Thornbury Voice August 2018

thornburyvoice www.thornburyvoice.co.uk

August, 2018 Issue 17

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Gromit boosts business THORNBURY’S traders are reporting an increase in visitors since the Gromit sculpture was installed at the St Mary Centre.

Gromit has been brought to the town by the Thornbury Chamber of Commerce as part of this year’s Gromit Unleashed 2

Trail, which is raising money for Bristol Children’s Hospital. It features 67 sculptures including Wallace and Feather McGraw, and Thornbury’s statue is the most northerly.

Ian Black, manager at ‘News 4 U’, said: “It’s far busier, it’s

a combination of factors; the weather, the Gromit, the carnival, a new store recently opened, footfall is up and the feelgood factor is growing.

Gromit is an asset to the whole town.”

Full story on page 7.

Climb every mountain Thornbury charity benefits from three peaks challenge PAGE 3

Thornbury loses planning role Council removes meetings from town PAGE 6

Playing out in Thornbury Road closures for play sessions PAGE 11

Playing at the sharp end Bench mark for learning: members of Thornbury U3A unveil a new bench to mark their 20th anniversary.

More, page 9

Young and old excel at fencing PAGES 21&27

Making hay whilst the sun shines Thornbury cricketers in double promotion push PAGE 31

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August, 2018

n NEWS

Nurse to be the face of UK recruitment campaign HAZEL Roddan, a district nurse from Yate, is to be the face of a national recruitment campaign for nurses on behalf of Sirona.

Sirona provides specialised community health care and needs more community nurses so it has turned to the motherof-three, a District Nurse team leader in Yate, to help the recruitment drive.

Hazel started her training in 1981 and has seen huge changes over the years. She said: “It was a school of nursing in those days.

I have always wanted to care for people; the turning point was when I was 15 and there was a careers event at school and we were advised about pre-nursing courses. It confirmed that was what I wanted to do. I applied for

the nursing school and in those days, you had to wait to get in.”

She continued: “After three years I was a registered general nurse. I was one of the first groups as until then it had been state registered nurses, or SRN. I couldn’t go straight into the community as I had to have hospital experience and I worked in general surgery, gynaecology and orthopaedics, all of which stood me in good stead for working in the community. I was then sponsored to do a district nursing course for a year by the hospital; I was quite unique as I was quite young to make that choice – it tended to be an option for people when they had children.”

Hazel stayed in community

nursing and has seen huge changes over that time. She said: “When I started we used to spend the mornings delivering personal care, ensuring people were up and out of bed, but over time that changed. We certainly weren’t managing large wounds or sorting catheters or other equipment in the home.”

She continued: “Today we provide care tailored for the person in their home; we build relationships with individuals and their families and are able to really support them and ensure continuity – I wouldn’t do anything else.”

These days community nursing includes managing the needs of those undergoing rehabilitation following

Thornbury company urges groups to sign up to a warmer welcome THORNBURY Welcomes, a company which aims to make Thornbury an even more welcoming place, is urging local groups to register with it so that it can progress its vision.

The firm started out as an initiative under Helen Harrison, the former mayor, and recently became a community interest company. It aims to work with a range of organisations to improve the welcome which Thornbury offers, and get people involved in their community.

Michelle Galliot, Project Co’ordinator said: “We are not in any way wishing to undermine all the wonderful work already going on in Thornbury around

this area, but instead to provide some sort of central hub that can draw those different activities together and enable greater impact.”

Groups are being asked to register ahead of an event next year which will use the concept of a ‘freshers fair’, where members of the public are invited to meet organisers from clubs and community groups.

Michelle said; “Let's all do what we can to make Thornbury even better for all. The event we are planning should help us all to feel involved and in turn get more members for your community groups. So please get in touch to register your interest

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

in our forthcoming event.”

Thornbury Welcomes is also keen to raise awareness of additional needs amongst businesses, in particular dementia, mental health issues, and autism. It’s investigating setting up an accreditation scheme whereby shops, and cafes would display a sticker for being, for example, autism ‘friendly’. This would make it easier for people affected to feel welcome out and about in their community.

You can contact Thornbury Welcomes via Facebook, ‘Thornbury Welcomes’, or email Thornburywelcomes@ gmail.com

discharge from hospital. This can be with wound care, catheter care, intravenous antibiotics and end of life care.

Hazel said: “Providing End of Life care is also really important to me and giving people the choice to die at home, if that is what they want; that’s something that has developed over the years.”

Alison Griffiths, Locality Manager for Sirona, said: “Community nursing has evolved hugely over the years both in terms of the complexity of conditions experienced by service users and the length of time we care for them; in some cases, people are cared for by a community nursing team over a number of years and we really become part of the family.”

Hazel said: “I have loved every minute of it; we are able to make a difference in our community and I would encourage any nurse to join us.”

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

August, 2018

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n NEWS A LOCAL mum has raised £1,800 for a Thornbury charity after a chance playground meeting.

Lucy Whiting was inspired to raise money for the Thornbury charity Brain Tumour Support after a meeting with parents Jennie and Steve Adlam in the school playground.

When they met in September 2017, Steve had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and he and his family were receiving counselling from the charity.

Lucy suggested that she could do the Three Peaks Challenge to raise funds through sponsorship.

Steve died in October 2017, aged 48. Lucy said: “Steve’s family is still being helped by Brain Tumour Support, so I wanted to raise funds to enable the charity to support other families in the same situation.”

Lucy went on to complete the Three Peaks Challenge with the support of her own mum, Jill Bendeaux. They took photographs of Steve with them and took photos with his picture on every peak they climbed.

The three peaks must be climbed within 24 hours, and they started very early on a Saturday morning with the ascent of Ben Nevis. Lucy said: “That was hard, about threequarters of the way up, we saw snow and it was really cold and windy. We had to hold on tight to Steve’s photo as we thought it might blow away.”

After five hours of hiking, they went back to the mini bus to drive to Scafell Pike. By the time they got to the top the sun was setting, so they had to descend in the dark using head torches.

Woman raises thousands for Thornbury cancer charity They did their best to eat and sleep on the bus to Snowdon, but arrived tired, making the third and final ascent the hardest.

Lucy said: “We were struggling, but it was a beautiful clear day with spectacular views and we made it.”

The mum and daughter team raised £1,800 for Brain Tumour Support. This included over £400 which was raised at a cake sale. Steve’s wife Jennie said: “I’m so proud of Lucy and her mum, and Steve would have been astounded to see how many people have supported Lucy and how many came to support the cake sale.”

She continued: “Throughout the day people were coming up to me and telling me about their loved ones who had died of brain tumours. I’m glad that our fundraising has got people talking about brain tumours.”

Tina Mitchell Skinner is the Founder and CEO of Thornbury based charity Brain Tumour Support. She said: “When my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumour 15 years ago, there was nowhere for us to turn to for help. After he died I set up the charity and now we are able to support loved ones across the country with support groups, specialist counselling, on-line support and more. We are so grateful to fundraisers like Lucy.

We could not do what we do without them.”

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thornburyvoice September deadline

Our September edition will be going to print on August 23. To ensure your news or letter is included, please contact us by August 15. Advertisers are also asked to contact us by the same date.

Thornbury Voice contacts Fiona Picton

Richard Drew

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01454 800 120 contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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Your views Letters for publication can be sent to us via email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk We reserve the right to edit your letter.

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August, 2018

n NEWS

Local residents sign housing protest petition A PETITION against proposed housing development in Thornbury by the local campaign group TRAPP’D (Thornbury Residents Against Poorly Planned Development) has been signed by over 1,000 local people.

It says the planning system has failed Thornbury because it could see up to 6,000 more houses being built. It asks Housing Minister James Brokenshire MP to review the current planning process, which it says is biased in favour of speculative developers. It also invites him to visit the town.

Co-chairman of TRAPP’D, Roger Hall, said: “As Co-Chairman I would like to thank local residents who have added their overwhelming support to our call for help and we hope that the Housing Minister will give this letter his serious consideration.”

Thornbury residents can still add their names to the Petition at the Town Hall, Armstrong Hall or view the letter on the website at www. trappdgroup.weebly.com

Local information South Gloucestershire Council www.southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Safer Stronger team sscg@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868009 Anti social behaviour team asbreporting@southglos.gov.uk 01454 868582 Streetcare/litter/vandalism etc streetcare@southglos.gov.uk

Environment/trading standards 01454 868001 Police www.avonandsomersetpolice.uk general enquiries: 101 Fire www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 NHS Health Call 111 Well Aware health & social care information www.wellaware.org.uk Tel: (freephone) 0808 808 5252

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Thornbury Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. We cannot vouch for any services offered.

Opinions are not necessarily those of the editor. Thornbury Voice is distributed each month to local residents. If for some reason you do not get a copy, please get in touch or collect one from local pick-up points. Feedback is welcomed, call Richard On 01454 800 120 or contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

www.doorexpresssouthwest.co.uk

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August, 2018

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n NEWS

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Pupils at a Thornbury school go live on local radio CHILDREN at Manorbook primary school have been interviewed on BBC Radio Bristol about their role in the station’s Alive Appeal.

The appeal is aiming to raise £50,000 to make a difference to the lives of older people through various local initiatives.

Pupils were visited by presenter Joe Lemer, who joined in with some air guitar playing before interviewing them about the Paint Pals project. It involved the children visiting a local care home where they worked together on different art projects with residents.

Manorbrook’s Head Teacher Darren Stanley said: “We really wanted to help the children develop important relationships with older people within the community.”

The event was also a non-uniform day, when children wear home clothes in return for a financial donation. The school raised over £115 for the appeal.

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To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120 To advertise, Email: contact contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk Richard on 01454 800 120

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n NEWS

Induction opportunity for volunteer gardeners

AN induction day is being offered to volunteers who step forward to help gardening groups for elderly people.

Organised by the Bristol based charity ‘Alive’, which aims to enrich the lives of older people living in care, the Thornbury group connect participants to their gardens, and reduce loneliness.

Volunteers are wanted who have a passion for gardening, and an interest in helping others. They would be working alongside a social and therapeutic horticulture facilitator to help residents at Beech House enjoy various activities’ The induction takes place on Tuesday 7th August at 2pm. More information is available from Sarah Mountford, on 0117 377 4756.

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August, 2018

Thornbury’s planning meetings to be scrapped after all CHANGES to the planning system have been approved which will see an end to meetings held in Thornbury over planning applications In future, people will have to travel to Kingswood. However, in a concession to those opposed to the move, the council will be able to choose to hold a meeting in a specific area.

A council spokesman said: “It is planned that these meetings will usually take place in the council offices in Kingswood, but there is a clear commitment that when appropriate, meetings can be held elsewhere, in other parts of the district, including Thornbury, based on the matters to be decided.”

Under the new system, the East and West development control committees will end.

The most straightforward applications, such as noncontroversial home extensions, will go direct to officers.

There will be two committees which will consider applications depending on their size and strategic importance.

In addition, there will be a new Spatial Planning Committee to oversee decision making.

All the committees will be made up of councillors from all parties.

Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and the Strategic Environment, Councillor Colin Hunt, said: “These changes simplify the system.

Development proposals will be published, and everyone will be able to see the process they will follow.”

“By making the process more visible and transparent, applicants, residents, Town and Parish Councils and other stakeholders will be able to make better submissions – in favour of, or against a proposal – earlier in the process.”

The changes also mean that members of the public will need to attend committee to make the case for a site visit. However, at this point they will be able to

explain the issues which they would like to be considered. The committee will decide whether a visit is required.

If approval is given, members of the public will no longer be able to speak at the site visit or ask questions, this will be up to local ward, town or parish councillors.

Liberal Democrat leader, Claire Young, said: “It changes how the public interacts with the planning system and with no consultation with the public whatsoever.”

At the full cabinet meeting a Liberal Democrat proposal that the public should be consulted on the plans for 12 weeks was defeated.

Cllr Maggie Tyrrell (Thornbury South & Alveston) said: “Because the public have not been consulted, I’m not sure many people will realise they are about to lose important planning rights. Under these rule changes, members of the public will be banned from attending and speaking at site inspections, as they currently can. Regular planning meetings at Thornbury will be scrapped, meaning that the planning process will be made less accessible for residents in the west of South Gloucestershire. Residents will feel that the deck is being stacked against them even further. This really is a shabby and undemocratic move by the Conservatives.”

The Chairman of TRAPP’D, (Thornbury Residents Against Poorly Planned Development) Colin Gardner, said: “These changes to the planning system are all about exerting central control by the Council to ensure that its preferred large developments are approved without a hitch, dressed up as modernisation and cost saving.”

“In the past Thornbury had two of its local Councillors on the Planning Committee that would make decisions impacting Thornbury, but in future we may have none.”

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

August, 2018

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n NEWS GROMIT has only been in Thornbury for a short time, but already traders are reporting an increase in footfall to their businesses.

Mick Horton, vice chair of the Thornbury Chamber of Commerce, said; ‘It feels busier. It will bring people in who haven’t been to Thornbury before. Hopefully people will like the town, spend money here and then come back.”

The Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in bringing the Gromit to the town as part of this year’s Gromit Unleashed 2 trail which is taking place all summer in Bristol and surrounding areas.

It hopes that because Thornbury is the most northerly point on the trail, it will benefit from participators keen to tick off every character.

The Gromit, which is sited at the St Mary Centre, has been named ‘Honeysuckle Rose’, due to its distinctive floral theme.

It was painted by Bristol artist Sarah-Jane Grace.

The trail is raising money for Bristol Children’s Hospital, and the Chamber of Commerce is hoping to raise further funds through activities it’s organised over the summer.

There is a ‘design your own’ competition with prizes for

Visitor boost for Thornbury thanks to first ever Gromit

different ages, which will be judged in early September by Sarah-Jane Grace. Competition sheets are available at the library and many town outlets.

In addition, local businesses have created a ‘mini Gromit’ trail, by painting and naming their own mini figures, and displaying them in the windows of their offices and shops.

Participants need to find all the Gromit names and then enter a free prize draw.

Special Honeysuckle Rose merchandise will also be available to purchase from News 4 U with all money going to the Grand Appeal Charity.

The map is available in Bonds, Gems, Papilio, News 4 U, Finishing Touches and the Town

Aspiring directors sought by Thornbury drama group

Hall, for a small donation. There is also a Detect-O-Gromit 2 app for both iPhone and Android devices.

You can find more information about the trail on the website: www. gromitunleashed.org.uk

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THE Thornbury Methodist Players are on the look out for a director. The group are hoping to find someone to help them stage two plays in November.

The Players is a long established group, having staged productions twice a year for 40 years at Thornbury Methodist Church Hall. For more information, contact Sue Lewis: lewissusan51@gmail.com, or phone 01454 600503.

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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n NEWS

August, 2018

Herb garden open to visitors ONE of the best known gardeners in the region is opening her garden to visitors as part of a national scheme.

Jekka McVicar, a Vice President of the Royal Horticultural Society, is opening up Jekka’s Herbetum as part of the NGS Open Garden scheme.

Jekka has been designing, growing and creating herb

gardens for over 3 decades.

During that time she has created Jamie Oliver’s culinary herb garden; the herb garden at Le Manoir and the Hilton Trafalgar Cocktail Roof Garden in London.

Jekka, who has been awarded 62 RHS Gold Medals, started Jekka's Herb Farm in 1984 on a small patch at their home in Bristol. It moved to Alveston

in 1987, and now grows 650 varieties of herbs.

The Herbetum will be open to the public on Sunday 5 August at Shellards Lane, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3SY. Parish's House open near Timsbury, Bath will also be open as part of the scheme.

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August, 2018

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n NEWS

Thornbury group celebrate anniversary with new bench A GROUP dedicated to providing activities for older people has celebrated it’s 20th anniversary in Thornbury by unveiling a seat by a bus stop.

Anne and Phil Holland, members of the Thornbury U3A, cut the ribbon for the official unveiling of the new seat at the bus stop opposite the Anchor pub on Gloucester Road.

The group was formed after more than 80 people, including Ann and Phil, responded to a newspaper notice. Groups were formed and meetings began early in 1998. The Thornbury group now has 1800 members and over 80 interest groups.

U3A (University of the Third Age) is a UK movement of retired and semi-retired people. Vice Chairman of Thornbury U3A, Barbara Jones, told Thornbury Voice: “We come together to keep our minds and bodies

active, keep interests alive, develop new skills, explore new horizons and meet new people in a friendly and informal environment. We share our knowledge, learning from each other and enjoying life. Our

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motto is “Learn, Laugh and Live”.

The group was also planning an anniversary Big Picnic.

People who are interested in joining can find out more at: www.thornburyu3a.org.uk.

Tribute to man who died in Westerleigh collision THE family of David Jenkins who died following a collision on the Westerleigh Road have been paying tribute to him.

David, who was 27 and from South Gloucestershire, was driving an Audi A6 when he was involved in the incident at about 4.15am on Sunday 8 July.

His family said: “Beloved son, brother, uncle, godfather and friend to all, he sadly passed on the morning of July 8. He will be sadly missed by all. As a family we ask for privacy and time to grieve. Our thoughts are also with the families of those also affected by this tragedy.”

A second person also died in the collision, but has not been named by police.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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August, 2018

11

n NEWS

Road closures on offer as part of children’s play initiative A NEW pilot scheme has been opened up to people who’d like to hold a children’s play session in their street. The scheme enables people to have their road temporarily shut to create a safe place to play.

It’s hoped it will make residential areas in South Gloucestershire more family friendly, help people to get to know their neighbours, and encourage physical activity.

Cabinet Member for Public Health Cllr Erica Williams said: “Residents have said they would like to see street play schemes come to the area, so we are delighted to be able to launch this pilot, with funding from South Gloucestershire Council’s Public Health department.”

“Research has found that street play schemes such as this can help reduce social isolation and lessen health inequalities across the population. They also provide a really fun way for people to meet their neighbours whilst their children get some exercise, and hopefully help to develop stronger communities.”

Applications need to be submitted by 13 August 2018 for Play Street sessions which would be held between 10 September and 31 December 2018. They can last for up to two hours, but they must be no more than once a week, in daylight, and after school.

Some streets will be unsuitable, such as those which have high levels of traffic, which are on a bus route, or have scheduled road works. All applicants for Play Street sessions will have to consult with businesses and neighbours before approval can be given.

For more information, visit www.southglos.gov.uk/playstreets

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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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August, 2018

n COMMUNITY NEWS business was complete the Thornbury Volunteer Centre hosted a Summer Networking Afternoon Volunteer Tea for the volunteers of Thornbury & District to say Centre thank-you for their hard work THORNBURY Volunteer Centre hosted it’s AGM in the hall and gardens of Christ the King RC Church. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon where volunteers and guests of Thornbury Volunteer Centre were able to take advantage of the lovely gardens and were joined by guest speaker Jerry Dicker who gave a very interesting, interactive and entertaining talk about his volunteering at Filnore Woods.

Jerry brought along a very large sapling and then demonstrated on it many of the tools they use to maintain the woods. It was very enjoyable.

Once the official AGM

and commitment over the previous year. The event also gave them the opportunity to meet and network with other volunteers and share experiences. Guests enjoyed an afternoon tea of scones, strawberries and cream and cakes with music performed throughout the afternoon by the Wriggle Jigglers, a folk band made up of local young people.

This celebration event is part of a series of events to celebrate Thornbury Volunteer Centre’s 30th anniversary year and has been made possible thanks to funding from Tesco Bags of Help.

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thornburyvoice

August, 2018

13

n COMMUNITY NEWS

News from 4th Thornbury Brownies

4TH Thornbury Brownies have taken part in UK Parliament's 'Equalitea's' - an event to celebrate 90 years since the Representation of the People Act 1928, which gave all men and women over 21 the equal right to vote.

We held an evening of discussion around equal rights for men and women and the voting system. Brownies debated

whether any jobs were only suitable for certain genders, deciding that any one could do any job they chose and should!

They also discussed voting and decided that it should be compulsory to vote. Matthew Riddle, local councillor visited us to explain his role and we were able to ask him questions.

We also ate plenty of cake in celebration

Thornbury Lions THORNBURY Lions annual Change Over took place at the Anchor Inn Oldbury on Severn. Thirty six members partners and friends were present as Lion Shekar Bheenuck handed over the President’s chain of office to new President Lion Keith Townsend.

Before handing over, as one final duty Lion Shekar enrolled June Chaskin as the club’s newest member. He then went on to report another very successful year with two important donation events when the club gave £500 to each of the primary schools in the Thornbury area and at the second event £500 to local youth groups.

We were also very proud to have a candidate in the Lions Young Ambassador Final for the second successive year. The club has a new constitution as it is now a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Fund raising continued well, with the main source of funds still being the very popular bookshop enabling the club to support a wide variety of local organisations and charities.

Lion Keith thanked Shekar for a very good year and said he hoped to be able to continue the progress. The Club had also recently presented Gems of Thornbury with a Certificate of Appreciation.

During the week Star Legal look after the key for the bookshop but they are closed at the weekend. Mick Horton of Gems has very kindly agreed to keep the key from Friday evening until Monday morning so that it is available for Saturday.

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To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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14

August, 2018

n INTERCHANGE BLOG

A Centre for All The MS Centre in South Gloucestershire is a sanctuary to many offering friendship alongside a range of life -enhancing therapies…

Whether they’re helping patients retain their independence, healing injuries or simply staying positive about the future, the MS Centre at Bradley Stoke offers its visitors a place to feel welcome and supported.

Originally set up in Nailsea in 1995, the charity moved to its new purpose-built home in Bradley Stoke in 2012. Having outgrown their previous space, the new centre enabled the team to offer a broader range of services.

Its aspiration is to provide a comprehensive range of therapies, services, information and support for people affected by Multiple Sclerosis and other conditions.

By doing so the team can help individuals remain fit, active and mobile for as long as possible.

Multiple Sclerosis is a neurological condition that affects the nerves. It's caused when the immune system isn’t working properly. Symptoms can be different for everyone and can affect many different parts of the body.

Events and community officer, Sarah Vincent explained how the staff at the centre hope to help as many people as possible. “It’s the only centre of its kind in Bristol and we help people from right across the city and as far as Weston-SuperMare. We ask those wanting to use our services for a contribution and make a recommendation for the cost; some pay full price, some pay more, but others can’t afford the full cost and we treat them as well.

Thankfully, the balance means we can help people whatever their

financial situation.”

The centre is home to a state of the art physiotherapy gym, oxygen therapy suite and a variety of individual treatment rooms, housing the wide range of treatments and clinics on offer.

These also include counselling, massage and chiropody.

Dr Janet Willis, a centre user from Congresbury, said: “This facility has been very helpful over the years. I go once a week for oxygen therapy, physiotherapy and regularly meet up with other centre users and their carers.”

There is also a café area, providing a relaxing space to sit with a hot drink and chat with friends.

“Some people come for their treatment, but then stay for the whole day. It’s a great ways to meet new people, and have a chat about MS or life in general. There’s a monthly group session, Chatterbox, which is open to all of our members, but of course we don’t just restrict this to monthly sessions. We always suggest you stay for a drink and a biscuit before or after a therapy, to get to know other people in the same position.

In many ways, this can be just as beneficial as the therapies,” said Sarah.

If getting to the centre is a concern for some, then thankfully Green Community Travel (GCT) can help with that issue. GCT provides Ring & Ride, User Group, Youth Partnership and Voluntary Car Scheme services.

They travel throughout South Gloucestershire but popular destinations include Badminton, Horton, Coalpit Heath, Codrington, Dodington, Frampton Cotterell, Frenchay, Hambrook, Hawkesbury Upton, Iron Acton, Latteridge, Rangeworthy, Wickwar, Sodbury, Westerleigh, Winterbourne and Yate. Transport must be booked at least one day before you travel.

Transport is available every day, except on Bank Holidays.

The centre is run without NHS

or government funding and is solely reliant on donations and corporate support from businesses.

It costs almost £400,000 to keep the facility open for members, who’re offered the services at a discounted rate.

It’s not just those with MS or neurological conditions who use the centre and realise its benefits.

The oxygen chamber can also help with pain management, as well as improving the healing process.

Many sports players and athletes also visit to speed up their recovery from injury.

Marcus Trescothick is the captain of Somerset County Cricket Club, he said: “I first used the oxygen chamber to heal a broken thumb and believe it resulted in a return to action a week or ten days earlier than would have otherwise been the case.”

Although financial donations

are essential to keeping the centre open, the support of volunteers is also of huge benefit. Several local businesses have offered staff to lend a hand in a variety of ways including gardening, which saves the charity employing gardeners to carry out the work.

For more information on the MS Centre call 01454 201 686, email info@mstherapybristol. org.uk or visit the website: www. mstherapybristol.org.uk Green Community Travel can be contacted by phone on 01454 228706, email: admin@ greencommunitytravel.co.uk or by website http://www. greencommunitytravel.co.uk/ individuals/individual-transport Other transport providers are available on the MS Centre’s website.

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Read more great stories on www.theinterchange.blog Family, community, lifestyle and entertainment in North Bristol

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@TheInterchange.SouthGlos @interchangesg

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August, 2018

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15

n THORNBURY AND DISTRICT MUSEUM Postal Services Post Office records indicate that Thornbury had become a ‘Post Town’ by 1770. It’s not known what the arrangements were for the post at that time, but in 1784 a new improved mail service was introduced between London and Bristol. This meant that mail posted before 8 o’clock in the evening arrived in Bristol by midday the next day.

The Post Office Museum has a record of a letter dated 1793 from Thornbury “praying that the Birmingham to Bristol mail coach may pass through”.

In 1796 the superintendent, Thomas Hasker, wrote to the Hon. Charles Francis Greville, who had proposed to take the Bristol to Birmingham mail coach through Thornbury.

Hasker said “Years ago the road was reported as incomplete, but Wilkins will go and report on it. At present the mail is taken there by a runner at £10 per annum. The decision must be left to the contractors for all the Innkeepers and Coach masters from Bristol to Birmingham are in a Company, thirty-four in number, and if they should say they will not, a new Connection cannot be formed. For this slight diversion from the present route, to pass through Thornbury, Mr Weeks be allowed an additional five minutes”.

It seems that this proposal was not granted and so mail to and from Thornbury was sent to Bristol, or it had to link up with the mail coach on its route from Bristol to Birmingham.

Before the days of penny post and adhesive stamps, towns off the main post roads which were used by the Royal Mail Coaches, had to make their own arrangements with the nearest post town for collection and delivery.

With Penny Posts, the postmaster made an arrangement to collect and deliver from non-post towns on payment of an extra one penny. In 5th Clause Posts, postmasters were authorised by the 5th Clause of an Act of 1801 to make an agreement with local inhabitants to carry letters at an agreed sum.

Bristol had 63 ‘Penny Post’s, but only one 5th Clause post, which was Thornbury, established in 1825.

Thornbury letters were stamped “Thornbury, 5th clause, clause post”. Under these regulations

one penny was charged for the delivery of each letter at Thornbury.

In 1825 a ‘direct ride’ from Bristol to Thornbury began. This was a horse post to and from Bristol which appears to have replaced the previous foot messenger arrangement. The contractor also delivered and collected bags at Almondsbury and Filton, which were both “penny posts.” The ride arrived at Thornbury at 12.45 and left to return to Bristol at 2.00pm, allowing sufficient time for Thornbury folk to answer their letters by return of post.

The 5th Clause postal service in Thornbury came to an end on 15th February 1839 when it converted to a penny postal service.

The earliest postmaster recorded was John Bevan in 1797. There were only four other people who served in that capacity in the following 160 years; George Shepherd; his son, William Evans Shepherd, Henry Robbins and Charlie Pitcher.

The 1830 Pigot’s Commercial Directory noted that the Royal Mail service between Bristol and Birmingham had been diverted to go through Thornbury. By 1838 Thornbury was officially listed in Post Office records as a ‘sub-post town’.

The 1840 Tithe survey and the 1841 census show George Shepherd as the Postmaster living at 65 High Street. The records at the Postal Museum show that George’s salary for running the “subordinate office” in Thornbury was £16 a year. The 1851 census shows that George had moved the Post Office to the property now known as 45 High Street (which coincidently, became the site of the Post Office again in the late 1950’s). The 1851 census shows George was a grocer. The 1856 Post Office directory indicates that George was also

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trading as a tallow chandler and Norwich Union insurance agent.

By 1856 the Post Office were granting money orders, and by 1868 the Post Office was offering a savings bank as well as its other services.

In Victorian Times there were two or three collections and deliveries each day, seven days a week. However, the townsfolk back then were not satisfied.

An article appeared in the Bristol Journal in 1869 highlighting the fact that “Probably, there were few towns in England where letters are delivered so late, and the mail bags despatched so early, causing much inconvenience to the business public of Thornbury and surrounding villages”.

By 1876 the Post Office had moved to 28 High Street. Henry Robbins was postmaster there for 33 years until his death in 1908. In the 1880’s Henry became the first postmaster of Thornbury to have the role of selling stamps as well as running the postal service.

Henry Robbins never owned the property. In October 1908 Charlie Pitcher applied for and got the position of sub-postmaster at a salary of £164 and he became the owner of the property.

We know that like his predecessors, Charlie had to supplement his income. The directories show that he ran a stationer’s shop as well as the post office and that he later offered a library service.

Charlie Pitcher continued running the Post Office until the late 1950’s. His second wife, Jessie, continued living at 28 High Street and the Post Office moved to 45 High Street where it was run by David Pearce whose father had previously run a grocer’s shop in the same premises.

It remained there until the late 1980’s with a coffee shop/antique shop upstairs called Granny’s Attic. When this closed, the Post Office became incorporated into the convenience store at 9 High Street, which is now operated by the Coop.

Information and pictures supplied by members of the research group at Thornbury and District Museum.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

16

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA Bristol Budgerigar Society

n BBS hold meetings at Little Stoke Community Hall, Little Stoke Lane, Little Stoke, Bristol BS34 6HR, 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month. Bristol Budgerigar Society. Sunday August 5. Exhibition Budgerigar Show with around 600 birds at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, Fiddler’s Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke, Bristol BS32 9BS Bristol Budgerigar Society. n Monday August 13. Skittles night at British Legion, Keynsham.

No meeting at the hall. Details from the Secretary Colin Parsons Tel 01454 775878. E-mail colinpauline@hotmail.com Membership; Adult £7.00, senior £5.00, same address partners £10.00, different address partners appropriate single rate each.

Juniors free. Visitors always welcome.

August 3 n Friday 3rd August, 10.15 11.45am "Just Lizzie" singing, with Lizzie Lindsell. Robin Pencavel 01454 632064/ 0777 234 3379 August 5 n Jekka's Herbetum open Sunday 5th August. Shellards Lane, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3SY. www.jekkasherbfarm.com.

Jekka's Herbetum is a living herb encyclopaedia displaying the largest collection of culinary herbs in the UK. A wonderful resource for plant identification for the gardener and a gastronomic experience for chefs and cooks.

Wheelchair access possible however terrain is rough from car park to Herbetum.

August 17 n Friday 17th August, 10.15 -

thornburyvoice

11.45am: Singing with the O'Briens.

Robin Pencavel 01454 632064/ 0777 234 3379 September 15 n Marlwood School are holding an Alumni Launch evening of music, wine , food and song for all past pupils and staff on Saturday September 15 2018 in the Drama Hall . More details and how to purchase tickets on our Facebook page.

Free Community Learning Courses

Starting soon in Thornbury: n Scrapbooking for Wellbeing.

Turnberries in Thornbury.

Thursdays 12.30pm-2.30pm. 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

REGULAR EVENTS Monday n 7.00 pm Armstrong Hall Cossham Hall World Dance 7-10pm n Bristol Budgerigar Society.

Monday May 14 at 7.30pm.

Exhibition budgerigar talk by Colin Cobbledick. Temporary venue: The Methodist Hall, Down Road, Winterbourne Down, Bristol BS36 1BN. Visitors welcome.

Further details from the Secretary Colin Parsons. Tel 01454 775878. colinpauline@hotmail.com or

August, 2018

Chairman Alan Fretten. Mobile 07922538894 E-mail alan_ fretten13@hotmail.com Tuesday n 11.00 am - 1.30 pm Armstrong Hall - Excell Room Recycled Teenagers Lunch Club n 6pm Zumba at Castle School www.zumbathornbury.com n 7pm Zumba Toning at Castle School www.zumbathornbury.com n 8pm Yoga-Lattes at Castle School www.zumbathornbury.com 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 Wednesdays Bellydance Classes with Sacha from 7.30pm . Contact Sacha on 07971 578151 or email sachabellydance@yahoo.co.uk for full details. Ridgewood Community Association, Yate BS37 4AF

The Arts Society Severn Valley

We meet in the Town Hall in Chipping Sodbury on the third Monday of each month.

Thursday n 8.00 pm. Armstrong Hall Ceroc Dance n Avon Harmony are a Ladies A Cappella / barbershop chorus.

We welcome visitors for a no obligation taster session. We rehearse at the dance studio, Fairfield High School, Allfoxton Road, Bristol BS7 9NL. Every Thursday evening 7.30pm 9.45pm. Tel: Mary 07954170532. n Stokes Singers, a mixed voice community choir meet every Thursday during term time at Coniston Community Centre,

We would love to publicise your event Send details of your events and activities in the following format:

WHAT IT IS WHERE IT IS WHEN IT IS in no more than 40 words: email us at: contact@thornburyvoice. co.uk Patchway BS34 5LP from 7.30 to 9.30pm. New members are welcome to try their first 2 rehearsals free of charge. For more information go to www. stokessingers.org.uk or phone Membership Secretary Liz on 01454 614148 Friday n 2.00 pm. Armstrong Hall Committee Room Canasta Club n Alveston: Marlwood School Marlwood Folk Companions 7:45 – 9:15pm (term time only).

01454 414365 Peter.sumner@ btopenworld.com n1.30pm Zumba Gold at Thornbury Leisure Centre Saturday n 10am STRONG by Zumba at the New Sports Complex, Castle School www.zumbathornbury.com n Thornbury parkrun is a free, weekly, 5km run or walk, organised entirely by volunteers and taking place every Saturday at 9am on

What's on at Thornbury Library Opening Times Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

9.30 - 17.30 9.30 - 17.30 9.30 - 17.30 9.30 - 17.30 9:30 – 12:30

Like Us On Facebook www.facebook.com/ sgloslibraries Follow Us On Twitter @SouthGlosLibs Craft & Chat First Thursday of the month 2pm - 4pm.

A chance for people who love crafting to get together and share inspiration. No charge and no booking required. Just turn up and bring your craft project with

you. New faces welcome!

Carers Support Centre Drop In - Supporting Carers into Employment Wednesday August 15th 10.30am -12 noon. Carers Support Centre are supporting unpaid carers and former carers who have been out of work for more than 12 months to move closer towards their employment and training goals. An Advisor from the Carers Support Centre will be here to give free advice and support, drop in anytime between 10.30 am and 12 noon.

Summer Reading Challenge 2018 – Mischief Makers There’s a ton of fun waiting for

Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

you at a South Gloucestershire library this summer – get ready for Mischief Makers, the Summer Reading Challenge 2018!

Join Dennis, Gnasher and friends on a hunt for Beanotown’s famous buried treasure! Read 6 library books over the summer, collect special stickers and explore your map of Beanotown to find clues. But watch out – Dennis is usually up to all kinds of mischief. He’ll make sure some of those stickers are extra stinky!

Read all 6 books and you’ll get a medal and certificate too!

Mischief Makers is running in all South Gloucestershire Libraries until Saturday 8 September – it’s FREE to take part.

Please encourage your

children to visit the library and sign up and see the difference the Summer Reading Challenge makes to their reading.

“My son really improved his ability to read. Every day he was asking me to take him to the library and take out new books.”

(Parent, Bradley Stoke) PLUS beat the boredom this summer! Find out about libraries FREE Fizz Pop Science workshops and Mischief Makers fun craft activities at www.southglos.gov. uk/childrenslibrary.

Like us: www.facebook.com/ sgloslibraries and follow us @ southgloslibs for the Mischief Makers updates.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

August, 2018

17

n WHAT’S ON IN OUR AREA

n NEWS

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 10.30am Zumba at the New Sports Complex, Castle School www.zumbathornbury.com

Council sets deadline for ban on disposable plastics

Parish's House

n Hook Hill, Timsbury, Bath BA2 0ND. 8-acre garden surrounding Regency house (not open) with

beautiful views across open countryside. Lawns sweep down to ha-ha. Colour themed herbaceous and shrub borders. Elegant water feature. Arboretum of specimen trees and more recently planted acer glade. New woodland walk taking you from native British woodland to more exotic woodland planting. Walled kitchen garden: vegetables, fan trained and cordoned fruit trees of significant age and cut flower beds. Parts of the garden are being developed so we invite you to share our vision, anticipation and excitement!

Thornbury Pop-up shop pulls in new volunteers

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is to ban disposable cups and plastic cutlery at its catering facilities by the end of the year.

At a cabinet meeting in July, councillors agreed to find alternatives, such as reusable cups and wooden cutlery.

The move follows a successful motion by Lib Dem councillors Claire Young and Mike Drew earlier this year, which required the Cabinet to take action. But at the time, a Conservative amendment to the motion ensured that no deadline was set.

Following the July decision, Lib Dem Leader, Cllr Claire Young, said: “We welcome the fact that our motion received

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cross-party support and that the administration say that they will implement these changes by the end of the year, as we proposed.”

She continued: “South Gloucestershire will now become one of the first authorities in the country to take this step.”

Lib Dem councillor (Yate North) Mike Drew said: “The administration expects residents to reduce waste, with the introduction of smaller bins, so it’s only right that they practice what they preach.”

Council Leader Toby Savage has said he would like to set an example by making the council a single use plastic ‘free zone’.

and

L & J Gulwell THORNBURY Volunteer Centre’s Pop-Up shop has finished it’s successful eight week opening, not only raising thousands of pounds, but also seeing 29 people register for volunteering roles.

The shop, which was in the St Mary Centre, sold a wide range of donated pre-loved items, from clothing to toys, and books to bric-abrac.

It’s expected to raise around £4,000, but organisers say it also successfully enhanced the profile of the Thornbury Volunteer Centre.

Four new organisations signed up with them to offer opportunities for voluntary work.

The Pop-Up Shop will be back next year.

Family Funeral Directors 1 Quaker Lane, Thornbury Bristol BS35 2AD Tel: 01454 418779 Fax: 01454 419764 Email: info@funerals.uk.net Web: www.funerals.uk.net

www.filton-central-garage.co.uk To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

August, 2018

thornburyvoice

19

n NEWS

Inspector says more needs to be done for children at risk OFSTED has told South Gloucestershire Council that progress has been made in some of its services for vulnerable children and young people, but there is more work to do, with some children exposed to risk for too long. The report comes as cabinet members have allocated £767,000 in additional funding to ensure improvements continue.

Ofsted was checking the progress of the council’s improvement plan, in its third monitoring visit since Children’s Services were judged to be inadequate in 2017.

Amongst the positive changes, it reported that additional staff have been recruited into key roles, such as extra social workers in the Access and Response Team (ART), as well as in locality teams. It found various initiatives underway which showed that “the pace of improvement has started to increase” but said it “now needs to be accelerated”.

Ofsted also highlighted areas where more progress is needed.

It found that sometimes social workers and managers miss opportunities to intervene at the earliest point, and inspectors said they saw children exposed to risk for too long. Some assessments were of variable quality, and a minority of audits of individual children’s cases fail to identify key weaknesses.

Councillor Jon Hunt, Cabinet Member responsible for Children and Young People, said: “I am encouraged by the latest findings by Ofsted inspectors, which demonstrate the council is moving in the right direction.”

“We recognise there is still a way to go in order to bring all social work practice to the same consistently high standards that the children we support deserve.

To help achieve this goal, a new model of social work practice is being implemented and our staff remain committed to providing the best outcomes for children and their families.”

“Ofsted have acknowledged that the foundational work has been done and we will now focus on and accelerate the work to ensure consistently high standards are achieved.”

“We need to ensure that those high standards are what all the children we support experience, which is why we will fund and

implement the Phase Two Improvement Plan.”

Phase two includes plans to recruit further extra staff in the coming year. It will also establish a lead role to oversee multi-agency working; a pilot project for the council to be

more involved in training social workers itself, and management support for a new locality team to improve capacity in frontline services.

Councillor Jon Hunt said: “We have made this progress thanks to a tremendous amount

FAMILY FEAST

of work from our dedicated staff. I want to pay tribute to their efforts. They will have our full support as we deliver more of the same and look forward to receiving a much-improved assessment when Ofsted reinspect.”

O N LY FISH £18.95 &

CHIPS

2 Small Cod & Chips 2 Kids’ Meals

+ Bottle of Coke (1.25L) or Diet Coke (1.5L) TM

TM

ORDER ONLINE FOR DELIVERY OR COLLECTION

www.deepbluerestaurants.com DEEP BLUE 26A High Street, Thornbury BS35 2AH Offer available July & August 2018

This offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.

All items are subject to availability. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

Fish is a natural product and whilst the greatest care is taken in preparation, bones may still be present.

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120 Offer available all day for collection in-store only.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

THORN VOICE AD JULY AND AUGUST 2018 FAMILY FEAST.indd 1 07/06/2018 15:08:38 Choose either a can, water or a fruit drink. Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer. Subject to availability. We reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

Fish is a natural product and whilst the greatest care is taken in preparation, bones may still be present.

thornburyvoice

20

August, 2018

n LOCAL MP

Addressing housing policy

Luke Hall MP writes for Thornbury Voice

SOUTH Gloucestershire Council has allocated huge numbers for future housing in Filton, Emersons Green and other built up areas with good and existing transport links in recent years. However, the current predicament of not being able to meet our ‘5 year supply’ of housing sites across South Gloucestershire means that Thornbury continues to be a target for speculative developers.

There has been robust debate about the impact this has had on our town over recent years, and I have consistently raised the issue in Parliament, in debates, with housing Ministers and with the Minister right here in Thornbury.

This is national policy issue. The pressure placed on the 5 year land supply by developers dragging their feet on permission granted land, only for them to place speculative applications in areas such as Thornbury is being recognised nationally and is one of the many areas the Government is now refining the coalition’s National Planning Policy Framework to ensure it works for our communities.

In summary of the new powers being considered include; • An objective review on the reasoning for slow build out rates, beyond the often cited skill shortages, and land issues defence that developers use. There is likely

to be evidenced acknowledgment that developers are more concerned with the absorption rate on the local housing market, such as the price for which they can get for the housing, than the aforementioned shortages of skills. This is a significant turning point in then giving the Government, and authorities such as ours the powers to act upon cases such as that we are experiencing.

• Standardising the Housing needs assessment for the 5 year land supply issue, and allowing Councils to fix this year on year.

• Improving transparency, so that communities can identify who has interest in land, such as around Thornbury.

• Bringing in policy that a developer’s inaction, or slow build out can be used against them in turning down fresh applications in another area. (Which would be extremely helpful to us here in Thornbury) • Empowering Council’s to serve stronger completion notices on sites that have stalled, to withdraw permissions.

I will be continuing to update you all but please be reassured that Government is taking action to address this long term issue. In the meantime I will continue to press both Government and the Council on the issue to protect our beautiful town.

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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

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August, 2018

21

n RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Summer Sizzler

WELL what a cracker this summer has been. Soaring temperatures with excitement and surprises at the World Cup and Wimbledon.

Everyone has been trying to keep cool, so my recipe is a homemade frozen yogurt dessert. Big on flavour, easy on effort. The good thing is you don’t need an ice cream maker. But you do need to start it the day before you need it to allow for freezing and beating.

Exotic Fruit Frozen Yogurt Dessert Makes about 1 ½ litres

Ingredients: • 2 X 450g tubs of exotic yogurt e.g. Onken Mango, Papaya and Passion Fruit Yogurt or Rachel’s Peach and Passion Fruit Yogurt (The low fat ones are fine.)

• 125g homemade or good quality lemon, orange or passion fruit curd • 1 ripe mango • 4 passion fruits, halved with inners scooped out • 25g pistachio nuts, chopped Here’s what you do: You will need an appropriate container to go into the freezer, plastic or china with a lid or use cling film to cover. Shallow containers freeze quicker and it needs to hold about 1½ litres (2 ½ pints) Alternatively, you can use individual containers as in my picture.

A THORNBURY fencer has secured a top ten finish at a national championships, and is hoping for a call up to the Great Britain squad.

Tabitha De N’Yeurt, who’s 14, has won seventh place in the England Youth Championships.

She finished in the top 16 in the British Youth Championships in March and was determined to gain a higher position in the England tournament.

Tabitha said; “While I was disappointed to lose to my friend Bronwen at the quarterfinals, I’m really pleased with my performance throughout the tournament. I’d set myself several goals which I exceeded, and this focus rewarded me with the best national championship result I’ve ever achieved. I was extremely lucky to have my

1. F irst turn your freezer to FAST FREEZE. 2. T hen put the fruit and yogurt into a food processor and blitz to pulp the fruit and combine.

Don’t go mad, we still want a bit of texture! If you don’t have a food processor, stick blender or liquidiser to do this, then simply chop up the fruit with a sharp knife and combine with the yogurt in a bowl.

3. P our into a shallow container suitable for freezing.

4. Cover and freeze until semifrozen. (There should be ice crystals round the edges.)

5. Return to the processor and blitz until it is liquid again.

6. Return to the container and

freeze again. Do this twice more at about 2 hourly intervals if you have the time, do at least one more time.

7. When you have blitzed it for the last time, ripple through the curd and the chopped nuts, keeping back a couple of dessert spoonful’s of nuts to sprinkle later.

8. Line the container/s you have decided to use with cling film (to make getting them out easier).

Make sure you leave some cling film overhanging.

9. Pour the mixture into the container/s. Cover with the overhanging cling film.

10. Freeze overnight.

11. Unlike commercial ice creams,

Ann Murray is from the Cooking4 Cookery School based in Chipping Sodbury.

She’s teamed up with Thornbury Voice to pass on her wealth of experience in the kitchen.

this freezes very solidly. So, take container out of the freezer about half an hour before you wish to serve and leave to “come to” in the fridge.

12. Using the cling film to help you, lift the dessert/s out of their container/s 13. Serve on individual plates and sprinkle with the reserved nuts.

14. Serve with slices of fresh mango, pineapple, passion fruit or papaya with a squeeze of lime

Thornbury teenager celebrates fencing success coach Mike Cleary with me and am looking forward to pushing myself when training with him.”

Tabitha has won several titles this year. She competes across five different age ranges, from U14 to senior level, training five times a week at Thornbury Active Lifestyle Centre, making use of the gym and swimming pool for her endurance training.

Tabitha said; “I’d like to thank the local Thornbury companies and charity organisations, including Thornbury Active Lifestyle Centre, who’ve helped or sponsored me along the way and have made this all possible.”

Centre Manager at Thornbury Active Lifestyle Centre, Luke

To advertise, contact Richard on 01454 800 120

Newman, said: “It’s great to hear that Tabitha is achieving her goals and delivering new personal bests thanks to all of her hard work and determination.

She is a great inspiration to all of us here at the centre and we have no doubt that she’ll soon be one of the best fencers in the UK.” Tabitha is spending her summer at training camps across the UK and Europe. Her next major competition is the Cadet Winton Cup, for young fencers from across the UK, which takes place in December.

She will also find out whether she’s been selected to represent Great Britain in upcoming competitions. Tabitha has

already been invited by the GB Pathway Team to start training with the Cadet (U17) and Junior (U20) squads.

More fencing news, sport, page 27.

Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

22

n NEWS

August, 2018

Ride and stride event promotes car use for event SOUTH Gloucestershire’s Ride+Stride charity event, which sees people travelling on foot, by horse, or by bike to as many local churches as possible, is encouraging driving this year.

People are being encouraged to car-share, with the aim to make the sponsored event accessible to everyone.

Participant Sarah Hargreave said: "As a disabled driver I've enjoyed discovering new churches by car that I wouldn't otherwise have visited. It's also a lovely way to get out and about with grandchildren - introducing them to new churches and having a picnic along the way."

The Ride+Stride event is organised by the Gloucestershire Heritage Churches Trust.

Over 500 people took part in 2017 and it raised more than £46,000 for repairs and improvements. Funds are split between the trust and the participant’s chosen church.

St Mary’s Church in Thornbury has benefited from the event, receiving £2,500 for stonework repairs and kitchen refurbishment. St Helen’s Church in Alveston had £2,000 for conservation of commandment boards previously and St Leonard’s in Tortworth got £4,000 for

repairs to stained glass windows.

This year’s event takes place on September 8, with churches welcoming visitors between 10am and 4pm on the day, which is also part of Heritage Open Days weekend.

Glenn Duff, Regional Organiser, said: “Whether you’re planning a full day cycling between a hundred churches, or a short driving tour to two or three, anyone can

participate in Ride+Stride”.

“All the region’s churches are marked on the map at ghct.org.uk to help people plan a route. It’s a wonderful day out, exploring new places, meeting new people and helping a brilliant cause.”

Gloucestershire Heritage Churches Trust gave a record £150,000 in grants in 2017, to help churches pay for urgent repairs, maintenance and improvements.

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August, 2018

23

n NEWS

Council to hire out it's staff in the face of further cutbacks THE cabinet of South Gloucestershire Council has decided to raise money by allowing staff to offer expertise to the private sector, as it simultaneously makes cuts in its annual spending.

The move comes as it faces cutbacks of £19.4m from its budget, as funding from central government continues to fall. The budget has already been reduced by £80m since 2011.

The council has established a ‘Council Transformation and Savings Programme’ (CTSP), to make savings over the next four years as well as changing the way the authority works Leader of the Council, Toby Savage, said: “We are proud of the high-quality services that residents tell us we deliver, but we know we can be more cost-effective. There is best-practice we can learn from elsewhere and with the help of our dedicated staff, we can meet our goals by changing some of what we do and how we do it.”

The CTSP outlines how the council can generate income without having to rely on

Have you ever wanted to ….

residents and businesses paying more. It says it has staff with expertise which could be offered to the private sector. It is also looking at alternative uses for surplus land which it owns.

With increasing demand within adult and children’s social services, the council wants to provide more capacity in local care provision and reduce its reliance on the most expensive residential care settings.

Leader of the Council, Toby Savage, said: “Where there are potential impacts, for residents or for staff, to the way services are delivered or peoples’ work for the council, we will of course consult with them. Their input and ideas will be taken into account as we are presented with options and decisions in the future.”

“The most important thing is that we are planning now to make savings in the future.

By taking the time to plan and do the work for the future, we avoid the need to make sudden cuts like other councils have been forced to do.”

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AN NHS review of urgent care provision could see Yate’s MIU upgraded to an Urgent Treatment Centre with a wider range of services.

South Gloucestershire’s Clinical Commissioning Group is currently examining how urgent care is delivered across the area.

It’s hoped that Yate Minor Injuries Unit could offer a full walk in service for minor ailments as well as minor injuries.

Lib Dem Heath Spokesperson, Cllr Sue Hope, said: “I asked the CCG’s South Gloucestershire Director, David Jarrett, whether Yate Heath Centre was in line to be upgraded to an Urgent Treatment Centre.

His response was that local health managers are currently considering locations but that no decisions have yet been made. We will continue to lobby for Yate to be upgraded."

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August, 2018

n MOTORING

A guide to pre-owned cars with Richard Cooke

Second hand Style A look at everyday cars on the cusp of becoming modern classics Vauxhall Mokka 1.4T 2012 present: Plenty more fish in the sea I take no pleasure in kicking a car maker when they’re down, and Vauxhall are certainly that at the moment. Last year General Motors cast the company aside like they have done with so many others (remember SAAB?), and it won’t be long before they become little more than badgeengineered products of their new owner Peugeot. Vauxhall had been unprofitable for years, and needed to offer deep discounts to shift enough cars to keep their production lines busy. You don’t have to be a motoring expert to understand why they needed a discount in the first place – I’ve tried and failed to think of the last Vauxhall that got me really

excited. I quite like the ‘Adam’ supermini, but I’d never actually buy one. The police loved the 1990s Omega, which offered honest value for money I suppose.

And the genuinely interesting Monaro and VXR8 don’t count due to being Australian imports. So I give up. I really can’t think of a single reason why anyone would walk into a Vauxhall dealer today and say ‘Yes, I’ll have one of your new cars please’. Over all the other more interesting, cheaper or better built motors on offer elsewhere?

Buying a used Vauxhall however is slightly less bonkers, given that they depreciate at warp speed, and so to this month’s test car – the odd looking and bafflingly named Mokka.

The Mokka was launched in 2012, and is the result of what happens if you stick an air pump up the exhaust of a Corsa. Vauxhall call it a ‘Crossover SUV’, I call it a Corsa on stilts. There’s no more room inside, the boot is still tiny

and I see no benefit over the Corsa other than the range of engines.

Vauxhall have cast aside the usual driving school 1.0 and 1.2 motors and instead start things off with a turbocharged 1.4 that produces 138bhp. My 2014 test car came with a manual gearbox – excellent - that much power in such a small car should equal fun!

It didn’t. That gearbox is notchy.

The 1.4 performs like a diesel (boo, hiss), running out of puff far too soon at the top of the rev range, and needing to be ‘on boost’ in the lower range or you end up stranded with no power available at all. When it is performing, the Mokka is respectably quick and smooth up to the legal limit, and it certainly handles predictably.

Downsizing the engine means better economy though, right?

Wrong – you have to push the Mokka along hard, keeping the little engine spinning in the boost range and therefore using a load of fuel. I managed 35mpg, so that

thirst plus a puny 50 litre fuel tank means a range of about 380 miles.

So far so ordinary. And then the warning noises started. The Mokka has many, many parking sensors and a useful reversing camera. It has sensors to detect the slightest perceived motoring indiscretion, and it has sensors that detect some things that as far as I could work out don’t even exist – this car started bonging and almost never stopped. It drove me crazy, and that is dangerous because it distracted me from the job at hand, namely of driving. Maybe the bongs are there to wake a bored driver up, or to endlessly remind you of your folly in buying a Mokka in the first place. Probably both.

The sad fact is that ever since the Americans bought Vauxhall in 1925 and forced them to lurch down-market their cars have been bland. During the 1990s it felt as if their sales battle with Ford was more a race to the bottom. I applaud budget motoring in all forms, but Vauxhall under GM were guilty of producing lowestcommon-denominator cars for far too long. Maybe the French will start to change that, but if you want a used Vauxhall buy a Corsa over a Mokka and save some money. With so much choice on the used market though, you owe it to yourself to look elsewhere.

Vauxhall Mokka 1.4T, what to pay: From £7k Next month: The POTUS mobile

News! Email us at contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk Got News? Call Richard 0n 01454 800 120

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August, 2018

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25

n NEWS FROM STROUD AUCTION ROOMS TWO Dallmeyer London camera lenses were thrust into the spotlight by eager bidders at Stroud Auction Rooms' July sale. Topping the list of highest selling lots were a Super-Six lens with cap in original box marked 'Dallcoated', which made £7,100, while a Super-Six anagstigmat lens in box sold for £5,800.

The lenses were spotted in a seemingly unremarkable mixed lot by eagle-eyed auctioneer Mark Rozelaar. The specialist section remained picture perfect with two Hasselblad medium format cameras with Carl Zeiss Planar lenses each selling for £550.

The real star of the show was ephemera. A quantity of issues of Londona Oz Magazine made £2,000, while a collection of rock concert related items including handbills, tickets, flyers and drum sticks sold for £1,800 and a large collection of mainly 1960/70s sheet music achieved a respectable £1,100. A collection of Jimi Hendrix posters went under the hammer for £800, as did a David Bowie advertising poster; while a large collection of 1960s magazines including Roxy, Valentine and Boyfriend sold for £750; a collection of Rolling Stones autographs (£600), and a quantity of Beatles and related sheet music (£550).

Almost all the lots in the specialist stamp section sold and stamp expert David Lord noted a strong demand across the board. Individual country sections proved popular with albums from China realising £500; Switzerland £320 and France £280. Machin

collections remain sought-after with two achieving £600 and £380.

An interesting highlight were four stockbooks of early European and South American stamps, including many potentially rare stamps, which achieved prices ranging from £700-£300. David is now accepting entries for the next stamp sale in October.

Retro furniture is in demand and an Ercol Giraffe light elm room divider sold for £600; but good quality traditional items still make the money and an 18th/19thC oak four plank refectory table, a 19thC carved oak cherub holding a platter on square carved base and a 19thC Coalbrookdale cast iron fern design garden bench each sold for £550. However, the emphasis is on quality and condition.

There was a lot of interest in a c1950 American VMC Vendorlator refrigerator vending machine with 'Drink Coca-Cola, Delicious and Refreshing' decal above a lever operated mechanism, which eventually sold for £800.

The next auction will be on August 8, 9 and 10 when weapons, militaria, sporting, taxidermy, toys and Asian art will be among the specialist sections. There is already much interest in 500-plus lots of uniforms and accessories, belonging to an ancient family and dating from the early 19th century.

The collection, which ranges from full dress uniforms to military hats, belts and buttons, had been lying untouched in trunks for more than 150 years. Also consigned are over 500 lots of toys including some immaculate boxed Dinky/Corgi toys and a Mercedes child's car, which was discovered in a barn. Viewing will be on Tuesday, August 7 (10am-7pm and from 9am on sale days).

For more information about buying or selling with Stroud Auction Rooms ring 01453 873800, email info@ stroudauctions. com or visit the website www. stroudauctions. co.uk.

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Email: contact@thornburyvoice.co.uk

thornburyvoice

26

n SPORT

August, 2018

Juniors triumph in tie break tens THORNBURY Lawn Tennis Club has held its second annual Tie Break Tens competition, this year it happened to coincide with two more well known tournaments; the Wimbledon men’s final and the World Cup final.

Tie Break Tens is a quick fire format tournament which has been likened to 20-20 cricket and is being played at some major international tournaments. The whole tournament can be completed within 3 hours, rather less than the 2 weeks for a Grand Slam tournament such as Wimbledon.

With no sets and no games, each match comprises a championship tie break (first to 10 points). A handicapping system allowing men, woman and juniors of varying abilities to have enjoyable, close contests.

Eight adult pairs of varying ability and one pair of juniors braved the sun to battle out four preliminary rounds of tie break

tens . Nick Mason ran a very well organised tournament and set the handicaps which gave pairs different points head start depending on their ability. For the more accomplished players, there was an additional handicap of having only one serve which encouraged them to serve reliably, not quickly. There were further added challenges: There were no ‘lets’ on serve, even if the ball just trickled over the net and ‘sudden death’ at 9-9 which resulted in a tense conclusion.

As the tournament progressed, it was evident that there were clear contenders for the semi-finals with Linda Mantle & Claire Hawkins winning all four of their matches in the four preliminary rounds.

Gill & Mark Harrison, Jasmine Xu & Martin Scudamore, and juniors Toby Sturt & Luke Daniels won three of their four matches.

Jasmine & Martin fought off the preliminary round winners,

Claire & Linda, with the help of a two point head start, winning 10 - 6. The only juniors in the competition, Luke & Toby, both aged 13 and in their first club tournament, had a three point head start on Gill & Mark Harrison. With consistent play the youngsters went on to win their semi-final 10 - 3.

Despite some initial nerves, the juniors held their own Tournament winners, Toby Sturt & Luke in the final, coping Daniels (serving) competing in the final. with Jasmine's lobs and Martin's well placed returns. The Tens towel. It was a proud youngsters grew in confidence moment for their families and and with the enthusiastic support for Felix Boyes, a Taylor Tennis of family and club members went coach, who has been responsible on to win 10 - 7. for coaching the youngsters Toby and Luke were in the club’s junior coaching presented with the Tie Break programme.

Tens trophy and a Tie Break

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thornburyvoice

August, 2018

THORNBURY fencer Caron Hale has been selected to represent Great Britain at the World Veterans Fencing Championships later this year.

Caron, 59, recently won the Veterans British Nationals and secured her place on the British team for her seventh World Championships in ten years.

Caron will be one of just four people to represent Britain in her category at the Championships, which will take place in Italy in October.

Success on the court has come as a surprise for Thornbury’s fencing champion after a challenging season training with the British School of Fencing Excellence.

Caron said: “With such great fencing talent in the UK, it’s hard to predict how you’ll perform at national competitions so winning the British Veterans Nationals and then qualifying for the World Championships has been incredible.”

Caron has been fencing competitively for 19 years and has become one of world’s top

Fencing champion qualifies for World Championships fencers for her age.

She said: “It’s been a busy couple of months as I’ve been training with younger and faster fencers to help build my fitness.

Now I’m looking forward to getting as much training in as possible before the World Championships.”

Luke Newman, Centre Manager at Thornbury Active Lifestyle Centre where Caron has been training, said: “It’s been fantastic to follow Caron’s remarkable fencing journey over the years.”

“Caron’s hard work and ambition has definitely paid off. We’re pleased to be able to support anyone looking to join a sport at any level and would encourage them to come to the centre and give it a go.”

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28

August, 2018

n SPORT

Runners do the hard summer yards THORNBURY RC’s Rob Hopkins was back in the Lake District only 4 weeks after completing a 190-mile coast to coast ultra-marathon. He would have been forgiven for a gentle reintroduction, but true to form chose to compete in a triathlon voted the world’s toughest Ironman.

The Triathlon X has almost 17,000 ft of ascent over the 140 miles of punishing Lake District terrain. The 2.4 mile swim in Lake Windemere was the calm before the storm; a wet and windy 112 mile bike ride over some of the highest peaks in England. After drying himself down, Rob had the small matter of a marathon to complete which featured a run to the top of Scafell Pike and back. Rob added another impressive feat of endurance to his growing list, finishing in 17 hours 39:18 mins in 62nd place.

Thornbury Running Club were aiming to build on past

All smiles despite the heat on the Cotswold Way: Leg 4 Team Moray Sloan, Jo Emmerson, Mike Bennewitz and Henry Orna successes in the 26th running of the Cotswold Way Relay, with 4 teams of 10 runners competing.

The overall aim of the race is for teams of 10 runners to complete the 10 Stages of the 102-mile long Cotswold Way from Chipping Camden to Bath Abbey. The winning team is the one with the lowest cumulative

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Each stage is a race within a race. Although it is a relay, the stages have mass starts rather than a handover from the previous runner and with 118 Teams taking part in 2018 there was plenty of competition.

The race started in fine drizzle at 7am at Chipping Camden

church and Rob Hopkins was the first TRC runner in 61st place.

By now Stage 2 runners were already on their way with Nick Williams the fastest for the Club in Team 2 in an excellent 6th place.

Stage 3 saw a battered and bruised Sonya Bryson, who took a heavy tumble before getting back on her feet and carrying-on regardless. Paul Thomas was the fastest TRC runner in 56th place.

On Stage 4 Henry Orna put in a great performance in 19th place. Jo Emerson perhaps the only runner in the whole event who really enjoyed the extreme heat was 6th female and 51st overall.

Stage 5 saw the ladies again excelling; Taryn in 22nd place overall and 5th female.

Stage 6 saw Dylan Roberts in 8th place overall, while on Stage 7 Rob Watkins put in a Captain's performance, 6th finisher and 1st Veteran. Also on that Stage came Brian Godsman who has

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August, 2018

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29

n SPORT only very recently decided he is capable of anything over 5k, nearly 18 minutes ahead of the cut-off time.

Laura Orna took Stage 8 by storm to finish in 35th place overall and 6th female. Jim Godden epitomised the team spirit by filling in for an injured runner with 1 days’ notice on leg 9 and was our fastest runner in 38th place.

And so to Stage 10 where Magda Johnson and Rebecca Dunsford were witnessed singing and dancing their way down the hill to Weston before the run in to Bath. Andy Darton was the fastest in the final leg in 37th place.

The Vets team came a creditable 8th and the faster mixed Team 2 were 12th in that category. The other 2 mixed teams were 37th and 64th.

Thornbury runners always turn out in their droves for the Rockhampton Fun Run. It is a flat course of just over 4 miles on roads and slightly more testing trails, which starts and finishes on the old Cricket pitch in the

heart of Rockhampton village.

Aside from the friendly competition with clubmates, the runners are also attracted by the post-race BBQ and cricket club bar, with all proceeds from the event going to the village church.

Rob Cowlard had won the previous 4 years but was not present to defend his crown in 2018. Last year’s runner up Nick Williams set the early running and was pursued by fellow TRC athlete Dylan Roberts and James Harrod, who runs for Westbury Harriers and Yate AC in the U17 age group.

James has been setting some fast times on the track this season and used this extra speed to take the overall victory in a rapid 23:46 mins, almost 2 minutes quicker than he managed last year. Nick had to settle for second place again, but also improved on his 2017 time to finish in 24:13 mins. Dylan was third in a very respectable 24:52 mins.

Top woman on the day was Kate Browning in 15th place overall in 30:32 mins, followed

by Hannah Kinlockhhaken 18th 31:10 mins and Laura Price 26th 33:10 mins.

Thornbury’s runners have also hit the hills to take part in some gruelling races across the UK. Rosina Rowland and Andrew Darton travelled to Wales to take part in Snowdonia Trail Ultra Marathon and Half Marathon in hot and breezy conditions. The Ultra event was over a 60km course, which included 2133m of climbing with an ascent of Mt Snowdon at the end. Rosina finished in 9 hours 35:44 mins and was 23rd amongst the women and 90th overall. The half marathon also finished at the top of Snowdon and Andrew crested the peak in 397th position in a time of 3 hours 19:04 mins .

Rob Watkins was also racing in Wales in Brecon Beacons National Park. Rob has been coming back to race in the 10 Peaks races for the last 3 years, which is named after the relentless series of 10 climbs which the race includes. The

‘short course’ has 3000m of climbing over 58km to negotiate, compared to the longer event over 89kms and 4800m which Rob competed in last year. Rob had prepared well, with training runs around sections of the course and it paid dividends as he flew round the 58kms on Saturday, completing it an hour quicker than he managed in 2016 in 4th place in 7 hours 29:50 mins.

Nick Williams travelled to Lake District to take part in the Scafell Sky Race, which had an elite field of fell and mountain runners running on their home turf. The race took in some of the highest fells in the Lakes including Scafell Pike, Broad Crag and the wonderfully named Harrison Stickle.

It was a real test of leg strength as it squeezed in 3000m over 40kms, along single trails and some rocky sections shrouded in mist. Considering the level of competition, Nick fared very well to finish in 31st place in 6 hours 37:22 mins.

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n SPORT

ded forDeliverers Thornbury Voice

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liver Thornbury Voice to our readers? We Would you like to help help us with this important role.

It’sdeliver a once whether you are looking for to some Thornbury Voice our paid readers? money, we’d like to hear from you. You important We the are paper goesfor to homes looking people in tothe nimum agehelp for ausround 13important (with parental with is this role. pper limit! It's a monthly commitment, so yvoice.co.uk whether you are looking for

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BRISTOL’S greatest longdistance runner, Nick Rose, sounded the horn to start this year’s Thornbury 10k which was another sold out race from the organisers at Thornbury Running Club.

The undulating course along country lanes featured the testing climb over Sundayshill Lane at the mid-way point, before heading back to the finish at Thornbury Rugby Club through Rockhampton village.

Maciej Bialogonski maintained Bristol & West AC’s stranglehold on the men’s race by winning in a time of 34:02 mins with a winning margin of almost 4 mins. The women’s race was won by Westbury Harrier’s Sophie Voller in 40:48 mins.

Thornbury’s Dylan Roberts continued his run of good form by finishing 4th overall in a field of 316 runners in 38:40 mins.

Taryn Roberts (Dylan’s sister) was also near the top of the race, finishing in 3rd place in the women’s field and 19th overall.

Laura Orna was one place behind Taryn in 4th place and 29th overall in 44:47 mins.

August, 2018

10k race started by local running legend

Nick Rose presenting a prize for 3rd place to Taryn Roberts

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August, 2018

31

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Promotion push continues for cricketers THORNBURY Cricket Club are pushing on two fronts for promotion this season.

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The second team are still top of their table having lost only one game against Cinderford, after going the first half of the season unbeaten in the Gloucestershire

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Strong individual performances included 148

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