Bishopstonvoice March 2013 by Emma Cooper

FREE EVERY MONTH for people and businesses in Bishopston & Redland March, 2013 Issue 3

www.bishopstonvoice.co.uk Cooking with Zazu’s Kitchen, P21 | Mother’s Day treats, P25 5

Inside Bishopston in bygone days P23

Match day fun at cafe P30

Shoppers switch to butchers after meat scandal P3

Pigsty Hill homes near completion P4 Police boss and mayor to speak at events P5 Cricket club development latest P6 Bus campaigner will ‘keep up pressure’ P13

Parking zone plans spark mixed views Plus... Full story – See P2

On the Beat p11 Letters... p14 Bishopston Mum... p15

What’s On.. p18 Puzzles... p20 Property... p27 Classifieds p31

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March, 2013

News Bishopston Voice contacts Emma Cooper Publisher

Joni Mann Editor

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

07887 561567 news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Rebecca Day News editor

Reporters

07912 484405 news@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

Lauren Winney Natasha Russell Safia Yallaoui

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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.

April deadline Our April edition will be going to print on March 25. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us by Thursday, March 21. Advertisers are also asked to contact us by the same date.

Useful numbers Bristol City Council 0117 922 2000 Citizens Advice Bureau 0844 499 4718 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk General enquiries: 101

Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999 NHS Direct 0845 46 47

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Bishopston Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Bishopston Voice is distributed each month to Bishopston residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is always welcomed, contact Emma Cooper on 0117 908 2121 or emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk. This month 8,000 copies will be distributed around Bishopston and Redland.

Mixed views on plans for parking zone by Rebecca Day A parking scheme is set to be introduced in Redland by February 2014, residents heard at a recent neighbourhood forum meeting. The proposed scheme has received mixed responses from local residents, as well as concerns about the length of time it will take to introduce. Redland councillor Fi Hance said: “It’s a great disturbance that it’s going to take as long as a year to implement.” A resident also declared that the current parking situation is “ruining his family’s life”. Terry Bullock, Bristol City Council's traffic manager, confirmed that 12 months was a realistic time period. He stated that it takes six months to consider objectives, while other duties need to be carried out such as surveying and retrieving legal backing for the scheme. He said that residents had suffered enough and significant problems needed to be resolved. Mr Bullock also added: “A message needs to go out to commuters that Bristol is a sustainable city and people need to start using public transport more.” Bristol City Council wants to introduce the scheme to deter commuters from parking in the area. According to the Bristol City Council website, residents’ parking schemes (RPS) are

designed to improve neighbourhoods; making it easier for residents, businesses and their visitors to park. Other benefits include, it says, improved air quality and a safer environment, due to the reduction in obstructive parking, and fewer vehicles circling the area searching for a parking space. Susan Clarke, who lives on Salisbury Road, spoke for the parking scheme, supporting the idea of encouraging commuters to use buses and trains. She said: “I have an elderly mother who lives with me and there is currently a lot of illegal parking from commuters, which is extremely dangerous and obstructive.” In opposition, a local architect raised the issue that the council was “extending a system that already has teething problems”. He said: “Why implement a scheme in Redland, when it’s proven not to work in Cotham?" The scheme, which was introduced in Cotham in December, is thought to have left many spaces within the area unoccupied. Meanwhile, commuters have had to resort to parking their cars in Redland instead. Each permit is an annual payment of £30 for residents and £100 for businesses. Each household is entitled to up to 100 visitor permits each year - the initial 50 are free; the rest cost £1 each.

Delay for final Sainsbury’s verdict Proposals for a Sainsbury’s store at the Memorial Ground had still not cleared the final hurdle in the planning process at the time of going to press. Following the decision to approve the plans in January, Secretary of State Eric Pickles gets the final say on the scheme but had extended the deadline for his verdict until February 26. A number of residents took to the chance to put questions to Bristol City Council’s planning co-ordinator Peter Westbury at

last month’s Bishopston Neighbourhood Forum, following the decision to give the supermarket the go-ahead. Besides concerns over the impact on Gloucester Road traders, the main issues raised were increased traffic and the resulting effect on the road system and air quality in the area. Mr Westbury said following the decision to approve the store there was still more work to do and said it would be “months not weeks” to prepare legal agreements.

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March, 2013

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News Deal struck to keep PCSOs

Dennis Stutt, of W Stutt and Son, says his shop has been busier than usual in recent weeks while other local butchers also report an increase in trade since the horse meat scandal hit the news; below, Dave Giles Butcher

Shoppers turning to their local butchers

The number of police community support officers patrolling the streets of Bristol will not be reduced thanks to a deal struck between mayor George Ferguson and the Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens. The 32 PCSO roles funded by the city council were under threat in budget proposals put forward earlier this year. But now the PCC will fund 10 of the roles while the council will continue to foot the bill for the rest. The news has been welcomed by Bishopston councillor Bev Knott (Lib Dem), who had raised concern at losing the PCSOs. He said: “We understand the budgetary challenges the mayor is having to face. But once he had heard our suggestions how to finance their retention, he was more than happy for the city’s PCSOs to be retained. After all, he has had only a couple months since election for this mammoth task of setting the council budget.”

by Lucy King Butchers on Gloucester Road are enjoying a boom in business in the wake of the supermarket horse meat scandal. Last month it emerged that a number of “beef” products sold in some supermarkets in fact contained horse meat. The news appears to have shaken consumers’ confidence in buying off-the-shelf packaged meat products from big chain stores. Many are now turning to their local butchers instead. Dave Giles, of Dave Giles Butcher, at the junction of Hatherley Road, has seen business rise around 10 per cent in recent weeks. He said the news bodes well for independent high street butchers: “We've certainly noticed it getting busier,” he said. “I think people have lost confidence in supermarkets, whereas, if you buy your meat from a butcher, you know what you’re getting.” He added: “We make our own sausages and burgers, and that is what we are now selling more of, along with minced beef.” Similarly, business is doing well at T & P A Murray, opposite the Bristol Flyer pub. Manager Mike Edwards said the rise in

custom is almost certainly due to the horse meat scandal. He said: “I think people just want to know what they are eating. We know exactly where our meat comes from and we can trace it back to the field. In the long term I think this will be a good thing for butchers. We have a lot of regular, loyal customers, but we are now seeing a lot of new faces through the door, which is great.” Dennis Stutt has worked as a butcher for over 70 years. His shop, W Stutt & Son, has been in business since 1919. “We get our meat from good local suppliers that we trust and have used for 20 or 30 years,” he said. “It has been busier than usual but it may well settle down. I think people are realising that they get quality and good service from their local butcher.”

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March, 2013

News

Pigsty Hill homes to be ready this month by Lucy King

Work is nearing completion on building 24 new shared ownership homes on Pigsty Hill. The properties – 18 flats and six town houses – are being built on the former site of a number of independent shops which had been derelict for over 20 years. Set to be called Stone Hodges, the apartments are being built by Bristol Community Housing Foundation and work is due to finish this month. The homes, just past the new Morrison’s store, are intended to help meet the need for affordable homes in the area. David Bull, housing services manager at Bristol Community Housing Foundation, said: “Bristol Community Housing Foundation is ‘more than just a roof’, it is a locally based and independent,

not-for-profit, housing association which owns and manages over 700 homes across Bristol.” He added: “Being local and independent allows BCHF to offer a personalised service to its residents so that they create homes and communities that everyone can be proud of.” Despite the derelict shops previously being described as an eyesore, the development initially met with concerns from residents and neighbours. Following public

consultation, a resident requested that the development be called “Stone Hodges”, the name of a hardware shop that stood on the site for many years. The new-builds are being sold by Nectar Homes and prices start at £56,000 for a one-bedroom apartment with a 40 per cent share. The redevelopment was made possible by support and funding from the Homes and Communities Agency. The Stone Hodges development offers 24 affordable properties available for rent or low-cost home ownership. The properties include eight one-bed flats, 10 two-bed flats and six three-bed town houses. Mr Bull added: “It is hoped that the development will be completed in March and that the new residents will add to an already thriving and pleasant place to live.”

Help to feed those in need Concerns have been raised by a local community project that changes to the welfare system from April will increase reliance upon food banks nationwide. North Bristol Foodbank founder Stewart North said: “Food poverty can be an issue for people from all walks of life; we often find that many clients are from working families.” The Foodbank has provided food for over 400 clients in the last six months throughout the area, which includes Horfield, Lockleaze, Filton, Patchway, Southmead and Bradley Stoke. The local initiative currently feeds between thirty to forty clients each week. “Providing food is a great way for people to give,” says Stewart. “People know that their whole gift of non-perishable food goes to the person in need.” For details on how to donate visit www.northbristol.foodbank. org.uk.

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March, 2013

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News

Mayor and police boss visit Mayor George Ferguson and Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens will both be heading to Bishopston to hear residents’ views at events taking place in May. The two visits will take place within days of each other at public meetings hosted by the area’s Neighbourhood Partnership. Mr Ferguson will be speaking at a “superforum” on May 11 on the city’s communities and neighbourhoods. A council review of the role of the city’s 14 Neighbourhood Partnerships, which were set up in 2008 with the aim of giving residents a greater say on matters such as park maintenance and minor traffic schemes, is currently under way and will run until April 1. Mr Ferguson said: “The launch of Neighbourhood Partnerships five years ago offered Bristol residents the opportunity for a real voice in the running of their communities. This

Mayor George Ferguson and Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens consultation enables us to review how things are working and what more can be done to empower communities. I want Neighbourhood Partnerships to play a much bigger role in the running of the city with more say over their local services.” The superforum on May 11 is the final event planned in a weeklong Neighbourhood Festival being organised by the Bishopston, Cotham and Redland Neighbourhood Partnership. The programme of events, which is currently being planned, will

begin on May 4 at the Whiteladies Road Farmers’ Market and include the Redland May Fair on May 6. The superforum will take place at Horfield Baptist Church, from noon to 5pm, and will also include a discussion on the challenges facing local high streets. On May 14 Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens will be joining a meeting of the Bishopston Forum, from 7-9pm at a venue to be confirmed, as part of her pledge to spend at least one day a week in the community. Ms Mountstevens said:

“My first week started with visits and I intend to spend the next three-and-a-half-years doing it. It is the only way I am going to be able to listen to the quiet voices. It is not only that I speak to people but they see me out and about and know that I am available to listen to their concerns. I am the residents’ voice in policing.”  To complete a survey on the future of Neighbourhood Partnerships as part of the citywide review, go to www.bristol.gov. uk/npask  If you are a member of a community group and would like to organise an event as part of the Neighbourhood Festival, call 0117 330 6095 or email Nick Clark at nick@rcwpdirectory. co.uk.  Find out more about the local Neighbourhood Partnership at http://bristolpartnership.org/ neighbourhood-partnerships/ bishopston-cotham-a-redland

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March, 2013

News

Cricket club development taking shape by Rebecca Day

Has your pet got a passport? Have you booked your summer holiday yet? Have you considered taking your pet with you? Did you know that a passport can now be issued and valid in as little as 21 days? Changes to the Pet Passport Scheme in January 2012 mean that it is now much simpler and quicker to obtain a pet passport than before. This would enable your dog or cat (or ferret!) to travel to and from EU countries without the need for quarantine. Passports can be issued by a government-recognised “Official Veterinarian” (OV). The pet must be over 12 weeks old. Firstly it needs to have a microchip that meets a certain specifications and it can then be vaccinated against rabies. Twenty-one days after the rabies vaccination the pet can travel using a Pet Passport issued by the OV. The passport is valid for as long as the rabies vaccination is effective. In the case of the vaccination used at Animal Health Centre, that is three years. After that time a booster rabies vaccination is all that is needed to continue the passport. The passport allows travel into EU countries. On returning home to the UK, the pet must be seen by a vet one to five days before travel home to be treated for tapeworm and the passport signed to certify this.

There is no longer a requirement to treat your pet for ticks on the way home but we strongly recommend that all travelling pets are protected against ticks for their own wellbeing to prevent tick-borne diseases and also to prevent exotic ticks being imported into UK and setting up home here. In the case of non-EU countries, additional rules may apply and further information can be obtained from the Defra website www.defra. gov.uk or the PETS helpline 0870 2411710. We also recommend that before travel you research the other exotic diseases that your pet may encounter. Further information on these is available from www.petparasites.co.uk. We stock sandfly and mosquito repellant collars and heartworm medications. So before you book your summer holiday, consider if you can take your best friend with you on a pet passport. Nicky Bromhall at Animal Health Centre is an Official Veterinarian and for the month of March we are offering half price microchips. Please phone for an appointment or call in for more information and... happy holidays!

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

Residents gathered at Brunel Field on February 21 to hear the latest report on the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (GCCC) redevelopment. Jon Young - senior development manager at Galliford Try - informed residents that the pavilion’s structural frame was to be completed by the end of February and floor work would begin in March. The pavilion is expected to be complete by July and, according to Mr Young, the development is “progressing well, despite recent weather conditions”. The basement excavation of the residential flats has been completed and the building of its structural frame will continue until August. The building’s façade works are to commence in late May. Mr Young assured residents that everything was in place to ensure that power floating - a process used to finish concrete surfaces - causes “as little nuisance as possible”. The reinforced concrete works for both projects will involve late-night power floating until the end of April. Planned works will be notified on a weekly basis. There is also a noise-monitoring station, which ensures noise levels do not exceed 72 decibels. Galliford Try – the construction company responsible for the redevelopment – began work after the GCCC scheme received approval in May.

Residents – including the HowZat? campaign group – commended Galliford Try for sticking to start and finish times of construction, and echoed that noise levels had been bearable. They also acknowledged that the notice boards put in place were a useful form of communication. However, residents did raise concerns about lorries congesting surrounding roads and contractors parking in residential spaces. Resident Dominic Turner said: “There is already enough difficulty with parking, and this is only adding to an existing problem. I can only imagine how much worse this will get as the build ramps up and the number of contractors increases.” Issues were also raised about four lorries, which had ignored instructions to avoid the Nevil Road entrance. Mr Young apologised for the inconvenience, but confirmed that these had been the only reported incidents out of 2,000 lorry movements. Peter Hall, ground operations manager for GCCC, said: “The development will provide a top sporting venue for Bristol and the wider region, funded by the apartments being built at the Ashley Down Road end of the ground. It will be a major a centre for cricket that will put Bristol on the national and international sporting map.” The next meeting is scheduled for May 7. For further information on the development, visit www.gloscricket.co.uk.

‘Worries’ raised over learning service Campaigners’ fears over the future of Bristol’s Adult Learning Service have been allayed as a bid to divert £200,000 of council funding was due to be withdrawn. The Green Party had called for the money to be used to tackle homelessness in an amendment to the authority’s budget, due to be debated on February 26. The Lib Dems were due to put forward an amendment to use a

contingency fund to support the homelessness prevention fund instead. “We have been inundated with worries from Bishopstonians,” said local campaigner Chris Harris. “Bishopston is a place that puts a high value on education from infancy to old age, and the Adult Learning Service provides really valuable support for so many, it would be a pity to lose it.”

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March, 2013

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Advertising feature

Eyewear to suit every style I touched on Lens Club last month. It launched with a bang on February 4 offering “free” lenses to all our loyal customers and patients. We’ve always offered to “price match” any other high street optician, but this brings our brilliant value to a whole new dimension. There is no tie in or catch: just great value on fabulous eyewear. The winter/early spring season sees the arrival of new collections from eyewear classics such as RayBan and Oakley. I’m particularly excited about my new frames from the Green collection by Thomas Trauth, a German specialist ophthalmic frame designer. These were launched at Silmo, the Paris show that’s the place to be for niche, quality frame designers: perfect for the Gloucester Road. Green fits something we’ve been searching shows for years: a collection that is environmentally responsible in every step from its origination because it:  consumes the least material  requires the fewest production steps  is the first eyewear designed to minimize carbon footprint  releases no toxic materials during production Thomas Trauth has developed the Green collection with a focus on sustainable production

through innovative design. He combines functionality, ergonomics and style in the simplest form. Here’s the detailed stuff….  Frame colouring by PVD coating (ion plating), gives a tough surface, anti-scratch and ensures the colour never fades.  Nose pads have a 3-D “ball -joint” giving unlimited angles, fitting every nasal contour easily.  Rubber temple tips, are anti-slip, non-allergenic and adjustable.  The front and temples are cut from single sheet beta-titanium super lightweight, tough and flexible.  Patent-pending screw-less hinge, simply cut and folded from one piece of titanium sheet.  It’s arguably the lightest sheetmetal frame in the world! Our Gloucester Road team will tell you, I’m our fussiest customer, I have a large head, I want light frames that are stylish. I’ve just gone Green with our frame of the month for March:

Lynne Fernandes Optometrists’ Frame of the Month for March

Modern life requires us to undertake many roles and to wear many different hats. Lens Club provides you with free lenses so frame matching becomes as natural as any other style accessory. As a member, you no longer have to pay for standard, single-vision lenses when you purchase complete, new glasses. This represents a great saving of £59 on any pair of spectacles but if you need complex or special lenses, you can still have the equivalent value as a discount. Buy as many new pairs as you want: to accessorise; as spare pairs or prescription sunglasses – the choice is entirely yours!

Free Form Green by Thomas Trauth

There is absolutely no fee involved to become a member, so just visit the practice and ask any of our staff about joining – and why not tell your friends too!

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March, 2013

Youth and education Centre aims to by Lucy King

A vibrant new community play centre has opened in Bishopston, offering a host of services for children and parents. KudaCan, on Dongola Avenue, has been open just three months and is already proving popular with families in the area. The facility, described as “a place where children and parents can play, learn and eat”, is arranged over two floors and offers free-flow educational play facilities downstairs, with a range of classes and workshops for parents and children upstairs. It is run by childcare professionals and has soft play equipment for all ages, including a baby area, sensory toys, creche and even a dress-up area, as well as a cafe with plenty of homemade cakes. Owner Pegah Esmaili, who, at going to press was due to give birth to a little girl, decided to open KudaCan after reevaluating

Inside the new community play her life following the birth of her 22-month-old son. “After my son was born everything changed for me,” she said. “I reevaluated my priorities. I used to travel a lot with work and it didn’t give me the satisfaction I wanted. I had the idea to create something that centred around

Issi Trout and Ramal Royal with mayor George Ferguson

City’s first youth mayors voted in A pupil from Redland Green School has become one of the city’s first ever youth mayors. Issi Trout and fellow youth mayor Ramal Royal, both 16, were voted in following Bristol’s Big Youth Vote in which 8,800 young people voted for a Youth Select Comittee last month. The new committee then voted in Issi and Ramal,who goes to St Brendan’s Sixth Form College, in a ballot. Issi said: “I’m really excited about being youth mayor and

helping to give young people in Bristol a voice. I want to carry on the youth select committee’s work to combat bullying and discrimination and particularly want to focus on campaigning for affordable bus travel for young people.” Mayor of Bristol George Ferguson, said: “The aim of the youth mayors is to bring young minds and young thinking to everything the council does from transport to care for the elderly.”

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March, 2013

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Youth and education bring parents together ‘I wanted to draw on my own experiences as a new mother... I didn’t know where to go to meet other mums’

centre KudaCan, set up by Pegah Esmaili support and meeting mums’ needs.” So Pegah took over a former CCTV shop behind Lloyds bank, just off Gloucester Road, and transformed it into a bright, colourful, dynamic play space for babies, youngsters, parents and carers.

“I wanted to draw on my own experiences as a new mother,” Pegah added. “I felt under-supported and I didn’t know where to go to meet other mums. KudaCan is a one-stop-shop for all your pregnancy, parenting and early-years development needs.”

The name KudaCan means “children” in Farsi – the language spoken in Pegah’s native Iran. She added that the centre’s success so far was down to positive word-of-mouth via “the mummy network”. “It’s already proving really popular and I’m quite overwhelmed with the support we’ve had from the community. It’s a relaxed environment and we like to get to know people and encourage people to get to know each other, too.”  KudaCan, 7 Dongola Avenue, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 9HG. Call 0117 942 2877.

How to set up ‘play streets’ Families interested in seeing the road they live on become a traffic-free “play street” for a few hours every week or month are invited to free workshops in Bishopston this month. Bristol organisation Playing Out works to promote neighbourhood play for children and will be hosting two events in the area to show the benefits of the scheme for all ages and how to get started on setting up your own play street initiative. The workshops will take place on Wednesday, March 6, from 9-11am at Ashley Down Primary School, Brunel Field, Ashley Down Road, and Friday, March 15, from 7-9pm, at Bishopston Methodist Church, Pied Piper Pre-school, 245 Gloucester Road. All are welcome, including accompanying children, refreshments will be provided and there is no need to book. For details, contact Ellie Freeman at hello@ playingout.net, call 0117 9537167 or visit http://playingout.net/.

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March, 2013

News

On the trail of local talent People from north Bristol are invited to a week-long celebration of arts this month – and get the chance to seek out some giant apples! Stimulate your Senses is a week-long arts festival, from March 15-21, organised by the With One Voice Partnership, a group of schools in and around Horfield. The event will feature music, dance, craft, painting and more, and at each venue there will be a large painted apple, designed by community groups and schools, similar to Bristol’s famous gorillas. Singers, dancers and bands are also being invited to take part in a showcase performing arts competition at Orchard School on March 18, 19 and 21. The week will include an arts trail around 11 venues on Saturday, March 16, mainly in Horfield and Filton. There will be displays to look at and opportunities for visitors to try out different kinds of art themselves. Organiser Helen Howard said: “This is a week for all the family with the chance for people to experience some great art and also try things themselves. “We also want people to get involved directly by taking part in our performing arts showcase. “And there will be the added fun of seeking out our large apples which have been painted by local school children.” The With One Voice Partnership is a joint effort between Orchard School Bristol, Filton

Avenue Infant and Junior School, and Upper Horfield Community School. The partnership aims to develop strong links with the community. Stimulate Your Senses events are aimed at everyone in the community, including families. The climax of the week will be the performing arts showcase and grand finale at Orchard School on March 21. Details are available at www. wovp.org or by calling Helen on 0117 353 4698.

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March, 2013

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News

On the Beat

Help get bikes back on road

News from the local policing team with Sergeant Sean Underwood Hello from your local Neighbourhood Policing Team, thank you to those that have contacted us after the last article, I hope we have managed to resolve and help with the issues. Since the last article we have carried out several operations within your area and will continue to do so. I will mention a few of these in this article. From a crime point we have had another slight blip in burglaries around Radnor Road and are keen to gather intelligence around this, so please call in any suspicious incidents you see no matter how small. We would rather get a call for a minor matter than not get a call at all. This might be the last little bit of information we

“Call in any suspicious incidents... this might be the last bit of information we need to catch the offenders” need to catch the offenders. I repeat my previous offer: if you want a member of the team to visit your address to offer some crime prevention advice please call. We have also had a small increase in theft from motor vehicles around the Ashley Down Road area. Please, please keep your valuables out of your car and certainly not on show. All attacked vehicles have had items clearly visible to an offender. If they can’t see it, they won’t smash anything to get in. We have also had some

great successes around Gloucester Road with tackling shoplifting offences. PCSO David Said, your very own Bishopston PCSO, stopped an offender on Gloucester Road who had just stolen items from a store seconds before. The same offender was then linked to nine other offences and is currently awaiting a court case to decide on his sentence. A great piece of work by David. Please get in contact over the next few weeks if you want to discuss anything. Thanks for reading and stay safe and crime free.

A charity that helps prisoners gain new skills is looking for volunteers with an interest in bike mechanics. Bike recycling project BikeBack is based at Horfield Prison and run by Life Cycle UK. It takes donations of unwanted bikes and teaches prisoners how to fix them up ready to be sold on at affordable prices to those on low incomes. Now the small team is looking for volunteers, preferably with some experience, who can spare around half a day a week to help increase the number of bikes recycled. Any experienced mechanics who would like to share their skills are also urged to get in touch. Volunteers will not come into contact with prisoners and will work in a workshop outside the prison with a mechanic to provide help. Anyone who is interested can find out more by emailing bikebackinfo@lifecycle uk.org.uk.

The team at a Gloucester Road opticians are celebrating being shortlisted for an industry award. Lynne Fernandes Optometrists has been named as a finalist in the 2013 Optician Awards. Gerard Fernandes, practice owner, said: “The team have come a long way and while it’s fantastic to be shortlisted, I truly believe that it’s the fact that our patients recommended us that is most gratifying.”

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Feature

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March, 2013

Museum offers a taste of our chocolate-making past by Lucy King

Highlights

From bean to bar, the magic of the chocolate-making process will be unwrapped at an exhibition at M Shed. Chocolate! takes visitors on a trip down memory lane, exploring the history, mystery and science of a product that has long-standing links with the city, which has produced chocolate by Elizabeth Shaw, Packer’s, Carson’s, Fry’s and Cadbury. The last Bristol chocolate factory to close its doors was Somerdale in 2011, after decades of producing sweet treats made first by Fry’s then Cadbury.

The closure of the Keynsham factory has provided a range of memorabilia for the new exhibition, which tells the story of those who made the confectionery in the city over the past 250 years. Chocolate company Fry’s was one of the biggest employers in Bristol at the start of World War One, and by 1919 Fry’s had merged with Cadbury’s, marking the start of plans for a new chocolate factory at Somerdale, Keynsham, which opened in 1923. As well as a factory, Somerdale was intended to be a model village for workers, with sports fields and a hall for concerts and plays. Finally finished in 1935, the site employed thousands of workers at its peak, and is said to have produced enough Crunchie bars to stretch to the moon and back every week. After decades of chocolatemaking, the factory, which employed generations of local families, was sold to Kraft Foods in 2010. Despite a passionate campaign to save the factory, Kraft closed the site in 2011 and moved production to Poland. Today there is little left of the

Among the exhibition highlights, families will be able to… • View over 500 objects from the Museum's collections on display, dating back to 1729 • See the last Fry's Chocolate bar and last Elizabeth Shaw Mint Crisp chocolates • Discover how chocolate was a medical remedy in days gone by • Take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic brands • Get up close to a tin of chocolates from the Boer War and WWII chocolate rations • Cast your eyes over original

recipes for Turkish Delights and Vanilla Chocolates • Find out what it was like to work in a chocolate factory • Enjoy a multi-sensory experience with working machinery, smells and items to touch • Films in a mini cinema • Get interactive by designing and making your own chocolate box city’s once-flourishing chocolate industry, but this new, mouthwatering exhibition will offer visitors a taste of what life was like for the many people who played a part in its production. It even includes a full-size recreation of a chocolate production line and the heavenly aroma of chocolate in the display area. Entry to the exhibition even includes a free chocolate. “Visitors to M Shed are sure to be delighted with Chocolate,” says Julie Finch, head of Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives. “We have put together a fantastic exhibition from our own collections so that this new exhibition reveals the serious business of chocolate, its place in

Top, wrapping at the Fry’s factory; a promotional cartoon for Fry’s; left, a trip to buy some chocolate our history and the people who made it happen. Chocolate! also explores the fun, the science and the pleasures behind the nation’s favourite food.” Entry to the exhibition, which runs until May 6, is £5 adults/£4 concession. Children £3 (underfives free) and family tickets

are £10. Free entry days are on March 20 and April 17.  M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol BS1 4RN. Open: 10am-5pm Tues-Fri (closed Mondays); 10am-6pm weekends and bank holiday Mondays. Tel: 0117 352 6600, visit www.mshed.org.

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March, 2013

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News

Bus fare campaigner ‘to keep up pressure’ By Rebecca Day A petition has acquired over 3,500 signatures to reduce bus fares, but Bristol City councillors are yet to debate the issue. The campaign, Make Fares Fair, was set up by 33-year-old graphic designer Daniel Farr in order to lobby the Bristol bus company to reduce its prices. On January 29, First announced its intention to undertake a structural review of its bus fares, expected to take around six months. The announcement was made by the Bristol bus company just three days before a demonstration took place outside the depot in Marlborough Street. Over half a dozen local politicians attended along with the members of the public. Mayor George Ferguson is also supporting the petition.

Mr Farr said: “I’m pleased First is holding the review into its fares, but this is just the start of the campaign. We will be keeping up the pressure on First, Bristol City Council and the Mayor to make sure they do make the bus fares fair.” He believes that a reduction in fares would significantly benefit the city. “It will encourage more people to use the bus, as far too often I see half empty buses going past,” he says. Bishopton Liberal Democrat councillor David Willingham said central government had also contributed to higher fares, by not giving a full fuel duty rebate to bus operators. “Affordable, reliable public transport is essential not just for Bristol, but for the wider area," he said. “As a council, Bristol supports the idea of an Integrat-

ed Transport Authority (ITA), but we need our neighbours to support this too." Justin Davies, the South West and Wales managing director of First, said: “We're aware the issue of fares in Bristol has been a contentious one, with a perception that the cost of travel here is significantly higher than elsewhere. This is frustrating for everyone and is something we have wished to tackle for some time.” Mr Davies hopes the review process will have been completed by the end of the summer. First has appointed MVA Consultancy, a specialist transport advisory company, and the Public Affairs Company, a longestablished communications consultancy. The review will analyse fares charged and develop a viable fares model, while looking at ways to encourage bus use.

MP joins praise for top schools Two schools in the area have been congratulated by the Schools Minister and Bristol West’s MP after recent performance tables put them among the best secondaries in the country. Redland Green School and Colston’s Girls’ School have each received a letter commending them on their success from Schools Minister David Laws, and Bristol West MP Stephen Williams said: “This is really good news for the head teachers, teachers, other staff and parents at these schools. “They have all worked tremendously hard to ensure our children have the best start in life. “It’s also great news for the young people who have benefited from their teachers’ continuous effort to go the extra mile. It is highly encouraging that so many young people in Bristol take such a serious interest in their education.”

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Letters Shifting parking issue elsewhere I have written to ask if other people around Redland Grove area are noticing the parking issues that have developed in the last few months. It has now become a tortuous task to find a space and little chances of there being any near the residence or business you are trying to visit. The reason seems to be the new Cotham 1 parking zone ending near Zetland Road. All the parking is now short-term and residents-only, forcing all the cars to move into a smaller area. This should have been predicted by those responsible for the new zone and a plan put in place to stop the issue from happening. To my amazement the solution being put forward to solve the problem being caused by the new parking zone is to create another parking zone in Redland. What a good idea. Why not ignore the issue with the first zone and push the problem further out towards the Bishopston area?

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March, 2013

News Never mind the businesses on Gloucester Road losing customers who will be unable to park or commuters stopping using Redland station. The next thing we will hear is that due to lack of use Redland station will be closing. The traffic and parking problem in the area will only be resolved with a clear and joined-up process and planning involving local and central government. My suggestion would be a feasibility study for a park-and-ride scheme to help the traffic and parking on Gloucester Road and surrounding areas. Why not the Bristol Rovers site? Stop another giant supermarket swamping the area. A park and ride would help residents, businesses and commuters. The benefits would outweigh the cost in a short period. The idea of extending the parking zone into Redland is being done to placate residents already affected by one bad decision but will only shift the problem to a different location. Please stop and think about the bigger picture, not just the quick fix. A concerned resident

Group roll up sleeves at allotments With the chance to learn the skills needed to make raised beds for their own gardens on offer, a group of enthusiastic gardeners rolled up their sleeves for a workshop at the Golden Hill Community Garden. The session last month resulted in four new beds being made, which will soon be home to new crops at the allotment site. The next workshop will be held on Sunday, April 7, from

10am-1pm, and will guide people through everything they need to know about taking on a new allotment plot. Called From Brambles to Broccoli, it will be led by Dave Hamilton, author of Grow Your Food for Free. To book a place for ÂŁ20, call Lucy on 07506 905394 or email ghcgarden@gmail.com. Visit www.thegoldenhillcommunity garden.com for more details.

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Bishopston Mum Welcome to Bishopston Mum’s March column for Bishopstonvoice! Looking out of my window right now at the blue sky and allotments by Golden Hill Community Garden, I am glad to see the first signs of spring are finally here. Long before I had children I never really minded winter, but since being at home with young children I find the weather can at times dominate our lives and activities. Last month myself, my husband and children were also plagued by illness in one form or another so we were all quite miserable stuck indoors for a while! Now that the weather is better and the snow safely on its way, I am enjoying being outdoors and out and about with my children again. Last month my little boy celebrated his fourth birthday. This year we decided to hold his party outside Bishopston for a change and opted for Boing!, a

soft play multi-activity centre for 0-5-year-olds in Lockleaze. As well as having a good soft play room, there is also a “free play room” which has various sections for particular activities, such as a “home” corner complete with a child-size kitchen and lounge, a “construction” corner with bricks, etc and a “reading/quiet” corner. We were really pleased with the birthday party that Boing! provided and, more importantly, my son had a fabulous time. If you are interested in visiting Boing!, it is open Tuesday to Saturday and admission and refreshments are very affordable.

I have recently been taking my children to Little Sing, which is held on Fridays at 9.30am and 10.30am at St Michael’s Church Hall, Gloucester Road. Little Sing offers a lot of imaginative and varied music and songs with a good range of musical instruments. My daughter enjoys music and dancing so she is in her element. However, my son is a little shy and overwhelmed as it is a large group and singing is not really his thing. But Little Sing is hosted by two very kind and approachable local mums, so I will persist! There has been a new development regarding the proposed new play park on Horfield Common. You may remember that in January’s column I wrote about Bristol City Council's plans to replace the present play park with a new one but that at the last consulation meeting which local residents attended, there was a fair bit

of disagreement over where the new play park should be placed. Some thought that the new play park should remain in the current location whereas others argued that it should instead be placed in the middle of the Common, on the patch of grass next to the Ardagh and car park. Since the consultation meeting, the council now proposes to place the new play park away from the current location and put it in the middle part of the Common, next to the Ardagh and grass over the location where it currently stands. There are no dates yet for the next consultation meeting regarding the play park but as soon as a date is decided, I will let you know. I hope you have enjoyed reading Bishopston Mum’s March column. Have a great month! Bishopston Mum www.bishopstonmum.com

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Feature

The only way is upcycling by Rebecca Day

Upcycling – the revamping of damaged or unwanted clothes, for those not in the know – is all the rage among eco-fashionistas. Clothes are far too often disposed of because they are “so last season” or have given in to wear and tear. However, disposing of unwanted fabrics can have a detrimental effect on the environment. Synthetics don’t decompose and wool creates methane – one of the main contributors towards global warming. Upcycling is about taking an interest in the life-cycle of your clothes by giving them a new lease of life. Simply putting needle to thread, you can create personalised pieces of apparel, increasing your clothes’ longevity. The final result: a wardrobe that is ethical as well as vibrant. Ruth Strugnell, who works at the CLIC Sargent Shop on

Ruth Strugnell at work Gloucester Road, is always thinking of new ways to create interesting items of clothing in a sustainable way. After completing her degree in fashion at Bath Spa University almost three years ago, she moved to Bristol and started working at the local charity shop, which specialises

in vintage fashion. Upcycling has been a passion of Ruth’s for the past five years. “When I started working at CLIC Sargent, I was suddenly surrounded by all of these unwanted clothes,” exclaims Ruth, “and it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss. “Upcycling is a great way to reinvent the clothes we’re donated at CLIC Sargent. By recycling fabrics that would have otherwise been discarded they are used to help raise money for a charity that supports children and young people affected by cancer.” Having to work with what she’s been given not only keeps Ruth on her toes but she also finds it lots of fun and is able to be creative in her designs. She explains that in a world of fast-fashion and consumerism, getting people to upcycle is a step towards doing good for the environment. Ruth explains there are a few quick and obvious techniques.

“Studs are very fashionable at the moment – by using fabric glue you can jazz up any denim shirt or jumper. We also change pockets and collars by replacing them with a different fabric.” The “Tenket” is Ruth’s favourite upcycled item – a raincoat made purely from recycled tents! “It takes a while to make,” says Ruth, “but I absolutely love it – a great festival number, I reckon.” CLIC Sargent launched its new Upcycled range in August 2012, and has a boutique on the ASOS Marketplace website. “Hopefully everyone loves our clothes as much as we do,” says Ruth. Next time you’re considering chucking those retired items of clothing onto the rubbish heap, think about breathing new life into your wardrobe by upcycling instead – or taking them along to your local charity shop. It’s far more environmentally friendly - and leaves your purse feeling slightly heavier, too.

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March, 2013

What’s On March March 1-3 First Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival at Colston Hall, will feature over 24 individual concerts as well as free late-night jam sessions and “In Session With” events featuring top artists. See website for more details www.bristoljazzandbluesfest. com

March 7 Baby Signing at Hampton House, Redland, Bristol. 11.30am-noon. First session free and no obligation to sign up World Ship Society, 7.30pm at Friends Meeting House, Champion Square, Bristol, BS2 9DB (adjacent to Cabot Circus car park). A talk and picture presentation – Shanghai Shipping by Jimmy Poole (Secretary of the World Ship Society). £2 entry, light refreshments. Further information from Secretary on 0117 9513168.

March 14 The Bristol & Clifton Dickens Society, 7.30pm, at Westmoreland Hall, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6YW. Danger – Women at Work. Presented by Liz Croucher.

March 15 Bishop Road Community Cinema Big Screen at Bishop Road Primary School. Showing Beasts of the Southern Wild – Multiple Oscar award nominee – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and starring the youngest ever nominee for Best Actress, newcomer Quven-

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. zhané Wallis in this American fantasy drama. Free admission. Doors open 7.30pm, film begins at 8pm. Licensed cash bar through until 10.30pm. All profits to Bishop Road Primary School PTFA. Sorry, no children. A History of the Floating Harbour at Redland High School, Redland Court, Redland Court Road, BS6 7EF at 7.30pm. Talk by Andy King, the senior collections officer for industrial and maritime exhibits with Bristol Museums. A fascinating virtual tour of the Floating Harbour through time – a talk which will appeal to anyone with an interest in the history of Bristol and the docks. £12 per adult; £5 per pupil/student. Ticket price includes a glass of wine on arrival. Canapés will be served after the talk and there will be a cash bar. For tickets please contact Linda Spencer-Small in the Development Office of Redland High School on 0117 916 6711 or by email on l.spencer-small@ redlandhigh.com.

March 16 Night Night Sleep Talk at KudaCan, 7 Dongola Avenue, Bishopston, BS7 9HG at 10.30am. Helping you and your child have a good night’s sleep. A talk by Catherine Coulter who runs Bristolchildparentsupport and

works for the NHS in Child and Family Services. Many parents have read varying advice on sleep programmes. The biggest challenge is when, how and what suits you, your child and family. Join Catherine for this interactive talk for parents with children aged between 0-7 years, focusing on what might get in the way of you and your child having a good night’s sleep. This 90-minute session provides time for questions. £12 per family – pre-booking required.

March 19 Bishopston, Horfield & Ashley Down Local History Society, 7.30pm, at the Friends Meeting House, Gloucester Road. Speaker Chris Bigg on Bristol and Co. Fahrenheit Dance Studios will be teaching their street moves to Gloucester Road WI. This exciting Women’s Institute group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 8.30pm, in St Michael’s Church Hall on Gloucester Road (doors at 8.15pm). Come along to one of our meetings and see what we’re all about. Membership for the year costs £33 or you can visit up to three times for just £4 per meeting. Activities this year include sugarcraft, photography, home brewing and street dancing. For more information, visit www.GloucesterRdWI.tumblr. com or email GloucesterRdWI@ yahoo.com.

March 21 St. Gregory’s Church Coffee Morning 10am-12.30pm, St Gregory’s Church Community Hall, Filton Road, Horfield. As-new stall, all proceeds to Cchurch funds. Spring Craft Fair at Sefton Park School, off Ashley Down Rd, 7pm-10pm. High quality craft stalls, bar, café and snacks. Contact Sarah Lewis via email for more details at sarahlewis. pta@gmail.com.

March 23-24 Bristol Choral Society performs grand works by two Italian masters at Colston Hall: Verdi’s Four Sacred Pieces and Rossini’s Stabat Mater with the English Symphony Orchestra and an outstanding quartet of soloists all conducted by Adrian Partington. 7.30pm . Tickets and information from www.bristolchoral.co.uk or Colston Hall (0117 922 3686) Love Food Spring Festival at Brunel’s Old Station, Temple Meads Saturday 10.30am-6pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. The aim is to get both children and adults learning about how and where our food should come from and how to grow and cook food. Hands-on experience, tasting, art, movement and storytelling.

March 25 Bishopston, Cotham and Redland Neighbourhood Partnership meeting, 7pm-9pm. Venue to be confirmed, visit http://bristolpartnership.org/neighbourhoodpartnerships/bishopston-cothama-redland.

What’s on on a regular basis Mondays The Flyer Quiz night. 96 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, Bristol, BS7 8BN. Tel: 0117 9441658.

Tuesdays Food and Friends at Cairns Road Baptist Church, 12-2pm. A monthly meeting point for senior citizens. The first Tuesday of every month. Lunch will be served at a cost of £2.50 followed by coffee and fellowship. Transport can be arranged. Tel: 0117 942 5669 KudaCan, 7 Dongola Avenue, Bishopston, BS7 9HG. Join the Bishopston Mum for an NCT Cafe every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 10.1511.30am. You can drop in any time during this slot. 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

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March, 2013

What’s On Michelle on 07980 598761 or michesaunders@hotmail.com.

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

Thursdays Bristol Ladies’ Choir sings a wide range of music from classical to light. The choir rehearses weekly and gives two main concerts each year. The choir also participates in approximately nine to 10 other concerts in the Bristol area each year. Meet at 2.15-3.45pm at Church of the Good Shepherd, Bishop Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NA. New members welcome. For more information contact Hazel on 0117 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 9232391. A friendly group offering a chance to swap creative ideas and inspiration. The cost is £35 per term including tea and coffee. Avon Harmony Ladies’ Acappella Chorus meets for rehearsals every Thursday 7.30-10pm at Fairfield High School, Allfoxton Road BS7 9 NL. 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 out website for more details or contact Mandy on 0117 652693 or Barbara on 07717 424421 or email enquiries@avonharmony. co.uk. Visit www.avonharmony. co.uk

Sundays The Cambridge Arms. Love a good quiz? Then check out our ever-popular test of trivia every Sunday at 8.30pm at Coldharbour Road, Redland, BS6 7JS.

Rising up to back campaign against violence A Bristol choreographer who runs workshops for children organised a day of dance as part of a campaign against violence towards women and girls. Michelle Luckes, owner of the company Boogie Bop, and her team of dance teachers were joined by around 80 adults and children on Valentine’s Day at Horfield Quaker House. The event saw families trying a range of styles, including dances from Africa, India, China and Europe, while guest teacher Sinead Browning led some Arabic dancing and the

grown-ups performed a Bollywood routine to entertain the youngsters. Michelle said: “This was our mini v-day rising in support of onebillionrising.org. It was busy, noisy, energetic, fun and festival-like in atmosphere!”

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March, 2013

Bishopston Crafts Profile: Carrie Browne of Carrie’s Cake Designs I’d like to think I could have a go at creating almost anything out of cake! A replica iPad, a Halloween ghost, a Gruffalo and even an orchid are some of the more unusual cake design requests I’ve had in recent years. I love coming up with new ideas and creating something beautiful or fun to celebrate a special occasion. Last September I even recreated Bristol Zoo’s Gorilla Island on a cake after they got in touch asking me to bake something to celebrate their baby gorilla’s first birthday! I have also made quite a few wedding cakes, which is something I really

enjoy as I love helping the bride come up with design ideas and creating cakes that match the colour schemes and the bride’s dress. Seeing it all come together on the big day is fantastic. I work full time in education, but I’ve recently qualified with a City & Guilds in sugar modelling and I’d love to be able to make cakes full time eventually. Visit www.carries cakedesign.com or find Carrie’s Cake Design on Facebook.  Are you a local artist or craftsperson? To feature your talent in our Bishopston Crafts section, email emma@bishopston voice.co.uk or call 0117 908 2121.

Puzzles Sudoku

Solutions on Page 30 To advertise, contact Emma on 0117 908 2121 or 07715 770448. Got news? Call Joni on 07887 561567. Email: emma@bishopstonvoice.co.uk

March, 2013

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Bishopston Kitchen Recipe: Zazu’s Fish Soup

with Zazu’s Kitchen, 225 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NR. Tel: 0117 944 5500

Ingredients Your choice of fresh white fish and/or shellfish (filleted/washed) 2 litres of good quality fish stock 2 or 3 decent sized shallots 4 cloves of garlic 1 bulb of fennel 1 tbsp tomato paste 100ml Pernod 250ml white wine 1 pinch of saffron 1 tsp cayenne pepper 1 or 2 waxy potatoes cut into 2cm cubes 6 tomatoes (peeled, de-seeded and cut into strips) Lemon Parsley Olive oil Salt and pepper This is a hearty fish soup that is packed full of flavour. While the above list of ingredients will produce a great dish, the most important ingredient in this is the passion of the cook so don’t worry if you are missing some of the ingredients and feel free to add your own twist on things.

With regard to the fish you use, any white fish will work well in this recipe, as will shellfish such as mussels, clams and cockles. The best approach will be to ask your fishmonger what is particularly fresh that day.

Method 1. Start off by finely dicing the shallots, garlic and fennel. Sweat off the shallots for a few minutes before adding the fennel and garlic and cooking out for a further couple of minutes over a low heat.

2. Add the tomato paste and sweat for a further few minutes. 3. Turn the heat up a bit and add the Pernod and white wine and reduce. Once most of the alcohol has reduced and been absorbed by the shallots, add the fish stock and bring to the boil, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface. 4. Bring the soup down to a simmer and add the potatoes, saffron and cayenne pepper. 5. Once the potatoes are nearly cooked add the tomatoes. If so desired, the soup can be blended at this point to give a smooth finish but a more rustic approach is just as satisfying. 6. Add your chosen seafood to the pan and continue simmering until the fish is cooked through and any shellfish have opened. 7. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. 8. Finish with a few good squeezes of lemon and a splash of olive oil before ladling into bowls and sprinkling with freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy!

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March, 2013

Library news Swap clothes at school craft fair A craft fair will give visitors the chance to update their wardrobes – by swapping their unwanted clothes for someone else’s donated items. The clothes swap will be held as part of Sefton Park PTA’s craft fair on Thursday, March 21. Residents can bring along clean, undamaged clothing and shoes to the school’s playground from March 11 on any afternoon of the week and exchange them for a ticket. They will then be able to pay £2 on the night and take home the same number of items. Organisers are also holding a book swap. There will also be plenty of craft stalls, a cafe and bar open on the evening as well as sewing and knitting “doctors” to help craft fans tackle any problems they may be having. The fair runs from 7-10pm in the school halls. More details at www.seftonparkschools.bristol. sch.uk/ptanews.

Adult Fiction - Read by the Library Reading Group  Casino Royale by Ian Fleming. The blurb - Casino Royale takes place on a smaller stage g than later Bond adventures. SMERSH, the most powerful and feared organisation in the USSR, and one of its operatives, the French nch com communist le Chiffre, are blamed for the deaths of a number of British agents and the British Secret Service wants justice. When a nearly bankrupt le Chiffre sets out to do some serious gambling at the casino in Royale-les-Eaux, James Bond is assigned to out-gamble him. Child Non-Fiction - Read and enjoyed by Daniel  All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome by Kathy Hoopmann. The Blurb - All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome takes a play-

Books of the month with staff from Cheltenham Road Library

ful look at Asperger Syndrome (AS), drawing inspiration from the feline world in a way that will strike a chord with all those who are familiar with AS. Delightful colour photographs of cats bring to life familiar characteristics such as sensitive hearing, scampering at the first sign of being stroked, and particular eating habits. Review: I came to reserve, read and love this book because I happened by chance to come across another of Kathy Hoopmann’s books called

Inside Asperger’s Looking Out, which I also loved. As the blurb says above, these books are truly insightful; the photographs of the animals visually describing each observation, each characteristic, and each behaviour is very humorous and truly touching. All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome is only slightly more of a favourite for me because I have two cats at home, and because I see what Kathy sees and smile. 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 you’re a parent with young children, come and join us for Storytime on Mondays at 11am, and/or Baby Bounce and Rhyme on Wednesdays at 11am as well (term-time only). Opening hours: Monday 10am1pm and 2-5pm; Wednesday 10am-1pm and 2-5pm; Friday 10am-1pm and 2-5pm; Saturday 10am-1pm and 2-5pm.

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Nostalgia

News

Support for life after separation A local charity is offering help to people facing life after separation or divorce this spring. Relate Avon, on Cheltenham Road, is running two courses over the coming months. The first course, Moving Forward after Divorce or Separation, will take place on two Saturdays, March 9 and May 18. The second, called Parents Apart, aims to help with parenting issues and will be held on Saturday, April 27. Details are available at www. relate-avon.org.uk or from relatelearning@relate-avon.org.uk.

Team triumphs Not a car in sight and with tramlines in the middle of the street, this old postcard, the first we are publishing courtesy of Bygone Bristol, presents a very different view of the Gloucester Road we know today. Yet it is still very familiar: in the distance is the building that now houses Lloyds TSB, the ranks of shops where today you’ll find Horfield Post Office and Guru Indian restaurant. And to the right is a very familiar sight – Pearce’s Hardware store, which is still in the same spot today. For more on pictures and publications available from Bygone Bristol, call 0117 942 3177.

Members of a local gym stepped up to raise funds and test their fitness at the same time. Three teams from BS7 Gym took part in the Stadium Dash at the Memorial Ground on February 3 to support St Peter’s Hospice. Team BS7-1 won the team event, tackling the 415 steps at the venue in the quickest time.

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News

Mary talks on trip to Kabul A Bishopston woman will be sharing her experiences with other residents after spending Christmas in Afghanistan. Mary Dobbing, a university administrator, was one of four British women who spent the festive period in Kabul as delegates from Voices for Creative NonViolence. She said: “My visa only turned up at the last minute, and there were worries about the security situation there. We stayed with a group of young people called the Afghan Peace Volunteers, who are working to rebuild trust between the ethnic groups there. Their individual stories are very moving.” Hear more about Mary’s Christmas in Kabul at a free talk on Tuesday, March 26, at 7.30pm at Horfield Quaker Meeting House, 300 Gloucester Road.

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March, 2013

Arts focus with Bristol poet and author Deborah Harvey Oliver! at The Bristol Hippodrome I was sceptical when I saw that Neil Morrissey was top of the bill in the latest touring production of Oliver! at the Bristol Hippodrome, playing the part of Fagin. There have been many memorable portrayals of the most celebrated fence in English literature over the five decades since Lionel Bart wrote his musical version of Dickens’ classic, and I wasn’t convinced that Morrissey, best known for his role as the comical Tony in Men Behaving Badly, could be sufficiently sinister to pull it off. So it proved, with an illadvised gag featuring dirty underpants and stinky bottoms,

plus a reference to Bob the Builder, for which Morrissey provided the voice-over, only making matters worse. Far more impressive were the exuberant cast of boys playing Fagin’s charges, in particular Daniel Huttlestone as the Artful Dodger and Sebastian Croft as the eponymous hero, Oliver. The star of the show, however, is Samantha Barks who plays Nancy despite only coming third in the televised competition to cast the role in 2008, and who, immediately after the run in Bristol ends, is off to Hollywood for the Oscars, having played Eponine in the film version of Les Miserables. Her portrayal of the feisty young woman who turns into a

submissive, love-sick shadow of herself when confronted by her psychopathic lover, Bill Sikes, is by far the most dramatic part of the production. As for Sikes himself, here portrayed by Iain Fletcher in a one-dimensional fashion reminiscent of Oliver Reed in the film, there was no hint of any residual charm which such a man must once have possessed in order to snare his hapless lover. Nancy’s devotion made for disturbing viewing and I found myself leaving the auditorium hoping that every mother who had taken her daughter to see the show would take the time to tell her that there is nothing romantic or admirable about loving a bad man literally to death.

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March, 2013

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Bishopston Shopping

It’s Mum’s turn to be spoilt this month and there are plenty of Mother’s Day treats available on Gloucester Road – why not enjoy a stroll there together?

1. Take Mum out for a sweet treat at L’Artisan. Delicious variety of drinks and patisserie including gateaux, tarts or macaroons. Chocolate roule or strawberry gateau £2.20 eat-in, coffee £1.60 and pot of tea for one £1.40. L’Artisan French Café & Patisserie, 303 Gloucester Road. 2. Treat Mum to some new jewellery – Bella necklace £115 and bracelet £75, both with freshwater pearls and a beautiful silver bird T-bar. Artemis, designer jewellery and gifts, 214 Gloucester Road. 3. Every lady loves a new bag. There’s a great variety at Pink Lemons – velvet butterfly purse £8, velvet floral makeup bag £12, red suede bag with buckle £18 (other colours available), block colour yellow bag £35. Pink Lemons, 41 Gloucester Road. 4. Mother’s Day cards and more at Romantica – Mum’s Fund money box £9.99, Keep Calm I Love You Mum mug £4.99, V&A mug £10.99, Bombs Cosmetics bath bomb £2.50, Mum note pad £2.50. Romantica, cards and gifts, 309 and 139 Gloucester Road. 5. Gifts for crafty mums –

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Liberty Book of Home Sewing, £20, dressmaking scissors, £20, fat quarter bundles of cotton £7, mirror £4, pin cushion £4. Flo-Jo Boutique, fabrics, haberdashery, gifts and workshops, 36b Gloucester Road. 6. Something for Mum that reminds her of you? Round machine-embroidered picture – “Those Dancing Shoes” by Sinead Finegan £35. Fig, artists’ cooperative, handmade gifts, jewellery and cards, 206 Gloucester Road. 7. Fabulous gift ideas at Reason Interiors, including shopping basket £15.95, pink spotty French jug £27.50, various Nesti Dante soaps £5.75 each and “Marvellous Mum” card £2.95. Reason Interiors, 73 Gloucester Road.

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March, 2013

Moggies of Photo of the month the month

Aladdin, above, and brother Alamo are both shy with strangers but all they need is a little time and patience. Both cats are very playful and full of fun. They can be homed separately or as a pair. Puckle, below, is a sweet, gentle cat. She’s a little shy at first but loves a headbump or belly rub. If you can offer a cat a home, call The Moggery on 0117 924 3128.

The cold weather hasn’t loosened its grip yet, but here’s a reminder that spring will soon be on its way. Keith Hursthouse sent us this picture of the blossom trees in St Andrew’s Park taken last year. If you’ve taken a picture in the area that you’re proud of, share it with our readers. Email your photo to news@ 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

March, 2013

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Property of the month Occupying a fine position along one of the most popular Roads in West Bishopston is this exceptionally well-finished end-ofterrace family home. Egerton Road is renowned for its mixture of architecture, proximity to the Gloucester Road, excellent local schools and its family-friendly feel. This property does not disappoint and must be seen to be fully appreciated. The property itself consists of a living room with bay window and period fireplace, dining room with access to the glazed side extension and a spacious “eat in” kitchen. The first floor offers three double bedrooms and a family bathroom, with further access to the generous loft conversion also featuring an en suite shower room. An 85ft level rear garden completes this fantastic property. Contact Ocean’s Bishopston branch on 0117 9425 855.

Egerton Road

£499,950

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March, 2013

News

Forget Calendar Girls, this dynamic WI’s diary is full by Karina Hall

The results of Karina Hall’s evening with the Gloucester Road WI

“Oh my god, you’re middle aged!” was my husband’s reaction when I told him I was going to try out the new Women’s Institute (WI) on Gloucester Road. I had heard about a younger and lively group which started up about a year ago. If I’m honest, I said it was for the purposes of researching this article, but really I wanted to have an excuse to go. The WI originated in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then its aims have broadened and it’s now the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK. There are currently 210,000 members in about 6,600 groups nationwide. My first impression of the meeting (8.30pm on the third Tuesday of the month at St Michael’s Hall) was how crowded it was, noisy and how every table had at least one bottle of wine on it. No tea and scones here. I went to the bar, joined a table and immediately felt welcomed and included. After running through upcoming events and notices we started our activity. This month, making paper flowers. We watched a short film demo and got stuck in. The time simply flew past and it was 11 o’clock before I knew it. I really felt like I fitted in, with the average age, I’m estimating,

to be 30s and 40s. The dedicated committee were all in their 20s and 30s and the programme seems to reflect this, with plenty of lively activities – next month is Street Dance and you can join a group cycling across Devon for three days in the summer. There are also spin-off groups, like the pub quiz team and supper club. This WI is also involved in a number of fundraising events. One major undertaking is the planned cookbook. Money raised from sales will go to support the WI and Survive, a local women’s charity supporting those who suffer domestic abuse. The WI are seeking recipes from the many restaurants and cafes locally in Bishopston. You can get involved by attending their tea party on April 1 in Bishopston. Find out more on their Facebook page – search Gloucester Rd WI Cookbook. So I got over my hang-ups, and discovered not only was there no jam, or singing Jerusalem, I also wasn’t asked to take off all my clothes to pose nude for a calendar. I will certainly be returning to this friendly and dynamic group. But get in fast if you want to be involved. The membership list will close when they reach capacity for the venue. To visit Gloucester Road WI with a view to joining, email to get on the visitor list. Membership for the year costs £33 or you can visit up to three times for £4 per meeting. Visit www. GloucesterRdWI.tumblr.com.

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March, 2013

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Business of the month

For March, we meet Graham Juniper, owner of Dream Doors Bristol Tell us about your company. Dream Doors Bristol is part of the Dream Doors national franchise organisation, which is the largest re-facing kitchen franchise in the UK. Our showroom on the Promenade in Bishopston was opened two and a half years ago in late summer 2010. My personal background is in manufacturing industry and industry consultancy work, so branching into the high street kitchens business was quite a break from tradition for me. However, the technical and business training provided from our head office was (and continues to be) excellent. In our double-fronted showroom, Kathryn is always there to offer customers excellent advice and assistance with the task of choosing styles, colours, finishes, and appliances or whatever is needed for the new kitchen. She will make the arrangements for us to visit the customer’s home to discuss the specific requirements. After an order is agreed, it is usually about six weeks later that our experienced and qualified fitting team will install the new kitchen. What service do you provide to the people of Bishopston and Redland? Our business aim is to take both the worry and the cost out of buying a new kitchen because the thought of having a new or updated kitchen can be quite stressful for some. Dream Doors Bristol is a small, local, family-run business, and we aim to build a friendly working relationship with our customers, tailoring our service to their needs. Unlike many kitchen businesses, we can offer

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AF our customers a kitchen “facelift” option, which is usually around 40-50 per cent cheaper than having a completely new kitchen. Typically we can just replace the doors, drawers, and possibly worktops, which are the items that become worn or outdated, but leave in place the framework i.e. cupboards and carcases. Our customers end up with a kitchen that looks and feels completely new, but at a cost which is much more affordable. Also, because we often don’t need to disturb the cabinets and carcases, there is much less mess, and the job can usually be completed in a couple of days. Of course, we can also provide a large range of appliances, accessories, tiling, flooring, and many other kitchen facilities. What is the best part of running your business and working in Bishopston? Undoubtedly the best part of running this business is meeting and interfacing with our customers. Very often when I visit a potential new customer’s home for the first

time, they will offer an apology as I’m shown into the old kitchen! Then just a few weeks later when I pay my final visit after we’ve completed the work, many of our customers can’t wait to show me into their transformed room – it’s a very satisfying moment. What makes your service different from other companies? I think it’s the range of facilities that we can offer. Anything from a simple “facelift” change of doors and drawer fronts, to a completely new kitchen throughout, supported by computer-aided design simulations if required. We only use excellent quality materials fitted by skilled installers, such that the outcome is always something to be proud of. We are affiliated to the independent industry monitoring organisation CheckaTrade who publish independently gathered feedback from customers We boast a very healthy 9.5 out of 10 average score, and it’s a great boost to the whole team to read the complimentary comments that our customers give.

What are your plans for the future of the business? As the presence of our showroom has become more widely known through advertising, and as our reputation has grown through recommendations, we have become increasingly busy over the last 12 months or so. If the business continues to grow, we will undoubtedly need to consider expanding our resources to meet this growing need. Contact: Dream Doors, 11/12 The Promenade, Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8AL. Call 0117 944 3223 or visit www.dreamdoors.co.uk.

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News

The Gardening Year

March, 2013

Photo: Tania Richards Photography

with our Homegrown Gardener I have been looking forward to the late winter/early spring flowers that we should see. We had a group of snowdrops, Galanthus woronowii, a large type, flowering in one corner of a bed, G. elwesii just showing next to them, and G. nivalis all over the garden where they have colonised. The Rococo Gardens we are not but we do have a good show in spring. Have you noticed Viburnum bodnantense anywhere? I have seen several fine specimens. A good upright bushy shrub, it carries its pale pink small clusters of flowers before the leaves appear. Unfortunately not in our garden. And surprisingly I have spotted six or seven good polyanthus in a border under some big shrubs. And one contender, the winter-flowering jasmine, bright lemon flowers climbing up the trellis. Jasmine or Jassamine I never know which. Jasmine sounds terribly, terribly rich. And Jessamine, somehow, sounds terribly poor; I picture her over a cottager’s door, Her head in the thatch and her feet in a ditch

While Jasmine prefers a more orthodox pitch. Jasmine or Jassamine? I never know which. Having had some decent weather the large fruit trees are tidy, the hedges inspected ready for March, the lawns checked after being waterlogged, and the hard areas and path slabs reset. Is it my imagination or did everything grow more because of the abundance of water in the autumn? Some nicely scented plants by the back door make an incentive to go outside. Sarcococcas are a fine scented plant, as is Daphne bholua. Both of these flower in February and March. Have a look at the grass and do not forget the mower.

Bubalu owner Mike Bowen, centre, with Bristol Rugby’s Bryan Rennie, left, and captain Iain Grieve, right, at the Gloucester Road cafe

Cafe kicks off pre-match fun A Gloucester Road cafe was flying the flag for Bristol Rugby as it celebrated becoming an official pre-match venue. Bubalu welcomed skipper Iain Grieve and Bryan Rennie ahead of the team’s game against Rotherham on February 17. The venue had flags flying outside, footage from games playing inside and events and competitions for supporters. “We’re big supporters of Bris-

tol Rugby and this is a great way to support our local club,” said Bubalu owner Mike Bowen. He added: “Our motto is ‘Fitness, Food and Fun’ and we always want to break the mould on fitness and healthy living by injecting as much fun and inspiration into things as possible.” The cafe serves up nutritious food and drink as well as offering fitness classes, a spin studio and personal training area.

Puzzle solutions

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

March, 2013

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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