Thornbury Voice June 2023

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Talent shines through

Help for Roman

A MUSIC festival in Thornbury will help raise money for a Ukrainian boy left badly burned by a Russian missile attack that killed his mother.

PAGE 9

Armstrong Hall call

ONE of the main users of Thornbury's Armstrong Hall has called on newly-elected Thornbury town councillors to help re-open the venue.

PAGE 6

Woman dies after car crash

All change for council

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has new leadership, after the Conservatives lost power at the local elections.

The council's Liberal Democrat and Labour groups, both of which made gains at the Tories' expense on May 4, have agreed to work together to form a new administration.

Liberal Democrat group leader Claire Young is

the new council leader, while Ian Boulton will be the council's co-leader, having taken over as the Labour group's leader following the elections. Announcing the partnership deal two weeks after the elections that ended eight years of Tory control of the authority, they set out a series of priorities for the new administration.

Turn to page 3

A WOMAN was killed when the car she was a passenger in crashed on a busy Thornbury road.

PAGE 2

New schools coming

TWO new special schools are set to open near Thornbury.

PAGE 17

Please contact

Rowena Moncrieffe for further details…

Property experts working in the Thornbury property market since the early 1980’s, coping with fast markets, slow markets, boom or recession but always working our hardest to

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Judges Michael Hulin, George Sargent and Louisa Berrington picked Akira Paterson (front, with trophy) as the winner of their award in this year's Marlwood's Got Talent competition. Picture: H. Birkin Full story: Page 10

thornburyvoice

July deadline

Editorial

Ken McCormick, Editor contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

Thornbury Voice contacts Your views

Richard Drew, Publisher 01454 800 120 contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

Woman dies after crash

POLICE are calling on witnesses to a crash in Thornbury, which claimed the life of a woman and left a man badly injured, to come forward.

The woman was a passenger in a Honda Jazz car which officers say was being driven along Rock Street, towards Midland Way, when it collided with a wall shortly after the Streamleaze junction at about 10.50am on Thursday May 4.

An Avon and Somerset police spokesperson said: "The male driver and female passenger were seriously injured.

"Sadly, the woman died in hospital on Wednesday May 10.

"The driver remains in a critical condition in hospital."

"The woman's family are being supported by a specially-trained officer."

Police say no other vehicles were involved in the collision.

Local information

South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk

01454 868009

Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk

01454 868009

Anti social behaviour team

asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk

01454 868582

Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Environment/trading standards

01454 868001

Police

www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk

general enquiries: 101 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk

General enquiries: 0117 926 2061

NHS Health

Call 111

Well Aware health & social care information www.wellaware.org.uk

Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Thornbury Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered. Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Thornbury Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Richard On 01454 800 120 or contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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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 Thornbury Voice, contact the publisher using the details above. We aspire to follow the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), which holds journalists to a high standard of behaviour. Further details of the complaints process can be found on the Voice website here, or can be obtained by contacting the Publisher.

A member of the

They have called on anyone who witnessed the collision or recalls seeing a Honda Jazz car in the area that morning to call 101 and quote the incident reference number 5223 103 620.

Coronation events cancelled

MAJOR Coronation celebrations planned for Thornbury were cancelled after an "atrocious" weather forecast.

Thornbury Town Council had planned the Coronation Community Picnic for Mundy playing fields for May 6, including a live screening of the ceremony, dressing up competition and activities.

However the poor weather forecast for the day led to the town council calling it off the day before.

The council issued a statement saying the decision had been taken "with a very heavy heart", adding: "We are absolutely gutted about this."

A Coronation Big Lunch planned by Love Thornbury for the following day was also cancelled, with some of the entertainment moved to the nearby Swan pub.

Events that did go ahead included a celebration day at Crossways Schools, with a parade, singing and art workshop.

Elsie & Bea is a beautifully curated lifestyle and gift shop located on Thornbury High Street. A ‘Little Dutch‘ stockist as well as selling plastic free craft kits and children’s accessories.

They also sell wonderful home decor such as dried flowers, framed prints and homeware from ‘Pretty Little Home’.

Sweet treats are also available including Macaron’s, Pic n Mix plus more.

The crash happened near the junction of Rock Street and Streamleaze

From page 1

They include:

*A shared focus on the climate emergency and helping residents with the cost-of-living crisis.

*A review of how the council makes policy, including local decision-making and more public involvement.

*Sharing the council's seat at the West of England Combined Authority, and working to improve local buses and the travel network.

The two groups spent a fortnight ironing out details of a deal following the elections which saw the Tories lose their overall majority.

While they are still the largest party, with 23 seats in the chamber, the 20 Lib Dem and 17 Labour members combined take the two parties above the 31 votes needed to command a majority in the chamber.

The Tories lost ten seats at the elections, including one in Severn Vale ward locally.

The Lib Dems gained three, including one of the two Severn Vale seats, while Labour gained six seats overall.

There was also one independent gain in the elections, at Labour's expense.

After signing the written agreement to form an administration, Cllr Young, who represents the Frampton Cotterell ward, said: "People voted for change in May, following eight years of Conservative rule.

"In discussions with the Labour group it was apparent we had many shared goals to improve the lives of local people.

"We want to take the council in a different direction, working with local people to make South Gloucestershire a better place for everyone.

Cllr Boulton, who represents Staple Hill & Mangotsfield, said: "This is a brilliant opportunity to put forward a new vision for South Gloucestershire.

"We’re aware of the budgetary challenges at the moment, with the Conservative government failing to fund local authorities properly.

"That can change at next year’s general election."

Cllr Boulton took over as Labour group leader following the retirement of predecessor Pat Rooney at the elections.

Lib Dem-Labour deal to run South Gloucestershire Council

Cllr Boulton said voters were "holding the Conservative party to account for the disastrous policies they have imposed on us — both locally and nationally".

Outgoing Tory leader Toby Savage said his party did better locally than on a national level, where it lost more than 1,000 seats, despite losing its majority in the district on a "disappointing evening".

Cabinet members for the new administration were due to be announced following the council's annual meeting on May 24, when the new leadership was being confirmed.

Since the elections, the political groups have been holding discussions while dayto-day running of and decisionmaking for the authority has been managed by senior officers and managers.

Council chief executive Dave Perry said: “The role of officers during this period has been to ensure that the council continues to operate as it should, while supporting members in their conversations, providing, where required, legal and constitutional advice.

"Council officers are ready to brief a new administration once it is agreed by Members at the meeting on 24 May and when a new Cabinet takes up their roles."

The council's new Conservative group leader Sam Bromiley, who represents Parkwall & Warmley ward, criticised the other parties for not involving his group in discussions on the future leadership of the authority.

The former cabinet member for children and young people, who took over as Tory group leader after former council leader Toby Savage stood down at the elections, said: "We are disappointed that Labour and the Liberal Democrats have chosen to exclude the largest party from all discussions on how to run the council.

"On several occasions we have offered to meet to discuss how all residents’ views can be reflected in the new council, but each time this was met by silence."

Cllr Young said voters had clearly "had enough of the Conservatives", while

He said: “I’m encouraged that a number of colleagues have been returned in wards that might well have fallen to the opposition parties were they to be tracking the national position, which suggests that South Gloucestershire Conservatives are outperforming the Conservatives nationally.”

Election round-up:

Pages 4&5

Ian Boulton and Claire Young announce their parties' deal to share power on South Gloucestershire Council.

RESULTS in Thornbury's town council elections mirrored those for South Gloucestershire Council in the town, with the Liberal Democrats topping the polls and Conservatives at the bottom.

Elections were held in three of the four wards that make up the town council - North East, North West and South wards.

In the North East ward, Lib Dem South Gloucestershire councillor Jayne Stansfield topped the poll with 730 votes, ahead of former MP and fellow Lib Dem Mark Oaten with 712 votes.

Independent Helen Ball was third with 532 votes and Green Danny Bonnett took the final seat, with 476 votes.

Two other independents, Geoffrey Kitchen and Helen Moszoro, missed out after receiving 264 and 232 votes respectively, while Franklin Owusu-Antwi, a Tory South Glos councillor who served in the cabinet before the elections, was last with 181 votes.

In Thornbury's North West ward, Lib Dems Phil O'Rourke and Chris Woodhouse topped the poll with 694 and 679 votes respectively, with independents James Murray and John Reynolds - a committee member

Liberal Democrats keep control of Thornbury Town Council

for the Thornbury Town and District Residents Associationwinning the other two seats with 551 and 544 votes.

Independent Gil Gilroy was the candidate who missed out, by 70 votes.

In Thornbury's South ward the four Liberal DemocratsChris Bloor, Cheryl Jenkinson, Helen Harrison and Simon Johnson - were elected to the four seats with 735, 689, 657 and 565 votes respectively.

Rosemary Millar, who ran without a party label, was fifth with 254 votes and Conservative Olivia Owusu-Antwi was another 42 votes behind in sixth, as the Lib Dem candidates secured 85% of the votes cast.

A fourth Thornbury Town Council ward, South East, did not have an election as there were not enough to force a poll and the four candidates who stood - Lib Dems Chris Davies, Kath Greenman and Maggie Tyrrell and Local Independent

Fiona Deas - were elected unopposed.

It means the town council will have 11 Lib Dems, four independents and one Green councillor.

In the other election in the area, Almondsbury Parish Council's Almondsbury ward saw Liberal Democrat Drew Clayton top the poll with 461 votes, followed by independents Antonio Piccioni and Tony Randall, with 397 and 336 votes respectively.

Marion Stooke, who ran without a party label, secured the fourth seat with 229 votes, while Diane Wilson, who also had no

party label, missed out with 216 votes.

No elections took place in Alveston and Olveston parish councils, Charfield Parish Council Rockhampton and Tytherington & Itchington, as well as Almondsbury Parish Council's Compton ward, because not enough candidates came forward to make a vote necessary.

Where seats are unfilled, nominations are reopened and new councillors can be co-opted if not enough candidates have come forward to make another election necessary.

ID rules cost 58 votes

MORE than 50 voters did not cast a ballot in South Gloucestershire's elections after falling foul of new rules on photo ID.

May's elections were the first to be held under new laws requiring proof of identification from everyone turning up at polling stations.

The council's returning officer said the "overwhelming majority" of electors brought photo ID that met the requirements.

A total of 216 electors were initially turned away after turning up to vote without a passport, driving licence or one of a number of other accepted forms of ID.

Of those, 158 returned with identification and were able to cast their ballots.

That left 58 who did not return.

The council says 43,798 people voted in the election and the number of people who did not get to vote represented just over 0.1% of the total who tried.

The council issued a total of 248 Voter Authority Certificates, for people who did not have another approved form of photo ID, before the election.

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Lib Dems gain from Tories' election blues

A BAD election night for the Conservatives was reflected in the Thornbury area.

The party now has only one seat in the Thornbury area after losing one of its two Severn Vale ward councillors on a

Severn Vale

night that it lost overall control of South Gloucestershire Council.

The Liberal Democrats' gain in the Severn Vale ward was one of three made by the party, which now has 20 seats in the

Thornbury

chamber, including all three in Thornbury, where the Tories came last, and the single seat for Charfield.

Charfield

LIBERAL Democrats gained one of the two council seats up for election in Severn Vale ward, with sitting Tory councillor Keith Burchell forced into fourth place.

A close race saw Lib Dem Tony Williams top the poll, just nine votes ahead of the other defending Conservative councillor, Matthew Riddle.

Lib Dem Mark Oaten, a former MP who now lives just outside Thornbury, missed out on a council seat by 93 votes and came third, while Mr Burchell was another 110 votes behind in fourth place.

Labour's Abigail Curtis and Naomi Carroll were fifth and sixth respectively, by a margin of more than 1,000 votes.

Cllr Williams has served as an Olveston parish councillor for many years and is treasurer of Olveston United football club, having been a committee member of for over 30 years, and has previously served on South Gloucestershire Council.

He said: "It is a great honour and privilege to be representing our community again on South Gloucestershire Council.

"I would especially like to thank all those who decided to support the Liberal Democrats for the first time in these elections."

The two Lib Dem received a total of 2,972 votes, 47% of the total, for their two candidates, with the Tories receiving 2,853 (45%) and Labour 536 (8%).

Full result:

Tony Williams (LD): 1,537

Matthew Riddle (Con) 1,528

Mark Oaten (LD): 1,435

Keith Burchell (Con): 1,325

Abigail Curtis (Lab): 307

Naomi Carroll (Lab): 229

VOTERS in Thornbury delivered another victory for the Liberal Democrats - and pushed the Conservatives into last place, behind the Greens and Labour.

Turnout increased to 40% from 39% in 2019, with almost 4,400 voters taking part on May 4.

Four years ago the seat had been a twohorse race between the Lib Dems and Tories, but this year one Green Party and one Labour candidate stood.

And while the Lib Dems again won at a canter, with third-placed candidate Jayne Stansfield elected by a margin of 1,659 votes, it was the Greens' Jen Gash who came fourth, 259 votes ahead of Labour's Alasdair Weekes.

That left the Tories in the last three places, with leading candidate Olivia Owusu-Antwi 57 votes behind Labour.

Full result:

Maggie Tyrrell (LD): 2,718

Chris Davies (LD): 2,682

Jayne Stansfield (LD): 2,679

Jen Gash (Grn): 1,020

Alasdair Weekes (Lab): 761

Olivia Owusu-Antwi (Con): 704

Janet Buxton (Con): 680

John Buxton (Con): 672

Key to parties

SITTING Liberal Democrat councillor John O'Neil comfortably held his Charfield seat at the local elections.

Just over a third of the electorate of 3,628, in one of South Gloucestershire's smallest wards by population turned out, with Cllr O'Neil receiving just over seven in every ten votes cast.

His majority of 615 over Conservative Michaela Crumpton, who received 288 votes, was down by four votes from the last election in 2019.

The Tories increased their share of the vote, from 21% to 23%, but that was still less than one vote for every one three for the Lib Dems.

Green candidate Peter Watts received 86 votes, a 7% vote share and a marginal increase on the share achieved by the third-placed candidate in 2019, who stood for Labour.

Full result:

John O`Neill (LD): 903

Michaela Crumpton (Con): 288

Pete Watts (Grn): 86

Winning candidates Tony Williams and Matthew Riddle

Winning candidates Maggie Tyrrell, Chris Davies and Jayne Stansfield

Winning candidate John O'Neill

Theatre group calls for Armstrong Hall action

ONE of the main users of Thornbury's Armstrong Hall has called on newly-elected Thornbury town councillors to help re-open the venue.

Several of the new councillors elected in May have told the Voice they support plans to get the hall complex back in action as soon as possible.

Now Thornbury Musical Theatre Group has written an open letter, signed by 250 people, calling on councillors to take action before arts in the town fade away.

The group used to stage three large productions a year in the Armstrong Hall, including a sell-out pantomime, but in recent times have had to use out-of-town venues. Its next big show, Sister Act, which will be performed at the Olympus Theatre in Stoke Gifford in October.

The letter calls on Thornbury Town Council and

representatives of the Armstrong Trust "to work together to solve the acute problem of the very large hole left in the cultural life of Thornbury caused by the closure of the Armstrong Hall Complex in 2020".

It continues: "Our rapidlygrowing community is much the poorer for the lack of this facility,

and the creative forces that have long existed in the Thornbury population are in danger of fading away.

"A viability study has shown that the Armstrong Hall Complex can be run successfully with a different management structure and outward-looking approach.

"It is not too late to bring the complex back to life, but this is now extremely urgent.

“The previous town council, as sole trustee, showed a complete lack of ambition and demonstrated a narrow and secretive approach towards the issue, and we call upon you as a new group of individuals to do much better.”

The Armstrong and Cossham Halls were closed at the start of the pandemic three years ago, and never re-opened.

The Armstrong Hall Trust, whose only member is Thornbury Town Council, said essential building work has left it no longer financially viable, and said it was considering selling the site and using the money to build a new theatre beside Turnburrie's Community Centre, in Bath Road.

But the Armstrong Hall Action Alliance (AHAA), set up by residents to save the complex, wants the Trust to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), so others can join the board and progress the plan.

They believe the complex could be restored for £200,000 and re-opened.

TMTG Secretary Geoffrey Kitchen said: "Before covid we had a vibrant and creative arts community. Now we are forced

to look for other venues away from the town, when we need these shows to be communitybased.

“It’s all about the health of the community.

"The Armstrong Hall will bring people to Thornbury as a destination. We need the new councillors to take this issue seriously, as a matter of urgency.”

Several of the new councillors told the Voice they broadly support reopening Armstrong Hall, if it could be made viable.

Newly-elected independent town councillor John Reynolds said a Community Interest Company made up of interested people from the town could take over.

He said: “As soon as there is a CIC, (and the council does currently interact with other CICs), then matters can take a major step forward.”

New Lib Dem councillor Mark Oaten said the issue had taken far too long to resolve.

He said: "I understand the issues are complex but now the new council must work with everyone to find a fast solution.

"I hope the hall can be opened but if the costs are too high then we urgently need a fantastic new option.

"It’s time for strong leadership to bring the community together and make Thornbury a place to be proud to live and visit."

Jill Dimond, from the AHAA, said they were encouraged by the support of new councillors.

She said: "We feel confident that they will try to play their part in getting things changed urgently.

"We’re keen for the trustee to engage with us in a fully-costed business study for reopening the Armstrong Hall and Cossham Hall site and running it as a community business, treasuring its historic purpose and the endowment to the town.

"We want to see a much greater offering for residents in the area, and we want to make Thornbury a more attractive venue for those from further afield, to the benefit of all.”

No-one from the Armstrong Hall Trust was available to comment as the Voice went to press.

Armstrong Hall and Cossham Hall in Thornbury

Mental health services must improve

THE health regulator has told the NHS trust responsible for community mental health services in the region that it must improve.

The Care Quality Commission reduced its rating for the support, treatment and advice Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust provides for adults of working age from 'good' to 'requires improvement'.

The CQC said leadership of the service had also declined from 'good' to 'requires improvement' following the inspection, which took place in February but was published in May.

The safety of services also requires improvement, unchanged from the CQC's previous inspection, while ratings for the services' effectiveness, care and responsiveness all remain good.

The trust also requires improvement overall, says the CQC, a rating unchanged from the previous inspection.

CQC deputy director of operations in the South of England Serena Coleman said: "During our inspection of the trust’s community services for adults, we found deterioration in how well the service was being led.

"Our experience tells us that when a service isn’t well-led, this has a knock-on effect on the quality of care being received by people.

“These leadership issues were beginning to undermine people’s safety, as the service was unable to maintain improvements across some of the areas we looked at.

"For example while we saw improvements in how risks were being managed, we saw new issues with medicines management.

“We saw teams learned from when incidents occurred but didn’t share this learning with the wider organisation, meaning people experienced preventable incidents in other teams.

“However, the service offered a range of treatments informed by best practice and actively involved people in their care decisions.

"People also told us their care coordinators were brilliant and friendly."

A trust spokesperson said: "The CQC has acknowledged that our adult community mental health services remain caring and responsive, which is a testament to our staff during this challenging period.

"However, it is disappointing that the overall rating for the service has declined to requires improvement.

"We are committed to quickly bringing all areas back up to a suitable standard across every CQC domain."

Car park reopens

THORNBURY'S busy Rock Street car park has now fully reopened after a six-month work programme.

South Gloucestershire Council says the car park now has wider spaces, more family parking and eight electric vehicle charging points.

However the overall number of spaces has decreased by 21, with 321 now available.

Disabled parking spaces have been relocated nearer to the shops and parent and child spaces have also been created.

The car park reopened in mid-May and the council says it "worked with the local community to bring forward the opening of the car park".

An announcement from the council's StreetCare team said: "We will carry out the planting and remaining landscaping around the planting seasons.

"We thank people for their patience while the work was carried out."

The timing of the work - part of the council's Thornbury Investment Plan which also includes the controversial changes to the High Street - was criticised as it got underway weeks before Christmas.

The car park faces extra demand with the loss of parking on the High Street and occasional markets held on nearby St Mary Street car park.

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Flowers for Kings at Acton Court

ACTON Court is preparing for its 2023 public opening.

Summer activities include dancing and music with the Tudor Players, accompanied by Merchant’s House Musicians, a Tudor sewing display and demonstration with Lady Sam, a Tudor herb and medicine stall, Owl Occasions, the Acton Court Bee man and a painting activity directed by the artist in residence.

We’re also celebrating British Flower Week with our neighbours Organic Blooms, who recently coordinated the flowers for the Coronation.

At Acton Court they’ll be providing flowers for a different King, Henry VIII.

Acton Court and Organic Blooms have collaborated for a number years, as we’re neighbours and both sites are Soil Association certified.

Acton Court provides a fabulous setting for many Organic Blooms workshops during our opening season and also at Christmas.

This year we’ll be celebrating British Flower Week together. Organic Blooms will be decorating the house, making it ready for the visit of King Henry and Anne Boleyn on July 1 and 2.

wild flower meadows to support the wildlife environment; we cultivate an organic vegetable garden and the glorious display of old variety wild roses should not be missed!

Acton Court is open to the public from May 31 until July 2.

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They’ll also be running a stall and doing demonstrations during the season.

Acton Court also propagates its own

For details and booking information visit www.actoncourt.com, email info@actoncourt. com or phone the information line on 01454 228224.

Music and dancing at Acton Court

Festival will bring hope to Ukrainian war victim

A FESTIVAL of accordion music in Thornbury will raise money for a young Ukrainian boy who was badly injured in a Russian missile attack.

Roman Oleksiv, who is seven years old, suffered severe burns in the bombing, which killed his mother Galyna.

His father Yaroslav is a professional musician and composer, who met Andy Coles, from Downend, online during the pandemic, when they both served on international juries for world accordion championships.

Roman was left disfigured and unable to walk unassisted by the Russian attack on the Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia in July last year, which killed at least 23 people.

Andy said: "We all know about the atrocities in Ukraine, but for me it's personal.

"It was estimated that 45% of Roman's body was covered in external burns and that another 35% of his body was burned internally. Can you imagine?

"Young Roman still wears a face mask because of the burns, but against all predictions is starting to walk again.

"Yaroslav remains in Ukraine with his son, who continues to recover."

Andy, who lives in Downend, is dedicating any money raised at the South/South West Accordion Festival, the local area festival

held on behalf of the National Accordion Organisation, to helping Roman and others.

The charity event will take place at Europa House, Midland Way, Thornbury, all day on Sunday June 11, starting at around noon and finishing at 5pm.

Entry is free, but Andy is asking anyone who comes along to make a donation, either in cash or via website JustGiving.

His employer Motorcycle Direct has made the venue available free to maximise the money raised.

Andy said: "Our first priority is to help Roman.

"Depending on the amount raised, the accordion fraternity has many contacts in Ukraine who would also benefit."

The event starts with a short local accordion competition from mid-morning, with solos, duets and an orchestra.

In the afternoon there will be a concert with a range of different musical styles, with a choir, accordion orchestra and soloists, and a steel band already booked and others in the pipeline, including some traditional Ukrainian musicians.

It is the first regional event for the National Accordion Organisation of the UK since the start of the pandemic.

Free parking is available for about 100

cars at the venue, and refreshments will be available, with all profits going to the appeal. Donations to help Roman can be made at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/musiciansfor-ukraine

For more information, contact Andy at AccordionSW@gmail.com.

Yaroslav Oleksiv and his son Roman, who was badly burned in a Russian attack

Marlwood proves it has talent yet again

A LINE-UP of 12 performers impressed the audience and gave judges a tough job in this year's Marlwood’s Got Talent show.

Fronted by radio presenter Paris Troy, the "glittery, feelgood" event at Marlwood School on May 13 featured musicians, singers and dancers, with a special contribution from teachers and an impressive drumming display from the Marlwood Samba Band to open the event.

Melinda Evans, of organisers Friends of Marlwood school, said the judges - former pupil and teacher Michael Hulin and current teachers Louisa Berrington and George Sargent - had an "impossible job" of picking a winner from the singers, dancers, pianistsincluding one who also played the cello - drummers and guitarists taking part.

In the end they chose Year 11 student Akira Paterson, who sang and played Keane's 'Somewhere Only We Know' on the piano.

Akira said: “I’m honoured to have won Marlwood’s got talent this year - it was an amazing night that I believe everyone enjoyed, so thank you to everyone involved in setting it up.

"Also I have to mention the amazing array of talent on show that night and it makes me very happy to see so many young musicians expressing themselves.

"I’m glad the judges chose me as their winner and even more glad that I made some people cry - my job is complete!"

Winner of the Audience

Vote Daniil Honcharuk also performed a piano solo.

Daniil said: “I thank everyone for the support that I won.

"I was very impressed by it, especially the gifts and the atmosphere.

"I was a little nervous, but most people calmed me down. Thank you to everyone who voted for me”.

Mr Sargent said: "This year’s Marlwood's Got Talent was my first ever, and one I’ll never forget. So many amazing performances - I was blown away and sometimes left speechless.

"There were some very well-deserved winners, and an incredibly well put-together evening."

Melinda added: "It was wonderful to see students supporting and encouraging each other throughout the eveningit’s not easy to get up on stage and perform in front of a packed hall.

"And everyone went home buzzing with happiness and a smile on their face.

"Although not competing for a prize, the incomparable Teachers’ Act was a joyous miscellany of music, costume and comedic hi-jinx silliness.

"MGT really is a fantastic community event, and all monies raised will go towards funding the summer musical being held at the school."

FOMS thanked members and pupils who volunteered to stage the event, as well as the sponsors who donated prizes for the raffle.

For more information about FOMS visit the group's Facebook page or email marlwoodfriends@gmail.com.

Head teacher Seema Purewal shares the stage with Marlwood's Got Talent performers. Picture: T. Holford

Audience vote winner Daniil Honcharuk. Picture: T. Holford

Charity's new day centre up and running

CHARITY Age UK South

Gloucestershire has opened a new activity day centre in Thornbury.

Sessions take place every Friday at Turnberrie's Community Centre in Bath Road, from 9.30am to 3.30pm.

The centre provides services for people aged 50 and over who need support away from home, including people with dementia.

It offers people lunch and other refreshments, and activities including singing workshops, Tai Chi, quizzes, exercise classes and crafts.

The centre also provides entertainment, conversation and one-to-one support.

A spokesperson for the charity said: "As the weather improves and we enter the spring, it is a great time to seek out new activities to get out and about, meet new friends or perhaps learn a new skill.

"It can sometimes be a challenge as we get older and

need assistance to take part in the activities we used to enjoy.

"Activity Day Centres can be one way to enjoy a stimulating day in a safe environment out of the house.

"You may just want to read

willowbrookshopping.co.uk

the newspaper and discuss the issues of the day.

"Whatever you choose to do, you can relax in a safe environment supported by a talented specialist team."

One relative of a user of

another centre provided by the charity in South Gloucestershire, who has Alzheimer's disease, said: "Caring for someone you love is very difficult. I am not a nurse, nor have I ever cared for anyone before.

"My wife loves these activity days, and I get some respite and a chance to do all the basics like shopping, getting my hair cut and some gardening.

"Age UK South Gloucestershire have been great; they help my wife stimulate her senses with music, puzzles and games and help me get through this really difficult time with advice and support."

People who are interested in the service for themselves or a relative are being invited to book a taster session to try out the centre.

For more information call 01454 411707, email dayservices@ageuksouthglos. org.uk or visit www. ageuksouthglos.org.uk.

Day centre supervisor Deb Wyatt with centre users and staff at the centre's Coronation celebration.

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

All packages include an exhilarating water activity, several catering options and an exclusive space with your own party host!

MAKE IT THEIR BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

Carnival tickets go on sale

THORNBURY Carnival organisers have put tickets for the event on sale.

'Early bird' tickets for the event are being offered until a few days before it takes place, on Friday June 30 and Saturday July 1 - although people will still be able to pay on the gate using cash or contactless cards.

This year’s entertainment will kick off on the Friday evening with the ‘Swing in the Park’ which debuted last year and will continue from 11am on the Saturday with the 'Main Event’.

Thornbury Swing Band will headline the Friday evening, while the Saturday event will feature a wide range of acts on the main stage, including Absolutely Elton and Kylie tribute On a Night Like This, along with local acts.

There will be stalls, a funfair, licensed bar and food concessions.

The Main Event will also feature a Show‘n’Shine car show with a range of modern sports, American, and classic vehicles.

Organisers say much of the children’s entertainment will be included in the ticket price, including face painting, mascots, balloon modelling, and a graffiti artist.

‘Early Bird’ tickets for both events are available to buy online until the end of Tuesday June 27, after which they will increase to gate prices.

Carnival committee chair Liam Williams said that, while the event’s costs have risen this year, the committee has been able to keep ‘Early Bird’ prices in line with last year’s gate prices.

He said: "We’re only a small group of volunteers - there’s actually less than a dozen of us on the committee and most of us also work full-time, but we’ve made a huge effort to keep costs to a minimum this year, balancing this with the need to organise and deliver an entertaining and safe event."

Saturday ‘Early Bird’ tickets cost £25 for a family of four (two adults aged 17+ plus up to two children aged 5-16), £12 for adults and £5 for a child aged 5-16.

Entry is free for children aged four and under.

Liam added: "We know many people are feeling the effects of the cost of living rises but when you compare Thornbury Carnival with other options for a family day out, it’s actually great value for money.

enjoying stunning views of our lake.

"For example, a trip to Wild Place is more than £16 for an adult and almost £14 for a child, and the minimum price to see a show at The Hippodrome is £20.

"The 'Main Event' provides up to 12 hours of entertainment, which works out at just £1.00 an hour for an adult, less for a child, but what’s really priceless is being able to enjoy the atmosphere with your friends and family – you only need look at the photo galleries on our website to see how much fun was had last year!”

Tickets and more details are available at the event website www.thornburycarnival.co.uk/tickets.

Dancing in the crowd at last year's Thornbury Carnival.

Picture: Garry Holden

Club's 'exceptional' teamwork is praised

AN out of school club in Thornbury has been praised for its work with under 11s.

Manorbrook

Out of School Club

(MOSC) has been running since 1999 at the school in Park Road. An Ofsted inspection in March this year found it met the quality and standards required of early years providers.

Inspector Stella Orfanidou said children “eagerly” look forward to joining the club once their regular school day ends.

Her report said: “All children, including those children with special educational needs or disabilities, arrive happily, accompanied by the play leaders, and engage in activities that appeal to them.”

She said the children showed excellent communication skills, were sociable and confident and built close friendships with each other.

They also demonstrated their ability to interact with unfamiliar individuals too, for example, eagerly sharing their preferred activities at the club with the inspector.

The inspector said club manager Karen Peacey and her staff actively promoted a healthy lifestyle for children, with a focus on nutrition.

She said: "Children are given a variety of healthy snack options, such as wraps, and staff encourage them to be independent by choosing their own snacks and preparing their food, including adding fruit and vegetable sticks.

"The manager and staff provide excellent support for children with SEND.

"They work together with teachers from the school, parents and other professionals to ensure that children have the support they need and make specific arrangements in the playroom to ensure that the equipment and environment caters to the individual needs of each child.

"There is indoor and outdoor play including group games involving music and movement, learning the importance of adhering to game rules."

Karen was praised for gathering feedback from staff, parents and children, to evaluate the effectiveness of the club, and for maintaining frequent communication with the trustees, who participate in staff meetings to better understand any issues concerning the club.

The inspector said teamwork among staff was "exceptional".

Karen said she was delighted with the report, adding: "The inspector spent time with children, parents and staff and the detailed observations she made during her time with us are clearly set out in the report.

"We are particularly proud that the report reflects how much children enjoy their time at MOSC and the strong sense of teamwork and commitment that is shown by our staff team.

“We work very hard to provide a safe, welcoming and fun environment in the club and we are very pleased to see this recognised through our latest inspection."

The club is looking for more play assistants and workers to join its team.

For more information about the club visit its website at manorbrookosc.org.

Children at Manorbrook Out of School Club

Calendar Girls are coming

A NEW amateur group, Collaborative Productions, is planning a charity performance of hit play Calendar Girls.

The show will raise funds for charities BUST (Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust), supporting the Bristol Breast Care Centre at Southmead Hospital, and Blood Cancer UK.

It is due to take place at Rangeworthy Village Hall on September 21-23, with three evening shows and a matinee.

Following the film version starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, the stage play, based on the true story of a group of friends from a WI who bare all for a charity calendar has been a big hit on the stage, too.

Spokesperson Sue Smith said: "Due to the popularity of this play, it is likely to be a sell-out and early purchase of tickets will be advisable when they become available."

More details will be announced closer to the event.

Octopus Drama Group

THORNBURY'S Octopus Drama Group are putting the finishing touches on their latest production, which will be performed in the town this month.

A Bunch of Amateurs, by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman, tells the story of a fading Hollywood star who arrives in England to play King Lear in Stratford, only to find that he is performing not in the birthplace of the Bard but a sleepy West Country town.

He is also horrified to find that his fellow actors are a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs trying to save their theatre from developers.

As acting worlds collide Jefferson’s monstrous ego, vanity and many insecurities are put to the test. He discovers some unpalatable truths about himself – along with his inner Lear!!

This hilarious script, written by Ian Hislop and Nick Newman is a gift for any amateur group, struggling or otherwise! Ian Hislop’s acerbic wit is in evidence throughout.

Octopus are delighted to welcome Abi McManus into our fold. As director of the play, she is already adding a huge amount of fun to the rehearsals and as an ex drama teacher her ingenuity knows no bounds. This new, all encompassing, production

will have you rolling in the aisles!

Tickets for A Bunch of Amateurs are on sale from Rosie and Rex Gift Shop on Thornbury High Street, priced £8 each.

Performances take place at Christ the King Church Hall, Castle Street, Thornbury from June 14 to 17 at 7.30pm.

This is an adults-only production.

Jenny Dennis

Ian Cornes and Sam Stillman in rehearsal for A Bunch of Amateurs.

Rockhampton Festival

Have you seen our friendly scarecrows out and about again, smiling in the local lanes?

It’s not long now until the Rockhampton Folk and World Music Festival, on Saturday June 17 from 2pm.

This year we have top quality Gaelic folk from two of the best young musicians of their generation - Ainsley Hamill and Toby Shaer - plus music from the Balkans with Bristol Troyka, traditional African harpist Alain Rouamba from Burkina Faso, the Dovetail refugee and asylum-seekers orchestra, Bach and Bubbles and more.

There’ll be participation workshops for all ages with the musicians and our new 'Field Art Gallery' where you can try Street Art on a large board wall using aerosol paint.

It all happens in a small field by the church in Rockhampton and is simply about quality music and having fun in a safe, relaxed friendly atmosphere.

More information and tickets are available from rockhamptonfolkfest.org.uk.

The following day the field will be given over to open-air opera for touring company Opera in a Box's production of Don Giovanni, organised by Armstrong Arts Group and starting at 2.30pm. Tickets for the opera are

available from AAGThornbury@gmail.com.

Chris White-Horne

TMTG Juniors off to see the Wizard

THORNBURY Musical Theatre Group

Juniors are looking forward to performing classic colourful, fantasy musical The Wizard of Oz in July.

The well-known family favourite includes such much-loved numbers as Somewhere over The Rainbow and Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

The Wizard of Oz will be performed from Thursday July 13 to Saturday July 15 at Redmaids High School in Bristol.

It tells the story of Dorothy and her dog, Toto, who find themselves over the rainbow in Munchkin Land following a tornado.

Her house has squashed the Witch of the East causing her to make an enemy of her sister, the Wicked Witch of the West.

Dorothy is helped by the good witch of the North and is instructed to journey on the yellow brick road resulting in her making friends with a brainless Scarecrow, a heartless Tinman and a cowardly Lion.

The four travel on to the Emerald City where they meet the Wizard, but he isn’t

everything that they expect!

Please join us for this timeless classic, great entertainment with a moral twist.

Tickets, from £10, are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/tmtg or 07305

222922

Rachel Bray

Tinman Cameron Phillips, Dorothy (Fran Green) and Scarecrow (Jacob Bray) in TMTG's production of The Wizard of Oz

Two new special schools on the way

TWO new schools for children with learning difficulties are due to open in South Gloucestershire in the next 18 months.

Building work has started on a new purpose-built school at Alveston.

And plans have been submitted to convert a former school at Rudgeway on the A38 into a special needs school.

The new Two Bridges Academy at Alveston is being built in the grounds of Marlwood School, in a collaboration between providers Enable Trust, South Gloucestershire Council, and Castle School Education Trust, with funding from the Department for Education.

It will have 112 places for pupils from nursery to 6th form, from across South Gloucestershire.

It will be run by Thornbury based Enable Trust, which already runs New Siblands School in Thornbury and Culverhill School in Yate.

Enable Trust project officer Tracy Norris said the purposebuilt new school will be for pupils with similar needs to those at New Siblands – young people with severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties, and pupils with severe learning difficulties and autism.

She said: “The building and grounds give the opportunity to allow disability groups access to specialist provision including physiotherapy, indoor and outdoor sports facilities with a hydrotherapy pool, and purposebuilt changing facilities.”

It should be open in

September 2024.

The school is being built in Vattingstone Lane, next to Marlwood School, and will take pupils from across the whole district.

Enable Trust chief executive Andrew Buckton said Two Bridges was “a new and much needed special school to fully meet children’s complex needs, an outward facing supportive centre of expertise to strengthen special educational needs and disability provision in this part of the South West”.

Trust chair Dave Tubb said the board was very encouraged to see this exciting project commence and to be involved in providing excellent and amazing facilities for our pupils’ education.”

Meanwhile a planning application has been submitted by Witherslack Group, another provider of special educational

needs schools, to convert Silverhill, a large old house on the A38 at Rudgeway, into a school.

The group's application to South Gloucestershire planners is for a school for up to 50 pupils aged nine to 19.

It involves changing use from offices to a school, and building two detached outbuildings as classrooms, and creation of an outdoor multi-use games area.

The company, which says it is a “leading provider of specialist education for children and young people” has also advertised on its website for a new head teacher for the school.

The website says the school is due to open in the Autumn of 2023.

It says: “This new school will be a purpose built, brand new, state of the art school, catering primarily for children with Social, Emotional and Mental

Health needs but also providing for children with autism who have moderate learning needs.

“The school will provide education for up to 50 children aged 8 to 16.”

At the time of going to press two objections had been sent to the council’s planning portal. One was concerned for the impact on wildlife, and another said it would create extra traffic.

The building was used as a school from 1949 until 1992, when the former Silverhill School moved to Swan Lane in Winterbourne. The school closed in 2020.

More recently the building has been used as offices.

The plans can be seen on the planning section of South Gloucestershire Council’s website, by searching for reference number P23/00605/F.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in May, held to mark the start of work to build the new Two Bridges Academy.

How the new school will look

Summit involves young in region's future

PUPILS from two Thornbury schools were among 150 young people who gathered for a look in to their future lives.

The Castle School and Sheiling School students joined people from more than 60 secondary schools at Aerospace Bristol in Filton for the West of England Schools Summit, hosted by Metro Mayor Dan Norris, and co-designed with Creative Youth Network.

They were there to learn about the possible careers they might follow in the future and were asked to make their voices heard on key regional issues affecting their lives, with a chance to shape the policy decisions of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority headed by Mr Norris.

The event included a series of interactive workshops led by regional employers, including a session from Bristol Energy Network on cutting energy use and a test of the engineers and planners of the future using a

LEGO model of a city under the shocks and stresses of changing weather conditions.

Ten students were also able to pitch policy ideas to Mr Norris and a panel of business leaders in a live Dragon’s Den-style competition.

The summit included a

‘marketplace’, with information about the skills needed to take up jobs helping tackle the climate emergency and were offered wildflower seeds to help encourage pollinators in the region.

Mr Norris said: “Thank you to all the students who came to my

West of England Schools Summit and for sharing your brilliant ideas to help my Mayoral Combined Authority get on with making our region an even better place to live, study, and thrive.

"They told me their number one issue was the climate and biodiversity emergency we face, but more importantly they also looked for solutions."

Mr Norris said ideas from the young people will directly feed into WECA policy - including an upcoming West of England plan for transport - and said the authority would issue progress reports on how the summit has shaped change.

He said: “This summit was all about asking young people what kind of West of England they want to see - and turning their ideas into reality.”

The event was sponsored by Deloitte, Atkins and Airbus, with Air Giant and the National History Consortium also taking part.

Children at the West of England Schools Summit with metro Mayor Dan Norris

Big changes for Stroud Auctions n

WE are delighted to report huge changes at Stroud Auctions.

First and most importantly, our newly-built saleroom just outside Stroud was completed in mid-May, so the big move will be completed by the time you read this.

With two salerooms, lots of parking and an amazing location only five minutes from junction 13 of the M5, we are thrilled to finally be working from the new building and excited for all our customers to come along and see it too.

If you have ever thought of having something valued with a view to selling at auction, then why not come along between 9am and 4pm on any Friday after June 2?

The second big change is the name of the company, which from the date of our move to the new saleroom will become Harper Field Auctioneers & Valuers.

The change has been planned for some years now, and will come into effect as we move to the new building.

Despite the changes, we are still the same team, under the same ownership.

We are proud to be an independent company, our base firmly in Gloucestershire but dealing with clients from across the world.

With a team of specialist valuers and a global audience, we are the natural choice when you have something precious to sell.

The next auction will be on June 14 and 15, with viewing at our new saleroom on the 13th from 10am-6pm.

With over 1,500 lots of jewellery alone, plus watches, silver, coins and other small valuables, it is well worth coming along to view.

The fully illustrated catalogue is available online: please go to our new website at www.harperfield.co.uk for more details.

If you have any questions relating to auctions in general or our move, please call us on 01453 873800.

We are always happy to help.

Last chance for boosters

PEOPLE aged 75 and over or have a weakened immune system are being urged to come forward to have a covid booster jab by the end of the month.

The current offer of first and second COVID-19 vaccinations will end at the same time as spring vaccinations, on June 30.

After that date the NHS will concentrate on targeting people judged to be at increased risk, usually during seasonal vaccination campaigns.

Those most vulnerable to a covid infection, including care home residents, are being contacted by the NHS at the moment to arrange a jab.

However, carers and loved ones of those most at risk are not eligible for the booster.

Dr Geeta Iyer, clinical lead for the vaccination programme in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, said: “We are learning to live with Covid but cannot afford to be complacent – we are only able to live with this virus thanks to the excellent vaccination rates locally and across England.

"Covid-19 is still in wide circulation, and over 8,000 people are in hospital with a Covid infection.

“Older people and those with a weakened immune system remain at greatest risk of severe illness and being hospitalised from Covid-19, so if you are entitled to a spring top up vaccination, I strongly encourage you to take up the offer.

"It’s quick and easy to recharge your immunity and will give you the protection you need for the months ahead.”

People who are eligible can book an appointment at their nearest doctor’s surgery when invited, or by calling 119.

You can also attend a walk-in community vaccination clinic: local ones are listed online at the grabajab.net website.

n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR

Many happy returns (and singles)

AS your Metro Mayor, there are three things that are constantly on my mind.

The first is the cost-of-living crisis, which is frightening to many of the one million people I proudly represent.

The second is the climate emergency, with the latest research suggesting things are far worse than feared.

The third is, how do we encourage people to voluntarily change their behaviour on an ongoing basis to meet the huge challenges of the modern world?

With these three things in mind, I’m delighted to tell you about a special birthday initiative I’m introducing as your regional mayor.

Starting soon, you’ll be able to ride the buses of the West of England completely free throughout the month of your birthday. This will help your pocket, the planet, and, I hope, see positive change in the way we all travel in future to reduce congestion, pollution and delays.

This innovative offer - which applies to the vast majority of buses running in the West of England, as well as the region’s WESTlink bookable minibuses - begins for lo-

cals with a July birthday and runs 12 months until every resident has had the chance to benefit from their free Birthday Month Bus Pass.

If you’re not a regular bus user, this birthday month of free bus travel is particularly aimed at you. Give it a go - you’ve literally got nothing to lose.

If you are a car user, think how many times you could avoid filling up at a petrol station during the month of your birthday? I hope, with a whole birthday month to try the bus for free, we come to like (even love) bus travel to continue to use it into the future.

Other places in the UK have tried free bus travel for a day, or a weekend, but this is very different. It’s about encouraging lasting behaviour change. Try a whole month - maybe you won’t look back!

This offer is also for you if you’re already a bus user. I hope this birthday bonanza is a boon to you too. A free month to help during the cost-of-living crisis. Plus, you can use it for extra days out too - perhaps to enjoy the amazing attractions and beauty of our fantastic region. You could be better off by one twelfth of the bus costs you shell

Concerns over rape charge rates

ONLY eight percent of rapes reported to Avon & Somerset Police are leading to charges being brought.

Chief Constable Sarah Crew told a meeting of the force's performance and accountability board that it was actually double the number of charges from the previous year but was "not enough".

In the year to April, she said the force brought 141 rape charges, more than double the 69 brought in 2021/22.

Ms Crew said: "We are now in the top quartile for positive outcome rates for rape and serious sexual offences, having been previously bottom quartile 24 months ago."

The meeting heard the number of sexual offences and domestic abuse crimes recorded across the last year has gone down but it was not clear whether this was due to "proactive and preventative work undertaken" or a loss of confidence in the police which is deterring victims from reporting.

The chief constable said: “Increasing trust and confidence is our top priority as an organisation."

Ms Crew is the National Police Chiefs’ Lead for Adult Sex Offences and the police force ran a pilot scheme of a new approach to rape cases, Operation Soteria Bluestone, in 2021.

It involved the creation of a specialist rape investigation team, improved collaboration with victim support services, and a focus on perpetrator behaviour rather than on the credibility of victims.

The approach is now being rolled out in police forces across the country.

The chief constable said: “We believe that what we are learning from Soteria Bluestone has the potential to improve our response to all male violence against women and girls offences.

"The dynamics are the same and, actually, the problems in rape that we are starting to overcome are the most difficult.”

By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice

out annually. It’s super easy to claim your free Birthday Month Bus Pass – simply go to www.birthdaybus.co.uk. We’ll send you your pass in the post, and you’re away!

People tell me buses are important. That affordable transport is critical. That behaviour change of an ongoing kind is key to overcoming the climate emergency.

This initiative to give free bus travel in the month of your birthday is a UK first. It is innovative and new. It allows our brilliant region to show the rest of the country how to take on the big challenges of our time.

I wish you many happy returns - and singles!

Did you know?

61% of fires start in the kitchen

For fire safety advice specific to you and your home, take 15 minutes to complete our online Home Fire Safety Check.

June 9

n THORNBURY PICTURE HOUSE presents Dream Horse, the inspiring true story of a race horse, Thornbury Methodist Church Upper Hall, doors 7pm. Members free, guests £5. For information about membership visit www. thornburypicturehouse.org.

June 13

n EASTWOOD GARDENERS' CLUB June meeting, Turnberrie's Community Centre, 7.30pm. Talk by Nicola Hope will give a talk on designing an organic garden. Doors open 7pm, visitors welcome.

June 14-17

n OCTOPUS DRAMA GROUP presents A Bunch of Amateurs, Christ the King Church Hall, Castle Street, 7.30pm. tickets available from May 9 at Rosie and Rex Gift Shop on the High Street.

June 15

n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP talk by Philip Taubenheim on 'Artistic Antiques', Bradley Stoke Community School, 7 for 7.30pm. Details from Sally on 01454 774401.

June 18

n THORNBURY’S FIRST OPENAIR OPERA: Opera in a Box perform Don Giovanni at Rockhampton Village Hall Field, 2.30pm. Tickets £20 AAGThornbury@gmail.com.

June 30-July 1

n THORNBURY CARNIVAL, Mundy Fields. Swing in the Park Friday evening, Main Event Saturday 11am until 11pm. For tickets and more details visit www. thornburycarnival.co.uk.

July 13-15

n THORNBURY MUSICAL THEATRE GROUP JUNIORS

present The Wizard of Oz at Redmaids High School. Evening shows 7.30pm, plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee. Tickets from £10, available from www.ticketsource. co.uk/tmtg or 07305 222922.

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 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. Non-members 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 Thornbury Town Hall Tuesday 10amnoon. 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 & materials/ pattern. Call Carrie 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 Sue Rowley on 01454 412941 or Louise Wright on 01454 260371.

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.

Wednesday

n BRISTOL SCRABBLE CLUB meets every Wednesday evening at 7pm until 10pm at Filton Community Centre, Elm Park, Filton BS34 7PS. New members welcome- first 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 info visit www.goodafternoonchoir.org, email gac@grenvillemusic.co.uk or call 01761 472468.

n BRISTOL MALE VOICE CHOIR are recruiting new members. 7pm - 9.15pm, St Andrew's Methodist Church, Elm Park, Filton, BS34 7PS. A varied repertoire, no audition. No need to read music - our regular practices will get you in shape to sing at our regular concerts and enjoy the social vibe. www.bristolmvc.org.uk email secretary@bristolmvc.org. uk Telephone 07764447699.

Friday

n HAVEN MEMORY CAFE, Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, first and third Fridays of the month from 10.1511.45am. More details from Stuart Hill on 07913 241437 or Sue Walton 07794 370903.

Saturday

n THORNBURY PARKRUN, 9am, Mundy Playing Fields. Free.

Sunday

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

THORNBURY Library is hosting two special events in June. On June 3 there will be an afternoon of tea, coffee and cake, with international bestselling author Amanda Prowse.

Tickets cost £5 each and are available from Thornbury Library and sglibraries.eventbrite.co.uk.

On Saturday June 10 at 11am you can experience the wonderful world of West African music, with Alain Roumba and Servo Mputu.

Come and hear the amazing sounds of kora, drums, marimba and vocals, and enjoy close encounters with instruments that we rarely get to hear, in a concert staged in collaboration with Rockhampton Folk Festival.

Ukrainian storytime sessions start on June 19 and will take place every Monday at 4pm.

Please tell your Ukrainian family, friends and colleagues about Zoya, a Ukrainian teacher who will share stories, reading and more from Ukraine.

We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers aged 14 and over to join the team running the children's Summer Reading Challenge 2023. The closing date for applications is June 23 - ask in the library or go online for more details.

The Have You Read book club meets on June 2 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.

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 June 19 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.

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

30 candles - but how many more?

EARLIER this year we celebrated the 30th birthday of the Wottonunder-Edge & District Branch of the RNLI, which also covers Thornbury - but the candles on the cake are burning low!

Since we formed, other local branches have all closed through the lack of new volunteers.

We are at risk of going the same way; we have a committee of just five - and none of us are getting any younger!

Next March sees the 200th anniversary of the founding of the RNLI; we would like to celebrate this anniversary, and many more, as a branch.

The role of the Branch is to promote the RNLI, raise funds, promote the RNLI’s safety messages, and provide support to others raising funds for the RNLI locally.

We need new blood on the committee to ensure that we can add more candles to our birthday cake. It does not require a big commitment, The committee meets only as needed (perhaps 4 times a year) to plan events and oversee the monies raised, and we plan what we do around the availability of our volunteers. We would welcome people with ideas, contacts or skills – even if they have limited availability to help with events.

Please contact me at John_ Barnett@rnli.org.uk for further information.

John Barnett Chairman - RNLI Wotton-underEdge & Thornbury District Branch

I'm excluded from the High Street

I REITERATE Clive Washbourne's feelings in his letter (Voice, May). I am absolutely astounded by what has been done to Thornbury High Street. The whole place has been vandalised!

I contacted the council very early in this debacle to voice my concerns. I had the usual 'We're not doing anything definite. Consultations will be held'.

As a disabled, older person I feel completely excluded from my place of birth. I still have family here, whom I visit on a regular basis. The High Street, however, is inaccessible for me. A once thriving, quirky, old fashioned (in a positive way) high street is like

a ghost town. Hang your heads in shame, you high-handed people of the council, who seem to think that they 'know what's good for people by ignoring residents' opinions!

Helen Wheeler

You could be missing out on help

A MESSAGE for anyone of pension age who is struggling financially: come forward - you could be

missing out on up to £3,500 of pension credit, a benefit open to pensioners who are on a low income.

It is unclaimed by so many people - an estimated 4,000 in South Gloucestershire - who might not realise they are entitled to extra money.

To be eligible for pension credit, you must have reached state pension age, not have too much income or savings and live in the UK.

To find out what you are entitled to, and for help making a claim, visit Citizens Advice faceto-face drop-in sessions in our Yate office on Mondays (4-6pm), Tuesdays (10am-3pm) and Fridays (10am-1pm), or our outreach session at Thornbury Town Hall every Tuesday from 10amnoon, call 0808 278 7947 or visit southgloscab.org.uk.

Emmanuelle Claverie Citizens Advice South Gloucestershire

Takeaway General Manager

We are on the search for an experienced Takeaway General Manager to join us in Thornbury, you could be part of our team!

Deep Blue Restaurants Ltd, locally serving sh and chips, we have been established since 2003 and welcomed Harrys Ramsdens into our family in 2018 making us the largest sh and chips provider in the UK. We have also added and internal Street Food Brand!

If you are passionate about food, love producing high quality food and want to deliver an exceptional product and customer experience then we have the job for you. We provide ongoing training and career development for our teams.

As a Takeaway General Manager, you will need -

- Experience of managing teams

- Budget P&L, health & safety, stock, recruitment, training and all store management

- Restaurant or fast-food experience

If this sounds like you, then apply today. We cannot wait to meet you and welcome you into the team of dedicated and hardworking people that deliver great sh and chips and customer service every day.

Soft plastic recycling scheme expands

I AM delighted that every house in South Gloucestershire will soon be able to have their softplastic recycling waste collected at the kerbside, following our successful campaign.

Thousands of households across South Gloucestershire, including homes in Olveston, are already part of the trial, which is seeing items such as plastic bags, cling film, bread bags and crisp packets collected along with other recyclables in weekly collections.

More than 1,000 bags of material are being collected from residents every week, reducing the amount sent to landfill.

This initial success has helped us make the case that houses in households in Thornbury,

Alveston, Tockington and the other Severn villages should also have their soft plastic collected, along with the other recycling, every week.

The national trial is helping to inform the Government and industry how soft plastic waste can be added to existing household recycling collection services, with plans to introduce consistent collections for all households in England in 2027.

Too many residents in our community have found it difficult to access soft plastic recycling, so when the opportunity came along, we submitted a bid to the Government which centred around South Gloucestershire’s impressive record for recycling rates, and the region’s mix of

urban areas and rural villages, which will be perfect for softplastic recycling.

We launched a community petition, and I held a debate in Parliament, pressing the need for our community to be part of the scheme.

I also met with the Minister for Nature Recovery and the Domestic Environment, to hammer home the point that there is strong local demand for soft plastic recycling.

I am grateful to everyone who supported our campaign to make this happen, by signing my petition, supporting the debate in Parliament, and backing the application from the local Council.

Delivering soft-plastic

recycling is a key part of our positive plan for the environment in South Gloucestershire.

It will help boost our local recycling rate, and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

I am determined to see through a full roll-out of this scheme to every house in South Gloucestershire.

Luke Hall MP writes for Thornbury Voice

BRITAIN'S best-selling classical singer is set to appear in South Gloucestershire at a charity's outdoor festival.

Russell Watson is the headliner for the tenth annual Music in the Meadows open air concert in Iron Acton on July 1.

The event, organised by local charity Acton Aid, attracts hundreds of people to Iron Acton Parish Meadows every year.

The bigger sister event on Friday June 30, the Mash in the Meadow, will feature a mix of rock and pop music, led by Queen tribute band Flash.

Money raised will go to fund local good causes, and a bucket collection at both nights will raise money for St Peter’s Hospice.

Acton Aid spokesman Rob Taylor said: “To attract Russell Watson to our Music in the Meadows is a major coup for Acton Aid.

“He will be appearing on a large professional stage, backed by the Bristol Millennium Orchestra.

“We look forward to welcoming a large appreciative audience for a very special evening in Iron Acton Parish Meadows.

“They can bring their own picnics or enjoy local foods from various stalls.

The finale of the Saturday evening will include Last Night of the Proms music followed by a spectacular fireworks display.”

Acton Aid is a not-for

Classical star Russell Watson to play charity festival

profit-organisation which is run entirely by volunteers from the village of Iron Acton.

Past events have funded local projects including an all weather track at the Parish Meadows, play equipment and Christmas parcels to around 100 pensioners in the parish each year.

In the past the bucket collections have raised money for the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity and Ukrainian refugees.

Last year the two events were attended by 2,000 people, raising £3,500 for good causes.

Russell Watson has been described by the New York Times as a performer “who sings like Pavarotti and entertains the audience like Sinatra”.

He shot to fame after winning a local radio competition in 1999 – and his debut album The Voice was number one in the UK classical music album charts for 52 weeks.

He has performed for the royal family, the late Pope John Paul II, former US presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush, and the Emperor of Japan.

Watson has also collaborated with artists including Meatloaf, Lionel Richie, Paul McCartney,

Lulu, Alexandra Burke, Sean Ryder and the late Luciano Pavarotti.

Flash are the UK’s leading Queen tribute band, and are returning after appearing at a previous Mash in the Meadow.

They will be supported by Joey the Lips – described as “the Nation’s funkiest ten-piece band”.

Over the years they have supported big names including Bob Geldof & The Boomtown Rats, Will Young, UB40, Gabrielle, and Bananarama.

Acton Aid's Richard Hunter said the tenth Mash could be the most successful ever.

He said: "We are so excited to showcase two world class acts.

“The evening will be a wonderful start to the weekend. A full range of food stalls and a well-stocked bar will enable the audience to feast, drink and dance to their favourite music.”

Acton Aid was formed more than 40 years ago, and the twin concerts are their most high profile fund raising events. Anyone in Iron Acton parish who needs assistance from the charity can apply for help through its website www. actonaid.org.uk, where tickets to the Mash and Music in the Meadows are also on sale.

Win tickets to see Russell Watson at Music in the Meadows

The Voice has teamed up with Acton Aid to offer you the chance to win one of three pairs of free adult tickets, worth £100 per pair, to see Mash in the Meadows on the Friday and then Russell Watson & Guests Live on the Saturday.

Simply follow this link and answer a simple question about Russell Watson to be in with a chance to win. Good Luck!

www.actonaid.org.uk/2023-music-competition

Classical star Russell Watson

Queen tribute act Flash

Castle School Friends

MORE than 80 students, parents and carers came together for a fun-filled evening of bingo in the Castle School main hall.

It was the first time Castle School Friends have run a bingo evening and it was a great success.

Seven rounds were played, with various prizes including a £40 Linela school clothes voucher, an air fryer, a drone, with the main prize being an annual family membership to Old Down Country Park, which was won by Olivia Hawkins.

We were particularly pleased to welcome lots of Year 6 children who will be starting at Castle School in the Autumn. It was a great chance for them to visit the school and meet their future classmates while having fun.

A pop-up bar provided refreshments and our bingo callers for the evening were volunteers Tracy and Simon Appleyard, who resorted to using a loud hailer for calling the numbers over the hubbub in the hall, which was very amusing.

Two new Castle School Friends committee members were also recruited, rounding off a really great evening which brought people of all ages together, under one roof, for a fun time.

Justin Warr Chair, CSF

Thornbury Volunteer Centre

VOLUNTEERS’ Week is an annual celebration of the contribution

millions of people make across the UK through volunteering in their communities.

Volunteers Week takes place on June 1 to 7 every year, and it's a chance to say thank you, to celebrate and inspire.

The aim is to show that there’s more than one way to volunteer and encourage people to take that first step into volunteering.

Do you want to volunteer but don’t know where to start?

Volunteers’ Week is an ideal time to have a chat with Thornbury

Volunteer Centre and let us know what you’re interested in and find out more about local volunteering opportunities - there are all kinds available.

As well as helping others, volunteering has been shown to improve the well-being of the volunteer, help you gain valuable new skills and experiences, and boost your confidence.

So, to all the new volunteers who have come forward this past year and to all those who volunteer regularly please accept our very grateful and massive thanks, you are the people who make our communities strong. To those of you who are thinking of volunteering we look forward to hearing from you.

Thornbury Volunteer Centre is open from 10.30am to noon, Monday to Friday, in Thornbury Town Hall - no appointment necessary.

Alternatively, visit our website at www.volunteer-thornbury.co.uk and search the many opportunities online.

Or you can email us at: mail@ volunteer-thornbury.co.uk.

“The care that she received from everyone was above and beyond what we could have expected. All the staff who looked after her were brilliant. Really kind and respectful.”

Hilary, Sister of Resident at Field House (source: carehome.co.uk)

The Castle School Friends bingo evening in full flow

MARATHON season is upon us again.

Marathons attract experienced as well as amateur runners. For some participants this may be a yearly undertaking but for many, this may very well be the first endurance race they have ever signed up for.

Running a marathon is no easy undertaking and it requires a lot of physical as well as mental preparation, usually following a set program which sets weekly targets

Preventing injuries in long-distance runners

to build up mileage and muscular endurance.

It is not uncommon to experience injury while training, which can delay achieving weekly goals or even prevent you from running the race entirely.

Ensuring a training program is effective and specific to you can help reduce the risk of injuries.

Here are a few points which may help:

Warm-up

It is very tempting to just ‘go for a run’ but a warm-up will increase your heart rate and respiratory rate, which in turn allows muscles to take up more oxygen, contract and relax efficiently.

It helps activate the connections between your muscles and nervous system to improve the efficiency of movement as well as encouraging mobility in the body.

A good warm-up should involve a variety of dynamic, slow and fast exercises which target all the muscle groups needed for the run.

Most injured runners we see as physiotherapists warm up with a slower-paced run for a few minutes before gradually building up to their desired pace, which does not target the full function of the muscle groups to be used in the run and can in turn increase the risk of injury.

Endurance Training

Endurance is the ability of the body to withstand exercise over a prolonged period of time.

A gradual increase in running mileage over a number of weeks should allow your body to adapt to running longer distances, with appropriate rest to allow time for muscle recovery.

The rate of increase should depend on your previous running experience and how much time you can devote to preparing for the marathon.

Strength and conditioning

Resistance-based training can help improve muscular strength,

allowing muscles to work more efficiently, improving running economy and performance without increasing body mass.

Strength training can be done at home or in a gym and should be performed twice weekly.

Rest and Recovery

Muscle fatigue is normal in longdistance running and causes a change in strength, muscle function and running technique, all of which can result in an injury.

Overtraining syndrome is a common risk when it comes to training for marathons.

Rest days are essential for muscle recovery and should be given the same importance as reaching the desired mileage.

Long distance running is a challenging but rewarding experience. I wish you all the best in your preparation and with the right regimen, you will seize the day.

Erica Bonnici Mallia is a senior physiotherapist at the Thornbury Clinic.

Alveston Jubilee Hall Community Garden

FOR some years prior to the lockdown, the enclosed space behind the Hall was a safe play area for the pre-school children who attended the nursery there.

They relocated to St Helen’s Primary school and our rather neglected “garden” had few visitors other than the wildlife (the Alveston Rainbows and Scouts had created a specific area some years ago) and a group of ladies who would continue to meet there for coffee and a chat when allowed, rain or shine, throughout the covid period.

In 2022 there was a competition which appealed for the development of green spaces to attract nature and this coincided with the Trustees of the Hall inviting anyone who might be interested in caring for that space to provide suggestions.

Although we did not enter the competition, it led to consultations across our community and we are now beginning to see the results of our endeavours.

There will be a welcoming space comprising a Peace Garden (with WI seat in memory of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee), a large patio area, and then grass extending into wildlife-friendly planting.

The vastly overgrown cornus hedge is being replaced by a border of attractive, wildlifefriendly shrubs and, gradually, other appropriate planting will be completed.

Following the removal of the dying ash saplings and an enormous old euonymus (which was physically compromising the corner fencing), the first plant to arrive will be a beautiful scarlet hawthorn, which is donated by the Alveston Twinning Association with Courville sur Eure (36 years) and celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The considerable task of relaying a new and safe patio has been done by Alveston resident Dan Morris, a landscape gardener, who gained the generous support of the SW supplier of garden materials, Kellaways.

The Alveston Forum, led by Peter Waller, has managed the banking of the finances and Alveston WI has agreed to maintain the garden in the future.

MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Stand with us against knife crime

IN May I attended the first ever Avon and Somerset Police Outstanding Policing Awards, a remarkable opportunity to honour the outstanding achievements of the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe.

May also marked the start of Operation Sceptre, a national targeted initiative to reduce knife-related violence, increase public safety and engage communities in the fight against knife crime.

Proactively tackling knife crime is central to my police and crime plan, and I would encourage people to safely discard any weapons or knives they may carry in the ‘weapons surrender bins’ installed by Avon and Somerset Police.

The bins are in areas where we know they are needed, and offer people a safe and anonymous way of getting rid of a weapon. If you know someone who carries a weapon, please encourage them to surrender it. You can find your nearest bin in the crime prevention advice section of the police website.

Avon and Somerset Police and partners already carry out a large range of activities to raise awareness of and combat knife crime, and the Violence Reduction Units’ work is at the heart of this, delivering talks to young people in schools, running Blunt Truth workshops in partnership with the NHS and hosting pop-up information stands.

While we have seen a reduction in street-based knife crime across Avon and Somerset, more still needs to be done to ensure people feel safe in their communities. Let’s raise awareness, educate, and stand against knife crime.

As the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners’ national fraud lead, I also welcome the publication of the government’s long-awaited strategy, setting out how it plans to tackle fraud and bring more offenders to justice.

This strategy, and the accompanying Economic Crime Plan, is an important step forward. I fully support the Government’s three-pillar approach to stop, block, pursue, and

Fortunately it should not be difficult, as it will not require intensive gardening, and the larger area is rather more informal to welcome the wildlife.

The team who have worked together to develop this garden hope that in the future it will be appreciated by Alveston residents and visitors, whether it is offering a quiet place for contemplation, somewhere attractive which welcomes the wildlife, or a pleasant space for chairs and tables where we can enjoy tea and coffee.

It is a splendid asset for the Jubilee Hall and, going forward, we consider it certainly greatly increases the potential for various workshops and activities.

We are looking forward to an opening celebration in the near future.

Marion Reeve, Clare-Louise Nicholls and Maggie Rowley

to educate the public.

I have been able to have a direct impact on two important areas within the strategy, which will ensure there is national central coordination of prevention and awareness messaging, and ensure banks are delaying and doing extra due diligence checks on large BACS payments out of accounts that could be fraudulent.

However, the strategy does not recognise some fundamental challenges, including the highly complex landscape of investigating fraud, which needs to be fully supported.

I am calling for more to be done to recognise this crime’s significant impact and harm on victims. Fraud can leave lasting mental and physical trauma, with some victims taking their own lives.

Finally, I am pleased to say that the Commissioner’s Crime Prevention Fund grant has opened for applications.

This grant, set up by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in partnership with Somerset

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Shelford

Community Foundation and Quartet Community Foundation, aims to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour through community projects and activities.

Community groups previously awarded this grant have delivered some fantastic crime-reducing initiatives and activities.

I implore local organisations to apply for this worthwhile funding, to reduce anti-social behaviour and make our communities safe.

Alveston Jubilee Hall

Ros and Walter win rain-soaked Badminton at a Canter

ROS Canter defied conditions to take her first Badminton Horse Trials title with a huge 15-penalty advantage aboard Lordships Graffalo.

Leading from start to finish, Ros carried a dressage score of 22.1 into the demanding crosscountry phase, where heavy rain made the going testing and led to just 30 horse and rider combinations completing the course out of 58 who had set out to tackle it.

No-one got round within the optimum time but former world eventing champion Ros and her 11-year-old bay gelding, known as Walter, were the second quickest and earned praise for their seemingly effortless performance.

They then went clear in the final day’s showjumping phase, accruing just 1.6 time penalties to finish on a final score of 35.3.

They were way ahead of runner-up Oliver Townend and his Olympic team gold medallist Ballaghmor Class, and thirdplaced Irish Olympian Austin O’Connor on Colorado Blue.

Double Olympic medallist

Picture:

Tom McEwen, from Gloucestershire, was fourth on Toledo De Kerser, Tom Jackson took fifth position with Capels Hollow Drift and Gemma Stevens was sixth with Jalapeno. Ros also rode her second horse, Pencos Crown Jewel, into ninth place.

Medals for martial arts students

A MARTIAL arts team from Thornbury is celebrating after students took home UK Champion titles or were awarded silver medals in a top-class competition.

Members of Thornbury Taekwondo Academy took part in the UK International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) Finals Day, which was held at the town's leisure centre on May 13.

Only Black Belt competitors who had qualified at the National Championships in March were able to take part.

Coach Gavin Reader, who has achieved the rank of 2nd degree Black Belt in the Korean martial art, said: "It’s a privilege to take part in such an event, where competitors are at the top of their game.

"To make it through is an achievement in itself, and we are very proud of the team.

"The students had taken the lessons of their previous competitions and worked hard to improve on their performance. It’s about doing the best you can and learning from it

where possible.”

She said: "Walter is an amazing horse - it’s a privilege to have him in our lives.

"The cross-country was a serious question but he’s really light on his feet and so honest.

"This was one of the most challenging riding weeks I’ve ever had but to win at

Badminton is just what dreams are made of."

The international, presented by Mars Equestrian, had accepted 64 starters but six withdrew before the feature cross-country phase.

Top 16 finishers included past Badminton winners Pippa Funnell (Majas Hope) and William Fox-Pitt (Grafennacht), as well as South Gloucestershire former Team GB rider Harry Meade (Away Cruising).

Harry, of West Littleton, near Tormarton, said: "This is a really special moment. I tried to ride him sensibly from the start on the cross-country because of the conditions and we got home."

But Bristol’s Alexander Whewell and North Somerset’s Selina Milnes were among 11 who retired on the cross-country course.

A further 17 eliminations included Oliver Townend, on his other horse Swallow Springs, who was pulled up by the officiating ground jury and given a warning for dangerous riding.

Lynne Hutchinson

Phoebe Grandfield, a 4th degree black belt, Kieran McDermott, a 3rd degree, Ben Turner, a 2nd degree and Grace Leppard, a 1st degree black belt, competed at the event. And they took home three UK Champion titles – two for sparring and one for patterns – and silver medals.

Thornbury Taekwondo Academy was set up in 2001 by Vaughan Buxton, a 7th degree black belt and a British, European and World title holder. He has been training in the art for over 30 years.

Students from academies across the region regularly attend his black belt and squad training sessions every other Saturday.

An Under-18s male team event he helped coach also won gold in patterns and silver in sparring.

Health benefits of Taekwondo include improved balance, flexibility, stamina, strength and posture. Psychologically, it is reported to help develop confidence, selfesteem and resilience.

Thornbury TKD trains at Thornbury Leisure Centre every Monday and Thursday, along with Black Belt and squad sessions every other Saturday at Turnberrie's Community Centre.

For more information, call Vaughan on 07866 685099, email info@thornburytkd. com or visit the thornburytkd.com website.

Badminton Horse Trials winners Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo at the Mars Equestrian Sustainability Bay cross-country fence.

Copyright Badminton Horse Trials Ltd

Kieran McDermott, one of the Thornbury Taekwondo Academy UK Champion title winners, in action. Picture: Thornbury Taekwondo Academy.

n SPORT

Title triumph for Thornbury Town Reserves

THE curtain has finally come down on a successful season at Thornbury Town.

Although the first team and A team seasons had finished in early April, the Reserve team faced a backlog of fixtures, and ended up playing their last seven games in just 14 days.

Despite some injuries and availability issues, the Reserves did not let their heavy schedule deter them from their title aspirations.

A 7-0 home win against Henbury was followed by another big win, when visitors Totterdown United were beaten 5-1.

The team then faced three away games on the trot - but the travelling didn’t worry them, as a 7-0 win at Lawrence Rovers was followed by a 9-0 victory at Henbury Reserves and then a 6-0 thrashing of Longwell Green Sports A.

This left Town needing a win from their last home game, against long-time leaders Bedminster Down.

A good-sized crowd created a noisy atmosphere at the Mundys as Town secured a comfortable 3-0 win, with Stan Wyatt scoring

twice and Ollie Wilson the other.

Presentation of the Bristol & District League Senior Division trophy was made to skipper George Huke after the game.

Three days later the champions made the trip to runners-up Highridge United and, despite missing some key players, still managed to secure a 1-1 draw.

It was an excellent season for the Reserves and joint managers Jake Shutler and Simon Evans,

Town's girls sides complete seasons

THORNBURY Town Tigers Girls under-15s finished their league season with a win away from home.

The team, which has only been going for two seasons, dominated the game to beat Ashton Girls 2-0, with goals from Annabelle Drury and Summer Nightingale.

It was the first game the side had kept a clean sheet, with the defence working hard to

with just one defeat in the league and a goal difference of plus 87!

Preparations for the forthcoming season are already under way, with the first team having been confirmed as members of the Hellenic League Premier Division for the third successive season. Thorns will face a number of new teams, with Highworth Town, Cinderford Town and Slimbridge having been relegated from the Southern League,

whilst Pershore Town have been promoted from Division One.

Meanwhile, former nonleague 'giants' Worcester City have been switched from the Midland League.

The management team of Richard Joyce and Gary Kemp have committed to the club for the coming season and are pleased to confirm that the majority of last season’s squad will remain.

With the addition of a few new faces, it is anticipated that Thorns can improve on their 16th place finish last time around.

With the Reserves looking to consolidate in their new surroundings in the Bristol Premier Combination and the A-team aiming to mount a promotion challenge from their league, things are looking positive at the Mundys.

The Club are also hoping to reform their U18 team, and a further announcement about this should follow soon.

New players are always welcome to try out for any of the sides, and should keep an eye out on social media sites for the start of pre-season training.

Malcolm Carr

prevent goal-scoring opportunities and shots being saved by keeper Alex Williams.

It has been a challenging season for the Tigers, in a league combined from two divisions, which meant they played against well-established sides with talented players.

But the team got stronger with every game they played, and beat Longwell Green twice and secured a draw against Emerson’s Green – two teams that dominated the U14s division last year – and beat Ashton twice.

Meanwhile, Thornbury Town Tigers Girls U13s completed their first season after forming a side last year.

Some of the girls had never played football before, but showed great determination and improved as the season progressed.

Thornbury Town vice-chairman Graham Smith said: "There is a lot of passion locally

for girls' football, and we wouldn’t be in the position we are now without the hard work of Jack Harrison-Bond and Eleanor Bush, two local people who have dedicated so much time to get things up and running.

"We are grateful to our sponsors, Howdens Thornbury, who have helped to fund the kit for the girls teams, and I would like to thank coaches and parents for their continued support.”

Next season, the girls' division will have three age groups – U16, U14, and U12.

The club is currently looking for a coach, ideally with the FA Level One coaching qualification, to lead the U12s side, supporting existing helpers.

Anyone who is interested should email ebush15@outlook.com.

Ian Drury, Coach (U15s)

Thornbury Town Reserves' title celebration

Thornbury Town Tigers Girls U13s

Thornbury Town Tigers Girls U15s

RUBBISH CLEARANCE