Iron Acton’s Magazine & Web Portal SUMMER 2018

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

DISTRIBUTION. - As always, our thanks go to all the distributors

ARTICLES: - PLEASE, I ask that you note the closing deadline for submission of all articles, which is printed below.

WEBSITE If you would like to add any images or write something on the website, we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact Jon Aries at [email protected].

HORTICULTURAL SHOW The centre of this magazine has an 8 page pull out section. This is your Horticultural Show Schedule, which also has the various entry forms. Please pull out these 8 pages and retain.

APOLOGIES This quarter we have received more articles, posters and photographs than we can publish. It is both good and bad news. Good news because it shows that the magazine has grown in popularity. Bad news, because I have had to leave some items out. I, therefore, offer apologies to our lovely and very talented Lisa Hatherell, who submitted a delightful 4-page article. Lisa’s article will be in the autumn edition. Also to Richard Hunter who sent an update of the “Joint Spatial Plan”, and also to those people who have sent in some beautiful photographs.

FRONT PAGE. I had several, lovely and very appropriate, summer photo’s sent to me by Sally and Gilly, then I was walking my dogs down Station Road, by the stables, when I saw the fantastic painting in the notice board cabinet, which is on the left hand side. The painting is by the children from Iron Acton School and I just had to use it on the front page. Sorry Gilly and Sally and thank you for the images you sent. I will retain them for summer 2019.

The deadline for the autumn edition is 1st August 2018. We really need to have all articles by that date, PLEASE.

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

Printed by Jamprint Design & Printing Ltd. 01249 823950

3

Do you have some spare time on

your hands? Would you like to give something back to the community?

Would you like to drive a minibus or be able to drive your own car to help people? Please call 01454 Do you enjoy meeting new people 228706 for more and being part of a dedicated team? information or any If so you could volunteer for Green advice at all. We Community Travel! look forward to

Why not come in to our office to meet hearing from you. us? Join us for a drink and have a

chat about the different

opportunities we have? Green Community Travel provides safe, affordable and accessible travel for individuals and groups who are unable to use public transport and would otherwise have no other way of getting around. Any voluntary or community group which meets within the South Gloucestershire area can join our Group Travel scheme and make use of our services. We have a Ring and Ride and a Voluntary Car Service, and we also organise Day Trips.

Passengers that are registered with us can call 0845 241 0985 two days before they want to travel to book the bus.

You can use the Ring and Ride Service to go to your local Post Office, shops, hairdressers and many other destinations.

Once registered, the charge for this would be £4.00 (0-5 miles radius) with our Ring and Ride Service with a Diamond Bus Pass. Please contact us for full details of charges. We also offer Regular Bookings for our passengers. (If you do not have a bus pass you can get one from South Glos Council 01454 868686.) The initial registration for a year costs £23.00. Thereafter there is then an annual fee of

£18.00 payable each January. Passengers registering in August can pay half of the fee.

THE ACTONIANS News

email: [email protected]

Follow us on: https://www.facebook.com/Actonians

Our Spring production of Hobson’s Choice is now over and many thanks go to those who came to support us. Our thoughts now turn to our Autumn production of Sinbad; great fun for adults and children. Sinbad runs from Wednesday 28th November to Saturday 1st December – including a matinee performance on the 1st December. Auditions will be held in August.

‘A Little Box of Oblivion’ was entered into this year’s AAD Avon One Act Festival and we were delighted to win the cup for the Best Special Effects for the strobe sequence.

th On Friday 13 July we are holding a Quiz Night including a simple Ploughman’s Supper in Iron Acton Parish Hall. If you would like to enter a team of 6 or just come along and join a team please book through the Actonian’s website or telephone 07807547238. Great cash prize for winning team!

During the summer months we have a regular Wednesday Social Programme and Club Evenings. We are always keen to find new members so whether you are interested in acting or working in the backstage team – why don’t you come along on a Wednesday evening or contact us through our website www.actonians.co.uk. We are a very friendly group.

From left to right: Sarah Godsell, Rob Pardoe and Di Pardoe in A Little Box of Oblivion.

5 J G CARPENTRY

Kitchens – Bathrooms – Extensions – Staircases – Doors Flooring – Carpentry – Renovations - Exteriors

For a fast professionalWWW.JGCARPENTRY.COM service & competitive quotation 01454 851032 or 07738934875 WWW.JGCARPENTRY.COM

COULD YOU BENEFIT FROM INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE?

 SAVINGS AND INVESTMENTS PLANNING  RETIREMENT PLANNING  PROTECTING YOUR LOVED ONES  TAX PLANNING

 MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS

 EQUITY RELEASE

For free initial consultation contact: Mark Curtis Dip FA Office – 01454 222898 Mobile - 07917 390943 Poplar Farm, Yate Road, Iron Acton, Bristol, BS37 9XY [email protected] www.markcurtis-ifa.co.uk

Your Local Financial Adviser, Qualified since 1997 Positive Solutions does not regulate or provide services in respect of tax advice. Please ask your advisor for a separate terms of business

Positive Solutions (Financial Services) Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered as a Limited Company in England and Wales No. 3276760.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate advice on some taxation matters.

Please contact Nicola for a competitive Insurance quotation

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.

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

PHONE BOX UPDATE

Since the spring magazine we have been fund raising and, so far, we are really pleased with the results. On Friday 2nd March we had a “Film Night” in the Parish Hall and showed the film “Phone Booth”. Acton Aid provided the bar. I am sure you will recall that terrible weather we were experiencing over the Thursday, Friday and Saturday with much snow and ice. We were all surprised and delighted when so many Iron Acton stalwarts turned out and joined us and it was a very successful evening. The net result was the grand sum of £521. Many thanks to those who helped on the evening, to Acton Aid for the bar and to those folk who came. We have had a phone box moneybox on the bar of The Lamb Inn and it has collected, so far, £135.50, which exceeds our expectations. Many, many thanks to everyone who has put money into that box. With other donations and money promised from Iron Acton Parish Council, we have reached our initial target of £870. This target is to buy replacement glass, glazing frames, fixing pins etc. and various paint. The work began on Saturday 5th May with several members, of the team, removing the old scratched and discoloured Perspex. They did a brilliant job. The task of rubbing down and removing all the old, and many, layers of paint will be enormous and time consuming but we will get there!! Watch this space.

Pam McCoy [email protected]

FLORAL GROUP – IRON ACTON

Despite the inclement weather and the best endeavours of the local badger population, we have had reasonable success with our wild flower planting at Frampton End Road and Station Road, and the flowers will hopefully be even more prolific next year. Later this year, we will be looking at other areas of the Parish where we could enhance the wild flowers in the area. Anyone who would like to join our group, or has a particular area that they would like us to consider, please contact John Wright on [email protected].

Your friendly local suppliers of:

Home Heating Oils Red and White Diesel Company Fuel Cards Adblue & Lubricants

Thomas Silvey Ltd, Unit 5 Badminton Road Trading Estate, Yate, South Glos BS37 5NS

FLORAL GROUP – IRON ACTON

Despite the inclement weather and the best endeavours of the local badger population, we have had reasonable success with our wild flower planting at Frampton End Road and Station Andrew Tillotson Road, and the flowers will hopefully be even more prolific next year. Later this year, we will be looking at other areas of the Parish where we could enhance the wild flowers in the area. Anyone who would like to join our group, or has a particular area that they would like us to consider, please contact John Wright on [email protected]. Oil Boiler, Aga and Rayburn,

Servicing and Repairs

covering South Gloucestershire and West Wiltshire

m: 07830 211400 e: [email protected] IRON ACTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE Our speaker in February was Reg King and his unusual topic was the history of rolling pins. He had an unbelievable collection of around 520 including those made of slate, marble, glass, wood, ceramic, Tupperware and silicone rubber. His oldest dated from 1843. Reg ended his often amusing talk with a poem “Ode to Rolling Pins.” Fashion Through the Ages was a fascinating evening courtesy of Jonquil Brooks, who brought along many dresses and outfits dating from as early as 1850. She also had accessories including a charming 1815 purse and an 1845 beaded bag. Her collection included fashion up to the 1960s and 70s which of course we could all remember wearing (for better or for worse)! Ruth Baker-Walton spoke of her many years of safari travel in the African continent. She concentrated mainly on Kenya and illustrated the wildlife she had seen with not only photographs, but her own paintings. Ruth had been able to pursue her passion for art after bringing up her family. She brought along many examples of her beautiful work and members had the opportunity to purchase these as well as greetings cards illustrating her paintings. Our skittles success came to an end in April, having won through to the third round for the first time. Our nemesis was Old Sodbury WI with whom we played a good natured game at The Wheatsheaf in Thornbury. Several members attended Rangeworthy WI Group Meeting in Rangeworthy Village Hall and were treated to a lovely tea of sandwiches and cakes and well entertained by the Frampton Shantymen. We're looking forward to a successful May Day this year especially as the weather at present is looking pretty good and to the Sheppy's Cider Tour in Taunton for our July outing. We welcome new members and if you are interested in joining us, please contact our Secretary, Bridget, on 321741. We meet in the Parish Hall on the second Monday of the month at 7.30pm.

Sylvie Powell 07973 759239

Iron Acton based mobile towbar fitter and auto electrical specialist • Mobile service – we come to you! • Competitive prices • Friendly, helpful and highly qualified • Established 25 years • Quality, caring workmanship

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!

MURRAYMURRAY HIREHIRE FAMILYFAMILY RUNRUN BUSINESSBUSINESS DIYDIY && TRADETRADE WELCOMEWELCOME ® ll SmallSmall ToolTool HireHire && SalesSales ll SafetySafety WearWear && EquipmentEquipment ll SkipSkip LoadersLoaders ll FloorFloor && EdgingEdging SandersSanders ll HorticulturalHorticultural EquipmentEquipment ll Chainsaws,Chainsaws, HedgeHedge TrimmersTrimmers && BrushBrush CuttersCutters l l l Main Agents, Sales l Mowers,Mowers, Shredders,Shredders, Blowers,Blowers, PressurePressure WashersWashers l MicroMicro DiggersDiggers EtcEtc l Ladders,Ladders, TowersTowers Main Agents, Sales Spares & Repairs ll MaterialMaterial HandlingHandling LiftsLifts ll ScissorScissor && TelescopicTelescopic LiftsLifts ll MixersMixers && BreakersBreakers ll CarpetCarpet CleanersCleaners Spares & Repair ll ChristmasChristmas DecorationDecoration SalesSales FromFrom NovemberNovember ll CatalogueCatalogue AvailableAvailable

ThwaitesThwaites 11 tonnetonne DumperDumper ll ReachReach NewNew HeightsHeights WithWith OurOur NiftyNifty LiftLift 170170 ll TrackedTracked NiftyNifty LiftLift 1 l JensenJensen TowableTowable 771//22”” WoodchipperWoodchipper l BobcatBobcat SkidsteerSkidsteer S70S70

1ST1ST CLASSCLASS DELIVERYDELIVERY && COLLECTIONCOLLECTION SERVICESERVICE AVAILABLEAVAILABLE SHOPSHOP LOCALLYLOCALLY OPENOPEN MON-FRI MON-FRI 7.30AM 7.30AM TO TO 5.30PM 5.30PM SAT SAT 8.00AM 8.00AM TO TO 1.00PM 1PM ESTABLISHEDESTABLISHED SINCESINCE 19821982 IfIf YouYou NeedNeed ItIt We’veWe’ve ProbablyProbably GotGot ItIt HappyHappy ToTo BeBe OfOf GoodGood ServiceService ToTo YouYou 0145401454 310606310606 Email:Email: [email protected]@btconnect.com ArmstrongArmstrong Way,Way, GreatGreat WesternWestern BusinessBusiness Park,Park, YateYate BS37BS37 7NG7NG www.murrayhirecentres.comwww.murryhirecentres.com

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

Written by Shakespeare in his later years, The Winter’s Tale is an intriguing mix of drama and comedy. Sparked by an obsessive envy of a perceived relationship between his THE WINTER’S Queen and his oldest friend, Leontes, King of Sicilia, sets in By William TALE Shakespeare motion a train of events which affect two kingdoms and two generations; there is jealousy and joy, revenge and romance, loss and discovery, th remorse and revelry, and an 17 visit to amazing revelation. Tremendous Gate Farmhouse, Itchington, entertainment for a summer BS35 3TA afternoon from this premier Sunday 17 June 2018 at 14.30 professional all-male company. Garden open for picnics at 12.00 Open air performance, bring rugs/low back chairs Booking: 01454 413318, or www.crbo.co.uk/winterstale or Thornbury Garden Shop ,

Combat Stress is the UK's leading mental health charity for veterans, providing free specialist clinical treatment and welfare support to ex-servicemen and women across the UK with mental health conditions. We have 6,000 veterans registered with us.

We treat conditions including Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. We provide a range of free services including short-stay clinical treatment, a specialist PTSD Intensive Treatment Programme, Occupational Therapy, Community support and a free 24- hour Helpline.

On average it takes 12 years from Service discharge for veterans to contact Combat Stress for help, by which time their condition is often highly complex. For more information visit our website combatstress.org.uk or call our 24-hour Helpline on 0800 138 1619

NORTH ROAD COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

On this, and the following 3 pages, are some lovely poems written by the school children. We are always delighted to receive and publish any literary works from the children of this Parish. Please keep sending them to us.

Midnight

The night is like a dark silent room, waiting for the lights to turn on.

Black cats walking alone on the streets, through the hedges, and in people’s gardens.

The wind is as thin as dust, whistling it’s way through the darkness, Finding its way to safety.

As the sun comes up it scares away the night Back into its hide out for a couple of hours.

By Sophia Pavlou (North Road Community School)

13 Frost and Fire

Fire roaring into the sky, Spitting, Sizzling, Spitting. Smoke billowing into the , night Floating upwards, Upwards, Into the starry . sky It starts fading, Fading, Fading, It starts fading . away Frost creeping through the clearing, Frozen, Frozen. Everything covered in an , icy coat So cold, So icy. The flames are frozen, Dying, Dying, Gone. Now a pile of ashes, Lay where it . once was By Eve Jenkins (North Road Community School) Shadows

Shadows creep , round Every corner, Hiding, Hiding, Hunting, Hunting. Lurking in the dark streets, Down narrow allies, Waiting, Waiting, Watching, Watching. There, always behind you, Always unknown. Like a panther, Stalking through the darkness. Always moving, Never stopping. Always by your side, Whether you like it or not.

By Eve Jenkins (North Road Community School)

THE FLAME The night was k dar like a devastating black , hole It was silent there was no one to be seen.

The trees were skyscrapers touching the By Jayden Lovell puffy fluffy white , clouds North Road Community The wind whistling School through the . night

The night is creepy, but you must face your

fears,

fears,

fears

When the flame es ris everything will be just fine.

IRON ACTON COMMUNITY CHOIR

We are now well on the way with our preparations for The 2018 Proms in the Meadow (July 7th 2018) and are busily rehearsing for a couple of Movie medleys and a Sound of Music extravaganza with the Bristol Millenium Orchestra all to go with the Proms in the Meadow theme this year which is “Music from the Movies”. It should be a wonderful event and tickets are sure to sell well, so get your request in early and benefit from the early bird ticket price. We love singing at the Proms and are anticipating another fantastic evening of music and singing for all the community here in Iron Acton.

The energy and enthusiasm members bring to rehearsals in the Village Hall 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 in harmony with each other. 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 40 members in total. We meet on a Tuesday evening in the Village Hall normally at 20.30 hrs and we now 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, Tenors and Basses. 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 and see what you think.

Rob Pardoe

17 IRON ACTON PRIMARY SCHOOL NEWS

Since the last edition of Local Poyntz, we have received a visit from Ofsted. This was an incredibly positive experience, giving us the opportunity to share how great a place Iron Acton Primary School is – you may have even seen us in the local newspaper! The inspection recognised and celebrated all of the fantastic progress the school has made in many areas since the last inspection in January 2014. There was special mention of the improvement in maths as well as standards at Key Stage 1 and progress across Key Stage 2. I am so grateful to all of the staff, parents, governors and children for all they do to make our school such a fantastic place. Well done to all! Not long before this we had our church schools (SIAMS) inspection too, which again was a very positive experience. The inspector was pleased with the standard of education we provide as a church school and noted that we provide excellent opportunities for child leadership and recognised the strong relationships we have with our community. It is great to get this recognition from both Ofsted and SIAMS and we are pleased to be pressing on into the summer term knowing what our next steps are as a school. Just a few weeks ago, we were pleased to celebrate and share the Easter story at our church service at the end of March. The children did a wonderful job at acting out the story and sharing some songs, prayers and poems all about Easter. It was good to see that they had learnt a lot about this important time of the year. Over the coming months we will be carrying out our annual government tests for children in Years 1 (age 5-6), Year 2 (age 6-7) and Year 6 (age 10-11). We will also focus on looking after our mental health during our annual health week in June as well as going on many trips and visits to local places and beyond as part of our curriculum enrichment which aims at providing the children with a lifelong love of learning. In September we will be welcoming 15 new families to the school and they will begin their transition to primary school very soon.

Thank you all for your support of the school.

Mike Riches Headteacher

FRONT PAGE

The front page is a photograph of the painting in the notice board cabinet, which is on the right hand side of Station Road, past Algars Manor/Algars Mill, going out of the village. This, incredible, painting was done by the children of Iron Acton School with no contribution from any adult. It was the brainchild of Sarah Bagnall, teacher, who supervised the project. Full credit to her and the children. Mike Riches put the painting in the cabinet on the morning of May Day and I noticed it the following day. I knew, immediately, that I had to get a photograph of it for the front page of this magazine. Do, please, take a few minutes to walk there and view it. I promise that you will be as amazed as I was.

Pam McCoy

18 FRIENDS OF IRON ACTON SCHOOL

Since the last magazine came out we have had a change of Chair. We would like to thank Zia Clarke for all her hard work and dedication leading the Friends over the past 2 years. She has handed over the reins (sorry: couldn’t resist!) to Adam Reign! Many thanks to Adam for stepping forward to take on this role. In April we provided teas at Algars Manor for the Manor and Mill Garden Open Day and despite a rather cold and wet day we raised over £350 for the school. Our thanks to all those who made cakes and served on the day, and came and ate them! We also had a successful and fun Quiz night in April. Karen Parker and Nicola Webber were our excellent Quiz masters. Who will ever forget the physical round grappling with that tent!? May Day is coming up as we go to press and the weather forecast apps are starting to be checked. What kind of day will we have this year? Whatever the weather the Tombola should be well stocked and we all look forward to seeing the children going around the Maypole. On Friday 15th June the school will hold its annual Sports Day. We will follow this directly after with our Summer Fair event, with BBQ, fun games and stalls for all the family. We will be joined by representatives from the Church, providing refreshments. We have enjoyed working more closely with the Church at the Christmas Fair so this is another good chance to link school and village. Everyone is welcome to join us at the Fair. On 14th July we will host the annual leavers Prom Disco celebrating Year 6 moving on and then we’ll be looking ahead to the new school year. We were delighted to hear that this year the school was over-subscribed and have been able to offer 15 places for new Reception children. We will look forward to welcoming them and their parents to our great school in September.

Sonya Grubb Friends Committee Member

Share and Prayer Join in with local friends at coffee time Saturday 21st July, 9.30-­‐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

VILLAGE SPRING CLEAN We had a successful litter picking exercise on Saturday 17th March to tidy up the village. In Siberian conditions 7 people collected 17 bags of rubbish...... 9 of them filled with recyclable glass, cans etc. 'Finds' included a good pair of boots, a bag of nappies, at least half a dozen large Smirnoff vodka bottles (someone obviously enjoys a quiet drink while travelling along the old Bristol Road), two Vauxhall wheel covers and several black bags full of well rotted grass cuttings. Five of us covered a little more of the village during the week (for some reason there is a pre- ference for whisky in Nibley Lane as several bottles were found in the ditch). The final tally was 24 sacks, at least half of those containing recyclable items. We failed to include two or three areas due to lack of time, personnel and having to return equipment. However, there is quite a sense of satisfaction to having cleared that much. At last there is increasing concern to discourage the throwing of such items onto roadside verges and open spaces. Perhaps the Spring Clean in future will become lighter and maybe not so cold!

Wendy Dowding & Brian Hackland

20

IRON ACTON K9 CLUB

It seems like we’ve been walking in mud and rain for much too long but hopefully now the days are getting longer and with warmer evenings we can start to enjoy walking in our lovely countryside again.

As I write this, May Day is just around the corner and we are looking forward to some of our dogs and handlers entertaining everyone with skills and tricks in the ring and also completing our fun Dogstacle course in the Meadows to raise money for the Seizure Alert Dogs charity.

Our members have continued to work towards achieving success at various levels of the Kennel Club Good Citizens Scheme. Puppy passes were Laura with Baxter, Lucy with Leo, Dot with Murphy, Sue with Patsy, Patrick with Fletcher, Mary with Oscar and Valentina with Moni. Bronze successes were Celia with Hattie, Peter with Alfie and Marion with Otto. Silver passes were Gemma with Harlo, Laura with Nutmeg, Nicci with Gabriella, Chris with Lolly Stuart with Benson and Chris with Luna. Gold passes were Ann with Daisy and Barbara with Lola. Congratulations everyone – well done, all the hard work paid off. More Silver and Gold assessments are planned over the summer when hopefully the weather will be kinder as many of the exercises are done outside.

The Club class meet on Tuesdays when they enjoy scent work, tricks training, agility and obedience work.

Despite the cold, wet weather our activity members who have been working outside over the winter in the wind and rain and are now looking forward to a lovely warm summer working to improve their skills. A new group of dogs and handlers have just started working on the agility equipment and we look forward to seeing their confidence and enjoyment grow.

We will be holding our Club Show in Iron Acton on Sunday 8th July when we will have Novelty Classes, Agility, Flyball, Gundog dummy retrieve and Haybale scurry competitions and a BBQ. If you would like to come along please ring Sue on 01454 228803 or Karen on 01454 228891 for more details.

There are lots of fun ways for dogs and handlers to learn new skills. If you would like more information about the club please ring Sue or Karen (numbers above) or see our website www.ironactonk9club.co.uk.

Tummy rubs all round.

21 SWEEPSAFE

Chimney Sweeping from just £50

Traditional chimney sweeping, power sweeps, CCTV checks, smoke escape tests Open chimney, wood stoves, solid fuel boilers, Aga/Rayburn etc

Replacement fire bricks, rope seals and glass

Certificates issued for your insurance

CRB/DBS and security vetted Wedding & Event Flowers - Bouquets – Workshops - Gift Vouchers Fully insured Organic Blooms is a Social Enterprise based in Latteridge. We grow beautiful British cut flowers sustainably, without the use of chemicals and we are certified Organic by the Soil Association.

The season has begun so please visit our website for your Bouquet Orders, Plug Plants, Workshops, Gifts and Vouchers.

Check out our new range of gift hampers coming soon

www.organicblooms.co.uk

British Cut Flowers with a difference

Organically Grown – Socially Responsible

Contact us by telephone on 01454 300300 or email us at [email protected]

www.facebook.com/organicblooms www.twitter.com/organicblooms Craig Ogborne 07477 544344

Wedding & Event Flowers - Bouquets – Workshops - Gift Vouchers

Organic Blooms is a Social Enterprise based in Latteridge. We grow beautiful British cut flowers sustainably, without the use of chemicals and we are certified Organic by the Soil Association.

The season has begun so please visit our website for your Bouquet Orders, Plug Plants, Workshops, Gifts and Vouchers.

Check out our new range of gift hampers coming soon

www.organicblooms.co.uk

British Cut Flowers with a difference

Organically Grown – Socially Responsible

Contact us by telephone on 01454 300300 or email us at

[email protected]

www.facebook.com/organicblooms www.twitter.com/organicblooms MAY DAY ON THE GREEN 2018

By the time you read this piece, May Day will have come and gone in hopefully wonderful fashion but, as I write, we are in the final stages of our preparations for this year’s May Day on the Green. Everything is crossed for good weather – I think we deserve some rain free hours this year and we are very much looking forward to seeing it all come together with the usual aplomb and style. Thanks must go to all those who have worked tirelessly to make the event happen – you all know who you are. It could not happen without you. And special thanks must go to ‘The Breeze’, a local band that has kindly offered to perform at the close of day.

If anyone has any feedback on the event do please get in touch so that it can be used to shape and form the next May Day. We welcome thoughts and ideas and very much look forward to organising it all over again in 2019!

With very best wishes,

Annie King

([email protected])

24 MAY DAY ON THE GREEN 2018 IRON ACTON FILM CLUB By the time you read this piece, May Day will have come and gone in hopefully wonderful fashion but, as I write, we are in the final stages of our preparations for this year’s May Day We are currently taking our summer break but we will be returning in October 2018. So look on the Green. Everything is crossed for good weather – I think we deserve some rain free out for details of the forthcoming 2018-2019 season. During the summer months we will be hours this year and we are very much looking forward to seeing it all come together with the contacting our current membership (and anyone who has previously expressed an interest in usual aplomb and style. Thanks must go to all those who have worked tirelessly to make the the Film Club) with details about renewing their membership. event happen – you all know who you are. It could not happen without you. And special thanks must go to ‘The Breeze’, a local band that has kindly offered to perform at the close of Our film club membership votes for the films it would like to see. The voting list for the first 3 day. films of the season is looking very interesting and will include:

If anyone has any feedback on the event do please get in touch so that it can be used to shape and form the next May Day. We welcome thoughts and ideas and very much look Murder on the Orient Express, Darkest Hour, The Greatest Showman, The Post, Blade forward to organising it all over again in 2019! Runner 2049 plus a few others – perhaps including some old favourites!

With very best wishes, If you are not on our mailing list and think these are the sort of films you would be interested in watching and would like to receive details about how to join, please contact either myself or Annie King Simon.

([email protected]) We look forward to seeing our members - new and old - in October.

Simon Cross Caroline Haselhan 01454 228291 01454 228791

IRON ACTON FILM CLUB

A season of 6 films (voted for by the members) October to March at Iron Acton Parish Hall Membership £25 per person for all 6 films New members for 2018/19 season very welcome

For further details please contact Simon 01454 228291 or Caroline 01454 228791

THE SS IRON ACTON

Iron Acton once had a ship named after it and here is her story

The steamship Iron Acton was launched on the 22nd March 1881 having been built by Messrs. Raylton, Dixon & Co., of Middlesbrough, to the order of Messrs. King of Bristol. Fitted with a compound engine, she was an iron steamer, brigantine rigged, 225 feet long, 32 feet wide and weighing 1,110 gross tons. Richard and William King ran a large trading company that had been grown by their father Thomas in the 1790s and owed its fortunes to the African slave trade. Richard and William benefitted from the great increase in the oil trade in the 1830s and they were to be one of the largest importers of palm oil in Britain by the middle of the 19th century. By the 1880s, the firm was under the management of Mervyn King, son of William King and had grown to be- come a major British firm. The palm oil trade had declined by this time and the SS Iron Acton was specially de- signed for the Baltic timber trade.

The Iron Acton’s maiden voyage to the Tyne on the 11th May 1881 was reported in the Cheltenham Chronicle and from then until early 1889 her voyages can be followed in the West- ern Daily Press ‘Shipping Intelligence’ reports. Under Captains Simpson, Wilson and Wilcox the Iron Acton

Figure 0 Cheltenham Chronicle -­‐ 24 May 1881

Figure 0 "SS Iron Acton of Bristol in Full Sail Entering the Bay of Naples 1889" by Luigi Roberto sailed to many destinations including Sulina and Galatz on the Danube, Skutskar,

27 Ljusne and Soderham in Sweden, Archangel, Alexandria, Savona in Italy, Montreal, Quebec, Fredrickstadt and Drammen in Norway, and often Smyrna in Turkey. The trips to Scandinavia, Russia and Canada brought back the timber the ship was built to carry and a typical cargo for King Brothers (from Quebec in 1884) consisted of 86 pieces of pine, 25 of elm, 66 of ash, 42 of sycamore, 25 of oak and 74 pieces of birch timber. When the ship sailed to other ports a much more varied cargo was carried. On the 17th September 1886 the ship delivered (from Smyrna) 420 tons of valonia (acorn cups used in tanning), 3,785 cwt of barley and 5,419 boxes of sultanas for JW Egerton, 136 barrels of olive oil for TG Matthews & Co. and 9,206 boxes of sultanas on order. In addition, the Iron Acton had docked in Lisbon to pick up 71 half- boxes of grapes and 7 half-boxes of tomatoes for Budgett, James, Branth & Co. and an order of 41 half-boxes tomatoes, 18 half-boxes of quinces, 29 half-boxes of grapes and 600 bales and 5 sacks of cork. Other cargoes between 1881 and 1889 included sponges, wine, baskets of pomegranates, preserves, Figure 0 Telegrams sent from the SS Patience sweets, canary seed and emery stone.

On the 29th July the SS Iron Acton sailed from Riga on her last voyage under that name. The ship was purchased by Messrs. Edward Harris & Co. for £11,500 and on the 12th August her name was changed to the SS Patience and she was registered at Middlesbrough. In March 1894 she underwent a refit that included an engine overhaul and new funnel. Two months later she ran aground off Brondsund in Norway whilst under the charge of the pilot but, at the cost of £2,400 to the insurers, she was raised and refitted.

On a voyage from Spain to Stettin with a cargo of 1,250 tons of sulphur Captain William Plank docked at Portland on the 20th December 1894 for coal, water and supplies. That same eve- ning she sailed leaving two telegrams addressed to the owners (see Figure 3) and the follow- ing day Edward Harris received a telegram from the Lloyds signal station at Dover informing him, ‘2.40 p.m. ‘Patience’ passing E., moderate westerly wind, overcast, mist.’ The SS Pa- tience was never seen again.

The Wreck Report stated that from all the witnesses accounts she was well found and main- tained and left Portland with sufficient freeboard for the voyage in hand. It was impossible to say what caused the loss but it was common knowledge that on the next day, one of the most sudden and disastrous storms swept over the North Sea, and the ship may have been over- whelmed before the crew had time to do anything.

Tim Grubb [email protected]

28 The loss of the Patience was strongly felt in Middlesbrough as another ship from the town, the Clutha, had also been lost in the ‘great gale’. Some 31 men were lost on these two vessels and the ships’ owners co- ordinated a fund-raising campaign in support of the bereaved families. Adverts in the Northern Echo on the 8th February asked for donations to this fund to add to the £100 given by each of the owners. This and other donations (including £25 from Sir Raylton Dixon & Co., the builders of the Iron Acton) totaled £479 15s 5d. A fundraising concert in aid of the SS Patience and Clutha Relief Fund was also held on the 18th February 1895 in the New Seamen’s Institute, Middlesbrough adding £3 5s 6d to the total.

th Figure 0 Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough – Friday 18 January 1895

29 So Why the Name Iron Acton?

The obvious question is how did the SS Iron Acton get her name? The ship was built when Messrs. King and Co. were managed by Mervyn Kersteman King (Figure 5). Mervyn was born at Henleaze House, Westbury upon Trym in 1845 and when the ship was launched lived at No.1 Victoria Square, Barton Regis, Clifton where he was recorded as being an ‘African Merchant’ so the connection is not apparent. However, with a little more research it was possible to trace his family and discover the link

His father, William Thomas Poole King, was High Sheriff of Bristol for 1871, Master of the Merchant Venturers Society, a ‘father’ of The Bristol Town Council and took an active part in repelling the mob in the Bristol riots of 1831 arming his men with cutlases and leading them himself. He was born in1806 in St Mary's, Redcliffe and was married to Victoria Mary Louisa (nee Kersteman) King. The link to Iron Acton begins with William because he was buried in Iron Acton in 1887.

A visit to the church reveals why. On the south Figure 0 Mervyn Kersteman King (Society of Mer-­‐ wall there is a large memorial to the King family chant Venturers) commemorating 18 members of the family and the grave is in the eastern part of the churchyard. William was the youngest son of Thomas King (Figure 6) and Sarah Poole. Thomas, although listed as ‘of Bristol’, was the son of Samuel King of The Lodge, Iron Acton.

Samuel seems to have lived in the parish for some time but, fifteen years before he died, The Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazetter for 25th July 1793 records the sale of “All that Mansion-House, Garden, and Offices belonging to it, at Iron Acton aforsaid, now and for many years in the occupation of Mr Samuel King, called the Lodge.”

Where Samuel moved to is unknown but the family link with Iron Acton remained strong enough for family members to be buried in the parish up to 1958 and for one of them to name a ship after the village.

Figure 6 Thomas King -­‐ 1759 1841

Tim Grubb [email protected] ACTON AID REPORT

Plans are well underway for our main fund raiser. Tickets are now available for the Mash and Proms which take place on 6th and 7th July. The Mash features one of the top Queen tribute bands, Flash who will provide a Queen act playing 90 minutes of the band’s favourite songs. They will be supported by Elles Bailey who writes and performs superb soul and blues songs and by Mad Apple Circus playing their unique riotous “Bristone” music.

The Proms this year has the theme of “A night at the movies” so look forward to the Bristol Millennium Orchestra playing themes from Disney, James Bond and many more. The Iron Acton Community Choir, Kathryn Hurley dancers and many more local performers will also be entertaining and the evening cumulates with the orchestra playing Last Night at the Proms with a massive Firework display at the end.

A range of Hot Food will be on sale at both events but festival goers are welcome to bring their own food and picnics.

This year, the Chairman’s charity is Street Life who support the homeless in Bristol by providing hot food, drinks, toiletries and clothing every Saturday night. Acton Court are hosting a special Charity Day on Sunday 24th June to raise funds for this special work. The day includes:

-­‐ Performances by 5 talented acoustic solo artists in Henry’s Music Room -­‐ Special attendance of Henry’s 6 wives in traditional costumes -­‐ Demonstrations and talks by The Hawk and Owl Trust -­‐ Demonstrations and talks on Tudor hunting weapons and food -­‐ Loads of children’s activities including a treasure hunt, mask painting and owl pellet dissection!

Acton Court is one of the finest example of Tudor Mansions in the UK and is very keen to be re-united with the village having been cruelly separated by the Bypass! Tickets are just £10 and can be purchased from the Acton Court Web Site. www.actoncourt.com

Another date for your diary is the Iron Acton Beer Festival which takes place on 8th September in the grounds of the Parish Hall.

Acton Aid are pleased to work closely with the other organisations in this thriving village and if individual parishioners need specific help, please do not hesitate to contact us on a confidential basis.

Richard Hunter

Chairman of Acton Aid

31 Acton Aid Presents 2017 Mash in the Meadows An evening of top quality rock, hip hop, blues and Soul music. headlined by Flash - Top queen tribute band. FRIDAY 6TH JULY 2018 IRON ACTON PARISH MEADOWS, BRISTOL. Buy tickets at www.actonaid.org.uk

A TRIBUTE TO QUEEN Acton Aid Presents PROMS IN THE MEADOWS “A Night at the Movies”

JULY 7 6PM

Sixty piece orchestra playing music from the movies and last night of the Proms

IRON ACTON PARISH MEADOWS, BRISTOL Buy tickets at www.actonaid.org.uk

Church Handbells

We are halfway to our target thanks to the generosity of Acton Aid, Victorian Day, May Day and the WI; all have donated to help us to try to reach our goal of £2000.

Hopefully many of you came and tried your hand at ringing on May Day and heard the performance by our very nervous team of ringers. The poor state of the bells means they are often difficult to make ring and some of them are out of tune, so playing them is quite a challenge!

Our next money raising activity is a Curry and Quiz night on June 9th at the Lamb Inn. .

Tickets are £8, which includes the curry, and are available from members of the team or The Lamb Inn. You are welcome to enter as a team of 6, although we will also make teams up on the night from individual entrants.

This promises to be an evening of great fun with prizes for the winning teams.

On Sunday June 17th at 7.30pm we are putting on a Concert of Light Music in the church. We will not be playing ourselves this time but several groups, including the Iron Acton Community Choir, are giving their time and talents for free. There is no charge for this event but donations would be appreciated. Wine and cake will be available (again, donations appreciated).

,

We ask you to come and support us in these events, or just make a donation, to help preserve this part of the history of our parish. The handbells are booked into the foundry on July 15th and it will take a month for the refurbishment to be completed. Hopefully it will be another 100 years before they need any more work done on them.

35

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

TOP GROOM City & Guilds Qualified Dog Grooming. Elm Farm Boarding Kennels Iron Acton BS37 9TF. Tel. 07708300672 ST JAMES THE LESS CHURCH

Your local Parish Church where you are always welcome.

Hopefully by the time this goes to print we will have had some proper spring weather to enjoy after battling unseasonal snow and ice in March.

I was recently reminded of the vagaries of life on attending the funeral of an old friend and colleague from the Army Cadet Force. Present at this funeral was a very smartly dressed man in REME uniform wearing the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was an ex cadet of ours from some years back and has obviously made good choices in his life. We were also told by another of his fellow ex cadets that he will receive an OBE this week as well as promotion to full Colonel! Another ex-cadet of the same era is currently serving a life sentence for murder. Very few of the people we meet and have any influence over in our lives take such extremely different paths in life but we are constantly reminded of the value of good role models in all our lives and the influence many continue to have even though they may no longer be around in person.

We can only hope and pray that the inherent good in people will overcome the evil and destruction we see around us in the world and our children can grow up in freedom and be surrounded by love and not hate and to take advantage of the good influences in their lives not the bad.

Details of all our services are available on the web site and on the church notice board and follow this pattern:

Sunday: 1st, 3rd and 4th 9.15am Holy Communion. 2nd Sunday 9.30am Family Service. 5th Sunday is a joint Benefice Service at each church in turn at 10.00am. Wednesday 10.30am Holy Communion in Marshall Room to the rear of the church following the left hand footpath.

The Marshall Room is available for hire. Please contact Sally Aries on 01454 228037.

Rector: Rev. Malcom Strange Tel: 01454 775529

Churchwardens: Carol Groom 07890 410540 email [email protected] Di Heal 01454 228498 email [email protected]

Administrator for the church is Kathryn Nichols for any enquiries. Tel. 01454 776518 email [email protected]

A quote from Charles Dickens in Great Expectations;

“Spring is the time of year when it is summer in the sun and winter in the shade”. Just about sums up the last couple of months! INVITATION TO CONTRIBUTE PHOTOGRAPHS TO LOCAL POYNTZ PHOTOGRAPHIC GALLERY

North West Yate development - preserving what we love most, through pictures

The proposed North West Yate development will sweep away the green fields and rural charm of a large part of the east of Iron Acton Parish (between Iron Acton Village and Yate). In case the development goes ahead “Local Poyntz”, Iron Acton’s community website and magazine, has agreed to host a project to record in photographs what we most value in the area. Anyone with a digital camera or smartphone is invited to contribute photographs of what they would most miss. It may be the open views, historic buildings, majestic trees, or water ways that you treasure most; or it may be your home you would mourn, an old stone barn, the kingfishers on the Frome, cowslips, or a slippery green frog.

By building a photographic record of what we most love and cherish, we will be able to show the Joint Spatial Plan inquiry this summer exactly what is under threat. If the planning inspector is unmoved by our arguments, we will be able to go on to use the photographs to press South Gloucestershire Council and developers to preserve what we hold most precious. The new Local Plan process that has already begun and a “master-planning” process will follow. If it goes ahead, once the plan-making process is over there will be years of individual planning applications to influence. Should the worst happen, and our campaign fail at every stage (let’s hope not!), we will at least have record of what was there before it was covered over by roads and buildings.

We would like to have a good selection of pictures available in time for the Joint Spatial Plan inquiry this summer, but please don’t stop there. It would be good to show the area through the seasons and use the photographs for the Local Plan inquiry as well, which is likely to be in Spring 2019.

As long as the definition in the photographs is OK, Local Poyntz will upload them to a gallery on its website and preserve them for posterity. Once they are up you will be able to see them at: www.ironacton.info

Please email your contributions to:

[email protected] and accompany them with details of (a) where and when each was taken, (b) what it shows and, if you like, (c) why you regard it as special. Your photographs will be attributed to you by name unless you make it clear that you would rather they appear anonymously. I look forward to seeing what each of you choose to send.

Please feel free to circulate this invitation to any other local people who may be interested.

Thank you in anticipation.

Kind regards,

Richard Hunter Iron Acton Action Group 38 PHOTO’S SENT IN RESPONSE TO THE INVITATION

These 2, beautiful, photo’s were sent to us and show, firstly the wonderful wildlife, which roam around our countryside. Secondly, one which questions the decision to build houses close to the river Frome.

Photo by Alex Millichamp www.alexmillichamp.com

Photo by Rose White MIDSUMMER CHARITY DAY MUSIC, WILDLIFE AND SOME TUDORS TOO! Sunday 24 June AT ACTON COURT 11am - 7pm

A special event in aid of StreetLife, supporting the homeless in Bristol and The Hawk and Owl Trust, working for wild birds of prey and their habitats. StreetLife is the Acton Aid Chairman’s nominated Charity for 2018.

Live Music WILDLIFE and ...AND SOME displays Tudors!

Ticket numbers are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Advance tickets £10 | £5 for children over 5 from actoncourt.com Information line 01454 228 224 IRON ACTON PARISH COUNCIL MIDSUMMER Local Plan The consultation deadline for the local plan has now closed. Iron Acton has submitted our response and this can be found on the website. Councillor Brian Hackland has put a lot of detailed work into the responses and the Parish Council are very grateful for his knowledge in CHARITY DAY this area and the time he has spent on responses for the JSP and Local Plan.

MUSIC, WILDLIFE AND SOME TUDORS TOO! Chill Woods

Sunday 24 June AT ACTON COURT Further work is has taken place in Chill Wood in conjunction with the 5-year management programme which is going to have a very positive effect on the future health, longevity and 11am - 7pm diversity of the woods. We have been concentrating on removal of the thick under storey of Holly that’s continually suppressing all-natural regeneration of a more varied palate of plant species. The four days will finish the 'central' area that has already been started and the contractor will then push on into the Holly growing on the opposite side of the upper path, a day will also be spent removing the deadwood from the trees overhanging the footpaths as recommended in the management plan.

Parish Councillor Vacancy

Following the resignation of Councillor Peter Bellis - Iron Acton ward - we now have a vacancy to fill this position, please contact the clerk / Councillors or visit the website for further details. Iron Acton Parish Council wish to thank Peter Bellis for what was many years spent as a councillor, chairman and vice chairman for the Parish Council and all the work and time dedicated to Iron Acton.

New Councillor

The Parish Councillor has recently Co-Opted a new councillor for Iron Acton Ward, we welcome Mr Paul Chapman to the Parish Council.

Bridge – Parish Meadows

A special event in aid of StreetLife, supporting the homeless in Bristol and A new bridge has been installed into the parish meadows, this is a new timber construction The Hawk and Owl Trust, working for wild birds of prey and their habitats. and compliments the parish meadows.

StreetLife is the Acton Aid Chairman’s nominated Charity for 2018. The Parish Council relies on the Parishioners of Iron Acton to report any work or issues that needs to be completed or addressed which is the responsibility of the Parish Council. If you Live Music WILDLIFE and ...AND SOME notice anything then please contact your councillors or the Clerk, contact details can be found displays Tudors! on the website so we can ensure this is addressed.

Ticket numbers are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Clerks Contact Details

Advance tickets £10 | £5 for children over 5 Donna Ford, 33 Hatherley, Yate, Bristol, BS374LT from actoncourt.com Tel: 01454 501134 Email: [email protected] Information line 01454 228 224 41

The Store that has more

Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 10am - 4pm Game Farm, Latteridge BS37 9TY Tel: 01454 228109 Website: www.patrickpinker.com