Hanham & Longwell Green Voice August 2021 by Emma Cooper

Protest over homes blueprint

PROTESTERS staged a demonstration at Kingswood Civic Centre against proposals for thousands of homes on the green belt.

The demo, organised by South Our Green Spaces (SOGS) South Gloucestershire, was held before council leaders approved the next stage of a blueprint for the future of the district, including where more than 22,000 homes could be built.

The group of about 50 people, bearing placards, marched in the rain from Kings Chase shopping centre for the South Gloucestershire Council cabinet meeting. Residents urged councillors to think again over the strategy, which includes

thousands of homes on green fields in Hanham, Warmley, Shortwood and Siston.

The proposals for 22,241 homes to be built from 2025 to 2040 are contained in the latest version of South Gloucestershire’s Local Plan, which is going out to consultation, after which the document will be finalised, consulted on again and then sent to government planning inspectors for examination.

Seventeen new sites, with a total of 1,751 homes, are identified in the new version. These include 225 homes in the green belt at Jarrett’s Yard, Oldland Common, 40 on a site next to Bitton Sports and Turn to Page 2

Dan Norris beats Jacob Rees-Mogg

Labour's Dan Norris defeated Tory Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg at the general election to become the first MP for the new Hanham and North East Somerset seat. He also remains Metro Mayor.

PAGE 5

Charity installs 'stop bleed' kits

Hanham Woods Academy is one of 20 venues where local charity Mikey's World has installed a bleed kit to help prevent future tragedies.

PAGE 9

Debut novel for author Stephen

Author Stephen J Cook, from Oldland Common, has published his first novel, Angels in the Architecture, a detectibe tale set in Bristol.

PAGE 11

Dozens of campaigners turned out in the rain to protest at the development plans

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Save Our Green Spaces group stages demo

From Page 1

Social Club and 45 at Cemex Floors in Wick.

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A report to the meeting on July 15 said the additional sites had been added to give the council a “buffer” in case some of the proposed developments did not go ahead. It insisted that these still were not enough to meet any of Bristol’s unmet housing needs and that South Gloucestershire could not do anything to help its city council neighbour. Despite this, South Glos had fulfilled its legal “duty to cooperate” with Bristol when preparing the Local Plan, the report said.

(SOGS) South Gloucestershire member Martin Thomas told the cabinet: “Bristol’s housing need should be kept inside Bristol and it should be building up, not out into the countryside.

The proposals for largescale development in on the eastern fringe of the city lacked imagination and were “the lazy way to provide new homes”, he said.

John Sibley, who said he had lived in Warmley all his life, pleaded with councillors not to destroy his village by turning it into a suburb, while Thomas Garland said the plans risked causing huge environmental damage.

Darren Lawrence told the meeting: “I will create an army of people to push back against this madness.”

Opposition leader Councillor Sam Bromiley (Conservative, Parkwall and Warmley), said the SOGS campaigners were standing up for their community and should be shown respect.

Cabinet member for planning, regeneration and infrastructure Cllr Chris Willmore (Lib Dem, Yate North) said: “In a worst possible case, if all the sites the council was looking at were to be released, it would be a two per cent loss to

the current green belt, but we’re working to get it down as low as we possibly can.”

She said 20 per cent of South Gloucestershire residents lived in insecure, unaffordable housing with no chance of getting on the property ladder and that renting often required 70 per cent of their monthly income, with a one-bedroomed flat in Kingswood costing £1,000 and month and a room in a shared house £750.

Cllr Willmore said: “We’ve got to do something about that, and the only way we can do that is by producing higher numbers of social rent and affordable housing for local people.

“What we have to do as responsible leaders in our communities is find spaces where we think the least worst harm is done and find ways to mitigate the harm that is inevitable with new development.”

She said she was willing to meet any group for positive discussions about how the housing need can be met with the lowest impact on the green belt.

Council co-leader Cllr Ian Boulton (Labour, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) said that while South Gloucestershire did not have a Local Plan, all green spaces in the district could be targeted by developers.

“By having a Local Plan it protects the green spaces because we’re not having to fight off those speculative developments,” he said.

Public consultation began in late July and will close the week ending September 13.

Following feedback, the final version will be prepared and consulted on again next January before being submitted in June 2025 for examination, which is expected in October next year, ahead of adoption by April 2026. By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Funds raised for stroke victim Iris, 3

A KINGSWOOD family had their lives changed forever when their youngest child Iris suffered a stroke.

Three-year-old Iris was left with no mobility on the left side of her body and can no longer use her left arm or leg. The family remains hopeful that she will regain some of her movement.

Iris and her mum Gabbie Smith have spent several weeks at Bristol Children’s Hospital, where the girl is being closely monitored.

Gabbie said: “Iris will spend roughly the next three months in hospital with a strict physio rehabilitation programme. This will hopefully teach her brain that she doesn't just have one side, but two.”

Gabbie’s sisters have set up an online fundraiser to support the family, which has raised nearly £6,000.

Before her stroke, Iris had the life of a normal three-year-old: she went to nursery whileher mum went to work, and enjoyed going on her scooter with her big brother Leo at the local skatepark.

Gabbie said: “Iris is a very cheeky and funny little girl, who absolutely loves a poo joke, and she loves dancing. She enjoys playing with her brother and cousins. She

also has a big interest in football and loves playing it and supporting Bristol City. I often hear her singing ‘One for Bristol City, two for the boys in red.’”

“Iris is a fiercely independent little girl

and the stroke has left her with very minimal movement on her left side. This means she gets very frustrated when she can't do the things she used to love doing. Iris is desperate to get down and walk, and move like she used to.”

With support from her family and the hospital, Iris’s recovery is progressing.

Gabbie said: “Iris is doing incredibly well: she has started sitting on her own again, and is now able to eat ‘normal’ foods after having a pureed diet, which she insisted was ‘too yucky to eat’. She’s still got her very cheeky personality and won't hesitate in saying something funny to make people laugh.

“Iris has been such a fighter and I am incredibly proud of her. I am so grateful to see people continue to help us.

“We would also like to try and allow Leo to have some lovely times and make some memories with us again. He has found this situation very hard, yet he is being a super star. He has gone from being with mummy and Iris to hardly seeing us and sleeping at different people's houses. He's being a trooper but it does break my heart when I see him sad.”

https://www.gofundme.com/f/iris-afterhaving-a-stroke-at-just-3-years-old

Iris: cheeky, funny and such a fighter

Dan Norris defeats Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

THE first MP for the new seat of North East Somerset and Hanham is Labour’s Dan Norris.

He beat the prominent Conservative Sir Jacob ReesMogg in the general election on July 4, gaining 20,739 votes to his rival’s 15,420, with Reform UK in third place with 7,424 votes.

In his concession speech, Sir Jacob congratulated Mr Norris and Labour leader Keir Starmer and thanked his team and constituency staff. He ended by quoting Chitty Chitty Bang Bang inventor Caracatus Potts: “From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success.”

In his acceptance speech, Mr Norris, who was defeated by Sir Jacob in 2010 under previous constituency boundaries, thanked supporters, adding: “I also want to thank Jacob Rees-Mogg. He has done a very good job in supporting his constituency – up until now obviously. I know exactly how that feels because Mr Rees-Mogg gave me that compliment 14 years ago and I have been able to return that.”

In North East Somerset and Hanham, and in many areas across the country, a swing from Conservatives to Reform was a factor in the Labour win. Mr Norris said: “I think any politician who goes away — even though there’s going to be a big Labour landslide — thinking that politicians have given them a big slap on the back would be very foolish.

“Because what became clear in the campaign was

the public were very kind and courteous to me but they are very disillusioned with politics and politicians as a whole. And what I take away from that is integrity and honesty are now essential requirements to reinstate in our political system.”

The Liberal Democrats, who fielded veteran local councillor and former council leader Dine Romero, came fourth with 3,878 votes. The Green Party’s Edmund Cannon was fourth, with 3,378 votes, and independent candidate Nicholas Hales fifth, with 231.

Coming last in the seat was Barmy Brunch, the Monster Raving Loony Party candidate, with 211 votes. He stood on a platform of bringing in a statutory brunch hour but also

doing more on mental health, wearing a striking balaclava patterned with baked beans and breakfast foods.

Mr Norris’s win was part of a big win nationally for Labour, with the Liberal Democrats also taking a record number of seats, particularly in the West Country.

Mr Norris is also the West of England Metro Mayor, a major role in which his term lasts until May 2025. He intends to continue until the mayoral election next year.

He said: “Until at least next May I will do both jobs. And that makes sense because to call a by-election when you’ve got an electorate of about a million people is a hugely expensive thing, to have an election only to have it a few months later would

be nonsensical. Also, to allow me to work out how I can do both jobs and whether that’s possible in the longer term and obviously I will be taking soundings. But there’s a lot of precedents in politics. Many MPs are ministers for example. I have done that myself and I think it’s very similar to being a regional mayor so I think it’s doable. But I’m not going to make a decision now. It’s important to get a real sense of it and make an informed and sensible decision.”

Dan Jarvis, who has been MP for Barnsley Central and later Barnsley North since 2011, was also the Metro Mayor of South Yorkshire between 2018 and 2022.

Mr Norris, who was voted in as Metro Mayor in 2021, joined his counterparts in July at a meeting of regional mayors at 10 Downing Street with the new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. The new government is keen to devolve more powers to Metro Mayors.

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service

RESULTS

Dan Norris (Labour) 20,739

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con) 15,420

Paul MacDonnell (Reform) 7,424

Dine Romero (Lib Dem) 3,878

Edmund Cannon (Green) 3,222

Nicholas Hales (Independent) 231 Barmy Brunch (Monster Raving Loony Party) 211

Second win for Damien Julie's council poll victory

LABOUR’S Damien Egan had a resounding victory in the new seat of Bristol North East.

He received more than 19,000 votes, ahead of the Greens’ Lorraine Francis in second place with 7,837. The Green Party came second in three other Bristol seats while their coleader Carla Denyer won Bristol Central.

Bristol North East constituency includes the three Kingswood wards – New Cheltenham, Woodstock and Kingswood - plus Staple Hill and Mangotsfield and the Bristol

wards of Eastville, Frome Vale, Hillfields and Lockleaze.

Mr Egan grew up in Kingswood before moving to London for university. He was Mayor of Lewisham until he quit to successfully contest the former Kingswood constituency at a byelection in February.

RESULTS

Damien Egan (Labour) 19,004

Lorraine Francis (Green) 7,837

Rose Hulse (Conservative) 6,216

Anthony New (Reform) 5,418

Louise Harris (Lib Dem) 1,964

Asif Ali (Independent) 1,029

Dan Smart (TUSC) 399

LABOUR celebrated another election victory on July 4 when a new councillor for Kingswood was voted in.

A council by-election was held on the same day as the national poll following the resignation of Leigh Ingham, who had been elected as one of two South Glos councillors for the ward in May 2023. Ms Ingham left to stand – successfully - for election to Parliament as Labour MP for Stafford.

Her replacement will be Julie Snelling, who was for many years a caseworker for Roger Berry, who was Labour MP for Kingswood from 1992-2010. Ms Snelling received 1,911 votes, 1119 more than her closest rival, Conservative Gagan Singh.

The council's Liberal Democrat leader Claire Young was successful in winning the Thornbury and Yate Parliamentary seat from Conservative Luke Hall. She has been replaced as leader by another long-serving Lib Dem, Councillor Maggie Tyrrell. Leigh Ingham has been replaced in the South Glos cabinet by the other Kingswood representative Councillor Sean Rhodes.

The results are announced for North East Somerset and Hanham

Doris the youth bus is ready for action

DORIS, the new youth bus for South Gloucestershire, has been officially launched.

Despite its name standing for Delivery Of Rural Inclusion and Support, it will be coming to Kingswood.

Councillor Sean Rhodes, cabinet member for communities and local place, ward councillor for Kingswood and a member of Kingswood Town Council, told a meeting of South Gloucestershire Council: “We recognise the need for investment for our young people It [Doris) is there to get to hard-to-reach rural areas as well as working in some urban areas that currently have not dedicated youth centre, such as my own ward in Kingswood.”

At the launch at Patchway Youth Centre, Councillor Rhodes said: “We recognise that whilst many young people visit a youth club, some don’t or can’t, so youth workers will also take

youth work out to where the young people are. We are thrilled to officially unveil this bus, which is crucial to that work,”

The bus will be used by youth groups and outreach workers to attend events, clubs and locations. The council says it will offer young people a safe space to talk, access information and support, and play music through a built-in sound bar along with use of a TV and wi-fi. The brightly coloured bus has

Councillors Maggie Tyrrell and Sean Rhodes with young people at the Doris launch

been designed in collaboration with young people and features hand drawn and digitally created illustrations. It is also fitted with a microwave and hot water.

The vehicle has been partly funded by the South Gloucestershire Violence Reduction Partnership (which is made up of professionals from the council’s community safety team, police, public health, education and youth outreach) to identify challenging

behaviours and intervene quickly to prevent serious violence. It is also supported by Public Health and Home Office funding for serious violence work distributed via Avon & Somerset’s Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody.

Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, cabinet member responsible for children and young people at South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We hope this new bus will add to the positive experiences of young people in South Gloucestershire.

“We know our youth work has a really positive impact on young people’s mental health, self-confidence, feeling part of the community and for many, provides a chance to learn new skills. Feedback from young people who attend youth clubs shows they feel less alone and more involved in their community.”

Kent, above

Painting helps me cope with chronic pain – artist

KINGSWOOD resident Rachael Kent has taken up painting to help manage chronic pain, while also raising funds for Blonde Angel Street Team, a charity that supports homeless people in Bristol.

The painter takes inspiration from nature and Dr Seuss characters to create unique, eye-catching pieces. Using a palette of bright colours, Rachael’s artwork features natural elements, flower bouquets and underwater scenes, set against contrasting backgrounds.

Rachael said: “The colours in my paintings are generally really bright, so I get lost in putting them together. I can get so engrossed that I can easily lose an hour or two. It is also really good for my mental health. It allows me space and time to process my thoughts and feelings.”

Rachael suffers from multiple chronic health conditions, including a rare connective tissue disorder called Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS). Her condition causes her a lot of pain and it can sometimes be hard to complete everyday tasks. Painting often acts as a form of 'active meditation', thus helping her manage the pain. Rachael said: “I find it very difficult to sit still and switch off, but often my body physically needs to stop doing and just 'be'. This is really difficult for me and my pain gets worse and worse.”

It was during the May 2020 lockdown that Rachael started painting. One day, she decided to begin painting rocks with positive messages and leave them in Kingswood Park

for people to find. In 2022, after switching to painting on canvas using water based acrylic paints, she became hooked. Her very first painting featured flowers and foliage in bright hues of orange, purple, green and blue.

Rachael said: “I used to put the painted rocks in Kingswood Park and they always got taken away. This led to me doing a painting by numbers and finally to buying a canvas and having a go myself. I have never looked back. I absolutely love it!”

“As my collection grew, I started to give away a few of the children's paintings on the 'Bristol Mutual Aid' Facebook group. Then I

donated some to the 'Aid Box' charity shop. They were snapped up really fast, so I started to think about how I could perhaps use them to raise money for charity.”

Rachael sells her paintings locally via her Facebook page ‘Paintings by Rachael Kent’. Prices vary between £20-£25 depending on size, and all the proceeds go to the Blonde Angel Street Team. Having already raised over £500 for the charity, she intends to continue painting and supporting the charity.

Rachael said: “I have always had a desire to help the homeless and I became aware of an organisation called Blonde Angel Street Team a while back. I liked how 'boots on the ground' they are and I began to support them. More recently, I have discovered there is also an organisation right here in Kingswood 'Helping Homeless Believe', so I also intend to support them with future donations.”

“Now that people are buying my paintings to raise money for charity, that helps me to focus on remembering to stop and do something I love. It is (for me) a winwin situation.”

You can find Rachael’s Facebook page ‘Paintings by Rachael Kent’ by visiting: https://www.facebook. com/people/Paintings-by-RachaelKent/100080198049377/

To find out more about Blonde Angel Street Team visit: https://www.neighbourly. com/project/5ef2182fc7ac8e24c41129ac/ information

Students focus on Our Earth, Our Future

SIXTH formers from CLF Post 16 in Kingswood hosted a national sustainability conference at UWE Bristol. It was one of a series of Our Earth, Our Future events pioneered by the late education leader Sir Tim Brighouse.

The Bristol conference centred on ecology and sustainability and also featured energy, food, travel and infrastructure. Keynote speakers included Tom Walmsley from the Ministry of Eco Education and Keith Scholey from Silverback Films, the company behind the BBC’s The Planet series.

A report from the event, informed by the participating students’ perspective, will be pulled together by Global Action Plan and filmed by local education media provider Boomsatsuma.

Kath Cooper, principal of CLF Post 16, said: “This was a tremendous opportunity for Year 12 students from across the city and neighbouring areas, to bring change to our environments and settings. The power rests in these young people’s fingertips! It was an amazing day and I am sure this event will have a major impact on the students that attended for a long time into the future.”

Some of the colourful artworks created by Rachael

Artist Rachael Kent at work

RESIDENTS are being invited to have a say on proposals to improve cycling, walking and wheeling between Warmley and Longwell Green.

South Gloucestershire Council is looking at combined improvements to two routes, alongside the A4174 Avon Ring Road:

the path from the A420 in Warmley to the A431 Stone Hill in Longwell Green and improvements at Craven Way, Barrs Court.

The suggestions for these routes include:

• A new signal-controlled junction to replace the mini roundabout at Craven Way, near Asda

• A new signal-controlled crossing with dedicated space for cyclists on Marsham Way

• Improved shared-use path for cyclists and walkers

• Resurfacing and widening the Ring Road Path to three metres where possible

• New and upgraded zebra

Bid to improve safety for walkers and cyclists

crossings

• Priority road crossings for cyclists and pedestrians

• Speed limit reduction on Craven Way

• Improved signs and lighting.

The council wants to find out local people’s views to finalise the proposals and adapt them to meet the needs of the community. All feedback gathered will inform an Outline Business Case submitted to the West of England Combined Authority, which would then be used to support a funding bid to deliver the improvements.

The aim is to make travelling by bike and walking/wheeling safer, thus encouraging more

people to switch from using cars to these active travel options.

Cabinet Councillor Chris Willmore said: “We want to make it easier for people to cycle, walk and wheel around our area. There are some really dangerous crossing points on that route that we want to sort out – but we need local views on whether these are the right solutions.

“Our aim is to provide greater options for people to choose how they travel, by reducing barriers and setting up sustainable alternatives that help encourage more people to get out of their motorised vehicles more often.”

The money available for active travel projects can only be used

for new transport infrastructure and cannot be used for funding bus services, filling potholes or other council functions such as social services, education or libraries.

For further information or to participate in the feedback survey, visit www.southglos. gov.uk/warmley-longwellgreen or = request a paper copy of the materials by emailing transportservices@southglos. gov.uk

The consultation is open until midnight on Tuesday 10 September.

Drop-in events will also be held for the community to find out more, meet the project team and ask questions. These events will be a mixture of in-person and online.

These include: Thursday 8 August - 6pm to 7pm online via Microsoft Teams (register via the website) and Wednesday 4 September - 3pm to 7pm at The Centre, Shellards Road, Longwell Green, BS30 9DU.=

Mikey's World buys 20 bleed kits

MIKEY’S World, founded in memory of a Kingswood 16-year-old who was fatally stabbed last year, is installing 20 bleed kits around the area in the hope of preventing future tragedies.

The charity, founded by Mikey Roynon’s mum Hayley Ryall, has teamed up with Avon & Somerset police, HeartSafe , and NHS England South West as part of the Avon and Somerset Bleed Kit Partnership.

The first of the emergency first aid kits, containing dressings and tourniquets to stop bleeding, was installed at the Cossham Inn in Kingswood, which is a big supporter of the charity and even has a mural of Mikey.

Others have been placed at venues including Bar 510, Browns Bar, Anchor Day Nursery, AEK Boco FC, Kingswood Rugby Club, Hanham Woods Academy and Bristol Brunel Academy. A map showing the location of the kits is at https://www.heartsafe.org. uk/bleed-kit-map/

Mikey’s World has also been busy running training sessions for schools and community groups in how to use the kits.

Hayley, who is supported by family and friends including her partner Scott and Mikey’s Dad Spike, channels her grief over

Mikey’s death in June last year into the charity and into efforts to reduce knife crime.

She told the BBC: "A bleed kit wouldn't have saved Mikey, I know that. But it's not about that, it could save another family from going through hell.

"We wanted to raise awareness of the severity that a knife injury can cause and how quickly somebody can lose their life. They've got three minutes on an artery wound.

"I don't think that people are aware of

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that. An ambulance can't get there in three minutes."

Avon and Somerset police are aiming to install 500 kits by the end of 2024.

Many local people and organisations have been raising funds for Mikey’s World, among them the Kings Arms, the Kings Head, Bar 510, the Portcullis in Staple Hill and Tuckers butchers. A six-a-side football tournament held at Hanham Athletic’s ground last month raised £5,739.

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Hayley Ryall, a mural of her son Mikey Roynon at the Cossham Inn, and one of the bleed kits

LIFE can be fast-paced and stressful, with tight deadlines, caring responsibilities, managing finances, and continual personal uncertainty. This can cause stress levels to rise, leaving you continually drained of energy, Stress overload can cause physical symptoms like headaches, tension in the neck and shoulders, dizziness, fatigue, and poor sleep. It also impacts mental well-being by causing increased irritability, low selfesteem, aggressive or defensive behaviour, poor concentration, difficulty in decision-making, and uncontrollable thoughts.

When you're under stress, the refrain /advice to 'just relax' can feel more like a painful reminder than a helpful suggestion. We all know that relaxation is key to managing stress, but the real question is, how do we achieve it in the face of life's relentless

pressures and demands?

Investing our hope in the affordability or opportunity to take a break or a holiday may not help. Sometimes, stress travels with us, building up ahead of our trip, during and after. Then you feel further deflated and guilty. So, how can we tackle stress?

● Eating a healthy diet as junk food activates stress hormones, and its impact on our weight and appearance will only worsen things.

● Exercise regularly; do what you can for as long as possible.

● Prioritise sleep by sticking to the same sleep times and aiming for six to nine hours of sleep, also creating a relaxing sleeping environment (not too bright, noisy or warm)

Two powerful relaxation tips: Did you know that spending

just 15 minutes in a forest area can lower your blood pressure, heart rate, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol, leaving you feeling calmer and refreshed? Research has shown that looking at flowers or images of natural environments can have similar relaxing effects if you cannot get to a forest. This is an excellent reason to spend more time in our local parks.

Did you also know that practising guided imagery by imagining yourself in a peaceful and safe place can activate your body's relaxation response, lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, clearing your mind and lifting your mood?

Most importantly, if you know someone or are facing life's pressures, please learn to make room and time for them

to share with you, actively listening while offering all the practical, generous support you can. Kindness has the most transformative healing potential, especially when provided with dignity and thoughtfulness. Be kind, share kindness, and speak kindness. Whatever your circumstances, Ellacombe Pharmacy is your friendly local pharmacy. We are here for you.

To access our care, please Call us 0117 9322293 or visit us at 24 Ellacombe Pharmacy BS30 9BA.

GIANINA TURNER talks to local author Stephen J Cook about his debut novel

Could you tell us a bit about where you grew up?

I am 62 and was born and grew up in Oldland Common.

Educated at Sir Bernard Lovell Comprehensive School, I went on to study German at Warwick University. I now live in Yate, and have done so for over 35 years. I spent my career working in social housing for local authorities and housing associations in the South-West, the Midlands and Wales.

How has your writing journey led you to your first novel?

I have always enjoyed writing. At school, I used to love doing the reading and comprehension tasks, and throughout my life reading and writing have been important to me. My father was a printer and

our house was always full of books. It was from him that I gained my love of reading and writing. In 2016, I published a collection of poetry and short stories called ‘Words For Lost’. After that, I knew I wanted to start work on a novel. Recently retired, I was able to find the time needed, nearly two years in this case, to research and write my novel Angels In The Architecture.

What was the inspiration behind Angels In The Architecture?

I have always enjoyed reading crime fiction and I watch a lot of detective series on TV. Faced with the daunting task of creating a novel, I thought I would write a detective story, as I understood the genre so well. It gave me a framework to start with. But I also wanted the book to be a bit more than a whodunnit, so I made sure that there was a secondary plot line running through the narrative. Basing it in Bristol also meant that I could draw on the culture and history of my own home city.

MORNINGS AND EVENING

How have you found the

publishing process?

Getting a novel published at my age is very difficult and the crime/ thriller market is very overcrowded. I decided to self-publish, which means that all the writing, editing and promotional work has fallen to me. The one bit of help I made sure I got was to pay someone to design the cover and professionally typeset the book for me. And it was worth it. It looks fantastic!

How did you promote the book?

I held a Meet the Author event at Yate Library and that was a good experience. It was successful, but a little unnerving sitting in front of over forty people and telling them all about my life and how I came to write my first novel. But the audience enjoyed it and we even had time for a reading, where I got to share an extract from my novel.

Could you share a synopsis of your book?

The title of the book Angels In The Architecture’is taken from Paul Simon’s 1986 hit-song You Can Call Me Al. Popular music features throughout the story in which,

OPEN MORNINGS AND EVENING

MORNINGS AND EVENING

OPEN MORNINGS AND EVENING

COME AND VISIT US

July - Tours

- Tuesday 2nd July - Tours 9.15am-10.20am

Opening Morning - Tuesday 2nd July - Tours from 9.15am-10.20am

much to his annoyance, the experienced and set-inhis-ways DI Jim Page is teamed up with rookie DC Louise Connor. But there isn’t time for him to complain. A body has been found in the middle of Bristol and the two must get to work straight away on a case that becomes increasingly bizarre as the days go on.

Are you planning to write any more novels?

It has been rewarding to see how much people have enjoyed the book. So much so that I have already started writing the next one!

Angels In The Architecture’is available from Amazon in paperback and eBook versions. To purchase a copy visit: https:// www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/ B0CWHF9T2H/about

COME AND VISIT US

OPEN EVENING

students and families who are interested School in September 2025. the morning will finish at 10.45am, the last 10.20am

families who are interested 2025. finish at 10.45am, the last September starts at 6pm repeated at 6.45pm and 7.40pm opportunity to hear about our unique freely explore our facilities and wonderful young people. A variety of evening — showcasing all aspects

We are offering tours to students and families who are interested in joining Wellsway School in September 2025. Please be advised that the morning will finish at 10.45am, the last tour will depart at 10.20am

Tuesday 2nd July - Tours and families who are interested September 2025. morning will finish at 10.45am, the last 19th September introduction starts at 6pm will be repeated at 6.45pm and 7.40pm opportunity to hear about our unique able to freely explore our facilities and wonderful young people. A variety of throughout the evening — showcasing all aspects

Opening Morning - Tuesday 2nd July - Tours from 9.15am-10.20am

Thursday 19th September

Headteacher’s introduction starts at 6pm

We are offering tours to students and families who are interested in joining Wellsway School in September 2025.

Thursday 19th September

Open Evening - Thursday 19th September

introduction starts at 6pm introduction will be repeated at 6.45pm and 7.40pm have the opportunity to hear about our unique will then be able to freely explore our facilities and throughout by our wonderful young people. A variety of throughout the evening — showcasing all aspects School.

Please be advised that the morning will finish at 10.45am, the last tour will depart at 10.20am

Headteacher’s introduction starts at 6pm

Open Evening - Thursday 19th September

Headteacher’s introduction starts at 6pm

The Headteacher’s introduction will be repeated at 6.45pm and 7.40pm to ensure all our visitors have the opportunity to hear about our unique community. Families will then be able to freely explore our facilities and will be guided throughout by our wonderful young people. A variety of activities will take place throughout the evening — showcasing all aspects of life at Wellsway School.

The headteacher’s introduction will be repeated at 6.45pm and 7.40pm to ensure all our visitors have the opportunity to hear about our unique community. Families will then be avle to freely explore our facilities and will be guided throughout by our wonderful young people. A variet of activities will take place throughout the evening - showcasing all aspects of life at Wellsway School.

TRANSPORT bosses have admitted challenges with an “extremely unpopular” plan for new bus lanes on the main road between Bristol and Bath. The works include building bus lanes along several roads stretching from the two city centres, including places like Keynsham and Saltford.

The A4 corridor between Bristol and Bath often suffers from heavy congestion at peak

A4 bus lanes plan 'extremely unpopular'

times, which can hold up buses making journeys longer. The West of England Combined Authority is planning to spend £89 million on building new bus lanes and bike lanes along the route.

An update on the Bristolto-Bath plan was given to the

overview and scrutiny committee on Monday, July 22, which includes councillors from the three councils in the West of England — Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Alison Streatfeild-James, chair

of the committee, said: “I know there are difficulties with the Bristol to Bath A4 corridor. Among local people, a lot of those proposals are extremely unpopular. Because of the way they’re coming through, and at speed, there isn’t time to get the comms right.”

The project will be split up into sections, with the plans in Bristol easier to deliver than in Bath. Work on the ground won’t begin until at least September next year, and is due to be completed by March 2027. The budget has been revised down, after initially being estimated to cost more.

Malcolm Parsons, interim delivery director for transport infrastructure at the combined authority, said: “We do recognise that engagement on the Bath to Bristol strategic corridor has been challenging. We’re setting up a suite of local forums for members of the community to get more involved in the discussions.

“We have amended some of the designs already based on the feedback. The challenge, rather than delivery of the scheme, would be disruption to the network and how we move people around while we’re doing those works. I am absolutely confident that we will get that scheme delivered, because actually it’s not that complicated. It’s quite simple.”

Last year Jacob Rees-Mogg, former Conservative MP for North East Somerset, urged the government to cut funding for the West of England, who were “pillorying the motorist with this dreadful scheme, hated in Saltford, for a bus lane on the A4”.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Cost-of-living support

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is helping residents with cost of living support this summer.

Five hundred cool packs are being given away free. There are two types available to collect from the council’s One Stop Shops and children’s centres, as well as at some charities and partner organisations. Family bags contain adult and children’s caps and water bottles, ice lolly moulds, ice packs, a handheld fan and a cooling pad. Adult bags are also available and all contain information about support.

The cool packs are funded through the government’s Household Support Fund and follow the success of the council’s free warm packs distributed over the last two winters and cool packs last summer.

There is no eligibility criteria to collect a cool pack other than being a resident of South Glos.

Cabinet councillor Alison Evans, pictured, said: “We understand that keeping children

entertained, and well fed, during the long school summer holidays can be difficult so we have provided lots of ideas for free and low cost days out and activities and recipes to try, as well as plenty of tips and advice to reduce energy costs and keep homes cool.”

The council has also launched a campaign to help people apply for Free School Meals and the Holiday Activities and Food programme. For more information visit www. southglos.gov.uk/CostOfLiving or call freephone 0800 953 7788.

Boost for care leavers

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has announced it will formally recognise the experience of young residents who are in or who have left the care system when it makes decisions.

The decision means the council will treat care leavers in the same way they treat people with other Protected Characteristics, such as race, religion, disability and gender.

Cabinet Member Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, said: “We want all children to have a great start in life and we are committed to combatting and overcoming all inequalities they might face that could prevent them reaching their full potential.

“Through talking at length with some of our care-experienced young people, it’s clear that they face discrimination in their daily lives. We want to help overcome this, both by raising awareness of the problem and in practical ways, for example, in relation to finding work.

“We have taken this decision in direct response to their call on us to take practical steps to help. This cements our commitment to our care leavers, and we will now formally consider the particular impact of our policies and decisions on them in the future.”

The council’s EPIC (Experienced Panel In Care) group has welcomed the move.

EPIC member Corrine, said: “Living in care can be really difficult, so having the council listen to us and make this change that will make our lives easier is really nice.”

EPIC member, Charlie, added: “It’s really important to us that council has listened to us and that they will keep listening to us in the future. It means a lot that have made this decision, not just for us, but for the young people who will live in care in the future.

Joe Docherty presents Thea Boyce's award

A SIX-YEAR-OLD pupil at Cherry Garden Primary School was among the award winners at an end-of-year ceremony.

Thea Boyce was presented with her honour by Joe Docherty, director of education at Castle School Education Trust.

Children, parents and staff from the nine schools in CSET gathered for the event, which celebrated successes in sport,

Cherry Garden Primary CSET award winners

Celebrating success ...

teamwork, community projects and kindness.

Cherry Garden headteacher Tom Hutchings said Thea was a worthy winner.

“Thea sees the best in everybody and continually supports and gives love and kindness to others. She shows amazing patience with the children that she works and plays with. She never seeks recognition when she does something kind.”

Clare Bradford, from CSET, said the trust was hugely proud of everyone who had received an award.

She said: “Young people can sometimes be given a bad press, but we are inspired by them, and the commitment they show to making their communities and the world a better place. It is so important to recognise the good they do.”

Schools in South Glos are 'crumbling'

SOUTH Gloucestershire’s schools are ‘crumbling’, the council’s co-leader has warned.

The district is the second lowest funded education authority in the country, and Labour Cllr Ian Boulton said it would take the party’s new national government a decade to turn things around.

His comments came at a meeting of full council as he clashed with opposition Conservative Cllr Erica Williams over Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plans to scrap tax breaks for private schools.

Last week’s King’s Speech included Labour’s promise to end the VAT exemption on independent school fees to raise up to £1.6billion a year for 6,500 extra teachers in state primary and secondary schools.

Cllr Williams (Conservative, Bitton & Oldland Common) told the council meeting: “If, as is widely predicted, private schools across the country and here in South Gloucestershire

have to close their doors due to the new VAT charges, the life chances of a significant number of children and young people will be negatively affected.

“Even with extra funding going into the state sector, private schools offer a leg-up for children from a range of social backgrounds.

“How is potentially hurting the life chances of our children a sensible way to improve the lives of people in South Gloucestershire?”

Boulton replied: “Erica, I know you, I like you, I don’t believe you really believe that. This move will bring in thousands of new teachers into the state sector, helping our schools. You’ll know this as my predecessor in this role that we were the lowest funded local education authority in the country, and to have money coming in to support our public sector schools will make a huge difference.

“You will have attended the

schools forum and you will have heard the headteachers often in tears talking about the funding crisis in our schools.

“I would be really disappointed if anyone in this chamber turns down the idea of extra funding going into our education sector in South Gloucestershire.

“This is something to be celebrated and I’m absolutely delighted that it was mentioned as a key point in the King’s Speech.”

In a written answer before the meeting on July 17, Cllr Boulton said: “It is unknown at this time whether individual independent schools will choose to meet the additional cost to trustees of meeting VAT through an increase in fees or from their reserves.

“If fees do increase, then given the low number of independent primary and secondary schools located in the area, it may be that a relatively small number of children and young people will require places

in the maintained sector.

“Although it is not possible to predict what that number might be at this stage, it is anticipated that this additional demand can be accommodated in the maintained sector.”

Asked by Cllr Alex Doyle (Labour, Filton) how he thought the new government would deal with the “mess” inherited from the Conservatives in Westminster, Cllr Boulton (Labour, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) told full council: “We have to be clear that it’s been 14 years of misrule from the previous government. “This will take a decade of renewal to turn things around, to improve our economy, to increase the standard of our schools.

“You think of our schools, they are crumbling. Our schools are bursting.

“It will take a decade of renewal and I am delighted that we are in a position to start that.”

Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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STUDENTS from King’s Oak Academy visited Kingswood Fire Station to learn about water safety.

The Year 9 youngsters, who are working towards the Duke of Edinburgh Award, gave a presentation to the fire and rescue team. The students were also treated to a tour of the station.

They gained a firsthand look at the operations of the fire station, from the moment an emergency call is received to the dispatch of fire trucks and the deployment of essential equipment.

Eleanor Salvage, teacher of health and Duke of Edinburgh lead, said: “It was a fantastic experience for the whole group.”

Chef shares kitchen secrets

PROFESSIONAL chef James Dixon, general manager at The Packhorse in Bath, visited King's Oak Academy to share his expertise with Year 10 hospitality and catering students.

During his visit, James engaged students with a live cooking demonstration, showcasing a popular meal from The Packhorse menu.

This hands-on experience gave students a real taste of the skills and creativity required in the culinary field.

In addition to the demonstration, James emphasised the main aspects of food safety and hygiene, the value of relevant qualifications, and shared his own career pathway within the hospitality and catering industry.

His comprehensive discussion directly linked to the students' upcoming exams, providing them with valuable insights and practical knowledge.

The visit was a great success, with students expressing increased enthusiasm and many aspiring to pursue careers in the hospitality industry.

Dan Jackson, King’s Oak’s lead for catering, said: “James was absolutely amazing with our pupils. He gave them an insight into the hospitality and catering industry and answered numerous questions around what it takes to be successful in the sector."

Joyce had a wonderful birthday, receiving more than 1,000 cards and a special cake

Joyce's 107th birthday keeps the posties busy!

AN appeal on social and local media – including last month’s Voice – for birthday cards for a centenarian succeeded many times over.

Caring staff at Kingswood Court Care Home hoped to gather 107 cards to match the great age being reached by their resident Joyce.

People in the Kingswood area, including children from local schools and nurseries responded magnificently – and so did folk from around the world.

By the time of her birthday on July 8, the total had topped 1,000 – ten days later it was at 1263 and more were still arriving daily.

The home posted on its Facebook page: “Joyce would like to say a huge thank you.

“When we spoke to Joyce she was so overwhelmed with the

amount of love shown and is quite getting used to the fact she is now ‘famous’. When we told Joyce that 1263 cards had been received she responded in her very cheeky way

‘Bloody hell’

“When we put the appeal out for the cards, we never imagined that we would see so many not only from Bristol and across the UK but also receiving them from America, Australia, France and Canada.

“We have been speaking with Joyce in regards to how we can use the cards and she is considering using them for crafts and activities in the home.

“We will keep you updated and show the results when we have them.”

A birthday party for Joan took place at the home in Soundwell Road, which is run by Barchester Healthcare. The home’s chef, Lee Brimble, baked a special cake.

Joyce was born and grew up in Somerset. She started working in

a glove factory in Radstock where she met Stan, her husband. She then worked as an accountant at Babycham, in Shepton Mallet, and was one of the first people to use a Comptometer, the first mechanical calculator. She loved to travel with her husband. Joyce always had a wonderful sense of humour and she still enjoys cracking jokes to make all staff laugh.

Mathan Balasubramaniyan, General Manager of Barchester Kingswood Court Care Home added: “We werer delighted to celebrate a truly remarkable woman as she reached this amazing milestone. Joyce is such a popular resident who always has an interesting tale to tell, and we look forward to hearing many more.”

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Joyce in her younger days

n ANTIQUES n NEWS

Celebrity Antiques Road Trip heading our way again ...

WELL, we’ve had a few days of sunshine recently so I guess it’s official – summer must be here! Summer in the auction world is always an interesting affair. Lots of people go on holiday, so timing auctions correctly is key, but it’s also the time that we start to notice new trends emerge. What’s selling better this summer? What’s selling worse? What will everyone be collecting come October? It’s actually a fascinating season!

Something else that tends to happen in the auction world during summer time is the filming of various television episodes ready for broadcast later in the year. Eager production companies all scramble to film their shows during the ‘nice’ weather, ready for broadcast during the ‘bad’ weather in October and November.

The first thing we’ll be filming this year takes place on Tuesday 13th August at our Hanham saleroom where we’ll be welcoming the cast and crew from the BBCs Celebrity Antiques Road Trip. That’s the show where two celebrities travel the country in classic cars alongside two television experts purchasing antiques and hoping to make a profit at auction. We’ve filmed many episodes over the years, and the celebrity edition adds an extra level of excitement. At the time of writing I don’t know who the celebrities will be – but even if I did, I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you! If you want to find out you’ll have come along to our saleroom on the day.

In previous years we’ve been graced by England Rugby legends Martin Offiah and Phil Vickery, BBC Presenters Adam Henson and Steve Brown, Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell, and last summer we filmed with children’s TV presenters Dick and Dom. Everyone is welcome to come along to the sale – just turn up on Tuesday 13th August from 10am, and watch the fun unfold!

Andrew Stowe, Auctioneum

Adam joins board at the Tabernacle

ADAM Rees has joined the trustees of Kingswood's Whitfield Tabernacle.

Adam has had a career in several major charities and is currently chief executive of Abbeyfield Housing Southwest.

Whitfield Tabernacle

Trust chair Anthony Hick said: "At this very busy time for our trust, we are pleased to welcome Adam to the board.

"Adam has agreed to help us with our fundraising activities and to look after our website and social media activity. These are important areas where we knew we needed to strengthen our board."

The appointment comes as restoration of the 18th century Tabernacle nears completion. The first phase of work is complete with the building stabilised, a new roof and windows and restored internal columns. Work is now taking place inside the building with the plan to open in early 2025.

The Tabernacle was built in 1741 as a meeting house and school room for the congregation of preachers George Whitfield and John Cennick. Whitfield commissioned it to provide a warm and safe place for the people of Kingswood to get together to study, sing, make music, and to be fed and cared for.

The aim of the restoration of the Grade 1 listed building is to create a place for people to meet and a flexible space for arts, drama, performing arts, and educational programmes. The building will also include a permanent exhibition that explains its historical significance.

While welcoming Mr Rees's appointment, Mr Hick added that the trust still needed to strengthen its membership.

"The trust has a particular need for someone to take responsibility for managing the trust’s finances. If there is somebody who is committed to Kingswood, has some time on their hands, and has some expertise in financial management or building management issues, we would love them to contact us via our website, thetabernaclekingswood.org," he said.

hanham&longwellgreenvoice

n WHAT'S ON

MONDAY

n YOGA CLASSES AT HANHAM COMMUNITY CENTRE - Monday evenings 7-8 pm All levels including Beginners welcome. To book your place or for further information please email yogashula@hotmail.com or Tel 07949333548.

n LONGWELL GREEN ART CLUB, no tutors. Would you like to do your own thing in the company of a small, friendly group that meet Mondays 9.30 to 12.30, arrive and leave as you please. URC Wesley room. Contact Jackie on 01179600273 or email colown@ blueyonder.co.uk

TUESDAY

n LIP READING CLASS, 1.303pm at North Common Village Hall, Millers Drive, BS30 8YH. Contact Mary Hall 07790 283939, lipreadingmary@yahoo.com

n TUESDAY CLUB a social group meet every Tuesday 1.45-3.45pm at Longwell Green Community Centre

n LONGWELL GREEN SHORT MAT BOWLS CLUB, We meet Wednesday and Fridays 1.30 to 3.30 at the Longwell Green community centre , Shellards road, in the California suite. All equipment provided. Beginners very welcome. We are a friendly group who need additional members. Email. Michael8bence@ gmail.com. Tel 07800869837

n LONGWELL GREEN LADIES GROUP meet at 2pm on the first and third Tuesday of each month at the United Church, Bath Road, Longwell Green BS30 9DU (opp. Aldi). Please phone Maureen on 0117 9322341

n HANHAM TENNIS CLUB Adult Play - Tuesday & Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings, 9.30am - 11 am. NEW! Ladies coaching session Fridays 12:30 - 1:30pm. Beginners' session coaching - Wednesday 7-8pm. Junior coachingmost early evenings. New players welcome. Fully qualified LTA coaching. See website for details www. hanhamtennisclub.co.uk

WEDNESDAY

n BARRS COURT PROBUS

CLUB Retired and semi-retired Professional and Businessmen: Meet 2nd and 4th Wednesdays 10-12 at Longwell Green Community Centre. Please contact our Membership Secretary, Mick Funnell: 0117 932 4104 or email bcprobusclub@gmail.com to arrange a visit. Website: https:// barrscourtprobus.org/

n JOIN OUR OVER 65’S EXERCISE AND FRIENDSHIP

GROUP at The Community Project in Cadbury Heath (BS30 8EL) every Wednesday, 10-11:30am. Improve strength, balance, and more in a fun, inclusive environment. Just £5/session includes tea/coffee and chat. Don’t miss out on boosting your well-being! For more information contact Adam - 07875503586

n BARRS COURT LADIES CLUB: Wives and partners of the Probus club members meet 10-12 on the second Wednesday of each month at the United Church, Bath Road, Longwell Green. Website: https:// barrscourtprobus.org/

n LONGWELL GREEN PROBUS CLUB meets at Warmley Community Centre on the first and third Wednesday of each month.. New members welcomefor details contact Mike on 07817094147

n HANHAM BRIDGE CLUB

Every Weds 7-10pm at Hanham Community Centre, see www. hanhambridgeclub.co.uk.

n HANHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY: We are a friendly club who welcome photographers of all abilities to share our hobby. Meetings are at 7,30p.m. Wednesday evenings at Hanham Methodist Church, 26 Chapel Rd, Hanham, Bristol BS15 8SD. Visit https://www.hanhamphoto. org.uk or contact Geoff Mallin by email geoffmemsechps@gmail. com.

n RWP BADMINTON CLUB play at Hanham woods Academy 6.307.30 social club, 7.30-9.30 league club. Visitors welcome, please look at the website for more details

n LIP READING CLASS, 10amnoon, Warmley Community Centre. Termtime only. Contact Mary Hall 07790 283939, lipreadingmary@ yahoo.com

THURSDAY

n ‘STAND UP REACH OUT’ A social group meet every Thursday 2-4pm at Longwell Green Community Centre for different activities.

n KINGSWOOD HISTORY SOCIETY Yanks in Bristol in WW2

Presented by Oliver Davey – 2nd July 2024

Fresh from his appearance on BBC Points West, Oliver presented his research into this fascinating subject. His interest developing from his Great Aunt who married a GI.

Initially following the Lend Lease Act (1941) US civilians arrived in Norther Ireland to support this policy. The first signs of the US military in Bristol were not until 10th July 1942 at Avonmouth. Indeed, baseball was reported in the Evening Post in September.

In the early days these were black GIs in Support Services. Segregation of white and black GIs was an issue. In fact, there was a riot on Park Street due to treatment of the black GIs. This was not reported in Britain.

General Omar Bradley was based at Clifton College (US 1st Army HQ) where the planning for D Day took place.

32nd Machine Records Unit was also at the college but residents complained the generators were to noisy ! Moved to opposite the zoo.

Other notable areas: Armoured Fighting Vehicles serviced by the Sea Walls on the Downs, where there was a baseball league. Shirehampton Golf Course (for whites) and Penpole Lane (for blacks). 298th General Hospital at Frenchay (expanded as a US hospital). The Leyland Showroom on Warmley Hill was built by the Americans for Jeeps and there was Medical Corp at Tennis Court Road.

1.5 million Americans were in Britain at the time. Oliver finished by fielding some interesting questions from the audience.

Next meeting at the Park Centre, Kingswood is Tuesday 6th August 2024, 7pm for 7,30pm start. Visitors £4 incl tea/coffee and biscuits.

Full schedule of presentations can be found at www.kingswoodhistorysociety.org

n HANHAM ART CLUB We are friendly group that meets on a Thursday evening at Hanham Community Centre 7pm-9pm. New members welcome from beginners to the more experienced. For more information contact Hilary on 07880548481 or email tweenuk2003@yahoo.com

n AVON SCALE MODEL

SOCIETY: As a friendly long standing local model making club, we meet at Longwell Green Community Centre on the Third Thursday of every month at 8pm. All subjects in all scales are covered,- aircraft, AFV,s cars, bikes, sci-fi, etc. New members are always welcome. Please phone Ian on 0117 9603435

FRIDAY

n LONGWELL GREEN WI meet on the third Friday of the month at 7.30pm at Longwell Green Community Centre. New members are always welcome. Email longwell-wi@gmail.com or tel. 0117 9864782.

n TAI CHI FOR PARKINSON'S: Weekly beginners Tai Chi & Qi Gong class for people with Parkinson’s disease, their families and carers. Lincombe Barn, Downend. BS16 2RW. Fridays (term times) 10.15 –

12.15 including tea / coffee break. Contact: Claire - Claire@ Taichibodyandmind.co.uk (07769 857672) or Sarah - buqiworks@ gmail.com (07815 662844)

n CROFT END SILVER BAND Hanham Tabernacle, Tabernacle Road, practice 7.15pm8.45pm. Players needed on all sections , all ages welcome and training given. We are a happy Band with a good atmosphere. More details contact Rob (Chairman) on 07788 473404

n LONGWELL GREEN COMMUNITY CENTRE QUIZ NIGHT, meets normally first Friday of each month at 8 pm. Bar available. For details please contact Marian.r.summerill@gmail. com, or ring 07503 989880.

n COMMUNITY NEWS

LONGWELL GREEN WI

IT has been lovely to be able to get out and about on the sunny days we have had and the flowers in the gardens are looking very colourful.

We have had a busy time at Longwell Green WI. Our President attended the NFWI Annual meeting at the Royal Albert Hall in London and found it to be very moving with speakers talking of their experiences of domestic abuse. Also, with about 4,000 ladies singing Jerusalem it is definitely something to experience. The resolution put forward this year was Dental Health Matters and was passed with a 95% majority.

We have had some very interesting talks – Treading the Wards – a Nurse’s Tale by Lottie Dale. Lottie started her nursing career back in the 1960s at St Bartholomew’s Hospital when things were very different. It was interesting to compare then with how nursing has changed today.

We also had a talk from Katie Bell – Behind the Curtains at Bristol Hippodrome. A fascinating virtual video tour around the Hippodrome front of house and back stage. We shall certainly see the interior of the theatre in a different light when we next visit and look for all the nautical themed additions dating back to when the theatre was built in 1912.

Members have taken part in local and slightly further afield walks and some members enjoyed a visit to Windsor including a boat trip on the Thames.

We are now looking forward to our Summer Strawberry Lunch and are hoping for a sunny day for this get together.

We have lots of groups that our members can participate in. There

are book clubs, walking groups, knitting group, skittles and social suppers. On the first Thursday of the month, we meet at The Chapel Coffee Shop in Longwell Green for Tea and Chat.

Longwell Green WI regular meetings are on the third Friday of the month at 7.30pm at Longwell Green Community Centre and new members are always welcome. If you are interested in visiting, please get in touch by email at longwellwi@gmail.com, telephone 0117 9864782 or come along on the meeting evening. We shall look forward to meeting you.

Linda Muller

BARRS COURT PROBUS CLUB –SOCIAL CLUB FOR RETIRED MEN

SINCE last writing our club has continued to be very busy. We have enjoyed a D-Day cruise (see photos) and we have tucked into pub lunches and a more formal meal marking our anniversary (28 years and still going strong). Our Wednesday meetings remain our core activity and men have enjoyed a diverse range of subjects ranging from life in the NHS to being a radio operator in the merchant navy at the time of Kennedy’s assassination. A quiz and recollections of South Africa in the 1970s have been other events.

In the next few weeks we have

talks on coal, Devon and cycling across the Holy Land. Add to this more pub lunches, a day on the Severn Valley Railway, a week’s holiday in Yorkshire and another formal lunch in September and you can see how active we are.

Meanwhile our sister club for our ladies thrives also and they join in all of our activities except our Wednesday meetings.

Pop in and see what we get up to at Longwell Green Community Centre. Wednesdays 10.00 to 12.00. August meetings on 14th and 28th. Contact 0117 9324104

CLEEVE SINGERS

\CLEEVE Singers' 2023-2024 season came to an end with their summer concert on July 13.

Those who couldn’t attend missed an amazing treat, to hear the violin and piano playing of a very talented young musician, Conrad Van Wyk.

He also accompanied his young sister Amelia playing the recorder –another rising star.

Conrad, who is already at a concert pianist level, and Amelia were loudly applauded. A comment was "a good concert with two young people the icing on the cake".

Conrad was pleased to play in support of Motor Neurone Disease, for which our summer raffle was run. This choice was a personal one for the choir, due to one of our bass men suffering from the disease.

To enable Cleeve to continue and maintain its standard we appeal to singers to join us in our music making.

We rehearse on Wednesday evenings at Lincombe Barn, with no auditions and two free trials. Contact the secretary via the choir Facebook page or email cleevesingers@gmail.com.

Patricia Holmes

medium can be used.

To find out more, email janey.m.edwards@gmail.com.

Bristol u3a (you in your third age) is for anyone with some free time for themselves. There’s no lower age limit but most of our members are retired or semiretired.

Once you’ve joined you’ll have access to over 150 interest groups across greater Bristol and around 25 local to East & North East Bristol.

Almost everything else is free (you’ll have to pay for personal expenses such as travel, refreshments etc).

Google “Bristol u3a” and you’ll find the full list of groups and how to join.

Bristol u3a has no staff and does not provide a service –everything is by ordinary members for other members. This means that very easy to get a new interest group started.

Curious to find out more? If you are free on Wednesday August 21, from 2pm onwards, why not come along to the Bean Tree Café in Page Park, Staple Hill for an informal social?

We’ll have our Mӧlkky game with us (Finnish skittles, no skills required) and you’re welcome to join in or just watch and have a good laugh.

You’ll meet some existing members and have a chance to find out more about u3a, including what we’re up to in East & NorthEast Bristol.

You’ll also find us at the Warmley Flower Show on Saturday August 3.

Contact learnlaughlive@ bristolu3a.org.uk to find out more about u3a.

LIndsay Gough

CLEEVE SINGERS

BRISTOL u3a (East & North-East Bristol group) has a brand new painting and drawing group, which started in May.

Meeting monthly at Warmley Community Centre, members work on their own projects, with a break for tea and conversation.

Everyone is welcome to join, whatever their level of expertise, and any drawing or painting

David Priddey

n MESSAGE FROM POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER

Time to hear your concerns and ideas

WE are now in a time of change and of opportunity.

After weeks of being out campaigning over evenings and weekends and an exciting general election, I’m looking forward to working with the new government and all new and returning local MPs.

I welcome the government’s commitment to boosting police numbers and making neighbourhood policing more visible.

The King’s Speech also demonstrated there will be action on anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and on tackling violent crime, specifically on male violence against women and girls and knife crime.

I am pleased to say I will be spending a community engagement day in South Gloucestershire in mid-August, where I’ll meet with community groups and support services for victims of crime.

This visit is an opportunity for me to get out, meet people faceto-face and hear your concerns and

ideas about policing in your area.

I will also be holding a public forum in the evening on Thursday August 15.

I feel strongly that being out in the community is vital to understanding how we solve the unique challenges we face. The details to book on to the forum will be added to the website, www. avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk, soon.

This meeting will also help me to shape ideas for my Police and Crime Plan, but it won’t be the last opportunity to have your say.

The draft plan will be published next month for consultation, giving you a chance to share your views on both the plan and how it’s implemented.

During July, I launched a new initiative called Police Question Time (PQT), designed to make it easier for you to voice your opinions on local policing.

I will be posing questions monthly about the performance of Avon and Somerset Police to Chief

n ADVERTISING FEATURE

Riding The Wave

THE Wave is a slice of the ocean, inland near Bristol. Offering perfect, guaranteed waves for surfers of all abilities, it’s the perfect place to learn to surf this summer.

This year the launch of the 'Little Rippers' session allows for children as young as four to learn to surf. Or if you just want to get in for a splash, Play In The Bay is a summer favourite. For others looking to kick start their surfer journey, look no further than a beginner lesson. Already a keen surfer? The Wave offers great sessions from intermediate to expert every day.

But The Wave is more than just surfing. With free parking and free entry, families can spend a day at The Wave with or without getting wet. The play park and skate ramp keeps kids of all ages entertained for hours, and the shoreline café and restaurant offer all day dining, great tasting coffee and a licensed bar. And if you didn't want to drive home… book a night in a glamping style safari tent located right next to the lake.

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The first session was live streamed on the Avon & Somerset Police & Crime Commissioner Facebook page on July 17, and you can watch a recording there.

Another new initiative I’m pleased to announce is free bystander intervention training, helping night-time economy workers to recognise the signs of sexual harassment to those working in this sector, like pubs, nightclubs, and hospitality.

You can sign up to the in-person or virtual sessions at tinyurl.com/ ywrppa2v.

Ensuring safety in our communities requires proactive measures.

By empowering night time economy workers with bystander intervention training, we can enable them to play a key role in creating safer nightlife environments.

This training is essential for preventing male violence against women and girls, and fostering a

With Police and Crime Commissioner

secure and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone.

Together, let’s keep building a safer, more inclusive community.

I look forward to meeting many of you across South Gloucestershire and working with you over the coming weeks, months and years to achieve our shared goals.

In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to me and my office with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have at www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk.

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n NATURE NEWS

Greater and Lesser Horseshoe Bats at Willsbridge Mill

IN 2023 we were pleased to have discovered that we have Greater Horseshoe and Lesser Horseshoe Bats in our old stable block on the Willsbridge Mill site. These are a more endangered species of bat and, as all bats are a protected species, we have taken great care in our work on site to encourage them. We have been working with Avon Wildlife Trust and the Vincent Wildlife Trust and the latter have been giving us advice on how we should improve the roof space we created when we restored the building.

We were fortunate in early 2024 to be awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and also a contribution from Oldland Parish Council for the work that was recommended to encourage the bats using the roost to increase in number. The Vincent Trust advised us on the construction work needed to the existing loft of our stable block and the need to restrict access, although this building cannot be accessed without permission. Before we

could undertake any work on the loft, we had to obtain a bat licence from Natural England for work in a bat roost and to disturb the bats as little as possible. We were advised that we needed to construct hot/ cold voids to offer the bats a varied environment to encourage the bats to breed and partitions so that the bats were disturbed as little as possible.

Bats have a winter roost in an old railway tunnel in the wildlife area managed by Avon Wildlife, known as the Dramway Tunnel. This tunnel is 200 metres away from the stable block and the fact that the bats are using our stable block as a summer roost has been very exciting for both Avon Wildlife and Willsbridge Mill Community Refresh as our respective biodiversity action plans aim to create corridors for species to spread and multiply.

n NATURE WATCH with Dawn Lawrence

We also wanted to include our community, especially children, in the knowledge of the bats' existence, to understand why they are protected, their natural habitats and ways in which they can enjoy seeing and hearing the bats without disturbing their resting places. Avon Bat Group are planning a number of bat walks around the site and we intend to organise our own bat walks to see the bats at dusk using bat detection equipment to listen to the different echolocation frequencies of different bat species.

The internal work on the barn was completed last month and even in that short period the number of bats has doubled. Experts from the Vincent Trust have advised us that the way the bats are grouping together means that they may well make this their maternity roost. We are considering the installation of heated incubators to give the young the best chance of survival.

We are very grateful to all the organisations that have helped us in this exciting venture.

Pauline Lovell

Film highlights Large Blue BRISTOL is a city famous for its blue glass, but the beautiful Large Blue butterfly, once almost extinct, is perhaps lesser known. Thanks to conservation efforts, the rare species can now be seen once more fluttering over the Polden Hills in Somerset and a film capturing this special journey back to life is being screened in Bristol.

The film aims to improve people’s understanding of nature and climate change, as butterflies are a key indicator of loss of habitat. It can be watched online at tinyurl.com/4c8rbwyy and for free at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, until September 1.

It was created by two artists in collaboration with Professor Jon Dovey, a specialist in screen media and former Head of Drama at the University of Bristol. The film features natural history writer Patrick Barkham and former museum chief Ray Barnett.

Robin makes daddy long legs quiver

THE robins love the rich pickings on our patio: they eat the crumbs I throw out and they groom the tomatoes for aphids. Young song birds such as robins only fledge when they are fully grown, which just shows how much work the adults have to do to raise their family. Once I saw a fledgling robin sitting on the back of a patio chair, a little tuft of baby down still sticking up on its back. Suddenly the patio was full of robins and then, on my return from a trip to the compost heap, so was the kitchen. Well, there were two, which is quite a lot of robins for one kitchen. On seeing me they panicked and though one found the door the other began bashing against the back window. A daughter came to view the commotion - “oh look the spider’s having a heart attack!” she said. The daddy long legs spider (Pholcus phalangioides) that had been minding its own business in the top corner of the window was now juddering like a cartoon character being given an electric shock – the species has a rather amusing habit of quivering when disturbed. It didn’t settle down until we had manoeuvred the little robin out of the window. The spindly Pholcus are welcome in our house because I prefer them to the big hairy-scary

house spiders which Pholcus have for dinner; and I mean that quite literally.

Summer sees the biggest event in the ants’ social calendar: the nuptial flight. To prepare, in each colony the resident queen lays male eggs and queen eggs and the wingless female workers tend them until they mature. Then on a warm, still, humid day the virgin queens take flight followed by the males. They erupt

from their quiet cavities and fly up into the air, thousands of them at once. The different colonies co-ordinate their flights by the weather in order to successfully out-breed: they usually choose a fine day after rain – this may happen a few times in a season. When the ants have mated (which they do in mid-air) the males die and each queen lands, sheds her flimsy wings and attempts to establish a new colony. A few years ago I watched a first flight on a beautiful afternoon: the upper sky was emblazoned with sky-feathers of cirrus and a scattering of paw-print cumulus whilst lower down plump summer clouds drifted like mighty ships on an ocean of air. Above them all a plane had seeded a long rippling spine of vapour. Below the clouds a band of swifts, screaming through the hot sky, caught my attention. Wheeling around with them were occasional gulls. They were all feasting on an aerial banquet of flying ants, carried up by thermals. The swifts will soon be gone so look out for them while you can and please consider putting up a swift box for them because they need our help.

The speckled appearance of baby robins is very distinctive. Photo: Christine Matthews.

Sing Happy Birthday to Brian!

LOCAL songwriter Brian Iles has celebrated his 90th birthday.

Kingswood-born Brian, who lives in Hanham, has written numerous songs over the years mainly about local places and people.

His songs and music have been used for several campaigns. These have included helping get the name of the historic Blue Bowl pub in Hanham, successfully changed back to the Blue Bowl after it was renamed the Mill House in 1996.

Most of his melodies have been original and inspired by local areas such as Magpie Bottom in Hanham, the woods and meadows near Hanham river and Hanham Mount.

However, he has also been inspired by other areas such as the Malverns and its association with Edward Elgar, having been based in Worcester as a civil servant aged 17.

Our picture shows Brian at Hanham Mount with Bristol-based guitarist and folk singer Helen James. You can find Brian’s song

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about Hanham Mount, arranged by Helen, at the following link: https:// tinyurl.com/5n7f5zwz

Out of this world ...

BRISTOL Cathedral will be hosting artist Luke Jerram’s touring artwork, Gaia, for four weeks this autumn.

The programme will include late night live music experiences.

The installation was designed by Bristolbased Jerram to recreate the Overview Effect, a phenomenon first described by author Frank White in 1987, in which astronauts in space see Earth for the first time.

Gaia is 1.8 million times smaller than the Earth, with each centimetre of the internally-lit sculpture representing 18km of the Earth’s surface. As such, Gaia helps to make the scale of Earth and its beauty.

Longwell Green Community Centre, Shellards Road Longwell Green BS30 9DU Monday: 6.00pm & 7.30pm Tuesday: 9.30am Tel: Karen 07889 408969

AEK Boco FC, Greenbank Road, Hanham BS15 3RZ Thursday: 9.15am, 11.00am 3.45, 5.15 & 7.00pm Friday: 9.00am Tel: Kate 07979 494964

North Common Village Hall, 16 Millers Dr, North Common BS30 8XX Tuesday: 6pm & 7.30pm Tel: Emma 07773 689229

n SPORT

In memory of Jude, 19

BOXERS from around the country attended a tournament in memory of Jude Moore.

The 10th Bristol Box Cup, organised by Downend Boxing Club, took place on June 22-23 at Thornbury Leisure Centre.

This year the tournament was dedicated to the memory of 19-year-old England international and former Bristol Box Cup champion Jude, who died suddenly in March last year.

A total of 180 boxers, born in 2010, 2011 or 2012, from all over England, Wales and Northern Ireland attended.

Representing Downend were Lacey Holloway, aged 12, Rudi Watts, 13, Miley Conors, 11, Finlay Haskins, 12, and Michael Knight and Rio Toomey, both 13.

Gold medals were won by Lacey Holloway, Miley Conors and Michael Knight.

Glenn Catley, the former WBC super-middleweight champion, was there.

FRY’S BOWLING CLUB

Bristol and District League:

After a run of three games without a point, Fry's looked to bounce back with a home match against second placed Keynsham 'A'. Fry's got the better start on rink 2, and with rinks 1 and 3 tight. After the halfway stage, Fry's gradually pulled away on rink 1 and saw off a mid-game comeback from Keynsham on rink 2, giving Fry's an 8 shot lead with rink 3 two ends behind. A nervy penultimate end saw Fry's only drop 2 shots, with Keynsham surrounding the jack. With Fry's 6 shots up with one to play, Keynsham put bowls in a threatening location, but Fry's held second bowl. With Keynsham missing the take out with their last bowl, Fry's sealed a 41-36 win with a much needed 8 points. The following week was a forgettable one at Bristol St Andrews ‘A’, as the home side took a comfortable win with all 10 points, leaving Fry’s in 6th 7 points above the relegation zone.

Scores:

20th June: Fry's 51-66 Canford;

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Rink 1: 18-20; Rink 2: 20-25; Rink 3: 13-21; (0-10)

27th June: Fry's 48-66 Olveston Kestrels; Rink 1: 16-17; Rink 2: 1625; Rink 3: 16-24; (0-10)

4th July: Fry's 34-74 Henleaze 'A'; Rink 1: 12-23; Rink 2: 9-30; Rink 3: 13-21; (0-10)

11th July: Fry's 41-36 Keynsham 'A'; Rink 1: 15-10; Rink 2: 20-9; Rink 3: 6-17; (8-2)

18th July: Fry's 29-69 Bristol St Andrews 'A'; Rink 1: 3-27; Rink 2: 11-26; Rink 3: 15-16; (0-10).

Friday Triples League:

A mixed set of results saw Fry’s only win two games from the last 5, but still picked up useful points. An away win at Victoria Park was followed by three straight defeats, but picked 4 points in two of those games. Fry’s returned to winning ways with a comfortable win against Greenbank sees Fry’s sit in the mid-table.

Scores:

21st June: Fry's 60-36 Victoria Park (Bristol); Rink 1: 18-9; Rink 2: 20-11; Rink 3: 22-16; (12-0)

28th June: Fry's 41-57 Page Park; Rink 1: 16-18; Rink 2: 9-16; Rink 3:

16-23; (0-12)

5th July: Fry's 43-50 Severn Vale; Rink 1: 17-13; Rink 2: 6-21; Rink 3: 20-16; (4-8)

12th July: Fry's 51-53 Imperial; Rink 1: 24-16; Rink 2: 17-14; Rink 3: 10-23; (4-8)

19th July: Fry's 56-40 Bristol Greenbank: Rink 1: 13-21; Rink 2: 29-10; Rink 3: 14-9; (10-2).

Cups:

The Somerset cups proved unsuccessful as Paulton defeated Fry’s in the Turnbull Cup. A trip to Chew Stoke was next in the Wedmore Plate. After closing the deficit to a couple of shots, Chew Stoke pulled away in the closing ends. In the City and County of Bristol Clarence Davey, Olveston took a comfortable winScores: 2nd July: Fry's 51-68 Paulton; Rink 1: 19-11; Rink 2: 13-16; Rink 3: 1018; Rink 4: 9-23

16th July: Fry's 56-66 Chew Stoke; Rink 1: 15-19; Rink 2: 15-13; Rink 3: 12-15; Rink 4: 14-19

22nd July: Fry's 42-122 Olveston; Rink 1: 13-34, Rink 2: 8-40; Rink 3: 14-22; Rink 4: 7-26.

Cossham St work under way

WORK to build a new pitch for Mangotsfield United Football Club is in full swing.

Contractors Tiger Turf and McCardle sent bulldozers in to the Cossham Street ground at the end of June to clear the turf pitch, so a new 3G all-weather surface can be installed.

The £1.2m project by the club and Mangotsfield & Blackhorse Sports and Community Association has received funding from the Premier League, Football Association and the government’s Football Foundation. It includes widening the ground and installing LED floodlights, and was due to be ready for use by the end of November – although after three weeks of work, the contractors were ahead of schedule.

n SPORT

KEYNSHAM BOWLING CLUB

THE surrounds of Keynsham Bowling Club are looking their best as we prepare for our inspection by the Keynsham in Bloom judges. The condition of the planters and baskets is also matched by the bowling green itself, which is in superb condition, as borne out by the compliments we receive from visiting clubs. At present it really is the jewel in the crown of Keynsham Park!

There is a great deal of activity on the green, with ladies’ and gents’ league and cup matches, plus members competing against each other in internal competitions.

Whilst the ladies are unfortunately out of the Fear Cup and Southey Trophy this season, they are in the quarter finals of the Fear Plate. Plate competitions are organised to accommodate those teams or individuals who are knocked out in the first round of the competition in which they are appearing, thus giving them the opportunity to win something.

In the Turnbull Cup, the men had a good win by 10 shots over Weston Bath but then went down

by 12 shots to a good Knowle side in the next round.

In July, two of the year’s highlights take place. First there is the annual charity barbecue, which raises money for the charity chosen by the ladies’ and gents’ captains at the start of the season. This year the charity is Sense, which supports deafblind people or those with complex communication disabilities.

It was a lovely sunny Sunday when more than 80 members gathered at the club to listen to music from the Swing Jazz Project

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

and tuck in to the food provided.

The barbecue, which included a raffle, raised more than £400, which will be added to the amount donated to Sense at the end of the season.

The second event was the annual bowls match between the ladies and the gents, when seven rinks were full of our members enjoying good-humoured fun. For the record, the gents came out marginally on top. Our picture shows the combined teams at the start of the afternoon.

Mike Barrow

A jam-packed holiday at home

WE are now fully in the swing of summer and, while the weather this year has been unpredictable at best, we should (hopefully) see some warmer, dryer days ahead.

The school holidays are getting underway, and readers who have yet to book a holiday but are still eager to relax or have some adventures – whether that’s connecting with nature, or soaking up some art – are in luck.

In order to get a dose of wholesome fun, you really don’t need to go, well, anywhere.

For when it comes to our summer holidays, there really is no place like home.

Who knew that the solitude of the West of England could help recharge all our batteries?

Who realised that we could all feel reinvigorated by strolling through the gorgeous hills of our picturesque countryside – a walker’s paradise – where you can see for miles?

And who appreciated that from nationally-acclaimed galleries and museums to festivals and sporting activities – think of those regular summer fixtures at Gloucester-

the West?

Well, the secret is out! The West of England is consistently rated as a top staycation destination, and for good reason.

From play and learning at family-friendly favourites like We The Curious, which I am delighted has now reopened after two long years, to hidden gems such as Saltford Brass Mill or Kingswood Museum – who I am backing through my mayoral fund to help smaller tourist sites – this incredible region is jam-packed with top places to explore and enjoy.

That’s why I am encouraging all of you to once again make the most of our fantastic local attractions and sites, and get behind them this summer.

My Explore Local campaign has already helped bring thousands of tourists back to our great region, but there is a way to go.

Tourism numbers have gone up by nearly 10% since I launched the campaign,

Cricket success

CARSONS and Mangotsfield Cricket Club's Under-11s have collected the club's first silverware of the season.

Playing against Lodway in the Cup, Carsons and Mangotsfield batted first and posted 93-8.

With four overs left Lodway were 85-7, but their 8th batsman was clean bowled in the 17th over and some excellent fielding saw two further wickets, both run-outs, in the same over.

Whilst the excellent fielding turned the game in Carsons and Mangotsfield's favour, there was also a strong performance with the bat from one player who scored 27 not out, before taking 2-10 in two overs with the ball.

The U9s are also doing well. They recently attended the Stapleton festival where they were undefeated in their games.

The club have also successfully run their All Stars Under 7 programme, with 24 children taking part. The last session took place on July 15.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

but are still down slightly versus before the pandemic.

So if this is the summer of the great British ‘staycation’, let’s take full advantage by visiting the truly amazing attractions we have locally.

We are so lucky to live in such a brilliant part of the world. Let’s all get out there, soak in the atmosphere (and sun, fingers crossed!) and enjoy a proper local staycation.

A big bonus of keeping it local and travelling less far is we can save some cash during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, which I know is still tough on residents, and help save the planet too.

shire Cricket Club, and Bath City FC – all the family can have a healthy dose of fun, right here in

n KINGSWOOD MEMORIES & HERITAGE MUSEUM

EVENTS IN KINGSWOOD PARK

Kingswood Park has been the focus for the local and wider community for generations, and has hosted many events over the years. The Park is currently being restored via a multi-million pound, three year project funded by South Gloucestershire Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and volunteers.

The planned improvements aim to make the Park the green heart of Kingswood, where people can go to relax and socialise in a safe, welcoming, well managed setting as well as enjoy high quality facilities, outdoor activities and events.

One of the many events that the Park has hosted in previous years was the “Miss Kingswood” competition, which took place in the Park every year. The first two photos on this page show some of the winning contestants in 1967 and 1968, whilst the third photograph shows the size of the crowd attending the event in 1966.

Kingswood Heritage Museum would like to hear from any of our readers who remember these events or other events that took place in Kingswood Park. If you have any memories that you would like to share please contact us on 0117 960 5664 or by email at: kingswoodmuseum@gmail. com

Museum opening

The Museum is open until the end of November from 2 – 5pm every Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, and from 11am to 5pm on Bank Holidays, including the August Bank Holiday.

Museum talk: Coal mining in the Bristol area

This month’s talk takes place at Kingswood Heritage Museum on Wednesday August 14th, when Steve Grudgings will explain the history and development of Coal Mining in the Bristol area. Steve’s talk will focus on the history of mining in this area, in particular in Kingswood, Hanham and Warmley. Admission costs £4, and light refreshments are available; doors open at 7pm and the talk commences at 7.30 pm; seats can be reserved by calling 0117 960 5664.

Volunteer opportunities

Kingswood Heritage Museum always welcomes new volunteers. The Museum would particularly like to hear from anyone with experience of, or an interest in marketing and publicity. If you are interested in helping the Museum in any capacity, please either: email us at kingswoodmuseum@gmail.com or call us on 0117 960 5664.

hanham&longwellgreenvoice

n ARMED FORCES DAY

THE first South Gloucestershire Armed Forces Day since before the pandemic was held at Page Park in June.

The event is a celebration of the work of Armed Forces personnel past and present, service families, reservists and cadets. It was last held in Kingswood in 2019.

A first attempt to resurrect the event last year was cancelled

due to a lack of funds and volunteers, but this year's event went ahead in Page Park on June 22, a week before the national Armed Forces Day event.

It included stalls from the Royal British Legion, RNLI and Avon & Somerset volunteer police cadets, along with traders =The event was hit by some glitches, with a drumhead

service having to be cancelled, along with a planned appearance by some military vehicles.

Afterwards South Gloucestershire Armed Forces Day chair Ian Campbell said: "I want to say a massive thank you to all of the volunteers that helped bring Armed Forces Day back to South Gloucestershire following several years of

cancellations."

Mr Campbell thanked the event committee, Friends of Page Park, South Gloucestershire Council and John Moloney of Stoke Gifford who took over when he was mobilised with the RAF,.

People are invited to give feedback at the event's website, www.southglosafd.com, to help plan for next year.

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