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Thornbury Rotary Club

THORNBURY Rotary Club has recently donated a tent to Severnvale Girlguiding.

This was in response to a request from Nicole Crompton for the upcoming Together 2023 Jamboree, being held in Austria this August.

Together 2023 will be attended by over 3,000 Scouts and Guides from across the world, so it is set to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and a great adventure.

The donation was part of Thornbury Rotary’s commitment to supporting local events and organisations, using the money they have raised (in part) by major fundraising events such as the Swimarathon.

The hope is that this year’s Swimarathon will raise around £10,000, once all the sponsorship commitments have been made.

Nicole is a local leader at 1st Olveston Brownies and has been selected to go on the jamboree as leader of a group of 16 young women selected from across the South West.

To attend the jamboree, the group needs to take all its own kit, from tents to shelters and cooking equipment.

The Southwest team has been working hard to obtain enough financial support for all the kit needed.

Members have expressed their gratitude to Rotary for the help they have given them.

Thornbury & District Museum

THORNBURY is undergoing many changes that will shape its future but its past rich and interesting heritage will never change.

With spring approaching, it is an ideal time to either find out or remind yourself about the history of the town.

The Thornbury Heritage Trail was created by Thornbury & District Heritage Trust to celebrate the Millennium in 2000.

Covering a total distance of 3.7km or two and a quarter miles, it is an enjoyable way of discovering the previous importance of the town and its history.

A recently updated guidebook to the trail is available from the museum, or from Horders on the High Street, for just £2.

You can also download the book and print an enlarged map free from www.thornburymuseum.org.uk.

The trail starts at the Town Hall, and you can follow the bronze way markers set into the pavements and discover how buildings and places that you may walk past regularly come to life. Along the way you can pause at each of the seven illustrated information boards and learn even more about the location.

Once you reach the church you can then enjoy the rural footpaths by following the marker posts, with points of interest along the way, to return to the town.

Be aware that there are some stiles, and it may be muddy at times, but it is well worth the effort.

If you are unable to go along the rural path it is easy to retrace your steps back to the town and then follow the remaining way markers to complete the trail.

Please also take time to visit Thornbury & District Museum in Chapel Street and visit our website to check opening times, what the current exhibitions are and much more.

John Shepherd Chairman

Nicole said: "If anyone would like to further support our fundraising, any donations would be gratefully appreciated."

People can get in touch with Nicole by emailing austriadreamteam4@gmail.com.

Once the Jamboree is over, the tent will be returned to Severnvale Girlguiding so that all young members within the local area (Almondsbury, Alveston, Olveston, Thornbury, Seven Beach and Pilning) can use it for summer camps and events.

Over the years, Rotary Club of Thornbury has supported youth organisations and initiatives, not just locally but nationally and internationally.

Local competitions for schools are held annually, in areas such as public speaking, music and photography.

The club sponsors ‘Kids Out’, a great day out visiting Slimbridge Wetland Centre specifically for pupils, staff and helpers of New Siblands School.

The club is always looking for new members.

It’s not all hard work in the community, as president Stuart Hill emphasised.

He said: "We have a lot of fun, with social events, visits to special places and sporting competitions."

These events supplement the club’s twice monthly meetings.

To learn more about Thornbury Rotary, visit the website www. ThornburyRotary.org or follow the club on Facebook.

n WHAT'S ON

April 1 n THORNBURY VOLUNTEER CENTRE Easter table top sale and pop-up cafe, 10am-12.30pm, Thornbury Methodist Church Hall. Local community groups and charities selling a variety of goods including cards, produce, crafts and vintage items. Tea, coffee and home-made cakes, Easter raffle.

April 3 n ALVESTON GARDENS ASSOCIATION MEETING, Jubilee Hall, Alveston at 7.30pm. Talk: The Wonder of Trees, Mary Fenton. Non-members welcome.

April 10 n NATIONAL GARDEN SCHEME open garden at Stoneleigh Down, Upper Tockington Road, Tockington, 1-5pm. Supporting health and nursing charities. Admission £6. Children free. Dogs on leads welcome. Home-made teas.

April 11 n EASTWOOD GARDENERS' CLUB, Turnberries, 7pm. Talk from Roger Mellors on being a volunteer guide at Bristol University Botanical Garden. Visitors welcome.

April 14-15 n THORNBURY MUSICAL THEATRE GROUP presents MISFITS, breathing new life into some new and classic songs. St Michael’s Centre, Stoke Gifford.

Library news

Friday 7.30pm, Saturday 2.30pm & 7.30pm. Tickets at www.tmtg. org.uk/tickets, call 07516 270140 or visit Lisa Costa Estate Agents, Thornbury High Street. Also at Tytherington Village Hall, April 1, 2.30pm & 7.30 pm.

April 17 n SEVERN VALE FLOWER CLUB spring open evening, Olveston & Tockington Parish Hall, 7.30pm. Talk: Andrew Lloyd, ‘If Only’. Tickets £12 - call 01453 811089.

April 20 n SOUTH GLOS COMMUNITY LEARNING IT for Work course, Thornbury Library 9.30-11.30am every Thursday for five weeks. Call 07548 103398 or email aimee. hilbourne@southglos.gov.uk to sign up.

April 20 n THORNBURY U3A welcome meeting, 3.30pm, St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road. Find out about 90 interest groups run in the area. For more information visit www. thornburyu3a.org.uk or call Jackie Gitsham on 01454 858438.

April 26 n ALVESTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Alveston Methodist Church, 7.30pm. Talk by Sue Webb on history of Gloucestershire Constabulary. Non-members £5.

April 27-May 1

Severn Vale Art Trail at various venues, with artists exhibiting a variety of paintings, photographs, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, pyrography and glass art in homes, studios, community halls and churches. More details and map at www.severnvalearttrail.org.

May 13 n ARMSTRONG ARTS GROUP presents The Buffalo Gals, old-time country music, 7.30pm at the Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Thornbury. Tea/coffee served during the interval. Tickets £15 from AAGThornbury@gmail.com.

May 13 n THORNBURY CHORAL SOCIETY celebrates the Coronation. St. Mary’s Church, Thornbury, 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 pre-booked or £17 on the door, £5 under 18s. Email tickets@thornburychoralsociety. org.uk, call 01454 417865 or visit Horders Stationers after April 26.

Regular Events

Monday n SEVERN VALE FLOWER CLUB meets on the second Monday in the month at 2pm in St Mary's Hall in Eastbury Close, Thornbury, for classes, demonstrations and competitions. For more information contact Sally on ssjjtaylor@hotmail. co.uk or Hazel on 01454 885213.

Tuesday n SUNBEAMS TODDLER GROUP, 1.30-3pm every Tuesday in term time, Thornbury Methodist Church Hall (off Castle Court). All families welcome, no need to book, £2 per family includes snack and drink.

Sue Rowley on 01454 412941 or Louise Wright on 01454 260371.

Wednesday n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcomefirst visit free so come along and give us a try. Contact Sheila on 01179570792 or 07435316458 or email shinett@blueyonder.co.uk

Thursday n THORNBURY GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR, Thornbury URC, Chapel Street, 1-3pm. For more information visit www. goodafternoonchoir.org, email gac@grenvillemusic.co.uk or call 01761 472468. n THORNBURY ART CLUB hosts live talks and demonstrations by established artists on the fourth Tuesday of the month at St Mary's Church Hall, 7.30pm. Nonmembers welcome: £5 entry. For more information call Mary Drown on 01454 414433 or email mary. drown@blueyonder.co.uk. n CITIZENS ADVICE South Gloucestershire sessions at Turnberries Community Centre, Bath Road, Thornbury, Tuesday from 10am-noon. No appointment needed. n JUST SEW IT SEWING CLUB, every Tuesday 6.30-9.30pm at the Chantry Community and Arts Centre Castle Street, Thornbury. Come along and sew with others bring your sewing machine and materials/pattern. To attend, call Carrie in advance on 07753 236095. n THORNBURY MEMORY CAFE is open on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (except August) from 10.15am until 11.45am. Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Thornbury. For information contact n BRISTOL MALE VOICE CHOIR. Always been keen to sing? Come along to our rehearsal nights, 7pm - 9.15pm on Thursdays in St Andrew's Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. No need to read music, no audition, just a voice test to establish whether you are tenor, baritone of bass. We cover many musical styles, enjoy singing in a great social vibe as we prepare for our regular concerts in local and national venues. From the Beatles to Mozart, from classical choruses to classic pop. Ffi : www. bristolmvc.org.uk ; facebook; or contact Steve: secretary@ bristolmvc.org.uk;or ring 07776447699; or 07587143220

THORNBURY Library is hosting an Easter crafts event on April 5 from 10.30am-noon.

Suitable for children aged four to nine, there will be plenty to create, Keeping warm and well sessions are being held throughout the day on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9.30am-4pm: come and relax with a warm drink, use the computers or your own tablet or phone (WiFi available), read a book, newspaper, browse the shelves, enjoy a communal puzzle or just relax.

The Have You Read book club meets on March 3 from 2-3pm - no set novel, just drop in for refreshments and a chat about books. Lego club meets every Saturday from 9.30-10.30am - no booking required.

Book Focus Group, for children in Year 7 and up, takes place from 4-5pm on April 13.

Rhymetime takes place every Monday and Friday, from 9.30-10am. A Sight Support West of England drop-in support and advice session for people with visual impairments will be held on April 17 from 10am-1pm.

A computer volunteer is ready to help with your IT and online questions on Thursday mornings, with one-to-one sessions available from 9.30am.

The library is open 9.30am-5.30pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and 9.30am-12.30pm on Saturday. Open access is from 8am-7.30pm every day.

A Home Library Service is available for anyone who finds it difficult to get to the library for books.

For bookings and home library service call 01454 868006, email thornbury.library@southglos.gov.uk or visit the website www. southglos.gov.uk/libraries.

Friday n HAVEN MEMORY CAFE, Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, first and third Fridays of the month from 10.15-11.45am. More details from Stuart Hill on 07913 241437 or Sue Walton 07794 370903.

Saturday n THORNBURY PARKRUN, 9am, Mundy Playing Fields. Free for everyone.

Sunday n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION branch meeting, last Sunday of the month at the Black Horse, Gillingstool, Thornbury, noon.

WOODLAND charities teamed up to show Thornbury's MP their work planting new trees in the town.

The trees were planted on Severn View Road by the Woodland Trust in collaboration with the Forest of Avon Trust, to improve urban biodiversity and establish new woodlands in the region.

MP Luke Hall recently met with the representatives from both Trusts in Thornbury to discuss the project to boost tree cover and enhancement of green space in the area.

Through its Tree and Woodland Strategy for the West of England, the Forest of Avon Trust is aiming to establish new native woodlands around the fringes of Thornbury, whilst conserving agricultural land, priority habitats, historic monuments, and viewpoints.

They also aim to enhance existing woodlands, linking them through woodland corridors.

South Gloucestershire Council has announced a tree planting programme aimed at doubling tree cover through planting programmes.

The Council has recently been awarded £1.1 million from the West of England Combined Authority towards the project.

Last year Mr Hall helped to distribute cherry trees to local community groups across South Gloucestershire, including some planted on Thornbury's Mundy playing fields.

He said: "These trees will help to boost our local biodiversity and help to support our local tree planting initiative.