ZEITGEIST

from the

EDITOR

Septembers, for us, tend to focus on the city’s promising youngsters. We’ve got one on the cover – 20-year-old Bristolborn sporting success Lando Norris, currently zooming through his second season in Formula One, having already bagged his first podium finish in Austria over the summer.

The fresh face of McLaren, educated at Millfield in Somerset, learned a lot from his rookie year in top-flight motor sports and is now doing a bit of schooling himself. Turn to p16 for more on his racing start, and how his enthusiasm for simulator showdowns and live streaming during lockdown supported worthy causes and helped other, perhaps less socials-savvy, pro drivers engage with followers, broaden the sport’s fanbase, and show a less serious side online while racing everything from lorries to lawnmowers.

Back in the real world but still on the subject of bright young minds, schools are reopening, navigating a complex new normal and contending with social distancing, staggered classes and myriad other changes. Among academic adjustments is Ofqual’s decision to make poetry optional as part of GCSE English literature – which comes at a time when Bristol’s spoken word scene seems more energised than ever. CARGO Cl assroom is launching audio-visual learning tools based around local poet Lawrence Hoo’s collection; A Poetic City is marking the 250th anniversary of the death of Redcliffe pre-Romantic writer Thomas Chatterton (read more about him on p32) with free comics, anthologies, residencies and workshops; third city poet Caleb Parkin is about to take the baton from Vanessa Kisuule; and more and more verse-base d Bristol collectives are gathering momentum. We speak to a few local poets to gauge their thoughts on p42, before – continuing the educational vein on p48 – Bristol educator and campaigner for inclusive curricula and teacher diversity, Aisha Thomas, talks about her pilot scheme to redress school syllabi.

Another galvanising figure making headlines, Festival of Ideas’ new patron David Olusoga talks on p30 about his recent MacTaggart lecture, the excitement of Bristol as a place to live, A House Through Time and other contemporary topics. Worth a read.

Elsewhere, there’s artistic vibrancy within pages 26-28 as the grand old RWA reopens with a timely love letter to Europe courtesy of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham; while textile design studio &elle talks prints and styles on p14, and how the fashion industry ha s been changing and adapting. There are foodie finds in the form of Field Doctor (p35) and a bean-based Cameroonian recipe (p36) courtesy of Taste Makossa, plus health advice for the new season from Bedminster Pharmacy’s Ade Williams and – you know the drill – plenty more!

AMANDA NICHOLLS EDITOR Editor’s image by Paolo Ferla; ferlapaolo.com

Treating...

...Ourselves. If ever there was an argument for it, it’s now. Bouquets For Days has launched seasonal subscription packages in Bristol and, for a total of £55, you can have one ‘everyday bouquet’ delivered to your door on your chosen date each month of the season. Expect zero plastic, recyclable packaging and autumnal blooms fashioned into beautiful, rustic bunches.

• bouquetsfordays.co.uk

Interested...

...To see what Bristol residents – from the city’s schoolchildren to its artists – have come up with for People’s Platform. The new interactive public art experience’s first designs – to be brought to life in the digital realm and occupy Colston’s empty plinth on rotation – will be chosen next month. Anyone online anywhere in the world, or near the plinth with a smartphone, can witness the unique series of visual stat ements a bout what today’s city dwellers value. • peoplesplatform.co.uk

Cultivating...

...An atmosphere of calm, courtesy of Rituals’ recyclable new beauty box. Inspired by an ancient Chinese concept representing stillness and tranquillity, The Ritual of Jing includes hand lotion, shower oil, pillow mist, candle, body cream and scrub.