Life continues as normal for the gorillas at Bristol Zoo Gardens, who remain unaware of the detailed plans being drawn up for their transfer to the new site at Cribbs Causeway. The move might be a while off, following delays to creation of their new habitat, but in the meantime a tree has been felled to make sure the eight apes don't escape from Gorilla Island.
Report: Page 3
A CITY councillor is calling for a change in the law to stop the Society of Merchant Venturers being involved in management of The Downs.
Rob Bryher, who was elected as a Green Party councillor for Easton in May, was given a place on the Downs Committee, which is made up of councillors and Merchant Venturers, but he has now resigned.
He has set up an online petition calling for the
repeal of the 1861 Act of Parliament that led to the joint arrangements for overseeing the open space. He said: “My resignation came from the realisation that the influence of the Society of Merchant Venturers on Bristol's public life was too entrenched, not limited to this committee alone, but stemming from the Clifton and Durdham Downs (Bristol) Act of 1861. A piece of legislation
Turn to Page 6
A locket found by a metal detectorist has been traced to a family that lived in Clifton before moving to Canada.
PAGE 3
The Clifton Club held an open day at Number 22 The Mall to give residents a rare glimpse into its premises.
PAGE 18
A footpath between Argyle Place and Cliftonwood Terrace has won official approval after a 27-year wrangle over access.
PAGE 17
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Get ahead of the cold weather – keep your home warm and leak free this winter.
1. Look after your boiler. Get it serviced early, so it can keep your home warm.
2. Find your stop tap. You’ll be able to turn the water off quicker in an emergency.
3. Going away? Remember to keep your heating on low (min 14ºC).
4. Check your outdoor tap. Fix any drips, and wrap it up or fit a tap jacket.
5. Protect exposed pipes. Wrap up pipes that are exposed to cold air (e.g. loft or garage) to stop them freezing/bursting.
A TREE on Gorilla Island at Bristol Zoo Gardens has had to be felled after fears that it could fall and provide the apes with an escape route.
The risk prompted Bristol Zoological Society to issue an urgent five-day notice in September to chop down the weeping willow at the former tourist attraction in Clifton, which was granted by the city council.
Although the zoo closed in 2022, the gorillas remain on site until their new home at the Bristol Zoo Project near Cribbs Causeway is ready.
The tree had succumbed to a destructive parasitic fungus, planning documents showed.
In an email to the council, the zoo’s landscape manager said: “We have recently identified a dead and hazardous willow tree within the gorilla enclosure at Bristol Zoo Gardens.
“A professional survey has highlighted the risks associated
with its location next to the gorilla moat.
“Should any part of the tree fail, it could create a bridging risk, allowing the gorillas to escape the enclosure, or damage the electric fencing, which could also lead to an escape.
“Given the potential severity of this situation, I am providing a five-day notice for the tree’s removal.”
Wotton Tree Consultancy’s report said: “Whole tree failure is
More than two years after Bristol Zoo Gardens shut, life goes on as normal on Gorilla Island
a possibility given the low wood density of the species type.
“This could then create an escape route for gorillas.
“The tree is now dead and occupying a location in where, should it fail, is likely to bridge the watercourse, and create a potential escape route for gorillas.
“It is my strong recommendation that this tree is removed.”
The zoo will replace the tree
with another of the same species. • Zoo bosses have said that completion of the creation of the new Central African Forest habitat, which will be four and half times the size of the gorilla troop's accommodation in Clifton, has been delayed after nesting birds were found on a building due for demolition.
They now say the work will be finished by spring 2026. Detailed planning is under way for the transfer of the eight western lowland gorillas to the new site some time next year. The troop will be given some months to get used to their new surroundings before the Central African Forest is opened to the public.
In the meantime, life has continued as normal for the troop. "Their keepers continue to work with them, and they regularly see higher education students, researchers and specially invited guests, so not much has changed from their perspective," the zoo says.
THE doors of one of Clifton’s most prestigious buildings have been open to the public for the first time.
Number 22 The Mall is the home of the Clifton Club, believed to be Bristol’s oldest private independent club.
The building was designed by local architect Francis Greenway and built between 180611. Initially the Clifton Hotel and Assembly Rooms, it eventually became the home of the Clifton Club. The Assembly Rooms was the focus of literary Clifton where writers gathered for public readings of their work.
When the building was a hotel it was given the royal seal of approval when Princess Victoria - later to become Queen - visited in 1830 when she was 11 years old. She was on a tour with her mother, the Duchess of Kent. “Many people pass by the building each day and admire its wonderful facade but I doubt if many have seen the inside with its spacious rooms.
That’s why we’ve had an Open Day when visitors can wander around,” said Harriet Hancock, the club’s events manager. Among items visitors were able to see
were documents listing the club’s founder members. One of them was Gloucestershire Cricket Club’s legendary cricketing doctor, WG Grace, who for a while lived in Victoria Square not from from the Clifton Club. The club has recently marked its 206th anniversary. It has more than 500 men and women members.
• The architect Greenway was transported to Australia after being convicted of forging a promissory note for £250 in connection with a building project in nearby Cornwallis Avenue.
From Page 1
that continues to give them undue power and influence.”
Cllr Bryher said the Act “perpetuates the formal power of wealthy business elites over our shared public spaces”.
“Our public spaces belong to us all, not to business elites supported by outdated legislation. It's high time we dismantled this institutional power handed down by an ancient law. The power to decide on how our public spaces are managed should be returned to those who truly use them - the wonderful, diverse residents of Bristol,” he said.
The management of the Downs was the subject of a consultation less than three years ago. People were asked whether the Act of 1861 should
be repealed. An overwhelming majority of the 931 people who took part in the survey said it should not.
Responding to Cllr Bryer, the SMV pointed out that the Merchant Venturers owned much of The Downs and it was only thanks to the 1861 Act that the site was open to the public.
A spokeswoman said: “The Downs Committee was created by the Downs Act to ensure that the two landowners would work together as guardians of the Downs, to manage and protect the land so that it could be used for recreation by the people of Bristol forever.
“Members of SMV have volunteered their time and expertise for more than 160 years to uphold this commitment.”
SECURITY patrols on the Downs are unlikely to be rolled out due to a shortage of cash.
Byelaws ban a range of activities on the Clifton Down and Durdham Down, such as having barbecues or parking on the grass, but these are rarely enforced, if ever. Earlier this summer, one option suggested was a month-long “blitz” of enforcing these rules on the Downs.
But the parks department at Bristol City Council doesn’t have enough money to pay for the security patrols, according to one council boss speaking to the Downs committee meeting on September 16. The committee consists of councillors and members of the Merchant Venturers.
Jon James, head of service for natural and marine environment, said: “There will be a charge to the parks service. At the moment, with the current financial situation, we would find it very challenging to fund anything like that.”
Separately, an extra charge on council tax paid by people near to the park, known as a ‘precept’, was ruled out by a council finance manager. National rules limit how much council tax can increase each April, and there are “no opportunities” for an additional levy for the Downs.
An annual precept of around £20 for local residents had been suggested by new Liberal Democrat Cllr Caroline Gooch, representing Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze, in June. This was later criticised by Stoke Bishop Conservative councillors as “unfair and arbitrary”.
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
by Cathy Parham
A METAL detectorist from Coombe Dingle who found a silver locket has managed to trace its owner.
Mark Willcox put out an appeal on social media after uncovering the piece of jewellery in a field in South Gloucestershire.
The locket was covered in mud but Mark managed to open it to discover a “wet soggy picture” of a woman in her thirties wearing a baker’s boy hat, which he thought was from the 1970s.
But it turned out the picture was more recent. It was of Carla Bamonte, who ran a boutique clothing shop in Clifton Village Arcade called Bamonte, and was probably taken about two decades ago.
The photo was put in the locket by Carla’s daughter Sophie, who was then about eight or nine years old, and she lost it in the fields near Wickwar.
The mystery was solved by a relative of Carla and Sophie’s, Gary Stone, who had met Mark on an archaeological dig. He put Mark in touch with the mother and daughter, who live in Alberta, Canada.
Carla said: “We were so
surprised and stunned. We knew the picture was me and then I knew that it must have been Sophie who had lost it,.
“Sophie remembered losing the pendant some 20 years ago and she and her brother Bow and cousin Gemma spent hours looking for it in the fields all around.
“The pendant was found in the field next to Sophie’s grandad’s house, with the huge hollow oak tree in it where they often played,”
Sophie, a mother of two, soon to be three, “was delighted when I contacted her. It’s such a sweet outcome for Sophie to get the locket back after so many years. And what is lovely is that we are all back in touch with Gary again”, said Carla.
Carla lived in The Paragon, Clifton, for 22 years before moving to Canada 15 years ago. She is due to visit the UK soon so plans to meet up with Mark to collect the locket.
Mark is delighted to have found the owner. He said he hadn’t dared remove the photo from the locket to check for a name as it is “very small –smaller than a thumbnail – and very fragile,” and was keen to preserve the photo for its rightful owner rather than risking it disintegrating.
Mark, who says he has been detectoring on and off since age 12, has found a wealth of booty including three wedding rings this year alone, a man’s chain with two of its three lost charms and, his biggest find to-date, 6,500 Roman coins.
https://www.cliftonhigh.co.uk/book-a-tour
HELLO, it’s been a busy month and I’ve loved being out and about in Bristol Central meeting so many of you. This month I was also delighted to be awarded Politician of the Year at the Women in Green Business Awards 2024. It’s such an honour to serve as the MP for Bristol Central and feels incredibly special to be recognised for this.
I recently visited Fareshare South West to hear about the amazing work they are doing to tackle food waste and food poverty both here in Bristol and across the country. Their incredible volunteers and staff do such valuable work to fight hunger and food waste. I will continue to do what I can to support their work and push the government to make sure that no one has to choose between eating and other essential living costs.
This month I was also invited
to speak at the Festival of Sustainable Business Exhibition about how we can create a better, fairer and thriving Bristol. My message to the businesses at the Festival was simple– we can be a beacon of hope. Our city truly is a special place and I believe we can be a leader by showing how tackling the climate emergency and creating a fairer society must go hand in hand.
I’ve continued to receive lots of enquiries from constituents across Bristol – in particular about asylum and immigration.
My team and I have been working hard to support on these individual cases. I also recently met with Bristol Refugee Rights and Bristol Law Centre to talk about how I can continue to advocate for refugees in Parliament.
We are tragically now more than one year on from the horrific events of 7 October and it’s
heartbreaking to see the violence continue to escalate. In response to the increasingly dangerous, escalating conflict in Lebanon I asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will create a Lebanese family scheme to enable immediate family members of British nationals to come to the UK. I am still waiting on an answer to this so watch this space. Alongside my fellow Green MPs I will continue to call for an end to the violence, and to stand in solidarity with civilians under attack everywhere, whether in Israel, Lebanon, Gaza or elsewhere, and demand that all sides de-escalate this dangerous and mounting conflict.
If you live in Bristol Central and have a local issue or specific casework you need support with, you can email or write any time using the details below: bristolcentraloffice@parliament.uk
Carla Denyer writes for the Voice
Carla Denyer MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA I also hold regular constituency surgeries. To request an appointment, please contact me and my team using any of the methods listed above.
For enquiries about Parliamentary matters, national issues, or policy, please email me using: carla. denyer.mp@parliament.uk
THE 17th annual West Bristol Arts Trail was held last month with more than 150 artists taking part.
They were showing their work at mainly open homes and studios across Clifton, Cliftonwood, Redland and Hotwells. Larger venues included Holy Trinity Church, Hotwells, Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital, and Pavey House in Clifton Village, also known as The Scout Hut and offices.
Work on show, and available for sale, ranged from watercolours to ceramics and from photography to sculpture.
One of the most unusual exhibits was was a display of metal work. “I am a scrap metal artist using a variety of metals,” said Wendy Gyles.
“I am passionate about recycling and have become a bit of a magpie when
out walking my dog as I’m always looking for discarded metal.
“Scrap metal can offer a variety of ideas and inspiration especially when it’s cut up into different profiles.”
Most of Wendy’s pieces of work feature animals or flowers. They are designed for homes or gardens.
However, Rufus the Robot wine waiter was sold shortly after going on display. This piece of metal work was made from various scrap materials including old trampoline springs. More springs were used to make Otto the Owl.
“It’s been a busy day and that’s nice” said Wendy.
The West Bristol Arts Trail started after three mothers met outside the school gates at Hotwells and talked about starting the event.
News from Green Party
Clifton Down councillors
George Calascione and Serena Ralston
HELLO again from George and Serena, your Green Party councillors for Clifton Down. We hope all our student residents are settling in well and enjoying Bristol. We are here for everyone, so if you have any local issues please come and speak to us at our monthly surgery or contact us via e-mail.
We councillors have been working hard with Bristol Waste to improve the smooth running of our services, including identifying where collections have been missed. Students putting the right stuff in the right bin really helps too. If you've missed out on info provided by the university on this issue, please do contact the Community Liaison team on community-living@bristol.ac.uk
Councillor surgeries
We hold regular surgeries on the first Friday of the month from midday to 1:30 at Redland Library on Whiteladies Road. Come and speak to us about any local issues. Please note there will be no surgery in January.
Tackling poor housing conditions
There is a high level of private rental housing in our area and some of these properties are in a poor state. We frequently hear from a range of tenants, including students, the elderly and young professionals, who are living with mould, damp, leaks, broken fixtures, and other unsafe conditions, sometimes for long periods of time.
We take renters’ concerns seriously and liaise with the council’s private housing team on their behalf. Renters can also report concerns about conditions themselves on the council's website and find information on what they can do
Cllrs Serena Ralston and George Calascione outside the Alma Tavern
to combat damp and mould. The private housing service triages service requests and can require landlords to carry out works where minimum intervention levels are not being met and the property comes under a licensing scheme. The council’s enforcement powers include serving legal notices or issuing financial penalties of up to £30,000 against landlords and agents who have failed to meet certain legal requirements. For the worst landlords and agents, the council has powers to apply for Banning Orders.
Additional Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing has recently been extended to include HMO properties citywide. Licensing fees fund the inspection, enforcement, and administration of the scheme. The application deadline for licenses is 6th November.
Fire safety at home
Are you concerned about fire safety in your home? As a member
Nearly 800 girls, some wearing cream poke bonnets and red cloaks, will process through the centre of Bristol later this month.
The girls from Redmaids’ High School will walk from Welsh Back to Bristol Cathedral on College Green for a Founders’ Day service on November 15.
Red Maids’ School started life on College Green in 1634, later moving to its present
of the Avon Fire Authority, Serena encourages everyone to take advantage of Avon Fire and Rescue's online home fire safety check for personalised fire safety advice tailored to your home. It will support you in staying safe from fire at home. The check is available to all, free of charge. It’s accessible via any device, both mobile and desktop, and will give you personalised advice tailored to your home and lifestyle. It will refer you to further support if needed. Go to Avon Fire and Rescue's website to find out more.
Slippery leaves
At our recent ward surgery, a resident on Abbotsford Road told us they were concerned about slipping on a large amount of wet, fallen leaves on the street. We followed up with Bristol Waste and, at the time of writing, a deep cleanse was scheduled to take place on 22nd October. You can log any street cleaning matters about trees, hedges,
'Apparelled
in red'
site at Westbury-on-Trym. It is the oldest surviving girls’ school in the country.
Before the procession starts the Head Girls will visit the crypt of St Nicholas Church, opposite Bristol Bridge, to lay a wreath on the tomb of John Whitson who founded Red Maids’ School.
leaves, or grass online on the Bristol City Council website. This will also allow you to track the progress of your requests.
The Greens Schools Project is looking for more schools to take part. This is an excellent organisation whose mission is to transform the way schools respond to the climate and nature crisis. The project has a range of training, support and resources to enable schools to embed climate education into its lessons and become more sustainable.
Many young people are increasingly anxious about how these issues will impact their future and the Green Schools Project gives teachers and students the tools they need to tackle the climate crisis at school and in their daily lives. Training is individually tailored and available to primary and secondary schools. There is a charge for independent schools but is free for non-paying schools. Feedback from schools that have taken part is overwhelmingly positive. If your school is interested, email info@greenschoolsproject. org.uk.
The Downs Committee
New students may have had their first experience of The Downs when they visited the Bristol Student Union Welcome Fair. Unlike Bristol's numerous other green spaces, The Downs is managed by The Downs Committee, which George has recently joined. It is made-up of elected councillors, members of the Merchant Venturers and council officers. This committee is entrusted to preserve The Downs as the precious open space that we all enjoy, protect the wildlife and rare plants that live and grow there, and approve licensing for events to take place there.
Serena Ralston cllr.serena.ralston@ bristol.gov.uk
George Calascione cllr.george. calascione@bristol.gov.uk
Founders’ Day became Founders’ Commemoration Day in 2016 following the merger with Redland High School, and now commemorates the founders of both schools.
As a merchant Whitson imported red dye to Bristol and, on founding the school, said that the students should be ‘apparelled in Red’.
STARTING the day with a bike ride to work can feel invigorating, but nothing puts the brakes on that morning buzz like a slipped chain.
STARTING the day with a bike ride to work can feel invigorating, but nothing puts the brakes on that morning buzz like a slipped chain.
Recently, on several chilly mornings, I found myself wrestling with a stubborn bike chain. Picture this: my hands, slick with oil and numb from the cold, struggling to fix the chain so I could push on. It turns out, the root of the problem was a dry chain that desperately needed lubrication – a simple maintenance step I’d overlooked in the hustle of daily life. Just like my bike needs regular oiling to function smoothly, our bodies require consistent care to stay in top form.
“There isn't a doctor on the face of the earth that ever cured a disease. The doctor's part in the curing of disease is to bring the patient's body, mind, and soul into a condition where nature may begin her cure.” – Dr. Thurman Fleet DC.
This powerful quote speaks to something we deeply believe at Kasa: your body has an incredible ability to heal itself, given the right conditions. Chiropractic care is designed to restore that natural balance by focusing on the spine and nervous system—two vital components that help your body operate at its best.
Recently, on several chilly mornings, I found myself wrestling with a stubborn bike chain. Picture this: my hands, slick with oil and numb from the cold, struggling to fix the chain so I could push on. It turns out, the root of the problem was a dry chain that desperately needed lubrication – a simple maintenance step I’d overlooked in the hustle of daily life.
Just like my bike needs regular oiling to function smoothly, our bodies require consistent care to stay in top form.
Often, we don’t notice the ‘maintenance’ we need until something goes wrong. We might skip sleep, indulge in less-thannutritious food, or skimp on relaxation and exercise because our schedules are packed from dawn to dusk.
But just as a dry bike chain can
When your spine is properly aligned, your nervous system can communicate clearly with the rest of your body, allowing healing to occur from within.
But beyond healing, chiropractic care helps your body adapt to life’s daily stresses. Whether it’s sitting at a desk all day or juggling the demands of family and work, stress takes its toll. A balanced spine keeps your body resilient, helping you handle those pressures without them building up into pain or dysfunction.
Often, we don’t notice the ‘maintenance’ we need until something goes wrong. We might skip sleep, indulge in less-thannutritious food, or skimp on relaxation and exercise because our schedules are packed from dawn to dusk. But just as a dry bike chain can
eventually slip, our bodies can only handle neglect for so long before they signal for help.
Of course, this doesn’t happen in isolation. True health is a combination of good habits—clean eating, staying hydrated, a solid sleep routine, and moving your body regularly. Chiropractic works hand-in-hand with these elements of self-care, helping you feel at ease in your body so you can fully enjoy life.
eventually slip, our bodies can only handle neglect for so long before they signal for help.
To prevent breakdowns, think of selfcare as your daily dose of oil. Ensure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking moments to rest your mind.
To prevent breakdowns, think of selfcare your daily dose of oil. Ensure you’re getting enough sleep, eating well, and taking moments to rest your mind.
At Kasa, we’re here to support you in
Regular exercise keeps your system running smoothly, much like how oiled chain glides over the gears. And don’t forget about professional tune-ups. Integrating routine chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy be likened to the regular maintenance that keeps your bike – and your body balanced and in perfect alignment.
By addressing potential issues before they turn into problems, you can your body’s ‘chain’ from slipping off
So, let’s make a pact to keep our chains well-oiled, both literally and metaphorically. Your body (and your bike) will thank you for it, ensuring smooth rides ahead
this holistic journey. It’s not just about treating pain; it’s about empowering your body to function perfectly in everyday life.
Charles
Chiropractor | Director | Kasa 0117 974 www.kasachiro.com
LAST winter, 18,000 deaths were associated with flu, despite the relatively mild flu season, according to the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). This is despite last winter being a relatively mild flu season.
Uptake in eligible groups declined, including older people over 65 years and people with long-term health conditions, with just 1 in 3 pregnant women receiving the flu vaccine. This also includes paid and unpaid carers: everyone receiving a carer's allowance or are the main carers of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill. Household contacts of immunocompromised individuals and frontline health and social care staff are also eligible for the vaccine.
Worryingly, last year saw a sudden increase in the number of people hospitalised due to a flu peak in the week leading up to Christmas and then again at the end of January.
Protection from the flu vaccine goes down with time, and the types of flu viruses the vaccine protects against are updated yearly. This is why it's vital to get the flu vaccine every year.
Every year, the World Health Organization recommends which strains should be included in the flu vaccine, and the UKHSA contributes to this work. Vaccines are then developed to help fight off the types of flu viruses expected to be circulating in the coming season. As the viruses can change every year, and protection from the vaccine reduces over time, those eligible must get a vaccine every year.
Let's clear one common myth: The injected flu vaccines used in the UK cannot give you flu as they do not contain live flu viruses. However, as it usually takes up to 14 days to work, you may catch the flu or, more likely, a cold. Get your jab today!
Carers need to get their vaccines too.
0117 9246579
18 Kellaway Avenue, Westbury Park, BS6 7XR
Who is a carer? Many people do not realise that they are unpaid carers – they care for someone who, through physical or mental health needs, relies on them for support in performing activities of daily living and tasks. This can be neighbours, family, or friends, whether doing so short-term or long-term.
If you are unwell, it means this person's welfare will be at risk, but also, as you are a close contact, you can spread the flu virus to them. This is why getting your flu and Covid vaccinations is so necessary.
Like paid carers, including those working in the community, social or residential care and all frontline healthcare professionals the NHS values you.
You can now walk-in (no appointment required) to get your free NHS Covid and flu vaccinations at Kellaway Pharmacy if you are eligible. Don't delay; get vaccinated today. For details: Call 0117 9246579. Private affordable flu and Covid jabs are also now available.
Meet with a local professional and receive full guidance and support.
Family
Ensure your loved ones receive the maximum benefit by protecting your estate with trusts.
Probate
Our specialists help make a difficult time as stress-free and straightforward as possible. Give someone the power to make decisions on your behalf, no matter what happens. Will Writing
News from Green Party Clifton councillors Paula O’Rourke and Jerome Thomas
What’s happening at the Suspension Bridge?
Paula has recently been appointed to the Suspension Bridge Trust and is delighted to be able to better understand the way the Trust manages the operational and heritage activity of this historic asset. The £7 million project which is underway to repaint and replace the lights is on schedule and should be complete in early 2026.
The compound which is needed to support this project is unsightly but essential. As a member of the Downs Committee, Paula can assure that it is using the minimum footprint possible and the Bridge Trust is paying a monthly fee to the Downs in compensation.
We Clifton councillors have pressed the Trust to enhance the fencing with some attractive photographic panels, showing the building of the bridge in the 19th century. These will soon be completed, and we are hoping that both sides of the compound will be enclosed in this more aesthetically appealing way.
Parking charges changes recently voted by the new Transport and Connectivity Committee and how they affect Clifton As there has been no increase in charges for parking permits since the start of the Residents Parking Zones, the Council has decided to increase the cost of the first permit from £56 to £124 (instead of the £178 which had been agreed by the previous adminsration in March) with inflationary increases built in going forward.
To ensure that there would not be a gap in the budget from the above change, pay and display charges have increased to £2.50 and free visitor permits will be withdrawn next year. The free 30 minutes visitor parking allowance however will remain.
We know that this increase in parking charges will not be good news to all residents, however at 34 pence per day for a resident’s parking permit, the new charges represent good value in comparison to other residents’ parking schemes around the country and funds raised will be used on active travel initiatives across the city.
Clifton will soon look so much better when the large commercial bins are removed
After a long summer of complaining about the proliferation of commercial bins which are making our lovely streets unlovely, we have been able to persuade Bristol Waste ccompany to accelerate their plans to adopt the ‘Alternative Waste Collection’ method to Clifton.
This has been successfully trialed in the Old City and on the Gloucester Road. Essentially, it means that traders will no longer be able to use refuse collection via large bins and will have to find an alternative suitable method, as happens elsewhere in the city. Traders have been engaged with and given notice. Here is the schedule:
24/25 September – Highways Act stickers & notification to contractors
16 October – deadline for removal of large bins & checks
22/23 October – seizures & S.47s notices
So, by the end of October, we should have these eyesores removed. Hurrah!
We have had assurances that, in 2025, when there is funding to do it, the residents who live above shops will have to move to an alternative to black bins too.
Rental property conditions
Many properties rented out in the Clifton area require a property licence from the Council (mainly where people are house or flat sharing).
This aims to ensure that rental properties are maintained in a safe and good condition and that landlords act responsibly to their tenants. Where people are concerned about the state of the registered property that they rent they can contact the Council on private.housing@ bristol.gov.uk. In recent weeks Jerome has been working with a number of tenants in a registered property where damp and poor repairs have been making the property uninhabitable, with a view to substantial repairs and property improvements being carried out urgently.
Improvements to Princess Victoria Street to go ahead in January 25
Since Princess Victoria Street was pedestrianised it has become a very popular destination for local people from across the city with its cafes and wide range of shops, It has defied the gloom and empty properties that characterise many other local high streets and it is now about to get even better! The Council have gone out to tender for major improvement works to be done on Princess Victoria Street, in the quieter period after Christmas, and we are pleased to confirm that these are scheduled to begin in January 2025.
Paula O'Rourke: cllr.paula.orourke@bristol. gov.uk
Jerome Thomas: cllr.jerome.thomas@bristol. gov.uk
ACTOR and BBC Radio Bristol
Breakfast presenter Joe Sims hosted Bristol Dementia Action Alliance’s third annual Awards Ceremony.
The event celebrated the amazing work that organisations, groups, businesses and schools have been doing to raise awareness of dementia throughout the city.
Winners received Bronze, Silver or Gold awards - many returning to try to achieve the next level up.
This was the second year that schools and children’s groups aimed for The Barbara Award named in memory of founder Tony Hall’s wife Barbara who lived with dementia for over 20 years. The Barbara Award winner was Stoke Bishop Primary which has created a dementia awareness culture throughout the school by visiting care homes, forming intergenerational friendships, hosting Singing for the Brain groups and other activities.
Avonmouth Community Centre
Deaf Dementia Club
Doynton Memory Café
Sea Mills Community Initiative
SILVER
Age UK Bristol
Alina Homecare
BNP Paribas LLP
Bristol Zoo Project
Carers Support Centre
Lovell Place Care Home
We Care Home Improvements
GOLD
All Saints Clifton
Alive Activities
Autumn Years Community Care
Avon & Somerset Police
Barcan+Kirby
Best Life Companions
BRACE
Bristol Brunel Lions
Greenway Community Practice
Harold Stephens
Home Instead Bristol North
Wessex Water
Westbury Baptist Church
Individual – Inspector Stuart
King for Dementia Safeguarding Scheme
Wills, Trusts and Probate
Mental Capacity including Powers of Attorney
Older and Vulnerable Clients
Estate planning
Family, Cohabitation and Divorce
Residential Conveyancing Disputes
Accident and Injury
Employment Law Advice
Commercial Property Company and Commercial Services
Notary Public
Driving and Road Traffic Offences
Criminal Defence
A NEW official footpath in Clifton has been approved after a 27-year wrangle over access. Bristol City Council public rights of way and greens committee granted the application for the informal route from Argyle Place to Cliftonwood Terrace to be dedicated as a path.
The request was originally made by a member of the public back in 1998 after one of the landowners built a breezeblock wall and installed a gate – both of which were later destroyed or removed by vandals – and also submitted several planning applications for the site that year and in 1997, which brought the public right into question.
The committee, on October 3, was told the legal test for whether the application should be granted was if there was enough evidence that the claimed route had been used as of right uninterrupted for 20 years before 1997.
Council officers said this was the case based on testimony of 14 users dating back as far as 1965.
They told the meeting there was insufficient evidence to indicate the landowners – Bristol City Council for the northern area, including a play park, and private individuals for the southern section – had taken overt action to demonstrate that they did not intend to dedicate a right
of way over the claimed route for at least 20 years before 1997. Even though obstacles were put in the way after then, and planning applications for homes submitted, that is not relevant because only the period 1977 to 1997 matters in this case.
Councillors agreed unanimously in favour of dedicating the public footpath and confirming the order if it is unopposed or asking the Secretary of State to do so if there are objections.
Officers said a section near the southern end went through the corner of what is now a private back garden but that they would now seek a diversion order so that it avoids this and instead joins up with an existing path and steps to the east. Their report to the committee said the users’ statements provided “strong evidence” of pedestrian use of the route “as of right” for the 20-year period.
An officer told the meeting: “Several attempts have been made to resolve this application previously but none were successful and none have satisfied our legal advice. We have spoken to the landowner and agreed we will divert this claimed route onto the provided route once this process is complete which will mean all parties will be content.
“The process to do that is straightforward but not necessarily quick. It’s an appropriate way to do it.”
Cllr Tim Kent (Lib Dem, Hengrove & Whitchurch Park) said he had some doubts that part of the legal test had been met and was surprised that the owner of the private garden that the path would initially run through had not made public representations.
Committee chairman Cllr John Goulandris (Conservative, Stoke Bishop) said: “I believe what the users have said. In their own minds they were using this as of right.= On the basis that the public and the landowner seem fairly content with this, it eases my conscience with my decision.”
The claimed route applied for in 1998 began at the footway on Argyle Place, ran across open space between 6 Argyle Place and the rear of The Lion pub and other private houses on Church Lane, and continued down to emerge onto Cliftonwood Terrace, a private road, between 1 Cliftonwood Terrace and the rear of 1 Church Lane.
The council sent a letter to the company managing Cliftonwood Terrace but no response was received.
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
THE vicar of Christ Church, Clifton, and a group of singers from his church will be playing leading parts in the lighting ceremony of Clifton Village’s giant Christmas Tree.
Community carol singing will be led by the church singers and the Rev. Paul Langham will bless the tree.
The 50 foot tall Norwegian spruce tree will be covered in 5,000 LED lights,100 baubles and wrapped boxes of Christmas presents.
“There is no doubt that the lights switch-on has become the biggest community event in Clifton Village. It brings in not only local people but also visitors from across the city and beyond,” said Tony Miles, who organises the event each year.
“People will have to wait until the night to see
who will be turning the lights on,” he said.
Last year it was Bristol-born actor and BBC Radio Bristol presenter Joe Sims. Several thousand people packed the streets around The Mall gardens as he flicked the switch.
The event takes place on November 20 with the community singing starting at 6pm followed by the switch-on of the lights thirty minutes later.
The tree is so big that a crane will lift it into position. Scaffolding will be erected around the tree so that the decorations can be put into place.
The tree and lights are paid for by local traders through BID Clifton (Business Improvement District.)
The organisation encourages traders to stay open late.
SOME of Santa’s elves will soon be out in force in Clifton Village.
Models of the diminutive characters have left Santa’s sleigh to take part in the Elf on the Shelf trail organised by Clifton Bid (Business Improvement District).
The elves, wearing their traditional pointy green hats, will be hiding in shop window displays waiting to be discovered by children. There will be prizes for children who spot the highest number of elves.
Entry forms will be available from shops taking part in the trail which runs from November 23 to December 21.
A spokesperson for Clifton Bid said: “All kinds of businesses around the village are hosting an elf. We hope the trail will bring some enjoyment to both parents and youngsters as they go about their Christmas shopping.”
November
n WANT TO LEARN TO NORDIC WALK?
Our Beginner Workshops are run by friendly, professional instructors, are full of chat and laughter, and you’ll get an effective totalbody workout. Meeting on Clifton Down, 6th Nov, 9th Nov, 20th Nov, 23rd Nov. Visit www. bristolnordicwalking.co.uk or call Ros on 07886885213.
December 14
n SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS, St. George's, Bristol. 7:30pm. Conductor: David Bednall. Accompaniment: Nigel Nash & Bristol Brass Consort. Tickets - £25, £18, £12 (all reserved), £5 students/under 18s. Website – www. bristolbach.org.uk A special and uplifting evening of Christmas Music with Bristol Bach Choir and Bristol Brass Consort, whose Christmas CD Festive Brass has featured on Classic FM. The repertoire will extend from the Venetian Renaissance to the present day, and in moods ranging from the contemplative to the utterly joyful. Both groups will also display their individual skills in pieces appropriate to the season and the many emotions it brings. There will be the usual opportunity for a little audience participation in carols. A collection will be made in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Various days
n YOGA IN REDLAND
Tuesdays 6.30pm & 7.45
Wednesdays 7.30pm
Suitable for beginners & improvers Yoga in Clifton Saturdays 10.30am
Suitable for improvers Text Charlotte on 07533732035 www.yogabristol.com
n BLAISE COMMUNITY GARDEN, behind Blaise Museum, BS10 7QS. Open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 10-2, plant table always available. Interesting walled kitchen garden, free to enter, new volunteers welcomed.
n WEST OF ENGLAND BRIDGE CLUB based at RAFA Club, 38 Eastfield, Henleaze. Five sessions every week, catering for different standards. Thursday afternoon is Improvers. Monday and Friday afternoon is for more capable players; this is an EBU recognised session. You may come alone to any afternoon session; a partner will be found. The evening sessions are on Wednesdays and Fridays, and are open to pairs. www. woebridgeclub.co.uk or contact Secretary, Chris Frew, on 0117 962 5281.
Monday
n PLAY BOWLS at Canford Park in a friendly, social atmosphere. Qualified coaches and equipment provided. Contact: Les on 07305695579
n DICKENS SOCIETY. 7pm, at Leonard Hall, Henleaze URC, Waterford Rd, Bristol BS9 4BT. Talks, costumed readings, book club and social events. New members welcome. See www.dickens-society. org.uk or phone Roma on 0117 9279875 for details.
n WESTBURY AND CLIFTON AREA DISCUSSION GROUP meet at Westbury on Trym Baptist Church every Monday 9.45am to challenge ourselves with topical debate on what’s happening in the world. If you would like to help to solve some of today's challenging issues with good company, tea and biscuits - contact James Ball 01454 415165 or Ian Viney 0117 9501628.
n WESTBURY ON TRYM WOMEN'S INSTITUTE meets on the third Monday of the month in the Westbury Village Hall, Eastfield Road, BS9 4AG, from 2-4 pm. Interesting speakers, crafts, lunch club, skittles and outings. Our lively, friendly and inclusive group welcomes visitors. Call Sascha on 07961619806 or Traci on 07766073917
Tuesday
n WESTBURY PARK WOMEN’S INSTITUTE meets on the first Tuesday of every month in the Girl Guide Hut on Westmorland Road from 7.009.30pm. We are an active and friendly group with a varied programme plus extra sessions for craft, coffee, book clubs, walks etc. Visitors are always welcome and for more information do call Sue on 07813795936 or email westburyparkwi@gmail.com
n COMPANION VOICES BRISTOL is recruiting new members We are a 'threshold choir' actively looking for new people to join us. We meet in Easton on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 7 to 9 pm to learn soothing and uplifting songs by ear and build skills in sensitivity/compassion/loving presence to sing at the bedsides of people nearing the end of life. To join or support us in this work, contact Valerie on bristol@companionvoices.org. Visit www. facebook.com/CompanionVoicesBristol and www. companionvoices.org
n BRISTOL BRANCH OF THE KNITTING AND CROCHET GUILD meet on the third Tuesday of the month, 10am-12pm, usually in the function room at the Boston Tea Party on Whiteladies Road. Free to attend, all welcome (members and non-members). We cater for beginners through to experienced makers. Email BristolKCG@gmail.com for more info.
Wednesday n HENLEAZE CHORAL SOCIETY
We are a thriving, non- audition choir performing mainly classical repertoire. Rehearsals take place at Henleaze Bowling Club, Grange Court Road on Wednesdays 7.30-9.00pm New members welcome. Go to www.henleazechoralsociety.org.uk.
n CLIFTON CRAFTERS
We all have craft items we started and are now lurking in a drawer unloved – dig them out and come and share with us a morning of knitting, crochet, tapestry, rag rugs or whatever you would love to resurrect or mend. Clifton Library every Wednesday 10.30am-12.30pm
n BLAISE COMMUNITY GARDEN, behind Blaise Museum, open Wednesday and Saturday 10-2. Originally a walled kitchen garden. Free to enter. We’re looking for volunteers. Our Café (+ homemade cakes) open 10-2, 18 March and 8 April. n WELCOME WEDNESDAY Friendly and free coffee afternoon on the last Wednesday of the month, 2-3.30pm at The Beehive Pub, Wellington Hill West, BS9 4QY. Meet new people, have fun, and find out what’s happening in your area. Call 0117 435 0063.
n CLIFTON CRAFTERS We all have craft items we started and are now lurking in a drawer unloved – dig them out and come and share a morning of knitting, crochet, tapestry, rag rugs or whatever you would love to resurrect or mend! Every Wednesday in October at Clifton Library 10 30-12 30pm.
n GOLDEN HILL WI Meets the first Wednesday of every month. 1-3pm. Golden Hill Sports Ground, Wimbledon Rd, BS6 7YA A vibrant, lively new afternoon WI in BS6. We have an exciting and varied programme to offer. For more information contact
Pam Scull at goldenhillwi@gmail.com.
n CLIFTON WOMENS INSTITUTE
We are a friendly bunch who meet on the last Wednesday of the month at Alma Church, Alma Road, Clifton BS8 2HG, from7.30pm. Anyone interested in coming to a meeting as a visitor is most welcome (£5). Visit our blog cliftonwi.blogspot.com for forthcoming events. For information about us contact thecliftonwi@gmail.com
Thursday
n LOCAL CHOIR ACTIVELY RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS. We meet at Stoke Bishop CE Primary School, BS9 1BW on Thursday, 7.45 - 9.15pm. We are a well-established mixed choir performing both sacred and secular music. See website www. henburysingers.org contact secretary at secretary@ henburysingers.org.
n OPEN DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE For those interested in developing their spiritual awareness and mediumistic ability. 7.15 for 7.30pm start at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up, contact Marian Bishop 0117 9771629 or visit www. westburyparkspiritualistchurch.org
n HENLEAZE LADIES’ CHOIR Come and join us as we fill St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze with a diverse selection of music. We are a friendly choir and meet on Thursday afternoons in term time from 1.45 to 3.45. There are no auditions, and the ability to read music is not necessary. Contact Jeanette on 9685409 or Jane on 07752 332278.
n BRISTOL BACH CHOIR are now recruiting new members. We are a friendly auditioned choir of between 30 and 40 singers. All voice parts are welcome. We rehearse on a Thursday evening at Bristol Grammar School from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. If interested please contact Julie at membership@bristolbach.org.uk
n HEALING FOR WELLBEING Feeling stressed? Come and try our drop in sessions run by trained volunteers. Healing/Reiki is a gentle, relaxing, complementary therapy that helps restore balance and vitality. Donation basis. Venue: Redland Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, BS6 6JE. s 3.30 pm to 4.45 pm. For information and dates, contact Selina at Bristol Healing Group: T:0117 9466434 or E:selinanewton@yahoo.co.uk.
Friday
n HENLEAZE BOWLING CLUB. Come along at 5.45pm on Fridays to see if bowling could be the sport for you. Coaching available. Experienced bowlers welcome. Situated in Grange Court Road, by Newman Hall. This is a friendly Club with good bowling facilities and social events throughout the year. Phone, Tom Logan, on 0117 962 1669 or email hbcsec@henleazebowlingclub.org.uk for details.
n BRISTOL SPANISH CIRCLE. We meet every month from September to June, usually on the last Friday of the month, at St Peter’s Church Hall in Henleaze. For more info, see https://www. spanishcirclebristol.com/.
n FOLK NIGHT every third Wednesday of the month at the Victoria inn, Chock lane, Westbury on Trym. 7.30-10.30pm. All musicians and singers welcome or just pop in. Call 0117 959 0834
Saturday
n SEA MILLS REPAIR CAFE offers sewing, woodwork, general, electrical and cycle repairs at the Methodist Church, Sea Mills Square, from 10am-12pm, every second Saturday of the month (except August). This is a voluntary service run by experienced repairers.. FFI see our Facebook page @seamillsrepaircafe or email: repaircafe.seamills@ gmail.com
THE mid-October eight-try demolition of Devonport Services provided Clifton rugby with a confidence boost following a couple of results which had not gone their way through some unnecessary errors - sometimes brought about by their adventurous, free-flowing style of play.
Established players Marcus Nel and AJ Kilbane both crossed the line twice in the win with new recruit Toby Hutchinson being named the Clifton Sausage man of the match. Hutchinson has joined a group of new players this season with impressive number eight forward Niall Gibbons returning to the fold.
A September start saw an exciting drawn game at Exeter University followed by a home win against local rivals Old Redcliffians and two disappointing defeats on the road. Injuries to club captain Henry Harper and Brad Talbot have prevented them from appearing.
In the run-up to Christmas home fixtures at Cribbs Causeway with 1430 kick offs include Taunton on 9 November, Hornets on 23 November and Bournville on 14 December.
Such are the vagaries of the geographical knowledge in those of the national rugby game at Twickenham HQ that Clifton’s National 2 West league contains teams from Cheshire in the North West to Camborne and Redruth in
the deep South West, whose away fixtures feature some 720 miles round trips and overnight stays. Budgets are therefore stretched and players mainly with full time jobs and family commitments give much time to their clubs. Clubs frequently request re-structuring of the league system!
On a bright note, the second string side the Wanderers are riding high in the Counties league where they face many clubs who not too long ago were regular 1st XV fixtures.
Off pitch the club’s commercial manager Alison Harvey has secured some impressive sponsorship partnerships including new sponsor Lunar Optical from Clifton Village who join other local businesses and individuals in taking out a pitch side signboard. Player sponsorship is thriving and other opportunities still exist. The club’s function room is available for family and business functions as is the club’s car park to aid commuting into town on local buses. Contact alisonharvey @ cliftonrugby.co.uk
On a sad note, Roger Harper, who served as a Vice President , Honorary Secretary for many years and a keen player has recently passed on. Roger’s family will be holding a celebration event of his life at the club with details to be announced.
Roger Opie
Bristol-based home improvement company, The Window Hub, has been nominated for a prestigious industry award, and is the only one to represent the whole of the South West.
“The G-Awards celebrate the very best in the double glazing industry in the UK, and we are super excited to have been shortlisted in the Installer of the Year category,” The Window Hub’s managing director Danny Robb said. “We may only have been in business for four and a half years, but the judges have selected us alongside six other fantastic retail companies as representing the cream of the crop.”
Bristol-based window installation company, The Window Hub, was launched during lockdown in 2020 by seasoned industry professional Danny Robb, who wanted to create a business that was “built on quality rather than greed”.
NO one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark. You only run for the border when you see the whole city running as well. The boy you went to school with, who kissed you dizzy behind the old tin factory, is holding a gun bigger than his body. You only leave home when home won’t let you stay. This is the opening verse of Home, a poem written by Warsan Shire, providing a vivid and shocking description of the plight of refugees as well as the racism and loneliness that follows after starting a new life in another country. Warsan Shire was born in Kenya, to Somali parents. She came to the UK in 1989 as a one year old refugee. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband and their two children. Bless The Daughter Raised By A Voice In Her Head is her first full length poetry collection consisting of 49 poems. The collection covers
From humble beginnings, The
Window Hub now operates from a head office and showroom in Staple Hill in Bristol with offices, showrooms and installation depots across the South West.
Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.
“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone into your home can be stressful, so we have introduced as many initiatives as possible to be fair and reasonable in our approach to give our customers the best experience possible,” he said.
“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And you know what? It is so easy to be amazing if you don’t cut corners.”
And the Window Hub has the customer reviews to prove it.
90% of reviews for The Window Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism,
a range of subjects. Extreme Childhood deals with the plight of baby girls brought up in a culture where the birth of a girl is met with disappointment that it is not a boy. My Loneliness Is Killing Me is written from the perspective of an elderly male refugee, who yearns for his homeland and simple pleasures like swimming at Jazeera Beach in Mogadishu. Drowning In Dawsons Creek relates to the remains of a murdered Somali woman found in Washington State in 2010, and who was misidentified for a decade as a Caucasian Jane Doe. Photographs of Hooyo(Harlesden 1990-2000) refers to a series of polaroids of Warsan’s mother , chronicling what she had to leave behind in order to survive and assimilate into her new country. Warsan’s mental health issues along with those of her mother are chronicled in Hooyoo, Full of Grace. She confronts the
Bristol: 0117 3134 862
Exeter: 01392 642 634
W: www.thewindowhub.co.uk
friendliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.
As well as being open and honest, The Window Hub is keen to raise environmental awareness.
reader with the horrors of female genital mutilation and its impact on young girls in The Abubaker Girls Are Different and tackles the sexual abuse of young girls in Bless This School For Girls. These are beautifully crafted poems, drawn from Warsan’s own life and the lives of loved ones as well as newspaper headlines. Whilst they are unflinching in expressing the trauma and sense of dislocation experienced by refugees, this collection is also a celebration of survival against all the odds. You can find this book and many others at Bishopston Library. Come and visit us at 100 Gloucester Road and walk out with a library card giving you free access to over two million books. You will be sure of a warm welcome at your friendly local library.Review by Bob Deacon of Bishopston Library
“All of our products will help homeowners reduce their energy usage because they are extremely energy efficient,” Danny said. “We also buy the majority of our products from companies in the South West.
Clifton Library opening hours
Monday 10am-2pm
Tuesday 1pm-5pm
“When we remove old windows and doors, everything is recycled, and we are currently planting a tree for every customer at a wildlife park near where we are based.”
Thursday 1pm-5pm Friday 10am-2pm
The winners of G-Awards will be announced at a glittering gala dinner at the Park Lane Hotel in London on November 29.
Saturday 1pm-5pm
For more information, please visit TheWindowHub.co.uk
Newton Abbot: 01626 932 964
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
A WOMAN returns to the place she grew up. Driving through New South Wales, she recognises forgotten placenames, each like the bead on a rosary or like a bone in her body. She visits her parents’ graves for the first time in over thirty years. She stays for five days in the grounds of a convent, in flight from something.
The book begins as a kind of devotional, the narrator making a daily offering that is not quite diary entry or prayer, not devout but not without religious activity. She leaves, as planned, thinking of the journey home, looking forward to sushi. And then, as we knew she must be, she is drawn back and eventually stays.
There are few flashbacks to her adult life before it came to comprise attending services with the nuns each day and trying to convince them to stop buying individually packaged macaroni cheese suppers in between. She has left a husband, a job at the Threatened Species Rescue Centre and her emails.
Perhaps, in the face of climate disaster and grief – for the natural world, for her relationship, for her parents, whose loss she chastises herself for still feeling so keenly – she has given in to despair. Perhaps she has lost hope and faith and is not sure if those are the same thing.
And yet, in a rare insight into her past, she recalls returning to the usual mess, pillow on the floor, bedsheet bundled in a pile, clothes, iPad and papers covering the bed. She clears it away. ‘I lifted the sheet with two hands and it billowed slowly back down, as it did I felt some otherworldly possibility open up inside myself… the lift and descent of that sheet, the air inside it, the peace when it settled, showed me what I wanted.’
Has she found it here? Even as the anger of those she has left filters past the boundaries of her refuge? Even as the nuns are cold, argumentative and expect her to give up? Even as she is woken by the noise of the piano, played by the horrific horde of mice which have taken up residence inside it? Routine and disruption, the ineffable and the base, forgiveness and resentment, burials and returns sit alongside one another to form a forceful novel, all the more moving for its quietude.
Elizabeth Moss, owner of Heron Books, The Clifton Arcade
BRISTOL-born anthropologist and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts is to become patron of Clifton Literary Festival.
The announcement has been made by the organisers of Clifton Village LitFest as it returns for the fifth time later this month.
Professor Roberts, who was brought up in Westbury-on-Trym, was keynote speaker at last year’s LitFest.
“With more than fifty events across the weekend of November 15-17 the festival is our most ambitious to date,” says David Parker, the LitFest chairman. “To have someone as creative and enthusiastic as Alice is something about which we are immensely proud.”
The opening speaker at this year’s event will be media personality and author Carol Vorderman, who lives in Clifton. She will be in conversation at Christ Church with Paula O’Rourke, a Green councillor for Clifton ward.
Billed as the keynote speaker is author, television presenter and wildlife and environmental campaigner Chris Packham. He will be in conversation with David Parker, also at Christ Church.
Other venues include Clifton Library, the 200-year old Clifton Club in The Mall, Pavey House in Waterloo Street and Clifton High School in College Road.
Biographer and broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, who lives in Hotwells, will be making two appearances at the Litfest, both at Clifton High School on the Sunday. Firstly he will be talking about his latest book about the Second World War in the East. Following that he will be in a panel discussion talking about Tony Benn, who was a Bristol MP for 33 years. The discussion about the significance of Benn’s political life and legacy will mark the tenth anniversary of his death. Tickets for the Litfest are available from Eventbrite and Clifton Library.
• Due to an editing error, incorrect information about the LitFest was published in our November print edition. Our apologies to the organisers. For the full programme, visit https://foccal.com/litfest
TRUSTEES of Clifton Suspension Bridge are celebrating the award of Accredited Museum Status. It has been granted by Arts Council England in respect of the bridge’s Visitor Centre, which is now known as a museum.
The award is a UK benchmark recognising that the bridge trust meets the highest standards of management, education, care and access to its historic collections.
Museum archivist Dr Hannah Little said: “We are really pleased to achieve museum accreditation. While the Clifton Suspension Bridge is familiar to many, our museum and its collections are less well-known.
“These tell us how the bridge was seen, built and used in the past enabling people to see Bristol’s most famous landmark in new and
different ways.
“It is important to preserve and share these objects and stories for the benefit of the public. Ultimately, we aim to continue sharing captivating stories for present and future generations”.
Bridge Master Trish Anderson said: “This award represents our commitment to preserving the rich heritage of our bridge.”
The museum is on the Leigh Woods side of the bridge. It is open every day of the week and entry is free.
The bridge, built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is 160 years old next month.
A major refurbishment of the bridge’s wrought iron chains is currently under way. The scheme includes bringing in new more sustainable lighting for Brunel’s landmark. The work started last April and will take two years to complete.
