Winter 2020 Letter from the Editor

Home , Coalpit Heath, Engine Common, Frampton Cotterell, Iron Acton

WINTER 2020 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LOCAL POYNTZ TEAM: - Jon Aries, Caroline Haselhan, Sarah Ridler, Amanda Scott, Jane Spare, John Wright, Marilyn Wright and myself, Pamela McCoy.

LOCAL POYNTZ PHOTOGRAPHERS: - Sally Aries, Gillian Otlet

I am writing this in the first week of November and we now know that we are in another lockdown and there is much uncertainty ahead of us.

The last lockdown was at a time of lengthening daylight hours, a time when trees, shrubs and flowers were putting out their buds and shoots. The weather was warm and we could sit in our gardens with a glass of wine and admire nature. This time we face short days, dark days, wind and rain. We should be making preparations for Christmas; visiting Cribbs Causeway to browse the shops for ideas, planning the feasts for Christmas day and ordering the turkey or goose but, instead, we are worrying about whether we shall be allowed to have our traditional Christmas. The Christmas candlelit carol service is a wonderful occasion, which for me heralds the start of Christmas, will be somewhat different this year. I am the eternal optimist and believe that all will be well; that the rules can and will be relaxed and that we can enjoy the Christmas festivities as usual.

Whatever happens I wish each and every one of you a safe, joyous and wonderful Christmas. I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year, free from Covid-19. ------

ENCLOSURE: In this magazine you will find an envelope, inside of which there is a fridge magnet. The magnet is from Acton Aid and has their help line ‘phone number as a reminder to you that they are still there to help you, wherever and whenever they can. Please keep it and ‘phone them if you require any help.

ADVERTISEMENTS: - If anyone would like to place an advert in these magazines please contact me, at the email address below, and we can discuss it

The deadline for the spring edition is 1st February 2021. We really need to have all articles by that date, PLEASE.

FRONT PAGE: - Gillian Otlet took this beautiful image. It is one of the Church windows decorated for the Christmas windows competition, represents the hymn “Angels From The Realms Of Glory” and was designed and decorated by Mrs Eileen Hughes.

EDITOR- Pamela McCoy 01454 228874, 07766074252 Email [email protected].

Printed by Jamprint Design & Printing Ltd. 01249 823950

3 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

LOCAL POYNTZ TEAM: - Jon Aries, Caroline Haselhan, Sarah Ridler, Amanda Scott, Jane Spare, John Wright, Marilyn Wright and myself, Pamela McCoy.

LOCAL POYNTZ PHOTOGRAPHERS: - Sally Aries, Gillian Otlet

I am writing this in the first week of November and we now know that we are in another lockdown and there is much uncertainty ahead of us.

Whatever happens I wish each and every one of you a safe, joyous and wonderful Christmas. I wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year, free from Covid-19. ------

ADVERTISEMENTS: - If anyone would like to place an advert in these magazines please contact me, at the email address below, and we can discuss it

The deadline for the spring edition is 1st February 2021. We really need to have all articles by that date, PLEASE.

EDITOR- Pamela McCoy 01454 228874, 07766074252 Email [email protected].

Printed by Jamprint Design & Printing Ltd. 01249 823950

Need help with Transport?

Green Community

Let us Travel help

you! Do you struggle with public buses

and are other modes of transport

too expensive?

We are Community Transport and

we can help with GP appointments,

shopping, hospital appointments as

well as much more!

Give us a call and have a chat to us

to see how we can help you.

01454 228706

Covering, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Frampton

Cotterell, Coalpit Heath, Emersons Green, Winterbourne, Cromhall, Charfield, Tormarton, Wickwar and much more across South Gloucestershire! IRON ACTON PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS

The school community has amazed me over the course of the year so far – what resilience and perseverance every member has shown! I would like to thank every member of staff, every child, governor and parent for all they have done to keep the school running smoothly during such a tough time. Thank you to all those of you in the community who have supported us too – your words of encouragement make such a huge difference.

As I reflect on the first term of the year, there have been many exciting new things that we have begun. Our new approach to teaching the curriculum through an enquiry (question and challenge) based approach has exceeded all expectations. The children are excited and enthused; the staff are crafting creative and inspiring learning opportunities. Embedded within this new approach are frequent opportunities to reflect upon the needs of others and how we can help – this is something that really characterises Iron Acton as a whole but also can be seen permeating through the attitudes of the children. Just last week, our oldest children spoke to Ashley Mee about his involvement in Water Aid. This was a great opportunity for them to be inspired and to see how they might also make a positive contribution to others.

Our newly formed federation with Hawkesbury continues to provide more and more opportunity to benefit from working together. So far this year we have been able to take part in shared training and planning events – both of these areas are enhanced by working together with others. Our governors now carry out their role across the two schools – they are incredibly skilled at what they do and have made a real difference to the way the schools are run.

Earlier in the term, we were able to visit the church for our annual Harvest service. This was the first time we had been able to bring the whole school together in many months and what a special occasion it was. Each class shared something they had prepared which linked to this important time of the year and Father Malcolm shared a message about where our food comes from. We were sad not to be able to welcome families to the service this year but it was good to be able to do something together as a whole school – something we had been missing terribly.

We now look forward to preparing our Christmas events. We plan to hold all the usual events as far as possible so that the children can still experience the magic of Christmas at school. There will be a lot to look forward to - Christmas lunches, Nativity plays and Christmas parties amongst others.

We continue to show prospective families around the school ahead of the Reception 2021 cohort, for which the deadline is 15th January 2021. The visits are mainly outside and parents are asked to wear a face covering. We have had a lot of interest so far and we look forward to welcoming more families to look around over the next few weeks. If you are interested in having a look please contact the school office on 01454 228322 or [email protected]

On the next page you will see some of our autumn poetry written by the some of the children in Year 2 and shared during our Harvest service.

Mike Riches

November 2020

Friends started off this school year a bit differently having our first meeting via zoom, it was convenient being in our own homes and we welcomed some members who haven’t been have able to come to a meeting, but not quite the same as having a drink together in the pub.

We are very pleased to announce that Katy Shackleford has taken on the role of Chair, we all look forward to supporting her as we find some new and enjoyable events that are safe in these unusual times.

Our 1st socially distanced event was the pumpkin trail during half term. Thank you for all that helped, the children and teachers at Iron Acton Primary school for the pictures and the families that displayed them in their windows. We had school families, past and present, their friends and also families from the local area joining in the trail. A big Thank you to those who were able to donate via online banking.

Friends have been working closely with the school and have organised for some outdoor wooden structures to be built bespoke for the KS1 area and the field, these include a mud kitchen, more wellington boot storage and a staging area for dancing and acting during playtimes as well as outdoor assemblies and performances.

This Christmas we are excited about having a ‘wear a Christmas jumper or hat’ to school day, Christmas parties in class bubbles and joining in with the village Christmas events.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and we look forward to being able to join you all during face to face activities once again soon, from all of the Friends of Iron Acton Primary School.

6 WHAT A COINCIDENCE! My interest in coincidences was first piqued when, at the age of eight, I awoke in my parents’ tent on the first day of our ‘holidays’ in St Ives. “Paulie, come and ‘ave yer bacon an’ beans”, I heard coming from the tent ‘next door‘. I knew that voice! I knew whose breakfast that was! Pitched up, next to us, were the same cockney couple, and their son ‘Paulie’, who’d been our neighbours the previous summer at a campsite near Margate. Some 350mls away! All of you are likely to have experienced similar coincidences that have left you stunned (“You’ll never guess who I bumped into in Paris!” etc.). But are these coincidences really that amazing? They are not, and moreover, you should expect them. Since moving to Iron Acton in 2016, I’ve so far uncovered three ‘coincidences’. The most amus- ing of these occurred just recently when, over dinner at ours, an ‘Iron Acton man’ (who shall remain nameless!), revealed the name of the schoolgirl, on whom he’d had ‘The Hots’ 50 odd years ago, to be none other than...my cousin!

But, there is actually a big difference between our ‘gut feeling’ of how common coincidences are and their actual rarity. I will explain why you should expect coincidences and not be so amazed by them.

Consider this question, How many people do you think you would need to gather together to give a 50/50 chance of at least two of them sharing the same birthday? Stop reading for a moment and consider your guess...

Most people would guess that number to be between 100 and 200. But what if I told you that the actual number is just 23. Yes, 23! I suspect that you would find this answer to be ‘surprising‘. Surprising to the point that you don’t believe it. Well it happens to be true. (If you can’t accept it, just Google ‘Birthday Problem’ and look on Wikipedia.) The ‘surprising’ answer lies in the fact that from just 23 people you can make 253 different pairings. Each one of these pairings has a 1 in 365 chance of sharing a birthday. Doing the maths, and aggregating the 253 individual proba- bilities, delivers the number 23. The bottom line here is that what might seem to be a surprising coincidence, isn’t: so, of the 22 players on a football pitch, and including the ref., there’s an ‘evens’ chance the two of them will share the same birthday. Understanding this concept is key to evaluating ‘coincidences’. When confronted by one of life’s ‘strange coincidences’, it’s often tempting to reconcile this by invoking some mystical or spiritual explanation - “It was a sign!” - “I must have been ‘guided‘” - “It was meant to be!” Well, don’t bother thinking this way because when you consider all the myriad of things that MIGHT happen to you in life (such as all the hundreds of people you COULD ‘bump into’), it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise when one of these things actually comes to pass - as they do. Despite my contention that coincidences are less ‘amazing’ than you’d think, they’re still good fun to talk about. Of my many examples, here’s one of my favourites,

My father had asked a few friends around to ‘christen’ the ‘pub’ that he’d excavated, furnished and decorated under the kitchen, at the back of his house. The ‘Duck Inn’ was a very cosy cellar- bar with all the character of a local’s pub in a Cornish fishing village. On ‘Opening Night’ it was full to capacity, with the ten invited friends and family. The guests were very complementary and loved the set-up. There was a small bar, wood panel- ling, exposed beams, knick-knacks and pictures as well as faux windows, which looked out to ‘sea‘. The conversation flowed, along with the drink. At one point, my father mentioned that he needed to buy a new lock for the sturdy door, which he’d got from a reclamation yard - unfortunately the lock was missing its key. At that point, one of the guests exclaimed that the door looked remarkably similar to one that he’d gotten rid of a while back. He pulled a bunch of keys from his pocket and retrieved a key, which he inserted into the door-lock, and, you’ve guessed it, it worked!

You may wonder whether there’s any way in which you could utilise this knowledge about ‘coincidences’ and turn it to your advantage? Well, as an example (and purely to illustrate the point), here’s an idea of how to very, very, very, very slightly enhance your chances of scoop- ing the jackpot on the lottery - you simply pick the winning line from the previous week and enter it again! “What!” I hear you cry! “That’s just dumb!”

Here’s the rational: Every ball has an equal chance of being picked and so it follows that the previous week’s combination is just as likely to come up as any other specified combination of numbers. Fact. So far, so good. Here’s where your (slight) advantage comes from - Most people would dis- count last week’s numbers on the assumption that it couldn’t happen again. So, in the unlikely event that those jackpot numbers were to be drawn again, there’d be less winners with whom to share the prize.

So, if you thought, as the proverb says, that ‘lightning never strikes the same place twice’ - think again. Steve Green

IRON ACTON K9 CLUB

J G CARPENTRY IRON ACTON K9 CLUB

Kitchens - Bathrooms - Extensions - staircases - Doors As I write this, sadly, we are just entering another period of Covid 19 lock down. In the short Flooring - Carpentry - Renovations - Exteriors intervening period we have been able to organise some outdoors training then, for a few weeks, some indoor training. All this has been whilst following the restrictions imposed by the Covid regulations of maintaining distances, wearing a face covering and no touching of dogs. We have been able to run puppy courses, mostly outside, and are pleased to report that Claire & Ozzy, Aimee & Ollie, Ann & Ella, Katie & Florence, Amy & Bonnie and Ruth & Darcy all successfully passed their Kennel Club Puppy Foundation assessments after 5 weeks of training. Our slightly older puppies Wendy & Dora, Nikki & Hamish, Hollie & Daisy, Tracey & Marley and Becky & Mango also successfully passed our club Puppy 2 course after 4 weeks of training. We are hoping to organise some puppy training via the internet for this lockdown.

Our club classes have also been meeting and recently enjoyed a “dressing up for Halloween” session in Iron Acton Parish Hall.

Karen, our Club Class trainer, is going to organise more tricks challenges to keep us all For a fast professional service & competitive quotation occupied throughout this lockdown, we’ll be reporting progress on our facebook page.

01454 851032 or 07738 934875 For more information about the club please ring Sue on 01454 228803 or Karen on 01454 228891 or take a look at our facebook page or website www.ironactonk9club.co.uk . www.jgcarpentry.com

J G CARPENTRY

Kitchens - Bathrooms - Extensions - staircases - Doors Flooring - Carpentry - Renovations - Exteriors

For a fast professional service & competitive quotation 01454 851032 or 07738 934875 www.jgcarpentry.com IRON ACTON COMMUNITY CHOIR

Well what a strange and bizarre year it has been! We have all been bereft as a consequence of the continuing restrictions placed on music-making in general, and singing together specifically. We were hoping that, come September, we would be allowed to meet together again, and indeed we did begin to make tentative plans for that to happen, but we now know that we are in this for a rather longer haul than any of us might have reasonably anticipated. We continue to meet online for “Zoom choir” with much thanks and gratitude to Jason (Haselhan) for his majestic technical know-how, and to Acton Aid for access to the village Zoom account.

We would normally be well into preparations for the Winter Concert and the Carol Service, but it is hard to see a way that the Covid-19 restrictions will not have some significant impact on preparations for this. We continue keenly to hope that we will be allowed some sort of music and singing with which to celebrate the season as best as possible!

The energy and enthusiasm members have been bringing to Zoom rehearsals for the last several months remains fantastic and it is a really positive and joyous experience to work with them to learn new music and develop our skills and abilities to sing. Community singing is a powerful force for good and the Iron Acton Community Choir is real proof of that. It is a privilege to work with all the singers and we manage that fantastic balance between working very hard and having a lot of fun too. We now number about 35 members in total.

We would normally meet on a Tuesday evening in the Parish Hall at 20:00hrs and, again normally, we pay an annual membership fee (£30) to support the running of the choir in terms of hiring of the rehearsal space and the purchase of music. Any money raised from our singing (and this does happen!!) always goes to chosen charities.

We currently have spaces within the choir in all voice parts, but particularly we would like to recruit more Sopranos, Altos and Basses. You just need to be keen and enthusiastic, no prior experience nor musical knowledge required and there is no audition. If you are interested then just let me know ([email protected]) and we’ll take it from there … or pop in to one of our Tuesday evening rehearsals when we have restarted and see what you think.

Rob Pardoe

10 ST PETER’S HOSPICE BIG BREAKFAST On Saturday 5th September the Village held a fundraising event for the St Peter’s Hospice charity! This came about through a conversation between Di Heal and myself at an event in Feb- ruary! Di Heal & other ladies of the village used to organise a successful breakfast fund rais- ing morning in aid of St Peter’s Hospice & I asked her if she would be doing it again. St Peter’s Hospice is a charity that has helped & touched a lot of people in & around our village so it was a very popular event Then the Covid pandemic changed all of our lives & the idea was put on hold. On 5th August there was a TV news report that St Peters Hospice are having to close beds due to lack of funds in these strained times! We then felt that we needed to do something to support this brilliant charity. A phone call with Di resulted in “Operation Big Breakfast “! A few messages later & a hastily organised social distanced meeting was held in the Village hall gardens with Di & Chris Heal, Jason Hazelhan, David Hatherall, Rob Taylor & myself! It quickly became apparent that this was going to be a huge effort! Due to the restrictions we couldn’t use the village hall so it would have to be in the hall gardens & car park (let’s hope the weather is good to us), we would also have to do timed seatings to allow for cleaning & sanitising the chairs & tables after every use! It was at this point that David came up with the virtual Big Breakfast so everyone could hold their own breakfast & invite friends and family to join in. Fantastic idea!!! Flyers were quickly designed, printed & distributed around the parish! Feedback was great, St Peters Hospice even asked if they could use it wider for themselves, also supplying their logo for us to use! On the day lots of people took part, photos of people enjoying breakfast outside in the sun- shine with friends and family were posted on social media. Which was great to see! Most importantly though was the generosity of everyone who took part & who donated with £5662.62 raised! So a big thank you to Di Heal for starting the ball rolling & her commitment to the St Peters Hospice cause, to Jason, David & Rob for helping make it happen, to all the people who de- livered the flyers, but mostly to everyone who took part & donated Hopefully the next one we can all be together again!!

Jinx Johnson

ACTON AID

In the last issue, I said that Acton Aid’s plans to upgrade a muddy section of the Frome Valley Walkway were “at an advanced stage”. For those who have yet to see it, I am delighted to report that the task has been completed (with the aid of some 140 tons of chippings and a good deal of ‘elbow grease’). It’s now possible to walk alongside the River Frome, on a nice surface, all the way from Frampton End Lane to Tubbs Bottom. For those on Social Media, there’s a photo of the path on the ‘Iron Acton Village’ Facebook page. Stay safe, Steve Green, Chairman

* 01454300190, Acton Aid’s Helpline continues to be available. We are here to help!

11 THE MARATHON

Back in the spring I was an out of breath GP. The sprint from a running start was all encompassing and overwhelming. We had to get up to speed so quickly, turning on a penny, creating new protocols, working practices and ways of working with each other and patients overnight. Every day brought new challenges; new roads we had no idea the race was going to take us down. And, as we raced, the things we were passing were shocking and not seen before.

By the early summer the pace of change slowed a little; the daily bulletins from the powers- that-be with changes slowed to twice weekly, we settled into our new way of working, patients got used to the new ways of interacting with the surgery and were, to a degree, distracted by being able to finally live a little and meet others. Then came a major change that NHS England was pushing us to adopt - moving to online e-consultation as a first point of contact to ask for an appointment. They’d been wanting us to do this for several years but none of us had any desire to add a 4th lane to the already busy motorway of GP Practices. Covid pushed this change like many other changes in many other professions. We needed to be able to have better control over who accessed an appointment and what appointment they accessed for safety and capacity management. For many years we have had too few GP appointments to meet the demand and we have been employing more Nurse Practitioners, Paramedics, Physios, Pharmacists to support falling GP numbers but signposting patients to these professionals can be hard as we have all grown up with the concept of the GP appointment being the basic unit of Primary Care that people have a right too.

E-consult, although cumbersome and repetitive at times for those filling in the online forms has allowed us to filter the urgent from the routine, direct to the appropriate clinician or set up useful tests before an appointment. It was a huge change for us, our reception team and our patients; not one that is fully settled in yet; there are many unforeseen outcomes of a huge change like this that need tweaking. Whatever its pros and cons it was a huge change and left us all quite exhausted. Then to add to our stress levels in August we had a long-awaited computer system change. This had been planned for a year at least and was deferred in the height of the pandemic, but the timing in the middle of the summer holidays was not ideal! Having used our system for over 20 years how we used it barely needed any thought. Suddenly the simplest thing took twice as long as we struggled to find the right button to press. On our race this felt like running up a sudden steep hill, through fog, with feet (or fingers on the keyboard) in treacle. After a few weeks, the incline levelled off a bit and we came out above the clouds but still slower at high altitude. This was timed perfectly with the start of school term and the beginning of the winter wave of Covid infections. We had our fair share of clinicians being caught out by the children coughing and needing testing but being unable to get a test meant we had to stay at home unable to work hands on. I never ever imagined I would work as a doctor from home but, to a degree, one can with phone calls, video calls and admin being perfectly possible.

So now we are still moving ahead, on a steady incline towards the winter. Our legs are burning and apart from some occasional breaks to watch from the sidelines and get some fresh air with families we are going into this winter pretty low on energy. The race has changed too. In Spring the lining of the streets with supporters was so encouraging and buoyed us on but that visible support has melted away and, in fact, quite often we get some bystanders throwing eggs and insults as we struggle on. I knew in my heart the clapping would be replaced in time by criticism, but it is sad to see it though. I know the anger and frustration that people feel comes from their own stress with this very difficult world we are all trying to navigate now, but it is disheartening nevertheless. Empathy is the quality that we as GPs aim to develop; putting ourselves in the shoes of whoever walks into our doors however different their experience is to ours. We are all trying our best within the limits of what this world and the virus permits us and we are all challenged in our own ways by it. None of what I write about is unique to medicine; every job, trade and business has faced these difficulties these past months. We all face them in our personal and family lives as we live this different life. This is the truth of the marathon we all face; the empathy marathon is long but ultimately rewarding if we embrace it. So as we all run this marathon through winter, let’s offer each other some support, calls of encouragement, brief places to rest, a metaphorical arm around the shoulder and plenty of smiles from under our masks to show we are all connected and in this together. One foot in front of another and we will get there in the end.

Sonya Grubb 31st October 2020

THE ACTONIANS NEWS

email: [email protected] Follow us on: https://www.facebook.com/Actonians We are delighted to say that we have two One Act plays currently in rehearsal. These plays have small casts and will be entered into the AAD Short Play Festival which will hopefully be held in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall between 24th and 27th February 2021.

Mark Whitehouse is directing Lockdown in Little Grimley by David Tristram. This is the fifth of the Little Grimley series. In ‘Lockdown’ the Grimley Players Chairman, Gordon, calls an emergency meeting, complete with social distancing, to discuss his idea for their next production when restrictions ease – a touching love story set in a hospital. With all profits destined for the NHS. But based on their previous efforts, will the NHS end up worse off? A light hearted piece with pacey dialogue and physical humour.

In complete contrast, Sue Anstey is directing a dramatic piece of theatre called Syrinx, written by Kate Mosse. Syrinx was commissioned by Sandi Toksvig as part of a series to show theatre – live- on television. The play gets its name from a haunting piece of flute music, Syrinx, by Debussey. It is set in a Headteacher’s Office on the evening of Marion’s last Annual Prizegiving Ceremony; she has opted for early retirement. Her two old schoolfriends, Susan and Julie, have been invited, but following the tragic death of Julie’s daughter, Sarah, there has been a seemingly irrevocable rift in their friendship. Marion has engineered the evening so that Susan and Julie meet up once again and she hopes they can heal the rift, As the reason for Julie’s daughter’s death becomes clear, the women explore their guilt and grief and decide whether they can forgive and once more be friends and we find out why Syrinx is such a significant piece of music. Throughout the play we hear Sarah’s voice in a series of soliloquies.

As I write this the second Lockdown has been announced so our rehearsals will now need to move from the Hall to Zoom! A novel experience!

Our main production of Tartuffe is still being planned for May 2021. We remain ever hopeful.

If you would like to join us then please make contact through our website or email us.

Please contact Nicola for a competitive Insurance quotation

Home Insurance -‐ Business Insurance -‐ Landlords Insurance Public Liability Insurance -‐ Travel Insurance – Motor Insurance Pet Insurance – Private Healthcare Insurance

Nicola Webber Tel: 07818 047642 Email: [email protected]

Registered in England No. 4489781 Allied Wessex Westinsure Limited is authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

Please contact Nicola for a competitive Insurance quotation Andrew Tillotson

Are you Insured rectly? cor As your Insurance Broker, I can check that you have the correct cover in place and provide you with an Insurance quotation from a large panel of Insurers. I can advise you on the products available to meet your demands and needs and offer assistance in the unfortunate event of a claim. Oil Boiler, Aga and Rayburn, Home Insurance -‐ Business Insurance -‐ Landlords Insurance Public Liability Insurance -‐ Travel Insurance – Motor Insurance Servicing and Repairs Pet Insurance – Private Healthcare Insurance

Nicola Webber Tel: 07818 047642 covering South Gloucestershire and West Wiltshire Email: [email protected]

Registered in England No. 4489781 Allied Wessex Westinsure Limited is authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority m: 07830 211400 e: [email protected]

Jinx Johnson

Electrician

07967 011165 EMAIL: [email protected]

DIGGING DEEP THIS CHRISTMAS Rest easy! I am not about to reveal a secret knowledge of meteorology and predict the need for a snow shovel this Christmas, albeit my youngest’s greatest desire! She shares with me a romantic reverie of a perfectly timed, magical flurry of softest snow, slowly floating down at dusk on Christmas Eve. We yearn to awake on Christmas morning to the silent enchantment that, even before we have pulled back the curtains, heralds a world reflected in white light. Our soaring hearts, on surveying the frosted vista would be set up for the perfect day. As an adult I have tempered this fantasy with a little more thought to the potential disruption; ‘Well just a thin layer of snow please’! I simply demand a light dusting, enough to preserve the fairy- tale scene, without stopping loved ones gathering. The perfect, white Christmas-card scene would be a sour landscape, quickly turning to grey slush, if it got in the way of cherished reunions.

It may be that this year, of all years, a deep snow fall will not matter quite as much, as most of us will stay at home. However, after the year we have had, I really don’t have the energy to dig ourselves out; I need to conserve my strength for all the spiritual digging which I wrote about in the last edition, trying with all my might to unearth the inner resilience needed to walk through this year’s mire. For the time being I’m sticking to my adult fantasy version of a world whitewashed with just the lightest stroke of nature’s paintbrush. In fact, if I get to be with the ones I love this year, the snow can take a hike; rain and thunder can rage outside for all I care! I will be looking inside at what I have got, instead of caring about the outer trappings of my romantic idyll.

2020 has been punctuated by news stories that have made me, as it will so many of you, react in an emotional spiral, at times seemingly out of control. Mind reeling, body panicking we all have different ways to steady ourselves, if we are lucky. When it happens to me, I STOMP. The stomping can last a few hours and I can even stomp in my mind, as I lie in bed waiting impatiently for the desired oblivion of sleep. It puts my dearly beloved husband on edge as I resist all attempts at being calmed. One such stomping occasion resulted from a BBC announcement that students may not be allowed home for Christmas. This came soon after my naïve 18-year-old had left home for the first time, to start Uni. Only one week on from the tears, as she hugged the dog goodbye and from the gasping sobs I shed, when we returned home to feel her absence hanging palpable in the air. The day after that ill-timed news story, I went up to her tiny attic room and Oh, how I stomped!

Our lovely, bright eyed girl was now dull and white faced as she was currently holed up in a room with Covid and enforced isolation for a fortnight. She was cabined in a room smaller than her attic room, not even room for swinging a kitten therein! I could hardly bear the separation. At the point where normally, I would have moved heaven and earth to bring her home, I had to settle for virtual love. It was unthinkable that Christmas would see her on zoom and not back in her bed, stocking hung at her feet. The disgruntled rottweiler, working downstairs at his desk, snarled up the stairs;

’What in heaven’s name are you doing?’

‘I AM PREPARING MY DAUGHTER’S BEDROOM FOR HER RETURN’ was my bellowing reply. As I stomped and made her room invitingly homely, I began to breathe with control again. She would be back at some point and for ‘now’ that is all I could focus on to get through this; timescales have started sliding and patience has had to go into override. I have

16 had to remind myself time and time again to keep breathing, to ignore the frightening cliff- edge ahead and look beyond for the light; otherwise panic will start to claw wildly and prevent my own hands digging for strength. Quite frankly, these floorboards were not built for so much stomping. If I’m not careful, I may find them, along with my dearly beloved, starting to creak and buckle underfoot! I need to tread lightly, focusing on one day at a time. This will enable me to have the strength to battle and tether down wild conjecturing and catastrophises as they flap around and threaten to engulf me and carry me down. This is my duty for now.

So, does this mean that Christmas plans will be put on hold because I am having to focus on the here and now? Like all of you I am counting the numbers (Covid sums of 6 at present) and they certainly don’t add up. Our eldest daughter and her partner make our immediate family too big. I used to love the number 6, we are after all a family of 6 and I grew up in a 6. But now we are firmly a 7, and it appears we are one too many. As for all the rest of our wonderful, extended families, well it looks like even if there is no snow this year, there will certainly be ‘zoom’ for Christmas!

My eldest daughter seemed a little unnerved as she broached the Christmas number problem, which she had already solved. She would stay in Cornwall this year, just the two of them. Something they fancied trying and now seemed a good opportunity. She searched my eyes to see if I was appalled. ‘We might not enjoy it Mum’ she said to ease any pain; now I was appalled. Stuck in Cornwall, with your true love, the sea a glance away and walks to die for; ‘What’s not to enjoy?’ I quipped back. I will miss her desperately of course, but I would be even more distraught if I thought she was unhappy for one moment. Having made her decision, my daughter has already secured the Christmas she needs and so I don’t need to worry about not seeing her; we will delight in discussions of her preparations, unscathed by anxieties of enforced separation. I am hoping her gift this Christmas will be a magical haven in her coastal home, defying the eye of the storm (even if her carnivorous father feels this is far from possible, as she prepares a nut roast instead of stuffing a turkey!!). When one makes a positive choice, it is healthy; when choices are taken from us, then we are most threatened.

So, where does that leave the rest of us? Firm plans cannot yet be made. This is difficult to handle. Will those who outnumber the tally of 6, really be left alone? I have reassured Mum that even if I have to sit outside with hot water bottles (top Christmas present idea!) strapped to my body and snow around my feet whilst she sits in the warm, then I will happily do so (restrictions permitting of course!).

Usually I focus on the festive season with rising intensity from Halloween onwards. Invitations are made early on, and then I set to work. So, should it be allowed to just fall flat? A year missed, a prevailing sadness making an interminable winter.

You already know that I am Mrs Christmas. Those of you who know the story of the Grinch (a Christmas favourite) will know that I could easily live in ‘Whoville’ (The Foote family will be joining me there!!!). Like its residents, the joyful ‘Who’s’, I work tirelessly to uphold every tiny Christmas tradition, decorating every corner of the house and shutting the door on any gloom and despair. I do however draw the line at Christmas loo-seat covers! Although I scorned the loo-roll stock pilers in March, I must confess that come September, my joy knew no bounds as I discovered the latest stock arrival in M&S. The shop assistant looked a little perplexed as I flung with a glee 2 bales of my precious haul on the counter – Christmas loo rolls!

From a young age, I monopolised Christmas preparations with more mince pie production than your average Mr Kipling factory and, contrary to my normal prevailing disorder, I

17 observed obsessive planning to ensure everything was ready for the big day. Cakes made and iced, trees timely erected, gifts for everyone wrapped and hidden; anything remotely Christmassy and I had it covered. I kept an ever-watchful eye on the rest of my family to ensure they had everything under control too, lists made, games planned, festive events arranged etc. I even secretly set my alarm clock on Christmas morning in case Dad overslept on the big day itself, when he was required, bleary eyed, to put the most enormous of turkeys in the oven on time, at the crack of dawn! I did have to wake him on a few occasions! Nothing down to chance would catch me out. I held the key to festive control.

Individually we have all had the Christmas that did catch us out, the ones that didn’t meet our expectations. It may have been a family row, words said in haste and felt so much more keenly at this special time of year; a bitter taste left hanging in the air, punching holes the membrane of perfection. There will have been turkeys worryingly undercooked, meals delayed, and mince pies burned by the score (I myself have set fire to 3 Christmas table decorations!!). There will have been illness, the promise of the perfect Christmas destroyed by that wretched tummy bug (my local friends will recall how I used to avoid pre-school Christmas parties in case my children picked up any illness that would spoil their day!). I will never forget our first attempt at entertaining David’s parents to Christmas lunch; the responsibility was onerous, but I had every base covered. Then David met his nemesis as he lifted our unfeasibly large turkey from the oven and unbalanced the tray. A tsunami of slippery juices gushed over the sides, bathing our kitchen floor in glistening oil and transforming it into an instant ice rink. For a split second I could only see the horror of a newly mopped floor, now awash with grime. I crumpled at the ruination of perfection. But as I looked up and saw David slipping like a mad man, clutching the tray in desperation, whilst forbidding me to enter, I realised that there was much more at stake here than a dirty floor and a tarnished reputation! Broken limbs and hospital visits were at hand and surviving the liquid lard was all that mattered! Who cared if my floor swimming in grease, there was a battle to be won! He made it, lurching wildly out the door, amazingly with limbs intact, turkey holding firm; Christmas still on!

As a child, the inevitable blink of the Christmas tree lights plunging the tree into darkness, late on Christmas Eve was always very distressing. I felt panic rising, there HAD to be lights.

My wonderful father never gave up on them, meticulously trying out each and every bulb until the glow of colours and relief suddenly flooded back once more. When that dearly beloved man, lay in hospital four Christmas’s ago and all the trappings of Christmas became irrelevant, the glow issuing from the festive lights everywhere, became synonymous with the love I feel for him. Nothing can turn that into blackness. I have written of this before, but it resonates so strongly with me every Christmas and never more so than now. Being bathed in Christmas light opens the floodgates to all the love I have ever felt, and I cannot conceive of it being extinguished. Light offers hope to the lost and right now we must steal ourselves to keep focused on the chink of it ahead, the tiniest sliver and we are saved.

The Christmas story, whatever you may believe, is filled with the revelation of light replacing darkness. A young, expectant girl is forced to journey away from family to a destination in the dark; a shelter for animals. But instead of the dark which must have nearly overpowered her, we hear of startling fireworks in the night sky: a star leading that night’s visitors to the stable, heavenly angels ablaze with blinding light. Then a gentler glow, Joseph swinging a protective lantern over his wife. And a baby. The quintessential light.

18 The light which radiated from her baby became the beacon she would fix her eyes on always, enabling her to be an ordinary mother in every extraordinary event that followed. Likewise, when the cracks appear in the road ahead, we are best placed to tread one foot carefully at a time; stepping out in mindful ordinariness until the road is more easily negotiated. The lantern of all the love we feel, whether near or far, leading us safely through.

On Britany holidays, Dad used to urge us to step into the balmy night to search for glow worms. The glow worm unlit is a dull bug, unobservable in the darkest hedge; but its fluorescent, iridescent light will dissolve darkness with a sudden spark, when we least expect it. When a collective darkness threatens to envelop us, we need to track down those sparks so that they can catch, take hold and the fire within can blaze. We do not have to go searching far for the sparks, like the glow worm, they are always there inside us, just waiting to ignite.

This Christmas, more than ever, we need to find the strength to focus on that light so that we don’t get distracted by darkness. Christmas will happen in the way it will happen, whatever we would like it to be. If we concentrate on the light it brings, we will be led to safety. Even if this year we are left with a smaller gathering, there will still be a flame burning with the same intensity of love which brings everyone, that holds a place in our hearts, right there beside us. Shutting the door on Christmas will only shut out the light, so I am keeping mine firmly open. I am planning to do what I always do. I am focusing on working towards the light. Planning has commenced with military precision, immersing myself and my youngest ‘Who’ into the season’s preparations. I intend to be the greatest ‘Who’ I have ever been. I have already introduced her to a new craft; ‘Christmas Pom-Pom making’ as I have decided that we will have a ‘Pom-Pom’ Christmas! These woollen balls are so easy to make, even I can produce them. After many tears and reckless sword fights trying to control knitting needles with little success, they are relatively stress free! Even if we never succeed in making the amazing Pom-Pom trees and snowmen that we plan to undertake; I will at least keep my mind out of dark corners, even if my house is sprouting bits of coloured wool everywhere!

But at the end of the day, even if Christmas is different this year, it can never be stopped. The Grinch found this out the hard way. When he had stolen every last bit of Christmas from Whoville the Grinch sat back in glee to hear their silent pain. Just when he thought he had vacuumed the joy out of their Christmas; the air filled with the growing strains of voices singing with joy; nothing could suppress Christmas in Whoville. Then the Grinch finally understood that Christmas was more than all the trappings. It was only ever about love. The intangible love of that baby, the intangible love of each other. His heart was then filled with light.

Now of course I hear you say; the ‘Who’s’ still had each other. They could hold hands (with not a drop of cloying anti-bacterial gel in sight), stand close and sing without being fined! But the meaning remains the same; when everything they ordinarily relied on to make their Christmas complete was removed, the ‘Who’s’ had to dig deep and do something extraordinary. Celebrate an emptiness that turned out to be filled with love.

As our Christmas dawns this year, if we each focus on harnessing as much light as we can muster, then each tiny little speck will converge and radiate out like the song of the Who’s, and we will feel the glow together. When we pull back the curtains on Christmas morning, the glow it emits will create a display to equal that of the elusive Northern lights sweeping across a world overspread with white. Lisa Hatherell Home extensionS AND complete garden renovations

renovation works Stone & Brickwork Driveways & Patios Fencing & Decking Lawns & Artificial grass

CLIENT: DRAFT REF: DESIGNER/ARTWORKER: SODBURY LANDSCAPING 01 KLAUDIA

PROJECT: DATE: TO DISCUSS THIS VISUAL MAGAZINE ADVERT 25.07.19 PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected] Home extensionS AND complete garden renovations

renovation works Stone & Brickwork Driveways & Patios Fencing & Decking Lawns & Artificial grass

CLIENT: DRAFT REF: DESIGNER/ARTWORKER: SODBURY LANDSCAPING 01 KLAUDIA

PROJECT: DATE: TO DISCUSS THIS VISUAL MAGAZINE ADVERT 25.07.19 PLEASE EMAIL: [email protected] ASHES TO ASH Iron Acton is suffering drastic changes to its tree-scape? Homo sapiens is not the only species under siege by a new, virulent pathogen. While we suffer ‘lockdown’ in an attempt to control the SARS-CoV-2 virus, our European Ash trees (Fraxinus excelsior) are being subject to ‘lopdown’. This follows the introduction to Britain of a virulent fungus (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) that kills up to 85% of Ash trees. The spores are spread on the wind and readily infect healthy trees. It reached our parish in 2017, five years after its first detection in Britain.

Ash Dieback spreads through the tree, eventually weakening the main structural timber and making it dangerously brittle. The limbs of diseased trees fall without warning, necessitating the felling of diseased trees to protect the public. If left too late they become so weak that they have to be taken down using aerial ‘cherry picker’ platforms, a very expensive process.

Here in Iron Acton Ash trees have often dominated our skyline and it has felt tragic to see them cut down. South Gloucestershire Council has removed Ash along the Bristol Road B4058/B4059 and elsewhere within the parish. It has compensated by planting a mix of other trees, but these will take years to mature. Iron Acton Parish Council which is responsible for the Meadows in Iron Acton Village, amongst other areas, took advice from the Silverback arboricultural consultancy (see Chris Wright’s report attached to planning application P20/13424/TCA on the Southglos website). Based on this it arranged for all the Ash trees in the Meadows to be felled before they became a danger. The usable timber was sectioned and left for parishioners to take away as firewood. Like South Glos, it plans to replant. (See left image, below)

The Parish Council has also sought advice on Chill Wood. The wood is rich in mature Ash trees, which dominate the lower reaches. While young Ash trees often die within a season, mature trees may survive for years. Felling all the Ash in Chill Wood would dramatically alter its appearance and ecology. On the other hand, many of the trees abut paths and could present a danger to walkers. The Parish Council is considering its options. If you have views on this do get in touch with your local Parish Councillor or with the Clerk at [email protected] . For those wondering what to do about garden Ash trees, advice is available on South Gloucestershire Council’s website. The Council recently appointed Neil Gazzard as its dedicated Ash Dieback officer. (See centre image, below)

To end on a note of hope: 40 years ago Elm trees, like Ash, were devastated by a novel fungus. Despite this, a small copse of Elm persists in Chill Wood including one beautiful, tall specimen. Perhaps we’ll find a few individual Ash also survive for future generations to enjoy. (See right image, below) Brian Hackland

07973 759239

Iron Acton based mobile towbar fitter & auto electrical specialist • Mobile service – we come to you! • Competitive prices • Friendly, helpful and highly qualified • Established 25 years • Quality, caring workmanship WE ALSO RE-GAS AIR CONDITIONING – CALL US NOW - WE COME TO YOU We supply and fit an extensive range of brand name towbars including Witter, TowTrust and Westfalia. There are different types of electrical sockets and different tow balls depending on your towing needs, including bike racks. We can give you all the help and advice you need in choosing the towbar that is right for you – with convenient mobile fitting and at a great price. So give us a call today!

YourYour friendly friendly local local suppliers suppliers of: of:

HomeHome Heating Heating Oils Oils RedRed and and White White Diesel Diesel CompanyCompany Fuel Fuel Cards Cards AdblueAdblue & & Lubricants Lubricants

ThomasThomas Silvey Silvey Ltd, Ltd, UnitUnit 5 Badminton5 Badminton Road Road Trading Trading Estate, Estate, Yate Yate, South, South Glos Glos BS37 BS37 5NS 5NS

IRON ACTON PARISH COUNCIL

I hope everyone is managing to avoid catching the COVID19 Virus. Now we are being locked up” again.

Keeping to social distancing guidelines has mean Parish Council Meetings have had to go virtual, via zoom. It’s not ideal, but at least we have managed to carry on. Members of the public can still observe meetings and speak in the public participation slot. But to do that unfortunately, it means you need access to a computer and Internet connection. If you want to take part, you can so long as you have the zoom app. If you email our Clerk she can send you an “invite” to join a meeting.

A bit of news; is that at long last South Glos Council has got around to deciding on the planning application for the field behind Crossing Cottage on Latteridge Road (Travellers accommodation). They have refused the application mainly on the grounds of flood risk. But of course, that is probably not the end of it. The applicant could still appeal.

I am lead to believe that the applicant who want to build 118 properties on what they call Engine Common to the east of Dyers Lane are arguing that they should be given permission because of the “non determination” by South Glos Council. I’m not sure, but I think that means they are arguing that as South Glos have taken so long and even now not decided they get permission by default.

Shortly, South Glos is going to put in a mandatory 20mph speed limit and road humps to slow traffic passing North Road School.

The Parish council is taking advice as to what its management plan should be for Chill Wood. COVID-19 restrictions permitting, we are currently taking remedial action on trees that we are responsible for. For the trees’ health where necessary and if dead perhaps felling for public safety.

Bob Lomas Chairman 1 November 2020

24 St James the Less - Season of Advent

SUNDAY 13th Dec – 4pm Christingle Service SUNDAY 20th DECEMBER 4pm & 6.30pm Christmas Musical Reflection (advanced booking) THURSDAY 24th DECEMBER 4pm Crib Service 11pm Midnight Mass

As the changes from our normal Christmas Service pattern are due to current government ruling the Christingle and Crib Services will be held outside. PLEASE CHECK THE NOTICE BOARD OR WEBSITE THOUGHTS FROM THE RECTORY

As I write, I am looking out across the fields from my study window, with the latest autumnal storm stripping the trees of their golden leaves, and the darkening clouds in the south west guaranteeing still greater levels of precipitation, ensuring that 2020 will be one of the wettest autumns on record. The radio crackles in the distance downstairs with the news that the Germans and the French have gone into Lockdown once more, in an attempt to stem the tide of Covid 19. I am left pondering where the UK will be in its fight to deal with the current wave of infections over the coming days and just exactly what will Christmas 2020 look like.

Normally at this time of year I have Christmas all stitched up, planning of services sorted, programme of school carol concerts in place, rotas all done, resources ordered, with strategic thoughts drifting towards Easter, especially if it is early. However, one thing that this Pandemic has taught me is that forward planning has to be fluid, full of a myriad of options to meet and work with an ever changing and unpredictable future. Daily prayers for the NHS, our schools, the successful development of a vaccine, prayers for those who are suffering as a result of the virus’s impact and the hope that our leaders might find a way to get ahead of the game rather than chasing their tails, these petitions of prayer seem to be the only constant in the shifting sands of dealing with Coronavirus.

To date we are still in Tier 1, but with the infection rate rising quickly even in the South West, as we now face a full national lockdown one wonders what that will mean for our Iron Acton Christmas! Well folks I am always a half glass full person, so I am sure we will find a way to celebrate in safety this special season. So, what do we hope will be in store if we come out of restrictions on 2nd December or even slightly later?

Well we kick off our celebrations with an open-air Christingle Service on December 13th (lets pray for a crisp and frosty evening). I can’t wait to see Jo giving her talk from the preaching cross to all those gathered around, and if the evening breeze means we can’t keep our Christingles alight, then we can always turn on the torch feature of our mobile phones, waving them in the air as the choir of children sing ‘Away in a Manger’.

Sunday the 20th will bring a candle lit service of ‘Reflective Music and Story for Christmas’ with two sittings 4pm and 6.30pm (tickets please!). Also, on this day as a Benefice we will be broadcasting for the first time on our website; ‘Carols in the Barn’ https://www.fromesidechurches.org.uk/ (this will be available to view all over the Christmas period so you can bring the festive message into your homes at any point). Carols in the Medieval Barn at Winterbourne is listed as one of the top 10 things to do at Christmas in the UK and rather than cancel this year we hope to film at the refurbished barn, retelling the story in an imaginative way, punctuated with traditional carols for you to join in with at home.

We are open air again for the ‘Crib Service’ on Christmas Eve, we have just got to find a way of bringing the Posada into St James. Finally, ‘Candle lit Midnight Mass’ in our Ancient Parish Church, as we celebrate once more the Incarnation afresh, it would be so lovely to return to our homes with the snow gently falling to the ground and Christmas lights shinning from village cottages, dancing their hypnotic patterns on the pure white snow lying all around, like the icing on a beautiful Christmas cake. Well that’s the plan anyway!!!

In whatever way we are able to celebrate Christmas, however much of our plan we are able to deliver (sadly I can’t promise the snow but I will put in a word), the one thing that cannot be taken from us and perhaps is more poignant this year than ever, is that Christmas is the celebration of Love; and not just for our family and friends important though that is.

Christmas is about a ‘Love’ that permeates through our human family in the way that we care for those who are struggling, those who have little, those who are on the margins, those who are alone, anxious and afraid. It is about responding to the eternal truth that God Loves his creation so much that he sent and gave up his Son Jesus Christ that all humanity might be enveloped in his love for all time.

Without this all-embracing love we lose Christmas anyway, and if there is one positive that has come from this pandemic it is to have witnessed the ‘Rashford-esk’ actions of love, undertaken by so many ordinary people, to meet the growing needs of the vulnerable and marginalised in our communities. The truth is ‘Love is all around us’ and whatever happens visa vi national restrictions, we can rejoice once more this year that the ‘Spirit of Christmas’ does truly thrive in all our hearts and lives.

Christmas Blessings and a Happy New Year to you and all whom you love

Revd Malcolm Strange Rector of the Fromeside Benefice

IRON ACTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTEI

Sadly, our optimism for a little more normality this autumn and winter has not paid off. Existing rules already meant we were unable to hold our annual birthday meal and although the new lockdown officially ends on the 2nd December, the Christmas party will also not take place. The committee members have agreed to remain in office until at least next spring when the situation can be reviewed and have continued to meet monthly to discuss ongoing matters. The group continues to receive updates and the newsletter from Avon News via e-mail thanks to Maureen taking on this task.

There have been some positives to be proud of, in particular the contribution we made to Mary Townsend's afternoon tea party in aid of St Peter's Hospice. Members made cakes and attended the event in Mary's beautiful garden. A sum of £300 was raised which was a credit to Mary, her family and everyone who contributed.

We have continued to collect food for the Yate food bank over the summer and recently received a thank you from the manager informing us that from the beginning of the March lockdown we had contributed over 300 kilos of food. In the current climate this vital service is still much needed and continued support is appreciated.

The knitters in the group began making hats for fishermen early in lockdown, although some of us eased off when the temperatures soared and woolly hats seemed very inappropriate. However, the time came when they were needed and Jenny sent off in excess of 15 brightly coloured 'titfers' which will no doubt be appreciated this winter by our stoic fishermen.

Unfortunately, we received some very sad news In September when we were informed that our fellow member and friend, Pat Davies, had died. Pat was an ex domestic science teacher and made a huge contribution to our meetings and celebrations with her wonderful cakes and biscuits. She also raised money for Children in Need by selling her Pudsey Bear biscuits and cuttings from plants she had propagated in her much loved garden. Two members were able to attend her funeral at Westerleigh and others joined in the service on-line. You will be much missed, Pat. Rest in peace.

IRON ACTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE (Cont’d)

Like all the other groups in the village, we very much hope that next year will bring an improvement in circumstances when we can once again enjoy our usual pursuits and friendships and hopefully welcome new members. Our Secretary, Bridget, would be happy to answer any questions from would be members and can be reached on 321741.

Sylvie Powell

IRON ACTON FILM CLUB

When I wrote in September the Film Club was still assessing various ways of running Film Club safely for our members and volunteers. Unfortunately, events overtook us when Boris announced the “Rule of 6” preventing us from gathering in large enough numbers to run Film Club. However, we remain hopeful that there will be an opportunity to restart before the end of the 2020-2021 season and we will assess the situation regularly.

As the nights draw in the idea of watching a good movie with a glass of wine and friends seems very appealing, if somewhat distant. But rest assured we will be back as soon as circumstances permit. We would like to wish all our members and supporters the very best during these difficult times.

If you were not a member last year but would like to be kept in touch with latest developments please contact myself at [email protected] or phone either of the numbers below.

Stay safe everyone.

Simon Cross Caroline Haselhan 01454 228291 01454 228791

28 THE POST LOCKDOWN LOWDOWN

As I write this we are still in the grips of the pandemic. Nothing has returned to normal yet. In fact, as you read this we may be in another lockdown!

Even though Mum and Dad cancelled our trip to France (we were going to Normandy as my topic at school had been World War II) I still had a good summer mainly as it saw the end of home schooling!

We ‘Ate Out to Help Out’ doing our bit for the local pub but always sitting outside even in the wind and rain.

Each Friday I met up with some school friends via Zoom to play games – bingo, scavenger hunts, a quiz etc… Then when restrictions were relaxed we all met up in the Parish Meadows on a Saturday morning for tennis, basketball and football and then spent time tearing up and down the High Street on our bicycles.

September saw the biggest changes - a return to school (boo) and a return to football (hooray).

We are not venturing out to go shopping. Unfortunately you cannot get school uniform with the Iron Acton logo on online so Mum has squeezed me into my uniform from last year which feels a little tight, probably something to do with the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ Scheme.

School is a little different and we have a set of new rules now. The best thing is that year 6 pupils have been encouraged to walk to and from school on their own. I love this. No more embarrassment of Mum kissing me in the playground. The second best thing is that Mum has finally agreed to me having packed lunches now that she works from home more. There’s now a one way system walking up the driveway to get into school and coming down the footpath to come out of school. We do not mix with other year groups which means staggering playtimes and dinner times. We can only come together but very spaced out in the school field for collective worship and we are having a talent show. We had a Harvest Festival celebration in the church but without an audience. I have done my cycling proficiency test at school and passed despite the examiner calling me ‘Mr Cut Corner’.

Parents’ evening is coming up and is being done by video link this time. It will again be headphones on in another room for me and ask Alexa if I want anything that evening!

I am going to secondary school next September. Most open evenings have been online but I have managed to visit two local schools and my choices have been made.

I play football for Frampton Rangers Under 11’s. Football training and matches have resumed which has helped make my school uniform a little more comfortable. We are not allowed to shake the hands of other players but instead do some sort of awkward elbow bump. Parents have to socially distance on the side lines.

Things are far from normal – two more holidays due before the end of the year cancelled, Mum and Dad’s 50th birthday party cancelled, no return of cubs yet, no trick or treating for Hallowe’en, no Bonfire Night and a very real risk that the naughty elf will not be allowed to return this Christmas and, like the Easter Bunny, Father Christmas will be self-isolating.

By Theo Foote, aged 10

HISTORY PROJECT Since the last magazine Dee has done an amazing amount of work transcribing a number of long interviews undertaken by Rose White, Wendy Dowding and Brian Hackland. So we have nearly over 11 hours of interviews (seven interviewees) and 24 people have provided information. In addition to the very time-consuming process of transcription Dee has also found the time to re-organise Patricia Alcock' s research files which came to us having been rejected by Yate History Centre. Disorganised is not the word!

We are still looking for people to interview and are trying to obtain documents and photos locally and from archives but Covid is, yet again, getting in the way. Could it be time for Zoom to be used for oral history?! On the plus side it does give us time to take stock of the information we have and begin to pull it all together."

Tim Grubb

CHRISTMAS WINDOWS 2020

The Christmas Windows Trail will start on Saturday December 12th and finish on Sunday December 20th. It is rumoured that as 2020 has been a gloomy year, a group of elves may persuade the Big Man, in a red suit and with a white beard, to visit Iron Acton to open the trail. The Chief Elf will advise him, after taking note of the Covid 19 restrictions on that day and the weather. He will also need a promise from everyone that they will not try to get near them or the Big Man himself, but will watch from the safety of your front door or some other prearranged place off the road. It is very important that they are kept at a safe distance as they would not want to have to go into social isolation and miss being able to work on Christmas Eve. If the Chief Elf says he may, then he will leave The Lamb at 5.00 on Saturday 12th going first to Chilwood Close, then along the High Street and around The Green. After that the Trail will be open. This year it will cover the whole village. Answer sheets will have been put through letterboxes in the village, hopefully copies will be on the website and available at other places, please see posters for details. The prize for the most correct answers will be a £20.00 voucher towards a meal at The Lamb. There will be runners up prizes too. Prizes will also be given for “most liked” window and other categories as detailed on the leaflet put through doors in November. Please join us in this piece of Christmas Cheer but do adhere to all the current Government Guidelines.

Small & friendly family run business Luxury accommodation

All breeds welcome

Inspections welcome by appointment For more info call: 01454 228374

Elm Farm, Bristol Road, Iron Acton, Bristol, BS37 9TF www.elm-farm.net

Share and Prayer-‐ Join local friends to pray for and bless your local community

Plan B! We will be meeting together via Zoom, please contact us

and we will send you , the link Sat 14th Nov 20 + 16th Jan 9.30 21, -‐10.30am

@ Fairview Cottage, 1 Fairview Terrace, Iron Acton

If you would like us to pray for you or you would like more details

please contact Pete and Chris Bellis 01454 228065

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES OF IRON ACTON

The Covid19 situation has seen everyone in the village pulling together to make sure people have what they need. In the past, before the NHS and other modern ‘safety-nets’, and in addition to family and friends, individuals could fall back on a number of philanthropic societies and fraternal organisations that existed to raise money and provide charitable support. Here is a description of some of those that existed in village in the 1880s and beyond.

On Monday 19th June 1882 the village was ‘all alive’ ready for the Druids’ Festival organised by the Loyal “Pride of Acton” Lodge of the Ancient Order of Druids. This group was part of the senior druidic order in the world established in 1781 in London with the motto 'Justice, Philanthropy and Brotherly Love'. The Pride of Acton Lodge was formed in 1880 with 14 members and, by 1892, had 40 ‘young and healthy’ male members and a juvenile branch.

On this day, “the members….met at the Lamb Inn in the morning, and, headed by the banner of the district and the Winterbourne band, formed in procession, and paraded the village and neighbourhood, calling on the Figure 0 Druids badge principal residents, who gave liberally towards meeting the expenses of the day….They then adjourned to the “Avenue,” a field kindly lent for the occasion by Capt. Lidden, where a great variety of amusements was provided. The band was in attendance and dancing was kept up with great spirit until late in the evening.” (Bristol Mercury 21 June 1882.)

In 1883 the Druids had another meeting and it was announced that the income for the year had been nearly £50 (£6,119 in 2020) and the expenditure for sickness etc had been £23 (£2,815). In 1887 a church parade for the societies of the village and neighbourhood started at the British School in Yate and went, by way of Rangeworthy, to Iron Acton Church for a special service. The parade raised £5 15s 7d for the Bristol Infirmary.

Seven years later, on 9th September 1894, another church parade, organised by a committee chaired by the Reverend GR Browne of Iron Acton, drew together the friendly societies first time since 1887. Again, they marched to Iron Acton Church for a special service carrying collection boxes along the route and, with the offertory in the service, raised £7 (£915 in 2020) for Bristol Royal Infirmary and the Weston-Super-Mare Sanatorium.

In addition to the Order of Druids, The Western Daily Press for the 11th September lists a surprising number of other organisations and societies who took part.

One that has been mentioned before in this magazine is the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes or RAOB. This Order remains one of the largest fraternal organisations in the United Kingdom. It began in London in 1822, drawing its name from a popular song of the time ‘We’ll chase the Buffalo,’ when stage hands and theatre technicians were no longer permitted to attend meetings of the actors’ order known as the ‘City of Lushingtons.’ The 'Sir Douglas Haig Lodge’ of RAOB revived the village horticultural Show in 1929 and instituted a tea for the village children as part of it.

Figure 0 Buffaloes badge

Another of the groups was the Loyal “Acton Court” Lodge of the Ancient order of Shepherds. One of the many 'friendly societies' founded in the early 19th century, the Shepherds were founded in Ashton under Lyne in 1826, and were concerned with the welfare and support of shepherds and their families, particularly in cases of sickness or death. As with most of these bodies, the Order had an underlying Biblical and moral code, emphasising pastoral values and mutuality and while on official business members would carry crooks and wear woollen black-and- white check cloaks fastened with an official brooch. The society survives under the name of the Shepherds' Friendly Figure 3 Shepherds Badge Society.

Also present were members of the “Sir Gerald Codrington” Branch of the Ancient order of Foresters. The Foresters was one of the oldest friendly societies, with its origins in Yorkshire in the 1790s. Unlike many others, the Order survived the slump in friendly society membership after the creation of the National Health Service and still offers financial services and social activities.

Figure 4 Foresters Badge

34 Figure 5 Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds 1886 benefits flyer showing rates & Courtesy ( of http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/evancoll/a/014eva000000000u06439000.html)

The Hearts of Oak Benefit Society was formed in London on 20th June 1842 to protect its members against distress through sickness and named after the navy whose wooden ships

Figure 6 Hearts of Oak Benefit Society advert (courtesy https://www.mediastorehouse.com/lebrecht/ad-‐hearts-‐oak-‐benefit-‐ society-‐7677725.html) protected Britain from invasion. By the 1850's following the passing of the Friendly Societies Act the Society's membership and range of activities expanded rapidly and by 1906, when King Edward VII opened the new Euston Road offices, the Society had around half a million members. The society had a Juvenile Branch (for boys and young men between the ages of one and nineteen) and, following the 1911 Health Insurance Act, was among the first Friendly Societies to admit women members. The society still exists as the Hearts of Oak Friendly Society Limited.

The Iron Acton Branch of the Rational Sick and Burial Association was also represented. The Association was formed in 1888 and at its 10th conference in Swansea in 1898 it changed its name to "The Rational Friendly Society". Then there were 812 branches and 103,641 members - the worth of the association was £325, 441 13s 1d.

The West of England Trade and Provident Society was a trade union representing labourers in parts of England and Wales founded in 1873 by T. M. Kelly. By 1900 it was the second largest union for labourers in the UK (after the National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers) with 25,450 members and 247 branches. In 1935, it still had 35,104 members, but it appears to have collapsed around 1937.

The remaining groups were: The Working Mens’ Conservative Society, the Rangeworthy Branch of the Rational Sick and Burial Association, the “Prince Alfred” Lodge Ancient Order of Shepherds, Frampton Cotterell and, finally, the “Lord Nelson” Lodge of the Loyal Order of Philanthropists, Rangeworthy.

There is very little information on the societies or their activities after 1884. That they remained active is indicated by scattered newspaper reports in later years. Representatives of the Iron Acton Lodge of the Druids were present at the funeral of Mr James Bignell in 1939 and members of the Buffaloes (W Wallbank, G Brown, F Davies and F Thomas) were the pall bearers at the funeral of Mr O. Stiff on 2nd February 1945. However, beyond these reports not much is known about the later activities of any of these Societies.

Come on over and check out all our

Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 4pm Game Farm Latteridge BS37 9TY Tel: 01454 228109