The Bristol Magazine May 2024

SHOW STOPPERS

From the big top to the fields, get your hands on the hottest tickets in town

QUEEN OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

Tina Turner’s smash-hit musical is coming to town

THE OUTLAWS

Bristol’s favourite criminals return for a third series

FIND YOUR FESTIVAL VIBE

Head-to-toe party looks

BOWLED OVER

Mark Alleyne is back at Gloucestershire Cricket, this time as head coach

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EDITOR from the

Despite so much of our lives being arranged, booked and paid for by smartphone, I still have to write ever y single thing I’ve said I’m going to attend in a paper diar y. If it ’ s not in the tatty green 2024 bible that I carr y around with me like my life depends on it, it ain’t happening And considering there’s an insane amount of things to do and see in Bristol coming up this summer, if I ever lose this hallowed text, then I’ ll be losing out big time

I can’t believe how much the city can cram into its 42 square miles ever y day We simply don’t have enough pages in the magazine to shout about ever y single worthwhile gig, exhibition, game, festival, dinner and all the other weird and wonderful goings on. But we ’ ve given it a bloody good go this month.

So, if you ’ re anything like me, grab those paper diaries and get ready to scrawl all over them

There’s something for ever yone in this issue: NoFit State’s new big top circus show, charity runs, WalkFest, DIASPORA!, rugby matches, a wildflower meadow taking over Broadmead, a whole weekender of world-class gigs at Ashton Gate, an exclusive inter view with Lynda La P lante ahead of her appearance at CrimeFest, a moving choral performance in Bristol Cathedral, a specially-curated festival guide crammed with ever ything from comedy to stor y-telling happening this summer across the region, our usual W hat ’ s On and Family Diar y pages –and we ’ ve even thrown in a preview of Tina Turner’s stunning musical that ’ s headed to Bristol in a year from now for good measure. That list is by no means exhaustive, but we’d all need a far bigger diar y, and to probably give up our day jobs too

Publisher Steve Miklos

Email: steve@thebristolmagazine co uk

Financial Director Jane Miklos

Email: jane@thebristolmagazine co uk

Editor Rosanna Spence

Tel: 0117 974 2800

Email: rosanna@thebristolmagazine co uk

Assistant Editor/Web Editor Jasmine Tyagi

Email: jasmine@thebristolmagazine co uk

Production Manager Jeff Osborne

Email: production@thebristolmagazine co uk

Advertising Sales Liz Grey

Email: liz@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

For advertising enquiries please contact us on: 0117 974 2800 Email: sales@thebristolmagazine.co.uk

The Bristol Magazine is published by MC Publishing Ltd An independent publisher.

Every month The Bristol Magazine is hand delivered to more than 15,000 homes in selected areas. We also deliver direct to companies and businesses across the city. Additionally there are many places where we have floor-stands and units for free pick-up:

Rosanna Spence

O

NoFit State Circus’ show SABOTAGE is being per formed in a big top tent in St Pauls from 18 May to 2 June. Tickets can be booked at nofitstate org (Image credit: Sigrid Spinnox)

5 things to do

Book these tickets

Two huge music events featuring world-class artists are taking place back-to-back at Ashton Gate across one weekend in June

Saturday 22 June will see BS3 take over the stadium for the day for a festival hosted by Fatman Scoop. Ten artists will perform across two stages, featuring headliner Ne-Yo, Dizzee Rascal (who popped to town for an exclusive surprise show in Cabot Circus earlier this year to launch his new album Don’t Take it Personal), Bristol drum ‘ n ’ bass and jungle legend Roni Size, Craig David ’ s T5 show (based on his exclusive penthouse parties in Miami) and Jess Glynne among other international music icons.

The following day (23 June) Kings of L eon will return to Bristol 21 years and eight albums since their last visit, bringing their Can We Please Have Fun world tour to the city Supporting the multi Grammy awardwinning rock band are The Vaccines and Holly Humberstone Three hospitality packages are available to book, one of which includes a three-course meal, fully stocked drinks fridge and private balcony. ashtongatestadium.co.uk

Cheer on the runners

General places in the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run have already sold out, but at the time of writing there were still some charity slots available for 19 May Starting in the heart of the city, runners will pass some of Bristol’s most iconic landmarks, so why not make a day of it and cheer them along the way? g reatr un.org

Watch the Bears

Bristol Bears will welcome Saracens to Ashton Gate Stadium for the Summer Session party on 11 May, the final home game of the regular season. Get right among the crowds, which are expected to fill the stadium, as Pat Lam’s men face one of their main rivals in the race for the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals (kick-off at 3 05pm) Af ter the final whistle, continue the fun in the Fan V illage, where the Easy Sundays will head line the S S i L k f d li DJ li match music, food stalls, po Area and more br istolbearsr ugby.com

Listen to orche Pink Floyd

Join Bournemouth Symphony to hear the epic hits of Pink F l reimagined! The full forces of Bournemouth Symphony Orch unite under the baton of condu Harrison, pictured (credit: And Holdsworth), to explore these from one of the greatest rock b time at Bristol Beacon on 10 M

There’ ll be a selection of tracks

You Crazy Diamond to Learnin Brick In The Wall Tickets from

Preapre for another full-on, boisterous, and audaciously fierce performance from the NoF it State circus troupe

SABOTAGE brings a darker, grittier, and more subversive edge to NoF it State’s trademark large-scale contemporar y circus shows. Back in the Big Top with incredible new acts, original music, new apparatus and a more theatrical feel, SABOTAGE explores themes of separation and belonging Saboteurs stand out They stand up They challenge the establishment They are heard Performances take place in St Pauls from 18 May until 2 June. nofitstate.org

UPFEST PRESENTS confirms artists

UPFEST PRESENTS has announced street art legends Inkie, Jody, Audrey Kawasaki and many more from across all four corners of the globe will join hundreds of artists performing across its 17-day cultural programme. (17 May until 2 June). Inviting artists of all mediums to join the street-artextravaganza, UPFEST fans can also expect global sensations such as EPOD, A L Grime, Aspire, Liam Bononi, Jagung, Artez, Georgie Webster, HazardOne and more to join headline artist Mister Samo to unleash total creativity on the city upfest.co.uk

Psst.... The third season of Stephen Merchant ’s hit show The Outlaws, which is filmed in Bristol, is set to return to our screens this month on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The series follow a gaggle of bickering lawbreakers forced together on a community payback scheme who discover a bag of cash But, as it turns out, they're not the only people af ter it The first two series have been a roaring success, so it ’d be a crime to miss it

The Cityist My Bristol

Wildscreen ARK launches search for next big wildlife star

Young people in the south west are being invited to celebrate nature in their neighbourhood from May, with short films and photos for the new Wild West Youth Film & Photography Competition Bristol-based nonprofit Wildscreen’s project ARK has teamed up with West of England Mayoral Combined Authority and Metro Mayor Dan Norris to launch the initiative, which seeks to uncover fresh talent in wildlife filmmaking and photography Winning work will be shown at the internationallyacclaimed Wildscreen Festival in October and on the Wildscreen ARK online nature hub All entries must be produced on a smartphone device and films must be no longer than one minute to be eligible They can feature animals, plants, and natural world scenes from across the south west, but no humans There will be two age categories for entries: 13–15 and 16–18 The closing date is 31 August 2024.

wildscreen.org/ark

Meet Lizzie Stephens, managing director of Bedminster Down Community Farm

I was born in Bristol – the youngest of five siblings – into the Cole family on my dad ’ s side, which is apparently the largest family in Bristol. Though two of my siblings have passed away, my huge family has remained in Bristol They all come to the farm for events and parties

At the far m we have two pet sheep (our woolly lawnmowers), bees, 100 chickens, Bantams, ducks, rabbits, guinea pigs, Regg ie the pet pig (who’s a spoilt boy) and meat pigs.

The volunteers help with the animal husbandr y, cleaning out and feeding We have work experience students and corporate volunteers that help us too We love having volunteers, not just for the animals, but for helping with planting, food growing, weeding and clearing as well

An average day in my life at the far m is so changeable, it depends on what ’ s happened overnight – like recent fox attacks, for example. Generally, I go and feed the animals, muck them out, collect and wash eggs, prep for the next day, do some random tidying and maintenance jobs around the farm, some seed sowing and planting, digging and weeding Then I’ ll come home to cook, c lean and feed the animals we have there (we’re currently raising a brood of home-hatched Bantams) and get ready for my night shift as a support worker.

W ithout communit y far ms, Br istol would be a poorer place.

We need people to get involved and support these little gems to keep them going They ’ re so important for the cit y, offering little spots of fresh air, and offering great places for adults and children to learn how to care for animals, as well as understanding where the meat comes from and how it ’ s produced.

Allotments and far ms can take you out of your ever yday life, these spaces are amazing. They are good for you physically and mentally, as you ’ re getting exercise, growing fresh food and talking to other likeminded people There’s a sense of community too, a real team spirit Allotments are tiny patches of land that will never belong to us, yet we love them, we tend to and care for them knowing we are just borrowing them – whether we choose to move on, get too old, or pass them to the next guardian, it is a right and a privilege to have one If only people realised this, there wouldn’t be so many left vacant and unloved across Bristol I think there is an allotment for ever yone, but not ever yone should have an allotment, as it ’ s definitely a commitment and shouldn’t be squandered

This year, I want to put our tiny farm on the map. O ur goals are to get more people involved, teach people how to grow the food from seed to plate, provide fresh locally-grown veg for local people, and make our little space important for all to use

For more information, search ‘Bedminster Down Community Farm’ on Facebook and follow @bedminsterdowncommunityfarm on Instagram

We The Curious Announces reopening date

Science centre and educational charity We The Curious has announced its long-awaited reopening date as 2 July

New visitors and committed fans alike can get ready to discover the magic of two floors packed with more than 200 things to do and explore this summer Escape into a world of possibilities in the newest experience – which many fans have not yet seen as it d j t months before closure –W hat If.’ Inspired by n intriguing questions from the people of Bristol, from the science of happiness to the nature of time, you ’ ll find some of life’s biggest mysteries and be able to make yourself invisible, peer into the TARDIS, and even stop time while exploring them wethecurious.org

Thekla celebrates ruby anniversary

Floating music venue Thekla is marking 40 years of cultural innovation in Bristol in May, with a special five -day programme of gigs between 1-5 May

In a deep dive into the archives in celebration of its 40th anniversar y, the team has also pulled together an exclusive archive book, The Complete Histor y of Thekla, looking at the vessel's legacy and cultural influence

Purchasing the book at selected retailers, fans can find out more about its rich histor y, and the weird and wonder ful stories that are embedded in Thekla’s foundation. With each layer of paint to refresh the boat ’s shell, another tale can be discovered, including the myster y of the hidden Banksy, which is yet to be uncovered Thekla first made its way into Bristol’s Floating Harbour in 1983, and was then called the ‘Old Profanity Showboat ’ theklabristol.co.uk

Terry Cox – Clif ton Village Antiques

HEADLINE Acts

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Portrait

ofBristol

Daniela Benson, Shelley Presland and Kirstie Smith, directors of Grace & Mabel

Grace & Mabel at The Mall, Clifton Village, brings a sparkle of colour to even the greyest day in Bristol

Meet the three sisters who created this innovative clothing store...

One Friday afternoon in 2007, Daniela Benson stumbled across a lovely independent boutique on Regent Street in Clif ton and discovered that the shop lease was on the market S he approached her sisters S helley and Kirstie about the idea of taking on the lease and they were immediatel y excited. The small fashion boutique in Clif ton V illage established itself quickly, and three years later they opened a shop in Bath. The shops have built a loyal customer following because of their friend ly and personal ser vice

“ We love working together – our individual tastes and experiences have helped drive the success of the business ”

All three sisters have bac kgrounds in fashion design or retail Daniela trained in Fashion Design at the L ondon College of Fashion and the University of the West of England Kirstie went to L ondon at the age of 18 and worked for W histles for almost 10 years, later becoming the manager of Karen Millen in Bristol. Shelley worked at Marks & Spencer, with roles ranging from sales to customer ser vice.

Grace & Mabel stocks mainly British and European c lothing and looks for sustainable brands, conscious of the significant impact that the fashion industr y has on the environment This is not a fast fashion business; the c lothes are rather timeless investments with longevity The sisters feel strongly about the role of independent retailers within the retail ecosystem, investing as they do in the local economy and the local community

“ We love working together – our individual tastes and experiences have helped drive the success of the business,” says Daniela.

“ The whole set-up works ver y well and we are good at shar ing duties We trust one another 100% and share the same high standards and aspirations We are best fr iends who love spending our day s together at work surrounded by beautiful clothes, a fantastic team and lovely customers!”

Grace & Mabel, 32 The Mall, C lif ton V illage, Br istol BS8 4DS; Tel 0117 974 3882; g raceandmabel.co.uk

Por trait by Joe Shor t. Joe is an award-winning photog rapher based in Bath; joeshor t.com

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In her prime

At 81, Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante shows no signs of slowing down In fact, she’s feeling more inspired than ever. Armed with the prestigious Diamond Dagger award for her contribution to crime literature, she speaks to Rosanna Spence ahead of her appearance at CrimeFest this month

Image credit: Gemma Day

Lynda La P lante’s forensic literar y genius has helped define the crime genre since the late 1980s But rather than sit back and soak up the glor y of her decades-long success of first acting, then writing and producing some of the most famous crime series of the 20th Centur y, she’s tearing up the octogenarian r ulebook – instead throwing herself into ne w projects with more infectious fer vour than ever.

July will see the Whole Life Sentence published, the final novel in her 10-strong ‘ young Tennison’ series that follows the ear ly career of DCI Jane Tennison – arguably La P lante’s most notable character – up to the point where her trials and tribulations in the P rime Suspect series begin If that weren’t enough, La P lante’s tour-de-force is also in the midd le of penning her memoir Getting Away with Murder, due to hit the shelves in September.

Oh, and she ’ s just jointl y scooped the most prestigious accolade honouring her lifelong contribution to crime writing – the Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers’ Association – with James L ee Burke Both will be appear ing (though Burke through video link) at the upcoming CrimeFest literar y convention, taking place at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel from 9-12 May

A novel question

La P lante owes a lot to her readers, who she loves hearing from at this type of convention during Q&As: “I’ ll always be asked a question that ’ s absolutely brilliant,” she says. “I would never have created Detective Jack Warr and written Buried (the first novel in that series) had a woman in a Q&A session not asked me what happened to Widows character Harr y Rawlins’ illegitimate son On another occasion, one reader asked me, ‘ W hat was Tennison like when she was young?’

“ You wonder how she bec ame Detective Chief Inspector while maintaining that calmness and ruthlessness That question kicked off the series of novels about young Jane.”

Getting to know ‘ young Jane’ has been a 10-year endeavour for La P lante, who says that reaching the final is “quite sad having lived with a character I’ve taken from just 21 through to her late 30s

“But it ’ s been fascinating to resurrect the characters who feature in the original P rime Suspect stories and get them ready for the final, like creepy Detective Sergeant Otley, who hates her, and the discrimination even then is full blown ”

Confronting institutional sexism by highlighting it through Tennison’s fictional career has always been important for La P lante, and even though her tales are set in the 1980s and 1990s, she notes change is slow even in today ’ s policing system.

“It ’ s still there,” she explains, “ you read over and over again in the newspaper about an ex-policewoman saying that discrimination and sexual harassment made her leave the force But it is getting better Thankfull y, there are far more women in the force than there were before, but it ’ s still a ver y fr ightening position to be a high-ranking policewoman You’ve got to have eyes in the back of your head ”

La P lante points to real life high-ranking officer DCI Jackie Malton as a c lassic example – script consultant Malton is said to have inspired Tennison’s character – who now enjoy s a successful TV c areer since retiring from the force, having inter viewed the infamous serial killer known as ‘ The Serpent ’ “ We were both speaking at a crime festival, and she came up to me, gave me a big hug and said: ‘ You changed my life’, which was a really nice feeling I suppose Jane Tennison changed my life too ”

Two stong women

W ith La P lante and Tennison’s lives so entwined, with deep roots both in pages and on screen, is it inevitable that some of her real personality is written into Jane’s fictional one?

“Not really,” La P lante notes “I keep her at arm ’ s distance, because if I reall y del ved into my self all the time I would find it extremel y depressing – like I’m draining myself Though like an actor who thinks he’s playing characters, he will only ever really play himself You’ ll see the same hand gestures, the same eye movements The realit y is, obviousl y, there are glimmers of me in Tennison My Liver pud lian humour does creep in too.”

“ I’ve already started to build a new character and a new novel ”

La P lante and Tennison may be parting ways as one of Britain’s most famous female D CI ’ s stor y comes full circ le, but a ne w character is already being formed, ready to step under the crime scene tape. Her abilit y to prolific all y craf t wor lds filled with fascinating people committing intricate crimes is delightfully relentless

“I’ve already started building a new character and a new novel I’m an insomniac because the stories start in my head, so I’ ll wake up af ter a couple of hours’ sleep and say, ‘Oh my God – the letter ’ s in the suitcase! I’d better get that down’ The ideas are running through my head all the time.”

La P lante’s commitment to forensic and procedural accuracy means she spends a lot of time with victims of crime, sensitively listening to their exper iences and reactions, and is also heavil y dependent on thorough police research – her writing methods remain faithful and can consume a great deal of time and energ y

“I didn’t even realise how old I was, because I get so excited by what I’m doing and I thankfully have the ability to still do it (plus people still want it)

“Although crime is a puzzle that I enjoy working with – making sure I don’t give the plot away to the reader by chapter two – at the same time, the de velopment of each work that I do is quite lengthy and emotional,” she explains, before gleefully adding, “But I do like it ” n

Lynda La P lante will be appear ing Cr imeFest, taking place 9-12 May at t Mercure Br istol Grand Hotel Joinin

La P lante across the weekend are gues inc luding James Lee Burke (via liv video link), Laura Lippman, Denis Mina and Cathy Ace. For full details o the cr ime literature convention’s prog ramme and infor mation on tickets, visit cr imefest.com.

W hole Life Sentence will be published on 4 July and is available to pre-order now via lyndalaplante com

Proud Tina

This month marks one year since T ina Turner sad ly passed away at the age of 83 It seems a timely and fitting tribute then, for The Bristol Magazine to look ahead to when the smash hit musical that tells the stor y of the legendar y, 12time Grammy Award-winning ar tist ’ s life goes on tour, landing at Bristol Hippodrome with a run from 8-26 April 2025

S et to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her iconic hits, inc luding The Best, What ’ s Love Got To Do With It?, P rivate Dancer and River Deep, Mountain High, the show is an inspiring true stor y of the woman who dared to dream fiercel y, shatter barr iers and defy the bounds of age, gender, and race to conquer the wor ld against all odds

“ Each night I want audiences to take away from the theatre that you can turn poison into medicine ”

T ina was involved with the show ’ s production from the start, and in her own words, she said: “It's really important to me to have the chance to share my full stor y This musical is not about my stardom It is about the journey I took to get there Each night I want audiences to take away from the theatre that you can turn poison into medicine.”

T ina is the longest r unning show to e ver play L ondon’s Aldwych

Theatre Productions have also opened on Broadway, across Nor th America, and in Germany, Spain, Netherlands and Australia, continuing T ina’s legacy of playing sell-out shows around the wor ld ever y day

The musical has been directed by Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!) and written by Olivier Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins

It is choreographed by Anthony van L aast, with set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical super vision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff S ugg, orchestrations by Ethan Popp, and wigs, hair and makeup design by Campbell Young Associates, casting by Pippa Ailion CDG and Natalie Gallacher CDG

Continuing the legacy

The Bristol Magazine attended the official Tina UK and Ireland tour launch in L ondon and c aught up with the music al’s producer Tali Pelman (group creative managing director for S tage Entertainment), who told us what it means to share T ina’s stor y to more audiences than ever before around the countr y

“I think as Phyllida Lloyd has said previously, we feel like the guardian angels of this stor y, ” Pelman explains “I think that it ’ s really important – it was then for T ina and it is now for me – to tell that stor y to another generation W hat I found is that when people come to the show and hear her stor y who are in their 20s and 30s (and may not have grown up with her music like I did, or our parents did) it still resonates with their own lives and inspires them.

The producers of the hit West End production Tina – The Tina Turner Musical have announced theshow’s f irst ever UK and Ireland tour… meaning the Queen of Rock ‘ n ’ Roll is coming to theBristol Hippodrome next year

All images by Matt Crockett

“For me, it ’ s now moved beyond sharing T ina’s stor y to her current audiences – we ’ re giving it to a whole new generation. That ’ s why we ’ re so excited about going on the road ”

Casting Tina

At the time of writing, Karis Anderson was embodying the titular role Anderson is no stranger to the stage, having played Diana Ross in the tour ing UK production of Motown Her per formance as T ina was electrifying Truly spine-tingling

“ I really don’t think there’s a tougher role for women to play ”

dancing with our choreography team to perfect the steps! You have to deliver those iconic movements And of course, there’s the voice There’s no space to underdeliver on all three areas It ’ s really tough ” Pelman goes on to explain that the incredible work Adrienne Warren did when originating the role – and that all the team’s Tinas have done since – is not about ‘tr ying’ to be Tina, or to copy Tina, it ’ s about channelling Tina. “Every actor can find their entryway into this person and into her talents That is a tremendously moving performance to witness ”

The grand finale

We wanted to know if there was a standout moment in the show that epitomises ever ything Pelman and team strive to deliver, especially now they ’ re continuing T ina’s legacy af ter her passing?

Taking on this role is phy sic all y and emotionall y demanding, so casting the T ina(s) that will go on the road to bring her spirit and tell her tale to thousands more people is no easy task

“It ’ s a triple threat role,” Pelman states. “I really don’t think there’s a tougher role for women in the musical scene. You have to have an actor in the role who can really channel the highs and lows and the nuances. At the same time, T ina was known for her choreography – she choreographed all her own steps, and was fiercely proud of that T ina once even came into one of our rehearsal rooms, took off her jacket, asked me for a T-shir t from the wardrobe depar tment and star ted

“ That ’ s difficult…” she muses. “ There are several stand out moments. But, if I had to choose one, I would probably say – without giving too much away – that is the finale. W hen you arr ive there, you have exper ienced all the dramatic highs and lows of T ina’s life You have sweated with her, you ’ ve bled with her, you ’ ve gone through a marathon with this person who you ’ ve gotten to know across two hours

“ You get to the finale and she becomes the T ina you came to see and, my God, do you rejoice in her victor y! And ever y night, without fail, around the wor ld, the house stands up Just because of the sheer will of it all, it ’ s incredibly moving ever y single time ” n

T ina – The T ina Tur ner Musical will be at Br istol Hippodrome 8-26 Apr il 2025, tickets are on sale now at atgtickets.com/br istol

Karis Anderson as Tina in the show ’s finale

Tina’s early life in Tennessee (and right, with Ike Turner)

What’s On

Our guide to some of the best things to see, do and experience in and around Bristol this month

Hamilton at Bristol Hippodrome n Throughout May, 7 30pm with matinee Weds & Sat, 2 30pm

The multi-award-winning master piece by Lin-Manuel Miranda is the stor y of America's founding father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionar y War The score blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway – the stor y of America then, as told by America now atgtic kets.com/br istol

Bristol Walkfest

n Throughout May

The cit y ’ s hugel y popular walking festival is bac k! The festival showc ases a wide var iet y of walking related e vents and activities, personal challenges and self-guided walking routes The mostl y free 200+ walks and activities are for all ages, all bac kgrounds and all le vels of fitness. br istol walkfest.com

Wake The Tiger: After Hours

n 3, 17 & 31 May, 7pm 127 Albert Rd, BS2 0YA

Got a mate or a date and looking for something a little more bonkers for your next evening get-together? And without any kids around? That ’ s exactly what you ’ ll find at Wake The Tiger: After Hours. The ultimate immersive art installation amazement park in Bristol wakethetiger.com

Walks4C hange and DIASPORA! C losing Ceremony

n 6 May, 12pm–3.30pm

Meet at Colston Avenue, BS1 4ST

Walks4Change is a guided tour of the centre by Julz Davis of Curiosity Unltd Walk a mile (or two) in the shoes of the pioneering protestors who led the Bristol Bus Boycott. This event will culminate at the DIASPORA! Closing Ceremony, and takes place on Paul Stephenson’s birthday Tickets are available on Eventbrite, and more info can be found on the DIASPORA! website diversear tistsnet work.com/diasporafestival

CrimeFest

n 9-12 May, various times

Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, Broad Street,Bristol BS1 2EL

The annual cr ime fiction convention is for people who like to read an occ asional cr ime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics Cr imeFest draws top cr ime novelists, readers, editors and publishers from around the wor ld and gives delegates the oppor tunit y to celebrate the genre in a fr iend l y and inc lusive atmosphere. cr imefest.com

Pint of Science: Elements Unleashed: Natural Phenomena from Ash to Atmosphere

n 15 May, 7 30pm

The Greenbank, 57 Bellevue Road, BS5

“I’m

A journey to the edges of our planet. F irst, Dr Ailsa Naismith will take you below the surface to explore how volcanoes affect the wor ld around us, as she talks about her work in the tropical depths of Guatemala Then, D Mhari Dell will turn your attention to the skies above to discover the science behind predicting the future as a weather forecaster, and why it ’ s harder than it looks! pintofscience.co.uk

A Sense of the Divine

n 18 May, 5pm

St James Priory, Whitson Street, BS1 3NZ

Exultate S ingers per forms a programme of beautiful choral music through the ages on the theme of Mar y and motherhood, inc luding music by V ictor ia, Palestr ina, Gabr ieli, Tavener and the first per formance of Lullaby by Br istol composer John Bar ber

A feast of contemplative, timeless music in the treasured setting of the medie val church of S t James Pr ior y T ic kets £10 to £16 from exultatesingers org or Opus 13 music shop on 0117 923 0164

Plant sale and afternoon tea n 18 May, 2pm-4.30pm

Portishead Town Council Folk Hall, 95 High Street BS20 6PR

Held by the local Grow W ilder group of Avon W ildlife Trust, there will also be homemade cakes, handicrafts, W hite Elephant stall, books and puzzles for sale avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

not throwing away my shot ” Hamilton hits the Hippodrome (image: Danny K aan)

Binocular and Telescope Fair

n 25 May, 10am–4pm

Lawn at Chew Valley Lake, Wally Lane, BS40 8XS

Join the Bristol L ondon Camera Exchange team on the lawn at Chew Valley Lake (opposite S alt & Malt) for its annual optics fair, where you can inspect, tr y and buy the latest optics in a superb wild life environment. Meet representatives from S warovski, Opticron, Vortex and S igma. ‘S how-only deals’ will be available on the day lceg roup.co.uk/e vents

Niladri Kumar

n 19 May, 7.30pm

St George’s, Great George St, BS1 5RR

Niladri Kumar ’ s expertise in combining c lassical and contemporar y Indian music has made him a visionar y sitar player and his unique style helps audiences from all over the wor ld connect with his live performances His passion for creating new sounds lead him to develop the Zitar, the wor ld ’ s first electrical sitar This is an event not to be missed, combining well known tracks from his work in Bollywood with contemporar y and c lassic sounds. stgeorgesbr istol.co.uk

Bristol Film Festival: On The Waterfront

n 25 May, 2pm

Averys Wine Merchants Screening Room

The screening marks the 70th anniversar y of On The Water f ront W idely considered one of the greatest films ever made, this brooding drama won Marlon Brando his first Oscar (along with seven other Academy Awards out of twelve nominations) and set a benchmark for acting in Hollywood that changed the course of movie histor y br istolfilmfestival.com

Lower Redland Road Market

n 26 May

A collaborative event between The Bristol Artisan and W ild Oats

The event celebrates the community of independent shops, makers, growers, producers and musicians and is free to attend Thirty-four stalls fill the road, offering a mix of craf t and design, artisan food and drink, cakes and pastries, and floristr y and plants

All set to a backdrop of uplif ting music from local musicians thebr istolar tisan.com

Royal Bath and West Show

n 30 May–1 June, doors open 9am

The Showground, Shepton Mallet

A Great Br itish famil y day out The S how will feature a plethora of activities, demonstrations and enter tainment; inc luding interactive activities, fast-paced excitement in the Main Ring and a much-enhanced food hall exper ience bathandwestshowg round.com

Family Diary

Here’s our pick of the best things to see and do with the little ones this month

be able to enjoy riding displays, meet the horses and ponies (and even have a go themselves at riding), grooming ponies or have a horse simulator lesson There will also be treasure hunts, tombola, raffle, best cake competition, food stalls and more. Free entr y, but some activities will be chargeable to raise funds for the charity. theavoncentre.org.uk

A Strange New Space: Presented by Tiny & Tall Productions (formerly Tessa Bide Productions)

n 26-28 May, 11am & 2pm (no 11am on Sunday)

The Wardrobe Theatre

Dinosaur Valley at Avon Valley Country Park

n Throughout spring and summer

Dinosaur Valley is home to the largest collection of animatronic dinosaurs in the south west. Set alongside the River Avon, with a beautiful backdrop, your young paleontologists can see a 15m T-Rex, Stegosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Triceratops, Allosaurus, Raptors plus more around the park Dinosaur Valley is the place for any dino fan to visit in the south west Included with entr y ticket avonvalley co uk

SS Great Britain – Fern Trail

n Ongoing

SS Great Britain

Plants are taking over at Bristol’s number one attraction this spring and summer Gather your family as you step into the shoes of a V ictorian plant hunter Work together to seek out fern friends hidden in, around and under the ship Unearth ‘fern-tastic’ facts about the fascinating link between plants and historic steamships like the SS Great Britain W ill you track down all the ferns? Included with entr y ticket ssgreatbritain.org

Avalon – Giffords Circus n 10-20 May

Sudeley Castle, Winchcombe, Glos’, GL54 5JD

As determined as ever to delight with their new show, Giffords Circus will weave together a cast of acrobats, magicians, musicians and clowns from all over the world in a spectacle that will combine poetr y, music and performing arts all set on the mythical island of Avalon giffordscircus.com

Avon Centre open day n 19 May, 10.30am-4.30pm Kings Weston Road, Bristol, BS10 7QT

The Avon Centre is a charity that offers horse riding and other naturebased activities for disabled and disadvantaged Open day visitors will

Did you know that astronauts get taller in space? That our solar system is around 4.6 billion years old? Or that there are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all of the beaches on Earth? Amira knows all of these things. She is completely obsessed with space and dreams of becoming an astronaut Travelling on an imagined voyage into space, paralleled with Amira’s real-life journey as a refugee across continents, the production forms an unforgettable introduction to theatre for young audiences Suitable for ages 4+ thewardrobetheatre com

Birthday Family Day

n 30 May, 11.30am-12.15pm, 12.30-1.15pm, 1.30-2.15pm

Coopers Hall, Bristol Old Vic

A big celebration of the Old V ic’s 258th birthday Delve into the long and colourful histor y of the theatre with a day of crafts, party games, trails and more Wear your best party clothes and bring the whole family along Family Days are always free of charge and open to walk ups, but workshops can be booked in advance bristololdvic org uk

Art Skills: Drawing Portraits with Jazz Thompson n 30 May, 10am-12pm

RWA

Join talented illustrator Jazz Thompson for this portrait art session and learn the basic skills for drawing a face from scratch The session will focus on how to sketch a basic face, placement of features, how shadow and light sits, and skin tone The session is split into sections to work through each stage together, equipping young artists with the foundational skills for portrait art. Ages 7-11.

r wa.org.uk

A Strange New Space at The Wardrobe Theatre

Dinosaur Valley at Avon Valley

All images provided cour tesy of Bristol Classical Players

Music for the soul

Four incredible musical collectives will join forces on 18 May to perform Edward Elgar’s transcendent

The Dream of Gerontius at Bristol Cathedral. We hear from Tom Gauterin, conductor of Bristol Classical Players – one of the 250 talented people involved in the show

Something special is happening in Br istol Cathedral this month Two well-established cit y choirs – Br istol P hoenix Choir and Br istol Cabot Choir – are joining forces with renowned orchestra Br istol Classic al P layers and leading south west chamber choir The F itzhardinge Consor t. S o, what ’ s attracted 250 of the region’s finest voc alists and musicians to perform under the same roof ?

The Dream of Gerontius: a gloriously transcendant and emotive 1900 composition by Edward Elgar, created using text from the poem of the same name by John Henr y Newman It tells the stor y of a soul’s plight from deathbed to God ’ s judgment, then arriving in Purgator y

“ It’s one of those very special pieces that generates an immense emotional impact for everyone ”

“ We’ve chosen to perform this particular piece because it ’ s one of, if not the greatest British choral works,” explains Tom Gauterin (pictured, top r ight), conductor of Br istol Classic al P layers – speaking to The Bristol Magazine on behalf of all the performing groups “Although the first peformance in 1900 wasn’t a great success, it was quickly taken up by choirs all over the UK (starting in the midlands, where Elgar himself regular ly conducted the work in Birmingham and Worcester) and has been a cherished highlight in the choral repertoire ever since

“ It ’ s one of those ver y special pieces that generates an immense emotional impact for e ver yone, both audience and par ticipants. Although on an overtly Christian theme (the journey of the soul from life to death, and what lies beyond) it has an intense spirituality that appeals to believers and non-believers alike ”

It ’ s not the first time the groups have collaborated – Gauterin explains that they worked together on Mahler ’ s Resur rection symphony in 2019 and Verdi ’ s Requiem in 2022 “Both were wonderful events and we are hoping to make the per formance of a big choral work at Br istol Cathedral an annual event ”

The 250 performers comprise 75 singers in each choir, 80 orchestral musicians and 20 people from The F itzhardinge Consor t, who are taking the role of semi-chorus.

The soloists are tenor James Atherton (who has sung at several major cathedrals and with wor ld-famous choirs for many years), mezzo Jenna Brown (who is from Bristol and regular ly sings with the F itzhardinges) and bass-baritone Malachy Frame, a rising young opera singer who is based in L ondon

A dramatic space

The setting plays an important role in any choral performance, of course, so we asked Gauterin just how the cathedral’s space and acoustics will impact the arrangement of Gerontius?

“ The biggest feature is the resonance of the building, as the echo lasts around six seconds,” he says “ That means we have to adapt the way we play and sing to tr y to maintain c lar it y and it c an be quite tr ic ky to manage that in some of the busier passages. On the other hand, it puts a lovely ‘glow ’ around the sound in the slower-moving parts.

“ V isually, the cathedral is a ver y dramatic space, with the audience in near-darkness and the choir on steep risers Works like this were written with the composers fully expecting them to be performed in cathedrals and, given the text, it feels appropr iate to do it here rather than necessarily in a concert hall ”

Rehearsing for such an important performance no doubt brings its challenges, especially when so many people from different groups are invol ved. Gauter in explains that the solution is lots of planning in advance, and plenty of communication along the way. Bristol’s Phoenix and Cabot choirs have been rehearsing separately under the guidance of Paul Walton and Beccy Holdeman respectively, though the groups will come together to rehearse in the weeks leading up to the concert

“One oddit y of working in this way is that, given the need to use rehearsal time efficientl y, we will onl y play the entire work in order during the concert itself,” Gauterin notes “ That is in part because it is a lot to ask the soloists to sing it twice in a day, but it does have the benefit of keeping things fresh. Even experienced singers and players can be caught out by the power of certain moments in the concert.”

Watch in awe

If you ’ re curious about seeing Gerontius, but have never been to a classical choral concert in Bristol before, Gauterin urges you to give it a tr y

“Even if you ’ re a bit war y of c lassical music in general, the experience of seeing 250 people making both ver y loud and ver y quiet sounds with one voice can't fail to impress The great P raise to the Holiest chorus, in particular, has an over whelming impact. It ’ s ver y different, and much more visceral, than hearing music on a radio or iPod.”

For those involved, it ’ s a thrilling experience, and Gauterin notes on behalf of all the groups that it ’ s al way s a pr ivilege to per form a masterpiece such as Gerontius “It ’ s ver y moving to be part of 250 people all working as one and reacting to each other in the moment It ’ s live and alive ” n

T he mag ical per for mance will take place at 7.30pm on 18 May at Br istol Cathedral T ickets can be booked by searching ‘Elgar: T he Dream of Gerontius’ on eventbr ite co uk (some tickets will also be available on the door). For more info on the g roups visit br istolc lassicalplayers.com, br istolcabotchoir.org, br istolphoenixchoir.org.uk and fitzhardingeconsor t.com

It’s festival season!

Start planning a summer to remember with our pick of some of the West Country ’ s best festivals and events. Want to get your hands on tickets? Simply scan the QR codes provided

BRISTOL SOUNDS: 22–30 JUNE

MAYFEST: 17–26 MAY VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Mayfest is an invitation to come together and be moved by beautiful and boundar y-pushing performances in unexpected public spaces, such as Broadmead and St Anne’s Wood and much-loved venues like Watershed, Bristol Old V ic, The Mount W ithout and Unit 15

The programme is jam-packed with brilliant home-grown talent and artists of international acclaim. Choose from more than 15 unusual, ambitious and playful shows and experience the unusual. Become part of a real-life video game in the UK premiere of asses.masses at Watershed; immerse yourself in nature at an outdoor installation; prepare to reflect with shows that ask brave questions of these challenging times All tickets are ‘ pay what you can ’ mayk.org.uk/mayfest

Bristol Sounds returns to the Bristol Amphitheatre, having added two more days to the open-air gig series Promoter Crosstown Concerts describes the event as ‘fundamentally a festival for the people of Bristol’ and this year will see seven unique evenings on the harbourside, including three all-day events on Saturday 22, Sunday 23 and Sunday 30 June. Headliners include Skindred, Gentleman’s D ub Club, James Arthur, Busted, Annie Mac, The Breeders plus many more Various ticket prices and packages are available from £35 (general admission, standing) bristolsounds.seetickets.com/tour/bristol-sounds

VALLEY FEST: 1–4 AUGUST

Valley Fest is the best-tasting music festival in the south west The event takes place alongside the glittering Chew Valley Lake with the rolling Mendip hills in the background With music from Sophie Ellis Bextor, Tinie Tempah, Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge, The Feeling and The Skids, you ’ re advised to arrive hungry and ready to dance. Thomasina Miers OBE and Romy Gill MBE are heading the culinary line-up. From feasts, cooking demonstrations and masterclasses, the Valley Fest programme has everything a food lover could want It caters for all tastes and budgets, with added theatre and fire, and has quality and regeneration at its heart In Arcadia’s Alchemist ’ s Playground expect flares, flames and heart-in-your-mouth performances You'll find a bigger than ever health and farm fitness area – expect everything from hot tubs to ice baths and plenty of treatments and classes to soothe and strengthen your body. Not forgetting a big programme of talks, farm tours, workshops and comedy. In short, it's wholesome fun for everyone. For full ticket information visit: valleyfest.co.uk

SUMMER FESTIVAL: 23 MAY – 22 JUNE

BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL

Bristol Old V ic Theatre School returns to The Wardrobe Theatre for its 18th contemporar y drama season from 23 May to 22 June. The students will present a series of eight cutting-edge plays from award-winning writers including Samuel Bailey, Miriam Battye, Brad Birch, Jez Butter worth, Afsaneh Gray and Amy Guyler The Summer Festival marks the culmination of one- or threeyears ’ training for the emerging creatives from the renowned drama school It ’ s a celebration of collaboration and creativity, which sees the directing and design graduates taking the artistic reigns across the four double bills Tickets: £10 for a Single Ticket; £15 Double Bill; or £40 for a Season Ticket. Book yours at: thewardrobetheatre.com

OXFORD STORYTELLING FESTIVAL: 23–25 AUGUST

Jo Blake, Tuup and the returning Jan Blake will headline the festival this year, joined by many more wonderful tellers, stall holders, therapists, artists and musicians, such as Tom Morley, Mobius Loop and the Helian Band W ith a focus on breath and air, the theme of ‘Inspiration’ will be intertwined into the magical weekend.

From captivating stories in the traditional outdoor amphitheatre to tours of the beautiful frescos in Waterperr y House, new and exciting workshops to tr y and lots of delicious food choices, O xford Stor ytelling Festival is a space for new experiences Don’t forget to keep your eye out for the wandering dragons as well

Full weekend tickets start from £130 for adults and £50 for children oxfordstor ytellingfestival co uk

WELLS COMEDY FESTIVAL: 24–26 MAY

A stellar line-up graces this year ’ s festival, including QI and Taskmaster stars Alan Davies and Lou Sanders, James Acaster, Harr y Hill, Nish Kumar, Rich Hall, Sophie D uker, Tim Key, John Kearns, Sara Barron, Kemah Bob and many more. Most of the big names are sold out at the time of going to press, but there is still plenty of choice available, so snap up those tickets now You can still catch a selection of festival favourites at the Friday and Saturday Night Gala shows and enjoy huge laughs in the countr y ’ s smallest city Ticket prices start from £9 wellscomfest.com

Amy Gledhill

SOUL CIRCUS YOGA: 15-18 AUGUST ELMORE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Soul Circus is a well-being festival where music, yoga and holistic therapies meet glitter y festival antics and DJ afterparties It is set to return to its beautiful home in the Cotswold hills of Elmore, Gloucestershire Stretch out in yoga tipis and lush countr yside by day and dance under the stars by night Spend your days doing yoga with MoreYoga, breathwork with The Breath Space and Innercamp, aerial skills, fitness with UP Wellness, dance, tantra and much more. Spend your evenings sipping cocktails and eating delicious food, followed by shaking your booty to electrifying DJ sets and live music. There's ever ything a healthy hedonistic SoulSetter is searching for, so run away to the circus with Soul Circus Yoga! Day tickets start at £170 and weekend tickets start at £270 Both are inclusive of classes and workshops Those schedules will be launched prior to the festival to sign up for your desired slot, so keep an eye out!

soulcircus.yoga

BRISTOL FILM FESTIVAL: 4–7 JULY

CLIFTON SUMMER SCREENINGS

After a successful inaugural launch last summer, Clifton Summer Screenings returns with a four-day festival of all things cinema. Relax in the beautiful Mall Gardens before taking your seats for some unique pop-up cinema W ith covered seating, state-of-the-art LED screens and wireless headphones, you ’ ll enjoy classic films come rain or shine Before the film there’s a chance to relax in the Garden Bar (hosted by The Ivy Clifton Brasserie) and enjoy a range of food provided by The Mall Deli New for 2024 Bristol Film Festival introduces screen2, a second cinema offering a range of talks, short films, cult movies and some V intage Screenings (which combine a film and wine tasting).

bristolfilmfestival com/cliftonsummerscreenings

BRISTOL CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL: 7–8 JUNE

Back once again with the festival of flavour, where all your beer is included in the ticket price! Located at Bristol Harbourside, this year ’ s festival will have 40+ world class breweries, pouring 400+ beers. There is a beer for ever yone at the festival, including local favourites like Left Handed Giant, W iper and True, Bristol Beer Factor y and New Bristol Brewer y. Juicy pales from Cloudwater and DEYA, lipsmacking sours and beer concoctions from Tiny Rebel and Vault City, plus thirstquenching lagers from Braybrooke and Utopian Hungr y? There’ ll be delicious dishes from top restaurants, including live fire concept ACME Fire Cult, vegan an vegetarian Italian subs from Bocca di Bianchi, bao bun and fried chicken from Bon Daddies, juicy burgers from Meltdown Cheeseburgers and jolly good food from Jolly Hog Expect festival vibes with live bands and DJ sets, plus free talks and tastings hosted by Craft Beer Channel's Jonny Garrett. bristolcraftbeerfestival.co.uk

ART and the galleries

Contemporary Native American artists, Rainmaker Gallery, throughout spring

This spring, Rainmaker Galler y is showcasing the work of four contemporar y Native American artists: fine art photographer Cara Romero of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, Randy L Barton from Arizona and Cotswold-based painter Rick Grimster, a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and sculptor Addison Karl, of the Chickasaw and Choctaw nations

Romero recently headlined exhibitions at both The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Barton is a neo-contemporar y Native artist, designer, dancer, DJ and music producer from the Navajo Nation

Grimster is a 1960s art school graduate whose fascinating paintings came to light for the first time last year, to great acclaim He has sold out two solo shows in the UK and is preparing for a solo museum exhibition in the USA Together these acclaimed artists indicate the vast cultural and artistic diversity thriving within Indigenous communities today

rainmakerart co uk; 140 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2RS

Image: Shameless by Cara Romero

Summer exhibitions at Royal West of England Academy, 25 May until 11 August

As part of a triple bill of exhibitions honouring global majority artists, the RWA will bring the pioneering work of Rasheed Araeen to Bristol for the first time. Conscious Forms includes an impressive array of Araeen’s bright, abstract sculptures. Visitors are invited to sit on and reconfigure colourful cubes around a central ‘reading room’ installation. Alongside these works, informed by Araeen’s engineering training and immersion in Islamic geometry and architecture, will be figurative paintings and collages dating from the 1950s to today

Meanwhile, Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation is a moving exhibition honouring the accomplishments and legacy of the Windrush Generation. On display will be 10 portraits of remarkable CaribbeanBritish individuals by ten leading artists, including Sonia Boyce MBE and Amy Sherald.

Finally, Valda Jackson: Miss Polly will showcase a powerful and evocative installation by esteemed writer and artist Valda Jackson MBE RWA This thought-provoking exhibition, featuring spoken word, text, sculpture, and painting, delves into the realms of neurological research and the concept of the ‘unfinished brain’

r wa.org.uk; Queen’s Road, Clif ton, BS8 1PX

‘Broad Meadow’, Broadmead, 24 May–20 June

Imagine a colourful, tranquil wildflower meadow amid the hustle and bustle of Bristol’s built-up shopping centre, Broadmead W ith their new project Broad Meadow, artists Sylvia Rimat and Charli Clark are growing that ver y place You’re invited to take a seat, immerse yourself in a wildflower meadow and listen to an audio experience via your smartphone. The audio addresses our intertwined relationship with the plant world, connecting us to Bristol prior to the 1500s, when Broadmead was a meadow, regularly flooded by the river Frome This event is free, and booking is recommended The installation is made up of 55 wildflower boxes that have been planted in workshops with secondary school students across Bristol

hdf st uk/broad-meadow-; Broadmead, Cit y Centre, BS1 3EA

‘Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood’, Arnolfini, Until 26 May

Hayward Galler y Touring’s major group exhibition Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood plunges into the joys and heartaches, mess, myths and mishaps of motherhood through more than 100 artworks, from the feminist avant-garde to the present day. W hile the Madonna and Child is one of the great subjects of European art, we rarely see art about motherhood as a lived experience, in all its complexity Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood addresses this blind spot in art histor y, asserting the artist mother as an important cultural figure It offers a complex account that engages with contemporar y concerns about gender, caregiving and reproductive rights

arnolfini org uk; 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA

The Connor Brothers at Fizz Gallery, on sale Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 5pm

Fizz Galler y in Clevedon currently has a number of works for sale by The Connor Brothers, whose popularity is reflected in sell-out shows at galleries in LA, New York, Sydney, D ubai, London, Hong Kong and Berlin. Moreover, their work is included in Banksy ’ s Dismaland and prestigious collections including The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Penguin Collection and both the Omar Koch and Niarchos Collections

Since their real identity was revealed more than 10 years ago, The Connor Brothers (aka Mike and James, who are not actually brothers) have been stirring up the art world with their hard-hitting combination of retro design and contemporar y satire They are highly valued and outspoken supporters of countless social causes, collaborating with partners such as Noel Gallagher and Pussy Riot, and using their art to raise awareness and funds for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), the Teenage Cancer Trust, and numerous homelessness and refugee charities fizzg aller y.co.uk; 26 Hill Road, C le vedon, BS21 7P H

Image: Desperate Times by The Connor Brothers

Native Elements

Exquisite bronze and glass creations from Native American sculptor Addison Karl, of the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations, are at Rainmaker Gallery this summer Here he talks to gallery owner Joanne Prince

What was your journey to becoming an artist?

I had a strong affinity for the arts as a child, spending most of my time drawing and also taking art lessons. In high school, I had an excellent art teacher who strongly encouraged me to pursue painting and I discovered screen printing as well. Building on years of painting figures, I stumbled my way into learning sculpting and bronze casting at Two Ravens Studio in Tacoma, Washington W ith the assistance of the Chickasaw Nation, I worked on a range of reference materials for figurative sculpture and, subsequently, I was fortunate that one of my pieces took First P lace for Bronze at the Heard Museum Indian Fair & Market

You spend a lot of your time in Venice. How has the ancient Venetian art of glass-making on Murano island influenced your artistic process?

In Venice, Murano island has more than 800 years ’ expertise in glass and there is also a long, connected histor y between both Murano and Native American peoples with trade beads I was getting more in touch with Italy and Venice and enquired about working on Murano By chance, I met a lovely woman who owned a vintage Murano glass store, and she kindly introduced me to a glass foundr y I started working with lost wax for glass, while applying the lost wax and casting techniques that I already used to create bronze sculptures. Glass allows me to explore themes of transparenc y, light and transformation. Through this medium, I can represent elements such as water, sky, or ethereal aspects of the Chickasaw and Choctaw cosmologies The interplay of light through the glass brings a dynamic quality to the sculptures, symbolising the ever-changing relationship between the past and the present, the physical and the spiritual

Many of your sculptures incorporate stunning bead-like motifs. Is there significance within these forms?

Pre-contact with Europeans, beads crafted from materials such as bone, stone, shell, wood and copper were the norm in North America. For me, each of those beads is an expression of a moment in time, a fragment of a stor y from a world long past Beads, each with their own histor y and significance, become the vehicle through which I ‘draw ’ the lines of our collective memor y The act of beading is a meditative process for me, a process taken out of context A way to connect with the ancestors and bring their stories into a contemporar y context

Tell us about the sculptures on show at Rainmaker Gallery

Recently, I have been working on smaller, more intimate pieces. The figurative works on display explore Native beauty, and our canon and legac y through the beadwork and symbols The abstraction and subtraction of the pieces are the modern and literal translation of so much of our ‘ wholeness’ that we have lost or sacrificed over the years

D ue to its signific ance to my grandfather, and proximit y to my childhood home, Ar iz ona turquoise is the main inspiration for the patina used in my latest works

The sculpture Hushtola Ummona was created during the pandemic, while we had limited movement I wanted to give her a compositional imbalance; a deduction of material that is filled back in with the beadwork pattern An implication that inside the clay and the form, close to the core - there is a tactile, beautiful representation that speaks to who we have always been.

Kulli is a newer sculpture, created in clay throughout 2023 and finally manifested in glass The darker, contrasting graniglie floating inside creates a weight and heaviness to the piece which complements the straight and cur ved line work n

Addison K ar l ’ s wor k is on display no w at R ainmaker Gal ler y, 140 W h i t e l ad i e s R o ad , B S 8 2 RS ;

To

more about the C hic kasaw culture, visit chic kasaw.t v

Facing Facts: Swedish Portrait makes Auction record in UK

In the fall of 2023, Swedish art dealer Claes Moser sold his collection of paintings by the artist J A G Acke (1859-1925) at Stockholms Auktionsverk The auction featured several significant works by the artist and the sale, with several remarkable resultss, made headlines. Moser had devoted over half a century to studying Acke’s work and acquiring paintings by him Moser had even acquired Acke’s residence, Villa Akleja, a sunny summer paradise (but used by Acke as a winter residence) that had been built at the turn of the last century

The Swedish art historian Karl Asplund noted rather charmingly that Acke’s artistic oeuvre was characterized by a “fresh changing wind ” A testament to this innovative approach was when the renowned Musée D’Orsay in Paris acquired Acke’s painting “By the Water Mirror” in 2000 Acke’s relevance in the contemporary art market was confirmed when the painting “Östrasalt” was sold for the equivalent of £99,780 at the sale of Moser’s collection

So there was a certain expectation when it became clear that Lawrences Auctioneers in Crewkerne included J A G Acke’s well-painted portrait of Ellen West at their Fine Art Sale in April. The painting was executed in 1909 and portrays a woman who looks straight at the viewer with a nonchalant attitude and an inscrutable smile The smoke from her cigarette slightly obscures the subject and gives the artist the opportunity to excel in the art of invigorating a female sitter captured in oil on canvas This was an insight that had been mastered fully by Acke: in the window, there are a couple of wine glasses that, against a warm summer light, further enhance the lighthearted tone pursued by the artist but perhaps also by the subject The portrait also garnered great interest and, after eagerly competitive bidding, it was bought for £10,000 This is a sum that sets an auction record for the work of this intriguing artist in the United Kingdom

Lawrences are welcoming consignments for their Autumn Fine Art sales to include:

Silver | Vertu | Pictures | 19th/20th Centur y Design | Ceramics

Oriental Works of Art | Jeweller y | Watches | Furniture | Clocks | Rugs

Militaria | Coins | Medals | Collectors | Sporting | Textiles | Wine | Spirits

Books | Maps | Manuscripts | Photography

Free valuations are available online at lawrences co uk

Home visits also available throughout Bath and the West Countr y without charge or obligation.

Expert opinion

From Chris Yeo, Valuer at Clevedon Salerooms and regular expert on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow

Secret Stories

Ask the average Bristolian to name a famous artist from their home city and you can almost guarantee what their answer will be: step for ward Banksy W hat they probably don’t realise is there was another Bristol-born artist who was making waves in the art world decades before the ever-illusive graffiti maestro picked up a spray can Mar y Fedden (1915-2012) may not be a name you immediately recognise, but she has been described as ‘ one of Britain’s best-known and most sought after painters’ Born in Bristol, from early on in her long life she harboured ambitions to be a painter. A less than enthusiastic pupil at Badminton School, she would nonetheless go on to become the first female tutor at the Royal College of Art (where among her pupils was David Hockney ) She studied at the prestigious Slade School of Art

in London under the theatre designer Vladimir Polunin, who had worked with the Ballets Russes. Fedden would go onto to paint sets for professional performances at Sadlers Wells, but decided against a career in stage design, returning instead to Bristol, where she taught art and made a living by painting portraits But it is with the distinctive still life studies, with their richness of colour and texture and influences of Braque and Matisse, that she found fame.

Though she later moved to London, she maintained her links with Bristol all her life, especially through her association with the Royal West of England Academy, which gave her a retrospective exhibition in 1988.

Fedden’s work always causes a stir at auction In 2022, Clevedon Salerooms sold Sunflowers, a still life with assorted garden flowers in a brown potter y jug, dated 1995, for a ver y sunny £12,000 ■

clevedonsalerooms.com; @chrisyeo antiques (Instag ram)

Sunflowers by Mar y Fedden

info@beaunashbath.com

A Change of Art

Friday 17 May 2024, 7pm – 12am

£45 per person, includes 3 courses and cocktail

Join Christophe and Har vey Nichols Bristol as they present Echoes from the Underground: A Visual Journey Through Alternative Music Culture at an evening of food and ar t

Having been par t of Bristol’s underground dance scene for over 20 years, as well as a graphic designer, DJ and music producer, Christophe will unveil a collection of ar twork rooted in music and underground culture

Enjoy a fabulous three-course meal at the Second Floor Restaurant, followed by the oppor tunity to meet the ar tist and enjoy DJ Sets

Christophe’s work is available to purchase at the event and the collection will be on show until October 2024

To book: email: Reception bristol@har veynichols com or Call: +44 (0)117 916 8898 or scan the QR code to book online

Organic wines

Recommendations by Tom Bleathman from The Great Wine Co.

Organic wines are made from grapes grown using organic farming practices. This means no synthetic pesticides or fertilisers are used on the grapes, and instead natural and sustainable farming practices are employed This benefits the soil structure and enables better water and nutrient retention, reducing the need for irrigation, all while couraging biodiversity and promoting e in the vineyard. The Great Wine Co. as many fantastic organic wines, but here re a few of my favourites. Discover more at g reatwine.co.uk

Chateau Leoube Rose de Leoube 2022

is an elegant rosé made from Grenache and Cinsault grapes, complemented with a touch of Syrah and Mour vèdre

Finely structured and well balanced, this wine’s fresh and fruity nature shows aromas of exotic fruit, leading to a supple, textu d palate, notes of red and white fruit and a subtle spice Provençal rosé at it best £27 50

P laneta Terebinto Grillo 2022, using Grillo, an indigenous grape variety, provides a great example of how good Sicilian wine can be This example is an irresistibly aromatic, rounded wine with delightful notes of apricot, chee and pineapples It as lovely freshness and tisfying roundness of xture. £19.95

Brand new to the GWC list is a wonderful organic Syrah, Aubert and Mathieu Haute Pistes Syrah 2022

A complex nose of blackcurrant, blueberr y and eucalyptus is matched with freshness and silky tannins on the palate Operating using organic methods, Aubert and Mathieu are also at the forefront of sustainability offering eco-friendly packaging, being carbon neutral and donating to local beekeepers to help biodiversity £17.50

FOOD & DRINK

Sandford pub The Railway Inn celebrates Double AA Rosette

The Railway Inn, Sandford, Nor th Somerset, has been awarded a coveted Double AA Rosette Owned by Thatchers Cider and described as a traditional countr y pub with a contemporar y restaurant that ’s wor th a detour, The Railway Inn joins the top ranks of UK restaurants, with just 10% wor thy of one or more rosettes.

Judges described The Railway Inn as being home to “accomplished cook ing and local ciders ” According to the AA, to achieve the high standard of two rosettes the chef must show “greater technical sk ill, more consistenc y and judgement in combining and balancing ingredients, and have a clear ambition to achieve high standards”

Leigh Damerell, Railway Inn manager, said: “A warm welcome awaits you at The Railway Inn, our award-winning pub and restaurant, per fectly nestled at the foot of the Mendip Hills and on the Strawberr y Line National Cycle Network Our stunning restaurant with traditional countr y pub lounge and large, family-friendly outdoor space, make it a mustvisit for locals, first timers, dog-walkers, cider lovers and – especially with our new Double AA Rosette – foodies!” thatcherscider.co.uk/railway-inn

Hobbs House Bakery expands production facility

A family-owned baker y with a proud 100-year histor y has expanded its production facility by 10,000sq f t

Hobbs House Baker y – which has stores on Gloucester Road as well as Nailsworth and Tetbur y – had its revamped Chipping Sodbur y-based HQ (where bread and pastries are freshly baked ever y day for the group) officially opened on 9 April by mayor Dan Morris Rising from 20,000sq f t to 30,000sq f t, the expansion means production will continue to grow

“O ver the last few years we have been working hard to expand our original baker y, ” the baker y said in a statement on its website

“ This expansion allows for us to bake even more bread for our customers, all while remaining in our original home of Chipping Sodbur y.

“ We are always looking at new ways to support our team, community and the environment and with the new baker y we are hoping to develop even more in all areas A massive thank you to all our wonderful bakers and team for who have continued to deliver bread to our customers through out this transition ”

hobbshousebaker y.co.uk

MasterChef: The Professionals finalist Tommy Thorn takes on his first restaurant

Tommy Thorn, who came runner up in the most recent BBC series of MasterChef: The P rofessionals, is set to head up the kitchen in his first restaurant this May, when he will be putting down his culinar y roots at Puro in Clevedon.

Thorn is classically trained and has spent the last 10 years working in award-winning restaurants across the UK He started his culinar y journey at Thornbur y castle in 2013 and went on to spend time in Michelin kitchens, including Five Fields and The Frog by Adam Handling He most recently worked as head chef at Michelin Green Star holder The Ethicurean in Bristol, before it sadly closed its doors in September last year.

Puro, which is owned by Dom and Alex Lamy, opened in 2017 and has gained an excellent reputation as an independent neighbourhood restaurant, despite facing the challenges of Covid, Brexit and the cost of living crisis

Thorn says: “I’m delighted to be taking on a new concept with Puro I’ve been talking with Dom for a long time now and we both have the same vision and goals when it comes to providing great food and ser vice

“ We’ve got some really exciting ideas and can’t wait to get stuck in and push to provide the best hospitality to the local area as well as keen diners. I feel like it ’ s time that I take something hands on as my own and I love the opportunities that Puro has as an established restaurant I’m keen to ser ve my food based on local and seasonal produce as well as influences from around the world which I find exciting when it comes to cooking ” purorestaurant.co.uk

Browns is the new black

Browns Brasserie has a spring in its step, as it recently reopened to diners following a fabulous refurbishment

We ’ re on a Br istol By z antine roll here at the magazine Last month saw us soak up the delights housed within the renowned Granar y building on Har bourside ’ s Welsh Bac k, and now we ’ re worshipping at the steps of another architectural icon: Browns Brasserie on Q ueen Street, Clif ton

The Venetian Gothic mar vel (that used to form part of the Bristol Museum) had to be completel y reconstr ucted inside in 1950 af ter WWII scarring lef t it without much original detail

W ith the city ’ s weather sometimes mirroring the aquatic nature of Venice’s landscape, this building can feel right at home It ’ s been home to Browns Brasserie for as long as most Bristol residents walking and driving past each day can remember. So, to keep things feeling fresh, a full refurbishment was in order, with designers drawing on the building’s illustrious histor y to create its ‘ neo deco’ (a modern take on ar t deco st y le), with opulent finishes in gem-like hues of green and blue, geometr ic digital pr ints adorning the walls, grand piano and a bar glinting with gold

From breakfast to supper

We’ve got a bit of a sof t spot for brasserie-style dining, and Browns is no exception. This setting can shapeshif t into whatever occasion you need. Want to get dressed up and drink celebration cocktails, order a premium steak and pop some champers? You’ ll feel r ight at home Dropping by with your grandparents who want some traditional fish and chips and a decent cuppa? You’re more than welcome here

Its prime location by the museum and bustling retail area of Clif ton’s Q ueen S treet no doubt brings a diverse range of people through the doors, seeking all kinds of refreshment Browns c an ser ve them throughout the day.

On our visit, we were almost unaware of the seamless transition from relaxed late af ternoon dining into a refined buzz y e vening ser vice –suddenly we realised the atmosphere had shif ted thanks to a slightly bouncier playlist, mood lighting and tables filling with lots of groups of more than four We noted that the c lever seating arrangements (which inc lude smart, freshly upholstered banquette nooks) and sheer size of the building means it lends itself well to group dining without risking coupled or solo guests feeling over whelmed or cramped

Seasonal spring menu

The refurbishment coincides with the launch of Browns’ new spring menu, starting with a choice of four seasonal spring cocktails – which were almost impossible to choose between had my dining partner not been allergic to elderflower (which is used in more mixed drinks than you’d think if you didn’t need to know) We went for the delightful Rhubar b F izz (Moët & Chandon Impér ial Champagne, Chase

Rhubarb and Bramley Apple Gin and lemon with a flower garnish –ser ved in a flute); and S pr ingtime Bramble (Bombay Bramble Gin, Moose Peach Botanical Spirit, apricot, lemon and a rosemar y sprig) If you like to mix and match, these paired well together for sharing sips

The rest of the seasonal yet reliable brasserie fare covers all sorts: those fish and chips we mentioned ear lier, generous meat cuts and rich steaks – with usual favourite dishes like the chicken schnitzel remaining on the menu – but there ’ s definitel y a spr ing zing lif ting many of the flavours (spring vegetables, wild gar lic salsa verde, lime, fennel, mango, lemongrass, rhubarb and apple crop up across the dishes).

Match your meal to your mood

It was likel y the ear l y spr ing weather (which saw us arr ive dur ing a torrential downpour) that meant we embraced some of the menu ’ s new spring elements, but also opted for c linging onto the cosiness of warm, rich meals still available This menu is perfect for shoulder season dining In our case, a decadent starter of rosemar y, thyme and gar lic studded baked c amember t for two with honey, toasted sourdough, figs, pear, caramelised seeds and green tomato chutney was followed with a vibrant prawn and Devon crab linguine ser ved with lime, chilli and coriander pesto and white wine My dining partner stuck with a traditional main ser ving of mint-cr usted roast rac k of lamb with blac k gar lic, potato terrine, sautéed spring vegetables and a red wine jus that we could have ordered a whole litre of

We didn’t have room for dessert (we stand by our decision to eat an entire camembert before pasta and huge ser ving of lamb and had spied the generous sweet ser vings being passed around other tables) but we’d really wanted to order the dark chocolate tor te ser ved with a brandy snap basket, raspberr y and white chocolate ice cream.

Instead, af ter letting our food rest and regretting our decision not to end on a sweet note, we decided to order a banana daquiri, made with sustainable spir it brand Disc arded Banana Peel R um (made from banana peels and aged Caribbean rum), shaken with lime and agave. The refreshed menu and glam new setting provide a whole host of new reasons to visit Browns again – whether it ’ s for bottomless br unch, af ternoon tea or the relaxed all-day a la carte menu n browns-restaurants.co.uk (Images: Ben Car penter)

A life well written

Local author Roger White is celebrating the launch of his latest novel Deception, as well as marking 50 years of published work being shared with the world. Here, he ref lects on the impact writing has had on his life

Why do you love writing and what has it meant to your life?

I’ve always been intrigued by words and what you can do with them

In the ear ly 1950s, Cadbur y ran an annual competition ever y spring, encouraging children to write about the hist chocolate The school I went to was still using inkw and the pen nibs dripped ink across the paper, whic did nothing for the appearance of my entr y

Did your entry win, though?

A package containing a large chocolate egg and a congratulator y message arrived in time for Easter L ooking back, I guess the marketing department at Cadbur y probably rewarded ever y entr y, to see off competition from Fr y ’ s and Terr y ’ s, but for a six-year-old to discover that the w r itten word could generate such sweet re wards was a significant incentive I needed little encouragement to enter the following year and continued to do so until 1959 when my father was posted to Singapore whose tropical heat was beyond Cadbur y ’ s reach

So, what happened next?

Returning to school in the UK two years later, letter-writing was a requirement e ver y S unday, with house points awarded for each addressed envelope I would of ten pen five or six letters to parents, relatives and friends I still have many of the responses, inc luding one from a gir lfriend, letting me know that she’d been surprised to open a letter that began ‘ Dear Granny ’ My grandmother ne ver mentioned what she’d received!

Do you feel long-form, physical writing is still important in times of quick, instant digital communication?

Mobile phones, tablets and technologies like Teams and Zoom have transformed our sense of connectedness with work colleagues, friends and family

Q uite literally, the wor ld is at our fingertips and people can access information and share photos, video c lips and thoughts at the press of a button D uring the three years of Covid, video link was the only way for many people to maintain family contact, providing a critical lifeline. Almost by definition though, instant communication means brevity and transience. W hatsApp messages or Facebook posts tend to be one liners, which is great for fuelling our feelings of connectedness, but the communications, as with Instagram or T ikTok c lips, soon vanish from immediate view, pushed away by new messages and images

Why does this matter?

Of course, any communication is important and there are many forms

But humans are thinking beings and phy sic al w r iting, be it letters, artic les, essays, poems, short stories or novels, enables and encourages thoughtful reflection and deeper consideration of ideas and issues –

enhancing awareness, broadening understanding, helping us arrive at informed opinions, and exploring emotions I still write letters to my (grown-up) children and other relations and friends, and they out the excitement of seeing a personally addressed elope drop onto the doormat. Physical writing can be voured and treasured in ways not possible with digital communications I wonder if any of your readers can recall the thrill of sleeping with a ‘ love letter ’ tucked beneath their pillow?

What are your tips on how to get ideas out of your head and onto paper?

Just start. Put words down. L et it flow and leave the editing to another day. A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step I am in awe of rap artists, whose ability to freestyle lyrics is impressive, powerfully communicating thoughts and emotions to a live audience S lam poets are another brilliant example You don’t need to know the ding or have chosen all the characters before you n. They will appear and create their own stories as y athe life into them.

What’s next for you?

Routledge has decided to reprint In and Out of School, the first book I w rote near l y 50 years ago with Dave Broc kington The publisher belie ves it still has rele vance for the wor ld of educ ation, which is encouraging and will mean some promotional activities in the autumn Degrees of Separation is being translated into Mandarin for publication in China next year and there is talk about video c lips and short films of some of the chapters.

The pen is already busy with a new idea about our connectedness, but this time with the living wor ld and a planet that has been around for four billion years already As the poet TS Eliot w rote in his magnificent p Bur nt Norton, “ T ime past and t future allow but a little consciousne

O ur lifetimes may be a blink of eye in the sc ale of the universe, e ver y individual’s years on ear th impor tant and we want the to matter n

Roger W hite ’ s latest no ve Deception is available to buy now for £11 99 from publisher Cinnamon Press (cinnamonpress.com), any good bookshop and amaz on.co.uk

You’re in our good books

The experts at Gloucester Road Books share their top reads for May, and you can even meet two of the authors in person at the shop this month

iography of X, Catherine Lacey

ublished by Granta Books, £9.99

ewly out in paperback, this is an exciting nd thrilling read that uses structures of or ld-building to make up that of a fictional rtist ’ s life Set against a dystopian historical lot, the protagonist sets out to write a iography and unravel the manifold realities of her late wife, an iconoc last who spun a ocoon of myth around her life The author, Catherine Lacey, quotes real-life writers within the protagonist's research, further complicating what is a fascinating thematic interplay between reality and fiction

e First-Time Forager, Andy Hamilton ublished by National Trust Books 12.99

The Bristol-based foraging expert ’ s latest ook continues his quest to encourage ver yone to discover the nourishing delights n offer all around us Hamilton calms any afety fears with uncomplicated descriptions accompanied by clear images so first-timers can relax while seeking out tasty treasures He’ ll be discussing all this at Gloucester Road Books on 16 May

gloucester roadbooks.co.uk; @gloucester rd books; 184 Gloucester Road, Bishopston, BS7 8NU Open Monday and Tuesday 9 30am-5pm; Wednesday to Saturday 9 30am-6pm

Old Romantics, Maggie Armstrong

Published by Tramp Press £13 99

These inter-linked short stories follow the same character, Margaret, as she negotiates failed relationships, work, marriage, and children, and how to balance them all against her writing life The tone of the writing is what makes this collection so special, it is self-conscious and wr y while the stories remain both raw and moving without verging into sentiment. A ver y impressive debut collection!

A Bookshop of One’s Own, Ja Cholmeley

Published by Mudlark, £16

The stor y behind the hugely influential Silver Moon Wome Bookshop, which Cholmeley co founded in 1984, is a ver y valua piece of social histor y The shop was set up to promote the work of female writers and became Europe’s biggest women ’ s bookshop, hosting a stellar cast of luminaries such as Maya Angelou and Angela Carter. Cholmeley will in conversation about the book at Gloucester Road Books on 21 May

WOULD YOU LET BORIS CUT YOUR HAIR?

If hairdressers require a professional qualification, why not MPs and Ministers?

You will enjoy reading the satirical book FROM LIBERALISM

By JAMES d’ORAN

Pitch perfect

Jeremy Blackmore speaks to cricket legend Mark Alleyne, who’s made a triumphant return to Gloucestershire County Cricket Club as head coach to guide the next generation of players towards success

As c aptain, Mark Alley ne led Gloucestershire Count y Cr ic ket Club to nine trophies and a Championship promotion at a time when the ‘Glor ious Glosters’ dominated count y cricket and redefined the way oneday cricket was played in England.

As the county ’ s most decorated player, he was immortalised in a mural painted on the walls of the Seat Unique Stadium at Nevil Road in 2019. Alleyne’s career in numbers as the c lub’s highest run-scorer and wickettaker in one-day cricket also features at the ‘L egends Walkway ’ area of the ground Now he’s back as the new men ’ s head coach, bringing that wealth of experience to help inspire and guide the latest generation of Gloucestershire players Determined to find that winning formula again, he has c lear ambitions to turn around the c lub’s recent run of poor form and see them challenge for silver ware once more.

“ That would mean ever ything to me, ” he says “As a player, I know what it feels like when you ' re going out onto the pitch and the opposition are not looking for ward to playing against you It's a really good feeling It would be great if we can manage to rekind le that kind of presence on the field. That would be really satisfying.”

Born in L ondon in 1968 of Bajan descent, Alleyne moved with his parents to Barbados aged four, where he first learned to play cricket. He returned to England 11 years later to further his education before heading to Bristol to join Gloucestershire as a young professional in 1986

In those pre-glor y years though, Gloucestershire were regarded as journeymen with no title to their name since 1977 Alleyne is quick to acknowledge the hard work that went in to forge the later success

“I had some ver y good years here, none more so than the seven years as c aptain, where we secured nine titles, but the memor ies go well

Mark Alleyne in the home changing room on his first day back as head coach of Gloucestershire

beyond those glorious years Before that, you had all the hard yards of tr y ing to win championships and e vol ve as a cr ic keter Those two [periods] form ver y good memories for me. ”

Appointed captain in 1997, Alleyne forged a pioneering partnership with coach John Brace well, placing an emphasis on hard work and fitness and approaching the limited overs game in a ver y different way He was supported by key players who fully bought into this new way of playing like Australian all-rounder Ian Har vey and England wicketkeeper Jack Russell

“ We c aught cr ic ket at a sweet spot reall y, where players were ver y skilled,” he says “But there were certain aspects of the game they didn't bother too much with, fielding for one. There were good catches, but I didn't think teams really tried to make an effort in creating a fielding cauldron where you can save runs and create pressure.

“ We did that really well and supported our bowling unit And we got ourselves fitter So, our running between the wickets and stuff like that was ver y aggressive We were always looking for scoring opportunities, which is ever yone ' s default position now But at the time, we felt quite progressive in that aspect ”

From player to coach

A career in coaching was not on his radar though. Towards the end of his playing career, he embarked on a master ’ s degree in business studies at Bath University and intended to stay in cricket but working on the business and administration side Fate inter vened when Bracewell took up the head coach role with New Zealand in late 2003, leaving a vacancy at Nevil Road Asked to take over, initially in a temporar y player/coach role, Mark ser ved as the county ’ s head coach until 2007, winning two titles and taking the county to the T20 Cup final

W ith three young children at home, he stepped away from full-time coaching jobs to prioritise his family life, taking on consultancy roles and working at the National Performance Centre at Loughborough, where he coached the England Under-15s He spent time as the MCC head coach, and later became cricket professional at Marlborough College

“ I ’d dedic ated a life to play ing cr ic ket and all the travel and commitment that took,” he explains “ W hen I started a young family, I really wanted to be at home a bit more This meant probably being in the school system, so we had the same holidays That's what drove me towards coaching within the school sector for a bit.”

“ I really got my appetite back for the first-class game ”

The time away from the grind of the count y circuit also gave him time to follow the footballing progress of his youngest son Max, who is currently part of Manchester City ’ s Elite Development Squad. It ’ s been an exciting time for the Alley ne famil y, who regular l y travel to Manchester to catch Max in action

The journey back into elite cricket happened gradually over the past few years F irst, the England selectors asked Alleyne to act as a scout, making the most of his shrewd cricket brain and keen eye to obser ve some of the young up-and-coming batters around the county circuit

“ W hile doing that, I really got my appetite back for the first-c lass game, ” he says. “I wanted to get back in and make a difference. At the same time, I did some work with the England one-day side in the Nether lands Then I did the T20 Blast with Glamorgan and the Welsh F ire franchise for a couple of years

Fast bowler Dom Goodman throws the ball to Academy produc t Archie Bailey on pre -season tour in Stellenbosch

Head coach Mark Alleyne in discussions with lead bowling coach Mark Thorburn

“So, when this opportunity came with Gloucestershire, it was a good time for me, bec ause my children had just come out of full-time education, and I felt as though I had some time now to scratch my itch and could go for it ”

Some part-time coaching work with the Glosters in 2021 proved beneficial too, giving him an ear ly chance to get to know many of the players: “ The current squad has quite a nice balance of some senior, experienced players who I had contact with in 2021 But also then, I was working across the second and first elevens, so Ollie and Tom Price, Dom Goodman, those guys were starting to cut their teeth a little bit So, I managed to build up a decent rapport with them So, getting back into it has been fair ly seamless ”

Remaining optimistic

He is aware though of the challenges ahead. Gloucestershire finished bottom of Division Two in the County Championship in 2023 and have won just one limited overs trophy since he was last at the c lub

He is frank about the situation and acknowledges changes need to be made

“ W hat we ' ve been doing, hasn't worked S o, we do need to jerk ourselves into a slightly different way of approaching the game We’re definitely not going to be maybe as passive or conser vative as we have been in the past.

“ That's one attitude change we ' re really looking for, looking to start games on the front foot. We have seen, despite some of the results the last two years, that once the team gets into the game, they can compete But ver y of ten, it's a little bit too late

“So, we ' ve got to be able to play from the front and lead from the front That's something we'll be looking to do, start the games at a bit more of a pace ”

He feels there is some cause for optimism, pointing out how talented his squad are despite their recent form.

“I think with a fully fit squad available, and a new face, some new ideas, I reckon we can get the group together to produce something a little bit more exciting than the last couple of years Hopefull y, looking at the four-day options in the County Championship, promotion is something we would really like at the c lub We want to be competing in Division

One, certainly over the next few years I think that's a realistic ambition ” His own coaching st yle has evol ved over the years, drawing on the many inspirational leaders he has played under and worked alongside

“ You're constantly learning and picking up stuff you think you might be able to use in the future. So, I would say my style is a hybrid of a lot of good people I've had around me over the years.

“John Bracewell, yes, being one But I've had some good captains, like Cour tney Walsh We've had coaches like Eddie Bar low, and my first coach John Shepherd In amongst that, a lot of different styles, a lot of different ways of doing things So, it's important you do find your own way, your own philosophy and tr y and stay true to that ”

“ I would like the whole club to feel inspired again ”

L ooking at the Gloucestershire squad he inherits, he is excited by the quantity and variation in the bowling department The batting line-up too has a good blend of experience and youth, bolstered by Australian batter Cameron Bancrof t.

W hile this season ’ s opening game against Derbyshire was washed out by heavy rain, Gloucestershire could take real positives from the final day of their Division Two c lash against favourites Yorkshire as Ollie Price's career-best 147 and a centur y from James Bracey helped the Glosters to an unlikely draw

Cricketing ambitions are one thing, but Alleyne wants to create a buzz around Nevil Road again

“ I feel as though we just stagnated a little bit S o, I would like the whole c lub to feel inspired again and be a bit more ambitious and look to make waves in Division One and get players going around the wor ld playing franchise cricket. And just be a vibrant cricketing c lub again. That would make me ver y happy if we can start to get that going ” n

gloscr icket.co.uk (All images cour tesy of Gloucestershire Cr icket)

Ahmed Syed defends to Luke Charleswor th with James Bracey keeping wicket

Education matters

Badminton Schools hosts engineering challenge

Fifteen primar y schools competed in an Engineering Challenge at Badminton School last month, sponsored by STEMworks The challenge was to install a model wind turbine by designing a crane out of K’Nex. In class, the children had already been exploring the diversity of engineering and the wide range of tasks engineers undertake They had also looked at how engineering could help solve issues around climate change The children competing were the winners from heats in their schools. These budding engineers demonstrated teamwork, amazing design skills and perseverance, creating a range of fantastic designs There are plans to expand this opportunity and include more schools next year

The winning school was Burrington C of E Primar y, however the competition was tight as there were lots of fantastic ideas on the day. badmintonschool.co.uk

Fairfield High School welcomes new Principal

Following a rigorous selection process, Fair field High School is delighted to announce the appointment of Edel Cronin as its ne permanent Principal Cronin stood out as a candidate with exceptional leadership qualities and a deep commitment to both the school and Excalibur Academies Trust. Cronin brings a wealth of experience, having ser ved in a wide variety of roles at Fair field, including Vice Principal, Transition Lead, Achievement Coordinator and, most recently, leading the school as Interim Principal Her dedication to fostering an inclusive and innovative learning environment aligns incredibly well with both the school and Trust ’s vision and values O f her appointment, Cronin said: “I am honoured to be chosen to represent this wonder ful, diverse school and look for ward to giving ever ything I have in order to ensure it continues to flourish.”

fair field.excalibur.org.uk

Bristol at work

LOCAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATION UPDATES

Underfall Yard Trust reopens gates after fire

Underfall Yard has re-opened its gates, welcoming visitors to the working boatyard after a fire damaged five historic buildings and destroyed six boats in May 2023 Walkers of the Harbourside circuit can now pass through the yard on the route, following 11 months of closure The first part of the recover y and reinstatement on site is complete. Contractors have cleared the damage caused by the fire and completed necessar y structural work across the three buildings most severely affected – the Big Shed and two workshops Sarah Murray, director at Underfall Yard says: “It feels like we have our character back W hile it may have appeared shut, work has continued without halt behind closed doors and we have been making plans to re-build with a renewed sense for the future. Opening up the Underfall Yard section of the Harbourside Walk and welcoming the public back in is a huge milestone on our journey to recover y We’re looking for ward to even more people popping in, taking a look at what ’ s going on in the yard, or simply stopping for a coffee on their trip around the harbour We have a long road ahead, but this is a real step in the right direction, and we look for ward to welcoming more of the public and yard businesses back ”

Recover y and reinstatement work has been ongoing throughout the year, including clearance and the retrieval of architectural elements of the building, handled by Wring Group Ltd underfallyard co uk

Tech

trade corridor with Hong Kong established Tech West England Advocates, the not-for-profit tech community for west England, has announced it is launching a second UK trade mission to Hong Kong, as part of its ongoing development of a tech trade corridor The mission, titled Your Gateway to Asia Pacific, will take place 2125 October 2024, and is now open for applications from tech founders and investors. Any founders from the region with export-ready technologies in any sector, including clean tech, health tech, fintech, AI and robotics, as well as any investors or venture capitalists, are welcome to apply online.

techwestenglandadvocates. co.uk

St

Peter’s Hospice recruits new CEO

St Peter’s Hospic has announce the appointment of new CEO Susan Hamilton, following the retirement of the local charity ’ s previous CEO Hamilton brings a wealth of relevant experience from her various senior roles within the healthcare sector She will lead the organisation’s crucial work caring for adults with incurable diseases, as well as supporting family members and loved ones through bereavement.

Prior to joining the hospice, Hamilton was director of Public Health at North Northamptonshire Council She’s also a nonexecutive director, currently sitting on the boards of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, and Taff Housing A Bristol local, Hamilton has been aware of the important work of St Peter’s Hospice for many years.

stpetershospice.org

£1

million retrofit scheme ‘army’ launched

A £1 million West of England scheme to train up and upskill more than 700 retrofitters, funded by Mayor Dan Norris's Mayoral Combined Authority, is being rolled out across the region, part of the +£7 million Retrofit West programme to deliver home improvements and better energy efficiency. There’s a shortage of retrofit workers in the area, with the number needing to increase 20fold to bring the 250,000 regional homes needed up to standard, as well as a shortage of effective national policies closing the retrofit skills gap In total, 720 ‘recruits’ will take part in the free training over the year to become certified retrofit installers and upskill existing tradespeople to tackle retrofit work Once in their roles, the retrofitters will be tasked with insulating walls, installing new doors and windows, or introducing heat pumps retrofitwest.co.uk

Earning more than £100,000? Here’s how to avoid the 60% tax trap

When your salary exceeds the £100,000 threshold, you can fall into a tax trap that leaves you paying a 60% rate on a portion of your earnings

Most people have a tax-free Personal Allowance of £12,570, but your Personal Allowance tapers by £1 for every £2 over £100,000 you earn

This means you can pay a 60% tax rate on the portion of your income between £100,000 and £125,140

One method to avoid this trap is to pay some of your earnings into your pension

Making additional pension contributions from your income over £100,000 not only lets you claim tax relief on the amount you place into your pension but also reduces your taxable income back to a level where you can regain some of the Personal Allowance you may otherwise have lost.

If you earn more than £100,000, pension contributions can be an extremely tax-efficient way of saving for your future In certain cases, you can benefit from effectively 60% tax relief on your contributions

We can help you make the most of your income over £100,000 and ensure you don’t fall into tax traps. To find out more, get in touch.

We are Independent Financial Advisers who specialise in retirement planning and estate planning

If you would like a review of your pensions and investments and whether you are on track to achieve your financial goals, please contact us for a free consultation

MBST : Treating chronic back pain, Disc injur y, Sciatica and ner ve damage.

MBST provides healing at the cellular level via targeted energy transfer into damaged tissues. The results we’re seeing for ner ve damage patients are truly remarkable for the patients as some of the case studies below demonstrate.

Neil suffered a severe disc herniation with ner ve root compression and dreadful leg pain His pain was 10/10 after disc and ner ve MBST last December his response was so fast and complete he went on 2 golfing trips by the end of March including long haul flights and is still doing really well.

Jean responded so well to the disc/ ner ve treatment for her Disc bulge with s1 ner ve root compression. Injections only helped temporarily yet 3 months post MBST she was able to come off all meds , had no leg pain and is still currently in great shape, even after a persistent cough!!

Brian had significant Spinal cord damage post surger y/spinal stimulator Unable to sit up, eat at a table, drive or walk, Brian’s life really was agony He’d hobble to treatment bent over on 2 sticks, and this was for several years post procedure We applied the ner ve MBST therapy 1 year ago 6 weeks post treatment his pain was already on the wane His improvement has continued steadily and his life is completely different. He walks well over distance now, can sit how he likes and is buying a car again!!

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Treatment Accelerates the Regeneration

of Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons in vitro

Anda Mann1, Bibiane Steinecker-Frohnwieser2, Aida Naghilou1, Flavia Millesi13, Paul Supper1, Lorenz Semmler1, Sonja Wolf1, Lena Marinova1, Lukas Weigl4, Tamara Weiss1,3*† and Christine Radtke1,3†

1 Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

2 Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Saalfelden, Austria

3 Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria

4 Department of Special Anesthesia and Pain Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Functional recover y from peripheral ner ve injuries depends on a multitude of factors.

Schwann cells (SCs) are key players in the regenerative process as they develop repairspecific functions to promote axon regrowth However, chronically dener vated SCs lose their repair phenotype, which is considered as a main reason for regeneration failure.

Previous studies reported a modulator y effect of low nuclear magnetic resonance therapy (NMRT) on cell proliferation and gene expression To provide first insight into a possible effect of NMRT on cells involved in peripheral ner ve regeneration, this study investigated whether NMRT is able to influence the cellular behavior of primar y SC and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron cultures in vitro The effect of NMRT on rat SCs was evaluated by comparing the morphology, purity, proliferation rate, and expression levels of (repair) SC associated genes between NMRT treated and untreated SC cultures In addition, the influence of (1) NMRT

and (2) medium obtained from NMRT treated SC cultures on rat DRG neuron regeneration was examined by analyzing neurite outgrowth and the neuronal differentiation status Our results showed that NMRT stimulated the proliferation of SCs without changing their morphology, purity, or expression of (repair) SC associated markers. Furthermore, NMRT promoted DRG neuron regeneration shown by an increased cell sur vival, enhanced neurite network formation, and progressed neuronal differentiation status. Furthermore, the medium of NMRT treated SC cultures was sufficient to support DRG neuron sur vival and neurite outgrowth These findings demonstrate a beneficial impact of NMRT on DRG neuron sur vival and neurite formation, which is primarily mediated via SC stimulation

Our data suggest that NMRT could be suitable as a non-invasive auxiliar y treatment option for peripheral ner ve injuries and encourage future studies that investigate the effect of NMRT in a physiological context

Shouldering the Burden

The shoulder is one of the most flexible joints in the body, with a wide range of motion However, due to this flexibility, it can be unstable, is easily injured, and can deteriorate with constant use over time. Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital offers advice on how to keep shoulders healthy and pain-free, as well as how to spot and avoid common injuries

The shoulder is made up of three bones: the collar bone (clavicle), the shoulder blade (scapula), and the upper arm bone (humerus) Four tendons – called rotator cuff tendons – hold the shoulder joint in place, but as tendons age, they are less able to tolerate stress, are less elastic, and become easier to tear It is therefore important to take a patient’s occupation and lifestyle into account, as well as their age, when diagnosing the cause of their shoulder pain

Shoulder instability happens most often in younger people and athletes When the muscles and ligaments that hold it together are stretched beyond their normal limits, the shoulder becomes unstable. The acromioclavicular joint, or ACJ, is a joint at the top of the shoulder where the clavicle meets the shoulder blade Problems occur due to overuse, which causes tenderness of the ACJ Treatment often involves resting and applying ice to the joint for it to heal. In some cases, injections, anti-inflammatories or arthroscopic surgery may be required.

Osteoarthritis in the shoulder is less common than in the hip or knee, but over time, this can cause pain, stiffness and weakness of the joint The condition can arise due to degeneration of the joint, or following trauma to the shoulder. Modern advancements in shoulder replacement surgery mean that there are a number of options relating to joint replacement, which can help ease pain and restore function

Adhesive capsulitis, or ‘frozen shoulder’, is very painful stiffness, caused when the capsule (soft tissue envelope) surrounding the shoulder

joint becomes thick and stiff, preventing normal movement. Again, steroid injections are useful in dampening pain and allowing the physiotherapists to work

Impingement pain is very common in all age groups This is a sudden pain in the shoulder that comes on when reaching out, up, or behind, and can occur from the shoulder being held in a poor postural position, overuse or sometimes following injury It can be due to a structural problem with the shoulder joint, related to the tendons of the rotator cuff, which may fray or tear completely The shoulder bursa (a cushioning sac filled with lubricating fluid located between the tendons and bone) can become inflamed, generating pain Impingement pain can often be successfully treated with physiotherapy and cortisone injections If it is more severe, where you are unable to raise your arm, this can be a sign of a rotator cuff tear which may require surgery.

Mr Philip McCann (pictured), a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in upper limb disorders at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital says: “Shoulder and elbow problems are common yet complex, and can have a significant impact on our ability to work, play sports or enjoy a good quality of life

In order to move our arms and hands freely, many different joints

and muscles must work harmoniously to permit normal, pain-free motion. Symptoms such as pain, stiffness, weakness and instability may be due to a number of different underlying conditions

“As a surgeon, my primary goals are to provide an accurate diagnosis, and to formulate a treatment strategy to help ease, and wherever possible, eradicate your symptoms, in a patientcentred manner ”

As shoulder pain is so common, many conditions can be easily diagnosed and managed Sometimes this leads to surgery, but in many cases it can be avoided. In addition to Mr McCann, other Consultants specialising in upper limb disorders at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital include Mr Iain Packham and Mr Gray Edwards, while our team of physiotherapists are also available to see you

For more information or to book an appointment, please call 0117 911 6062 You can also book online, by scanning the QR code to visit our website

When is Inheritance Tax Due?

Richard Higgs, Chartered Independent Financial Planner

Inheritance Tax (IHT ) must be paid before Probate can be granted and before assets are distributed It's crucial to understand not only how much tax may be payable but also when it is due

IHT is typically due for payment within six months after the end of the month in which the deceased passed away While the general rule is for IHT to be paid within six months of the death, there are several exceptions and considerations to be aware of:

Payment on Account:

In some cases, particularly if the estate includes property or other assets that take time to sell, HMRC may allow the tax to be paid in instalments over 10 years However, interest is usually charged on any unpaid tax

Assets with Delayed Payment:

If property or certain investments need to be sold, HMRC may agree to delay the payment of IHT In such cases the tax would be due within six months after the sale and interest will be charged

Failure to pay IHT on time can result in penalties and interest charges At what is an already stressful time for families, it should be avoided wherever possible

Navigating the intricacies of IHT can be daunting, especially during times of grief The cyclical nature of tax and probate makes this particularly complex where the deceased hasn’t considered how IHT will be paid from the estate

Seeking professional advice can provide invaluable support in understanding the obligations on your beneficiaries, planning your estate effectively, and ensuring compliance with HMRC regulations

We’re here to help. Get in touch to arrange a complimentary estate planning review or to talk through how your family may pay an inheritance tax bill or avoid the bill altogether Call 0117 3636 212 or email office@haroldstephens co uk

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

50 High Street, Westbur y on Tr ym, Bristol BS9 3DZ.

Walk this way

Andrew Swift follows an unfamiliar path through Bourton Combe and discovers something he never thought he’d stumble upon in this part of Somerset

One evening in Januar y, while sorting through a pile of old books, I c ame upon one published in 1931 –Unbeaten Tracks of the West: The Hiker ’ s G uide by P E

Barnes This turned out to be an absorbing read, giving an intriguing glimpse of what the countr yside around Bristol was like a centur y ago. Many of the places featured were familiar to me, and it was fascinating to find out what they had once looked like. There were many that were unfamiliar as well, and one that particular ly stood out was Bourton Combe

I ’d heard a lot about Bour ton Combe, but had al way s put off explor ing it – par tl y bec ause the OS map suggested that, compared with, say, Goblin Combe, Burrington Combe or Brockley Combe, it

wasn’t that large; and partly because I couldn’t see how I could inc lude it in a longer walk

L ooking at what Barnes had to say about it, however, I began to think I might have underestimated it, and, when I read that “ no combe hereabouts sur passes it in its wealth of wild flower ing in time of May ” , I decided that, when spring eventually arrived, I would set out to discover if it was still as alluring a centur y on.

Comparing a modern map with one from the 1920s did raise a slight qualm, however Backwell Common, across which Barnes strolled af ter emerging from the combe, was no more, its place having been taken by a vast quarr y In the event, this didn’t prove much of an issue – apart from the odd explosion disturbing the tranquillity – but I did encounter

another problem I hadn’t anticipated Bourton Combe is just outside the village of F lax Bourton, to which there is a frequent bus ser vice from Bristol. I went there by car, however, turning off the A370 onto Bourton Combe Lane, at the end of which there was, I was told, limited parking. Unfor tunatel y, it was so limited that, e ven though I ’d chosen a time when I hadn’t expected it to be busy, I nabbed the last space And, while strapping my walking boots on – essential given the terrain – two more cars drove up and had to turn back to tr y to find parking in the village Perhaps it might be worth considering taking the bus rather than the car, or, if you do drive, being aware that there might be a problem and tr ying to avoid busier times

Exceeding expectations

The combe itself, though, not only exceeded my expectations, but also held within it something I wasn’t prepared for, something I ’d ne ver expected to stumble upon in this part of Somerset More of that later –for now, if you’d like to see what Bourton Combe looks like for yourself, this is the route I took

At the end of Bourton Combe Lane, turn right up a high-banked muddy tr ac k, through a tunnel of trees Af ter 250m, tur n lef t up another track, whose rocky surface, combined with mud, makes for a slipper y c limb.

The trac k r uns along the wood ’ s per imeter, with super b vie ws eastward to Br istol over an expanse of woods and green fields Eventually, as you continue to c limb, the woods c lose in Carr y on in the same direction, and af ter another 800m you will see a group of buildings ahead This is Water Catch Farm, and, immediatel y af ter passing it, turn right and carr y on along a narrow path

After 250m, when the path cur ves right, follow it as it heads downhill, passing a ruined, ivy-covered cottage on the right A few metres further on, just past another ruined building on the left, a sign warns of blasting in the quarr y where Backwell Common once stood. Turn right to start

heading down the combe, car peted with bluebells and wild gar lic. A little fur ther on another dominant feature of Bour ton Combe’s flora appears – rhododendrons, undeniabl y attractive but an ecologic al nightmare, not only because they are invasive but also because they form a dense canopy under which nothing else can grow In Bourton Combe they are not a recent introduction; they were well established when Barnes visited and he was delighted to see them “ just coming out ”

An ancient feeling

One thing has changed in the last hundred years, however. According to Barnes, “Bourton Combe gives an impression of arcaded orderliness and embowered sedateness that other combes in these parts do not ”

Not any more it doesn’t As the sides of the combe steepen, the path grows ever rougher, gouged and scoured by winter torrents, echoing the forces that formed this rocky gorge aeons ago Craggy slopes and tumbled trees, colonised by moss and ferns, create a seemingly primeval landscape, a pocket of temperate rainforest in a hidden gully on the edge of Mendip – not what I’d expected to find, and all the more astonishing for that.

Past ancient yews, the path continues downhill. Even on a sunny day the gloom progressively deepens, the sky is blotted out, and c liffs rear up on either hand, as though you ’ re heading towards a subterranean realm – until the combe suddenly broadens out, sunlight streams in and the wood land floor is once again c ar peted in wild gar lic, its scent hanging heavy in the air Here, at last, is that embowered sedateness All too soon, though, the path forks, and, instead of carr ying on down, we need to bear right uphill to re-join the stony track that leads back to the starting point.

Small it may be compared with some of Mendip Hills’ better-known combes and gorges, but Bourton Combe, with its varied habitats and microc limates, is ever y bit as worth seeking out And, while it may no longer have the arcaded order liness Barnes praised so highly, I am ver y grateful to him for prompting me to set out and discover this hidden gem less than five miles from the centre of Bristol n

akemanpress.com (Images: Andrew Swif t)

Try the walk yourself

Star ting point: Bour ton Combe Lane (ST508690; BS48 3QL)

Getting to the star ting point: By car: head west from Bristol on the A370 to Flax Bour ton and turn left along Bour ton Combe Lane By bus: from Bristol, the X1 (quar ter-hourly Monday-Saturday, half-hourly on Sunday) stops at Post O ffice Lane ( just past the church) in Flax Bour ton; from here walk back 200m and turn right along Bour ton Combe Lane

Length of Walk: 2 5 miles

Approximate Time: Two hours

No facilities available

Level of challenge: Paths are rough, rocky and may be muddy in places

Map: OS Explorer 154

To discover more about temperate rainforests, visit lostrainforestsofbritain org

Service/Repair/Installation of Gas, LPG, Oil and Electric AGAs --------------------------------

AGA Removals including safe disconnection of Gas/Oil supply --------------------------------

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Annual Gas Safety Inspections - Domestic --------------------------------

Boiler Breakdowns/Installations/Maintenance

Tel: 07584010517

Email: help@cozycosolutions.co.uk

28 Roundstone Street, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, BA14 8DE

A Grand day out

Elly West speaks to Bristol-based garden designer Suzy Dean, who has embraced a child-like sense of magic and discovery in her first show garden for the upcoming RHS Malvern Spring Festival (9-12 May)

Gardens can be magical places for children (at least in my day!) and it ’ s the secret, wilder corners that I remember best There was the space behind the shed that overlooked the end neighbour ’ s garden; the gap in the giant laurel hedge into which I could creep to a hidden hollow with dr y ground covered in brittle leaves; and the branch of the weeping cherr y tree that you could hold on to and swing on, while jumping off the low wall of the compost heap

Trampolines – the bane of my life as a garden designer – weren’t really a thing in the 1980s, although we did have a swingball set that sometimes replaced the whirly washing line on sunny days, but it was the homemade dens and the opportunities for exploration that made our garden the most fun W hat better than to include a bit of magic in our gardens and a sense of discover y – with child-friendly and hidden places that will entice today ’ s youngsters away from their screens and out of doors?

Bristol-based garden designer Suz y Dean has embraced this concept in her first show garden for the upcoming RHS Malvern Spring Festival, which takes place from 9-12 May Along with her business partner Isabel Devaney, with whom she set up Ammil Garden Design in 2022, she’s created a garden full of wild planting, pathways and small hidden clearings There’s also a wigwam den and living willow tunnel, designed with children in mind

“ The idea of our show garden is that it ’ s the bit at the end of the garden that morphs into the landscape beyond, not the super-pretty bit up near the house. It ’ s a bit wild, with natural planting, informal paths and a woodland vibe,” Dean explains

Their garden - The Grand Appeal Garden (design pictured above) –is named for the charity that the garden is supporting The Grand Appeal raises money for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, which is close to Dean’s heart as a former full-time consultant paediatrician in its intensive care unit. However, after 20 years in the NHS, Dean decided it was time for a life change: “I’ve always been quite creative and was looking for a new challenge, as well as a better work-life balance.”

In what some might consider an unusual career move, Dean now splits her time between her new garden design business and working at the children’s hospital She spent 18 months completing an MA in interior design at the Inchbald S chool of Design, but it was when she subsequently started a garden design course at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden that she found her passion and her ‘people’

“I enjoyed the interior design, but it wasn’t quite right for me, ” she says. “I realised I wanted to work outside and get back to nature. My focus is on sustainabilit y and wild life-friend ly gardening wherever possible Artificial grass and lots of concrete are a no ”

This is reflected in The Grand Appeal Garden, which has a path made of green oak setts from sustainably-managed forests, leading to a timber lodge, along with areas of free-draining self-binding gravel and extensive planting, inc luding 11 trees in an area 15m x 10m All the plants will be relocated to new homes, the majority to a shady bank at the children’s hospital, and were chosen with this plot in mind. The palette is muted with shades of blues, whites and greens, using plants such as forget-me-nots, ferns, sweet woodruff, lamium, shade-tolerant geraniums, plus hazel and silver birches to give height and structure

Suzy says, “ We wanted naturalistic planting, some of which people may consider weeds But we want to show that a garden doesn’t just have to be a lawn and a formal border The colours we ’ ve chosen are restful and relaxing to create a sense of calm ”

The Grand Appeal is the charity behind the Gromit Unleashed trail around Bristol, the first of which took place in 2013, with 80 giant sculptures of Gromit to find around the city. These were then sold off at auction, raising £2 3million for the charity Shaun in the City was the next trail two years later, with 120 sculptures in London and Bristol, followed by a second Gromit Unleashed trail in 2018 A third will be held in 2025

Funds go to provide accommodation for families while their children are in hospital, as well as going towards other means of well-being support, vital equipment, and research.

As Dean says, “ The charity provides a home away from home and a safe haven for the families of sick children. O ur garden also represents a safe place where families can get back to nature and enjoy its healing powers ”

Raffle tickets will be sold at the show to win a flight in the Wallace and Gromit moon-rocket hot air balloon, and there will also be the opportunity for direct donations n

V isit justg iving.com and search ‘ T he Grand Appeal Garden’ to donate to the building of the garden. For full details and tickets for the RHS Malver n Spr ing Festival, visit rhsmalver n.co.uk. ell y swellies.co.uk

Plant of the month: Forget-Me-Not

Forget-me -nots are instantly recognisable to most, with their froths of delicate, small true -blue flowers, each with a yellow eye They are prolific self-seeders, spreading themselves around, but are easy to pull out if necessar y, and make good gap fillers in the border They also grow well in gravel gardens, or even cracks in paving stones. The Latin name Myosotis is from the Greek, meaning ‘mouse’s ear ’ , but the common name is based on Christian folk lore and is said to come from when God asked the blue flower its name when walk ing in the Garden of Eden. The flower was shy and whispered that it had forgotten its name, so God renamed the flower as forget-me -not, so it would not be forgotten again

The flowers appear in late spring and early summer and are biennial, so will flower the year aft sowing. Sow them straight into th from spring through summer, and they will flower the following year

They grow in sun or par tial shade, and are perennial, so die back below the soil sur face in winter and come back the following spring The nectar-rich flowers are good for bees, butter flies, moths and other pollinators.

Begin Your Next Chapter at The Vincent

At Pegasus, we understand that the process of moving home at any age can be a big undertaking, with many of our customers moving on from the large, family homes that they have lived in for many years

W ith a range of age-exclusive communities spanning the UK, our goal is ensuring that choosing your home for your next chapter is characterised by choice, independence, and community, empowering you to embrace the next chapter on your own terms

Nestled beside Clifton Downs in Bristol’s desirable Redland District, The V incent is a stunning collection of 64 one- and two-bedroom apartments available for purchase or rent. Ideally located within easy reach of the bustling city centre, and designed by award-winning architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, the community combines modern elegance with rich cultural heritage With homes proving popular and only a few remaining, seize the opportunity to make your move today

Amenities designed for comfort and connection

At The V incent your comfort and wellness are our top priority O ur meticulously designed spaces offer tailored wellness and leisure experiences to enhance your holistic wellbeing. Enjoy an array of luxurious facilities right on your doorstep, from a state-of-the-art spa with a hydrotherapy pool and relaxation therapies, to a gym offering yoga classes and a stretch studio

We are all about fostering a sense of community, and the communal lounge at The Vincent provides the perfect setting to unwind with a glass of wine or a catch up with like-minded neighbours, family and friends The Vincent also includes a fantastic on-site restaurant, featuring a theatrical open kitchen, ideal for hosting and getting together

At the heart of The Vincent, you also enjoy the tranquillity of a private garden, where hedgerows, winding pathways, a serene pond, and magnificent trees create an enchanting landscape within the expansive grounds

As with all our Pegasus communities, The Vincent features a dedicated 'Lifehost' who is always on hand to support and assist residents Their special role includes organising book clubs and coffee mornings, but also acting as your first point of contact for any queries or concerns, ensuring a real sense of safety and security whenever needed

Finding your dream home

Inspired by its rich V ictorian heritage, the apartments at The V incent

are beautifully designed to seamlessly blend classic elegance with modern comfort, all complemented by a light-brick façade.

Alison, who made the move to The V incent community, commented: “ W hat made me fall for the community was not just the grounds and ambiance, but when I walked into my apartment it was the space and the view that I was immediately sold on: I get a unique feeling of being in a garden all the time!”

Homes at The V incent benefit from expansive open-plan living areas, with tall windows framing views of the picturesque grounds and the Bristol skyline. Apartments open onto private balconies, offering spaces to relax and soak in the breathtaking views.

The spacious kitchens feature fully integrated appliances and large worktops, all enhanced by modern design and functionality

Alison added, “I felt immediately at home here Moving in when I did, I got a new lease of life – it has exceeded my expectations completely I’ve never regretted it "

Last chance to join our vibrant community today

Discover what The V incent has to offer by arranging a viewing of our beautiful community today.

You can privately tour our newly dressed, two-bedroom show home and experience firsthand the lifestyle that awaits you at The V incent

W ith our final few homes remaining, this is your last chance to make the move to this exciting neighbourhood Don't miss out on the perfect place to call home start your next chapter today!

W ith options to Buy, Rent or Rent to Buy, Pegasus gives you the freedom, flexibility and breadth of choice to help you find a new home that ’ s right for you.

Prices for rentals at The V incent start from £2,550 pcm, with homes available to buy from £400,000

For more information, please visit: pegasushomes.co.uk/the-V incent-Bristol

To book an appointment, you can contact us directly at thevincent@lifestor y.group or 01172052920

PROPERTY NEWS

DISCOVER THE LATEST NEWS FROM BRISTOL’S PROPERTY EXPERTS

Factors to always consider when buying a leasehold property :

1. The number of years left on the lease

L ease lengths can var y but typically a new lease will start off at around 99–125 years but can run for as long as 999 years; with many taking the view that a 999-year lease is ‘ as good as a freehold ’

A buyer should always find out how long is left on the lease, especially if buying an existing lease that has already begun to run down Buying a short lease (under 80 years) could affect your ability to get a mortgage, and to extend a lease you must have lived in the property for two years.

In addition to the years left on the lease, it is always advisable to establish whether there is the option to extend the lease, thereby helping to maintain the value of that lease, and also whether there is the option to buy a share of the freehold Buying a freehold can be complex and legal advice should always be sought

2 Carefully consider the terms of the lease

Buying a Leasehold Property?

For many buyers, depending on the property type, they may have no option but to buy a leasehold property. W hat factors should a buyer consider be fore proceeding with the purchase of a property with a leasehold title?

If you buy a freehold property, you are purchasing the property and the land it sits on. That remains the case until you sell your house to another person, who will then become the freeholder. In contrast, if you buy a leasehold property, you are purchasing the property for a specific amount of time, and not the land it sits upon The freeholder, or landlord, still owns the plot of land it sits upon, and once the term of the leases expires, the ownership of the property reverts to them

Most apartments are usually sold with a leasehold title Often a single individual or entity owns the freehold, with the owner of each apartment owning the leasehold titles within the complex. Broadly speaking, most houses are sold as freehold though leasehold houses do arise, for example: the property owner might decide to sell a house with a leasehold because they want to retain an interest in the land, or because the house has been split into multiple dwellings Alternatively, if someone owns a home that has land surrounding it that they plan to build on, the original owner may want to retain ownership of the whole of the land, with the terms of the lease giving the buyer access to their own property

Check the lease for any restrictions on how the property can be used. Some leases may prevent owners from having pets, for example, or you may need to obtain permission from the freeholder before making any changes to your property

W here a lease contains onerous restrictions that would prevent you from purchasing a property, it is always worthwhile first having discussions with the freeholder as to whether alterations can be made to the terms of the lease, for example a restriction on pets The freeholder will need to agree to the request before the lease can be formally updated

3. Ground Rent & Service Charges

Always check whether you are required to pay a specific amount of ground rent This is a payment from the leaseholder to the freeholder that essentially covers the cost of ‘renting’ the land upon which the property is built Ground rent is traditionally paid annually, although quarterly or half yearly payments are not uncommon

W hilst ground rents are invariably modest in amount, of greater cause for concern for leaseholders are ever escalating ser vice charges

This is the cost towards the upkeep and maintenance of communal areas, a well as often going towards a ‘sinking fund ’ for future works. Ser vice charges will var y greatly depending on the property and whether, for example, there is a concierge ser vice and a lift It is always advisable to seek confirmation as to any future planned maintenance that will significantly increase the ser vice charge

W hatever stage you are at in the search for your perfect home or investment property, we’d love to chat

Lili O liver

O liver Roth Proper ty Consultants

T: 0117 9877 828

E: home@oliver roth.co.uk

Six O’Clock Gin bar, Spicer and Cole, Coffee #1, The River Station and Mud Dock to name a few…

The building comprises approximately 2,751 Sq Ft (255.6 Sq M) plus basement vaults of 592 Sq Ft (55 Sq M) and a rear courtyard garden.

In addition, there are 4 car parking spaces located on the Square.

The long leasehold interest is available to purchase and the permitted use under the long lease is as offices.

BRISTOL & CLIFTON’S PREMIER COMMERCIAL PROPERTY AGENTS

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