Keynshamvoice June 2013 by Emma Cooper

FREE EVERY MONTH for people and businesses in Keynsham & Saltford June, 2013 Issue 15

Beautiful inside and out See Homes & Gardens

www.keynshamvoice.co.uk Cooking with The Compton Inn, P36 | Shopping on the High Street, P43

Inside

Firm unveils £5.5m green energy plan P4 Family and friends mark Jack’s Day P6

Cyclists move hobby up a gear Growing club celebrates launch – Page 20

‘Single access road to site will not work’ Officers respond to Somerdale plan – See P3

Variety to hit right note at music festival P8 Sponsors step in to support pre-school P11 Letters... p18 What’s On.. p38 Books... p42 Puzzles... p46

Business of the month.. p47 Property... p49 Classifieds p53

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June, 2013

News Keynshamvoice contacts Emma Cooper Publisher

Joni Mann Editor

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

07887 561567 news@keynshamvoice.co.uk

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July deadline Our July edition will be going to print on July 1. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us by June 27. Advertisers are also asked to contact us by the same date.

Local information Council Connect 01225 39 40 41 Keynsham Town Council 15-17 Temple Street, Keynsham 0117 986 8683 www.keynsham-tc.gov.uk Keynsham Citizens Advice Bureau 0844 848 7919 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk

General inquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk Inquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999 Anti-social behaviour team asb@bathnes.gov.uk 01225 842462 NHS Direct 0845 46 47

Busy week as Scouts tackle projects The 1st Keynsham Scout Group and Keynsham Explorer Scout Unit will have had a busy week this week helping the community. The youngsters have been working in conjunction with Keynsham Town Council and supported by B&Q at Longwell Green to carry out various tasks as part of Community Week. Their projects included:  Keynsham Cemetery – clearing a bank and planting bulbs

 Chalfield Play Area – Painting the play equipment  Manor Road pavilion – Painting the doors and wood panelling  Keynsham Community Vegetable Plot - Weeding and planting up the plot in conjunction with Transition Keynsham  Painting benches and tables around the town The youngsters also gave the town a bit of a spring clean with some litter picking, too.

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 Keynsham 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 11,000 copies will be distributed around Keynsham, Saltford, Burnett, Chewton Keynsham, Compton Dando, Queen Charlton, Corston and Woollard.

Have your say... Every month there are opportunities for residents to meet with councillors, police and the local MP to raise any issues they may have. Here is a list of the events to be held this month.

 Saltford police beat ‘Have your Say’ meeting, June 17, at 7pm at Marksbury Village Hall

 Keynsham North/South Police beat area ‘Have your Say’ public meeting, at The Queens Road Methodist Church, Keynsham, June 18, at 7pm.

 Keynsham Town Council, Full Council, June 25, at 7.30pm, Council Chamber, 3rd Floor, North Block, Riverside Offices, Keynsham.

 Keynsham East police beat area ‘Have your Say’ public meeting, June 10, at 7pm at Wellsway School Sixth Form Block, Chandag Road, Keynsham

 Keynsham Town Council Planning and Development Committee, June 10, 7.30pm at Council Offices, 15-17 Temple Street, Keynsham

 Keynsham North and South beat surgeries, Saturday mornings, at Keynsham Baptist Church, High Street, 10amnoon. The surgeries are subject

to operational demands, so please call 0845 456 7000 to check availability beforehand.

Youngsters during last year’s community week of action

 Jacob Rees-Mogg surgery, Friday, June 14, 3pm, Keynsham. Call 0117 987 2313.  Jacob Rees-Mogg surgery, Saturday, July 27, 3pm Saltford

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‘Single access road to site will not work’ Highways officers have added their concerns to plans for a single access road to the Somerdale site, objecting to the proposals by Taylor Wimpey, which hopes to develop the former factory grounds with housing and employment. In an initial response to the plans submitted to B&NES Council, officers said a single access road “will not work” echoing concerns raised by councillors for the town. Their response stated: “We believe that modelling work carried out with the council, in respect of a single access to serve this development, demonstrates that a single point of access will not work and severe problems will result on the highway network in Keynsham.” They added that the junction design must take into account the access route to Keynsham Station and the effect of “drop-off” trips to the station on highway capacity. Councillors have said they plan to continue to put pressure on the developer and B&NES Council to provide a second access road. Councillor Charles Gerrish (Cons, Keynsham North) tabled a question on the matter at a Cabinet meeting last month and was told by the authority’s Cabinet member for homes and planning Councillor Tim Ball that a single access would not be deemed an acceptable solution that discus-

An artist’s impression of the Somerdale site sions were ongoing. Councillor Gerrish (Cons, Keynsham North) said: “The need for a second access road to the site is clear and Taylor Wimpey must listen to the concerns of local residents, who are best placed to understand the traffic issues in the area. “We have ensured that the council’s recently agreed Core Strategy development blueprint includes a second access as a requirement of the Somerdale development. I’m therefore pleased to see that B&NES is continuing discussions with Taylor Wimpey to resolve this issue. “Brian Simmons and I will continue to press both B&NES and Taylor Wimpey on the importance of this second access road.” Taylor Wimpey has put forward an outline application for up to 430 homes,a 60-bed care home, a primary school,medical facility and retail space. The bid also includes a detailed application for 157 homes, the change of use for a former factory block to accommodate up to 113 apartments, a new Fry Club and sports pitches and alterations to two other factory

blocks to provide employment in future. Members of the public can comment on the plans until June 26 – and so far only one objection has been made in which “grave concerns” are raised about traffic flow at the single entrance to the site from Station Road. The developer has said the junction will be traffic light-controlled and will provide emergency vehicle access routes. The plans can be viewed at www.bathnes.gov.uk.

Awards to mark start of festival The Saltford Festival will be kicked off on Saturday, June 8, from 10am with a celebration of community achievements. Saltford Parish Council will be handing out its Community Award certificates to winners with MP Jacob Rees-Mogg as part of the Saltford Community Association’s Open Morning at Saltford Hall, where many local organisations will be running stalls to raise awareness of their work. The winners of the festival’s Short Story Competition and the Photo Competition will also be announced during the awards presentation, which will begin at 11am. It is the start to a packed week-long programme of events as part of the Saltford Festival. Visit www.saltfordfestival.org.uk for more information on what’s on.

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News

Families to help hit £150k target

Firm unveils £5.5m

Keynsham families will be doing their bit towards a push to raise a massive £150,000 for charity when the town hosts a summer funday next month. On July 13, from noon-6pm, Keynsham Rugby Club will be the scene for It’s A Knockout-style tournaments featuring inflatables, water and plenty of foam. The day will be action-packed with human table football, archery, a giant games arena, Segways, bouncy castles and more, while the mayor of Bristol George Ferguson will be on hand to draw the winners in a giant raffle. The event is being organised by Bristol staff from corporate services firm Jordans, who are raising £150,000 for several charities this year. A family ticket costs £20 and for more information on getting involved or even entering an It’s A Knockout team, visit www. jordans150.com.

A composting firm near Keynsham has unveiled its £5.5 million plan to create a green energyy and education centre. Members of the public were invited to ReOrganics' Charlton Lane site during an open day on May 21 to take a look at the proposals and put questions to the team behind them. Under the plans, an anaerobic digestor would be built to take in 25,000 tonnes of left-over food a year to extract methane gas. This would then be burned to produce electricity to sell back the National Grid, while the heat produced would be used to dry out waste wood for biomass boilers. The combined process, said owner Angus Cunningham, would provide electricity for 2,500 homes and heat for another 2,500, with few per cent of the material taken in, mostly plastic, sent on to become fuel in energy-from-waste incinerators.

Mr Cunningham said it would help prove to big companies that going green is financially viable. He said: “There is no point running a green business on grants, it has to be viable so that the biggest companies realise they can harness their waste products.” The new education centre would open its doors to school children, university students and local groups, allowing them to see the anaerobic digestion (AD) process in action as well as providing a classroom to learn in. Mr Cunningham said the centre would aim to increase the understanding of what happens to waste, with youngsters who visit helping to spread the message. He said: “Someone takes our rubbish away and we don’t know

what happens to it. Those who see how it works and how it operates, especially children, will be inspired to think about what they throw away. This will not just be a place to process waste and produce energy but a place to be educated, too.” The company is also in the process of restoring land at the 35-acre site, formerly a quarry and concrete works, to fields to create natural habitats with walkways for visitors to the centre. The switch from composting to AD, according to the company, would not result in any increase in traffic to and from the site, which currently stands at three HGVs an hour. The entire process would also be enclosed, with lorries delivering waste through an air

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energy centre

Schools hosts open day and fair A Keynsham nursery is hoping to welcome lots of families through its doors when it holds an open morning on Friday, June 14, from 9.30am-11.30am. Teacher Tori Moore, at Little Gems in Monmouth Road, in a separate wing of St Keyna Primary School, said: “We’ve planned lots of fun activities based on the

work we’ve been doing this term around gardening, healthy eating and active play.” St Keyna will also be holding its summer fair the following day, June 15, from 1-4pm, with face painting, bouncy castle, coconut shy, hook a duck and a barbecue. Stalls are available for £10, email friendsofstkeyna@hotmail.com.

Left, an artist’s impression of the proposed green energy and education centre; right, architect Nicholas Stubbs and Angus Cunningham, owner of ReOrganics lock into the building where it is pasteurised and fed into tanks where methane gas is produced by natural processes. The company is submitting

the proposals to Bath and North East Somerset Council this month, and, if the plans are approved, hopes to be up to full gas production by 2015.

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Beware of ticks Late spring and early summer are peak times for tick bites with people and pets spending more and more time outdoors. Ticks can be found everywhere in the countryside, even in parks and your own garden. They are blood-sucking parasites that live in long grass, shrubs, and low-hanging branches of trees, where they wait for an animal to brush against them so that they can attach themselves and burrow into the skin. Once the tick has found a source of blood, they numb the area with special saliva before they bite the skin and suck up a small amount of blood. They require a blood meal each time to move through the adult life cycle. Having a tick attached may cause your pet local irritation, infection or allergic reaction. However, the main danger is that they carry all kinds of nasty diseases, including Lyme disease which causes symptoms including lameness, fever and fatigue and a condition which affects the immune systems. This can cause medical problems in humans as well as animals and the number of people affected by ticks has risen in recent years. To prevent problems from these ‘wee beasties’ there are several precautions you can take:  Check your pet all over, particularly around the head and neck area, for signs of ticks. They feel like little warts and are usually grey or orange in colour.  Use a special tick remover or see your vet - do not try to

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Jack inspires by Rosa Sherwood pull off an attached tick as part of its body may be left in the skin.  Check with your vet for the most effective treatment for your pet. There are spot-on treatments, sprays and a now a special collar that will repel ticks for up to eight months.  Do not use tick products formulated for dogs on cats, as they contain Permethrin which is extremely toxic to cats.  Keep garden grass and bushes trimmed and remove leaf litter Keynsham Veterinary Centre runs free nurse clinics for routine healthcare advice so, if you have any concerns about how do deal with these parasites, please call the practice on 0117 986 7700. If you mention this column, we will give you 10% off our recommended tick treatment this month (June 2013).

Family, friends and supporters came together in memory of Saltford teenager Jack Boulton for a day of sporting fun and fundraising. Jack’s Day was held at Saltford Sports Club, where an army of volunteers helped his parents Dave and June organise the event in aid of the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). Jack, a keen young sportsman and Wellsway pupil, died at the age of 17 in 2009 as a result

of sudden cardiac arrest – and his family and supporters have since raised £40,000 to highlight the condition and the need for screening. The event on May 25 saw a local derby football match between Keynsham Cricket Club and Saltford Football Club who battled it out to a 4-4 draw but Saltford eventually led their team to victory on penalties. Jack’s female friends then took to the pitch in a game that led to a friendly 1-1 draw with no penalties. The wind made its presence

The girls’ teams line up ahead of their friendly match at Jack’s Day at Saltford Sports Club on May 25

Isabel Evans BVMS MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon, Keynsham Veterinary Centre – part of the Highcroft Veterinary Group

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a day to remember

felt on the day, tearing off around one quarter of the sports club’s roof just hours before the event was due to begin but organisers and volunteers rallied around removing debris and fixing a leak so the event was unaffected, with a bouncy castle and barbecue going ahead as planned. A cake sale and T-shirt sale on the night also brought in extra funds while many local businesses offered their support by providing prizes for the raffle, which was followed by an auction. Bidding wars ensued for Olly Woodburn’s signed Bath Rugby shirt, a Bristol City shirt signed by Marcus Stewart and

Teams from Keynsham Cricket Club and Saltford Football Club, far left; left, Jack Boulton whose friends and family organised Jack’s Day

the big prize of the evening – an Audi A5 for the weekend, which fetched £400. In total through the raffle, auction, barbecue and sponsorship, £3,500 was raised – enough to provide at least 209 heart screenings to be held at Wellsway School next July, another step towards raising awareness and support for CRY. Jack’s father Dave will be cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats with a group of friends from June 29 on the CRYRide and is hoping to raise more than £10,000. To find out more and to donate, visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/cryride.

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June, 2013

News Festival Week Programme Monday, July 1

 Acoustic Music hosted by Keynsham’s Slap Face and the Hoagies, The Ship, 8pm, free

Tuesday, July 2

 Film: Playing for Change, Fear Hall, High Street, 7pm, free/donations  Acoustic Music hosted by Bristol’s Jelli Records, featuring some key local artists, The Ship, 8pm, free

Wednesday, July 3

 Brejeiro: Latin and Brazilian music, The Old Manor House, 7.30pm, tickets £6 and £5.  Timeout Acoustic Music: Young Keynsham and local bands playing unplugged, The Ship, 8pm, free

Thursday, July 4

 Opera In The Park, The Park Café from 7-9pm. Arrive on time for table seat, free/donations  Trad Jazz: The Panama Jazz Band, The Conservative Club, High Street, 8pm, tickets from club or town council office

Friday, July 5

 Satish Kumar: the main

tent, The Park, 6.30-9.30pm, tickets £6  Dursley Male Voice Choir, with Adam Purnell, classical guitar, St John’s Church, 7.30pm, tickets £7 and £5  Acoustic Music: Nathan Shepherd, The Talbot, 8.30pm, free  Film Under The Stars: Singalong Sister Act, The Park, 10pm, free/donations

Saturday, July 6

 The Gala Concert and Picnic in the Park: from 6.30pm Keynsham Orchestra, preceded by young Keynsham Musicians from the B&NES Music Centre, free/donations, ticket guarantees seat in marquee

Sunday, July 7

 The Big Day in the Park Details: www.keynshammusic festival.co.uk All tickets available from the Town Council Office, Temple Street, the High Street stall on Saturday, June 29, and in some cases from the venues. Full details at www.keynsham musicfestival.co.uk. Updates on Twitter and Facebook

Brejeiro, left, and Bell’aria performing at last year’s Festival Week

Variety to hit Organisers of Keynsham Music Festival say variety is the key to this year’s event, with a wider range of acts, side shows, stalls and activities to ensure there really is something to suit any taste. The Festival Week begins on Monday, July 1, with entertainment taking place every day at venues around the town in the run-up to the main event on Sunday, July 7. Chairman Richard Davison said: “We can’t go on saying that it’s bigger and better than ever before every year. But this year it is bigger in the sense of a genuine week-long festival – and it is better in the sense of the astounding quality of music on offer from local, national and international acts. And this comes in spite of a reduction in our usual sources of funding and sponsorship. “This year’s festival will truly rely on the generosity of the local people in ensuring it success and future. So there is, very intentionally, something for everybody, or as near as we can achieve such an aim, and a wider range of events than ever before.” A number of local groups will be involved for the first time this year, with the Keynsham Action Network organising its Live Simply event with eco-philosopher Satish Kumar and music from Soweto’s AfricaEntsha on the Friday night in the Park. Transition Keynsham will also be screening the film Playing for Change, in the Fear Hall on Tuesday, July 2, in which American producer and sound engineer

Mark Johnson seeks to bring together musicians from around the world to promote harmony and change for the better. Similarly, this year’s festival has a distinctly international flavour with acts from as far afield as Argentina, South Africa and Israel. If you live closer than that, however, local festival-goers will be able to hop onboard the Festival Train from Bath Spa on the Sunday and catch a performance from Glastonbury's Minor Works Unit on the way. Mr Davison

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the right note Left, enjoying the show at last year’s festival; far left, below, The Scribes, and top, Violentango, who will both perform at this year’s event said: “We have a new venue on wheels in the form of the Festival Train, bringing people in from Bath and beyond, thanks to First Great Western and the Severnside Rail Partnership. “Leave the car at home – because the Keynsham Music Festival is going to be as sustainable and environmentally friendly as it possible to be. And with the generous help of the Co-Op it’s

going to be as Fair Trade as it can be too.” The four stages – the Bandstand, Community Performance, Timeout and Top Stage - will return once more for the main event with the full programme available at www.keynshammusicfestival.co.uk. Events taking place during Festival Week are listed on p8, with more details also on the website.

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Youth and education

Group designs graffiti artwork There will be two design sessions with young people and graffiti artist Adam Yoell at Timeout drop-in centre on Monday, July 8 and 15, from 7-9pm, funded by Willmott Dixon. The project will see youngsters’ work displayed on hoardings at the Keynsham town centre regeneration site. The graffiti sessions will be held over three days on August 6, 7 and 8 at times to be confirmed. These are funded by Willmott Dixon and Keynsham Business Crime Reduction Partnership. A group of six to eight young people aged from 13 to 19 will be involved in the project. Contact Mark Willcox to get involved. Willmott Dixon is providing a safe area at the entrance to the site office for the young people, artist and youth worker to work on the project. The firm is also supplying four plywood boards (2.4 x 1.2m) to use for the graffiti designs. A spokesperson for Willmott Dixon said: “Willmott Dixon are excited about working with the young people of Keynsham on the graffiti project, promoting public artwork and the new town hall project collectively. It brings together the construction site and the young people in a positive engagement project that utilises the site resources to benefit young people.The artwork will be proudly displayed on the site hoardings near the car park, so please look out for it and enjoy.” Dave Dixon, chair of KBCRP, said: “We are delighted to be able to work in partnership with Keynsham Town Council and Willmott Dixon on this very exciting graffiti project. We hope that the young people of Keynsham will take full advantage of this opportunity to work with the town council’s youth team and we eagerly await the results.”

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Market inspires photo project On Saturday, May 11, local young people were at Keynsham Farmers’ Market capturing audio and visual portraits of the producers and customers for the Bath Fringe Festival. This is the third year that Keynsham young people and Keynsham Town Council have been involved in FAB. This initiative was in partnership with FAB, Fotonow, Keynsham Town Council Youth Service and Keynsham Farmers’ Market. The Bath Fringe Festival runs until June 9. Visit www.fringearts bath.co.uk.

Planning under way for festival

St John’s still ‘outstanding’ A Keynsham primary school has achieved its second “outstanding” rating from Ofsted following a visit from the schools watchdog. Staff, pupils, parents and governors at St John’s CofE Primary School, in Charlton Park, have all welcomed the results of an inspection carried out from April 30-May 1. Any concerns that tougher guidelines now being implemented by Ofsted might have reduced the chance of a second top result proved unfounded, with inspectors awarding the school “outstanding” in every category, including achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management. Teachers and teaching assistants were praised for lessons that were “exciting and full of interest

to capture pupils’ enthusiasm” with the school pursuing a “highly effective, creative and imaginative approach to education”. Pupils’ “exceptional progress” was also maintained in each year group, the report found. School leaders were said to form a “highly effective team with a clear plan for the school’s future” while pupils also came in for praise with the inspectors Sarah Jones and Michael Buist noting: “The behaviour of all pupils is outstanding, both in and outside the classroom. Pupils work hard and show interest and concern for one another. “They are very proud of the school and their achievements.” St John’s Primary School was last inspected by Ofsted in 2008 when it received an outstanding rating.

After the successful Youth Fest held on September 22 last year another event is planned for September 21, 2013. The aim of the event is to: • allow the many youth organisations of Keynsham to come together to show off their skills and talents. • raise awareness of positive opportunities available for young people to participate in. • promote the wide range of services and organisations that are available to young people. • provide a festival setting for young people. Youth Fest is funded by Keynsham Town Council. If you would like more information or to become involved, contact Mark Willcox, youth worker, on 0117 986 8683 or 07534 071466 or email youth worker@keynsham-tc.gov.uk

Keynsham Town Council Youth Service TimeOut Drop-In Centre, 1-2 River Terrace, Temple Street, Keynsham Call Mark Willcox on 0117 986 8683 or email youthworker@keynsham-tc.gov.uk Open drop-in sessions: Mondays and Thursdays, 7-9.30pm. Project nights: Wednesdays, 7-9pm. D Detached Work: Wednesdays and Thursdays 7-9.30pm

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Youth and education

Youngsters at Here We Grow Pre-School with supporters Ian McGill and Tony Gurnsey

Sponsors help secure future for pre-school Youngsters at a Saltford preschool have given a big cheer for their new sponsors, who both have a special connection with the group. Ian McGill, of IJ McGill Transport Ltd, is helping Here We Grow meet its rent bill while Tony Gurnsey has handed the group a cheque to invest in the future of the pre-school. Each of the supporters has a granddaughter attending the village pre-school, based at Saltford Hall, in Wedmore Road, and decided to step in to financially help the new nursery, which opened in September. Here We Grow founder Yvonne Goodall said: “What amazing support! I didn’t know people could be so kind and didn’t know how much Here We Grow was valued by parents. We’ve been able to start this term with confidence – numbers are increasing daily. “We’ve also been supported by the kind understanding of the venue, the committee of Saltford Hall, who know we are part of the community.

“The biggest thanks, though, go to the parents of all our children – their personal recommendations have been a huge help in attracting new youngsters. There’s nothing as valuable as word of mouth and I know that the honest opinion of existing parents is our best advertisement.” The pre-school has a number of events planned for the future, and will be taking part in the Saltford Festival on Wednesday, June 12, performing Rumble in the Jungle. On June 24 the group will be visiting Kingfisher Lodge care home in Saltford for a teddy bears’ picnic. Ms Goodall said: “We have formed very strong links with the care home, bringing both generations together.” Here We Grow is holding free taster sessions in July and families are urged to come along. To find out more about Here We Grow Pre-school, call 07564 751146 or visit www. herewegrownursery.com.

New app is a giant success! Complete Control is proud to have just released its latest mobile/tablet children's app – a charming interactive story of Jack and the Beanstalk, for TV channel Cartoonito. The Cartoonitos need your help in this exciting new adventure! The app features 15 entertaining and beautifully illustrated games as you help the Cartoonitos up the beanstalk to the Giant’s castle. Water the beans, climb the beanstalk, fly to the castle, get past the cat, dodge the Giant and grab your rewards! Make sure that you chop down the beanstalk before the Giant climbs down though! The app is designed for children aged 2-8 years old and features 15 individual games. These require skills such as matching shapes, recognizing symmetry and general problem solving. The app is not a story book and contains no text, so it’s suitable for

children all around the world! The app was released on the App Store last week and in the first week of launch was voted in the top best 20 iPhone Apps for children by the Guardian - so the whole Complete Control team is really pleased with the feedback the app is generating. We would also like to officially welcome Damian Vickery to the Complete Control team as our new production manager. Damian and his family have moved from London to settle in Keynsham, so what better than a special Keynshamvoice welcome!

Charity launches new youth group A Keynsham charity is launching a new youth club for children over 12 who are somewhere on the autistic spectrum. Butterflies-Haven is launching the group in September at @One, in St John’s Church, on Tuesdays from 7-8.30pm and organisers say they are expecting a high demand. Trisha Williams, founder of Butterflies-Haven, said: “There is a huge gap in provision for the older children/teens who are on the autistic spectrum. Socially they often find themselves very isolated and misunderstood and this can continue on into their

young adult life. ButterfliesHaven aims to fill this gap and bring these young people together so that they can make friends as well as have opportunities for one-on-one mentoring regarding the ongoing challenges they face that can become even more complex as they enter young adulthood.” Trisha also thanked Dan Crouch from @One and youth worker Stuart Rouse from Wansdyke Play Association for their support. To find out more, email butterflies.haven@hotmail.com or call 0117 329 0123.

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June, 2013

Youth and education Nursery takes care of dinner, too! Parents of youngsters at a Keynsham nursery tucked into takeaway while helping to support a good cause. Snapdragons Nursery served up a Chinese menu for families to enjoy at home while funds raised during the evening went to Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW). The nursery’s award-winning kitchen cooked up dishes including homemade spring rolls and beef in black bean sauce and is now planning a series of takeaway events inspired by different cuisines around the world. Snapdragons chose to support CHSW as one of its nursery nurses, Lizzy, is the daughter of the charity’s founders, Eddie and Jill Farwell. The takeaway event was the idea of nursery manager, Suzanne Hawkins, and the challenge was taken up by Snapdragons’ chef Raquel Kneeves, who was a finalist in last year’s Chef of the Year Awards run by NMT Magazine. Raquel said: “We wanted to

Amy Osborn and family pick up their takeaway from chef Raquel Kneeves do something special for this wonderful charity and, as our parents often comment on the amazing food we serve to the children, we knew they would jump at the chance to try some at home.”

School joins torch relay The legacy of the London 2012 Olympics is alive and well at Wellsway School, which was one of 18 schools chosen to take part in a torch relay last month. The Lead Your Generation Torch Relay is celebrating the efforts of the schools most engaged with last year’s Games and saw the torch transported to Keynsham from St Luke’s Sports and Science College in Exeter. The torch was handed to Wellsway’s nominated torch bearers, Year 8 pupils Millie Stanford and Seth Jenkins, in recognition of their commitment to the Wellsway Sports ambassador programme. As part of the celebrations, 56 primary school pupils from Chandag, Saltford, Marksbury and St John’s were invited to the secondary school to join an afternoon of games on the school’s track. A spokesperson said: “It was wonderful to see children of all ages and from different schools having fun working

together in teams and taking part in a mass torch relay around the school track allowing all pupils to experience running with the torch. The celebrations opened and closed with excellent musical contributions from Wellsway students and our thanks also go to Rosie Gyde, George Brown and Becca Sutton and to Stacy Hunt who all performed and helped to create a fantastic atmosphere." A group of 10 Wellsway Sports Ambassadors then took the torch on the next stage of the relay, making the trip to Kingdown School in Warminster.  Wellsway School welcomed Matt White, the assistant director of the National Curriculum Review Division from the Department for Education, on May 17 when he visited the design and technology team, took a tour and met students. Working with the James Dyson Foundation, Wellsway School is the Technology Education Leader in Keynsham and the surrounding area.

Torch bearers carry an Olympic torch at Wellsway School during the Lead Your Generation Torch Relay

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June, 2013

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Youth and education

Club’s training sessions get youngsters out on the pitch It’s been another successful season for football coaching sessions offered to youngsters on the autistic spectrum – and organisers hope even more children will get involved in September. Keynsham Town Football Club began offering Saturday morning training to youngsters from autism support charity Butterflies-Haven in 2011. Keynsham Town FC development officer Martin Coles said: “The first few weeks saw a small group of children arriving on the Broadlands grass pitches and sessions were put on, not really knowing what would be best to deliver in terms of learning and fun. The sessions developed week on week and after a few months, we had a regular band of attendees and session plans that really seemed to work.” The group moved on to training courts at the AJN Stadium at Keynsham Town FC for their second season last September. Training has been overseen by Paul Gitsham, Richard Smale, Nick Dewfall and Martin Coles with help from some of the club’s youth coaches and players, Kieron Govern, Joe Ryan, Louis Holmes, Lewis Morse, Louie Gitsham, Sam and Ben Sharp, while child welfare officer Maxine Sharp organised refreshments for parents and coaches. Trisha Williams, founder of Butterflies-Haven, said the charity was very grateful to the club for the opportunity it had

provided its young members. She said: “Our partnership with Keynsham Town Football Club has been a very positive one. This has allowed us to provide an opportunity for our children who otherwise would find being part of a team very daunting and has also opened up opportunities to improve social skills. “A child with an autistic spectrum disorder often struggles to follow instructions and understand the rules of a sport but many of them love the idea of outdoor sports, especially football, and this includes girls. “There is a great deal of appreciation to KTFC for giving their time so freely and wholeheartedly especially as the sessions have encouraged some very talented young players who might otherwise have been overlooked.” Mr Coles added: “The onehour sessions are full of fun and learning. Today, as we approach the end of another season, numbers have increased and we are hoping that when we start back in September, all will return and bring with them more children who want to be part of this great group of children. “We are always looking to increase our membership for these sessions and would welcome any new members with similar disabilities. This initiative expands on the club’s commitment as an FA Charter Standard Community Club.”

For more information on the sessions, email martincoles@ blueyonder.co.uk.

 One of the training sessions for youngsters from ButterfliesHaven at the AJN Stadium

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News

with Keynsham Town Council chairman Gill Hellier

‘Case stronger after refusal’ Campaigners fighting a bid to build up to 100 homes on green belt land in Saltford say a decision to recommend refusal of the proposals by B&NES councillors will strengthen their case – despite the decision being taken out of the authority’s hands. Developer Crest Nicholson is taking its proposals for the site off Manor Road to an independent planning inspector for a verdict on the grounds of “non-determination” by B&NES. An inquiry is due to be held in August. After the planning committee meeting, Councillor Mathew Blankley (Cons, Saltford) said: “This outcome has strengthened our case in calling on the planning inspector to reject this opportunistic application, by demonstrating that a democratic body has given a resounding ‘no’.”

Meanwhile, members of Saltford Environment Group have been putting together a case they plan to present to the inquiry. A spokesperson said: “While acknowledging the importance that the Government attaches to house building as a driver of national economic recovery, we will refer to the Government’s stated commitment to protect the green belt and make the case that green belt boundaries must be decided by local authorities as part of the democratic Local Plan process rather than by developers’ willingness and ability to build there. “Reference will also be made to villagers’ concerns about this inappropriate development and the Government’s policy statements on localism. Accordingly we will ask the inspector to dismiss the appeal.”

Summer has started, or at least we have seen a change in the temperature and more than two hours of sunshine! Artist Seamus Staunton has been appointed to create a piece of public art for the town centre redevelopment site. He will be leading walks in June to discover what Keynsham means to all the community. Details of the walks can be found on the town council website or on various notice boards around the town and places need to be booked for either event; this will give residents an opportunity to put forward their ideas to the artist.

The first sight of buildings on the site was a very exciting moment and I would like to thank Willmott Dixon for the care that they have taken in keeping the roads as mud free as possible. There is still time to enter Keynsham in Bloom and also volunteer to assist at the Music Festival on Sunday, July 7. There are tickets available for the variety of events during the previous week in various venues in the town and they can be obtained in the town council office or on the night in most cases – all musical tastes are catered for! Finally, I would like to welcome our two new town councillors, Carole Duckett and Dave Biddleston; we now have a full house!

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News Hundreds enjoy club’s first festival Plans are already under way at Keynsham Cricket Club for a beer and cider festival next year following the success of the first event held last month. Hundreds of people packed Keynsham Cricket Club's Wellsway ground over the May Bank Holiday weekend to sample dozens of real ales and ciders, all of which are brewed within 20 miles of the town. There was also live music provided by local bands and a barbecue, which organisers say did a roaring trade, thanks to the good weather on the day. Chairman Derek Joyce said: “This has probably been the most successful one-off event the club has ever staged. We are a real community club so it's great to see so many families on the ground, particularly those that

are visiting the club for the first time. I also want to thank the club members who volunteered on the day. Without them none of this would have been possible.”

Slimmers shed weight for cause A group of slimmers shed nearly 100 stone over six weeks, spurred on by the drive to raise money for a good cause. Members of Slimming World consultant Ann Rose’s five Keynsham groups took part in the Slim for Good challenge to lose weight and raise money through sponsorship for the charity The Compassionate Friends, which supports bereaved parents. The determined group lost 98 stone between them, with 10 people reaching their target weight during the six-week period, and raised £720. The cash will now go towards a tapestry banner featuring a butterfly to represent a lost child, which will be displayed in St John’s Church. Ann said: “This could not have been done without the help and support found at the groups. Here you will find a very friendly bunch of people all at different stages of their weight loss jour-

Keynsham residents are invited to take a walk with the artist who will be creating artwork for the new town centre. Seamus Staunton has been appointed to create an installation specifically for the town and residents can help shape ideas by showing him want Keynsham means to them on a “Walkie Talkie” tour. Two walks will be held this month – on Thursday, June 13, from 7-9pm, and Saturday, June 20, from 10am-12.30pm. The walks will start from the Key Centre at Keynsham Methodist Church, Charlton Road, with refreshments and a chat before residents lead the way to point out Keynsham's landmarks and any features that mean something to the community. Following the walk, everyone will return to the Key Centre to talk about the findings and their observations over a cup of tea. A spokesperson for Willis Newson, the Bristol-based arts consultancy overseeing the installation of the artwork, said: "We want to find out as much as

we can about Keynsham and its community in order to inform the ideas that are developing for artworks and arts projects linked to the town centre redevelopment." To book a free place go to: http://keynshamwalkietalkies. eventbrite.com. If you are unable to participate, ‘like’ the Facebook page and join the conversation at www.facebook.com/pages/Keynsham-Town-Centre-Public-ArtProgramme/522765964426453. Meanwhile the date for a second ‘open office’ event has been announced to give more people the chance to view the regeneration project from 100ft above inside the Riverside building. People who attend on Wednesday, June 26, at 6.30pm, will be given a short presentation and will get the chance to ask the contruction team questions. Numbers are limited to 30 and will be booked on a first come, first served basis. Light refreshments will be provided. People can email keynsham. site@willmottdixon.co.uk or can call 0117 986 8941.

Ann Rose hands over a cheque to Clare Hudson from The Compassionate Friends ney ready to share and celebrate each other’s successes and encourage and inspire through some of the more difficult times.” The groups meet every Thursday at Keynsham Baptist Church at 9am, 11am, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. To find out more about The Compassionate Friends, visit www.tcf.org. The charity runs a helpline on 0845 123 2304 where calls are always answered by a bereaved parent.

Homes scheme in running for award A project to rebuild 191 concrete homes in Keynsham and Bath has reached the finals of the Constructing Excellence awards run by the Chartered Institute of Building. Curo and affordable housing and regeneration specialist Lovell completed the

Join artist on walk and talk

scheme last year, replacing the defective homes with 275 modern properties. The project has been shortlisted for the Integration & Collaborative Working Award in the 2013 South West Built Environment Awards. Winners will be revealed on Friday, June 14.

Team gets town station blooming Flower-filled troughs are now in place at Keynsham Station, where a group of volunteers held a working party to brighten it up with blooms. The planters on the platform are being sponsored by local businesses and organisations, and volunteers, who include members of Keynsham in Bloom, have thanked Willmott Dixon for its support. The developer,

currently working on the regeneration of the town centre, has funded a flowerbed, provided shrubs and even a crew to help with the work. The team is now asking residents to donate any spare shrubs they might have to fill space left at the station. Contact Dawn Drury at deputytownclerk@ keynsham-tc.gov.uk or call 0117 986 8683.

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Levy could pay for new bypass If B&NES gets its Core Strategy approved, it will then be able to charge a development levy on all new planning applications. At the proposed rate of £100 per square metre, a typical 100 houses will produce around £2,000,000. As most of the new housing proposed for B&NES is along or close to the A4, it is difficult to see that the traffic through Saltford will not increase substantially. Is it not reasonable to ask that a portion of this money is used to provide relief for the residents of Saltford from the effects of the already substantial traffic? It’s a bit rich coming from Andy Wait, whose own town, Keynsham, has had

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Your views Send letters to Keynshamvoice, 16 Chandag Road, Keynsham, BS31 1NR. Alternatively, email news@keynsham voice.co.uk, find us on Facebook or Twitter @keynshamvoice or go to our website www.keynshamvoice.co.uk the benefit of a bypass for years. After all, Saltford suffers at least the same volume of traffic that goes on the Keynsham bypass. I agree with Phil Harding that traffic congestion requires sustainable solutions, but in this case, bypassing Saltford will not create extra traffic, it’s the sheer volumes of houses and businesses that have created the level of traffic which will increase. If the proposed Core Strategy is agreed, there is no need to build infill houses up to a bypass to pay for it, more than enough will be raised to pay for the bypass. I fully support the need to maintain the green belt between Saltford and Keynsham and Saltford and Bath. Even the extent of the proposed building to the east of Keynsham is of concern and the place-making detail will have to be watched very closely. Reg Williams Saltford

Keeping up to date with news This is just to say “thank you” for your excellent job with the Keynshamvoice. I spend a good few months out of the country and when I return, with just one issue of your Keynshamvoice I feel I can catch up with vital and useful information delivered in a most enjoyable manner. The size is just right to carry along for any spare minutes to read. I shall collect these for family members now living abroad. I wish you and your team all the success you well deserve. Name and address supplied

Swimming club sends its thanks On Tuesday, May 14, Fry Skittle Club, run by Mr Max Packer, had their presentation lunch with entertainment afterwards by standup comedian Mr Tank Sherman, a superb entertainer.

June, 2013

Three of the teams had asked Max Packer if they could forgo their awards and donate the equivalent money to charity. Thanks to The Pirates, Odd Balls and Green Army £200 was donated to the Seals Swimming Club for the Disabled, of which I am chairman and teacher. When Mr Tank Sherman heard of this he offered half the money he received from the sale of CDs of his acts to the Seals also. So a further £80 was passed on to this charity. My thanks on behalf of the Seals to all who contributed, so much good goes by unnoticed – this gesture has not. Yvonne Knight Keynsham

Old school pals planning reunion I am planning an old boys’ school reunion at Cross Keys pub, Combe Down, Bath, during September 2013. Is there anybody out there who would like to meet up with us old boys from West Hill School (from 1956-1958), which was at the bottom of The Hollows, Bath? Please contact me on 0117 986 1645 or 07896 034210. Bob Eastaugh, Keynsham

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I have, probably like other people, enjoyed the respite in traffic on our roads that accompanies half term. One bonus of this is I have found it easier to cross Charlton Road by/to Lays Farm bus stop. Before half-term, I have had to move very quickly to safely cross, and I know other residents who have sadly missed connections due to sheer volume and traffic on this road. I fear that before too long we will also have the added complication of vehicles servicing the K2 Charlton Road site. I appreciate people are all anxious to get to their work places etc promptly, but as the 30mph area starts well before the point I refer to, I would renew my plea for reduction of speed before the Long Meadow junction. While there is soon to be a list of 20mph speed limits to be announced shortly in Keynsham,

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Slow down for everyone’s sake

June, 2013

something I support in principle on certain roads but not on all estate roads, slowing down to 30mph on Charlton Road will reduce, hopefully, the potential for a serious pedestrian accident. Some vehicles do approach Keynsham at ridiculously fast speeds, my renewed plea to them is please slow down – for everyone's sake and safety. Andy Halliday Former town councillor Keynsham

News

Scarecrows dressed to impress! While they may have kept birds at bay, people flocked to a nearby village on June 2 to see some unusual scarecrows. Chewton Keynsham’s Scarecrow Festival saw 26 of the farmyard figures dotted around the village dressed to impress. Sights that greeted visitors included Spiderman perching in a tree, Santa setting off early on his travels and a morris-dancing scarecrow leaping across a lawn. For more pictures, visit www.keynshamvoice.co.uk.

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Village hosts fair Shop to reopen Corston village is hosting its country fair on Saturday, July 20, from 2-5pm. There will be classic cars, a dog show, an RAF flypast, a grand raffle and a silver band as well as stalls while children will also enjoy the bouncy castle and meeting Chuffy the Train. Refreshments on the day will include a beer tent, a barbecue and teas and ice creams.

Keynsham’s Oxfam shop has reopened its doors to customers after a three-week refit aimed at improving the experience for everyone who comes to the store, shoppers, volunteers and donors alike. Keynsham author Michael Fitter and two long-serving Oxfam volunteers were due to reopen the shop, on the High Street, on Friday, June 7.

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June, 2013

Cycling club A group of cyclists have taken their hobby and stepped it up a gear, setting up a new cycling club for Keynsham and Saltford. What began as a number of friends enjoying a weekly early morning ride on Saturdays around five years ago has grown to a group of 60 cyclists, and the Salt and Sham Cycle Club was officially launched on Sunday, June 2, with a family barbecue event at Keynsham Cricket Club.

Richard James, vice chairman, Jason Perkins, events secretary and Daniel Carr, chairman

There was the chance to try something new – riding a tandem or unicycle – testing bikes from Bristol’s Zero G Cycles, maintenance help from Gary Harris of Gary's Bikes and a tug of war between Keynsham and Saltford, in which Keynsham claimed victory. Chairman Daniel Carr said: “The Salt and Sham commitee – and helpers – did an excellent job of bringing this barbecue launch day together and hopefully everyone had an enjoyable day. It was about the realisation and coming together of the group, allowing people to meet families and friends.” The day was also a chance for new members to sign up and, when asked about the increase in interest in cycling, Daniel said the group had made cyclists of all levels welcome, which he believed had added to its appeal. He said: “Interest in the club has grown considerably over the last 12 months,

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celebrates official launch

Members of Salt and Sham Cycle Club at the launch event on June 2 especially through the winter, which is crazy really. But like me I think people have liked being part of something and as a group of enthusiastic cyclists we think we can offer something

simple but professional and with Keynsham Cricket Club our new ‘home’, we now have a place of rest once we return for a welcome coffee and bacon sarnie. “We have found a lot of peo-

ple who now ride with us have ridden for years but maybe alone. We are not making ourselves an exclusive club. As long as someone has a basic level of fitness and reasonable bike handling

skills we are happy to ride with them and they, along with all of us, can learn from the numerous ironmen and national standard riders who come out with us. But don’t worry – they stop at our designated points like the rest of us.” The group meet at St John’s Church, in Keynsham High Street, on Saturdays at 7am for a 25-mile loop around Chew Valley Lake, with group stops and refreshments on their return to the cricket club. Other rides are also arranged during the week, such as hill sessions, and members can keep up to date by joining the club’s Facebook group. Members can also take advantage of a 20 per cent discount on parts and accessories at Zero G Cycles and the club is in talks with other local firms, too. Anyone who would like more information can visit the website www.saltandsham.co.uk or email Daniel Carr at carrdan@blue yonder.co.uk

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News Golden celebration for jewellers The team at a Keynsham jewellers have said a big thank you to all the customers who have supported the shop over the years as they celebrate 50 years in business. Smith of Keynsham was opened in May 1963 by the eponymous Mr Smith in Temple Street. Jill Matthew joined the team in 1991, working two days a week, and became the new owner when Mr Smith retired 10 years ago. After the shop’s move in August 2011 to 5 High Street business has gone from strength to strength, says Jill.  Pictured right are Jackie, Sue, Debbie, Jill and Louise.

Calling Class of ‘88 for a reunion Former classmates are organising a Class of ‘88 reunion to mark 25 years since leaving Broadlands School. It will be held on Friday, June 28, from 7.30pm at Keynsham Rugby Club, with an Eighties

disco providing the ideal soundtrack as well as live music from a band made up of Class of ‘88 members. Organisers are urging any former classmates to get in touch and call Tracy Simpkins or Nick Palmer on 07982 258366.

Air ambulance ‘ambassadors’ Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is holding a coffee morning in Saltford to find volunteers in both Saltford and Keynsham who will act as ambassadors for its cause within the area. The event will be held on Saturday, June 29, from 11am-2pm at Saltford Hall. A representative from GWAAC will be on hand to answer any questions potential volunteers may have. Manager Patricia Gaitan said: “As a small charity that covers a big area, we rely entirely on the support of our local community and volunteers to help us spread the message about the work that we do. We would encourage anyone who is considering volunteering to come along to our coffee morning to find out more about the work that we do and how they can help our cause.”

Community ambassadors help the charity by sourcing potential sites for collection tins and clothes banks, as well as representing the charity at events, acting as the charity’s eyes and ears in Keynsham and Saltford. The charity, based in Bristol, is the only provider of an air ambulance service for the 2.1m people of the region, and was formed in 2008. It covers Bristol, Bath and the surrounding counties, and GWAAC attended eight incidents in the B&NES area in the first four months of 2013. All community representatives will be given a day’s training as well as ongoing support, and there will be the opportunity to visit the charity’s base. To find out more, call 0117 969 9344 or email fundraising@ gwaac.com.

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Make the most of your home – indoors and outdoors ADVERTISING FEATURE

Beautiful inside and out From finishing touches to ambitious home improvements, find a range of ideas inside Home – it’s the one small corner of the world we can shape entirely to suit our tastes and meet the demands of our lifestyles. Whether it’s a place to escape, to entertain, to enjoy family life or a space that is all your own, it is so much more than four walls and a roof over one’s head. Television programmes abound focusing on everything from making the finishing touches to your environment to complete renovations and even building the perfect pad from scratch. Here we have brought together local companies and traders who want to share their expertise to help you make your home own. From home essentials such as electrics, plumbing, building, plastering and gardening, to interior design and kitchen transformations, or even green features such as solar panels, you’ll find ideas inside. We’ve also got tips from some of our regular columnists on interiors and gardening.  Pictured left, new kitchen doors by Dream Doors; a reconditioned chair from Zoe Hewett Design

Solstice Dial by Bristol glass artist Adele Christensen

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June, 2013

Homes and gardens Artwork adds a touch of glass Presently from my studio in Keynsham I have been developing and combining previous skills and experience to create the painterly and textured appearance that characterises my current work in glass. Recently I have been experimenting with a more sculptural approach, similar to when I graduated from Stourbridge Art College. This involves mould making that produces tactile forms. My other influences are from land and seascapes of England and time spent in Denmark. With a revised interest in garden features, sundials (pictured) and sculpture, I work to commission but also produce work for more conceptual exhibitions. Adele Christensen www.adelechristensen glass.com

A passion for your projects JMI Building services was founded in 2006, and the company has a qualified and experienced workforce with over 16 years’ experience in many different trades. Work is always completed in a professional manner and we consistently build excellent relationship with our customers. We carry out home improvements, solar energy installation, extensions, electrical, plumbing, brickwork, fence erecting, bathroom and kitchen fitting. Please take a look at recent photos of jobs we have completed on our website www.jmibuildingservices.com. We always guarantee our work. Any work carried out will meet or surpass current planning and building regulations. All work will be of a high standard and we will be responsible for

any costs incurred due to faults occurring to our (or our subcontractors’) work for a period of one year. We like to think that working for you will help to build our reputation. That’s because so much of our work comes from referrals and repeat business. It’s the attention to detail, passion for your project and willingness to listen, be flexible and charge fairly that’s won us so many friends over the past six years.

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Homes and gardens

Finding that elusive extra space If you require more space one option is converting your loft. Another solution to finding that elusive space would be to extend with a garden room or have an insulated bespoke cabin/ annex in the garden. Expanding your home to connect with the outside is a pleasant way to make use of your propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s potential. A multipurpose, bespoke cabin built within your garden and evolves with the changing needs of your family. With experience

in Scandinavian summer-house construction and design this can be an attractive, useable addition to the home, for all-year-round use. As an engineer and carpenter, of 30 years, I bring the necessary experience to my company. We are usefully able to take care of your project from start to finish in every area: design, planning, building regulations and design solutions. Kim Christensen www.linebuild.co.uk

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June, 2013

Homes and gardens

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Taking pride in a great jobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; I have been a self-employed plasterer since 2003. I spent the first five years working for other larger plastering companies, mainly working on large developments such as housing sites and school developments. After spending this time gaining experience in the plastering and rendering industry, I decided to start my own company offering my services to the general public and small builders, so in 2008 I started G Benson Plastering. We cover all aspects of plastering, from internal plastering such as plastering over old walls and ceilings to create a modern smooth finish to external plastering such as rendering the whole outside of properties. We are happy to take on jobs of all sizes, from the smallest crack repairs to whole house

re-plastering. We also offer a range of specialist plastering services, including many Italianpolished finishes and colour render systems. One of the best things about running my own business in Saltford and Keynsham is working for local people. I find it very rewarding building up a good reputation for myself and giving a great service in my local community. I pride myself on giving my customers a great job which starts right from the quotation to the completion of the work. I offer my customers a clean, reliable service at competitive prices and always aim to give that little bit extra. George Benson ď Ź Right, a project in progress, below, and the finished extension, above

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Homes and gardens

Flair for bringing ideas to life Zoe, design director for Truly Bespoke, can make it happen…. Zoe was surrounded by technical design from a young age. Coming from family of architectural designers, she loved experimenting with structures, colours, glue, scissors and any bits and bobs she could put her hands on to “create”. Whilst Zoe admits she is not a fantastic artist, her passion for design and enthusiasm for every project she has done shines through. She has a very grounded, practical mind and so can design in such a way the technical constraints of materials and manufacturing are clearly understood and addressed. This is a rare combination and ensures efficiency but high creativity. Zoe has a particular passion for colour, combinations of texture, decorative elements such as sculpture and patina. The beauty of Art Nouveau and Art

Deco, the talent and creativity of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Gaudi, the simplicity of retro furniture and brave use of colour

used in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Zoe loves researching new materials, and loves a challenge.

Most of all she loves working with people and meeting their needs. Zoe likes making people happy and treats every project with the care and attention she would dedicate to her own home. Zoe is the business, she will welcome you to the showroom, she will visit your home, she will design the space, she will order the elements and hand pick materials if required, she will instruct the workshop and oversee production, she will check the furniture before it is delivered and she will project manage every element of the installation. For this reason only one project is taken on at a time, so if you would like a very special kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or have another project to discuss book a consultation as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

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June, 2013

Homes and gardens RE

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Fresh look for your kitchen Our business aim at Dream Doors Bristol is to take both the worry and the cost out of buying a new kitchen because the thought of having a new or updated kitchen can be quite stressful for some: will I get good value for money? Can I trust the tradesmen in the house? Will there be a lot of disruption and upheaval during the fitting stage? What if I’m not fully satisfied with the outcome? Dream Doors Bristol is a small, local, family-run business, and we aim to build a friendly working relationship with our customers, tailoring our service to their needs. Unlike many kitchen businesses, we can offer our customers a kitchen “facelift” option, which is usually around 40-50 per cent cheaper than having a completely new kitchen. Typical-

ly we can just replace the doors, drawers, and possibly worktops which are the items that become worn or outdated, but leave in place the kitchen framework i.e. cupboards and carcasses, which can be quite costly to replace but don’t normally wear out. In this way our customers end up with a kitchen that looks and feels completely new, but at a cost which is much more affordable. Also, because we often don’t need to disturb the cabinets and carcases, there is much less mess and dust, and the entire job can usually be completed in just a couple of days. Of course, we can also provide a large range of appliances, accessories, tiling, flooring, and many other kitchen facilities, and we leave it to our customers to decide how much or how little they wish spend.

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

June, 2013

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Homes and gardens

Perfect fit for your projects We’ve been trading under the name Keynsham Timber & Hardware Ltd since June 2011, but as a timber yard and hardware store we’ve been established since 2001. The business was formerly known as Lays Farm Timber Supplies and it’s very much a family-run business Our services on-site include the timber yard selling a quality range of decking, fencing and fence panels, support-frame timber and sheet materials like plywood and MDF. Then there’s an expansive hardware store, key-cutting, Calor gas stockist plus wood cutting where customers can bring in their own timber. We also make made-to-order garden gates, panels and animal hutches etc, and have a delivery service. We also run a pet supplies business, too, which is situated

within our shop and we’ve named it Pets Corner. It’s really nice when customers who haven’t been to our shop before realise how much we have to offer, they genuinely seem shocked. They also regularly comment on the quality of our decking and fence panels. Another nice surprise for them is we try and keep our pricing below bigger stores. Being off the beaten track means we have to work harder to get the custom through the door and due to this we don’t ever take our customers for granted. Whether it’s just one single nut or bolt to a large decking and fencing order it’s all highly valued. If you’re looking for a friendly local business with a knowledgeable and approachable manner then we’d like to think here is the perfect fit.

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June, 2013

Homes and gardens In the Garden

 It is the time, at last when everything in the garden is bursting into bud, leaf or anything else. The very fine weather at the beginning of May brought a welcome impetus to the garden. Forsythia in May is a bit unusual but at least it is flowering. And, of course with the rush of plant growth we also have the weeds. An amazing number of dandelions! The roundabout at Newton St Loe brought many remarks of astonishment. Remember, one man's weed is another man’s flower. Most of our weeds have been removed by hand, sometimes with the help of a trowel or hand fork (a very useful tool), and the bare earth patches are relatively clear. But the problem is the hard areas of slabs, crazy paving etc, where the difficult weeds grow in the cracks. I have tried all the recomended tools but I come back to chemicals.  On my plot I have planted out the tender vegetable plants and used the mini greenhouses as mentioned in the last article. These will stay in place until the end of May to allow the plants to get established and protect them from any late frosts. I had difficulty getting the runner and dwarf beans to germinate this year, probably due, I suspect, to the cold temperatures, particularly at night, so I have had to repeat the sowings which should be ready to plant in a couple of weeks. The recent cold weather has meant that plants are not growing as fast as normal so a bit of patience is needed and hopefully the temperatures will improve. I have also done some succession sowings of lettuce and beetroot and the peas and mangetout are already on their way. I have already picked some of the earlier sown crops of salad leaves which have been left under cloches to ensure they had

Fit the sprinkler bar to an old watering can (don’t use the can for watering) add the granules and swish around and apply to the joins and cracks. But which way do you go, across or down? When one line is done, working at right angles means stepping on the treated slabs, so do not walk on the grass afterwards, that’s how those mysterious patches appear. A messy job but I find the results good and weed-clear for three months. So gloves on and away you go! What did you think of the month of May? We certainly looked forward to some warmer weather to spur on our precious plants. For the first two weeks it was too cold to do anything much, day temperatures of 7 centigrade, and wet. Despite this the blossom display has been remarkable. From a first floor window looking into each adjacant neighbour’s gardens we could see a swathe of blossom, probably 80 feet wide, stretching through the three gardens. A crab apple tree in the middle with so much flower it looked like a slightly melted

snowman, with one branch sticking out sideways, maybe pointing the way to summer. We have hanging baskets and tomato plants all ready to go out, but no chance yet. It does seem at times that nature does have an unexpectd effect. Is it my imagination, or did the cold weather delay progress, only to come rushing out as soon as the weather improved? Does the blossom seem more vibrant because it is later? On warm days I have cut the grass, not too closely yet. Again it seems that the grass is growing well. I applied some

spring treatment and apart from one patch, which is solid clay, the grass looks good and green and filling the compost bin. By the end of August it should be full. We had a very good display of hellebores and there are a number of self-seeded shoots showing. I remember reading that hellebores take two years to reach flowering, so I shall have to wait and see! Now we are into June what shall we see? Flaming June with multi-coloured beds, huge amounts of flowering plants. Wisteria seem to have enjoyed a rest in the cold weather and are now showing some remarkable displays of dripping florescences. Tamerisk are just gaining that dark pink haze as the flower starts to burst, cotinus and its plum-coloured leaves make a fine display, and escallonia is showing the bright new green leaves which precede the pretty pink flowers. Most notable are the lilies shooting skywards from their pot. Supported by a cane framework they will soon be delighting us with their flowers. But watch out for the lily beetle!

with more succession sowings and importantly keep control of the weeds. The wet spell at the end of May will soon encourage the weeds to take a hold so regular hand weeding and using the hoe is essential. Keeping the weeds under control not only makes the plot look tidier

but also helps the vegetable plants grow well as they don’t have to compete for moisture and nourishment, so don’t wait until the weeds are overtaking the crops. Maintain growing plants with feed and water to make sure they remain healthy. Time spent now will increase the chances of a good crop and decrease the risk of pest damage later. I make my own free organic liquid fertiliser by growing comfrey. When ready I cut off the leaves and put them in a net sack before immersing this in water in a butt. The “brew” takes a few weeks to mature and acquires a strong odour but it does the trick especially on fruit and tomatoes. It can be invasive and once established difficult to remove but when in flower it is a great bee attractor.

On the plot a chance to grow unhindered by the cold and the asparagus is cropping well. If you grow asparagus it is vital to allow the bed to mature, which can take a few years so don’t crop for at least a couple of years after planting. The other important issue is that cropping must stop by mid to late June to allow the plant to grow naturally and ensure that the crowns are healthy for next year. Other vegetables that have already been sown include swede and purple sprouting. The latter will transplanted when ready and should give you a useful crop in late winter next year. Jobs for June include planting out cabbages, sprouts and cauliflower, which on my plot need protecting from the pigeons so some netting is essential. Continue

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

June, 2013

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Homes and gardens

Hire service that aims high Alide Hire Services, an independent plant and tool hire company based in Keynsham, has been operating in the area since 1981 and over the years has grown to become the leading independent plant and tool hire company in the region. With depots also situated in Bristol and Bath, a fleet of delivery vehicles provide a smooth and efficient daily service to customers in and around the area. In January 2008 we acquired a new premises in Broadmead Lane in Keynsham from which we operate our fleet of mini excavators and dumpers and our portable toilet business. In our first year of trading we were successful in providing portable toilets to some major events such as the Bristol Harbourside Festival and the International Kite Festival. Our reputation has spread and we are going from strength to strength. We have supplied toilets to local events

in Keynsham, including the Keynsham Music Festival and Keynsham Cricket Club Beer and Cider Festival and a recent music event at the Ship public house and Keynsham Rugby Club. All our depot managers at Alide Hire Services have over 20 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experience in the business. Being able to provide practical solutions to awkward problems is something that Alide Hire

Services customers have come to expect. Providing a service to local businesses, Alide Hire Services enjoys giving something back to the local community whenever possible. We are passionate to help whenever we can. As a local independent plant and tool hire company Alide Hire Services strives to provide a service second to none. Healthy

competition from our larger competitors ensures that no order is taken for granted and is appreciated. So give us a call if you need to hire toilets for a party or event or need some tools for your site or jobs at home. We are a local business that is passionate about building strong business relationships with local companies and the general public.

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June, 2013

Homes and gardens

Same high standard â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whatever the task Broadleaf are a highly skilled team with over 30 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; combined experience. We have provided knowledgeable advice and completed large and small scale projects to the highest standards. We work to our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; specifications or provide accurate and proven schemes, helping our clients meet planning regulations, saving time and money. Being an environmental contractor does not limit us to just large scale projects! We have a well established domestic client base, providing landscaping, tree and garden maintenance services throughout the Bristol area. We can install and maintain all types of fencing and gates including feather edge fencing, lap panel fencing, post and rail

fencing, picket fencing and driveway and side gates. We have provided our clients with a high standard of completed projects by working with individuals to create their own bespoke garden,

Inside story

completing work on patios, turfing, decking, hedge cutting, stone and sleeper walls or simply helping to maintain your lawn with our grass cutting services.

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

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Homes and gardens

with interior designer Zoe Hewett It appears the recession of the last few years has fuelled fondness for all things green, thrifty and vintage. From learning to sew your own cushion covers or painting your own furniture to baking your own bread, the popularity of fun, skilful workshops has soared. Part reaction against massproduced, cheap fashions in clothing and home-ware, and part nostalgic longing for simpler times when things were made to last, vintage and shabby chic are two trends that seem to be here to stay. Reconditioning or “upcycling” old furniture that would otherwise have been skipped, is one activity I like to do towards helping the environment (it’s like Corporate Social Responsibility on a tiny scale!), and also

keeping things interesting when there are forests and forests of homogenised flat-packs available in several shades of beige. Using a mixture of upholstery, eggshell paint and decoupage treatments, even the most boring, ugly items of furniture can be transformed into unique statement features that express personality and style. The recently opened Bohemia Vintage Boutique, on Picton Street in Bristol, epitomises the current vogue for vintage, up-cycling and support for local shopping. Now stocking my reconditioned furniture alongside printed cushions and lampshades from Susan Farrar Art Designs, beautiful quality vintage china, cutlery and clothing, and handmade

an eye on the Facebook page for details of the launch event on Saturday, June 15, at www.facebook.com/ bohemiapicton street. To receive a free step-by-step guide to covering a favourite piece of your own furniture with a decoupage treatment, go to the freebies page of my website and sign up at www. zoehewett interiors.co.uk

up-cycled gifts by Bristol-based designers, Bohemia is a veritable emporium of treats. Keep

 Zoë Hewett is an independent interior designer with a background in theatre design. Commissions for furniture reconditioning are welcome. Call 07974 544 734 or email zoe@zoehewettinteriors.co.uk.

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June, 2013

Profile: Laura O’Sullivan, radiator covers I began designing radiator covers when I wanted something different for my baby boy’s room at our home in Keynsham. It’s so important to get radiators covered in a baby’s room, as they get so hot. I was bored of the designs out on the market and I wanted something quirky and fun. This led to my husband and I launching our business Totally Rad to create bespoke covers for clients. I have an interest in furniture and interior design and find it quite easy to get inspiration from pictures I come across,

or an object. For example, the inspiration for my owl covers came from the fact that they were trending last winter. There was also a children’s programme with a mummy and baby owl together – and I thought I could incorporate that into a cover design! It’s completely self taught – first I draw it, then to scale, and then my husband brings them to life with MDF. Our covers are also the only ones available

with a removable cover for easy access. The look of a room can be completely transformed by just changing the panel, not the whole cover. At the moment we receive orders through our website www.totally-rad.co.uk and are on TheBristolShop website. We are hoping to grow the business to a point where we can start to advertise in national magazines and really get noticed. We have

orders from across the country and have even had interest from Australia! Plus they all come ready assembled. For more information, visit www.totallyrad.co.uk, call 07402 667702 or email info@totally-rad.co.uk.

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June, 2013

News

Royal visitor for local firms The Prince of Wales was given a taste of local produce when he paid a visit to two ventures near Keynsham. Newton Farm Shop at Newton St Loe and Bath Harvest Rapeseed Oils at Wilmington Farm were both on His Royal Highness's route when he visited the Newton Park Estate, part of the Duchy of Cornwall, on May 7. At Newton Farm, the Prince met third-generation farmers Hugh and Celia Gay, their family and staff from the farm shop, and watched sausages being made as he learned how the farm produces its own beef and pork to sell through the butchery and keeps British breeds of cattle – South Devons, Herefords, Aberdeen Angus, and Ruby Red Devons. He met the family’s next generation of farmers, Kirsty, Naomi, William and Joshua, to talk about their hopes for the future and was introduced to

The Prince of Wales visits Newton Farm Shop, left, and Bath Harvest Rapeseed Oils, right Hugh’s mother Audrey, who used to run the farm and now bakes cakes for the cafe. Next was royal oil-tasting at Bath Harvest Rapeseed Oils, where owner Debbie Keeling set out samples for the Prince to try, with the newest rosemaryinfused rapeseed oil proving a particular favourite.

His Royal Highness spent some time admiring the views at Wilmington Farm and visiting the farm’s Aberdeen Angus herd before being taken on a tour of the pressing room. Debbie said: “Prince Charles was particularly interested in the process of pressing the rapeseed and he seemed very impressed

that we feed our Aberdeen Angus cattle on the by-product so that literally nothing goes to waste. “We were delighted by the visit. I think he wanted to have a look at the pressing room because he is interested in diversification within the farming industry.”

150g light brown sugar 1 dessert spoon of honey Pinch of sea salt

the centre, it is cooked when this comes out clean). Wait to cool before removing from tin.

To make the cake Pre-heat oven to 170c/gas mark 3. Butter and line with baking parchment a 20cm spring-form tin In a heatproof bowl put the chocolate, butter and sugar. Set this over a pan of simmering water – stirring occasionally – until the chocolate and butter is melted. Remove from heat. Stir in the egg yolks, sea salt, ground almonds and amaretto. Gently fold in the egg whites. Pour into lined baking tin and bake for about 30 minutes (to test you can insert a knife into

To make the sauce In a large saucepan put the sugar, honey and three teaspoons of water. Simmer gently until it turns a golden brown colour. Take off heat and pour warmed cream into caramel, stirring all the time. Add salt to taste. This cake can be chilled but is lovely when eaten at room temperature with the salted caramel sauce and double or clotted cream.

News Enjoy fruits of grower’s labour Customers can enjoy a taste of summer as Cheddar strawberries return to Keynsham Farmers’ Market on Saturday, June 8, from 9am-1pm. Stallholder Cliff Besley is one of just a handful of strawberry growers left in the Cheddar Valley, once home to around 400. Mr Besley grew up on a strawberry farm but didn’t return to his roots as a grower until 1991 when he took on an allotment, setting up a business in 2000 and buying seven acres of land outside Cheddar. A Somerset Markets spokesperson said: “You won’t find Besleys strawberries in the supermarkets. Instead they prefer to sell their high quality fruit directly to the public at local farmers’ markets such as Keynsham.”

Chocolate and Almond Fudge Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce with Nicci James, of The Compton Inn Ingredients for the cake 250g quality dark chocolate (at least 50% cocoa solids) 250g unsalted butter (diced) 300g soft dark brown sugar 6 eggs, separated (whites whisked till stiff) 120g ground almonds 50ml amaretto Ingredients for the sauce 250g double cream (warmed in a large saucepan)

 Compton Inn, Compton Dando, BS39 4JZ, 01761 490321. www.thecomptoninn.co.uk.

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June, 2013

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Nostalgia Photo courtesy of Bygone Bristol

Almost a little town in itself, with its own road system connecting the various parts of the complex, the Somerdale site was once a hive of activity with many people employed by Fry’s. The factory complex stands out from the air with ‘FRY’ in giant lettering on one building and ‘SOMERDALE’ on the roof of another. For more on pictures and publications from Bygone Bristol, call 0117 942 3177.

Setting out to net loan sharks The campaign against illegal money lenders, or loan sharks, was stepped up in Keynsham ;ast month, delivering the message in a variety of ways. Beer mats bearing the “Stop Loan Sharks” logo, advice sessions, posters, knocking on residents’ doors and a workshop for youngsters at Timeout youth group were some of the tactics used by the England Illegal Money Lending Team in partnership with Bath and North East Somerset Council. The week-long campaign, from May 13-18, was aimed at getting people to turn away from loan sharks and to report the crime. Loan sharks can be reported on the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222, by texting “loan shark + your message” to 60003, email reportaloan shark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or private message the team at www.facebook.com/stoploan sharksproject.

New home for bookshop in hall Aslan Christian Bookshop has now moved into St John’s Church Hall, next to the reception office, which the team who run it hope will improve access for customers. The shop sells children’s and adult Christian books, as well as a selection of children’s DVDs and a choice of CDs, a range of books and DVDs at sale prices and some children’s gifts. There is also a wide selection of cards for birthdays, weddings, baptisms and confirmations.

The shop also takes orders for some hard-to-source items and invites customers to have a cup of tea or coffee while they browse. The shop is open Monday to Friday from 10am-noon.

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June 8-16

Saltford Festival has a packed programme of events throughout the week, including talks, walks, competitions and evening entertainment, culminating with the Old Village Day on June 16, with stalls, barbecue, Stove Pipe Hat Parade, a dog show, entertainment and more. The Jolly Sailor will host the festival finale from 5pm. For the full programme, visit www.saltford festival.org.uk.

June 8 Baby and children’s nearly new sale (clothes, equipment, toys) at the Fear Hall, High Street, Keynsham at 10.30am to noon. Entry £1 adults, free for children. Free taster session by Music with Mummy and free goody bags for the first 50 through the door. Who Let the Dads Out. St John’s

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Have you got an event you would like to publicise? Or do you run a club, society or community group in the Keynsham area? Send details to emma@ keynshamvoice.co.uk or call us on 07715 770448 and we will make sure thousands of people in and around Keynsham know about it. Church is holding a monthly toddlers’ session specifically for dads, stepdads, grandads and male carers and their babies and pre-school children. The next session will be in the church hall from 10-11.30am. Bacon butties and coffee will be available for grown-ups and refreshments, toys and craft activities for younger members. £2 per family. Contact John Wilkinson at johnandbeccyw@yahoo.co.uk for more information. Saltford Environment Group Cycle Day (part of Saltford Festival), Saltford Hall, 10am1pm. Bike and rider advice from experienced cyclists. Saltford Cycle Quest, 2pm, Sustrans Fresh Air Miles event. Riders have one and a half hours to solve clues around the village. Check www.saltfordenvironmentgroup.org.uk/cycling

June 12 Saltford Floral Club meeting, 2pm, at Saltford Hall, Norman Road as part of the Saltford Festival with tastings of various hobbies. Tea and coffee will be available.

June 13 The Keynsham Action Network (KAN) showing Inside Job at Community@67, 67 Queens Road, Keynsham, BS31 2NW, at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Charles H Ferguson’s 2010 documentary about the 2008 financial crisis exposing corruption and greed in the USA. Shown at Cannes Film Festival and winner of 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

June 18 Saltford Brass Mill, Annual General Meeting at 7.30pm in the Meeting Room of The Crown, Bath Road, Saltford. See www. brassmill.com, inquiries on 01225 872954.

June 21 Saltford Golf Club is holding

Family fun and activities at fair From aquazorbing to vintage bus and pony rides, there will be plenty of variety to entertain families at Saltford CofE Primary School's summer fair on Saturday, July 6, from 3-6pm. Activities will include go-karts, a bouncy castle, swingboats, and an inflatable slide, while a host of stalls will include a sweet stall, ice cream stand, tombola, balloons, games, a raffle, face painting, hair braiding and cakes. Refreshments will be available, including a barbecue, bar and tea rooms. For the first year, organisers have also decided to hold a table top sale in the main hall during the fair. Tables are available for hire for £10 and anyone who would like to hire one should email PTA@ saltford.bathnes.sch.uk.

June, 2013

a charity golf day in aid of the Great Western Air Ambulance. The day consists of coffee and bacon roll on arrival, 18-hole golf competition, two-course meal. The cost for a team of four players is £140. The day concludes with the raffle and a charity auction. If anyone wants to enter a team they should contact mike@ saltfordgolfclub.co.uk An entertaining night with The Grey Dogs (trad and mainstream) at Conygre Hall in Timsbury, BA2 0JG, 8pm-11pm. Donations to The Snowdrop Appeal. Dance in cafe-style setting. Tickets £8 on the door. Bar, hot and cold food. Details from Kate on 01761 471245 or www. mendipmusic.com

June 25 Saltford Floral Club meeting, 2pm, at Saltford Hall, Norman Road. Our demonstration is entitled ‘Round and About’ with Rosemary Bulled. We look forward to seeing new faces so make yourself known at the door. For more information call Shirley Hobbs on 0117 986 2924.

July 1 The author Lesley Pearse is to be the RBLWS guest speaker at the Royal British Legion Club, Charlton Road, Keynsham at 8pm. A selection of her books including her latest novel Forgive Me will also be available for purchase. Entry is £2 p.p. to include a raffle ticket. Everybody is welcome, please come along for what should be a most enjoyable evening.

July 21 Hymns in the Park with Bristol Easton Salvation Army Band, songsters and children at 5pm in Keynsham Memorial Park – admission free. Call 07851 121571 for more information.

What’s on in Keynsham on a regular basis Passionate about local libraries, communities and history? Why not join the Friends of Saltford Library? The group organises author visits, coffee mornings, poetry evenings, writing workshops and visits of nearby places of historical interest. Call 01225 394041 or email june_wentland@bathnes. gov.uk.

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Monday

Key Voices, Keynsham’s friendly community singing group, is looking for new members. Monday, 7.15-9.30pm, during term-times at Castle School in Newlands Road. Cost £4 per sessions, £3 concessions. Roy on 0117 949 8587. Keynsham Writing Group meets in the library on the second and fourth Monday of the month, from 2.30-4pm. We are a small, friendly group and welcome new members of all abilities. For further information telephone Pat on 0117 986 4722.

Tuesday Free buggy walk and cafe meeting the first and third Tuesdays of the month, 9.45am for 10am start, outside Keynsham Leisure Centre, Temple Street. Email buggywalk@gmail.com for details. Wellsway Ladies’ Badminton Club, 7.30-9.30pm, at Keynsham Leisure Centre. For more details contact Jenny on 0117 986 8331. KOPS is Keynsham Older People’s Social group. This friendly group of local, older people meet

on the first Tuesday of the month at Community@67, Queens Road, Keynsham at 2pm. The group is free to join but members usually bring along a small item for the raffle table. New members welcome, call Paula on 01225 484510 or Phyllis on 0117 986 8623. Residents’ Fellowship Association, based at Hawthorn Meeting Room in Carpenters Lane, 2pm-4pm. Luncheon, quiz, games and a committee meeting. On a Thursday afternoon we do crafts and we have a community garden. Call Jim Lingard on 0117 986 1551. St Keyna Townswomen’s Guild. A friendly, outgoing group of various ages who meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Fear Hall, High Street, Keynsham, 9.45-11.45am. With speakers and coffee/tea and biscuits. We have many subgroups including theatre and local interest trips, an art group, book club, Scrabble, cards, walkers, singers, bowls and more.

Wednesday ChoirJam, Keynsham’s fun pop choir, meets on Wednesdays, 11am-12.30 pm during term-time at Fear Hall, Keynsham. We sing everything from James Taylor to Adele and perform with a live band! Adults aged 18-80+ are welcome to join; there’s no audition and no experience necessary. Call Emma Hutchinson on 07793 983040 or visit www. choirjam.co.uk for more information.

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Friday

The Women’s Section of the Royal British Legion Keynsham would be delighted to welcome new members. They meet upstairs at the RBL Club on the first Monday of each month 7.30pm. Occasional speakers, social events and outings. Why not come along and meet new friends?

June, 2013

If you’re interested in crafts and meeting like-minded adults, head to the Labbott Community Room in Keynsham between 11am and 1pm every Friday. Join a very friendly mixed group who meet up every Friday to play badminton from 10am to noon at Keynsham Leisure Centre. Everyone welcome regardless of ability. Just turn up or ring Clive on 0117 986 6793.

Saturday Healing on the Streets has returned; we can be found on Keynsham High Street every Saturday morning. We can be identified by our badges and the ‘A’ boards. Whether you have an emotional or physical problem we’re available to listen, talk and pray.

Afternoon tea at village church Tuck into tea and cake while helping raise money for a village church this summer. Afternoon tea will be served at St Mary the Virgin Church in Compton Dando on Sundays from 2-5pm during June, July and August. The fundraising project began on June 2 and will run for 12 weeks. All money raised will go towards the upkeep of the church.

Village bursts into life with fete Organisers of Queen Charlton Village Fete tell us what to expect at this year's event: “Queen Charlton is normally a sleepy little village, nestling just outside Keynsham, but once a year we burst into life with our village fete. “This year our fete is on Saturday, June 8, starting at 2pm.The roads will be closed for the afternoon to make a safe environment for everyone to wander around and enjoy the numerous attractions. Car parks are situated at each end of the village. “We have Keynsham Brass Band, craft stalls, bouncy castle, Punch and Judy, closeup magic tricks and all sorts

of stalls and games. Also, this year there is the chance to meet some alpacas! If you are very lucky you will be able to buy a pair of socks made from their wool! “You can try your hand at the coconut shy or skittles, and then relax over a delicious cream tea, or burger from the barbecue before looking around all the stalls and sideshows. “We even have a big, red London bus! “It doesn’t matter if you are young or old you are welcome to join in the fun at the Queen Charlton Fete. “There will be something for everyone – don’t miss it!"

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Chamber of Commerce with chairman Lynn Young Our first meeting of a new financial year was very positive. Our welcome packs are on their way for new members and stickers for members’ windows or cars should be with us soon. We are very grateful for the two hours’ free parking at the Labbott car park. Signage will need to be clear for the public. We are facing problems seeking permission to add more planters in the High

Street, making it a more attractive place to shop, along with a few more benches – our challenge over the next few months. Membership is rising, it would be great to have all the retailers to help the Chamber. Here’s hoping to a positive year in the High Street, times are tough in business so let’s encourage our local residents. Support your local business when possible.

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June, 2013

News

Raising laugh to raise funds A man who has spent the past year gathering funds for Bath Cats’ and Dogs’ Home is hoping that by raising laughs he’ll raise even more cash for the cause. Graham Avent works for the Bath Veterinary Group, which has a surgery in Saltford, and has been locked in a kennel (pictured), completed the Bath Half Marathon and wrote a pantomime in aid of the charity. But this month he is facing his biggest challenge when he takes to the stage at the Ustinov Theatre in Bath to perform an evening of live comedy. Luckily, Graham has stage experience he can draw on and is teaming up with his old double act partner Jon Monie, TV presenter, writer and panto stalwart. “Doing comedy is petrifying because there is no ambiguity,” explains Graham. “The audience

either laugh or they don’t and the feedback is instant. But luckily I’m working with a safe pair of hands so I’m pretty confident we can at least get some giggles” Avent and Monie – Back for Good is on at the Ustinov Studio on the June 21 and 22. Tickets are £13 or £10 concessions from the Box Office on 01225 448844 or at www.theatreroyal.org.uk.

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June, 2013

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News

Going it alone has an upside for author Jo From aspiring author to published writer in the click of a mouse, Jo Platt tells Joni Mann about her debut novel, ‘chick wit’ and writing what you know Many of us see escaping into a good book as a real treat – but one Bristol author enjoyed writing her debut novel so much she describes the process as like “sneaking off to eat chocolate”. Jo Platt has squeezed in writing around her two children and part-time job as a medical secretary yet said it felt so “selfindulgent” she kept it a secret from many of those around her. She said: “I didn’t want to confess to friends as it felt frivolous taking an hour or two here and there to go and type away. You hear people talking about being a writer, and they describe the torture, stress and torment of it all, but I found this a thoroughly enjoyable process. It was a lovely thing to do.” Reading Upside Down is the result and follows heroine Rosalind Shaw who, after being stood up on her wedding day, leaves her life in London for St Albans, where new friends and managing a bookshop help her start a fresh chapter. While Ros is occupied in the business of selling antiquarian books, it was a very modern process that saw Reading Upside Down published in February, taking Jo from aspiring author to published novelist in the click of a mouse. Jo decided to self-publish on Amazon, making the novel available as an ebook, a route that has worked well for many with 15 self-published titles among last year’s 100 best-selling Kindle books. Jo explains: “The decision to self-publish was based on being realistic and also being very impatient – I know somebody

Bristol author Jo Platt has published her first novel Reading Upside Down locally who has been trying to get a book published for three years. When I looked into selfpublishing I couldn’t see much of a downside – you put it into Amazon, press a button and it’s there for people to buy. I haven’t got a big marketing machine behind me so I’m using Facebook and Twitter and finding ways to shout about the book. “It feels very exposing to have done this,” she adds, saying she has only written for friends and family before. “Sometimes I find it difficult to believe that I did it, that I plucked up the courage – when I pressed the button I made my husband sit next to me so I actually did it.” The novel has been given a warm reception with most reviews on Amazon awarding it five stars – readers’ praise includes “laugh-out-loud funny” , “true to life”, “beautifully observed” and “intelligently written”. It is perhaps the last that will please Jo the most, who says she prefers the genre “chick wit” to “chick lit”. She says: “Chick lit is a genre that can be associated with poor writing – but it doesn’t have to be. My book is supposed

to be entertaining, amusing and uplifting and I hope the quality of the writing and the characters make it worth reading. The storyline and situations might seem quite light, but lots of the book is based in reality and the characters are an amalgamation of people I know.” Jo has previously lived in London and St Albans – the setting for the book – and along the way friends and family appear either by name or by personality traits or, in the case of her own parents who formed the basis for Ros’s parents, barely altered at all. Jo’s book group – 16 women living across Bristol – also appear by name and she has dedicated her debut novel to them while she works on a second book inspired by the group and set in Bristol. Jo said: “Reading Upside Down was written with those kind of people in mind – bright women with a fantastic sense of humour.” Reading Upside Down by Jo Platt is available from www. amazon.co.uk in ebook format, priced £1.53. Follow Jo on Twitter @JoPlattTweets

Moonfleet sets sail for church Smugglers, shipwrecks, hidden treasure and love will all set the scene for an evening of drama in Keynsham. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is bringing its touring production Moonfleet to St John’s Church, in the High Street, on June 20 to entertain and to help The Bridges Society raise funds for the restoration of the church. The play is set on the Dorset coast and tells the tale of orphan John Trenchard, who is captivated by the story of Blackbeard, leading him to his own smuggling adventures. This adaptation of J Meade Falkner’s book has been written especially for Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, which has been the training ground for many respected stars of screen and stage, including Daniel Day Lewis, Patricia Routledge, Stephanie Cole and recent Bafta winner Olivia Coleman. The play begins at 7.30pm on June 20 with tickets priced at £10 or £8 concessions, available from the parish office or on 0117 986 3960.

Club welcomes new members Photographers of all abilities are invited to share their skills, learn new ones and listen to speakers with a growing camera club. Kingswood Photographic Society has around 70 members from a wide area, including some from Keynsham, and are welcoming new members to join them for their Friday meetings. Each week the group exhibit their work and share tips and experience, with some acting as mentors for newer photographers. The group also welcomes guest speakers specialising in different aspects of photography most weeks. Meetings are held from 7pm for a 7.30pm start at St Barnabas Church Hall, Church Avenue, in Warmley. Visitors can pay £3 per meeting for a maximum of three visits while membership for 2013 is £55. For more information, visit www.kingswoodps.co.uk or call Eric Pleydell, publicity secretary, on 07986 085919.

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Non-fiction – recommended and reviewed by a library reader  Consider the Fork: A History of Invention in the Kitchen by Bee Wilson This very readable e book educates, amuses and amazes with a wealth of facts about things you probably never even think about when cooking ng or even making a cup of tea. From the introduction, which makes you look at the wooden spoon in a new light, through chapters on cooking utensils, the knife, fire, measuring ingredients, preparing food and eventually serving up a meal, the book explains how and why we do these things today. The history and science of cooking is covered in such a manner that it makes you realise how fashion, need and the current state of technology are entwined. Sometimes this is to the detriment of the meal, but it is generally also to the benefit of the consumer, who can now make dishes in minutes that once would have kept a servant

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with Sarah Wookey from Keynsham Library busy for most of the day. You will discover why table knives are blunt with rounded tips; why the Victorians were both right and wrong in their approach to boiling vegetables; why the refrigerator that Einstein patented was never built, and which nation invented powdered milk. This last one is a surprise, but you have to pay attention to find it! Everyone, from master chef to beginner, will learn a lot from this book. Even non-cooks will appreciate how invention and technology in the kitchen have, over the millennia, combined to make eating the simple pleasure that it can be today.

Adult Fiction  When God was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman Sarah Winman’s debut novel is a compelling tale of love in its various incarnations: between siblings, between other family members, between best friends, between lovers and between the other people who attach themselves to us and our families. It follows the life of Ellie, born in 1968 “just as my mother got off the bus after an unproductive shopping trip to Ilford”, and continues in a tragi-comic, often gritty (brace yourselves!) vein for the next 40 years or so. Oh, and the book really does feature a rabbit called God, but I’ll let you find out all about that for yourselves.

June, 2013

Determined to find her, he is forced to descend into a murky underworld and to confront a conspiracy that will rock his world. Shelter is the first title in a series for young adults by Harlan Coben, a crime writer who has written prolifically for adults. Fellow crime writer Eoin Colfer said that “if you are looking for THE BOOK to get you hooked on reading, this is it.”

Young Adult  Shelter by Harlan Coben When tragic events befall his family, 15-year-old Mickey Bolitar is sent to live with his Uncle Myron. He finally feels that he is getting his life backk together when his girlfriend, Ashley, suddenly vanishes.

Junior Fiction  The Wombles Go Round The World by Elisabeth Beresford Hands up if you remember The Wombles? Well, they’re back, in a reprint of the original 1970s titles by Elisabeth Beresford MBE. For those of you who don’t remember them first time round, Wombles are funny little creatures who live in a burrow on Wimbledon Common and who enjoy recycling all the rubbish humans leave behind them. Come and join Great Uncle Bulgaria, Tobermory, Bungo, Orinoco, Wellington, Tomsk and, of course, the delightful Madame Cholet, on their various comic escapades. A great read for junior readers and their older friends and relatives, too.

company of Gatsby’s wealthy acquaintances. The details of Gatsby’s past life and the source of his great wealth remain uncertain, although there are suspicions of his involvement with boot-legging liquor during prohibition. Gatsby is obsessed with glamorous flapper girl Daisy Buchanan, played by Carey Mulligan (Never Let Me Go), and hopes that they will meet by chance at one of the parties. One of the fascinating themes of the film is Gatsby’s conviction that it is possible to recreate the past, a common human failing. In Gatsby’s case he yearns to go back to a brief romance with Daisy five years previously. There are similarities with Scott Fitzgerald’s marriage. In 1918 Scott Fitzgerald met and fell in love with “golden girl” Zelda Sayre. She rejected his proposal of marriage until he became successful as a

writer and in the film Gatsby is convinced he will eventually win over Daisy by the offer of great wealth and an opulent lifestyle. The film has some good special effects used to glam up the parties and there are high-speed trips in vintage cars between Long Island and New York. Along the way the cars drive through the “Valley of Ashes”, a grimy industrial area and a stark reminder of the inequalities of wealth and privilege in American society. Towards the end of the summer on a very hot day Gatsby and Nick are invited to lunch with Daisy and her husband Tom. Later the mood turns ugly, revealing the emptiness of their lives and setting in motion the chain of events leading to the film’s shocking conclusion. The final words are taken from the novel: “So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

One to Watch with film reviewer Chris Worthington The Great Gatsby Directed by Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo Dicaprio Baz Lurhmann’s film is the latest interpretation of The Great Gatsby from a total of five films that have been made of F Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 masterpiece. The film follows the story of the book fairly closely but with one important deviation. At the start of the film the narrator, Nick Carraway, played by Toby Maguire (Spiderman), is being treated by a psychiatrist for alcoholism and is encouraged to write a novel as a form of therapy. The novel is The Great Gatsby. This variation on the story as told in the book works very well in the film and is quite consistent with the almost inextricable links between Scott Fitzgerald’s own life and his art. The author himself stated that he found it difficult to

distinguish himself from the characters that he created – is Nick Carraway actually Scott Fitzgerald? For much of the film Jay Gatsby is an indistinct figure and is the subject of many rumours and stories. Everyone has heard of him but no one seems to know him and most of the people at the wild parties at his mansion on Long Island have never met him. The soundtrack for the parties unexpectedly includes some hip hop by Jay Z. This does complement the darkly hedonistic mood but it also detracts from the period feel of the film and more of the music by composers of the time, including George Gershwin and Fats Waller, may have worked better. Nick Carraway is Gatsby’s neighbour on Long Island and he becomes his confidante, although their limited friendship is tested by Nick’s unease in the

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June, 2013

From scarves to cards, these fun, bird-themed finds are sure to be flying off the shelves on the High Street

1. Bird scarf, £7.99, felt brooch, £8.99, acrylic brooch, £4.99 – all from Trigaci 2. Colourful bird feeder, £2.49, in a variety of colours from CM3 3. Bird-themed greeting cards from Church’s Newsagent

4. Bird-themed gifts from Polkadot. Mug, £7.49, purse, £4.99, trinket box, £5.99 5. Birdhouse decoration, £4.50, from Bridezillas

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June, 2013

Spotlight on

Saltford Saltford is a vibrant community of more than 4,000 people – a large village situated between Bath and Bristol with as many residents aged 17 years and under as over 65. Situated onthe A4, alongside the River Avon, the main-line railway and the cycle path, it is a perfect hub for activities in the Avon Valley. Saltford is known for its history: the conservation area

(“old village”) includes St Mary’s Church (over 1,000 years old with a Saxon tower), a manor house believed to be the oldest continuously occupied private house in England and the restored ancient Brass Mill (1720) which is a gem of industrial heritage. Saltford is surrounded by open countryside, with lanes and riverside walks in an area of outstanding beauty.

The Brass Mill was at the cutting edge of technological and economic development in its heyday and today Saltford is again the home of successful and growing businesses. There are 200 businesses in Saltford, many involving home-working. In 2012 Saltford had the fourth best figures in the B&NES area for business start-ups. Saltford Business Network (SBN) has been formed to

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June, 2013

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Spotlight on

Saltford

encourage local people and companies to use Saltford-based businesses. David Hewett, of iTeam Solutions, a modern IT company in the old village, said: “Saltford is a great place for business because of its location between two cities and its good communications.” Saltford is known for its wealth of activities for all ages and interests. Community involvement is centred

on the Saltford Community Association with its many affiliated organisations. There is a thriving Saltford Environment Group and Saltford has just been awarded Fairtrade Village status. Saltford Golf Club hosted the prestigious English Ladies’ Open Tournament in 2011. Saltford is a confident place where people enjoy living and working. Saltford Festival showcases all that is best about

Saltford. Visit Saltford and see for yourself.  The Saltford Business Network website www.saltfordbusiness network.org.uk offers a free listing for any business that is based in and/ or operating in Saltford. For £20 per year a Saltford business can join the network and among other benefits this gives the opportunity to have an enhanced website entry.

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June, 2013

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June, 2013

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For June, we meet Richard Franklin, owner of Franks Window Cleaning

trust with them, so they know what to expect from us. Also working locally allows people to talk to us and say hello when they see us outside work in the High Street, for example. What makes your service different from other companies? We listen to our customers and take on board what they want. So over the last two years our customers have been able to pay online, by bank transfer or send cheques. We can also text or email the night before to let customers know we are coming if there are access problems. All our commercial customers are fully invoiced from our computer system and all customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; details are kept on the system to tell us when their windows are due to be cleaned. We clean all windows, skylight, frames, sills and doors as standard and all are cleaned within health and safety laws which we take seriously. We also have a website on which you can see all our services, contact us and pay for services.

Tell us about your company. The company was set up in 2006 after a change of careers. I worked with a local window cleaner called Chris Thomas for a month to learn all aspects of the job, I then set out on my own with some customers Chris gave me. Work has since come in from word of mouth, the company grew and it was then decided that we would have to change to keep up with the workload. In 2007 the decision was taken to change from using ladders to the more modern way of cleaning windows, where we invested in a van and a water-fed pole system. This year has seen the added service of pressure washing so we can now clean all of your property. Ben Allen joined the company on a part-time basis, and we also use a sub-contractor Joey Harvin. What service do you provide to the people of Keynsham? We clean windows for commercial and domestic customers around Keynsham, Saltford, Bath, and other areas of Bristol. We also clean fascias, gutters, soffits and conservatory roofs, solar panels, and we pressure wash. We clean windows on a 5/6-week schedule but are happy to work with the customer to meet their needs. We are reliable, trustworthy, fully-uniformed and always turn up with a friendly

smile. We can also clean the windows above conservatories, and the hard-to-reach windows that are normally left by other window cleaners, which is done from the safety of the ground. We also can clean windows up to 75ft from the safety of the ground. On commercial jobs we can also use types of powered access platforms, including scissor lifts, and cherry pickers when needed to fully comply with health and safety.

What are your plans for the future of the business? We are in the middle of a City and Guilds course on health and safety, which will give us an even better knowledge of the laws. There is also ongoing training for the use of powered access platforms. Hopefully we will also at some time have another van on the road and we have started taking on customers outside of the local area and covering other parts of Bristol and Bath. What is the best part of running your business and working in Keynsham? Seeing our regular customers and building up friendships and

Contact: Franks Window Cleaning, Keynsham. Call 0117 908 9400/07887 908118. Website: www.frankthewindowcleaner.com or find us on Facebook.

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June, 2013

ADVERTORIAL

Agents report offers up 69% Estate and lettings agency Andrews, which has its headquarters in Keynsham, says offers received for properties are currently up by 69 per cent yearon-year. The firm held 1,200 viewings and received 105 offers on properties for sale during its Big Weekend of open house viewings and all-day valuations last month. Buy-to-let activity is also surging, with existing landlords seeking to add to their property portfolios and would-be landlords making inquiries. On June 13, branches are holding property sessions where people can receive an in-depth overview of the local lettings market and advice on what makes a good buy-to-let property. There will be a “property trail” of suitable houses currently on the market and information

on the best buy-to-let mortgage deals. Due to the current rush of interest in property, Andrews has launched a weekly Twitter chat where users can ask questions and join conversations using the hash-tag #propertyhour. Property experts will be online to answer questions live from noon2pm on Wednesdays throughout June. Chief executive Michael Robson says the initiatives are designed to make buying, selling and letting properties more convenient for all parties involved. “Our clients are busy people, and they want to see results quickly. “We are doing all we can to help make property matters run as smoothly and efficiently as possible,” he explains. More information on Andrews is available at www.andrews online.co.uk.

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E OP R

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This is a property of outstanding elegance and grace, set in a sought-after location, with excellent local schools and links to Bath and Bristol. Set on a plot of approximately one third of an acre, this fine detached residence has been lovingly renovated by its current owners. Inside, the property is spectacularly spacious on the ground floor, with no fewer than five reception rooms, a superb high quality kitchen, a very large utility room and cloakroom to the ground floor. The upstairs is just as surprising, not least by the elegant landing. There are four bedrooms, including a generous master bedroom suite with en-suite bathroom, a guest room with en-suite shower room, a further two double bedrooms and a newly fitted family bathroom.

Norman Road, Saltford

ÂŁ599,950

The rear garden is a delight, with a southerly aspect, well-tended, enclosed and mainly lawned â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ideal for family life. Quite simply words do not do this fine home justice. Contact Andrews on 0117 986 9000 or at 10 Temple Street.

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Sport

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June, 2013

Mixed start to summer fixtures for Fry’s tennis

Fitness focus with personal trainer Craig Weeks Hi everyone, my name is Craig Weeks and I am an advanced personal trainer and wellness coach Strength and bodyweight training will be among the most popular fitness trends of 2013. Bodyweight training requires minimal equipment and includes classic exercises such as pull-ups, push-ups and sit-ups. Bodyweight exercises are great as you don’t need any fancy expensive gym equipment and they can be done anywhere you choose. The secret is to engage as many muscles as possible while quickly moving from one exercise to the next which will keep your heart rate high. I like to carry out a resistance exercise followed immediately by a high energy cardio move that works the same

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muscle group. This is known as the “zig zag method”. It effectively increases lean muscle mass and decreases body fat by engaging more muscle fibres while burning a ton of calories in a short amount of time For more information on this and for other health, fitness, weight gain or weight loss advice please feel free to contact me. Healthy regards, Craig Weeks Adv dip pt Tel: 07917 731 401 email: craig@cwfitness solutions.co.uk Web: www.cwfitness solutions.co.uk

May saw the start of the Avon Summer League season for Fry’s who have one men’s and one ladies' team entered. In Division 4A, Fry’s Men started their campaign with a tough away fixture to Redland IV. In horrible wet and windy conditions, Fry’s had a torrid time losing all four matches en route to an overall 10 point to 0 loss. Next up was another tough fixture at home to Writhlington II. It was an improved performance from Fry’s who, while not at their best, battled hard to win two of the four matches. With the fixture all square, Fry’s were unfortunate to just miss out on the deciding bonus point due to winning fewer overall games than their opponents and thus lost the match 6 points to 4. In Division 2B, Fry’s Ladies got their season started with a home match against a talented

Clifton I side. It was a tense, close match from beginning to end and, after a long evening’s play, both sides finished with two wins. With the overall sets and games exactly even it meant the match was a rare 5 points to 5 draw. Sadly, Fry’s couldn't build on this performance and were well beaten 10 points to 0 in their next fixture against perennial rivals Knowle. It’s been a mixed start to the Summer League season for both teams but, with eight more matches to play, both teams will hope the best is yet to come. If the French Open and imminent Wimbledon tournament have put you in the mood for playing tennis again, please contact Ann Smith on 0117 986 2845 or email medwaysmith@yahoo. co.uk for more information about playing at Fry Tennis Club.

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June, 2013

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Sport

Club ready to aim for next goal after season’s success A football club celebrating promotion for two of its teams this season won’t be resting on its laurels, with sights set firmly on the Western League. Fry Club FC had a hugely successful 2012/2013 season, with the 1st team winning the Brunel Shield and then securing promotion to the Somerset County League Premier Division, a return to the level the club was playing at in 2007/2008. Fry’s Reserves finished in a healthy sixth place in the division below the 1st team, while the club’s B team gained promotion for the second season in a row. Fry’s 1st team manager Rob Mallett said the highlight of the season was his team’s Premier Division promotion, an achievement everyone at the club had been working towards for a long time, he said. “Since day one of becoming the 1st team manager I have felt the need to create a real club atmosphere,” said Rob. “What I mean by that is where everybody at the club from the 1st team players to people who work in the clubhouse itself really buy into what we are looking to do as a football club and really show their support. “This has been the foundation for the success we’ve achieved this year, as a good club atmosphere automatically means a good team spirit. At whatever level you play at unless you have a team spirit you will not be successful.” However, Rob said he felt playing in the Premier Division was the “minimum requirement” for a club the size of Fry’s and

no one would be resting on their laurels. He said: “I now have ambitions at pushing this club, both on the pitch and off the pitch, towards Western League football. “I am not saying that is going to be easy but that has to be where we aim for. With the new facilities that will hopefully be available to us in the not too distant future it’s a really exciting time to be involved with the club and I believe that this season has firmly laid the foundations for what we are looking to build here.” The club is also looking to recruit a new manager for the Reserve and A teams. Anyone interested should contact Rob Mallett on 07725 138206. Find out more about Fry Club FC at

www.pitchero.com/clubs/fry clubfc or follow them on Twitter @FrysFC.

 Pictured are Fry Club 1st team who will be playing in Somerset County League Premier Division

Golf tips from experts at open day Free lessons for beginners of any age will be on offer at the Saltford Golf Club Open Day this month. Former world long driving champion Paul Barrington will be putting on a display, including his Trick Shot Show, on the club’s practice ground from 2pm. There will also be tethered balloon rides, priced £5, from

2pm during the open day on Sunday, June 9. The free golf lessons are being staged by PGA professional Sam Hughes from 3pm. The day will end with a barbecue and jazz band featuring Hannah Wedlock from 5.30pm, with tickets, priced at £10 including food, available from the golf club or Saltford Hall.

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June, 2013

Busy start to the season for club Thirty members of Keynsham Bowling Club recently competed for the Ray Percival Trophy. They were split into 10 teams and played one another over a day to establish the winning team. Ray served the bowling club in many capacities but particularly as chairman for five years, retiring in 2004. After he passed away in 2005 his widow Beryl donated a shield for a competition to be played in his memory. The picture shows the winning team, from the left, Derek Phelps, Roy Wilton and Mike Barrow receiving the shield from

the club’s vice president Hazel Waldon. At the start of the season the ladies’ and gents’ captains chose the Motor Neurone Disease Association as the club’s charity for the year in memory of much-respected member Dave Shaw, who passed away last year. A concert by the Avon and Somerset Constabulary Male Voice Choir and the Tenby Male Choir at St John’s Church stewarded by bowling club members raised £1,750 and a cheque was presented to the charity on May 1.

Derek Phelps, Roy Wilton and Mike Barrow receiving the Ray Percival Trophy from Keynsham Bowling Club’s vice president Hazel Waldon

Frys bowlers begin with win Thursday, April 25 The start of the Bristol and District Bowls League saw last season’s Division 4 winners, Frys, begin with a trip to Severnvale. On a breezy night, the game started tight with two rinks keeping the score tight. Like last season, one Frys rink quickly pulled away to give Frys an early lead. On a tricky green with some interesting lines, one Frys rink continued to gradually run up the score to win the rink by 17 shots. With the other two rinks unable to pull through in the last couple of ends, Frys came away with an eight-shot win picking up six points which leaves Frys fifth in the early standings. Scores: Rink 1: Lost 15-18, Rink 2: Won 21-4, Rink 3: Lost 16-22, Overall: Frys 52-44 Severnvale (6-4). Thursday, May 2 Frys Bowls Club looked to continue on from the previous week’s 6-4 win over Severnvale with St Anne’s Park, the first visitors to Somerdale of the new season. On a still and sunny evening, the game got off to a tight start with two rinks close and St Anne’s gaining a reasonable lead on the third rink. A tight contest saw Frys hold a few shots advantage at halfway, making for a potentially close finish. That wasn’t to materialise, with two Frys rinks pulling away to record sizable wins, which eased the pressure on the third rink

who came back from the early deficit to take a short lead but only to lose out on the last few ends, leaving Frys unfortunate not to have taken all 10 points. Scores: Rink 1: 15-17; Rink 2: 22-12; Rink 3: 21-6. Overall: Frys 58-35 St Anne's Park (8-2). Thursday, May 9 Frys travelled to Kingswood and Hanham looking to extend their two-game winning streak to start the season. On a windy and rainy evening, the game started tightly with one rink having a tied end in the early stages. As the game progressed, one rink from each team started to edge away with the other rink tight, leading to what was to be a close finish. After playing through the rain, Frys held a lead going into the final ends, only for Kingswood and Hanham to get the shots required on the final two ends to win the game by one shot with Frys only taking two points from the encounter. Scores: Rink 1: 1215; Rink 2: 20-11; Rink 3: 15-22; Overall: Frys 47-48 Kingswood and Hanham (2-8). Thursday, May 16 Frys Bowls Club were looking to get back to winning ways by welcoming City and Port of Bristol to a sunny Somerdale. One Frys rink quickly found a groove and pulled away to a nice lead with another Frys rink getting an advantage with City and Port taking the lead on the 3rd rink.

By halfway, Frys held a good lead and looked to hold it the rest of the way. Good bowls were played across the rinks all night, as City and Port closed the deficit on one rink and took a small lead in the closing stages to tighten the game up. With City and Port winning one rink, it left Frys 6 shots up with two ends to play. One rink got the one shot needed to pick up a draw and the other rink dropping one shot but winning the rink, Frys took a 50-44 win with seven points coming from the encounter. Thursday, May 23 Frys travelled to Long Ashton on a windy night with rain mixed in at times. A mixed start saw scores tight with Long Ashton taking a lead on one rink and never looking back. Two Frys rinks took a lead to balance up the scores, but Long Ashton battled back on one rink to eventually win the rink by two, with Frys winning one rink. Long Ashton won the game 57-41 with Frys only taking two points. Scores: Rink 1: 8-26; Rink 2: 1410; Rink 3: 21-19; Overall: Frys 41-57 Long Ashton (2-8). Friday, May 24 This was the first round of the Somerset Turnbull Cup and Frys travelled to Imperial looking to improve from the previous night’s loss. A windy night made tricky conditions. The match started close with no club taking much early from the game. A

couple of rinks from both clubs pulled back early deficits to leave the game tight at halfway. As the wind continued, the game got ever more tense with Imperial winning the first rink. With the remaining three rinks playing their final ends simultaneously, Frys led by six going into the final ends. Frys kept their composure, with one rink picking up one shot and the others dropping one and two shots, Frys took a 82-78 win in a tight game with the biggest rink margin only being three shots in favour of Frys. Scores: Rink 1: 20-19; Rink 2: 25-22; Rink 3: 17-19; Rink 4: 20-18; Overall: Frys 82-78 Imperial. Friendly Results Saturday, April 20: Frys 95-91 Norwest Saturday, April 27: Frys lost to Bloomfield Saturday, May 4: Frys 99-148 Greenbank Saturday, May 11: Frys 69-79 Eastvillians Saturday, May 25: Frys 78-83 Bristol Arrow. If any one would like to join Frys Bowls Cub, please contact secretary Christopher Day by email at cwandjlday@btinternet.com, on 01225 872959 or visit www. frysbowlsclub.webs.com. You can also follow Frys Bowls Club on Twitter @FrysBowls for up-to-date fixtures and results.

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