Henleaze & Westbury Voice May 2024

Forever Amber

These fitness fanatics from Henleaze and Westbury have been raising money for a cause very close to their hearts. To find out more, turn to Page 4

Why have our postboxes been removed?

THE sudden removal of two pillar boxes outside the old post office in Westbury on Trym has angered residents.

Santa in March for Mavis's centenary

Mavis Scott, a resident at Druid Stoke care home in Southmead Road, requested Father Christmas for her 100th birthday pary in March.

13

Victory over village green

Neighbours have won their battle for a piece of land near their homes in Henleaze to be declared a village green.

Candidates line up for local elections

Find out about the contenders to represent Westbury and Henleaze on Bristol City Council for the next four years.

10 & 11

Full story: Page 3

So far, efforts by the Westbury on Trym Society, local councillors, MP Darren Jones and the Voice to find out why the postboxes were taken away and whether they will be replaced have drawn a blank. It means local people are left without a box that has a late postal collection.

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Seeing red over removal of postboxes

RESIDENTS are furious that the two red pillar boxes that have served Westbury on Trym for decades have been removed without warning.

The postboxes were taken from the forecourt of the old post office in the centre of the village last month.

Their removal, which was unexpected by everyone including the operators of the current post office in a shop in Canford Lane, leaves Westbury without a late postal collection.

It is not yet known whether, or where, a replacement postbox will be provided.

Local councillors Steve Smith, Geoff Gollop and Sharon Scott and MP Darren Jones have all approached Royal Mail for an explanation. The Voice contacted Royal Mail’s press office for a comment but did not get a response.

Hilary Long, chairman of the Westbury Society (WoTSoc), said the society had protested strongly on behalf of the village.

“No one thought to give any pre-warning or advice that these two much used main post boxes were to be removed permanently,” she said. “Residents had no idea until they saw they had gone on April 6th, nor had the

hardworking staff of our now small post office in Canford Lane been informed ahead of their removal. They were just given bags and told to expect a heavy delivery of letters from frustrated residents.

“It seems that high handed action and contempt for both the public and managers of the post offices is the way the postal authorities conduct their affairs. In light of the present national scandal over wrongful convictions of Post Office managers, you would hope that their actions would be to ameliorate inconvenience not perpetrate it.”

WoT=Soc member Jill Kempshall received a response from the Royal Mail that indicated there was no guarantee that the boxes would be restored quickly or even at all. She was told that there must be a postbox within half a mile of 98 per cent of homes, but that a replacement could only be provided with consent of the local planning authority after a suitable site had been verified and underground services researched first.

The former Westbury post office closed a couple of years ago and the building is now rented for use as a gym. Adam Turpin, who runs Crossfit Trym, has explained via social media that the removal of the boxes, which

were considered by many to be an important part of the street scene in the conservation area, is nothing to do with his business. Councillors are now trying to identify and contact the owner of the building to find out why they’ve been removed.

According to information on the Royal Mail website: “From time to time, it may become necessary to remove or relocate a postbox. We don’t remove boxes due to under-utilisation. There are, however, various reasons why we might have to take a box out of service:

“When a box needs to be taken out of service, either temporarily sealed or permanently removed, a notice will be displayed to tell customers why and give details of the nearest three alternative posting facilities.

“Where it is possible to do so, we will provide a four week notification to consumers when we plan to remove or relocate a box. However, sometimes a four week period is not possible because a significant proportion of removals and relocations are due to events outside of our control - such as when a box is damaged or stolen.”

When post was haste: Page 36

Raising funds in memory of Amber

MEMBERS of fitness gyms in Henleaze and Westbury-on-Trym are raising funds in memory of two-year-old Amber Townson, who died in her sleep last year.

Amber’s mum Tara, a coach and member at Crossfit Henleaze and Crossfit Trym, is setting up a foundation that she hopes will help other grieving families and fund research that will lead to the prevention of sudden death in childhood (SUDC).

About 160 members of the two centres took part in a global fitness challenge in March that brought in £4,500 for the Amber Townson Foundation.

Adam Turpin, who opened the Henleaze gym in 2022 and the Westbury one last year, said: “It was an incredible three weeks. We had record numbers of members take part in the CrossFit Open this year to support Amber’s family and raise much needed funds for bereaved families and life-saving research. We’ll make this an annual event and plan to do lots more

Next stop Paris for intrepid cyclists

A GROUP of local mums are going on a bike ride this month – all the way to Paris!

The four-day trip will be quite a challenge for the women, some of whom had never ridden a road bike before, let alone cycle with cleats (clip in shoes)!

But they have accepted the challenge from their friend Rachel Milne to pedal 285 miles from the door of St Peter’s Hospice in Brentry to the centre of the French capital.

Rachel is a physiotherapist at the hospice and has told them how provision of the free services at St Peter’s costs £27,000 a day. Many of the group have appreciated the care and love of the hospice for family members and friends and are inspired to raise as much as they can. They have prepared for their marathon effort, which begins on May 15, by takig spin classes and long weekend rides.

fundraising challenges over the year to support the Foundation and its valuable work.”

Tara said: “We need a better understanding of SUDC so that one day it can be predictable and preventable.

“Awareness is growing, and positive progress is being made. In March, MPs, senior medical professionals, and the charity SUDC UK, attended a parliamentary reception in Westminster to discuss this important issue.

“Things are moving in the right direction and with the right backing and research nationally, we hope to help save children’s lives and honour our beautiful daughter Amber.”

Amber was a beautiful, happy, and funny little girl and her family still don’t know why she died. SUDC remains the fourth leading cause of death for children aged one to four. It affects more than one child every fortnight and leaves families bereaved, without warning or explanation.

To contribute to the Amber Townson Foundation, visit https://tinyurl.com/mwr5u4yp

To test their mettle, they also took part in the Tour de Bristol 100km challenge in April.

The group are feeling nervous and excited in equal measure but determined to get to the finish line in Paris.

One of the riders, Rachel Evans, said: "It felt crazy when Rachel (Milne) first mentioned it to us - I didn't even own a road bike! Turns out you can teach an old Mum new tricks. It's been

fun going out training with the girls, and wonderful that all the money we raise goes to such a good cause".

Molly O’Donoghue, events fundraising manager at St Peter’s Hospice, said: “We’re so excited for our team of over 55 fundraisers to take on our longest cycling challenge to date: a 400km ride over four days from our hospice in Brentry all the way to the beautiful city of

Paris. We have such a brilliant team of people taking part and the money they’re raising will help so many patients and their families living in Bristol and the surrounding areas during the most difficult of times. Together, our teams have raised over £60,000 so far and we’d love to see this total rise even higher!”

To support Rachel and her gang, go to tinyurl.com/ bdeyukvr

Amber Townson

The cyclists completed the Tour de Bristol and are now preparing for the 285-mile ride to Paris

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Neighbours win fight for site to become village green

CAMPAIGNERS have won their battle to protect a popular picnic spot in Henleaze.

Bristol City Council has agreed an application from people living nearby to register the land at Ridgehill as a village green, despite objections from the landowner and a few neighbours. The decision was taken by the public rights of way and greens committee on April 15.

The application for the small site at the end of a cul-de-sac was first made in 2022 by people living nearby. Writing to the council, they set out the reasons for protecting the site, including how volunteers have helped with its upkeep.

The applicants said: “Since 1988, the local community has held annual summer picnic barbecues. Local people have volunteered to cut grass and generally maintain the land. Chippings have been laid to improve the surface of the informal path crossing the site and linking to the network of public rights of way across Golden Hill.

“Throughout all this time, access to the land and adjacent public footpaths has not been interrupted or prevented by the landowner. For over 30 years, Ridgehill Green has been in regular community use for picnic barbecues, recreational gardening, ad hoc passing-by on recreational walks, or just a place to stop and chat.”

Several neighbours also wrote in to support the green, and objected to a recent planning

application for a house there. The planning application received many letters in objection, and some in support.

But others supported the planning application, and said the landowner, Mushtaq Ahmed of Stapleton Road, should be allowed to build a house on land that he owns. Mr Ahmed objected to the village green plan, saying his planning application by law means it must be refused.

However, council officers said that as he applied for planning permission in 2023 — after the residents applied to register the land as a village green in 2022 — that wasn’t a valid reason for refusal.

One neighbour also objected to the village green application, saying the small piece of land was seldom used for anything other than a shortcut by people walking to the nearest Tescos. They also wrote to the council last year with their objections.

It’s understood there are over 100 members of the local neighbourhood watch group, who were all informed of the application. The council initially put up public notices in the wrong place, but then later put up notices at the picnic spot, informing residents of the application.

The public rights of way and greens committee were urged to make a decision on registering the land, rather than deferring to a barrister to examine all the evidence. Specialist barristers are often brought in for town and village green applications,

Walking and talking

BRISTOL Walk Fest launches its month-long event with an inaugural group walk across The Downs on May 1, followed by a series of talks at the Whiteladies shop of sponsors Ellis Brigham.

The group walk, led by Bristol Ramblers, will start from the water tower on The Downs at 5.30pm, visiting Goat Gully and the Sea Walls before finishing at the store by 6.45pm.

The speakers are author Robin Tetlow, Sophie Brown – founder of Bristol Steppin Sistas, Charlotte and Becky from Bristol Hiker Girls and Hannah Atkinson – founder and walk leader at Queer Hiking Bristol.

For more information about the festival please visit www. bristolwalkfest.com

The site at Ridgehill that councillors have decided should be declared a village green

costing the taxpayer many thousands.

Conservative Councillor Steve Smith said: “You can and should make a decision on this today. There’s three objections. One from the landowner that’s baseless, because it’s based on a planning application that was submitted after the TVG.

“There’s one from a neighbour. Although it questions how many people knew of the application, it doesn’t actually dispute any of the facts that the application is based on. In fact, it confirms that this piece of land has been used by the community for some years.

“And the third objection, I

don’t believe is an objection at all. It describes the history of the land, but it doesn’t object to it being a TVG. So you’ve got one baseless objection, one objection that isn’t an objection at all, and one objection that actually substantiates what the applicants are saying.”

The committee voted unanimously to register the site as a village green. However, the landowner could still legally challenge the decision in the courts, as is happening with a more high-profile application, for Stoke Lodge playing fields in Stoke Bishop.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Pint of science

UNIVERSITY of Bristol

scientists will trade the lecture hall for the local pub and sharing their expertise at the Pint of Science festival this month.

Now in its 12th year, Pint of Science aims to make scientific research accessible to members of the public.

Bristol will host 12 events across four venues between Monday 13 May and Wednesday 15 May. Each event costs £5 and the evening concludes with a science-themed pub quiz where Bristol goes head-to-head against other cities taking part in the festival across the UK.

The venues involves are The Eldon House in Clifton, Wiper and True in Old Market, The Greenbank in Bellevue Road, and the St Phillips Taproom of Left Hand Giant. Pint of Science is a non-profit organisation organised by volunteers.

Developers bypass council

RESIDENTS and developers have started bypassing Bristol City Council and sent planning applications straight to the Government, after ministers stripped the authority of its powers for making decisions too slowly.

The first two proposed schemes were last month submitted directly to the Planning Inspectorate, which will now decide whether or not to grant permission.

In March, the council was placed into special measures for failing to meet legal deadlines to deal with “non-major developments”.

It means applicants have the option of sending their plans to a government-appointed inspector for determination instead of City Hall.

Plans were submitted to the inspectorate on Wednesday, April 10, to turn a family home in Hotwell Road, Clifton, into a

house in multiple occupation for up to six people.

That was followed the next day by proposals for a marquee and landscaping works in the garden of Promenade House, a mansion in Clifton that is now offices, which would be used for outdoor events, workshops and meetings.

Bristol City Council is one of only five local planning authorities to be “designated”. This means the Government has effectively taken over the role for certain types of development because the backlog has become unacceptable, with hundreds stuck in the system, and steps to recover the situation were considered not good enough.

Applications that can be submitted straight to the Planning Inspectorate can be best described as mid-range –smaller than a large-scale project called a “major application”, effectively no more than nine

John Wills House

homes or where the floorspace is less than 1,000 square metres, but bigger than plans from a householder or single business for simple extensions or alterations to a building.

Retrospective applications are also not included and must continue to be sent to the council, along with changes to planning consents that have already been approved.

The inspectorate aims to make decisions within eight weeks and there is no right of appeal.

The council imposed a recruitment freeze and a round of voluntary redundancies in the planning department in 2021 and 2022.

Bristol mayor Marvin Rees has blamed government funding cuts for the problems.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service

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Crime author visits

THE UK’S biggest-selling female crime writer Holly Jackson is coming to Westbury this month.

The visit on May 9 is organised by Henleaze independent bookshop Max Minerva’s.

Holly will be introducing and discussing her new young adult crime novel, The Reappearance of Rachel Price, and her best-selling series, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, which is soon to come to the BBC. As this was shot partly in Bristol, including at Redmaids' High School, it is fitting that the school is hosting the event, in which Holly will be in conversation with author and journalist Charlotte Philby.

Holly’s novel Five Survive made her the biggest-selling female crime writer in the UK in 2023 and won her Author of the Year at the TikTok Book Awards. The Reappearance of Rachel Price was released last month. It tells the story of 18-year-old Bel, who has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mum’s mysterious disappearance, when young Bel was two years old and the only witness.

Rachel is presumed dead, but when the case is dragged up to be filmed for a true crime documentary, Bel can’t wait for filming to end and life to return to normal. But then, Rachel Price reappears and life will never be normal again.

Tickets, at £10 for adults, £5 for under-18s, and £15 with a hardback book, and are available now from Max Minerva’s website at https://tinyurl.com/eszxkeew

Charity cycle ride

STAFF at Druid Stoke Bupa Care Home have recently supported Comic Relief, with a virtual cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

The fundraiser was organised by Melodie Daum and Rhiannon Allan, activity co-ordinators at Druid Stoke. Staff members, including home manager Keyly Scott, donned bright outfits, red noses, and pom poms as they set to cycling on the indoor bike.

Step counts were added from for those who are unable to use the bike, and the residents enjoyed cheering on staff as they completed 1000 miles over the course of a week.

One resident, Molly Warren, commented: “It was a lot of fun to watch the staff completing

the challenge for Comic Relief. I loved seeing them all dressed up with their red noses on.”

Melodie Daum said: “The virtual bike ride and walk was our attempt to travel the length of Britain; from Land’s End to John O’Groats. We actually did 1000 miles, which is a little bit further. The idea came from our activity coordinator Rhiannon Allan – she even brought in her exercise bike in from home.

“Raising money for charity is something that we try do regularly at Druid Stoke, as it feels great to raise money for an important cause, while having fun with our team and residents. We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated and cheered us on.”

ELECTIONS

Bristol goes to the polls

BRISTOL will see a change in the way it’s governed this month following the local elections on May 2.

The mayoral system that’s been in place for 12 years is being scrapped and the city council is returning to a committee system.

All 70 council seats are up for grabs and a political party will need to win at least 36 of them to take power. If there is no outright majority, a coalition administration might be formed.

Labour has been running Bristol since 2016, although since 2021 it has not had an overall majority. The outgoing administration comprised 24 Greens, 23 Labour, 14 Conservatives, five Liberal Democrats, two Knowle West Community Party, and two independents.

The Westbury & Henleaze ward will elect three councillors. Each of the four main parties is fielding three candidates. The three Conservatives who won the seats in 2021 are standing again.

The Voice invited all those contesting the seats to contribute profiles.

Electors will also be casting their votes for the next Avon & Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner. The post has been held for the past three years by the Conservative Mark Shelford, who faces challenges from the other three parties.

Remember that you will need to take photo ID with you to the polling station on election day.

BRISTOL CITY COUNCIL

WESTBURY & HENLEAZE WARD

Nathaniel Joyce Green Party

No information supplied

Murali

Thoppil Green Party

No information supplied

Geoff

I was born in Bristol and never moved away! Living in Henleaze for the last 33 years and now working from home. Married with 2 adult children, I am a Chartered Accountant advising individuals and small businesses. I have been a City Councillor since 2001, Lord Mayor, deputy to the first elected Mayor and chaired Finance Committees in Bristol and the Combined Authority using financial skills to hold decision makers to account.

I have been active in many local campaigns: to save libraries, stop inappropriate planning developments and road schemes, currently campaigning against charging for the car park in Westbury.

I have lived in Bristol for thirteen years since coming to the city to study. I currently work at JBP, a communications agency. Prior to this, I worked at local youth charity Empire Fighting Chance and in the Mayor’s Office at Bristol City Council. With a passion for social justice and reducing inequality, I am running to be a councillor to advocate for policies that make Bristol a better place for everyone. My priorities for Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze include affordable homes, youth services, public transport, net-zero initiatives and access to local health and social care.

Sharon

I’ve lived in Westbury-on-Trym since 2011 with my husband and children. I work for a primary school in the ward and have worked in education for 10 years. Previously I worked in the finance sector for 20 years. Elected as a Councillor in 2021, I have sat on the Schools Advisory Council for Religious Education and People Scrutiny Committee. I’ve campaigned on road improvements such as the Henleaze/Southmead roundabout and to stop Westbury car parking charges. I’m standing for re-election because I care about my community. I am passionate about education including SEND as well as protecting our parks and green spaces.

I’ve lived in Bristol for the last 6 years and joined the Labour Party following the Lib Dems’ betrayal over tuition fees. Westbury-onTrym and Henleaze is a great place to live but, after 14 years of the Conservatives, people are crying out for change. Labour has a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, provide more NHS dentist and GP appointments and improve Bristol’s public transport system. We need a Labour Government working with a Labour Council to deliver the change our city needs. I will be a hard-working local councillor that puts your interests first.

I’ve been a Councillor for Westbury and Henleaze since 2018. I live in Westbury (near Canford Park) with my wife and two children, both at Bristol Free School. I work at home in Westbury and volunteer locally with Scouts. I’ve held several Council roles including planning committee, scrutiny committees, the Downs Committee and the Fire Authority, as well as being Lord Mayor in 2021-22. I’ve campaigned for road improvements (including crossings on Canford Lane and Passage Rd), to remove parking charges in Westbury Village and to protect the Downs. I’ve also helped hundreds of residents with individual issues every day.

I’m standing as a candidate in Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze because I taught there for 26 years, and my mother lives there. I think it is important for Labour voters to have a credible candidate in Toryheld wards.

Labour has been campaigning for an orbital bus route for the area, so I’m pleased to see the 77 service now launched between Henleaze and Gloucester Road.

Labour supporters have got used to voting Lib Dem in the ward as a tactical vote to get rid of the Tories, but it is vital that they now actually vote Labour in the election.

Gollop Conservative

Scott Conservative

Steve Smith Conservative

Ellie Milone Labour

Tom Phipps Labour

Miranda McCabe Labour

Nicholas Coombes

Nicholas is a chartered town planner, specialising in energy and transport infrastructure. He is currently working to consent an offshore windfarm. He has served two terms as a city councillor.

Nicholas wants to use his experience to improve Bristol’s environmental performance; accelerating the transition to renewable energy. He wants to green our neighbourhood by planting more trees and restoring habitats - including cleaning up the River Trym. On transport, the Lib Dems plan to improve busses through franchising, letting the council take control of services. He will campaign to fix potholes and create safer walking and cycling routes.

n BOOKS

Caroline Gooch Liberal Democrat

Caroline lives in Westbury Park and has a PhD in neuroscience and 20 years’ industry experience. Caroline was our last Mayoral candidate and was just 224 votes short of winning a council seat in Westbury and Henleaze in 2021.

Caroline supported the campaign to register the St Christopher’s site as an asset of community value. The Liberal Democrats want to end the Special Educations Needs crisis by providing more special school places in Bristol. Caroline also wants to ease pressure on the NHS, by better coordinating GPs, social care, public health and NHS services, to deliver better outcomes for patients.

The Last One

FATIMA Daas is a 28 year old French writer. She is the youngest daughter ( the last one of the title) of Algerian immigrants, growing up with her two older sisters in Clichy – sous – Bois, a socially deprived suburb of Paris. The novel, is based on her life, as she attempts to forge her own path in the world as a queer Muslim woman. The narrative shifts back and forth in time, presenting the reader with bold, vivid fragmentary slices of her past.

We learn that while the kitchen is her mother’s kingdom, her mother having learnt to cook at 14, the author, at 28, struggles to boil a pan of spaghetti. She was the result of an accidental pregnancy, a big disappointment to her father, who was hoping for a boy. She notes that her father

Stephen Williams Liberal Democrat

Stephen is Bristol’s most experienced politician, serving three terms on the council and ten years as MP for Bristol West. Stephen has experience of the council committee system which will replace the role of Mayor in May. He would be well placed to stand up for Westbury and Henleaze, as well as navigating the council to a more collaborative governance that gets the basics right, instead of wasting taxes on vanity projects. Stephen has a record of campaigning against library cuts, and wants to build stronger communities with parks and housing.

Daniella Radice Green Party

Daniella is an experienced councillor as she was a Councillor from 2013 to 2016 in Bishopton. During that time, she was Leader of the Green Group and then Assistant Mayor in the Independent Mayor George Ferguson’s cabinet where she enjoyed working in a cross-party environment and collaborating with those from different political parties. She has many years experience working in the public, private and voluntary sectors and has several years board experience too. She implemented a new resource management policy for the city when in power and is keen to promote the circular and green economies of Bristol.

by Fatima Daas

walks with his head held high and his chest puffed, whilst her mother meekly follows, eyes to the ground.

We follow her story, including childhood beatings from her father, racism from her white teachers, and family visits to Algeria, bearing suitcases full of clothes, perfume, toys and gifts. We hear about her attempts to be a good Muslim, learning the ablution rituals from her sisters and managing to pray twice a day, compared to the expected five.

The author chronicles her emerging sexuality, detailing her past and present lesbian relationships, trying to find what is missing in one in the other, without knowing what it is she is looking for.

This is a bold, engaging and

thoughtful book, skillfully tackling a range of issues including family ties, chronic illness, sexuality, therapy, faith and friendship.

You can find it at Bishopston Library. Please come and join us at 100 Gloucester Road. You can walk out with a library card, giving you access to over two million books and a range of activities including baby bounce for toddlers, chess and lego clubs for children and shared reading and family history tuition for adults.

Review by Bob Deacon of Bishopston Library

Opening Hours: HENLEAZE Monday (11am-5pm)

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(1pm-7pm)

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(10am-5pm)

(closed)

Opening Hours: WoT

(2pm-7pm) Tuesday (11am-4pm)

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(closed)

Liberal Democrat

n FROM OUR MP

If you were flabbergasted by ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office in January, then mark your calendars for 22nd-24th May, when the former Chief Executive of the Post Office, Paula Vennells, will give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.

The dates are certainly underlined twice in my diary. I’ve waited a long time to hear Ms Vennells give evidence on what she knew, or should have known, about the problems with the Post Office’s Horizon accounting system that led to more than 900 sub-postmasters being wrongly prosecuted for offences such as theft and false accounting. Tragically, four of the victims took their own lives.

My work on this terrible miscarriage of justice came during my time as the Chair of the Business and Trade Committee – one of the many cross-party committees in the House of Commons that hold the Government to account. (And the Post Office is a limited company owned entirely by the Government.)

In March 2020, the Committee launched an inquiry into the Post Office and Horizon, just two months before I was appointed as the new Chair. The Government then launched an independent public inquiry in June 2020 –although they resisted making it a full statutory inquiry until June 2021, after I had written to the Government calling for the inquiry to be given greater powers. The Committee’s inquiry continued in tandem for another half-year or so, before being paused until the

public inquiry has concluded.

I was due to question Ms Vennells in 2020, but the Covid pandemic stopped evidence sessions. Instead, I could only put my questions to her in writing.

In a written response, she told me (and, by extension, told Parliament) that she did not know Fujitsu, the company that developed the faulty Horizon system, could access the Post Office Horizon terminals. She went on to say she had been told the system was “like Fort Knox”.

But secret recordings dating back to 2013 that were broadcast by Channel 4 News only a few weeks ago appear to show she had been briefed on allegations that sub-postmasters’ accounts could be remotely accessed and changed.

Since the recordings were released, Ms Vennells has remained silent when questioned by journalists. But she won’t be able to stay quiet when she faces the statutory inquiry, where witnesses are summoned to give evidence under oath. (It’s one of the reasons I called to make this a statutory inquiry.)

If you miss the extensive news coverage that Ms Vennells’ hearing will undoubtedly attract, or if you want to watch her sessions in full, please visit the Inquiry’s YouTube channel: youtube.com/@postofficehorizonitinquiry947

During my time as Chair of the Business and Trade Committee, we found further key failings. For example, the victims had to prove the Horizon IT system was faulty because the law on computer

evidence is outdated.

Furthermore, whilst the police must submit its cases to the Crown Prosecution Service to check if they’re appropriate to go to court, the Post Office was able to bring its own criminal proceedings without those checks.

Anyone who has power over another must be subject to checks and balances. The Post Office Horizon scandal is one of the worst examples of this basic democratic freedom going horribly wrong. And it’s down to the persistence and hard work of victims that the process of justice has now begun.

We should also praise the hard-working sub-postmasters who continue to run our Post Offices today, despite everything that has come to light from the scandal.

Post Offices provide our communities with essential services – from posting letters and parcels, to everyday banking and somewhere you can pay bills or top-up gas and electricity cards. They’re now starting to take on another important role as ‘banking hubs’ to counter the impact of banks closing branches on the high street.

We’ve seen three banks close branches in Westbury-on-Trym over the past year because most of their customers now do their banking online, making it too costly for them to retain a physical presence on the high street. With banking hubs, the idea is that various banks share a single site, with staff working on-site on different days of the week. And where better to run these banking hubs than in the Post Offices that are

Darren Jones writes for the Voice

at the heart of our communities and already offer basic banking services.

Currently, there are only 31 banking hubs in Post Offices across the country – and none in Bristol. But an incoming Labour government will open 350 more in its first term.

Before I sign off, I wanted to let you know that my office has contacted Royal Mail to find out why the two post boxes on the High Steet in Westbury-on-Trym have been removed, and whether any new ones are coming our way. I’ll share the response in my next column.

As always, if you need my help or have a question, you can get in touch with me on e-mail at darren. jones.mp@parliament.uk, by calling my office on 0117 959 6545 or by writing to me at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.

'I

didn't kiss too many frogs'

A 100-year-old care home resident has revealed her secret to living a long and happy life.

Reflecting on her many happy years, Mavis Scott said she had been lucky to meet the love of her life without having to “kiss many frogs to find your prince”.

To mark the big day in March, Mavis’s family joined her Care UK’s Trymview Hall, in Southmead Road, for a celebration, and the team decorated the home with balloons and banners. The home’s talented head chef also baked a birthday cake for everyone to enjoy. At Mavis’ request, a special appearance was also made by none other than Santa Claus.

Mavis said: “I had such a wonderful Christmas

here at the home that I was delighted Father Christmas could come for my birthday – I knew it was really Matt, the maintenance man, but it was fantastic fun. “It was lovely to be spoilt for the day and have my family visit – the team made such a fuss of me and I received my card from the King!”

Mavis was born in Liverpool in 1924. Mavis first met her late husband, Bill, through her brother, as the two were close friends. Mavis and Bill had two children, Andrew and Peter.

Bill worked in the civil service, the family moved around the country Mavis and Bill climbed many mountains together across England, Scotland and Wales – their favourite place was the Lake District.

It's a Rovers return for goalkeeper Bernie

A BRISTOL Rovers legend has been honoured by his former club.

Goalkeeper Bernie Hall played 162 games for Bristol Rovers in the 1960s before his career was ended through injury.

Bernie, 81, is a resident at the St Monica Trust’s Russets and Sherwood Care Home and it was wellbeing coordinator Jim Forrest who contacted the club on Bernie’s behalf.

Between them, Jim and the Rovers Community Trust CEO Adam Tutton arranged an unforgettable day for Bernie and his grandson at a home match against Carlisle United.

After arriving at the Memorial Ground, the pair were given a tour of the stadium before being taken to the home dressing room, where he was applauded by the Rovers first team and presented with a club pennant.

He then enjoyed a pre-match meal in the executive box where he met Club President Wael Al-Qadi, CEO Tom Gorringe and Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees. At half-time, Bernie and his family were invited onto the pitch where he was introduced to

the 9,000 strong crowd.

Bernie was then presented with a personalised goalkeeper’s jersey from Adam Tutton and a commemorative cap from Supporters’ Club board representative, Helen Wigmore.

The number 134 on Bernie’s goalkeeper’s jersey represented the number of consecutive games he played for the first team and the number on his cap was in recognition of Bernie being the 361st player to sign for the club.

The day was a surprise for Bernie and he was overjoyed with the experience. He said: “I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be presented to crowd at half-time and now I know. It was fantastic!”

Bernie was only 24 years old when a challenge from an opposing centre forward left him in a coma for 16 days and forced him to retire from the game.

One of the highlights of his career was a Fourth Round FA Cup tie against a Manchester United team that included Best, Law and Charlton. Despite losing 4-1, Dennis Law sought him out at end of game to shake his hand and told him he was a brilliant keeper – better than their own.

After retiring from football, Bernie worked as a groundsman at the Imperial Sports Ground. He was also an accomplished cricketer and coached his local school football team.

Jim, who accompanied Bernie on the day, said: “From the minute he was met in the car park by fans asking him to autograph programmes from his playing days to the final whistle, Bernie was overwhelmed with the reception he received from everyone associated with the club and he can’t thank them enough.”

Bernie Hall relives his day at the Mem with Jim Forrest

Mavis Scott - 100 years young

Bernie meets Rovers officials and players during his VIP visit

Bernie at the Memorial Stadium watching the team he once played for

n EDUCATION

Hobbit habits!

PUPILS at Redmaids’ High Junior School showed their creative side as they enjoyed a Hobbit-themed day to celebrate World Book Day, dressed up as hobbits, wizards, dragons and elves, inspired by the best-selling book by J R R Tolkien.

The day started with a second breakfast, like all good hobbits, where the premise of the day was introduced in assembly by Miss Browning, Junior School English Co-ordinator.

The girls were treated to a theatrical performance of The Hobbit, by M&M Theatrical Productions, courtesy of the Friends’ of the School. They explored how the hobbit went on a personal journey of discovery, finding he was braver than he though.

In the afternoon, the girls had fun becoming authors of their own adventures, writing their own stories inspired by the invisible ring. For those who

have chosen to now read the book, there will be a follow-up book club session.

Along with the day’s activities, there was a competition to build a model hobbit house.

The fantasy theme continues with a large-scale collaborative piece of art for the school hall –Smaug the dragon. Every girl will create a scale for the dragon with

Year 6 creating the head, tail and wings.

As part of a wider community initiative and in recognition that not all children are lucky enough to own their own books, girls have been asked to donate a book from their shelves for a link school’s library. Year 6 almoners will arrange for them to be delivered.

Pre-school praised

HORFIELD Welly Pre-School is celebrating a Good rating from Ofsted.

The pre-school, which is based at Manor Farm Boys Club on Wellington Hill and has 36 children on its books, was inspected in March.

The watchdog judged the setting to be Good for quality of education and leadership and management and for children’s personal development and their behaviour and attitudes.

Safeguarding was rated effective.

“There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first,” the report said.

Ofsted said parents were happy with the education and support provided for their children at the pre-school.

Encouraging engineers of the future

CHILDREN from 15 primary schools competed in an Engineering Challenge at Badminton School last month.

The challenge was to install a model wind turbine by designing a crane out of K'Nex.

In class, the children had already been exploring the diversity of engineering and the range of tasks engineers undertake. They had also looked at how engineering could help solve issues around climate change. The children who were competing were the winners from heats in their schools. These budding engineers demonstrated teamwork, amazing design skills and perseverance, creating a range of fantastic designs.

The event was sponsored by STEMworks, a company that links industry and education, by providing workshops that enable children to develop engineering skills and understanding through practical activities. There are plans to expand this opportunity and include more schools in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) activities in 2025. The winning school was Burrington C of E Primary.

Badminton physics teacher Christopher Beer said: “We were thrilled to host the Knex Challenge final and work closely with

Students head for the wilds

STUDENTS from Montpelier High School took part in a weeklong residential trip to the wilds of Snowdonia.

They were joined by others from Merchants' Academy and Bridge Learning Campus on the visit in Aberdovey, which was funded by the Society of Merchant Venturers, the Outward Bound Trust and Avon Outward Bound Association.

This was the second year of the programme, launched by the outgoing Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, who turned up to see the group off on their adventure.

STEMworks to help students learn about the fantastic opportunities in the STEM sector. It was a pleasure to observe how students innovatively and creatively tackled the brief and were able to produce such varied solutions. Not only did the event allow students to engage in an engineering activity, they also met engineers who inspired them to consider this as a future career. It was thrilling to watch senior students from

Badminton display their STEM skills as they performed a liquid nitrogen science show.”

Chloe, Upper Sixth, said: “It was fun being able to do a Science Outreach demonstration with liquid nitrogen. I enjoyed presenting and gained valuable skills demonstrating science experiments to the primary schoolaged audience, getting them involved and help inspire them to look further into the amazing world of STEM.”

The group prepare for departure

Mr Rees took part in an Outward Bound course as a teenager, an opportunity that he describes as a key factor in helping him strive to reach his full potential by escaping the city’s physical and cultural boundaries, climbing hills and mountains and experiencing awe.

During the week, which fell during Ramadan, students faced challenges including rock climbing, abseiling, river walks, hiking, camping, rope balancing and water activities.

The Outward Bound Trust

is an educational charity that inspires young people to take on adventures, overcome challenges and develop confidence and self-belief, preparing them to embrace all the opportunities that life will offer them.

Steiner School rescue bid hits milestone

HOPES are rising that Bristol’s only holistic, human-scale school can be saved.

Supporters of Bristol Steiner School say £210,000 has been donated to their cause, supplemented by £770,000 in loans.

This means that the school, which went into administration in December after experiencing financial difficulties, is optimistic it will be able to continue in the next academic year.

The administrators of Bristol Steiner School and Kindergarten, in Redland Hill, have confirmed they are working with the board of trustees and the parent group at the school on proposals to move the school out of administration and to reverse the planned closure in July.

They have praised the rescue plan put together by families and the wider community, stating: “We are, in principle, impressed with the proposition that could give the school a viable future.”

Lindsay Berresford, chair of the parent, teacher and friends association (PTFA), said they had received a heartening display of community support and dedication that had enabled them to come up with sustainable future plans for the school.

She explained: “For over 50 years the Bristol Steiner School has been a beacon for parents seeking a human scale school where childhood is valued and in which a lifelong love of learning may grow. When the school was put into administration, parents and staff decided to fight back and over 40 people began work on a rescue bid.

“The rescue group has diligently crafted a comprehensive business plan aimed at revitalising the school's financial health. This plan is designed to transition the institution from a loss-making entity to a sustainable, breakeven position, with aspirations

to ultimately thrive and celebrate another 50 years of educational excellence.”

The plans for the private school, whose pupils range in age from three to 12, include the implementation of a new sliding fee scale. Parents are being encouraged to register pupils for September, subject to the rescue plans being successful.

Pupils at the school do not wear uniform, have no examinations or tests and enjoy a curriculum including art, music, dance, movement, woodwork, knitting and sewing, craft, forest school, gardening and Spanish.

The school follows the philosophy of founder Rudolph Steiner, which believes in “childcentred, relational approach to learning” and a commitment to promoting the development of the whole child.

Its motto is “Education is a journey not a race”.

One parent told how the

school had helped her child: "My child spent a year and a half at a small Church of England school. Reception class was OK but problems started in Year 1. Every single pick-up was really stressful for me and for him because he was always very frustrated and almost in tears, small things make him cry, I couldn’t find a connection with him.

“We knew we have to find alternative school for him. We searched and we found BSS. We moved from Southampton to give him the best start in life. It was the best decision ever, he is super happy now, after 2 weeks at BBS he said he doesn’t like break times because he is really enjoying learning. "

Lindsay said: "Their testimonial underscores the profound positive impact of the school, where children thrive in an environment that nurtures creativity, wellbeing, and individual growth."

n NEWS FROM S us WoT

SusWoT is part of the Trout in the Trym group of local organisations, looking to improve the river Trym. The first river clean was in July 2018.

Cleaning the river TrymPeter Colman-Smith, from Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, reports on the great work volunteers are doing in the Trym and Hazel Brook. An amazing 230 tonnes or so of rubbish has been removed from the water and nearby greenspaces. Thanks also to the Bristol Parks team for taking it away. Also, about 700 hours has been spent clearing Himalayan Balsam (a non-native invasive plant that ecologists and the Council confirm damages ecosystems). ‘Balsam bashing’ will resume this spring. Activity is underway with the Council to de-silt the two Blaise Estate ponds, so they are better for wildlife - and look nicer. On top of this some volunteers monitor water quality, reporting results to the authorities. In the Trym and Hazel Brook phosphate and nitrate concentrations are sometimes too high, boosting algae growth. This

winter, Bristol University students found high levels of microplastics in the water, which is concerning. But there is good news. Riverfly surveys measuring the abundance of different invertebrates, give a good indication that river health is improving (see the graph – higher scores are better). The latest scores are the highest for local sites since monitoring resumed in 2021 (mild, wet weather may have helped).

Wessex Water have done work to improve the situation in north Bristol with the building of the North Bristol Relief Sewer. Trout in the Trym, working with Wessex Water, have persuaded them to

●

●

improve two of their Combined Sewage Outflows (CSOs) by the Trym near the lower Blaise car park by raising their priority.

Trout in the Trym wants:

1. OFWAT to agree Wessex Water’s 5-year plan for 2025-30, to tackle 60% of spills from CSOs into the Trym; 2. Wessex Water, Bristol City Council, and the Environment Agency to organise an outfall safari so that problematic misconnected drains are identified and fixed; 3. Effective action to stop persisting pollution incidents like the recent one in Badock’s Wood.

The Trym and Hazel Brook are great places to explore already, and spring is here so watch out for kingfishers, grey wagtails and herons, which will be feeding in the river and raising their young.

The Community Fair is on 11 May from 11am to 3.15pm at the Parish Church and in the nearby doctors’ car park. SusWoT will have a stall as usual with tomato and other vegetable plants for sale. Representatives of Retrofit West will be there on the SusWoT stall too. This will give people the opportunity to ask about the Retrofit West project and how it could help them save money by reducing their energy bills and help to protect the environment.

The Village Show in September is one of the highlights of the year for us and will feature three SusWoT categories as usual – categories 92, 93 and 94. Category 92 has changed to ‘A plant in a pot that produces edible produce e.g. tomato, chilli or pepper grown from a seed or plant from any source’. 94 is ‘A video on the theme of the 4 Rs Reduce, Repair, Recycle, Repurpose (or Reuse).

Maximum length 1.5 minutes’. 93 is unchanged ‘Vegetarian Dish where the main ingredient is homegrown, max diameter 8”/20cm’

AMD Solicitors’ Tom Halliday discusses the potential pitfalls of entering into a commercial lease without legal representation

Advertising Feature

ALTHOUGH it is not a legal requirement to instruct solicitors when entering into a lease of commercial premises, it can lead to a host of problems. We often receive instructions from Landlords and Tenants to help resolve commercial lease disputes where no advice was taken at the time of contract.

In addition to the negotiation of the commercial terms, there are many compliance obligations bestowed on Landlords and Tenants which could lead to hidden risk without professional advice.

Listed below are a few examples to be considered before negotiating terms for a commercial lease.

LANDLORDS

By Shelley Faulkner, solicitor with AMD Solicitors

and Tenant Act 1954. Such security can be ‘contracted out’ so if the Landlord does not intend to grant security to the Tenant, a clear procedure to exclude this right must be followed. Should the Landlord fail to follow this procedure, regaining possession could become a costly exercise.

The gift that pays for itself

How leaving money to charity can save you Inheritance Tax

will be. However a Will can be worded to provide that a gift of 10 % of the value of your estate at that time is given to a charity or charities of your choice. The effect of this will be that the rate of Inheritance Tax payable on the whole estate is reduced from 40 % to 36 %.

In same circumstances, it has been calculated that this reduction in the tax bill can serve to leave the estate, even after payment of the gift to charity, with a value as high as if the gift had not been made. Thus the gift can in some cases quite literally pay for itself.

Security of Tenure: Tenants of commercial premises have an automatic right to remain at the property at the end of the contractual term under the Landlord

WHILE most of us support a number of charities in our lifetime, it is perhaps not surprising that a smaller number choose to remember a charity in their Will. Clearly the priority for most is to provide for a surviving spouse or children, or to ensure that the family wealth can be passed on to benefit the next generation.

However, government policy is clearly to encourage giving to charity, and a recent development in the law is intended to promote gifts to charity being made by Will. This change may also, on occasion, serve to save Inheritance Tax, or even to create a gift which literally pays for itself.

Reduced rate of Inheritance Tax

Where somebody dies after 6 April 2012 the rate of Inheritance Tax applied to the estate can be reduced from 40 % to 36 % (in other words by 10 %), provided that at least 10 % of the estate passes to charity.

Clearly it is not possible to determine in advance exactly what value the assets you leave by Will will have on your death for Inheritance Tax purposes, or what 10 % of the total value

Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations: The Regulations state that all properties being let have to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of ‘E’ unless exceptional circumstances apply. If there is a breach of the Regulations, the Landlord is open to sanction, calculated on the rateable value of the property.

TENANTS

Even where a Will has not been prepared in these terms, it may be possible to take advantage of this tax break. If the beneficiaries of the estate agree, it is possible to effectively amend the terms of a Will within two years of the date of death. A ‘Deed of Variation’ can be drawn up which sets out the family members’ agreed arrangements

for the distribution of the estate, and the estate can then be divided as if the Will had been made in these terms. A Deed of Variation could therefore provide that 10 % of the estate is to pass to a chosen charity or charities, making the estate as a whole eligible for the reduced rate of Inheritance Tax.

Solicitors. Unsurprisingly, this means the terms are likely to be drafted in the Landlord’s best interests. For example, if a property is in a poor state of repair at tenancy commencement, and there is no limitation on the Tenant’s repairing obligation at the start of the lease, it is more than likely the case that the lease will be a full repairing and insuring lease (FRI). Under an FRI lease, the Landlord could issue a dilapidations claim requiring the Tenant to put the property back into a good state of repair, which may exceed the original state of the property. The totals of these works could prove very expensive for the Tenant.

members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the leading professional body in this field. We offer a free initial consultation for new clients.

Repairing obligations: The first draft of a lease will usually be prepared by the Landlord’s

This change in the law is clearly very good news both for charities, and potentially for some estates as well. However the detail of the application can be complex. For example, the estate is divided into different ‘components’ depending on how the property will pass to the beneficiaries, in order to calculate whether the 10 % test has been met. Taking specialist advice on the implications for your particular circumstances is therefore essential.

Limitation on Service Charge Obligations: Leases often include provision for a service charge, making the Tenant liable for a ‘fair proportion’ of the costs incurred by the Landlord

For advice on administration of estates, trusts, wills, powers of attorney and all private client issues, contact Shelley Faulkner, Florence Pearce and the other members of the team on 0117 9621205, email probate@ amdsolicitors.com or call in at 15 The Mall Clifton, or 100 Henleaze Road Henleaze.

to maintain certain aspects of the property. The wording used for a clause of this type can provide a level of uncertainty and without professional advice, the Tenant could have additional costs to pay without full knowledge of the terms. An example to mitigate such costs could be for the Tenant to negotiate an annual upper limit for their service charge contributions.

If you would like to discuss the above, or any other Commercial Property matters, please contact Tom on 0117 9733989 or to info@amdsolicitors.com.

AMD’s team of experienced private client solicitors and practitioners includes full

AMD Solicitors takes pride in sponsoring local, Bristol based charities and this year is very pleased to be supporting the Bristol branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, the local branch of this national charity which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in Great Britain. For full details of our fundraising activities visit our website www.amdsolicitors.com. Copyright AMD Solicitors

Tom Halliday

A decade of Flamingo Chicks

FLAMINGO CHICKS

FLAMINGO Chicks, the multi-award-winning charity dedicated to bringing the joy of dance to disabled children, is marking its 10th birthday.

Since its inception, Flamingo Chicks has impacted the lives of over 30,000 children, providing them with the opportunity to experience the transformative power of dance. But the organisation, based in Downs Park East, offers much more than just dance classes; it fosters inter-generational volunteering, extends its reach globally, offers support to parents and carers, and advocates tirelessly for a fair future for disabled kids.

Flamingo Chicks invites you to join in the celebration of its 10th birthday with a spectacular fundraising event.

On May 17 and 18, the Leonard Hall, Henleaze will come alive with a 24-hour dance relay extravaganza. We're calling on the community to support this event in any way they can, whether it's through providing entertainment like face painters, DJs, and dancers, or by contributing refreshments like tea, coffee, and cakes. Additionally, local businesses are invited to sponsor a slot in the relay for £350, showcasing their support for this worthy cause.

Let's come together to celebrate the incredible achievements of Flamingo Chicks over the past decade and ensure its continued success in the years to come. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be a part of something truly special! flamingochicks.org

The Westbury Society and Friends of Westbury Library combine to open series of talks

ONCE a month this summer – with the exception of August and into the early autumn – two of your leading local groups are together organising a series of short evening talks at Westbury Library.

The first one, titled ‘Pen to Print’ (details below), will be on Thursday May 23 at 7.45 for 8pm start. It will last for approximately an hour and a quarter.

The talks are free to members of WOTSOC and £2 entry for non-members.

As numbers are limited by space, you are asked to register on the Westbury Society website (www. westburyontrymsociety.org.uk) or ring 0117 962 2795 beforehand.

Author, amateur film maker and former compositor/printer, Gordon Young, will be giving the first talk and showing a short introductory film of his own called ‘Spread the Word’. He will follow this with an exhibition of his own rare printed leaves from the medieval period and there will be a case of ‘type’ for you to try your hand at real typesetting!

About the speaker – Gordon was one of the last apprenticed hot-metal

compositors: he learned to set type from a wooden case in the 1960s, so he “feels an affinity with apprentices at the dawn of printing in the 1470s”. In the second half of the 15th century, there was a revolution in communication - a shift from handwritten scripts to printed pages.

Come along to see beautiful examples of the 13th century ‘Books of Hours’ written on vellum, Gothic black letter pages printed by Gutenberg’s apprentices and elegant Roman pages from Venice - all of which form the basis of typeface styles we use today.

(An extra note - Westbury Library is now available to local cultural groups on some weekday evenings for talks and small recitals. It will accommodate 40 persons-50 maximum. Please contact the library supervisor for more details.)

READ EASY BRISTOL

UNDERSTANDING labels at the supermarket, road signs, or letters from the doctor are just some of the day-to-day difficulties faced by adults who struggle to read. However, a national charity operates here in Bristol to provide support and solutions to those adults facing these very real difficulties, and for whom such support can be a life-changing and long-lasting journey.

Read Easy Bristol offers free and confidential, one-to-one coaching. Coaches and learners meet twice a week at approved local venues, or online, to work for just half an hour at a time through a structured, phonics-based reading programme. They have helped many people achieve their reading goals and live easier, more fulfilled lives.

In fact, it is not just the readers themselves who benefit from the service of Read Easy; those who volunteer as coaches also find it tremendously rewarding. As one local coach agrees: “I have been with my reader for a few months now and knowing you can make such a difference, and watching someone grow so much in confidence with a part of life we all take for granted, gives you a huge feeling of pride in their achievements”.

If you know someone who struggles to read, please email: bristolnetworker @readeasy.org.uk, or call: 07554 117 763. For more information on the work of Read Easy, go to the website www.readeasy. org.uk

Hilary Long -The Westbury Society and Malcolm Neave -The Friends of Westbury Library

Luckily our 40% off second pairs includes prescription sunglasses

Cheers! James's spritzers show their sparkle

A BRISTOL winemaker has won a TV competition to have one of his products stocked in a major supermarket chain.

James Bayliss-Smith’s success came in the Channel 4 show Aldi’s Next Big Thing, hosted by Anita Rani of Countryfile and Chris Bavin from The One Show.

James, from Montpelier, competed against other food and drink producers last month in an episode of the show with a party theme. He pitched two of his low-alcohol English wine spritzers to the judges, and at their suggestion experimented with a wider range of flavours and clearer packaging.

As a result, his improved cans of yuzu and elderflower and raspberry and pomegranate spritzers were chosen to go on sale in more than 1,000 Aldi stores across the UK.

Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, said: "It's an excellent product, and I know it's going to sell. James has drawn everything together to give us a spritz that's going to look wonderful on Aldi’s shelves.”

James, who is also a documentary cameraman and filmmaker, makes his ‘low

n NATURE WATCH with Dawn Lawrence

intervention, natural wines’ from the best English grapes from across the UK, all sustainably packaged in aluminium cans.

The spritzers are made with English wine, Glastonbury spring water and syrups from the Bristol Syrup Company.

James said: “I’m so happy! Who would have thought I would go from making wine in my allotment vineyard to having my product on sale in Aldi.”

James’s business, named Nania’s Vineyard, began when he planted 30 vines on the allotment behind his home. He works with partners in the English and Welsh wine industries to produce ‘natural wines canned for the craft beer generation’. He also brews barrel-fermented kombuchas and until now has sold his products in local independent shops.

The competition is part of Aldi’s ongoing commitment to support British suppliers. Last year, Aldi spent an additional £1.3 billion with British suppliers and growers, and they provide more than three quarters of all items sold in its stores.

The supermarket has also introduced a ‘Best of British’ section to its website.

Create your own nursery for butterflies

A RECENT conversation with a friend, in which I asserted that the word for butterfly is invariably beautiful in all languages, set us agoogling. We found that the German word for butterfly, Schmetterling, refers to cream and originates in a belief that witches disguised themselves as butterflies in order to steal nips of cream and butter (a belief presumably shared in Britain). What a delightful contrast with the usual unsympathetic portrayal of witches! Nettles tend to grow where cows are housed (because they thrive in soils enriched with manure) and small tortoiseshell, peacock and comma, all widespread species whose larvae eat nettles, might therefore be expected to be more common around dairies, perhaps leading to this story.

This got me thinking about food plants. Without food for the caterpillars we won’t get any butterflies yet the emphasis is often placed on growing nectar plants for adult insects, over-looking the essential larval stage. With their stubby legs and podgy bodies caterpillars are not built for travel, they are eating machines and tend to pupate on or near their food plant. This means that if you provide their food, they will hatch in your garden.

So what plants are needed for baby butterflies to thrive? As you might expect, our commoner species are generally undemanding and you can make your garden into a top-class nursery for butterflies with ease. The orange tip caterpillar eats brassicaceous plants such as garlic mustard, a common weed, as does the green-veined white, and orange tips will also eat honesty and dame’s violet (they seem to be delicate feeders and I have never known them to grow to pest proportions). The holly blue

(with its beautiful silver-backed blue wings) alternates between holly for the spring brood and ivy for the summer brood and will also eat bramble. The common blue eats black medick and bird’s foot trefoil (black medick appeared in our garden once we had left the lawn to its own devices and bird’s foot trefoil is easily obtainable as a wild flower seed).

Then nettles, of course: their leaves are also eaten by a range of other insects including moth caterpillars and leaf hoppers; they are in turn eaten by predatory insects and spiders and these provide food for the birds. A nettle patch, particularly in a sunny spot, is a great addition to your garden – down by the compost heap will provide ideal soil for them.

Least fussy of all, bless them, are meadow brown, speckled wood, gatekeeper and ringlet, and small and large skippers, all of which simply require rough grasses - the easiest of all the caterpillars to cater for. All are various shades of brown but decorated with delicate stripes and spots and – particularly the browns – given to elaborate aerial chases on sunny days. Simply set aside part of your lawn for the summer and spend the time saved on mowing by watching the butterflies dance.

A handsome peacock butterfly caterpillar on stinging nettle. Photo by Rupert Higgins

James Bayliss-Smith pours some of his successful spritzers

Trymview Hall care home, Westbury-on-Trym

Nutrition and hydration

Thursday 16th May, 2pm - 4pm

Join us with our fantastic Head Chef Darren, to hear advice on nutrition and hydration in older age.

D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration

Thursday 6th June, 11am - 7pm

Join us in celebrating the peace and freedom given to us through the bravery and sacrifice of so many. To find out the event schedule please call.

Summer fete

Saturday 29th June, 12 noon - 4pm

We’re hosting a summer fete for the local community, and we would love for you to join us.

Trusted to care.

To attend please call 0117 405 9775 or email

nicola.wolff-donitz@careuk.com

n COMMUNITY NEWS

HENLEAZE SCHOOLS MAY FAIR

SATURDAY May 18 will see Henleaze Schools welcome the community onsite for the annual May Fair. It promises to be a fun event for all the family with games, stalls, fairground rides and a full programme of entertainment.

Year 2 children are excited to demonstrate their Maypole dancing, which is always a highlight of the afternoon. The Fair will also see performances from both schools’ choirs as well as a range of external performers inclxuding Punch and Judy and The Sambaistas.

WESTBURY-ON-TRYM METHODIST CHURCH

WESTBURY- ON-TRYM Methodist Church offers a warm welcome to all The heart of the church beats strongly with both worship and community activities taking place throughout the week.

Although very much in the Methodist traditions, worship is celebratory without being too charismatic. We are a welcoming church where friendship and caring are high on the ‘priority list’. We work together combining our various talents to run the church. We are at present looking at the feasibility of opening our church as a community hub which we feel will be a huge benefit to the many organisations in our locality. Sunday morning services start at 10.30 with communion celebrated on the first Sunday of each month. We are regularly joined by members of the Zimbabwe Methodist Fellowship who add both colour and vibrancy to our services. At 4pm on the second Sunday of each month, we hold an informal Cafe Church service which is popular.

Since hostilities began we have held a weekly Wednesday Ukrainian hub meeting where Ukrainian refugees have learnt how to speak English and to integrate into our society.

Drinks and refreshments will be available all afternoon and there will be a range of second hand uniform, clothes and kids toys for sale.

Victoria Blanchard, chair of Henleaze Junior School’s parents’ association, said: “The May Fair is an important fundraiser for all three schools; Henleaze Junior, Henleaze Infant and Claremont schools. Last year it allowed us to provide lots of new books for the school library as well as make improvements to the playground and provide exciting experiences for the children such as forest school and theatre visits. We really appreciate all the support from our volunteers and local businesses, including our sponsor Goodman & Lilley. They all make the Fair possible and a real treat for the whole community.”

The Henleaze Schools’ May Fair runs from 2- 5pm. All are welcome. Admission is £1.50 per person and all proceeds go to support the schools.

Regular weekly meetings take place for our Women’s Fellowship (Tuesday mornings), a Friendly Club for the elderly on Thursday afternoons and a Messy Church for youngsters during school holidays. Our Scouts and Guides groups – covering all ages – meet throughout the week.

His Majesty King Charles III (b.1948) – Unfinished watercolour study of Lochnagar, which featured in the 1993 production of 'The Legend of Lochnagar’ Sold for £17,000

n WHAT'S ON henleaze&westburyvoice

Tuesday May 4

n BLAISE COMMUNITY GARDEN, behind Blaise Museum, BS10 7QS. Each week we’re open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday 10-2. Interesting walled kitchen garden, free to enter, new volunteers welcomed. BIG EVENT 4th May 10-3 Spring Market with Café

Monday May 13

n HENLEAZE SENIOR FILM

CLUB 2pm

Love Sarah (12)

A pastry chef called Sarah is knocked off her bike and killed on the way to picking up the keys for the bakery she’s always dreamed of opening. Afterwards, the three most important women in her life – her Mum, best friend, and daughter, decide to make a go of the business. A warm-hearted drama starring Celia Imrie, Rupert Penry-Jones and Bill Patterson. Carers welcome, easy access Refreshments £4. St. Peter’s Church Hall, The Drive, Henleaze BS9 4LD

Tuesday May 14

n ARTS SOCIETY BRISTOL: on Tuesday our last talk of the season will be “ The life and work of May Morris” given by Fiona Rose in Redland Hall at Redmaids’ High at 8pm doors open at 7.30. New members are always welcome please visit our website: www. theartssociety-bristol.org.uk

Wednesday May 15

n BRISTOL FRIENDS OF WNO warmly invite you to a talk at The Apostle Room Clifton Cathedral on the 15th, from 6.45 to for 7.15. Tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones has sung leading roles, from Verdi to Wagner to Britten, in the many of world's great opera houses. He will reflect on his career and his favourite music in conversation with Andrew Borkowski Easy parking, bar, Friends £8, Visitors £10 Further information from Melanie David, Tel: 01934 842014 email: melaniejdavid@btinternet. com

Saturday May 18

n BRISTOL CONCERT WIND BAND will perform its spring soncert at Trinity Henleaze URC, Waterford Road, BS9 4BT at 7.30pm. Tickets - £10/U18 free - on the door or email:tickets@bcwb.co.uk for advance purchase. Programme to include Chicago, Miss Saigon, Tomlinsons's Suite of English Folk Dances, Copland's Appalachian Spring and more. An enjoyable evening for all the family.

Monday June 3

n BLAISE BLAZER (June 3) and WESTBURY WIPEOUT (July 1)Entries now are open for the Blaise Blazer, a 4four-mile race for seniors (16+) taking in the biggest hills and best views in Blaise Castle; and also for the Westbury Wipeout, an adventure run for youngsters (8-15), touring the woods, streams, mud and scrambles of Blaise Castle. , which takes place on July 1. For details, see the Events pages in www.westburyharriers.co.uk.

Sunday June 30

n CITY VOICES BRISTOL, a local community choir, returns to All Saints Church, Pembroke Rd., BS8 3ED at 7pm for their summer concert - a showcase of singing to celebrate the seacon. Tickets cost £10 and will be available on the door or available in advance via Eventbrite

Regular events

Various days

n WESTBURY WILDLIFE PARK The park’s peaceful setting, with children’s play area and cafe, is open for you to enjoy with your friends and family from Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 4pm. Refer to the website wwpf.uk for events, activities and volunteering opportunities.=

n WEST OF ENGLAND BRIDGE CLUB meet at the RAFA Club, 38 Eastfield, Henleaze. Thursday afternoon is for improvers, and Monday and Friday afternoons, are for more capable players. These are EBU recognised sessions. You may come alone to any afternoon session or Wednesday evening when a partner will be found. The two evening sessions are Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information go to our website at www.woebridgeclub.co.uk or contact our Secretary Alan on 0117 4526947.

n WOULD YOU LIKE TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY? North West Bristol Camera Club is a friendly local club with a membership ranging from beginners to those with considerable experience. You will be welcome whether you use a mobile phone or the latest mirrorless camera. Google NWBCC for more details.

n TEATIME CHURCH - Children and families are welcome to join us once a month at the back of Holy Trinity Church in Westbury-on-Trym for crafts, games, stories and songs, followed by supper for all the children. There is also a baby/toddler area and a monthly Lego challenge. This is a very informal service, where children/adults can learn a little about God and the church in a fun and friendly environment. All are very welcome! Please visit our website for further information and monthly dates https://www.westbury-parishchurch.org.uk/teatime-church/

n CANFORD BOWLING CLUB season has started again, and new members of any age or experience would be very welcome. Free coaching is available. Our open day is 25th May. Why wait? If interested please email canfordbowlingclub@gmail.com or ring 07504254499.Come and give it a go.

n BRISTOL HOME LIBRARY SERVICE - We are a free service for any adult who lives in Bristol and who can’t get to their library but still wants books or audio books. Volunteers call monthly. Contact us if you would like to volunteer or know someone who needs us. BHLSVisits@royalvoluntaryservice.org. uk or 07714 898558

n BRISTOL STITCHERS - a friendly, independent creative members group which meets three times a month at Helliwell Room (Horfield Parish Church Hall, Horfield) offering Talks, Meet and Stitch sessions, Meet and Stitch Plus and Workshops. More information here: https://bristolstitchers.wordpress.com/ about/ Contact Joanne our Chair here: bristolstitcherschair@gmail.com

Monday

n PLAY BOWLS at Canford Park in a friendly, social atmosphere. Qualified coaches and equipment provided. Contact: Les on 07305695579

n WESTBURY SINGERS: Westbury Singers - If you enjoy singing, we invite you to join our friendly, non-auditioned, 4-part choir in term-time on Monday evenings 7:30pm - 9:30pm at Reedley Road Baptist Church (far left entrance off the car park). Ability to read music useful but not essential. See our website www.westburysingers.org for more information, email us on wotsingers@ gmail.com, or simply come along one evening!

Mondays & Fridays

n FLEDGLINGS AT TRYMWOOD STUDIOS Mondays and Fridays, 9.30am - 10.30am. Joyful, naturebased workshops for 0-4s and their carers. Storytelling, poetry, songs, early-years science and maths and art-making - all in our 18th century studio, gardens, and meadowlands. For more information and to book a free taster session: www.trymwoodstudios.co.uk info@trymwoodstudios.co.uk

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.dickenssociety.org.uk or phone Roma on 0117 9279875 for further 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 2.00 - 4.00 pm. We have interesting speakers, and extra activities of crafts, lunch club, skittles and outings. Our lively, friendly and inclusive group welcomes visitors at any meeting. For more information 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 7.00 - 9.30pm. 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 PILATES WITH JULIE WATERS, Westbury-on-Trym Academy School, Channells Hill, Bristol BS9 3HZ. Tuesday 6.30 pm & 7.30pm term time only. Small friendly groups. Call Julie on 07817 809734 or email jules_waters@hotmail. com for more information.

n WESTBURY FOLK/COUNTRY DANCING - come along to have some fun folk dancing on Tuesdays 1.30 – -3.30pm at Westbury College in College Road. All dances are called and refreshments are available. FFI contact Christine on 07775 628524 or codonnell100@btinternet.com.

n SCOTTISH DANCING TO GET FIT AND HAVE FUN with Bristol Westbury Scottish Country Dance Club. Classes for beginners (Email: maggiekirkup@gmail.com) and more advanced dancers (Tel: Cheryl 0117 4012416) at St.Peter's Church Hall, Henleaze, Tuesdays 7.30 to 9.30 pm. Details at www. westburyscottish.org.uk

n A GENTLE WAY TO KEEP FIT & HAVE FUN! Chair Aerobics, Tithe Barn, Shirehampton, Tuesdays, 10-11am, £7. Maintain and progress your strength, stability and balance at our seated and gentle standing exercise class. Songs from every era to enjoy and complement a workout for mind and body wellness. Call Louisa: 07725 091429. Email Louisa: chairaerobicslouisa@ gmail.com

n KEEP FIT WITH DANCE MOVES – at Horfield Methodist Church BS7 8SN, Tuesday mornings, from 10.15- –11.15am, and at St Peter’s Church, Filton, BS34 7BQ, Tuesday afternoons, 2– 3pm. Improve your mobility, strength, co-ordination and general wellbeing

n WHAT'S ON

whilst while having fun and making new friends. Suitable for all ages. Try first session free. For further information contact Eileen Scott on: 07969 929733, or email: scottyartois@hotmail.com

n COMPANION VOICES BRISTOL is recruiting new members . 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 HARMONY WEST GALLERY CHOIR AND BAND sing and play lively church and village music from the 18thcentury. St Edyth’s Church Hall, St Edyth’s Road, Sea Mills, 7.30 pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday each month. All voices (SATB), string, wind and reed instruments welcome. No auditions but ability to read music helpful. www. bristolharmony.wordpress.com or call Fritjof 0117 924 3440. Contact before attending.

n WOMEN'S FELLOWSHIP meet on Tuesday mornings at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church, 10.30am-noon. An interesting programme of speakers; come along to make friends. For more details, ring Kate 07905 064720. Wednesday

n HENLEAZE CHORAL SOCIETYmeets at Henleaze Bowling Club, Grange Court Road, Wednesdays 7.30 to 9pm. A small, unauditioned choir singing varied music. New members welcome. For info, contact Kathy, 0117 949362 www.bccschoralsociety.org.uk/

n A CLASS FOR EVERYBODY! Keep Fit, St Peter’s Church, Henleaze, Wednesdays, 10-11am, £7. Improve your health and wellbeing with this low-impact exercise class. With music from the 60s to today’s pop to enjoy a supple strength workout. Call Louisa: 07725 091429. Email Louisa: chairaerobicslouisa@ gmail.com

n A GENTLE WAY TO KEEP FIT & HAVE FUN! Chair Aerobics, St Peter’s Church, Henleaze, Wednesdays, 11.15am12.15pm, £7. Maintain and progress your strength, stability and balance at our seated and gentle standing exercise class. Songs from every era to enjoy and complement a workout for mind and body wellness. Call Louisa: 07725 091429. Email Louisa: chairaerobicslouisa@gmail.com

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 new volunteers. Special Event: 18 November (10-3) Winter Market with Café (Homemade cakes etc)

n KNITNATTERSTITCH meet on Wednesdays (term time only) 10-12 @

Henleaze United Reform Church’s coffee bar. For more information contact Paula at knitnatterstitch @gmail.com

n COME AND ENJOY free tea and cake in a friendly atmosphere at Holy Trinity Church, Church Rd, Westburyon-Trym every Wednesday 10.30-12. Call 0117 9508644 (mornings) for more information

n HEALING Spiritual Healing is available from 2pm to 3.30pm by the accredited healing team at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up or or visit www. westburyparksc.org

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 local area. Call 0117 435 0063 for more information.

n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcome- first visit free so come along and give us a try. For further information contact Tania by email at tanialake@yahoo.co.uk

n OPEN DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE For those interested in developing their spiritual awareness and mediumistic ability. 7.15 for 7.30 start at Westbury Park Spiritualist Church, Cairns Road BS6 7TH. Just turn up or or visit www. westburyparksc.org

Wednesday & Saturday

n BLAISE COMMUNITY GARDEN, behind Blaise Museum, BS10 7QS. Each week we’re open Wednesday and Saturday 10-2. Interesting walled kitchen garden, free to enter, new volunteers welcomed. Events: 6th April Café open 10-2, 4th May Spring Market and Café open 10-3.

Thursday

n HENBURY SINGERS RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS. We meet each Thursday 7:30 – 9:15 at Stoke Bishop Primary School, Cedar Park, BS9 1BW. We perform sacred and secular music under our conductor Andrew Kirk. No auditions. www.henburysingers.org. Contact secretary@henbury singers.org.

n TODDLERS TOGETHER is a parent and toddler group for the community. It takes place every Thursday during term time from 10-11.15am at Westbury-onTrym Methodist Church Hall, BS9 3AA. There are toddler toys, a baby area, a weekly craft activity, singing, drinks and biscuits and a final prayer to end the session. We ask for a £2 voluntary donation per family on the door. You can just turn up to a Toddlers Together session – there is no need to pre-book. To find

out more about this group, please visit https://www.westbury-parish-church. org.uk/toddler-group/

n FRIENDLY CLUB meets every Thursday from 2 - 4pm in the Methodist Church Hall, W-O-T. We are a lively group of older people who meet to chat, play Scrabble or cards. Trips out and entertainments are arranged, plus we have tea and biscuits for only £1! Do come and make some new friends.

n ARCHITECTURE & BUILDINGS GROUP U3A meets at Henleaze United Reformed Church Meeting Room, Waterford Road, 2-4pm on the fourth Thursday of the month except July, August & December. We are a small shared interest group. No previous knowledge required. Contact Rod for further information. Email: rodathey@ gmail.com or call 07792 200949.

n SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING – Looking for a new hobby? Join us for fun, fitness and friendship (singles welcome). First evening free! Thursdays: New/Inexperienced dancers 7–8.30pm (£4). Intermediate/Advanced dancers 7.30–10pm (£6). St Monica Trust, Oatley House Main Hall, BS9 3TN. www. rscdsbristol.info. Contact Ruth 0117 968 3057.

n LADIES KEEP FIT - – Thursdays 1011am, St Peter's Church Hall, Henleaze, £7. This friendly, popular session is suitable for all ages, levels and abilities; it is an all-over workout for cardiovascular fitness as well as toning, and has a dance element. Full information on the website: www.exercisewithlailibrooks. com; Email: laili@tiscali.co.uk to book.

n WEST BRISTOL ORCHESTRA is a small, friendly amateur group that enjoys music-making without public performances. It meets on Thursday nights in term time at St. Peter’s Church, Henleaze at 7.15-9.15pm. We would especially welcome more string players. Please visit our website for further details at maths.bris.ac.uk

n HEALING FOR WELLBEING - Feeling stressed? Healing/Reiki is a gentle, relaxing complementary therapy that helps restore balance and vitality. Drop in sessions with trained volunteers on Thursdays 3.30 - 4.45pm at Redland Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, BS6 6JE. Donation basis. For information and dates, visit www.facebook.com/ BristolHealingGroup or contact Selina on 0117 9466434 or selinanewton@ yahoo.co.uk.

n HENLEAZE FLOWER CLUB welcomes new members. Annual membership £52. Demonstration meetings on 2nd Thursday of the month, 2pm, Bradbury Hall Waterford Rd. Henleaze. Plus optional Practice Classes on 4th Thursday. We meet every month except December and August. Please contact Jenny York, Club Chair yorkjenny2@ yahoo or phone/text 07880 700270

n SINGING TO REMEMBER We meet

on 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday from 23.45 pm in The Bradbury Hall, Waterford Road, Henleaze. It is a friendly, supportive group for people with dementia and their carers. Anyone interested can phone me 0117 9426095 to book a place or discuss.

n HIGHBURY BADMINTON CLUB: Pete Stables 0117 950 1524 or www. pete4458.wixsite.com/highburybadminton Thurs 7:30pm mid September to End April, Westbury-on-Trym Village Hall

n HENLEAZE LADIES’ CHOIR Come and join us at St Peter’s Church Hall. 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 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 and listen. Call 0117 959 0834

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 further details.

n U3A SCRABBLE GROUP meets at the Black Swan, Stoke Lane from 2 to 4pm. For more information, contact Anne on annestygall@gmail.com

n BRISTOL SPANISH CIRCLE - Come and meet a group of friendly people and enjoy talks in Spanish, musical events and social evenings. 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 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. Donations welcome. FFI see our Facebook page @seamillsrepaircafe or email: repaircafe.seamills@gmail.com

BS9 ART TRAIL

THIS year's trail will take place on Saturday and Sunday June 8 & 9.

The free event provides a platform for more than 80 talented artists annually, showcasing their work across various venues in Henleaze, Westbury-on-Trym and Stoke Bishop. It has firmly established itself as a major part of Bristol's arts calendar, drawing art enthusiasts from Bristol and beyond.

The arts trail, which raises money for charitable causes, is sponsored for the third consecutive year by the law firm VWV.

WESTBURY-ON-TRYM COMMUNITY FAIR

COME and join us at the Westbury-on-Trym Community Fair on Saturday May 11 from 11am until 3pm in and around the Parish Church.

One of the great things about living in Westbury-On-Trym is our amazing local community. The village is a focal point for so many fantastic groups that contribute so much to making this a wonderful place to live.

The Community Fair is a chance to celebrate all that activity, to learn, to raise a bit of money for some local good causes, and to have fun. On the day, there’ll be delicious cakes and preserves, tasty food from around the world,

ARDAGH COMMUNITY TRUST

sandwiches, scones and teas to enjoy, as well as bric-a-brac and books to buy, and the ever-popular plant stall. Try out the Tombola and the Raffle or learn more about SUSWOT, the Westbury-On-Trym Society, the Gardens and Allotments Society, Brunel Lions, and many more local groups. There will be lots of fun activities including Big Games, the Teddy Parachutes, and Tower Tours. The Westbury-onTrym Academy choir and the Ceilidh Band will provide live music to keep us all on our toes.

All these things will be found in the Parish Church, the GP car park and the Methodist Church.

THE Ardagh Community Trust invites you to an inclusive celebration on May 18 showcasing the creative talents and skills of disabled artists, writers, filmmakers and performers from our community.

The event at The Ardagh, Horfield Common, will include indoor and outdoor exhibitions, performances, stalls, and workshops and taster activities from local groups. Lunch will be available from the Café on the Common, served by project volunteers. There will also be accessible toilet facilities on-site, including a hoist and changing table.

This 10am-8pmcelebration has been created by the My Community Bristol action group https://www.mencap.org.uk/mycommunity, in partnership with the Southmead Development Trust, Ardagh Community Trust and other organisations from across North Bristol.

Try some activities, and enjoy performances, film screenings from https://www.biggerhousefilm.co.uk/, exhibitions and more!

The event culminates with a silent disco from 6pm, led by DJs from the Misfits “Rhythm of the Night”.

Best value for money (weekly fees star Best value for money (weekly fees star 24/7 nurse cover. 24/7 nurse cover.

In-house physiotherapist. In-house physiotherapist. Idyllic garden & grounds. Idyllic garden & grounds. Constant redecoration project Constant redecoration project

Automated care plan system. Automated care plan system.

Wheelchair cars available for all. Wheelchair cars available for all.

Great daily activities. Great daily activities.

Nutritious fresh meals. Nutritious fresh meals.

much more.

much, much more.

SILVER SWANS

SILVER Swans is an initiative by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) that allows older learners to discover the joy of movement while building strength, enhancing balance and increasing flexibility.

Whether you’re an experienced dancer, have dabbled briefly, or are a complete novice, Silver Swans welcomes all to participate in ballet classes which are specifically tailored for older learners and focus on the benefits of enhancing mobility, posture, coordination and energy levels.

With local classes held every Friday morning at the Newman Hall, Henleaze, a friendly bunch of ladies (men welcome too!) work through the class led by experienced teacher Alexandra Sherman. Having trained at the Royal Ballet School and been principal of Bristol Ballet Centre for 24 years, she is passionate about spreading this form of exercise for both the physical and social benefits.

Silver Swans offers a delightful way to stay active (despite any physical/ age limitations), connected and uplifted through music and movement. Come along and see for yourself by booking a free trial class.

Email info@bristolballetcentre.co.uk for more info.

AVON Harmony is a small, friendly female choir, meeting for rehearsals in Eastville every Thursday evening. New singers are always welcome, especially women with lower pitched voices, to help provide that wonderful bass line harmony which supports every song. We sing a cappella,

and has a repertoire that is always evolving. We perform at various events, from concerts to private parties, and take part in local and national competitions. You can be sure of a friendly welcome if you come to a rehearsal at Glenfrome Primary School, on any Thursday evening from 7.30 until 9.30. Contact our music director Mary, musicdirector@avonharmony.com if you would like to find out more, or just come along one Thursday.

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

Bee a par t of No Mow May

IF you peer over your garden fence this May, you might think your neighbour’s lawn is looking a little scruffy.

A few more dandelions than normal, or (horror!) patches of grass growing at different lengths. But don’t tut – that may be on purpose. And it’s a good thing!

Yes, it’s that time of year again – No Mow May, where people keep their lawnmowers and strimmers in the shed for 31 days, and give space back to nature.

It’s a simple idea. Giving the mower a breather means spring plants getting a chance to set seed before the first cutting.

This means your lawn becomes a haven for insects, birds, hedgehogs, and more.

And it allows wild plants to get a foothold in May, to feed bees, and other pollinators, through summer.

I’ve backed this campaign since it started in 2018 and every year, I’m always fascinated speaking with residents about the different plants they spot in their backyards.

I’m not just talking daisies or buttercups either, but plants we’d not often see in our gardens – one resident told me she’d even started growing wild strawberries!

Worryingly, future generations won’t see

Family Tree

these either if we continue down our current path. Tragically we’ve lost 97% of our wildflower meadows since the 30s.

That’s why I’m again urging readers to take part by doing, well, nothing! Leave the mower alone, and watch the flowers fill your lawn.

Check out plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/nomowmay for more information.

If you can’t imagine allowing your entire patch to run wild, then how about leaving a circle of grass in the centre of the lawn to bloom? Or why not stagger it – so that you have one area that’s mown once a month, one area mown at the end of summer, and so on.

For those without a garden, fear not! I’m urging everyone to check in with their local church, school or anywhere with grass or fields, and ask if some space can be left for nature this year.

Ultimately, the momentum behind No Mow May shouldn’t stop with May, and thanks to the West of England Combined Authority I lead, it won’t.

An incredible 620,000 square metres of land is being transformed for the region’s pollinators thanks to bee-rilliant bee projects we’re funding.

This is double the target I set when launch-

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

ing a £1 million Pollinator Fund for projects that support bees, and other pollinator superheroes.

Projects like the creation of mini nature reserves in ten primary and secondary schools across the West, including in Coalpit Heath, Temple Cloud, and Bristol.

Alongside my annual Bee Bold Awards, we’re making the West the bee and pollinator capital of the country.

But I know we can go further.

So, this year, please give No Mow May a go. Who knows, you might like it so much you give the lawnmower a permanent shunning. The bees will certainly thank you for that.

He is buried under an Oak tree and there is a memorial stone set in the grass. It’s a lovely spot to visit, it helps us keep his memory alive and it’s a great feeling to support the creation of a nature reserve.

We’ve got a family plot so eventually we can all be together under the trees.

The only funeral director in the UK creating a 100 acre nature reserve complete with its own chapel and reception rooms. Just 15 minutes drive from Cribbs Causeway. A whole morning or afternoon costs about the same as a brief service at a crematorium. Burial or ashes interment. Complete burial service from £1,495.

Visit www.memorialwoodlands.com or call 01454 414999

Susan, London

FINANCE

With Richard Higgs BA (hons) CFP FPFS

Harold Stephens

50 High Street, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 3DZ

T: 0117 3636212

Understanding Inheritance Tax

Inheritance Tax receipts for April 2023 to January 2024 were £6.3 billion, £0.4 billion higher than the same period last year. With IHT seemingly catching out more and more people, it’s worth taking a moment to consider whether high house prices in the local area will pose an issue for your beneficiaries.

Inheritance tax (IHT) is a levy imposed on the estate (the property, money, and possessions) of a deceased person. IHT is an important aspect of estate planning so it’s important to understand the fundamentals:

1. Thresholds and Rates:

Every adult is entitled to a tax-free allowance known as the ‘nil-rate

band.’ As of 2024, this threshold is £325,000.

In addition to the nil-rate band, there is also a ‘residence nil-rate band’ which applies when a residence is passed on to direct descendants such as children or grandchildren. The residence nil-rate band is currently set at £175,000 per individual.

The standard rate of IHT is 40%, applied to the value of the estate above the combined nil-rate bands.

2. Exemptions and Reliefs: Certain assets and transfers are exempt from IHT. These may include assets left to a spouse or civil partner, donations to charities, or gifts made at least seven years

before death.

Business relief is also available for certain qualifying assets (sometimes referred to as ‘IHT-Free ISAs’) which aims to reduce the taxable value of these assets, potentially lowering the overall IHT liability within two years.

3. Lifetime Gifts: Gifts made during an individual's lifetime can impact the IHT liability on their estate. Generally, gifts made more than seven years before death are exempt from IHT.

However, gifts made within seven years of death may be subject to inheritance tax if they exceed the annual gift allowance or fall outside other exemptions. It’s so important to get a handle

on your financial situation and conduct planning as far in advance as possible, which we know can be daunting.

To help you make a start, if you would like us to conduct a complimentary inheritance tax review to find out whether you have a potential liability, please get in touch by calling 0117 3636 212 or email office@haroldstephens. co.uk.

We record regular video updates on a range of later life financial topics - search ‘Harold Stephens IFA’ on YouTube.

50 High Street, Westbury on Trym, Bristol BS9 3DZ.

n SPORT

Clifton end the season in style

CLIFTON Rugby Club’s final home game of the 2023-24 season was completed in great style with an eight-try, 52 points demolition of close rivals Exeter University that secured them a creditable third place in the Rugby Football Union’s National League 2.

Director of rugby Matt Salter and player/ coach Luke Cozens can be well satisfied with this ending as the season was marked early on as a development time. Several players had retired or moved on pre season. Consequently new players had to be absorbed into the squad. During the season the club also incurred a high level of injuries. However, undaunted by changes, the team even managed to defeat the two teams finshing above them on their own grounds.

The development process in recent seasons has included the resurgence of successful second and third string teams to provide attractive routes into the national league team. Second team, Clifton Wanderers, has grown many players who have been able to take the step up to that level.

A shining example is forward Shay Sainsbury who has become one of the leading second row men across the league. Typical of the spirit within the club, Shay has generously given time to coach within the club’s thriving M & J [Mini and Junior] section.

Luke Cozens has proved a motivational presence both on and off the pitch through his vast experience over the years and outstanding kicking in all

conditions. Cozens comments: “There is a great spirit in this squad which has missed several established members through injury. Encouragement comes from so many younger players seizing opportunities to take their places in the starting line up and showing themselves capable of performing at this level “

This blend of experience with youthful energy is presentin the club to go forwards in coming seasons.

Success in the junior teams has been demonstrated by the Under 16 XV which has won the Bristol Combination cup for the third season.

The club benefits from long standing members and local businesses who provide sponsorship of matches, shirts and individual players. 1st XV players eagerly await the announcement of the man of the match award with a meal for two at the Clifton Sausage!

The costs of running a national league club including long away trips to venues requiring overnight accommodation stretching from West Cornwall to Chester are considerable. In addition the junior section offers coaching and matches to approaching three hundred young people each week.

Anyone interested in sponsorship arrangements or advertising in the match day programme please contact Alison Harvey, commercial manager, alisonharvey@cliftonrugby.co.uk

Roger Opie

Gas Girls set to play at the Mem

THE successful Bristol Rovers Women’s team is back under the management of Bristol Rovers FC after 18 years.

The agreement will see the Gas Girls play their home games in thew National League at The Memorial Stadium from the start of the new season.

Bristol Rovers Women secured their place in the league after topping the South West Women's Football League Premier Division in 2023-24. The side have sat within Rovers’ Community Trust since 2019, during which time they have won three promotions and contributed greatly to the growth of women’s football in the community.

Rovers chairman Hussain AlSaeed said: “Welcoming Bristol Rovers Women back into the Club fold is a proud day for all of us. Ensuring a ‘one-club’ policy across all of our squads at Rovers has been a priority of mine since joining, and it is a pleasure to

finally be able to say ‘welcome home’ to the Gas Girls.

“Under the management of the Community Trust, the team have done exceptionally well over the last five years and my sincere thanks goes to chairman Rod Wesson, the trustees, CEO Adam Tutton, women’s team manager Nathan Hallett-Young and the team for their hard work and effort in growing, promoting and developing the side.

“We now look forward to an exciting and ambitious future for the Gas Girls. I am excited to work closely with the squad, the coaching team, and our staff at Bristol Rovers to instil an infrastructure that allows the side to progress even further through the divisions and compete at the top end of women’s football.”

Community Trust CEO Adam Tutton said: "I am incredibly

proud that Bristol Rovers FC have kindly agreed to take over the management and financing of our women's team.

"The Gas Girls was formed in the spring of 2019 by Bristol Rovers Community Trust, the club's official charity, with a focus on community, education, participation and performance.

"Our ambition was to bridge the gap between amateur and professional football, offer educational opportunities for girls in sport through our education programme, build an inclusive community within the club and work alongside other organisations and charities who represented our values.

"It is a privilege to say that we have exceeded our ambitions both on and off the pitch, none of which would have been possible without the efforts of our incredible team of volunteers and our supportive sponsors, all of whom I thank greatly.

The inspirational Shay Sainsbury on the charge for Clifton

Tennis coach honoured

A YOUNG tennis coach from Henleaze has been recognised for his efforts by the national Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Nineteen-year-old Tom Watson has been coaching youngsters through Thrive Tennis Coaching at Westbury Park Tennis Club since gaining qualifications in 2021. Having been nominated by his club, he has now been awarded the 2024 County Rising Star of the Year award for Avon by the LTA.

Dan Church, head coach of Thrive Tennis, which coaches children and adults at all levels at the Westbury Park club, said: “Tom has grown into an integral part of the club, both from a playing and coaching perspective. Seeing his passion for coaching and developing our juniors, and his confidence grow in his skills, has been wonderful”.

Currently on gap-year travels before taking up a place at

n VINEYARD NEWS with INGRID BATES

Hurrah for spring!

SPRING has finally sprung. The vineyard is alive with birdsong as the nesting season begins in the hedgerows and the vines started growing two weeks earlier than usual. I say usual but there is some variation every year so I’m not really sure what usual is any more. As soon as we saw the vine buds opening, we had to hurry the sheep out of the vineyard so they wouldn’t be tempted to nibble the fresh, young growth. Now the sheep have gone, the irony is that we’ll spend most of our time making sure the grass doesn’t outcompete the young vines for light, water and space for the rest of the summer. It’d be great if we could find a way to keep the sheep in the vineyard all year!

On the wine front, our new rosé is being bottled in the winery and we’ve now got a sparkling red as well as white available. All we need is a bit more sunshine and we’ll be in full rosé season.

hello@dunleavyvineyards.co.uk www.dunleavyvineyards.co.uk @DYvineyards (X/Twitter) dunleavy vineyards (Facebook & Instagram)

Bath University in September to embark on a maths degree, Tom therefore missed the award ceremony, but there are plans for his award to be presented to him in person when he returns. He hopes to continue his tennis playing at university, but also to return in the holidays to coach sessions back at the club.

Avon Tennis said:“The LTAbacked award is for a young volunteer who inspires people from a range of backgrounds to play tennis, who is a role model, who shows creativity or innovation and also who shows that their volunteering activities have contributed to their personal development.”

The awards recognise and champion the people who deliver tennis locally and are split into 13 categories.

Avon Tennis secretary Clive Sampson added: “The standard of entries this year was really high and I would like to congratulate all the winners. It is heartening to reward those who put so much effort into providing opportunities for others to play and enjoy tennis.”

Tom Watson

Meals on Wheels

BRISTOL City Council is extending its Meals on Wheels service for up to three years after hailing it as a vital daily welfare check for some of the most vulnerable residents.

The current contract with a frozen food supplier ends at the end of September so cabinet members approved spending £630,000 to pay for a new one, to start immediately afterwards.

Deputy mayor Cllr Craig Cheney (Labour, Hillfields) said the service, which the authority provides in-house, was so much more than merely delivering a hot meal. He told a cabinet meeting: “It’s a service that we don’t have to provide but we’re continuing to provide because we can see

the value in that. It’s also a service that would be easy to outsource, and again we’ve not done that because the council officers are providing that extra bit of reach that a private provider wouldn’t provide and which we would have to pay for.

“So it’s really important. It doesn’t sound very exciting but it’s huge for some people in the city and I’m really proud that we’re sticking with it.”

He said the new contract, which is going out to tender, would start on October 1 to ensure there was no break in the service.

The initial contract will last one year and cost between £180,000 and £210,000 for the meals, with options to extend for a further 12 and 24 months. A report to cabinet said Meals on Wheels was subsidised and in total cost Bristol City Council £335,000 a year.

n TURNER'S VISION

Which is the best anti-glare option – polarised or transition?

Choosing the right type of sunglasses for the summer months can be a real headache for those sensitive to bright light. Think scrambling around for your shades when driving only to have to dig out your regular glasses minutes later when the sun’s gone in.

But all is not lost. Fortunately, at Turners Opticians, we offer some great options for keeping the sun’s glare at bay.

Transition lenses – the all-in-one solution

Peter Turner of Turners Opticians

0117 962 2474

0117 965 4434

www.turnersopticians.co.uk

Transition lenses have come a long way since they first emerged on the market with a reputation for taking hours to respond to change in light.

The latest state-of-the-art lenses use super-smart photochromic technology to instantly adapt to changing light, providing optimal eye protection from glare and harmful rays while reducing eye fatigue for maximum comfort.

They’re also a must for prescription glasses wearers - one pair is all you need for any occasion.

Similarly, transition lenses are great for those who don’t necessarily suffer from glare problems but are mildly irritated by bright light. They do all the hard work for you, adjusting to just the right level of light input. We can even add our contrast enhancing lens – ideal if you want that extra bit of performance from your sun darkening lenses and struggle with glare when driving at night, too.

Polarised lenses take the glare away

Polarised lenses were created almost a century ago by Edwin Land, the inventor of instant photography and the founder of the Polaroid Corporation.

They work by blocking certain types of light from reaching the eye. Normally, light blasts at our eyes in vibrating waves that move in every direction. Polarised lenses block out light reflected from horizontal surfaces – for example the glare from the surface of a lake on a sunny day – and only allow vertically polarised light to pass through.

They’re great for drivers, people with cataracts or age-related macular degeneration and for those who have recently had procedures that could cause light sensitivity - such as cataract surgery or laser correction.

So, what’s the verdict?

Both transition and polarised lenses have drawbacks and benefits when compared to the other option. Some people just don’t get on with transition lenses while for others, polarised lenses don’t give them the ease and flexibility they’re looking for.

For those reasons, it’s always worth calling in to see us for your eye care and lens consultation before committing yourself to ensure you get the optimum lens for your individual needs.

Our expert team is ready and waiting to give you the time needed to look after your eye health and vision. Call our Henleaze practice on 0117 962 2474 or our Fishponds practice on 0117 965 4434.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Peter

Peter Turner is an Independent Prescribing Senior Optometrist at Turners Opticians in Bristol and he also works as a Senior Medical Optometrist at Bristol Eye Hospital. He has a specialist interest in visual development and visual performance.

n HISTORY with JULIAN LEA-JONES

When post was haste for only pence

NOWADAYS, whether or not the missive is welcome at least it is delivered to our home – it was not always thus.

Although the concept of a public mail service was the brainchild of Sir Rowland Hill in 1840 when the Penny Post was introduced, you had to collect your mail from a post office which may have been miles away. Within a town the penny post deliveries were divided into districts, with Bristol having 63 of which Clifton with the greatest number of mailings was designated Penny Post Number One. With the increasing popularity of the new service, (Bristol had up to six deliveries a day), it was decided to introduce home deliveries, however the postman or woman, (post person sounds ridiculous), often had miles to walk in all weathers and having reached the address had to wait for the recipient to come to the door.

With more and more mail to

deliver, the waiting time often extended the postman’s working day to unacceptable limits.

Bristol’s Post Master and Surveyor of the Posts, Mr R C Tombs, gave most praise to Hannah Brewer of Bitton whose daily route was eleven miles up and down the Somerset hills around Bitton and by the age of 72 having walked a quarter of a million miles in all weathers she felt it was time to retire. The postal delivery staff were obviously a hardy lot! An even longer tenure was that of Hannah Vowles at Frenchay who only resigned at the age of 95!

The Post Office’s answer to the long delays caused by the need to hand the mail directly to the addressee was an appeal dated in May 1849 which requested every householder to fit a letter box or slit in their street door, obviating the need for the postman to wait.

Until the recent ‘rationalisation’ when the box was emptied the enamel collection time

plate, stored in a pocket inside the door was always changed =to show the next collection time. Nowadays the plate is a generalised notice which is of no help if you want to know whether or not you have caught the post - a far cry from when there were up to six deliveries a day. An oft’ quoted account was of people receiving a rsvp dinner invitation in the morning and being able to send a written acceptance for delivery the same day.

Residents in Henleaze’s Owen

Grove are very proud of this one which bears the Royal cypher of King Edward the eighth – a Rara Avis indeed!

n I hope you didn’t think that April’s article was a leg-pull. The people were real, and I personally photographed the stone 28ft below St Nicholas Street, marking the witnessed meeting. The Runic inscription was Bishop John Robinson’s Motto in the Bristol Cathedral Cloisters until it mysteriously vanished, and of course there is a buried room just past Bath Bridge with a window blocked by earth from dredging. I will leave you to find out where the ‘wall’ inscription is - in plain sight!