Running for Connor
Connor Walker and his son Lucas
THE family of a young Thornbury dad who died of cancer aged 29 are on a mission to raise thousands of pounds in his memory.
Connor Walker died in May last year at his home, the Malthouse in Thornbury High
Street, where he lived with his mum, Julie Walker, and her partner, Mark Wilson, the pub’s former landlords.
Connor had been diagnosed with melanoma, a form of skin cancer, in 2021 shortly after returning from a holiday to Paris.
Please contact Rowena Moncrieffe for further details…
To honour his memory his brother Shane and cousin Megan Holmes are taking part in this year’s Paris Marathon, to raise funds for St Peter's Hospice, which cared for Connor in his final weeks.
Turn to page 3
Brazilian beat
PUPILS at a special school in Alveston have been getting themselves in a carnival mood ahead of Mardi Gras by learning some samba rhythms.
PAGE 5
Kidnappers jailed
THREE men who kidnapped, attacked and threatened a Thornbury man have been given long jail sentences.
PAGE 2
Garden plea
VETERANS have called on Thornbury Town Council not to move a Remembrance garden planted by volunteers. PAGE 5
New farmers market
PLANS have been approved for a new farmers market near Thornbury. PAGE 9
thornburyvoice
Jail for kidnap gang
THREE men who kidnapped, attacked and threatened a Thornbury man have been given long jail sentences.
Our March edition deadline is February 19.
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A member of the
Avon & Somerset police said Lee Ingleheart, 41, Hassan Noor, 31, and 58-year-old Dean Meaker assaulted the man, bundled him into a van and drove him to another house, where he was held against his will as they tried to find one of his relatives.
Police have not named the victim or the relative the men were looking for.
All three men denied kidnap but were convicted by a jury following a Crown court trial.
Ingleheart was also convicted of possessing a knife used to threaten the victim.
A police spokesperson said the trio kidnapped their 43-year-old victim from his home in Thornbury in October 2022.
They asked an acquaintance to arrange a meeting and, when the victim answered the door they went inside, assaulting and threatening him.
They took him in a Ford Transit to Stoke Park in North Bristol, where he was held against his will, assaulted and threatened again.
The victim escaped when two of the men left to buy drugs, and got help from a member of the public.
Police had already been called by a Thornbury resident who had seen Ingleheart with a large knife near the victim's home.
Armed officers were sent out to search for the van, and it was stopped in East Bristol.
Noor and Meaker were arrested, and police seized weapons including a knuckleduster and knives.
They went to Stoke Park, where Ingleheart was arrested and a knife was found.
Ingleheart, of no fixed address, was sentenced to nine years and nine months in jail, with an extra four years on licence after the end of his sentence.
Noor, of St Philip's, Bristol, was sentenced to nine years, and Meaker, of Highridge, South Bristol, was sentenced to nine years plus an extra six months for an unrelated burglary at Bristol Crown Court in December.
Detective Constable Carl Spicer said: "The victim in this case went through a terrifying ordeal at the hands of these three criminals, who showed an extremely concerning propensity for violence, as well as being in possession of some fearsome weapons.
"He’s shown immense bravery in telling the police what happened to him and we hope he continues to recover from this horrible experience.
"We want to thank the members of the public who called police with vital information – their actions ensured armed officers were deployed and able to swiftly arrest those responsible.
"This has been a challenging investigation which has thankfully resulted in these dangerous offenders being removed from the streets for a significant amount of time."
Lee Ingleheart
Hassan Noor
Dean Meaker
From page 3
Megan, 26, from Frampton Cotterell, and Shane, 35, from Thornbury, will run together in the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris on April 13, after receiving places through St Peter’s Hospice.
Their online donation page had raised more than £7,300 as the Voice went to print.
The money will go towards the charity's work to provide end-of-life care for patients and their families, both at its Bristol hospice and within their own homes.
Megan said: "I was flicking through the Hospice website for ways to raise money, wondering what I could do, and spotted the Paris Marathon entry.
"It immediately struck a chord with me because I knew Connor, who I always called Con, had been to Paris and had loved it and running a marathon’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
"So I texted Shane to see if he was up for it and he said, ‘yeah go on then’, and we were away!”
In 2021, Connor and two friends drove from Bristol to Paris in his transit van to attend the Paris Supercross motocross show, stopping on the way home to ride the Loon-Plage beach motocross track in Dunkirk.
Megan said: "They had all sorts of adventures – driving round and round the Arc de Triomphe, accidentally dining at a posh restaurant and nearly bankrupting themselves, and getting lost and waking up in a dodgy part of town.
"It was his last holiday before he got ill, and it brought him such joy. To run the Paris Marathon in his memory feels like the perfect way to honour him.”
Connor, who leaves a six-year-old son, Lucas, was diagnosed with melanoma shortly after returning from Paris.
Although he received treatment and briefly went into remission, the disease returned.
Megan said: "He was really against going into a hospice. He just wanted to be at home.
"Con’s mum looked after him round the clock and when the time came reached out to St Peter’s Hospice for support at home. It was like the peace in a storm. They were incredible.
"Once they started coming to the house, it gave her some
Connor inspires family's marathon fundraiser
much-needed help and provided support for the rest of the family.
"It was comforting to have someone outside the family whom we could talk to about Con in a calm way and provide a shoulder to lean on.
"Even something as simple as making cups of tea for the many people who came to see him took a weight off the family's shoulders."
Connor's funeral included a procession of 60 motorbikes circling Thornbury and a packed service.
Megan says that when not at work, Connor was most often in his garage fixing up a car or a motorbike.
She said: "He was someone everybody knew in Thornbury. A real character – the life and soul of the party. A cheeky chappie but someone who would do anything for anybody.
"He always loved pulling things apart and putting them back together again. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix.
"He also adored animals. Over the years he had so many of them – ferrets, rats, guinea pigs, chickens, snakes and budgies –and had a real affinity for them, though they did drive his mum up the wall sometimes!”
Megan says she will be drawing upon Connor for inspiration as she and Shane take on the race.
She said: "It sounds soppy and silly, but when I’m training
and it gets hard, I look up at the sky and it gives me the strength to push through and helps me remember why I’m doing it."
Donations to Megan and Shane’s fundraising appeal can be made online at justgiving. com/team/megandshane.
Connor with sister-in-law Danni and brother Shane
Connor with cousin Megan and son Lucas
Pizza van can move to pub car park
AN artisan wood-fired pizza van will move from Thornbury High Street to a pub car park, despite objections from neighbours.
One Pizza, run by cousins Esra Koroglu and Ayse Ozer, was granted a street trading licence outside the Black Horse in Gillingstool by South Gloucestershire councillors in January.
The business applied to move to a new pitch following parking issues in the High Street.
The cousins, who make hand-stretched Neapolitan pizzas using fresh local produce, already have several sites around the district and trade one day a week from each.
Four neighbours objected to their application with concerns about litter, vermin, traffic problems, food odours and suspicions that the business would target children walking home from school.
Last May, Esra and Ayse were given permission to set up shop in Thornbury High Street, which was partly pedestrianised in a controversial £4.6 million council project.
But they made a new application to trade instead from the town’s Black Horse pub in Gillingstool after customer
National selection for town's blooms
THORNBURY in Bloom has been selected to represent the South West of England in this year's Royal Horticultural Society
parking became an issue in the town centre, the licensing subcommittee was told.
One resident who objected made a written statement, saying: “Gillingstool is a main artery into/out of Thornbury and on the town’s main bus route.
“The road will clog easily if people park on the kerbside.
“We already have a problem with rubbish discarded on the path leading away from the Murco petrol station.
“My concern is that this will significantly increase with the presence of a pizza van five days per week.
“I see only downsides and risks, with no upside.”
A neighbour wrote: “I have had occasional nuisance from the pub including a drunkard who fell through my gate (breaking
Britain in Bloom UK finals.
Thornbury will be entered in the Large Town category, which means it will be judged twice: once for the South West in Bloom competition, then again for Britain in Bloom, with around two to three weeks later.
The town won the Champion of Champions in award in last year's regional competition,
it) at 1.30am, other noise and associated overflow parking.
"Additional rolling footfall wouldn’t be welcome.
"Litter is a concern and our local bins are often rammed as it is."
Another wrote: “There will be an increase of rubbish and food waste, which will encourage vermin within the local vicinity.”
But the panel heard no complaints had been received about the other sites since the business opened three years ago and the van had a five-star food hygiene rating.
Esra told the meeting that although their trading hours would be 3pm to 9pm, this included time to set up before serving, so they would not be serving school pupils walking home.
paving the way for the entry to the national contest.
Thornbury in Bloom chair Kath Greenman said: "This is a tremendous accolade for the Thornbury community, and a chance for us all to promote the Town on a national scale.
"We are absolutely delighted and proud to accept the entry and are extremely excited for the
She said: “Our target market is families during dinner times.
“We have never seen antisocial behaviour at any of our locations.”
Esra said that after parking became an issue on the High Street, they wanted to move to a site nearer their customers, so chose the pub car park in a residential area with the agreement of The Black Horse’s landlord and would give up the High Street licence.
She said the wood-fired oven produced minimal smoke and the van would not create extra traffic because most customers pre-ordered and it took just three minutes to cook a pizza, so people would not be there for long.
Esra said they always picked up any litter at the end of their shift, even if it was not theirs.
She said that although the application was to trade from Tuesday to Saturday, this was to allow flexibility to change their trading day in any week, and they would only trade from the pub car park one day per week.
There were no objections from any of the authorities, including the town council.
By
Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
year ahead.
"It will naturally involve extra commitment by our members and we will appreciate any additional help from the wider Thornbury community."
Anyone who would like to get involved should contact thornburyinbloom91@gmail. com or visit T&J Owen Florist on The Plain.
The Black Horse in Gillingstool
Samba time at Two Bridges Academy
PUPILS at an Alveston school have been getting themselves in a carnival mood ahead of Mardi Gras by learning some samba rhythms.
The special school brought in musicians from Olá Samba for a drumming workshop for its pupils.
Assistant head teacher Alice Maggs said: "As part of our ‘Brazil’ theme, our pupils have been immersing themselves in Brazilian culture, with a particular focus on music.
"During the session, students had the chance to play authentic Rio-style Brazilian percussion instruments.
"The students enjoyed the experience and it was a fantastic way to bring Brazilian culture to life for everyone involved."
Two Bridges Academy opened last September in the grounds of Marlwood school in Vattingstone Lane.
The special school is for pupils aged from two to 19 from across South Gloucestershire who have severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities, and is run by Enable Trust, which also runs New Siblands School in Thornbury.
Veterans' plea over Remembrance garden
VETERANS have called on Thornbury Town Council not to move a Remembrance garden planted by volunteers.
The council has informed Thornbury & District Royal British Legion that the garden, in one of the flower beds by the junction of Rock Street and Bath Road, needs to be moved to another site.
The decision has led to heated debate online, with the council being accused of failing to engage with the volunteers who worked to create the bed before making the decision.
The Remembrance Garden was created last year in one of the beds overlooked by a memorial bench the RBL branch donated, which was installed by the town council in 2022.
RBL members worked on the garden last year, when it was complemented by judges as part of Thornbury in Bloom's Champion of Champions cup-winning entry to the South West in Bloom competition.
It is intended to remember Armed Forces personnel who died or served in conflict after the Second World War, and includes plants donated by businesses and voluntary groups.
Ahead of the competition the RBL asked to relocate a plough from the bed, which was installed in 2009, in commemoration of Thornbury's farming history and the role of farmers and Land Girls in the war effort, to make way for a metal 'Tommy' statue.
The request was turned down and, after the RBL placed two metal Tommies
at either side of the flower bed, the town council, which owns the site and works with Thornbury in Bloom to manage the displays, said the whole display would need to be relocated.
People on local Facebook groups have criticised the decision, with one resident saying supporters were "aggrieved and let down".
Thornbury & District Royal British Legion chair Larry Cauchi said: "We're working with the town council to resolve the matter.
"There's a strong feeling from the town for the bed to remain where it is, and ideally we would like to stay where we are.
"I've had a meeting with the town clerk and deputy, which was very positive."
The town council issued a statement, which said: "Thornbury Town Council understand the concerns raised over the change in location of the Royal British Legion Remembrance Garden.
"The Town Council have listened to the views and opinions of both Royal British Legion and Thornbury in Bloom, whilst considering the Town Council’s previous commitments and current responsibilities as a landowner.
"It has been concluded that the arrangement at Rock Street does not meet the needs of all involved, and this decision was made at an open council meeting, which the public and all community groups were able to attend should they wish.
"Both community groups are highly valued, and their contributions are widely appreciated. The Town Council are committed to supporting both groups in the great work they do for our community."
Thornbury in Bloom said in a statement that it "fully supports the Thornbury RBL in the creation of a Remembrance garden, and always has done".
The group added: "Although the project at Rock Street has unfortunately not worked out, we understand Thornbury Town Council have offered a number of alternative options.
"We will be delighted to assist the RBL and the Town Council in transitioning the existing plants to the new garden and will continue to offer advice and guidance as required, going forward."
Two Bridges Academy pupils find their rhythm
The Remembrance garden in Rock Street
Shoplifter jailed
A SHOPLIFTER, burglar and robber who targeted Thornbury businesses has been jailed and banned from shops in the town for the next four and a half years.
Nicholas Chard is one of five offenders arrested in a recent police crackdown on prolific shoplifters in South Gloucestershire and Bristol.
Officers say the five were collectively responsible for more than 30 offences in recent months.
All have been made subject to criminal behaviour orders (CBO) as part of their sentences.
The orders have conditions ordering the thieves to stay out of the shops they have targeted, with penalties for breaching them. The aim is to protect the shops and reduce the chances of the shoplifters reoffending.
Chard, who is aged 42 and of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one charge of burglary and eight shoplifting offences, which took place in Thornbury, Cribbs Causeway and Patchway.
He was given a prison sentence of a year and seven months and made subject to a four-and-a-half year CBO when he appeared in court in December.
South Gloucestershire Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Barny Mabbett said: ‘We are working hard with our communities to try to tackle shoplifting and business crime.
"The impact of some criminality can be huge to retailers.
"These offenders are well known to local businesses, and we hope the CBOs will not only prevent further shoplifting offences and reduce harm within our communities, but encourage people to report such offences so appropriate action can be taken."
241 drivers arrested
POLICE arrested 241 motorists for drink or drug driving during a festive road safety campaign.
The arrests across the Avon and Somerset force area were part of Operation Limit, a national police drive to reduce fatal and serious road collisions during December.
Most were made at roadside check sites, during proactive traffic patrols and using intelligence reported by members of the public.
Police say drink-driving accounted for 62% of arrests, with drugdriving making up 38%.
Drivers aged from 25 to 34 made up 32% of arrests, 35 to 44-yearolds accounted for 24% and under-25s 20%, with 88.4% of those arrested were male.
In South Gloucestershire 46 drivers were arrested, with 66 in Bristol, 14 in B&NES, 36 in North Somerset and 80 in Somerset.
Chief Inspector Robert Cheeseman, Head of Roads Policing and Road Safety for Avon and Somerset Police, said: "Choosing to drive while impaired is not just illegal—it’s a deeply irresponsible act that can shatter lives in an instant. Every collision caused by drink or drug driving leaves behind a ripple effect of pain and heartbreak for families and communities.
"We’re grateful to everyone who shared information with us during this campaign. Every report helps us take decisive action and sends a strong message: drink and drug driving will not be tolerated on our roads."
People can report someone they know to be a drink-driver at any time by calling 101 or online at tinyurl.com/3nw678fy.
Tip-offs can also be made anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Reports of anyone currently out on the road under the influence of drink or drugs should always be made immediately, by calling 999.
Nicholas Chard
Pool reopens after revamp
THORNBURY'S swimming pool has reopened after a two-month, £650,000 refurbishment project.
The pool at Thornbury Leisure Centre shut in November for work to install a new air handling and heat recovery unit, which is aimed at improving the environment of the pool hall, while also reducing energy use and carbon emissions.
The work also includes refurbished pool tiles and walls, the replacement of all lighting, windows, and internal and external doors, and a refreshed look for the pool's distinctive multi-coloured pods –known as the Smarties – which have been resprayed for the first time since they were installed more than 40 years ago.
South Gloucestershire Council, which owns the building has put up around £500,000 of the costs.
The rest has been invested by Circadian Trust, the charity that operates the region’s Active Lifestyle Centres, including Thornbury.
The charitable trust says the work will result in annual energy savings of £20,000 through the more efficient and environmentally friendly heating, lighting and ventilation systems.
It will also extend the lifespan of the pool.
Trust chief executive Mark Crutchley said: "Thornbury swimming pool has been a huge part of our community for 46 years.
"With this refurbishment, we’re delighted to bring the pool into a new era, ensuring it meets the expectations of our members and our commitment to sustainability.
"These improvements will not only enhance the experience for users but also contribute to our environmental goals.
"We’re thrilled to see the pool back in action and can’t wait to welcome everyone back.”
Council cabinet member for corporate resources Adam Monk said: "It’s also really positive to see it as part of an invaluable investment in energy efficiency, which will save money, but also be far better for the environment.
"It’s through practical steps like this that the council and Circadian Trust can help preserve our infrastructure and protect our communities for years to come."
Fiona West tests the water
Circadian team James Parsons and James Puddy, Liam Hull, Tony Harrison, Craig Smart, Jim Rollo, Adam Cooper, Ian Jones, Mark Crutchley, Meg Thorn, Rhian Harris, Karen Smith, Hannah Beltrami and Fiona West.
Council proposes 4.99% tax rise
SOUTH Gloucestershire Council will raise its share of council tax by 4.99% - the maximum amount allowed without a referendum – this year.
Annual draft budget papers prepared for a cabinet meeting this month say this would take the authority’s element of bills for Band D households to £1,931.33, up from £1839.54 last year.
But the final bill will include extra charges form the police, fire service, town and parish councils and the council's own 'special expenses' charge for unique local services.
The rise comes despite most people opposing the increase during public consultation.
Spending and savings proposals, which do not include direct cuts to services this year, include previously-announced plans to increase garden waste collection fees from £60 to £70, just a year after they rose from £30, the introduction of car parking charges in
Thornbury and other areas, and withdrawing funding for maintaining public toilets and playing fields.
Although the budget will be balanced for the next two years, with the use of reserves in the second year, Liberal Democrat council leader and Thornbury ward councillor Maggie Tyrrell warned of increasingly difficult financial times ahead.
Even if all the already identified savings of £40.3 million from previous budgets are delivered, plus new ones
• Re-Felting & Battening
• Complete Roof Re-Fits
• Re-Pointing of Ridges, Chimneys & Walls
• Exterior Painting
• Lead & Valleys Renewed or Repaired
• New Soffits, Fascias, Guttering & Cladding
• EPDM Rubber Roofs - inc Flat Roof Repairs
discretionary community-based services, including maintaining public toilets, playing fields and other open spaces, and find a way to pay for it.
The report said this was likely to be needed, but would save just £15,000 a year from 2028/29.
Cllr Tyrrell said: “It is increasingly difficult to balance council budgets in very challenging financial times.
taken forward through the consultation process, the authority will still need to make about £12m of extra cuts by 2028/29 to balance the books.
The proposals were due to go before the Lib Dem/Labour coalition cabinet on February 3, before a final vote of the whole council on February 19.
They include proposals for £50,000 a year to recruit an extra occupational therapist to meet the needs of residents who rely on assistive technology to carry on living independently in their own homes.
The council will also fill a £170,000 funding gap to maintain support for domestic abuse victims and their families.
Another £15,000 will be invested in speech and language therapy for young offenders to help them build positive lives and reduce reoffending.
And £15,000 will also go towards supporting Armed Forces veterans.
While a third of the 1,869 residents who responded to the consultation supported another 4.99% council tax rise, including 2% for social care, nearly 55% of respondents opposed it, including 41.7% who were strongly against the rise.
The most popular choice was the lowest suggested increase of 3.99% supported by more than half of the survey respondents.
Each 1% increase is worth about £2m of income to the authority.
The report to cabinet said the £10 rise in garden waste subscriptions from April “allows us to continue to cover the escalating costs of providing the service” and bring it in line with neighbouring councils.
The authority is working with town and parish councils and the voluntary sector to understand the impact of axing funding from
“We are pleased that we have been able to do that this year, and through the use of our reserves, into next year.
“We are also not proposing to make further cuts to services, but we need to be honest with people that there are more difficult times ahead.
“The feedback and engagement we have had with people around this budget, particularly face to face through our ‘community conversations’, will help us to prioritise effectively, based on a better understanding of residents’ needs and views and the council’s position.
“We are also pleased that we have been able to prioritise funding to support some of our communities who most need our help.
“Sometimes a little can go a long way, and the support we want to be able to provide for young people who need help getting their lives back on track, for older people who want to live independently, and for our veterans’ community, is really important for us.”
Co-leader Ian Boulton (Labour, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) said: “We understand how many local people are still feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis from just a couple of years ago.
“While it’s obviously different for the council, we continue to have rising costs while our primary way of raising more money to pay for services is through council tax.
“We have kept the proposed increase this year as low as we can, while still balancing our budget.
“We expect there may be more difficult times ahead, but we are committed to keeping up our community conversations."
By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Council co-leader Ian Boulton and leader Maggie Tyrrell
New farmers market is approved
PLANS have been approved for a new farmers market near Thornbury.
The market will operate for a maximum of three days a week, but neighbours have raised concerns over noise, smells and traffic.
The market is likely due to launch in March, opposite the Dobbies Garden Centre on Cutts Heath Road in Buckover.
Up to 30 traders will be operating at the market, which will initially run monthly before becoming more frequent.
Buckovers, a family-run firm, was granted a street block trading consent from South Gloucestershire Council during a licensing hearing in January.
The market will be open from 10am to 4pm, which is less time than was initially applied for.
Speaking to the licensing hearing, Laura Hares, a neighbour who lives nearby, said: “We’ve lived near the site for 10 years, and so far the way the site has been managed has caused a lot of stress.
"We live in a rural hamlet, and we feel the way the site is being developed is in conflict to living in a quiet, rural hamlet off of a country lane.
"We’re all concerned in the neighbourhood that it’s out of character for a rural community. We could easily have litter from the fast food vans drifting down into our hedges. We’re worried about the traffic coming into the site and the extra cars on the road."
Buckovers intends to open a farm shop, café and garden centre on the site, and build a house for the family who run the firm to live there.
The family currently live near Stroud, but are planning to move once the new house is built, councillors heard.
They ran a test event last September, to gauge how well the site would work.
Ms Hares said this caused pollution and noise, and she wasn’t informed about it beforehand.
Buckovers director Mitchell Bracey said: “The application seeks to address the growing need for community space and local trading opportunities within South Gloucestershire, with significant housing growth in the area and limited recreational offerings.
"The site’s location minimises any noise impact.
"Food vendors will not use generators and all power required will be met within our
site’s electrical infrastructure.
"During a successful test event in September, traffic flow and parking were sufficiently managed."
A previous licensing application was made to the council, but this was withdrawn after council staff made an administrative error.
Members of the public had submitted statements supporting the plans, but they were not told they should resend those statements for the second application.
This means the letters of support were not presented at the licensing hearing, which Mr Bracey said was "a bit unfair".
By
Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service
in my survey and let
I am Labour’s candidate for the West of England Mayor in May 2025.
This area is my home. I grew up on the outskirts of Bristol, my family live across the West Country and I’m now raising my three children here.
Our region is a great place to live but I know there are challenges too. I will work every day to put our region on the map and deliver good well-paid jobs, reliable public transport and more affordable homes
Get in touch and let me know what your priorities are for the West of England.
The site of the new market
New head for SGS
A COLLEGE with 8,800 students has announced its next head.
David Withey will be the new chief executive and principal of SGS college from the end of March.
He is joining from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, where he is currently the chief executive, and takes over from Kevin Hamblin, who has been in charge of SGS since 2001.
A college statement said: "David brings with him a wealth of experience and public service leadership gained in both the UK and Australia, whilst having a strong understanding of the further education sector."
Bus fares up by 20%
ADULT single bus fares in South Gloucestershire have gone up by 20% - but the rise is smaller than in some parts of the country.
The £2 single fare cap introduced by the previous government in January 2023 was due to end this year, with fares returning to commercially-set levels.
As part of the Budget in October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the cap was being extended until at least December of this year – but would rise by 50%, to £3, on January 1.
Shortly before Christmas Metro Mayor Dan Norris announced that in the area covered by the West of England Combined Authority –South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath & North East Somerset – the rise would be capped at £2.40 for journeys of under six miles.
Mr Norris said this meant "local passengers will benefit from some of the lowest fares in the country".
He said new proposals to extend the 'fare deal' planned in conjunction with main bus operator First would be introduced early in the year for discussion by WECA's committee.
Mr Withey said: "I've been fortunate to meet some of the brilliant learners, staff and external stakeholders over the past few weeks and I cannot wait to meet more of them once in post."
SGS has around 3,800 students aged 16 to 18, the same number of adult learners plus around 300 14 to 16 year olds and 900 apprentices.
The college, formed from the merger of Filton and Stroud colleges in 2012, has six main campuses from central Bristol to Berkeley and Stroud.
After its last Ofsted inspection, held last year, it was praised for its "clear and ambitious vision" for education and training.
South Gloucestershire and Stroud college (SGS) was rated 'good' overall by regulator Ofsted, with 'outstanding' ratings for its adult learning programmes and students' personal development.
Mr Norris said: "Keeping fares as affordable as possible for local people is crucial for our regional economy and the environment.
"This agreement will mean cheaper fares than the national average and a good deal for people living in more remote areas.
"Meanwhile we are continuing to get on with encouraging tens of thousands of new passengers onto our buses through Birthday Buses, as a key way to grow a sustainable bus network."
The raising of the national cap was criticised by Silviya Barrett, of pressure group the Campaign for Better Transport, who said: "Buses are our most used form of public transport, so they need to be affordable.
"The fare cap has proved popular with passengers and helped boost ridership, so the government must now look for a long-term replacement for the scheme from next year, to avoid any further rises."
David Withey
Olveston Parish Players
OLVESTON Parish Players’ Production of the Pajama Game is heading for sell-out success, as ticket sales outstrip the pace of previous years.
The show takes place on February 19-22 at 7.30pm at Olveston and Tockington Parish Hall.
A light-hearted musical comedy, centred on clothing factory workers' campaign for a pay rise, it includes the songs Hernando’s Hideaway, I’m Not At All in Love and Steam Heat.
Kate Coyle plays union rep Babe Williams, while Paul Dimery is superintendent Sid Sorokin.
The show is directed by Heather Collins, alongside long-standing musical director Chloe Allsopp-Jones.
When ticket sales opened in Olveston in January, people were already lined up, and almost half the tickets sold in the first three days.
Anyone who would like to see the show should contact the box office as soon as possible, on 01454 202011.
Caroline Brewser
Thornbury Musical Theatre Group
IT’S panto time for Thornbury Musical Theatre Group, which is staging its 2025 pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk, this half-term.
Join the courageous Jack, Silly Billy and the larger-than-life Dame Trot as they are forced to sell their beloved cow Daisy to save the family farm.
Along the way, Jack must scale a beanstalk, take on the evil Fairy Fleshcreep and face a terrifying giant who lives in the sky. Luckily, Fairy Liquid is around to lend a helping hand!
Full of magic, songs, dances, and lots of laughs, join TMTG for this giant of a pantomime at Winterbourne Community Centre (WADCA) from February 20-22.
Tickets start at £10 and can be purchased online at www.tmtg.org.uk/tickets, by calling 07516 270140, or by visiting Lisa Costa Residential Sales and Lettings in Thornbury. A 10% discount is available for groups of 10 or more.
A wonderful production for the young and the young at heart, Jack and the Beanstalk guarantees fun for all ages and will be the perfect half-term treat!
Helen
Walker-Cornes
Thornbury Swing Band
to
ARMSTRONG Arts Group presents a concert by Thornbury Swing Band at Marlwood School Drama Hall next month.
Thornbury Swing Band plays swing jazz instrumental and vocal numbers from the 1930s right up to modern times – with a line-up of saxophones, trombones, trumpets, male and female vocalists and supported by a rhythm section of bass, guitar, keyboard and drums.
None of the band members receives any income for performing.
Money raised by the band is donated to good causes in the local area.
The concert takes place on March 22 at 7.30pm.
Tickets cost £15, from AAGThornbury@gmail. com or 01454 850933.
Thornbury Choral Society
THORNBURY Choral Society has changed the venue for its choral workshop on March 1
As building work at Thornbury Baptist Church will not be completed in time, the event will now be held at Alveston Methodist Church.
We shall be singing Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms and Brahms's Song of Destiny under the
leadership of our conductor, Steven Kings, and joined by Finnish choir Kamarikuoro Piccante.
The cost of the day is £20, drinks included.
For more information and booking forms visit www.thornburychoralsociety.org.uk
Angela Hughes
Octopus Drama Group
AFTER the success of last month’s panto, Alice’s Adventures in Pantoland, which sold out within three days of the box office opening, Thornbury’s award-winning Octopus Drama Group turns its attention to its next play.
Currently in its 54th year, the group will be holding read-throughs in early March for the comedy The Village Hall, by Ashley Burgoyne, to be directed by Sue Smith. Rehearsals start soon after.
The character-driven play is written for four males and five female parts, ranging in age from late teens/20s to 70s.
The play will be performed from June 11 to 14 at Christ The King Church Hall in Thornbury.
Whether you are a newcomer to the town or a well-established resident who is looking for a change and to make new friends, do get in touch as we would love to hear from you.
As well as actors, we need volunteers in areas from scenery painters, costume makers and stage crew to publicity and front of house staff.
For more details, contact 01454 413783.
Sue Smith
Thornbury Arts Festival needs you!
NEW helpers are needed to ensure Thornbury’s long-running arts festival continues to thrive.
The festival has entertained audiences for more than 50 years with live music, comedy, drama and guest speakers including Pam Ayres and Kate Adie.
All the organisers are volunteers who use their spare time to find acts, book venues, arrange publicity, look after performers, welcome audiences and arrange publicity.
The team involved is small and, with some committee members retiring, needs at least four new volunteers.
This includes a treasurer who knows their way around a spreadsheet and manage income and outgoings. The treasurer does not have to be a qualified accountant.
Anyone with enthusiasm for the performing arts is welcome to become involved. Meetings are usually held once a month, but more often as each festival approaches.
As well as the main festival, there are also other events which come under its umbrella –the Thornbury Eisteddfod for young performers, the Severn Vale Art Trail and a production by the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School for local primary school children.
Anyone interested should email nancynorth@icloud.com for more information. Lynne Hutchinson
Cast members of The Pajama Game in costume
TMTG in rehearsal
Caption3: Dancing
Thornbury Swing Band
Jane Parfitt
THE region’s Liberal Democrats have chosen a councillor from Bath to be their challenger for the role of Metro Mayor.
Oli Henman has represented the Walcot area of the city on Bath & North East Somerset Council since 2023.
He works as a coordinator aiding community organisations with sustainability, and last year he addressed the UN General Assembly for its ‘Summit of the Future’ action days.
Cllr Henman will be aiming to better the result of former Bristol MP Stephen Williams, the party’s candidate in the 2021 election who came fourth out of four.
He says he wants to use his experience to engage and involve local communities in the work the West of England Combined Authority does if he is elected Metro Mayor on May 1.
Cllr Henman said: “I’m committed to cutting waste and red tape in the Mayor’s office and putting power back where it belongs: in the hands of local communities.
“The West of England Mayor has a key role to play in delivering affordable and
Greens switch Metro Mayor pick and Lib Dems go for Oli
accessible transport, sustainable housing and the jobs of the future.
“The crucial funding available for transport must be better allocated.
“We have seen that funds for bus service improvement have been wasted on unnecessary gimmicks like the ‘birthday bus’ scheme.
“I want to ensure our communities are at the heart of decision making and that the region becomes more accessible for everyone.
“The West of England deserves leadership that listens, collaborates, and delivers for residents in these challenging times.”
Cllr Henman said that whether he would carry on as Walcot councillor if elected as metro mayor would be a matter to discuss with his party.
His selection was announced days after the Green Party said it had changed its mayoral candidate.
The party unveiled Bristol City Council deputy leader Heather Mack as its candidate in November.
However in January it announced that Cllr Mack had stood down from the candidacy “to allow her to focus on her council role”.
In her place the Greens have named Mary Page, who was the party’s candidate in the Bristol North West constituency at the last general election, finishing runner-up to Labour’s Darren Jones.
real hope and real change to all those who feel they have lost their political home or lost faith in our democratic system.
“This is such an important moment for our country and our region.
“We need housing that builds rather than breaks communities, the opportunity to train and upskill for permanent, quality jobs and sustainable transport for our cities and our rural areas.
“The Green Party is committed to those things and that’s why I am so delighted to be representing us in this West of England regional mayor campaign.”
Labour and the Conservatives have both selected former Bristol city councillors, Helen Godwin and Steve Smith respectively, for the election.
Will Writing
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A media and marketing specialist, Mary was previously a member of the Liberal Democrats and was selected in 2019 as the Lib Dem candidate for the role of Bristol Mayor, on a platform of abolishing the post.
She later stood down from the candidacy for personal reasons, but then led the ‘It’s Our City Bristol – Scrap the Mayor’ campaign in 2022, which won a referendum to abolish the role then held by Labour’s Marvin Rees.
Mary said: “Our party offers
WECA covers South Gloucestershire, Bristol and B&NES, with North Somerset currently applying to join. It is run directly by the Metro Mayor, with council leaders having a vote on some issues.
Metro mayors are set to gain new powers under the government’s new devolution plans. Current Metro Mayor Dan Norris was elected as the MP for North East Somerset & Hanham and cannot stand for re-election because of a Labour Party ban on MPs having second jobs.
Reform UK had yet to announce a candidate as the Voice went to print.
Includes reporting by John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Oli Henman Mary Page
Council will ask again on Local Plan
A BLUEPRINT for planning new homes and business development in South Gloucestershire has been updated, after the government said the area would have to find space for extra housing.
The updated version of South Gloucestershire’s new Local Plan has been sent to the next meeting of the authority's cabinet, which takes place in early February, and will also be discussed by a full meeting of the council before a final stage of public consultation, which is due to begin at the end of the month.
All local authorities are required to have an up-to-date Local Plan and, over the past few years, the council has been working on a plan to guide development and shape planning decisions between now and 2040.
The government announced in December that the council would need to find space for nearly 6,000 extra homes, on top of sites in its latest Local Plan, to meet new mandatory government targets.
Sir Keir Starmer announced an updated National Planning Policy Framework in December, which sets
compulsory targets for all councils in a bid to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.
The authority added 17 extra potential housing sites to the plan over the summer, raising the total number of new homes it could accommodate from 19,755 to 22,241.
But campaigners from TRAPP'D –Thornbury Residents Against Poorly Planned Development – say the new total the council must reach is 25,528, with the yearly target for new homes rising from 1,317 a year to 1,702 – up 29.2%.
The latest version of the Local Plan includes provision for 100 homes on the site of the former Castle School Sixth Form Centre, previously the historic former Thornbury Grammar School buildings in Gloucester Road, which have been used for education since the late 19th century.
It also includes provision for 75 homes behind the former Thornbury Hospital, where the council wants to provide extra care housing, 40 homes west of Bristol road and 250 homes
around the fringes of Alveston.
The biggest potential development sites near Thornbury are the Woodlands Golf Course at Almondsbury, where 850 homes could be built, and land south of Gloucester Road in Almondsbury, where 350 homes are earmarked.
Council cabinet member for planning Chris Willmore said: "The plan that we are bringing forward recognises that there is a desperate need for more homes, so that the next generation of local people have the choice to live here if they want to.
"It will allow people coming to the area, for work or because they want to enjoy living in our towns and villages, the chance to do so.
"Crucially, it will allow us to have a greater degree of control over where new homes are built and ensure that they are genuinely affordable to live in and better for our environment."
The council says the plan "limits the loss of local Green Belt land" and "identifies enough areas of land to develop wind and solar energy to make the district carbon neutral".
n LOCAL MP for Thornbury
& Yate
Claire Young MP writes for Thornbury Voice
A gateway to real change in our region
I'VE recently been elected as vice-chair of the Western Gateway All-Party Parliamentary Group, which focuses on supporting the organisation’s work and lobbying for additional support from the government.
The Western Gateway Partnership stretches from St Davids in Wales to Swindon, and brings together business, local leaders and academia to form the country’s only pan-national partnership aimed at building a greener, more prosperous future for the area.
Before becoming an MP, I served on the board of the Western Gateway Partnership as leader of South Gloucestershire Council and in my new role, I intend to be a champion for the project, which has the power to deliver real change for local communities.
The Western Gateway Partnership has the ability to unlock investment and opportunities by bringing people
together around shared goals.
For example, the partnership is soon set to report on the potential for tidal power generation from the Severn. This could deliver jobs for local people, as well as help cut our carbon emissions through new home-grown renewable energy.
Those with long memories will remember schemes before that never came to fruition. One of Western Gateway’s missions is to navigate the complexities, balance environmental concerns, and unlock sustainable opportunities.
The Western Gateway is also engaged in what it terms the Severn Edge project.
It is looking to create a low carbon energy park at the old nuclear power station site at Oldbury, as well as the one up the river at Berkeley.
Focusing on renewable energy, hydrogen and nuclear power, it has already brought in over £100m of investment from the UK government and the private sector.
The Western Gateway is also very well placed to have a say in local rail services.
Its 2050 Rail Vision promotes
increasing capacity to allow up to four trains per hour between Bristol and Cardiff, reducing journey times between the cities from 50 to 30 minutes.
It also suggests that journey times between Swansea and Bristol could be dramatically reduced from one and a half hours, once an hour, to 60 minutes with three trains an hour, through proposed improvements to the South Wales Main Line and upgrading the Severn crossing.
It’s disappointing that the partnership has been overlooked by the government, who have refused to guarantee its funding moving forward, leaving the entire endeavour in doubt.
Hopefully it will understand that the Western Gateway is excellent value for money.
As the vice-chair of the Western Gateway group in Parliament, I will be doing all I can to put pressure on ministers to commit to supporting its work and using it to deliver positive results for our communities.
Claire Young MP with members of the Western Gateway All-Party Parliamentary Group.
n NEWS
COUNCIL investigators are trying to trace the person responsible for dumping rubbish and setting it on fire in a village near Thornbury.
Firefighters from the town were called to Whale Wharf Lane, Littleton-upon-Severn, shortly after 6pm on January 11 to reports of a fire.
They arrived to find a large quantity of rubbish had been dumped on and next to the road, then set on fire.
They used a hose reel and fork to extinguish the fire, which Avon Fire & Rescue said was started deliberately.
A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: “The Littleton-upon-Severn fly-tip was reported to us and is being investigated.
"We are currently reviewing evidence found amongst the waste and investigating potential CCTV footage to see if the offender(s) can be identified."
The incident comes as the council prepares to bring in a booking system at its four Sort It recycling centres, including Thornbury.
From March 3, all visits have
Rubbish dumped as council prepares booking system
Rubbish dumped and set on fire on Severnside. Picture: Thornbury firefighters/Avon Fire & Rescue
to be booked in advance, to meet a law introduced in January of last year requiring councils to regulate the disposal of household DIY waste.
Details of the new system, which aims to cut queues and prevent misuse of recycling centres by non-residents and commercial traders, can be found
in the advert below Council cabinet member for waste and recycling Sean Rhodes said: "We recognise that these changes will mean people have to adapt, but we have confidence in the new system and will support anyone who needs additional help.
"We need to regulate the disposal of DIY waste and we also want to ensure South Glos residents receive the best value for their money. Preventing residents and businesses from outside the area from using our recycling centres will help save vital funds that can be spent where they are needed the most."
The council recently prosecuted a man from Pontypool in Gwent, after furniture and other waste was dumped in Aust Road, near Olveston.
John Hegarty, aged 34, was ordered to do 120 hours
of community service and pay £354 in fines and costs at Bristol Magistrates Court in January, after pleading guilty to flytipping.
The court heard he had knocked on the door of a resident in Olveston in May last year, offering to remove some household waste stacked on her driveway for another waste collector.
Hegarty undercut the other business and claimed to have a waste carrier’s licence.
He was paid £140 in cash to take the waste away before being spotted unloading it from a flatbed Ford Transit truck at the side of the road later the same day.
People who see fly-tipping are encouraged to call 01454 868000, email streetcare@ southglos.gov.uk or visit www. southglos.gov.uk/flytipping.
thornburyvoice
n NEWS FROM THE METRO MAYOR
Love is . . . tackling our potholes
FEBRUARY is a month of red roses, chocolates, and declarations of love.
So, naturally, I thought I’d start by writing about potholes.
Yes, potholes. Stick with me, it’s a story of devotion. After all, nothing says love like smooth, safe journeys.
Just before Christmas, the West of England received a government love letter in the form of an extra £6.7 million to tackle potholes.
This record funding – nearly 50% higher than last year – will be music to motorists’ ears.
It’s not just the funding that will warm hearts: with stricter rules and penalties for companies dragging out roadworks, drivers can look forward to smoother roads and fewer delays.
Because when it comes to our roads, we’re committed to a long-term relationship – no break-ups or breakdowns in sight.
Another heartfelt gesture arrived in the form of £17.2 million to tackle rough sleeping.
This significant boost will help prevent homelessness, provide more warm beds and shelters, and support rough sleepers into longer-term accommodation.
It’s the biggest funding of its kind for our region and shows a shared commitment to caring for those
most in need.
Tackling the housing crisis is no small challenge, but with this cash boost, we’re making progress –and proving that our love for the West of England is about leaving no one behind.
Of course, Valentine’s Day is also a time for giving thoughtful gifts, and I can’t think of a better one than Birthday Buses.
Back by popular demand, this unique initiative gives each resident in our amazing region free bus travel for the entire month of your birthday.
In December alone, more than 100,000 free journeys were taken, doubling last year’s numbers despite the disruption of Storm Darragh.
Since Birthday Buses relaunched, 45,000 people have signed up.
They will save up to £100 each, and almost 40% of them are under 21.
If you’re lucky enough to be that age, you can now get free bus travel for the whole of your birthday month, plus the following one, if you apply before your 21st birthday.
It’s fantastic to see the next generation of bus passengers getting on board, embracing more sustainable travel, and shaping a greener future for the region.
Over 8,000 people already had free passes for
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January. Those with March birthdays should sign up at BirthdayBus.co.uk by February 19 to ensure a whole month of free travel.
If your birthday is in February you can still apply, right up to the 15th.
At its heart, my job as Mayor is about connection, whether that’s connecting people to places via buses and better roads, or connecting people to opportunities, homes, and leisure.
It’s also about taking tough decisions, even when they’re not always easy or popular.
After all, we all know love means telling it like it is and being honest.
Although, top tip: your partner always looks amazing on Valentine’s Day, whatever you think!
n NEWS
New trees remember loved ones
MORE than 100 new trees are being planted this winter at Bristol Memorial Woodlands, near Thornbury.
The new trees are being planted for people laid to rest at the site between October 2023 and September last year, creating woodland where relatives and friends can remember them.
This year’s planting will include wild cherry, English oak, hazel, silver birch, hornbeam, field maple and holly.
They will be in the Earthcott burial grounds and the Earthcott field, where ashes are interred.
A cedar of Lebanon has been planted in a newly opened field for interments.
Although not a native tree, cedar of Lebanon have thrived in the UK since the 1600s and are a feature of other burial sites, including Highgate Cemetery in London.
Bristol Memorial Woodlands will eventually be a permanent 100acre natural woodland, managed by a charitable trust.
Freya Widdicombe, who leads the Bristol Memorial Woodlands planting team, said: "We have slowed the planting of Rowans and Holm Oaks in the new fields as they have not been establishing themselves well, so this year’s mix is slightly different to previous areas planted."
A tree is planted for every four burials at Bristol Memorial Woodlands, which are open daily for people to walk in.
For more information visit www.memorialoodlands.com.
Metro Mayor Dan Norris writes for the Voice
Bristol Memorial Woodlands
JIGSAW Thornbury
JOIN in with some spring joy with this year’s JIGSAW Jaunt – and boost your fitness with a free week’s gym membership!
Our charity's fundraising walk will take place on Saturday March 29 from 11am, with all proceeds raised supporting life-changing work for families in our community.
Meet up with old and new friends at JIGSAW Thornbury in the St Mary Centre to collect a map, enjoy a fun team warm up, and see if you can be the first to complete the jaunt!
A drink and delicious food prepared by a team of young volunteers from the charity will be waiting for you when you return.
Participants can arrive at any time between 11am – 1pm, with the group warm up taking place at 11.15am.
The JIGSAW Jaunt is a fantastic way for all ages and abilities to get out, improve well-being and explore Thornbury.
Have fun taking on a new challenge by following clues to discover points of interest
along the accessible 5km route. Complete them all to solve a spring-themed phrase.
Maps cost £2, which you can buy on arrival at JIGSAW, with no need to pre-book. Maps will also be on sale from the JIGSAW Thornbury website, www.jigsawthornbury.org.uk, so you can have some family fun over the Easter holidays if you’re not able to make the main event.
Everyone who enters the walk on March 29 will also be able to enjoy a free week’s membership at Elite Fitness Thornbury, who are supporting the charity.
A month-long membership is also up for grabs if you return a completed map with the correct answer by April 13, with all participants being entered into the draw.
JIGSAW Thornbury is a charity that works with all children and young people with additional needs or disabilities, and their families.
We provide friendship, support, compassion and fun, along with innovative services that empower them to connect, fit in and thrive.
Julie Watson
South Glos Parent Carers
SOUTH Glos Parent Carers are celebrating our 15th year of supporting parent carers of children
and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in South Gloucestershire.
From our humble beginnings in 2009, when our parent carer forum was set up by me and two other mums, we’ve grown into a robust team of 22, supporting a vibrant parent carer community of more than 3,400 members.
The last 15 years have seen a lot of changes in our organisation but its heart and purpose have remained the same: to grow a wellinformed, empowered, supportive community of SEND families, and to represent the collective voice of our community, working with service providers to achieve positive change.
To mark the milestone, we've set ourselves an ambitious fundraising target of raising £15,000 to help us achieve our dream of reaching all families across South Glos who have a child or young person with an additional need or disability.
We would really appreciate any donations to help us reach our goal. Anything you give will help us greatly – every penny helps us to run our support groups, workshops and open our Community Base.
If you are interested in getting involved, you can email SGPC15@sglospc.org.uk, donate at tinyurl.com/y39prkpk or find out more at www. sgpc.org.uk
Rachel Trueman
People taking part in last year's Jaunt
n WHAT'S ON
February 3
n ALVESTON GARDENS ASSOCIATION meeting at the Jubilee Hall, Alveston, 7.30pm. Talk: Route 66, The Mother Road, by David Hartnell.
February 4
n CIRCLE DANCING to music from around the world. Thornbury Methodist Church Hall, Castle Court, 6.30-8.30pm. Also on 11th and 18th. New dancers welcome, no experience or partner required. More from vickislade1@outlook.com or 07516 999384.
February 7
n THORNBURY PICTURE HOUSE presents Close, a film by Lukas Dhont, winner of Cannes Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, at Thornbury Methodist Church Upper Hall from 7pm. Members free, guests £5. More information at www.thornburypicturehouse.org.
February 16
n THORNBURY CHAMBER PLAY-
ERS Third Sunday Concert at St Mary's Church, Thornbury, 4-5pm. Admission free, refreshments and a retiring collection.
February 19-22
n OLVESTON PARISH PLAYERS present the Pajama Game at Olveston and Tockington Parish Hall, 7.30pm each day. For tickets call 01454 202011.
February 20
n ARTS APPRECIATION GROUP at the Greenfield Centre, Park Avenue, Winterbourne, 2pm. Illustrated talk by Liz Davenport: Woodchester Mansion, a Victorian Masterpiece. More details from Sally on 07946 508316. February 20-22
THORNBURY MUSICAL THEATRE
GROUP presents Jack and the Beanstalk at Winterbourne Community Centre (WADCA), Watleys End Road.
n LETTERS
Evening performances 7pm daily, plus 2pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am Saturday. Tickets from www. tmtg.org.uk/tickets, 07516 270140 or Lisa Costa Residential Sales and Lettings, Thornbury High Street.
February 22
n THORNBURY TOWN COUNCIL ‘Meet Your Councillor’ sessions in the Town Hall, High Street, 10am12.30pm.
February 25
n THORNBURY ART CLUB presents a demonstration and Q&A with independent freelance artist David Johnson at St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road from 7.15pm. Members free, non-members welcome - £6 on the door, includes tea & biscuits. More details from www.thornburyartclub. co.uk.
February 26
n ALVESTON LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY meeting at Alveston Methodist Church, 7.30pm. Talk from Professor Ronald Hutton, on Charles I. Visitors welcome, £5 on the door.
March 1
n THORNBURY CHORAL SOCIETY workshop, Alveston Methodist Church, Wolfridge Ride, Alveston, 10am-5pm. Singing Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms and Brahms's Song of Destiny with conductor Steven Kings and members of Finnish choir Kamarikuoro Piccante. More details and bookings at www.thornburychoralsociety.org.uk.
REGULAR EVENTS
Monday
n SEVERN VALE FLOWER CLUB meets on the second Monday in the month at 2pm in St Mary's Hall in Eastbury Close, Thornbury, for classes,
Thanks for your welcome
Thornbury Mayor James Murray visits the celebration
GREAT Western Air Ambulance Charity’s shop on Thornbury High Street celebrated its one-year anniversary in December.
To mark the occasion, we hosted a special
demonstrations and competitions. For more information contact Sally on ssjjtaylor@hotmail.co.uk or Hazel on 01454 885213.
Tuesday
n CITIZENS ADVICE South Gloucestershire sessions at Thornbury Town Hall Tuesday 10am-noon. No appointment needed.
n JUST SEW IT SEWING CLUB, every Tuesday 6.30-9.30pm at the Chantry Community and Arts Centre Castle Street, Thornbury. Come along and sew with others bring your sewing machine & materials/pattern. Call Carrie 07753 236095.
n THORNBURY MEMORY CAFE is open on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (except August) from 10.15-11.45am. Methodist Church Hall, High Street, Thornbury. More information from Sue Rowley on 01454 412941 or Louise Wright on 07800 776998.
n THORNBURY ART CLUB Painting Studio Group meets at St Mary’s Church Hall, Eastbury Road, every Tuesday 1.30-4.30pm. Also Thursday Painting Studio Group at same time and place on Thursdays. Call 01454 414433 or 0777 627 1010 for more details.
n SUNBEAMS TODDLER GROUP, 1.30-3pm every Tuesday in term time, Thornbury Methodist Church Hall (off Castle Court). All families welcome, no need to book, £2 per family includes snack and drink.
n THORNBURY TOWN BAND Friendly community brass band, rehearsals at Thornbury URC Tuesday evening's 7.30pm-9.30pm. New players very welcome. www. thornburytownband.com. email: info@ thornburytownband.co.uk. Turn up
birthday party.
The event was attended by Thornbury mayor James Murray, who learned about the lifesaving work of GWAAC.
Since starting at the shop I’ve been bowled over by the warm welcome.
The people of Thornbury have been very generous in their donations of pre-loved items, for which we are extremely grateful.
We are still looking for more helpers to sort stock or serve customers at the till. We’re a really friendly bunch and invite anyone with an hour to spare to get in touch.
There is no minimum time commitment or set shift pattern.
Anyone interested in volunteering can learn more at www.gwaac.com/volunteer, visit the shop, located next to Tesoro Lounge, or contact retail volunteer coordinator Katie at katie. goolden@gwaac.com.
Joe Wetherden Thornbury Shop Manager Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
or call Anna for more information on 07960008843
Wednesday
n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, Coffee and Chat, second Wednesday of the month, The Swan, Thornbury High Street, 10-11.30am. All welcome
Thursday
n THORNBURY GOOD AFTERNOON CHOIR, Thornbury URC, Chapel Street, 1-3pm. For info visit www.goodafternoonchoir.org, email gac@grenvillemusic.co.uk or call 01761 472468.
Friday
n HAVEN MEMORY CAFE, Thornbury United Reformed Church, Chapel Street, first and third Fridays of the month from 10.15-11.45am. More details from Stuart Hill on 07913 241437 or Sue Walton 07794 370903.
Saturday
n THORNBURY PARKRUN, 9am, Mundy Playing Fields. Free.
n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION VETERANS Breakfast, second Saturday of the month, 9am at The Swan, Thornbury High Street. All welcome.
n SATURDAY NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT WITH DANCING! Royal British Legion, Ryecroft Road, Frampton Cotterell - 1st Feb – Rocking Gerry; 8th Feb – Raindrops; 15th Feb – Ryan Mills; 22nd Feb – Dresdens Bingo 8pm. Music 8.30. New visitors welcome. £6 entry. Cash only. See Facebook for full details.
Sunday
n THORNBURY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION branch meeting, last Sunday of the month at the Wheatsheaf pub, Chapel Street, 12.30pm. All welcome.
Look out for drones
RESIDENTS should be aware of drones being flown in Thornbury.
I recently saw a small four-rotor drone hovering low over the rear gardens of houses in St David’s Road.
It was evidently studying (and doubtless filming) the properties, possibly with a view to burglary. Operating a drone in this way is outrageous, illegal and was reported to the police.
The police advised that any further instances be reported to them with a view to identifying the offender.
If the drone is being flown from someone's garden, neighbours should report if the drone leaves the bounds of that property.
It could be kids messing about, with or without their parents' knowledge, but parents should ask themselves, if they bought their child a drone, did they also tell them the law?
Thornbury resident (Name and address withheld by request)
n COMMUNITY NEWS
Thornbury Lions
WE are a small group of men and women who get together to raise funds to help our local community.
We also give our help more widely when we join with other Lions clubs across the world.
We are part of a worldwide organisation called Lions International, a network of over 1.4 million members in over 48,000 clubs in over 200 countries.
Last year Lions clubs worldwide donated nearly £400 million to good causes, as well as getting involved in local ‘hands-on’ projects.
The main way we raise money is through our Bargain Bookshop in the St Mary Centre. You can pick up a hardback book for a suggested donation of £1, or 50p for a paperback. If teachers find suitable books for their school, we let them have them free.
We have a great many dedicated volunteers who, along with Lions members, help us to run our bookshop six days a week.
In 2024 we donated £8,000 to all our local schools to support their books budgets. We supported the Air Ambulance by running giant Easter egg raffles, and in 2025 we are doing the same for Children’s Hospice South West.
We have supported community groups and youth sports teams.
We want to do more, by becoming more proactive in the way we help our community.
In March we are organising a prostate cancer
screening event at The Chantry for men aged between 40 and 80, in partnership with Rotary, Round Table and the Thornbury & District League of Friends.
But we need your help. Our membership is small, so if you are community minded and want to help others and make a difference then you are exactly the type of person we are looking for.
You can find out more on our website, www. thornburylions.org, or email Paul Wilkinson at paul.wilkinson53@outlook.com.
Kevin Simpson
Thornbury Rotary
WANT to have fun keeping fit and raising funds for charities?
It’s time to get involved with the everpopular Thornbury Rotary Swimarathon, happening on March 7 and 8.
The event raises funds for local charities and good causes and has, in the 30-plus years that it has been organised by Rotary in Thornbury, raised over £500,000.
In 2024, 50 teams took part, with the fabulous support of Panache Steel Band creating a wonderful atmosphere. Entries are already coming in, so get in early to secure your spot!
The newly refurbished Thornbury Leisure Centre is once again the venue.
To take part, all you need to do is round up a team of up to six people who each are able to swim at least 25 metres and who, between
you, are able to swim in relay to score as many lengths as possible in 50 minutes.
Swimmers may be any age. It’s fun way of raising funds, keeping fit and meeting other teams.
To get your entry in, go to www. thornburyrotary.org/swimarathon.
What happens to the funds raised? Well, in the past few months Rotary in Thornbury has donated to an impressive variety of charities in and around the local area for the benefit of the community. These include: Young Carers, Krunch, Castle School, New Siblands School, Thornbury Foodbank, Thornbury Radio, Parkinson’s Research, Alveston Community events, Children’s Hospice South West, MIND, Off The Record and the Bristol Children’s Charity.
If you know of a local charity or good cause that is in need of support, please contact Thornbury Rotary at secretary@thornburyrotary. org to see how we may be able to help.
Bernard Amos
n MESSAGE FROM POLICE AND CRIME COMMISSIONER
An exciting opportunity to bring plans to life
IN the last months of 2024 I finalised my Police and Crime Plan, setting the five strategic priorities for Avon and Somerset Police for my term of office.
You can read it on my website at tinyurl.com/2zxte625.
This lays out the focus for the work of Avon and Somerset Police and for my office, including strengthening neighbourhood policing, tackling violence against women and girls, and knife crime.
Central to the start of 2025 for me is bringing this plan to life, through developing an implementation plan.
The opportunity to build on the foundations of the last year is truly exciting.
An important part of creating the plan was the public consultation, not least because being the bridge between the public and the police is central to my duties.
This consultation was carried out through public meetings, focus groups and meetings with
communities and specialists, as well as over 1,000 online submissions.
Through these events I met with so many inspirational people who are quietly getting on with transforming other people’s lives.
Some of the excitement of the coming year is that I will be able to continue to work with them and with new people and organisations that provide support, change behaviours and generate opportunities for those around them.
The plan sets the strategic priorities for policing and crime prevention, but I am also responsible for the wider governance of Avon and Somerset Police, to ensure they deliver an efficient and effective service to everyone in all parts of our area.
As with so many of our public services, policing suffered through cuts over recent years but, despite this, we still benefit from our biggest asset – the people who are dedicated to delivering our police service.
Every day, officers and staff work to protect our communities and make people safer – they are often the first people our community members turn to in times of need, offering support during moments of vulnerability and crisis.
Examples of their impressive impact include delivering lifesaving first aid to a victim of knife crime, designing a fraud prevention tool to protect the most vulnerable from organised criminality and delivering justice for a survivor of sexual assault across a four-year process.
Policing is also fortunate to benefit from a committed group of volunteers, including special constables and police staff volunteers.
In addition, there are volunteers who directly support the work of my office, who help to scrutinise Avon and Somerset Police, making a real and tangible difference to the standards of policing the public receives.
If you’d like to become involved during 2025, you can find out more
in the volunteering section of my website at tinyurl.com/4vdn455v.
I am committed to working alongside these dedicated staff and officers, holding them to account when needed, to make sure the public receive the police service they need.
Please feel free to reach out to me and my office with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have at www. avonandsomerset-pcc.gov.uk.
Swimming at Thornbury's pool
Bristol-based The Window Hub progresses on green goals
Bristol-based home improvement company, The Window Hub, is aiming to plant 3,000 trees over the next three years as part of its commitment to being a climate conscious business.
The trees will be planted at Boyd Valley Lake, which is located in Bitton. This is in addition to continuing its policy of recycling all old frames so they don’t end up in landfill.
The window installation company was launched during lockdown in 2020 by seasoned industry professional Danny, who wanted to create a business that was “built on quality rather than greed”.
From humble beginnings, The Window Hub now operates from a head office and showroom in Staple Hill in Bristol with offices, showrooms and installation depots across the South West.
In fact, a new showroom is scheduled to open this month.
Danny launched The Window Hub because he wanted to be much more than just a double glazing company.
“We know that choosing new windows and inviting someone
into your home can be stressful, so we have introduced as many initiatives as possible to be fair and reasonable in our approach to give our customers the best experience possible,” he said.
“Sales begin and end with treating customers properly. And
you know what? It is so easy to be amazing if you don’t cut corners.”
And the Window Hub has the customer reviews to prove it –90% of reviews for The Window Hub on Trustpilot are for five stars, with customers celebrating the company’s professionalism, friendliness, tidiness, and attention to detail.
The hard work of Danny and his company was also recently recognised and commended, with The Window Hub being named the ‘Best in the South West’ at the G24 Awards last year.
In 2025, The Window Hub will grow to cover domestic homes between Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and Lands End in Cornwall.
For more information, please visit TheWindowHub.co.uk.
n SPORT
THE return from injury of Hannah Kemp, along with captain Jo Deas, has led to a change of fortune for Thornbury Hockey Club's 1st team.
In the first league game following the mid-season break, a 5-3 victory was achieved against old rivals Wotton-underEdge 2nds.
Thornbury, who had a disappointing set of results before the break, will hope to improve their league position in the remaining games.
Vicki Ball also celebrated her return to action, after some time away from the game, scoring two goals in a player-of-the-match performance.
Prolific scorer Coz Deas, Esther Jenkinson and Liz McFerron completed the scoring.
Thornbury 2nds were unable to gain a victory at Keynsham 3rds, going down 5-1: a score which flattered the winners, according to captain Sarah Lally.
The experienced Melanie Evans distributed the ball well, and it was a well-timed through ball from her that found her daughter Matilda, who gave the
Returning players revive Thornbury's fortunes
keeper no chance.
Captain Lally was full of praise for promising goalkeeper Amy Stott, who made a number
of fine saves to earn player of the match.
Harry Collins was more than pleased with his Men's 1st team,
who continue to find life difficult. He said the team had most of the play in the first half against Yate 2nds, but were unable to score before the visitors took the lead just before the break, scoring another in the second half. Promising youngster William Tett was the player of the match on his senior debut, whilst Martin Abrahams defended strongly, with a number of timely tackles. Lewis Henderson and Ollie Bywater combined effectively up front, without finding the net.
Training continues on Monday evenings at Castle School, juniors from 6-7pm, with seniors following from 7-8.30pm.
New players are always made welcome.
David Parry-Jones
Alice Atkinson in action for Thornbury
Four wins in five for Thorns
ALL at Thornbury Town Football Club were extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Ray Worsley in January.
Ray was a legend at the Mundy Fields, having devoted many years to the club as first team manager, committee member and finally chairman.
In his tenure as chairman he saw the club make some progress through the leagues, and he oversaw the 2001/02 Bristol Premier Combination winning side.
However one of his main achievements was to implement stability within the club.
At a time when committee members came and went, Ray’s presence encouraged others to stay for the “long haul” to give the club a solid base and build the foundations for what it is today.
Despite not being able to attend many games in later years, Ray was always keen to know how 'Thorns' were doing, and made regular phone calls to committee members to discuss a game.
His passion for the club has rubbed off onto son Steve, who has also been involved with the club over a number of years.
Ray will be sorely missed at the Mundys, and our thoughts and condolences go out to all of his family.
On the pitch, a run of four wins in five games saw Thorns pull away from the relegation zone and make progress in the Floodlit Cup.
The last game of 2024 saw Hereford
Pegasus beaten 3-1 in front of a good crowd of 175 at the Mundys, with goals from Callum Chalmers (2) and Weston-super-Mare loanee Zak Kempster.
A trip to Worcester Raiders ended in a 5-0 defeat but the team responded well with a comfortable 3-0 win against Brimscombe: Chalmers and Kempster were again on the scoresheet, with Joe McLaughlin adding the third.
An amazing game away at bottom club Malmesbury Victoria saw the hosts take a three-goal lead in the first half before a Cam Drew goal just before half-time gave Town some hope.
A much-improved second half saw Thorns score five to win 6-3, with goals from Harry Brock, Chalmers (2) and a couple of own goals.
In a break from League action, Thornbury made progress in the Hellenic Floodlit Cup, beating hosts Longlevens 5-4 on penalties. Thorns had looked to be through to the next round when leading 2-1, but a stoppage-time equaliser from the hosts took the game into a shoot-out.
The Reserves only played one game over Christmas and New Year, a 1-0 victory over Shaftesbury Crusade. Tom Manley grabbed the all-important goal.
Thorns' A team have also only had one fixture, a 3-3 draw at Bedminster Down Reserves.
The Under-18s had two outings, a draw with Portishead and a narrow defeat at highflying Rockleaze Rangers.
Otis leads Dark Blues to Georgia
A FORMER pupil of a school near Thornbury led the Oxford University rugby team during their European tour.
Otis Walker, from Alveston, has been playing for the university's first XV since last year and was the captain during two weeks in Georgia.
Otis attended Tockington Manor School, an independent preparatory school for children aged from two to 13, then to Haberdashers’ Monmouth School before going to Oxford, where he is in his second year of a geography degree.
He said: "My last point of reference being rugby captain was at Tockington, I spent much of the morning before freestyling some motivational words for my impending team talk!"
Tockington Manor was a part sponsor of the tour, contributing to the team's accommodation and travel costs.
Headmaster Stephen Symonds said: "We were so pleased to be able to support Otis on this tour and make a contribution to his future success.
"He is a tremendous sportsman and we
The Oxford University team
are honoured to have played a part in his journey."
Tockington Manor School is set to take some of its pupils to Oxford later this year, to visit the club's ground and hear more about what it takes to play rugby at a higher level.
Oxford University RFC is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious rugby clubs, established in 1869.
The team is known as the Dark Blues to students, to distinguish it from the Light Blues of rivals Cambridge.
Malcolm Carr
Fraser Moss (in blue) in action away at Worcester Raiders.
Taekwondo master celebrates 35 years
A MARTIAL arts instructor who teaches students in Thornbury is celebrating 35 years in taekwondo.
Master Vaughan Buxton, who started the sport when he was seven and earned his black belt by the age of ten, has since gone on to train over a dozen champions.
Vaughan, who grew up in Yate and now lives in Tortworth, said: “When I started taekwondo, I was a small, geeky child who got bullied.
"Taekwondo helped to build a new friend group, which in turn allowed my confidence to grow.
"Its tenets teach respect and perseverance. It improves people’s confidence, as well as creating everlasting friendships."
Vaughan, who is also a violinist, won his first gold at the Taekwondo Association of Great Britain Welsh Open in 1995.
He also won in his category at the Clash of the Titans, which brought a range of martial arts styles together at the UK tournament in Huddersfield, for three years running.
He was the number one seed when he qualified for entry into the World Championships in 2004, winning all 10 of his bouts – on his 21st birthday.
He then went on to fight a half dozen tough rounds to be crowned welterweight World Champion in the sparring division in
the sport's birthplace of Korea.
Student and friend Stuart Leppard, 58, who has achieved his 5th and 6th degree under Vaughan’s instruction, as well as reaching two World and two European Championship finals, described him as a ‘star fighter’.
He said: "He won a world championship in South Korea, the backyard of Taekwondo, and I’m full of admiration for him.
"He was naturally good but didn’t really win anything until he was a black belt. But then he got stronger, learnt his trade and his fighting prowess and fitness paid off every time."
Vaughan was promoted to 7th Degree in May 2021, and his competing days officially came to an end.
But he continues to instruct the next generation at the club he opened, which is now known as South West Taekwondo (SWTKD) and holds classes at Thornbury Leisure Centre on Monday and Thursday evenings, along with black belt and squad training at Turnberrie's Community Centre every other weekend.
For more information, call 07866 685099 or visit www.swtkd.co.uk.
Angela Belassie
Vaughan in action in the 2004 World Championships
Vaughan Buxton
Grace Care Centre in Thornbury
Located in the historic town of Thornbury, Grace Care Centre is a vibrant care home and takes pride in challenging preconceptions of the sector.
Whether it’s singing along at a festival, sipping drinks at cocktail evenings, or enjoying trips to local landmarks, we believe everyone should continue to live their best life when they move into a care home.
We’re part of The Orders of St John Care Trust
Grace Care Centre is proud to be part of The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT), one of the leading not-for-profit care organisations in the UK. As a longstanding charitable organisation, dedicated to the care of others, we take pride in reinvesting back into our residents, team members, and care homes.