Monsters are a Ghoul’s Best Friend is the title of this artwork, which has inspired Sarah Thorp to arrange a Halloween and Day of the Dead window display for her Gloucester Road shop, Room 212, this month. Find out more on Page 7
SIXTY years after the Beeching cuts, Ashley Down has a station again.
The development gives passengers an hourly rail link to Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood.
The station, which features waiting shelters, a footbridge and lifts linking the platforms, as well as cycle parking for 20 bikes, has taken 18 months to build.
It was due to open on September 28. The completion of the work means that the Concorde Way cycle route is also open again, to the relief of cyclists and pedestrians.
The new station is on the site of Ashley Hill station, which shut in 1964 after being in use for about a century. Full story: Page 3
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THE opening of the new Ashley Down station is a significant step forward in efforts to boost public transport and connectivity.
Funded by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, with contributions from GWR and Bristol City Council, Ashley Down becomes a new stop on the hourly service between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood. Further stations are planned at North Filton and Henbury in the next few years.
The construction of the station on the site of the former Ashley Hill station, which shut in 1964, was carried out by Network Rail and its contractor.
It follows the opening of the rail station at the Portway park and ride last year - the first new station in Bristol for 100 years.
Network Rail route director Marcus Jones said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that we’ve reached this amazing milestone – two stations opening in the Bristol area within a year is an incredible achievement.
“As our second, Ashley Down has been a huge success story throughout its construction. Delivered with a spotless safety record, on time and on budget, it’s a real testament to the hard work that has gone on behind the scenes.
“It’s a clear demonstration of what we can achieve together and it’s another step forward in improving local rail travel options in the West of England.
Work to create a gateway to Ashley Down station has been carried out by Bristol City Council and its contractors.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of Bristol City Council’s Transport & Connectivity
Transport chiefs welcome new Ashley Down Station
Committee, said: “We’re thrilled to see another station opening in Bristol. It will be a valuable asset for people in the area who will have a convenient new way to travel to Bristol Temple Meads and beyond.
"I’d like to say a big thank you to people who live near the station for their patience while all the works were carried out. We hope they will enjoy their new station and the benefits it will bring.
West of England Mayor Dan Norris said: “We need to get more people travelling by train – that’s why I’ve committed funding to support more frequent services on popular local routes including the Henbury Line.
"Ashley Down is the first of three new stations along the line with North Filton and Henbury planned over the next few years.
“I know people living in this part of Bristol will warmly welcome the new station which will give them more sustainable travel options to get into the centre of the city. The last time people caught a train here, astronaut Neil Armstrong hadn’t walked on the moon.”
The Ashley Down station project partnership includes the West of England Combined Authority working with Bristol City Council, Network Rail, Great Western Railway and Sustrans.
For ticket information go to GWR.com/AshleyDown
MIKE PALMER BUILDING
The new Ashley Down station is ready for action
At
How we can help…
Have your
THE threat of charges at a number of council-run car parks in Bristol has been lifted after councillors voted against plans to bring in a pay-and display system.
The 5-4 decision at the transport and connectivity policy committee means the city council will have to find other ways to make up the £276,000 a year it spends to keep district car parks free.
The vote has been particularly welcomed in Westbury-on-Trym, where many locals had raised concerns about how £1-anhour charges at the Westbury Hill car park would affect local businesses as well as users of the neighbouring health centre and churches.
The committee also voted down a bid to end the 30-minute free parking offered in all Residents Parking Scheme areas and decided to increase RPS fees.
The proposals were all part of a package of transport measures considered by the committee at its meeting on September 12. Members agreed to begin looking at the introduction of a workplace parking levy, as well as investigating pavement parking and supported bus services. They also supported plans to develop a new Regional Cycling Hub in Lawrence Weston Westbury Hill is one of 10 free car parks across the city, which would have become pay and display. Liberal Democrat Cllr Caroline Gooch, representing Westbury, told the meeting: “The car park in Westbury-on-Trym serves the doctor’s surgery. It would be the only surgery where people have to pay to attend, were it to be implemented. It also serves two churches and
Councillors vote down planned car park charges
a community centre, with lots of community groups attended by children, the elderly and the lonely.
“Most churches and community centres have their own parking. But in Westburyon-Trym, both the churches and the community centre, and the doctors and the pharmacy all use this particular car park. We’re worried about moving parking over onto the street, or people deciding to shop elsewhere. Cribbs Causeway is only six minutes away, and Aldi and Lidl are close by.”
The charges at district car parks were initially proposed by the Labour administration in February this year, before
the local elections in May when they lost power to the Greens. Labour were persuaded by the Conservatives to defer the introduction of the proposed charges for a year, and in return the Tories voted to support the rest of the administration’s budget proposals.
The other car parks that would have been affected are: Beechwood Road in Frome Vale; Callington Road and Repton Road in Brislington; Chalks Road and Derby Street in St George; Ducie Road in Lawrence Hill; Machin Road in Henbury; Stoke View Road in Eastville; and Waverley Road in Shirehampton.
Many members of the public wrote to the committee
opposing the proposed increases. The majority of these were specifically about the Westbury Hill car park.
Speaking to the committee, Steve Smith, a former Conservative councillor for Westbury, said: “You have before you 54 statements that have come from residents, businesses, churches, the health centre, voluntary organisations, community groups, current councillors and former councillors. Not one of them thinks this will provide a benefit.
“Every single one describes the damage this will cause to Westbury village.”
The four Green councillors on the committee supported the charges but were defeated by the five members of other parties.
Afterwards, Green group leader Cllr Emma Edwards said the decision showed the value of the democratic committee system.
"I am in favour of exploring all options that can reduce congestion, improve air quality and raise money to improve transport for everyone in our city, so I’m disappointed that some of these changes were not passed. However, as I have said before, no one party has a monopoly on good ideas and that’s exactly what the committee system aims to utilise."
Meeting report by Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Westbury Hill car park no longer faces pay-and-display threat
Scout Alfie's big adventure
Alfie Blackmore enjoyed canoeing at the Scout camp
ALFIE Blackmore, 16, from Bishopston, represented the UK in Norway at the European Scout event Roverway 2024.
Roverway is a gathering of 5,000 Scouts from across Europe and beyond, including 550 from the UK. The event was divided into three parts, beginning with an expedition across Southern Norway for five days, followed by an international camp at Stavanger then a ferry trip to visit Copenhagen in Denmark.
Alfie said: “After arriving in Oslo I was so excited to meet Scouts from around the world. We went Fjord canoeing, which was an amazing experience. I was given the freedom to lead, a skill I will take forward through my life. I loved the huge outdoor movie night and sharing experiences with my new friends from Poland and the Czech Republic. This was my first international Scout trip and the memories will stay with me forever”
Carnival seeks new chair
ST Paul’s Carnival is seeking a new chairman.
Levi Roots has stepped down from the role after completing his three-year term.
He told the BBC he was "very proud" of his involvement with the carnival, saying the 2023 event was one of the best in its history.
Carnival organisers have decided to hold a full-scale event once every two years, so now they are seeking someone to lead for 2025 and beyond.
They are seeking a leader who "relishes community, culture and the arts, is passionate about music and carnival, but also understands the fiduciary and governance responsibilities of the role."
Levi Roots, who rose to fame selling Caribbean sauces, told the BBC his involvement in carnival had given him the chance to give back to the community that had supported his business.
Council owed £229m
BRISTOL City Council is owed a mind-blowing £229million in unpaid debt, including nearly £52million of council tax it has failed to collect.
New figures reveal that as of March 31 there were £32m in unpaid Clean Air Zone fines and more than £2m each in outstanding penalty charge notices for both parking infringements and bus lane encroachments.
A report to the strategy and resources policy committee on September 16, said almost £19m in overpaid housing benefits had not been recovered while £15m of rent and other fees had not been paid by current and former council tenants and leaseholders.
And the authority wrote off a total of nearly £19m of debt that it concluded it would never recover, including £5m of council tax and £3m in CAZ fines.
It comes just a month after council leader Cllr Tony Dyer (Green, Southville) warned that
the organisation could go the way of local authorities including Birmingham and Nottingham in effectively being declared bankrupt if it could not find savings to plug a £22m budget shortfall this year.
The report acknowledged: “Cost of living pressures are clearly continuing to impact and we are endeavouring to maximise the support we are able to offer through new initiatives and processes.
“The ‘premium rate’ telephone line for payments has been replaced, making calls to this line more affordable. "
It said the council used bailiffs – now called enforcement agents – when there was “no other identified recovery activity available or where those in debt are not engaging”.
The figures were a snapshot in time and that the numbers fluctuated, the report said.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Weird and wonderful
HALLOWEEN at the end of this month gives many businesses a theme for displays and decorations.
Among them is Sarah Thorp of Room 212, who says she was inspired after visiting the UWE graduate show and being impressed by the work of a recent illustration graduate who calls herself Batty Deville.
“I put her work Monsters are a Ghoul's Best Friend in the window and had such amazing reaction that I've decided to create a Halloween display based around it. I'll be pulling in other weird and wonderful Halloween and Day of the Dead inspired work by Room 212 artists,” Sarah told the Voice.
The display is set to include new work by Batty Deville as well as some crazy upcycled Barbies and Kens by Lou’s Dollirium=, quirky cards by
Maita Robinson and original paintings by Gargoyle Dream
"Now the summer’s pretty much over we need plans to keep joy and fun going as the autumn rolls in!" says Sarah. To find out more, visit https://www.room212.co.uk/ artist/batty-deville
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Allotment rent rises: D-day looms
A DECISION could finally be made this month on the cost of renting an allotment from Bristol City Council.
Rents have not gone up since 2018. Proposals earlier this year to increase them sharply and bring in new rules for plotholders were shelved after an outcry. Following the elections in May, a revised scheme went to the new public health and communities committee in August but a decision was deferred.
Further new plans are being drawn up and will go to the committee on October 11.
The council is also considering plans to create three new allotment sites to help meet demand.
Allotment holders have said they would prefer rents based on the area of their plots, but council staff said this would be too complicated to work out,
with just one allotments officer currently employed.
For several years allotments have cost the council more money to operate than the total income made from rents, with the rest of the money coming from the general budget for the parks department. This means all council taxpayers in Bristol are subsidising just 4,200 tenants.
Many allotment holders agree the rents need to increase, but have criticised the proposals put forward so far, saying the planned increases appeared arbitrary and excessive.
Speaking to the committee in August, Ruth Hecht said: “If these increases are passed, many people will be forced to give up their plots, which will be taken on by new tenants who can afford the rents. Allotments will become places for the better off. Is that really what we want?”
The most common type of allotment in Bristol is between 75 and 149 square metres. The current rent for this size plot is £4.16 a month, and under the proposals that would have increased to £7.42 a month. The rents for allotment last changed in 2018, six years ago.
According to council staff, if rents were charged based on the size of plots, just under half of tenants would pay more than the current proposals. Allotment groups on larger plots could be adversely affected, and many of these groups provide crucial support for vulnerable people.
Following the August meeting, Redland Green councillor Fi Hance said: “Whilst I am glad that the decision has been deferred, we desperately need to find a stopgap solution for a fair rent rise in 2025/26 to avoid the collapse of the service. This will give us time to work
with officers and allotment holders on a more permanent solution to reset rents in a more equitable way.”
• Sites for new allotments are being considered at Dovercourt Road and Cotman Walk in Lockleaze. These would be funded by £168,700 from the developers of Bonnington Walk.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Stephen Williams, chair of the public health and communities committee, said: “The investment responds to the growing demand from Bristol residents for space in which to grow their own food and help contribute to a healthier and more equitable food system. We know there’s plenty of demand out there for allotment spaces and there are over 7,000 people waiting for an allotment at the moment.”
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Nursery school keeps top Ofsted rating
ST Paul’s Nursery School and Children’s Centre continues to deserve the outstanding rating it has had for 15 years, according to Ofsted.
Two inspectors visited in July and were full of praise for children and staff at the “thoroughly inclusive” school.
They said staff were highly ambitious for the 191 pupils and their expertise and deep understanding of how children develop enabled exceptional learning to take place.
Among the many positive comments in the report:
• Children are happy, confident learners
• Children have an exceptional sense of self
• Children benefit from moments of curiosity and wonder
• Key workers understand the unique child and tailor learning to meet their needs.
In a letter to parents and carers sharing the report, headteacher Lucy Driver thanks children, families, staff and partners for their contribution to the school’s continuing record of success.
“St Pauls has now been judged to be
outstanding for the last 15 years! And we are the only Nursery School in Central Bristol area to continue to be judged Outstanding.
“This is by no means an easy feat – the Ofsted framework changes regularly, and also the cohorts and needs of our children change over time. Responding to local changing needs, changes in educational direction etc whilst maintaining and improving our quality of outstanding provision takes real team commitment and values led leadership.
“We are proud of our achievements here at Nursery! Particularly proud given that as you know, like others, we have been struggling within the context of a national recruitment crisis, and with reduced budgets, yet we still have great ambition and execution.”
St Paul’s has won national recognition for its work in early years (Eys) education. It was designated firstly as a National Teaching School and more recently as a South West Regional EYs Stronger Practice
Hub ‘Bristol and Beyond’.
Ms Driver adds: “As a group we are fully invested in continuing to change, adapt, improve, review and reimagine outstanding Early Years experiences to provide the very best for your child.
“We hope they enjoy this year at our Nursery, and whilst they are here, develop skills for life, confidence and love for learning, and a true sense of self and belonging.”
The Ofsted visit in the final week of the last academic year a short schools inspection considering the quality of the nursery’s provision for children aged two to four. St Paul’s also received the top rating from the watchdog in 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2019. From this September, Ofsted has dropped the practice of single-word judgements.
Like our other local private or voluntary nurseries St Paul’s Nursery School and Children's Centre is also inspected for its day care for 0-2 year-olds, for which it was also judged to be outstanding in 2022.
Lego event supports children's charities
LEGO fans of all ages can rejoice as the Bristol Brick Show returns to the city on November 16 and 17 at the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.
Organised by members of GertLUG, the Bristol based Lego User Group, this family event will showcase Lego models based around themes such as Animal Crossing, Ghostbusters and Ninjago.
In addition, visitors will be able to see the GertLUG collaborative build, which will be based around the iconic Bristol Hot Air Balloons.
Now in its fifth year, the event is entirely ‘not for profit’ and raises money for two charities. The first Bristol Brick Show was set up in 2018 by a group of friends and GertLUG member Nick Amos and ran at Action Indoor Sports, in Whitchurch. Since then, the event has continued to grow and attract more visitors.
A spokesperson for the show said: “We raise money for two fantastic charities that are Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) and Fairy Bricks. CHSW is a local charity that provides hospice care for children and young people with life limiting conditions. Fairy Bricks is an international organisation that provides Lego sets to sick children in
hospitals. We have chosen these charities to bring joy to children, even for a short time, to give them an escape from the hardship they're going through. Last year we raised over £19,000 and this year we hope to raise even more.”
Events such as the Bristol Brick Show enable Lego enthusiasts to connect with likeminded people.
Lego fans come from all over the country
(and sometimes further) to display their creations ranging from Minecraft to Star Wars.
Visitors can also enjoy watching combat robots in action, building areas to play in, a Find the Minifigure trail, and 'Best in Show' competition and buy new Lego sets.
For more details about the event, including opening times and ticket prices visit https://bristolbrickshow.gertlug.co.uk/
Grounds for Bringing a Claim Against an Estate
AMD’s Martin Hall discussed the grounds for bringing a claim against the estate of a deceased person in England and Wales.
Disputes in respect of estates can arise for a number of reasons ranging from doubts about the validity of the deceased’s Will, questions about the deceased’s intention, or feeling unfairly treated or excluded from the Will. In England and Wales, there are various legal grounds for challenging a Will or bringing a claim against an estate, the most common of which are as follows.
Lack of Valid Execution of the Will
A valid Will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and witnessed by two individuals who are present at the signing. The testator must have signed the Will with the intent of making it official. Failure to meet these requirements can lead to a challenge on the grounds of lack of
valid execution.
Lack of Testamentary Capacity of the testator (the person making the Will) Testamentary capacity refers to an individual's ability to make a valid Will. A testator must understand the nature and effect of making the Will, be aware of the extent of their estate, know who is expected to benefit from the estate, and be free from any mental disorder that could influence their decisions. A lack of testamentary capacity at the time of drafting or executing the Will can render it invalid.
Claims
under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants)
Act 1975 ("the 1975 Act")
Under the 1975 Act, certain individuals including spouses, civil partners, former spouses or civil partners, cohabiting partners, children, and other dependants
financially supported by the deceased, can bring a claim if they have been left out of the Will or if the provision made for them is insufficient. Claims under the 1975 Act must be made within six months of the Grant of Probate being issued.
Undue Influence
If a testator was coerced into changing their Will to benefit another party, the Will may be challenged on the grounds of undue influence. Signs of undue influence include unexpected or last-minute changes to the Will that contradict previous Wills, or changes that are detrimental to the testator or their estate and differ from previously expressed wishes.
Forgery
If a Will is found to have been forged or if the signature has been faked, the Will can be rendered invalid and may be chal-
lenged.
At AMD solicitors we understand that these kinds of disputes can be emotionally distressing and we are experienced in assisting, advising and guiding our clients through them.
If you believe you have grounds to challenge a Will, or need advice regarding an estate, then please contact us on 0117 9733989 or email us at info@ amdsolicitors.com.
October, 2024
n SPORT
BRISTOL Arrow Bowling Club has celebrated its 130th anniversary.
It is one of the oldest clubs in the region and has been playing at its current green in Redland Road for more than a century.
The mixed club has about 50 members and plays in the Bristol and District League and the North East League as well as friendly games. It also holds a number of special events during the season, which runs from April to October.
The celebrations included a match against two other longstanding rivals, Mackintosh Bowls Club (Cardiff) and Victoria Bowls Club in Westonsuper-Mare.
HISTORY:
1894 Bristol Arrow formed, playing at the County Ground
1900 First match with Victoria (Weston-super-Mare) on 26 July at the County Ground. Bristol Arrow won! On 15 September, Victoria won the return in the grounds of the Winter Gardens.
1902 The West of England and South Wales Coronation Bowling League was formed with four
bishopstonvoice
clubs: Arrow, Victoria (Weston), Macintosh (Cardiff) and Pontypool. Cardiff won.
1903 WG Grace challenged Arrow's
founder, J.W.Arrowsmith, to a match. It was played over three rinks at the County Ground on June 25. WG’s London County team
n MESSA GE F R OM POLI CE AND CRIME C OMMISSIONER
Time to have your say on policing
AS your Police and Crime Commissioner, my role is to ensure that the voices of people in Avon and Somerset are central to the policing strategy.
Today, I’m inviting you to help shape the future of local policing by participating in several key initiatives.
I’m pleased to announce the launch of a public consultation on the draft Police and Crime Plan. This plan will set the priorities for Avon and Somerset Police through to 2029, and it’s essential that it reflects what matters to you.
The plan focuses on five key priorities:
• Strengthening neighbourhood policing: ensuring a visible police presence that actively engages with communities and tackles antisocial behaviour.
• Reducing violent crime: addressing male violence against women and girls, as well as serious youth violence.
• Preventing crime: collaborating with other organisations and the public to build safer communities.
• Supporting victims: ensuring victims receive the help they need, when they need it.
• Improving policing standards: providing a fair and effective police service.
This consultation is your opportunity to comment on the draft plan and suggest how these priorities can be implemented.
Additionally, I’m seeking your views on local police funding, particularly regarding how much extra, if any, you would be willing to contribute through your council tax.
Your insights are vital to ensuring the plan reflects the needs and concerns of your community.
The consultation is open until the end of October.
You can participate by completing the survey online or by attending one of my public forums.
The forums are attended by myself, local policing leads, and my team, providing an opportunity for us to hear from you directly.
To find out more, visit the Police and Crime Plan page on my website,
www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk.
Your voice matters — I look forward to hearing your views as we address these important issues together.
I recently marked my first 100 days in office. I have really enjoyed them, and I feel privileged to represent all the diverse communities of Avon and Somerset. I have visited police teams, community leaders, charities, community interest companies, commissioned services, local authority leaders, statutory partners and business leaders in Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, North Somerset and finally Bristol.
It’s been a steep learning curve, and there has been so much to take on board, but luckily I am someone who really enjoys being in the detail and I’ve been reading reports, meeting people, having conversations and learning in greater depth about the policing issues faced by communities in our area.
Meeting the police leaders and many teams in different departments
played a team consisting of four players each from Arrow, Victoria and Mackintosh. The combined team beat London by 75-52.
has been invaluable in developing my understanding of some of the challenges we face.
Getting out and about and meeting people face-to-face in my community engagement days has been brilliant in helping me to understand how much is being done in terms of supporting victims and working with young people to support their futures.
It has made me realise just how many excellent individuals there are in key roles and organisations, who are using their roles to really make a difference.
n FROM YOUR COUNCILLORS
Redland: Martin Fodor and Fi Hance (Green Party)
Budget for our services under more pressure
In February Greens warned that the Mayor’s ‘balanced budget’ wasn’t realistic and we refused to vote for it. The law says a council’s income and expenditure must match. We know now that substantial ‘savings’ are being carried forward from the previous financial year as the promised reductions hadn’t been made to budgets. New larger savings were proposed to ‘balance’ the present year’s spending in the face of spiralling costs and shrinking government support after years of austerity and rising social care and other costs.
Regrettably so far in the new municipal year we can see costs are £millions over what was budgeted and drastic action will be needed to get spending back in line. Defending local services and avoiding government imposed ‘bankrupcy’ [centrally imposed cuts] is a key priority, otherwise there will be budgets slashed, assets sold, and council tax increases like Birmingham council. Fortunately it look likely our council can achieve this, despite the pain.
The new government hasn’t said it will prioritise more funding for local government. That means further service savings are likely. Greens have been very clear that a resolution to local funding of social care costs is essential and that all our public services need adequate spending. We believe that funds would be available if a modest wealth tax was collected from those most able to pay. But we are sorry to say the coming
n NEWS
year’s budget will be very stretched and this will continue to affect many cherished services. Keeping the decisions within the city should make it easier to defend the most damaging cuts.
Recycling services start to improve
We’re sorry that some residents are still frustrated by missed recycling services in their streets. For months we have been pressing the council to tackle the imbalance in rounds which were initially changed in November and then again in May and June. These were meant to make services more reliable. It now emerges that our local services in Redland ward have been among the worst areas of the city for things going wrong during these changes. Many are scheduled for Fridays and the end of the week is when missed streets elsewhere have to be picked up. This was one of the reasons the rerouting has been needed to even out the daily workload.
The bigger picture is that cuts were made to the budget last year and since then problems have been building up with various repeatedly missed streets. We met with the contractor and the service manager to ask for action. Now funds for more crews have finally been put back into the service and this has helped reliability improve overall. The situation, lessons learned and how improvements are being made is due to be discussed at Martin’s request at the September Environment and Sustainability Committee as we write.
HOW do we hold economists to account when we don’t understand what they are talking about?
That’s the concern of author Diana Finch, from Kingswood, who has written a book that aims to help give us the knowledge we need to challenge the way money functions in our society.
Diana does this through the story of the Bristol Pound, a short-lived but important local currency system.
Her book is called Value Beyond Money: An Exploration of The Bristol Pound and The Building Blocks for An Alternative Economic System.
Diana is well placed to tell this story, having been the managing director of the Gloucester Road based currency project,
We’ve also asked for changes to the council website to make missed collections easier to report. Do please keep reporting missed collections via the BCC web site and let us know if your street has been missed repeatedly so we can chase this. Each time route changes have been made different streets have suffered, we’re sorry to say.
Claiming pension credit
Are you or anyone you know missing out on benefits to which you or they may be entitled? The Department of Work and Pensions estimates that only around 2 in 5 pensioner households entitled to receive Pension Credits are claiming them and that some will also be entitled to Housing Benefit. Claiming Pension Credit for those aged over 65 has become even more important as this benefit is linked to the continuation of receiving the Winter Fuel Allowance. Age UK has a help line for anyone wishing to speak to someone to find out if they might be entitled to Pension Credits and other benefits – 0800 055 6112
Glyphosate spraying
We’re regularly asked what can be done to reduce the use of the herbicide Glyphosate. It’s used to manage weeds but can affect wildlife and insects. We also get asked how streets can be kept free of weed growth as this can affect accessibility. The management of weeds and costs of keeping paths clear was affected in the last year
Lessons of Bristol Pound
envisaged as a way of keeping money generated in the city within Bristol, in its later years.
The Bristol Pound began in 2012 in a wave of enthusiasm. It was the largest local currency to operate in the UK. It was the first local currency that could be used to pay local taxes, and was the first to have both digital and paper forms from its inception.
But as more people switched to paying for goods via smartphones, use of the currency declined and it closed in 2021.
But Diana says this does not mean the Bristol Pound was a complete failure; she believes we can learn from it.
by reductions in the street cleaning contract. We’re now trying to look at the council’s options for keeping paths clear, and what the different services could be used plus their cost. Lessons from other similar council need to be looked at. We’d like to review ways that residents might be able to play their part in this too and we’ll keep you informed when there’s a chance to discuss the choices available.
Just solutions to tackling climate and other issues
We’re delighted that among other local organisations the Green Group of councillors have signed up to be ‘early adopters’ of a new Bristol Just Transition Declaration. This is a set of principles written by four community climate activists involved in grassroots initiatives such as a unique Community Climate Action Plan written by local people with disabilities who want solutions they can help develop and be involved in. The way we draw up projects and services for the city and who helps write them will be closely looked at with a fresh approach in future. We want people most likely to be affected and with lived experience to be part of the solutions we need so that people with the most limited resources aren’t penalised in the changes that make the city, our homes, and transport solutions fit for the future.
Fi: Cllr.fi.hance@bristol.gov.uk. Martin: Cllr.martin.fodor@bristol.gov.uk Fi: 0117 3534720. Martin 0788 4736101 Facebook.com/cllrmartin.fodor or / cllrfi.hance
“It was always a limited experiment. We couldn’t make it a viable system in its own right. But one of its aims was to help us think differently about money, our role as consumers and purchasers.
“We have to make economics more accessible. If people do not understand the arcane language and knowledge of finance and markets, they cannot question it and that is very dangerous. ”
Diana, who has had roles in the charity sector and is currently a director of Bristol Food Network, is keen to talk to local groups about the ideas in her book. She can be contacted at hello@bristolpoundlegacy.info
The book has been published by Arkbound in Bristol and is available online and at Waterstones in Bristol.
n FROM YOUR COUNCILLORS
Bishopston & Ashley Down: Emma Edwards and James Crawford (Green Party)
Ashley Down Train Station
Ashley Down Station Station was due to open on September 28. This eagerly awaited station will serve a train route between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton initially, with more trains and routes to follow. The station has not been without controversy, and we thank residents for feeding back concerns and issues with its construction, which we have then been able to feed back to the transport team. The biggest issue we have found is with the extended closure of Concorde Way, which is a much used cycling and walking route. The diversion in place has not been a good one and we were disappointed that no other diversion could be found. We thank residents for their patience in waiting for the reopening. Concorde Way will be reopened at the same time as the station which we know will be welcome news for many! We hope the new train station will also relieve pressure on traffic on match days as well as serving local residents, City of Bristol College students and other visitors to the area.
Transport Committee
An issue that comes up repeatedly in the ward is parking, with many wanting an RPZ for the area and for the issue of pavement parking to be looked at. Emma, who sits on the Transport and Connectivity Committee, was pleased to vote in September’s committee on a proposal to set up a Parking and Kerbside Strategy task and finish group. This new group will look at all the issues facing Bristol around parking and how we use our kerbside. This can also look at issues such as bike hangars, EV chargers and managing our kerb space. Once the group is set up we will be able to feed these issues into it to be looked at as policy is developed by the Transport and Connectivity Committee. If you have any comments about parking issues in the ward, do feed them back to Emma and James.
Community meetings
James has been busy meeting with residents in the ward this month. We know that road and traffic issues
are still a big concern in the ward, and we are trying to find more innovative ways of dealing with them. There is still a lack of money for traffic calming measures, but we are hopeful that as data is collected about traffic volume we can build a case to secure more long term solutions. We have also continued to liaise with Bristol Rovers about their plans to expand, and feeding back residents' viewpoints as they move forward. Similarly we have met with residents concerned about the future moving of the cricket ground, as well as parents from Brunel Fields school.
Horfield Common
We were pleased to hear that officers have had the go-ahead to start protecting Horfield common from vehicles. After a group of travellers arrived on the Common earlier this year, residents raised concerns with us. We have worked with officers to find a solution and now some mounding around the edge of the common is taking place. This should hopefully deter people from driving on the grass and protect the trees and wildlife.
John Wills House
Reporting problems
We have experienced a higher volume of enquiries about dangerous driving, speeding, road issues and waste. While we always forward these to the relevant officers, we want to remind residents to also report through the council website as this formally logs them on the system, which allows us to draw officers' attention to the issues. It also means that these issues can be sorted faster.
Missed bin collections can be reported here: https://www.bristol. gov.uk/residents/bins-and-recycling/ missed-bin-or-recycling-collection
All street issues can be reported here: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/ residents/streets-travel/report-a-streetissue
And incidents of dangerous driving or an unsafe road can be reported here: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/ residents/streets-travel/tell-us-abouta-road-safety-concern
For other issues, get in touch via email, or at one of our surgeries, held from 4-5.45pm every second Friday of the month at the Horfield Quakers' meeting House on Gloucester Road.
n FROM BRISTOL NORTH WEST'S MP
Passengers' wait is almost over
PARLIAMENT only returned from summer recess on September, 2 but our Government has already made big announcements about overhauling our failing public transport system that will benefit bus and rail passengers here in Bristol North West.
Firstly, the Government's bill to bring our railways back into public ownership has now passed every stage of scrutiny in the House of Commons, so it's well on its way to becoming law – and great news for anyone planning to make use of the new Ashley Down station.
Secondly, Louise Haigh, the Secretary of State for Transport, has set out in Parliament our Government's plans to give local authorities new powers to run and own bus services. This would mean that Bristol City Council would have the power to run bus services in a way that suits the needs of our communities, rather than seeing vital routes axed by private bus companies based
solely on profits.
We saw this happen in recent times to the Stagecoach 10 and 11 bus services, with the section of the route from Southmead Hospital to Bristol Parkway axed at short notice.
I met with Stagecoach last year to raise constituents' concerns about the route change, which affected people getting to work and students going to university. After a lengthy wait, I'm thrilled the company has finally reversed this decision.
Many of you will know I have a long-running campaign for better buses in Bristol (see darrenjones.co.uk/bristol-campaigns) – something that I will be able to park when the Government's Buses Bill becomes law.
But what most of you probably don’t know is why saving vital bus services is so personal to me.
When I was younger, and about to start my A-levels, the sixth form in my secondary school,
n FROM BRISTOL CENTRAL'S MP
Portway School in Shirehampton (now Oasis Academy Brightstowe), closed. This meant the only place local students could go to study A-levels was to head to the college in Bristol city centre. But that required you to have the money to get in and out of the city every day, which my family didn't have.
And so, as a teenager (and with no plans to be a politician at the time), I took part in my first campaign to try to save our sixth form. I remember having a meeting in the school library and being quite nervous about making my pitch to the councillors. In the end, we didn't save the sixth form, but we were able to get the council to agree to fund a minibus to take me and a couple of other students every day to Ashton Park Sixth Form Centre. My first campaign, and it was a success!
Finally, my next Pub Politics events will be held in Ashley
Finding my way into the role ...
HELLO, and thank you all for your continuing support as I have settled into the House of Commons. I have continued to learn my way around Parliament (I am getting lost less often now!) and have finally been allocated my own office.
On 10 September I was proud to vote in support of maintaining the Winter Fuel Allowance to all pensioners and sorry to see the cut to the payment go through.
I was delighted to be elected as Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change. The APPG does important work raising awareness of climate issues, enabling better and bolder action on policy.
I spoke in a Parliamentary debate on the upcoming COP29 summit, where world leaders will gather to discuss climate policy. I made clear that there is no room for new fossil fuel infrastructure if we are to stay within safe climate limits, and that the UK as a rich country and big polluter must show better leadership on the
global stage.
I had a really good meeting with Homeless Link to discuss homelessness in Bristol Central. Unfortunately, Bristol is seeing an increase in homelessness, thanks to the cost-of-living crisis, an exploitative private rental market and a severe lack of social housing. I will continue to hold the government to account, pushing them to make sure the new Renters’ Rights Bill achieves everything that renters need it to.
I also joined the Z2K Trust for the handing in of their petition to the Department for Work and Pensions, calling on government to give disabled people ‘Security not Sanctions’. Our welfare system must be compassionate and supportive of people who cannot work, instead of punishing them and pushing thousands of people into deeper poverty.
I spoke at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s emergency rally in London in response to the bombing of the Al Mawasi humanitarian zone, where I
condemned the deliberate withholding of aid, indiscriminate bombing (including of supposed ‘safe zones’), and mass displacement of Palestinians by the Israeli government. The Green MPs will continue to advocate for an immediate bilateral ceasefire, a full suspension of arms sales to Israel, the safe return of all hostages, and an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine. Both the Israeli government and Hamas must be held to account for their war crimes.
My office has continued to receive a large amount of casework. Immigration and asylum cases have made up a large proportion of contacts. Time and again my team and I come up against the brick wall of obstructive and inhumane regulations that damage people’s lives. We will continue working to help individuals, but it is clear the whole immigration system needs a fresh approach.
Recently, people have been asking for my support
Down on Thursday, 17th October. To book, please head to darrenjones.co.uk/events or you can call my office if you aren’t online.
As always, you can email me at darren.jones.mp@parliament.uk, call my office on 0117 959 6545 or write to me at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
on Bristol City Council issues, such as the Clean Air Zone, Residents’ Parking, and planning applications. Unfortunately, as your MP I am not able to assist on these, so I recommend contacting your local councillors.
• You can email me at carla. denyer@greenparty.org.uk, or write to me at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
First Trinity GCSE results set a high bar
TRINITY Academy marked a milestone as its first intake of students received their GCSE results.
It was the first occasion that the school in Lockleaze could benchmark its hard work and educational ethos against other schools locally and nationally.
Both students and staff were delighted with the results. The very positive progress that students have made since primary school means Trinity Academy is one of the highest performing schools in terms of progress in the city and wider region. A quarter of grades were at 7 to 9 (previously A and A*).
The school is particularly proud that pupil premium students have outperformed their non pupil premium counterparts in terms of the progress they have made in English and Maths since primary school. This is particularly important to the school and fits with its mission to provide a world class education for
all its students. Staff are also really pleased as a performing arts school that some of the best results came from creative subjects including Art, Music and Dance.
Filsan Muhumed and Louie Anderson both achieved six 9s, three 8s and one 7. Louie said he was overwhelmed with the results. He attributes his
success to hard work and support he received from teachers.
Filsan will be taking Biology, Chemistry and Maths A level with a view to studying medicine at university. She says her success was a result of her hard work and the challenge from teachers. She said, “All teachers really pushed me right from the start of my time at Trinity in Year
7. There wasn’t a lesson in which I didn’t feel challenged. When I didn’t understand something, the teachers took the time to explain it really clearly.”
Both Louie and Filsan will be studying A levels at Trinity Academy’s new Sixth Form.
Headteacher, Eiron Bailey said, “I am absolutely delighted with our first set of GCSE results. They are testament to the hard work of our wonderful students and staff. It is particularly challenging for new schools to achieve strong GCSE results in their first year and Trinity has risen to the challenge.”
Neil Blundell, CEO of Cathedral Schools Trust, said “We are delighted that Trinity Academy has produced such a stunning set of results making such a positive contribution to education across Bristol. Staff and students have worked incredibly hard over more than five years realising an ambitious educational vision for the local community and for Bristol.”
Record results at BGS
BRISTOL Grammar School students achieved the highest GCSE results in the school's history.
A third of exams taken were awarded the top grade of 9, and more than half of results (55%) were 8 or 9.
Six pupils achieved a clean sweep of grade 9 grades (with five of those taking 11 GCSEs) and 88 pupils secured eight or more grades of 7 or above.
Head of BGS Jaideep Barot said: “I’m delighted at incredible success, both at top end, and for those who have done better than they may have thought possible across the grading range. I have immense pride in all of these pupils, who together are a hard-working, kind and wonderful year group"
BADMINTON
A-level students at Badminton had smuch to celebrate with over 60% achieving A/A* in three subjects, enabling over 80% to secure their first-choice university.
The school are proud of many outstanding achievements; Tammy secured 4 A* and will study Medicine at King’s College London. Sally, who achieved 3 A*, will study Physics at Imperial College. Ruth also achieved 4 A* and will go to the University of Warwick to study Mathematics. Angharad has a won a place at Oxford to read Geography and Alice has secured her place at Cambridge to read Law. Alice also gained full marks in Paper 1 and only dropped two marks in Paper 2 of her A Level English.
Students from the Class of 2024 at Badminton will be off to study a huge range of exciting courses both in the UK and overseas, ranging from Veterinary Science, Medicine and Actuarial Science to Urban Planning, Music and Cyber Security.
Results day is also a chance to reflect on what students achieved beyond the classroom. Head Girl, Yijing, who is off to Warwick to study Law, made an outstanding contribution to the musical life of the school and was a keen participant in many local music festivals.
Headteacher Jessica Mile said: “This year’s cohort are the first I’ve really got to know since taking over as Head at Badminton 15 months ago. They are an impressive group who have contributed to the wider school community whilst succeeding academically. I look forward to seeing where their journey takes them as they have already shown they have the motivation and ability to succeed."
Opportunity follows
Sixth Form Open Evening
Friday 11th October
badmintonschool.co.uk
Main School - 25 September 2024 - 6.00pm to 8.00pm Redland Green P16 - 3 October 2024 - 4.30pm - 6.30pm Cotham P16 - 10 October 2024 - 4.30pm - 6.30pm
Redmaids' High hits the heights
YEAR 11 students at Redmaids’ High School had much to celebrate after receiving strong GCSE results.
The school is delighted that 53 per cent of grades are 9 or 8, the equivalent of A* under the previous grading system, and 73 per cent are 9-7, the equivalent of A*-A, compared with the national average of 22 per cent.
The school enjoyed success across several departments, including in Art, PE and Russian where more than half of grades were at a 9.
The results across all areas are a continued testament to the support and guidance offered by staff and the expert pastoral care that allows students to navigate their school life successfully and feel ready to move to their next chapter.
The school’s head Paul Dwyer said: “We have seen some fantastic results, and this is a wonderful reflection of the hard work of our students who have made the most of the opportunities available to them at our school.
“We are delighted to continue to support them as they enter the Sixth Form with us and pursue a diverse range of A Level subjects, including Physics, Computer Science, Modern Foreign Languages and Fine Art, as well as our new exciting programme of Electives. "
for more information or ring 0117 942 4328 Thursday 19th October 5.45 - 8pm
Fairfield students take centre stage
STUDENTS at Fairfield High School celebrated a strong set of GCSE results in 2024, reflecting the resilience, aspiration, talent and sheer hard work of the 216- strong year group.
The school believes that identifying and having conversations with students as individuals and not ‘numbers’, together with the careful planning and implementation of a broad and diverse curriculum, has been the secret to its success.
Many students achieved grades 8 and 9, including one who earned seven grade 9s.
Another achieved one of the highest Health and Social Care
GCSE grades in the country. Principal Edel Cronin said: “We focus on developing strong relationships with our students, encouraging them to aim high and believe in themselves. It is days like results day when we
have a warmth and sense of achievement knowing we have collectively been a part of this journey.”
All subjects saw great results in Fairfield. Some highlights include Languages, PE and
Health and Social Care. Drama results have seen an upward trajectory, demonstrating students’ commitment to arts, also reflected in an impressive 140 students taking part in the latest annual school production.
I have been so impressed with the transition into Year 7. My child is speaking incredibly positively about the teachers and is motivated to learn.”
Montpelier High celebrates successes
MONTPELIER High School has continued its record of academic excellence with an exceptional set of GCSE results.
An outstanding 85 per cent of students achieved at least a grade 4 in English and Maths, with two thirds (66 per cent) gaining a grade 5 or above.
The school in Cheltenham Road has achieved strong academic outcomes every year, with the 2024 results above those from 2019, the last year before the pandemic.
Headteacher Vanetta (Ben) Spence, who took up her post last year, congratulated this year’s students on their success. They are well set for the next steps towards their future goals, with a large proportion opting to remain at MHS in its inclusive and welcoming co-educational sixth form, V6.
She said: “This has been a wonderful first year of headship at Montpelier High School, and I am incredibly proud of our Year 11 students. They have
been a pleasure to work with, consistently demonstrating resilience and dedication throughout the year.
“Their hard work has clearly paid off, as reflected in their outstanding GCSE results. These achievements provide them with a strong foundation as they move forward into the next stage of their educational journey. I am confident that they will continue to excel and wish them every success in the future.”
MHS saw some outstanding individual performances.
Lila Knight, who lives in Gloucester Road, is a young carer. She achieved one 9, three 8s, three 7s, a 6 and a 5.
She said: “I have three younger siblings, two who are severely disabled, so it’s been really tough this year but I worked really hard and am so pleased with my results."
Astrid Amponsah, from Sea Mills, notched up five 9s, four
8s and a 6. Astrid was a prefect and was a big part of the school community. She will study Biology, Maths, Further Maths and Chemistry.
Rhianna Aderogba, from St Andrews, achieved ten grade 9s and plans to stay on at V6 to do Chemistry, Maths, Further Maths and Biology
She said: “I’m so excited to be staying at V6 so that I can continue to receive the support of all my teachers."
- Please visit www.montpschool.org for more information or ring 0117 942 4328
- Please visit www.montpschool.org for more information or ring 0117 942 4328
Please
REQUIRED - Please visit www.montpschool.org for more information or ring 0117 942 4328
or ring 0117 942 4328
or ring 0117 942 4328
or ring 0117 942 4328
or ring 0117 942 4328
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications. Thursday 26th September 6.30pm – 8.30pm
NO BOOKING REQUIRED - Please visit www.montpschool.org for more information or ring 0117 942 4328
7 NO BOOKING REQUIRED - Please visit www.montpschool.org for more information or ring 0117 942 4328
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Please contact mhs-info@montpschool.org for more information on Year 7 applications.
Lila Knight and mum Stephanie Astrid Amponsah
Rhianna Aderogba and Ben Spence
Leading co-educational day and boarding school for 3-18 year olds, nestled in the heart of Bristol.
Clifton College offers pupils a unique opportunity to excel in their chosen field through our Scholarship programme. Available for 11+, 13+ and 16+.
Clifton College sees strong outcomes
AT Clifton College, 21 per cent of GCSE grades were 9s and 54 per cent were 9-7, with 31 different subjects offered.
Head of College, Dr Tim Greene, said: “I would like to congratulate all our pupils on securing such an excellent set of results. We have seen that the hard work of the pupils and the support of their teachers have really paid off. ”
Deputy Head Academic,
Dr Gavin Turner, said: “Our Year 11 cohort have posted an excellent set of GCSE results and I congratulate them on their achievements. This follows last week’s pleasing A level and BTEC results and paves the way for a very strong showing in two years' time when this cohort is at the top of the school. There are some excellent individual successes and I commend them for their hard work across the two years.
Can you help pupil veg gardeners?
FAIRFIELD High School is seeking support with plans to grow food on a balcony.
The Ecoteam has grown lettuce there this year, using planters made from upcycled pallets
The students now have ambitious plans to fully utilise the large balcony space with a variety of produce, installing a plastic bottle greenhouse.
Bobby Walker, Ecoteam leader and Geography Teacher at Fairfield High School said: “A massive well done to this team
School to join trust
REDMAIDS’ High School is to join the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST) from 1 February 2025.
Andrew Hillman, chair of governors, said:“Becoming part of the GDST family of like-minded and successful schools will be of great benefit to Redmaids’ High School, now and into the future.”
Cheryl Giovannoni, chief executive of GDST, said: “We believe that Redmaids’ High School embodies the ethos and values we hold so dear in all GDST schools, and we very much look forward to welcoming our new colleagues, students, parents and alumnae to the GDST family."
HENLEAZE INFANT
HENLEAZE INFANT SCHOOL
Park Grove, Henleaze, Bristol Reception 2025 TOURS 0117 3772442 / Henleaze.i@bristol
Park Grove, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4LG 0117 3772442 / Henleaze.i@bristol-schools.uk
Reception 2025 TOURS
At Henleaze Infant School we are invested in our children and our families and we want to meet you!
At Henleaze Infant School we are invested in our children and our families and we want to meet you!
To book onto one of our tours, please contact the school office. We are delighted to welcome you on one of the below dates:
To book onto one of our tours, please contact the school office. We are delighted to welcome you on one of the below dates:
of students who have creatively turned this otherwise derelict space into a mini allotment which has flourished over the summer.
To
• Thursday 12th December 1:15pm
For information on primary admissions, please visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/primary-admissions
• Wednesday 8th January 1:15pm
HENLEAZE INFANT SCHOOL
“We have no budget so rely on donations and shared resources with the school polytunnel project, so if anyone can help with planters, agricultural fabric to upcycle pallets, compost, seeds/seedlings or tools, we would love to hear from you.”
Any donation help, please email rwalker@fairfield. excalibur.org.uk
To book onto one of our tours, please contact the school office. We are delighted to welcome you on one of the below dates:
• Friday 27th September 11:00am
• Thursday 17th October 9:30am
For information on primary admissions, please visit: www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/primary-admissions
New analysis unearths the benefits of buying a local, organic veg box
The Community Farm, based just south of Bristol, looked at the impact of buying four of their all-British veg boxes and found a multitude of benefits.
Firstly, they found that they contained 26 different vegetables, encouraging people to cook with a huge variety of produce. Recent scientific research suggests that eating a variety of plants is key to better overall health: greater resilience to withstand infections, better digestion and better brain function. The latest health advice is to eat 30 different plants a week, including seeds, nuts, grains and spices, alongside fruit & veg. Getting a veg box is a great way to get more diversity in your diet. They also found that more than 75 local people benefited from growing the crops, including volunteers, refugees and asylum seekers, and people suffering with mental ill health. It wasn’t just people who benefited either with on average 30% more biodiversity on organic farms. With farmland
making up 70% of land in the UK and 1 in 10 of Britain’s wildlife species facing extinction, this really does matter.
To celebrate these findings, The Community Farm are offering new customers 10% off their orders for a whole year, when they buy four veg boxes in four weeks. They want more people to reignite their love of cooking and unearth the benefits of organic produce. Find out more at thecommunityfarm. co.uk
n NEWS
£2.5m for kitchens upgrade
CHILDREN in two primary schools stand to benefit from better quality and a wider variety of food after a major upgrade to their kitchens. The current kitchens are too cramped and unsafe to provide enough healthy food, leading to complaints.
Chefs in Ashley Down Primary School and Sefton Park Primary School, both in Ashley Down, could also see their working conditions improved. Council bosses said there were serious safety risks in the kitchens, due to their tiny size.
The new kitchens will cost Bristol City Council £2.5 million, money which was saved from other capital projects running under budget. Councillors on the children and young people policy committee approved the funding on August 29.
James Anderson, head of major projects, said: “Both the schools have very small kitchens which are, frankly, Victorian in their nature. Their operation is a health and safety risk. Our estates team has flagged these
schools as an urgent health and safety priority.”
The kitchens are “far too small” to produce meals onsite, and the lack of space restricts the variety and quality of food served to children, according to a committee report. Upgrading the kitchens will provide more space, improve the quality of the food and reduce staff accidents.
The council is only responsible for the kitchens, and wider buildings, of maintained schools, and not academies. This is one reason the money is being spent on schools in a more affluent part of Bristol. Another factor is requirements to feed children aged five to seven.
Green Councillor Christine Townsend, chair of the children’s committee, said: “The government has brought in universal free school meals for key stage one children. That basically means that more food is needed to be prepared and served, and that has had an impact on every school.”
By Alex Seabrook, LDRS
n VINEYARD NEWS with INGRID BATES Keeping wasps and other wildlife at bay
THE weather is changing, the growing season is drawing to a close and harvest time is fast approaching. In the vineyard there aren’t a huge amount of jobs to do because the grass and the vines have stopped growing. The grapes are slowly ripening and we’re starting to work out when we will pick them. As the sugar levels start rising, the grapes they suddenly become interesting to birds and other wildlife. We’ve protected the red grapes by putting up netting which also seems to help deter the hungry wasps that have suddenly appeared. Thankfully the birds don’t show as much interest in the white grapes so we don’t have to spend time covering the whole vineyard.
In a couple of weeks there will be a flurry of activity as we pick the grapes and then it’ll all be over for another year!
hello@dunleavyvineyards.co.uk
www.dunleavyvineyards.co.uk
@DYvineyards (X/Twitter)
dunleavy vineyards (Facebook & Instagram)
n NATURE WATCH with Dawn Lawrence
The ram’s horn gall is caused by the wasp Andricus aries. The old galls can stay on the oak tree for several years and the fresh gall frequently harbours the Andricus larvae plus parasitoids and inquilines.
All photos: Rupert Higgins
Common spangle galls (left) are caused by the larvae of the wasp Neuroterus quercusbaccarum which has a complicated life cycle. In brief, the larvae mature inside these galls on the fallen leaves over winter and the first generation of adults emerges in spring to lay eggs in the new oak buds that cause a second type of gall to grow (a currant gall). A second generation then emerges, mates and lays eggs on the leaves causing these spangle galls to develop later in the summer and completing the life cycle. Silk button spangle galls (right) are caused by the larvae of a different Neuroterus wasp, N. numismalis. This species has a similar alternation of generations over the course of a year also producing two types of gall on the oak.
The striking robin’s pincushions are also caused by a gall wasp - Diplolepis rosae. Its life cycle is simple compared to the Neuroterus species but males are very rare in this species and most females lay fertile eggs without mating. The pincushion is internally divided into many chambers, each containing a larva and in Germany this gall is said to aid sleep if placed under your pillow.
Gruesome Greek tragedies of gall gnats
LAST month I promised you more about gall gnats – I don’t know how you’ve waited! You may have seen oak apples on oak trees and robin’s pincushions (see photo) on wild roses and not be surprised to learn that they are nothing to do with actual apples, robins or indeed pincushions. Rather, they are galls - the abnormal growth of plant tissues induced by another organism. Both those galls (one looking like a tiny apple, the other like a fuzzy red ball) are caused by wasps, tiny species not at all like the well-known stripey pirates of the picnic. Gall gnats are, as we saw last month, one of the most numerous insect groups in the world and there is no shortage of them in our area. But it is not just gnats and wasps that create galls; mites, flies, aphids, sawflies
and fungi are some of the many organisms that cause plants to form galls. The benefit to the galler (the organism that causes the gall) is that the overgrowth of the host plant’s tissue forms not only a home, hidden from predators and protected from the weather, but also an easy supply of food. There is apparently no benefit to the host (although galls rarely cause the plant a significant problem) and so these gall-forming creatures are parasites.
Gall gnats have varied life histories, some of which recall those gruesome Greek myths – yes, I’m afraid there are gall gnats whose larvae eat their own mothers (this is not unknown in other insect groups too). Another strange feature is that several species can reproduce as
larvae, never reaching the adult stage and dispensing altogether with all that awkward mating malarkey – they just go ahead and lay eggs whilst they’re still babies (again, this is known in several insect groups). There are many galls to look out for locally. Check the street limes for the bright pimples caused by a mite – they look like the pointy end of red nails protruding out of the leaves. Knopper galls, caused by yet another wasp, are acorns deformed into strange ridged and fluted shapes whilst many gallers cause plant leaves to fold over, curl up or twist around. Galls can appear as fluffy balls, rosettes, discoloured patches, thorns and swollen buds – once you start looking you will spot them everywhere!
Most extraordinary of all is that inside a gall there may be more than just the original galler. Indeed, what hatches from the gall may not be the gallers at all – they may have been completely parasitised by another species – there are several wasps that specialise in laying their eggs inside the larvae inside a gall. These are called parasitoids because they destroy their host (true parasites do not). There may also be inquilines –unwanted lodgers - often flies, that have simply moved in, taking advantage without paying their way at all. A single gall can contain dozens of individuals of several species – all this life inside an oak apple!
At 7pm on Wednesday 16th October Friends of Bishopston Library are pleased to be launching a new event, a book club with a difference, called Stories That Inspire. Collaborating with local writer, Debs Penrice, this discussion group will cover why stories matter so much to us and how they hold a familiar pattern to inspire, entertain or educate the readers. If you love the idea of writing more, yet don’t know where to start, Debs will share practical tools and ideas for writing, showing how our creativity helps support positive thinking and wellbeing.
If you’ve had ideas about writing a book yourself and have a few stories of your own to share, why not come along to explore your favourite stories and share one
Author Debs Penrice
of your favourite books with the group. Costing only £3 + booking fee, including refreshments, tickets are now on Eventbrite (see QR code). Limited places available.
As Margaret Attwood is quoted as saying, “In the end, we all become stories,” so if you’ve reached an age where your stories are a huge part of your identity,
Army of India Medal 17991826 and Army of the Sutlej medal, Moodkee 1845 Sold for £2,600
writing.”
If there are people joining the group who would like to meet up to discuss their writing, this event will continue into the autumnwinter season, meeting once a month at the library. For more info about Debs, visit https://www. storyhealing.net
you might be intrigued to learn how much they would inspire others too. Sharing our stories is part of the legacy we leave and a gift for the younger generations. One author who is working with Debs on his second book has said, “Working together is the difference between thinking about writing and actually
Another date for your diary: David Ebsworth writes historical crime fiction, with all his novels based on meticulously researched episodes in history. On Thursday 5 December at 7.15, he will be inviting you to travel back in time to the years of the Second World War – as you’ve almost certainly never known them before. We’ll Always Have Paris! tells the “stranger than fiction” stories behind his 2022 novel, A Betrayal of Heroes. These include tales of Casablanca and Brazzaville, of the Spaniards who fought for Free France, of the 1940s celebrities and spies who fill the novel’s pages. Prepare to be amazed! We hope to see you at the library soon!
Andrew Nicholl R.H.A. (Irish, 18041886) - Watercolour - Colombo, Ceylon [Sri Lanka] Sold for £5,500
Clevedon Salerooms, The Auction Centre, Kenn Road, Kenn, Clevedon, Bristol, BS21 6TT
BOOK REVIEW
Thunderclap
LAURA Cumming is the art critic for The Observer. In her early twenties, she slips into the National Gallery in London, on her way to meet someone with whom she was having a doomed love affair. She is entranced by a painting called A View of Delft with a Musical Instrument Sellers Stall by the Dutch artist, Carel Fabritius. Thus began the author’s lifelong appreciation of the art of Fabritius and the painters of the Dutch Golden Age (1588-1672).
Thunderclap chronicles her love of Dutch art and is dedicated to both Fabritius and her father James Cumming , an accomplished Scottish artist who died in 1991. Fabritius died, age 32, in 1654 when he was killed during the Delft Thunderclap, the name given to an massive explosion, when 40 tonnes of gunpowder, stored for the defence of the city, in a cellar in a former convent, detonated killing over a hundred people. There are only a few surviving paintings by Fabritius, who was scarcely mentioned during his
by Laura Cumming
lifetime, yet his neighbour , the more famous Vermeer, owned three of his paintings.
The author provides us with a loving and detailed analysis of his art seen through her eyes. Her father applied to the Edinburgh College of Art but was prevented from starting his course by the start of the Second World War. He trained as a pilot and towed gliders, ferrying troops into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden. After the war, he won a travelling art scholarship, found a remote croft on the Isle of Lewis and taught art in the village school. After returning home to Fife, he worked all day at art college, slept for a few hours, then painted during the small hours. He painted the people he met during his stay on Lewis, translating into paint the character of the islanders, living and working in a desolate and wind exposed landscape, surrounded by white sands, pipelines, boats, lochs and inlets.
As well as describing the works
of Rembrandt and Vermeer, the author introduces us to lesser known artists such as Hendrick Avercamp, Pieter De Hooch, Jacob Van Ruisdael, Jan Van Goyen and Gerard Ter Borch. Their art is made meaningful by her insightful analysis and her loving observant eye. We discover that art was everywhere in the Dutch Republic with over a million paintings produced by over seven hundred painters across the middle decades of the seventeenth century. People of all incomes brought art at lotteries, studios and auctions.
This is a beautifully illustrated memoir, of a life in art and the author’s love for her father and the artists of the Dutch Golden Age.
You can find this book and many others at Bishopston Library. Come and visit us at 100 Gloucester Road and walk out with a library card giving you free access to over two million books. Review by Bob Deacon of Bishopston Library
Bishopston Library opening Hours:
Monday (1pm-7pm)
Tuesday ( closed)
Wednesday (11am-5pm)
Thursday (11am-5pm)
Friday (11am-5pm)
Saturday (11am-5pm)
Sunday (closed)
n WHAT'S ON IN OUR AREA
Saturday October 12
n BRISTOL BACH CHOIR'S AUTUMN CONCERT, All Saints, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3ED - 7:30pm. A concert celebrating the music of Ralph Vaughan Williams on his birthday. He is one of the most loved and influential British Composers. Conductor: David Bednall; Organ: Nigel Nash. Tickets: £21 (reserved), £15 (unreserved - £12 if bought in advance). Students and under 18s, £1. Phone: Bristol Bach Choir Box Office 0117 214 0721 or from our website www.bristolbach. org.uk
REGULAR EVENTS
Monday
n SHARED READING AT ST PAUL’S LIBRARY. Meet and connect with others Mondays 2pm – 3.30pm. St Paul’s Learning Centre, 94 Grosvenor Road, Bristol BS2 8XJ. Email: support@thereader.org.uk
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 BRISTOL GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR rehearses at Westbury-onTrym Methodist Church (BS9 3AA) 2-4pm (term time only). We are a fun and friendly, non-audition, community choir for both male and female voices - one of 32 Good Afternoon Choirs who ‘sing in the afternoon’ around the South West and further afield. New members are always welcome and, whether you come alone or with a friend, we will be very pleased to meet you! For further details please visit our website – www. goodafternoonchoir.org – or contact us on 01761 472468 or via e-mail at gac@grenvillemusic.co.uk
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
Monday and Tuesday
n PILATES classes at the Northcote Scout Hall: Mondays 9.30am (Improvers), 10.30am (Mixed ability); Tuesdays 9.30am (Improvers), 10.30am (Beginners). £8.50 per class booked as a course, or £12 single sessions. Small classes, that must be booked in advance. Full details at www. mindbodypilates.org. Contact: Leanne 07817189474 / leanne@ mindbodypilates.org
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
n BRISTOL A CAPPELLA: Tuesdays 7.30pm, Victoria Methodist Church. Bristol A Cappella is an award-winning mixed barbershop chorus of around 30 members who love to sing close harmony a cappella. Our songs are mainly from pop music, with a bit of rock and some musicals. www.bristolacappella. co.uk/ Contact: membership@ bristolacappella.co.uk
Tuesday and Saturday
n BRISTOL HF RAMBLING CLUB
We are a friendly sociable club with a variety of walks. We have 2 Tuesday walks of either 8-9 miles or 5-6 miles. On Saturdays we have varying length walks including a hill walk eg Brecon Beacons once a month. If you would like more information please visit our website.
Wednesday
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 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 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 SWIFTS INCLUSIVE SPORTS
swimming sessions are for adults 18+ with any disability (hoist available) on Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm. £5 per session at Henbury Leisure Centre. Contact Karen Lloyd at 07734 335 878.
n HEALING SESSIONS Spiritual Healing is available from 2pm to 3.30pm by the accredited healing team at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up or or visit www. westburyparksc.org
n OPEN DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE
For those interested in developing their spiritual awareness and mediumistic ability. 7.15 for 7.30 start at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up or or visit www. westburyparksc.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
n HENBURY SINGERS
WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS at Stoke Bishop Primary School, Cedar Park BS9 1BW, 7.30 – 9.15, a warm welcome awaits you at Henbury Singers. We perform sacred and secular music under our conductor Andrew Kirk. No auditions. www. henburysingers.org Contact the secretary at secretary@ henburysingers.org
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 HENLEAZE LADIES’ CHOIR 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 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
aLooking for a new hobby? Join us for fun, fitness and friendship (singles welcome). First evening free! Thursdays: New/Inexperienced dancers 7–8.30pm (£4). Intermediate/Advanced dancers 7.30–10pm (£6). St Monica Trust, Oatley House Main Hall, BS9 3TN. www.rscdsbristol.info. Contact Ruth 01179683057.
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
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 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
Friday
n BRISTOL SPANISH CIRCLE
Come and meet a group of friendly people and enjoy talks in Spanish, musical events and social evenings. We meet every month from September to June, usually on the last Friday of the month, at St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze. For more info, see https://www. spanishcirclebristol.com/
n NEWS
Charity shop in line for award
STAFF at the St Peter’s Hospice charity shop on North View, Westbury Park, are waiting for the results of a national award contest.
The shop was recently shortlisted for The UK’s Favourite Charity Shop Award. Nearly 6,500 charity shops were nominated across the UK, so they are hugely honoured to have been one of those shortlisted for the South West region.
Comments made during the nomination stage, which led to the shop being selected for the shortlist, included: “There are always such wonderful window displays which make me come in and spend! I’ve got some great bargains for a great cause.” “Always looks amazing, and everyone who volunteers there is so friendly.” “An eye-catching window display entices you in and friendly staff are always available to help. The shop is well organised and creatively arranged to make it unique. I will pop in for a browse whenever I can.”
Members of the public were then asked to vote for their favourite charity shop from the shortlist of six shops in each region, with 12 regional winning shops and one overall UK winner announced at a special event in November.
Fireworks back with a bang
THE annual Bristol Fireworks Fiesta will return to Canford Park, Westbury-on-Trym on Saturday November 2.
Organised by Bristol Round Table and the Rotary Club of Clifton, tickets are on sale now as advance purchase only from the website (www.bristolfireworksfiesta.co.uk). As in previous years, proceeds will go to support local charities and other good causes in the area. New for this year, Party Peeps, will be around to keep the crowds entertained in the run-up to the display and will host a ‘Foam Party’ to end the night once the pyrotechnics are over.
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Olympics showed us that Covid remains a threat
IT is time to come into Kellaway Pharmacy for your Autumn Covid booster and annual flu vaccinations. Walk-in appointments are available, but you can book by calling 119 or using the NHS website. We will offer you the opportunity to have both together, which is recommended and safe, or you can pick separate dates and times. We will offer our quick, organised service and extended weekend clinics you can attend. Early vaccination means you start building an immune response that protects you.
Who can get these vaccinations?
Covid vaccine doses will be offered to:
• adults aged 65 years and over
• people with health conditions which put them at higher risk
• Care home staff
• Frontline health and social care workers
• People with long-term conditions: heart disease, diabetes, breathing problems, asthma
• People who are immunocompromised
• People who are pregnant
• People in long-stay residential care/hospice
• Cares for older or disabled persons
Why should I get these recommended jabs?
It is now well-proven that the flu and Covid vaccinations are safe and work. However, their protection will wane over time, so a top-up vaccination is needed for continued protection and against new emerging variants.
As we saw during the summer Olympics, even elite athletes can contract Covid-19.
Surely flu and Covid are now mild, just like the common cold?
Flu remains an infection that kills people every year. While we have all lived through the pandemic years, the respiratory distress caused by Covid remains severe and life-threatening. Cases of both pick up over the winter months, hence why the NHS offer of vaccination protection is so important.
What will I be given?
You will receive the NHS-recommended Flu and COVID vaccinations based on previously used vaccines in the programme. They are reengineered yearly for optimum protection.
But I have never caught flu or Covid before...
Many people may not recognise the symptoms they are experiencing as being caused by the infections or may even have no symptoms. Remember that you will still pass the symptoms on, even if you have no symptoms, putting others at risk.
Kellaway Pharmacy remains determined to protect everyone in our community. We know people want a timely, accessible vaccination experience. To make our clinics more accessible, we also offer extended opening hours over the weekends that you can attend. Feel free to call us on 0117 9246579 if you have any further questions.
Will Writing
Meet with a local professional and receive full guidance and support.
Family & Property Trusts
Ensure your loved ones receive the maximum benefit by protecting your estate with trusts.
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Probate Services
Our specialists help make a difficult time as stress-free and straightforward as possible. Give someone the power to make decisions on your behalf, no matter what happens.
n PROPERTY OF THE MONTH
Internally, the entrance hall opens to the right into the first of two receptionsbeautifully ornate cornice and ceiling rose add to the period feel here. Next up is a 2nd reception which has french doors opening into the rear garden. The rear of the property has a generous kitchen dining room - at the rear made up of a glazed extension. This is flooded with natural light and connects well to the generous rear gardens. Upstairs the first floor is well laid out providing three double bedrooms, a single bedroom / office and a family bathroom. The bright landing also has stairs rising to a loft space that has been used as two bedrooms.
SPORT
Peter takes the helm
PETER Matthews has been been appointed chair of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.
Peter is a life member and has supported the club for more than 50 years. He has had a successful career in business.
He said: "I look forward to meeting many Members and supporters in the weeks and months to come and am excited for what the future holds.
“My short-term priorities are threefold. Firstly, to build relationships with all the different stakeholders involved in the club but particularly the Members who I now represent. Secondly, to work with the board and the executive team to continue to restore the financial health of the club and thirdly, to work with all parties on a four-year plan for the Club.
Kerry Lock, who recently retired as Director of Finance and Operations at Aardman, has also joined the board. A current playing member of the MCC alongside Gloucestershire Over 50s, Kerry is also the Honorary Treasurer of the SS Great Britain Trust.
The appointments of Peter and Kerry to their positions mean Acting Chair, Steve Nelson, will step down from the Board after more than five years of service to Gloucestershire Cricket.
He said: ““I am forever a fan of Gloucestershire and look forward to watching the Club go from strength to strength in the coming months and years in all formats, men, and women’s cricket.”
International T20 tickets go on sale this month
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Cricket will host two major international matches in the 2025 season as Bristol is selected to host both Men’s and Women’s T20 games.
An England Men vs West Indies Men IT20 will take place at the Seat Unique Stadium on June 8, followed by England Women vs India Women IT20 on July 1.
Tickets to see Jos Buttler and Heather Knight's sides will be on sale from Thursday October 10.
Neil Priscott, Interim CEO at Gloucestershire Cricket, said: “We’re delighted the Seat Unique Stadium has been selected to host both England Men and England Women again in 2025. Bristol is a well-established home from
home for both of England’s white-ball sides and it’s vital that cricket fans in the West Country get the opportunity to see the very best international players in action.
“West Indies Men and India Women have a really strong and well followed fanbase and always play exciting cricket. It’s especially pleasing to be hosting these two fantastic fixtures in the height of summer and we can’t wait to welcome England supporters to the Seat Unique Stadium again next season.”
Gloucestershire has a proud history of hosting England Men and Women in Bristol and is set to host a sold out ODI between England Men and Australia Men on Sunday September 29.
