April 2013 Bishopstonvoice by Emma Cooper

FREE EVERY MONTH for people and businesses in Bishopston & Redland Photo: Simon Lee

April, 2013 Issue 4

What’s On

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk Cooking with L’Artisan, P21 | Shopping for a foodie feast, P25 Photo: Barbara Evripidou

Pub ‘hopeful’ for future without stadium P2

Club HQ to be venue for firm’s fifth cafe P5

Youngsters at the core of arts trail

See Page 9

Parking zone plan revealed by Mayor Full story – See P3

Concerts, talks and more

P18

Inside

Residents urged to join big push for foodbank P6 Judges serve up second award for takeaway P8 Idea that could be trump card for traders P11 A half-marathon a day help Jeff raise funds P15

Plus... On the Beat p10 Bishopston Mum... p13 Letters... p14

Nostalgia.. Puzzles... Property... Classifieds

p23 p24 p27 p31

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

News Bishopston Voice contacts Emma Cooper Publisher

Joni Mann Editor

0117 908 2121/ 07715 770448 emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

07887 561567 news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Rebecca Day News editor

Reporters

07912 484405 news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Lauren Winney Natasha Russell Safia Yallaoui

Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ Bishopstonvoice

Your views Letters for publication can be sent to us by email at news@bishopston voice or by post to Letters, Bishopstonvoice, 16 Chandag Road, Keynsham, BS31 1NR. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter.

May deadline Our May edition will be going to print on April 22. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us by Thursday, April 18. Advertisers are also asked to contact us by the same date.

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 Direct 0845 46 47

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 8,250 copies will be distributed around Bishopston and Redland.

Pub ‘hopeful’ about future without club by Rebecca Day A local pub manager remains positive after Bristol Rovers Football Club received the final go-ahead to build their new stadium. The Wellington has been a popular pub over the years on match days for Bristol Rovers fans because of its close proximity to the Memorial Stadium. However, after the final approval was given for the development of a Sainsbury's supermarket, the club is now looking forward to moving into a new 20,000-seated stadium, which is to be built on the University of the West of England’s land in Stoke Gifford. Final approval was given by the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, on March 12 for Sainsbury's to redevelop the Bristol Rovers Memorial Stadium into a new supermarket. “Trade does dramatically increase on match days,” confirms James King, The Wellington's newly appointed manager. “It practically doubles. “However, the amount of people we attract on match days does deter quite a few people,” he added. James says that he is not overly concerned about the Bristol Rovers move. “We’re just trying to remain hopeful about the pub's future.” James has been managing the local pub for over five weeks, but has been working for Bath Ales for two and a half years.

He has high hopes for the pub and confirms that The Wellington will be undergoing a refurbishment after the summer. “I just want to create an astounding environment for our customers,” he says. The development of a new Sainsbury’s supermarket has caused mixed responses from local residents, with campaigns being set up to oppose the build. One of the major concerns raised was the potential impact it would have on local retailers. However, James believes that the new Sainsbury's could significantly increase the pub’s footfall. Bristol Rovers’ chairman Nick Higgs said: “The new car park which forms part of the Sainsbury’s development will allow improved access to the north end of Gloucester Road, which currently suffers with car parking issues. We hope this will help to regenerate what is already a very popular shopping street. “There will be a huge boost to the local economy, with thousands of construction jobs, and hundreds of full and part time jobs for local people.” Mr Higgs said the club was delighted that the Secretary of State approved Sainsbury’s planning application, and that no further scrutiny is required. “Since being at the stadium we have built up strong relationships with many local businesses and the local community - we hope these can continue when we move to the new stadium as it is only 1.5 miles away,” he said.

The Wellington pub is a popular pre-match venue for Rovers and Bristol Rugby fans

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

News

Mayor unveils parking plan Residents’ parking zones are set to be introduced in Bishopston, St Andrews, Ashley Down and Redland as part of plans unveiled that will see a large part of the city covered by the schemes. Bristol’s Mayor George Ferguson is proposing to set up schemes in 20 areas within the next 18 months. Residents-only zones are already in place in Kingsdown, Redcliffe and Cotham, where the council says the schemes have strong support from residents. Redland’s parking zone would be among the first to be introduced while Bishopston and Ashley Down would be the last areas under current plans. Mr Ferguson said: “There are clear local and transport benefits arising from residents’ parking schemes, and I am getting strong levels of demand from areas surrounding the city centre. The council helps local businesses to design sustainable travel plans for their staff, which leads to more people walking, cycling and using public transport.”

Councillors in Redland have already set up a petition calling for a residents’ parking zone since a scheme set up in Cotham at the end of last year began pushing commuters into Redland’s streets. Bishopston councillor Bev Knott said by speeding up the introduction of the schemes, it would help avoid this “domino effect” on parking. “I helped to set up the High Kingsdown scheme when I was in the Cabinet,” he said. “To start with there was strong opposition from a couple of hundred people but I was assured by local councillors that most people were in favour. When the scheme had been in place less than a year, opposition had all but melted away.” Consultation with residents is due to take place at a later stage. The first permit costs £30 a year, second £80, third £200. Residents can apply for up to 100 visitor permits a year; the first 50 are free, the second 50 £1 each. More information can be found at www.bristol.gov.uk/rps.

Residents to go to the polls Bishopston and Redland residents will be going to the polls on Thursday, May 2, to elect city councillors. The seats currently held by Councillor Bev Knott for Bishopston and Councillor Fi Hance for Redland are up for election this year. Candidates for each of the seats will be officially announced on April 9, while the deadline for residents to register to vote is on April 17. For information on how to register, go to www.bristol.gov. uk/page/council-and-democracy /register-vote or call Electoral Services on 0117 922 3400. Tell us your news and views at news@bishopstonvoice. co.uk, call 07887 561567 or write to Bishopstonvoice, 16 Chandag Road, Keynsham, BS31 1NR

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

News

Firm plans to open a fifth cafe at club HQ by Rebecca Day

A Boston Tea Party is set to move in on Gloucester Road this summer, bringing with it around 20 new jobs. The new café will be located on the Nevil Road junction, in the same building as the Horfield and Bishopston Unionist Club. The planning permission is currently pending, so an opening date is still yet to be confirmed. “We tend to look for buildings with bags of character,” explains Ben Hibbard, marketing manager at Boston Tea Party, “and this is a lovely site with some really nice touches to it. We think it will look fantastic once it’s completed. “Hopefully, together [with similar businesses], we can counter the current tendency of

locals heading down to the bottom of Gloucester Road for their caffeine fix.” Boston Tea Party prides itself on being an “ethically run, family friendly, award-winning West Country café chain”. “We feel our South West sourced, high quality food and drink will compliment existing businesses in the area perfectly,” says Mr Hibbard.

The café will also be providing space for local artists to play or display their work. Bernie McMahon, committee member at the club, confirmed that it will be leasing out the ground floor to Boston Tea Party, while the club moves upstairs. “All of our members are very happy about the café moving in,” says Mr McMahon. “We are all one hundred percent behind it.” Mr McMahon has lived in Bishopston for around 50 years and believes that it will be a “good marriage” between the café and the club. There are already four other Boston Tea Party cafés operating throughout Bristol, including Cheltenham Road, Clifton, Park Street and Whiteladies Road, as well as eight others in other parts of the country.

Events for all at festival week More events have been added to the programme for the week-long “My Neighbourhood” Community Festival next month. There will be activities for youngsters on May 8 at Cotham Gardens, a graffiti clean-up workshop on May 9, bowling, tango and yoga taster sessions, singing activities and a security post-coding and bike repair workshop. There will also be a special offers at a number of shops on Gloucester Road during the festival, which will also see Mayor George Ferguson attend a superforum for all residents on Saturday, May 11, at Horfield Baptist Church from 12.30-5pm. The week of activities, from May 4-11, has been arranged by Bishopston, Cotham and Redland Neighbourhood Partnership to raise awareness of the partnership’s work and the opportunities to get involved. More information is available from Nick Clark on 0117 330 6095.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

Tick season is here Tick season is here! As spring arrives, so do the parasites that have been dormant in the winter months. Now is the time to start thinking of preventative measures to reduce parasite burdens, particularly with respect to ticks and fleas. Ticks are blood-sucking parasites related to spiders. They live the majority of their life in vegetation, maturing through larval stages. When they need to feed they climb to the tops of grasses and attach to passing animals, such as deer, sheep or dogs and cats. The tick attaches to the host by its mouthparts which

are embedded into the skin, they remain on the animal for a few days while they become engorged and can swell up to the size of a small grape. This can cause local irritation and infection of the skin, especially if the tick is scratched off by the host. In addition it is possible for the tick to transfer disease such as Lyme disease to the host. This disease transfer occurs after the tick has been attached for more than 24 hours. Most ticks are found on the head and front legs of the host animal, especially around the ears. It is important to check your pet daily for ticks so that they can be removed within 24 hours of attachment. A tick looks like a small immobile growth or wart, if you look

closely you can often see legs waving close to the head of the tick at the level of the skin. Ticks must not be removed by simply pulling off as this leaves mouthparts embedded in the skin, which can lead to an abscess reaction. Instead, using a tick remover is a simple procedure and a tick hook is an important addition to your pet's first aid kit. If you are in doubt, come along to Animal Health Centre for us to demonstrate use of a tick hook. Our nurses do not charge for tick removal and will ensure you have a tick hook and the expertise for you to do it for yourself next time. In addition, we recommend using a tick preventative product on a regular basis to reduce the number of ticks that can establish a hold on your pet and to reduce the chance of any tick that does attach from spreading tick-borne disease. We have spot-on products available, please call in to see our latest offers on these, and there is also a collar available for both dogs and cats that treats both ticks and fleas for up to eight months so can cover the full season. And finally, travelling pets using the pet passport scheme are no longer required to have tick treatment on re-entry to the UK, however we very strongly recommend using a tick preventative while you are away. This will help prevent your own pet from exotic tick-borne disease and to stop establishment of exotic ticks in the UK, which could import foreign disease.

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

News

Join big push for foodbank Volunteers helping to feed those in need will be making a big push to raise funds this month. The Trussell Trust’s nationwide Trolley Push will arrive in north Bristol on April 9, where the team behind the North Bristol Foodbank will take the trolley from Horfield Baptist Church along Gloucester Road to Orchard School. Residents can get behind the charity’s drive by organising fundraising events, before and after April 9, with the opportunity to hand over any funds already raised during the trolley push. Youngsters are invited to present any cash raised by their schools when the trolley reaches Orchard School at 3pm. North Bristol Foodbank has provided food for over 400 clients in the last six months throughout the area, which

includes Horfield, Lockleaze, Filton, Patchway, Southmead and Bradley Stoke. The local initiative currently feeds between 30 and 40 clients each week. Stewart North, founder of the North Bristol Foodbank, told Bishopstonvoice: “This seems very wrong that our country should be in a situation like this. So we need to do something about it. “Food poverty can be an issue for people from all walks of life; we often find that many clients are from working families.” The organisation has plenty of fundraising ideas for those who want to get involved - visit http://northbristol.foodbank. org.uk/trolleypush. The North Bristol Trolley Push will begin at 1pm at Horfield Baptist Church and arrive at Orchard School at 3pm.

Nicky Bromhall, BVSc MRCVS

Animal Health Centre Gloucester Road’s Independent Veterinary Practice 358 Gloucester Road, Hor ield, Bristol, BS7 8TP 0117 9247832 www.animalhealthcentre.org

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Advertising feature

New range of frames makes quite a spectacle this spring Exciting new spectacle frames at Lynne Fernandes Optometrists this spring We’re really excited about our spring collections this year. Our new season’s Oakley, Ray Ban, Ted Baker, Hackett, Versace, Calvin Klein and Nike have just arrived. We received our individually chosen designs from Lindberg, William Morris, Charles Stone, Green, Ronit Furst and our own designs handmade in Europe: the fabulous “by Lynne Fernandes” collection. I’d like to focus on “by Lynne Fernandes” this month. We’re so pleased to have created this collection. They are everything we want in a frame: fabulous designs, the highest quality handmade acetates and great value. In fact we’re so proud of “by Lynne Fernandes” that instead of picking one frame we’re making the whole collection our “collection of the month” for April.

Optician Awards Finalists 2013 We are so proud to be finalists in the Opticians awards. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all our patients for your lovely testimonial comments – apparently this was one of the deciding factors. Lens Club news If you wear glasses, then we’re convinced once you hear about Lens Club, you’ll want to join. It’s free to join and if you’re a member you are entitled to free lenses or the equivalent value as a discount every time you buy spectacles. Pop in and ask any of our lovely staff for details.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

News

Chip shop scoops top award by Rebecca Day A local fish and chip shop has won its second award in a row for its high quality food and service. The Bishopston Fish Bar – located on Gloucester Road – was awarded the accolade at the beginning of the year by the National Federation of Fish Friers (NFFF). The shop also attained the same award in 2012. To qualify for the Fish and Chip Quality Award, Bishopston Fish Bar had to undergo a five hour inspection – the judge from the NFFF not only tried and tested the food, but audited the entire shop to ensure it met their health and safety requirements. The quality award badge assures customers that they are 'eating top quality fish and chips' produced in a first-class environment. Nick Lomvardos, pictured, who has owned the business for two and half years, says Bish-

opston Fish Bar prides itself on being a “traditional” fish and chip shop. Favourites include battered cod, pies, faggots, mushy peas and gravy, alongside a host of other dishes. Nick tells us that all the fish comes from Iceland –

the country, not the shop! “The colder the sea, the better," he advises. Chips are freshly made on the day, as well as the batter. “I don't use anything from the previous day,” explains Nick. “It's

about the quality of our food, rather than quantity – but we do like to give good portions to our customers!” Nick has worked in the fish and chip industry for almost 27 years. He initially started working for the Jolly Fryer - his father's shop on Filton Avenue; Nick says it is what he modelled the Bishopston Fish Bar on. Since taking over the business in 2010, he has introduced discounts for senior citizens, as well as students. Bishopston Fish Bar was also voted one of the South West's top five shops in the National Fish and Chip Awards 2012 - a prestigious competition that rewards outstanding businesses across the UK. For more information on Bishopston Fish Bar, visit www. bishopstonfishbar.co.uk. Find the shop at 264 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8PB.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Youth and education

Families find out more on reclaiming roads for play Families in Bishopston took the first steps towards temporarily turning their streets into a play space by attending workshops to find out how. Playing Out held the two sessions in March to give more information on applying to the council for temporary play street orders, where roads are closed to through traffic for a short period to allow children to play outside their homes. Ellie Freeman, from Playing Out, said there was a good response to the two events, adding: “We are really pleased to see there are several streets with interested and motivated residents wanting to get playing out sessions started. We’re looking forward to hearing how things progress. “We know there are also residents who didn’t get a chance to come along, so we hope they will get in touch. We are planning another workshop in May at the Bishopston, Cotham and Redland Neighbourhood Partnership

A Playing Out event, where a street has been closed to through traffic to allow children to play outside their homes for the day community festival and are also available to talk to residents individually or groups of neighbours, maybe over a cup of tea.” The workshops included a short film, discussions on parents’ and carers’ experiences of play as children and on improving relationships between neighbours in the streets, as well as details of how to apply for the traffic orders. Ellie said: “We think there

A fruitful day out for families on arts trail Large painted apples proved to be a big hit at an arts trail in north Bristol and Filton. The trail was part of the Stimulate Your Senses 2013 arts week, run by the With One Voice Partnership, a collaboration of four schools in the Horfield and Lockleaze areas. It was held at community venues involved displays of artwork and photography, along with the chance for families to try out different types of art themselves. At each of the nine locations, large painted apples designed by pupils at local schools were a feature and arts trail visitors were encouraged to have their photo taken with each apple. Among those taking part was Bristol North West MP Charlotte Leslie. The arts week continued with

exhibitions and a ‘try out an arts activity’ on Wednesday, followed by a performing arts showcase, both at Orchard School. Organiser Helen Howard said: “The arts trail really caught the imagination of families, with the apples proving to be a real attraction. We have enjoyed bringing arts into the communities of north Bristol and Filton and we know the families enjoyed taking part.” The With One Voice Partnership is a collaboration between Orchard School, Upper Horfield Community School, Filton Avenue Infant and Filton Avenue Junior schools.

are several people across the area who will get something happening on their street, even if it’s a small action like chatting to neighbours or playing on the pavement. Hopefully we’ll see several streets playing out soon but we are also keen to hear about how residents are feeling about the ‘neighbourliness’ of their street as we feel this is an important ingredient of getting playing out going.”

Playing Out is a not-for-profit organisation set up by two Bristol mums who, after organising street parties and other events, saw the potential for closing streets purely for play, holding their first playing out day in 2009. Ellie said: “Children get a chance to play on their doorstep, get to know neighbours of all ages and feel part of their local community. “They also get a chance to play outside in a free, unstructured, active way that is in a safe environment but does not require close supervision, equipment etc. They learn about sharing toys, being responsible for each other and making sure they respect neighbours’ property. All sorts of games and friendships have emerged from playing out, and we hope we will see many more.” To find out more about Playing Out visit http://playingout. net, email hello@playingout.net or call 0117 953 7167. Photos: Barbara Evripidou

Left, Rory Coulter from Filton. Below left, Charlotte Leslie MP with Upper Horfield Primary head Kathryn Wong and Filton Avenue Junior Head Rachael Thomas. Below right, an apple at Filton Avenue Infant School

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

News Hundreds back pool campaign Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling for women-only swimming sessions at Horfield Leisure Centre. The residents behind the campaign are asking that Bristol City Council and Sports and Leisure Management Ltd, which runs the centre, work together to provide a minimum of two hours’ swimming a week for women and children. In a statement with their petition, the campaigners say: “Many women, mothers and children across north Bristol are currently missing out on swimming due to the lack of a women-only session in the area.” The group held a protest at the leisure centre on Mother’s Day and the petition, registered on the city council’s online petition webpage, has attracted more than 300 signatures. Find out more about the campaign at www.facebook.com/ HorfieldWomenSwim.

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

On the Beat News from the local policing team with PCSO David Said Hello, it’s a real pleasure to write a column for Bishopstonvoice. We are always looking at ways to engage with the community we serve and local publications are a great way of doing this. Over the last week or so I have been reviewing all of the neighbourhood watches on the beat. Bishopston has a healthy number of neighbourhood watches. The Selborne Road neighbourhood watch, which is our most recent, now have their lamppost signs. It’s great to see this new watch up and running. If anybody is interested in joining a neighbourhood watch or setting up a new one, the local beat team can support you. Current crime trends on the beat show a steady fall in burglary offences so far this month. However, we are urg-

ing residents to register their valuables. Immobilise.com is an online service which helps police reunite owners with their prized possessions should they be stolen or lost. Items such as cameras, mobile phones, laptops and bicycles can all be registered. It’s easy, only takes a few minutes and is completely free. This work is part of an operation by the neighbourhood police team to reduce burglaries in the area. There has unfortunately been a rise in theft from motor vehicles so can I urge all readers to ensure nothing valuable is left on show when leaving vehicles. Flyposting and graffiti continue to be a problem in the local area. There has been a spate of tagging, mostly in blue spray paint, just off Ashley

Down Road and Muller Avenue. A 20-year-old male was caught and fined £75 for flyposting close to the Arches Cheltenham Road by the beat team recently. Don’t forget the next Bishopston Forum. The forums give you the opportunity to influence what happens in your neighbourhood. It is a mechanism whereby neighbourhood issues, identified through the meeting, are heard by the partnership panel including members of the neighbourhood policing team, with courses of action agreed. The next forum is on May 14 at 7pm at the Memorial Stadium, Filton Avenue, Bristol BS7 OBF. On behalf of everyone on the Clifton and Cotham neighbourhood police team we hope you have a safe and crime-free April.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

News

Gift scheme could be street’s trump card by Lauren Winney

A new, local gift card business is set to be launched this summer in order to support independent and local traders on Gloucester Road. Set up by two Horfield residents, Imogen McIntosh and Anne-Louise Perez, Your Street Gift Card aims to keep local businesses up and running, increase spending and encourage repeat visits to the area. The gift card is to be launched in June. “Gift cards are popular in any big shops,” says Imogen. “You can get them to spend in places such as Cribbs Causeway, but there just isn't a gift card that you could use in independent shops.” Anne-Louise and Imogen's business slogan – “give the gift

of choice – support local”- highlights the duo's passion for supporting local retailers in the area. “We already have ten retailers signed up to be part of the Gift Card scheme,” explains Imogen. “Our main focus is to recruit more shops, and to aim for a big variety. You could spend it in a coffee shop, for a haircut or clothing.” Residents have also warmed to the idea. “I love all of the vintage shops on Gloucester Road,” says Becca Painter, 21. “I always shop along here, so if someone gave me a gift card to spend down this road, I would be very happy.” With the two business partners in the process of building up the scheme, the launch in June is set to be “high-profile”.

“We aim to have most of the festivities happening on Gloucester Road for lots of families and all ages to come out and join us," says Imogen. “We want people to be aware that we are trying to show them that this is their street and their future; we should all support it.” The gift card will be available to purchase online via yourstreet giftcard.com, which will be live in June. The card can be bought either as a gift or for personal use. The card can then be activated with the special pin provided. If you have a business on Gloucester Road and want to get involved in the scheme call Anne-Louise on 07877 994290 or Imogen on 07870 645605 or email contactus@yourstreetgift card.com.

Councillors call for alley to be lit Bishopston’s councillors are calling for lighting for an alleyway which residents say they are wary of using after dark. The footpath, between Longmead Avenue and Radnor Road, is well used in the day but is completely unlit at night. A survey by councillors Bev Knott and David Willingham revealed that the majority of people wanted action taken. Mr Knott said that the city council had so far rejected the call on cost grounds, but the councillors were urging the authority to consider at least moving one existing street light to shine into the alley.

Snow wardens Residents are invited to a snow warden training and recruitment session at City Hall, College Green, on April 4 at 6.30pm. Call 01179 223233 to book a place.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

News

Bishopston Mum Welcome to the April column of Bishopston Mum! Something very exciting is happening in Bishopston this month. A fellow mum and friend of mine, Ingrid Bates, owns a vineyard and this month launches her very own wine! It will be called Dunleavy Vineyards Pinot Noir Rose and will be available to buy from Grape & Grind on Gloucester Road from around the middle of April. I am so excited for Ingrid, she has put many hours of sheer hard work into her vineyard. It will also be good for Bishopston to have a wine produced by a Bishopston resident. I look forward to tasting it! I would like to promote a local cafe this month in Bishopston Voice. Fresh Ground Cafe is a cafe with a difference, operating from within Horfield Baptist Church and is open every weekday from

Being a lover of cake I have, of course, sampled the cafe’s cakes on many an occasion 10am – 2pm. The food available is home-made and very reasonably priced and there is also a children's menu which includes a children's platter which is always a hit with my kids. I must also recommend the Fresh Ground Cafe soups; this week I sampled the spiced sweet potato and coconut soup which was delicious. In fact it was so delicious that I returned the following day just to enjoy it once more! Being a lover of cake I have, of course, sampled the cafe's cakes on many an occasion and I can vouch for their deliciousness, too. There are toys at Fresh Ground Cafe that help to occupy children and thus help parents to finish cups of tea and coffee; always a bonus

when you share your life with young children. Lastly, I wanted to write about Piglets Carers and Toddler Group which is held at St Michael's Church on Gloucester Road. Piglets runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9.45-11.15am. I have been taking my daughter there since last summer and she really enjoys it. For more information about Piglets or to put your child's name down on the waiting list, phone Kay on 0117 9241187. I hope you all have a wonderful April! Here's to much locally produced cake eating and Dunleavy Vineyards wine drinking! Bishopston Mum www.bishopstonmum.com

Roadworks call wins support The mayor has agreed to look into getting utillity companies to work more closely together when it comes to digging up the city’s roads. George Ferguson has said he is willing to look at powers available to him to improve coordination of roadworks to help reduce disruption and congestion. It will be welcome news to many in Bishopston and beyond where roadworks have been taking place for several months on various parts of Gloucester Road and in surrounding streets. The motion, put forward by the city’s Lib Dems, received all-party backing and the mayor has said he will report back to the council within three months. Tell us your news and views at news@bishopstonvoice. co.uk, call 07887 561567 or write to Bishopstonvoice, 16 Chandag Road, Keynsham, BS31 1NR

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

Letters Site’s history is worth a plaque May I comment on the report in the March issue about the Pigsty Hill homes, where you say that the development will be called “Stone Hodges” after a hardware shop that stood on the site for many years? This doesn't quite tell the whole story. Joseph Stone Hodges was a cabinetmaker and upholsterer whose business is recorded is having been located at 221 Gloucester Road in 1903, and subsequently at 148-156 Gloucester Road (the site of the current redevelopment) from 1939 onwards. By the 1970s, when I moved to the area, it had mutated into a “cabinetmakers’ sundries” shop, where all sorts of unlikely items could be found not quite your average hardware shop. Its eventual closure was the subject of a feature on the Points West programme, an unusual distinction for such an event. Not only was Mr Stone Hodges a cabinetmaker; he and his

wife were also very keen collectors of ceramics. In 1961 the City Art Gallery received by request a major part of their collection (nearly 300 items); details of this are on the Museums and Galleries section of the city council website, but can be found more easily by following the link on the Stone Hodges section of The Gloucester Road Story (http:// thegloucesterroadstory.org). It would be good if something of the Stone Hodges work, or images of some of the ceramics, could in some way be associated with the development. At the least it would seem worthy of a commemorative plaque. Name and address supplied

Photo showed family’s shops With reference to Bishopstonvoice March 2013, Issue 3 Nostalgia. On page 23 is my dad’s father’s shop, shoe repairs and handmade shoes, first shop on the left, and my mum’s mother’s shop, second shop blind from the

other end, both on the same side. Later my mum and dad had the shop for some years. Old Photos Old photos in a drawer, Taken many years before. Some are brown, some black and white, On the backs people did write. Uncle Joe in the Great War, By big gun, medals he wore. Gran's wedding, fancy that, just look at her hat. Grandad by the grate, Standing so tall and straight. Sam aged eight on a donkey, Uncle Joe he looks a bit wonky. Little Tim nude on couch, Taken 1932 at Seaton-onCrouch. Ben in army, 1962, Just look how he grew. Our house and garden, note the gate, 1824 it says on the glass plate. Family group taken in 1926, Father, mother and children six. Bill and dog, Bill aged eight, For school he was always late. Floods taken 1936, Ducks in front garden, six. Our road taken long ago,

Quiet then, now cars to and fro. Pictures of people, we don't know, We think one is of a girl called Flo. History and stories in each frame, Who is that, oh what was the name? Let's have a look as before, Never mind, put them back in the drawer. CE Threader Horfield

Addiction to cars is problem

“A concerned resident” writes in the March issue about controlled parking and sounds like a victim. What are WE supposed to do? We are all in this together and have an addiction to cars. It is OUR fault the roads are jammed up, not the council’s. More walking, more cycling, more bus rides will help but please don’t deny our personal responsibility by blaming someone else. Paul Wheatcroft, Bishopston

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

News

£1 to make Jeff’s half-marathon Pay three-stop hop week raises £2,500 Many of us might spend a week resting up after running a halfmarathon – but one St Andrews man followed his 13-mile run with six more in the same week. Jeff Plumb, 62, tackled seven races in as many days in Stroud, Cheltenham, Swindon, Bristol, The Forest of Dean, Bath and Taunton. The gruelling challenge was all in aid of Children's Hospice South West and Jeff raised £2,535.95 with his efforts in December. He said: “Children’s Hospice South West does amazing work in supporting the families and carers of very sick children across South West England. It brings much joy and offers tremendous support to life-limited children. I have a list of things I want to achieve and taking on a challenge to support CHSW was a particu-

Jeff Plumb and the Vance family presenting the cheque at CHSW’s Little Bridge House in Barnstaple larly important aim for me. I’m delighted to have been able to achieve it.” Jeff visited CHSW’s Little Bridge House in Barnstaple to present a cheque to the fundraising team. Emma Ridgewell-Howard, CHSW head of fundraising at Little Bridge House, said: “We

are all in awe of Jeff’s amazing efforts and are hugely grateful for his fantastic fundraising efforts. I had the privilege of joining Jeff and fellow runner Trayton Vance for the last stretch of his run in December and was really inspired by his dedication to helping CHSW make the most of short and precious lives.”

Bus users in Bishopston and Redland can now make a “threestop hop” for just £1 on Wessex Red services. This includes the number 19 service, which runs between the centre and Filton via Gloucester Road, Redland Station and Cotham. Passengers can now travel for three stops along the route, paying £1, as a result of a partnership between UWE Bristol,Bristol University and Wessex Buses. Any other single journey on the services costs £2 while all-day travel is £3. Mayor George Ferguson, who was the first three-stop passenger at the scheme’s launch last month, said: “I am delighted that UWE Bristol and Wessex Red have responded so positively to our ambition to get fares down for the people of Bristol.” Full details of Wessex Red routes and prices are at www. wessexred.co.uk.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

Advertising feature

Fig gets bigger and better

Ring by Jemima Lumley

Artwork by Jane Ormes

Gloucester Road’s very own excited about the changes we are “Figettes” are on a mission to making to our shop,” she said. make their lovely shop even more “It’s going to give us so much appealing. more room to show off our work If you have ever wandered and although I’ll be sad to lose past Fig but never ventured inour studio space, I really think side then you’re missing a trick. it’s going to give our customers a Their shop, at 206 Gloucester more exciting shopping experiRoad, is a wonderful mix of gifts ence.” and artwork including glass orMany of you may already be naments, printed cushions, silver familiar with Robyn’s unique jewellery and screen prints. But fused glass birds and jewellery. what makes Fig stand out from She said she is currently developthe rest is that everything in the ing a new range of wall-mounted shop has been handmade by one birds which will be a welcome of the six local ladies who run it and decorative addition to the together as a co-operative. shop. Fig was set up three years ago There is also some beautiful by six Bristol and delicate artists with silver jewela vision of lery to be making and found at Fig, selling their all handmade handmade from scratch art and crafts by Jemima from a shared Lumley. She studio and has recently shop. produced a Now the lovely range girls are of name opening up the The ‘Figettes’ outside Fig necklaces whole shop to their customers, which you can commission and tidying away their work stations they make a wonderful and very and instead creating a gallery personal gift. space at the back of Fig to show The other members of Fig are off all their beautiful screenprints Sinead Finnegan and Chitra Merand embroideries. chant. Sinead works with textiles One of the six artists is Jane and alongside her popular Ormes, a screenprinter, whose screenprinted T-shirts she uses work was recently used on the her love of fashion as inspiration BBC’s DIY SOS programme. for her machine embroidered She has also designed a range wall art. “It's all about beautiof Easter designs for Marks and ful fabric and vintage buttons at Spencer. Her work is colourthe moment. I am busy creating ful and full of wit which often a new wedding range featuring produces sudden and impetubeautiful fabric flower bouquets, ous outbreaks of laughter from corsages and hairclips... coming customers. soon to Fig!” Kate Tarling is a textile artist Chitra’s screenprints have to who makes one-off embroidery be seen to be fully appreciated artworks and she is currently as their size and colour is truly working on a new range of fabric awe-inspiring. butterflies using freehand maShe and all the “Figettes” are chine embroidery and beadwork. really looking forward to welShe has been a part of Fig from coming customers, new and old, the very beginning. “I’m really to the bigger and better Fig.

206 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8NU Telephone: 0117 9244898  figshop@btconnect.com  www.figshop.co.uk Opening times: Monday-Saturday 9.30am-5pm

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Feature

Takeaways move up a gear by Safia Yallaoui A business that works with a number of Gloucester Road restaurants has won an award for being the most sustainable and innovative food delivery service in the West of England. Using electric bikes to deliver meals from a selection of local restaurants, FoodCouriers prides itself on being a delivery service with a difference. Located on Victoria Street in Bristol’s city centre, the food delivery company has been operating since September 2012. FoodCouriers allows customers to order food from popular restaurants – through its website – and have it delivered to their doorstep. These restaurants do not normally offer the option of home delivery, but FoodCouriers provides the service. “We want to allow restaurants who don’t deliver the option to

Left, Dotun Olowoporoku, co-founder of Food Couriers; far left, making a delivery

deliver to people’s homes," says co-founder of the company, Dotun Olowoporoku, 35. Currently, the company works with a small selection of restaurants, including Salvatore’s Kitchen and Planet Pizza, and

has recently teamed up with Halo. The company is focusing efforts on gaining more partnerships with businesses on Gloucester Road. “We want restaurants in

every postcode in Bristol,” says Mr Olowoporoku. He plans to get the company into cooperation with 50 restaurants in the next two months. FoodCouriers has also worked alongside the Street Smart Campaign in order to raise money for homeless charities in Bristol. The company is currently made up of five core team members in addition to a large group of delivery workers. It is set to expand its services to Bath and Birmingham. To find out more about Food Couriers, visit www.foodcouriers. com.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

What’s On April

Photo: Simon Lee

April 4 World Ship Society – Bristol branch Friends Meeting House, Champion Square, BS2 9DB, (adjacent to Cabot Circus car park) at 7.30pm. A talk and picture presentation entitled “River Rhine Traffic” by Richard Potter. £2 entry. Light refreshments will be available. For further details call 0117 951 3168.

April 6 St Peters Church Hall, Henleaze, Bristol, BS9 4LD. Vintage and Handmade Fair, 10-3pm. Stalls selling vintage clothing, jewellery, china, retro items, cakes, retro wooden toys, handmade arts and crafts, shabby chic homeware plus delicious homemade cakes. Entry £1, children free.

April 11 The Bristol & Clifton Dickens Society, Westmoreland Hall, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6YW. 7.30pm. But it was London – Nicholas Nickleby and the Metropolis. Dr Tony Williams as the guest speaker.

April 15 Bath & Bristol Events Network, 5.30-8pm. An evening of fun, entertainment, networking and, as always, excellent canapés and wines.The purpose of this network is to build and nurture relationships in the events industry, develop event knowledge and best practice plus have fun whilst

 Redland Wind Band will be showcasing its varied repertoire, including swing, dance and classical, when the musicians perform their spring concert at a new venue this month. The 45-strong ensemble, which rehearses at the Horfield Quaker Meeting House in Gloucester Road, will be tak-

ing to the stage at Red Maids School, Westbury Road, Westbury-on-Trym on Saturday, April 20. Formed just over 15 years ago under the baton of Steve Ellis, Redland Wind Band performs regularly throughout the Bristol region. Foreign concert tours over the years have

driving event business in the region. Keynote speaker: Rob Hook: A Master Class in Business Networking. Just follow the link:http://www.eventbrite.com/ org/3033722438 to book your early bird tickets

ing essential). Refreshments/ toilet facilites on site. Contact forgscarbootsale@hotmail.com or 07968 493013

April 16 Bishopston, Horfield and Ashley Down Local History Society. John Penny – Bristol in Film. 7pm.

April 20 Redland Green School Car Boot Sale, Redland Court Road, BS6 7EH. 1-4pm Book a stall, or come for a browse. Come along, rain or shine, as we hold the sale indoors if wet. Pitches £8 (book-

included Belgium and Hungary and the band most recent trip was to Salzburg in 2012. The concert begins at 7.30pm and tickets are £7 on the door or from redlandwind band@googlemail.com. Under16s get in free. For further information on the ensemble, visit www.redlandwindband.co.uk.

Kelvin Players presents Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth. Kelvin Studios, 253b Gloucester Road,

Bishopston, Bristol. 7.30pm. Tickets £8 Tues./ £10 Wed. – Sat. Tel: 0117 959 3636. Hard-hitting, crude, comic and with a protagonist of almost Shakespearean proportions, Jerusalem is a quintessentially English play mining political, social and mythological themes against the backdrop of a caravan in the Wiltshire woodland, home to Romany squatter and lord of misrule, Johnny “Rooster” Byron. This is not England’s green and pleasant land, rather a rural den of iniquity, where impromptu nightly raves shatter the community’s peace, and teenagers and local subversives gather to be served drugs, alcohol and salty tales by the

of bread and a 3,000-year-old wooden bed. From April 20-September 29, the city museum will also showcase Pharaoh: reborn, a collection of watercolours by Italian explorer Giovanni Belzoni of the tomb of Pharaoh Sety I. Julie Finch, director of Bristol, Museums, Galleries & Archives, said: “We are delighted that Bristol visitors will have the opportunity to see these stunning items from the British Museum. The museum will be supporting the exhibition with some of its own collections, including the wonderful Belzoni watercolours. “Behind the scenes, staff from across the museum’s have been brushing up on their learning skills and delving into the his-

tory of ancient Egypt to become ‘Walking Wikis’. Walking Wikis will be able to share what they have learnt with visitors and we hope, become a lively and engaging part of the visitor experience.” Pharoah: Kings of Egypt runs until July 21 and there will be a programme of events running alongside the exhibition, including talks and film screenings. For more information on opening times and other events, visit www.bristol.gov.uk/museums.  Tickets: £5 / £4 concessions / £3 children (5 to 16) / Free under 5s. Family ticket £10 (2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children). Free Fridays: April 19, May 17, June 21, July 19.

Brazilian Play Group. Quakers Meeting House, 300 Gloucester Road, BS7 8PD. 3-4.30pm, A play group for parents and children of 0 – 6 years to teach Portuguese using games. Song and crafts activities. Contact vivabrasilbristol@live.co.uk or take a look at our website www. grupopaisefilhos.blogspot.co.uk

April 23-27

Exploring life as a Pharoah Ancient Egypt is awaiting visitors to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, where a new exhibition has opened featuring nearly 100 historic artefacts. Pharoah: Kings of Egypt features highlights from the British Museum’s collection and is the largest UK loan of Egyptian artefacts ever undertaken by the London museum. Among the items on show are statues, carved stone reliefs from ancient temples, papyri and glittering gold jewellery, giving visitors an insight into the lives of the pharaohs and their role as head of state, high priest and army commander. Unusual objects on show include: the colourful inlays used

Gold plaque showing the Pharaoh Amenemhat IV offering to the god Atum, 17861777BC © Courtesy of the Trustees of the British Museum

to decorate a pharaoh’s palace; diplomatic letters to Egypt’s allies, inscribed on clay tablets; the wooden bow of one of the king’s troop commanders; an ancient water-clock decorated for a Greek king on the throne of Egypt; a 2,500-year-old loaf

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

What’s On Have you got an event you would like to publicise? Or do you run a club or society in the Bishopston or Redland area? Send details of your events and activities to emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk or call us on 07715 770448 and we will make sure thousands of people in the area know about them. Pied Piper of Wiltshire himself.

April 27 Nearly new table-top sale at Ashley Down Primary School - Brunel Field Site, off Ashley Down Road. 10am-12.30pm. Entry is £1 per adult and refreshments will be available.

What’s on on a regular basis Mondays Morris for fitness and fun, 7.15pm-8.15pm at Horfield URC, Muller Road, Horfield, BS7 9RE during term time only.

Tuesdays Food and Friends at Cairns Road Baptist Church 12-2pm. A monthly meeting point for senior citizens. The first Tuesday of every month. Lunch will be served at a cost of £2.50 followed by coffee and fellowship. Transport can be arranged. Tel: 0117 942 5669 KudaCan, 7 Dongola Avenue, Bishopston, BS7 9HG. Join the Bishopston Mum for an NCT Cafe every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 10.15 11.30am, you can drop in any time during this slot. Ashley’s Rise Junior Morris - performing Morris side for boys and girls aged 8-16yrs. We practice at Horfield URC, Muller Road, Horfield, BS7 9RE on Tuesdays 6.15-7.15pm during term time. We take part in local and national Morris and community events. We have a waiting list for 6/7-year-olds who are invited to our open events so that they can get to know us before they join. Morris for fitness and fun, 7.30-8.30pm at Horfield URC, Muller Road, Horfield, BS7 9RE during term time only. Bristol Ladies’ Hockey Club. A friendly club based at Orchard

School, Filton Road. Training on Tuesday, 7.30-9pm, play on Saturdays. All ages welcome. If you would like to join us contact Michelle on 07980 598761 or michesaunders@hotmail.com.

Wednesdays Knit & Stitch Club 9.30-11.30am at Heart Space Studios textile workshop, 4 Harcourt Road (just off Coldharbour Road) Tel: 0117 9232391. A friendly group offering a chance to swap creative ideas and inspiration. The cost is £35 per term including tea and coffee.

Thursdays Bristol Ladies’ Choir sings a wide range of music from classical to light. The choir rehearses weekly and gives two main concerts each year. The choir also participates in approximately nine to 10 other concerts in the Bristol area each year. Meet at 2.15-3.45pm at Church of the Good Shepherd, Bishop Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NA. New members welcome. For more information contact Hazel on 0117 9246587 or visit www.bristolladieschoir.org. uk.

Jack’s journey a welcome sight! The start of summer will certainly be something to celebrate and Bishopston and Redland residents will be marking it with a long-held tradition next month. The annual Jack in the Green procession will be taking place on Saturday, May 4, starting at M Shed at the Harbourside at 10.30am before making its way through Broadmead, Kingsdown and Redland, then following Gloucester Road to Horfield Common at around 4pm. At 9ft tall and covered in greenery, Jack makes quite a spectacle and he will be joined on his journey by musicians and dancers also dressed in green. Residents are invited to join the family-friendly event, particularly at the end of the day when he is stripped of his leaves on Horfield Common to mark the changing seasons.

Find out more about the tradition and Jack's route at the website http://home.freeuk. net/bristoljack.

Knit & Stitch Club, 7.30-9.30pm, at Heart Space Studios textile workshop, 4 Harcourt Road (just off Coldharbour Road) Tel: 0117 9232391. A friendly group offering a chance to swap creative ideas and inspiration. The cost is £35 per term including tea and coffee. Avon Harmony Ladies’ Acappella Chorus meets for rehearsals every Thursday 7.30-10pm at Fairfield High School, Allfoxton Road BS7 9NL Visitors are always made welcome, and we are actively recruiting new members. There is no need to be able to read music; we provide teaching tracks for learning by ear. See our website for more details or contact Mandy on 0117 9652693 or Barbara on 07717 424421 or email enquiries@avonharmony. co.uk. www.avonharmony.co.uk.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

Inside story with interior designer Zoe Hewett Both residents and businesses in Bishopston know plenty about the increasing threat from chains and supermarkets to our much-loved and fiercely defended local independent stores. Now that Bedminster has the support and guidance of business guru Mary Portas’ forwardthinking Pilot Town initiative to rejuvenate its commercial centre, it is important for Bishopston not to rest on its laurels with Gloucester Road’s amazing reputation as an exemplary independent high street. We are fortunate to have a well-supported and already buzzing high street at the heart of the community in Bishopston, and the conveniences of internet shopping may not seem to be much of a threat. There simply is no digital substitute for touch-inspecting and smell-

ing the best groceries, or trying on garments before buying them – or enjoying a witty exchange with a store-keeper! Yet physical retail is perceived to be in peril. The secret to saving the future of “analogue” shopping on the high street is thought to be in combining it with the

arts and a sense of entertainment – leisure activities to engage the local community, so that customers come away with an experience as well as their goods. Visual Merchandising and Window Display are a powerful tools for attracting customers into stores that can also provide

this essential sense of being entertained in some way. Of course I would say that being an interior designer! But, that the flamboyant windows of Knightsbridge in London are a major tourist attraction just proves that when done well, it works. An active avoider of supermarkets and independent trader myself, I value and make good use of Gloucester Road and definitely want its success to continue! So I have put together ten top tips for Visual Merchandising especially to help Gloucester Road independent traders, which can be obtained through http://www.zoehewett interiors.co.uk/#/freebies/ 4574866736.

Moggies of News the month How baking could

make a child’s day by Safia Yallaoui

Nasturtium, above, is a sweet adult female. She has raised her family and is now ready for a quiet home of her own, without any other cats – she really prefers people! Stardust, right, is a sweet young girl. She is a little shy with strangers but loves a belly rub when she gets to know you. She is very good with other cats. If you can offer a cat a home, call The Moggery on 0117 924 3128.

An organisation is looking for volunteers from Bishopston to help them give birthday cakes to children whose families can not provide them. Bristol’s Free Cakes For Kids organisation was founded 18 months ago and has around seven volunteers, who help to bake and deliver celebratory cakes to children across the city. Free Cakes for Kids is “a community service to families who find it difficult to provide a birthday cake for their child”, such as those living in poverty. Bishopston resident, Rachel Ashley, 34, is the area organiser for the Bristol-based initiative. The organisation also operates throughout the rest of the UK. “It surprised me the numbers of kids in Bristol who can’t get a birthday cake,” said Rachel. As

the organisation is solely run by volunteers, she is seeking help to reach as many people as possible in need of one of their cakes. Free Cakes For Kids would benefit from having more bakers on board. “You don’t have to be an expert at baking,” explains Rachel. “Even if people can’t bake, delivering cake is perfect.” The organisation receives no funding. However, since its

inception at the end of 2011, Free Cakes for Kids has already joined partnerships with seven organisations including British Red Cross Refugee Services. This March has seen the highest demand in the Bristol organisation’s history as it has received around eight requests compared to a monthly average of three. “It’s out of the goodness of their hearts that volunteers bake the cakes," says Rachel. People tend to request a cake from Free Cakes For Kids through a referral from one of their partnered organisations, although it is possible to do so without their support. As Rachel lives in Bishopston, she is looking for local residents who can help out in any way. If you would like to get involved contact Rachel on 07900 067497 or visit the website www. freecakesbristol.org.uk.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Bishopston Kitchen

with Salima and Mohammed from L’Artisan French Café & Patisserie, 303 Gloucester Road

Recipe: L’Artisan’s Macaroons Ingredients 75g ground almonds 100g icing sugar 2 tbsp cocoa powder 2 egg whites 50g caster sugar Filling 100g plain chocolate ( shopped) 150ml double cream Preparation Place the ground almond, icing sugar and cocoa powder in a food processor and process for 15 seconds. Sift the mixture into a bowl. Place the egg white in a large bowl and whisk until it becomes soft peaks. Gradually whisk in the caster sugar to make a firm meringue. Fold the almond mixture into the meringue. Continue to cut and fold the mixture until it forms a shiny batter. Pour the mixture into a piping bag with a 1cm plain nozzle. Pipe 32 small rounds onto the prepared baked sheet. Leave at

room temperature for 30 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to 260C and bake the macaroons for 10 to 15 minutes.

For the filling, place the chocolate in a bowl. Heat double cream in a saucepan until just boiling, then pour over the

chocolate and stir until smooth. Leave to cool for 30 minutes, use to sandwich pairs of macaroons together.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

Library news Adult Fiction – Read by the Library Reading Group  An Equal Music by Vikram Seth The blurb – A chance sighting on a bus; a letter, which should never have been read; a pianist with a secret that touches the heart of her music… An Equal Music is a book about love, about the love l off a woman lost and found and lost again; it is a book about music and how the love of music can run like a passionate fugue through a life. It is the story of Michael, of Julia, and of the love that binds them. Review - A novel that can stand being reread and reread, but the first time round is an emotional cliff-hanger. Secure a copy

Books of the month with staff from Cheltenham Road Library

for yourself, settle down, and prepare for the unforgettable. Sunday Times Children’s Picture book – Read and enjoyed by Daniel and visiting children  Stuck by Oliver Jeffers The Blurb – Delightful chaos ensues when a young boy gets his kite stuck in a tree in this laugh-out-loud new picture book from award-winning, internationally

best-selling author/illustrator Oliver Jeffers. Floyd gets his kite stuck up a tree. He throws up his shoe to shift it, but that gets stuck, too. So he throws up his other shoe and that gets stuck, along with… Will Floyd ever get his kite back?? Review – I read almost every new picture book that comes across my path in the library as I’m always on the lookout for something new to read to the kids who come to storytime on Mondays. I came across this one and was immediately excited, as I had loved Oliver’s previous books The Incredible Book Eating Boy and Lost and Found. I was not disappointed; Stuck is a brilliant, laugh-out-loud book that has something for children and parents alike (my personal experience suggests more laughs from parents at storytime than the kids!). Highly

recommended by me, along with others, by Oliver Jeffers; a wonderful author!

Pay us a vist

For these books and many, many more titles we could recommend, come along to Cheltenham Road Library and let us point you in the right direction; and if we don’t have what you’re looking for, you can reserve any item from more than two million items across LibrariesWest for only 60p from home, and collect from a library of your choice. And if you’re a parent with young children, come and join us for Storytime on Mondays at 11am, and/or Bounce & Rhyme on Wednesdays at 11am (termtime only).

Opening hours Monday: 10–1 & 2-5pm Wednesday: 10-1 & 2-5pm Friday: 10-1 & 2-5pm Saturday: 10-1 & 2-5pm

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Nostalgia

News

Let’s talk trees Bristol TreeForum will be posing

the question “Do the utilities still hate trees?” at its next meeting on April 8, from 6-8pm, at City Hall. Answering the question will be Nol Vincent and Patric Bulmer of Bristol Water and, following the talk, there will be a discussion of the Mayor’s vision to double the city’s tree canopy. Those wishing to attend should email clive.stevens@ euronova.co.uk.

Get ‘vegucated’

A tram pulls up outside the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company’s Bishopston branch at the junction of Gloucester Road and Zetland Road. The tram is also advertising another company with historic links to Bristol - Fry’s. For more on pictures and publications available from Bygone Bristol, call 0117 942 3177.

People wanting to find out more about a plant-based diet can get “vegucated” at a series of film screenings from April 2 to May 7. Besides the documentaries, there will also be food, including pizza and cakes, and cookery demos. Screenings are Tuesday nights at the Polish Club, Clifton, from around 6.30pm. Search ‘Vegucate Bristol Film Series’ on Facebook or email vegucate. bristol@gmail.com.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Puzzles

April, 2013

Arts focus with Bristol poet and author Deborah Harvey

‘Often, horrifyingly, the audience finds itself laughing along with him’

Sudoku

Richard III: Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory Even though we made our traditionally early arrival at the Tobacco Factory to see Richard III, we were astonished to find the queue to get into the theatre winding right out of the bar and down the stairs to the box office, with the result that instead of getting a seat at the front with an almost-partof-the-cast view, my son and I found ourselves in the back row, craning to see around one of the pillars. “Just because they found him under a car park!” another regular said to me, wearily. And when he comes onto the stage to deliver his opening soliloquy, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, (played by John Mackay) does indeed resemble a skeleton. Tall and bony, with cropped white hair and a white face blackened about the eyes, he starts the play as he ends it – no flawed, flesh-and-blood hero brought down by his ambition, but the personification of depravity. Mackay’s Richard is the archetypal psychopath who, devoid of empathy and conscience,

murders as much to divert himself from what he sees as the pointlessness of existence as to achieve the power he craves, and often, horrifyingly, the audience finds itself laughing along with him. In a play that is dominated by its villain, the rest of the cast put in sterling performances. I was especially moved by Nicki Goldie’s portrayal of the Duchess of York, the only character who truly knows Richard for what he is, having given birth to him. But it is Richard who charms, entertains, disgusts and mesmerises, often all at the same time, right up to the end when he lies dead on Bosworth Field, his long limbs curled up in a way that is fittingly reminiscent of a dead spider. I left the theatre astonished, once again, by Shakespeare’s grasp of psychology centuries before it was recognised as a discipline, and anticipating the excellent Shakespeare At The Tobacco Factory’s next production, Two Gentlemen of Verona, which opens on April 4.

News

Female comics in the spotlight

Solutions on Page 30

Calling all female comedians – entries are now open for What The Frock’s Open Mic Awards. Up-and-coming women comics are invited to apply for a three-minute slot on stage at The Square Club, 15 Berkeley Square, Bristol, on June 6. The winner will receive a certificate, a five-minute slot at What The Frock! women’s comedy night on November 21, a meal for two at The Square Club, and a profile on the WTF website. It’s free to enter and entrants can have up to three years’ stage

experience or be first-time performers. To enter for free, email your name (and stage name), contact details, photo and 150 words explaining what kind of comedy you will perform at the competition and a little bit about yourself to whatfrock@gmail.com. WTF was formed in January 2012 to enable women to have a space to perform comedy, gain experience and build confidence. Find out more at http://what thefrockcomedy.co.uk/.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Bishopston Shopping

There’s no need to go any further when planning a dinner party, or family meal. Shops on Gloucester Road can supply a huge range of delicious ingredients to make any chef happy.

5 4

1. The Boston cake – sponge with fresh vanilla filling, mascarpone, sweetened double cream and blackcurrant jam, topped with dark chocolate ganache. Whole cake £40, or slices served in the cafe. Mouth-watering cakes and tarts, freshly made on the premises at Tart Café and Foodstore, 16 The Promenade, Gloucester Road. 2. Tingle your taste buds with some blue cheese. Shropshire Blue – orange curd with blue veins – £16.85 per kg. Oxford Blue – creamy and full of flavour – £19.85 per kg. Or the distinctively mellow and creamy Blue Stilton by Colston Bassett – £16.80 per kg. Just some of the range available at T & PA Murray, purveyors of free range and organic meats, cheese and foods, 153 Gloucester Road. 3. Every colour of fruit and veg at Feel’n’Fruity. From vine-ripened tomatoes and pineapples, to purple sprouting broccoli. Veggie boxes available daily for local delivery. For further details, pop into the shop at 135 Gloucester Road, or contact Adam on 07742 024416. 4. The Fish Shop specialises in fresh south coast dayboat fish and shellfish. They stock a wide range of smoked, deli products, sauces and frozen seafood. There is also an oyster bar every Saturday outside the shop. If you love fresh fish, visit them at 143 Gloucester Road. 5. The Olive Shed Shop not only stocks olives. The deli counter

has a fabulous selection of freshly prepared antipasti sold by weight, and there is a mouthwatering selection of fresh salads, meat and vegetable platters available. The menu changes every few weeks, so pop in at 123 Gloucester Road. 6. The Breadstore has been trading on the Gloucester Road for over 15 years, serving the community with a great range of freshly baked breads, cakes and pastries. 45 Gloucester Road.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

Feature

Families sign up for first aid by Rebecca Day A Bishopston resident has set up a first aid course for families living in the local area. Lis Anderson, of Berkshire Road, set up the initiative – First Aid for Families – after she gave birth to her child, Barney. She found that there was limited access to learning first aid techniques within the area. Two other mothers also help run First Aid for Families; Liz Gadd, a mother of a teenager, and Carol Hudson, a grandmother. “I’d had really great care and support from midwives and Southmead maternity unit after the birth of Barney,” says Lis, “but I was just informed about breast feeding and how to bath your baby.” Lis says it suddenly dawned on her – after three days of being in hospital – that she hadn't been provided with information about

basic first aid for her baby. “Midwives and health visitors are just too over-stretched to cover things like this these days,” explains Lis. Therefore, Lis decided to set up classes for herself and friends in her own lounge. However, due to rising demand and requests for at-home sessions, the group began holding workshops in the comfort of other people’s

homes. What began as an open course for mothers, First Aid for Families now provides workshops for parents, grandparents and carers. They cover the top ten basic live-saving skills for babies, children and the elderly. The group runs between four and five workshops a month, which includes weekdays, weekends, daytimes and evenings. Each session is three hours long. “It's a very hands-on class; we provide life-size equipment so everyone has the opportunity to practice techniques,” explains Lis. “We also provide a colour booklet to take away, and allow attendees to ask any specific questions or raise concerns to our trainers.” Lis believes that the quality of training is the most important part of First Aid for Families. The training manager, Carol, is a qualified trainer in family first aid and is highly experienced;

she trains those who teach first aid. The group has received positive feedback from those who have attended workshops; saying that they have learnt new techniques and feel confident if they were to ever put their skills into practice. Due to a rising demand in parents and carers wanting to know more about first aid practices, Lis hopes to be delivering courses for more first-time parents, and running a broader range of workshops for other age groups. “With more extended family members taking on caring responsibilities for elderly relatives, I’d like to deliver workshops to support those specific first aid requirements.” To find out more about First Aid for Families, visit www. firstaidforfamilies.co.uk, call 07802403662 or email hello@ firstaidforfamilies.co.uk.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Property of the month

Cromwell Road

ÂŁ450,000 Situated in a popular area of St Andrews, this spacious six-bedroom family house has planning permission for a loft conversion and also features two bathrooms and a conservatory. What more could a growing family ask for? Accommodation comprises entrance hall, impressive bayfronted living room, second reception room, dining room, kitchen and conservatory plus a second shower room on the ground floor. The first floor has four double bedrooms and the family bathroom, and benefits from views over Bristol to the front. The basement level has two further rooms currently used as bedrooms. Externally there is an enclosed rear garden, front garden with steps and sloping path up to the front door.

Contact Andrews Estate Agents at 80/82 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8BN or on 0117 944 4400.

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

Fashion news As I joined the excited queue waiting for the 3pm show at Bristol Fashion Week at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, I was full of anticipation as I was about to experience my first ever Bristol fashion show – and I wasn’t disappointed! We were greeted with a glass of bubbly and a cup cake as we entered the doors and then shown in to the purpose-built arena, which featured a large screen and catwalk. The hour-long show was presented by TV stylist Mark Heyes and celebrity hairdresser Andrew Barton, inset, who combined style advice, celebrity gossip and fashion knowledge with their introduction to each collection. The show opened with a dynamic James Bond sequence, featuring black and white in both block colours and stripes, which are both huge trends in 2013. Highlights for me included the new digital print collection from M &S and the kidswear from Next. All clothes featured in the

show are on sale in the Mall right now – and even have a special BFW ticket on display so you can

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

A licence to thrill

easily find what you are looking for. The show ended with a party

sequence featuring clothes for all shapes and sizes – as well as ages – from around the Mall. And as if that wasn’t enough, we were then invited to collect our goodie bags filled with products including Oil of Olay and Treseme. I, for one, will definitely be booking a seat for next season’s show at The Mall in September 2013 for a preview of Autumn/ Winter fashions. Keep an eye on www.mallcribbs.com for more information. BC

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Business of the month This month we meet Johann Scantlebury who runs her own beauty and holistic treatment centre in north Bristol ... and has just expanded to Clifton Name and how long you have been working in your current profession. Johann Scantlebury, part time over the last 10 years, full time for a year, working in Filton and Clifton. Where are you from? Bristol, Filton Tell us a bit more about what you do I started my journey in beauty and holistic treatments in 2002. My Reiki hands-on healing journey began in 2006. I practise as rejuvenateyourspirit.com from my home in Filton and also from Johann at Purete, Clifton Arcade, Boyces Avenue, Bristol. What’s the best bit about the job? Reiki healing, it’s a gift which words can not explain... People healthy or experiencing disease/ unease find a sense of peace, and serenity is felt from within. Anyone can access the universal energy and slowly but surely changes happen. To find out more about people’s experiences, see my testimonials page on my website. Tell us what you offer to set yourselves apart from others. I am Reiki Master and I tailor my therapies for the individual. Therefore no treatment is the same, each visit will be different. Plus my personal journey and experiences gave me the access to a wide range of life tools I share. I am grateful to follow my

life’s purpose to help others to help them feel healthier, more energised and balanced. What are your plans for the future of the business? I’m excited as my second year plan has just become a reality. On Friday, December 28, I opened a healing/treatment room in the Clifton Arcarde, Boyces Avenue. My future vision will be to have a healing centre, offering complementary therapies and beauty treatments to make people feel and look great. Contact: Rejuvenate Your Spirit, 46 Gloucester Road North, Bristol BS7 0SJ; Purete, 14

Clifton Arcade, Boyces Avenue, Bristol, BS8 4AA . T: 07971 682580; Web: www.rejuvenateyourspirit.com Email: johannscantlebury@ yahoo.co.uk

Computer tips with Graham Simmonds of goto iT Passwords Passwords are everywhere – we need one for online banking, shopping, checking our emails or even logging into our PC. However, how do you make sure you choose a password no one can work out? The most common passwords used are, “password”, “123456”, “12345678”, “abc123” and qwerty. You can look up a list of common passwords online and make sure you don’t choose one! Also don’t use passwords that relate to you such as your name, relatives’ names, names of your pet and so on. So how do you choose a good password? Well, a mix of random letters and numbers, longer than eight characters, are the best. But these can be difficult to remember. A good technique is to think of a phrase like “the grand old duke of York, he had ten thousand men” and choose the initial letters “tgodoyhhttm” then choose a number and capitalise one or two letters. “tgoDoYhh10000m”. There are websites you can use to test how strong this password is. This one would take 98 million years to crack! If you would like to know more, drop in and see us. Contact us on 0117 969 8767 or visit us in our shop on the corner of Filton Avenue and the A4174. Advert on Page 10

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

T: 0117 908 2121

with our Homegrown Gardener

Depression A garden is a lovesome thingWhen it starts blooming in the spring The daffodil, the snowdrop white, The dainty winter aconite... And just as it is going strong, The woolly aphid comes along. Wireworms and weevils think it fun To eat your annuals one by one. Until the caterpillars start To break your horticultural heart. Go, take a flat or buy a yacht. A garden is a lovesome thingGod wot.

April, 2013

News

The Gardening Year Just a few days ago I spotted some yellow dots in the rather unkempt grass. It was a group of yellow crocus, just beginning to show their heads. Under an upturned pot I found the first shoot of a miniature fuchsia, and shifting a pile of leaves I found a head of Timperly Early rhubarb. Close by a euonymus was given a good shake and combed through to clear away dead foliage, and the roses have some healthy shoots. So the marvellous cycle of nature continues to give us so much pleasure.

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Parents-to-be get prepared! by Lauren Winney

Staking. What do you do about those tall plants that sag or topple in the rain and wind? Wait until it happens and struggle to get some canes and string around them, heave them upright and leave them looking sorry for themselves? Or do you plan ahead? Some quite practical supports I have seen, green and curved into a semicircle, with three upright legs into the ground serve a nice purpose. I have learned the hard way about hedges. Although they get cut regularly, they always finish up being fatter than they should. So I have put down a marker for each and I am determined to trim to that mark, so the hedges will be very tidy.

Born, a Gloucester Road shop for expecting mothers and babies, already prides itself on its natural, fairtrade and eco-friendly products. Now the shop is extending its service with two-hour consultancies within the shop, guiding customers along their personal parenting journey. Founded almost 13 years ago, Eva Fernandes, 42, right, set up the business with her sister Georgina, 45. Eva explains how the sisters are now taking customer service a step further. The one-to-one baby consultations are dedicated sessions, helping parents-to-be through their pregnancy and preparing them for when their baby arrives. “When you are pregnant people have a lot to learn in a pretty short space of time," says Eva. “The sessions guide people to making the right decisions for their budgets and their family lifestyle.” Inspired to open a shop because of her own parenting experience, Eva explains: “When I had my daughter – who is now 15 – I couldn’t easily get the kind

of things that I wanted to use for her. Things like chemically-free toiletries and washable nappies." Eva mentions how she didn’t want lots of plastic toys around the house, such as things that needed batteries, and which made lots of noise. “When trying to find wooden toys, there just wasn’t any anywhere. The idea of Born was to have the products where people could actually see them, feel them and have a play.” The session costs £50, which is refundable from any item purchased. To book a session, visit the website www.borndirect.com or call 0117 942 1206.

Puzzle solutions

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

April, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

CARPET CLEANING

TRADE SERVICES

PLASTERING

STONEMASONRY

PLUMBING

WINDOWS AND DOORS

DRIVEWAYS RECRUITMENT

ELECTRICAL

To advertise, call Emma on 0117 908 2121

To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk