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The cityist MY BATH
NEWS BITES
THE BUZZ
HUNTING FOR JUNIOR JOURNALISTS How would you like to meet your favourite authors face-to-face and go backstage at Europeās largest kidsā book festival? How would you like the chance to ask authors and illustrators questions about their work? Bath Festivals are looking for three talented young people to win places as Junior Journalists at this yearās festival. There are three age groups in the competition: 7ā9, 9ā11 and 12 and over. If you are 9 before 1 September 2022, you qualify for the 9ā11 age category, if your ninth birthday is after 1 September 2022, you should enter the 7ā9 age group. To enter, simply write a review of your favourite book in no more than 200 words and why you would recommend it. Send your entries to: info@bathfestivals.org.uk by the deadline of Wednesday 31 August and donāt forget to include your name, age, address and email contact. Youāll also need to be available with an adult (someone 18 or older) for the weekend of 24ā25 September and/or the weekend of 1ā2 October to attend Bath Childrenās Literature Festival. The three chosen Junior Journalists will join the team for the festival. Theyāll get to wear a Junior Journalist lanyard, to attend a number of events, report on those events and to go behind the scenes to meet the visiting authors. Reports by Junior Journalists will be posted on the festival website. Plus there will be a bundle of free books to take home at the end of the festival. bathfestivals.org.uk/childrens-literature
The Junior Journalists in 2021
Clair Ponting Clair Ponting has lived in Bath all her life and started work at the age of 16 at Denning & Co. Chartered Accountants in Queen Square. She works at the Bristol Law Society, teaches rowing as a volunteer and also takes a line dancing class in Bath Where do you live in Bath? I live in Upper Weston, just a mile from the heart of Weston Village. My parents moved here in 1976. I love the fact that the Village was mentioned in the Doomsday book with all the history surrounding it. What memories do you have of your childhood in Bath? Dad worked for a Bath removal company, and Mum worked part-time. Iām an only child and my parents didnāt have much spare cash, so I couldnāt have the latest fashions or toys, but it made me value and cherish things. My fondest, and earliest, memory was visiting my maternal grandparentsā sweet shop in Combe Down village. Dad was a human satnav and luckily some of this has rubbed off on me ā how to be respectful and talk to people and most importantly, how to make a great cup of tea! What is your background and training? I went to Oldfield Girlsā School and wasnāt sure what career I wanted, but one of my options was typing, which I excelled at. When I sat my GCSEs, I had already secured a place on a YTS (the forerunner to the modern apprenticeship) and a job at Denning & Co Chartered Accountants based in Queen Square. I left school on 19 June 1989 and started work the following day, aged 16. I will forever be grateful to my first boss for giving me the opportunity. I stayed at Dennings for 10 years before changing direction and becoming a Legal Secretary/PA/paralegal. What brought you to your current career? I didnāt so much choose my current career as it chose me. In 2008 during the recession I was made redundant, and for the first time I had to look beyond Bath for work. The redundancy unsettled me, as did the sudden death of my father, and I moved jobs frequently, often temping or taking contract work. That changed in November 2014, when I joined Bristol Law Society (BLS). Iāve never worked so hard in my life but also never felt I belonged anywhere more. I can truly say this is my dream and forever job! Have you ever felt tempted to leave Bath? A few times, at crossroads in my life. I usually go to Bordeaux, my second home, to
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think and work out a new pathway. I was lucky to do the Bristol Bordeaux Exchange at school when I was 14 and Iām still in contact with my exchange family, 35 years on! Who is your favourite historical person associated with the city and why? William Harbutt, inventor of plasticine, who lived in Belvedere before building his factory in Bathampton. In the 1960s, Dad was in the Retained Fire Service and told me stories of the fires at the factory. The factory has long gone, replaced by housing. Tell us about your line dancing The step class I attended switched to line dancing in 1996. After six months, I was asked to learn how to teach because I had an aptitude for it. Iāve been teaching ever since; dancing makes me feel alive. My class at Ascension Church Hall started over 13 years ago. The class ethos is of laughter, friendship and exercise rather than high achievement, and we also try to support charity events. Anyone is welcome. How did you become a rowing coach? My involvement in rowing started 17 years ago supporting my partner who was a rower. When we parted I joined Avon County Rowing Club as a beginner in July 2007. I qualified as a coach in April 2017 and specialise in teaching adult beginners. In 2018, I was honoured as my club named a boat after me and I was awarded regional volunteer of the year by British Rowing. In 2019, my beginners won 12 out of 16 races at Warwick Regatta winning the Victor Ludorum Cup. I was so proud of them; they had been rowing just five months. Iām passionate about the sport and it gives me an immense sense of achievement to see someone progress and develop. It is a voluntary position, but it means as much to me as my career. What motto do you live your life by? My father used to say, āI only want to helpā and we laughed at him. As Iām getting older, I can understand what he meant! ā Best Foot Forward Line Dancing: bestfootforward.dance@yahoo.co.uk Avon County Rowing Club: avoncountyrowingclub.org.uk/learn-and-join
