Keynsham Voice October 2024

Our caring Alex will never be forgotten

A KEYNSHAM teenager with “everything to live for” died on the way to pick up the keys to his first flat, an inquest has been told.

Alex Thompson’s motorbike collided with a car turning across the carriageway on the A4 on June 22, 2023.

The 18-year-old had been heading east towards the Hicks Gate roundabout to collect the keys to his new flat on Keynsham High Street, but he was travelling over the speed limit and would not have been visible to the car, an inquest into his death heard.

Jo Thompson, Alex’s mother, said in a statement: “Our family has been left heartbroken by the death of our beautiful young Alex, who was taken from us in the prime of his life. Alex was

kind,

and

by everyone who knew him.

“We have been left devastated by this tragedy, particularly as it happened at a stage in his life when he was at his happiest. Alex had everything to live for and was looking forward to the next stage in his life before the collision.

“Alex was excited about the future and was on

New bus service

A new cross-town bus service has been launched, linking up Keynsham neighbourhoods for the first time in years.

PAGE 6

Historic pub SOS

Concerns for the Ship Inn have prompted residents to say what they would like to see happen to the building.

PAGE 8

Rugby history

A century of Keynsham Rugby Club and its links with the local community are being celebrated in a new book.

PAGES 10 & 11

No lane changes

No more changes are proposed to Keynsham High Street’s cycle lane, despite the number of pedestrian injuries.

PAGES 12 & 13

Festival returns

Keynsham Winter Festival returns next month on a new day and with new timings.

PAGE 17

Alex Thompson died when his motorcycle collided with a car on the A4 in June last year

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Keynsham Citizens Advice Bureau 0844 848 7919

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Urgent: 111/ Emergency: 999 Anti-social behaviour team asb@bathnes.gov.uk 01225 842462

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PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Keynshamvoice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Keynshamvoice is distributed each month to residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is always welcomed, contact Emma Cooper on 0117 908 2121 or emma@keynshamvoice.co.uk. This month 10,750 copies will be distributed in Keynsham, Saltford and the local area.

n NEWS

Alex died on way to

n From Page 2

his way to collect the keys of the new flat he was moving into. His death is made even more painful in that it occurred at the point, at just 18 years old, where he was on the threshold of enjoying his journey as a young adult.

“Alex will never be forgotten. Everyone that has ever loved him will still love him forever and everything he has taught us too as a son and brother.”

She added: “We are extremely grateful for the support we have received as a family, from not only people in our local community but from further afield and from all walks of life where Alex made a positive impact.

“This support has been an immense emotional help to us since the tragedy and will continue to be so in the future as we continue to struggle to come to terms with everything that has happened.”

An inquest at Avon Coroner’s Court was packed with Alex’s friends, family, and loved ones.

Delivering her findings, assistant coroner Debbie Rookes said: “Alex Thompson died on the 22 June 2023 on the A4/ Bath Road, Hicks Gate, Bristol. Mr Thompson was riding his motorcycle along the A4/Bath Road towards the Hicks Gate roundabout when he collided with a motor vehicle that had turned right across the central reservation and across the path of Mr Thompson.”

She added: “Mr Thompson was travelling in excess of the speed limit and he was not visible to the driver of the motor vehicle at the time the decision

was taken by the driver to make the manoeuvre.”

Alex lived in Keynsham and worked in asbestos removal.

There was no evidence of Alex being under the influence of any drink or drugs at the time of the crash. The weather on the day was described as “fine.”

Ms Rookes said: “It was due to the speed that Alex was travelling that he or [the driver of the car] was unable to avoid the collision.”

Witness statements consistently described Alex travelling fast before the crash, at a speed one witness with experience of riding motorbikes described as “madness.”

Another witness saw him do a wheelie on his red Yamaha Thundercat 600cc motorcycle as he travelled along the road, which has a speed limit of 40mph.

The speedometer of his motorbike, recovered after the crash, was stopped at 63mph. Forensic collision investigator Andrew Griggs examined the speedometer under a microscope and said marks left in the glass screen by the speedometer needle suggested the bike had been travelling between 60 and 70mph at the time of the collision.

He added that Alex would have hard to see against the dark background caused by trees along the road.

He said that Alex wore a dark jacket and dark helmet, and his motorcycle did not have a headlight on as this was not required.

Ms Rookes said: “He was effectively camouflaged against

collect the keys of his first flat

his background as he exited the trees.”

The driver of a blue Vauxhall Crossland was sitting in a gap in the central reservation as instructed by her sat nav after she had gone the wrong way.

She said she pulled away to cross the carriageway once she saw it was safe, intending to enter a lane on the other side.

In a witness statement, in which she said she was “devastated,” she said: “I saw

The family of Alex Thompson say they are grateful for the support shown by people from “all walks of life where Alex made a positive impact”

cars but no motorbike.”

After pulling away she said there was a bang and she lost consciousness briefly, before coming to on the other side of the carriageway.

One witness who went to see if she was all right said she was saying: “I just didn’t see him. I just didn’t see him.”

Another witness left their vehicle to run to where they had seen paramedics attending another incident to seek help.

Despite attempts to resuscitate him, Alex was pronounced dead at the scene.

His cause of death was recorded as chest injuries. The inquest heard that Alex would have lost consciousness rapidly.

Ms Rookes told the friends and family in attendance it was clear Alex was a special person. She said: “He was very much loved and very much missed.”

John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Vandals target church CCTV

A MEMBER of a group of youths cut the wires to the CCTV cameras on St John’s Church, Keynsham, at 6pm on Sunday September 8. The reference number for this crime is 5224238193.

Someone broke into a Ford Transit van in the car park of Keynsham railway station between 8am and 7pm on Tuesday September 17, and stole a large number of Makita tools. The reference number is 5224247685.

If you have any information about these incidents, especially CCTV images, call the police on 101, giving reference number, and ask that the call is tagged as Neighbourhood Watch. Or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

n NEWS

Family’s cathedral tradition

A YOUNG Keynsham chorister has continued the family tradition of winning a prestigious place with the Bristol Cathedral Choir.

Following in the footsteps of older sister Giorgi (Year 9) and older brother William (Year 7)both former pupils of St John’s Primary School in KeynshamOliver Edwards (Year 5) has passed the choir’s rigorous audition.

It is the first time in a generation that Bristol Cathedral Choir has had three siblings from the same family

Oliver was selected from pupils across the city and surrounding areas to be awarded one of only four places available from the Dean and Chapter of Bristol Cathedral, and with it a coveted place at Bristol Cathedral School in Year 7.

Under the leadership of the cathedral’s master of choristers, all three siblings will benefit from a world-class musical education whilst serving the city and surrounding areas singing at several services a week,

requiring daily early-morning rehearsals, international tours, and radio broadcasts. All three have ‘graduated’ from St John’s

Garages make way for houses

TWO blocks of garages in Saltford can be knocked down to make way for social housing, planners have agreed.

Housing association Curo has been given permission by Bath & North East Somerset Council to build two pairs of semi-detached houses where 24 garages currently stand next to the car park in Wedmore Road.

The site – described by the applicants as an “unsightly piece of brownfield land” – lies outside Saltford’s housing development boundary but is not within the green belt.

Each of the two-bed houses will have two car parking spaces, as well as secure cycle spaces.

Saltford Parish Council, which was consulted on the scheme, said that while it regretted the proposed loss of off-street parking that the development would entail, it accepted there was a need for affordable housing in the village and that it considered, on balance, that the proposals

represented a sensible use of the site.

Duncan Hounsell, B&NES councillor for Saltford, said: “The old garages probably date back to the 1960s. They are not fit for purpose and the enclosed layout has given opportunities for lowlevel crime.

“The proposed development is a planning gain, bringing much-needed affordable housing. This development takes pressure away from building on Saltford’s green belt. As ward councillor, I fully support this application.”

World of textiles on display

WORLD Textile Day West will be back at Saltford Hall on Saturday October 5 from 10am to 4pm. Experts will be on hand to answer questions and to tempt visitors with a marketplace of clothes, textiles, fabrics, tools, beads and more.

At 11am, the guest speaker is Dr Fiona Kerlogue, an anthropologist, author, researcher and expert on South East Asia, with a special interest in textiles. She will be giving a talk on her many years of field research. In the afternoon there will be short talks by Diane Gaffney and Magie Relph.

Entry to World Textile Day is free, with a small payment for those wishing to attend the talks. Tickets available on the door.

More information is available at www.worldtextileday.co.uk l Saltford Hall will host its regular Sunday afternoon tea on Sunday October 6 from 2pm to 4pm. If you would like some company and a chat in the warm, come along to share a ‘cuppa and cake’. For more information, ring Julia Chandler on 0117 9837825 l A Beatles tribute evening will be staged at Saltford Hall on Friday October 25, hosted by Saltford Community Association. The event, called Beatles ’64, will give the audience the chance to listen, dance and sing along to every song released by the Fab Four in 1964, performed live by five local musician.

Doors open 7pm with the show starting at 8pm. Tickets from Saltford Community PO/ Library and online at www. tickettailor.com/events/ scaevents

The parish council had requested that Curo give the current users of the garages the maximum time to vacate and find alternative arrangements. But in granting planning permission, B&NES Council said it was unable to control when Curo might ask the tenants to leave.

As reported in last month’s Voice, Curo has also won approval to demolish 15 garages on the corner of Stratton Road and Camerton View and build four semi-detached houses for social rent in their place.

Parking boost

FOUR parking spaces have been created for the exclusive use of customers at Saltford’s community post office and library.

The spaces, alongside the neighbouring Tiddlers day nursery, were created after vegetation was cleared and the ground prepared. Permission was granted by the National Grid. Customers can use the spaces for a maximum of 20 minutes while visiting the premises.

Church Choir in Keynsham, which has a long and proud tradition of training and providing talented choristers to the cathedral.

Bristol Cathedral School choristers William, Giorgi and Oliver Edwards

Talented role model Oliver, 14, wins award

KEYNSHAM Hockey Club member

Oliver Hurford is the winner of this year’s Jack Boulton Award.

The presentation took place at the club’s home pitch at Wellsway School, Keynsham, in the presence of Jack’s parents June and Dave, along with Oliver’s close family.

After Jack died in August 2009, the Keynsham and Saltford Sports Network decided to make an annual award to a young sportsman or woman in the community who displayed many of Jack’s exceptional sporting and personal qualities.

Oliver is described as a young man who reflects Jack’s huge talent, as well as his delightful personality and modest manner.

At the age of just 14, he has moved up to play at senior level for the club and recently made his debut for the first team.

Although now playing regular senior hockey, last season Oliver was still able to represent the club

in under-14 competitions, where he displayed excellent leadership skills, supporting younger members of the team and acting as an exceptional role model.

Danny Voisey, Oliver’s coach, said: “He’s a joy to coach and have within the team as he is courteous, polite and demonstrates all the qualities you look for in a teammate.”

At the presentation, Lou Riddoch, of Keynsham & Saltford Sports Network, highlighted the criteria for the award and recognised the similarities between Jack’s and Oliver’s qualities.

The event also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the valuable fundraising that June and Dave have achieved for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) over the 15 years since Jack died.

Huge numbers of young people in the community have benefited from the cardiac screening programme funded by CRY, which helps protect them against undiagnosed heart conditions.

Above, Oliver Hurford celebrates with his mum

Left, Oliver with his coach Danny Voisey and Jack Boulton’s parents June and Dave

Hop on board the town’s new bus service

A NEW WESTlocal bus service has been launched to serve Keynsham.

For the first time in several years, the K1 bus will provide an easily accessible crosstown route that joins up neighbourhoods such as Somerdale to The Meadows.

The bus service has been long sought after by Keynsham town councillors and staff, and has been made possible through funding from West of England Mayor Dan Norris.

Mr Norris said: “This is what WESTlocal is all about – the community coming together to create bus services specially tailored for the needs of local people. I’m delighted that my mayoral combined authority funding will benefit residents in such a positive way.”

WESTLocal allows local people to access funding to design and run their own, new, not-for-profit bus service.

“We were intent that we needed to listen to local residents to hear where the real need for public transport existed,” said Keynsham town councillor Dave Biddleston.

“The outcome is a bus service we feel truly meets the needs of the community. It will enable residents who live in the furthest reaches of Keynsham to access a transport service that can connect them to the town centre and beyond, all for a very reasonable fare. We hope that Keynsham residents are as enthusiastic about the new service as we are.”

The K1 service is run by The Big Lemon, a sustainable transport social enterprise that runs a number of local bus services in and around Bristol and Bath.

It runs hourly between 7am and 7pm Monday to Friday, and hourly between 9am and 7pm on Saturdays.

The route connects Keynsham South with the Queens Road area, the town centre, Keynsham train station and the Chocolate Quarter.

Fares are £1 for an adult ‘short hop’, £2 for

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

Bus services designed by you, for you

WHEN it comes to making our public transport better, there’s nothing like real people power.

The people reading this know what you and your community need to get around better than anyone else.

That’s why when I came up with the WESTlocal bus services, I wanted local people to be at the heart of it.

WESTlocal is my scheme that lets communities get their hands on cash to design and run their very own, brand new, not-for-profit bus services.

I am delighted that so many local communities and organisations took up my challenge and put together winning bids.

Because of their involvement, the routes are imaginative and designed with the needs of their communities in mind. They’ve benefited hundreds of local people already, and I’m pleased to say there are now more of them.

Alongside the two existing routes, the new WESTlocals – eight in total – started operating on September 1, and are getting people around in Keynsham, Yate, Charfield, Chew Valley, Winford, Avonmouth, and to SGS College, to name just a few places.

Other WESTlocal routes are being extended

because of the feedback people have given.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the stories that have come through from the people involved.

In The Dings, they’ve numbered their WESTlocal 61 in honour of 87-year-old Marilyn, who moved there in 1961 and has been a fierce campaigner for the new service.

The 99 Chew Valley service has been nicknamed the “Cat” because of the shape of its route. This wouldn’t have happened if there wasn’t a real sense of community ownership. How many other bus routes have got their own nickname?

People who use the WESTlocals have told me they really value the service, especially the great community spirit on board. They’re getting people to work, to the shops, and connecting them to the busier routes into our towns and cities.

There’s a big debate happening about the kind of public transport our country needs. Here in our region, we are taking forward these conversations too.

I am determined that, whatever happens, we create public transport in the West of England that is more sustainable and represents value for money for local people, because only by making buses more affordable, reliable, and frequent will we

a standard adult single and £3 for a return. Children and students travel half price.

Passengers going further afield can buy and use the BristolRider and AvonRider range of tickets and connect at Ashton Way and the High Street for services to Bristol and Bath.

Keynsham town clerk Dawn Drury said: “Our thanks go to Dan Norris and the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority for this generous funding and to The Big Lemon for running the service.

“Without them, this service wouldn’t be possible. Our hope is that those in the outer reaches of Keynsham can feel even more connected to the town centre and beyond.”

WESTlocal is a fund from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Funding for the scheme comes from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.

The K1 service is one of eight new schemes across the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Another of the new services - the 532 run by Eurocoacheslinks Keynsham, Bitton, Oldland Common, Warmley, Pucklechurch and Yate.

For more information about the K1, please contact Katherine Sears, deputy town clerk, deputytownclerk@keynsham-tc.gov.uk or on 0117 9868683.

encourage people to leave the car at home and use other ways of getting around.

I don’t underestimate the scale of this challenge. There’s much more to do.

The success of WESTlocal has shown that local communities want to get involved, so I’m going to be working with the government to get the West of England more money for these kinds of projects.

We’ve shown that there’s demand for them locally and I’m determined to aim even bigger next time.

I’m doing everything I can to make sure the West of England has a bus system we can be proud of – one that’s better for passengers and better for the planet, too.

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

School helps to shape proud citizens

PUPILS at St John’s Church of England Primary School in Keynsham are growing into confident and responsible citizens.

That’s the verdict of the watchdog Ofsted, which has rated the personal development of children at the school as outstanding.

Two inspectors visited the 210-pupil primary in July and judged it to be good overall, including in the categories of teaching and learning, leadership and management, and children’s behaviour and attitudes. Safeguarding was found to be effective.

Their report said: “Pupils enjoy attending St John’s Church of England Primary School. They talk with pride about being a responsible citizen and how this helps them to make a positive contribution to the life of the school and beyond.”

Pupils are given many meaningful opportunities to develop a sense of responsibility, with character development interwoven throughout the curriculum, and visitors and educational visits carefully designed to enrich pupils’ experience, the inspectors said.

Roles as eco councillors, spiritual leaders and ‘playtime partisans’ were highlighted among the positive opportunities for pupils, who were said to be “morally grounded” and to know that respect for one another is paramount.

Ofsted also noted the adaptations to learning, particularly in mathematics, for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)

enable them to build knowledge sequentially.

“The school’s commitment to all pupils taking a full and active role in all aspects of school life is impressive,” the report said.

St John’s was described as a “purposeful learning environment”, where adults know children and families well and have high expectations of pupils.

The inspectors praised:

l A clear vision for what they [the school] want pupils to know and remember

l A broad and ambitious curriculum;

l A strong start for children in early years, with an emphasis on oracy communication and language;

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l Excellent support to help pupils develop a love of reading;

l Expert delivery of the phonics programme, thanks to ongoing coaching, training and support.

To improve further, they said, the school should use assessment better to help identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge and should ensure that pupils with SEND are provided with learning to help them build their knowledge.

Julia Bamfield, who has been headteacher since September 2023, said: “St John’s is a strong school at the heart of its community, brilliantly supported by families and by our wonderful staff team.

“This enables us to help children thrive academically and personally.

“I am delighted that this Ofsted report recognises the important qualities our children are developing. We look forward to continuing to support all pupils to grow and flourish.”

St John’s is one of 26 schools in Futura Learning Partnership. Its chief executive, Gary Schlick, said: “Congratulations to everyone at St John’s on this excellent Ofsted report, especially the pupils, who really impressed the inspectors.

“We are proud that the support provided to the school by Futura was acknowledged in the report and are already addressing the areas where we can make further improvements for the benefit of children and adults.”

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‘Ship could help preserve town’s history’

CONCERNS for the future of

The Ship Inn at Keynsham have prompted residents to say what they would like to see happen to the building.

The pub on Temple Street has been empty since it closed its doors in May 2023.

The owners – the Wellington Pub Company based in London – are currently advertising the lease through Bristol letting agents Fleurets.

As reported in last month’s Voice, local resident Jean Burnett said she feared for the Grade II listed pub, stating that it was “decaying by the week” and its windows had been smashed by vandals.

Now residents have been discussing the pub’s future on the Keynsham Community Page on Facebook.

One suggestion is that the building should be turned into a visitor centre about old Keynsham, hosting school trips.

“Some children know hardly anything about our town,” one comment read. “I loved all that as

a kid. The history of our historic Keynsham town is amazing.”

Another, who supported the idea, added: “The Ship has so much history to it as well. It’s so sad to see it in the state it’s in now.

“It has always been such a lovely pub with the garden overlooking the river and I really hope one day it will get

refurbished and open again, as at the moment it’s another part of Keynsham we seem to have neglected and lost.”

One person said that there had been attempts to set up a museum in the town in the past but all had failed due to a lack of funds, and that the few items in the town’s library were just a tiny fraction of what was in storage.

n MESSAGE FROM POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER

Time to have your say on policing

AS your Police and Crime Commissioner, my role is to ensure that the voices of people in Avon and Somerset are central to the policing strategy.

Today, I’m inviting you to help shape the future of local policing by participating in several key initiatives.

I’m pleased to announce the launch of a public consultation on the draft Police and Crime Plan. This plan will set the priorities for Avon and Somerset Police through to 2029, and it’s essential that it reflects what matters to you.

The plan focuses on five key priorities:

• Strengthening neighbourhood policing: ensuring a visible police presence that actively engages with communities and tackles antisocial behaviour.

• Reducing violent crime: addressing male violence against women and girls, as well as serious youth violence.

• Preventing crime: collaborating with other organisations and the public to build safer communities.

• Supporting victims: ensuring victims receive the help they need, when they need it.

• Improving policing standards: providing a fair and effective police service.

This consultation is your opportunity to comment on the draft plan and suggest how these priorities can be implemented.

Additionally, I’m seeking your views on local police funding, particularly regarding how much extra, if any, you would be willing to contribute through your council tax.

Your insights are vital to ensuring the plan reflects the needs and concerns of your community.

The consultation is open until the end of October.

You can participate by completing the survey online or by attending one of my public forums.

The forums are attended by myself, local policing leads, and my team, providing an opportunity for us to hear from you directly.

To find out more, visit the Police and Crime Plan page on my website,

www.avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk.

Your voice matters — I look forward to hearing your views as we address these important issues together.

I recently marked my first 100 days in office. I have really enjoyed them, and I feel privileged to represent all the diverse communities of Avon and Somerset. I have visited police teams, community leaders, charities, community interest companies, commissioned services, local authority leaders, statutory partners and business leaders in Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Somerset, North Somerset and finally Bristol.

It’s been a steep learning curve, and there has been so much to take on board, but luckily I am someone who really enjoys being in the detail and I’ve been reading reports, meeting people, having conversations and learning in greater depth about the policing issues faced by communities in our area.

Meeting the police leaders and many teams in different departments

“We have one of the most important Roman villas in Britain, an abbey of similar size to Bristol containing Jasper Tudor’s tomb, and many important industrial sites.

“All this needs a museum to pass on the message of how important Keynsham has been in the past and why we should be proud of Keynsham.”

Btu others wanted to see The Ship remain as a pub.

One said: “Keynsham has lost so many of its historic pubs, so I’d rather it be a pub, but the building needs saving either way.”

The stone-built, two-storey property is believed to date from 1636. It has two pétanque pitches in its garden.

The real-ale pub had previously won praise from CAMRA for having an interior of special national historic interest.

The Voice approached Wellington pub Company and Fleurets for comment about the state of The Ship and its future but received no reply.

has been invaluable in developing my understanding of some of the challenges we face.

Getting out and about and meeting people face-to-face in my community engagement days has been brilliant in helping me to understand how much is being done in terms of supporting victims and working with young people to support their futures.

It has made me realise just how many excellent individuals there are in key roles and organisations, who are using their roles to really make a difference.

Plans for special school taking shape

PLANS to turn a former Keynsham home into a special school have taken a step closer.

Proposals have been set out to approve funding to open the 30-place school on the site of Charlton House in Hawthorns Lane.

The care home was taken over by Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2020. But in 2022 a damning Care Quality Commission report rated it as “inadequate”.

Despite improvements, the council decided to shut Charlton House and launch a feasibility study into whether the building could be turned into a residential special school. The study has indicated that the building could be converted at an estimated cost of £6.1 million.

Now a report has been sent to Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for children’s services, asking him to approve measures to change Charlton House into a small residential and day school. If approved, more detailed work would start to develop a

school to support young people aged 11-17 with highly complex needs, rather than placing them in schools outside the local area, away from family and friends.

The report also seeks approval to invest £6.1m High Needs Provision Capital Grant funding to remodel Charlton House to accommodate the young people.

Councillor Paul May said: “I welcome this report and will consider the recommendations

before me carefully. The council’s purpose is to improve people’s lives and this proposal would see the life outcomes for young people, and their families, much improved with the opportunity of local education with a residential element for those in care.

“Opening our own provision and commissioning a Single/ Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) to run also provides an opportunity to keep placement

costs at a much lower rate than currently being charged by the independent sector and therefore would bring considerable savings, including a reduction in transport costs, to the council.”

The proposed school would offer 12 residential places and 18 day places. It would cater for young people with complex special educational needs in the area of autism with social, emotional and mental health difficulties.

Charlton House, which is currently empty, is attached to Hawthorn Court, an adult care home that will continue to provide extra care housing for older people.

If the recommendations are approved, an open event will be held at Charlton House where proposals will be shared with neighbours, stakeholders and councillors before a planning application is submitted.

An event is also proposed for any academy trusts interested in submitting bids to run the new school.

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The cover of the new book and the one celebrating the club’s first 50 years - both written by David Whittington, half a century apart

Peter Scarman, Dennis Cockbaine and John Castle working on and using the club tractor on the club grounds in 1956. Note the reference on the tractor “Look Out Nasser”, referring to the Suez crisis

Proud rugby club

MORE than 100 years of Keynsham Rugby Club and its links with the local community are being commemorated in a new book.

Entitled KRFC Celebrating 100 years 1923- 2023, it has been written by Dr David Whittington, supported by Dermot Courtier.

David, a former captain and chairman of the club, wrote a history of the club’s first 50 years back in 1972-73, at the age of 28.

Now approaching his 80th birthday, he has updated the club’s history to incorporate its centenary last year.

In his introduction, David writes: “In 1973, I was not always able to tell the full story about some people or happenings. With the passage of time those people have died, leaving me free to be more candid.

“My former boss at the University of the West of England, on hearing about this book, said that I should not confine myself to purely rugby

matters, but should expand the content to produce a truly cultural history that shows our club’s place in the context of changes in the town, and in society in general.

“With this in mind, there will be references to such important events as World War II, the arrival of rugby playing schools in Keynsham, the rapid expansion of the town in the 1950s and 1960s, the introduction of the breathalyser and, of course, Covid-19.

“Possibly even more important have been societal changes, especially the role of women. For example, when I joined in 1960, the idea of a lady coach for the senior teams would have attracted scorn.”

To research the book, David and Dermot scoured around 90 years of fixture cards that confirmed dates, names and roles volunteers performed supporting the club.

They also held one-to-one meetings with a small number

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that inspires generations of devotion

of elderly and former senior members to understand how Keynsham Playing Fields Ltd came into existence immediately after the First World War, which allowed the shareholders of that company to buy the Crown Fields on the Bristol Road for the benefit of both the rugby club and Keynsham Town AFC.

Dermot also contacted the planning departments of Bath & North East Somerset and other local authorities to identify the various planning applications lodged by the club over the years that resulted in clubhouse, playing field and floodlight developments.

The book covers such topics as age-group rugby, overseas tours, and the development of the club’s physical infrastructure, as well as pen-picture tributes to its life members.

As a result, says Dermot: “It stands as a proud record of achievements by many hundreds of club members who have voluntarily devoted time and energy to making the club what it is today, within our local community and town of Keynsham.”

David continues in his introduction: “Generation after generation of officials at Keynsham have, through dedication, competence and good humour, kept the club on the right lines. As the final chapter will show, the challenges keep on coming.”

Anyone wishing to buy a copy of the book should email dermot. courtier@gmail.com. It costs £15 per copy, plus £5 postage and package. Copies are on sale behind the bar in the clubhouse.

A happy dressing room as KRFC 1st XV celebrate victory in the final of the Somerset Cup in 1982

Victory and relief at Chosen Hill - back row, left to right: James Wetton, Aston Board, John (Rupert) Hibbert, Matt Withey, Brad Newton, Sam Challenger, Gareth Bradnock, Dan Moody, Toby Williams, Ben Angell, Tom Lewis, Joe Davies, Gareth Jones, Kev Appleton, Adam Tesdale, Callum Fennell, Jason Wheatley, Reuben Edwards, Will Eke, Michael Pearce. Front row, left to right: James Hurrell-Smith, Dave Fairless, Jack Evans, Hayden Johnson, Tim Coghlan, Kit Timmis, Jack Weston, Ash Foster, Phil Harvey and John Pearce (Source: thanks to Craig)

Bath branch: 01225 426822 Frome branch: 01373 463888

Cycle lane will stay

NO more changes are proposed to the cycle lane in Keynsham High Street, where more than 100 pedestrians have been injured.

People have been tripping and falling since the cycle lane was installed in 2022 as part of the High Street refurbishment.

The issue has been blamed on an “optical illusion” created by different levels between the pavement, the cycle lane and the road.

The lane was painted red in August 2022 to reduce the number of accidents. Then in April this year, contractors changed the solid white line along the edge of the cycle lane to a dashed line.

Six councillors representing the town on Bath & North East Somerset Council have been working together cross-party to improve safety in the High Street.

But they have only managed to persuade B&NES Council to carry out “minor tinkering,” said

Broadlands

Tuesday 1st, Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd October

9.00am to 10.00am (by appointment only)

To request a place on an open morning tour, please contact the Academy on 01179 864791

Councillor Alan Hale, Keynsham South representative.

He added: “Despite all of our efforts to protect our community from the injuries caused by a council-designed trip hazard, we have just been informed by executive director for sustainable communities, Sophie Broadfield, that ‘As it stands, we have no plans to make further changes to the design of the cycle lane’.

“I have been making representations to officers and the council leader since the lane opened and I was in High Street on the day it opened, and casualty reports began that day and have continued ever since.

“Not only are the administration being dismissive of our communities’ safety but also the safety of visitors to the town.

“Recently one visitor from Peasedown St John and another from Guildford were injured and needed an ambulance.”

Cllr Hale, an independent councillor, says he has warned

Making headlines: the cycle lane installed as part of the redesign of Keynsham High Street has been controversial from the start

Councillors have

as it is, says council

the council’s leader and its chief executive officer that, should be killed as a result of a fall due to the cycle lane, they could be investigated for corporate manslaughter.

The campaigning group of councillors has issued High Street shops with copies of a letter to hand out to anyone who falls on the kerb, describing what action they should take. They say many of the shopkeepers are well rehearsed in responding with a chair or cushions and blankets to help those who have fallen.

Cllr Hale added: “It has been a never-ending campaign and it was rewarding when all six councillors sat down together to fight for a change.

“Cllr George Leach (Lib Dem - Keynsham North) is going to take a lead now in seeking changes and I have assured him that I shall continue to support him. This ridiculous situation cannot continue.”

He added: “I cannot see how an administration can preside

over a development that has seriously injured over 100 people and do nothing.”

Cllr Leach said: “The objective will be to seek short-term, more immediate solutions as well as a long-term strategy.

“The council’s financial situation and current stance does not make this straightforward but it is important we as elected representatives continue to advocate on behalf of our residents.”

Councillor Paul Roper, B&NES cabinet member for economic and cultural sustainable development, told the Voice: “We have no plans to make further changes to the design of the cycle lane.

“However, our recent Creating Sustainable Communities consultation gathered residents’ views on the pedestrianisation of the High Street, which we are exploring as a longer-term solution. In the meantime, we continue to monitor trips and falls.”

keynshamvoice

Concrete firm’s plea on extended hours

KEYNSHAM company 4Concrete wants its temporary extended hours of operation to be made permanent, despite noise complaints from neighbours.

Bath & North East Somerset Council allowed the firm to start weekday operations at 6.30am instead of 7.30am and finish at 6.30pm instead of 5.30pm on a trial basis, to see if acoustic barriers were effective in reducing the noise.

The trial at the site at Old Station Yard, Avon Mill Lane, began in 2023.

Now the company has applied for permission for the longer hours to be made permanent.

Agents for the company have told B&NES council that the extended hours are “vital to the function of the business and its continued operation.”

They add: “The applicant is willing to enter into further discussions around updating the approved site management plan following a year of operation under

the extended hours, and potential enhancements.”

But nearby residents and Keynsham Town Council have called for the company’s application to be rejected.

One comment on the planning portal stated: “As the closest residents to the site, we confirm that early morning noise exceeding the limits was a frequent occurrence and consistent throughout the trial period from August 2023 to August 2024.”

They added that neighbours have provided noise recordings and a professional noise report, but these were said by the B&NES environmental protection team to be invalid or not acceptable as evidence.

Another comment stated: “More than four years since 4Concrete took up residence at the Old Station Yard, we have still not achieved an acceptable level of noise.

“Now we are being asked to accept the extension of hours – when we have proved all year that the set noise limits are constantly

Youth town council marks 10th anniversary in style

KEYNSHAM’S youth town council, KeynshamNow, has marked its 10th anniversary.

Celebrations include eating lots of KeynshamNow-made cake, making a video of members’ work, which will be shown at local school assemblies, and designing a new KeynshamNow hoodie – as displayed in the photo, along with Dani Philips, ex-chair, wearing the old hoodie.

being exceeded – during the day as well as during the night hours.

“I find it difficult to discuss just how much of an impact the last four years have had on residents, and particularly those living closest to the yard. Quite honestly, it’s been hard to witness the effect on their health and wellbeing. That is never acceptable, and we ask that this application is rejected.”

Councillor Andy Wait, B&NES councillor for Keynsham, said: “4Concrete have not kept to these extended hours, preferring to continue as before by ignoring their planning conditions and working outside even these extended hours.

“Although, I’m sure, they will continue to break their own planning restrictions, no company should benefit by continuing to disturb their close residential neighbours by their anti-social behaviour, selfishly working noisily outside agreed working hours.”

B&NES Council is due to make a decision on October 2.

Author brings Victorian vampires back to life

A KEYNSHAM horror author is hoping to chill readers’ blood with a fresh twist on vampire mythology.

Richard Gadz – the pen name of town resident Simon Cheshire –has written a novel called The Eater Of Flies, due to be published on October 24.

of horror novel

The Burn Street Haunting and gothic thriller The Workshop of Filthy Creation, which won the Best Horror Award in the 2022 New Generation Indie Book Awards and was shortlisted for the Rubery Prize for Fiction.

His work has been praised in The Guardian, which said of his novel Flesh and Blood that Richard “has a talent for writing the terrifying and the gruesome.”

Over the years, adults have used KeynshamNow to help formulate how best to find out what young people think. Some members have gone on to be town and Bath & North East Somerset councillors.

KeynshamNow is always looking for new members. It’s fun, free and there’s food. Members meet once a month in The Space above the library.

In those 10 years, members have learned how local and national government works, and have campaigned on issues close to their hearts, including young people’s mental health, reducing plastic waste, votes at 16, reducing poverty, and knife crime. They have also raised more than £3,000 for local charities. KeynshamNow have welcomed many visitors to their meetings, including the current and previous MP.

To learn more, email Andy Wait at waithere91@gmail.com

The gothic tale begins in 1868, in a London West End where high society and the underworld meet. A sealed box from Transylvania falls into unscrupulous hands. And its opening releases a vampyr, a wraith-like parasite that hides inside a host and thirsts for human blood.

Richard explained: “I’d already written a novel putting a new spin on Frankenstein, and I wanted to follow it up with an unusual take on Dracula.

“I thought vampires had become a bit predictable, not scary enough, so I threw away established vampire lore and started again. My vampires still drink blood, but garlic, sunlight and stakes through the heart don’t bother them at all.”

Richard is also the author

Richard said researching his latest novel involved “a lot of reading through Victorian archives, to make sure the historical details are right.

“The story was influenced by many real-life events of the 1860s, such as the building of the Thames embankment and the slum clearances in central London.”

To promote his new novel, he will give one of Bristol Central Library’s Lunchtime Lectures on Halloween - Thursday October 31 - at 12.30pm, admission free.

The Eater of Flies will be available from Amazon or through bookshops in Bristol or Bath.

KEYNSHAM AND SALTFORD LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

When our town manufactured its own car

IN the early years of the 20th century the manufacture of motor cars was a small-scale enterprise and many engineering companies decided to move into what was obviously an expanding market.

One such firm was here in Keynsham. The Avon Motor Manufacturing Co Ltd was started in 1902 by George Alexander Henshaw, who in 1879 had cofounded the engineering company Strachan & Henshaw in Bristol.

George Henshaw lived in Saltford, at the bottom of Saltford Hill, and set up the car factory on the road between Keynsham and Saltford, on the site now occupied by the car wash and Italian restaurant.

Over the next ten years several models of motor vehicle were manufactured at the site. The best known of these was the Trimobile: a two-seater, three-wheeled car, powered by a single-cylinder water-cooled engine available in various sizes between four and six horsepower.

These engines were made by the firm and mounted at the rear of the vehicle, although the radiator was at the front. A three-speed gearbox was provided, with a chain-drive to the axle.

At that time, many components and features were experimental, and records suggest the Trimobile’s ignition system and leather-faced clutch were rather unreliable.

Having only three wheels, the car was classed as a motorcycle and so could be driven by anyone aged 14 or over.

An interesting feature of the Trimobile story is that a light delivery van variant was offered, with a top speed of 20 mph, and one of these was purchased by the

A young Mr Cannock driving his aunt in 1911 – as the Trimobile was classed as a motorcycle, it could be driven by anyone aged 14 or over

Post Office in Bristol for use on the Christmas mails in December 1904.

This was the first vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine to be used by the Royal Mail, certainly locally and possibly anywhere.

Prices for the Trimobile ranged from 60 to 95 guineas. In later years, the company produced a four-wheeled car which retailed at £106 guineas (£111.30). This was advertised as having won a silver

medal at the Automobile Club’s reliability trial in November 1904.

The firm’s London agents were the Otto-Bennett Motor Co in Snow Hill, but most sales were local to the Bristol area.

Car manufacture appears to have ended in 1912 and by 1914 the premises had been taken over by the Tangent Tool Company.

l Information and photographs courtesy of Brian Vowles and Saltford Environment Group

Society’s new season

The local history society held its annual general meeting in midSeptember. This was followed by a cheese-and-wine party for the 60 members present.

October 21 sees the first of the new season’s evening talks. Admission is by membership so if you would like to join us, the annual subscription is £15 - visit keysalthist.org.uk for details.

Richard Dyson

KEYNSHAM WALKERS ARE WELCOME

Our wildlife encounter in the forest

THERE was a good turnout for our three-mile walk around Meadow Forest on August 25.

A party of 30 people, including a few new faces, set off from our meeting point behind the leisure centre, through the park towards Keynsham Marina.

Walking across three fields in the direction of Bitton, we entered Meadow Forest. Keeping to the perimeter path of the first forest area, we eventually entered the second forest area. Overnight and early morning rain made some footpaths muddy and slippery, but all walkers got through without any mishaps.

Whilst in the forest, we encountered a young deer, which was a bit startled to see so many people walking towards it, but a quick sprint through the hedge got it to safety.

Once out of the forest, we walked down to the river, which we followed back to the marina.

On September 8, we set out on a five-mile linear walk from Crew’s Hole to Keynsham.

Following a period of extensive showers, the walkers came prepared for mud. Our stroll began with transport provided by Keynsham and District Dial A Ride minibuses to our starting point at the Conham River Walk car park.

We set off following the riverside path but soon hit areas of path-wide puddles and mud, which forced us onto an upward path into the woodland. This gentle ascent took us up to eye level with the canopy of the trees, which was especially rewarding thanks to the amount of birdsong that entertained us along the way.

A mid-walk rest at the Lock and Weir gave us

n LETTERS

a welcome break and some liquid refreshments. Next we took a slow-paced steep walk up Ferry Road. Reaching the top, we turned right and took a leisurely stroll through the Hanham Court Estate.

From here, an upward track took us to the top of a hill with far-reaching views across Willsbridge and Keynsham, also taking in the familiar tourist site of Kelston Hill, close to the Cotswold Way.

Here, we walked downhill, with the cows we usually meet on this route being too busy

feeding to even notice us this time. Reaching the outskirts of Keynsham, we walked across Sydenham Meadow, taking in views of the Chocolate Factory. Back in Keynsham, we said farewell to the 20-plus walkers.

l Because of the threat of thunderstorms on Sunday September 22, Keynsham Walkers are Welcome postponed their planned walk in aid of the BBC Children in Need Countryfile Ramble until Sunday October 6 at 10am. Any donations already received will be carried over.

Letters for publication can be sent to news@keynshamvoice.co.uk or by post to Letters, Keynshamvoice, 16 Ashmead Business Centre, Ashmead Road, Keynsham, BS31 1SX. The editor reserves the right to edit your letter.

A cut above with this kind gesture

I visited the Turkish barber in Temple Street, Keynsham, yesterday. As I pulled into the disabled parking bay outside, I clipped the kerb and my offside front tyre burst.

A startled passer-by checked I was ok, then two wonderful things happened.

The manager of Your Move called me to tell me there was a tyre fitter in the adjacent road and invited me to use his phone to contact them. I thanked him but told him I was aware and had my mobile phone with me.

I then went into the barbers, who had also observed what had happened. I was asked if I had a spare wheel, which I did.

He asked for my car key. He and his colleague replaced the

damaged wheel with my spare.

He noticed I had a tyre inflator in the boot and used that to inflate the spare to the correct pressure. I offered him a token of appreciation, which he immediately declined.

What a wonderful gesture in these days of great negativity.

Chris Pannell

Wear it pink to help fight breast cancer

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) means the return of Wear It Pink - Breast Cancer Now’s biggest and brightest fundraising event on Friday 18 October.

Every 10 minutes, someone in the UK hears the words “you have breast cancer”. Sadly, this happened to my eldest sister Tracey.

When she died in 2016, the news rippled through the family –shaking us all. Little did we know this was just the beginning of the long shadow breast cancer would cast over us.

In October 2020, I received my own diagnosis. Telling my younger sister Nikki was harder than I ever imagined. But when Nikki revealed months later that she’d also been diagnosed with breast cancer, I

couldn’t believe it. Three sisters in one family!

While Tracey hadn’t lived to see my diagnosis, I was here to see Nikki’s – and I was determined to support her through this.

Together we have come out the other side. Although we were both tested for the BRCA gene, it came back negative. The hospital told us that there probably was a genetic connection, but more research was needed to establish one.

This is why I’m calling on everyone to wear pink and raise money this October to help fund a life-saving research breakthrough that could help families like mine.

So, on Friday 18 October, wear it pink, raise money and help create a future where everyone diagnosed with breast cancer lives. Sign up at wearitpink.org/SignUp

Michelle Blackburn, who was diagnosed with breast cancer

Below, beautiful views that greeted the walkers in Meadow Forest

Winter Festival set to sparkle again

Photos of last year’s Keynsham Winter Festival by Mike May - the event will be on a Saturday this year and will start during daytime

KEYNSHAM Winter Festival returns next month on a new day and with new timings.

The event, organised by the town council, has traditionally been held on a Friday night.

But this year it will take place on Saturday November 30 from 12pm-7pm.

Attractions will include Christmas market stalls, local musicians and dancers, free family activities and a fun fair.

The free Santa’s Grotto sponsored by MG Estate Agents, will also return, with the support of the South West UK Virtual Lions Club.

The festival will also feature two performance stages, one by the Methodist Church on the High Street and a second in Temple Court, behind the Savour shop on Temple Street.

Free face painting will be available on the second floor of the library.

“We’re really excited about the new day for the Winter Festival as it allows festival-goers of all ages more time to enjoy the event and not feel they need to rush from activity to activity,” said Katherine Sears, deputy town clerk.

“We’ve had a really positive response from the public and traders to the change of day and time. It’s going to be a great day and we’re looking forward to kicking off the festive season with all the community.”

Alongside the Winter Festival, the town council will hold its second annual Christmas Jumper Swap after a successful first year.

The town council will

be encouraging residents to swap their unwanted jumper for another at one of its ‘swap days’ or leave their donation at Keynsham Leisure Centre drop-off point. The first swap day will be at the Somerset Farmers’ Market on Saturday October 12.

Back again for 2024, the memorial baubles project will also be launched at the October farmers’ market.

Residents will be able to honour lost loved ones by decorating a memorial bauble for the community Christmas tree in the Memorial Park. Fifty clear Christmas baubles will be made available at the farmers’ market for people to fill with memories, photos and trinkets.

The town council will then hang the baubles on the tree during the festive season.

“We hope this allows people a way to pay tribute to those that they wish were with them this holiday season,” said Katherine.

“It was a popular addition to the Winter Festival last year and we’re pleased to do it again this year.”

In addition to Winter Festival, local businesses in the town centre will stay open until 9pm for late-night shopping on Thursday December 5.

For more information on the Winter Festival, Christmas jumper swap, memorial baubles, or late-night shopping, visit the Keynsham Town Council website, its Facebook or Instagram pages, or contact Katherine Sears on 0117 9868683 or email deputytownclerk@keynsham-tc. gov.uk

n BACK TO NATURE

The sights, sounds and smells of autumn

ALTHOUGH the seasons seem to be blurred and a little unpredictable in recent years, we look forward to sights, sounds and smells unique to autumn.

If you take a stroll through a park or woodland on a cool damp day, there is a distinct sweet smell caused by a combination of fallen leaves, fruits and plants decaying.

This process of decay is aided by bacteria, fungi, worms and invertebrates until a natural mulch covers the floor where the leaves fell, protecting the soil and returning nutrients to the earth for plants to use in the next growing season.

All the little spaces in nooks and crannies of decaying plant life make a home for small creatures, many of whom will be a meal for a larger one! Frogs will find a damp corner under a rock or log to quietly rest, and hedgehogs will have snuggled up in a pile of leaves and twigs.

In both urban and rural areas, it is quite common to hear the bloodcurdling sound of foxes barking and screaming in October.

The young males are moving on from their family groups negotiating their territorial rights, and foxes will again be noisy in the mating period of January and February.

Tawny Owls are also marking territory at this time of year and enthral anyone with the luck to hear two owls calling “Twit” and answering “Twoo”.

Just before sunset, mixed flocks of corvids gather to roost but spend some time seemingly chatting about their day and arguing about who is going to sleep on the choicest branches.

Some migrating birds will take advantage of the cover that darkness provides. Redwing and other Thrush species typically migrate in flocks at night, as do Curlew and some other wading birds.

Sadly, for some who navigate a route over Bristol, they meet a grisly end because the beloved Peregrines who have made Bristol their home find migrating birds easy prey because of street lighting and a good night-time snack.

Autumn is more a season of change than of decline, a time when nature prepares to rest

Migrating birds such as Redwings can fall foul of bright city lights at night

before taking on the challenges of another year. We can take time to appreciate the sights, sounds and smells without needing to go too far away from our own doorsteps; take a different route when out for a walk on our suburban estates and you may be surprised at the variety of trees and shrubs that you see sporting their autumn colours.

You do not even need wellies to explore the huge number of trees in Bath, many of which are mapped out on walking routes available online - https://www. bathurbantreescape.com/ - and Bristol has The Downs and Leigh Woods, which are both accessible by bus for lovely autumn walks.

The best thing humans can do for nature in autumn is enjoy it and as far as possible leave nature to look after itself.

In our gardens where practical, leave seed heads on the plants, allow natural decay to happen to enrich the soil and protect it.

Resist the urge to tidy piles of leaves, and if you really must light a bonfire, make sure you disturb it first so small creatures can escape.

Julia Shahin

Let the falling leaves in your garden enrich the soil and give autumn and winter habitat to smaller creatures Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli Listen out for the territorial screams of foxes Photo: Martin Farrell

Photo: Liz Cutting

Benefits of A4 travel plans questioned

THE West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has been challenged over the value for money of its travel proposals for the A4 between Bath and Bristol.

WECA says it wants to reduce journey times and improve reliability for bus users, cyclists and pedestrians by providing:

l A high-quality, high-frequency bus service between Bath and Bristol.

l A continuous segregated cycling corridor between the two cities.

l Cycling and walking connections between local communities along the A4 and the new bus service, and strategic cycling corridor.

Its proposals include a 24-hour bus lane in both directions on the Keynsham bypass – an idea that WECA is sticking to despite overwhelming public opposition in a consultation.

Now the financial benefits of the scheme have been questioned by Councillor Duncan Hounsell, a Bath & North East Somerset councillor for Saltford.

Speaking at a meeting of WECA’s overview and scrutiny panel, he said: “Few would disagree with the OBC (outline business case) narrative about congestion, the need to reduced carbon emissions, and to seek a modal shift from car to bus and active travel.

“Few would disagree with the noble aims

Keynsham bypass could get a 24-hour bus lane on each side under WECA’s proposals

of addressing climate change. However, does this scheme match these ambitions? Does the proposed scheme represent value for money?”

He also questioned the stated benefit-cost ratio (BCR) of 1.5, which means that, for every £1 spent, there would be 50p of benefit.

“Most of the benefits are not economic but monetised environmental and health benefits.

“Most of the claimed benefits are based on physical activity - I guess the walking/cycling.

“Despite that, the cycle path alongside the Keynsham bypass has, for now, according to WECA press releases, been taken out

OPEN EVENINGS Thinking about Sixth Form?

of the proposed scheme, contrary to the stated vision of a continuous segregated cycle corridor between Bristol and Bath. What cyclist would take a detour into hilly Keynsham?”

He added that that A4 benefit-cost ratio gives a negative effect for economic efficiency for business users and providers. It was only positive for commuters.

Cllr Hounsell said that the predicted average bus journey time saving from Hicks Gate to The Globe was 104 seconds eastwards and 42 seconds westward.

“This is less time than I have been speaking.”

He added: “Aspects of the A4 corridor proposals are unpopular, particularly those relating to the Keynsham bypass. Concern for many is about the practicality of the proposals, not the aims. Concern is also about value for money.

“Corporate risk is said to be ‘minor loss of confidence’. I suggest corporate risk is ‘major loss of confidence’.

“This scheme does not yet represent value for money. £26 million pounds is a lot of public money when our new government is stressing the dire nature of public finances.”

The phase 1 proposals are planned to be completed by March 2027.

More people welcomed at Reuse Shop

THE Reuse Shop at Keynsham Recycling Hub is poised to welcome customers from outside the Bath and North East Somerset area as its celebrates its first anniversary.

The shop opened in October 2023, aiming to provide quality products at a fraction of the price of new.

More than 21,000 people have visited and about 44 tonnes of household items have been kept in circulation and reused or refurbished.

Visitor numbers are set to be boosted with the opening of the adjacent car park on a Saturday, allowing customers from outside the B&NES area, who are not allowed to drive into the recycling centre, to leave their cars and walk across to the shop.

Donated items that may be of benefit are passed on to the internal council welfare teams or local charity partners - Mercy in Action, Julian House, The Sofa Project and Small Stuff Baby Bank - to support their services.

Share and Repair Bath are another local organisation that benefits from the shop. Its volunteers carry out PAT safety testing on all donated electrical items, and the money made from those sales is shared equally between Share and Repair and the council.

Share and Repair volunteers visit the shop at least twice a month and have Pat-tested

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items including an organ, coffee machines, keyboards and many table lamps. On their last visit, they tested more than 80 electrical items and most have been given a new lease of life.

Lorna Montgomery, chair of trustees of Share and Repair, said: “The shop is becoming more and more popular as the mountain of electrical items grows bigger. Share and Repair

can also pass on suitable items to low-income households via the charities supporting them.

“All of these items would previously have been put into landfill/ recycled when they were actually in working order.”

The Reuse Shop is cashless and staff only take card payments. The money raised goes towards the running costs of the shop, and any profit at the end of the year will be reinvested in recycling services.

Peat-free compost made from the garden waste collected in B&NES is sold in the shop. It costs £4 for a 40-litre bag.

The Reuse Shop and the staff car park on World’s End Lane are open to the public every Saturday from 9.30am to 3pm.

During the week, the shop is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 3pm to B&NES residents visiting the recycling centre, or other members of the public on foot. It is closed on Monday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

Working for you as an Independent Councillor

I use Facebook but this will reach all of my ward residents and give you some idea of the work that I have carried out recently:

Supported residents who had issues with Curo.

Supported a family seeking appropriate support through B&NES and the health service.

Used Councillor Empowerment

Funding to provide a bleed kit for Queens Road shops. Also funded two Keynsham charities, completed the purchase of a defibrillator for the Federated Estate instigated by two ladies who raised the majority of the money.

Supported and advised a resident seeking visa to permit continued residency.

Fielded questions and sought answers regarding the delay in the adoption of three new housing developments on the ward.

Preparing a report seeking action to traffic calm Charlton Road but without the imposition of a 20mph limit and to also reduce the number of HGVs breaching the weight restriction.

Continued with other District Councillors to resolve the ongoing injuries on the High Street cycle lane.

Working with other District Councillors of the town and Saltford Councillors to protect certain parcels of land from house building. Advocated for residents regarding an apparently unauthorised unsightly fence

erected in Charlton Park. This also involved a land grab from the council.

Corresponded with the Police and Crime Commissioner re the level of anti-social behaviour in the town and also the level of other crimes committed and the lack of visible policing.

Took complaints to Live West Housing Association regarding some of their tenants on Charlton Place who were causing disorder and fear.

Supported complaints by residents to police and planning authority regarding anti-social behaviour and potential planning infringements regarding the use of residential house as a multi occupancy hostel. Submitted consultation document raising concerns regarding the safety of the reduction of current 50 & 60mph speed limits on the A368 for its entire length to 40mph.

I am contactable via email at alan_hale@bathnes.gov.uk which is best because you can set out the issues that concern you. I can also be contacted on 07776493221. If you see me about, say hello.

Items on sale in the Reuse Shop at Keynsham Recycle Hub

KEYNSHAM MEMORIES

This month’s photograph gives an idea of how builders looked in about 1900. It was taken in Keynsham at the Avon Brass Mill, where the Brassmill restaurant is today.

The caption describes it as a repair gang at the manager’s house, but the precise location is not clear. It may have been taken at or near the company offices, which were in the building with the tower and cupola opposite the entrance to the restaurant car park. Perhaps this was also the mill manager’s house at one time.

The substantial timber framework supports a winch for lifting the large stone blocks up to a height of about four metres.

Photo courtesy of the Saltford Brass Mill Project

with Keynsham & Saltford Local History Society

ON THE BEAT

Please park considerately on the school run

WITH our local schools settling in, the colder weather means that parents/carers who previously dropped their children off within walking distance slip into the bad habit of trying to drop them offdirectly outside school.

The short-term wins for those who do this are clearly outweighed by the knock-on effects on the road network and the delays caused.

I often read complaints about local road layouts, disruption caused by roadworks and poor parking. Some of these issues are out of our hands but we can often do our bit by dropping off and picking up our children in large spacious areas, instead of in restricted parking areas, to assist with the free flow of traffic.

These small actions will help us all go about our business more efficiently and allow our students to cross the roads safely.

n We continue to get small pockets of anti-social behaviour in and around the High Street in Keynsham. We continue to work with local businesses to try to

with PC James Evans

prevent this sort of behaviour, which affects not only the public but the workers in the shops that are continually targeted.

If you see anything happening you are not happy about, call us on 999 if it is an emergency, or on 101 if you think there is information we need to be aware of.

The Violence Reduction Unit has been visiting offenders and their families. These interactions are a good way to divert the offenders away from the criminal justice system in the hope of changing their behaviours through education.

n I recently attended a meeting

of Saltford Parish Council to offer an update on local crime figures. My colleagues and I often attend such meetings, which allow us to network with local parishes and see how issues are affecting their areas and where we can help.

n We have extended our neighbourhood policing team’s fleet with the addition of an electric bicycle. This will help us to get out and about even more and respond to incidents in hard-to-reach areas.

I will look to add some of our giveaways once we have some panniers on the bike, so if you see us out and about, stop for a chat and see what we are carrying.

n One of the neighbourhood policing team’s roles is to try to resolve problems, and some of the most time-consuming ones are neighbours who don’t get on.

Covid was a big catalyst for this, when most people spent more time at home, and the continuation of home working has meant that people pay more attention to their close environment.

When reviewing these

situations, we first and foremost identify if offences have occurred and if there is an obvious victim who needs our support. If no offences are disclosed, then we want to make the best use of our time. With incidents like these, we often try to help with limited involvement, from good neighbour agreements to face-to-face meetings, which often resolve the issues.

It’s helpful to consider the situation objectively from a thirdparty view as this often highlights that the issues are not as big as they seem. We are not asking everyone to get along, as that is unachievable, just that we have a level of tolerance so we can enjoy where we live.

n Be aware that with the change in seasons the darker nights are coming, so please test any security measures, such as outside lights and CCTV, to make sure they are working properly. This time of year sees an increase in acquisitive crime, and anything we can do to reduce this will help.

Caring Len is community hero of the year

KEYNSHAM resident Len Griffin has won the Community Hero of the Year Award at this year’s Curo awards for the kindness and support he shows to his neighbours.

“Len is so helpful, his cheerfulness is brilliant,” said one nomination. “He really deserves to be recognised for all he does to help. He’s a special person and deserves this honour.”

Victor da Cunha, Curo’s chief executive, and Jane Tabor, chair of the board, presented the awards at this year’s Big Get Together, Curo’s annual residents’ event,

PEN TO PAPER Three Traction Engines NEWS

I bought three traction engines last night. Why did I buy three traction engines?

It seems a silly thing to do.

It must have seemed like a good idea at the time. But why three?

Surely one would have been enough. More than enough really.

There’s a big gleaming green one, An even bigger gleaming red one, And a tatty little black one.

Where am I going to keep them?

I could park them outside my house.

But wouldn’t the neighbours (and the council) complain?

But it’s a public road.

If they’re taxed and insured, what can they do?

But they’re not taxed and insured.

I open my eyes while I have a little think.

The room is filled with the soft morning light.

I shut them again quick.

I can’t wake up yet.

I’ve got to work out what to do with these traction engines.

Let’s start with the little black one.

A dirty, ugly little thing.

Don’t know why I bought it.

Let’s get rid of it.

But I must find somewhere to keep it in the meantime.

So let’s tax it so I can move it.

But it has no number plate.

Does that mean it’s never been taxed? Is it even legal to use it on the road?

I open my eyes again. I struggle to get back to sleep. I have a problem to solve.

I have three traction engines, And I haven’t yet worked out what to with even one of them. My mind is going round in circles. And now I am wide awake.

Have I lost my traction engines?

Have I wasted my money?

Wait a minute.

I don’t recall actually paying for them. Some day someone’s going to knock on my door, And demand payment for three traction engines, And I’ve no idea where they are.

George Liddell

Keynsham Creative Writers welcome new members – call George Liddell on 0117 914 8654

which took place at Mulberry Park, Bath. The annual get-together allows colleagues to talk to customers about the things that matter to them. It was attended by more than 700 people, from young families to residents in their eighties.

“I’m stuck for words, to be honest,” said Len after receiving his prize. “But I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me – it’s really kind of them. I’m very happy.”

Ian Parker accepted the Community of the Year Award on behalf of Toynbee Road and Samuel Barnett Close, Bristol.

We’re stepping out for Mencap

STAFF from a Keynsham company walked from their office to Bath Abbey to raise money for Keynsham & District Mencap Society.

A group of 15 colleagues from Perpetual Business & Tax Advisors (PBTA), plus one dog, set off in glorious sunshine and walked through blue skies, rain and wind, up hills, across rivers and cycle tracks, and even across Bath race course, to raise more than £500 for the charity.

The walk ended in the centre of Bath before the team caught the train back to their Keynsham office to nurse their blisters and sore backs.

Clare at Keynsham Mencap said: “PBTA’s support over the years has taken many varying forms. They have proven themselves game for jumping out of a plane, abseiling off the local church and have logged and maximised steps as a team last year for September. They have funded the repair of our valuable minibus and sponsored Santa’s Grotto 23 to name but a few.”

PBTA are planning to double their annual donation through the Big Give Match Funding campaign, which begins on December 3. This means more than £1,000 will go to Keynsham Mencap.

More roadworks loom on the A4

MORE roadworks are planned on the A4 in the Saltford area by Wales & West Utilities.

Work near Corston finished at the end of August, but the gas connection company was unable to complete everything as originally planned because of engineering issues.

It has now revealed three more sets of work in the coming months, timed to take place over school holidays with the aim of minimising disruption.

Work near the Globe roundabout

from October 25 to November 3 will involve four-way lights, staffed at all times. This will allow trench work to complete a gas connection. A similar scheme at Newton bridge will take place from December 27 to January 5 next year, involving two-way lights. Then the company will work near the Globe roundabout and Stothert & Pitt RFC to complete final connections and decommission an old gas main. This will involve two-way lights to be used only by the club.

Kindness: Len Griffin

We need land for food as well as homes

SALTFORD Parish Council is seeking a “stewardship approach” to the planning of land use for house building in an effort to protect the green belt and food production.

It was responding to the government’s consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which aims to increase the number of new homes across the country.

The new rules could double the housing target for Bath & North East Somerset over the period of its proposed Local Plan (2022-2042) – from 14,340 to 29,320.

And there are concerns about the effect this would have on Saltford and Keynsham, where areas of the green belt are already under threat of development.

Saltford Parish Council suggested that the list of greenbelt purposes should include that it protects agricultural land and/or eco-systems that help underpin the UK’s food security.

This would show the government’s commitment to not only provide enough houses but also to improve future food security, not reduce it, while enabling nature’s recovery from the ecological emergency.

The council also called on the government to allow local authorities that support or have the potential to improve food security and ecological recovery some flexibility over the proposed ‘one size fits all’ approach of 0.8% growth of housing stock per year.

Those areas that were able to meet a higher rate of home-building could be offered

“additional infrastructure incentives” to do so.

The council said: “Flexibility is particularly important for communities that have historically absorbed significant volumes of development that have reduced recreational and open green space for residents, and created traffic and other transport problems that can severely reduce the quality of life for the existing community.”

It also said that the introduction of a new ‘grey belt’ definition for previously developed land in the green belt needed safeguards to avoid providing incentives to allow the degradation of existing greenbelt land such as “developed at least 15 years previously to the date of application.”

“It is essential that the updated NPPF itself makes it clear that it is only grey belt land in the green belt that could be released to meet commercial

and other needs, not green-belt land that has not been previously developed.”

Regarding the protection of local landscapes, the council said: “A local community knows and understands the strengths and weaknesses of its local area and the value placed on

its local landscape more than anyone, including the LPA [local planning authority].

“The (updated) NPPF should place a requirement on the LPA to give due consideration of landscape designation requests submitted by local communities in its land-use planning decisions and plan-making processes.”

It said the creation of new garden cities or garden towns could avoid the damage caused by the current piecemeal approach of adding new developments to existing communities already under extreme pressures.

It added that new developments – including new garden cities/towns - must come with public green spaces, such as sufficiently large public parks, to protect the health and wellbeing of new and existing communities.

“The overriding objective should be ‘building new homes in the right places in welldesigned developments’.”

A Saltford field used for growing food – the kind of land the parish council wants to protect from house-building Photo: Phil Harding

SNIPPETS

Scenes from Keynsham life

A large camera was set up on the empty street opposite my house as I returned from work on Thursday. After watching for some time, I approached the operators. ‘He’s coming over …’ said the female assistant, sotto voce.

The man swung the lens around to observe my approach.

Hi!’ he said, with excessive brightness. ‘We’re filming a documentary on Somerset!’ ‘Oh?’

‘We’ve got planning permission from the council.’

You need planning permission?

‘I hope you’re going to blur people’s faces out?’

‘Yeah, I just wanted to get the pram and the dog that just went past!’

A dog? A pram? The street’s completely deserted.

‘I don’t want to appear in any film.’

‘Oh, we’re not filming people! Oh look! There’s a bus – it’s got Bristol on it!’

Lots of buses have ‘Bristol’ on them… so, nobody was pushing the pram?

I stepped aside as the lens swung around to capture me/the bus: ‘As I say, I don’t want to appear in your film. I hope you’ll make sure I’m not in it.’

‘Oh. Where were you?’

Really not very observant for a photographer.

His young apprentice looked at him, confused, indicating the pavement. ‘He was walkin’ up the…?’

As he swung the lens away, up towards the chimneystacks, I started to walk away.

‘Please make sure I’m not in your film.’

‘Bye! Thanks for coming over!’

By the time I had crossed the road, entered the house and re-emerged to check the bike, they had disassembled the camera, loaded up that black van, and were driving hastily away. Strange.

Isaac Glynn

POETRY CORNER

Tea time is over - see you in 2025!

ONCE again the opening of Compton Dando’s village church for afternoon teas during the summer has done well, this year raising £3,311 for church funds, well up on last year’s figure of £2,342.

One of the organisers, Mrs Jenny Davis, said: “This is amazing and our best year yet. So many people return year after year, which is great, and definitely our bakers this year have really excelled themselves. A big thank-you to all involved. Our teas will start again next year the

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

Friends are invaluable in our time of need, Always there with much compassion, showing that they care. Putting us before themselves, sharing all our woes They stand beside us, all the way, easing ills we bear.

So when your world comes crowding in don’t think you are alone, There’s always someone there to help - people that you know. For friends are on the side line and will listen patiently, They’ll help you in your darkest hour, they’ll realise you’re low.

And along with all our earthly friends, we must not ere forget There’s someone watching from above, a friend we’ll always find. So when you feel your world will end, sit quietly and pray. In the stillness you’ll find peace, to soothe your troubled mind.

Sylvia Kirby

weekend of the end of May bank holiday and run through until August bank holiday Monday.”

l Pictured top: back table - George and Alison Coldbourne, and Elizabeth Brealey and Lyn Watson; front table – Debbie and Steve Spear, and Trudie Mitchell.

l Above left: Fiona Gregg Smith (left) with Tan and Anna Toothill, who were serving teas.

l Above right: Mike, Mary and Geraldine enjoying tea and cake in the church grounds.

Photos: Ros Anstey

School buildings to get solar panels NEWS

PLANS to install solar panels on the roof of a Keynsham school building have been expanded to include two other sites.

Bath & West Community Energy (BCWE) originally proposed to fit the panels at Wellsway School’s Lansdown Building in Chandag Road. But it has now decided to install them on the roof of Wellsway’s sports hall and at IKB Academy as well

It submitted a ‘prior approval’ request for the scheme to Bath & North East Somerset Council, which has confirmed that prior approval

is not needed for the scheme to go ahead. A comment in support of the scheme stated: “Hope this sets a great precedent for all schools in the area.”

The energy company estimates that the sites would use most of the solar electricity generated, with the rest being exported to the National Grid.

BCWE was founded as a not-forprofit community benefit society in 2010 with the aim of taking “positive action in the face of the climate emergency and growing energy insecurity.”

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

The Revd John Hayes Minister at Keynsham Methodist Church

‘

If you have taken part in helping out at harvest time in any way this year, thank you.

IT’S that time of year when “harvests” have had centrestage. Many crops were harvested last month and it is always a challenging time for all those who work on our farms.

So much work to do, with the hope that good weather will make harvesting successful. As we are close to the farming community here in Keynsham, it is something many of us are familiar with.

Harvest festivals are still common in many churches and schools. It is a chance for Christians and those of other faiths to give thanks to God and celebrate for all the provision of creation.

At the Methodist Church we always focus on using our harvest festival to support those people who need help. This year we collected food, provisions and essentials for two projects that provide support: The Southdown Centre in Bath, and Turnaround (formerly the Bristol Methodist Centre).

The Southdown project provides their local community with all sorts of help and opportunities to meet and share together - from clothing to food supplies, hot meals and warm spaces.

Turnaround is a project that helps homeless and

disadvantaged people in Bristol, offering a warm place that provides shelter, showers and clean clothes, plus a hot meal and other food.

Help with accessing support through phone calls or the use of computers is also an essential part of their service.

Both projects have paid staff and rely on many volunteers to enable their work to continue.

The store cupboards and larders are looking pretty empty at the moment, so they are looking forward to the fruit of the harvest festivals coming in to fill their food and provisions stores.

This all follows principles recorded in the Bible, where the farming community left a proportion of the fields’ harvest to allow those who were in need to come and collect the remainder – although the mechanism for collecting the extra nowadays has changed!

So, if you have taken part in helping out at harvest time in any way this year, then thank you.

It’s also important to realise that there are opportunities to help throughout the year – so please consider supporting a cause close to you or close to your heart to help celebrate “harvest” all year round.

n NEWS

Join our Walk for Freedom

A KEYNSHAM family will be taking part in a walk to highlight the plight of human-trafficking victims around the world.

Cheryle Broom, who is also the event’s host, will be joined by her husband Mike, daughter Grace and son Wes, as well as her mum and dad.

The Walk for Freedom, organised by the charity A21, takes place in Bristol city centre on Saturday October 19. The aim is to help raise awareness, with the goal of eliminating slavery.

Starting at 10am in Guinea Street, the 1.5-mile walk will follow the city’s slave trail.

The event is marking its 10th anniversary this year and Cheryle is hoping more people will join in.

She said: “We currently have 22 signed up for the walk. Most are friends and family from Keynsham but a few are dotted over Bristol elsewhere.”

For more details, visit www. a21.org/bristol

brings a new harvest of fresh seasonal ingredients for the Flourish kitchen. Enjoy a hearty meal to warm you up as the weather gets colder, join our pottery team on some spooky-themed pottery handbuilding workshops and shop for the best of the season in the Foodhall.

BOOKS OF THE MONTH

As Keynsham Library celebrates its 10th birthday in its current building, the books reviewed here were all published in or around 2014.

Adult Fiction

All The Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

I absolutely loved this book. The story, during the Second World War, is excellent and was made into a Netflix drama recently.

The main characters are Marie-Laure, a blind girl who lives in her great-uncle’s house on the island of St Malo, and a German boy, Werner Pfenning, an expert in radio.

Their stories are told in parallel until the Nazi invasion of St Malo and the battle with the Allies in 1944, when they finally meet.

There is a beautiful description of the model of St Malo that MarieLaure uses as a guide, constructed by her father, which may contain a clue to the location of a large diamond, the Sea of Flames, and the story becomes a race to find it as the Allies bomb the island. Can the pair survive the war?

This has become a firm book group favourite.

Mr Mercedes

Stephen King

I have been a fan of Stephen King since my twenties when I read his horror stories, but this story

and the subsequent trilogy are detective fiction.

It starts when a Mercedes car is used to harm people at a job fair.

The main suspect, who calls himself Mr Mercedes, contacts, and at times taunts, retired cop Bill Hodges, who decides to bring him to justice.

He is joined by his neighbour Jerome and Holly, a relative of the original owner of the Mercedes car, who is murdered by the suspect. They eventually track down the culprit and race to stop him committing another attack.

A great read, fast paced with lots of twists and turns, and last year Stephen King published a new book - Holly - following on from the main character here – it is on my book list!

The Fault in Our Stars

John Green

In 2014 this popular Young Adult story was made into film and was a huge hit.

The story is told by Hazel Lancaster, a 16-year-old who is diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

She is forced by her parents to attend a support group, where she meets Augustus, who is in remission but became an amputee due his illness. They bond over

books, especially those written by a Dutch author, Peter van Houten. They visit the author in Amsterdam to see if he can explain the ending of one of his books, and a relationship develops between them.

This is a heartbreaking tale but beautifully written and definitely for readers over 15.

The Paying Guests

Sarah Waters

This book was named Fiction Book of the Year by the Sunday Times and showcases Sarah Water’s brilliant storytelling. As a historical fiction fan, I enjoyed the detail of grimy 1920s London.

It is 1922 in Camberwell, London, and spinster Frances and her slightly snobbish mother Mrs Wray have fallen on hard times. Frances’s brother and father have died and this has left the family with debts. So they reluctantly have to take in lodgers.

Enter Lilian and Leonard Barber, who are “clerk class”. The couple turn the household upside down with their colour, fun and a gramophone. But soon dangerous

passions are stirred for Frances and the story turns quite dark.

A real treat of a story that is atmospheric and gripping.

Children’s Fiction Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck

Jeff Kinney

Although published in 2013, this would have turned up in any library by 2014who does not love a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book?

Greg appears to have hapless parents and crazy friends. This story centres on the Easter holidays and a dreaded Easter egg hunt with all the family and a falling-out with his friend Rowley. Can Greg and Rowley survive the argument and then locate Meemaw’s diamond ring? Read on!

Library news

As we celebrate our 10th birthday this month, look out for all the amazing activities happening in Keynsham Library, including a children’s storytime with the Victoria Art Gallery and a story with a mermaid.

On Friday October 25, there will be an exhibition of Keynsham Library past, present and future, with some wonderful photos kindly provided by Keynsham & Saltford Local History Society, in The Space, which also celebrates its 10th birthday.

with Judith Thomas from Keynsham Library

n KEYNSHAM IN BLOOM

Keeping our town beautiful

AUTUMN is with us and hopefully this warm weather will continue and give our plants a longer flowering season and cheer our little town.

The containers either side of St John’s Church are full of colour and only need the occasional deadheading to keep them looking lovely. The blue Calibrachoa or Million Bells have been very successful and are easy to look after.

Work is still progressing at The Triangle opposite Poundland and, as with all gardening projects, little and often is the way to go.

Our volunteers met at 8am one recent Sunday and, after one hour, had filled two bags

with weeds. Willing hands make light work.

Keynsham in Bloom have started to tidy the wooden troughs in the High Street and we will add some bulbs for spring colour.

The containers at Queens Road, Holmoak and Chandag shops are now planted with alpines and are well tended.

The Crown in the Memorial Park continues to flourish and is a joy.

Work removing the geraniums at the Pocket Park is now complete and less invasive and insect-friendly plants are being added over the next few weeks while the soil is still warm.

Keynsham Station continues to look

beautiful thanks to our volunteers who meet regularly to water, weed and deadhead. Such a picture and a big thank-you to everyone who contributes.

If you would like to join our merry band and can spare the occasional hour, please contact me via email catherinemarywoodman@gmail. com or pop into Keynsham Town Council in Temple Street with your details.

I would like to thank all who often donate plants from their gardens for our projects. Keynsham in Bloom is very grateful to you all. Keep well, safe and gardening.

Mary Woodman

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Hard at work in the Triangle flowerbed

A container outside St John’s Church

The Pocket Park is getting more insect-friendly plants

School’s run is lots of fun

MARKSBURY School’s inaugural Colour Run & Brunch raised more than £500 to support the school’s PTA and to fund trips for all children throughout the year.

The day began with a community brunch with home-baked treats donated by parents and supporters.

Participants then moved to the local farmer’s field, rented to the school for sports, to join in the Colour Run. Children and parents ran through a vibrant course, while showered with brightly coloured powdered paint.

A school spokesperson said: “We couldn’t have asked for a better turnout.”

Donations can still be made via the school’s JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/marksburycolourrun

ADVERTISING FEATURE

CHANGING FOR THE BETTER Insulate to keep the heat out

A LOT of people are saying we didn’t really have a summer this year. Despite the odd warm day, it was marked by clouds, rain and chilly mornings. In fact, this summer was only a little bit cooler than usual, with average rainfall.

Some might point to this as evidence that climate change isn’t affecting our weather. Unfortunately, that’s just not true, and there are two key facts that underpin this.

Firstly, pretty much the rest of the world saw blistering heatwaves that shattered previous records. And secondly, longer-term UK temperature graphs show that the trend is inexorably going up. There will always be dips along the way, but these cool summers are becoming less frequent.

Just as summers are getting hotter, winters will get milder. Again, we might get the odd freezing winter – especially if it’s affected by a strong El Nino – but the overall trend is warmer and wetter.

With this trend in mind, government initiatives to make our homes more energy efficient should focus on keeping them cool as much as keeping them warm.

As summers become hotter, our badly insulated homes, often

Veg variety is good for you

THE Community Farm, based just south of Bristol, has looked at the impact of buying four of their all-British veg boxes and found a multitude of benefits.

Firstly, they found they contained 26 different vegetables, encouraging people to cook with a huge variety of produce.

Recent scientific research suggests that eating a variety of plants is key to better overall health: greater resilience to withstand infections, better digestion, and better brain function.

The latest health advice is to eat 30 different plants a week, including seeds, nuts, grains and spices, alongside fruit AND veg. Getting a veg box is a great way to get more diversity in your diet.

They also found that more than 75 local people benefited from growing the crops, including volunteers, refugees and asylum seekers, and people suffering with mental ill health.

It wasn’t just people who benefited either, with on average 30% more biodiversity on organic farms. With farmland making up 70% of land in the UK and one in 10 of Britain’s wildlife species facing extinction, this really does matter.

To celebrate these findings, The Community Farm are offering new customers 10% off their orders for a whole year, when they buy four veg boxes in four weeks. They want more people to reignite their love of cooking and unearth the benefits of organic produce. Find out more at thecommunityfarm.co.uk

south-facing with big windows, become greenhouses. Unlike in the Mediterranean, we have no vernacular architecture that shuts the sun out. This needs to change, and urgently.

A 2019 study found the most effective measures for houses to be resilient against heatwaves is external shutters. Yet the UK persists in fitting windows that open outwards, meaning shutters won’t work. Building regs need to change to address this.

Shutters aren’t the only way to keep houses cool. Good insulation (walls, roof, windows, doors) are as effective in a heatwave as a cold snap. There are lots of other great ways to make homes more energy efficient – some tried and tested, others new technology.

This October, B&NES annual Green Homes event sees homeowners open their doors to visitors across the area. They let you see energy efficiency measures in the real world in houses just like yours.

Why not check out the website and go and visit a few? You never know, you might even find one with shutters! https://greenopenhomesbanes.org/ about/

Elizabeth Willitts

n WHAT'S ON

Sunday October 6

n Chit-chat Craft Fair, Marksbury Village Hall, BA2 9HN, 10.30am–2pm, free entry. Wide range of gifts, tea/coffee and scrumptious cakes.

Friday October 11

n “The Last Sunset in the West” wildlife talk. Keynsham Baptist Church Hall, BS31 1DS, 7.30pm. Avon Wildlife Trust members £3.50, non-members £4.50, to include refreshments served at 7.15pm. All welcome, no booking required.

Monday October 14

n Messy Church at Keynsham Methodist Church, Queens Road, BS31 2NN, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, with our usual mix of craft activities, Bible Story, songs, food and fun. The theme for this month is ‘House on the Rock’. Please book your place (to help us with catering) with the church office on 0117 9149408 or bookings@ keynshammethodistchurch.co.uk. Looking forward to seeing you.

Saturday October 19

n Farmborough Craft & Gift Fayre, Memorial Hall, BA2 0AH, 10.30am3pm, entry £1, children free. Wide range of gifts, refreshments available throughout the day.

Friday October 25

n Trio Paradis - Jacquelyn Bevan (piano), Lisa Betteridge (violin) and Linda Stocks (cello) - play a café concert called Money, Money, Money at St John’s Church Hall, Keynsham, at 1pm (café from 12.15pm). Concerts last about 45 mins and attendance is by pay-what-you-feel donation. More information is available at www. trioparadis.com and Facebook @ trioparadisbath.

Friday November 29

n Trio Paradis play a café concert called A December Evening at St John’s Church Hall, Keynsham, at 1pm - café from 12.15pm (more details about the monthly concerts in the item above).

REGULAR EVENTS

Mondays

n Tai Chi Shibashi 11am-12 noon. Gentle flowing movements for physical health and emotional wellbeing. Easy to learn and a joy to do. All ages and abilities. Saltford Hall BS31 1DS. Contact Ruth on ruth.hartley6@icloud.com or 07912 077458.

Email us at: news@keynshamvoice.co.uk or call us on 0117 908 2121/ 07715 770448

n Saltford Whist Club, Saltford Hall. Monday afternoons 1.30pm-4pm. Contact Malcolm 01225 872555.

n The Royal British Legion Women’s Section Keynsham Branch meets on the first Monday of each month upstairs at the RBL Club, Charlton Road, Keynsham, BS31 2JA, 7.30pm. Occasional speakers, social events and outings.

n Keynsham Brass Band, Broadlands School, St Francis Road, Keynsham, 7.30pm to 9.30pm term time. Trombonists particularly needed for traditional brass band. Friendly, relaxed group who play at summer fetes in Keynsham Memorial Park and a few concerts. Please call Sarah Medley on 0117 4625626 or email sarah.medley1@btinternet.com, or see the Facebook page or webpage (Keynsham Brass Band).

n Keynsham Bridge Club can now welcome new experienced players to our Monday evening sessions. Contact Pat 01275 835583 or Diane 0117 9861267.

n Key Voices Community Choir meets Mondays at 7.30pm at St. Dunstan’s Church Hall, BS31 2BQ (or third Monday of month at Royal British Legion). We sing a wide range of music, with occasional performances and social events. We are a friendly non-auditioned choir, all are welcome. First session free to newcomers.

Mondays/Weds/Thursdays

n The Victoria Centre of the Methodist Church in Keynsham High Street is open from 10am to 12pm for coffee, biscuits and a chat. A great place to meet people, so pop in - you will be most welcome..

Mondays/Thursdays

n Yoga For Men

Monday 7-8pm, mixed ability, St John’s Church of England School, BS31 2NB Thursday 7.30-8.30pm, mixed ability, Two Rivers School, Hygge Park, BS31 1GE Free 1st class, £8 thereafter. Loyalty card. Drop in and pay on the night. Cash or contactless. See www.yogadad.co.uk for further details.

Mondays/Fridays

n Butterflies Haven, charity for families of children with autism, sessions Mondays 7pm-8pm for ages 11-18 and Fridays 5.45pm6.45pm or 7pm-8pm for ages 4-11, at St Francis Church, Warwick Road, Keynsham, BS31 2PW. A safe place for children to be themselves, supported by volunteers. Sessions must be booked in advance. For more information, email info@butterflies-haven.com.

Mondays/Fridays/Sundays

n Indoor rowing exercise classes, Mon 7pm, Fri 5pm and Sun 10.15am, Saltford Rowing Centre, Bath Road, BS31 3JS. Go Row Indoor caters for people of all ages and levels of fitness. Classes last 45 minutes using rowing machines. First class is free, then £5 (or £18pm). Email gorowindoor@ avoncountyrowingclub.org.uk to book. More details at http:// avoncountyrowingclub.org.uk/ Tuesdays

n Keynsham Sequence Dance Club, 7.30pm-10pm, Fear Hall, Keynsham, every Tuesday. Contact Brian and Jo, Keynsham Sequence Dance Club, on 0117 9868540, or just turn up. Everyone welcome.

n Keynsham Girls’ Brigade for girls aged 4 to 15 meet during term time from 6pm to 7.30pm at the Key Centre, Charlton Road, Keynsham. Contact Linda on lindachrisp@hotmail.com

n St Keyna Townswomen’s Guild meets at the Fear Hall, Keynsham, from 10am to 12pm on the second Tuesday of each month.

voice choir of singers from across the Chew Valley and beyond. We sing classical choral music from the Renaissance to the 21st century with performances (often in St Johns, Keynsham) in November/ December and April/May.Details: https://www.chewvalleychoral. org.uk

n Badminton - friendly, beginners and improvers, mixed, adult (18 - 80!) group play every Tuesday 10am-12 noon at Keynsham Leisure Centre. Ring Clive 0117 9866793 or just turn up.

Wednesdays

n Keynsham’s popular Good Afternoon Community Choir from 2pm-4pm at Keynsham Methodist Church / Victoria Centre. NO auditions and NO charge to attend your first ‘meet us’ rehearsal. Everyone welcome www.goodafternoonchoir.org

n Oldland Ukulele Club is a mixedability group who meet every Wednesday at 1.30pm at Oldland Common United Reformed Church (the blue church), High Street, Oldland Common, BS30 9QN. All abilities welcomed to this friendly club. Places are £4 each. Call/text ‘Ukulele’ Ben on 07910 668258.

Wednesdays/Thursdays

n Walking Tennis coached sessions at Saltford Tennis Club. Wednesday 10am for 45 minutes for the active and Thursday 10.45am for People with Parkinson’s. Cost £5 per session. Racquets and balls provided and stay on for a cuppa and chat afterwards. if you are interested do come along to a session.

Thursdays

n Midweek worship at the Keynsham Methodist Church coffee morning (Victoria Centre, BS31 2JA). Join us for a relaxed short service at 11am. Take a short break from your hectic day and enjoy the informal atmosphere. n ASP Poetry Circle, free entry, every third Thursday of each month, 11am-12pm, Keynsham Library, upstairs balcony, diagonally across from table in corner, by the window. Bring two or three poems, own or another poet’s, to share. https:// asppoetrycircle.wordpress.com/ We would love to publicise your event Send details of your events and activities in the following format:

n Chew Valley Choral Society rehearses in Bishop Sutton Village Hall, BS39 5XQ, 7.30pm- 9.30pm, from September to May. We are a friendly non-auditioned mixed-

n WHAT'S ON KEYNSHAM SCOUTS

n Keynsham & Saltford Dementia Action Alliance runs Music for the Mind sessions for people living with dementia and their carers. St Dunstan’s Church Hall, Keynsham, 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, 10.30am-12.15pm. Singing and gentle exercises from 11am. No charge. www.keynshamdaa. co.uk, ksdaa22@gmail.com or 07392442966.

n Longwell Green Orchestra meet each Thursday at Longwell Green Community Centre, 7.30pm to 9.40pm. We have players of all abilities. Email Contact@ longwellgreenorchestra.org.uk or 07972 844073 beforehand to tell us what instrument and what level.

n Mat Pilates Classes

Taught by Physiotherapist Kate Thurs 7-7.55pm (intermediate) Thurs 8-8.55pm (beginners)

St Francis Church, Warwick Rd, Keynsham. 6 week block of classes £54. You are welcome to do a trial class first £10. 1:1 sessions also available at my studio in Saltford.

Book online or by contacting Kate - 07454 047536, www.corerehab-physio.co.uk

Fridays

n NEW Pilates Class

Fridays 10.30am

St Francis Church Hall, Warwick Rd, Keynsham.

Mixed ability level, beginners welcome.

6 week block of classes £54. Trial class £10.

Book online or by contacting Kate 07454 047536 www.corerehab-physio.co.uk.

n Café Plus at Keynsham Methodist Church (Queens Road, BS31 2NN) during term time. Come and share breakfast, chat and a place to chill and relax, from 8.45 am.

Saturdays

n Volunteers at Keynsham Repair Cafe – a free monthly repair event, with a café, at Keynsham Baptist Church on the High Street – help to fix your everyday household things like toasters and lamps, sew a button onto a jacket, glue a handle back onto a mug, as well as more unusual items. Every second Saturday (same as Keynsham Farmers Market), 10am–12pm. Website keynshamrepaircafe. wixsite.com/home.

n Keynsham Sequence Dance Club Monthly Dance, 7.30pm to 10.30pm, Fear Hall, Keynsham, third Saturday of the month. Contact Brian and Jo, Keynsham Sequence Dance Club, on 01179868540 or just turn up. Refreshments (coffee/tea and biscuits), £5 each.

Sundays

n Keynsham Kings Flag American Football. Do you fancy trying out a new sport? Do you love the NFL? Flag American football is taking the UK by storm as a fastpaced, non-contact version of American football. Training: Sundays 10.30am-1pm, Manor Road Playing Fields. Mixed sport - anyone 16 yearsplus welcome. No previous experience needed. Contact us for more info on the Keynsham Kings Facebook or Instagram pages.

Apple Day family fun

FARMBOROUGH Shop and Café is celebrating local produce with the return of the Big Family Apple Day on Sunday September 29, 11am-3pm.

Tim and Jackie of the Tiny Welly Boot Alcoholery will bring their giant apple press, which attendees can use to press apples and pears. A small charge will apply for pressing to cover running costs, and visitors must bring suitable containers to take their juice and pulp home.

Visitors to the communityrun shop can watch the pressing, play free family games and find out how cider is made. For more information, visit www. farmboroughshop.co.uk

l Pictured,community shop chairman Mark Swabey with Jackie of the Tiny Welly Boot Alcoholery. Photo: Sam Ross

How you can help the young get skills for life

HAVE you ever thought about volunteering in your community but did not know where to start, worried you did not have skills?

There could be many reasons why you have not taken the plunge – so let us help you.

l Keynsham Scouts have 300 young people a week that pass through their own centre HQ.

l Our waiting lists vastly exceed the places we have available.

l We have facilities such as the HQ and our camp site that simply scream for activity.

l We seek more adults due to our success and to give more young people an opportunity.

There are lots of ways you can get involved - from helping occasionally, joining one of our volunteer leader teams, playing a vital role behind the scenes, to stepping up as a regular volunteer.

You shape what you do and the time you can give. Scouting happens when a lot of us give a little (and no, you don’t have to be a Scout or outdoors expert).

Volunteering can be a brilliant way to boost your mental

wellbeing. It’s a great feeling knowing you’re helping young people to get skills for life, and you might even learn a lot about yourself along the way.

We’ll guide you to an opportunity where you’ll:

l Make friends and meet people

l Try new things

l Get outdoors and get stuck in

l Positively impact your community

l Make memories to last a lifetime

Whether you’d like to be an activity planner, tea-maker or craft creator, we appreciate any time you can spare.

You can expect a warm welcome, flexibility to get involved in a way that works for you, easy access to training and resources online, and friendly ongoing support from volunteers.

Speak to a leader or email scouts@1stkeynshamscouts.org.uk and we will be happy to chat about you and what you might like to do. Email scouts@1stkeynshamscouts. org.uk or pop in if you see the lights are on at the Scout HQ in Ashton Way.

High adventure in Copenhagen

MEMBERS from Saltford Scouts’ Mercury Explorer Scout Unit and Argus Explorer Scout Unit spent seven days of their summer holidays on an adventure in Denmark.

The trip started with a flight from Bristol to Copenhagen, a metro ride to the city centre and a short walk to our accommodation.

Members visited Tivoli Garden and Theme Park, went wakeboarding, took part in several team challenges, headed to the beach and took park in the highest indoor high ropes course in the world – it’s the height of Bath Abbey!

On the last evening, members met a group of Danish Explorers to play challenges and games and discuss Scouting differences

between countries. A total of eight UK Explorers were invested into their respective units in the presence of the Danish Explorers and their Leaders.

While the Saltford group were away, it was announced that Denmark is to host the 27th World Scout Jamboree in 2031.

A massive thank-you to the Explorers and Leaders for making this such a fantastic experience.

l None of the above can happen without adult volunteers. There’s a role for everyone - tea makers, minibus drivers, accountants, fundraisers … the list goes on. To find out more, email argusesu@gmail.com

REMOVALS

Should you need to store items, Wild & Lye Removals are able to offer you a variety of Secure & Confidential storage facilities to suit your household or commercial storage requirements, from single boxes to entire households or office contents. Whilst your goods are in storage, they are placed in our secure and alarmed warehouse .

We offer this service at great prices, Our friendly, trustworthy and professional staff will surely be able to cater to your every need.

Wild and Lye comprises of a team of fully trained moving staff who are at hand to make sure that your move goes without a hitch. We have many years experience in the removal business and pride ourselves in offering a fantastic service to every client. Our professional removals team will take care of your every requirement from securely packing your goods, transporting your items to the required destination and then delicately unpacking all your valuables at your desired location.

Please call to discuss your requirements and competitive rates

Packing materials available for purchase prices available on request

KEYNSHAM £1,500,000

Uplands Farmhouse on the Wellsway is offered to the market following over 20 years in the current ownership.

The property is an attractive stonebuilt 17th century period farmhouse which is Grade II Listed and offers extensive accommodation across three floors. It would make a superb large family home, or both a home and business (subject to any necessary consents). In recent years the property has been a thriving bed-and-breakfast.

The property was refurbished at the time of the current owners’ purchase in 2002 but would now benefit from further investment.

The accommodation is approached through an impressive central hallway with a staircase, and doors leading to three main reception rooms, as well as a large kitchen/breakfast room with bespoke wood units and cream Aga.

Towards the rear of the property is an inner hallway leading to what could be a further reception room, which is presently used as a bedroom, with en-suite shower room as well as a laundry and separate shower room.

Arrange your viewing with Davies & Way

Residential Property and Management Specialists

Assured Property Rentals Limited is an award winning independent property Letting & Management Company. Based in Keynsham covering Bristol to Bath and Bradley Stoke to Pensford. We have thirty years experience of letting and managing property in this location with a professional dedicated team, working together to provide our client Landlords a service that provides the maximum rental income and maintaining the property at its best affordable condition, all at a cost you can afford. We endeavour at all times to provide the most suitable tenants with a property that they can well afford, selected from our global marketing management.

Call into the office any time to speak Peter or Paul for friendly advice or valuation.

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KEYNSHAM BOWLING CLUB

Gripping finale to a great season

AFTER the success of Keynsham Bowling Club’s men’s A and C teams in winning promotion in the Thursday night Bristol and District League - as reported last month - there is more good news for the club, now that competitions have finished.

Our ladies compete in the North Somerset Ladies League, fielding two teams – the Reds and the Whites. The Reds finished top of the league but unfortunately, with the low number of ladies’ teams in the area, there is no higher division to be promoted to. With 40 ladies signed on, captain Lynne Pearce says they hope to field two sides again in 2025.

In the Somerset County League, which plays on a Saturday, our men’s B team required just one point from their final game to win promotion from East 2 division to East 1, to join our A team next season.

Captain Barrie Davis led his team on the

home green against St Anne’s Park, who were runaway leaders. We could only be caught by Knowle, but they dropped points while we picked up the one point needed.

Our Friday men’s triples side finished second in a league of 12, missing out on a few shots to St Anne’s Park. They then travelled to St Anne’s Park, who were hosting the cup final against Severnvale.

The result came down to the last of the 324 woods bowled, when the Severnvale skip needed one shot to tie the game. But he bowled short, and victory for Keynsham was assured, with a final score of 42 to 41 shots. Our picture shows our victorious team.

As the competitive leagues finished, just over 20 of our men travelled to Bournemouth for the annual tour. They took the Pig, a money box to collect money for the captains’ charity, and came home with £250.

We had the privilege of hosting a men’s county game between Somerset and Worcestershire, and the fine weather ensured a good turnout.

The first weekend in September was our finals weekend, and our picture shows our ladies’ and gents’ champions - Maggie Davies and Paul Matthews.

Other winners were: ladies handicap

Margaret Bevan; ladies pairs Maggie Davies and Jane Coles; ladies triples Marlene Tidy, Christine Crabbe and Jennie Crockford; mixed pairs Brian and Lynne Pearce; men’s triples Ken Gaull, Steve Palfrey and Geoff Yorath; men’s pairs Paul Matthews and Bernie Crabbe; men’s two wood Ken Gaull; men’s plate Martin Moore; men’s handicap Paul Matthews; over 70s Bob Payne; Australian pairs Paul Matthews and Jason Potgieter.

Mike Barrow

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STOCKWOOD VALE GOLF CLUB

Double delight as club makes history

For the first time in its history, Stockwood Vale Golf Club has won the Somerset Rose Bowl, an annual men’s inter-club team knockout competition.

What’s more, Stockwood ladies won the Somerset Rogers Cup the week before, again the first time Stockwood has won this trophy - an amazing double as no other Somerset golf club has won both these trophies in the same year.

The Rogers Cup is the best of seven singles matches and to reach their final, Stockwood Vale overcame some tough opposition in Saltford, Cricket St Thomas and Clevedon golf clubs.

All matches are played at neutral golf courses and the semi-final, at The Mendip Golf Club against Clevedon, needed two attempts to complete it as the first game was abandoned due to fog.

KEYNSHAM TOWN

The victorious Stockwood Vale men (back row) Will Inglis, John Gray, Rob Martin, Andy Inglis; (middle row) Steve Snailham, Ian Mason (club captain), Martin Rosenthal, Dan Beswetherick, and Alex Georgiou and Sam Hughes, the two club professionals from Stockwood who came along to support the team; (front row) Jeff Player (captain, with trophy) and Morf Bray

The final against Taunton and Pickeridge (last year’s runners-up) was held at Bath Golf Club. Stockwood won 5-2, with only one match going as far as the 17th.

A Somerset Bowl match is the best of five games of foursomes, with 10 players on each team. Stockwood Vale has usually been knocked out in the early rounds.

To reach their final, the Stockwood Vale men had to get past Mendip Spring, Burnham & Berrow and Cricket St Thomas, all with a 4-1 scoreline.

The semi-final against The Mendip Golf Club was played at Tall Pines golf course and was hotly contested. The first four matches were split 2-2 so the tie was decided by the last match, which was secured by Stockwood 2&1 with a birdie on the 17th.

Promising progress

KEYNSHAM Town’s young first team continue to pick up points in the Jewson Western League Division One matches.

Recent 1-1 and 2-2 draws away at Odd Down and Devizes and an earlier 2-1 win at Radstock see the young side in a fairly comfortable 16th place in the league table.

They were due to continue their league programme at home at the AJN Stadium on Tuesday September 24 against Avonmouth, then on Saturday October 5 versus Warminster Town, finishing the month on October 19 and 26 against Shirehampton and Bradford Town respectively, all at 3pm.

The Reserves will hope to build on their mid-table position when they return to the AJN Stadium, after a series of away games, to play Clutton on October 12 at 3pm (their only home match that month).

Buoyed by their recent 4-1 cup success against Bristol Rovers, Keynsham Town Ladies were due to play them again at home (Thursday September 26, 7.45pm) in the league. Their next Sunday home match is then October 27 (2pm) versus Bridgwater United.

The Under-18s men side have a break from league matches when they meet Brislington from the Premier Division of the Western Counties Youth Floodlight League, in a very local derby in the Roger Stone Memorial Cup on Thursday October 8, 7.45pm. On October 15, Bristol Manor Farm visit the AJN Stadium for a league encounter.

Mike Slucutt

The final against Brean Golf Club was hosted by Clevedon Golf Club. This was also a tight contest, with Brean taking the first two matches, leaving Stockwood needing to win the remaining three matches to become champions.

Matches three and four were both won by Stockwood by just a single hole, leaving all the players from both teams clustered round the 18th green waiting to see the outcome of the final match.

They didn’t see any golf as the four players walked up the 18th with their match having finished on the 16th green, with Stockwood’s John Gray and Dan Beswetherick having prevailed 3&2. Celebrations ensued in the bar, with team captain Jeff Player regularly caught staring into space with a disbelieving smile on his face.

BRISTOL BASEBALL CLUB

Heartbreak for the Badgers

IT was heartbreak for the Bristol Badgers, who lost a thrilling three-game BBF AAA national championship final 2-1 to Croydon Pirates at Farnham Park.

The Badgers – one of Bristol Baseball Club’s teams based at the Somerdale Pavilion in Keynsham - took the first game on Saturday 5-4 behind another stunning pitching performance from Alex Martinson. Although Croydon levelled the score in the next inning, another throwing error allowed Martinson to score and give Bristol the lead again.

A sacrifice fly by John Brownlee drove in Hollies to give the Badgers a two-run lead and despite another Croydon run, Martinson got the three outs in the final inning to grab the win.

Game two was equally tight with the Badgers taking a 3-2 lead at the end of the fourth inning. Croydon scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning through good base running and took advantage of a crucial Badgers fielding error to establish a lead the Bristol side couldn’t overcome.

With the series level, the teams battled

it out in the deciding third game. The Badgers moved into a 4-0 lead taking advantage of errant pitching and fielding errors in the first innings. In the third, a single by Michael Comport drove in Seyi Awofadeju and Brownlee, who scored from second with a dramatic slide at home plate after a throwing error. Tight Croydon pitching and fielding errors from the Badgers in the fourth and fifth innings allowed the Pirates to take a one-run lead, and two more runs in the sixth gave them a three-run lead heading to the last. Despite good contact with the bat, the Badgers were unable to make a dent in the Croydon lead.

In Hemel Hempstead, the Buccaneers took on Milton Keynes Bucks in the BBF A national championship playoffs. Despite a fightback from being 11-5 down, the Buccaneers fell just short, losing 12-10.

The two losses bring to an end a successful season for the club, with the Badgers, Bats and Buccaneers all making the national playoffs and the Brunels having their best ever season.

Sandra Ford of Somerset Ladies County Golf Association (third from left) presenting the trophy to Stockwood Vale ladies (left to right) Andrea Jordan, Mars Parker, Lynda Sage, Sue Skyrme, Sam Needle, Jackie Hallett (captain) and Jackie James

KEYNSHAM RUGBY GIRLS

Outlook is bright for promising players

KEYNSHAM Girls Rugby’s first game of the season was played in beautiful weather at home to South Bristol Girls.

It was the first time most of our girls had played under U14 laws, which meant an introduction to scrums, line-outs and competing on a full-sized pitch.

Our friendly opponents lent us players to enable a full 15-a-side game to take place, and it was a while before the summer cobwebs were dusted off for Keynsham.

South Bristol Girls showed their experience and depth of squad to dominate throughout

the match, but they did so with a humility and grace that was a pleasure to see. Keynsham kept their heads up throughout and were led well by captain Izzy Gurnsey, with all the girls finishing the game with smiles on their faces.

Izzy Penfold and Grace Maggs were not to be denied of a few tries, however, showing that there are chinks in every armour.

We are always seeking new players, so please give it a try. If your child is in years 6-11 at school, then come along to Keynsham RFC’s ground at Crown Fields, Bristol Road, on a Thursday evening 6.30-7.30pm.

FRY GIRLS FOOTBALL

Triathlon is a triumph

THE girls of Frys JFC under-11s have completed a triathlon to raise money for Children’s Hospice South West and the team.

They started with a mile swim at Keynsham Leisure Centre, which is 64 lengths. Then they ran to Avon Valley Railway at Bitton, a distance of about two miles, before cycling into Bath and back.

The inspiration bunch of 10-year-olds completed the challenge in about three hours.

They smashed their target of £1,500 and look likely to have raised more than £2,000.

Half the money will go to Children’s Hospice South West.

The triathlon was not the end of the day for the girls. It coincided with a big occasion for the Frys women’s team, who were playing their first game in the Women’s Gloucestershire County League.

It has taken Kelsey and the team two years to get this far, and the under-11s had the honour of being mascots for the women on this historic day for the club.

The women will be playing all home games at Somerdale Pavilion and will be free to watch, so please come and support them.

If you are interested in joining any of the teams at Frys, please call Mark on 07834 713 291.

Rugby Girls in action against South Bristol Girls

Photo: Grace Maggs

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Come and take the plunge!

KEYNSHAM Amateur Swimming Club (KASC) has enabled children and adults, from Keynsham and the surrounding area, to swim for more than 75 years.

We are a not-for-profit club, run by dedicated volunteers. Our passion is helping people aged 6 to over 80 fall in love with swimming while fostering a sense of community and lifelong friendships.

Regular free taster sessions are held for children aged 6 to 10 –book now for the next session, on Monday October 14, from 6.30pm at Keynsham leisure centre.

To sign up, please email Thea, our swim secretary, at thea.beament@hotmail.co.uk. Sessions must be booked in advance. All children are welcome, but we do ask that they can swim at least one length of front crawl and can give other strokes a try.

For those aged 10, we’d like to see them be able to swim a length of three different strokes without stopping.

Not sure if your child is ready? No problem! Come along and let them give it a go in a fun, supportive environment.

Our friendly and experienced coaches are here to help swimmers develop their skills, build confidence, and have fun along the way. We are a competitive club but also cater for those interested in fitness.

For adults, our Masters Club is ideal, whether you’re training to compete or just swimming for fitness. Many of our adult swimmers are training for other sports, and they’ve found that swimming is the perfect way to stay active without risking injury. For more information, email Thea at thea.beament@hotmail.co.uk

Keynsham

SALTFORD LAWN TENNIS CLUB

SALTORD LTC members Jane Kendrick and Joyce Pickard are part of a self-funded group who are travelling to Iringa School for Deaf in Tanzania to provide an audiology service.

The boarding school houses 120 students aged from seven to late teens, and the group’s mission is to help improve their education and quality of life by supplying donated and reconditioned digital hearing aids.

The group need to raise money to pay for the reconditioning and buy the materials needed to make individual ear moulds for the hearing aids.

Their visit to the school is part of the Neema Crafts Audiology Projects, which was started by Susie Hart in 2003.

The project started as an adult community

FRY’S BOWLING CLUB

A day at the races and a season’s finale

FRY’S brought a disappointing Bristol and District League season to a close with fellow strugglers Canford travelling to a sunny but windy Somerdale.

Fry’s went into the game in the relegation zone, 6 points behind

Cycle challenge participants Joyce Pickard, Julie Sampson and Emma Brooks

Boost for Tanzania mission

Tournament winners Gina Marchesi and Tom Griffith with runners-up Claire Pugh and Steve Bailey

initiative to help improve the quality of life for deaf and disabled people, who are marginalised because of the stigma in their community.

Susie initially trained three deaf young adults in paper-making. Now there are over 100 adults training or working in skills such as carpentry, weaving, sewing, hospitality, print-making, paper-making and business skills.

The group organised various fund-raising events and have surpassed their £4,000 target.

Saltford LTC were delighted to be involved in two of the events, the first being a charity tennis tournament in July.

The event started with a tennis cardio session, led by Sid Falconer, who is deaf. He trained at the famous Bollettieiri tennis academy

in Florida, playing with the likes of Andre Medvedev and Tommy Haas.

In the final, Gina Marchesi and Tom Griffith produced some excellent tennis to overcome the accomplished pairing of Claire Pugh and Steve Bailey.

The next event was a cycling challenge in September called “Ear to Hear”. Collectively the group cycled 310 miles, the distance the audiology team have to travel from Dar es Salam (where they land) to Iringa. Andy Brooks oversaw the event.

Jane, Joyce and the rest of the team are due to depart for Tanzania this month. If you would like to donate or find out more about the project, visit www.Neemacrafts.com

Canford, who still had a game in hand because the previous week’s game against Ardagh was suspended due to the weather.

Rink 1 stormed to a 20-shot lead in the first 7 ends. A slow start on rink 2 saw Canford grab a lead, with

rink 3 tight. Rink 2 got some shots back, and with a back-and-forth encounter, but Fry’s held the lead thanks to rink 1. Rink 1 continued to increase the lead, albeit at a slower rate, but a late surge from rink 3 dispelled any hopes Canford had of winning the game.

With the match sorted, attention turned to the rink points. With Fry’s taking 4 points from rink 1 and 3, Canford limited Fry’s scoring to 4 singles in the final 5 ends. This saw Canford take the final 2 points as Fry’s recorded a 58-36 win, which left Fry’s and Canford level on points and Fry’s ahead on shots difference.

The following week, Canford and Ardagh resumed their suspended match. Canford took a comfortable win, seeing Fry’s and Ardagh relegated to Division 3. Season record: Played 16, won 6, lost 10; shots for 713; shots against 839; shots difference, minus 126; points 57.

10-16; rink 3, 17-12; (8-2).

In the Friday Triples League, Fry’s had another good season, finishing in 5th place after the final week of the season was cancelled due to the weather.

Off the green, Fry’s social events included an Ascot-themed day in June (pictured above) and a summer barbeque In July, which was held along with an Australian Pairs competition.

With the summer season coming to an end, attention turns to green and clubhouse renovations, along with the anticipated short-mat sessions in the clubhouse.

For more information about Fry’s Bowling Club, visit our website frysbowlingclub.wixsite.com/frys, follow us on Twitter @FrysBowls or contact our secretary, Stephen Day - email frysbowlsclub@gmail.com, tel 01225 872959.

Scores: August 22: Fry’s 58-36 Canford - rink 1 31-8; rink 2,

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MyDeskin Carpentry

emma@keynshamvoice.co.uk TEL: 01179 082121

Tel: 01225 873587 or 07831 453821 • A wide range of

Saltford family run business for 70 years

Tel: 0117 9860485 or 07831 453821 www.agldrives.co.uk

CBCarpentry

Tel: 0117 9861652 or 0117 9117652

07747 131431 tomsroofingandmaintenance@yahoo.com