thornburyvoice www.thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2020 Issue 36
FREE EVERY MONTH IN THORNBURY AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES
Saved from the chop 'Gross failures' in hospital care A CORONER has ruled that a hospital’s neglect contributed to the death of a Thornbury nurse from cancer at the age of 49. PAGE 6
Outstanding school
Members of the Woodland Action Group in Thornbury celebrate their victory in the entrance Vilner Lane Wood. CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating a major victory after plans to sell off woodland in Thornbury were abandoned by South Gloucestershire Council. The council had first earmarked Vilner Lane Wood, near the town’s leisure centre, as a site for a nursing home six years ago. The site had not been sold but the council had remained open to offers, with reports that
a developer had shown an interest in the site surfacing late last year and sparking a campaign to save it. A petition was raised and protests staged at the site, which is home to a community composting facility.
INSPECTORS say pupils and staff at a village primary school are ‘flying high’, as it earns the highest possible rating from Ofsted. PAGE 3
Tax bill up THE average total council tax bill for Thornbury households is now nearly £2,000 after the latest set of increases. PAGE 9
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March, 2020
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Woods are saved, as parties argue over the credit From Page 1 Campaigners from the Woodland Action Group, set up to protect Vilner Lane Wood, gathered more than 1,500 signatures calling for the site to be saved, including 600 gathered in a single day of action in January. Proceeds from a sale of the site have been incorporated into every South Gloucestershire Council budget since 2014 and at the start of last month the ruling Conservative cabinet recommended a 2020/21 budget which assumed a sale would take place. But in a surprise announcement at a full council a week later, council leader Toby Savage said the wood would not be sold after all. Action group vice-chairman Brett Harrison said: “When we established a Woodland Action Group back in 2016 we had
no idea we could get so much support from the Thornbury community. “Obtaining 1,526 signature to our e-and paper petitions was quite an achievement. “We are sure that we could have got many more if we had got the paper petitions organised earlier. But we achieved the result we wanted – a stop to the proposed development. “Now we are faced with developing a relationship with South Gloucestershire Council that will make the woodland a true community asset. “We are already embarked on encouraging a forest school, but there is so much healthful potential in this small patch of woodland. “Recent publicity about the benefits of ‘forest bathing’ has opened another avenue. “But this has to be balanced, as always, with the importance of a relatively undisturbed habitat.
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Cabinet councillor Ben Burton (fourth left) meets Vilner Lane Wood campaigners It will not be easy.” The decision over the sale became the subject of a row between the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups on South Gloucestershire Council, with the Lib Dems saying they had forced the Tories into a u-turn, while the Tories said the Lib Dems had proposed the sale in the first place. The original decision to dispose of the woods by competitive tender to a care home developer was made by a cross-party committee in 2014, following a proposal from a Lib Dem councillor. Thornbury needed a new nursing home at the time – but has since gained the Grace Care Centre, and two more are planned. The climate emergency has also changed attitudes towards the preservation of green space. Cllr Savage said that saving the trees was in line with the council’s promise to become carbon neutral by 2030. The expected revenue from the sale remains confidential - it was expected to “support community infrastructure in Thornbury”. Cllr Savage said: “Liberal Democrats took the decision to sell Vilner Lane and Conservatives are saving it. South Gloucestershire has made a firm commitment to its residents that we will become carbon neutral by 2030 and every tree we plant, every solar panel we install and every person we get out of their cars and walking, on bikes or on public transport is a step towards that.” Cabinet councillor Ben Burton, who has responsibility for capital sales, said: “I am thankful to the many Thornbury residents, numerous community organisations and the local MP Luke Hall for taking the time to write to me with their views on
this important issue. It certainly played an important role in this amendment which protects this site and our wider budget plans. “It is important that we invest wisely in our communities, on the services and infrastructure we provide. But if we are not listening to our residents and are following through on poorly made decisions then we are not doing our jobs correctly.” Lib Dem deputy leader and Thornbury councillor Maggie Tyrrell said: “I do not believe the Conservatives would have changed their mind had it not been for the pressure put on them by local people. This is a true victory for people power. Vilner Lane Wood is a valued space in Thornbury and its contribution to the environment is important.” The party’s group leader, Claire Young, said: “We are delighted that, having been subjected to a campaign to save Vilner Lane Wood by residents and Liberal Democrat Councillors the administration has seen sense. This is the right decision for both the environment and the community in Thornbury. Last year South Gloucestershire Council passed a motion declaring a climate emergency. If we truly mean that, we cannot sell off sites like Vilner Lane Wood for development. “It is disappointing that it has taken the administration so long to see sense on this issue and remarkable that, having argued since October that selling Vilner Lane Wood would leave a significant gap in the financing of key projects, on the eve of the Council’s budget meeting the administration have presumably found the money elsewhere.” “We welcome the fact that they have belatedly come round to our way of thinking on this issue.”
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March, 2020
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n NEWS
Education at St Helen’s is outstanding, says Ofsted
AN Alveston school and its pupils are “flying high” after inspectors said it provided pupils with an outstanding education. St Helen’s Primary was visited by a team from Ofsted, who said it had a “highly ambitious curriculum”, with challenging work that left pupils with a “deep and impressive understanding across a range of subjects that prepares them exceptionally well for the next stage of their education”. The education watchdog evaluates primary schools in five different areas: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. St Helen’s, which has 206 pupils aged four to 11 on its roll, was rated outstanding in all five areas, having been rated good at its previous inspections in 2015 and 2018. Inspectors Nick Sheppard and Steve Wigley said: “‘Flying High’ is the vision that sits at the heart of St Helen’s Primary School. “Leaders, staff and governors are highly ambitious for all pupils. This ambition flows through all aspects of school life. “Leaders make sure that teachers set work that challenges pupils and ingrains a passion for learning. “Pupils are well-rounded individuals and are remarkably well prepared for secondary school. This is because teachers help them to develop deep
knowledge and skills in a wide range of subjects.” The inspectors, who visited the school in Greenhill Road during December, said pupils were highly motivated and enthusiastic, adding: “All staff have very high expectations of what pupils can achieve.” They highlighted the teaching of reading as the heart of the curriculum, with pupils quickly becoming confident readers and given help and support if they struggle. The inspectors said teachers “understand pupils as individuals” and provided “expertly matched” support which meant that pupils with special educational needs or disabilities did well. They praised the school’s leadership and “highly effective” governors and safeguarding arrangements. The reception class was described as a “lively and exciting environment to learn in”, giving children “a flying start to their school career”. The inspectors said: “The school is a nurturing and caring environment. Pupils’ behaviour is impeccable. “Pupils are keen to do well. They say they love their school.” Executive head teacher Andy Spens said: “The Ofsted outcome is an achievement that the whole school community has played their part in and should be proud of. “The commitment from the
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whole school staff, governors, parents and most importantly our fantastic children to ‘flying high’ each day and
demonstrating our values in action is what makes St Helen’s such a special place to learn and work in.”
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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
March, 2020
n NEWS
Shake-up of care fees CHANGES to the fees charged to people who have to pay for their own adult social care are being planned by South Gloucestershire Council. The council has launched a consultation on the changes, which will see new charges of up to £295 introduced for some people, as well as changes in rates which would see some going up and others coming down. The changes affect people who fully fund their own adult social care and have over £23,250 in savings (not including their home). At the moment there are three different rates available for day care: £171.30 per day for Learning Disability care, £96.30 day rate for Dementia day care and a £66.20 day rate for specialist day care. The proposal is that these should be replaced with just one day rate of £96.30. The council says 11 existing users and around four new users per year would end up paying more. The other proposal would introduce a fee for around 100 people who pay for their own care and ask the council to arrange it for them: £295 to start, another £75 a year and another £295 for some other changes. Cabinet councillor Ben Stokes said the changes were needed to "keep up with rising demand and costs". The council says the changes will not affect anyone already using council services. The consultation runs until March 17. Surveys are being sent by mail to everyone the council believes will be affected by the proposed change. More information can be found in the consultation section of the council’s website. If approved, the new arrangements would come into effect on June 1.
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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March, 2020
5
n NEWS
Storms bring havoc to motorway
The lorry which was blown over on the M48 collided with the cables of the Severn Bridge
Workers repaired the cable casing before the bridge reopened.
TREES and walls were blown over and the Severn Bridge was closed for two days as storms lashed the Thornbury area. The overturned lorry which shut the M48 was the most dramatic incident as Storms Ciara and Dennis blew in on consecutive weekends. The Severn Bridge had already been closed to traffic and reopened when the articulated lorry, which had an unladen curtain-sided trailer, was blown over as it travelled on the eastbound carriageway towards Aust on Monday, February 10. The driver suffered minor injuries and there was also damage to the bridge’s crash barriers and cable casing, which had to be repaired before the motorway could be reopened. Highways England South West Network Operations Manager Rob Penney said:
speeds reach 34.6mph and when they reach 40.3mph a lane is closed in each direction. At wind speeds of 46.1mph, high-sided vehicles and motorbikes are diverted across the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge. The Severn Bridge was shut after the incident on the morning of the 10th, with the westbound carriageway reopened at 11.30am the following day. The eastbound carriageway stayed closed as the weather conditions were not good enough to recover the lorry. It was eventually removed in a two-hour operation on the evening of the 11th, when the bridge was fully closed again. The eastbound carriageway was not fully reopened until the evening of the 12th. A South Gloucestershire Council received spokesperson said the authority 28 emergency calls for fallen trees before 10am
“Despite employing safety procedures on the M48 bridge, a sudden spike in the winds during Storm Ciara resulted in an unladen curtain sided lorry being blown over. “Thankfully, the driver only received relatively minor injuries. The recovery operation was delayed to gusting wind speeds and we worked quickly to fully reopen the bridge as soon as it was safe to do so.” The Severn Bridge is frequently subject to lowered speed limits and closures during high winds. Highways England uses weather prediction services and monitoring equipment to help it decide when to being them in, with wind speeds on the bridge often very different from those shown on local land forecasts. The agency reduces the speed limit to 40mph when wind
Have you seen suspect? POLICE are trying to trace a man with South Gloucestershire connections who is wanted for burglary offences. Martin O'Neill, 21, is wanted in connection with two distraction burglaries in the Avon and Somerset police area. Officers say anyone who sees him should call 999 and quote the crime reference number 5218 197 748. Anyone who thinks they know where he is should call 101 and give the same reference number.
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on February 9, at the height of Storm Ciara. The highest recorded gust speeds at the council’s three weather stations that day was 59mph at • Grovesend, just outside Thornbury. Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called to 41 incidents across its area on February 9, including broken glass, lose signs and downed power lines. In Thornbury, crews were called to a collapsed wall that had fallen onto a footpath. During Storm Dennis on February 15-17, 39 emergencies were reported to the council, including 19 fallen trees, 13 floods, two fallen power lines, two fallen street lights and a damaged building. At least one home in Thornbury was hit by a tree.
VE Day grants
SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is offering community groups, town and parish councils the chance to apply for a grant to fund events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day. The council has put by £30,000 for grants to organisations planning events over the bank holiday weekend May 8 to 10. The funding has come from the council’s budget to tie in with the movement of the May Day bank holiday to Friday May 8, which is the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Grants can be applied for to fund a range of expenses including publicity costs, PA hire, insurance, marshalling and entertainment. The closing date for applications is noon on Thursday March 5. For more information about the grants and how to apply, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/veday75 or call the council’s grants team on 01454 865865.
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n NEWS
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March, 2020
‘Gross failures’ contributed to Julie’s death THE husband of a Thornbury woman who died after her cancer was repeatedly missed has called for an independent investigation after a coroner found “gross failures” in her care. Julie O’Connor died in February last year from cervical cancer after being wrongly informed that a smear test in 2014 and biopsy in 2015 were normal. An inquest into the 49-year-old nurse’s death was held at the end of January, with Avon Coroner Maria Voisin concluding that her death was due to "natural causes contributed to by neglect". The coroner added: “The failure to report the smear test accurately was a gross failure and the further assessments in both August and November 2016 were also gross failures.” She has called on the Health Secretary to look in to the case. Julie’s husband Kevin said she had repeatedly seen her GP over 14 months and been referred a number of times on the twoweek cancer pathway to Southmead Hospital. Gynaecologists told Julie in October 2015 that an endometrial biopsy was negative, and the hospital had also provided a "false positive" result to a routine smear test carried out the previous year. Her GP sent Julie back to Southmead twice more. The first time she was told her cervix "looked normal". In November 2016 she was still unwell, and specialists saw her in February 2017. She was due to undergo further tests at Southmead the following month but decided to see a consultant at the Spire Hospital. On examining Julie, the consultant immediately suspected cervical cancer, which was later confirmed. Further tests showed the disease had spread and Julie underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy but it was too late to save Julie, who died in a hospice. During the inquest at Avon Coroner's Court, expert witness Professor John Tidy said that, had the cancer had been diagnosed
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Julie O’Connor and her husband Kevin.
Julie appeared in a video shortly before her death to raise awareness of the issue.
earlier, Julie would have had surgery and a "good prognosis". Kevin said there had been "systemic failures" in North Bristol NHS Trust’s care of his wife. He said: “We were advised the initial scan in March 2017 had been wrongly reported, and the metastases could be seen in the original imaging. “I remain extremely concerned that a proper wider independent investigation has not taken place. “This negligence is of serious public concern and (the investigation) should scrutinise present and past decisions by North Bristol NHS Trust. “There may be other victims who have received false negative pathology reports, and false gynaecology clinician examinations, at the North Bristol NHS Trust, who need to be reviewed.” North Bristol NHS Trust has accepted making mistakes and Julie and Kevin
successfully sued the trust for negligence before her death. After the inquest, trust deputy medical director Tim Whittlestone said: “Firstly I would like to repeat on behalf of North Bristol NHS Trust our sincere apology for the mistakes we made in failing to diagnose Julie’s cancer. “I would also like to say how sorry we are to her loving family and friends for causing them pain, distress and loss. “We accept the findings of the coroner and support her actions to build on our correspondence with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. “Secondly I would like to reaffirm that North Bristol has investigated these errors and, more importantly, that we have learnt lessons from our mistakes. “Finally I would like to reassure patients that as a result of Julie we have improved the way we examine patients and diagnose cervical cancer.”
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March, 2020
7
n NEWS
Praise for ‘high quality’ children’s club A CLUB which provides before and after school care has been praised for its “enthusiastic” staff and “extremely happy” children. An inspector from Ofsted visited St Mary's Thornbury Out Of School Club, based at St Mary's Primary School in Church Road, in January. In her report, which has just been published, inspector Jan Harvey said the club’s owner aimed to ensure that “every aspect of the club is of high quality and benefits children”. The inspector said: “Children develop excellent relationships with each other and staff. They are extremely happy and settled and learn to respect each other highly. “Children learn to be very independent. They make their own choices from the resources and activities that staff provide to stimulate children and engage their current interests. Children of differing ages play very harmoniously together. “Staff help children develop an excellent understanding of the world they live in.” The inspector said many of the staff also worked at the primary school and overall there were “very good partnerships with parents and the host school”. She said: “Staff promote children's emotional well-being very effectively and take time to get to know each child.” The club was founded in
Children making slime at St Mary's Thornbury Out Of School Club, which has been highly praised by education watchdog Ofsted 2011 and has 85 children aged between 4 and 11 on its roll. It opens from 7.40am to 8.45am and from 3.20pm to 6pm on weekdays during term time, with spaces for 40 children at each session. Ofsted has recently changed the way it rates out of school and holiday clubs, and no longer uses the same grades it gives to schools and preschools, such as the outstanding rating given to
AN independent school and home for children with special educational needs has been given more than £4,000 to create a new sensory facility. Sheiling School Thornbury was given the donation by Motability Operations, which runs the Motability car, powered wheelchair and scooter scheme to get people with disabilities mobile. The organisation chose Sheiling School as one of its charities after seeing a Facebook request by the school’s head of human resources, Alison Davis, for a donation of mugs for the school kitchen. Throughout the last year Motability has donated Easter eggs and footballs, arranged a visit from Pudsey Bear and presented a tablet as a raffle prize before taking the whole school to a special pantomime performance, including goody bags for everyone to take home. Now Motability has topped it with a donation of just over £4,140 from panto
the club at its last inspection in 2015. Instead the regulator now only says whether clubs meet its requirements and recommends any action needed to improve further. By saying the club met its standards with no actions needed, Ofsted gave it the highest grade an inspector can award. Club owner and manager Cath Purchase said: “We are
delighted with the feedback we received from the inspector about the quality of care we provide. “After visiting, the inspector commented that the report would represent the most positive comments she was allowed to write! “It’s wonderful to have this recognition that that our club continues to provide the highest quality of childcare.”
£4,000 donation boosts school ticket sales and fundraising. Alison said: “We are hugely grateful to the team at Motability Operations. We were really delighted to receive 12 new mugs and the amazing thing is how that first contact turned into a really strong ongoing relationship of valued support. I have a sense of awe that something so great can come from an initial simple request. It reignites my belief in human kindness and it is really touching.” Sheiling School will use the donation to soundproof and buy instruments for a new music room being created for pupils, as well as ‘sensory swings’ for two of its residential houses. The school still needs a small amplifier and microphone for the music room and is also looking for donations and bids for its new Ebay auction.
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Sheiling School Nico Sialleli (left) and head of human resources Alison Davies (right) with the Motability team Anyone who would like to donate or help fundraise should visit www.sheilingschool. org.uk for more details.
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n NEWS COUNCILLORS have backed a couple’s bid to build a brand new family home on green belt land after their barn conversion went wrong. Natalie and Mark Robbins bought land at Mumbleys Farm, near Thornbury, with the intention of turning a barn on the site into a “modest family home”. National planning policy allows agricultural buildings to be converted for residential use. But a “mistake” during the conversion saw so much of the steel barn demolished that Mr and Mrs Robbins lost their “class Q permitted development rights”. They pleaded with councillors to let them build a home on their land at Sweetwater Lane, between Thornbury and Elberton, saying they had been wrongly advised and now faced “financial ruin”. “If planning is not granted it will have a devastating effect on our family and future,” Mrs Robbins told the planning committee.
March, 2020
Bid to build new home on greenbelt is backed
Sweetwater Lane near Thornbury But a planning officer argued that there were no special circumstances in this case to
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justify making an exception to the rule that there should be no new residential development on the green belt. The committee heard that the couple had the support of a number of local residents and local councillor Matthew Riddle. In a statement read out to the committee, Cllr Riddle said he believed the barn’s loss was a “genuine mistake” and that the couple’s plans would provide “much better landscaping and appearance than the Class Q permission and the existing arrangement of old, redundant farm buildings”. Members mostly argued in favour of allowing Mr and Mrs Robbins to build their new home during a development management meeting on
February 6. Brian Hopkinson (Con, Bradley Stoke Central) said it was “common sense” in this case. “On balance, I don’t see there’s a problem with putting this application through,” he said. But Katie Cooper (Lab, Staple Hill and Mangotsfield) said she was worried about setting a precedent for future applications on the green belt. “It’s the green belt that we’re meant to be protecting the most,” she said. Members voted six to two in favour of granting retrospective permission to demolish the barn and build a detached dwelling in its place. They cited “very special circumstances”, such as the opportunity to landscape the land in a way that enhanced its appearance, which outweighed the harm caused by building on the green belt. A final decision will be made by the council’s spatial planning committee, at a date yet to be set. Under council policy, the higher level committee must consider the proposal afresh because the first decision went against officer recommendations. Class Q permission is a form of permitted development which was introduced in 2014 and allows the change of use of certain buildings from agriculture to residential use. By Amanda Cameron, Local Democracy Reporting Service
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March, 2020
9
n NEWS
COUNCIL tax payers will see the average overall bill rise to more than £1,975 in Thornbury this year. South Gloucestershire Council has agreed a £232 million revenue budget, which will see the cost of the authority’s services rise by 3.99 per cent to £1,543.37 for a median Band D tax payer, up £59.22 from £1,484.15 last year. Just over half of the increase is a precept to be spent exclusively on meeting the growing cost to the authority of adult social care services. Thornbury residents also pay for the services of Thornbury Town Council: its budget has risen from £664,783 to £715,300 and the £136.13 precept charge for Band D residents is up by 5.3% from £129.27 last year. In addition a charge for “special expenses” – £16.58 for Band D tax payers – is added to bills for South Gloucestershire services which are specific to the Thornbury area. Residents living in areas covered by Alveston Parish Council will pay £41.73 for its services – down from £42.03 last year – plus £4.49 special expenses in Band D. Olveston Band D tax payers face a £74.29 parish council precept – up from £68.92 last year – and a £5.01 special expenses bill. The bill for policing services
Average Thornbury council tax bill nears £2,000 will rise by £10 per Band D household this year, from £217.81 to £227.81 – a rise of 4.59% - while Avon Fire Authority has increased its precept by 1.99% to £74.94 for Band D tax payers. The overall Band D bill in Thornbury will be £1,978.23, up £77.73 on last year, while in Alveston it will be £1,871.74 and in Olveston it will be £1,904.82. Bills vary according to the size of property a resident lives in: in Thornbury this ranges from £1,318.81 for Band A to £3,956.46 for Band H. As well as spending on services and day-to-day operations, the council plans £145m in capital spending on roads and building projects, while a further £219m will be spent on council-run schools, up
by £11.4m. Council leader Toby Savage said the budget would deliver “the best possible value for money, while also taking action to respond to the climate emergency and improve our local environment”. He added: “We have been able to increase spending in some key areas this year, including on schools, where we continue to work hard to deliver our number one priority, which is to drive up educational standards for all.”
Labour group leader Pat Rooney said accused the council of failing residents in three key areas: schools, Metrobus, and the Joint Spatial Plan. She said: “The Conservatives have been in control of South Glos for the past 10 years and our secondary schools are still at the bottom of the national league tables. Parents see little or no improvements, and we are still suffering from a cash starved Schools budget.” Liberal Democrat leader Claire Young said two amendments to the budget, over protecting “environmentally valuable land” from sale and supporting men and LGBT victims of domestic abuse had been accepted by the ruling Conservatives. But she added: “We are disappointed that the Conservatives declined to accept our perfectly reasonable amendment that, in light of reports that the Chancellor has asked for Government departments to look for 5% cuts, the Council should write to the Government asking for local government funding to be put on a sustainable long-term footing.”
Council tax bills 2020-21 Parish
Tax revenue
Almondsbury: £155,660 Alveston: £54,690 Aust: £5,341 Falfield: £6,952 Hill: £850 Oldbury: £15,577 Olveston: £66,506 Rockhampton: £3,080 Thornbury: £715,300 Tytherington: £30,000
Band D precept £74.39 £41.73 £24.18 £29.39 £16.31 £42.46 £74.29 £36.92 £136.13 £90.03
Special expenses charge
Total council tax
£2.04 £1,901.95 £4.49 £1,871.74 £0.19 £1,849.89 £2.56 £1,857.47 None £1,841.83 £0.23 £1,868.21 £5.01 £1,904.82 £3.79 £1,866.23 £16.58 £1,978.23 £9.20 £1,924.75
Figures from South Gloucestershire Council
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March, 2020
n NEWS
Repair cafe trend is catching on
ALVESTON’S repair cafe is going from strength to strength, with everything from TVs to leather handbags being brought in for fixing. The first Alveston Repair Café last year saw 23 household items saved from going to landfill. February’s event at St Helen’s Church saw a big increase in visitors, and 75 items brought in for attention – despite being staged at the height of storm Dennis. Repair cafe organiser Peter Waller, of the Alveston
Community Forum, said: “People were coming in out of the rain at such a rate that it almost overwhelmed us. “Fortunately, with 17 volunteers repairing things, an efficient admin team and of course a refreshments team distributing coffee, tea and a mountain of cake, we were able to do justice to the numbers.” Of the 75 things brought in, 39 were either repaired on the spot or advice was given leading to a repair. A further 15 items were taken away by
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the volunteers to be repaired at home. The team of volunteer repairers included several new, including a ceramic repair expert who fixed seven items ranging from jars and jugs to figurines. There was also an expanded team with electrical and electronic skills. A bicycle team offered a bike health check with support and spare parts from Pete’s Cycles of Thornbury. Peter said the health check is expected to be a major part
of future Alveston Repair Café events, of which three more are planned this year. Among the items repaired was a leather handbag used by its owner for more than 20 years, which was revived with some new stitching, and a flat screen TV which was brought back to life after some “tinkering” by an electronics expert. Peter said: “A miracle? – Well we were in a church!” One tricky item – a 100-yearold rocking chair with a snapped rocker – is still being worked on by volunteers. Peter added: “While working on a blender, two of us spent half an hour trying to undo a nut. We were very frustrated and had tried everything when I wondered if it was a left hand thread. It was! The job was done in 30 seconds. You live and learn!” The next Alveston Repair Café sessions will be on May 2, September 12 and November 14 at St Helen’s Church, all between 10am and 1pm.
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2020
n NEWS
New bike paths plan CYCLISTS being able to ride against traffic on one-way streets and pedestrians having priority over vehicles pulling out of side roads are among the ideas in a vision for getting people out of cars. The West of England Combined Authority wants to know what residents think of its walking/cycling strategy, which includes dozens of walking routes and cycleways in the region. It has launched a public consultation on the infrastructure plan, which includes a segregated cycle path along Gillingstool and Grovesend Road, another segregated path with redesigned junctions to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on the length of Morton Way and widened paths on Rock Street and Castle Street through the centre of the town. The blueprint, along with a separate bus strategy, will fit into the latest version of the Joint Local Transport Plan for Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset. The proposals also envisage new 20mph zones in South Gloucestershire. Metro mayor Tim Bowles said Weca wanted “to make walking and cycling the natural choice for short journeys in the West of England”. He added: “More people are now choosing to cycle or walk because they have the safe, traffic-free routes to do it". The plan could see a total of £411 million spent on pedestrian improvements in 30 high streets and 55 continuous cycle routes over the next 16 years, although all are subject to further technical and design work, consultation and funding. To take part, visit www.travelwest.info/ transportconsultations or call 0117 428 6210 to ask for a paper copy of the consultation documents and respond by March 15.
11
More Metrobus routes on way in transport plan A METROBUS service for Thornbury and a park and ride between the town and the Almondsbury interchange are all part of a new transport blueprint for the region. The Joint Local Transport Plan aims to make walking, cycling and public transport the “natural” way to travel around the West of England. It includes an £8.9 billion wish-list of projects for completion in the region by 2036, including a £2.5billion “mass transit system” with sections of underground rail. The revised plan, published at the end of January, follows a public consultation last year that drew around 4,200 responses. But it is already facing calls from Thornbury campaigners to be redrawn, because it is based on assumptions from a housing strategy which was axed after criticism from government inspectors. The plan’s authors say the goal of ensuring transport is carbon neutral by 2030, in line with the climate emergency declared by all four councils in the area, “requires a substantial modal shift away from cars to public transport, cycling and walking”. It means congestion charges for motorists are now seen as “likely”, as are fuel tax increases. The plan acknowledges private cars will remain “essential” for some, but envisages most of the vehicles remaining on the road by 2036 will be electric. The plan envisages a mass transit system branching out from central Bristol to the north, south and east of the city, involving on-street trams or light rail rather than underground, which would be expensive. Metrobus routes from Almondsbury to Thornbury, Bristol city centre to Avonmouth and Severnside, and to Bristol Airport are also in the plan. A new park and ride for the A38 between the Almondsbury Interchange and Thornbury is included. And the long-discussed junction 18A for the M4 between Hambrook and Tormarton, with a link road to Yate, is also in the plan, along with the
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Roger Hall from Thornbury Residents Against Poorly Planned Development calls for the transport plan to be scrapped at a council meeting extension of the M4 Smart Motorway scheme from the M32 junction east to the A46 junction. Changes to the way private and commercial vehicles are used are being mooted, including road user charges, cutting parking spaces, a workplace parking levy, congestion and emissions charging, delivery hubs for online retailers to replace doorto-door deliveries and pooling of space in delivery vehicles are also up for discussion. South Gloucestershire Council has confirmed its support for the plan, which now has to be adopted by other councils in the West of England Combined Authority, despite opposition from campaigners and local Liberal Democrat councillors. At a meeting of South Gloucestershire Council on February 12, Roger Hall from Thornbury Residents Against Poorly Planned Development (TRAPP’d) said the council should “throw the plan back at Weca and tell them to start again”. Mr Hall said the plan should be based solely on existing or committed housing rather than levels predicted in the spatial plan which was thrown out by inspectors last year. But council cabinet member for planning and transport, Steve Reade, said the area needed an “up-to-date” transport plan “regardless” of the failed joint housing plan.
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
12
March, 2020
n NEWS
Disease hits Memorial Woodlands trees TREES planted at the Bristol Memorial Woodlands have been hit by fungal disease ash dieback. A small number of ash trees planted in the 1990s, when the woodlands at Alveston first started operating, have been hit by the fungus, which originated in Asia and was first spotted in the UK in 2012. Bristol Memorial Woodlands offers plots for burials or the interment of ashes, with trees planted as a memorial. As a result of the disease ash trees have been removed as an as an option for mourners at the 100-acre site, which is a regional centre for environmentally friendly funerals. Founder Christopher Baker said: “It is a great shame, as we are creating a natural woodland parkland that will be there for future generations and ideally we would like all species of native British trees. “The ash is a tall and graceful tree that is wonderful for
Memorial Woodlands founder Christopher Baker with one of the trees affected by ash dieback encouraging wildlife but at the moment it seems we need to clear out the affected trees. Once we are convinced that the fungus is gone or resistant strains have been developed, we will revert to offering ash trees.
“At the moment we are able to offer families oaks, willow, cherry, apple, pear, rowan and silver birch so there is still a wonderful choice of native British species. Planting depends on the time of year and state
of the ground, but people find it a wonderful way to mark the passing of a loved one. “I remember when Dutch Elm disease robbed the British countryside of our magnificent elm trees and it is a shame that ash is now being affected in this way. Families who purchased an ash have been informed and replacement species have been arranged.” Bristol Memorial Woodlands was set up to offer unhurried burials at its chapel and garden, and a more environmentally sound alternative to traditional cremations and funerals. The woodlands are intended as a living memorial, where friends and family can visit long after a burial has taken place and which will be managed in future by a charitable trust. More information on Bristol Memorial Woodlands can be found at www. memorialwoodlands.com.
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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2020
13
n NEWS
Netball success for Marlwood girls MARLWOOD School is building a reputation as a powerhouse in schools netball after sending two teams to the South Gloucestershire finals. Following a breakthrough last year when the school’s Year 7 and Year 8 teams won their leagues – the first such successes for the school in a decade - and went on to become champions, the 2019/20 season saw a record turnout for the number of girls turning up to netball training. Between them the year 7, 8 and 9 teams lost only 2 of the 20 league matches they played. PE teacher Rhian Morris said: “At one point it looked like no one could stop us and we were heading for 3 league wins, until we played Winterbourne Academy. Our Year 7 and 8 teams fought hard but narrowly missed out on the wins. This put the year 8 team out of the running, causing them to finish
Marlwood’s Year 9 netball champions Ateca Smith, Emma Champion, Emmie Tillson, Zoe Kellet, Abigail Harris, Chloe Chatfield, Rosie McLaren, Amy Kerton and Megan Smith second in the league, however our Year 7 went through as winners on goal difference. Year
9s were clear winners of the league, keeping a clean sheet, with no team able to conquer
them.” At the South Gloucestershire Schools County Finals, the Year 7 team lost to 17-5 to Kings Oak Academy despite an excellent team effort and strong leadership from their captain Jazmine Webb. The Year 9s faced Sir Bernard Lovell Academy, the same opposition they faced in last year’s final when they were in Year 8. Rhian said: “We knew it was ours to win, after beating them strongly last year. However, the girls still had to go out and play their best, with excellent shooting from Amy Kerton and Zoe Kellett giving us an early lead. It was a closely fought match for the majority but our strength, solidarity and determination in the last quarter caused us to pull away with a finishing score of 31-22.”
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Melford House 6 Oaklands Business Park Armstrong Way, Yate, Bristol BS37 5NA
Tel: 0800 091 32 52
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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
14
March, 2020
n NEWS
Time to have your say on town’s future vision RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on the Thornbury Neighbourhood Plan The Voice reported details of the vision behind the plan, which has been worked on by a group of town councillors and volunteers for three years. It was due to open for consultations on February 29, with the plan going on display at the town hall and library, as well as online at www. thornburyplan.co.uk. People are being encouraged to have a look, then let the organisers know what they think in a survey which can be filled in online, or on paper at the town hall and library, and returned. The plan and survey will be available until April 25. Organisers are being guided by a vision which aims to retain Thornbury’s historic character and sense of community, protect green spaces and access to the countryside and be resilient to climate change while providing
Members of the Thornbury Neighbourhood Plan steering group sustainable and affordable homes, a vibrant town centre and quality local jobs. They say all comments will be looked at and changes made if necessary. The final version of the plan will go to a referendum
of all residents of Thornbury parish for approval and, if approved, will become part of the planning requirements for any development in the area. Thornbury Neighbourhood Plan chair Tricia Down said: “We want your views on the draft
plan. Please read it, come and see us and talk about it or simply fill in the survey – but please respond!” Representatives will be at the St Mary’s Centre on March 7 and April 18, and in the Cossham Hall on the morning of March 21. scan to find out more
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thornburyvoice
March, 2020
15
n THORNBURY CLINIC
Focusing on recovery
Gemma King is a massage therapist at the Thornbury Clinic. Gemma has a wide array of skills to enable her to offer sports and remedial massage as well as relaxation and pregnancy massage.
W
ITH January and February already behind us, I hope your new year's resolutions haven’t gone too far out the window! I’m sure you’ve all smashed your targets, started that new dance class, got those morning stretches in, started a mindfulness practice and continue
to work towards whatever your goals may be. If you’ve just begun a new exercise regime or if you’ve been a fitness fanatic your whole life, remember that recovery is always important. We know exercise and keeping active is great for us, but it can take its toll on our bodies too, if we overdo it. Pushing too hard when you are already tired can lead to poor movement patterns, which may lead to injuries. Make sure you’re getting time to recover between sessions, and build rest days into your routine. Recovery time allows your body to heal and strengthen itself, for your tissues to repair, your energy stores to replenish and for it to grow and adapt to what you’ve just thrown at it. Rest days are a good opportunity to take some time out to stretch, do some yoga, go for a gentle walk or grab a coffee with a friend. If you’re struggling to find motivation, finding it hard to wake up or drop off to sleep at night, feeling extra stress or feel a bit of a niggle somewhere in your body, it might be time for a rest day. Recovery is needed for your mental as well as physical health. Building in rest days can help create a healthy balance between home, work and fitness goals. Making time for recovery will mean that the next time you grab your running shoes or football boots, you’ll feel like you’ve got the physical and mental strength to give it everything! To further aid in your recovery,
we recommend getting regular massages, stretching and foam rolling. These can be really beneficial in speeding up the healing process, shortening recovery time and in preventing injury. Massage can help by increasing blood flow and lymph fluid, both assisting in the body’s natural healing process, speeding waste removal and assisting in general health improvement. Lactic and uric acids are natural byproducts of exercise, but these can be lessened with a sports massage by helping blood and lymph flow in the body and increasing the waste output. Massage also maximizes the supply of nutrients and oxygen through increased blood flow, which will help your body rebuild itself. At the clinic we offer sports and remedial massage, as well as relaxation massages. Relaxation
4 Castle Street, Thornbury, Bristol BS35 1HB
Facilitating Recovery, Preventing Injury
Treatments we offer include: Sports injury treatment Injury assessment & treatment Sports massage • Relaxation massage Pregancy massage • Clinical Psychology
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massages can be great to help unwind, de-stress and help with mental recovery, which is just as important as the physical side. We all have a variety of stressors in our lives, whether it be as a parent, in your career or as an athlete. Massage has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve mood, lower anxiety and relieve stress and tension. A stressed athlete is not going to perform at their best or have the focus needed for training. Make sure you take time out of your busy schedules to allow yourself to de-stress and unwind. It will do wonders for your mental and physical recovery. If you have any questions, please give us a call or drop into the clinic. We love hearing from you. Keep working hard and recovering well!
17/05/2019 14:34
info@thethornburyclinic.co.uk www.thethornburyclinic.co.uk
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16
March, 2020
n STROUD AUCTION ROOMS
Cap badges – and a mantrap – capture auction bidders
W
EAPONS and militaria took centre stage at Stroud Auction Rooms' February sale. A private collection of over 4,000 Army cap badges took up all of day two of the auction, and several made exceptionally good prices. The single-owner collection was begun in 1945 and included a Royal Marines brass collar badge, which sold for £700; eight British Army Royal Engineers and Royal Signals metal shoulder titles, including three Territorial examples and RE Signal Service example (£550) and two New Zealand Army WWI 25th and 27th Mounted Rifles Reinforcements metal hat badges (£550). Two WWII Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders sporrans and tunics made £600. With over 1,300 online bidders taking part from around the world, there was particularly strong competition for the Australian and New Zealand badges, and after the sale the packing and postage team were kept busy organising delivery
to winning bidders around the globe. Very few auction salerooms offer a postage service, something Stroud Auctions has done for 10 years, and the additional bidders this attracts increases hammer prices. The guns and weapons section drew a large number of bidders into the saleroom, and results included a 20 bore side-by-side double-barrelled flintlock hammer action gun by Joseph Manton of London, which sold for £2,800, a William Powell & Son 12 bore side by side ejector shotgun which made £1,250 and a Winchester .410 underlever three-shot repeating shotgun, which sold for £850. In the popular toy section a Marklin Der Adler centenary 18351935 three rail electric 0 gauge train set, with tender, locomotive, two closed and one open passenger coach sold for a pleasing £2,300; a 19thC taxidermy study of exotic birds in glazed case made £1,300, while a collection of 115 various PC and computer games,
Military cap badges in the latest Stroud Auction Rooms sale attracted bids from around the world. all in original boxes, went under the hammer for £950. Of local interest was a late 18th century mantrap, with double spring mechanism and semi-circular trap with protruding metal teeth, stamped 1794, which
had been owned by the Hancox family of Daneway House, who also owned surrounding estates. Included with the lot was a reference to an incident in which the son of Henry William Hancox was caught in the trap when taking a short cut home through the woods. The next sale at Stroud Auctions will be on March 4-6, when jewellery, silver, bijouterie, watches, clocks, coins, motoring, transport and textiles and will be the specialist sections. Viewing will be on March 3 from 10am-7pm and from 9am on sale days. The April auction (April 1 and 2) will feature ceramics, glass, books, ephemera, stamps, musical instruments, vinyl records and pictures. Details of the May auction are in the advertisement below. For information about any aspect of buying or selling with Stroud Auction Rooms, call 01453 873800, email info@stroudauctions. com or visit www.stroudauctions. co.uk.
STROUD AUCTION ROOMS Entries now invited for our upcoming auction on May 6th & 7th
Including specialist sections of guns, weapons, medals, militaria, sporting, taxidermy, toys, scientific instruments, cameras & binoculars, Asian & Tribal art
Medals
Cameras
Guns & Weapons
Compass Jaeger- Lecoultre Edwinson Green of A pair of Charles Hellis and Cie miniature Cheltenham and Gloucester side by side shotguns. Camera. 12 bore over and under shotgun. Sold for £3,200 Sold for £1,100 Sold for £4300 FREE valuations every Friday (9am-5pm) & Saturday (9am-12:30pm) at our saleroom, at your home by appointment or why not email us a photograph for an instant valuation to info@stroudauctions.com
Naval General Service Medal Sold for £12,200
We are regularly ranked no 1 in the country for the number of online bidders
Unit J, Bath Road Trading Estate, Stroud, GL5 3QF
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01453 873800 www.stroudauctions.co.uk
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2020
17
n WHAT'S ON IN OUR AREA February 29 n Cancer Research UK free concert, Thornbury United Reformed Church, doors open 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Featuring the Poets Quartet and Thornbury Good Afternoon Choir. Interval drinks, retiring collection for Cancer Research UK. For more information call Jennie on 01454 415856. February 29 n Thornbury Choral Society choral workshop. Join in and sing some well known opera choruses at Thornbury Baptist Church, conducted by Steven Kings and accompanied by Robin Baggs, starting at 10.30 am. More details from workshop.thornburychoral@ gmail.com or Tessa Sullivan on 01454 417865. February 29 n Armstrong Arts Group and the Select Society Company presents Divorced, Beheaded, Died: An Audience with King Henry VIII. Cossham Hall, Thornbury, 7.30pm. Performed by Jack Abbot. Tickets £12 or £10 for over-65s, from Thornbury Town Hall or by calling 01454 412272. March 1 n Severn Bridge Road Race. Starts 11am at Marlwood School, Alveston, with 11 laps of 11km course until 1.45pm approx. Finishing presentations at 3pm at Marlwood. Best viewing points at Old Down Hill and The Crescent, Old Down. March 2 n Royal Osteoporosis Society Bristol Support Group, 1.45pm in Westbury Methodist Church Hall. Talk by occupational therapist Maria Fitzgerald. All welcome. For more information call 07710 743613. March 4
n Alveston Gardens Association. Talk by Richard Baldwin: The Magic of PH, 7.30pm, Alveston Jubilee Hall. All welcome. Visitors £3 at the door. March 6 n Haven Memory Cafe, Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, 10.15-11.45am: Singalong from the 50's and 60's – Christine Robertson. March 6 n St Peters Hospice Severnside Support Group annual quiz, Armstrong Hall, 7.15pm. Tables of four, to include a light supper, £30 per table. Excellent raffle prizes, bar available. Come along and help support the vital work of the hospice. More information from Mary on 01454 412567. March 6 n World Day of Prayer: Rise take your mat and walk. Service prepared by the women of Zimbabwe for this international inter-church organisation. Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, 7.30pm. March 7 n Litterbusters Big Spring Clean – part of South Gloucestershire’s Big Spring Clean Campaign. Meet at 9.30am, Social Services Car Park, Gloucester Road – please come and help! March 7 n Jubilate is one of Gloucestershire’s leading Chamber choirs conducted by Ian Higginson. The choir are returning to perform a free lunchtime recital (lasting one hour) at 1.15pm at Clifton cathedral on Saturday 7 March. There will be a retiring collection in aid of the cathedral. The Recital is entitled ‘Voyage européen’ and will feature music suitable for all the family ranging from the 16th
Century through to the present day. The concert will be conducted by Ian Higginson and accompanied by Neil Fortin and the programme includes works by: Bach, Deprez, Faure, Higginson, Mozart, Poulenc and others. Why not come to listen to some sublime and memorable sacred music performed by a first class choir in this lovely venue during lunchtime. March 10 n Eastwood Garden Club and Wotton-under-Edge Gardening Club present An Evening with Bob Flowerdew at the Armstrong Hall, from 7pm. Tickets £10 each for members or £12 for non-members via Richard Laycock on 07762 120904 or Sue Hunt on 01453 521263. March 12 n Armstrong Arts Group presents Phil Beer at the Cossham Hall, 7.30pm. Top flight fiddler and ambassador of acoustic roots music, also known as half of Show of Hands. Playing old and new songs from the last 40 years of his songs and music. Tickets £15 from Thornbury Town Hall or call 01454 412272. March 14 n Thornbury Horticultural Society Spring Show, Armstrong Hall, 1.30pm. Displays of spring flowering bulbs and plants, cookery and photographic classes, children’s classes including thank you cards and models made from recycled materials. All classes open to members and non-members. Plant table, advice from our experts, drinks, cakes. More details at www. thornburyhorticulturalsociety. org.uk March 21 n Recital by the Rockhampton
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WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words: email us at: contact@thornburyvoice. co.uk
Five, St Mary’s Church, Olveston, showcasing the breadth and variety of music written for wind quintet. Tickets £8 at the door. Bar open from 7pm, music from 7.30pm. March 18 n South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group AGM followed by talk: The Engine House Network, with Steve Grudgings. Miners Institute, Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath. AGM 7.30pm for 8pm, talk starts around 9.15pm. Non members welcome - £2 each for the talk. March 20 n Haven Memory Cafe, Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, 10.15-11.45am: Beetle Game – Barbara Goom. March 22 n St Mary's Church Thornbury Sunday afternoon concerts, 4pm. Nota Bene, a capella group from Bristol.
What's on at Thornbury Library
Opening times Staffed Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am to 5.30pm. Saturday, 9.30am to 12.30pm. Open access seven days a week between 8am and 7.30pm.
Thornbury Community Choir: Saturday March 14, 11-11.30am. Have You Read…? Come and join a new library book group on the first Friday of every month. March 6, 2pm. Theme: A book chosen randomly.
Lego Club: Come and join us for a story, create your own Lego masterpieces and display them in the library for your family and friends to see. March 21, 10.30-11.30am. Chatterbooks Group: Bookthemed and activity sessions every month for children in years 4, 5, and 6. Next session: March 7, 10.30-11.30am. Rhymetime: Monday March 2, 10.30am: special rhymetime with Kipper. Also every Friday,
To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120
10.30-11.00am, term time only. Rhymes and songs for parents and babies/toddlers to enjoy together.
help with online and IT questions – speak to a member of staff for dates and times.
Pre-school Storytime: March 2: Special Storytime with Kipper, 4pm. Also every Monday at 2pm, term time only: join us for stories and simple crafts.
For more information on any of the above please contact: Telephone 01454 868006, email thornbury.library@southglos.gov. uk or visit our website to find out more: www.southglos.gov.uk/ libraries.
Sewing Repair Hub: Bring your small items of clothing or soft furnishings for repair. Saturday March 28, 10am-11.30am. IT support: Computer volunteers
Facebook page at South Gloucestershire Libraries or @ SouthGlosLibs on Twitter.
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
18
n WHAT’S ON March 22 and 29 n National Garden Scheme open garden, Rock House, Elberton, BS35 4AQ. 2-acre garden with woodland vistas of many different varieties of daffodils. Spring flowers, cottage garden plants and shrubs. 11am4pm each day. Adults £4, children free. March 24: n Thornbury Wellbeing, an introduction to reflexology, zone face lift and reiki with Helena Dawson, from Chessel Bay Therapies, Thornbury. Chantry Community Centre, 7pm-9pm, £5. Limited places, so please book at charlene@colour4life.co.uk March 25 n Alveston Local History Society March meeting: Frenchay Hospital's Hidden History, with Alan Freke, curator of Frenchay Museum. Alveston Methodist Church, 7.30pm. Everybody welcome. Visitors pay £2.50 at the door. March 28 n Thornbury Jazz Festival 2020, Armstrong Hall, Thornbury, 6pm11.30pm. Virtuoso guitarist Remi Harris, Bristol jazz band Sinead and the Sinnermen, Jenner Jazz Quartet and Kris Nock Big Band. Tickets £20 from Thornbury Town Hall or by calling 01454 412272. April 2 n St Peters Hospice Severnside Support Group spring flower demonstration, Thornbury Methodist Church Hall, 2.30pm. Sally Taylor of Severnvale Flower Club will do a seasonal demonstration. Entrance £6, to include tea and cakes. Tickets from the Town Hall from March 5.
REGULAR EVENTS
Monday n Armstrong Hall Cossham Hall World Dance 7-10pm n Yoga for beginners at Armstrong Hall, 6:30-8pm on Mondays. £6. All kit provided. Contact Moira 07703 536700 Tuesday n 11.00 am - 1.30 pm Armstrong Hall - Excell Room Recycled Teenagers Lunch Club n Sunbeams toddler and parent group Thornbury Methodist church hall Every Tuesday 1.15pm to 2.45pm in term time Time and space to share themed activities with your children ( 0 to 4 years) Contact janet_mann@ hotmail.com or margaretcrocombe60@gmail. com
n Get Singing. A community choir for anyone who loves singing. All abilities welcome. See www.getsinging.co.uk for more information. Turnberries, Thornbury. Tuesday 7.30 - 9.00pm (term time only). n Thornbirds, Thornbury W.I. meet on the third Tuesday of every month, 7.30pm at the Methodist Church Hall, Thornbury. We are a friendly group offering a range of speakers over the year as well as well as a variety of social activities. Visitors are always welcome so why not come along and find out about our programme for 2019. Wednesday n 2.00 pm Armstrong Hall Cossham Hall Tea Dance 01454 412060 n 2.00 pm. Armstrong Hall, Committee Room Lip Reading Classes n Torn Paper Collage for Wellbeing: Turnberries Thornbury Wednesdays12.30-2.30pm. For more information or to reserve a place on these courses or other courses available throughout South Gloucestershire Please contact Jane Thomas, Community Learning Development Worker Tel: 07860 181352 Mob: 01454 864687 Email: jane.thomas2@southglos. gov.uk n South Glos Aspies, a weekly pub social for adults on the autistic spectrum, meets from 7-11pm at the Malthouse, Thornbury High Street. Friends and family of those on the spectrum are also more than welcome. Board games, skittles, darts, informal conversation and outdoor activities, weather permitting. More information from robert@ southglosaspies.org.uk, george@ southglosaspies.org.uk or at www. southglosaspies.org.uk. n Thornbury & District Townswomen's Guild meets on the second Wednesday of the month at Turnberries at 7.30pm. Varied programme of events and speakers. Pay a visit and perhaps join to celebrate 60 years of TG in Thornbury. n Friendly Bridge SW bridge club meets at Alveston Methodist Church Hall at 7.30pm every Wednesday. Visitors welcome, partner guaranteed if you come alone. For more information, including bridge tuition, contact Gareth on 07921 788605 or email friendlybridgesw@gmail.com n T’hornblowers wind band: friendly, adults-only wind band meets from 7pm every Wednesday in The Studio, Turnberries, Bath Road. New members always welcome, particularly trumpeters and trombonists. For more details contact Turnberries Community
Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120
March, 2020
Centre on 01454 868485 or email enquiries@turnberries.co.uk. n Avon Pickleball Club play at Thornbury Leisure Centre from 10.15am-12.15pm. Indoor racquet sport combining elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis. Sessions cost £2.50 for an hour or £4 for two hours. Email info@avonpickleball.club or phone 07801 715421 for more information. n Vision West of England sight loss clinic, Age UK South Gloucestershire, High Street, Thornbury, fourth Wednesday of the month, 10am-1pm. Thursday n 8.00 pm. Armstrong Hall Ceroc Dance n Scrapbooking for Wellbeing. Turnberries in Thornbury. Thursdays 12.30pm-2.30pm. n South Gloucestershire Arts Appreciation Society meet at Bradley Stoke Community School, Fiddlers Lane, Bradley Stoke, 3rd Thursday evening of the month. Starting October at 7.00 for 7.30 start. Refreshments provided. Contact: Sallykitching@ googlemail.com Tel. 01454 774401 n Royal British Legion monthly meeting point – coffee and a chat for Armed forces veterans, personnel and families at Hawkes House, St Mary Street, Thornbury. RBL volunteers, together with other organisations will be on hand to offer support and advice to those who need help. Second Thursday of the month, 9.3011.30am. n Thornbury & District Flower Club meets monthly on the second Thursday of the month at the Thornbury Methodist Hall from 7.30pm for flower arranging demonstrations, practice nights and workshops. Cost £2 a meeting for members plus a yearly subscription of £30; visitors £5 a session. Call 01454 202962 or email jhfaulkner@icloud.com for more information. Friday n Weekly Hatha Yoga, The Chantry, Fridays 1.30-2.30pm. Improve strength, balance, flexibility, health and wellbeing through this transformational and healing practice. Drop-in basis, £8 (£6 concession) All Welcome. There's no need to be bendy! Contact Selina flourish@ selinaratcliffe.com n 2.00 pm. Armstrong Hall Committee Room Canasta Club n Thornbury Carers Support Group. General discussion to help carers, with free refreshments.
Hanover Room, downstairs in The Chantry, Castle Street, Thornbury. 1-3pm, first Friday of the month. Contact Sian Erickson on 07875 400301 or at sian@cohesian.co.uk. Saturday n Thornbury parkrun is a free, weekly, 5km run or walk, organised entirely by volunteers and taking place every Saturday at 9am on the Mundy Playing Fields. Register once, print your barcode and just turn up. See www.parkrun.org.uk/ thornbury Sunday n Thornbury Ramblers walk. See www.thornburyramblers.org.uk for details, or ring 01454 413924 n The Alternative Sunday Lunch, Butchers Hook, High Street We provide a smorgasbord of food and ask others to bring in homemade/ homegrown contributions to share out with everyone in an informal, open-table style Sunday lunch. Suggested donation of £6 per person with all profits to charity. Every Sunday 1pm.
Join the spring clean THORNBURY Litterbusters are calling on volunteers to help them blitz the town’s messiest spots on three days of action this spring. The first starts from the Social Services car park on Gloucester Road, near the Castle School 6th form, on Saturday March 7 at 9.30am; the next starts at the Rock Street car park at 9.30am on Saturday April 4, which is at the start of the school holidays, and the third is on Wednesday May 6, at 2pm, at the Leisure Centre car park. Bags and litter-pickers will be provided. Litterbusters meet regularly at 9.30am on the first Saturday of the month for coffee in The Swan, on the High Street. Volunteers decide which bits of Thornbury to focus on and then set off in groups to do some picking. The group also fits in afternoon and evening sessions, especially during the summer months, and also works with local groups, such as schools and the cubs, to help out with environmental projects. The group also helps clear up after events including Bonfire Night at the Mundy Playing Fields and the Christmas lights switch-on. Extra volunteers are always welcome. Anyone interested should email kimlitterbuster@
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2020
19
n NEWS
Last chance to enter Thornbury Swimarathon FUNDRAISERS looking for a challenge are being invited to take part in this year’s Thornbury Swimarathon. The popular annual event, organised by the Rotary Club of Thornbury, is being held at the town’s leisure centre on March 6,7 and 8, so anyone who wants to sign up has just a week left to do so. The event raised more than £15,000 last year and since it was first held has made hundreds of thousands of pounds for charities and good causes. The event is open to the whole community and Rotary is hoping that 60 teams will be taking part this year. It is free to enter and open to people of all ages and capabilities, provided they can swim the length of a 25m pool. The 2 main charities benefiting this year are Above and Beyond, the charity for Bristol’s city centre hospitals,
Last year's Swimarathon and BUST, the Breast Cancer Unit Support Trust, which fundraises for the Bristol Breast Care Centre at Southmead Hospital. Adrian Dennis of Thornbury Rotary said: “These are both important organisations, doing
great work in our area.” Teams can enter online through Rotary’s website, www.thornburyrotary.org/ swimarathon, or print and use an application form. The website also has sponsorship forms to download
and print, or donations can be made online through Virgin Money Giving at www. virginmoneygiving.com/fund/ thornburyswim2020. Organiser Stuart Hill can also be contacted on 07395 569958 or by email at swimarathon@ thornburyrotary.org for more information. All donations received are passed on to the charities. Thornbury Rotary president Graham Cook thanked the sponsors, both private and corporate, for their overwhelming support and generous donations last year and this. Among those supporting the event are Berkeley Vale Motors, who have been the main sponsors over several years, the Castle School Band, which provides a carnival atmosphere for the event and hosts Thornbury Leisure Centre.
Mark’s award for teaching Thornbury to swim A THORNBURY swimming teacher has been given a lifetime achievement award. Mark Roberts has taught generations of children how to swim over nearly 40 years. Based at Thornbury Leisure Centre, he was presented with the award by Circadian Trust, which operates the centre and four others for South Gloucestershire Council. The trust said Mark’s “personality, knowledge and years of experience ensure that his swimming lessons are always fun, engaging and rewarding”. Mark was presented with his award in front of 250 people at a ceremony recognising achievement at the trust’s Active Lifestyle
Centres was hosted by Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards, who soared to fame as a ski jumper at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Circadian Trust director of commercial development Ben Beasley said: “After an exceptional year for our Active Lifestyle Centres, it’s great to be able to celebrate our successes with the whole team. “We started these awards seven years ago to recognise the hard-working people who believe in and deliver our mission to inspire active lifestyles. It’s a great honour that we have been able to continue the awards, and that our business partners wanted to also share in our success and support this event.”
Eddie the Eagle presents Mark Roberts (right) with his award
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thornburyvoice
March, 2020
n NEWS THORNBURY’S neighbourhood policing team and the South Gloucestershire Council staff who work with them have been given an award for reducing anti-social behaviour in the town. Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens and Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Watson presented the team with a Pride Award recognising their work at an event at the Police and Fire Headquarters in Portishead. Temporary Chief Inspector Clive Summerill, temporary Inspector Adrian Fallows, PCs Natalie Jones and Paula Manos and PCSO Sheryl Drewitt were joined by the Anti-Social Behaviour case officers from South Gloucestershire Council who work with them to receive the award. Avon and Somerset police say the partnership has led to a 20 per cent reduction in reports of anti-social behaviour in the area. Adrian said: “It’s really nice for my team to be recognised with this award – they work hard to improve things for the community and whilst they will
say they are only doing their job, this recognises their dedication and determination.” PCC Mountstevens said: “The Pride Awards are something I always look forward to in my role as I get to say a big thank-you to some truly extraordinary people in our community. “I am delighted that so many people have chosen to nominate these ‘silent stars’, all who go about their daily business with little or no recognition. “These awards highlight just some of the very special individuals we have living and working amongst us and their exemplary efforts are hugely appreciated across Avon and Somerset. “It’s important we take the time celebrate these inspirational and selfless individuals who work hard to help keep our communities safe and feeling safe.” Anyone who wants to nominate someone who deserves recognition for helping their community can do so on the police commissioner’s website at bit.ly/2TaNiA5
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Award for team tackling anti-social behaviour
Members of the Thornbury neighbourhood team join Sue Mountstevens, Nikki Watson and other award winners.
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22
n NEWS
March, 2020
Cops and firefighters learn Makaton EMERGENCY services in Thornbury are joining the town’s drive to become a Makaton-friendly place. Firefighters and police officers are being trained in using the basic form of sign language, which uses a combination of facial expressions and symbols, to help communicate with the estimated 500 people in the area who use it. Avon Fire & Rescue Service and Avon and Somerset Police spent an evening learning Makaton. The Voice reported last year that community interest company Thornbury Welcomes was helping to train local organisations to try and earn the town official Makaton Friendly status. Across the town, there are already a variety of Makaton friendly businesses and it is hoped that more businesses and community leaders will come on board. Fire service Thornbury Watch Manager John Riddiford said: “This was a fantastic opportunity for us as a station to better connect with our local community and help ensure all residents are safe. “There are around 500 people in the local community who use Makaton, so for us to
Firefighters learn more about sign language Makaton in a training session in Thornbury. undertake this training not only means we can better communicate and make everyone feel welcome, but we can also utilise it as part of our fire safety messaging and community safety. “It was great fun to get the whole station together, along with the police, for this and we are delighted to have taken part. “Over the coming months, we look
forward to continuing to develop our skills and use it within the community.” PC Paula Hanson-Manos, of the Thornbury Neighbourhood Beat Team, said: “It is important for our force to get key messages out to the public and, with Makaton’s growing popularity, this is another way we can do that. “It was not something our officers have been involved with before, so we are really grateful for this week’s training. “It was a really enjoyable evening and we hope to build on our learning in the future and make Makaton a useful tool for our team to use.” Michelle Galliott, from Thornbury Welcomes, said: “It was a great step forward for us to have the fire service and police take part in the training and join up to the scheme. “Both services are so crucial for members of the local community and it is great to have them on-board. “With both services and a wealth of local businesses taking part, we really can make Thornbury a welcoming town.” To find out more about Makaton, visit www.makaton.org online.
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Juniper Homes Ltd - Hatterswood Phase 2 Just four stunning family homes in generous grounds IF you’re looking for a beautiful family home set in generous grounds, Juniper Homes’ has a small development of just four stunning detached five-bedroom houses that will fit the bill to perfection. Set in a semi-rural location on Tanhouse Lane in Rangeworthy, these four country homes are built to an exceptionally high quality. The development features just two house designs, The Hallier and The Allsop; both draw their names from the historic Hatting families of Rangeworthy. The thoughtfully planned layouts and sizeable rooms are ideal for families. The Hallier is the epitome of style and elegance, a large 5-bedroom family house, set on a generous plot and designed to meet your families’ every need. The traditional timeless red brick exterior is a design classic. Crisp white window frames are offset with neat touches of soft grey render and mellow red slate tiles. A welcoming deep double-glazed bay window and front porch sit alongside an impressive double garage and paved drive way with ample parking for all the family. Open the smart secure front door to warm
underfloor heating and a mellow Engineered Oak floor running seamlessly through the spacious ground floor. With ample gardens, a double garage and parking this is truly a country residence with style. The Allsop is a handsome home in traditional time-honoured style. This brickclad family house simply exudes the feeling of grandeur. Quality features and bespoke details combine to create a sense of balance and harmony. Inside the seasoned oak flooring runs through from the hall to the living areas enhancing the open feel of this family home. Featuring the same high quality specification
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as the Hallier, the Allsop provides ample outdoor and living space for the family. The local area is one of South Gloucestershire`s most popular. From the old world charm of the main street in Chipping Sodbury to the contemporary amenities of nearby Yate, everything from schooling to leisure is on hand and a short drive away. The M4 & 5 motorways are in easy reach and Bristol is approx. just 20 minutes away. To view please call Andrews 0117 946 1799 Visit www.hatterswood.co.uk E: Bristol&bath@andrewsonline.co.uk
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
March, 2020
23
n MOTORING
A guide to pre-owned cars with Richard Cooke
Second-hand Style Keep your motor running: An ode to vehicle DIY
T
WENTY years ago I needed two tools for any DIY job: My phone and the yellow pages. Today my phone can do it all, and getting a man in has never been easier. Or a woman of course. I’m not ashamed to admit that all practical tasks in my house are performed ably by my wife: painting and decorating, putting up shelves, even designing and constructing built-in wardrobes. I’m utterly hopeless, all fingers and thumbs and ‘let’s have a quick coffee break’. Until quite recently it was the same story with cars. If anything at all needed fixing, the garage got the job. That was until I was shown how some jobs are so easy that even an incompetent like me can manage them. So, in the interests of keeping your older motors running for longer, and saving you money into the bargain, I urge you to have a go. By the by, this is also the environmentallyfriendly option, as ordering a new car is far
more damaging to the planet than running an old one. You will need some basic tools though, and your phone is just one of them. First up is the easiest of all: changing an air filter. This piece of fabric gauze can be bought for about £10 and replaced in less than 60 seconds. The box housing it is usually right there in front of you under the bonnet, and opens and closes via metal clips. No tools needed, immediate savings made. Pollen filters are often tucked away and harder to access (behind the glovebox? You’ll need a screwdriver). That said, they are fairly easy to replace and as cheap to buy. Both usually need doing every 20k miles. Next up, spark plugs, which will require a socket set. They sit under coil packs, the modern replacement for the distributor. Rather than bore you with a ‘how to’ here, take a look on YouTube – I guarantee there is an English language video that will guide you through every nuance of the process for your exact vehicle. If you are feeling brave, buy some axle stands or inspection ramps and do an oil change yourself. Garages make good money on this work (check out what they charge you for oil!), so on a dry day or in a well-lit garage, this is one job you can do yourself if you are safe and confident. Let’s put the oily stuff to one side and focus on technology. The best tool you can buy, and it has served me very well over the years, is an OBD II fault code reader (see this month’s picture). OBD stands for on-board diagnostics, and it allows you to read your car’s electronic brain and see what’s wrong. That engine warning light you’ve been
ignoring can mean all manner of things, and a garage will charge you £25 just to diagnose the problem. The OBD reader only costs £20, and you can use it again and again. If your car is less than 20 years old, the reader is likely compatible and plugs into a socket often found down by the pedals. Put the diagnosed error code into the internet and you’ll know in seconds what the problem is. No need to book in at the garage. The readers are powered by the car, so won’t need a battery. I saved a family member bundles of cash when we jointly diagnosed a misfire using my reader. The Vauxhall Meriva he wanted to flog is a niche car in the first place, but add in an undiagnosed engine warning light and no-one would have touched it. Vauxhall would have charged £200 for the diagnostics and resultant fix. We diagnosed it immediately (for free), cleaned a couple of spark plugs and replaced some corroded springs for £11. My invoice is in the post, old son. I do understand that a lot of you don’t have the time for all this under-bonnet fettling. But with the inclination and some practise, you can save yourself oodles of time and money. Now, I would offer to help – but it’s time for that coffee break…
News? contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk • Refurbishments • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Tiling • Interior & Exterior Decoration
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24
March, 2020
n LOCAL MP
We need more electric car charging points
T
O protect and enhance our beautiful countryside in South Gloucestershire, we must take action to improve air quality along many of main through roads and in our towns and we must lead the way in tackling climate change. I am calling on South Gloucestershire Council to deliver more electric car charging points to be installed in our towns like Yate and Thornbury, and ensure that residents in and around Frampton Cotterell, Coalpit Heath and the surrounding towns and villages also have better access to publicly-available charge points. We all know that electric vehicles emit a fraction of the emissions compared to petrol and diesel vehicles, but many
motorists, completely fairly, feel there are simply not enough electric car charging points in our area at the moment to make the switch. Increasing our reliance on vehicles powered with renewable energy is just one step we must take reach the Government’s unwavering commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Last month, the Prime Minister announced that Britain will be bringing forward the date from which no new petrol or diesel cars will be allowed to be sold in the UK to 2035, with consideration being given to the feasibility of bringing this further forward. Clearly, the importance of providing the necessary infrastructure for car
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users in South Gloucestershire has never been greater. South Gloucestershire Council have declared a Climate Emergency and are currently exploring options for substantially reducing the impact of their own operations. They have also urged people locally to take steps to address this situation, by reducing their own carbon footprint. We must use this opportunity to deliver more electric car charging points, ensuing that South Gloucestershire is a UK leader in sustainable technology, protecting our beautiful natural environment and providing cleaner air for our families and our community. Ensuring that these long-
Luke Hall MP writes for Thornbury Voice
need car charging points are finally delivered is a key pledge in my Positive Plan for Protecting Greenspaces and the Environment, alongside protecting our green spaces and fighting poorly planned housing development. For further information, or to join the campaign, please do not hesitate to get in touch at luke. hall.mp@parliament.uk.
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thornburyvoice
March, 2020
25
n NEWS
Further acts unveiled as festival tickets go on sale TICKETS are now on sale for this year’s Thornbury Arts Festival, with hundreds already snapped up for events in the nine-day programme. Headliner Alistair McGowan’s piano show was already close to selling out as the Voice went to press, with comedian Alfie Moore and Tex-Mex band Los Pacaminos, fronted by singersongwriter Paul Young, also among the star attractions. The Degrees of Error improvised theatre company, with a string of sell-out performances at the Edinburgh Fringe in its CV, will also bring comedy to a classic murder mystery that will be created on the night from audience suggestions. Meanwhile the Vesta Trio, who performed for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Pembrokeshire, will play the harp, flute and viola in a repertoire that ranges from opera favourites to Welsh folk songs.
Alistair McGowan The festival opens on April 24, with cop-turned-comedian Alfie Moore bringing his latest tour show, based on a dramatic real-life incident from his 18-years on the beat, to the Armstrong Hall. It closes on May 2, when Alistair McGowan, pictured, who is best known as an impressionist, demonstrates that he is now equally at home as a pianist after rediscovering the
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instrument at the age of 49. The Piano Show will mix classical music with Alistair’s trademark impressions. In the days between, audiences can hear an on-stage interview with former Home Secretary and best selling author Alan Johnson, enjoy the jazz singing of Cate Cody and go behind the scenes of Bristol’s Aardman Animations - creators of Wallace and Gromit and
Shaun the Sheep - with senior model maker Will Harding. Two 30-minute films from the studios, The Farmer’s Llamas and A Grand Day Out, will also be screened. Meanwhile, a series of lunchtime talks will include guests such as David Slater, the photographer at the centre of a legal fight over a macaque monkey selfie picture, and Oscar-winning special effects supervisor and designer John Richardson. Full details are available on the festival website www. thornburyartsfestival.org.uk, where tickets can be bought for all events. They can also be purchased by post and from a box office in Thornbury Town Hall every Thursday in April, from noon to 2pm. Printed guides are available from shops, business premises and community buildings in Thornbury and the surrounding area.
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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
thornburyvoice
26
March, 2020
n THORNBURY & DISTRICT MUSEUM
New exhibitions open at Thornbury Museum THORNBURY Museum is going back to the 80s – and further still – with two new exhibitions to jog memories and shed light on the past. Thornbury in 1980 takes a look at the town as it was 40 years ago this year, using a variety of photos commissioned by the late Nick Large, a former Thornbury Grammar School and Marlwood School teacher, taken by photography students from Newport during that year. The exhibition is due to run until early May. Going to the Flicks – The Story of Thornbury Picture House marks 100 years since the first film was shown in Thornbury, in May 1920. The exhibition will be running for the foreseeable future and a special evening event was being held on March 6, when the museum was due to open its doors at 6.30pm before a talk at
Armstrong Hall, at 7.30pm, about the former cinema. This will be followed by a screening of two Buster Keaton films from the 1920s – One Week and Steamboat Bill, Jr. Pianist James Harpham will accompany the silent films. Tickets cost £1 for Thornbury Picture House members and £5 for non-members, from the town hall or by calling 01454 412272. There will also be 1920’s-style food in the shape of lardy cake, and bread and butter pudding. The new exhibitions were opened by Thornbury Mayor Angela Symonds, who was joined by Charles Eardley-Wilmot, who was the town’s mayor in 1980, and his deputy from the same year, John Smith. Thornbury Museum is open on Tuesday to Friday from 1pm to 4pm and on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.
Thornbury Mayor Angela Symonds, the town’s 1980 mayor Charles Eardley-Wilmot and his deputy John Smith with Jane Marks and Meg Wise of Thornbury Museum.
Book chronicles end of salmon fishing on the Severn A NEW book published by Thornbury Museum this month records the end of salmon fishing on the river Severn. This was an industry that gradually declined in the latter part of the 20th century, having provided a living for people in the Thornbury area for probably the best part of 1,000 years. The author of the book, Nick Large, recorded the industry from the mid-1960s, not knowing that he was recording the gradual demise of salmon fishing in the Severn. Nick was a local geography teacher, first at Thornbury Grammar School and then at Marlwood. His professional interest was also a hobby, and he trawled the river banks studying the geology and looking for fossils. Nick always carried his camera with him and he struck up conversations with the fishermen of the Severn as they went about their work. This ignited a deep fascination with the fishermen and how they plied their trade. Nick roamed the Severn, from its estuary to beyond Gloucester and across to the western banks of the river, watching the fishermen, interviewing them and photographing them at work. He had a great admiration for these men, the dangers they faced, their knowledge of the tides, the way the weather conditions affected their catch and the knowledge of their prey. In time, Nick gathered a comprehensive knowledge of the different ways salmon could be caught. This knowledge is published in its totality for the first time. It is illustrated with over 120 photographs and tells the stories of men, and the occasional woman engaged in the trade: a
Fisherman A Spiers with a lave net
bygone era never likely to return. Nick saved its memory from fading into oblivion but sadly died at the end of 2018, just as the book was coming to fruition. Thornbury & District Museum have been able to piece the final stages together and can now publish the book. The book, called The Glorious Uncertainty. Salmon Fishing in the River Severn, will be launched on Monday March 9 at 7.30pm, at Thornbury Baptist Church. Entry is free and all are welcome. Volunteers from the museum will talk about
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the book and how they were able to complete it. The book is of coffee table quality and will be available on the night, priced at £20. Thereafter the book will be available at Thornbury & District Museum, 4 Chapel Street, Thornbury (opening hours 1-4pm Tuesdays to Fridays and Saturdays 10am-4pm). The museum currently also has an exhibition of photographs from the 1980s which were mainly collated by Nick Large. Tony Cherry
Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk
March, 2020
n NEWS
Help wanted THORNBURY Volunteer Centre is trying to help three organisations find volunteers to fill vital roles. Environmental group CATS, which is working to make Thornbury and the surrounding area carbon neutral by 2030, needs a volunteer fundraiser to identify sources of grants and organise events, either alone or with friends. Two volunteers are needed at Thornbury Sea Cadets: a volunteer secretary to join the committee and take minutes, send out notices and agendas, as well as a facilities trustee to be responsible for all sites, premises, fixtures and fittings. Meanwhile Westonbirt Shopping Fair needs a parttime volunteer event organiser, preferably with knowledge and some experience of social media and good organisational skills, to help organise this year’s event in October. For further information about any of these roles call Thornbury Volunteer Centre on 01454 413392 or email mail@ volunteer-thornbury.co.uk.
thornburyvoice
27
WI hands cash to charities THORNBURY WI have raised £1,296 for two local charities, the Memory Cafe and Phase. At a recent meeting treasurer Julie Wootton handed representatives from each charity a cheque for £648. The money was raised by various events including a quiz, skittles evening and sales table of produce and preserves. Thornbury Memory Café is run by local people for anyone with a memory problem, such as dementia, their families and carers, and runs two sessions a month at the town’s Methodist church hall. Anyone with a memory problem, together with a carer or friend is welcome. dementia, and t Phase is a community interest company bringing together support and services to meet the needs of young people and parents in the
Thornbury area. Thornbury WI president Gill Blackborough said: “It was a tremendous effort by everyone.”
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OR
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Singers’ thanks DURING 2019 the Alveston Singers raised money for two local charities at their concerts and we would like to thank our generous audiences who helped us to raise £2,520. This will be divided equally between Brain Tumour Support and Made a Mark. We will be choosing two new charities to support in 2020 and look forward to welcoming large audiences to help us with donations once again. Our next concerts are on May 16 and 19. More details of the programme and venues will be posted nearer the time. Jenny Parsons Alveston Singers
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March, 2020
Netballers beat sickness bug – and Bristol Storm THORNBURY Netball Club overcame a sickness bug that hit several players to dig deep for a win over Bristol Storm. The Firsts had just four fit for training just two days before the game, which was set to go ahead as long as they could get a minimum of five players. The managed to pull together a bare seven on the day, albeit with a sickly defence, and the game plan was simple: keep possession; make the most of every opportunity; centre court and attacking players were to play deep to help the defence maintain some sort of stamina throughout the game. The positive attitude and determined mindset meant that by half-time the score was 25-8 to Thornbury. By the second half there were some missed
opportunities, the defence was waning and the sickness appeared to be defeating them, yet the team managed to hold their nerve for a 42-21 win. It was a great team effort,
with everyone playing for each other and backing each other up. Sarah Jenkins was nominated player, and Jasmine Cook came up from the Second team to sub on the sideline.
The Seconds were confident against Skylarks and from the beginning it certainly showed. They started as they meant to go on, with some excellent attacking and shooting plays, and dominated possession throughout. The defence backed up and moved the ball back up the court to the shooters. Scoring 14 goals in the last quarter, they ran out 33-16 winners. Captain Ginny Carroll said: “Every player was doing their part to keep the game flowing. This new team is really coming together and now, in this second half of the season, we are really starting to become a difficult opposition.” Laura Driver was nominated player. Heather Gregory
Runners win team prize at Hard Half THORNBURY Running Club arrived in numbers for one of the highlights of the local winter trail running season, the Doynton Hard Half Marathon. And strong finishes saw them win the event’s women’s team competition for the first time. In picture perfect conditions, the small village of Doynton and the race organisers from Emersons’ Green Running Club put on a fantastic welcome for almost 500 runners in sub-zero temperatures in January. Despite the best laid plans of the organisers, chaos ensued after the first long hill as the first
30 or so runners took a wrong turn and were confronted by the sight of the rest of the field near the top of the frosty Cotswold escarpment, running on the correct course. Panicked runners soon started trudging back up the steep boggy hill, trying to make up for lost time and chase down Thornbury's Ben Foss and Taryn Roberts, who were leading the men's and women's race after two frantic and confusing miles. Dylan Roberts came in 16th place overall, in 1 hour 49:28 mins. There was more success for the Roberts family, as Taryn Roberts improved on her 3rd
place in the previous week's Riverbank Rollick with a sprint finish to hold off last year's winner of the Hard Half, Bristol and West's Naomi Aylwin, and finish in 2nd place in the women's race and 36th place overall, in 1 hour 56:44 mins. Rob Watkins and Judy Mills both won their age groups. Rob took VM50 honours and was 17th overall in 1 hour 51:15 and Judy hadn't realised she was the winner in the VF60 age group until her name was announced after her 2 hour 46:33 mins run in 287th place. John Grimsey was the only other TRC runner
to feature in the top 3 of his age group in 2nd place in the VM70 category in 3 hours 27:08 mins. Hannah Kinloch Haken and Melanie Wilson both finished in the top 10 in the women's race in 7th/75th overall (2 hours 3:19) and 9th/96th overall (2 hours 8:21) respectively. With three Thornbury women in the top 10, Hannah, Melanie and Taryn lifted the women's team competition for Thornbury for the first time and made up for the men losing their title from 2019. Matt Johnstone
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Maximum points for gale force Thorns Thornbury 29-3 Cleve THORNBURY scored three second-half tries into a fierce gale to turn a worryingly small half-time lead into a comfortable victory over Cleve. After the previous week’s win over North Petherton Thorns faced a Cleve side that had struggled for most of the season and were one place above the relegation places with only a single point advantage over Newent. Thornbury had won 2914 at the Hayfields last October. The ongoing extreme weather forced a switch of fixture to the 3G pitch at North Bristol RFC and Thornbury kicked off under low cloud with a gale behind them. They went ahead on two minutes when, after regaining possession, Sam Poustie crosskicked for Jonny Sanderson to gather the ball and score in the corner. The conversion was blown wide but Thorns had the perfect start. Thorns nearly scored a second from the restart when a Harry Glew box kick was mis-fielded and Rich Bennett gathered the loose ball and ran hard into the Cleve 22, but Thorns were unable to capitalise. And that was the nature of the game for the remainder of the first quarter, with Thorns in command but unable to score. A long pass from Sam Poustie put Sanderson in for a second but the wind blew the pass forward and the try was disallowed. Early in the second quarter Thorns scored again and it was largely due to the individual brilliance of Alfie Richardson. Thorns won a scrum in their 22 and Cleve’s backline, expecting a clearing kick, gave him time and space to run in. He exploited the gap between outside centre and wing and roared away with Rich Bennett on his shoulder for support and as a distraction to the Cleve defence. A swerve, a step and searing pace saw him run around to ground the ball between the posts. Sam Poustie converted for a 12-0 lead. Shortly afterwards a kick and chase involving Rich Bennett saw Cleve centre Greg Welling yellow-carded for obstruction but Thorns were unable to add to their tally. Cleve defended well,
including repelling a driving lineout that looked to have try written all over it. Kieran Wilson came on to give Johnny Heaven a breather and shortly afterwards a clearing kick by Alfie Richardson in his own ‘22’ was carried by the wind all the way over the Cleve dead-ball line. Thus a scrum to Cleve in Thornbury’s red zone but good defence kept the line intact. Half-time came with Thorns leading 12-0 and many concerned Thornbury supporters feared that lead was not enough to face the wind in the second half. Their worries looked justified as Cleve started the second half well but they only managed a penalty to reduce arrears to 12-3 before Thornbury’s pack got on top and monopolised possession. As the third quarter drew to a close Thornbury extended their lead attacking from a scrum on the Cleve ‘22’, with good hands creating the chance for Rich Bennett to score. The conversion was blown back but Thorns were now 17-3 up. Cleve’s discipline began to crack and more penalties were conceded. From one, Harry Glew took it quickly on halfway and sprinted through the defence only to be hauled down by a fine cover-tackle five metres short. Cleve knocked on at the ruck and then from the scrum Jack Hussey picked up and ran hard to put Billy Cantin for the bonus point try. Sam Poustie added the extra two points and at 24-3 Thorns looked home and dry with 20 minutes to go. Thornbury were now using their backs to carry the ball to, through or around the Cleve defence. Stu McWhinnie came on for Jonny Sanderson and shortly after Cleve had a second player sin-binned Thorns scored again from an outstanding attack started on half way in which several backs handled the ball before Richardson and Bennett combined to clear the last line of defence and Bennett ran in for his second try in the corner, with the final score a healthy 29-3. Man of the match went to Alfie Richardson for his outstanding try and his willingness and confidence to take on players and create gaps for his teammates to exploit. Dave Fox
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March, 2020
Storms wash out Town’s home fixtures THE incessant wet weather continues to play havoc with Thornbury Town’s season as they try to gain a top four finish in the Hellenic Division One West and ensure promotion to the Premier Division for next season. Four games have been postponed in the last month, all at their Mundy Fields home. A trip to bottom of the table New College Swindon saw a comfortable 6-0 victory, with leading scorers Craig Lancastle and Harry Brock both netting twice, and Rhys Hodgson and Brandon Benjamin adding the other two. Whilst Thorns were still not at their best, it was a welcome win after the defeat at Malvern Town a couple of weeks earlier. The only other league outing was the trip to Nailsworth, where Thornbury took on Shortwood United. Missing a number of first team regulars, it was a close affair, with little to choose between the two sides. Halftime came with the game goalless, although Shortwood had the better chances in the first period, but keeper Alex Lippiatt pulled off a couple of good saves. The second half saw
Town press forward more and they took the lead after 50 minutes, when Craig Lancastle’s pass across the penalty area was turned in by Harry Brock. Thorns appeared to be holding on to their lead fairly comfortably until 20 minutes from time, when Shortwood were awarded a free kick just outside the area. The effort on goal was handled by a defender and Luke Soule netted the resultant penalty kick to equalise. Then, just as Town looked as though they would hang on for a draw, in the third minute of stoppage time they failed to clear their lines and Adam Philp netted the winner for Shortwood. Thornbury’s GFA Challenge Trophy run also ended when they lost on penalties to Cribbs Reserves. Thorns had been leading 2-0, following a Luke Franklin strike and an own goal. However after going down to 10 men following a harsh sending-off, Cribbs pulled a goal back and then netted an equaliser in stoppage time, before going on to win the penalty shoot out 4-2.
The Reserves and Third team fixtures have also been badly affected by waterlogged pitches and following a comprehensive 8-0 thrashing of Hartcliffe at the end of January a disappointing display at home to Bradley Stoke Reserves saw them slump to a 2-4 defeat. The victory against Hartcliffe was never in doubt with two goals apiece from Harrison Young, Cam Drew and Dom Ball, with Joe Wisby and Tom Clare netting one each. The youngsters led twice against Bradley Stoke with goals from Young and Drew, but poor defending saw the visitors wrap up all three points. The Third team’s quest for County Cup silverware ended at the semi-final stage, when they lost 0-3 at home to higher ranked Little Stoke A, but their undefeated run at the top of the league table continues, their latest win being a 3-0 victory against visiting St Nicholas Reserves. Matt Chapman netted the first, with second half goals from Matt Smith and Grant Sage wrapping up the win. Malcolm Carr
New girls’ section launched at cricket club THORNBURY Cricket Club Is proud to announce the launch this year of the Tockington & Thornbury Tornadoes girls’ section, entered into U9s and U11s age groups. The new teams are the result of a joint partnership with Tockington Manor School. The club’s youth section is gearing up for the new season with winter net sessions underway, under the guidance of Gloucestershire Coach Owen Dawkins. Thornbury has 8 teams across 6 age groups, up to Under 19s, and also a thriving Under 9s
section that enters Kwik Cricket festivals. If you would like further information on either boys or girls cricket please contact Richard ‘Harry’ Hawkins by emailing rhawkins8097@gmail. com or calling 07512 555513. The cricket club welcomes enquiries for those looking for a venue to hire for a function throughout the year. It has capacity for up to 100, with a fully-functional bar. Contact Alex Gwinnell on alex.gwinnell@ theprgpartnership.com for more details. John Wormwell
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