Bishopstonvoice June 2013 by Emma Cooper

FREE EVERY MONTH for people and businesses in Bishopston & Redland Beautiful inside and out

June, 2013 Issue 6

Eight pages of Homes & Gardens

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk Cooking with Cake, P29 | Shopping to make Dad’s day, P33

Inside

Stepping out for summer

May events in pictures – See Page 12

UWE to back independent retailer card P8 Shop to shut ‘in ethical way’ after 28 years P14 Soldiering on for charity with tough trek P31 How Ed’s aiming to get ahead in skeleton Sport

Petition triggers debate on parking Plus... More than 4,300 people back call to halt roll-out of zones – See P2

On the Beat.. p6 Letters... p10 Bishopston Mum... p15

What’s On.. p26 Nostalgia.. p31 Property... p35 Classifieds p39

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June, 2013

News

Parking zone Bishopstonvoice 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 Safia Yallaoui

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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.

July deadline Our July edition will be going to print on June 24. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us by Thursday, June 20. 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 9,500 copies will be distributed around Bishopston and Redland.

by Joni Mann and Rebecca Day A 4,300-name petition calling for a halt to the extension of the city’s parking zones has sparked a full council debate on the issue. A campaign by resident Michael Owen, who lives on the boundary of Redland and Westbury Park, has seen thousands of residents sign up in support of his call to stop the roll-out of 18 new residents’ parking zones, announced by Mayor George Ferguson in March. Under council rules, a petition that attracts 3,500 signatures or more from people living, working and studying in the city triggers the right for the issue to be debated by all councillors. It is expected this will take place at the next full council meeting on June 18. Mr Owen, who registered the petition on the city council's website in April, said he has had support in collecting the signatures from a number of businesses in high streets across Redland and Bishopston, including Gloucester Road, Coldharbour Road and Chandos Road. He said: “Thanks are due to those businesses. I have also used Twitter as a means of keeping the campaign going.” A breakdown of the petition figures reveals the Bishopston, Redland and Ashley wards have the highest numbers of residents supporting the petition – around 300 each in Bishopston and Redland and nearly 350 in Ashley. Speaking on the impact he fears the parking scheme could have on Gloucester Road, Mr Owen said: “Does the mayor really want to hamstring the livelihoods of businesses on Gloucester Road by imposing RPZ and more controls on car usage? How

Proposed permit charges Residents’ first permit £48 (currently £30) Residents’ second permit £96 (currently £80) Residents’ third permit £192 (currently £200) Business first permit £240 (currently £100) Business second permit £360 (currently £200) Customer permit (maximum of five per business) £500 each (currently £100 each) Visitors’ permits 50 free then 50 at £1 each are staff and customers of enterprises in Bishopston supposed to benefit from RPZ if they cannot park near their places of work?” The proposals, which the mayor says are aimed at tackling commuter parking, congestion and poor air quality, have been the subject of debate from the high street to City Hall in the past few weeks. The scheme was at the top of the agenda for Bishopston, Cotham and Redland residents when the mayor was guest speaker at the areas’ neighbourhood partnership super forum on May 11. During a question-andanswer session, audience members asked why the scheme needed to extend as far from the city centre as Bishopston, and raised concerns about the level of public consultation and the effect on shopping areas, such as Gloucester Road, if people found they could no longer park there. Mr Ferguson said the principle of parking zones was “not up for grabs” but the schemes were not “one size fits all” with details up for discussion in each area. The potential impact on busi-

Councillors get Voting in the May local elections brought political change in Bishopston with the Green Party’s Daniella Radice taking a seat formerly held by the Lib Dems. Meanwhile, in Redland, Lib Dem councillor Fi Hance was elected to serve another term. With residents’ parking zones Fi Hance, left, and Daniella Radice

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June, 2013

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News

petition to trigger debate

Mayor George Ferguson speaks at Bishopston, Cotham and Redland neighbourhood partnership’s super forum nesses was brought to the fore when around 250 people representing shops, including Gloucester Road’s Bread Store and The Fish Shop, garages, schools, City of Bristol College’s Ashley Down site and many others attended a business engagement event on May 22 which brought them face to face with the mayor. They raised concerns ranging from the lack of parking for employees as well as customers, the cost and frequency of the city’s public transport system and the viability of the scheme for those whose work takes them to many different zones. A proposed rise in the cost of permits was also questioned after it was revealed last month that the price of a first business permit could more than double from £100 to £240 with the second permit rising from £200 to £360. Customer permits – businesses can purchase five – would rise from £100 to £500 each. Mr Ferguson again said that while he stood firm on the principle of parking zones, there was some flexibility in the detail, saying: “I recognise your fears – residents’ parking will be

implemented because you are losing money from this being a congested city. That congestion is causing harm to our children through poor air quality, I’m quite sure you realise it’s a bigger picture and I have to take big decisions but all the detail is up for discussion.” Exactly what details would be up for debate was called into question when the council’s sustainable development and transport scrutiny commission met on May 28 to study the proposals. The report on the scheme, originally due to go to Cabinet on May 29, was branded “on the scale of inadequate to derisory” by Councillor Anthony Negus while chairman Mark Weston said if the mayor could not attend the commission’s next meeting on June 20 to answer questions “then we will move the meeting”. Bishopston councillor David Willingham, a member of the commission, said after the meeting: “What is clear is that every part of the city has different needs and the current ‘one size fits all’ proposals need to be replaced with meaningful local consultation, with any scheme

modified to accommodate local needs. Locally, I would urge my constituents to contact me with their views on these proposals.” Mr Ferguson is due to make a formal decision on the proposals and whether to push ahead on June 27, after postponing the report for a month to allow time for more discussion and for improvements to the plans to be published, he said. “I have made it abundantly clear that I want to listen to residents and businesses and local councillors, and am prepared to adjust schemes to local conditions,” he said. “As a result I have decided to postpone consideration of the report to Cabinet and issue revised proposals for consideration in June instead. This will allow me an opportunity to discuss the principles and details with councillors in the scrutiny process before the report comes to Cabinet."

It’s question time for mayor Residents will be able to put questions on a range of issues to the mayor face to face at a meeting this month. George Ferguson is hosting his second “question time” event on Monday, June 17, as part of a range of initiatives to engage with Bristol people. The council says the event is aimed at residents rather than political or pressure groups. The event takes place at M Shed on Bristol’s harbourside from 7.45-8.45pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm. Admission to the question time session is free but booking is required. Tickets can be booked at www.bristol.gov.uk/mayor questions. For those without access to the internet, call 0117 922 2848 to make a booking.

straight to work after elections a burning issue across the city, both councillors say they have been listening to local views in the weeks since the election. Ms Radice said after speaking to traders: “I can summarise their thoughts in one word: apprehension.” In Redland ward, Ms Hance

said said: “While controls are needed I am very disappointed with current Redland proposals and I am encouraging as much feedback from residents as possible.” Voter turnout in Bishopston was 33.93 per cent and 29.81 per cent in Redland.

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June, 2013

News

‘People won’t pay to shop’ by Rebecca Day The trader behind the posters adorning shop windows on Gloucester Road, depicting a parking meter dressed as notorious highwayman Dick Turpin, has confirmed that he is expanding his business outside of Bristol because of the proposed parking scheme. Tom Murray, owner of the butchers T & PA Murray, believes that if the residents’ parking zone was to roll out across Bristol, there will be a maximum five to 10-year life span for Gloucester Road. Mr Murray states that it is “set in stone” about investing in Portishead rather than expanding his business in Bristol. However, T & P A Murray on Gloucester Road will still remain. Starting his business in Bristol around 20 years ago, Mr Murray states: “The community was great. There was great footfall

Tom Murray with one of his posters outside his shop T & PA Murray on Gloucester Road and growth on Gloucester Road. “Now I can't see many wanting to start up here. If you were a businessman coming into Bristol, you’d be very hesitant. “If people have to pay to shop, they won’t come. It’s simple for people to get here in a costeffective way. “There's a good mix of shops, which encourages people to the road. The high street is a part of Bristol’s economic success.” Mr Murray believes that problems on Gloucester Road began when Bristol City Council

introduced the bus lane around 10 years ago. He claims that he lost two and a half hours’ trade in both the morning and evening, and states that the business hasn’t been able to grow since because of the loss of hours. “What do we get for the rates we pay?” he asks. “A bus lane we didn’t want and now the RPZ.” The implementation of the RPZ is an anti-car lobby, Mr Murray claims. “They just want to get rid of cars – the practicality of it they haven't thought through.

“While I might agree that cycling is better for health, and that congestion and pollution are an issue, we still need cars. “The scheme will be penalising the people who drive in the city such as teachers, doctors, nurses and professionals.” He told Bishopstonvoice: “Consultation is a democratic process, choosing the majority over the minority. I think we need to lobby MPs about how this consultation has taken place. “[Bristol Mayor] George Ferguson says that there has been plenty of consultation, but show us what consultation has been had? “He claims that it has worked in other areas, but where is the evidence? They should have taken it forward once they have enough evidence to do so. “People cannot be subject to change, if they don't know what the change is that’s going to be taking place.”

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June, 2013

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News

‘Zones raise quality of life’ The case for RPZ falls into two distinct parts – local and strategic, writes John Frenkel of Bristol Civic Society, which has backed the mayor’s plans. Local: Before the pilot scheme, parking in Kingsdown was intolerable. Vehicles parked on the pavements and across corners; they blocked delivery, cleansing and emergency vehicles. The scheme’s introduction in 2012 changed the quality of Kingsdown residents’ lives. Those who voted against it now support it. They say the scheme gives them these benefits:  Most residents can park near their homes in the daytime. The scheme transforms the appearance of the streets and modifies driver behaviour. Because a car parked on a pavement stands out, drivers observe the marked parking bays.

 Carers can park near their clients and do not waste allocated “care time” finding somewhere to park.  Before the scheme, some tradesmen, fed up with the parking problems, treated Kingsdown as a “no-go zone”. The visitor parking permits solve this problem.  There are loading bays close to business premises. Time-limited pay and display bays replace the free on-street parking that sterilised all available street parking. The retailers and businesses find that the turnover of vehicles dramatically improves their customers’ access. The city council has a flexible approach to parking schemes. It says that the needs of residents, visitors and businesses will produce different schemes in different areas. Strategic: Controlling parking controls congestion. Every car on

the road is only there because it expects to be able to park at or near its destination. Remove that expectation and the journey will be made by other means. Progressive cities are seeing reducing per-capita car ownership and viewing this as a mark of pride. Bristol has one of the highest per-capita car ownerships. Far from this being a mark of prosperity it is a mark of shame for the local authority and a clear sign of the long-term failure to implement a modern strategic transport policy. Provision for commuter parking has been made but its operation has been crippled by the availability of extensive free parking around the centre. Bristol city taxpayers subsidise the park-and-ride services and the car parks because they are underutilised. Well of course they will be so long as there is a free alternative!

Summary: The experience both here and in comparable cities is that the overall quality of life for residents is greatly improved by RPZ. Increasing the attractiveness of the inner city is essential as the costs, both financial and environmental, of commuting continue to rise beyond general inflation with increasingly negative impacts on daily life. People are right to be concerned that the fine details of the scheme must be as right as they can be in each area and council officers must greatly improve their record when it comes to both obtaining local input and acting on it or explaining why in any instance they cannot. However no scheme can be perfect at first and it is better to get a reasonable scheme in place then adjust on the basis of experience, as has happened in Kingsdown, than endlessly arguing about the supposed effects beforehand.

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News

Work planned for Promenade Residents have been asked for their views on proposed work to The Promenade, which would see trees removed and new ones planted and a larger bus shelter to replace the current two. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;public realm improvementsâ&#x20AC;? will also see parking arrangements along the outward bound stretch of Gloucester Road altered to provide some extra short-stay parking. The bus shelter would provide more seating with a 30-metre raised bus kerb platform and a Real Time information display. The council has secured ÂŁ30,000 from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund for improvements in the Gloucester Road area. Residents can view the full plans at www.citizenspace. com/bristol/city-development/ promenade/consult_view and share their views with the traffic management group until June 7 on 0117 903 6822 or at nigel. lapworth@bristol.gov.uk.

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June, 2013

On the Beat News from the local policing team with PCSO David Said Hello, readers. The local police team recently attended the Bishopston Neighbourhood Forum. The Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Sue Mountstevens attended and outlined the Police and Crime plan for the area. Police visibility and speed watch were issues that those attending the forum were particularly interested in. Regarding visibility, the neighbourhood police team aim to be as accessible and visible in the community as possible and have a patrol plan in place to ensure we are addressing local concerns. This means that we are more visible in some areas than others. Community speed watch continues to gather support. I have sent a request to the road policing unit for Sommerville

Road to be added to our list. If the street is added we will then ask for those wanting training to come forward. This month I will join forces with the PCSO for Cotham, Megan Emery, and conduct a crime and consequences lesson for the Year 6 students at Bishop Road School. The lesson is aimed at keeping the students safe as they progress to secondary school. We hope to visit all the primary schools in Bishopston before the end of term. Theft from cars and burglaries are some of the predominant crimes in the Bishopston and Redland area. In order to reduce this and prevent yourselves falling victim to these crimes, please remove all valuables from your vehicle and if you have a sat-nav, remove the cradle and the sucker marks

from the windscreen. Do not hide it in your car as thieves will find it. Do not leave any items of clothing on display in the vehicle, as a thief may try to steal it in the hope there is a purse or some cash in it. When you leave your house, make sure it is locked and all the windows are shut. A high number of burglaries are committed when properties are left insecure. If you have an alarm make sure you use it. When you have left your property, make it look like you are in it by using light timers and/or leave a radio or TV on a timer switch. If you are going on holiday, ask a neighbour you can trust to push post through the door and clear it from the doorway. It also helps if the neighbour can open and close the curtains.

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June, 2013

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Advertising feature

Your eyes deserve perfect sunglasses Last month Gerard Fernandes, Director and Optometrist at Gloucester Road’s Lynne Fernandes Optometrists, told us how to choose perfect sunglasses. This month Gerard gives some background as to why sunglasses are essential for everyone for eye protection. Glare

Everyone experiences glare from scattered or unexpected light sources. Glare from reflected sunlight is easily reduced by wrap-round sunglasses. Good opticians will hold high quality sunglasses, such as my favourites Maui Jim polarized.

Protection from light

Visible light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which ranges from radio waves and infrared waves to ultraviolet (UV) and X-rays. It is not exactly clear what role UV light plays in eye

damage, but it is important to realise UV light does cause damage to all parts of the eye, just like UV light damages our skin. Some recent studies show that people with low macular pigment may be at higher risk. It’s for this reason once a month we offer our free macular pigment screening clinic. The best way to protect our eyes from UV light is to wear sunglasses.

Sunglasses UV filters

Around 99% of sunglasses sold in the UK will have the European CE mark or British Standard BSEN 1836:2005. These filter most of the damaging UV light. Cheap sunglasses will usually have this protection as well as the higher quality sunglasses reputable opticians such as Lynne Fernandes Optometrists stock.

Blue light and optical clarity

So why choose high quality sunglasses? Blue light in the visible

spectrum can also cause damage to our eyes. It is scattered by moisture and dust particles in the air and is responsible for haze on bright sunny days. Blue-blocking lenses reduce glares without making things too dark. The precision with which a lens is ground affects optical clarity, particularly with wrapround frames. Maui Jim and Oakley have developed patented precision techniques for ensuring the best clarity possible, particularly when translating a prescription produced by your optometrist.

Look and feel great with sunglasses from Lynne Fernandes Optometrists

In my opinion you can’t beat consulting an expert so please do pop in and try on different styles. You’ll have fun, and end up seeing, looking and feeling fabulous. Call in at 75 Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8AS or call us on 0117 942 6843.

His - Freight Trains

Hers - Coconuts

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June, 2013

Rabbits – what’s new? News

Until now the rabbit has been very underestimated as a family pet but recently their numbers have increased dramatically. With the advent of the “house rabbit” owners are appreciating what wonderful characters rabbits are and what rewarding pets they make, and not just for children. Along with the increase in their numbers, so the knowledge of rabbit husbandry and medicine has dramatically improved and vets are well positioned to offer advice to new and existing rabbit owners. Rabbits are very social creatures and we now know that they flourish best when kept in bonded pairs with plenty of activities to keep them occupied. It is now routine surgery to neuter both male and female rabbits and it has behavioural as well as health benefits. Rabbits can be neutered from the age of four months. Feeding rabbits has long been a controversial topic but just last month the results of a two-year study at Edinburgh University were published. The study has proved that the muesli-style diets fed to rabbits can lead to health problems such as dental and digestive disorders as well as obesity. Vets have suspected this for some time and have advised pellet foods but now we have the evidence to back up our advice. Rabbits should be fed a high-fibre diet consisting of mostly hay or grass together with fresh fruit and vegetables. Pellets can be fed but only in small quantities, about an eggcup-full a day for each rabbit. Some of the large pet shop chains have stopped stocking muesli-style diets. If you need to change your rabbit to pellet feeding it must be done gradually over two to three weeks. Please ask us for advice if you want to

know more. Rabbits should be vaccinated annually against myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease. We now have a new combined vaccine that gives a full year of protection for both diseases in a single injection. Even house rabbits that do not come into contact with any other rabbits are at risk as the viruses involved are spread by flying insects. Both diseases are rapidly fatal and no treatment is available. At this time of year, rabbits are at risk of “flystrike” where flies lay eggs on a dirty or diseased rabbit. These hatch to maggots and can lead to the death of the rabbit within days. All rabbits should be checked daily for any faecal soiling.We have a product available called Rearguard that can be sponged onto the skin and is effective for 10 weeks to prevent fly eggs maturing to maggots. Please call us to book your rabbit in for one of our nurses to apply the Rearguard, we do not make a charge for the application. For excellent advice on more aspects of rabbit health, husbandry and behaviour the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund is a great source of information - www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk. Please do consider joining the association as a member and in doing so you will be helping to support valuable research into all aspects of life for a rabbit. If you are thinking of getting a pet then do think about a rabbit, or two! Please do not hesitate to ask us for any more advice and come in and see our range of rabbit foods and treats. 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

Anne-Louise Perez and Imogen McIntosh, the founders of YourStreet Ltd

UWE to back independent retailer card by Rebecca Day The University of the West of England is looking to invest in an initiative which aims to support local, independent retailers. YourStreet Ltd is a new multi-store gift card which can be purchased online and redeemed only in independent stores and services, with many Gloucester Road traders already signed up to the scheme. UWE is looking to invest between £30-£50,000 in the scheme. The cards will be given as a welcome gift to new students coming to Bristol in September 2013. Each student will receive a card pre-loaded with £10. Set up by Bishopston residents Anne-Louise Perez and Imogen McIntosh, the idea was conceived after the pair struggled to buy a friend’s 40th birthday present from Gloucester Road, finding it too difficult to decide where to spend the money they had clubbed together. They felt a gift card for independent retailers would not only give the customer the “gift of choice”, but would be hugely beneficial to the community. “YourStreet is about bringing footfall and spend to the high street and its fantastic independent traders,” says Anne-Louise. “We are presenting a channel and opportunity for independent retailers to have a slice of the £4 billion currently spent in the UK on gift cards.” YourStreet is the first multi-

store gift card in the UK for independent businesses. John Rushforth, the deputy vice-chancellor at UWE, said the finer details were being worked out but the university was pleased to be backing a local initiative. He said: “This is a great idea that serves several purposes. It encourages students to shop locally, helping them settle in, while also supporting our former student Imogen McIntosh. “The vibrant and diverse retail sector in Bristol is a real attraction and benefit to students here.” The university already has a range of initiatives and services set up to help small businesses, including a regular farmers’ market on Frenchay Campus. Purchasing a gift card is currently done through the YourStreet website. The receiver of the card has to activate it online, and then they are able to spend it in any of the shops listed on the website’s directory. There are currently around 50 retailers on board. The YourStreet Gift Card is to formally launch on June 22 at 102 Cookery School on Gloucester Road. It is set to be a high profile event with attendance from Bristol Mayor, George Ferguson, Tom Baker, one of TV’s Fabulous Baker Brothers, and representatives from UWE, as well as entertainment. To find out more about the scheme, visit www.yourstreetgift cards.com.

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June, 2013

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Youth and education

Cubs put questions to PCSO Members of 1st Bishopston Monday Cubs’ group said ‘ello, ‘ello, ‘ello to a special visitor from the local policing team at one of their May sessions. PCSO David Said was given an enthusiastic welcome when he dropped in at the group’s Kings Drive HQ to talk to the youngsters about the job, answer their questions, let them try on different uniforms and take a closer look at a police car – even hopping into the driving seat. The group also used the visit to learn the phonetic alphabet used by police, take their own fingerprints and memorise their home addresses before taking part in a police-style fitness test. David Said said: “It’s nice to engage with the local children, it’s an important part of community policing. It’s nice for the kids to know who I am and they then feel quite comfortable coming to speak to us.” Meanwhile the 1st Bishopston

Scout Group – now the largest in the district – held its AGM and barbecue last month. The expanding group is going from strength to strength, say leaders, but new adult volunteers are vital for its future. Group Scout Leader Mike

Banfield will be stepping down next year while Friday Scout Leader Peter Hart is retiring next year after 27 years’ service. A spokesperson said: “Key roles will need to be filled by new adult volunteers so please consider joining our team.

Both Tuesday and Friday Scout Troop require additional help so if you’re able to help on a regular basis, please let us know.” Visit http://1stbishopston. ukscouts.org.uk/ for more details and to get in touch.

Your news

Tell us about your school or youth group’s news at news@ bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Squad swim their way to victory Redland High Junior School’s Elite Swimming Squad lived up to its name, swimming to victory in the final of the Bristol Schools Swimming Gala. Kate Shortman, Alexandra Morris, May Bingham, Francesca Gilpin and Claudia Spice won a number of individual events in the gala, including the 25 metre races and the Individual Medley, before going on to win the City and County Dolphin Trophy. Craig Figes, Captain of the Team GB Water Polo Squad in the 2012 Olympic Games presented the girls with the trophy. Joe Eyles, headteacher at Redland High Junior School, said: “This is the first time that the school has won the Dolphin Trophy so it is a huge achievement for the girls and we are all very proud of them.”

The Bristol Schools’ Swimming Gala is an annual event which has been awarding the Dolphin Trophy since 1963.

School hosts community meeting Cotham School is inviting members of the community to a public meeting this month following the decision to change its status to a Co-operative Academy last year. The school is in the process of developing a forum to represent

the stakeholders of the school, including students, staff, parents, the community and alumni. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 11, at 7pm in the Main School Hall. See Letters on Page 11 to find out more.

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A group of green-fingered Bishopston residents who opened their gardens to visitors for one afternoon in May have raised a staggering £1,700 with more coming in. Members of Bishopston Garden Club welcomed members of the public through their garden gates on Sunday, May 19, to admire their handiwork, enjoy refreshments and buy plants for their own homes. The proceeds from the event will be split between a number of causes and projects, with half helping to fund planting and hanging baskets on Gloucester Road and the rest going to research into cystic fibrosis, aid agency Cafod and to Purple Fields Productions, which makes educational films for developing countries. One of the organisers said: “It was a very enjoyable day and everyone did their bit to help make it successful.”

TER T E

Open gardens rake in £1,700

News

Zones require careful planning I believe resident parking zones can achieve excellent environmental benefits, be popular with residents, and improve shopping areas. Evidence from many other UK cities supports this. However, parking zones must be carefully planned. With regards to Bristol, this means a radical reduction in public transport fares, more frequent buses, new bus routes, accelerating railway station reopening and promoting park and rides. Medium- to long-term financial returns from parking zones could be designated exclusively to support this. With regards to my specific area, Ashley Down, I think daytime commuter parking

June, 2013

is limited. However, it could become worse if other areas have parking zones (as happened for Redland after the Kingsdown/ Cotham zones). Ashley Down must be included in the parking zone strategy if commuters are genuinely going to be encouraged not to use cars. Parking in Ashley Down is likely to get worse anyway. One outcome of the controversial Memorial Stadium Sainsbury’s planning decision, is that the clear alternative plans – approximately 550 student accommodation with no parking, a hotel, and 50 per cent on-site stadium expansion – will not happen. However, other developments are happening, which have not provided deignated parking. These include some of Ashley Heights/Gloucester County Cricket Club residential flats, possible car-free student accommodation on Ashley Down Road and the Seymour Road townhouses. The GCCC stadium expansion does not appear to create any new parking. It takes 50 spaces on a daily basis from a very congested college car park, and 150 “on match”. The GCCC conference centre is expanding by nearly 200 per

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June, 2013

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any further residential development in Ashley Down has designated parking, is a priority for the council. Down the road from the proposed Ashley Down parking zone, I would also suggest some of the parking spaces around St Andrew's Park be designated for Gloucester Road shoppers. Without the above being taken into consideration, my support for residents’ parking could change. A concerned resident

School to hold public meeting In January 2012 Cotham School changed its status and became a Co-operative Academy. The decision to choose Co-operative status was significantly influenced by the school wishing to retain its close working relationship with its broad and diverse local community. The Co-operative status of the school has enabled us to begin the development of a Forum. This is a group that will represent the key stakeholders of the school: students, staff, parents, the community and alumni. We would like to invite you and your readers to an evening which will introduce the idea of the Forum to you and help us to develop the voice of our local community as stakeholders in the school. There will be an open public meeting on Tuesday, June 11, at 7pm in the Main School Hall. This will be an informal evening with some short presentations from the school and some of our students. It is an opportunity to discuss with other people present how we can develop ways to work together. Our site has had extensive development in recent years and we would love to show you our fantastic new facilities prior to the meeting on a short tour of the school commencing at 6.30pm. If you would like to find out more about what is already happening as the school develops the core Co-operative values in its daily life, please visit our website: http://frog.cotham.bristol.sch. uk/cothamcoop David Yorath, Chair of Governors of Cotham School

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cent to 400 capacity. It seems likely that there will be further road safety measures in the future that reduce parking, such as double yellow lines near the cricket stadium. It also seems likely that property developers will continue to want to build in Ashley Down wherever they can. My specific requests for an Ashley Down residents’ parking zone are as follows: a) The zone is extended to 6.30pm or 7pm to avoid excessive evening Gloucester Road users and GCCC conference centre users parking. It is hard to park in Ashley Down in the evening simply because of small house sizes, not because of high car ownership. That there are a numbers of families in Ashley Down the wrong side of the deeply socially divisive house price rises makes this request all the more relevant. b) Any further removal of parking for Gloucester Road businesses is considered carefully. Road safety is essential, but how Safer Cycling funds are spent should be planned with care. Current levels of parking on Gloucester Road seem essential to support businesses. c) There are several spaces for Gloucester Road customers, free for an hour and 50p for two hours on each nearby residential road. Registration plate entry could stop people using the free hour twice. The new Sainsbury’s actively advertises that its car park can be used for three hours so customers can also shop on Gloucester Road. d) any yellow lines should be applied carefully, perhaps with some being single ones on smaller residential streets. The current ratio in Ashley Down of just over one on-street parking space to household must be maintained, at least in the evening. e) Eight to 10 parking permits are given to both Ashley Down Primary School sites. Colstons Primary, in the Cotham zone, only had two. f) Any further increase in costs in the forseeable future are for two-car-owning residential households. This will be most likely to genuinely challenge car ownership. g) Looking for a car park for Gloucester Road, and ensuring

Yourviews Send your letters to Bishopstonvoice, 16 Chandag Road, Keynsham, BS31 1NR or news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Editions ‘newsy and interesting’ I have to write and let you know how much I enjoy Bishopstonvoice. I live in Greendale Road and have had your last two editions delivered. I find it very newsy and interesting. Keep up the good work! Name supplied

Adding support With reference to “Parking Plan Is Further Squeeze”, May 2013 Issue 5. While I do not agree with every word of this letter I would like to add my support as it reflects much of my thinking. St Andrew’s resident, by email

News

Warning over mattress seller Trading Standards staff have issued a warning after reports from residents in north Bristol of a man who cold-called them selling mattresses. The man was in a white van and called at properties in Henleaze. Michael Reed, principal trading standards officer, said: “There are a number of flammability tests for mattresses which are demanded by law and, in addition, the items must be correctly labelled. Residents who buy a mattress from someone who calls on them or stops them in the street are unlikely to have full details of the seller if things go wrong, if the items prove unsatisfactory or, worse, unsafe.” It is not an offence to sell goods door-to-door. But anyone with concerns, or who would like to report an incident, is urged to contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline 08454 040506.

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May events â&#x20AC;&#x201C; In pictures

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Right, above and below, enjoying plant sales, morris dancing and pond-dipping at the Golden Hill Community Garden Spring Fair

Top, Jack in the Greenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual procession welcomes summer; above, the Redland Green Community Chorus performs outside Horfield Baptist Church at the My Neighbourhood Festival

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Photos: Emma Cooper, Karina Hall and Joni Mann

Dancing, drumming, bowling and fun at the Redland May Fair

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June, 2013

News

Shop to shut ‘in ethical way’ A renowned ethical clothing shop will be voluntarily closing down this month after 28 years in business. Since its inception, the Bishopston Trading Company on Gloucester Road has created a profound link between the local community in Bristol and the village of K V Kuppam in South India. The reason behind the shop’s closure is mainly due to “huge changes” which have taken place in the village. Carolyn Whitwell, the founder of the company, explains that “an entire generation has grown up” since the project started. “All of our workers’ children have been educated and very few are now seeking jobs as tailors or embroiderers.” She also explains how the fair trade company helped fund a scheme which enabled the weavers’ children to remain in school until they were 17 years old.

A handloom weaver at the factory in the village of KV Kuppam in India, set up by the Bishopston Trading Company “Many of these children have now gone onto higher education. There are now not enough weavers in the area to keep up with the supplies we need.” Carolyn’s interest in development education, combined with her involvement in Voluntary Service Overseas when she was young, inspired her to set up the link between Bishopston and

Kuppam in 1978 with her friend Sally Whittingham. Carolyn explains how they chose Kuppam after approaching development charities for help finding a community to link with. “Six years later, while discussing projects to fund in the village, one of the leaders wrote to us saying that it was not our money that they needed, but work. This inspired me to set up a trading link.” Bishopston Trading Company began with a tailoring unit in Kuppam where seven tailors created the clothes out of locally woven fabric. When the company became profitable in 1989, Carolyn

turned the business into a workers’ co-operative, so it was owned by the people who worked for the business. Twelve years ago the company invested around £130,000 to build an architect-designed factory for the workers. At its peak, there were around 200 people employed to work, creating a turnover for Bishopston Trading of more than £1 million. Shops have also been based in Bradford-on-Avon, Glastonbury, Stroud, Malmesbury and Totnes, with products sold worldwide. However, Carolyn says that it is not just the developments in Kuppam that have prompted her to close the Bishopston Trading Company. “Britain’s economy has been slow for five years and this has changed the buying habits of our customers. “Our customers worry about the environment and over-consumption. They’ve not deserted us, but are buying less.” Carolyn added: “It was important for us that the business did not collapse, but that we closed down in an ethical and honourable way. “We have all been very much cheered by the wonderful things people have said about us.”

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Welcome to Bishopston Mum's June column for Bishopstonvoice! I wanted to start Bishopston Mum's June column by giving a well-deserved mention to a local couple named Jane and David Trist. Together, Jane and David, pictured right with volunteers, have organised The Ticky Tacky Club which ended a couple of weeks ago after a whopping 20 years! It was an absolutely amazing playgroup with many craft activities. Many children from Bishopston have attended Ticky Tacky over the years and it will be greatly missed. On the subject of playgroups, I want to mention Ardagh Toddlers, which is held Mondays, 10-10.30am, at The Ardagh Pavilion, Horfield Common. Ardagh Toddlers is a playgroup with a difference. There is no waiting list and no agelimit. And, not only is it open in half-term but parents are allowed to bring older siblings along, too. There is outdoor space and in half-term one of the tennis courts at The Ardagh is used so that older kids have

more space to run around. It is also unstructured which makes for a relaxing atmosphere. I am pleased to report that we received our first choice of primary school for our son! I wrote before about how the thought of my little boy going to “big school” made me a little sad. I am starting to feel better about it. Over the last couple of months my son is becoming increasingly physically active and when I say “climbing the walls”, this isn't simply a term of expression! He climbs everything, including window sills, furniture, etc. I am becoming aware that he needs something more than pre-school. His going to school will also free

up my time so I can put more energy into writing. While I am sure it will be bittersweet when the big day comes, my son is approaching the stage of being ready for school and thus, I am nearly ready for it, too. But for now I am happy that my son has got his place at our preferred primary school and that therefore my daughter has a guaranteed place there, when her time comes. We have spent time over the last few weeks enjoying the recent blue sky and sunshine simply exploring

Gloucester Road. My children have tried hats on at Billie Jean Clothes, gazed in awe at old churches and marvelled at the freshly baked breads in the window of Joe's Bakery. They have “played” piano in Marie Curie Cancer Research shop, made friends with Flynn, the dog at Artemis, tasted delicious cakes in various cafes and roved the beautiful garden at the World Peace Cafe for treasures. Together we have been delighting in the wonders that Bishopston has to offer and I am glad that my children will be growing up here. Bishopston Mum www.bishopstonmum.com

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EIGHT PAGES on making the most of your home – indoors and outdoors ADVERTISING FEATURE

Beautiful inside and out From finishing touches to ambitious home improvements, find a range of ideas inside Home – it’s the one small corner of the world we can shape entirely to suit our tastes and meet the demands of our lifestyles. Whether it’s a place to escape, to entertain, to enjoy family life or a space that is all your own, it is so much more than four walls and a roof over one’s head. Television programmes abound focusing on everything from making the finishing touches to your environment to complete renovations and even building the perfect pad from scratch. Here we have brought together local companies and traders who want to share their expertise to help you make your home your own. From home essentials such as electrics, plumbing, tiling, building and gardening, to interior design, home extensions and kitchen transformations, or even green features such as solar panels, you’ll find ideas inside. We’ve also got tips from some of our regular columnists on interiors and gardening.  Pictured left, new kitchen doors by Dream Doors; a reconditioned chair from Zoe Hewett Interiors

Solstice Dial by Bristol glass artist Adele Christensen

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Homes and Gardens Artwork adds a touch of glass From my studio in Keynsham I have been developing and combining previous skills and experience to create the painterly and textured appearance that characterises my current work in glass. Recently I have been experimenting with a more sculptural approach, similar to when I graduated from Stourbridge Art College. This involves mouldmaking that produces tactile forms. My other influences are from land and seascapes of England and time spent in Denmark. With a revised interest in garden features, sundials (pictured) and sculpture, I work to commission but also produce work for more conceptual exhibitions. Adele Christensen www.adelechristensen glass.com

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Homes and Gardens

Service goes the extra mile Threesixty Plumbing Services is organised and managed with one thing in mind: to deliver high quality workmanship and the best customer service in heating and plumbing. From turning up on time to completing the task with a minimum of fuss our experienced, qualified plumbers and heating engineers deliver a top-class service, with the same care and attention whatever the size of the task. They will keep mess and disruption in your home to a minimum and clean up at the end of each day, taking all old parts and packaging away with them for responsible disposal. We know that the best way

to build any business is through long-term customer relationships and plumbing and heating is certainly no exception. We go the extra mile so that you’ll be happy to use and recommend our services over and over again. We are members of various representative bodies including the Institute of Plumbing and Heating, Federation of Small Business and GWE Business West. Whether you need a leaky tap fixed, a blockage unblocked, pipe work re-routed or a new shower fitted in your bathroom – we can help. Our engineers are fully qualified and insured and all our work carries full parts and labour guarantee. See our advertisement on page 4.

Finding that elusive space at home If you require more space one option is converting your loft. Another solution to finding that elusive space would be to extend with a garden room or have an insulated, bespoke cabin/annexe in the garden. Expanding your home to connect with the outside is a pleasant way to make use of your property’s potential. A multipurpose, bespoke cabin built within your garden and evolves with the changing needs of your family. With experience

in Scandinavian summer-house construction and design this can be an attractive, useable addition to the home, for all-year-round use. As an engineer and carpenter, of 30 years, I bring the necessary experience to my company. We are able to take care of your project from start to finish in every area: design, planning, building regulations and design solutions. Kim Christensen www.linebuild.co.uk

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June, 2013

Homes and Gardens

A passion for your projects

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JMI Building services was founded in 2006, and the company has a qualified and experienced workforce with over 16 years’ experience in many different trades. Work is always completed in a professional manner and we consistently build excellent relationship with our customers. We carry out home improvements, solar energy installation, extensions, electrical, plumbing, brickwork, fence erecting, bathroom and kitchen fitting. Please take a look at recent photos of jobs we have completed on our website www.jmibuildingservices.com. We always guarantee our work. Any work carried out will meet or surpass current planning and building regulations. All work will be of a high standard and we will be responsible for

any costs incurred due to faults occurring to our (or our subcontractors’) work for a period of one year. We like to think that working for you will help to build our reputation. That’s because so much of our work comes from referrals and repeat business. It’s the attention to detail, passion for your project and willingness to listen, be flexible and charge fairly that’s won us so many friends over the past six years.

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Homes and Gardens

Inside story with interior designer Zoe Hewett It appears the recession of the last few years has fuelled fondness for all things green, thrifty and vintage. From learning to sew your own cushion covers or painting your own furniture to baking your own bread, the popularity of fun, skilful workshops has soared. Part reaction against massproduced, cheap fashions in clothing and home-ware, and part nostalgic longing for simpler times when things were made to last, vintage and shabby chic are two trends that seem to be here to stay. Reconditioning or “upcycling” old furniture that would otherwise have been skipped, is one activity I like to do towards helping the environment (it’s like Corporate Social Responsi-

bility on a tiny scale!), and also keeping things interesting when there are forests and forests of homogenised flat-packs available in several shades of beige. Using a mixture of upholstery, eggshell paint and decoupage treatments, even the most boring, ugly items of furniture can be transformed into unique statement features that express personality and style. The recently opened Bohemia Vintage Boutique, just a short walk from Bishopston on Picton Street, epitomises the current vogue for vintage, up-cycling and support for local shopping. Now stocking my reconditioned furniture alongside printed cushions and lampshades from Susan Farrar Art Designs, beautiful quality

an eye on the Facebook page for details of the launch event on Saturday, June 15, at www. facebook.com/bohemiapicton street. To receive a free step-by-step guide to covering a favourite piece of your own furniture with a decoupage treatment, go to the freebies page of my website and sign up at www.zoehewett interiors.co.uk

vintage china, cutlery and clothing, and handmade upcycled gifts by Bristol-based designers, Bohemia is a veritable emporium of treats. Keep

 Zoë Hewett is an independent interior designer with a background in theatre design. Commissions for furniture reconditioning are welcome. Call 07974 544 734 or email zoe@zoehewettinteriors.co.uk.

Restoring ovens to ‘as good as new’ Jason Williams has built his business based on a high quality result, a thorough clean of all parts of the oven (unlike other similar companies), 100 per cent customer satisfaction and all at a very competitive price. With over 25 years in the cleaning trade, he takes great pride in his work and has a very keen eye for detail. Ovenclean uses non-caustic materials, making no mess or fumes and restoring your oven to “as good as new”. Burnt-on food deposits in ovens not only create hygiene problems but can also

detract from the quality of cooking. The benefit to the customer of Ovenclean is the personal service from the local franchisee coupled with the experience and quality training of the brand. Call Jason on 07795 490834 for a free quote and to discuss your requirements.

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June, 2013

Homes and Gardens Come to our FREE event on Monday, June 10 6.30pm for 7.00pm start Venue: Holistic Building Centre, 19 Zetland Road, Redland, Bristol, BS6 7HA Places limited, book now on 0117 909 8090 or email info@holisticbuilding.co.uk

Holistic Building Forum 2013 HBF ‘Streets Ahead’ project – register your interest NOW! With energy prices set to rocket over the next five years, if you could get a substantial grant towards energy efficient measures such as solid wall insulation and high performance windows, would you be interested in upgrading your home? We are looking for householders in NW Bristol to register an interest as we continue to explore all options into accessing ECO

Don’t miss this opportunity to get ‘streets ahead’ when it comes to saving money ....and saving the planet!

Building Professionals Are you a local builder or tradesman interested in up-skilling for the Green Deal? Or keen to get involved but not sure where to start? Come and talk to us about your ideas and aspirations – together we can help make Bristol cleaner and greener.

money. Even better would be a whole street – so get together with your neighbours and then come and tell us about it.

Sponsored by

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Homes and Gardens

Setting scene for home life Entertaining the grown-ups by putting on plays with her childhood friends, interior designer Zoë Hewett recalls making cardboard props and crepe paper rivers from a young age. Studying Theatre Design at Wimbledon School of Art seemed an obvious choice then! Following graduation she worked professionally as a set and costume designer on a wide variety of theatre productions in her native Wales, and later as a feature film art director. But after a decade, Zoë tired of the feast-or-famine nature of life in the entertainment industry and, in need of a change, sidestepped into the world of interiors and visual merchandising, saying: “Being creative is a blessing and a curse sometimes. But I can’t do anything else!”

It turns out it isn’t so different from set design, involving the same drafting, drawing, spatial and planning skills, and understanding a client's personality and needs is indeed similar to getting inside the mind of a character in a play-text. “I ask clients to take me through each room’s use in practical terms; to define words which encapsulate the feel they want for it; to talk me through any ideas they have and special items they want to use as a feature,” she says. “Then I can get to work.” In fact she unwittingly started her interior design career as a teenager by secretly redecorating her parents’ house when they were away for the weekend. Happily, they loved their new sage green and bumblebee yellow lounge, kept it for ten years, and

Ramblers puppetry set in a rucksack for Fair Play Comedy her mother has asked for colour advice ever since. Mary, one of her returning clients in Cardiff said: “I had been unable to make a decision, and didn’t have the time to research it properly. Zoë introduced blue to the bedroom, which I would never have thought of – and it worked a treat!”

Highlights from Zoë’s residential portfolio include an apartment makeover designed to lift its owner out of a serious depression, and a bedroom renovation which removed years of frustration and indecision in a matter of weeks. Visit www.facebook.com/ zoehewett.interiordesign

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June, 2013

Homes and Gardens with our Homegrown Gardener

I have been watching with some anxiety an Escallonia Langleyensis shrub, usually very lively in spring. In the second week in April I saw the tiniest shoot on a branch, and now it looks quite healthy. Now there are signs that is all proceeding as normal even if if is a bit late. Earlier in the year I checked around the garden, for something to do. The hydrangeas I thought would enjoy a good careful pruning, as all the fat new buds were forming. I set to work. The mopheads I took back to a pair of buds about half way down the branch, H. An-

nabelle I left as she likes slightly different attention, just cutting back at the tip. Then we had a frost and a bitter wind. The next day I found the mophead badly scorched on the new buds, and the ends browned. How can one tell when the last frost has gone? There has been a great deal of writing in the gardening

press on the topic of meadows. A dictionary definition is a flat piece of ground, for arable, with flowers. I read some time ago that the essential for a good meadow is impoverished soil. Not because the meadow flowers like poor soil but because there is very little competition from anything else. In a book written by Charles

Flower titled Where Have All The Flowers Gone? he recounts his story of farming from 1978. Realising how many wild flowers had been lost in the countryside, he set about research and has now built up a business growing and selling wildflower seed. Even a small patch of garden can be used, but it takes at least three years for the soil to become impoverished, and a couple more to establish flowers. And I thought it was just a matter of cutting the grass! What will the warmer weather bring? Further flowering to apple and pear trees, grass becoming more lush after rain, all the shrubs with new leaf, putting in bedding plants. There is a lot to look forward to!

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June, 2013

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Advertising feature

Party with us at KudaCan! KudaParties are two hours of non-stop fun for up to 20 children and include party play, a party feast including jelly and ice cream, party invitations, a party bag for each child (£2.50 supplement per child), and one hour’s entertainment of your choice from the following: KudaFun Party Games and Disco Package: Age 2+ – The KudaCrew brings you music, fun, games and craft followed by party favourites such as pass the parcel (age 3+) and musical statues. Come along and join the fun! Lolly Lollipop Package: Age 2+ – Lolly Lollipop Entertainment combines balloon modelling, magic, parachute games, pass the parcel, dancing and party games, bubbles and lots more to make the best recipe for every children’s party! Diddi Dance Package: Age 2+ – Suitable for tots with a penchant for dance or with two left

feet! Your little one will enjoy an hour of great activities, including dancing games, action songs, hoops, dance ribbons, bubbles, bells and lots of fun! Little Music Makers Package: 2+ – Pick from a selection of

themes; Space Quest, Jungle Explorer and Dinosaur Adventure to mention a few. Using a variety of props and instruments you create the adventure together, exploring sound and movement, and building worlds using cardboard, fabric and scrap. Marky Jay’s Monkey Magic Show Package: Age 3+ – With his monkey assistant Professor Steve Chimpington, Marky Jay embarks on a mission to impress and amaze every child in the room with magic tricks and juggling, which never seems to go to plan, with hilarious results. Miss Popularity Package: Age 3+ – Miss Popularity combines storytelling, balloons and simple games to engage her young audience. The children will be taken on a balloon journey and meet all of Miss Popularity’s friends who are all shapes and colours. Yogatails Package: Age 3+ – Yogatails is an entertainment outfit for birthday parties and

events for young children, that blends play, dance, yoga and imaginary adventure storytelling. It’s like having a Mary Poppins in the room! Circus for Beginners Package Age: 4+ – Circus for beginners is a combination of performance, drama games and activities with various props to encourage balance, motor skills, inclusive play and of course fun! If party guests have the energy before or after the party, entrance to the play facilities downstairs is half price. This includes their siblings. All KudaParties are £215 for up to 20 children. Cakes, party bags and face-painting can also be arranged for an additional cost. The team at KudaCan is also pleased to announce the centre will shortly be introducing outdoor play. Drop in at KudaCan, 7 Dongola Avenue, Bishopston, BS7 9HG or visit www.kudacan. co.uk to find out more.

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June

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June 4-8 Bristol Musical Comedy Club (BMCC) presents the musical Gypsy, at The Redgrave Theatre, Clifton. Curtain up at 7.30pm, Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Tickets: Tues/Sat matinee £10.50, Weds/Thurs/Fri/Sat eve £12.50. Box Office 07449 120137 or email tickets@bmcc productions.com.

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. June 8 Horfield Organic Community Orchard Open Day, noon-5pm. Photographs, objects, and plenty of stories about the history of fruit growing in and around Bristol. Learn about the history of food growing in the Golden Hill area. Homemade cakes, refreshments, produce and plants for sale. Fruit and food-growing questions answered. Use postcode BS7 8JP, down the lane beside 22 Kings Drive – between Bishop Road

with Bristol poet and author Deborah Harvey Alice Oswald at the Watershed, Bristol, Saturday, May 11 The last time I had a ticket for an Alice Oswald reading, ten years ago in Bath, she fell ill and was unable to attend, so I was delighted finally to catch her sell-out performance of a selection of her work at the Watershed, put on by the Bristol Festival of Ideas in association with the Bristol Spring Poetry Festival. I use the word “performance” advisedly, as Alice Oswald, one of our most intelligent and imaginative poets, learns her poems by heart and is thus able to summon an intense and dramatic delivery that grabs the attention of the audience from beginning to end. I first encountered Alice Oswald’s work when her, long dream-like poem Dart was published in 2002. At the Watershed, the focus was on her most recent collection, 2011’s Memorial. Subtitled An Excavation of the Iliad, Memorial departs from the usual telling of the stories of Achilles, Paris, Helen, and the rest to focus on the individual,

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named heroes whose fates are mentioned only in passing. By providing the reader with sufficient telling detail, she brings them to life only to confront us with the pathos of their deaths. The resulting work is a haunting exposition of the insanity of war, the enormity of its cost in human lives. Apart from Memorial, Alice also read from A Sleepwalk on the Severn, a long poem for several voices which was published in 2009, and earlier poems including Hymn for Iris, a prayer for bridges and connections. Perhaps most riveting of all was a poem about her village in Devon which described in the present inhabitants from generations ago, and which, despite its repeated exhortations to the reader not to be alarmed, was decidedly eerie. The reading was followed by a fascinating question and answer session chaired by the director of Poetry Can, Colin Brown. The Bristol Festival of Ideas continues until the end of August; Bristol Poetry Festival will be back in the first week of October with an exciting lineup of poets and performances.

and Kellaway Avenue. See www. community-orchard.org.uk. Charborough Road School, Charborough Road, Filton. Car boot sale, 10am-1pm. £6 per car, £8 per van. Sellers from 9am. Refreshments available. 10p admission per adult.

June 13 The Bristol & Clifton Dickens Society, Westmoreland Hall, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6YW, 7.30pm. AGM followed by Dog Tales presented by Maureen Foley.

June 15 Bishopston Methodist Church, 245 Gloucester Road Summer Fayre at 10.30am-1pm. Cream teas, cakes for sale, books, and gifts. Tea and coffee will be served all morning. 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 (booking essential). Refreshments/ toilet facilites on site. Contact forgscarbootsale@hotmail.com or 07968 493013. Bristol Choral Society presents a feast of Vivaldi at Bristol Cathedral with the famous Gloria, a tender Kyrie, glorious doublechoir Dixit Dominus plus Summer from the Four Seasons with Roger Huckle and the Bristol Ensemble, all conducted by Adrian Partington. 7.30pm. Tickets and information from www.bristol choral.co.uk or Colston Hall (0117 922 3686). New Harmony Ladies’ Choir Bristol will be performing its annual concert at St Albans Church, Westbury Park, at 7.30pm. The programme will cover a wide variety of songs to include folk, light, modern and choral. We are delighted to be performing with our two invited and very talented soloists, Catriona Pollard soprano, and Samual Oram baritone. Accompanist John Lowe, his debut with NHLC and musical director David Whitfield.

June, 2013

June 16 Friends Of Horfield Common Summer Picnic at Horfield Common, noon-4pm. Refreshments, plants, bric-a-brac, lawn bowls, children’s activities. Visit www. friendsofhorfieldcommon.com.

June 21 Summer Solstice Serenade, Eden Grove Methodist Church, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0PQ at 7.30pm. Featuring the Cameo Orchestra. Tickets £6 in advance from 0117 975 5492 or 0117 969 0654 or at the door.

June 22-23 Yogawest, Denmark Place, Bishopston, BS7 8NW. Workshop by José María Vigar - “Yoga: The discipline of the action”. Sessions are 10am-1pm or 2-5pm each day. To teach incorporating the philosophical principles, together with the learning of the art and the science of postures and breathing control.

June 29 Filtones Choir Annual Charity Concert, Eden Grove Methodist Church, Horfield, Bristol, BS7 0PQ at 7.30pm. All proceeds will be donated to the charity Parkinson's UK. Tickets £6 available in advance from 0117 908 3778 and 0117 969 0654 or at the door. Brazilian Play Group, Quakers Meeting House, 300 Gloucester Road, BS7 8PD. AGM plus entertainment and supper 7.45pm.

What’s on on a regular basis Monday Yogawest, Denmark Place, Bishopston, BS7 8NW. Teenager class (11-16s), 4.30-5.30pm. Children learn a variety of yoga poses to help them with balance, focus and concentration. Taught by Claire Redwood, an experienced Iyengar teacher with primary age children. Runs in term-time. info@yogawestco.uk Morris for fitness and fun, 7.158.15pm at Horfield URC, Muller Road, Horfield, BS7 9RE during term time only. www.thegreatcaper.co.uk. Tel 0117 940 1566 or 07813 346819, email greatcapermorris@aol.com.

Tuesday Food and Friends at Cairns Road Baptist Church 12-2pm. A

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June, 2013

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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, 10.1511.30pm, you can drop in any time during this slot. Ashley's Rise Junior Morris performing Morris side for boys and girls aged 8-16. 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. www.thegreatcaper.co.uk Morris for fitness and fun, 7.308.30pm at Horfield URC, Muller Road, Horfield, BS7 9RE during term time only. Visit www.the greatcaper.co.uk. Tel 0117 940 1566 or 07813 346819, email greatcaper morris@aol.com. 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 at michesaunders@hotmail. com.

Wednesday Knit & Stitch Club, 9.30-11.30am at Heart Space Studios textile workshop, 4 Harcourt Road (just off Coldharbour Road). Tel: 0117 923 2391. A friendly group offering a chance to swap creative ideas and inspiration. The cost is £35 per term including tea and coffee.

The Golden Hill Community Garden. 10am-4pm. Come and get involved in your local community garden! No experience necessary and kids welcome. Learn about growing and relax in our beautiful space with a cup of tea. No need to come every week or stay all day. Our site is wheelchair accessible, including our toilet. For more information contact Lucy ghcgarden@gmail.com or 07506 905394. We’re through the gates at the end of Monk Road, BS7 8NE. www.thegoldenhillcommunitygarden.com

Thursday 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 924 6587 or visit www.bristolladieschoir.org.uk. Knit & Stitch Club, 7.30-9.30pm, at Heart Space Studios textile workshop, 4 Harcourt Road (just off Coldharbour Road) Tel: 0117 923 2391. A friendly group offering a chance to swap creative ideas and inspiration. The cost is £35 per term including tea and coffee.

10 years of wizardry on restored organ A one-man orchestra who has delighted audiences in Filton and north Bristol for years is celebrating the 10th year since a unique instrument was first heard in this area. Byron Jones, also known as the Welsh Wizard, has been thrilling concert-goers on the 1927 ‘Wizard Compton’ at Eden Grove Methodist Church Hall since he and his team completed the painstaking reconstruction of the organ. It was earmarked to be sent to Australia to be used as spares until Byron, a professional musician for 46 years, stepped in and took the organ in bits to his home in Filton Avenue. He carefully rebuilt it before installing it in the hall at Eden Grove Methodist Church where it now sits, rising up from under the stage like a scene from Phantom of the Opera for performances. Byron, who performs across the UK and USA, said: “We thought it would just be here for a couple of years, it’s stayed

ever since and we’ve brought a lot of people in to our concerts.” Wizard Compton concerts  June 22, Donal McKenzie  July 6, Byron Jones with Dirk Jan Ranzjin  July 27, Andrew Nix  August 24, Len Rawle MBE  September 28, Michael Woolridge  October 26, John Mann  November 23, Robert Wolfe  December 14, 7pm and December 15, 2.30pm, Byron Jones’ Christmas Concert Doors open 6.30pm for 7pm start unless stated. Call 0117 949 7742 or visit www.wizard compton.org.uk

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 965 2693 or Barbara on 07717 424421 or email enquiries@avonharmony. co.uk. www.avonharmony.co.uk

Grand hall and grounds host Goldney Gala The grounds of the magical Goldney Hall will host a “secret garden festival” in aid of the charity Sue Ryder. The Goldney Gala will take place on Saturday, July 13, and will run from 11am-9pm, featuring live entertainment, including headline act Ben Montague, The Beau Ties and the Russian Ballet, as well as Shakespeare

performances, crafts, refreshments and a holistic garden offering treatments. Adult Early Bird tickets start at £12.50, find out more at www.sueryder.org/ goldneygala.

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News

Gloucester Road Traders’ Association News

Cycle scheme needs helpers

with chairman Daniel Whelan Welcome to the first of the Gloucester Road Trading Association’s columns in Bishopstonvoice. As well as representing our livelihoods, this high street – the oldest in the UK – is a vital and valued part of the community and plays a big role in making the area what it is. Through Bishopstonvoice we will aim to bring you updates periodically on news and developments from the association. I recently addressed the Bishopston, Cotham and Redland Neighbourhood Partnership Super Forum, where I talked about the problems facing every high street across the nation and the ideas we have to help Gloucester Road traders meet these challenges. The problems facing high streets across the nation have been well documented, such as

‘We are not short of ideas – putting those ideas into action is the challenge’ the impact of the internet and the effects of the recession on shops and small businesses. As an association, we have spoken to traders over the past year to get feedback on how we could help Gloucester Road thrive more than it has done. They have come up with a range of initiatives, including loyalty cards, promoting the area as a destination to draw in more footfall and organising summer and Christmas festivals. We are not short of ideas – but putting those ideas into action is the challenge, with the time and funding needed to implement them. But if we could set up a Business Improvement District

June, 2013

(BID) we could bring in funding and a management company for Gloucester Road could take on the initiatives traders want to see and more. We want to make Gloucester Road more than shopping, to give people that little bit more reason to come here and to make it easier for them to visit. Watch this space… On another matter, we are all very concerned about the proposals for residents’ parking zones and we have requested feedback and dialogue from the mayor. This area is unique and we feel it should be treated as such and we will be drawing up a group response ready for consultation for this area.

A project that takes in unwanted bikes to be restored at Horfield Prison is looking for more volunteers. The Bike Back Project is run by the Bristol-based charity Life Cycle UK. Bikes are donated by members of the public and are stripped down and rebuilt at the workshop in the prison. The charity needs people who can spare some time to work in its worshop just outside the prison to check the bikes for safety and roadworthiness before they are sold. If you have an interest in bike maintenance and have experience in bike mechanics, visit www.lifecycleuk.org.uk or email Rich Edwards at richedwards 1970@gmail.com. Training is provided when necessary.

Come and experience concerts of popular music played on this wonderfully refurbished 1927 Compton Organ played by some of this country’s top organists

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June, 2013

Gluten Free Chocolate and Hazelnut Cake with Abi Smith of Cake Ingredients For the cake: 250g/9oz whole blanched hazelnuts 200g/7oz butter, cubed, plus extra for greasing 200g/7oz dark chocolate, broken into squares 6 medium eggs, separated 200g/7oz caster sugar, preferably golden For the topping: Chocolate hazelnut spread (as much as you like)

Method Place 200g/7oz of the hazelnuts in a food processor and blend them until they are fairly finely ground. If you blend the nuts to the consistency of fine breadcrumbs, they should work a treat, but leave a few coarser pieces to add texture. Set the remaining 50g/2oz hazelnuts aside. Tip:

No food processor? Then use a seal-able sandwich bag and rolling pin, it works just as well and you get a few more crunchy bits. Put the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl and set it above a pan of gently simmering water. Stir occasionally and as soon as nearly all the chocolate has melted, remove the bowl

from the pan and continue to let the chocolate melt in the residual heat. Stir in the ground hazelnuts and leave the mixture to cool for five minutes. Beat the egg yolks and sugar together with an electric handwhisk for at least five minutes until pale and creamy, then stir into the chocolate mixture until thoroughly combined. Wash and dry the beaters well. In a clean bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form – they are ready when you can turn the bowl upside down without the eggs sliding out. Do not over whisk. Add a couple of tablespoonfuls of the whisked egg whites to the chocolate mixture and stir until thoroughly combined, then gently fold in the remaining egg whites. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in the centre of the oven for 35–40 minutes or until the cake is well risen and firm. When the cake is cold, spread it with the chocolate and hazelnut spread and sprinkle with the hazelnuts that you set aside – these can be whole or chopped, whatever you prefer.  See Abi’s advert on page 15.

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described in equal measure. Despite its age, Down and Out still strikes a resonant chord in the modern world.

and leaves, seedpods and seaweeds all feature in my designs. I do a lot of commissions, working closely with clients to give them exactly what they want. Remodeling old jewellery is very popular at the moment as gold is expensive and it is lovely

to be able to keep the sentiment but in a new form. I will be at Art in Action this summer and showing in the North Bristol Art Trail. Prices start from as little as £25 for enamelled copper earrings. Please visit www.harrietstleger

ing on scraps and cigarette butts, living alongside tramps, a star-gazing pavement artist and a starving Russian ex-army captain. Exposing a shocking, previously hidden world to his readers, Orwell gave a human face to the statistics of poverty for the first time – and in doing so, found his voice as a writer. Amazon says – If ever there was a book deserving the title “modern classic”, this is it. A thought-provoking and subtle collection of anecdotes that will make you laugh out loud and balk at the extremes of poverty

Children’s fiction – Read and enjoyed by 10-year-old Theodore Rubin-Petrovic  The Search For WondLa by Tony Diterlizzi Blurb – Eva, who is 12, lives underground with a robot, Muthr. She hasn’t been above ground before, and has never, ever seen another human before. But when a grotesque alien destroys her home she is forced to flee and scavenge for herself in an alien world. All alone, Eva goes on a search to find any other humans, desperate for friends. She meets a lanky old creature who happens to become a good friend and teaches Eva Nine all about this strange place. On her journey to find any other living humans Eva meets weird and wonderful things. Theodore’s review – This is

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Adult Non-fiction – Read by the Library Reading Group in May, now Book of the Month for June  Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell Blurb – George Orwell’s vivid memoir of his time living among the desperately poor and destitute, Down and Out in Paris and London is a moving tour of the underworld of society from the author of 1984, published with an introduction by Dervla Murphy in Penguin Modern Classics. “You have talked so often of going to the dogs – and well, here are the dogs, and you have reached them.” Written when Orwell was a struggling writer in his twenties, it documents his “first contact with poverty”. Here, he painstakingly documents a world of unrelenting drudgery and squalor – sleeping in bug-infested hostels and doss houses of last resort, working as a dishwasher in Paris’s vile Hôtel X, surviv-

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with staff from Cheltenham Road Library

June, 2013

a mesmerizing book, which I would strongly recommend. I found the book impossible to put down. The never-ending cliff hangers and extraordinary vocabulary led me to a wonderful world of my own. I followed this brave and adventurous girl discovering a bizarre but beautiful natural world full of surprises and great characters.  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 over 2 million items across LibrariesWest, and collect from a library of your choice for only £1 per item. And if you’re a parent with young children, come and join us for Storytime on Mondays at 11am, and Bounce and Rhyme on Wednesdays at 11am (termtime only).  Opening Hours Monday: 10–1pm & 2-5pm Wednesday: 10-1pm & 2-5pm Friday: 10-1pm & 2-5pm Saturday: 10-1pm & 2-5pm

Profile: Harriet St Leger, jewellery and enamelling I have been making jewellery for over 30 years, enamelling for 15 years and teach classes in Bristol. It was while teaching at Bristol School of Art that I joined an enamelling class there. This set me off in a new direction, using colour and working on a larger scale. After working on tiny pieces of jewellery, it was very refreshing to allow myself to splash out a bit! I now make enamelled wall panels and jewellery in enamel as well as in silver, gold, stones and pearls. I love to be diverse and I find this keeps my work fresh. My inspiration comes from nature,

designs.co.uk, or email info@ harrietstlegerdesigns.co.uk.  If you are a local artist or craftsperson and would like to be featured, please contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or at emma@ bishopstonvoice.co.uk.

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June, 2013

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Nostalgia

News

Soldiering on to raise funds by Lauren Winney

In this photo the neat terraces of typical Bishopston bay-fronted homes are complemented by the neat rows of trees that line the street. The trees have gone but the solid Victorian properties are still much the same and some readers might have guessed this is Manor Road, running parallel with Gloucester Road from the boundary of Horfield Prison, which was opened in 1883. For more on pictures and publications available from Bygone Bristol, call 0117 942 3177.

Your news & views

Tell us about your news at news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk or write to us with your views at the same address or by post at 16 Chandag Road, Keynsham, BS31 1NR

A local business owner will be putting his stamina to the test to complete a fundraising trek this summer. James Ewin, 26, one of the founders of graphic design company Orca Design, on Cheltenham Road, is taking part in The Trailwalker Challenge with friends to raise money for Oxfam. Trailwalker was originally a test for soldiers’ stamina and teamwork skills. The challenge is to complete the 100km Trailwalker trail – across the South Downs – in under 30 hours, in teams of four. In 2012, only 50 per cent of teams to set off on the challenge crossed the finish line as a four. James said: “It’s a tough and physically demanding challenge but we’re doing our part to

raise more than £1.5m collectively for Oxfam and the Gurkha Welfare Trust. The money raised will be used to help people in poverty make a better life for themselves.” Over the last year James and the team at Orca Design have supported a number of local charities and hope the community wil get behind the fundraising push for this well-known cause. James said: “This is Orca Design’s turn to show support from Bristol. We know how generous Bristol is and we’re hoping people will get behind us and donate for this great cause and show some Bristol love.” To donate, visit the team’s page www.justgiving.com/ teams/team-orca. For more about the challenge visit www. oxfam.org.uk/trailwalker/thechallenge.

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June, 2013

News Quiz raises cash for guide dogs A quiz held at The Chimp House on Gloucester Road has raised more than £300 for the Guide Dogs Association. Organisers say the venue was packed with supporters, including people who brought their own guide dogs for a night out. Prizes for the quiz were donated by local businesses, including food and prizes from the Chimp House, a £30 food voucher from the Tinto Lounge, a £10 voucher from the Metro Cafe, two all-day breakfasts from Yum Yums Cafe, 20 coffees from Lashings Coffee House and even a watermelon from Pawsons fruit and veg shop. Organisers have thanked Guide Dogs Assocation fundraiser Monica Cave for her support in arranging the event and quiz master for the evening Phil Dixon, who runs a monthly quiz at the Prince Of Wales pub, saying: “Without him there would be no quiz!” They added: “It was the enthusiasm and efforts of all the people involved that made it the great success it was.”

Gallery to show artist’s portrait A member of the North Bristol Artists has won the opportunity to show her selfportrait at the National Portrait Gallery in London. Artist and illustrator Laura Robertson was among nearly 2,000 artists who applied for the BP award, with less than 3 per cent selected by judges for the honour of exhibiting at the gallery. Laura said she was “very shocked and surprised to be picked, but immensely proud”. The painting is titled Laura in January and reflects how she felt during the long winter of 2012-2013. It will go on display from June 20. Laura will be exhibiting on Claremont Avenue, Bishopston during the 2013 North Bristol Art Trail. Visit www.laurarobertsonartist.co.uk for more information.

Going it alone has an upside for author Jo From aspiring author to published writer in the click of a mouse, Jo Platt tells Joni Mann about her debut novel, ‘chick wit’ and writing what you know Many of us see escaping into a good book as a real treat – but one Bristol author enjoyed writing her debut novel so much she describes the process as like “sneaking off to eat chocolate”. Jo Platt has squeezed in writing around her two children and part-time job as a medical secretary yet said it felt so “selfindulgent” she kept it a secret from many of those around her. She said: “I didn’t want to confess to friends as it felt frivolous taking an hour or two here and there to go and type away. You hear people talking about being a writer, and they describe the torture, stress and torment of it all, but I found this a thoroughly enjoyable process. It was a lovely thing to do.” Reading Upside Down is the result and follows heroine Rosalind Shaw who, after being stood up on her wedding day, leaves her life in London for St Albans, where new friends and managing a bookshop help her start a fresh chapter. While Ros is occupied in the business of selling antiquarian books, it was a very modern process that saw Reading Upside Down published in February, taking Jo from aspiring author to published novelist in the click of a mouse. Jo decided to self-publish on Amazon, making the novel available as an ebook, a route that has worked well for many with 15 self-published titles among last year’s 100 best-selling Kindle books. Jo explains: “The decision to self-publish was based on being realistic and also being very impatient – I know somebody

Bristol author Jo Platt has published her first novel Reading Upside Down locally who has been trying to get a book published for three years. When I looked into selfpublishing I couldn’t see much of a downside – you put it into Amazon, press a button and it’s there for people to buy. I haven’t got a big marketing machine behind me so I’m using Facebook and Twitter and finding ways to shout about the book. “It feels very exposing to have done this,” she adds, saying she has only written for friends and family before. “Sometimes I find it difficult to believe that I did it, that I plucked up the courage – when I pressed the button I made my husband sit next to me so I actually did it.” The novel has been given a warm reception with most reviews on Amazon awarding it five stars – readers’ praise includes “laugh-out-loud funny” , “true to life”, “beautifully observed” and “intelligently written”. It is perhaps the last that will please Jo the most, who says she prefers the genre “chick wit” to “chick lit”. She says: “Chick lit is a genre that can be associated with poor writing – but it doesn’t have to be. My book is supposed

to be entertaining, amusing and uplifting and I hope the quality of the writing and the characters make it worth reading. The storyline and situations might seem quite light, but lots of the book is based in reality and the characters are an amalgamation of people I know.” Jo has previously lived in London and St Albans – the setting for the book – and along the way friends and family appear either by name or by personality traits or, in the case of her own parents who formed the basis for Ros’s parents, barely altered at all. Jo’s book group – 16 women living across Bristol – also appear by name and she has dedicated her debut novel to them while she works on a second book inspired by the group and set in Bristol. Jo said: “Reading Upside Down was written with those kind of people in mind – bright women with a fantastic sense of humour.” Reading Upside Down by Jo Platt is available from www. amazon.co.uk in ebook format, priced £1.53. Follow Jo on Twitter @JoPlattTweets

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Father’s Day is coming soon on June 16. Here are some great ideas for innovative Father’s Day gifts all available locally y 1. Beast clothing stocks a huge range of men’s clothes and original Bristolian T-Shirts. Here’s the brand’s new one “Where’s ee to?” – £11.99, available in sizes small to XX Large at their store at 224 Cheltenham Road. 2. It’s barbecue season, so how about a local treat? Bristol Beer Factory Gift Pack, containing 3x500ml bottles and a branded glass, about £10, depending which beers you choose. These and much more available from Grape & Grind, 101 Gloucester Road.

3. Get stuck in to make your own brew… Cortez Gold Mexican Style Cerveza Premium Beer kit, makes 23 litres at 4.3%. Great for beginners, only needs a little sugar and water adding. Lots more and expert advice can be found at Brewers Droop, 36 Gloucester Road.

4. If he deserves something a little special, how about 10-yearold Scotch whisky? Eradour, straight from the cask, is 58.6% proof and £46.99. Or 1991 Mezan Trinidad Rum £39.99 70cl. Also from Grape & Grind.

5. Every den has to have a trendy lava lamp. This one is really cool, a 50cm tall red lava lamp with clear liquid, £25 from Ablectrics on Gloucester Road or their website www.electricsand lighting.co.uk. You can even get 10% off your first order if you quote code FLIS210. 6. Attention all Trekkies – the new film is out, so how about a

game to play with Dad? Deck Building Game, premiere edition, £24.99, or a graphic novel – Assimilation 2, a crossover

between Star Trek and Doctor Who, £13.50. There’s loads more for the boys at Area 51, 230 Gloucester Road.

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June, 2013

One to Watch with film reviewer Chris Worthington The Great Gatsby Directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo Dicaprio Baz Lurhmann’s film is the latest interpretation of The Great Gatsby from a total of five films that have been made of F Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 masterpiece. The film follows the story of the book fairly closely but with one important deviation. At the start of the film the narrator, Nick Carraway, played by Toby Maguire (Spiderman), is being treated by a psychiatrist for alcoholism and is encouraged to write a novel as a form of therapy. The novel is The Great Gatsby. This variation on the story as told in the book works very well in the film and is quite consistent with the almost inextricable links between Scott Fitzgerald’s own life and his art. The author himself stated that he found it difficult to

distinguish himself from the characters that he created – is Nick Carraway actually Scott Fitzgerald? For much of the film Gatsby is an indistinct figure and is the subject of many rumours and stories. Everyone has heard of him but no-one seems to know him and most of the people at the wild parties at his mansion on Long Island have never met him. The soundtrack for the parties unexpectedly includes some hip hop by Jay Z. This does complement the darkly hedonistic mood but it also detracts from the period feel of the film and more of the music by composers of the time, including George Gershwin and Fats Waller, may have worked better. Nick Carraway is Gatsby’s neighbour on Long Island and he becomes Gatsby’s confidante, although their limited friendship is tested by Nick’s unease in the company of Gatsby’s

wealthy acquaintances. The details of Gatsby’s past life and the source of his great wealth remain uncertain, although there are suspicions of his involvement with boot-legging liquor during prohibition. Gatsby is obsessed with glamorous flapper girl Daisy Buchanan, played by Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go), and hopes that they will meet by chance at one of the parties. One of the fascinating themes of the film is Gatsby’s conviction that it is possible to recreate the past, a common human failing. In Gatsby’s case he yearns to go back to a brief romance with Daisy five years previously. There are similarities with Scott Fitzgerald’s marriage. In 1918 Scott Fitzgerald met and fell in love with “golden girl” Zelda Sayre. She rejected his proposal of marriage until he became successful as a writer and in the film Gatsby is

convinced he will eventually win over Daisy by the offer of great wealth and an opulent lifestyle. The film has some good special effects used to glam up the parties and there are high-speed trips in vintage cars between Long Island and New York. Along the way the cars drive through the “Valley of Ashes”, a grimy industrial area and a stark reminder of the inequalities of wealth and privilege in American society. Towards the end of the summer on a very hot day Gatsby and Nick Carraway are invited to lunch with Daisy and her husband Tom. Later the mood turns ugly, revealing the emptiness of their lives and setting in motion the chain of events leading to the film’s shocking conclusion. The final words are taken from the novel: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

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A stunning four-bedroom Victorian property full of charm and character, offered in beautiful condition and close to St Andrews Park and Gloucester Road. The property comprises; impressive entrance hallway, two reception rooms and a beautiful character kitchen/dining room leading to a utility room and cloakroom. The first floor offers four well-proportioned bedrooms complimented by a stunning bathroom. The property also benefits from a rear garden and off-street parking for two cars. Contact Andrews Estate Agents at 80/82 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8BN or on 0117 944 4400.

Chesterfield Road

£508,000

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Desperately seeking land Locally-based Clifton Homes have received an outstanding response to their Arundel Road development of development of four three-bedroom houses – two semis and two detached – which are due to be completed this summer. The company feels that the good response to these properties has been down to a careful selection of the right development land coupled with outstanding designs and architectural quality that fit seamlessly into what Clifton Homes calls the “Bishopston Style”. Unlike other developers, Clifton Homes had several advantages to start with – the company is run by people who live locally and they have experience in residential development land, not just building as many houses as possible! As managing director Jonathan Amos explains:

“Development land is a very emotive subject and also a very complex one when it comes down to selling, planning and proposing what is the right development route.” Clifton Homes is now asking local people if they have land for sale, or know of anyone who does. If the land doesn’t have planning the company is fully prepared to apply for the relevant permissions. Ideally the land should accommodate around four houses or more, although smaller sites will be considered. Jonathan Amos is also able to advise land-owners nationally on selling their land, for those who may have relatives/friends elsewhere. Please contact Jonathan Amos at Clifton Homes on 0117 373 0077 or email ja@clifton homes.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

June, 2013

News

Table is all set for summer by Safia Yallaoui St Andrew’s Park’s ping pong table, installed as part of the Ping! Bristol initiative

St Andrew’s Park’s ping pong table will be relaunched this summer in order to raise awareness of table tennis and to get the community actively involved in playing at their local park. Although the ping pong table can be used all year round, it will be promoted again this month as part of the Ping! Bristol initiative. Nicola Ferris, Bristol City Council’s sports development officer, said: “I was really pleased to see a table in St Andrew’s Park. There’s a really strong enthusiasm for the game. People who haven’t come across it can get a thrill from playing and it is really easy to master at a low level. It can appeal to so many people and it is relatively low cost.” She explains how St Andrew’s Park fits the criteria for the installation of the table. “It had to be in a park that

was well used and had a community facility like a café.” Resident Gary Ridelan, 48, said: “I think it’s a great idea. It’s something for the kids to enjoy and not just young ones either. Kids of all ages were there last year.” When the first few ping pong tables were installed in Bristol in 2005 the council received many emails from Redland residents who wanted a ping pong table in their neighbourhood. Ping! England has 549 ping pong tables in eight cities, including London. Initially due to be a temporary event when it started up in 2010, after major success it was launched in other cities including Birmingham and Liverpool. Last year over 55,000 people played table tennis with Ping! Bristol and 58 volunteers helped with the running of the initiative. For more information, visit www.pingengland.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

June, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

For June we meet Rob Wood, owner and sole practitioner at Rob Wood Energy Therapies

Tell us about your company. For over 40 years, I have been working with people’s health and wellbeing. I had a long professional career as a psychiatric nurse, and held a number of senior nursing posts during this time, including running a day hospital for the last 17 years of this career. I retired from the profession in 2003, having trained as a reflexologist in 2000. My original business was the Holistic Reflexology Service. About six years ago I trained in EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), and started offering it to clients, alongside reflexology. Since then, I have treated hundreds of clients using either or both therapies. I have recently completed the foundation training in Donna Eden’s Energy Medicine. This understanding in learning how to work with the body’s energies, inspired me to change the name and focus of my business to Rob Wood Energy Therapies. So, while I still offer reflexology and/or EFT, I do so from an “energy perspective”. What service do you provide to the people of Bishopston and Redland? People come to have sessions with me for a whole variety of reasons. A lot of the people I see have stress-related issues that can manifest both physically and emotionally. A feature of EFT

in particular is it is a self-help technique that is easy to learn. Satisfied clients are then able to manage their emotions, rather than feeling controlled by them. I work from my home-based clinic in Belmont Road, St Andrews and from the Bristol Natural Health Service clinic at 407 Gloucester Road, Horfield. For those who prefer I come to them, I offer a home-visiting service. What is the best part of running your business and working in Bishopston and Redland? I have lived here for over 20 years. The Gloucester Road area of Bishopston, Redland and St Andrews is a wonderful place to be part of. Running a business such as mine depends largely on word of mouth, because people

need to have a sense of trust and confidence in the person they are going to see. Being part of the local community means that you are known for the service you provide. What makes your service different from others? When I first started my business 10 years ago, I was rather naïve about how to make it a success. It took a little while before I began to appreciate that what made me stand out from other complementary health practitioners was the length and depth of my past experience working with the wellbeing of others. If you are struggling with an issue in your life, and thinking of using a complementary therapy, you want to know you are in safe and experienced hands.

What are your plans for the future of the business? As my business is already wellestablished, my future plans are to continue offering the service I already provide, both in around the Bishopston and St Andrews locality, and beyond. Contact: Rob Wood, 19 Belmont Road, St Andrews, Bristol BS6 5AW. Tel 0117 9424566 or mobile 07812 113802. Website: www.robwoodenergy therapies.co.uk Email: robwood19@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

June, 2013

Sport

How athlete Ed’s aiming to get ahead in the skeleton Photos: Neil Shelby Long

by Lauren Winney

A local athlete is dreaming of competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. But with limited funding, Ed Smith, 27, is looking to Bristol businesses and the community for support. The talented sportsman started his journey in 2009, when he was chosen to become part of the winter sport skeleton – a fast sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down Ed said: “I attended a ‘Talent Identification Day’ run by UK SPORT at the University of Bath. A battery of tests were carried out and athletes were profiled for specific sports based on

their physical attributes and test scores. One of the sports which scouts athletes through these programs is skeleton.” With thousands of athletes tested through this scheme, an X-Factor-style testing process whittles down the groups until there are only a few remaining. Ed said: “It was really nervewracking waiting to find out at each stage whether you had got through. Then I got the news – I had been picked. I was one of six athletes selected onto the British

Skeleton World Class Performance programme, and have been competing ever since.” An electrician by trade, Ed works as much as he can over the summer to fund his training and competition seasons. Ed has always lived in Bristol, and grew up in St Andrews, then moving to Bishopston; so gaining support and sponsorship locally means a lot to the budding Olympian. James Ewin and Joel Alexander are Bristol-based graphic designers at Orca Design and are the brains behind Ed’s website. They are working on promotional projects for Ed to support his bid to compete. James said: “Orca have seen substantial interest off the back of helping Ed through his Olympic campaign and we’d like to see other local companies benefit in the same way.” Any type of support would help says Ed, who added: “It can be incredibly tough to compete at the highest level in sport, and spending so much of my time away from family and friends is especially hard. There is no way I could have got this far without people’s support, it keeps me

motivated and gives me that extra boost when I need it most. People would be amazed to know how much it means that everyone is backing you all the way, especially in your home town. Whether it be financial support or just a ‘good luck’ now and again, it all makes a big difference.” Winter sports do not get as much time, attention and funding as some summer sports, which is just one of the reasons for Ed’s fundraising. Ed said: “If I’m to continue closing the gap between me and the best sliders in the world then I need to be training like them. Any funding I receive goes toward state-ofthe-art equipment costs, training expenses, supplements; along with additional time on the ice that will enable me to perform at my best. Being able to train fulltime is essential if I am going to get myself to Sochi in February.” Ed also has a passion to get more people in the know about the winter sport. He said: “Sport can have such a massive impact on people’s lives, especially kids. It’s great to remind these

young people how much they can achieve if they really want something. You can choose to be anything you want, and if you work hard enough at it, almost anything is possible. So many people get told ‘you won’t be able to do that’ or ‘you're dreaming, it's never going to happen’ but it’s a great feeling to prove those people wrong. “Who would have thought it was possible for an electrician from Bristol to compete against the best in the world sliding on his face down an ice-track at 90mph?” Ed said this is also an opportunity to get Bristol known to the Olympic world and added: “Every World Cup race throughout the season is televised, and with skeleton being Great Britain’s most successful winter sport, there is a huge amount of media interest in skeleton in the build-up to Sochi 2014. There are some amazing benefits available to businesses associating themselves with British athletes, especially after the success of London 2012.” Ed is not looking just for financial support, but also moral support. He said: “Come and show your support on Twitter or Facebook. Tell your friends about skeleton and what I’m up to. If you’re a local business, get in touch and see how you can get involved and support me. Help me network with potential sponsors. Everyone can help in their own way.” Find out more at Ed’s website www.head-first-ed.com, on Twitter @head_first_ed, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ HeadFirstEd.

 Young footballers at Bishopston United are celebrating another stellar season, with both U14s teams doing the club and their supporters proud. While the U14 As, pictured left, clinched the Bristol Saturday Youth League winners’ title for the second season in a row, the Bs, right, also had plenty to celebrate as they won their cup final against St Andrews. For full match reports see www.bishopstonvoice.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

June, 2013

E: news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

BUILDING SERVICES

TRADE SERVICES

DRIVEWAYS

PLUMBING

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KNIFE SHARPENING

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CARPET CLEANING

STONEMASONRY PLASTERING

WINDOWS AND DOORS

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