South Bristol Voice December 2021 by South Bristol Voice

southbristolvoice

December 2021 No. 72

www.southbristolvoice.co.uk

We Sell and Let Property Like Yours

WIDEST CIRCULATION IN SOUTH BRISTOL – 15,000 copies of this edition

FREE MONTHLY IN Bedminster, Southville, Knowle, Totterdown, Ashton, Ashton Vale and Windmill Hill

INSIDE News in Brief Page 6

Pantomime season set to bring long overdue theatrical fun this month

Looking back to national service Page 28-29

By Harry Mottram. After last year's Covid washout it's great to see the magical world of pantomime back this season. The Bristol Hippodrome is staging Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs while in the Hen and Chicken Studio in North Street there's A Bristol Christmas Carol from the playinaday team. The Old Vic Theatre presents a new take on the legend of Robin Hood in an adventure comedy drama and The Tobacco Factory Theatre takes us down the Yellow Brick Road with Oz. And there's The Magnificent Prince in Totterdown to give you a wide choice.

Sports News with fixtures for local teams this month Page 18-19

For more see What's On Pages 30-32

What's On this Christmas Page 30-32 The Wicked Witch of Knowle Page 34

Police swoop to smash shop's 'criminality' in Bedminster By Adam Postans. Local Democracy Reporter. Police have branded a south Bristol high street shop a “centre for criminality” attracting high-ranking members of organised crime. International Zabka, in East Street, Bedminster, was shut by magistrates for three months earlier

in October for selling illegal tobacco following a trading standards investigation. Now councillors have revoked its premises licence to sell alcohol after the court order automatically triggered a review hearing. Police told Bristol City Council licensing sub-committee that the

convenience store was “fuelling” the area’s street-drinking problem by selling high-strength beer and cider – which its licence conditions prohibit – cheaply. Officers seized booze worth “thousands and thousands” of pounds, including more than 300 Continued on page 3

Bedminster Red Star - the team's back history - feature, pages 18-19

We Sell and Let Property Like Yours Tel: 01179634373

Email: Southville@cjhole.co.uk

Web: cjhole.co.uk

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Contacts

Ruth Drury Sales director 07590 527664 sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk Harry Mottram News Editor 07789 864769 news@southbristolvoice.co.uk Reporter: Lindsey Cole lindsey@southbristolvoice.co.uk Next month’s deadline for editorial and advertising is December 10

COMPLAINTS Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the South Bristol Voice, contact the Editor using the details below. We aspire to follow the the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-code. Further details of the complaints process can be found on our website (below) or can be obtained by contacting the Editor by email: sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or by post: 111 Broadfield Rd, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2UX or by phone: 07590527664.

December 2021

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: Call the above number for an appointment My councillor? Post: (all councillors) City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR. Tessa Fitzjohn Green, Bedminster By phone: 07584182801 By email: Cllr.Tessa.Fitzjohn@bristol.gov.uk Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster. By email: Cllr.mark. bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk By phone: 0117 353 3160 Tony Dyer Green, Southville USEFUL NUMBERS Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000 Waste, roads 0117 922 2100 Pests, dog wardens 0117 922 2500 Council tax 0117 922 2900

By phone: 07584182862 By email: Cllr.Tony.Dyer@bristol.gov.uk Christine Townsend Green, Southville By phone: 07584183843 By email: Cllr.Christine.Townsend@bristol. gov.uk Christopher Davies Lib Dem, Knowle Email: Cllr.Christopher. Davies@bristol.gov.uk Phone: 07826917714 Gary Hopkins Lib Dem, Knowle (Lib Dem deputy leader) Email: Cllr.Gary.Hopkins@bristol.gov.uk Phone: 07977 512159 Ed Plowden Green, Windmill Hill Phone: 07584184577 By email: Cllr.Ed.Plowden@bristol.gov.uk Lisa Stone Green, Windmill Hill Phone: 07584186535 By email: Cllr.Lisa.Stone@bristol.gov.uk

Housing benefit 0117 922 2300 Social services 0117 922 2900 Police Inquiries 101 Emergency 999

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December 2021

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n NEWS

Cops move to shut down 'criminal activity' in Bristol shops Continued from page 1 bottles of spirits believed to have evaded duty payments, and illicit tobacco hidden behind “professionally” disguised panelling in the stock room during a routine visit last December, the hearing was told. More suspicious activity, including staff being paid in cash, £5,000 in banknotes being handed over between two men in an uninsured car on the pavement outside and a known organised crime gang member identified entering the shop, led to a subsequent raid and another 400 alcoholic drinks being confiscated, members heard. But every time police seized booze, the stock was soon re-filled and illicit alcohol went on sale again, while repeated warnings by trading standards about illegal tobacco also went unheeded despite a number of prosecutions dating back to 2016, the sub-committee was told on Thursday, October 28. Avon & Somerset police licensing officer Louise Mowbray said: “We

believe this premises is a centre for criminality. “It is adding to the issues on East Street with street drinking. Trading standards have continually gone in for test purchases of tobacco. We’ve seized thousands and thousands of pounds worth of stock and it makes no difference. The only real solution is for the revocation of the licence.” She said other authorities, including immigration and HM Revenue & Customs, had been notified of the police’s suspicions and there were “ongoing investigations linked to this shop”. The officer said that during the routine licence check in December 2020, police found a “substantial deposit of tobacco hidden behind sliding panels which raised our concerns as to what else was going on in the shop”. “A number of people scattered and left the shop very quickly,” she said. “We found illicit tobacco under the counter and a large amount of alcohol that we were concerned had not been duty-paid. Staff couldn’t produce any invoices or provide details of where this alcohol was

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coming from. So we seized over 1,000 packets of tobacco, over 300 bottles of spirits and 35 pouches of tobacco. No one took responsibility for being in charge. Staff were paid in cash. It was all very underhand.” Neighbourhood beat manager PC Greg Olszewski told councillors: “There were a lot of activities involving this shop that we normally don’t see. “On one occasion a man went into the shop from a car, which had no insurance, who we later found out was quite a high-ranking organised crime group member, so he may have come to the shop to buy chewing gum or maybe he was doing business. “This shop is attracting a lot of people who normally wouldn’t come to our patch who are involved in criminality. “That puts a lot of demand on us as a police team.” PC Olszewski said street-drinking and parking problems in East Street were a “constant drain” on police resources. “But having been to the shop last December we started thinking this is

the place that is fuelling our problems because people can buy cheap cigarettes and alcohol from here, so perhaps we should start tackling shops like that because it’s the source or our problems,” he said. Bristol City Council trading standards team leader Sarah Saunders said: “International Zabka has been subject to ongoing action by trading standards over a number of years.” Ms Saunders said a previous licence holder had been convicted of selling illegal tobacco and the licence was then transferred to Salar Haji, who is named as the premises licence holder and designated premises supervisor but denies any involvement in the business and lives in London. She said Saman Haji, of Peterborough, believed to be a relative, was at the shop when trading standards issued a 48-hour closure order in September, ahead of the Bristol magistrates’ court hearing, and told trading standards he ran the business. Neither men attended Thursday’s City Hall hearing.

n NEWS IN BRIEF Funfair fish ban: Funfairs and carnivals are being banned from giving goldfish as prizes on Bristol City Council land reported the BBC. In a news report they said: "The city's mayor has told officers to rewrite events contracts, after being informed about a campaign by the RSPCA. Giving live animals as prizes is illegal in Scotland but in the rest of the UK it is up to local councils. "Entertainment involving live animals is already banned at all events on Bristol City Council land." Exhibition about the harbour: A new exhibition on the future of the Western Harbour area (better known to many as Cumberland Basin) will run from 20 November to 17 December at the Create Centre. The Council said: " The interactive exhibition will showcase the comments and ideas that have emerged through the city-wide Western Harbour engagement process. "Visitors to the Create Centre will be able to view these emerging themes and will be encouraged to continue to share their thoughts as part of the exhibition." The plans include a new bridge to replace the aging swing bridge,

new road layouts, new homes and improved access to the water for recreation. However it will almost certainly see the removal of the garden centre, some homes and other buildings depending on which of the schemes the council chooses. Lloyds Building: Canons House on overlooking the Lloyds Amphitheatre is up for sale. Built in 1990 for the bank's 2,300 staff, the landmark building has hosted concerts and festivals as well as enhancing the area as a public space. The Lloyds Banking Group said their staff will move to an office next to Canons House, with the company expecting the majority of their workforce to work partly from home. Police appeal: The Bristol Evening Post (now called The Bristol Post and Bristol Live online) have reported on an incident in Bedminster's North Street when a shop window was broken. A photo of two men police wish to speak to was published online. The men were involved in 'an altercation' on Saturday 16 October at 5.30pm. If you can help please call 101 and quote reference 5221252724

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Call Harry on 07789 864769 or email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

December 2021

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n ADVERTISING FEATURE

A Victorian Christmas on the SS Great Britain

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December 2021

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n NEWS

House prices forcing key workers out of Bristol

By Adam Postans Local Democracy Reporter. Key workers are being forced to quit vital jobs and move away from Bristol because of unaffordable house prices, a council meeting was told. In the last fortnight a social care professional had to leave their role at the local authority after just four months and move to where property is cheaper, along with their partner who is also a social worker, members heard. The exodus is jeopardising crucial Bristol City Council targets, including delivering enough affordable homes to meet the city’s needs, with the risk of failure to achieve this rated as “critical” – the highest possible – and deemed to be “almost certain” in the organisation’s own risk register, it was revealed. The authority says a four-year housing delivery plan will set out its strategy for meeting mayor Marvin Rees’s target of building 1,000 affordable homes a year by 2024 and that this year’s goal of 450 will increase annually through a wide range of options for accelerating housing supply. Former Green councillor Clive

Stevens told overview and scrutiny management board members: “In a nutshell if we don’t have enough affordable homes, the city won’t have access to enough key workers to be able to deliver some of the council’s corporate strategy goals. “This affordable housing shortfall presents a systemic risk to the mayor’s entire corporate strategy because having enough affordable homes is such an important part of having enough carers, teachers and other key workers in the city. “Sorry to bang on about affordable housing – lack of – but it is an important issue to at least 25 per cent of Bristolians and could be a threat to the corporate plan. “Last week a council adult social care professional handed in their notice. They had been working for the council for just four months and were to be an important part of the team. They have a partner, a social worker. “Their reason for both leaving so soon was they couldn’t afford to live in Bristol. They have moved to where property is cheaper. A household of two working people, not totally full time, can’t afford to live here.”

The ex-audit committee vicechairman, who used to lead the annual budget scrutiny process before stepping down as a councillor because of ill-health in 2020, said the lack of affordable housing had been getting worse since at least 2000. “Bristol planners and builders have failed to deliver enough during the last 20 years,” he told the City Hall meeting on Monday, October 18. “There is a low chance of meeting the city’s needs and high harm caused by not doing so.” In a written response to Mr Stevens’ concerns, a council officer said: “The emerging 2021-25 housing delivery plan will set out the council’s strategy for meeting the 1,000 homes a year target by 2024. It will look at a wide range of options for accelerating supply by working with partner providers, the council’s housing company and the direct delivery of council homes. “It will also reflect the processes, budgets, and officer capacity across the council to support accelerated housing delivery. The housing delivery plan will reflect the impact affordable housing has on meeting wider corporate aims. We recognise the importance and

value of affordable housing, and continue to press for the right national investment in key projects such as Temple Quarter that support our ambitious aims for the city.” They said many factors could feasibly affect the authority’s ability to achieve all its goals and aspirations, and the supply of affordable housing was one. “However, in terms of issues like workforce availability, we should be mindful that there is a much broader travel to work area,” the officer said. The corporate strategy sets out overarching aims and there is more detailed planning, risk assessment and target setting across the whole council that flows from this top-level strategy. “This will include risks associated with the delivery of affordable housing and both this and progress against targets will be reported transparently to appropriate scrutiny and cabinet forums over the life of the strategy.” They added that the 2021/22 target was to build 450 affordable homes and this would increase annually, “staircasing delivery to reach the mayoral target of 1,000 affordable homes being built in 2023/24”.

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December 2021

NEWS IN BRIEF Library news: If you live, work or study in Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol or North Somerset, you can join the library service online. Once you have completed the simple online form the library will provide you with an online membership number and PIN (any 4 - 10 digit number of your choice) which you can use to access our full range of online resources including e books, e audio, e magazines and e comics. If you provide an email address when you join they will also send you an email with you membership details. For details visit www. librarieswest.org.uk Park plans: Future Parks are asking locals and local groups if there is a project they’d like to start at Dame Emily Park. Submissions for community-led projects are now open for ideas with a cut off date of 31 December 2021. Future Parks is a project led by the Council. In a statement they said: "The Bristol Future Parks approach aims to create a transformational shift in the way our city’s parks are managed. We're working with communities, business partners and other key

Dame Emily Park was opened in 1906 stakeholders to secure a sustainable future for our parks for generations to come." Dame Emily Park is one of five parks chosen for the project. Named after Emily Smyth of Ashton Court, the park was created on the site of Dean Lane Colliery after its closure in 1906. For more details visit http:// bristol.gov.uk/futureparks. Green spaces: Bristol Live have reported on South Bristol's underthreat green spaces which they say can't be protected for another two years. In an article online they featured a list of the green fields under threat from developers because it

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will take at least two years for the Local Plan to be changed to provide protection. They reported: "In the meantime, applications to build on green spaces like Brislington Meadows, Yew Tree Farm, Ashton Vale and the Western Slopes will be decided under the current Local Plan - which allocates the land for housing." The Western Slopes in Knowle West is subject to plans for 600 homes, and 157 homes at the Bedminster end of the slopes. Yew Tree Farm on Bedminster Down is allocated for housing in the Local Plan and housing developer although the Mayor Marvin Rees is against the plans. Meanwhile in Ashton Vale the large field between the Long Ashton park and ride and Ashton Vale is also under the spot light. Native request: A hand-painted caribou hide hunting coat from the Cree First Nation of Northern Canada will be returned to what is now known as Quebec, after being part of Bristol’s world cultures collection since the 1830-40s. Bristol City Council took the decision to return the coat in January 2020 after receiving a letter from ACCI officially requesting the transfer of the coat into their guardianship as the cultural custodians for the Cree

Nation of Eeyou Istchee. Initial plans to return the coat in April 2020 were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Shop news: Storysmith have moved to the other end of North Street, at number 236. Toyville are opening a second shop just in time for Christmas. The shop will be called Toyville Games and will be at number 49, between Kask and the Ebenezer pocket park, where Storysmith used to be. Strip club news: the Council is to decide on plans to close Bristol's strip clubs this month in line with a desire by groups including Bristol Women's Commission to protect women and girls. However those working in the clubs have been backed by the trade union Equity UK who said the proposed nil-cap would result in job losses and the businesses forced to go underground. The union has pressed for a 'progressive policy' as seen in Edinburgh. Community green spaces: Ebenezer Gate Pocket Park was broken into twice last month and there has been some vandalism and the theft of a heavy duty chain and padlock - reported the community organisation. They said: "The little library is now out of use until we can get it repaired or build a new one. The Ebenezer Angels are determined to continue to provide this community space on North Street and ask the good folk of BS3 to help us keep a watchful eye on the Pocket Park." Meanwhile the Caraboo Neighbourhood Group have reported on weeding and strimming taking place in the Hebron burial ground around the corner in Melville Terrace which they say is a place of peace and contemplation - and the last resting place of Princess Caraboo.

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News Cash for clean air zone in 2022 A Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will launch next summer enabling Bristol to meet clean air targets in 2023 with £42 million of government funding available for greener transport initiatives, for example electric bike loans, free bus tickets, and upgrades to cleaner vehicles. Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said he is committed to reducing air pollution and he would minimise the impact on the city. He said: “We are introducing one of the most wide-ranging clean air zones in the UK which will see us not only reduce air pollution but also help people change how they travel, delivering a cleaner, greener and healthier city for years to come. “We are tackling a climate emergency, but we also have people facing financial crisis. We can’t look at these two things in isolation. We have taken our time to find a way to clean up our air while not adding huge financial strain to people that live and work in our city.” The mayor said while around 71 per cent of vehicles in Bristol

are already compliant so won’t have to pay to enter the zone, the approved plan includes significant measures to reduce pollution in the city and meet clean air targets by helping more individuals and businesses switch to cleaner ways of travelling. £5.9 million will go towards cyclings, public transport and pedestrian walkways. A £2 million freight consolidation project will help businesses switch to low emissions. £2.1 million goes to local bus and coach companies. £32 million for businesses to upgrade HGVs, LGVs, taxis and private hire vehicles. £1.8 million of loans and grants will be available to help people on low incomes. A range of exemptions will be available as well including hospitals, Blue Badge holders and community transport providers. Bath introduced a CAZ this year leading to teething problems including new rat runs just outside the zone and anger from van drivers and taxis - but it has also helped to swell the council's coffers and led to cleaner air.

Advertising Feature

A beer for all seasons

The Incredible Brewing Company is a local gem to be found in the village of Brislington.The owner Stephen Hall has been championing local beer served in sustainable formats for more than 10 years now as the fight against the global giants goes on as fewer pubs are serving less ‘real beer’. The brewery has recently installed two new fermentation vessels, a plan put on hold by Covid. However, the hope is that more people will want to learn about this traditional production method and support the ethos behind the modern methods of true British beer brewing. The beer is available from the brewery by appointment, online at www.theincrediblebrewingcompany.co.uk and from local markets and events throughout the South West and in increasing numbers of farm-shops, delis and craft beer shops. Checkout the lovely gift boxes for Christmas gifts. A few examples of the range include delicious Dark Mild, superb Honey Porter, seasonal Winter Warmer, traditional Milk Stouts and tasty hoppy IPA’s The Incredible Brewing Company beers are a modern expression of time and place. A gift from time honoured cultures.

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Call Harry on 07789 864769 or email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

December 2021

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NEWS IN BRIEF Rogue landlord: A Bristol landlord has been handed a 12 month Community Order, including an eight-week tagged curfew, after harassing his lodger in a case brought by the city’s Rogue Landlord Unit. Rowan Giles, of Willada Close, was also ordered to complete 15 days of rehabilitation work by Bristol Magistrates’ Court after admitting to interfering with the peace and comfort of one of his lodgers. Giles aggressively demanded they leave the property without reasonable notice during the second national COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in England last year. The victim, an international student in Bristol, had found the spare bedroom in Mr Giles’ house advertised online, and moved into the property after travelling from abroad in October 2020. After weeks of living peacefully with one another, Mr Giles’ behaviour took a turn for the worse and in November 2020 he aggressively demanded that the victim leave the property with no notice, leaving her homeless when access to hostels, hotels, and other

means of private accommodation was limited. Following a complaint from the victim, Bristol City Council’s Rogue Landlord Unit opened an investigation into the harassment and brought a prosecution against Giles under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977. He pleaded guilty to the offence at Bristol Magistrates Court on 23 August. St Philip's Marsh: The next phase of the Temple Quarter and St Philip’s Marsh regeneration, one of the UK’s biggest regeneration projects that will transform over 130 hectares of brownfield land in the centre of the city over the next 25 years, can move forward following a funding strategy approved by Bristol City Council’s Cabinet on 5 October. The council said the complex project, will bring 22,000 new jobs, up to 10,000 new homes and an economic boost of £1.6billion each year. A £95.6m business case is currently with government so, to sustain momentum in the complex project programme, the Cabinet approved an interim funding bid of £2.26m to the West of England

Combined Authority (WECA), one of the project partners, to create new and improved access and passenger facilities at Temple Meads station. Rip-off drop-off: Bristol Airport are hiking the cost of picking up and dropping off passengers to motorists. Back in the day it was free, then it went up to £1 and in 2020 they increased it to £4. Now it's to be a fiver for 10 minutes but much more the longer you stay. The airport claimed it would cut down on car travel and pollution and encouraged passengers to use public transport. However many drivers already pull into the laybys near the airport and encourage the passengers to walk out of the airport along the pavement to the road to collect them.

Poetry in Knowle: From the Friends of Knowle Library: "We recently teamed up with the “Mum Poem Press” for a “poethood” workshop in Knowle Library on 17th Nov. "The event was a great success with parents and grandparents joining in to have a go at creating some amazing poetry. The Mum Poem Press guided the event to explore three poetic forms and some take-away prompts, enabling participants of all ages and learning stages to produce some fantastic poems on the day! "Friends of Knowle Library supported the event, funded through the Library Service Innovation Fund, contributing to our intergenerational project, A Library for All. "We plan to support more poetry themed events in the future, bringing together parents, grandparents and children for fun and creativity. "You can find out more about the wonderful Mum Poem Press at https://themumpoempress.com and you are welcome to contact us at friendsofknowlelibrary@gmail.com or see our Facebook Page for details of more events."

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FEATURE

Mental health: peace of mind during the Christmas period By Laura Longman. During the Christmas season, our mental health can fluctuate and we can find it hard to talk about it. Christmas is known as a time to be happy but for many, it can take a toll on our mental health. We often feel forced to put up a Christmas tree and get in the festive spirit by attending social events. Planning the perfect Christmas is about you and the way you want to spend Christmas. Taking time to think about what you want can benefit your mental health as it allows you to adjust to certain scenarios. It is important to take a step back if you start feeling overwhelmed and re-evaluate the situation. What we need to remember is we don’t need to live up to the expectations Christmas brings. We need to focus on ourselves and have a Christmas we feel comfortable with. Christmas can often bring

Christmas can be a time of stress as families are thrown together with expectations high a lot of loneliness as a lot of us spend Christmas alone, this can also take a toll on our mental health. It is really important to remember you are never alone and there is a lot of support available to you.

We have left a few contacts below to help you if you are struggling with your mental health and feel you need someone to talk to. Just remember you are not alone and people are here to help.

Bristol Mind: https:// bristolmind.org.uk/ Thrive Bristol: https://www. thrivebristol.org.uk/ Bristol mental health: http:// www.bristolmentalhealth.org/ Changes Bristol: https:// changesbristol.org.uk/

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December 2021

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n ADVERTISING FEATURE

The spinal column What is the best posture for your spine? “How should I set up my desk?” “Is lying on my back the best position?” “What type of mattress should I get?” We get asked a lot about the best postures to look after your spine, and today I’m going to answer them for you. There’s one posture that is definitely the worse for you spine and body. It’s… the one you spend the most time in! Essentially as humans we are designed to move. Sitting in the car to work, then 8 hours at a desk etc is not great. No wonder sitting has been described as the new smoking. The key to looking after your spine is movement. Although there are better postures than others we are not designed to sit or stand in the perfect position and not move variety is key. And that’s why standing desks are becoming so popular. It’s not because you’re standing, its because you can alternate between sitting and standing, changing your posture regularly. So yes, that means there’s nothing wrong with slouching. The problem with slouching is if you do it all the time and stay in that posture

What causes back pain? do list all affect you physically and

for long period. It’s the accumulative effect that’s bad. Having said all the above, I do have some handy tips for you: When sitting try not to cross your legs and keep both your feet on the ground with your hips slightly higher than your knees. Have what your doing at eye level, or as high as possible to avoid slumping forward. Most importantly take regular breaks. When standing aim to keep your feet evenly distributed between both feet. Lightly engage your core muscles and buttocks and imagine a piece of string on the top of your head lifting you upwards. When sleeping, try to avoid sleeping on your front. On your side, sleep in the foetal position with a pillow, or edge of your duvet, between your knees and a thick enough pillow to keep your neck inline with the rest of your spine. On you back, us a thinner pillow and try a pillow underneath your knees to take strain off your back. Keep moving and changing postures regularly and I’ll see you next month. Charles Herbert The Chiropractic Centre in Bristol Telephone: 0117 9741 501 www.thechirocentre.co.uk

This Back Awareness Month we are looking at what causes back pain? The answer is simple. Stress! Certain things might jump to your mind when you think of stress, however there are many different types of stress. Let’s break them down into the 3 main types. Physical Stress This is all about how you look after your body physically. Poor posture and bad lifting techniques are obvious culprits. Lack of exercise and stretching, repetitive movements, accidents and falls, carrying your kids - the list goes on. The biggest piece of advice I have for this type of stress is, keep movement varied and frequent. There are ideal postures we should adopt, however the worst position is the one you spent most of your time in. If you’ve been working from home during the pandemic then the amount you need to move, compared to commuting and walking around an office, is dramatically reduced. Try and move each joint in your body through its full range of movement at least twice per day. Emotional Stress We are all affected by this one but rarely do people link it to back pain. The truth is, worrying about a deadline, running around after your kids, making ends meet, having a never ending to

cause pain. A classic example, how many times have you heard someone say they’ve had a stressful day at work and now they have a headache? Although not an obvious cause, emotional stress probably causes or is involved in 80-90% of the patients we see! What can you do? There’s a huge amount of advice about stress management available. What my patients find most helpful are taking time for yourself (‘me’ time), doing a daily gratitude journal, walks in nature and meditation. Different things work for different people, but it’s important to find what works for you. Chemical Stress This is probably the least obvious one. It’s our environment and what we put into our body. We all know ‘we are what we eat’ and it’s true. Our cells are changing constantly, millions of cells per minute. So if you put crap in, you get crap out. A simple one to solve, eat clean home cooked food that’s as close as possible to how nature provides it (more raw, less processed). If you have any questions about managing your back pain, please feel free to get in contact on 01179741501. We would love to help you get back on track.

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Call Harry on 07789 864769 or email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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News

Bedminster BID has plans for Christmas

Pool update

Bedminster BID have outlined activities for Christmas They released a statement: "Christmas Lights - the BID will as usual pay for lights on North, East and West Street. Our income was significantly reduced however we hope to make a bit of an impact as always. "Gift Guide - we do a regular Christmas gift guide. Would you like to be in it? If so please send a short description of your gift, price and a high res image of 1MB minimum to sophie@weareplaster by Monday 18th October. "Community Choirs - the third element of our Christmas proposals will aim to go large with local community choirs as we think this is in keeping with one of the few positives to emerge from Covid. That of people feeling a stronger part of their local community. "Thursday Nights - we do not have a specific set of activities supporting late opening this year however would encourage traders considering this to aim for the late-night opening on Thursdays in

The campaign to save the Jubilee Pool from closure has moved on with plans to allow locals to take on its running as a Community Asset. This would mean seeing the pool transferred from Bristol City Council to a community group who would take charge of its operation. It would be a voluntary run pool with residents taking on the role of administrators, accountants, supervisors and fund raisers as well as maintaining the pool. Under current plans Bristol City Council is set to cease funding the pool in preference to investing in Bristol South Pool which would see a 'basic refurbishment which would provide some upgrades to machinery and general cosmetic and condition improvements to customer facing areas.' The consultation ended last month. For more information on the campaign and to help take part in running it as a community asset visit https://www.facebook.com/ savejubilee/ or email savejubileepool@hotmail.com

Christmas lights in Park Street. Pic: Visit Bristol December. We can support this in the Gift Guide. "Lantern Parade - as ever the BID is a lead sponsor with the Lantern Parade. More details of how businesses can actively interact with the parade will follow soon. "Briefly, we are delighted to have secured significant additional funding from West of England

Combined Authority of nearly £400K. "Most of this will be committed to test the East Street Vision. However, approximately £135K is reserved for culture and events. "We will be circulating more information soon and seeking ideas and feedback around how to best use this over the next 18 months."

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Or pop in and see us at 48 Kensington Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 3HU Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Call Harry on 07789 864769 or email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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Local business becomes the ‘apple of their eye’ for national tech company Local apple mac business joins national tech organisation, expanding services and enabling student discounts to be offered. Bristol-based Apple Mac business Tantra has become part of the Orbital10 group of companies, which means it can now provide additional technical support and offer a wider range of products and services, including: • PC and laptop sales • IT support and security • Microsoft Office, 365 and Teams • Networking and managed services • Printers, printer cartridges and printer repairs • Business telecoms.

“We are introducing additional services to local businesses and individuals, so they can have one point of contact for all their technical issues and requirements, not just covering their Apple Macs but also Microsoft, PCs and laptops, as well as the vitally important device and data security,” explains Scott Kean, COO of Orbital10. “Macs and PCs are like comparing Apples and Oranges, no pun intended! They each require specialist knowledge and Tanta will play an important role in providing the Apple Mac expertise for other companies in the Orbital10 group.” “Tantra is still the local, well-established business our customers know and trust and it is still ‘business as

Scott Kean (left), COO Orbital10 and Ian Malschuk, Senior Apple Engineer Tantra

usual’ from our Bristol shop, but we are now able to offer our customers more,” states Ian Malschuk, Senior Apple Engineer. “I can’t wait to be able to say ‘yes, we can do that’ to even more people who phone and drop in, as we can now support them with their desktops, laptops and printers too, which is fantastic.” Orbital10 is a national organisation providing and supporting businesses and individuals with the right

technology for their needs. The current group has locations in Hereford, Bristol, Glamorgan and Manchester, with plans to expand the group of companies further over the next 24 months. Tantra: Call 0117 983 6999 Visit www.tantra.co.uk Or pop into 48 Kensington Park Road, Brislington, Bristol BS4 3HU

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n NEWS

Pub's mural symbolises climate crisis By Lindsey Cole: A Windmill Hill mural artist has dedicated the side of a Totterdown pub to COP26. Farrah Fortnum wanted to highlight the climate conference’s talks to get the community into a position where they can engage actively and positively with the future of the environment. “I want people to be given hope, so they can have their own take on what the future holds leading up to the 2030 deadline,” the artist said. 200 countries discussed their plans to cut emissions by 2030 at the climate conference in Glasgow. The muralist has painted a rainbow on the side of the Oxford pub, using nine colours to represent the nine years we have left until that deadline. “The world is getting hotter and the rainbow reflects that. "The rainbow starts with cool blues and leads up to hot reds, which represent the 1.5 degrees we need to adhere to to save our

planet. "It gets hotter with time. The pressure is on,” the artist said. John Evans, the Oxford landlord, welcomes the new mural on the refurbished wall. “It’s good to have some character back on the wall. It’s an important time for the climate. "Everyone can do their bit, just like Farrah has done here and I hope her mural reminds people they can do their bit too." The former graphic designer and dance teacher painted her first mural last October and has painted more than 25 since. She’s painted on walls, garages, stairs, flowerpots and schools. Each mural has an environmental theme. “The World on Fire” mural on the side of The Hen and Chicken was part of Upfest in the summer. To see more of Farrah’s work search for @ farrahcontemporaryart on Instagram or www.facebook. com/farrahart

Murder in Wells A murder investigation continues at the time of going to press following the death of Sarah Ashwell, 47, in Wells on 7 November. On November 13, police charged Antanas Jankauskas, 38, of Wookey with the murder. The Major Crime Investigation Team is leading the investigation and forensic teams visited the property. Sarah's immediate next of kin are being supported by speciallytrained family liaison officers. Jankauskas appeard at Taunton Magistrates’ Court last month. Three men arrested were released under investigation, although one of them has been recalled to prison over other matters. Police have made a mandatory formal referral to the IOPC due to recent police contact with the deceased relating to a number of matters. Anyone with information should call 101 and give the reference 5221261875.

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n NEWS

Concerns over care staff shortages By Local Democracy Reporter Amanda Cameron: Staff shortages in social care are the worst they have ever been, and the crisis is set to deepen as we head into winter, according to a top Bristol official. Head of adult social care at Bristol City Council, Stephen Beet, said some care homes and home care providers were struggling to provide care, as the sector competes with the likes of Amazon for workers. And care homes are expected to lose even more staff when new rules requiring them to be vaccinated against Covid-19 come into effect next month, he said. “It’s really hit us in social care over the last two months, quite suddenly actually,” Mr Beet told Bristol’s health leaders on October 20. “We now find ourselves in the worst place we’ve ever been in terms of numbers of vacancies,” he told the city’s health and wellbeing board. “It’s a big challenge going into

winter and it’s not all going to sort itself out in the next few weeks, especially when we know that there’s an increase in Covid cases, but we’re working really closely with the [adult social care] sector to support them.” Mr Beet said vacancy rates in the social care sector climbed from around seven to about ten per cent after lockdown, as jobs with better pay and less stress became available. “The end of lockdown means that other services are offering work, so we’ve got much greater competition from places like Amazon and big supermarkets where pay is better, or there’s greater incentive,” he said. “Brexit’s another factor. And generally just poor pay and lack of development opportunities perceived in the care sector that’s not drawing people into it. And it’s hard work. These are tough jobs. “We’ve had in Bristol a number of home care providers handing back packages [of care].” A council spokesperson

Gun investigation

explained after the meeting that a shortage of care assistants had meant some home care providers were unable to complete their rounds until they pooled their resources to fill the gaps. A recruitment drive is about to get underway to find more care assistants, the spokesperson said. Meanwhile, the demand for home care is growing as more people become increasingly immobile as they wait for hip and knee replacements, Mr Beet said. In what has become a vicious cycle, they sit on long waiting lists for elective surgery while those lucky enough to have had their operations wait in hospital for a home care package to become available so they can be discharged, freeing up a hospital bed for the next person on the waiting list. As for care homes, they are set to lose more staff when new government regulations requiring care home workers to be double jabbed against Covid take effect last month.

A man has been discharged from hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg during disorder in Bristol earlier last month. The incident happened in Courtenay Crescent, Knowle, at about 8pm on Tuesday 2 November. Officers were called to attend a report of a disorder involving several people, and a shortly afterwards a 34-year-old man self-presented at hospital with a gunshot wound to his leg. A 32-year-old man arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm has been released under investigation. Police believe it was a targeted incident involving people known to each other. Enquiries are ongoing and extra reassurance patrols have been conducted. Police can be contacted on 101, quoting reference number 5221257978.

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Cooking up for Christmas By Lindsey Cole: A South Bristol resident is running cooking courses to prepare people for Christmas. Sarah Alder (pictured) who lives near Victoria Park, has a Christmas planning master class and a Christmas cook along online class that she hopes will alleviate people’s stress for the big day. “I share knowledge of how to prepare the food, how to be more efficient with the ingredients so nothing goes to waste and various tricks so people know how to make the most of their time in the kitchen. "It’s socialable and fun and we all talk and laugh in our own kitchens whilst cooking at the same time,” Sarah said. The self taught cook has been running Kitchen Titbits, a meal planning and family mealtimes mentor, for three years. She helps parents of fussy eaters to transform mealtimes from stressful to stressfree. She said: “I had the privilege

of being able to learn from my parents and grandparents. We’re now not learning from our parents like we used to. Home Ec is a thing of the past. "I want to share my passion with people and inspire them to have fun in the kitchen and to have the basic need of being able to look after themselves and eat well.” Visit: https://kitchentitbits.co.uk/ what-i-do/cookery-skills-sessions

Card trees By Lindsey Cole: Greeting cards sales created by a Knowle artist will go towards planting more trees to help the environment. Chrissy Holmes who lives near Perrits Park, wanted her art to make a difference and chose two charities which plant trees, one overseas and one here in Bristol. Tree Aid is a land regenerative charity, which plant trees and restores soil across the dry lands of Africa. She said: “They’re one of the main charities involved in the Great Green Wall, which is a huge scale

project planting a living tree wall across the breadth of Africa.” The artist is also raising money for Avon Needs Trees, who have bought two areas of land in Bristol and rewilding it. Chrissy’s new tree print was lockdown inspired. “I couldn’t go anywhere and started looking around at my own environment more. I realised I didn’t know the names of all our native trees. So I studied the tree leaves and have created a new print.” The artist had a conundrum when it came to selecting her own family Christmas tree. She said: “It’s a toss-up of having a plastic tree that we can bring out every year and having a real one that we throw away. At work, at the Zero Waste shop we make our tree out of twigs. But my kids love real Christmas trees. So we get ours from Refutrees, a Bristol charity." For more visit: https://www.etsy. com/uk/shop/ChrissyHolmesArt If you’d like to get a Christmas tree to help refugees please visit https://www.aidboxcommunity. co.uk/refutrees

We’d like you to be part of a citywide project called Bridging Histories We’re inviting people of all ages, political views, and social groups to join in 6 activities and share what they make. We’re offering £100-£300 for you to run events getting people sharing recipes and stories, street history, family history, ‘I am from’ poetry, monument detectives and changemaking. We will feature what you make in a We Are Bristol exhibit next year. We’re particularly keen to bring people together of different ages! Let us know what you’d like to do and why.

We’ll support as many projects as we can.

Visit www.bridginghistories.com and email activities@bridginghistories.com

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Call Harry on 07789 864769 or email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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n SPORTS NEWS

Red Star Bedminster FC: how it all began back in 1987 By Jon Stephens: They called themselves Red Star Bedminster – after Red Star Belgrade - not the Post Office It all started in October 1987 when myself and Mark Newman – we were friends who had recently moved to Bristol from Durham met up to think about having a kick-about on a new artificial 5-a-side pitch at Windmill Hill City Farm. We managed to amass six people for that first game – nobody really new each other very well. Over the first few month’s connections were made through various social contacts and also cajoling kids form the local park and anyone else who was passing. Slowly the attendances increased to a regular 15 and had a record turnout of 35. The Eighties were a time of the “new man” and non-competitive sports. The first game played on the Windmill Hill pitch were parachute games. Jonny was slightly surprised at how all these new guys were so into football and

Red Star in Berlin while on tour back in 2006

he coined the team BAFC – Born Again Footballers Club. Over the years a full record was kept of all the players and in 1994 the core of these formed a 11-a-side team called Red Star Bedminster. Teacher Chris Carter from Bedminster and the news editor of this paper Harry Mottram of Henleaze Corinthians had discussed the possibility of forming a “casual league” to play friendlies.

There were about six or seven teams in those early days – Easton Monday, Redland Ramblers , Poetic Champions, Cunning Stunts and Snow Hill (who had women players). This ramshackle bunch of teams became the now famous Bristol Corinthian League which now has over ten leagues and over fifty teams of over 35s over 45s and over 50s. Red Star Bedminster went from

strength to strength and over the years boasted over 250 players, 25 different nationalities including South African, Benin, Japan, USA, India, Peru, Brazil, French, Kosovan, Georgian, Welsh, Scottish, Gibraltar, a host of Germans, Spanish, Ethiopia, Portugal, and more recently Hungarian. There were also asylum seekers from Zimbabwe, Continued on page 19

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The team on tour in Belgium in 2016 Continued from page 18 Senegal, Iran and Russia. And guys who were recently homeless and a young street kid from Columbia brought over and adopted by one of our German players. Also, there were at least ten fathers and sons who played together. The oldest player 67

youngest 8. Tours were made to Belgium, Berlin, Poland, Stuggart, Porto, France, Hamburg and Devon joining the international “Alternative World Cup|” which another Bristol Team – Easton Cowboys were involved in. And often hosted by the infamous “Lunatics” from Belgium.

n SPORTS NEWS IN BRIEF Bristol City Women Footballers: The team are away to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, December 15th with an evening kick-off in the FA Continental Cup with another trip to the capital when they play London City Lionesses on Sunday, December 19th in the FA Championship when they hope to consolidate their mid table position in the second tier of the league. Their next home game is on Sunday, January 9th against Coventry United. The club have several international players. Satara Murray (Costa Rica); Fran Bentley England); Aggie Beever-Jones (England); BeeverJones (Republic of Ireland ); Ffion Morgan (Wales); Ella Hilliard (Wales); Grace Mitchell (Scotland). Bristol Rugby: The Bristol Bears have two tough fixtures this month in the Gallagher Premiership with an away game against old rivals Gloucester on Saturday 11th December and home encounter with Leicester Tigers on Boxing Day. In the European Champions Cup they face Scarlets at Ashton Gate on Saturday 11th December and travel to Stade Francais on Sunday 19th December also in the cup. The BBC reported on the team's 45-33 win over London Irish: "Bristol overcame having three players sin-binned in the first half to beat London Irish with a bonus-point victory including five tries. Jake Heenan, Toby Fricker and Jack Bates all went over in quick

succession to give them a 19-0 lead. "Bristol scored twice more through Piers O'Conor and Harry Thacker to eventually come away with the win." The team will look to build on some good results against Exeter in the Premiership Cup last month and London Irish and Worcester in the Premiership. Bristol City FC: The team are at home at Ashton Gate in the championship on Saturday, 4th December against Derby County, with home games on 18th v Huddersfield and on the 30th v QPR. They are away in the same competition at Hull on the 11th and Luton on Boxing Day. Cricket: Bedminster Cricket Club is based in the heart of South Bristol and is one of the premier clubs in the South West. And although the season is now over until next spring it's worth reminding everyone of this successful and friendly cricket club. They offer both senior and youth cricket iwth five Saturday senior teams, with the first XI in the West of England Premier League Division, right down to the C XI in the Bristol & District League Division 13, we can truly offer cricket for all. Hockey: Firebrands Hockey Club is the home of hockey in Bristol. Since 1947 the club has not only been hugely successful on a national and local level, but is also highly inclusive, family friendly and fun.

The famous Red Star Badge which its five points became to represent. CROSSING THE FIVE DIVIDES 1. ABILITY – accept anyone regardless of how good they are 2. BACKGROUND – accept anyone from any ethnic or class 3. INTERNATIONAL – connections and players from many different nationalities 4. YOUTH – crossing the age gap. Fathers and sons old and young 5. GENDER – support woman’s football In about 2016 circumstances saw the attendance at the farm dwindle as older players stopped playing. Red Star struggled to raise eleven players and had to rely on Easton Cowboys' recruits. It was about to fold but in 2018 joined up with another Red Star team – Red Star Republic – who had similar beliefs. This is called Red Star and now has a 35s 45s and 50s team who play in the Corinthians

A different time a different shirt League. Jonny and Mark still play on in the 50s team and joined the Bristol Casuals over 60s team which play teams around the country – such as Oxford over 60s, Wales over 60s and 65s, and England over 65s. Did you play in the early days of the team? Memories by email to the editor - email address below.

The men's first team play Plymouth University at home on 4th December and on the 11th entertain Team Bath Buccaneers at the Sports Training Village in the The VERDE RECREO Hockey League. The women take on Bristol University on December 4th and are away on December 11th to Westberries at Combe Dingle in Division One North of the West Clubs league. Both sides are in mid table positions going into the December fixtures. Tennis: South Bristol is blessed with a number of tennis clubs. These include the Greville Smyth Park Tennis Club, Knowle Lawn Tennis Club, Victoria Park Tennis Club and the David Lloyd Centre in Ashton. With the success of Emma Raducanu in the USA Open there is an expectation the sport will get a boost. With hard courts tennis can be played all year round. Greville

Smyth Park has a thriving junior section with prices frozen at the 2018 level meaning for an adult the fee is less than £1 a week - a lot less than a gym. Bristol born Katie Swan is currently the most high profile tennis professional the city has produced while those with long memories will recall Jo Durie who in 1983 reached both semifinals of the French Open and USA Opens. Broad Plain Rugby Club: the first team play in the Gloucester Second Division South with a match against Kingswood away on the 4th December but home on the 11th against North Bristol and an away game against Old Bristolians on December 18th, The second XV play in the Wadworth 6X Bristol & District Second Division. The teams train on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm. New players always welcome.

Bristol City Women's Footballers

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FESTIVE WASTE COLLECTIONS Over the festive season your waste collection dates change slightly to allow for bank holidays. Check when we’ll be coming to you on the calendar below. Thank you and happy holidays!

Why not cut out this advert as a handy reminder

Your usual collection day Mon 27 Dec Tue 28 Dec Wed 29 Dec Thur 30 Dec Fri 31 Dec Mon 3 Jan Tue 4 Jan Wed 5 Jan Thur 6 Jan Fri 7 Jan Mon 10 Jan Tue 11 Jan Wed 12 Jan Thur 13 Jan Fri 14 Jan Mon 17 Jan Tue 18 Jan Wed 19 Jan Thur 20 Jan Fri 21 Jan

Revised collection day Wed 29 Dec Thur 30 Dec Fri 31 Dec Tues 4 Jan Wed 5 Jan Thur 6 Jan Fri 7 Jan Sat 8 Jan Mon 10 Jan Tues 11 Jan Wed 12 Jan Thur 13 Jan Fri 14 Jan Sat 15 Jan Mon 17 Jan Tues 18 Jan Wed 19 Jan Thur 20 Jan Fri 21 Jan Sat 22 Jan

Put yo u with th r TREE out e first wheel bin co ie l l e c tion from W ed 12 Jan

DOWNLOAD Never miss a collection – download your 2021/22 collection calendar from: bristolwastecompany.co.uk/festive

DON’T FORGET You can take trees to your nearest Recycling Centre. Garden and bulky waste services pause over the Christmas period. For top tips and festive hacks visit: bristolwastecompany.co.uk/festive Normal collections from Mon 24 January

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Win Tickets to the Zoo! Over 300 incredible animal species

’Tis the season for a trip to the Zoo! Book online bristolzoo.org.uk Registered charity no. 1104986

We have a free family ticket for a visit to Bristol Zoo during the school holiday this Christmas. To win email sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk marking the email subject Bristol Zoo Competition and answer this question: In which year did the zoo first open to the public? Tie breaker: what relative of the horse has black and white stripes? Write your answers in an email and include your full name, address and phone number and email it by December 15th, 2021. Good luck! The prize is as stated, and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The tickets are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability, and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. The winner will be notified by email and/or DM on Twitter/ Facebook and/or letter within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or do not claim the prize within 7 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner. The winner agrees to the use of their name and image in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating to the winner, or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current [UK] data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. However, the winner agrees for their contact details to be given to The Bristol Hippodrome. The winner accepts responsibility for checking the performance is suitable for those accompanying them to the theatre. The winner understands that tickets allocated will require the use of stairs to access, The Bristol Hippodrome is a listed building and has no lift access. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

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n LETTERS Giving to good causes The Bristol 500 is not a race, but a new way of giving locally. Members pay a small regular amount, which collectively turns into a larger monthly amount. Members are then able to nominate a cause close to their hearts in the BS postcode. Those nominations are shortlisted and members vote on who gets the money each month. Nominations roll over until they either receive the money or all withdrawn. It could be a group providing meals for vulnerable people, equipment for a local walking group or to support a family or individual starting again after suffering domestic abuse. If you know someone in need and it’s not for religious or political reasons, it will be considered. Inspired by Joe Sim's 500 Reasons, we want to find ways to connect and appreciate each other in our local communities. We also appreciate that times are hard right now - and every now and then, we all need a little help. 'Never doubt that a small group

of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.' Margaret Mead So far this year we have given £5000 to the following individuals and good causes (£500 each): January - Survivour of domestic violence (a family); February - Mud Pie Explorers (www.mud-pies. co.uk); March - Suicide Prevention Bristol (www.spbristol.org); April - Victims of modern day slavery (a family through Unseen www. unseenuk.org); May - Funding for an electric chair (individual person); June - All Aboard Water Sport (www.allaboardwatersports. co.uk); July - Brain Tumour Support (www.braintumoursupport.co.uk); August - Love you to the Moon and back (www.thejhf.org); September - Family in Need; October - Baby Bank network (https://www. babybanknetwork.com) The Bristol 500 Team: Beth Rowley, Colse Leung, Dionne Frohofer Rees, Holly Maurice & Katie Collier For more: thebristol500 @gmail. com; Facebook: TheBristol500; and Instagram: @thebristol500

Volunteer group BS3 Helping Others is a volunteer group which aims to connect groups which need help with those who have some time to offer. The group meets regularly to share information and listen to speakers from voluntary groups and it produces a directory of volunteer opportunities. BS3 Helping Others will be taking a break for December, but will be back in the Tobacco Factory snug in January for their weekly meetings on Mondays at 6.30pm and Tuesdays at 10.30am. They'll have lots of interesting speakers and a chance for you to find out about local opportunities to help in your community. If you'd like a copy of their directory of volunteer opportunities, please email them bs3helpingothers@gmail.com or find it on their Facebook group BS3helpers. Laura Political issue Labour and Tories have joined forces to kick the Workplace Parking Levy into the long grass. Bristol Liberal Democrats

KARIN SMYTH, MP for Bristol South

We must protect retail workers from abuse

n 2020, many of us lost one of the most precious days in the year: Christmas. Having our family gatherings taken away at the last minute was tough for lots of us and I know that many will want to make this Christmas extra special to make up for the lost year. No matter how you celebrate this Christmas holiday I hope you and yours have a peaceful time. As our minds turn to Christmas, we will no doubt be thinking about that funny little present we can get our colleague in the secret Santa, the heartfelt gift for our partner or that must-have toy our niece has been after. It’s a stressful time and the manic rush in the shops adds to pressure of Christmas. I know from personal experience that you always need to find that one extra thing, be it a gift or those pesky pigs in blankets, at the last minute. This stress can get to us, but we’ve got to remember to be kind to those working in retail. The fantastic trade union Usdaw, who represent

shopworkers and distributive workers, run a fantastic campaign at this time of year called “Freedom from Fear”. The campaign highlights the shocking abuse that retail workers face on a daily basis and how it only gets worse at Christmas when sometimes things can get too much for people. Sadly, last year 60% of retail employees reported cases of abuse and threats and a shocking 9% were assaulted. These are sobering statistics. Any abuse against someone doing their job is unacceptable. I know from my work with

constituents in Bristol South that there is a demand for a change in the law to protect retail staff from this abuse. It’s utterly wrong that despite shopworkers being responsible for implementing our age restriction laws – and failure to do so can result in a fine – they have no protection in law themselves from abuse and violence. This should be an aggravated offence with serious fines attached. Those who implement our laws should be protected by them. The Government has blocked all attempts by Labour MPs in securing this change. The closest we got to change was when the Home Office implemented a consultation on violence and abuse against shopworkers, but they took over a year to report back on the findings and then stated they were against reform. This flies in the face of pragmatic solutions to criminal behaviour. Rest assured; I will continue to stand up for retail workers in Parliament.

were shocked and dismayed when Bristol Labour councillors jumped into bed with the Tories to effectively block a radical plan to help solve the city’s transport woes. The proposal for a Workplace Parking Levy, put forward at the Full Council by the Green Party, was unanimously supported by the Bristol Liberal Democrat group of councillors. However, in a cynical move by Labour, and with the support of the local Tories, they amended the motion to effectively render it meaningless. Cllr Andrew Varney Farm parties Windmill Hill City Farm is available for Christmas parties. Our café can be transformed into an evening party space, seating 36 or hosting 60 guests standing. We have extras for hire including a speaker system, a projector for slides, photo shows or films and catering options including provision of a bar. Windmill Hill City Farm Letters by email to: news@southbristolvoice. co.uk

n BOOK REVIEW Bookhaus' choice for: children’s fiction The Barnabus Project - The Fan Brothers A fable for our times - follow Barnabus and friends as they break out of the underground lab of Failed Projects and find their place in the world above the surface. An empowering story on embracing imperfection, working together and finding freedom in a world that doesn't appreciate you. Bookhaus are launching ‘Saturday Storytime’. No need to book, just turn up for half an hour of storytelling (for 4 to 7-year-olds). This will be hosted every Saturday at 10am – children must be accompanied by an adult. Bookhaus is at Unit 4 Rope Walk, Bristol BS1 6ZJ

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Call Harry on 07789 864769 or email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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Your local councillors Gary Hopkins & Chris Davies Lib Dem councillors Knowle

ell the mayor’s stated position after a vigorous campaign changed from a forced closure to transferring the pool into community hands. The actual actions though tell a different story with experts who have looked at the initial transfer documents convinced that the council are determined to scupper the transfer. Poor quality information has been supplied with a demand for a breakneck timescale for completion. We are assisting the excellent friends of the pool group and hopefully can negotiate away the impossible barriers but one condition takes the breath away. The mayor is demanding that when the barriers are overcome and the community moves the pool to full profitability (something that his

‘consultation’ said was impossible) he wants a share of the profits. You could not make it up! Meanwhile in the real world the operators Parkwood have , with the friend’s help, got record membership and full sessions. Month by month profits are good and should be enough to finance the long term investment needed. Parkwood seem to enjoy working with a positive partner and would be happy to continue in the long term. They have shown faith and it is interesting that as a commercial company they are showing so much more commitment than the mayor who still seem to want to demolish and build flats. We have made a lot of progress but there is still a lot of work to do.

Lisa Stone & Ed Plowden Green councillors Windmill Hill

he implementation of the clean air zone Bristol is summer 2022. The council is offering a range of exemptions to give eligible businesses and individuals time to prepare for the CAZ. All residents in the zone with a vehicle that doesn’t meet its emission standards can apply for an exemption giving them until the end of 2022 to upgrade their vehicle. The council has raised its low-income threshold from £24,000 to £27,000 to ensure that more people are eligible for financial support. Please go to www.bristol.gov.uk/cleanairzone This is a positive step for reducing air pollution and helping thousands of people suffering from these pollutants. However, I can appreciate that some people will feel the problem has been moved to the boundaries. In my opinion whilst the amount of traffic may increase

around the boundaries, more proportion of that traffic will be from cleaner green vehicles, so the air pollution will reduce over time. I am one of those people who bought a Diesel car 10 years ago, thinking that it would be more beneficial if I ran the car on biodiesel. However, I was still burning carbon and adding to climate warming. I really needed to change of mindset, I could not have my cake and eat it, even though I knew how badly it was contributing to climate change. Cars are like cigarettes they are very difficult to give up! So, when the Clean Air Zone is implemented my car goes! I will save money and keep fit using active means of travel. The thing is, there will be 1 less air polluting car on the road, because of the CAZ and that’s the point of it!

The Tobacco Factory who has given them rehearsal space. “This year we have a reindeer handler, played by actor and circus performer Ben Kirby. Stewart is Santa again and I’m producing. The sleigh will land on the street, Santa will walk around greeting people and then there’ll be an interactive Christmas show. There’s music, comedy and audience interaction. It will be really fun.” Celia said. The group have collaborated with a theatre prop maker who designed Santa’s costume and

sleigh. “We want to evoke the imagination and Christmas spirit for children and families to enjoy after a hard couple of years.” If you’d like BS3 Santa to come to your street please visit www. BS3Santa.co.uk Pic by Mark Dawson.

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shows to people and families where they live. We visited more than 860 children in the month. ” Celia said. This year, the creative couple will be pulling streets together rather than individual households. “We’re bringing theatrical Christmas shows to the street. We were inspired by all the street Whatsapp groups and street get togethers throughout lockdown, so we thought we’d bring our interactive Christmas show for south Bristol streets to enjoy.” BS3 Santa has partnered with

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Your local councillors Tony Dyer & Christine Townsend Green councillors Southville

Mark Bradshaw Labour councillor Bedminster

edminster waste facility wants to process more waste without limits on hours of operation During the election campaign, residents spoke to me about the increase in heavy vehicles using local streets transporting waste for processing at the nearby ETM waste processing facility on Ashton Vale Road. Planning application 21/011169/X seeks vary existing conditions to remove existing controls on hours of operation to allow unrestricted 24-hour activity on the site. ETM also want to increase the current annual limit of 150,000 tonnes on the amount of waste being processed at the site. If approved, this limit would double to 300,000 tonnes. The tonnage limit was agreed in 2018 for highway safety reasons and the condition that “no operations of waste transfer, sorting and deliveries entering or exiting the site …shall take place outside the hours of 06.00 to 18.00 Monday to Saturday” was stipulated for amenity reasons.

Obviously, changes to either or both conditions would have a significant impact on Bedminster residents, which is why I have used referral procedures to request that the decision is made by the planning committee. There are also concerns about levels of noise and airborne pollutants - both key issues for nearby communities given the implications for well-being and health. The Site on Ashton Vale Road is open, not enclosed. While accepting the importance of diverting bulky waste from landfill, people living in the area have an important voice when discussing the likely impacts on their streets and the air they breathe. ETM is also a local employer, so it is important they are able to make their case for the proposed changes. The planning application is likely to be decided in the coming weeks. I want to take this opportunity to wish all of my Bedminster constituents a Happy Christmas holiday and a peaceful, healthy 2022.

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East Street Vision it allows a start to be made. As we write this, COP26 is ending. We have mixed feelings about the event, with many national leaders using it as an opportunity for greenwash. However, behind the headlines, many positive commitments have been made, often despite, rather than because of, the actions of national leaders. Meanwhile, here in Bristol, thousands marched to express their concern about the lack of action taken to combat climate change. Additionally, despite being weakened by amendments from Labour and Conservatives, Bristol City Council passed a Green Party motion to investigate a Workplace Parking Levy to raise funding for improvements to public transport and active travel. In Nottingham, a similar levy helped fund their tram system. Just a quick note to wish all our residents a very happy festive period, and a fantastic new year to follow.

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n THEATRE REVIEWS

A wonderfully musical White Christmas but there's blood in Macbeth Theatre Review: White Christmas It may be autumn in Bristol but in the Hippodrome the tree tops glisten, and you can hear sleigh bells in the snow in Nikolai Foster’s White Christmas. The director of the musical based on the novel by David Ives and Paul Blake and largely following the trajectory of the 1954 movie with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye plus the music and Lyrics of Irving Berlin couldn’t fail to create this wonderful show. From the outset the story in which Phil Davis (Dan Burton) and Bob Wallace (Matthew Jeans) hitch up with Betty (Jessica Daley) and Judy Haynes (Emily Langham) in a mad cap comedy romance the audience were gripped by the glitz, the glamour and the fabulous music. I give you Blue Skies, Sisters and the most famous festive song of all time White Christmas and many more, all delivered with clarity, style and feeling as the story of former comrades in arms set off to help their old boss Tom. He’s invested his army pay in a holiday retreat in the mountains with skiing as one of its attractions. But it’s the absence of

snow at his country lodge that is the crucial element until of course at the very end of their exploits… well you can guess that the white stuff finally falls from the heavens. I am always amazed when a popular film is staged, and as to how the design teams can adapt all of the different scenes onto a stage. I was wondering how this would happen for this production and wasn’t disappointed with the result. Choreographer Stephen Mear brought together some memorable sequences all complimented by Michael Taylor’s set design, the costumes of Diego Pitarch and the lighting by Mark Henderson. Noted for the magic of Irving Berlin’s songs the musical was enhanced by the orchestrations of Larry Blank and musical arrangements of Jason Carr. It was an enjoyable evening, well worth going – leaving the audience to dream of a white Christmas as we streamed out into the autumn night. Beverley Chapman Macbeth, Bristol Old Vic, Studio Blood will have blood and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School certainly took the Scottish warlord’s dagger and thrust it into the heart

Theatre and entertainment luvver Top picks this Christmas for all ages

By Jacqui Ham, Acting Out o, Ho, Ho and welcome to my pick of the best Christmas theatre in Bristol this year. I’m determined to spread as much joy and merriment as I can so there’s something for everyone in my sack this Christmas: For families: Snow White at Bristol Hippodrome- the Hippodrome’s celebrity packed panto is back starring this year Lesley Joseph, Rob Rinder and Andy Ford and plenty of festive magic. Hansel and Gretel in Arnos Vale- Insane Route bring us a dark but family friendly winter tale. Featuring poetry and song from the very gifted Saikat Ahamed – not one to be missed. Robin Hood Legend of the Forgotten Forest at Bristol Old Vic– Christmas Magic -When a 21st-century kid discovers a dusty book at the back of his local library, something miraculous happens. Oz at the Tobacco factory – Based on the original books take a trip on the yellow brick road to the Emerald City.

Cinderella at the Redgrave –Featuring real ponies – that’s surely all I have to say! For grown ups: Little Women in Black at The Wardrobe Theatre injecting Louisa May Alcott’s literary classic with some much needed guns, gore and a 1990s soundtrack! This Christmas get ready for little women, big guns and scary aliens! Merry Christmas! (despite the current Circumstances ) at The Bristol Improv Theatre comedy games, songs and merriment, all made up live on the spot from your suggestions. Visit: https:// improvtheatre.co.uk/event/merrychristmas/ Top pick: Hansel and Gretel in Arnos Vale.

of the play. For Ng Choon Ping’s Macbeth was a rip-roaring fast paced production of Shakespeare’s bloody tragedy directed at pace and with huge energy. For students of the bard this was a must-see production. Excellent diction, lines delivered with feeling and clarity, superb choreography and some gripping battle scenes. Set on a thrust stage with a central circular focal point for the action the story of Macbeth’s rise and fall from power is fittingly dressed in the late 16th century costumes of Caledonia. Apart from an Elizabethan-esque Queen Duncan (Ruby Ward) rather than King Duncan Ng Choon Ping kept the drama pretty much to the original script. All the famous lines and scenes were in there. Joe Usher as the protagonist was suitably desperate as the drama unfolded and he enjoyed sexual chemistry with Camilla Aiko as Lady Macbeth who was more smart dinner party rather than grim gothic accessory to murder. Banquo (an outstanding Bill Caple) had all the military techniques to defeat several

Norwegian armies as did another physically strong performance from Joshua Hurley as Mabeth’s nemesis Macduff. Max Guest as Malcolm was palpably in shock on the news of his mother’s death and Alexander Uzoka as Rosse was also excellent support in the court of Macbeth with fine performances from Eve Pereira as Lennox, Phoebe Cook as Siward and Tom Atkinson as Donalbain. Joe Edgar enjoyed himself as the porter come phallic wielding jester providing the laughs for the groundlings as he fell onto the stage in a bundle of bells and harlequin colours. There were some stand out and highly creative sequences such as the opening scene with the three witches: Evie Hargreaves, Josephine-Fransija Brookman and Carlie Diamond – all quite manic and delightfully dishevelled in their cloaks, gowns and a puff of dry ice as they disappeared into thin air. Yes, blood will have blood, and in this five star production, you get the full Scottish Macbeth unseamed from the nave to the chops. Harry Mottram

Thought for the Month With Rev Sally Spencer, Bedminster Methodist Church Christmas panic started early this year with the fate of thousands of turkeys in the balance and the prospect of lorry drivers racing for the channel tunnel on Christmas Eve… Life has moved on since those concerns were top of the news, but although many of us are looking forward to and hoping for a more ‘normal’ Christmas this year there’s a definite feeling things ain’t what they used to be. What are you hoping for this Christmas? For me, time with family without all those calculations about who you’re permitted to see and for how long - will be treasured. In our churches, we’re looking forward to singing carols and being awed once again by the miracle of God come down to share our joys and our pain. We’d love you to join us this year. For some people, the run up to Christmas is a crazy rush – for others it is all too empty. For many, faith in a loving God is what gives Christmas its meaning and its joy -

while for others it’s a great excuse to party. Whatever it is for you, I hope you’ll make time and space to dwell on the mystery of life, put aside differences with others and hear again the Christmas story – hope for the world symbolised by the birth of a tiny baby to a young mum in a backstreet of an occupied settlement in a troubled land. In these days when across the world people are living under oppressive regimes or escaping the effects of climate change, when closer to home there are lots of things to worry about, whether its money, isolation or illness in the family, that story of hope in the most unlikely place still has the power to inspire and challenge us all.

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December 2021

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Local History

'Move it! You look like a bunch of pregnant ducks' John's National Service begins with a real shock We continue our serialisation of Memories of a Bristol Boyhood by Knowle resident John Fletcher as he begins his National Service

o matter how much I had read, or how many tales my friends told me, nothing adequately prepared me for the horrors of the first couple of months of service to my king and country. The morning of 3rd January 1951 dawned in Bristol after a night of heavy frost. The morning was shrouded in a light mist with a hint that the sun would soon break through. I said my farewells to Mum and Joyce and made my way with a heavy heart to Bristol

Temple Meads station. The first part of the journey lightened my spirits as the sun had broken through a clear blue sky highlighting the frost covered slopes of the Cotswolds. As the train proceeded, just north of Birmingham, the countryside was covered with about two inches of snow. By the time the train arrived at Crewe where there was a change of train, I was aware that the Bristol train had carried

Hut Mates, R.A.F. Innsworth No.2 School of Cookery Permanent Staff dozens of young men all making their way to Padgate. This large group was joined by other, even larger groups who had arrived from various directions. I do not

know whether the local train for the journey from Crewe to Warrington was especially chartered to the RAF, but we embarked, filling every seat,

MARVIN REES, Mayor of Bristol

Concerns over drink spiking addressed

ecember is a busy time for our city’s restaurants, cafes, pubs, theatres and night time venues. And this year in particular, when so many of us are looking forward to being able to socialise more freely in the run up to Christmas, we want everyone in the city to feel safe when enjoying Bristol’s nightlife. That’s why we’ve been working with partners in the city in recent months to drive a series of projects and campaigns to make sure everyone is confident returning to our city’s thriving nightlife scene. You may have seen posters across the city as part of our award-winning Bristol Rules campaign. These set out information on how to have a great and safe night out in our city, from looking after your mates to calling out inappropriate behaviour and respecting others. Building on the success of this campaign, we have launched a new initiative to stop drink spiking in the city. Despite carrying a sentence of up to ten years in prison, prosecution rates are shockingly low. We know many people in the city are concerned about drink-spiking, and that’s why even before stories about this issue hit the headlines, we were taking action to raise awareness and put a stop to it.

As well as reassuring people that reports of drink spiking will be taken seriously, guidance has been issued to venues so staff know how to handle incidents and support the police in their investigations. Crucially, police will be equipped with testing kits to test both victims and drinks. This is especially important as the window for gathering evidence is short, with some drugs leaving the person’s system in as little as 12 hours,

making early testing critical. I am particularly pleased that our leadership on this work has been recognised by government. We have recently been awarded £282,000 by the Home Office to improve women’s safety in the city at night. This will see us implement a women’s safety charter, deliver training to staff in venues on tackling sexual harassment and provide additional drink spiking testing kits. This funding is testament to the way we have worked in partnership not only with our city’s venues, but with Avon and Somerset Police, the City Centre Business Improvement District, our universities and the NHS. The expertise of the Bristol@Night Panel, and organisations such as One25, SARSAS, and the Bristol Women’s Commission have been crucial in shaping our response. I want to pay particular tribute to our Night Time Economy Advisor, Carly Heath, for her dedication in driving this crucial work. I hope that through this work, and our ongoing efforts to keep Bristol open and accessible this winter, Bristolians will have the opportunity to enjoy our city’s incredible nightlife over this festive season. However you choose to celebrate, I wish everyone a safe and merry Christmas.

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Local History

Left: John on leave at Ramsgate. Above: Passing Out - School of Recruitment Training for the Royal Air Force, Padgate Lancashire

corridor and any other space. The trauma proper began immediately the train arrived at Warrington. As soon as our feet touched the station platform we

met with our first sight of the RAF police, conspicuous by the white covering on their caps. Their uniforms were immaculate with sharp creases in their trousers, brasses that shone brightly and boots that were polished to give mirrorlike reflections. They corralled us through the station exit with raucous shouts of “Get a move on, you’re in the RAF now”, “Get in line, you’re moving like a

flock of pregnant ducks” or “My grandmother moves quicker than you and she’s 93”. Outside the station, standing in about four inches of brown slush, stood a collection of battered old coaches and RAF lorries with canvas hoods covering an array of wooden benches around the sides of the lorry. Although it was still only mid-afternoon it was almost dark and dreary, fitting well with our

sombre moods. After the short journey from Warrington to Padgate we were herded into a huge hanger and then split up into groups of 28-30. Each group came under the control of a Corporal drill instructor who led us (I won’t say marched) to a hut which was to be our home for the next week. This first week in the RAF passed like a very bad dream. We were marched in double time from one place to the next to complete the necessary functions to enable us to be presented as airmen. We filled in various forms with all possible information about ourselves, next of kin etc. We had photos taken for our identity card (Form 1250) and told, “Lose this and you’ll be shot at dawn”. John's wonderful recollections are sure to jog the memories of some of our readers. We would love to hear similar tales and see photos from the period. Please email to news@ southbristolvoice.co.uk or post to South Bristol Voice, 111 Broadfield Rd Knowle Bristol B42UX. All items will be safely returned

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WHAT'S ON Wed 1-Thu 23 Dec. Christmas Market, Broadmead, Bristol. Bristol Shopping Quarter's streets will play host to wooden chalets offering a selection of gifts as well as festive food and drink. Wed 1--Sun 12 Dec. The Royal Photographic Society, Paintworks, Bristol. Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year. Free exhibition of food photography and film. Wed 1-Sat 8 Jan. Bristol Old Vic Theatre. Robin Hood and the Legend of the Forgotten Forest. The Wardrobe Ensemble team up with Bristol Old Vic for a fresh spin on the swashbuckling legend. Wed 1-Fri 24 Dec. Avon valley Railway. Santa Specials. Steam train journey with the man in red on board. Wed 1-Fri 24 Dec. The Egg Theatre, Bath. Squirrel. This is a story of new growth, with a sprinkling of snowy magic and puppetry mayhem as you would expect from the egg’s early years Christmas show. Wed 1-Mon 6 Dec. Theatre Royal Bath: Six. The hit musical about the six wives of Henry VIII. Wed 1-Fri 31 Dec. Arnos Vale

Cemetery Woodlands. Hansel and Gretel in Arnos Vale Cemetery Woodlands. Hansel and Gretel illuminated woodland. As darkness falls, enter the magical illuminated woodland of Arnos Vale Cemetery where not everything is as it seems... Discover a strange cottage and a mysterious figure with an unsavoury appetite, and revel with us in this celebration of the imagination…but will you trust a trail of breadcrumbs to find your way home? Wed 1-Fri 31 Dec. The Father Christmas Experience at Ashton Court Mansion, Bristol. A fun CHURCH OF CHRIST, ST JOHN'S LANE, BS3 5AY Currently meeting every Sunday: • 9:00 Worship • 10:15 bible classes for all ages • 11:30 Worship Currently holding two morning services to accommodate more at a social distance For details or help: Jason 07795560990 interactive experience with professional actors in the historic Ashton Court Mansion. Father Christmas will make an entrance that will surprise and delight

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Reality cracks and he’s thrown into the middle of an epic fight between good and evil. It’s Sherwood Forest. The 12th century. An uneasy time of cunning thieves, dastardly villains and karaoke-singing monks. Sound familiar so far? Not all is as it seems… When the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham sets in motion his vicious plan for ultimate power, it’s up to Robin Hood and her Merry Crew to pull off their toughest mission yet. Can they defeat the Sheriff before it’s too late – and can Anew take on Robin Hood plays at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre this month the children. Much more than a usual grotto, Father Christmas at Ashton Court Mansion is a magical experience held in the beautiful Victorian Manor house. Entry to the experience starts in the Great Hall. The Father Christmas Experience is at Ashton Court Mansion every weekend and selected weekdays from 1- 23 December. Wed 1 Dec–Sat 8 Jan. Bristol Old Vic. Robin Hood: Legend of the Forgotten Forest. When a 21st-century kid discovers a dusty book at the back of his local library, something miraculous happens.

Whitchurch Art Club Christmas Art and Craft Fayre 26th November 3-6 pm at Fortfield Road, Community Centre Free entry so pop in to start, or finish your Christmas Shopping with some unique gifts or just enjoy our Art Exhibition and Sale. Affordable gifts for young and old to buy. Refreshments. Raffle – win amazing gifts. Cake stall yummy cakes to buy. Car parking on and off road and on 92 and 515 bus route. We would love to see you. New Members welcome. Every Thursday 7-9 pm.

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nWHAT'S ON they get JJ back home? Thu 2 Dec. Trinity Centre, Bristol. Crazy P. English electronic group heavily influenced by vintage disco, soul, and house music. Thu 2 Dec-Fri 10 Dec. The Redgrave Theatre. Romeo and Juliet. Bristol Old Vic Theatre School present Shakespeare's tragedy of the star crossed lovers in fair Verona. A Bristol Christmas Carol A Play in a Day It’s panto time again…oh yes it is! Acting Out and Launchpad can’t wait to produce their 6th Christmas ‘Play in a Day’…A Bristol Christmas Carol! This year the team will be working once more with the fantastic actor Chris Yapp who has recently just finished filming the new Stephen Merchant series The Outlaws. The playinaday team will once again be recruiting actors of all ages to join the cast. Participants can get involved in the acting, creating or both. This brilliant community event will take place at the Hen and Chicken Studio, North Street BS3 on Sunday 5th December. The workshop will run from 10:00 – 16:30 where the cast will be rehearsing, creating props, scenery

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and costumes ready for the evening production. Jacqui Ham, from Acting Out, said “After a year off last year we are so excited to be back with this great fun annual show. In the past we have had casts of over 60 children and adults – it is always such an amazing and fun day! We can’t wait to produce another Christmas panto with the brilliant BS3 community.” Launchpad are keen to hear from any community groups who would like to get involved in making some of the props and scenery in advance of the event. The workshop will cost £25 for children and over 18s are free. To book a place please contact enquiries@actingoutdrama.com or book on the website www.actingoutdrama. com

Fri 3-Sat 4 Dec. Totterdown Baptist Church. Baptist Community Players are staging The Magnificent Prince written by Martin Warren. It's a family panto, with lots of audience participation. Friday 3rd December 7pm and Saturday 4th December at 3pm. Tickets are £5 adults (over 16) and £3 children (3-15) Under 3's free. At Totterdown Baptish Church on Wells road, Knowle. To buy tickets online go to www.tbc. org.uk/panto21. Totterdown Baptist are also hosting artists for the Front Room Art Trail (20-21st November) and Totterdown Tots have restarted on Mondays 9.30-11am. Sat 4 Dec. The Planetarium, Millenium Square, Bristol. Bristol Film Festival: Guardians of the Galaxy. Screening of Brad Bird's magical and moving modern classic, The Iron Giant. Sat 4 Dec. 1532 Performing Arts Centre, Bristol. The Shroud Maker. A compelling black comedy, The Shroud Maker delves deep into the intimate life of ordinary Palestinians to weave a highly distinctive path through Palestine's turbulent past and present. Sat 4 Dec. Bristol Cathedral. Viennese Christmas by Candlelight. Tchaikovsky's elegant

Arnos Vocale: For singers who love classical vocal music, great jazz standards and beautiful international folksongs all in 4-part arrangements and above. Some a Capella, some accompanied. Experience of choral singing and reasonable sight-reading ability preferable but come for a free trial session where we can all see if it’s a fit! £8 each week thereafter. Knowle Methodist church hall, entrance in Redcatch Road BS4 2EP every Tuesday 7-9pm. Contact Anya Szreter szreter. afm@icloud.com Nutcracker Suite leads on from Brahms' serious Hungarian Dance No.5, before Strauss II introduces us to the boundless exuberance of the Polish March in his Trisch-Trasch Polka. In the concert's penultimate work Tchaikovsky transports the Nightingale Valley Community Choir: No experience necessary, no need to read music. Come and join our friendly choir and learn to sing better than you ever knew you could. St Cuthbert's Church, Sandy Park Rd BS4 3PG. Every Monday 7.30-9pm. Taster session free then £7 each week or £70 for 11 weeks. Contact: Anya Szreter szreter.afm@ icloud.com

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Win Tickets for Snow White We have free tickets for the wonderful pantomime Snow White that's being staged at Bristol Hippodrome on Tuesday, December 7th, 2021. To win email sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk marking the email subject Snow White Competition and answer this question: Lesley Joseph starred in what TV comedy series set in Chigwell? Tie breaker: name the seven dwarfs in the 1937 Disney animation version of the story. Write your answers in an email and include your full name, address and phone number and email it by November 20, 2021. Good luck! The prize is as stated, and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The tickets are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability, and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. The winner will be notified by email and/or DM on Twitter/ Facebook and/or letter within 28 days of the closing date. If the winner cannot be contacted or do not claim the prize within 7 days of notification, we reserve the right to withdraw the prize from the winner and pick a replacement winner. The winner agrees to the use of their name and image in any publicity material, as well as their entry. Any personal data relating to the winner, or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current [UK] data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. However, the winner agrees for their contact details to be given to The Bristol Hippodrome. The winner accepts responsibility for checking the performance is suitable for those accompanying them to the theatre. The winner understands that tickets allocated will require the use of stairs to access, The Bristol Hippodrome is a listed building and has no lift access. Entry into the competition will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions.

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December 2021

WHAT'S ON Continued from page 31

evening to the magical halls of snowy Tsarist Russia with a regal waltz from his ballet Sleeping Beauty. The evening reaches its climax with the famous Blue Danube Waltz, not only proving the crowning jewel of a fabulous night's worth of music, but the coronation of Johann Strauss II as the master of the Viennese waltz. Sat 4-Fri 24 Dec. Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park. Meet Father Christmas. Santa’, reindeer and Christmas activities. Sat 4-Sun 5 Dec. SS Great Britain. Victorian Christmas Weekends also 11-12 Dec, 18-19 Dec. Step back in time at Brunel’s SS Great Britain to celebrate a Victorian Christmas. Take in the smells of Christmas pudding and marzipan on board or meet the Ragged Victorians living history group in the dockyard. You might even spot Old Father Christmas, dressed in traditional green robes! Sat 4 Dec-Sun 5 Dec. Redgrave Theatre. While Shepherds Watched. Retelling of the Nativity story by the drama students of the Old Vic. Not to be missed. Sat 4-Fri 24 Dec. Sail with Santa with Bristol Ferry Boats. Book tickets for selected dates between now and Christmas for a 45 minute trip around Bristol's Narrow Harbour from The Cascade Steps. Sun 5. The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol. Nutty Noah. The show includes cheeky original songs, crazy juggling and amazing magic for children 3-8 and their families. Sun 5. The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol. Boothby Graffoe. Music and comedy. Sun 5 Dec. St. George's Bristol. Bristol Concert Orchestra. Pianist You-Chiung Lin in a performance of Beethoven's 1st Piano Concerto, Mahler's Symphony No 4 and

The Bristol Hippodrome features Snow White this Christmas

Family Christmas excursion ideas Have you been thinking about what to do this Christmas in Bristol? We have put together the perfect Christmas for you to enjoy with your friends and family within Bristol. Christmas has always been a time to spend with loved ones, so here are our top picks you can do this Christmas. Bristol’s Christmas Market I don’t know about you, but Christmas isn’t Christmas without a market and Bristol has one of the best. Last year, most Christmas markets were cancelled due to the pandemic but this year Bristol had the go-ahead to launch theirs. The Bristol Christmas market is iconic with over 40 different stalls, it makes the perfect place to find gifts for your loved ones this Christmas. The market also includes a variety of food stools including the famous Yorkshire pudding wrap. Paddington at Cribbs Causeway This year, The Mall at Cribbs Causeway is bringing you the opportunity to spoil the whole family with Paddington bear. Get a chance to meet Paddington and Santa

Clause at the Cribbs Causeway, Christmas Grotto. Enjoy a storytime experience with Paddington bear at the Brown’s house. Light up Bristol at Ashton Court Estate. Take the whole family to Ashton Court for a walk through their beautiful grounds and experience the illuminated light up in the heart of Bristol. You can even enjoy a hot beverage while taking in the beautiful scenery. Tickets are available online or on arrival. Ice skating at Avon Valley Wildlife Park Enjoy an ice skating experience at Avon Valley adventure and wildlife park this Christmas with the whole family. Open from 27th November – 2nd January, the venue offers skating sessions between 11 am – 9 pm for you to enjoy with the whole family. Tickets are available to buy at the venue or you can even pre-book online. Enjoy a Christmas to remember with our top picks and from all of us here at South Bristol Voice, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Laura Longman

Mozart overture Il Seraglio Wed 8-Sat 18 Dec. Charles Wesley's House, 4 Charles Street, Bristol. Tours of the house. Selected dates and times, so check first. Go back in time to 1769 where Charles Wesley and his family are getting ready for Christmas. Enjoy carols, beautiful floral displays and find out how Christmas was celebrated in the 18th century. Wed 8-Sun 12 Dec. Newman Hall, Bristol. Peter Pan. Fly-off to Neverland with Peter Pan for a swashbuckling Pantomime adventure. CADS stage a panto version of JM Barrie's fantasy with fantastic songs and lots of laughter. Fri 10-Sun 12 Dec and Fri 17-Wed 22 Dec. Improv Theatre, Bristol. Merry Christmas! (despite the current circumstances). A crack team of comedians, improvisers and musicians to cheer you up – join them for an evening of comedy games, songs and merriment, all made up live on the spot from your suggestions. Sun 12 Dec. Winter Fairs: Christmas Makers Market & Art Studios at Estate of the Arts, South Liberty Lane, Bristol. Expect live music, pop up animation cinema, talks, open art studios, workshops, hot food and refreshments. Sat 4 Dec-Sun 2 Jan. Snow

White at Bristol Hippodrome. Lesley Joseph will be heading from Chigwell to Bristol this Christmas to star as The Wicked Queen in the Hippodrome’s pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Lesley will be joined by Rob Rinder who will be making his panto debut as The Man In The Mirror and Bristol panto favourite Andy Ford as Muddles. Wed 15 Dec. St Michael’s Without Bath: Passamezzo – Old Christmas Returned. Christmas celebrated, banned and restored in 17th Century England. A seasonal programme following the calendar from Advent to Candlemas and showing how Christmas was celebrated, banned and restored in 17th Century England. Carols, ballads, consort music, lutesongs, dance melodies and readings. Includes music by Gibbons, Locke, Peerson and Purcell; readings by Breton, Herrick and Shakespeare. Performed in Period costume by Passamezzo. Sat 4 Dec. Bath Abbey. Also Sat 18 Dec, 10am-12.30pm. Ages 5 and over. Join us for some family fun including listening to magical stories while sitting under the Moon and making Cosmic Christmas decorations in our new Learning Room down in the Abbey vaults. Drop in. Free. Fri 10 Dec-Sun 9 Jan. Tobacco Factory Theatre, Bristol. Oz. After a violent storm, a brave young girl finds herself lost in a world that

bears no relation to her own. A magic land of potent poppy fields, ferocious flying monkeys and rogue rulers. Sat 11 Dec. St Albans Church Westbury Park, Bristol. Christmas Concert: Bethleham. As part of the Westbury Park Christmas celebrations, watch live excerpts of the Christmas choral drama Bethleham by Rutland Boughton (written for the Glastonbury Christmas Festival in 1915). Duration is under an hour with singalong carols at the end. Sat 11 Dec. St Mary Redcliffe Primary School Winter Fair. From 12.30-3.30pm. Lots of stalls, games and entertainment. Wed 15 Dec. St Michael’s Without Bath: Passamezzo – Old Christmas Returned. Christmas celebrated, banned and restored in 17th Century England. A seasonal programme following the calendar from Advent to Candlemas and showing how Christmas was Don't miss! Sunday12th December From 2-5pm Christmas gift and crafts fair Victoria Park Baptist Church St. John’s Lane, Bedminster Mulled wine, mince pies and carols along with beautiful hand made crafts and last minute unique Christmas gifts celebrated, banned and restored in 17th Century England. Carols, ballads, consort music, lutesongs, dance melodies and readings. Includes music by Gibbons, Locke, Peerson and Purcell; readings by Breton, Herrick and Shakespeare. Performed in Period costume by Passamezzo. Thu 16 Dec-Sun 9 Jan. Theatre Royal Bath: Cinderella. John Monie returns as Buttons in a classic seasonal pantomime and is joined by mum-to-be Dani Harmer as the Fairy Godmother. Sat 18-Thu 23 Dec. Tobacco Factory, Bristol. Of Christmas Past. Douglas Walker unwraps the shocking true origins of Santa Claus in a one-man epic taking in 100 years of history and almost as many characters. • Have you got an event you'd like included in our What's On section? Email sales@southbristolvoice. co.uk

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December 2021

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December 2021

In witch I am a Community Activist

s you know I am a Pillock of the Community. I volunteer, albeit sometimes reluctantly. Like delivering the Lib Dem’s Focus newsletter. I said I’d help once and now, every few months I’ll find a pile of these papers by my door, with a little note of thanks and off I trot, grumbling. I am still helping at the local Beaver Scout Pack. It’s completely bonkers. An hour of insane noise. The little witches (Girl Guides) come in after and are faced by a hall of carnage. We make a sharp exit while they gather, whispering about us. Gin on a school night is a must after a Beaver session. And now I am a Committee Activist. I’ve joined the Management Committee trying to save the Jubilee Pool. I must admit the pool is taking over my life. If you cut me, chorine would pour out. I am in the sub-team responsible for communication and I look after the Facebook and Instagram pages. I know. What

THE WICKED WITCH OF KNOWLE

were they thinking? Words are extremely dangerous and I’ve already been told off a few times. But I quite like being told off. It means people are reading my words, even if they annoy them. I’ve had fan mail during my time writing for this magazine. Well, actually, it’s rage mail. Once two emails arrived from the same household. This couple were so incensed by my words that they sat together on the sofa and both fired off furious emails. Brilliant. We had a public meeting about the pool. Our Chairman had bought some nice biscuits as she was sure the only people turning up would be the core

group. She was wrong. People were queuing around the block. Redcatch Community Centre was rammed. Mrs Chair quickly hid the biscuits. Everyone listened to the presentation with rapt attention despite the less than smooth slide show (I was in charge of that). Then it was my turn to speak. Have you ever spoken to a room rammed with strangers? It’s terrifyingly fabulous. I oversaw the moanathon (what was good and bad about our pool). My voice shook and I’ve no idea what I said but the emotional responses we received from the floor was humbling. From that meeting the team got stronger. People came forward, professionals with skills that taking on a Community Asset Transfer would require. We needed more meetings. Did you know that Tesco’s Brislington have a room that can be booked free of charge to community groups? There is something rather naughty about being led through the double doors past the bread,

into the forbidden part of that store. The thing about professional people (and also teenagers) is they talk in acronyms which make my old brain hurty. As the first of these meetings was drawing to a close, I was whispering to a latecomer I’d not seen for a while when I heard my name being called. I turned to a sea of faces staring expectantly at me. “AOB Witchy?” Mrs Chair repeated. What the hell did that mean? My mouth dropped open like Manuel from Fawlty Towers “Que?” “Any other business?” Mrs Chair clarified, smiling, because she is a nice person. I shook my head vigorously as a new pool friend, in true Basil Fawlty style, gave me a sharp slap and order was restored. To find out more and if you fancy joining me on the team (I promise not to hex you) please follow Save Jubilee Pool on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or email savejubileepool@ hotmail.com

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December 2021

southbristolvoice

ADVICE FROM A PHARMACIST

with Ade Williams

Act now to prevent a virus nightmare

s we draw towards the end of the year, it presents an opportunity for reflection. A year ago, the COVID vaccination programme began. Most of us will now have already had our first and second vaccine doses, with the majority of those due to a booster dose booked up at the Bedminster Methodist Church. Being able to help deliver the programme locally with our Bristol Travel and Vaccination Clinic partners has afforded us the most expansive insights into our community. Time and again, we are reminded of how interconnected we all are. Many may not realise that the effort of delivering the Vaccination Clinics hinges on the work of an army of volunteers. The venue itself is a testament to community partnerships; Stef kindly linked us with Rev Sally and Kathryn at the Methodist Church, who, along with the rest of the congregation, have accommodated the disruptions that over 40,000 people getting their jab ensues. We are also grateful to all the neighbours on British road and the environs,

Ade Williams of Bedminster Pharmacy discusses how pharmacies can help people with a variety of health conditions, and ease pressure on the NHS who have been so accommodating and patient. When we reflect on all the people we meet, many anxious, some very scared, it is easy to see why human connections are so

critical even in our more digitally fashioned and technologically enabled age. We need each other. Not just to do things with but to share our everyday existence. What and how we share life will likely become the common talking points into the New Year and beyond. Our planet is dying. Poisoned by our choices and habits. Even as we look to save ourselves, we are reminded that we do so most urgently for those most vulnerable, who are thousands of miles away and largely invisible to us. Whether it is fighting the coronavirus pandemic or saving the earth, we all need each other, but it starts with me. Building a healthy community takes a lot of effort, but we can all play a small part in making it easier and more enjoyable. If we fail, hope fades, and something precious dies. Please take some time over the next few weeks to commit tangibly to joining a local collective effort and making a difference. Bedminster Pharmacy wishes to thank all of the BS3, South Bristol Community, for carrying us through another challenging year. The NHS will always be a community that cares, never just a group of caring health professionals.

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December 2021

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The FIEND

PUZZLES for all For younger readers

Each row, column and square (9 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-9, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

2 4 3 4 7 9 1 6 8 5

1 8

3 6

2 2 4 9 9

Theme: Christmas 2

3 4

Easier sudoku Solution

Use the phone keypad to decode the clues. For example: 2 could be A, B or C ... and 5678 could be LOST

Each row, column and square (4 spaces each) needs to be filled out with the numbers 1-4, without repeating any numbers within the row, column or square.

Across 1 6279 (4) 4 7827 (4) 5 466 (3) 6 2223 (4) 7 63779 (5) 9 347 (3) 10 4659 (4)

Down 1 6244 (4) 2 73463337 (8) 3 8733 (4) 6 24784 (5) 8 489 (3)

3 1 4

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Christmas Jokes Cards These little Christmas joke cards are designed to be tucked into home-made Christmas crackers but you can use them in all sorts of ways. Pop them into a lunch box, perhaps? Make a treasure hunt and see who can collect the most. Punch a hole in one corner and use them as an original gift tag? Or just hand them out in the classroom for some reading practice with a giggle!

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Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Call Harry on 07789 864769 or email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

December 2021

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December 2021

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nLOCAL SERVICES

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RENOVATIONS

LOCKSMITHS

WINDOW SERVICES

NIGHT & DAY

LOCKSMITHS 24HRS Contact Dave Staynings

0117 925 6828 Mobile:

07765 208690 PLUMBING

ROOFING SERVICES

LOCAL PLUMBER • TAPS • WASHERS

••REPAIRS/BURSTS REPAIRS/BURSTS • STOPTAPS STOPTAPS • DRIPS • LEAKS • REPAIRS •• TANKS, TOILETS TANKS, • TOILETS • BALL VALVES TAPS, WASHERS VALVES ••TAPS, WASHERS • BALL VALVES • LEAD PIPES ETC LEAD-PIPES •• LEAD-PIPES

0117 9564912 0117 **NO VAT** **NO VAT** **O.A.P. DISCOUNTS** DISCOUNTS** **O.A.P.

SINGLEPLY FLAT ROOFING SPECIALISTS

PLEASE CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE TODAY

07922804129 email: info@bs3roofing.co.uk

Tiling/Slating Lead work Zinc roofs Copper roofs Sheeting & cladding Timber cladding Timber frame work Felt | Liquid |GRP Green roofs PVC guttering & fascia Roof maintenance Velux windows Chimney repairs Render Roof surveys

A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our customers from:

PORTRAITS

PEST CONTROL

Advance Pest Control HAVE YOU GOT RATS OR MICE? WE’LL SORT THEM OUT

ALSO•Pigeons •Moles •Squirrels •Gulls •Bed-bugs •Ants •Fleas •Flies •Moths •Wasps

07771 503107

www.advancepestcontrolbristol.com BEST IN BRISTOL says threebestrated.co.uk

Got a story for South Bristol Voice? Call Harry on 07789 864769 or email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

December 2021

southbristolvoice

INVITATION

CJ Hole Southville invite you to accept our offer of a free sales or lettings valuation. To arrange an appointment, please telephone the office or call in personally. If you have instructed another agent on a sole agency and/or sole selling rights basis, the terms of those instructions must be considered to avoid a possible liability to pay two commissions.

MEDIUM SOUTH WEST

268 North Street, Southville, Bristol BS3 1JA

t: 0117 963 4373 southville@cjhole.co.uk

OPENING HOURS Monday - Friday 9am - 7pm Saturday 9am - 5pm

SOUTH WEST

MEDIUM AGENCY ESTATE AGENCY YEAR 2011

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

With 17 offices covering Bristol, Gloucester and Somerset

The Multi Award Winning Agent