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The final public meeting of the Sea Mills & Coombe Dingle Community Project will be on Tuesday 4 November at St Edyths, starting at 7:30 pm. |
Community Voice
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| (GM) |
CALLING ALL EX-SEA MILLS STUDENTS!!
This April will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the official opening of Sea Mills Infant School. It was opened by the Lord Mayor in 1953 together with five other schools in Lawrence Weston & Avonmouth.
We're planning to celebrate with open days when ex-pupils and staff can visit, as well as a concert and reunion. We also hope to see the unveiling of a commissioned work of art and we'll be visited by Robin Cousins, also an ex-pupil.
For further details either phone the school on 9030088 or Anne Triggle (née English) on 9822587 or 3772929.
NB: We would be very pleased to borrow further photos or memorabilia for display purposes.
Bizz will happen again! Our clean-up & recycling day last October was so successful we're hoping to repeat it on Sat Oct 18. More in our Summer issue of The Community Voice.
| (GS) |
Watch out, watch out, squirrels are about... So for that matter are badgers, foxes, hedgehogs, birds, slugs and insects, just to mention a few of the creatures the BBC's Natural History Unit hopes to capture while filming in Coombe Dingle.
Several gardens have been bugged in the Coombe Bridge Avenue and West Dene area, hoping to capture the unseen lives of our garden wildlife. The programmes will include an insider's view of a badger family's daily life as we view up close and personal from inside their underground sett.
Due to be aired in May the show will be presented by Kate Humble, with wildlife cameraman Simon King - who some may remember from World About Us and Big Cat's Diary and others may remember as a boy living in Sea Mills. The third team member is the ever enthusiastic bird watching expert Bill Oddie.
While the cameras enter gardens the programmes will enter our living rooms twice nightly for a week-long wildlife fest. Each night at 8 and 11.15 pm viewers will be able to watch behaviour via webcams and get the latest on what's happening from the website.
The team welcome email or text questions which they will answer live on air.
For information or queries about the project, please contact Alex Griffiths at the BBC Natural History Unit on 0117 974 2275.
| (SJ) |
If you're a toddler looking for somewhere to hang your booties on Friday mornings why not try the Bristol play-bus? Gurgle or talk to an adult nicely and let them take you along from 10 to 11.30 on Sea Mills Square.
It's fun and free (as are the refreshments!), so come and meet other friends.
PS, If you can't do Friday then the bus is outside Ridingleaze Health Clinic in Lawrence Weston, Thurs, 10-11.30.
| (VB) |
Oh dear! The developers who want to build a mobile phone mast in Sea Mills Square have appealed against the recent planning refusal. It had been refused as the Square is in the Sea Mills Conservation Area and a 10metre high (33ft) pole with three antennae on top would by no means fit in with the Square's open character.
The proposal is still to build the mast just outside Ideal Chemists, very near the existing lamp standard and dominating the Square, which already suffers from lowered environmental quality, including poor planting.
Over the years too many shops have closed and even as we speak the Chemists are fighting for survival. In fact the Square needs revitalising to become a place we can all feel prouder of, and we don't need yet another blow to its character. Apart from the conservation aspects the pole would have a 'cabinet' at its base 1.49 x 0.7 metres sq., (5ft x 2'3"!), and 1.2m high (4ft!!) just asking to be vandalised and graffittied. The Square suffers from enough litter already without incompatible street furniture adding to it.
If you feel this proposal affects you as a local resident you can write to the planners by 15 April and your views will be taken into account. The Community Project and ten others have already written objecting to the original application, and these statements will also be taken into account. If you've already written, like we did, you may still feel you want to add to what you've already said, in which case write [NB in triplicate] by 15 April 2003 to:
The Planning Inspectorate, 3/01 Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, and quote ref no APP/Z0116/A/03/1111990.
| (TW) |
Shire Colts are delighted to have started playing matches at Sea Mills Park. Our under 11s and 12s are the teams you'll see enjoying themselves and trying to win a few matches.
On the changing room front there have been a number of unfortunate delays which are very close to being resolved. The major one was the discovery of asbestos in the building and we would not, of course, accept responsibility for the premises with this problem. Bristol City Council have been excellent in their support and this difficulty has been resolved. We are very close to starting work and once the weather improves some of the work should commence.
We will be putting together the new under-8 squad for next season from the beginning of June. If you have a youngster who will be 7 on August 31 2003 and wishes to come along they'll be very welcome. Details available from Club Chairman Alan Bennett, 9620201.
| (AB) |
I know sunshine seems all too rare in this country but with more people travelling abroad these days and for those of us with fair skin (especially those of Celtic origins) it's important we're aware of the danger of too much sun. So here are a few tips…
Apply sunscreen with SPF of 15 or more...
| (MMcG) |
Credit Unions are becoming the next 'big thing'. They are financial co-operatives owned and managed by their customers, who are all local people. So if you become a member it's you and people you know who run things, rather than faceless shareholders.
Credit Unions encourage good money management and keep local peoples' money within the local economy - which means your community prospers as a result. The Severn Four Union promotes the 'save to borrow' attitude. It covers Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston, Avonmouth and Sea Mills.
How does it work?... If you live in one of these areas you can pay £1.50 to become a member and £1 to start up an account. No-one will check your credit rating and you don't have to be working or have a bank account.
When you've been saving consistently for thirteen weeks you're then eligible to apply for a loan twice the amount of your savings. When you've repaid that successfully you can apply to borrow three times your savings. You always repay on a basis you can agree to, and while you're repaying your loan the Credit Union puts a small amount back into your savings so that your savings are always growing.
Example: repayments on a £300 loan over one year would be £6.13 a week (total interest £18.70 over the year).
We at Severn Four Credit Union are interested in setting up a collection point in Sea Mills.
If you have any ideas, or if you'd like to help run a collection point, please ring Jane Windle-Hartshorn, 9042285, or email admin@sfcu.freeserve.co.uk. Join today and be part of the money revolution!
At his studio on Spike Island sculptor Rod Harris spoke to us about creating 'public art'. By now most of Sea Mills will have seen his installation commissioned by Bristol for the new traffic island on the Square. He acknowledges that designing for such a location is particularly difficult, both for artist and viewer.
Also it needed a balance between making something visible and creating the pedestrian barrier the traffic engineers wanted. 'Thinking time' took longest, having started last November. On holiday in Cornwall Rod says the sea suggested wave forms to capture both the feeling of traffic movement and the calming effect the scheme is all about. He then designed four sizes of blocks or 'waves' and cast them in hand-made moulds. He drew a plan of where they should all go to create the wave effect, and the road contractors installed them.
It's a new departure for the Traffic dept and will be controversial. Look out for visits from Tate Modern pundits!
Robin Cousins was good enough to find time to talk to us the other day during his busy schedule before his ice-skating show on the Downs.
His memories of Sea Mills stretch back to his earliest days in Dingle Close, having been born in 1957, and going to the local schools along with his brothers.
Their journey to the Infants was 'up the lane' as they called it, and he was taught by the unforgettable Miss Nash - who many will have seen during Robin's This Is Your Life show. She had a passion for teaching, Robin reminded us, and he firmly believes this quality in a teacher can rub off on pupils to excellent effect whatever their leanings. He's certainly looking forward to visiting the school during their 50th celebrations.
At the Juniors his headmaster was Mr Dunster, and he also sang in St Edyth's church choir. Skating led on from learning dance under Joan Watson at the Community Centre, and Robin would work on school projects in the Library.
Later, his brothers went to the Grammar School while he went to Henbury Comprehensive. His brothers had to spend their Saturdays on team sports whereas Robin wanted all his time for ice skating. He jokingly suggested he maybe 'failed the entrance exam on purpose'!
He told us he was well aware of not being a 'team player' even though he enjoyed all sports, plus walking everywhere, and of course journeys on the No 42 bus to the ice-rink on Frogmore St.
He was a very pleasant and willing interviewee during our chat - definitely will go far!!
| (TW) |
I wrote to the Evening Post and nominated Trymside Woodland Walk as a 'grot spot' in the Clean and Green Campaign. ' The Dip', as it is known, is an absolute disgrace and is never cleared, so I was pleased to hear from Alan Cox (Bristol City Council) that such complaints are taken seriously, and he will be visiting the site with a view to sorting it out. I hope it is soon and that it will be regularly cleared, not just a 'one-off'. But of course it is up to everyone, parents and children, to stop dropping litter. The supply of litter bins at regular intervals plus educating the public, would be a help. Also 'Litter Inspectors' with a mandate to fine on-the-spot anyone caught adding to the problem, would be one answer.
| (Grace R McLaughlin) |
Mum and I were talking about the up-coming Sea Mills Infants' 50 year celebrations and she told me this little ditty… When my brother started at the school in 1962 Mum and Dad had to go to a New Parents evening. Miss Nash, the then Head, was stood at the door as all the parents came in and was checking everyone's foot-wear. All the rage at the time were stiletto heels, and upon spotting this type of shoe she would ask for the offending article to be taken off. Why?… I hear you ask. The new school hall had just been laid with beautiful wood blocks and she didn't want them ruined by the vicious spikes of the stiletto heels!
| (Val Bradbeer) |
A second reunion of Sea Mills Junior School pupils, aged 65-80.
Due to the success of last year's reunion of Junior School pupils we're holding another on Saturday May 10 6-10pm.
Look round the school and at the many photos at your leisure and then congregate in the main hall. We are charging £1.50 per person this year as nibbles, tea & coVee will be provided, but please bring your own drink. We hope to be as successful as last year. Contact tels 9685778, 9247371, 9082926, or 9836314.
| (GS) |
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bristol's own hospice, St Peter's are holding a number of exciting events. Over the coming months these will be advertised in the local press, church and community news- sheets, and posters. St Peter's work is expanding all the time - we still rely on the goodwill and support of the local community.
House-to-House Collection is July 7-12 this year. In Sea Mills we still need many more volunteers. You can be sure of a warm welcome 'on the doorstep'; everyone appreciates St Peter's Hospice. For more information or to offer help, please phone Ruth Gillett, 9681782. Thank you.
We're hoping to have an exciting Community Day in July aimed at raising community spirit and getting everyone involved with all the wonderful facilities we have in our Community Centre.
The day will have something for everyone, starting with a Tea Dance, with live music throughout the day. Fashion & dog shows, children's entertainers, and a live band in the evening.
It's all entirely dependant on our getting a grant from the Scarman Trust, so watch this space.
| (LW) |
At 'Little Monsters' we have vacancies every day for 2½ & 3 yr olds. For more information ring Tracy or Val, mornings on 9685167 or pop round to see us at the pre-school in the Boys & Girls Club, Woodleaze.
On Saturday Feb 1st Sea Mills Juniors put on a sterling performance at the Victoria Rooms of a dance entitled The Race as part of the Stages 2003 programme organised by Bristol City Council.
Many schools were represented in the matinee performance, with a range of styles of dance. The Dance Group members and teacher Rachel Hooper have all worked long and hard at perfecting the performance, and they all did themselves proud.
| (VB) |
The Night Flyer buses are now running through Sea Mills Friday and Saturday nights. They leave the Centre every hour on the half hour from 00.30 til 05.30. Look out for the N8 which comes through Sea Mills and on to Avonmouth. Fare £2 all journeys. Details tel 9224454.
The Park-&-Ride site is on the Portway between Shirehampton and Avonmouth. Parking is free. Return fare £2.50 before 10am or £2 after 10 and on Saturdays; accompanied under 16s travel free.
You can also catch the bus at the bottom of Riverleaze or Roman Way. Look out for the 902 which operates every 15 mins. One word of warning: if going to Broadmead in the week get off at the Hippodrome and walk through, otherwise be prepared for another 10 min ride along Redcliffe Way, Temple Way and Bond St.
For more details tel 9222910.
| (GS) |
Easter events:
14 April Extreme Easter 2.30-3.30, ages 8-12 - see the skateboarding bunny sweeping through the library!
15 Apr Egg Hunt 10.30-1130, under 7s.
20 May Local historian David Cheesley takes us on a train journey to Severn Beach for only £2: adults and children welcome, refreshments available.
In answer to some queries the library is not closing (see main story, p1). However, opening times are different to those on our outside notice.
We are OPEN Mon-Sat 9-1 & Mon, Thur & Sat 2-5. NB Our phone no is now 9038555.
This year we're sponsoring two of the classes for junior Flower Show entrants, the Poem, and a new class, the Short Story.
Don't forget, we have two large display boards you can book FREE for up to two weeks at a time if you want to attract new members to your group, or just letting others know what's going on in the area.
Finally, do you know of anyone who is housebound and enjoys reading books or books on tape? If so, just call the library and our volunteers will deliver door to door regularly. Just ring the above number.
| (SJ) |
Our meetings are held at Sea Mills Community Centre at 7.30 on the third Thursday of the month.
The club has a membership of over 100 who enjoy a mixed programme of gardening talks, garden visits and outings. New members are welcome. The annual membership is only £10. For enquiries tel 9684105.
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Comments? Feedback? Let me know what you think. This page last updated: 6 February 2006 Copyright © 2006 Sea Mills & Coombe Dingle Community Project. You are welcome to create a link to this page or to print it for your personal use, but if you would like to use some or all of the content in any other way, please contact me first. |