BRISTOL THE CITYist My

Meet Olympic-level fundraiser, Charlotte Nichols MBE

Charlotte Nichols MBE and friend Stuart Bates MBE raised £185,000 for Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) doing all 102 Olympic sports over the 17 days of the Tokyo Games. They named the challenge ‘the Spennylympics’ in memory of Stuart’s brother Spenny, who sadly died from the disease. In February, Charlotte and Stuart were officially appointed MBE.

Bring your lawn to life

The Wildlife Trusts and Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) are calling on gardeners to reimagine their lawns this summer as they launch their ‘Bring your lawn to life’ initiative.

The charities are encouraging gardeners to experiment with a new look lawn in 2023 for the benefit of wildlife and also the wider environment. They are inviting people to raise the blade on their mower and cut their grass less regularly, embrace daisies, dandelions, clovers and other naturally flowering plants, and even grow container lawns if space is at a premium.

Helen Bostock, Senior Wildlife Specialist at the RHS, says: “Lawns, while central to many garden designs, are often overlooked as important ecosystems in favour of the plants in beds that border them. But they’re home to a huge amount of wildlife and help mitigate the impact of climate change. We want to inspire people to get up close and personal with their lawns this year, discover what can be found in their swathes of green and dabble with new, more hands-off means of management.”

• wildaboutgardens.org.uk

I am a fifth-year student at the University of Bristol, originally from Oxford. I study medicine and also took a year out to complete a Global Health degree in Bristol. Bristol is a really great place to be a student, there is always so much going on and something to suit everyone. It is a city where it feels like everyone is welcome, a city that cares about you and brings out the best in you, but in the nicest way also doesn’t care, wear what you want, do what you want, be who you want to be.

It was such a surreal and special day to receive my MBE from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle in February. Princess Anne is not only the Royal Patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the charity that we fundraised for, but she is also a former Olympian herself. We had a lovely conversation about what we had done and her personal interest in the challenge too, the equestrian events, and about Doddie Weir and all of his excellent fundraising that she was involved in as the Royal Patron of Scottish rugby. It felt very personal, there couldn’t have been a better suited person to present the medal to me.

There have been so many highlights in the last 12 months, we have met so many amazing people through this journey, other fundraisers, volunteers, carers, and I feel so lucky to have made those connections. Getting a text from my dad out of the blue saying that we were going to be getting MBEs in Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday Honours List while sat in the Bristol SU writing my dissertation was probably the strangest moment of my life. It was also an absolute honour to then be invited to attend Her Majesty’s funeral at Westminster Abbey as a representative of the honours system. It has been really rewarding to see that the money we raised is really making a difference. MND research has made some great progress in the past year and it just shows that fundraising really is important and that it does work.

There are endless places in Bristol to go to be entertained, but one of my favourites is exploring Arnolfini. I have also seen some great live music across Bristol; Trinity centre, Thekla and Rough Trade/SWX are some of my favourites.

There are so many beautiful spots in Bristol to feel inspired. I think from a student perspective a really important escape is the Downs and the area around the suspension bridge. Being so close to home yet able to completely escape the city lifestyle is really special.

I recently really enjoyed The Traitors series and obviously, as every medical student does, I am constantly at some stage of re-watching Grey’s Anatomy. I have also really enjoyed the sports docuseries on Netflix. The Last Dance and Full Swing have been two of my favourites. I am listening to a lot of Dermot Kennedy, Noah Khan, Westlife, and local Bristol artist Wil Owen is a great addition to my study playlist too.

While I can think of one hundred amazing sports people and public figures that I would love to have dinner with, if I could choose anyone from any era, I would have to choose my granny. She passed away while I was in my first year of university and I would just love to be able to fill her in on everything that has happened since.

I think the way I have gone through life so far was recently put into words by a friend of mine, Mia, who coined the phrase “Chaos and Good fortune”. Basically, this says that chaos is great, saying yes to the plans no matter how crazy (especially when the plan is trying to do 102 Olympic events in 17 days) is a lot more likely to lead to good fortune, fun and great memories than missing out on opportunities. If what you’re doing isn’t so off piste that it doesn’t put out of your comfort zone and terrify you at times, then you aren’t doing it right. Life is short, and I want to squeeze every last drop out of it. So say yes more, be more chaotic, and take all of the good fortune that life brings.

• justgiving.com/fundraising/spennylympics

Inside Out: Bristol Beacon invites the city to celebrate music

Bringing music to everyone, Bristol Beacon’s Inside Out will take over its Bridgehouse – the new name for the venue’s foyer space –on Saturday 15 April for an entire day of free workshops, performances and activities for all.

The city is invited to join in the musical discovery and get a taste of how they can get involved in the venue’s future. Dedicated to making space for music, everyone is welcome to explore all three levels of the building ahead of the venue’s much-anticipated reopening on 30 November 2023.

The lower ground floor will feature music and performances on the Listen Stage. On the upper levels, The Find Out Stage will be the place to hear from Bristol Beacon’s Youth Voice panel and learn more about the transformation through activities. The Act Out Stage will engage visitors with workshops and interactive activities such as ‘Create your own Gig Poster’ with local arts collective Graft”

Connie Badley, Community Engagement Officer at Bristol Beacon said: “We’re so excited to invite everyone in the city to join us for a free day of performances, workshops and musical fun. Inside Out will be a chance to discover all our musical opportunities under one roof and find out more about our transformed performance and education spaces set to reopen in November this year. There’s something for everyone and we can't wait for you to join in!”

• bristolbeacon.org

Trinity shortlisted for Best UK Grassroots Venue

Bristol music venue Trinity has been shortlisted for the coveted Grassroots Venue: Spirit of the Scene award at this year’s Music Week Awards. The awards are the UK’s only music awards that recognise labels, publishing, live, retail, A&R, radio, marketing and PR. Winners of this award are chosen by public vote.

Trinity, based in the Trinity Centre a Grade II*-listed former church, is well known for its rich music history and has been nominated after a year of sell-out shows and breakthrough acts including Joy Crookes, Bakar, and Nova Twins.

The team have programmed some of the best up-and-coming artists in the Bristol scene and beyond with Grove, Booty Bass, Ishmael Ensemble, Yemz, Sister Nancy, Gardna, and Don Letts all performing as part of Trinity Presents.

The nomination also recognises Trinity’s community programme as well as the commitment to creating opportunities for the cultural workfoce. Trinity’s community programme, delivered in partnership with organisations and community groups, offers regular free-to-access or subsided activities and events. Resident groups include Aid Box Community, which supports refugees and asylum seekers in Bristol, peer-to-peer network Black Creatives and the Misfits Theatre Company’s Rhythm of the Night –a monthly night club for adults with learning disabilities. The charity also has secured employment for four entry level staff following the governments’ Kickstarter scheme that ran in 2021/22.

• trinitybristol.org.uk Image: Ishmael Ensemble, Trinity Present. Photo credit Khali Ackford

Sean Paul announced as Siren Festival headliner

Taking over Bristol’s Harbourside this July, Siren is back at the Bristol Amphitheatre to bring three nights of drum and bass, jungle and dancehall anthems. Award-winning hit maker Sean Paul will headline on Friday 28 July and make sure Bristolians are stuck like glue to the harbourside this summer.

In the last 20-plus years of musicmaking, Sean has earned several Grammy and Billboard Music award nominations and is the recipient of an American Music award, MOBO awards, Soul Train awards and more and is the only Jamaican artist to have won an American Music award (2006) for Favourite Pop/Rock Male Artist.

Kicking off the festival on Thursday, alongside Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra, are newly added special guests and South West legends DJ Roni Size and Dynamite MC, plus David Rodigan and local MC Gardna. Prepare yourself for some of the best in local DNB with second stages hosted by Intrigue and Invicta Audio on Thursday and Saturday respectively. From the founding moments of jungle and drum and bass, to transforming underground electronic music for festival stages, Bristol’s own Mercury Music Prize winner Roni Size is coming fresh to the Siren stage on Thursday 27 July as an enormous special guest.

This epic summer party celebrates globally-renowned underground tracks as well as the two year anniversary of Siren.

• Get your tickets here: sirenbristol.com