South Bristol Voice August 2017 by South Bristol Voice

southbristolvoice August 2017 No. 27

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FREE EVERY MONTH in Totterdown, Knowle and Windmill Hill WIN a champagne balloon flight with First Flight

Mayor calls for cuts protest MAYOR Marvin Rees has answered those who asked him to “stand up” to the Governmentimposed cuts. He has called on all the groups that oppose cuts to join him and representatives of the UK’s 10 core cities in a lobby of Parliament. He warned that if the energy behind the anti-austerity movement isn’t harnessed, it could become destructive. Mr Rees and the other city leaders are due in Downing Street on September 12 to hand over a green paper containing alternatives to council cuts. The Bristol and District Anti-Cuts Alliance (BADACA) welcomed Mr Rees’s appeal for protests. But it also called on him to halt the cuts and use council reserves and borrowing to fill the gap. Mr Rees has said failing to set a balanced budget would be illegal and would lead to civil servants taking over at City Hall. CUTS IN FOCUS: Pages 14-15

Plus more great ballooning prizes to celebrate the Balloon Fiesta Pages 20-21

Stars of the big screen

CHILDREN from Victoria Park primary school made their own Bollywood film – and so many parents wanted to watch it, that the only place big enough was Millennium Square! Headteacher Jack Lacey said he had the “crazy idea” for the film as an end-of-term arts activity. “It’s a bit bonkers,” he said, “it’s called Bollywomble, and it’s about my dog, Womble, who gets lost,

and the children play the part of the Victoria Park Police who are searching for him.” he said. Each class learned a dance based on the colourful routines popular in Indian films. The 10-minute film was put together by Knowle West Media Centre. “It’s been great fun,” said Mr Lacey. “It’s promoting multiculturalism and it’s been something for the whole school.”

• Derelict shops could be revived Page 3 • Another tower block for Bath Road Page 7 • FREE TEA & COFFEE: Toast Room Page 10 • Farm that’s feeding families Page 11

• Mattie’s on his way to Canada Page 18 • Lovers’ holiday tragedy that shook the city Pages 30-32

“absolutely fantastic from start to finish.” E Matthews – Knowle

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2 Paul Breeden Editor & publisher 07811 766072 paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk Ruth Drury Sales executive 07590 527664 sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk Editorial team: Beccy Golding, Alex Morss & The Wicked Witch. Deliveries: Greg Champion

Intro

THE BUSINESS OF COMMUNITY ONE OF the things that’s exceptional about South Bristol is its community spirit. You can’t go far in this part of town without meeting someone who’s doing their bit for the homeless, organising a fun run for a good cause or campaigning for better health. That’s why there was little doubt that Knowle teenager Mattie Reynolds would raise the cash he needed to take him to Canada to compete in the World Dwarf Games (see page 18). Well done, Mattie, and bring back some more gold medals! Dozens of local firms helped support Mattie. One of them

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was Totterdown florist and ball of energy Beks Vera Harhat. Now Beks is trying to revive the Totterdown Centre – not just as a place where she can do business, but as a centre that will support local charities and other small businesses. We hear a lot about the evils of capitalism, but not all firms are alike. Profits needn’t be excessive, and are often used for good – as shown by Beks, and Mattie’s other donors. Without entrepreneurs of all kinds, we’d have no jobs and no economy. The South Bristol Voice is a business too, and proud of it. We believe it gives us a secure foundation to provide you with what – we hope – is something that’s of value to the whole community, residents and local businesses alike.

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n BRIEFLY n TOWER blocks owned by Bristol city council may be fitted with sprinkler systems in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy in London. None of Bristol’s high-rises is on a Government list of blocks that use the same type of insulation as Grenfell. The council is looking into the feasibility of sprinklers, and at an independent review of fire precautions. n VICTORIA Park Action Group is asking for volunteers ahead of the park’s annual festival on September 16. If you fancy lending a hand with the raffle, a children’s craft workshop, a fun run or the dog show, email: • info@treasuremind.org n THE REVEREND David Moss, the vicar of St Michael’s church in Windmill Hill, is to take up a new post in Alveston, South Gloucestershire. Rev Moss will take charge of five parishes. His wife Sue said on Facebook that it would be a wrench to leave Windmill Hill after 20 years but they were looking forward to a new adventure.

n KARIN Smyth has asked the Government again when rail lines to Temple Meads will be electrified after an admission that plans to electrify the main line from Cardiff to Swansea have been dropped. The Bristol South MP said: “I haven’t been given a straight answer but the ditching of electrification between Cardiff and Swansea doesn’t augur well for passengers in Bristol and the South West.” n AN OPEN day at the PDSA centre in Bath Road, Brislington, gives everyone the chance to look round the charity’s Pet Aid Hospital. It’s on Wednesday August 2, 11am-3pm. Attractions include a barbecue, birds of prey, the fire brigade and more. n AN EVENING of funk takes place at the Thunderbolt in Bath Road, Totterdown, on Friday August 18 in aid of St Peter’s Hospice and Bristol Dawg, the greyhound and lurcher rescue group. Agent Funk team up with The Six Six. Tickets £6 in advance, £8 on the day. 7.30pm. • the thunderbolt.net

How do I get in touch with ... My MP? Karin Smyth MP By email: karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk By post: Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA By phone: 0117 953 3575 In person: Email karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk or call 0117 953 3575. My councillor? Post: You can write to all councillors at Brunel House, St George’s Road, Bristol BS1 5UY Christopher Davies Lib Dem, Knowle USEFUL NUMBERS Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000 Waste, roads 0117 922 2100 Pest control and dog wardens 0117 922 2500 Council tax 0117 922 2900 Housing benefit 0117 922 2300 Social services 0117 922 2900

Email: Cllr.Christopher.Davies@ bristol.gov.uk Gary Hopkins Lib Dem, Knowle (Lib Dem leader) Email: Cllr.Gary.Hopkins@bristol.gov.uk Phone: 0117 985 1491 or 07977 512159 Lucy Whittle Labour, Windmill Hill Phone: 07392 108805 Email: Cllr.Lucy.Whittle@bristol.gov.uk Jon Wellington Labour, Windmill Hill Phone: 07392 108804 Email: Cllr.Jon.Wellington@bristol.gov.uk Police Inquiries 101 Emergency 999 Fire Emergency 999 Inquiries 0117 926 2061 NEIGHBOURHOOD FORUMS NOTE: These meetings are on hold due to council cutbacks.

EDITOR’S NOTE: South Bristol Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We strive to conform to the NUJ Code of Conduct for journalists: • nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-code Feedback is welcomed: call editor Paul Breeden on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk. All stories and pictures are copyright of South Bristol Voice and may not be reproduced without permission in this or any other plane of the multiverse. South Bristol Voice Ltd | 18 Lilymead Avenue, Bristol BS4 2BX Co. no. 09522608 | VAT no. 211 0801 76

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n NEWS

Totterdown Centre poised to rise out of its dereliction Shops, a restaurant and a community hall all possible if hopes can be met THE TOTTERDOWN Centre is back – with hopes for an end to the years of dereliction. The centre on Wells Road has four shopfronts, all closed for many years, and has long been an eyesore. It also occupies the entire block to the corner of Firfield Road, and is controlled by a complex group of leaseholders and owners. Now the Voice understands that a deal could be close to sell the former Chinese takeaway and a large part of the building. The buyer is a local person who wants the centre to serve the community once again as a home to local businesses and a place for local groups and classes to meet. Already several ventures are open for business in the courtyard behind the takeaway. The Floriography flower shop has moved from its former premises further up Wells Road. A pop-up café, Fanny Tingle, is open on Fridays and Saturdays. And the outside yard has been transformed into the Healing Courtyard, a welcoming space full of flowers and planters with a marquee where people can sit and relax. Bristol Women’s Workshop, which has been the only constant presence in the centre, plans to expand its range of courses beyond the woodwork and upholstery training it has been offering since the early 1980s. Beks Vera Harhat, the owner of Floriography, brought together Anne Harding, founder of the Women’s Workshop, with the

Festival time at Zion centre COMEDY, drama, food and live music are all on offer in the Zionbury Festival, open at

A CENTRE FOR A DAMAGED NEIGHBOURHOOD IT WAS the disastrous demolition of hundreds of Totterdown homes to make way for a bypass, which was never built, which prompted local people to found the Totterdown Centre. It was formerly Harris & Tozers, an oldDerelict: But years as an eyesore could end fashioned drapers which co-operative, and the ownership went bust when the was split several ways. But some once-thriving shopping area was activists never liked the presence torn apartby the demolitions. of businesses in the centre, and Opened in 1979 by MP Tony eventually the co-op and most of Benn, the centre became home to the occupiers split up. Only the an advice centre, a greengrocers, Women’s Workshop, still guided by whole food shop, café and shoe its founder, Anne Harding, remained repair business, and many others. at work. The greengrocers on the To ensure the building never corner of Firfield Street closed in fell into corporate hands, the about 2003 and the Chinese company was controlled by five takeaway within the last 10 years. main leaseholders, including a local investor who hopes to buy the takeaway. Beks and the team who help run Floriography –Alice, Amber and Jan – have transformed the courtyard from a rarely-used backyard into a hive of activity open six days a week. On Sunday July 23 it was host to a day of storytelling, flower creativity and cream teas from Fanny Tingle. “This is a big, long-term project and a real opportunity for people,” Beks told the Voice. Much remains to be settled, but the hope is that the Women’s Workshop, the prospective new owner and Beks can work together to revive the vision that Totterdown people had for the centre in the 1980s. The old takeaway could become a restaurant. Beks hopes to turn the Healing Courtyard

over to a community interest company so that it can attract charity funds and become a local resource. And there is scope in the large building for several shops, as well as a community meeting room, an indoor market open to regular stallholders, and a small café. There could also be room for classes in yoga and fitness. Beks said she expects all the opportunities will be affordable, aimed at people starting out in business and at community groups. The Voice hopes to have more details of the plans to reveal in next month’s issue. Meanwhile, Beks is open to ideas for new ventures, and offers of help in restoring the building to health. • Facebook: Floriography and the Healing Courtyard

the Zion community centre in Bishopsworth road on Saturday August 17 from 10am-10pm Music will come from The Shillings, The Funkinsteins and the Road Zombies, while Angie Belcher’s Cabaret Tent will feature comedians Mike Dennis,

Francis Morrow-Brown and Gavin Pond. There will be family activities from Brave Bold Drama, Dandelion Music, craft and live art, as well as games, Jamaican food, a barbecue, bar and cafe, therapy stalls and gifts. • zionbristol.co.uk

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n NEWS Free yoga FREE taster classes are on offer for all ages at the Flow Yoga studio at 15 Whitehouse Street, Bedminster on Saturday September 2. Separate sessions in yoga for 5-7 year-olds, 8-11 yearolds and teenagers are offered as well as several adult classes, including Pilates and restorative yoga, all suitable for all abilities. Instructors will be available to offer advice as well as discounts – and cakes. Places are limited so booking is needed. • flowyogabristol.co.uk

Boar’s back ONE OF Totterdown’s many buildings that was once a pub is being renovated to become an antiques and collectibles shop. The former Boars Head at the corner of St John’s Lane and St Luke’s Road will be known as Piglets, in honour of its past. It’s expected to open in September with “antiques, vintage retro collectables, and a few surprises”. • Facebook: @pigletsv

Arnos Vale’s plea on developments COMMUNITY groups are banding together to give a unified voice to concerns about hundreds of new homes planned along Bath Road – with no extra doctors, dentists or schools to serve them. There are also fears about parking. A meeting is being arranged between Totterdown’s Tresa, Arnos Vale residents association, and residents from Sandy Park in Brislington and St Philip’s, as well as councillors from all three areas and cabinet members responsible for development. It’s expected a joint plea will be made for the council to consider the cumulative impact of all the developments planned. Homes are either being built or are in the pipeline at Paintworks, Totterdown Bridge, behind Majestic Wines, and

possibly at Bath Road TV studios and Arnos Manor hotel. London develper Hadley proposes a 16-storey tower at Totterdown bridge. It is also thought to be considering apartment blocks of around five storeys on the stretch of Bath Road from Three Lamps up to Totterdown bridge. “You could end up with 2,000 extra people in the area with no additional doctors, dentists, or school, and not enough parking for any of them,” said Tresa chair Simon Hobeck. “We are not anti-development – it’s just wanting a joined-up approach.” The group will try to suggest solutions – for example, making the Bath Road pavement wider to include the cycle lane, so cyclists feel safer. • Totterdown bridge tower: Page 7

Arena: we’re still waiting THERE is no sign of progress on a deal to build the Bristol Arena. The council is in discussions with developer Buckingham Group after failing reach an affordable deal with its first-choice builder. An update is expected some time in the autumn. The council is to demolish the old Royal Mail sorting office next to Temple Meads now that a deal has been struck to sell the land to Bristol university. A £300 million new university campus could include a 25-storey tower on Arena Island North.

Traffic pledge HIGHWAYS bosses have promised to keep two lanes of traffic open as much as possible around Temple Circus during the year-long project to remove the roundabout and replace it with traffic light-controlled junctions. • bristoltemplequarter.com/gate

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n NEWS

Bike hangars split opinion Opponents cite loss of parking RESIDENTS of a Knowle road are split over whether they want to see bike hangars installed. When the council invited expressions of interest last year from residents who wanted somewhere to keep their bikes securely on-road, they only got two responses from Knowle – both from Somerset Road. Two small groups of cyclists started canvassing opinion informally among their neighbours. But when the discussion reached Facebook, it appeared that not everyone in the road backed the idea. While many cyclists welcomed the chance to lock their bike away securely without dragging it into their home, some residents – including some cyclists – objected to the space lost to car parking.

Each bike hangar takes six bikes and occupies about the same space as one car. Following the protests, the council has suggested that the hangars are put in Copse Road, near the corner, where they will be less obtrusive. The siting may also prevent people parking on the corner, which prevents dustcarts making the turn. The council has leafleted both roads, canvassing opinion on the scheme, and is now analysing the responses. One resident of Somerset Road told the Voice why she was not happy with the plan. “I don’t want one outside my house – they look ugly,” she said. “They benefit only a few people. There are about 200 houses in this road. Parking is a complete nightmare, and houses are being turned into flats, which means even more cars. “But the worst thing is the bad feeling it’s caused.”

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Several residents of Copse Road are also understood to be unhappy at the plan. Glynn Vowles, a Green party campaigner and Somerset Road resident, is convinced the hangars are a good idea. “We need to do everything we possibly can to change the car culture,” he said. Many people in the road are cyclists as well as drivers, he said, and the narrow terraced houses – many with steps to the front door – make it difficult to take bikes in and out. “It’s even more difficult if you have more than one bike,” he said. There would have to be a scheme for allocating places in the hangars fairly, he said, so they are not monopolised by the same people long-term. Cllr Chris Davies said it was clear that there were residents both for and against the scheme, and he had asked the council to consider the views of all residents in both roads.

SUMMER holiday sessions at Knowle West Media Centre will show youngsters aged 10-16 how to take wildlife photos, make a musical instrument and explore technology. The animal photography course on August 1 and 2, from 10am-4pm, costs £5 a session and ends with a trip to the zoo. Tech workshops exploring Minecraft, animation and virtual reality are on offer on August 8 and 9, while the music challenge is on August 16 and 17. Details from 0117 903 0444. • kwmc.org.uk/events

Myths and art FAIRYTALES, myths and legends is the theme for this years Front Room art trail in Totterdown, on November 18 and 19. Around 200 artists are expected to exhibit across 90 venues. The trail, which is Bristol’s oldest, is open to artists who want to sign up. New venues are also invited. • frontroom.org.uk

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n NEWS Young chess players make right moves

August 2017

Totterdown’s top gardens named

PRIMARY school pupils from South Bristol scored highly in the city’s biggest annual chess tournament, which attracted 120 young players to City Hall. Victoria Park primary won the Best Year 5 prize, while Compass Point primary in Bedminster topped Year 4. Lilly, from Ashton Vale primary, was awarded the Sportsmanship Cup after she pointed out that she had lost her game after an arbiter mistakenly recorded it as her win! Mayor Marvin Rees, a keen chess player, attended the event on July 7, organised by Chess in Schools and Communities. Mr Rees said: “The game is an excellent way to learn problem solving skills, and it can also help children to become more resilient and learn how to lose gracefully. “I would really like to see more of our schools taking up the lessons by Chess in Schools – this competition is helping to break down the myth that chess is only a game for the elite.” • chessinschools.co.uk

Holy welcome HOLY Nativity church in Wells Road, Knowle, will reveal its secrets as part of Bristol Open Doors on September 9 and 10. Visitors can admire the Nativity mosaic and a painting by Bristol artist Michael Long; and learn about the people remembered in the stained glass windows.

Prizes: Awarded by local celeb Mrs Lavender Broom PICTURE: Tresa

TOTTERDOWN’S annual Garden Festival went with a swing when the festivities moved to Zone A, the open space on Wells Road. Community group Tresa invited Mrs Lavender Broom, star columnist of the Talk of Totterdown newsletter, to officiate and present prizes to those with the best front gardens. Winner of the Fun and Funky award was 17 Henry Street, 6

Windsor Terrace took the wildlife prize and overall winner was 40 Angers Road. There was music from the Road Zombies, shimmering dance from the Shiny Pop-up Dance Emporium and floral creations with Floriography. Banco Lounge provided drinks. Prizes were donated by Tresa, Greenwoods and gift shop Fig1. • tresa.org.uk

Cycleway routes about to be unveiled for Slopes and park RESIDENTS living near Victoria Park and Northern Slopes are awaiting details of the Filwood Quietway – the cycleway which will pass through both open spaces. Planning applications for both parts of the route are expected any day, but weren’t available as the Voice went to press. Volunteers who help look after Northern Slopes are largely against the route, believing it will be an expensive white elephant. People living near Victoria Park are now more receptive to the idea, after an initial plan for a 4.7m cycle superhighway was withdrawn following hundreds of objections. The new plan for Victoria Park mostly follows existing paths. It largely meets the objections of campaigners,

though it is expected to retain lighting along the railway side leading to Windmill Close, which some residents do not want. At Northern Slopes, though, opposition is still entrenched. Bob Franks, chair of the Northern Slopes Initiative (NSI), said most members feel the cycleway is a waste of money. “I don’t think it will be well used,” he said. When NSI did its own consulation, the reaction was very negative. The route is supposed to attract new people to cycling, but they will finding it difficult to tackle the steep slope alongside Wedmore Vale. And many people living near the Slopes will find it hard to afford cycles, he said. The route suggested by the council’s Cycling Ambition Fund team cuts across the Slopes from

Kenmare Road down a steep incline to Wedmore Vale. The NSI has been suggesting an alternative route since 2015, which is less intrusive and not so steep – crossing the Slopes higher up to emerge on Cavan Walk. NSI presented the plan twice to the council, and received no response, said Mr Franks. When NSI put it forward a third time recently, the council said it had no knowledge of the plan, and no time to research it. People don’t want lighting, Mr Franks said, but they do want CCTV on the path, where there have been attacks. In the latest incident a woman believes her dog scared off a would-be attacker on July 22. The council is expected to propose lighting, but no CCTV.

ASK A VET: WHAT IF I THINK MY PET HAS HEAT STROKE?

LL cats and dogs can suffer from heat stroke, however, it’s much more common in dogs, particularly those that are overweight or flat-faced breeds such as bulldogs. There are a number of reasons why we are less likely to see cats with heat stroke: they are generally smaller and more agile than dogs and find it easier to search out cool places to sleep, they don’t go for walks with humans, they don’t chase balls and they don’t tend to get left in cars. Signs of heat stroke: • Fast and heavy panting • Excessive drooling

If your pet is overheated, follow our tips and keep things gradual • Increased pulse and heartbeat • Vomiting • Dark-coloured (red or purple) gum or tongue

• Excessive thirst • Very high body temperature • Weak, unsteady or collapsed • Seizures or unconsciousness If you suspect your pet has heat stroke, move them to a shaded area and call your vet. NEVER immerse your pet in very cold water as this can lead to shock. Place cool wet towels across their body and/or put them next to a fan. Allow your pet small amounts of water to drink and continue to cool them until their breathing starts to settle. Wet towels should not be left on for more than 10-15 minutes, otherwise they can start

Rob Parry-Hall MRCVS Highcroft Veterinary Hospital, Whitchurch to heat the animal up. Take them to the vet immediately. Please do not, under any circumstances, leave your pet in a car on a hot day.

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n NEWS COUNCIL leaders are assuring the people of South Bristol that Jubilee swimming pool is safe. But three months after its operator, Parkwood Leisure, agreed a council demand to run the pool without subsidy, the contract between them has still not been released. Members of the Save Jubilee Pool campaign presented a 6,000strong petition to a meeting of the full council on June 27. “We are thrilled that Bristol city council has agreed a five-year

Pool is ‘safe’ – but still no contract contract with Parkwood for the pool to remain open – and we can’t wait to see that contract,” campaign leader Nicola Skinner told the council meeting. The publicity around the closure campaign has brought new customers to the pool and its mini-gym, helping to persuade Parkwood that they could run it without subsidy. Now, however, the council is thought to be

asking the firm to take on responsibility for maintaining the building as well. Cllr Gary Hopkins accused the council of “moving the goalposts” with the maintenance request, and said there was still no deal. This meant the £5,000 a month subsidy was still being paid to Parkwood, and a marketing campaign for the pool could not begin. Deputy mayor Asher Craig

said the negotiations with Parkwood were commercially sensitive, but insisted the pool had never been under threat. She accused Cllr Hopkins of “leading the community down the garden path” in campaigning against a closure that wasn’t real. Lord mayor Lesley Alexander, chairing the meeting, told Cllr Craig to sit down, saying: “That is not appropriate language.”

Skyscraper with a riverside walkway for Totterdown A LONDON developer has unveiled pictures of a 16-storey tower next to Totterdown bridge. Hadley Property Group held a public exhibition at Paintworks to show its plan for up to 159 flats, from one to three bedrooms, in two main blocks – one a high-rise, the other of five to seven storeys, with a smaller three-storey block at one end. A riverside walkway would be open to the public, with access through the Paintworks site, potentially giving a traffic-free pedestrian route all the way to Avon Meads. It has a roof garden for growing vegetables and a “floating” barge for more communal green space – though whether any vessel could be left to float in the huge tidal range of the Avon is open to question. Simon Hobeck, chair of Totterdown community group Tresa, said members liked some aspects, such as solar panels and the landscaping on the Bath Road side, the walkway, and a riverside café on the ground floor. But the height and the bulk of the building won few fans in the group – it is too industrial and monolithic, said Mr Hobeck. Cllr Jon Wellington called the building “very unsightly”. He said he wanted to know more about the traffic and parking modelling used, because although the site is just outside his Windmill Hill ward, it will affect Totterdown. Mr Hobeck also voiced

Tower plan: 16 storeys made of wood, and clad mostly in zinc, will be as tall as Summer Hill. A “floating” barge is in the river concern at the lack of parking – only 42 spaces. Hadley had told him they had identified available parking spaces within 200m of the site. But Mr Hobeck questioned this, saying nearby roads such as Edward Road, Chatsworth Road and Summer Hill are congested. “I don’t know where they are saying there is capacity,” he said. The Voice understands about 10 or 15 per cent of the homes will be affordable, much less than the council’s 40 per cent goal. There would be solar panels and a CHP – combined heat and power plant. Hadley is inviting public comments before it makes a planning application by the end of the year. • newhomesbathroad.co.uk

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A WOODEN HIGH-RISE IF BUILT, the Hadley tower may be the tallest UK building made of cross laminated timber, or CLT. CLT is boards of timber glued together to make a frame with similar strength to reinforced concrete but weighing much less. It’s also cheaper, as panels can be made off-site. Asked about fire safety, Hadley said all the blocks will be fitted with sprinklers and will meet every part of the fire regulations.

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n BRIEFLY

n NEWS

n COSTA has been granted permission to open a coffee shop in the former Co op bank at 316-318 Wells Road, Knowle. Delivery vehicles will not be allowed to stop outside, but must use the lorry bay on Broad Walk. The café can open from 7am-7pm and must also receive deliveries during those hours – not at 3am, as Costa had requested.

A-mazing amount of help for the Malago maze

n TENNIS courts in Redcatch park could be floodlit thanks to an offer from the Lawn Tennis Association. Knowle’s Lib Dem councillors are hoping the LTA can install a meter system so players can pay for the lights by the hour, but won’t have to pay at other times. Councillors Gary Hopkins and Chris Davies fought off an attempt to charge all tennis players at the park last year. n KARIN Smyth MP has won a new post as shadow leader of the House of Commons. As deputy to Valerie Vaz MP, Ms Smyth will be central to Labour input to the arrangement of Commons business. It means the Bristol South MP has stepped down from her role as parliamentary private secretary to Sir Keir Starmer, shadow Brexit secretary. n CHILDREN at Victoria Park primary school have won the Green Team award from the Worldwide Fund for Wildlife. “This amazing group of mini eco champions work tirelessly to deliver themed assemblies to get the whole school involved in their green projects and work hard in their school grounds to create green areas for all the pupils to enjoy,” said the charity. Last year the school’s Eleanor Walker won a WWF award as best green teacher.

PLANS to turn a field full of weeds into a Berry Maze for the people living near Malago Greenway are attracting more and more support. The idea has proved so popular that it quickly hit its fundraising target of £3,800 – but still the help is coming in. Extra funds will now come from Tesco’s Bags of Help scheme – which it’s hoped will also benefit the new community fruit farm in Redcatch Park, Knowle. The Retired Gentlemen’s Woodwork group, which meets at The Park centre in Knowle, have built the first of the wooden planters needed. Victoria Park primary school is appealing to its parents to lend a hand, and some of the children will be joining in when the maze design is chalked in on the ground for “Mock a Maze Day” as part of Bristol Open Doors Day on Saturday September 9. The Friends of Parson Street Station have donated a colourful mosaic that’s currently at the entrance of the station. The mosaic was designed by children from Parson Street primary school. Popular South Bristol outdoor artist Ollie Gage will help with the chalk picture on Mock a Maze day. Ollie, who has made giant murals at Oasis Academy in

BERRY MAZE DIARY September 2 Litter picking, 10am-12noon September 9 Mock a Maze Day: marking the maze, tea and cakes, familly activities, 8.30am-4pm September 16 Spreading the mulch, 9am-4pm September 23 Placing the posts and wires, 9am-4pm September 30 Setting up planters, 9am-4pm November 18 Planting the berries, 9am-4pm November 25 or January 13 Painting the design in the centre Marksbury Road and at Parson Street school, is giving his time free, and will later paint the design as a centrepiece. Knowle cakemaker Shareena Marshall, also known as Cake by Shaz, has offered to create a cake in the shape of the maze for the grand opening in June next year. It’s hoped that mulch will be donated by Withywood Tree Services and by the contractor working with the council’s parks department, although the details are still to be agreed. Still needed, though, is help from a local builder in repairing the cement slab that will be the centrepiece of the maze. • yourberrymaze@gmail.com. • Facebook: @TheBerryMaze2017

Two Summer Celebration Workshops!

Summer holiday classes!

Strictly studio is open to kids

Claudia Fragapane and partner AJ Pritchard with young fan and dance studio owner Anne Webber CHILDREN inspired by Strictly Come Dancing can sample all kinds of dance at a South Bristol studio that played its part in the last series of the BBC TV show. Olympic gymnast Claudia Fragapane and her professional dance partner AJ Pritchard used Whitchurch Dance Studio to rehearse for Strictly last year, when the paid made it all the way to the semi-final. The dance school at Hengrove Lane will feature on BBC Children In Need on November 19 for a second year, when children will take part in a Tapathon – an attempt to break a world record in tap dancing. Meanwhile, principal Anne Webber is gearing up for her annual Summer School for 5-13 year-olds held on August 8-10. Young dancers can try out dance styles including street dance, lindy hop, jazz, singing, and more activities including circus skills and acting. The cost is from £25 a day. • whitchurchdancestudio.co.uk Where: Redcatch Community Centre When: August 9 & 23 • 11-11.45am (4-7yrs) • 11.45am-12.30pm (811yrs)

A fun, relaxed, introduction to drama

A unique blend of interactive storytelling and dramatic play for little ones and their parents at The Saltcellar, Totterdown Baptist Church on Friday mornings throughout August. Family Story Play for 6m-5yrs: 10.35-11.25am £5 per child with discounts for siblings

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August 2017

n NEWS Writers in running for global award TWO SOUTH Bristol authors are on the longlist for a global literary award. Despite its name, the Bristol Short Story Prize has a global reach. This year there were 2,000 entries from 51 countries, with 93 per cent from outside Bristol. So it is a big achievement that

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two local writers have made it to the longlist of the 40 best stories. Anita MacCallum, from Bedminster, said, “It’s an honour to be on the longlist. It is also a powerful validation of my writing and has encouraged me to keep going. My story, The Land of the Pretty, is about the journey of a girl who is navigating society’s messages around body image. “For me, it is also a celebration of being a woman in my own power and embracing being in my forties.” Grace Palmer, from Knowle,

Student flats plan could upset grand design for plaza A DEVELOPER is selling uncompleted studio flats as student accommodation in one of the landmark former railway hotels next to Temple Meads station – on a plot the council has earmarked for offices. The council wants to turn the site of the old Grosvenor hotel and the Temple Circus roundabout into a plaza with offices. But 144 student flats in the former hotel are being advertised at £99,000 each with an “assured return” of 7.5 per cent net for five years. The Grosvenor site has no planning permission for use as a student block – though there is an application outstanding for bars or restaurants there. A sketch of the building shows a Pizza Hut, Starbucks and Subway on the ground floor. It’s unclear if a planning application for student use would be needed. Bristol city council said: “In general students can occupy any property with planning permission for a residential dwelling, as long as it used as a single dwelling unit. “However, most large format ‘student flat’ blocks in the city centre are specifically designed for this purpose and fall under a different planning use class, and it is likely, therefore, that different planning permissions would be required for student accommodation and for self-contained flats, in this case.” The Grosvenor has been

Anita MacCullum Grace Palmer said, “I’m thrilled to be on the longlist of this prestigious competition. “My story, The Cows Are Out For Spring, was inspired by

TWO HOTELS AND ONE GLASS CUBE THE Grosvenor hotel and its neighbour, the George & Railway hotel, together form an island site which is a key part of plans for the Temple Quarter enterprise zone. A planning application by developer Skanska, backed by the council, proposes to house the Engine Shed business incubator in a dramatic glass cube, above the

childhood visits to my uncle’s farm, but the story is fictional. It’s a piece about love, grief and the patterns that shape our lives. Technically, I aimed to fuse poetic expression, compression and telling detail for effect.” Winner of the first prize 10 years ago was Rebecca Lloyd, Southville resident and author of Oothangbart, interviewed in the Voice recently. The 20 shortlisted stories will be published in an anthology, and the winner announced in October. • bristolprize.co.uk

facade of the George & Railway. It also seeks outline permission to demolish the Grosvenor and replace it with up to 30,000 sq m of offices and 2,000 sq m of shops. This plan has brought scores of objections, many from South Bristolians living nearby. The George is protected by a Grade II listing, but the Grosvenor is only “locally listed” and the Skanska application claims it is in poor repair and not worth saving.

Grosvenor: Developer’s vision derelict for about 10 years. It was last used as a hostel. It is owned by a London company called Earlcloud, which has entered a deal with Grosvenor Property Developers Ltd. Grosvenor is advertising the flats as being ready by the end of September 2017. Similar claims for the flats are made on several other property websites. One firm marketing the properties told the Voice it had changed its advertisement to remove reference to students. Robert Horwood, director of Essex real estate firm Sterling Woodrow, said Grosvenor had told them completion would now be at the end of 2017. Grosvenor had also said any extra permission for student use would be sought after completion, he said. The Voice was unable to contact Earlcloud or Grosvenor Property Developers. The council did not explain how its masterplan for Temple Circus could work if it didn’t own the whole island, though it did say that the Engine Shed plan (see panel, above) did not depend on the Grosvenor site.

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n NEWS Fruit trees on offer at park’s new garden THE REDCATCH community garden is well and truly open for business with lots of plants on sale and a trailer delivered to act as a kitchen for the new café. The café is expected to open some time in August, and volunteers have been training in barista work with Bristol ground coffee supplier Extract. Meanwhile gardener Steve Griffiths has plenty of plants on offer, from tomatoes to fruit trees, vegetables and also eggs. • The Friends of Redcatch Park are asking for shoppers at South Bristol branches of Tesco to vote for them in the store’s Bags of Hope scheme. The Friends want to buy two rowing machines to add to the park’s outdoor gym equipment, costing £4,000.

Art on the street UPFEST, Europe’s biggest festival of street art, returns to Bedminster from July 29-31. More than 350 artists will take part, from Ashton Gate stadium, where there will be lots of children’s activities, along North Street to East Street. A giant mural of Morph will mark the Aardman creation’s 40th birthday. Download a guide at • upfest.co.uk

August 2017

Take control of Beds Green plans, residents tell mayor RESIDENTS of Windmill Hill are demanding the council sets out a strategy for the whole of Bedminster Green. Altogether the Green could provide more than 1,000 homes. Clifton-based developer Urbis wants to build an 18-storey tower close to Bedminster station, while Rollo Homes has made an application for 207 flats in up to 10 storeys alongs Malago Road. Both firms are proposing their own energy centres, when only one is needed – a situation described as “bloody minded” by Howard Purse of Windmill Hill planning group WHaM. Mr Purse said WHaM had asked to meet the planning officer with responsibility for the Green three times since April – but has not received a reply. Meanwhile an open letter from Windmill Hill residents to mayor Marvin Rees asks him to take control of the situation. When the St Catherine’s site nearby was allowed a 16-storey tower in 2015 it was seen as a one-off landmark, says the letter. But now Urbis proposes a larger, 18 storey tower, while also builidng 300 student homes over Whitehouse Lane. It would cut

Dramatic: A sketch for the timber-clad Urbis energy centre down trees and make the green in front of the station smaller, while leaving it in shadow from the high rises, it is claimed. The full letter is on the Voice website. Mr Rees will no doubt turn to his latest recruit to the council cabinet, Cllr Nicola Beech, who took charge of strategic planning and city design on July 14. Rollo Homes, which has been criticised for failing to talk to residents, exhibited a new version of its 10-and 6-storey blocks. The number of flats is reduced from 217 to 207 and the buildings pulled back from Malago Road to allow room for a possible future Metrobus route. The firm said it was “committed to consultation” and had responded to comments by putting retail or community

spaces on the ground floor, and having larger landscaped areas. But WHaM said the plan was little different from before, and is so big it will separate Windmill Hill from Bedminster. Neil Sellers, chair of the BS3 Planning group, said its members also felt that the latest Rollo plan was little different from the first one. The group has asked Rollo to prove that flats will not overshadow homes on the other side of Malago Road. Also unveiled in June was Urbis’s striking plan for an energy centre, which could serve around 2,000 homes in the area, on the site of the NCP car park. Richard Clarke, managing director of Urbis, said the design had been amended after criticism that initial drawings had been too industrial. Mr Sellers called the Urbis proposal “an exciting building”. He said: “The only remaining question is what’s coming out of the chimney?” In a letter to the Voice, WHaM said Urbis had given no data on emissions, and voiced fears that pollution would blow onto St Mary Redcliffe primary school. • Letters: page 23

Free tea for readers at new café EVERYBODY loves toast – but did you know that almost every country in Europe has its own version of the snack? Kate Smith and John Cassettari, who have just opened The Toast Room café in Bedminster Parade, spent six months touring Europe on a shoestring to glean inspiration. They discovered toasted snacks such as zapiekanka in Poland, Portugal’s francesinha, Spanish tostadas, and tartines from France, and the idea for The Toast Room was born. Kate and John also loved the café culture of Europe and wanted to make The Toast Room family friendly, part of the local community and good value for money while always using fresh, good quality ingredients. They are starting small but have plenty on the menu, including takeaway

items from ciabattas and salads to quiches and several varieties of toast – Bristol bloomer, farmhouse granary, sunflower and linseed, and sourdough. For a different take on breakfast, there’s a chorizo, avocado and poached egg on Victoria Park sourdough and leaves for £6.50. All ingredients are locally sourced, with the bread coming from the Park Bakery in St John’s Lane. Coffee is roasted in St Werburgh’s at Extract, tea from Pukka teas, and meat is from Kelvin’s butchers in East Street. • IF YOU’D like to try out The Toast Room for yourself, cut out their advert, left. The first five readers of the Totterdown edition and the first five of the Bedminster edition to present the ad will get a free cup of tea or coffee.

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

August 2017

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n NEWS

Council official’s big loft is turned down again A SENIOR council official must now decide whether to remove his Knowle loft extension or make a fourth attempt at getting planning permission. Richard Fear, property investment manager for Bristol city council, had the extension built a year ago at his home in Haverstock Road without planning permission. He hadn’t asked his colleagues in the planning department for advice. Instead, he had spoken to an independent consultant who told him he didn’t need permission. Once the wraps were off the

extension, though, some of his neighbours objected. Mr Fear had to apply for retrospective permission, which was refused. He appealed, but a planning inspector turned him down, calling the new roof a “strident and bulky structure” which was in “awkward and discordant contrast” with its neighbours. Several residents have voiced support for Mr Fear, saying they admired the cedar-clad extension. Some said they would like to add a similar room themselves. But the council’s development control committee threw the plan

out again last month. It had been revised to add a false edge to the roof, and would be painted white instead of covered in wood. Council planners said the revisions were acceptable, but Cllr Olly Mead said he thought the new roof was still “massively out of keeping”. The addition of a “little flap of fake roof” doesn’t address the comments of the planning inspector, he said. Cllr Jon Wellington, whose Windmill Hill ward includes Knowle, wrote in objection to the plan. “I do not believe that the

Farm opens up to show well-hidden charms NOT MANY people know that there’s a working farm in the heart of Knowle. On July 8 and 9 the families who run Bramble Farm threw open the gates to show off what they do. The farm, tucked away on Northern Slopes, helps feed several local families who share the work of growing vegetables and fruit and looking after chickens, ducks, pigs and sheep. The two-acre site was a tangled mess of brambles and shopping trollies until 2008, when TV cook Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall started a campaign to grow food on waste land. Six families got together to create Bramble Farm, which became one of the first community Landshare schemes to feature in Channel 4’s River Cottage series. Now the farm is thriving – through it involves a lot of hard

Feeding the pigs is part of life for these Bramble Farm family children: from left to right, Gracie, 5, Rudi, 8, Erl, 5, Riley, 6, and Finlee, 2 work and there have been several changes in personnel. Now there are eight families, though the only original members left are Mandy and Bob Swainger. Mandy recalled that when she first heard the idea, she had never heard of Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall,. “I said, who’s he? I was that blasé.” But the couple and their daughter Zoe signed up with the other families for a screen test, and were amazed when they were told Bramble Farm was one of those chosen for the TV series. Now the member families

each take a week at a time looking after the crops and the animals. The variety of produce is huge, with vegetables including sweetcorn, potatoes, courgettes and artichokes. There’s a newly-planted orchard of apple and pear tree, rhubarb beds and much more. Visitors to the open days were eager to see the livestock. Chickens and ducks are raised for their eggs in an impressive, high-security pen that’s had to be built to protect them from foxes. “The fence has been dug one foot deep into the ground,”

plans differ significantly from the initial retrospective application that was refused,” he wrote. He added: “The damage this has done to local relations with the council ... is something that should be highlighted. “Senior council employees have a duty to familiarise themselves with the guidelines and it is difficult for me to understand how a council employee could be ignorant of the need for permission for such a significant development that would clearly affect the neighbouring properties.” explained Joe Turp, who with his wife Ramona and two sons form one of the other Bramble Farmer families. So far the double-layer fence has kept the foxes at bay, meaning the farm can soon safely add to its nine chickens. A short step away is the turkey pen, where up to 14 turkeys are reared for Christmas. On the other side of the plot there are pens for two breeds of pig – saddleback and Gloucester old spot – and lambs. Joe and Ramona don’t hide from the children the fact that some of the animals are going to be eaten. The pigs aren’t given names. “The kids don’t treat them as pets. They have an affinity with them, but they don’t get upset. We really love the fact that the kids have a connection with the food that they are eating,” said Joe. The farm isn’t organic – they use chemicals to deal with a slug problem, for example. But the veg are treated with natural fertilisers, the meat is free range and the animals well-cared for. “We make it all as natural as possible without being really doctrinaire about it,” said Joe. Bramble Farm is not open to the public except on open days, but it sometimes has meat or other produce to sell. • Facebook: Friends of Bramble Farm

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August 2017

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August 2017

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n NEWS

Relief for nursery as diesel plan defeated CHILDREN at a South Bristol nursery had a double celebration to mark the end of term – not only did they have fun at their African Caribbean day, but they learned that a diesel generation plant has been refuse permission to open nearby. St Philip’s Marsh nursery head teacher Simon Holmes was one of the most vociferous critics of the plan, believing the emissions from the plant would put the health of the school’s 140 3-5 year-olds at risk. “We are very relieved,” he told the Voice. “It’s been a worrying couple of years for the future of the school.” He said applications

Happy beat: Mr Holmes, left, joins in the drumming at the endof-term celebration

for places at the school are still very healthy, but several parents had voiced their concerns at the effect on their children if the generator plant had gone ahead just 250m away. Now the Albert Road school can focus on plans to welcome 2-year-olds for the first time next term under a new government scheme. Parents on low incomes can claim places for 2-year-olds free, though others must pay; places for 3-5 year olds are free. Mr Holmes showed the Voice around the school’s amazingly

varied outdoor space, once a concrete yard but now a mix of playground and garden. It has everything from an adventure course to a pond, a mini-marsh, vegetable beds and of course lots

TOO MUCH POLLUTION LONDON firm Plutus Energy wanted to site 48 diesel generators at a site on St Philip’s Marsh. They would provide back-up power to the National Grid. But after being turned down twice by councillors, an appeal has now been refused

of outdoor play equipment. Sitting between Totterdown, Barton Hill and the city centre, the school has a wide mix of family backgrounds and Mr Holmes loves the fact that a child whose parents are both TV producers will be playing happily with a child from a single-parent family living in a tower block. Much emphasis is placed on keeping children relaxed and happy – “because happy children learn, unhappy children don’t”, said Mr Holmes. Children are encouraged to reflect on what they doing and learn important tasks like doing up their shoes, holding a pen, or using scissors – “all things that people take for granted, but children don’t know how to do automatically,” he said. by a planning inspector because the plant would cause air pollution. Bizarrely, Bristol city council’s air quality officer (AQO) had said the pollution was acceptable – but the planning inspector said the council now accepted this was “an error by the AQO”.

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August 2017

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n NEWS Mayor and his top team hear the impact of their proposals

COUNCIL CUTS IN FOCUS local meetings to divide up planning levies might now have to cover a much larger area. TOILETS One man from Knowle made a bitter protest about the effect of closing public toilets. He cares for his severely disabled sister. “To take her out, I have to know there is a toilet we can use, with disabled access, at very short notice,” he said.” We cannot do that any more. “We have lots of elderly people in Knowle who won’t go

out now because they know they won’t be able to use a toilet. This is isolating a huge chunk of the population.” Mr Rees countered that he wants to see more toilets made available, by cafés, pubs and other businesses who are willing to open their toilets to anyone who needs them. But many of those toilets will not have disabled access, countered the Knowle man. SCHOOL CROSSINGS “I understand people’s concerns,”

Library users scrabbling for rescue plans as row deepens

Crossing patrols a matter of life and death, say angry parents

PROTESTS about closing public toilets, axing lollipop patrols and closing branch libraries were made at a public consultation meeting held at Knowle’s Park

LIBRARY users are being faced with a choice of three options for cuts to the service – all of them unacceptable, according to an opposition councillor. Lib Dem leader and Knowle councillor Gary Hopkins said he had heard that the most common response so far from the public was “none of the above”. Several South Bristol libraries are listed for the axe under all three options: Marksbury Road in Bedminster, Wick Road in Brislington, and Bishopsworth and Whitchurch. Under one of the options Knowle library would be saved –with reduced hours – but the other two options would close it. Stockwood is also saved under one option, but closed in two. Yet the council has ignored the possibility of getting volunteers to help run libraries and reduce the costs of keeping

centre on July 13. Mayor Marvin Rees and his senior cabinet colleagues were there to hear views on cuts totalling £6.5 million to neighbourhood services and social care – themselves only a fraction of the £33m the council needs to save this year. The proposals will see more than half of Bristol’s libraries close, along with all its public toilets, except for those in parks. Half of the 80-odd school crossing patrols would go, while

Use of volunteers is being ignored, claim Lib Dems them open, said Cllr Hopkins. He claimed the council had had a briefing from civil servants who presented a study of how other councils have used library volunteers alongside paid staff – but this wasn’t mentioned in the consultation. Several people have already offered to help in keeping Knowle library open, said Cllr Hopkins. It makes no sense to close Knowle as it is one of the best-used libraries, has good transport links, and the rent of £46,000 a year would have to be paid until 2030, he added. The Friends of Marksbury Road Library protested as all three options will close the

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library, many people said they could not see any point in responding. “The area is one with few amenities and increasing numbers of new houses and flats, and it includes pockets of high deprivation. The library is a greatly valued resource,” said a statement sent to the council by Friends secretary Sarah Murch. The Friends called for the council to instal other services in the building, pointing out that it had been given to the community by a benefactor in 1933. Windmill Hill Labour councillor Jon Wellington said he hoped to set up a meeting with the Friends, other councillors and deputy mayor Cllr Asher Craig to see if the building could be kept in public use. Meanwhile people in Brislington are adamant that Wick Road library needs to be saved as the only building of its type for the local community. But some see no point in giving the council their views. “People aren’t completing the consultation because there isn’t an option for Wick Road to stay – people think it’s a done deal,” said one man at the Knowle public consultation (see above). Cllr Craig held out hope that libraries slated for closure might be saved if other libraries can be found new homes in multi-use buildings. She offered to meet the Brislington residents. • The full statement from the Friends of Marksbury Road Library is on the Voice website. • epetitions.bristol.gov.uk • saveknowlelibrary.weebly.com

HUNDREDS of parents and children from Hillcrest primary school staged a colourful protest on Wells Road in Totterdown in July against the threatened removal of their lollipop patrol. Parents cannot believe that Bristol city council wants to remove crossing patrolman Paul Whitmell from one of the busiest main roads in the city. They say they see drivers driving dangerously there every day, jumping red lights and ignoring the signals, and they are convinced that without a crossing patrol children will be at risk. Dozens of parents made banners and placards and led their children back and forth across the road, while motorists honked their horns in support. As if to prove the need for a patrol, one car was seen to jump the lights. And the driver of a Maserati was probably very embarrassed to see himself filmed by a TV crew with his car halted several feet over the stop line while children were forced to walk right in front of his bumper. One of the organisers of the protest, mum Anna Boulter, said: “It just shows what support we have for Paul and people’s understanding of how vital he is. This crossing isn’t a luxury, it’s one of life’s necessities. “If we lose Paul, it’s matter of time before there is a fatality here involving a child.” She urged anyone concerned about the issue to complete the council consultation document. The £155,000 cuts to 40 crossing

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

August 2017

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n NEWS mayor Marvin Rees told the Voice after impassioned pleas from the public to save the lollipop patrols at Hillcrest primary in Totterdown and Christ the King primary in Hartcliffe. Mr Rees and his deputy mayors learned two things they admitted they didn’t know prior to the meeting. A crossing patrol worker spoke up to say she was receiving a double payment – being paid for two hours a day, instead of

COUNCIL CUTS IN FOCUS the one she actually works. The payment was an incentive added some years ago when it was hard to recruit crossing patrols, she said, but she’d be prepared to give it up if it would save the service. The Voice also reminded the mayor that Holy Cross school, which is on a very dangerous double blind bend in Dean Lane, Southville, has offered to pay for its own patrol – but the council has never responded to its query on how to go about this.

Embarrassing: A Maserati driver stopped several feet onto the Wells Road crossing as parents and children were forced to dodge round him patrols are part of a much larger £6.5m of cuts unveiled last month. Wells Road would lose its patrol because it has an automated crossing. But parents say so many drivers run the lights that children are not safe without a lollipop patrol. Among 40 patrols also under threat are Knowle park primary and St Mary Redcliffe primary. Speaking after the protest in his support, patrolman Mr Whitmell said: “It’s been amazing this morning, just amazing. “It’s probably the number of people I cross over the road every day – I cross about 160 children every day, so if they all turn up with their parents and brothers and sisters …!” Paul sees the law broken every day on the crossing, and compiles a daily log of incidents. The day before, seven cars drove through a red light after he had stepped off the crossing, and two jumped

the lights before he walked out. He said he was glad so many media representatives were there. “I hope the cameras caught the car that jumped the lights!” he said. Windmill Hill Labour councillor Jon Wellington opposes the crossing cut. He said he had raised the issue at the council’s neighbourhood scrutiny committee, which agreed to issue a statement calling the consultation “flawed”. Cllr Wellington also took issue with the evidence cited by the council – for example, a statement that the average speed of traffic at the crossing was only 8.8mph. He said he had raised parents’ concerns with deputy mayor Asher Craig, and was meeting the police to discuss safety at the crossing. The consultation had “a lack of meaningful options” he said.

SOCIAL CARE WHILE protests were made about libraries, toilets and school crossings, no-one from the public spoke up at the Knowle meeting about cuts to adult day services, or the Supporting People system which helps residents at home. This may be because the cuts will affect individuals differently, and many of those affected haven’t yet been consulted. People with learning disabilities or autism, for example, may receive less help in

their own homes. The council also wants to farm out care for people with serious learning disabilities tother providers. It will keep drop-in centres open, but it needs to save £1.2m, or a third of the Community Links budget for people with disabilities. It also needs to cut £1.8m from the Supporting People budget, for people with mental health problems living in their own homes or sheltered housing.

KNOWLE PARK PARENTS SAY COUNCIL IS PUTTING SAFEGUARDING AT RISK

they are on their way to and from school,” she said. “The council is making this really rather difficult,” she added. Parents are already worried by the loss of one of the lollipop patrols, who has already given up her job at the Broad Walk site. The council recorded two child casualties at Broad Walk in earlier accidents – though not at the crossing, and not at school times. Visibility along the main road has been reduced by epicormic growth from the bottom of trees, which are no longer trimmed as a result of other council cuts. It’s thought this lack of visibility for drivers may have led to at least one of the recent accidents. Cllr Gary Hopkins, however, said he won agreement that these trees should continue to be trimmed for safety reasons. Head teacher Andrew Dewey said that he saw safety “as more important than the relatively small budgetary savings.” Knowle West has some “very fast” drivers, he said. Council consultation – open until September 5: • bristol.gov.uk/ yourneighbourhood

PARENTS at Knowle Park primary school say their children will be at risk too if their crossing patrols are removed. The school in Queenshill Road has two patrols – one on the busy Broad Walk and one on Salcombe Road, a busy cut-through to Airport Road. Both are scheduled to be removed under the council’s cuts proposals because both have “engineered” crossings in place. Several accidents have taken place in Broad Walk – at least two crashes in the past few months, say parents. “Luckily no kids were hurt in these accidents, but is that what is needed for the council to reinstate the lollipops? It’s ludicrous, it really is,” parent Britt Ryan told the Voice. Britt is also a school governor, responsible for safeguarding children. “The school is 100 per cent committed to keeping all our children safe, not only when they are on school premises but when

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Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

August 2017

southbristolvoice

n EDUCATION

Advertisement feature

What can young students expect when As parents and pupils start to think about their secondary school choices, three of South Bristol’s post-11 schools outline their appeal in this sponsored feature. More next month Bridge Learning Campus OOK at us! Which one of us can program a computer game? Which of us can cook up a storm in the kitchen? Which one of us can read DNA sequences? Which of us can discuss Chinese politics? Which one of us can build a plane? Answer – we all can! How? Through expert teaching and an inspiring curriculum! We’re given the opportunity to try anything, experience everything. Learning

isn’t bound by classroom doors. Our resources let us create and innovate. We are supported and challenged by our peers and teachers, we respect one another. From nursery to GCSE we are a community. We expect and we deliver, we aspire and we achieve. Independence and resilience are the basis of our culture. Our successes are shared and rewarded. Enrichment is as inclusive and personalised as our learning. We aim to master it all. We are preparing, for building brilliant futures – so come on look at us. Bridge Learning Campus, because learning means we can! Keziah Featherstone, headteacher, and Neil Willey, associate headteacher at the school in William Jessop Way, Whitchurch Park add: “As one of the genuinely all-through schools in Bristol, students may

‘What we are doing at BLC is very special and we were delighted that this was recently recognised by Ofsted; but it is the positive feedback from students and families that we are most proud of’

in March 2015: “Behaviour in lessons and around the academy is good. Pupils of all ages get on well together and are safe. Staff and pupils are proud to be part of the academy.” The school is rated Good by Ofsted: it is aiming to achieve Outstanding during 2018.

join us at any point. All any parent wants from a school is for their child to thrive – to be happy, safe and learn well. What we are doing at BLC is very special and we were delighted that this was recently recognised by Ofsted; but it is the positive feedback from students and families that we are most proud of. “Bridge Learning Campus is a large, well-resourced school. It is light, airy, and conducive to learning. We have extensive sports fields, great outside areas, plenty of IT facilities and even some old fashioned books.” Ofsted said after an inspection

Bedminster Down School tudents starting at Bedminster Down School in September have already enjoyed a whole week in their new secondary school in July. Transition week is a key feature at the school, where students are joined by their primary school teachers for a week of getting to know the school routines, each other and a taste of languages, science and sport at the school. Feedback from families gave a whopping 98 per cent satisfaction at the week-long event. For those considering secondary schools for September

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August 2017

southbristolvoice

n EDUCATION

Advertisement feature

they make the move to secondary school? 2018 the school has two open days lined up on September 14 and October 7 (see advertisement on page 18). It’s a chance to get a tour of the school, drop in on subject areas of interest and meet teachers and current students. More details are available at www.bedminsterdown.com At the end of term headteacher Gary Schlick was recognised for his work in inclusion. This included, with other headteachers, setting up a Bristol-wide panel that helps schools ensure no child misses time in school. The Bristol Inclusion Panel brings headteachers together to reduce permanent exclusions and Gary attended an event hosted by Lord Mayor Cllr Lesley Alexander to receive his award. Bedminster Down is keen that pupils experience a wide range of sports and experiences outside the classroom. The Voice reported in June how a dozen

isi O sis

‘Transition week is a key feature, where students are joined by their primary school teachers for a week of getting to know school routines ... Feedback gave a whopping 98 per cent satisfaction’ students all completed the tough Ten Tors overnight trek on Dartmoor. Tennis is another speciality, and thanks to new grants and support from the Tennis Foundation, the school has been able to train staff and students in coaching, run more clubs, get in expert tuition, create new mini courts and replace equipment. During Wimbledon fortnight, eight of the year 9 and year 10 tennis ambassadors for the school spent the day at the All England Club to experience the sport at its highest level. In March this year the school was

one of only 40 nationally to win a £5,000 grant to improve facilities and promote the sport. Head of sport Dave Chaplin said: “This time last year we had just a small handful of students taking part in our after-school tennis club. Thanks to the grant, we have a lot of enthusiastic students and teachers, with more than 20 girls turning up for one of the lunchtime clubs. “Our trip to see the finest international players is the icing on the cake and a fitting reward for the commitment of our tennis ambassadors who give up lunchtimes to help younger children get started in the sport.” Oasis Academy Brislington ETER Knight, principal of Oasis Academy Brislington, came to the large secondary after leading a primary school. He passes on a few tips about moving up to ‘big school’. What was the biggest

difference you found when you arrived at Brislington? The primary where I was principal was very small so a lot fell to me and my deputy. This school is much bigger and there is a whole team of people to lead different areas of the academy. What can new students expect in their first year at Brislington? This September’s intake will be the first to take part in our cutting-edge mastery maths and English programmes, which aim to deepen children’s knowledge and understanding. It is very exciting that Oasis in Bristol is leading the way on this. Of course, they will also have a broad curriculum of other subjects. We are very keen, too, to make sure all our students increase their social and cultural capital during their five years with us, so we offer a fantastic range of opportunities. We Continued overleaf

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Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

southbristolvoice

n EDUCATION

Advertisement feature

Continued from page 17 strongly encourage everyone to take part in these free activities – whether it’s cricket, golf, drumming or engineering. What did you learn from leading a primary school? One of the best things about primary school teachers is their ability to generate excitement about learning; it often feels as if there are fewer barriers and that over-enthusiasm is OK – which makes me wonder why we feel less comfortable doing this in secondary schools. Do you bring other experiences to Brislington? I grew up in the Bristol area and became a PE and geography teacher. My leadership journey took me to New Zealand, where I found myself being questioned in a wharenui (meeting house) on why a white man was talking about their children’s education. What are your aspirations for your students? All young people have the right and ability to succeed in education, whatever their background. I want the same for

our students as for my own children: to know they can and will succeed at every level. And for the academy? We are expecting our first Ofsted inspection in the next academic year and we are all working hard to ensure we are judged to be Good. The school has changed considerably since I arrived here two years ago, with everyone committed to our simple behaviour code: Work Hard, Look Smart, Be Nice. Do you have any tips for children starting at the academy in September? Never be afraid to ask for help. Complete the holiday learning we have given you and arrive for the start of term ready to seize all the opportunities that are on offer to you. Who knows where they will lead? How about advice for parents? Talk to your children about their learning and support them. Encourage them to be independent: make sure they take responsibility for having the right uniform and equipment and doing their homework.

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August 2017

n NEWS

Mattie’s back on the road to gold KNOWLE’S all-round teenage sportsman is crossing the Atlantic on his own personal gold rush, thanks to the generosity of South Bristol residents and businesses. Mattie and his parents Marilyn and Miles gave themselves just six weeks to raise the £3,500 he needed to compete in the World Dwarf Games, which take place in Guelph, Canada, from August 4-12. With a week to go, they made it, thanks to a promised donation from Bristol Sport, and Mattie, 15, plunged into training for the huge range of sports he competes in, from swimming to football, badminton to track and field. In the 2013 games held in Michigan, USA, Mattie brought home eight gold medals, two silvers and two bronzes. “I’m hoping to equal that,” he told the Voice, shortly after a football training session at the England team training ground near Birmingham. “But now I am older I am in the senior age range for some sports, so I am competing against adults.” Swimming is his top sport, though he’s not looking forward to the 100m Medley, where he has to use butterfly, his least favourite stroke. Mattie is eager to compete because next year he is due to have an operation on his spine which may affect his mobility.He has an inherited condition called SEDC that affects his spine. Multi-talented Mattie kickstarted his fundraising with a

Mattie, Marilyn and dog Maisie singing spot at the Totterdown Music festival in June. The main fundraising event was a supper evening on July 15, with Moroccan food cooked by Marilyn and dozens of prizes donated by local businesses. It was held in a social room (the former Knowle Picture House cinema) loaned free by Kumar Patel, above his Patco convenience store. Raffle prizes came from virtually every restaurant, hairdresser and shop on or near Wells Road. The star prize – auctioned for £250 – was a signed team shirt from Bristol Rugby of the side that won promotion to the Premiership in 2016. The surprise bid came from Matthew Norris, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Knowle, as part of a shareout of profits from the Melting Pot charity shop in Wells Road, which is about to close. The Voice will keep tabs on Mattie as he competes in Canada – we’ll keep you updated on his quest for medals on Facebook. • Facebook: South Bristol Voice

Jailed for killing friend A 31-YEAR-OLD man has been convicted of the manslaughter of a friend who got caught under his car when they tried to steal petrol from a Hartcliffe petrol station. Kyle Clarke, 27, was dragged several hundred yards under the car from the petrol station on Hengrove Way on January 10. Driver Shakrul Islam, from Chipping Sodbury, was jailed for seven years at Bristol Crown Court on July 7. Det Supt Sarah Davenport said an attendant at the petrol

station had seen Kyle trying to steal petrol. This prompted Islam to drive off, hitting Kyle, she said. When Islam finally stopped in Creswicke Road, Knowle West, Kyle had already suffered fatal injuries, she said. Two bus drivers were the first to see Kyle trapped under the car. They tried to lift the car but could not shift it until more help arrived from police, fire and ambulance staff. But it was too late for Kyle, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

August 2017

southbristolvoice

n YOUR MP

KARIN SMYTH Labour MP for Bristol South

Tory move to overturn hunting ban was a real miscalculation

URING the recent election campaign there were some politicians, and some in the media, who claimed Theresa May’s pledge to overturn the ban on foxhunting wasn’t a significant issue for voters. How wrong they were. Animal welfare is very important to huge numbers of South Bristol residents, and a sizeable proportion of emails I get from constituents relate to these matters. Being out and about and listening to local concerns since becoming your MP in 2015, it’s been very clear that most people share my view: how we treat animals is a measure of how civilised a society we are. Any plan to repeal the 2004 Hunting Act would be a big step backwards. The dwindling numbers of those who support the barbarity of foxhunting have long

said just about anything to try to justify their wish to hunt. They always have done. I recall they claimed the introduction of the 2004 ban would lead to thousands of rural jobs being lost. They were wrong. They keep losing the arguments, and polls consistently show the overwhelming majority of people support the ban. There have been several hundred

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successful prosecutions under the Hunting Act and the Government should focus on enforcing the law, not looking to undermine it. Indeed, any proposals to change this law distract from significant issues affecting rural communities, like low wages and a lack of affordable transport and housing. So it will have come as a relief to many people when early in July we learned the Government looks to be backtracking on its election pledge. Ministers confirmed there will be no House of Commons vote on the issue during the current parliamentary session, which runs until summer 2019. That’s welcome news, and is testament to effective campaigning by animal and environmental groups. So the ban continues for now, but we can’t be complacent. I know South Bristol residents will remain vigilant to any moves to undermine animal welfare – whether on foxhunting or any other similar issue. I’m proud of the Hunting Act and as long as I am Bristol South’s MP I’ll continue to oppose a return to the vicious cruelty of foxhunting. As ever, please do let me have your views on this or any other issue, or if you need help with any specific problem you’re facing right now. My contact details are on page two, so do please get in touch.

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August 2017

n BALLOON FIESTA SPECIAL

Cameron Balloons cap and hi-viz x 2

Cameron Balloons bodywarmer

WIN SOME GREAT BALLOONING PRIZES!

S WELL as our fantastic First Flight balloon flight (see panel, right) we have lots of other great prizes generously donated by Cameron Balloons. Founder Don Cameron started a new era of hot air ballooning when he made the Bristol Belle, the first modern hot air balloon, in Bristol in 1967. The prizes are: • A Cameron Balloons bodywarmer; • Two sets of a Cameron Balloons baseball cap and hi-viz Crew vest; • Take Flight: Celebrating Aviation in the West of England Since 1910 – 320 page hardback book.

Book on West’s aviation story

We’ll draw four winners at random on August 15 from the correct answers to this question: • When did Don Cameron make the first modern hot air balloon? Answers by email to paul@ southbristolvoice.co.uk or by post to South Bristol Voice, 18 Lilymead Avenue, Bristol BS4 2BX. Include address and a phone number.

CONDITIONS 1. The first name drawn from among all those who have answered the question correctly can choose one of the prizes – book, bodywarmer, or cap and hi-viz vest set. 2. The second name drawn will be able to choose from the remaining prizes. 3. Not open to anyone connected to any company involved in the competition. 4. The competition is only open to readers of South Bristol Voice who live within our circulation area: BS3 and most of BS4. 5. The editor’s decision is final.

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Keeping it personal brings the magic to hot air ballooning – especially when it’s all a big secret

ALLOON pilot Nigel Appleton has seen it all – from African wildlife on the plains of the Serengeti, to soaring views of the Austrian Alps and the Canterbury plains of New Zealand – but he keeps coming back to Bristol. Nigel and his partner Gill have been running balloon trips through their company First Flight since 1990. And apart from the occasional winter foray to somewhere where the weather is better, they have specialised for 27 years in flying over Bristol, Bath and Somerset. In that time they have flown thousands of passengers – but they have chosen to keep the company small, so that they can provide a personal service. Where some ballooning companies fly baskets that can hold 16 or 20 people, most of First Flight’s trips are in a balloon – in the livery of St Austell brewery’s Tribute ale – that holds eight people. Nigel has just taken delivery of a new smaller balloon, this one sponsored by Thatcher’s cider, that holds two or three passengers plus

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SCARED of heights? You’ll probably still enjoy a balloon flight. The high sides of the basket keep you safe, and there’s no wind, because the balloon is moving at the same speed as the air currents. “The basket is absolutely stable when it’s flying, there’s no sensation of movement – you don’t even feel that you are going up and down as you would in a lift,” said First Flight’s Nigel Appleton. Because there’s no wind, it’s usually warmer than it is on the ground. People of all ages take part: Nigel has flown people in their 90s. There’s no legal minimum but children need to be about 7 years old and 4ft tall.

Hot air pilot Nigel Appleton loves being part of the act when a surprise balloon flight leads to an engagement the pilot. This one is popular for engagement trips – many of them arranged without one of the passengers knowing about it. “We have done crazy things, like driving to a pub in the country where the guy has taken his girlfriend out cycling, and she doesn’t know she’s going ballooning!” Up in the air, the magical question is popped, and before they land, the couple are engaged. “It’s always fun, and we make it something special for them that we know they will remember,” says Nigel. He makes several engagement flights every year. Champagne is obviously part of the engagement experience, and it’s offered on some of First Flight’s other packages too. With St Austell and Thatchers as sponsor, there’s often a refreshing beer or cider on landing as well. First Flight’s larger balloon in the Tribute colours is a Cameron Z210. The number means that the envelope contains 210,000 cubic feet of air. The Cameron factory in Bedminster, founded by Don Cameron and now run by his daughter Hannah, make “the best equipment money can buy,” he says. Nigel and Gill have fought hard to keep the personal touch. Ballooning is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many, and by keeping the firm small – Nigel is the only regular pilot – they can keep in direct contact with their passengers.

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Ruth on 07590 527664

August 2017

southbristolvoice

WIN A CHAMPAGNE BALLOON FLIGHT WITH FIRST FLIGHT AND MORE GREAT PRIZES!

First Flight pilot Nigel Appleton, left, and the Tribute balloon, right

WIN A CHAMPAGNE BALLOON FLIGHT WITH FIRST FLIGHT!

T Unbeatable view: First Flight have been flying people over the West for 27 years “When people ring us, they will be talking to the person who they are going to meet in the launch field, rather than someone in a call centre,” says Nigel. The couple pride themselves on giving advanced warning to passengers if the weather is going to prevent a flight – often that’s obvious from a forecast two days ahead, says Nigel. Their local experience means they have a pretty much unrivalled experience of the landscape and weather – and goes some way to explain why Nigel always lands where he intends to. Though some people assume that balloons are swept wherever the wind takes them, Nigel says the pilot is actually in full control. “I have

BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA 2017 Thursday August 10–Sunday August 13, Ashton Court estate As usual the Fiesta is free to enter, at Ashton Court from 12noon on Thursday. Premium parking can be prebooked at the website below. Up to 150 balloons expected including the Bristol Belle, made by Don Cameron in 1967, which began the modern industry of hot air ballooning. • Balloon flights may be sold out, but check the website. • Morning mass ascents take place at 6am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

O CELEBRATE the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2017, First Flight is offering a fantastic prize – a champagne balloon flight for one. We’ll draw the winner at random on August 15 from the correct answers to this question: • How much air is held by First Flight’s Tribute balloon?

Answers by email to paul@ southbristolvoice.co.uk or by post to South Bristol Voice, 18 Lilymead Avenue, Bristol BS4 2BX. Include address and a phone number.

CONDITIONS 1. The prize will be a champagne balloon flight for one, at a time to be arranged with First Flight – not at the Balloon Fiesta; 2. The winner of the balloon flight must be willing to be photographed for publicity. 3. Not open to anyone connected to any company involved in the competition. 4. The competition is only open to readers of South Bristol Voice who live within our circulation area: BS3 and most of BS4. 5. The editor’s decision is final.

never landed where I didn’t want to – I have never landed in a field of crops, for example,” he said. “We know lots of lovely farmers who welcome us.” Nigel’s long experience as a balloon pilot – they are regulated, just like airline pilots, by the Civil Aviation Authority – means he’s sometimes sent aloft first at the Balloon Fiesta to check out the wind direction. Often the wind changes at different heights, but even at take-off Nigel usually has a good idea where he will land – sometimes he’s even predicted the farm he will land at while driving into Ashton Court. Find out about First Flight at: • hotair-balloonrides.co.uk • Evening mass ascents at 6pm on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. • Night glow and fireworks from 9pm on Thursday and Saturday. Last entry to car park 5pm. • Model hot air balloon competitions at 8am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. • Arena entertainment from 12noon -5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. No details as we went to press. • Programmes are on sale and buying one helps keep the fiesta free. • Twitter: #balloonfiesta • Facebook: Bristol International Balloon Fiesta • bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk

Balloon flights Bristol, Bath and the Chew Valley 01934 852875 www.firstflight.co.uk

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

August 2017

southbristolvoice

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August 2017

southbristolvoice

LETTERS Lights alone will not protect our children AS YOU know, Bristol city council is proposing to discontinue 40 school crossings across Bristol. The Wells Road crossing serving Hillcrest primary school is one of those earmarked to go. On top of this the council has already committed to not replacing our lollipop man, Paul Whitmell, when he retires. This is because ours is an “engineered” crossing, the rationale being that the lights and Paul serve the same function and that therefore Paul is not necessary. Many of us parents at Hillcrest vehemently disagree. The A37 is an incredibly dangerous major arterial route out of South Bristol, carrying not only heavy commuter traffic but countless heavy goods vehicles too. Both are often guilty of flouting the speed limit. The crossing is incredibly busy at the beginning and end of the school day and the narrow pavement on the Baptist Church side makes the proximity of the traffic to the parents and children waiting to cross horrifyingly close. At those busy times it is very easy for children to slip away from parents, through the crowd and onto the road. I have a very energetic five-year-old who

Send letters to paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk or to 18 Lilymead Ave, BS4 2BX darts away from me regularly and Paul has held her back countless times before I’ve been able to reach her. Every time my heart is in my mouth. In my view the fact that there are traffic lights here is irrelevant and many of the road users seem to think so too. The red light is run on an hourly basis. On one day this week Paul counted seven red light runs, and two cars drove on before he had cleared the crossing. It only takes one of those to kill a child. The lights are intended to stop the traffic but they cannot stop the children stepping out into the road. A lollipop man can. They do not serve the same function and if we lose Paul it will only be a matter of time before there is a serious incident at this crossing. Lives will be at risk. I went to the consultation meeting at The Park centre in Knowle on July 13 and was encouraged to see that the council are listening and really do want to hear our views. Therefore I would encourage anyone who supports our cause, or has a cause of their own, to either fill in the consultation or to email their councillors. The service Paul provides for us is a life-saving one. Do we want to save money or do we want to save lives? Anna Boulter Parent at Hillcrest primary school

A developers’ free-for-all

Chimney is too near to schools

IT APPEARS to be a free-for-all developers’ paradise in South Bristol at the moment and those developments proposed do not appear to be for the benefit of the city or its residents. The Bedminster Green developments thankfully have WHaM to fight them, but I can see no prospect of their being halted or even substantially amended, so that Windmill Hill will become home to a swathe of new tower blocks, and no doubt traffic gridlock. The university proposals for the old sorting office site also reek of the worst kind of speculative proposal – no consideration for the locality, but all about the money. This in itself is not a surprise as the university appears to have been embarked on an empire building programme for some time. JF, Address supplied • I DID not buy a lovely house in Windmill Hill to look at a skyscraper immediately in front of my house. I find this so-called new development offensive, unnecessary, contentious and annoying. Why upset the whole of the Windmill Hill community to embark on such a capitalistic money-orientated venture? I will fight this all the way. Name supplied, Windmill Hill

IT WAS disappointing to turn up to the Bedminster Green energy centre consultation on June 29 only to find out that the organisers, Urbis, had not provided any information about the levels of pollution likely to be emitted. What we do know is the energy centre, with its 100ft chimney, will be right next to Windmill Hill City Farm, which hopes to expand its nursery soon. Furthermore, St Mary Redcliffe primary school is 200m downwind, on a hill. Does this pose a danger? Well, we can’t be sure until an air quality modelling exercise is carried out, but I contacted Ben Williams, research fellow in air quality at UWE, who replied: “I’m never keen on the reintroduction of polluting sources to cities and urban areas. In my opinion should these developments be required then they should be away from sensitive receptors.” Now I’m not an expert but I’d take a wild guess that both the nursery and primary school can be regarded as sensitive receptors, so why are we even contemplating putting this power station right next to them? Urbis need to think again! Nick Townsend WHaM, Windmill Hill

POLICE REPORT Don’t let drug dealers take advantage of the vulnerable

S A TEAM, we’re growing increasingly concerned about vulnerable people in our communities having their homes ‘cuckooed’, or taken over, by drug dealers. We’ve come across a number of cases on York Road and Wells Road, as well as other areas of the city. I can’t emphasise enough how important information from local people is – you know when something doesn’t feel right in

your community. Please remember, we’d be rather check out an address and find it in order, than miss the fact someone is being exploited in this way. Spot the signs: • Lone or vulnerable neighbours suddenly having groups of young men coming and going from or living at their address; • Lots of visitors, who don’t stay very long, arriving at all times of the day and night; • People waiting in cars outside particular properties exchanging small packets or cash; • Lots of visitors bringing items such as bikes or TVs but leaving seemingly empty-handed; You can give information to us online or call the nonemergency number 101. Or, to

With Sgt Caroline Crane Broadbury Road police station give information anonymously, call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Work to reduce the harm being caused by drugs in our communities continues. We’ve recently arrested a man on Coronation Road on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, and charged a 38-year-old from Windmill Hill with possession of a knife on York Road.

f you’re heading away on holiday, please make time to think about what you’re leaving behind as well as what you’re taking. Before you go: • Be careful about what information you put on social media. Only tell people who need to know you’re going away; • If you’re away for a while,

empty recycling bins, cut the grass, and cancel deliveries of milk, newspapers or anything else that may build up, discreetly; • Make your house look occupied – get automatic time switches to turn lights and a radio on and off; • Mark any valuable items with your postcode or take photographs of these items; • Don’t leave valuable items like laptops and tablets visible; • Lock the garage and shed with proper security locks. Make sure your tools and any ladders are locked away; • Lock outside doors and windows; • If you have a burglar alarm, make sure it’s set and that you’ve told the police who the keyholder is. Until next time, Sgt Caroline Crane

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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n COLUMNS In witch I am confused ...

ERE you reading my piece last month, probably while sat on the toilet, like I did? Then go back and read the last sentence, which ended in mid-flow? So, what had I decided? No idea! That was last month, I can’t remember stuff when I’m half way through a conversation. (So Mr Editor, I am hands on hips glaring at you – what happened?)* The other thing that is confusing me at the moment is the state of our menfolk. I don’t think they quite know what role they play in our girl-power society. Take the other day. I was walking down the Wells Road when a chap appeared in front of me. He had three quarter length trousers on

Who is the Wicked Witch? You’ll know if you meet someone who has no reflection

THE WICKED WITCH OF KNOWLE

(shudder) with a baby strapped to his chest in bright pink swaddling and he was holding a pink polkadot umbrella to shade them both. So what, I hear you cry! This is the 21st Century, things have moved on, why shouldn’t the man carry his baby in this way. But wait. The woman he was with was carrying a big massoosive man backpack about the same size as her. It was all wrong. Then the other night I was admiring Eldest’s eyebrows, thinking how unfair it was that he had the perfect shaped brow only

to find out that Goldilocks (his bubbly girlfriend) had plucked them earlier. What the hell? I mentioned this to my friend who said that her son got his done all the time – it is normal. Seriously? I popped into Debenhams and found myself in the Mac section, ‘oooh, I love your eye shadow’ I gushed to the pretty assistant, before realising it was a boychild. A boy, wearing eyeshadow. I got into a panic, found myself sitting down at a mirror with him slapping loads of slap on my face and me buying it all just so I could get out of there. It was surreal. A chap I work with is lovely, too lovely. He will make someone a wonderful wife. We have conversations about duvet togs and the best vacuum cleaners. Sometimes I glare at him and state that I refuse to talk to him any more

Down on the Farm News from Windmill Hill City Farm, Philip Street, Bedminster Sticking it to the man TICK Man, the film which matches The Snowman as a modern Christmas TV favourite, is based on the bestselling Stick Man books written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Shcheffler. The farm has been given a unique opportunity to be one of only four sites in the UK to have a Stick Man Trail. It will be launched on Wednesday September 13, where families will be able to try out the trail and take part in Stick Man activities. • growingtogether.community/ stick-man

* Editor’s note: Dear Witch, I’m very sorry and please don’t cast a spell on your colleague. Your previous column should have ended: “Birthdays are just not for me and I have decided herewith to be ageless. So there.”

• windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

musicians performing. Next open mic session is on November 10.

Productive gardens The kitchen gardens at the farm are in full abundance right now,

about stuff that is women talk. I also have a girlfriend who is very capable. Too capable. She has a fishing boat, it is quite big, she tows it, launches it and fishes from it while her husband sits in the passenger seat holding her handbag. I think it must be all our fault (us women). We have polluted the water with oestrogen and have turned our menfolk into well, women. Women are taking on things that men used to do like towing boats, putting the bins out and drinking pints of lager. The world is messed up and I don’t like it.

with teams of volunteers busy harvesting for the café and farm shop. Produce currently includes: beetroot, peas, courgettes, broad beans and plenty of fresh salad leaves. There are also cherries, redcurrants and gooseberries, and greenhouses full of cucumbers, tomatoes and herbs. All mic on the night The inaugural open mic night in June was a great success with lots of fantastically-talented

Real farm foods The farm café will be launching as a Real Economy Food Coop Pick Up Point on September 1. Like a veg box scheme but more so – sign up, then order online your choice of fruit, veg, bread, meat and more from a range of local independent suppliers. Your order is delivered, in reusable packaging, to the farm for you to pick up. The farm will also be hosting related events, competitions and supper clubs. • realeconomy.co.uk City farm hosts cult film Bristol Bad Film Club returns to the farm on August 31, 8-10pm,

with a special outdoor screening of the 1972 movie Night of the Lepus. Widely panned upon its release for its ridiculous premise – rabbits rampaging through model villages – the film has become a cult classic for its failed attempt at making fluffy bunnies scary. £5 per ticket, with profits to the farm and Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary.

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RSPCA UPDATE

25 From Bristol Dogs & Cats Home

Sometimes it takes a lot of TLC to get our guests back on their paws again

WO MARVELLOUS moggies who have both received extra special care because of their medical needs are looking forward to an exciting future in new, loving homes. Sometimes the animals in our care need a little extra TLC. In some cases this can include extensive veterinary care, treatments and even operations. These poorly animals are cared for in our clinic, which provides around-the-clock care to help them feel better. Gregor was one of these animals; he was brought in on May 22, a stray found sleeping under cars. He is thought to be at least 10 years old and was desperate to find his purr-fect home. He arrived underweight

and dishevelled, and vets soon discovered that his kidneys weren’t functioning quite as well as they would have hoped. Kidney disease is very common in older cats, and although the condition is progressive, the prognosis can be variable. Gregor also had five teeth removed after the team discovered gum and dental disease. Strudel is another example of a special care animal; he arrived at the clinic on May 10. Vets soon discovered a wound on his left

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Strudel: Needed treatment for a wound as wells as three diseases

hindquarters – most likely from a fight. Tests also revealed that Strudel had flu, conjunctivitis and gingivitis. Both cats received specialist care from the vets and nurses in the clinic while they got back on their paws. We are delighted that both animals have now found their perfect forever homes, with special families who can offer

them all of the extra support that they need. These are just two examples of the 24-hour specialist care we provide to animals who need a helping hand before they’re able to head off to a bright and happy future. We currently have lots of lovely cats in our care – come and meet them! • rspca-bristol.org.uk

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n PLANNING APPLICATIONS 28 Weymouth Road BS3 5HJ Single storey rear extension to extend beyond the rear by 4m, of maximum height 3.75m with eaves 2.7m high. Refused

bed house attached to side of existing property: alteration to roof height of existing house and proposed house. Granted subject to conditions

25 Brecknock Road BS4 2DE Demolition of rear single storey structures and replacement with new, single storey extensions. Granted subject to conditions

22 Melbury Road BS4 2RP Single storey rear extension and replacement garage. Granted subject to conditions

3 Cemetery Road, Totterdown BS4 3DE Details in relation to condition 3 (Contaminated land) of permission 15/06146/F: house to be attached to the side of 3 Cemetery Road. Granted

16 Leighton Road, Knowle BS4 2LL Conversion of loft space to bedroom with front and rear dormers. Withdrawn Arnos Vale cemetery, Bath Road BS4 3EW Works to cypress tree hit by lorry and damaged. Granted

36 Brecknock Road BS4 2DD Single storey rear extension. Granted subject to conditions

17 Almorah Road BS3 4QQ Rear dormer window and roof light in front roof slope. Pending consideration

64 Leinster Avenue BS4 1NL Change of use from vacant office to restaurant (Use class A3). External flue. Granted subject to conditions

17 Ravenhill Avenue BS3 5DU Rear roof extension and insertion of roof lights in front roof slope. Granted

316 - 318 Wells Road Knowle BS4 2QG Change of use of ground floor from a bank (Use class A2) to coffee shop (Use A1/A3) and amended shopfront. Granted subject to conditions 61 Quantock Road BS3 4PQ Loft conversion to include dormers, rooflights and skylight and changes to windows. Granted 50 Fitzgerald Road BS3 5DH Application to vary Condition 7 (List of approved plans/documents) attached to permission 16/06395/X: three-

23 St Martin’s Road BS4 2NQ Single storey, rear extension with balcony at first floor. Pending consideration

27 Knowle, Totterdown, Windmill Hill

single-storey extension to rear and conversion into two 1-bed flats (Use class C3). Pending consideration Land at junction with Redcatch Road and St Agnes Avenue, Knowle Two storey, 4-bedroomed detached house with parking and amenity space. Four additional parking spaces retained for use connected with St Elizabeth’s. Pending consideration 156 Bath Road, Totterdown BS4 3EF Change of use from residential dwelling to a large HMO (house in multiple occupation, sui generis use). Pending consideration 128 Broad Walk BS4 2RZ Two storey side extension and loft conversion. Pending consideration 12 Copse Road BS4 2HZ T1: Fell large, damaged ash tree adjacent to Arnos Vale cemetery. T2: Fell ash tree in garden. Pending consideration

33 Tyning Road BS3 5DF Single storey, rear extension to extend beyond the rear wall of house by 6m, of maximum height 2.9m with eaves 2.8m high. Refused 15 Almorah Road BS3 4QQ Loft conversion and dormer to rear. Pending consideration 27 Somerset Terrace BS3 4LJ Second floor roof extension. Pending consideration 27 Somerset Terrace BS3 4LJ Rear single storey extension. Pending consideration 98 & 100 Newquay Road BS4 1DS Single storey rear extension to two adjacent properties. Pending consideration 24 Kildare Road BS4 1PS Attached two storey dwelling. Pending consideration • The status of these applications may have changed since we went to press. Check for updates at planningonline.bristol.gov.uk

10 Ketch Road BS3 5DQ Deck structure and re-positioning of steps to rear. Pending consideration 74 Melbury Road BS4 2RP Dormer roof extension. Pending consideration 15 The Square, Knowle BS4 2ST Two storey rear extension. Pending consideration 47 Jubilee Road Knowle BS4 2LR Part three-storey, part

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Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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n YOUR COUNCILLORS

Y THE time you read this column a cabinet decision will have been taken to agree a new fiveGary year contract with Hopkins Parkwood Leisure Lib Dem to run Jubilee pool. Knowle This is welcome but the path by which we have got to this happy result has been a difficult one. Firstly a cabinet decision early in 2017, followed by a full council decision supported by all Labour councillors, decided to close the pool. This was backed up by a hatchet document masquerading as an equalities impact assessment. It claimed that disabled people were disadvantaged by the pool remaining open. As the Save the Jubilee pool campaigners and disabled users told the mayor and Labour councillors at the full council meeting on June 27, nothing could have been further from the

Knowle

truth. In all the misleading statements and misinformation that has unfortunately been the norm for the council’s handling of our pool, the mayor’s refusal to distance himself from that appalling document is probably the most shocking. Some repairs are needed and must be progressed quickly and of course the pool would not be viable now without the refurbishment of 2006 and the addition of the mini gym in 2011. No such investment was made by the previous mayor or this one and we must be on our guard for the future. We should not forget that campaigners worked hard on this and without the 6,000 petition signatures the outcome could have been very different. On June 27 pool campaigners gave a very professional and informed performance at the council meeting. The assistant mayor did not. We should also thank the campaigners, and the helpers from Brislington that we worked with.

OMETIMES in the past, council consultations have been judged unfairly harshly, but all the Chris derision and Davies scorn about the Lib Dem neighbourhoods Knowle consultation from the mayor and his deputy Asher Craig is well earned. On July 27, an all-party statement delivered by Lib Dem Cllr Anthony Negus will point out some of the failings. My colleague Gary described the offering of three unacceptable choices on the libraries as being like the captain of the Titanic asking the passengers from which direction to charge at the iceberg. I would add that by refusing to use volunteers, he is hiding the life jackets and rearranging the deck chairs. In other parts of the city the closure of public toilets is causing concern but here it is our libraries, school crossing patrols and the spiriting away of local

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How to contact your councillor: p2 money from the planning levy that are causing anger. The mayor and his assistant are determined to close two thirds of our libraries. There is a financial squeeze from central government but that is no excuse for wilfully refusing to consider better ways of running our libraries. Knowle is one of the busiest and most accessible libraries in the city and it makes no financial sense to close it. We are running a petition not only against a possible Knowle closure but against the whole bungled scheme. School crossing patrols save children’s lives and in the scale of the council budget the cost is minuscule. I would urge as many of you as possible to go to the council website to respond to the “consultation”. So far I hear that, as the mayor attempts to channel people down one of three unacceptable outcomes for our library service, the most common answer from the public is “none of the above”. We will be fighting these misguided cuts all the way.

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n YOUR COUNCILLORS

T JULY’S full council meeting we discussed and supported a motion on university Jon expansion and Wellington the housing issues Labour surrounding that, Windmill Hill and called for the universities to contribute to the costs of increasing student numbers in the city. This is particularly pertinent to people in Totterdown and Windmill Hill, given our proximity to the proposed new university campus near Temple Meads station. Most universities, Bristol included, have a guarantee of accommodation for first year students, However, it is the effect of greater student numbers and the increase in houses of multiple occupation as undergraduates enter their second and third years that is most relevant here. Totterdown, being just 10 minutes away from the new campus, will be an attractive

Windmill Hill

option for students in the second and third year and several residents have already expressed their concerns to me. The likelihood is that the introduction to the area of a higher incidence of houses of multiple occupancy will place a strain on the local neighbourhood through the need for greater use of council services which are already seeing massive funding cuts thanks to the Government’s austerity programme. If the university is to continue to expand, this needs be matched by a financial contribution to neighbourhoods and infrastructure services so that communities that are seeing increased student numbers are protected from declining services as a result of population growth. The university makes a great play of its position in the heart of Bristol, which it markets as a wonderful regional city with a great nightlife and cultural offer. We all agree with that. However if the university is willing to benefit from it’s place in our city, it should also contribute to it.

29 How to contact your councillor: p2

RECENTLY visited the Bristol Waste Company to get a better understanding of the impact Lucy of its operations. Whittle (Full disclosure, Labour my husband has Windmill Hill worked with them on their pictures of recycling.) I was impressed. It was tidy, clean and surprisingly un-smelly, and a very streamlined and efficient process. I was impressed by the company’s commitment to staff development, as well as their employment of local people, so local that many of them walk and cycle to work. And because they have a contract for 10 years they can invest in staff long term, who will get to know their rounds and the communities they serve. Food waste is processed to generate biogas and a fertiliser from the remaining solids, saving six tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. Plastic and metal collected

from the kerbside is dropped into a baler, which sorts it ready to be sold. As I watched, I was told Bristol creates excellent recycled material with less contamination (by other materials) than others, and so we get a much better price. This is down to all of our hard work. So remember every time you take a moment to decide “is this plastic or cardboard?”, you are benefitting Bristol, because all money comes back to the city. There are other things we can do to prevent waste. Lots of our broken household items may have a simple fix, but we often don’t know how. Kate Jarrod, who started the Bristol Repair Cafés, said “There are many reasons why people visit the café. Some are motivated by the environment, others need to save money, while some people want to preserve items with sentimental value.” Join the Bristol Repair Café group on Facebook to find out more. Maybe we should start one in Windmill Hill? I’m up for it!

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n HISTORY Daytrip turned into a tragedy for Bristol and ended a young couple’s dreams

AN A whole town acquire a bad name? It seems so, because almost 160 years ago the people of Bristol were being urged by the Press into a very unfavourable opinion of the people of Watchet, the small, sleepy port on the Somerset coast between Minehead and Bridgwater. The cause of this opprobrium was a tragedy; an event that still has a small memorial, which caught the keen eye of a South Bristol Voice reader. Henry Larcombe, aged 22, and Sarah Seymour, 21, had expected to be married at St John the Baptist church in Bedminster on Sunday June 26, 1859. But instead of conducting their wedding, a week earlier the vicar of St John’s found himself overseeing the couple’s funeral. It was the first burial in the church’s New Cemeteryn on the slope of Windmill Hill. (It’s now the community orchard and only two gravestones remain, often overgrown: Voice reader Shelagh Akbulut saw this one, and asked us to investigate.) The tragic couple were not the only victims: they were among six people drowned off the Somerset coast – a result, it was said, of the greed and incompetence of the Watchet boat people. It was one of those calamities which were far too common in mid-Victorian England. But the outrage came from the notion that in a wealthy and industrialised society, such incidents were avoidable – hence the fervent newspaper reports.

August 2017

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he fateful journey began as a holiday. Victorians of all classes treasured the freedom of travel that steam power gave them. The railway could take them for a day out to Weston-super-Mare or South Devon. And for the places the

Drowned before their wedding day

‘Sarah Jane Seymour and Henry Larcombe Inscribed on a grave in the field of St John They were murdered at sea, and were just twenty one Here is their story and this is their song ...’ So begins a lyric by Windmill Hill songwriter Barry Lane (see page 32). But there’s more to their story ...

Voice reader Shelagh Akbulut spotted this gravestone: “Sacred to the memory of Henry Larcombe, aged 22 years, and Sarah Seymour, aged 21 years, who were drowned at Watchet on 14th of June 1859 and were interred in this tomb. In the midst of life we are in death”.

tracks had not reached, there were steam-powered ships, such as the Neath Abbey. The ship itself was blameless – though its captain later had to defend his name, as we shall see. The Neath Abbey was the pride of the South Wales ironworks of the same name, one of a new breed of steamships driven by propellor rather than the cumbersome paddles of past. For most of the year she took cargo and passengers between South Wales and Bristol, departing from Bathurst Basin. On June 13, however, the Whit Monday bank holiday, the Neath Abbey cast off from Hotwells at 5.30am. She had been hired for an excursion to the Somerset coast, and reached Watchet by 9.30am, where she dropped some passengers and carried on to Minehead. Sadly, no picture survives of the Neath Abbey, so we can’t tell how big she was, but she was clearly more than a pleasure craft, capable of carrying cargo as well as several hundred passengers; she had between 300 and 450 people on board that day. How the passengers got to shore, though, was to become a matter of dispute. At the inquest, several passengers said they had

been told they would be conveyed to Watchet in small boats while the Neath Abbey waited offshore. Several dozen of the Bristol party left the ship at Watchet while the rest continued to Minehead. They all presumably enjoyed their short holiday, some staying with relatives and the others at coastal inns, which were now doing a good trade with summer visits from city folk. The Neath Abbey returned, as arranged, on Tuesday. Originally she had been due to leave Watchet at 3.30pm that day, but shortly after she left Bristol this time was changed to 2pm. Some passengers complained that their trip was being cut short. Perhaps the message about the earlier departure did not reach everyone; in any event, at 2.30pm on Tuesday, the Neath Abbey was at anchor about half a mile from Watchet, and several dozen people were waiting on shore to board her. Accounts vary about what was happening. The Western Daily Press, which took a strident and critical tone throughout, asserted that “at half past two there were numbers on the quay ready for departure, but only two boats were at the service of the excursionists at the time.”

One witness who wrote to the paper, however, spoke of several boats being in use; another correspondent arrived to see two boats in the water and another taking on passengers. The fare being charged was three old pence (1.25p, worth £1.10 today). Peter Tenby, who lived nearby at Brendon Hill, told the inquest he also saw three boats. Another witness would have found the inquest more painful than most. George Larcombe was father to Henry Larcombe, and had seen his son and his prospective daughter-in-law drown in front of his eyes. The newspaper account of his evidence was strictly factual, so his feelings must be guessed at; but he stated that five or six boats were ferrying passengers. George Larcombe got into one of the boats with, he said, his son, Sarah Seymour, Samuel Venn, James Lewis and his wife, and some others he didn’t know. There were 12 passengers and two boatmen, he said – though he gave no opinion on whether this was too many. Others, too, seemed sure of this number. Edwin Edwards of St Augustine’s Place, Bristol, said when he got in with Samuel Venn, his cousin, there were 13

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n HISTORY

Drowned before their wedding day

Watchet harbour, where high tides have brought the need for a more secure harbour than in Victorian times aboard. But as they were leaving one of the sailors said there was room for one more. Mr Tenby told a slightly different story. He had a lucky escape, because he got into the boat but then heard its captain, George Wedlake, say there were too many in it. Mr Tenby got out, but two others got in. Questioned by the jury about this clamour to get on board, Mr Tenby said: “Many of them appeared to be the worse for drink. I saw them in the London Inn, and they appeared to be wild.” Mr Edwards, though, asserted that all the passengers, and the two seamen, appeared to be perfectly sober.

ober or not, once the boat got into open water, some of the passengers became alarmed. The boat was so low in the water that it had to be pushed off a rock before it could move. Soon after, it got stuck on another rock, and had to be pushed off again. The gunwale – the side of the boat – was no more than a foot above the water, Mr Edwards asserted. Mrs Lewis became alarmed. “We shall all be drowned!” at least two witnesses heard her say. One of the sailors tried to reassure her, but she responded “I am doubtful about it.” “If one goes we shall all go together,” was the less than reassuring response from the sailor. There was now water in the bottom of the boat. They were perhaps halfway to the Neath Abbey, still a quarter of a mile away. Passengers in other boats,

and those on the steamer, could see that the tide was running heavily, and at least two boats were in danger of being swamped. The end came suddenly: “She gave a bit of a lurch on the port side, and another upon the starboard side, after which she went right away from under us,” Mr Edwards told the inquest, which was held in the Bell Inn, a Watchet pub almost in sight of the scene of the tragedy, only three days later. Mr Edwards found himself suddenly in the water. He had a coat around his shoulders, and three people were pulling at it in desperation. “After struggling with them I got away. I looked around, and seeing that I could do no good to any of them, I swam in the direction of the shore,” he said. This terse account did no justice to the terror of the other passengers. In Victorian times, many people could not swim. Women were also burdened by long skirts and petticoats. Hence several of the passengers were doomed: there were no lifejackets or other safety aids. The Western Daily Press, in its first account, written before the inquest, painted a desperate (and inaccurate) picture. “The scene was most harrowing; mothers as they for a short time floated held their suckling babes high out of the watering called frantically for help; the hands of those who were about to be engulfed were firmly clasped as if in prayer … “And as they sank under the agitated waves, the cries of the observers on shore mingled with

those from the sea, and made up a wild dirge that alarmed and thrilled all those who heard it.” Attempts at rescue were swift. Captain Westlake on the Neath Abbey ordered one of his own boats lowered and rowed rapidly to the scene. One of the other Watchet boats saw its companion in danger. According to one account, the passengers in this boat leapt out onto a convenient rock, allowing the seamen to row to those in danger. “Strong and quick the men in the hinder boat rowed towards them,” breathlessly intoned the Western Daily Press, “but one by one the heads disappeared below the surface of the sea, and when at last the boat reached the spot almost all were gone. “One of the men in the boat, however (a veteran sailor), managed to seize a woman by the hair of the head, just as she was sinking, and she is now in a fair way of recovery.” Not all were so lucky, wrote the journalist: “The bodies of two men (apparently watermen) were also dragged into the boat, but all efforts to restore animation in either proved ineffectual.” But there was worse: “… a young woman, with an infant in her arms. When the boat capsized she was seen floating, upheld by her clothing, with the child clasped to her breast, and as she was carried away by the tide she raised up her baby in her arms, as if to implore help on its behalf. No help reached her, though it is said that a sailor on the Neath Abbey, fired by the sight of the drowning mother and

her child, stripped off his clothes and plunged into the waves to endeavour rescue her. “The gallant fellow, however, paid with his life ... for both he and the mother and her babe were drowned.” Truly an awful picture – and according to the Western Daily Press, described by an eyewitness. Yet the account of the inquest casts doubt: there is no description anywhere of a child being among the dead, or of a sailor. Nor does any other account describe a seaman diving off the Neath Abbey, which was probably several hundred yards from the sinking boat. The facts were harsh enough. Six people were drowned: the betrothed couple, Sarah Seymour and Henry Larcombe, naturally attracted most attention, but a married couple, James Lewis, a market gardener from Nelson Street, Ashton, and his wife Sarah also died, along with Samuel Venn, described as a porter for the Great Western Railway at Bristol, and George Mogg, also from Bristol.

ho, then, was to blame? The boatmen, for overloading their craft? The boat owner for having a leaky craft? Captain Westlake, for anchoring offshore instead of tying up to Watchet pier? Or the holidaymakers, for crowding into the boats, rowdy after a day in the pub? Early reports said that 12 or 14 had been drowned, but this was the number that failed to return to Bristol, and the true number of the dead did not reach the city till the next day. As the Western Daily Press reported, “There is no telegraph to Watchet, and the ordinary modes of conveyance are exceedingly inconvenient.” The Western Daily at least carried frequent updates on the story, but facts morphed as the news travelled around the country. The Cheltenham Mercury, for example, stated that “fifteen persons were drowned”. One thing became clear at the inquest: the boat which sank was overloaded. The rowing boat was 11 feet long (about 3.3m) and could safely carry eight adults in open water, coastguard officer David McCalpin told the jury. A juryman – perhaps a friend Continued on page 32

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n HISTORY Continued from page 31 of one of the boatmen – suggested that the boat could hold as many as 12 in safety. But McCalpin – a coastguard man for 14 years, seven of them at Watchet – was clear: he would not have risked his life with so many in the boat. “A greater number could be put into her in the harbour, but it was dangerous to do so in the channel, when the boat was going against wind and tide,” he said. He was equally confident about the position of the Neath Abbey, which was battling the incoming tide. The captain had come in as close to shore as he could, said the witness. Nor was the condition of the boat to blame. McCalpin inspected it and judged it “perfectly seaworthy”. “I believe the accident occurred in consequence of her being overcrowded,” he said. Less impressive as a witness was William Allen, a boatman who knew George Wedlake and Alfred Short, the two seamen in the fateful boat. He tried to avoid putting a number on the people he saw in her. “I cannot tell how many; there might have been eight or 10,” he said. “The boat was not crowded, and she would have carried the passengers safely if they had sat still,” he was reported by the Bath Chronicle as saying – this being a clear attempt to blame the trippers for their misfortune. Evidence that the passengers were not to blame for capsizing the boat came from Amos Greenslade, described in the newspapers as “a small boy from Bedminster,” who perhaps because of his size was put in the bows of the boat. Amos, whose age was not given, told the inquest how “when the sea came into the boat, the people moved, and the boat lurching on one side, the water came in and we sank.” Amos got on the back of one of the sailors, who managed to swim away. Amos said: “I was nearly exhausted when a wave threw me up against a boat that was coming towards us. I got hold of the side of the boat and the men drew me and the sailor into it.” The boy’s evidence was important, said the West Somerset coroner, William Munckton. Summing up, he said that several witnesses agreed that

Drowned before their wedding day only after the boat took on water had the passengers begun to move. Witnesses had also agreed that the boat was seaworthy, and didn’t leak – but it was overloaded. The question the coroner put to the jury was whether the seamen Wedlake and Short had used the “care, caution and circumspection” that they should. If they had, then the deaths were an accident. If they had not, then their public duty was to return a verdict of manslaughter. We might think Mr Munckton’s directions to the jury were pretty loaded, and within an hour they had come back with a verdict: death by manslaughter. Wedlake and Short were immediately bailed to face the charge at the Somersetshire assizes, to be held in August. But the drama of the day was not over. A solicitor from nearby Williton, Mr White, had observed the proceedings on behalf of Captain Westlake. Could the jury, asked Mr White, append a line to their verdict stating that no blame whatsoever attached to the captain of the steamer? It turned out the jury would not. One of its members asked if Captain Westlake was responsible for changing the time of the sailing, because without that, the accident might have been avoided, he claimed. The coroner disagreed, saying

A SONG FOR THE DROWNED LOVERS

INDMILL Hill musician and songwriter Barry Lane was inspired by the gravestone in the former St John’s cemetery – now the Windmill Hill community orchard – to write a song, The Watchet Tragedie. Not knowing the facts, he imagined that Henry Larcombe was a sailor “washed up on the shoal”, and that Sarah Seymour found him and fell in love. Sarah’s parents disapproving, her father hires Alfred Wedlake, a boatman, and his son to take them on a voyage from which they will not return. The couple get into Wedlake’s boat at Watchet thinking they will meet a ship bound for Africa offshore: but they end their lives under the sea. It’s a deliberately romantic and fanciful version of the story; but perhaps it doesn’t exaggerate the love that the real Sarah and Henry

no blame attached to the captain. Most of the jury seemed to agree with him, but one, John Gliddon, “warmly asserted that Captain Westlake’s conduct in running away without ascertaining who and how many were lost was inhuman in the extreme.” Mr Gliddon, said the Western Daily, “repeated his observations several times, and the Coroner ultimately said the only object of the inquiry was to ascertain the cause of death.” Finally, the jury and the coroner had a whip-round, referred to in those days as a subscription, in aid of Jane Mogg, widow of George Mogg, who had been left destitute in Watchet with no funds to return to Bristol. She was given £4 and 15 shillings – equal to more than £400 today.

he awful events were over – but the backlash was not. First in the firing line was Watchet. The Western Daily Press had it in for the town, and its writer appeared to let his indignation at the boatmen’s negligence spill into a wholesale condemnation. Apart from those who have relatives in the area, he wrote, “nobody would ever think of going to Watchet.” The paper continued: “There is an ugly, misshapen, semicircular pier there,” which had for each other. (Barry has since written a revised lyric that’s more in accordance with the real story.) The star-crossed lovers arrived for the tryst And with Wedlake and Alfred they sailed into the mist Their story is broken and ends with a twist The ferry descending into the abyss On the floor of the ocean they sway with the tide With angels and starfish they dance side by side They cannot get over, the water is wide, They are waltzing forever as bridegroom and bride. • Barry is playing at the Victoria Park Fun Day on September 16; who knows, perhaps he’ll play this song. You can read the lyrics here: • barry-lane-songwriter.org.uk/ index.php/2-uncategorised/74the-watchet-tragedie

was later described as “a suspicious-looking structure”, while what the locals called a breakwater was no more than “a number of poles with their heads above water”. Even the sympathy of the townsfolk was suspect: said the paper, “Some had real sympathy; others exhibited a kind of mercenary sympathy, in bewailing the probable loss, at all events for a season, of too many aquatic excursionists.” The paper had been even more certain before the inquest: “Watchet with its leaky and unsafe boats is to blame; this is not the first time accidents have taken place there, and we think it will now rest with the public whether they will risk their lives at a place where there is no security offered for their preservation.” The town’s reputation had not been helped by the evidence of police superintendent Mear, who won praise from all for his work in trying to revive those pulled from the sea. Some of the injured were refused admission to the Bell Inn, where the landlady’s conduct was “most disgraceful” In contrast, at the Greyhound Inn, “everything was done that could possibly be done”. Two days after the inquest, the paper returned to the subject. “We have no wish to prejudice the public mind against these men”, it said, referring to the two men accused of manslaughter – and then laid into both the seamen and Captain Westlake. “When we see avariciousness sacrificing its victims – when we see homes made desolate – fair prospects blighted – and numbers of our fellow citizens cut off in the hour of their enjoyment, and launched into eternity without a moment’s preparation – it becomes a duty to speak in no mincing accents of the culpability of those who were the immediate cause of these terrible results.” The public may choose not to sail with captains – here it meant Commander Westlake – who make no provision of the safe landing and re-embarking of their passengers, the paper said. Two days after this, a correspondent to the Western Daily went further. A ship’s captain should be required to take every passenger from terra firma and back safely to dry land, wrote a Clifton resident, who

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n HISTORY

Drowned before their wedding day

Stark sermon for the funeral 5,000

HE FUNERAL of Sarah Seymour and Henry Larcombe was a major public event. The drownings had been the cause of much upset from the start; somehow, despite there being no telegraph at Watchet, news of the calamity reached Bristol the same day, and when the Neath Abbey docked at Bathurst Basin that evening thousands of people were waiting for news. It was the deaths of the 21-year-old sweethearts which aroused the greatest public grief. Sarah lived with her parents in Harford Street, Redcliffe, which was then known as Cathay. (Confusingly, part of Cathay was in the parish of Bedminster.) Her betrothed, Henry Larcombe, also lived in Cathay, in

Wellington Street, and he worked in a china warehouse. His father George, who survived the Watchet

signed him or herself One Who Abhors Homicide. “Who would not give a shilling extra ... than be at the mercy of avaricious, ignorant, half-drunken men, who for their miserable threepence, are willing to subject a dozen people to terror and to death? “The hotel-keepers and shipowners of Watchet and other places must not wonder if this awful affair diminish their gains,” the letter concluded. Attempts were made to rescue reputations damaged by the affair. John Wescombe of Watchet wrote to the Western Daily Press praising the police and all the inns – including the Bell, where the landlady only refused entry because she was already caring for two of the injured. Mrs Chichester of the Wellington also deserved thanks for her kindness to the Bedminster boy, Amos Greenslade, he wrote, while the local surgeons gave their “generous attention” without fee. Captain Westlake also defended himself. In a letter printed on June 23, he claimed that no one apart from the bereaved relatives had felt the effects of “the late melancholy occasion” as much as himself. He had brought in the steamer as close to the Watchet pier as was safe, he said. Far from being insensitive to the disaster, he had seen the danger to the deeplyladen boat, and set off himself in a boat to the rescue. With his

crew, he picked up two people from the water. And they saved many more by passing lines to the other boats at risk. Back on the Neath Abbey, the captain said, “I inquired if all were saved, and my men reported that they thought they were.” Eight people had been picked up, and he believed no more could have been carried on such a small boat. He set off for Bristol because he would soon have missed the tide. Some trippers, perhaps drunk, were becoming “clamorous – indeed, one went so far as to tell the mate that if we did not at once proceed he would run his knife in me.” He said it had been “the invariable custom” for Watchet boats to ferry passengers to and from his ship. Besides which, it would be as reasonable to hold a railway company responsible for the omnibus which brought the passengers to the station. Even if the boats had been as large as a steamship, if they were overloaded they would have been swamped, “for to nothing else but the greediness of the boatmen for the fares can the melancholy occurrence be attributed.” He signed off defiantly, saying that the facts showed that he had not shrunk from any duty or exertion – “but, whether or not, I have the higher testimony of my conscience in this respect.” In other words, he he knew better than his critics.

St John’s, Bedminster; founded in 1003, and last rebuilt in 1855. It was bombed in the 1940 Blitz and demolished in the 1960s. An ornate cross survives in the churchyard behind East Street.

tragedy, had worked for 30 years for a Mrs Pounding of Bedminster – though it’s unclear what Mrs Pounding’s business was. Sarah worked at the Robinson’s paper factory in Redcliffe. Both families had roots in the area and Henry and Sarah had known each other for some years. Henry was a member of the Ancient Order of Foresters – a kind of mutual savings club whose members helped each other if they fell on hard times. About 20 members of the order attended the funeral at St John the Baptist church in Bedminster. Six young men carried Henry’s coffin from his house, while six young women shouldered Sarah. A huge procession followed the family and the Foresters, and a further crowd had gathered at the New Cemetery on Windmill Hill. The cemetery had only been consecrated a fortnight before; the

hat was the aftermath? Surprisingly little. When the boatmen George Wedlake and Alfred Short were brought before the assizes at Wells on August 10, no evidence was offered. The grand jury ignored the coroner’s charge of manslaughter. The judge, Justice Crompton, said it was evident that the prisoners “had no intention whatever to commit the offence with which they were charged”. His lordship seems to have ignored the possibility that manslaughter does not require an intent to kill. Wedlake and Short were free. Did they and their fellow boatmen take more care not to overload their boats? Perhaps; but the law wasn’t changed to

land had been donated by Sir Greville Smyth of Ashton Court. About 5,000 people listened quietly to the vicar of St John’s, Rev Henry Eland, deliver a dark sermon on the uncertainty of life. The young couple had been alive and well a week before, he said, “and how little they thought of what might occur to them”. He dwelled on this theme some time, reported the Western Daily Press, then went on to advise his listeners to prepare themselves for “that hour which might come at any time”, and concluded by hoping that “at the last moment the deceased lifted up their thoughts to that Throne from which alone could mercy be derived.” As the paper, said, it was a melancholy event. Families in such a situation today might hope for something more uplifting, a service that celebrated the young lives so cruelly ended. force them to do so, nor were the steamer captains compelled to take responsibility for ferrying passengers from shore. Eventually, in 1862, Watchet (which has some of the highest tides in the world) got a new pier, which made landing safer. Bristolians probably favoured Clevedon or Minehead for a time, but no doubt they were soon back carousing in Watchet. The Neath Abbey had a sad end. Once the pride of her shipyard, she foundered off Nash Point, South Wales, on a voyage from Swansea to Bristol in 1894. Her captain had only taken over command three weeks before and had taken her too close to the shore. He was drowned with three of his crew.

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n HISTORY

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n THE MAYOR

MARVIN REES Mayor of Bristol

I’m going to Whitehall to argue for more investment

HAVE asked other cities to join me for a national day of lobbying on September 12 when I will be in Westminster to deliver a paper putting forward our alternative plan for the future of local government. Local authorities and public services across the country are facing financial challenges as a result of austerity and it is time to take a positive step towards tackling this problem. We will be arguing for more powers and funding in order to be able to do our job and look after the communities that we represent. I look forward to putting our constructive challenge before the Government and working with our MPs to make sure Bristol’s voice is heard in Westminster. We will be sharing more information nearer the time regarding how people can get involved. Also this month, we have been pushing on

with the other work that we want to do. I was delighted to be able to host our local Chess in Schools and Communities annual tournament last month at City Hall. It’s a little-known fact that I’m a big chess fan. It was great to have children from a wide range of backgrounds here battling it out in a game of wits, having had lessons for the last few weeks. We have

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REVIEW Goldilock, Stock & Three Smoking Bears, Tobacco Factory T’S IMPOSSIBLE to pick a favourite from the cast of Goldilock, Stock and Three Smoking Bears – a glorious mash-up of fairytale and gritty gangster underworld movie. Archetypal characters include charming chirpy cockney Goldilock, with her stall dahhn the market, a taste for bursting into My Fair Lady-type song and the perfect amount of knowing sideways glances to show she’s in on the joke; then there’s the above-herself classy lady behind the gangster set up, Sally. Harry and Barry are the dopey villains – Harry, with the neck brace, sheepskin coat, jutting, spit-covered chin and a lust for finger-breaking, and his partner Barry, a 50s spiv with braces, and an unusual love for chairs. The three bears are delightful alternatives to the storybook favourites – posh Rupert, daft Paddington, and super-bendy hipster Win – who have a penchant for thievery and

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also launched our Feeding Bristol initiative alongside the 5K Partnership, Kerry McCarthy MP and Feeding Britain. Currently, 20,000 people in the city use food banks every year. This needs to change. We are putting a call out to supermarkets, businesses, charities, faith groups and trade unions to help us make Bristol a Zero Hunger City and I look forward to hearing what ideas come back. I am still pushing on with my priority to make sure we meet my target of delivering 2,000 homes a year by 2020. Last month I was delighted to announce our plans to build around 130 new homes on the Alderman Moore’s site in Ashton, 40 per cent of which would be affordable. We are also helping to bring back empty properties into use, including school caretaker properties that we hope to bring back into use by Christmas. We are still holding our consultation on the savings proposals we have had to put forward following our uncovering of the sorry state of the council’s finances. We are looking for your ideas and solutions in order to shape the proposals we have put forward. To take part in the Your Neighbourhood and Supporting People consultations you can do so online at the address below. The survey is open until Tuesday September 5. • bristol.gov.uk/YourNeighbourhood

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Goldi: Looking for trouble partying. We also meet the sinister Scottish sisters trying to force the secret porridge recipe from old-timer Hamish; Vinnie, the ex-footballer mobster with aspirations, and a random Geordie binman called Sting. Fallen on hard times, Goldilock is cajoled into working for the gangsters, who rip her off in a rigged card game. Her endeavour to return the money she owes sees her taking risks in the residence of the three bears. It’s all played by only four cast members, all masters of choreography, quick change, characterisation and buffoonery. The show is a Wardrobe Theatre original. There are some very clever set pieces; cinematic moments re-created live; fast action, and above all, many, many laughs. Beccy Golding

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n WHAT’S ON Monday July 31 n Scrapstore @ Creative Workspace Queens Road, Withywood BS13 8LF. Make costumes, musical instruments, toys and more with Rachel from Scrapstore, the Bristol centre that recycles waste paper and other materials. For all ages. Dropin. Free admission. Creative Workspace also has an in-house café offering snacks and simple lunches. Also on August 1, 11am4pm. • creative-workspace.co.uk Tuesday August 1 n Animal photography Knowle West Media Centre hosts a two-day session on Tuesday and Wednesday for 10-16 yearolds. Find out how to take the perfect photo then try out your new photography skills on a trip to the zoo. 10am-4pm, £5. • kwmc.org.uk/events Wednesday August 2 n Colourful Minds Creative Workspace, Queens Road, Withywood BS13 8LF. Make fabulous artwork with Laura from Colourful Minds. For all ages, 2-4pm. Drop-in, free. Also creative fun on August 2, 4, 11, 25 and September 1 on themes such as Monsters and Silly Shoes; £2 first child and £1 for extra siblings. Cafe open from 11am. • creative-workspace.co.uk Thursday August 3 n Wild Outdoors Club Windmill Hill City Farm. Every Thursday in August from 10am to 12noon there will be a different activity for 6-9 year-olds including nature crafts, animal feeding and outdoor games. £10 per child. Booking essential. • windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk/ whats-on Friday August 4 n Royal Sounds The Tunnels, Temple Meads. Roots reggae band from London. Formed in 2012, they have been playing

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A wandering cat adds to the charm of Shakespeare out of doors REVIEW: Romeo and Juliet, Butterfly Theatre Co, Arnos Vale cemetery T WAS one of those raining-oneminute, warm-the-next July evenings at Arnos Vale cemetery. Trees billowing in full leaf, layers of green upon green, dotted with bursts of flowery colour. A glorious backdrop and setting for an open-air version of Romeo and Juliet, as part of this year’s Bristol Shakespeare Festival. This production, from the aptly named Butterfly Theatre Company, which specialises in productions in unusual settings, made full use of the space. The first scene was outside the café at the Spielman centre, then, following their pretty singing and beating drum, the beckoning cast led us around a corner for dialogue between Romeo and naughty, bawdy Mercutio, hanging and

Battle to the death: Mercutio and Tybalt’s duel in Arnos Vale’s open-air Romeo and Juliet

festivals across Europe. This is their debut tour. 7.30pm, £8. • thetunnelsbristol.co.uk n Groove Avenue Fiddlers Club, Willway Street, Bedminster. Bristol’s homegrown eight-piece soul Motown funk band. £7. • fiddlers.co.uk Saturday August 5 n Bench Mending Victoria Park. Meet by Mrs Brown’s café if you’d like to help bring new life to one of the benches in the park with members of VPAG, Victoria Park Action Group. 10am12.30pm. • vpag.org.uk n Roxy Magic The Tunnels, Temple Meads. The longestrunning tribute act to Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry recreate four decades with Bryan Ferry look- and sound-alike Kevin Hackett. 7.30pm, £10. • thetunnelsbristol.co.uk Tuesday August 8 n Tech on the Table Knowle West Media Centre, Leinster Avenue. Holiday fun for 10-16 year-olds with two days of tech workshops exploring Minecraft, Microbit making, animation,

PICTURE: Julian Janke

curling around a cedar tree. A meeting with Friar Laurence happened, fittingly, and respectfully, in the Garden of Rest; the famous balcony scene, with a beautiful, convincing connection between Romeo and Juliet, on the walls around the Spielman centre. We meandered to a lawned area for the gripping fight and deaths of Tybalt and Mercutio. The Anglican Chapel, both inside and out, was used for scenes between Juliet, her mother Lady Capulet, and the nurse. We ventured into the crypt, witnessed scenes among graves, and

followed a candlelit path to gather along the crescent-shaped memorial wall to watch the final, atmospheric death scene. There were minor interruptions from a jogger, and a ginger cat that followed our walk and joined in a scene between Juliet and the nurse (which only added to the kind relationship between them). Even the rain didn’t dampen this beautiful, enthralling production, from a small but excellent cast of only six players, at dusk in South Bristol’s stunning necropolis. Beccy Golding

virtual reality and 3D printing. 10am-4pm, free. • kwmc.org.uk Wednesday August 9 n Pamper Night at Zion Zion Bristol, Bishopsworth Road, 6.30-9.30pm. “Bring the girls along for a treatment or two. Choose from reiki, Indian head massage, reflexology, feet and nail treatments, hot stones, massage, chiropractic posture check ups, Slimming World, Forever Living, acupressure massage and more.” Treatments from £5, women only. Tickets

£2.50 includes glass of bubbly; bar. • zionbristol.co.uk Friday August 11 n Better Than Never + Montroze + Maypine + Torre Valley+ Destroy the Beast, Find the Baby The Thunderbolt, Bath Road, Totterdown. Better Than Never headline with their line-up of two duelling vocalists and three guitars. 7.30pm, £5 on the door. • thethunderbolt.net Tuesday August 15 n Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band The Tunnels, Temple Meads. The Rev. J. Peyton, his wife Breezy and drummer Ben Bussell are a living, breathing embodiment of the traditions and hard work ethic of their home in Brown County, Indiana. 7.30pm, £12. • thetunnelsbristol.co.uk Thursday August 17 n Creating harmonious relationships Arnos Vale cemetery. 7-9.30pm, £25. Would you like to focus on what you bring to relationships? Could you benefit from being more Continued overleaf

DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR EVENT? This space could be yours for as little as £14. Community groups, pubs, charities, schools – get your message across in the best-read magazine in South Bristol. Call Ruth on 07590 527 664.

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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n WHAT’S ON Continued from page 45 confident in your communication style, and be better at managing differences that arise? This Mariposa workshop is part of Arnos Vale’s Wellness Weekend. • arnosvale.org.uk/events Friday August 18 n Candlelit yoga Arnos Vale cemetery’s Wellness weekend continues with Emily Wingrove holding an introductory yoga session. Tickets are £10. Doors will be open from 4pm if you would like to meet Emily, with the class from 4.30-5.30pm. • arnosvale.org.uk/events n Sound Bath Arnos Vale cemetery. In the marvellous acoustic of the Anglican chapel, Bea Martin and David Johnson of Bards of Avalon make a “sound bath”, designed to enhance your wellbeing, with vocal harmonies, Himalayan bowls, gongs and other percussion instruments. • arnosvale.org.uk/events Sunday August 20 n Everything Else The Thunderbolt, Bath Road, Totterdown. Bristol pop-punk four-piece making a name for themselves. £5, 7.30pm. • thethunderbolt.net Friday August 25 n Quiz and Supper Night Windmill Hill community centre, Vivian Street. On the last Friday of every month, 8.30pm-late. • whca.org.uk n The Tearaways featuring Clem Burke, Blondie The Thunderbolt, Bath Road,

Outstanding adventure in a boy’s troubled mind REVIEW The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time, Bristol Hippodrome DAPTED from the awardwinning novel, Curious… the stage version (also award-winning) premiered in 2012. It’s fundamentally the story of a family breakdown, as witnessed by its young protagonist, 15-year-old Christopher Boon. Christopher has autism, perhaps, though his difference is never named, and it’s through the staging and production of this incredible, absorbing play that we come to

Exhibition is emotional and thought-provoking REVIEW: Milestones exhibition, Paintworks RIOT of colour and dynamism came to Paintworks in June, in an art exhibition by people with mental health needs, learning disabilities and dementia. The exhibition, called Carnival, showcased the creative talents of people working with the Milestones Trust. The charity uses its Expressions arts programme to help people learn new skills, make new friends and build confidence, which in turn helps with their wellbeing. Milestones works across Bristol and the South West. In South Bristol the Stepping Forward project, based at The Park in Knowle, is a social activity hub that meets every weekday for trips and activities, offering support and social connection. The charity has worked with the Square Food Foundation, also based at The Park, to develop quality standards

Totterdown. The Tearaways formed in 1981 and reformed in the 1990s. Burke – who has played with dozens of bands as well as Blondie – is one of Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest drummers. 7.30pm; £15 on the door, £12 advance. • thethunderbolt.net Saturday August 26 n Family Fun Day Creative Workspace, Queens Road,

for the food it offers in its care homes, including two in Southville and Brislington. The annual exhibition is the culmination of months of hard work from a number of projects, using film, textiles, painting, pottery and more. This year’s Carnival, held over the last weekend of June, included watercolour, sculpture and poetry workshops, and performances from local musicians. Highlights of the show included carnival-inspired paintings and ceramics from the Trust’s Art for Wellbeing groups; gorgeous colourful fabric collages, an immersive film of Westonsuper-Mare, entitled Electric Parade; and photographs, halved, with one side replaced by pencil drawing – emotional and thought-provoking. For information on their services, visit • milestonestrust.org.uk Beccy Golding

Colourful, inspiring: This year’s carnival-themed Milestones show

Withywood BS13 8LF. Live music, food and lots of opportunities to get hands-on and creative in many different ways. For all ages. Drop-in. Free, 11-4pm. • creative-workspace.co.uk n Legend: The music of Bob Marley The Tunnels, Temple Meads. Members of Legend have served with reggae greats as the Mighty Diamonds, Dennis Brown, The Beat and Burning

Spear. Drinks promo and Caribbean BBQ. 7.30pm, £12. • thetunnels.co.uk Thursday August 31 n Bristol Bad Film Club: Night of the Lepus Windmill Hill City Farm, 8pm. Outdoor screening of the 1972 cult classic film Night of the Lepus where giant mutant rabbits go on the rampage. £5. • windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

is found dead, killed with a garden fork. The boy uses his detective skills to investigate. The plot evolves through conversations with the boy’s teacher, who is reading the book Christopher has written, which becomes a play, which we are watching. As they talk, Christopher builds a train set, slowly, scene by scene. The first half ends with a magical moment where the toy train starts moving of its own accord, and the windows of the buildings he’s

placed along the track light up. The second half features a journey from Swindon, via unknown streets, train and underground, into London. Jostling commuters, cacophonous roaring of crowds – cast members move slickly in perfect synchronisation – it’s a gorgeous piece of choreography. A highlight is in the chaotic lights and noise of a tube journey, where Christopher is lifted high by two commuters, and runs around the walls. The boy’s logic and intonations of speech feel authentic, and we come to inhabit his world, so his challenges become ours. It’s an intense, chaotic, overwhelming world, which logic and numbers can sooth. And a cameo by the most adorable puppy proves love and connection is possible. Outstanding. Beccy Golding

Startling journey: A teenage boy confronts his terrors PICTURE: BrinkhoffM & Agenburg

inhabit his world. The Hippodrome is transformed into a giant cube, with patterns like squared paper over all of its sides, with bright white edges, depicting the world as the boy sees it. He draws chalk faces and circles on the floor, then they appear on the walls. Rain is bright streaks of light, a slap is a flash of lightning, numbers and letters fall like snow in a whirlwind – it’s all black and white, and Christopher always tells the truth. Wellington, a neighbour’s dog,

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n LOCAL SERVICES BEGINNERS VIOLIN WORKSHOP

FREE VIOLIN WORKSHOP FOR BEGINNERS Are you looking for a new hobby for yourself or a little one? Come to Stomping Fiddles for a free taster session! Knowle, Sunday 3rd and Saturday 9th September, 10:30am • Expert tuition • Violin hire • Individual lessons also available www.andrewsviolinlessons.com | 07752 493037 CYCLE SHOP

Sully CYCLES

• WANT TO LEARN HOW TO FIX YOUR BIKE? • Maintenance for beginners, 12noon, Saturday August 12 – £15.00 Just call to book a place.

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www.griffin-electrical.co.uk john@griffin-electrical.co.uk • Rewiring • Minor alterations • Security Lighting & Alarms 01275 832830 07831 534766 NICEIC Approved Contractor Member of Checkatrade.com

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An effective and unique combination of Mindfulness and Counselling offered by an accredited Breathworks Mindfulness Teacher and qualified Counsellor with 22 years experience. Learn how to use Mindfulness tools to manage Pain, Illness and Injury; and experience, in a Counselling setting, how Mindfulness can help you work with Stress, Depression and Bereavement as well as restore connection and well-being at Work and in Relationships. Appointments in South Bristol. For information, text or phone Barry: 07904 741524

PIANO TUITION

Have you always wanted to play the piano? • Can you spare 20 minutes a day? • 9am-3pm slots available • Playing the piano is great for brain function and is fun

Call Fran on 0117 966 0119 Fran the Piano Teacher

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Improve your health and wellness with the remarkable benefits of Aloe Vera The Forever Living range includes drinks and gels, bee products, nutritional supplements, weight management, essential oils and personal care. www.santa.myforever.biz | 07763 539900 email: santa.purlaura@yahoo.com

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‘I’m very pleased – I like the fact that my Colourfence needs no maintenance, and that cats can’t climb it!’ Mrs Lewis, Bristol

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