and display desk. His

benches are covered with every tool that a jeweller might need. "It was cluttered when I arrived here and it's got a bit more cluttered since then,” he laughs. “Some of the tools and machinery I use today I was using 50 years ago”.

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR MANY of us enjoy a bit of television at this time of year. During the festive break, you might have seen one of the BBC’s headline offerings: Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster. Like so many shows about animals and plants, this was made at Bristol’s Natural History Unit. It has become difficult to know which are Bristol’s fantastic TV and radio productions from actually watching or listening to the programmes themselves. Only those “in the know” are aware. Why? Because the BBC has erased its mention of Bristol from the end credits of such shows. Remember when they used to proudly state “BBC Bristol”? Not any more. That needs to change. It’s time to credit Bristol again. The credits showed Bristol in 1957 when the unit was set up. Its roots were formed in radio. Because the BBC’s West Region in Bristol produced a popular radio series for the Home Service

Credit where credit’s due called The Naturalist, the city was well-placed to produce nature TV too. Bristol therefore became the obvious place to set up the Natural History Unit. The rest, as they say, is history. I certainly felt proud seeing Bristol mentioned in the credits of some classic programmes. Think of shows like Animal Magic, which ran from the 60s through to the 80s. Natural history has always been an important part of children’s TV, sparking the imagination of so many. Chris Packham, who I know through my animal welfare work, saw his career launched in Bristol on The Really Wild Show, which ran for two decades. David Attenborough is today a national, and global, treasure. But back in the 50s, it was the Natural History Unit that allowed him to innovate to become that world pioneer in television.

The natural history made in the West has entertained, engaged, and enthralled audiences. We’re globally successful and multiaward-winning in this area. Nowadays it’s not just the BBC but Channel 4 and even Disney who call the West of England home. In fact, 35% of all natural history content globally is made in our part of the world. I have written to the BBC Director General to ask why the BBC decided to sever links with a region which was the birthplace of the unit. We’re more creative than ever but we’ve been erased! Why, when places like Cardiff and Salford are mentioned by the BBC so often, do they seemingly appear ashamed of Bristol when running their credits? I want our great region to be recognised nationally and across the planet. The Natural History Unit is

Got news? Email: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Metro Mayor

Dan Norris

writes for The Voice responsible for some of the most globally successful factual content of the past 60 years. That’s something to be proud of. So, if you agree, please get in touch. Visit my website www. votedan.uk/creditbristolagain and tweet to @bbc #creditbristolagain to call for ‘Made in Bristol’ credits to be reinstated to all the BBC’s programmes made here.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n NEWS

'Serious concerns' over fire service response system AVON Fire & Rescue Service is “inadequate” at responding to emergencies – the worst possible rating - according to a damning report. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services says it has “serious concerns” about how the service keeps people safe from fire and other risks. A report said its mobilisation system, which records information and dispatches firefighters to incidents, “isn’t reliable and crashes during 999 calls, which results in the public receiving a slower response to emergencies”. On one occasion it crashed during a request for help from the ambulance service following a serious road traffic collision. Crashes had been reported 20 times in a year but had "happened many more times", with some workers no longer formally reporting them. Inspector Wendy Williams,

whose report was published in November, said the service does not have an effective system to record up-to-date risk information, including details of tower blocks. She raised concerns about fire prevention work after finding that residents at greater risk were not prioritised for home safety visits, which were decided instead on location and convenience. Ms Williams also raised concerns about service culture and said staff in some teams demonstrated “unacceptable behaviours, such as using sexist or inappropriate language and disguising this as banter”, adding: "Worryingly, some staff don’t have the confidence to report these issues." The government watchdog assessed how well AFRS performed in 11 areas and rated it as inadequate in four – understanding fire and risk, preventing fire and

risk, responding to fires and emergencies, and promoting values and culture. Five others "require improvement" and two were rated "adequate", with none “good” or "outstanding". The inspectorate has placed the service in an enhanced level of monitoring to help it address “causes of concern”. Chief Fire Officer Simon Shilton admitted that the report "makes for uncomfortable reading". He said: "I’m sorry if local people feel let down. "I accept these are the Inspectorate’s findings, and I want to reassure our local communities we have already put plans in place to address some of the concerns raised. "It is disappointing, despite the hard work undertaken by our staff to deliver the best possible service to our communities; it’s clear the pace of change has not been sufficient against

the challenging financial and political backdrop we’ve faced this past year. “There is more to be done to tackle and improve on the areas highlighted going forward, particularly in relation to our provision of risk-critical information and in creating a more inclusive culture. “However, I feel strongly that the findings do not represent who we are as a service.” Avon Fire Authority chair Brenda Massey said: “It is regrettable that these are the Inspectorate’s findings, despite how much work staff have put into making continual improvements across the service since the last inspection." The inspection took place in the summer; the service will be reinspected this month to review progress. By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Make this the year you volunteer new volunteering opportunities With St Monica Trust in 2024 Explore our new range of volunteering opportunities. Either directly with our amazing residents or behind the scenes supporting other teams such as gardening or IT support. To learn more about how you can help St Monica Trust create communities where older people flourish please call 07817 633 011 / 07875 406 891 or email volunteering@stmonicatrust.org.uk

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January, 2024

n NEWS

Theo Wheale from Ellis Brigham, second right, is pictured with Jenny Thompson, District Group Leader and two members of Bristol Woodcraft Folk

Store gives tents to raid-hit Woodcraft Folk BRISTOL Woodcraft Folk have received three Vango tents from Ellis Brigham Mountain Sports following a break-in where their camping equipment was stolen. Theo Wheale, Ellis Brigham’s Bristol store manager, said: "We spotted the Woodcraft Folk's appeal on Facebook and as encouraging people of all ages to get outdoors is one of our values, we were happy to be able to help. We do a lot of work with the Youth Adventure Trust and know how important it is for young people to get outside and learn skills that help them through life.” Bristol Woodcraft Folk run six groups across the city for

6-21 year olds. Members learn about big ideas and important issues such as the environment and global conflict through activities like craft, games, play and debating. By discovering new skills and experiencing outdoor explorations, they build confidence and knowledge along the way. Jenny Thompson, District Group Leader, said: "The annual camping trips are a highlight of the year for many of the young members so we are really grateful to the team at the store for helping us get back outside." For information on how to join go to woodcraft.org.uk.

To advertise your business email Emma at

emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

the place for you… Wishing you a very happy New Year from all at Ocean

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bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n COMMUNITY NEWS

Celebrating our past and investing in the future OCTOBER’S Apple Day at Horfield Organic Community Orchard (HOCO) was our largest and most successful celebration event ever. Thousands of apples were pressed. Hundreds of visitors enjoyed cakes and juice. Dozens of sapling fruit trees were bought for planting in hope for the future. The dark days of midwinter can lead us to wonder - will life return to bless us with a new year and another harvest? The tradition of Wassail arises from this ancient fear – and echoes present-day uncertainties. The future of orchards is also uncertain. Commercial orchards are being grubbed up because they aren’t profitable enough. Extreme weather events such as drought, intense temperatures

and storms are stressful for fruit trees. HOCO is a community fruit growing project that has evolved over time. We are investing in resources and nourishing the resilience needed to meet the

challenges of fruit growing now, and for the future. The orchard has been a place for growing, learning, wellbeing and community celebration for 25 years. It has also supplied

hundreds of HOCO members with local fruit raised in a naturefriendly environment and with zero food miles. With hope in our hearts, HOCO members invite you all to wake up the apple trees at this year’s Wassail on Saturday 20 January from 2-4pm. Whatever the weather - come along and celebrate this orchard that connects people with nature and culture. Pigsty Morris join us with their dancing and merry making. Mulled juice and homemade cake for sale. Shannon Smith, aka The Apple Tree Lady www.community-orchard.org.uk Photo: Jamie Carstairs

n HISTORY with JULIAN LEA-JONES WASSAILING took place each New Year when villagers danced and sang in their village orchard to frighten away bad spirits and to thank good spirits, the Green Man, for the trees’ wellbeing. The pagan ceremony was reintroduced in Bristol by former barrister the late Frank Buckley at his orchard at Cribbs Causeway. Since Frank’s death and loss of his orchard the Wassail has been performed by community orchards in Bristol. In recent years even business-savvy owners of commercial cider apple orchards have realised, as did our pagan forefathers, that Wassailing improves their harvest. Often shotguns or fireworks are fired into the branches to frighten away bad spirits. But what of the meaning of

wassail? The Anglo - Saxon Wassail Bowl – a cup of mead, cider or spiced ale drunk on New Year’s Eve or Day – derives from the everyday greeting Wæs hal! Hal is the ancestor of the modern English word hale, so wæs hal literally meant "Be healthy!" A web search for ‘Wassailing’ read: “Bonfires, pots, pans, clatter, commotion and a volley of shotgun blasts! The ancient Anglo-Saxon tradition of Wassailing involves waking tree spirits and blessing the orchard and shooing off pesky evil demons to ensure a bountiful crop in the year to come. Hot mulled cider and pizza nibbles are provided in abundance to keep you warm during our winter celebration. January, so remember to wrap up warm and bring something noisy, to help us

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scare the demons away from our precious apple trees”. The Anglo Saxon greeting wæs hal gradually contracted to wassail, referring to the act of toasting someone’s health. In accordance with Papal instructions, missionaries to these shores ‘Christianised’ the pagan ceremony by renaming the Wassail Bowl ‘Poc'ulum Carita'tis’ (The Loving Cup), the name still used by London Livery companies and fraternal organisations, while universities and colleges generally call it The Grace Cup or the Pledge Cup.. At least one toasting ceremony takes place in Bristol when the Grace Cup usually accompanies a parting grace. The ceremony is also a reminder on the 18th March

A Green Man image carved above a doorway in Coldharbour Rd AD978 of the assassination of King Edward, (Edward the Martyr), which took place in Corfe Castle. In the modern ceremony the cup is passed around the table with each drinker pledging the safety of the next person by turning to guard their back before the toast taker passes it on to guard the next persons back and so on until all have safely partaken.

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January, 2024

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

AMD’s Zoya Ustado considers the importance of a Lasting Power of Attorney

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is a Lasting Power of Attorney? ● Creates ease for your loved ones – during HowWhat toallows charity can save you Tax Anleaving LPA is a legalmoney document that you difficult times your loved ones Inheritance have a lot to do,

(the donor) to appoint a person or persons having an LPA can take some stress away by willdecisions be. However forthem the distribution the estate,to help members (the attorneys) to make ona Will yourcan be granting the legalofauthority you. of the Society of Trust worded provideshould that a gift of and the estate can then be and Estate Practitioners, the behalf, either now or in the tofuture 10 % of the value of your estate divided as if the Will had been leading you be unable to make decisions yourself. What happens in the absence of an professional body in at that time is given to a charity in these terms. A Deed of this field. We offer a free initial For example if you hador lost capacity, were The LPA? made charities of your choice. Variation could therefore provide consultation for new clients. unconscious or would prefer not towill deal withthe rate An LPAthat can beestate madeis to if pass you have the effect of this be that 10 only % of the For advice administration to on a year depending on the Court’s capacity your affairs by yourself for any reason. Inpayable such onmental capacity do so. you don’t have an trusts, of Inheritance Tax the to a chosento charity or Ifcharities, of estates, wills, powers as there are various forms to complete and whole estate reduced 40 andmaking the capacity, estate as ayour whole cases an LPA allows the attorneys toisdeal withfromLPA you lose loved ones will of attorney and all private client requirements to fulfil, which could become % to 36 %. eligible thewith reduced of which such affairs for you. not be able tofor deal yourrate affairs, cancontact issues, Shelley Faulkner, In same circumstances, it create difficulties Inheritance Tax. burdensome. This is a very costly and time and the other not only for you but forFlorence them Pearce process and best avoided if at all the team on 0117 There are two typeshas ofbeen LPA:calculated that this as well. In This this scenario, your loved onesmembers would ofconsuming change in the law is reduction in the tax bill can serve 9621205, email probate@ possible by getting an LPA in place whilst you clearly very good news both have to apply to the Court of Protection for a to leave the estate, even after amdsolicitors.com or call are able to. in for charities, ● Health & Welfare LPA - covering matters Order.and potentially for payment of the gift to charity,Deputyship at 15 The Mall Clifton, or 100 estates as well. appoints However their such as medical treatments, moving into an LPA, the donor own with a value as high as ifa the Withsome Henleaze Road Henleaze. By Shelley the detail of the application can An LPA should be put in to place sooner gift had not been made. care home or even making decisions aboutThusattorneys, with a Deputyship Order, it isAMD up Solicitors be complex. For example, the in to avoid any costly and the gift can in some cases quite rathertakes thanpride later your daily routine. to the Court who is appointed. This could be Faulkner, estate is divided into different sponsoring local, Bristol based literally pay for itself. difficult situations arising for you and your a professional such as a solicitor or a relative ‘components’ depending on charities and this year is very solicitor with& Finance LPA Even where amatters Will has notwhom you loved ones the in the future. For advice on LPAs, ● Property – covering not have chosen. Either way, to be how would the property will pass to pleased supporting been prepared in these terms, please contact our private client team on thenot benefi ciaries,your in order to Bristol branch of the Alzheimer’s as paying your bills, managing finances you have chosen Deputy. AMDsuch Solicitors it may be possible to take 962 1205, calculate whether the usually 10 % testtake around Society, the0117 local branch of thisemail info@amdsolicitors.com or selling your property. advantage of this tax break. If Whereas an LPA would has been met. Taking specialist national charity which works or call into one of our four Bristol offices. the beneficiaries of the estate4 to 6 months, a Deputyship order can take up

advice on the implications for WHILE most of us support agree, it is possible to effectively your particular circumstances is a number of charities in our amend the terms of a Will within therefore essential. lifetime, it is perhaps not two years of the date of death. A surprising that a smaller number AMD’s team of experienced ‘Deed of Variation’ can be drawn choose to remember a charity in up which sets out the familyBS9 4JZprivate client solicitors and 100forHenleaze Road, Henleaze their Will. Clearly the priority practitioners includes full members’ agreed arrangements most is to provide for a surviving15 The Mall, Clifton BS8 4DS spouse or children, or to ensure that the family wealth can be passed on to beneﬁt the next generation. However, government policy is clearly to encourage giving to charity, and a recent development in the law is intended to promote gifts to charity being made by Will. This change may also, on occasion, serve to save Inheritance Tax, or even to create a gift which literally pays for itself.

to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in Great Britain. For full details of our fundraising activities visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com. 139Copyright Whiteladies Road, Clifton BS8 2PL AMD Solicitors

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Where somebody dies after 6 April 2012 the rate of Inheritance Tax applied to the estate can be reduced from 40 % to 36 % (in other words by 10 %), provided that at least 10 % of the estate passes to charity. Clearly it is not possible to determine in advance exactly what value the assets you leave by Will will have on your death for Inheritance Tax purposes, or what 10 % of the total value

A local award winning law firm A local award winning law ﬁrm Telephone our experts on 0117 9621205 If planning for inheritance tax is right for you our experienced specialist solicitors can help Telephone 0117 9621205 or e-mail probate@amdsolicitors.com

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To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 Or 07715 770448. Got News? Call Rebecca On 07912 484405. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n NEWS

Rogue landlord told to repay tenants A ROGUE Bristol landlord who ran an unlicensed house in multiple occupation (HMO) has been ordered to repay the tenants £9,600 in rent. Ramiz Kafai “committed an offence” by failing to register the property at 47B Zetland Road in Redland with the city council, a residential property tribunal panel ruled. It ordered him to repay four months’ rent, plus costs, to three of the four tenants – the maximum amount allowed in the case. The panel’s decision followed a hearing at Bristol magistrates’ court and tribunal hearings centre . Three tenants – Kane Eddy, Christopher Down and George Martin – applied for a rent repayment order after a Bristol City Council investigation found the four-bedroom maisonette required a HMO licence. The decision report said they, along with a fourth person, Joe Pincombe, moved into the house in July 2021 and that Mr Kafai took over management the following February and gave them notice to quit. It said they could not find alternative accommodation so accepted the offer of a rolling six-month tenancy at £2,400 rent a month from April 1, 2022, which they signed

The property in Zetland Road with Mr Kafai, who did not appear and was not represented at October’s hearing. The report said they were first made aware that the HMO was unlicensed during a visit from the council in June 2022. It said they moved out in early 2023 and that housing officer Jason O’Neill-Blake told them on March 15 that they could be entitled to rent repayment, so they applied to the tribunal for an order. Mr Pincombe “did not get around to making his application”, it said. A written statement by Mr O’Neill-Blake, submitted in evidence, said the building was in the Central area designated licensing

scheme which required a licence for shared houses with at least three tenants. The decision report said Mr O’Neill-Blake wrote to Mr Kafai, the landlord, and his wife Seval Kafai, the registered owner, on June 17, 2022, telling them to apply for a licence within 28 days. They failed to meet the deadline but Mrs Kafai subsequently submitted an application on August 1 and a licence was issued. The report said: “The tribunal determines that the property was, between April 1, 2022, and July 31, 2022, a House in Multiple Occupation that required to be licensed and was not so licensed. “The Tribunal accepts the clear evidence given by all three applicants that it was the respondent who managed the property and who dealt with matters that arose.” The report added: “The conduct of the tenants appears to be above reproach. “The decision of the respondent and Mrs Kafai to apply for a licence indicates that they accept the need for a licence and the fact that the property was previously unlicenced [sic]. By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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Advertising feature

Healing from family breakdown We are coming out of the holiday period: traditionally a time for happy family gatherings. For many, however, spending time with family has been exhausting, stressful and upsetting. Ideally our families are there to support and accept us as we are, but that is not always the case. Many people feel that their family doesn’t understand them. It’s easy to say the solution is communication. But we know that isn’t always easy. We might worry about upsetting family members, or even being rejected by them. We may not even recognise what we are feeling, or know what we want in a situation. Misunderstandings can build up over time, forming a belief that communication is not possible. Being honest with ourselves about our inner experiences is so important. The better we understand our experiences, the more we can be in control of ourselves and the better

private and confidential space. In counselling you can speak about whatever you want, including any family difficulties over the holidays. If you would like to find out more about counselling, you can visit www.network.org.uk or call 0117 950 7271. Network is a charity in Filton, Bristol that provides low cost counselling. We offer affordable sessions in person or online. Jamie de Carvalho Network Counselling and Training

we can communicate – hopefully leading to understanding and healing. If things are tough, and you don’t feel that your family has much understanding, try taking some time out of your day to think it through, and get in touch with

your emotions – what is happening to you, and how is it affecting you? It can be hard to do this on your own. So counselling can offer you a dedicated thinking space with someone who is trained to help you explore your experiences and how they affected you, all within a

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n EDUCATION

Boost for jobseekers

Roadmap to success THREE pupils from Fairfield High School beat off competition from across the city to win a quiz testing their geographical knowledge. Year 11 students Elliot Strutt, Reuben Corbett and Toby Redfern won the WorldWise Quiz organised by Bristol Geographical Association at Bristol University's Great Hall, answering a range of challenging questions on GCSE geography, using mapping skills and identifying cities from photographs to come top of the 17 schools taking part. Geography teacher Amy Hornsby said: “I was thrilled and proud in equal measure at the achievement of our talented trio during this competition. "This spectacular trophy is now safely in Fairfield hands until next year, when we shall be defending our title. "I would like to say a huge congratulations from all of the Fairfield family for this fantastic and richly deserved victory." The Fairfield team will now go on to take part in a regional competition. Elliot Strutt, Reuben Corbett and Toby Redfern

AN extra £830,000 is being spent on a programme to provide jobs and training for hundreds people in Bristol with learning difficulties and autism. The We Work for Everyone programme, run by the city council, has already engaged 699 people in Bristol and 1,272 across the West of England. By August this year, 201 people had entered paid employment, including 95 Bristol residents. The team running the programme has worked with employers including Aardman Animations, Bristol Zoo and Airbus. A bid for extra funding was approved at a cabinet meeting in November. In Bristol, there are 1,035 people with learning disabilities of working age who are supported by adult social care. Only 46 - less than 5% - are in paid employment.

For more information, please visit our website, or contact our Admissions Team to book a tour, offered year round.

www.cliftonhigh.co.uk | admissions@cliftonhigh.co.uk | 0117 933 9087 Got news? Email: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

Foster creativity - it's free and fun! THIS month we are focusing on sustainable and free ways to enjoy playing and engaging with your child. A fun play idea to share with your child is to use up any boxes, wrapping and packaging from your Christmas presents to do some junk modelling. You can help your children create whatever wacky ideas they have, it could be a castle, a plane, a house for a toy, or a telescope. Using glue, tape, elastic bands or whatever you have to hand you can make a fun creation that gets your child’s imagination and creativity going as well as helping them develop their fine motor skills and hand strength. Another fun and free activity using your old packaging is loose parts play. Loose parts play is when children use open-ended resources, natural materials and recycled items that allow children the freedom and opportunity to be creative. Loose parts can include boxes, conkers, stones, a saucepan or old yoghurt pots - anything really! You can help by gathering some items in a special basket or box together and encouraging and modelling play by playing alongside your child which is the perfect way to help your

child develop. Perhaps you could line up your conkers, or try and balance boxes on top of each to make a tower, or your child could use pine cones as pretend food for their teddies, maybe you could fill up yoghurt pots with stones and see how many stones it takes to get to the top. The options with loose parts play are endless and the benefits are huge too, it boosts natural curiosity, encourages problem solving, facilitates conversation

and boosts confidence as there is no right or wrong way with loose parts play – there is only success when it comes to making their creations. At this time of year at Magic Dragon Preschool we also like to make ice decorations. We will go into our forest garden and gather loose parts from nature such as leaves, petals and twigs and place them into empty containers which the children fill with water. The children then arrange a small length of the string to hang out of the container and pop them in the freezer. Try this at home and you’ll have a beautiful decoration to hang in your garden! It’s a fun, free, easy, creative activity, what’s not to love! If you would like to see how we use both small and big loose parts to help children play, explore and grow both indoors and outside at Magic Dragon Preschool, please book a visit by calling 07971421834 or visiting www. magicdragonpreschool.co.uk Magic Dragon Preschool

Support for the homeless PUPILS at Bristol’s Steiner School in Redland have staged a walk through the city streets in solidarity with homeless people. The primary school children raised £1,002 for a homelessness charity with their event. Class teacher Andrea Cullen said the children wanted to fund raise after an assembly about the importance of supporting those who are more vulnerable than us in Bristol. Children took a vote to decide how to help, and came up with a project for homeless people. Andrea said: “The most children voted for Bristol Outreach Services for the Homeless (BOSH), a homeless charity that provides food, haircuts, access to books and laptops, job-seeking and clothes.” Pupils said they felt homeless people needed extra support. Eyal, aged 10, said: "I chose BOSH because I see lots of people who live on the street in Bristol and think about how cold they must be, especially in winter." Eight year old Zephyr said: "I voted for the homeless charity because I hoped the money we raised could help to find them a home." Andrea said the whole school, with children aged 4-11, took part in the vote – and then her class did the walk through local streets where homeless people sometimes sleep on the open. She said: “They did a sponsored walk from our school in Redland to Ashton Court to the deer park as part of our Human and Animal main lesson.” Children in her class also made popcorn and flapjack for half a term, each Thursday, and sold it to the other classes, and they made videos to send to their relatives who lived faraway to encourage them to donate to their Just Giving page. The private school follows the philosophy of founder Rudolf Steiner, which believes in “child-centred, relational approach to learning” and a commitment to promoting the development of the whole child.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n EDUCATION

Get on board with Bristol Monopoly 2023 A NEW edition of the Bristol Monopoly board game on which more than thirty landmarks, tourist attractions, sports grounds and companies appear has been given a civic seal of approval. Helping to officially launch the game, Bristol’s Acting Lord Mayor, Councillor Steve Pearce said: “I was born in Bristol and have always lived here. I’ve visited other cities but have always found Bristol to be the best. I am very proud of my city and this game is fantastic. I hope it sells millions of copies with each one spreading the name of Bristol further afield. “The first edition of Bristol Monopoly came out 20 years ago. As a keen player myself I’m very much looking forward to playing the new version.” Taking pride of place on the board is Clifton Suspension Bridge, which occupies London’s “Mayfair square” on the original game. The bridge appeared on

Clifton College students try out the new version of the game the first Bristol board but not so prominently. Other Clifton sites are Clifton Downs, Clifton Arcade, Clifton College, Bristol University’s Wills Building, Park Street and Queens Road. Across the city the ss Great

Britain, College Green, Ashton Gate stadium, Bristol Airport, Finzel’s Reach near Castle Park, the Imperial Sports ground at Brislington, Bristol Blue Glass based on Bath Road, Cameron Balloons of Bedminster, appear

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on the board All the sites were chosen by people in Bristol in a poll organised by the makers of the game earlier this year. There have been some complaints that Bristol City';s ground features but the Memorial Stadium is not there and east Bristol has been ignored. But John Keen-Tomlinson, custom games executive at Winning Moves UK, which produce official versions of Monopoly across the world, said: “The response from the Bristol public has been overwhelming. A very big thank you to everyone who sent in nominations.” Three local charities also get to ‘Pass GO’, following a public vote: The Grand Appeal, Bristol Animal Rescue Centre and Empire Fighting Chance, which uses sport to challenge and inspire young people to realise their potential.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n EDUCATION

Ofsted praises Fairlawn's 'culture of kindness' FAIRLAWN Primary School in Montpelier is a welcoming school, which lies at the heart of its local community. That’s the verdict of Ofsted, which has confirmed that the school continues to provide good education and care to its 251 pupils. Inspector Liz Geller, who visited for two days in October, praised Fairlawn’s “culture of reflection and kindness”. “Relationships between staff and pupils are strong. The school values, which include respect, responsibility and resilience, underpin these positive relationships,” she reported. “Staff have high expectations. Pupils understand why these are important. They attend well and value opportunities to share their learning with others. Pupils are inquisitive about the world around them. They benefit from opportunities within the classroom and beyond.” The inspector reported that

Siobhan Lennox-Brown with pupils at Fairlawn School the children enjoyed a wealth of clubs, such as sewing, coding and drama, and developed confidence and responsibility by taking on leadership roles. “The school has carefully considered how best to support pupils’ wider development. “[Pupils] have a mature understanding of diversity and

tolerance and are well prepared for life in modern Britain.” Ms Geller said the school was ambitious for all children to succeed. She said children in Reception got off to a strong start thanks to a sharp focus on language and communication. The curriculum was described as broad and well-ordered and

the inspector noted that pupils developed a love of reading. She also highlighted the good support for children with special educational needs and disabilities. Some improvements to teaching of foundation subjects and further development of assessment were suggested as next steps for the school. Fairlawn Primary School is part of Venturers Trust. The Ofsted report commented: “The trust and the local governing body know the school well. .. bring a range of experiences to their roles and provide appropriate challenge and support for school leaders.” Headteacher Siobhan Lennox-Brown said: “We are incredibly pleased with the outcome of our Ofsted inspection. "It recognises the special community feel that we have established since our school opened in 2015.

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Visit us to discover how we nurture our pupils’ curiosity and creativity.

Junior School Open Morning: Thursday 1st February 2024 from 10am - 1pm. Or book a private tour at your convenience.

Book your place online now | admissions@badmintonschool.co.uk | badmintonschool.co.uk Got news? Email: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n EDUCATION

'Inclusive school at heart of community' THE Dolphin School in Montpelier has won praise from Ofsted for its strong culture of inclusion and celebration of diversity. Two inspectors who visited the 210-pupil primary in November judged it good for pupils’ behaviour and attitudes and for personal development. Although Ofsted rated The Dolphin School overall as requiring improvement, it said the school was well placed to bring about those improvements. The inspectors noted that most parents and carers were positive about the school and liked how their children learned about the diverse community they belonged to. “The Dolphin School is an inclusive place in which to learn. It puts children at the heart of the community. Pupils describe the school as friendly and welcoming,” their report said. “Pupils behave well. They know the importance of working hard and being kind. “Every effort is made to celebrate the wide range of languages, faiths and cultures represented in the school. Pupils regularly engage in cultural events, such as singing at the Windrush concert and taking part

Reception class nativity at The Dolphin School

in the St Paul’s carnival. These and other experiences help pupils develop a strong sense of community.” Ofsted said that since the school was found to be good at its last inspection in 2018, it had not done enough to maintain the quality of education. They said the leadership team put in place by Venturers Trust were working on the right things to bring about improvements to the curriculum but these would take time to embed. “The trust and interim leaders know what needs to improve. They have taken

decisive action to evaluate and strengthen the curriculum,” the report said. Interim headteacher Kirsteen Craig said: “We are pleased that our staff and children were able to demonstrate to the inspectors that The Dolphin School is the heart and future of the community. We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse school. “Our whole school community is working together to make sure that our new curriculum gives children enough practice in reading, is implemented effectively and is adapted to meet the needs of all pupils.”

Prepare to Achieve Easter Revision Courses 2024 Monday 8th - Friday 12th April

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To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Have a say on your policing bill I HOPE you have been having a wonderful festive period. I would like to start the New Year by thanking all the officers and emergency services staff who have worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe over this time. The Police Funding Survey is now live online. I encourage every resident to give their thoughts on my proposal to increase the policing part of the council tax, known as the precept, by £10 a year (that’s the equivalent of 83p per month) for the average Band D household. The survey will close on January 22. Local policing is funded by a combination of people’s council tax (the precept), Home Office funding, and other grants. The precept makes up 41% of police funding and I, as your PCC, am responsible for setting the amount of money residents

contribute to local policing through the precept. You can access the link to the precept survey on the OPCC website, www. avonandsomersetpcc.gov.uk. Last month, my office launched a new volunteer recruitment campaign, looking for members of the public from all backgrounds and walks of life to visit people in one of three custody centres we have in Avon and Somerset, in Keynsham, Patchway and Bridgwater. These volunteer roles are called independent custody visitors, and they perform a vital role in ensuring people who are detained in custody following arrest are aware of their rights and are receiving what they are entitled to. If you can spare two hours per month, at a time to suit you, to partner with another custody volunteer and undertake a visit,

please apply before 18 January. No experience is necessary, just a commitment to seeing fair, efficient and effective policing in our communities. Visit our website and go to the ‘Get Involved’ section to sign up. I urge people to be extra careful when shopping online at any time, but particularly this time of year, as we see online shopping increase in the annual January sales. Many people are looking for bargains after the Christmas period and I warn shoppers: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. To protect yourself from fraud and cyber crime, I advise everyone to follow advice of the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign: Stop: Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

With police and crime commissioner

Mark Shelford

Challenge: Could it be fake? It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you. Protect: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online, at actionfraud.police.uk, or by calling 0300 123 2040.

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bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n VINEYARD NEWS with INGRID BATES

Our rosé acclaimed as a 'shining star' WE’RE excited to announce that our 2022 still rosé has beaten scores of other entries from across the west of England to win the ‘Best Rosé’ trophy at the WineGBWEST awards a few weeks ago. The prestigious competition is an annual event and features some of the UK’s top wine producers. The judging team comprised a panel of five wine experts and masters in their field. Chair of the judging team was Telegraph wine writer and presenter Susy Atkins who described the Dunleavy rosé as being ‘a shining star of the competition!’ Not content with that, the same wine went on to win the equally prestigious Harper's Design Award for its innovative, interactive music&wine label the very same week. Award wins like this don’t come around very often so we’re thrilled to have won both. In the vineyard we’ve been busy pruning back vines as well as brambles that have been encroaching around the vineyard edge. We’ve been finding lots of overwintering insects in the process and made sure they found safe places to hide for the next few months. In the winery all is going well and we hope to release some new sparkling in the spring!

Prize-winning Dunleavy rosé, right The acclaimed interactive label, above www.dunleavyvineyards.co.uk instagram @dunleavyvineyards twitter & facebook @DYvineyards

01934 830 111 info@clevedonsalerooms.com Fine Art Auctioneers & Valuers

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Principal Contents of Gatcombe Court Sale Highlights

Fortunino Matania (1881-1963) - Oil on canvas The Last General Absolution of the Munsters at Rue du Bois

Mid 17th century embroidered stumpwork panel, Orpheus playing his lute to the mystic animals

Sold for £21,000

Sold for £5,200

Clevedon Valuation Days at Clevedon Salerooms, each Monday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm Bristol Valuation Day Tuesday 13th February 10am -3pm Stoke Lodge, Shirehampton Rd, BS9 1BN Clevedon Salerooms, The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol, BS21 6TT

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

n ADVERTORIAL

INJURY FREE FOR OVER TWO YEARS WITH FITNESS FOR LIFE Fitness For Life, a personal training business which has been operating locally since 2006, is now based at the gym on Merton Road. Head coach Andrew Handoll-Clark is introducing a new timetable from 2nd January to welcome new clients to their small group personal training sessions. Fitness for Life delivers a total health philosophy across three realms of ‘Move’, ‘Fuel’ and ‘Mind’. One client, Chris, has been training with Fitness For Life for over two years and has seen remarkable results so far. When Chris suffered a back injury, he was nervous about returning to the gym or picking up weights again. He had an intense series of physiotherapy sessions, which got him to the point where he was safe to start again. However, he felt more personalised training would be the best approach to continue his recovery steadily. Fitness For Life tailored his personal programme to suit Chris’ goals. Within ‘Move’, he began to focus on his balance as

well as strength training. Adopting the ‘Fuel’ philosophy helped him introduce more fresh food and vegetables into his family’s diet. In the ‘Mind’ section, he’s exploring bringing in more gratitude and meditation. Overall, Chris has found he’s feeling more energised, stronger and more physically robust in everything he’s doing. Including coaching the under-10’s football team at weekends. He says, “I’ve been injury free for nearly three years now. Since I started training seriously with Fitness For Life, I’ve kept on improving and reached the standards I was at before the pandemic. Now I’ll be running around with the kids, and I feel like I’ve got tons of energy to do that. I feel more balanced and stronger. Andrew’s philosophy is really good, and I’ve been really happy with how my program’s been going. The 12-Point Plan hits a lot of points about fitness and mental wellbeing and makes absolute sense to me. It’s great to have a space where it’s so friendly and there’s a growing community feel to it, too.”

To find out more about signing up with Fitness For Life, the philosophy and the 12-Point Plan, visit the website www.fitnessforlifegyms.co.uk or call Andrew on 07970 493643

n FROM THE MAYOR’S OFFICE

Cemeteries are spaces to honour our loved ones CEMETERIES are completely unique spaces in a city’s environment, combining architecture with landscapes and wildlife, silence with reflection. They are memorials to the dead and the past, to Bristolians of years gone by. They serve an essential purpose for the living. These spaces touch everyone’s life in some way and serve as a constant reminder of those who they loved. Burials, and the lasting memories they provide, are landmark events for those who are grieving a loss. If they want to, everyone deserves to be able to bury those they have lost and to have a space to come to remember them. That’s why we have taken important steps to expand South Bristol Cemetery onto neighbouring land that has been allocated for its expansion since the 1960s. It will include 1,500 adult and 260 baby burial plots, new memorial plots and new footpaths. Bristol City Council has eight cemeteries. They are beautiful spaces that offer a break from the

busy city and time to reflect and remember. But their capacities are limited, part of the finite 42 square miles that make up our city, where our population has increased by 48,000 people since 2008. Council cemeteries, including South Bristol Cemetery, need more room. So we are acting now to ensure residents from across our city, of all faiths and none, have the space and opportunity for burials in our city. I’m pleased by the decision made by the planning committee in December. The proposed expansion includes enough land to cover 25 years of ongoing burials in Bristol, including space for a diverse range of faith burials to address community needs alongside an adjacent area for infant burials. This is a necessary decision to have made and the correct one. We are able to enact this expansion now, thanks to a long-sighted agreement between the Council and Yew Tree Farm. In May 2021, council officers met with

the farm, providing a generous temporary grazing agreement on the land beyond the scope of the initial expansion. This is set to take place over ten years, in the knowledge that some of that land would be needed for future necessary burial expansion. The expansion will involve less than 10% of the land currently used (without tenancy) by Yew Tree Farm. The Council will continue working closely with them on granting a long-term lease for the remaining 90% of grazing land. Similarly, officers have taken steps to submit a robust set of flood monitoring and ecological assessments, including a new wetland pond habitat, new hedgerows and tree planting. These measures will ensure a rich biodiversity is maintained. Cemeteries have the potential to be nature rich, beautiful green spaces for residents who have lost loved ones. And Bristolians should never be forced outside of the city’s boundaries to mourn.

Marvin Rees shares his views with the Voice In years to come, we can be proud that our foresight to protect space for our cemeteries ensured we could meet demand. We must maintain them as special places, close to the hearts of residents for generations to come. It’s important we take decisions that look to protect the future of Bristol.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n PHARMACY BLOG

Travelling Abroad in 2024? Contact Kellaway PharmacyBristol Travel Clinic – Today Going somewhere nice this year? Taking a gap year, school trip, holiday, religious pilgrimage or planning a business trip? If you need travel medicines and vaccinations, whether you need them as part of your job working with animals, in healthcare, waste management and recycling, cleaning or air conditioning, did you know Bristol Travel Clinic guarantees the lowest prices, with a price match promise and award-winning service and advice available at Kellaway Pharmacy? Call us Free on 0800 7723575 or come in for details. The recommended time to seek health advice is eight weeks before your trip, but if it is late, don’t panic; get in touch so contact us now. Our Same-day / Flexible Hours and Multiple locations mean that if you need same-day, multiple doses spread over several

weeks, we will make it convenient. We are always conscious that price should not be a barrier to accessing health services. We now have an increasing number of people travelling across the bridge from Wales to access our services, so Bristol Travel Clinic is a destination for affordable protection. Travelling is a beautiful experience, but it is crucial to do so safely. Different Countries may have health risks that you require vaccinations to protect yourself from, hence why our Free travel health consultation is so important. Discovering another country’s health system as a patient when you are far from home is no holidaymaker’s dream. The additional cost and anxiety can all form part of what could be an endless avoidable nightmare. Well-travelled, award-winning NHS-regulated professionals run our travel

0117 9246579 18 Kellaway Avenue, Westbury Park, Bristol, BS6 7XR clinics. They can provide you with expert NHS advice that you can rely on through your local pharmacy. Alongside travel vaccinations, we also offer treatment to delay menstrual periods while on holiday and altitude sickness treatment. If you are not travelling but need vaccinations to protect from Chicken Pox, Meningitis B and any work-related vaccinations, we can help. By using the services offered by the Bristol Travel Clinic, you are also supporting our community-focused work, including donations to our partner charities. Kellaway Pharmacy is a local independent pharmacy that is part of the local NHS, and we pride ourselves on always providing the best care for our community.

Hearing Checks and Ear Wax Removal Protect your family's inheritance Meet with one of our qualified estate planning consultants to discuss your needs.

Single & joint Wills from

£99.00 *Including VAT

Home visits or online appointments are available.

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KELLAWAY PHARMACY

£20

Introductory offer for our Ear Health Check

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n WHAT'S ON REGULAR EVENTS Monday n REDLAND WIND BAND has vacancies for some woodwind, brass and percussion players. This friendly group meets 7.30-9.30pm at Redland Church Hall, Redland Green. Contact via email on redlandwindband@ gmail.com n DICKENS SOCIETY. 7pm, at Leonard Hall, Henleaze URC, Waterford Rd, Bristol BS9 4BT. Talks, costumed readings, book club and social events. See www.dickenssociety.org.uk or phone Roma on 0117 9279875. n PLAY BOWLS at Canford Park in a friendly, social atmosphere. Qualified coaches and equipment provided. Contact: Les on 07305695579 n WESTBURY AND CLIFTON AREA DISCUSSION GROUP are a merry band of retired people who meet at Westbury on Trym Baptist Church every Monday morning (9.45) and like to challenge ourselves with topical debate on what’s happening in the world. If you would like to join and help to solve some of today's

challenging issues, contact James Ball 01454 415165 or Ian Viney 0117 9501628. n BRISTOL COMMUNITY GAMELAN play the music of Java at Cotham School from 6.30-8.30. We play by numbers – only 1-6, without the 4 ! So no auditions, no need to read music. If you fancy a different musical experience, contact us via email on keithripley27@gmail.com n WESTBURY ON TRYM WOMEN'S INSTITUTE meets on the third Monday of the month in the Westbury Village Hall, Eastfield Road, BS9 4AG, from 2.00 - 4.00 pm. We have interesting speakers, and extra activities of crafts, lunch club, skittles and outings. For more information call Sascha on 07961619806 or Traci on 07766073917 Tuesday n THE ARTS SOCIETY BRISTOL LECTURE welcomes new members. Our lectures, given by specialists in their own field, take place on the second Tuesday of the month from September to May at 8pm at Redmaids' High BS9 3AW and by internet. For more

information visit our website www. theartssociety-bristol.org.uk n BRISTOL HARMONY WEST GALLERY CHOIR and band sing and play lively church and village music from the 18thcentury. St Edyth’s Church Hall, St Edyth’s Road, Sea Mills, 7.30 pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month. All voices (SATB), string, wind and reed instruments welcome. No auditions but ability to read music helpful. www.bristolharmony.wordpress. com or call Fritjof 0117 924 3440. Contact before attending. n POETRY UNLIMITED – poetry circle meet on the First Tuesday of every month 11am - 12 midday. Basement Room, Café Kino, 108 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3RU. £2.50 - £3.00 donation towards the cost of the room. Bring a couple of poems to share, other poets or your own. Contact Dee: wetwo@ gentlyblown.co.uk Web: www. poetryunlimitedbristol.weebly.com n COMPANION VOICES BRISTOL We are a 'threshold choir' looking for new people to join us. We meet in Easton on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9 pm

to learn songs by ear and build skills in sensitivity/compassion/ loving presence to sing at the bedsides of people nearing the end of life. To join/support us in this work, contact Valerie on bristol@companionvoices. org. Visit www.facebook.com/ CompanionVoicesBristol and www. companionvoices.org. Wednesday n WELCOME WEDNESDAY Friendly and free coffee afternoon on the last Wednesday of the month, 2-3.30pm at The Beehive Pub, Wellington Hill West, BS9 4QY. Meet new people, have fun, and find out what’s happening in your local area. Call 0117 435 0063 for more information. n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcome- first visit free so come along and give us a try. For further information contact Tania by email at tanialake@yahoo.co.uk n GOLDEN HILL WI Meets the first

n ADVERTORIAL

Fantastic new piratical production! BRISTOL Gilbert & Sullivan Operatic Society proudly presents an exciting new twist on a well known production. In a fantastical realm, filled with magic, mythical creatures, and daring adventures, a rollicking adaptation of The Pirates of Penzance unfolds in the world of Dungeons and Dragons from 21-23 March at The Redgrave Theatre in Clifton. BGSOS Chair excitedly reports, “It’s always wonderful when a new director introduces a fun twist on a classic, and our director, Rebecca de Coverly Veale, is definitely doing that! Our cast and crew are really enjoying this twist on Pirates, and while there will be new aspects to the production, our audience will be reassured to know that the classic earworms, hilarious jokes and beautiful singing you expect from us will all be present in March!” The story follows our young hero, Frederic, who was mistakenly apprenticed to a band of kindhearted but inept pirates. Now his

apprenticeship is complete, he's ready to leave the pirate life behind him and rejoin respectable society! But in a classic twist of love, leap years and homophones, everything gets a bit complicated. And then the orc policemen show up. What will happen when our heroes dice with death? Can Frederic and Mabel take things to the next level? Join our piratical band of rogues, fighters and barbarians on a swashbuckling adventure that's sure to be a critical hit*. *This is also a great Dungeons & Dragons pun, but don't worry - no prior knowledge of D&D is required to enjoy the show! The Pirates of Penzance will be showing at the Redgrave Theatre, Clifton, from 21 to 23 March 2024 (7.30pm Thursday, Friday; Saturday 2.00pm matinee and 6:30 evening). Tickets are available from www. bristolgsos.co.uk or directly through the Redgrave Theatre.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

January, 2024 Wednesday of every month. 1-3pm. Golden Hill Sports Ground, Wimbledon Rd, BS6 7YA A vibrant, lively new afternoon WI in BS6. We have an exciting and varied programme to offer to members. Visitors and new members will be given a warm welcome. For more information contact Pam Scull at goldenhillwi@ gmail.com. n HEALING SESSIONS run by accredited healers take place 2 til 3.30pm at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up, or for info contact Marian Bishop 0117 9771629 or visit www. westburyparkspiritualistchurch.org n OPEN DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE For those interested in developing their spiritual awareness and mediumistic ability. 7.15 for 7.30pm start at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up, or for info contact Marian Bishop 0117 9771629 or visit www. westburyparkspiritualistchurch.org n BRISTOL VOICES COMMUNITY CHOIR welcomes new members at any time. We meet at 7.30pm in St Werburghs Primary School during term time. See www.bristolvoices. org.uk for details. Thursday

bishopstonvoice n HEALING FOR WELLBEING Feel more relaxed, peaceful, calmer. Drop-in at Redland Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, BS6 6JE. NEW TIME 3.30 to 4.45 pm. Donation basis. Supported by Healing Trust members. Contact Selina 0117 9466434 or selinanewton@ yahoo.co.uk for dates and other information. n BISHOPSTON COMMUNITY CHOIR Meet on Thursday evenings, 7.30pm to 9.00pm at Horfield Baptist Church, 160a Gloucester Road, Bishopston BS7 8NT. Everyone welcome, no audition necessary. Contact us via email on bishoproadchoir@gmail.com n LITTLE BEATS – NEW UNDER 5S MUSIC CLASS. Thursdays 9.30am (term time), The Church at Westbury Park, North View. Run by Sarah, a professional singer. Songs both kids and adults will love! £8/session, payable each half term. LittleBeatsHQ@gmail.com 07748 677716 n HENLEAZE LADIES’ CHOIR Come and join us as we fill St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze with a diverse selection of music. We are a friendly choir and meet on Thursday afternoons in term time from 1.45

to 3.45. There are no auditions, and the ability to read music is not necessary. Contact Jeanette on 9685409 or Jane on 07752 332278 n BRISTOL BACH CHOIR are now recruiting new members. We are a friendly auditioned choir of between 30 and 40 singers. All voice parts are welcome. We rehearse on a Thursday evening at Bristol Grammar School from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. If interested please contact Julie at membership@ bristolbach.org.uk n LOCAL CHOIR. We meet at Stoke Bishop CE Primary School, BS9 1BW on Thursday, 7.45 - 9.15pm. We are a well-established mixed choir performing both sacred and secular music. See our website www.henburysingers.org or contact the secretary at secretary@ henburysingers.org. n HIGHBURY BADMINTON CLUB: Pete Stables 0117 950 1524 or www.pete4458.wixsite.com/ highburybadminton Thurs 7:30pm mid September to End April, Westbury-on-Trym Village Hall n ENJOY SCOTTISH DANCING

at St. Monica’s Oatley Hall, Cote Lane, BS9 3UN on Thursdays 7.30 – 10.00 p.m. £6.00 per session. Phone Trish 0788 052 8925/www. rscdsbristol.info n THE STEPFORD SINGERS WOMEN'S COMMUNITY CHOIR meets at Horfield Baptist Church, Bishopston on Thursday afternoons, 1pm to 3pm. No auditions and no need to read music! Come for a free taster session with our friendly, supportive group and learn to sing in harmony. For info, contact Fran franbolton66@gmail.com Friday n THE SINGING TREE. Fun kodály inspired music sessions for under fives. 10 - 11am Redland Church Hall. Refreshments. Contact Kate on singingtreewithkate@gmail.com further details.

We would love to publicise your event Send details of your events and activities in the following format:

WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words, email us at: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

0300 323 0700 info@wecr.org.uk www.wecr.org.uk Previously known as We Care & Repair, we have over 30 years of experience

We specialise in:

Call us on 0300 323 0700

Accessible bathroom & kitchen installations Home adaptations, conversions, extensions & repairs Handyperson service Occupational Therapy

Our aim is to improve the homes of older people and those with disabilities - enabling them to live independently in the surroundings they love for as long as they choose Appointed provider for:

Your local and friendly veterinary practice To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

n PUZZLE PAGE

The FIEND

Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

NOTE After feedback from readers, we have made The Fiend SLIGHTLY easier!

3 7 5 9 2 6 9 8 5 5 2 4 7 1 3

2 4 7 7 6

2 TOURS

Bristol BS9 4LG @bristol-schools.uk HENLEAZE INFANT SCHOOL

2022 TOURS

eaze.i@bristol-schools.uk

ANT SCHOOL

e, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4LG

Gloucester Road with LED lighting and near to all amenities ie. the main post office Price on application Terms are flexible Please ring to view

Please visit eteach.com and search for job reference 1390586.

School Administrator

We are looking for a motivated, organised School Administrator to join our office team to support the Business Manager in administrative matters and the Headteacher in pupil admissions and attendance. These key responsibilities go alongside the interesting and multi-faceted role of a School Administrator, including being the welcoming face of the school and supporting families and the staff team.

We’re Hiring!

3 OFFICE /4STUDIO / WORKSHOP On the first2floor and situated just off the L

HENLEAZE INFANT SCHOOL,

Txtpert

Across Down 1 66646542 (8) 2 44262 (5) 4 5262422 (7) 3 58242 (5) 7 Park Grove, Henleaze,6Bristol 726262 BS9 (6) 4LG4 52726 (5) 0117 3772442 8 63725 (5) 5 77246 (5) 9 4726 (4) 7 6254 (4) henleaze.i@bristol-schools.uk 5

TO LET

Rules the same as the Fiend, but only four numbers in each box, row and column

Easier sudoku Solutions E

Use the phone keypad to decode the clues. For example: 2 could be A, B or C ... and 5678 could be LOST

Print out this lovely picture of four friendly Christmas snowmen and challenge the kids to spot all the differences! Then why not colour the picture in?

Theme: Countries 2

For younger readers

3 6

Txtpert 1

January, 2024

Tel: 0117 9422152

Graham Cook Gardener and handyman

Grass cutting, hedge and shrub trimming, weeding, planting, felling small trees, clearing, small painting jobs including garden fences and other maintenance work. Please call for a no-obligation chat

Call 0117 377 0644 or 07415 658 205

To advertise, contact onBS9 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk. Park Grove,Emma Henleaze, Bristol, 4LG 0117 3772442 Henleaze.i@bristol-schools.uk

www.henleaze-inf.bristol.sch.uk

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

Bakehouse, Monk Road, Bishopston £550,000

201 Gloucester Road Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8BG Sales: 0117 942 5855

Nestled in the heart of Bishopston is this inviting 3-bedroom end-of-terrace Victorian property that exudes character and modern elegance. Boasting a prime location, this property is a testament to timeless design and thoughtful functionality.

FRIENDLY, RELIABLE GARDENER • Tree and shrub pruning • Hedge trimming • Weeding • Digging • Planting

• Creating beds • Fruit and veg growing • Tidy up and clearance...and more!

Alpine LANDSCAPING

Established family firm with 25 years experience

• One-offs or regular visits • RHS qualified • 10+ years experience

25% OF

WITH T F H ADVERTIS

Contact Jim on 07817 477236 email: bs5gardening@gmail.com

£100 OFF WEBSITE PRICE When you mention

THE VOICE

5 DOORS

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A PHONE CALL WILL SECURE YOUR FITTING ORDER DATE This offer applies to door sizes 78”x30” & 78”x27”

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H Senior Citizens Special H Garden Clearance — Regular or one-off H Patios H Fencing H Tree Work H Turfing H Hedgecutting H Planting (Shrubs etc) H Organic manure delivered — Also applied H Professional and guaranteed work H Brick & Blocklaying

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Tel: 0117 959 2143 Mob: 07891 253 122

www.alpine-landscaping.co.uk

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

n BOOKS

An Olive Grove In Ends by Moses McKenzie Review by Bob Deacon of Bishopston Library THIS is a debut novel by author Moses McKenzie. The setting is the Stapleton Road area of Bristol in the first two decades of this century. The main character and narrator is Sayon Hughes, a young man of Jamaican descent. The novel opens with ten year old Sayon and his best friend and cousin Cuba breaking into a Georgian mansion in Clifton. Sayon declares to Cuba that he will live here one day. Clifton is a world away from Stapleton Road referred to as Ends, a neighbourhood, where everyone is struggling to make ends meet. We discover that Sayon is estranged from his father Errol, a local pastor and his mother Erica, who are descendants from the Windrush generation, who emigrated to Bristol in the late forties. Sayon is raised by his grandmother Nanny, the matriarch of the Hughes family. As well as being a coming of age memoir, the novel is also a love story, chronicling the relationship

between Sayon and Shona, who meet at primary school. Sayon takes Shona to his dream house, atop the hill in Clifton and promises that one day he will buy it so they can live in it together. Shona and Sayon are both children of pastors and high achievers at school, in the top sets for Maths, Languages and Science. However, the violence and criminality of the Hughes family is never far away and Sayon finds himself continually pulled back into the world of crime by his close knit but lawless family. As early as page ten, Sayon refers to the blue and white police tape, marking the murder scene where he took the life of Cordell, a gangster from the St Paul’s area of the city. Sayon discovers that Shona’s father was a witness to the murder. The Pastor makes a deal with Sayon, promising not to give him up to the police, if he leaves the Hughes family and comes to live in his house with his daughter Shona and becomes a disciple of Christ.

The book describes Sayon’s struggle to forsake a life of crime and his desire to find redemption, away from his family, with his childhood sweet heart and her strict religious family. This is an engaging, gritty and enjoyable novel, infused with street wise Jamaican and English, which accurately depicts the gulf between affluent Clifton and deprived Easton, two different worlds in terms of aspiration, ambition and experience despite being only three miles apart. If you want to find out if Sayon and Shona get to live in their dream house, check out the book, at your local library at 100 Gloucester Road. If you are seeking a New Year resolution, which you can easily achieve, why not start 2024 with a library card? It will give you free access to more than two million books.

Opening Hours: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

(1pm-7pm) ( closed) (11am-5pm) (11am-5pm) (11am-5pm) (11am-5pm) (closed)

FUNERALS FROM £975 Unattended Funerals Attended Funerals Bristol Funeral CONTACT US AT: 9 Chessel Street

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Whatever your funeral wishes or budget, we can provide a funeral to suit you. Prepaid funeral plans also available.

W W W.RDAVIESFUNER AL S.CO.UK Pricing is correct at time of print and is subject to change. Price stated is for an Unattended Funeral.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

bishopstonvoice

LOCAL SERVICES

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk BUILDING SERVICES

AERIAL SPECIALISTS

H&P Aerials Digital, Freeview and Freesat Specialists

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BEAUTIFUL, CONTEMPORARY, KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & WETROOMS, ALSO CLOAKROOMS & UNDER STAIRS TOILETS BATHROOMS & KITCHENS

We install Wren, Magnet, Howdens and Wickes Kitchens

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As one of the most used areas in the home, fitted kitchens need to be a flexible space while being able to stand up to daily wear and tear. A new fitted kitchen can be customised to suit any layout and lifestyle.

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Give your bathroom or wetroom the look it deserves with a beautiful range of traditional and modern styles.

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www.bjacksonbuilding.com BUILDING SERVICES

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We install Wren, Magnet, Howdens and Wickes Kitchens www.bluefl ameservice.co.uk

To discuss your needs or to arrange a free, no-obligation quotation, please do not hesitate to contact us.

As one of the most used areas in the home, fitted kitchens need to be a flexible space while being up to daily wear and tear. A new fitted kitchen can be customised to suit any blueflame_a6leaflet.indd 2 15/03/2022 16:34 layout and lifestyle.

Kevin Gapper Roofing We cover all aspects of roofing work

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

atom electrical specialist domestic installers

All types of domestic electrical work undertaken, from changing a light fitting to full rewires. For an efficient, friendly, reliable, local electrical service...

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Give your bathroom or wetroom the look it deserves with a beautiful range of traditional and modern styles. We take great pride in our work and we respect clients homes and belongings. All works are fully insured.

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To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

38 CLEANING

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

FURNISHINGS & REUPHOLSTERY

 

Call Nick on 0117 2872082



20% OFF DESIGNER FABRICS IN JANUARY

 0117 303 9000

 

ELECTRICAL SERVICES

Free Quotes Inspection and Testing Landlord Certificates New builds and Extensions Extra Sockets and Lights Fire Alarms, Smoke Detectors

www.ElderwoodElectrical.com Office - 0117 9322379 Mobile - 07725 058581 HANDYMAN

bishopstonvoice

Handy Man Services

LOCAL SERVICES

Experienced, reliable, friendly Jobs big and small

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

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MAN WITH A VAN

Your Soft Furnishings Specialists in Bristol Sofas l Curtains & Blinds Footstools l Reupholstery Handcrafting bespoke soft furnishings in Bristol for over 30 years. 119 Coldharbour Road, BS6 7SD 0117 924 8383 l sofamagic.co.uk

GARDENING SERVICES

D. ATTWELL

LANDSCAPING & TREE SERVICES For All Garden Works Patios – Decking Gravelling – Fencing Wood Chippings – Jetwashing Foliage Removed – Roots Destroyed Garden Walls & General Building

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PAINTING & DECORATING

Rob Ogborn (L.C.G.I) Master Decorator (Since 1990)

• Internal/External • Painting & Decorating • Wall-papering • Stenciling • Faux/broken colour work

Tel: 0117 9422589 Mob: 07814 113038 robertogborn@yahoo.co.uk

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

bishopstonvoice

January, 2024 PAINTING & DECORATING

PLUMBING & HEATING

ROOFING

Blue Flame T M HOBBS ROOFING

Stephen Carter Painter & Decorator

Professional Tiler • Mason • PainterServices Decorating

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07786 513788 or 0117 907 6997 Cranside Avenue, Redland, BS6 7RA

www.carterdecorating.co.uk

Classic & Natural stone tiles High Quality Finish Specialising in Italian showers Free Quote Contemporary & Provençale kitchens Bristol & Surrounding Areas Interior & Exterior Masonry PAINTING & DECORATING Interior & façade painting

Services Specialists in NEW and replacement boiler installations in and around0117 Bristol 960 and 0296 surrounding areas. 0797 0122137 Boiler Servicing/Repairs Specialists in NEW and replacement boiler installations in and around Bristol and surrounding areas. Landlord Gas & PAT Testing Boiler Servicing / Repairs Gas of & PAT Testing Nobody likesLandlord the thought paying for a major new Nobody thelet thought of expensive paying forone. a major item in thelikes house, alone an Yet a new item in might the house, let alone an expensive one. Yet a boiler save you a considerable amount in gas new boiler might saveyour youenergy a considerable amount consumption, lowering bills and also helps in gas consumption, lowering your energy bills and save on repair bills. also helps save on repair bills.

Established 1989 • Based in Bishopston

Pitched or flat roofs repaired or replaced Guttering & Cladding, uPVC Fascias & Soffits Chimneys, flashings & parapet walls repaired Skylights & Veluxes Installed Insurance Work Undertaken • Free Estimates Minor work welcome

Tel: 01179 426 436

RUBBISH CLEARANCE

Save £’s£’sononfuelfuel billsbills withwith a new ‘A’ rated energyenergy saving Save a new ‘A’ rated saving boiler! boiler! And receive up to a 13 year warranty! And receive up to a 13 year warranty!

Garden, Clearance House, Garden, Office Clearance House,House, Garden, OfficeOffice Clearance

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

07592 003 Tel: 07592 506 003003 Tel: 07592 506 Tel:Tel: 07592 506506 003

Renovation Painter Tiler Decorator

Builder & Interior Decorator

17 Years Experience Tiling Interior & Exterior Masonry E: dacriscobuilder3@gmail.com Interior & Facade T: 0117 401 8568 / 07557 335 956 PaintingDacrisco Builder No Job Too Small Free Quote 17 Years Experience

T: 0117 382 7716 / 07557 335 956 E: dacriscobuilder9@gmail.com

0797 0122137

0117 960 0296

PLUMBING

• Renovation • Draughtproofing • Double glazing • Repairs • Painting We can fit double glazing to your sash windows!

07540607626

www.snugsash.co.uk

ed@thebristolplumber.com

07736 229727

facebook.com/thebristolplumber

CALL 07769 693300

WWW.COPPERMILLHEATING.COM

SASH WINDOWS

Sash window specialist

No VAT, Free no obligation quote

FREE ESTIMATES

www.junkmonsters.co.uk www.junkmonsters.co.uk

SnugSash.co.uk

10+ Years Experience, Tiling, Bathroom Fitting, Kitchens, Radiators, All Small Jobs

• CENTRAL HEATING INSTALLATION & REPAIR • GAS, OIL & LPG • P O W E R F L U S H I N G • LANDLORD CERTIFICATES • BOILER SERVICING • PLUMBING INSTALLATION & REPAIR

Full Load Full £299 Full Load Load £299£299

15/03/2022 16:34

Bathroom & Kitchen Installation

COPPERMILL HEATING

3/4 Load 3/4 £229 3/4 Load Load £229£229

www.blueflameservice.co.uk

The Bristol Plumber

PLUMBING

Half Half £169 Half Load Load Load £169£169

www.blueflameservice.co.uk

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PLUMBING

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEERS

1/4 Load 1/4 £119 1/4 Load Load £119£119

APPROVEDINSTALLERS INSTALLERS FOR FOR APPROVED

SnugSash

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

D J T Property Services • Decorating • Tiling • PVC • Flooring Interior & Exterior Free Estimates Competitive Rates No job too big or small

Office: 0117 982 3930 or 0777 391 6802

WASTE DISPOSAL

RUBBISH CLEARED

Registered upper tier waste carrier licence no CBDU225074

We load and clear rubbish/junk from houses Flats, Sheds, Attics, Gardens etc etc No job too small - we even clear single items Cheaper than a skip and we load no VAT Contact Stuart or Sue

Freephone 0800 0234 995 Mobile 07770944727 anytime inc. weekends

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 9082121 or 07715 770448 or email emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

CLIFTON COLLEGE SPORTS CENTRE

NO JOINING FEE IN JANUARY

TEL: 01 17 315 7678 GUTHRIE RD, CLIFTON, BRISTOL BS8 3EZ

FA C I L I T I E S I N C L U D E : GYM 25M SWIMMING POOL EXERCISE CLASSES RACKETS COURTS

W W W. C C S L- C L I F TO N C O L L E G E . C O M