A Glimpse into the Lives of Frenchay Residents
Crisis Centre Ministries Volunteer
Geoff Haskett
Geoff Haskett
The Homelessness Crisis
It's now the season when we take more notice of homeless people. It happened last year with tents in city parks and sadly it will happen again. But whilst we go through this seasonal reminder of people without a roof over their head, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The homelessness crisis in Bristol goes much deeper and affects working people as well. The women's night shelter run by Crisis Centre Ministries (CCM) has among its number, some women with full time jobs but unable to find accommodation. So after a day's work they have to walk the streets waiting for the shelter to open its doors in the evening. CCM currently provides around 600 meals every day and they are not the only organisation providing a meal for the homeless.
It goes without saying that there would be fewer folk on the streets if there were more beds available. But the hostels are full to overflowing and few are moving on because alternative accommodation is hard to find and rents are sky high.
The homeless that we see in town are the visible consequence of a much bigger problem in Bristol. The current economic situation is biting in unexpected ways. The head teacher of a school just down the road from Frenchay, tells of the challenges faced by families where rising house prices mean rents are being increased or houses sold. Some families now face being evicted.
This winter it's hoped to open a temporary winter shelter provided by several churches working together. The aim is to be open an 18 bed facility by the time that the Caring at Christmas shelter closes its doors at the New Year.
Whether we like it or not, until more houses are built and rents begin to reduce this issue won't go away.
It's now the season when we take more notice of homeless people. It happened last year with tents in city parks and sadly it will happen again. But whilst we go through this seasonal reminder of people without a roof over their head, that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The homelessness crisis in Bristol goes much deeper and affects working people as well. The women's night shelter run by Crisis Centre Ministries (CCM) has among its number, some women with full time jobs but unable to find accommodation. So after a day's work they have to walk the streets waiting for the shelter to open its doors in the evening. CCM currently provides around 600 meals every day and they are not the only organisation providing a meal for the homeless.
It goes without saying that there would be fewer folk on the streets if there were more beds available. But the hostels are full to overflowing and few are moving on because alternative accommodation is hard to find and rents are sky high.
The homeless that we see in town are the visible consequence of a much bigger problem in Bristol. The current economic situation is biting in unexpected ways. The head teacher of a school just down the road from Frenchay, tells of the challenges faced by families where rising house prices mean rents are being increased or houses sold. Some families now face being evicted.
This winter it's hoped to open a temporary winter shelter provided by several churches working together. The aim is to be open an 18 bed facility by the time that the Caring at Christmas shelter closes its doors at the New Year.
Whether we like it or not, until more houses are built and rents begin to reduce this issue won't go away.
Prison Visitor
by a Frenchay Resident
by a Frenchay Resident
This is a voluntary role that I have been doing for less than 2 years, but it is rewarding and interesting. I visit once a week and see the same two people on an alternate week basis. My visits take place in the visits hall at a quiet time when the only other visitors are solicitors or similar professionals. This suits me as it is easy to talk in this environment. The prisoners put themselves forward for having a prison visitor. I have not found it difficult to keep the conversation going for an hour. What you talk about is up to you, but the prisoners themselves have quite a lot going on in their lives and depending on the individual there can be quite a lot of common interest.
The role of prison visitor is essentially to be a friendly face from the outside world who is not connected to the system. I am completely independent and am not involved at all in the management of the prisoners. By my choice, the prisoners know me by my first name only and they don’t know where I live or what work I did before retirement. On the other hand, I am happy to chat about my life in general terms but the degree of anonymity creates a space within which I feel comfortable and the prisoners I have met seem to accept this without a problem.
I do not know what the prisoners are “in for” and this obviously creates a sort of comfortable space for them. This also helps me to relate to the person rather than what they did.
Prisoners can apply to be visited by someone like me whether or not they get family visits. Most prisoners are going to be released at some point, so this involvement with an outsider should be some help towards their rehabilitation, but there is no continuing contact once they have left the prison.
I joined the National Association of Official Prison Visitors which is an independent organisation made up entirely of people who do prison visiting. Anyone who is interested will find their website very useful.
The role of prison visitor is essentially to be a friendly face from the outside world who is not connected to the system. I am completely independent and am not involved at all in the management of the prisoners. By my choice, the prisoners know me by my first name only and they don’t know where I live or what work I did before retirement. On the other hand, I am happy to chat about my life in general terms but the degree of anonymity creates a space within which I feel comfortable and the prisoners I have met seem to accept this without a problem.
I do not know what the prisoners are “in for” and this obviously creates a sort of comfortable space for them. This also helps me to relate to the person rather than what they did.
Prisoners can apply to be visited by someone like me whether or not they get family visits. Most prisoners are going to be released at some point, so this involvement with an outsider should be some help towards their rehabilitation, but there is no continuing contact once they have left the prison.
I joined the National Association of Official Prison Visitors which is an independent organisation made up entirely of people who do prison visiting. Anyone who is interested will find their website very useful.
Bob Woodward
The Trail of the Tulip Trees
The Trail of the Tulip Trees
In the mid 1980s, I was about to sell off a couple of building plots in Bellfields Lane, Frenchay. It so happened that the huge tulip tree on one of the plots was one of the two that had been sent by William Penn almost three hundred years before. Unfortunately, it was so badly diseased that there was no option but to fell it.
One is always saddened to have to fell a tree but, in this case, the situation was greatly exacerbated with the tree being a precious item of Frenchay history.
The late John Lucena recorded in his book “A Grand Tour of Frenchay” that “It is reputed that the pair of Tulip Trees situated in Frenchay Lodge were sent by William Penn himself to his parents-in-law, the Callowhills, a Quaker family who acquired Frenchay Lodge in 1706. In 1708 Penn was in dire pecuniary straights and asked his parents in law for help. With other Quakers a loan of £6,800 was raised and the state of Pennsylvania was mortgaged to the Callowhills”.
I must confess that I was extremely unhappy to be the ‘culprit’ for the loss of the tree that had been sent, as a token of gratitude by William Penn, to the Callowhills and the people of Frenchay for their help.
However, amongst those who came to see the tree to check its condition was a lady from The Preservation of Rural England. In our conversation she came up with the brilliant idea of approaching the American Embassy, to ask if it would be possible to have 5-6 tulip tree saplings sent from Pennsylvania to keep the line going.
My initial approach to the American Embassy resulted in a meeting with Turner Oyloe, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, at the American Embassy, in Grosvenor Square, London.
One is always saddened to have to fell a tree but, in this case, the situation was greatly exacerbated with the tree being a precious item of Frenchay history.
The late John Lucena recorded in his book “A Grand Tour of Frenchay” that “It is reputed that the pair of Tulip Trees situated in Frenchay Lodge were sent by William Penn himself to his parents-in-law, the Callowhills, a Quaker family who acquired Frenchay Lodge in 1706. In 1708 Penn was in dire pecuniary straights and asked his parents in law for help. With other Quakers a loan of £6,800 was raised and the state of Pennsylvania was mortgaged to the Callowhills”.
I must confess that I was extremely unhappy to be the ‘culprit’ for the loss of the tree that had been sent, as a token of gratitude by William Penn, to the Callowhills and the people of Frenchay for their help.
However, amongst those who came to see the tree to check its condition was a lady from The Preservation of Rural England. In our conversation she came up with the brilliant idea of approaching the American Embassy, to ask if it would be possible to have 5-6 tulip tree saplings sent from Pennsylvania to keep the line going.
My initial approach to the American Embassy resulted in a meeting with Turner Oyloe, Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, at the American Embassy, in Grosvenor Square, London.
Eventually six saplings arrived from the USA and, on Thursday 27th January 1983, a civic style reception was held here in the village with the Town Cryer from Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, delivering a grand welcome. All the civic dignitaries from the former Northavon District Council attended.
Counselor Turner Oyloe and his wife Sherrie toured Frenchay planting the six trees at selected sites around the village. It was a wonderful day enjoyed by all. The events were recorded and several presentation albums made up. Judith Pike (still living in Malmains Drive) gave us excellent coverage in the Bristol Evening Post!
A family holiday in USA later that year, provided the opportunity to visit Harrisburg to present the Governor with a goblet that had been turned from the tulip tree, together with a presentation album. Further presentations took place at Pennsbury Manor, on the Delaware River, and at the Penn Quakers Meeting House in Pennsylvania.
Quite incredibly, the understandable frustration of the locals, that I was felling an historic tree, was the catalyst for the introduction of six new trees to Frenchay and all from the same part of the world as the original.
Recent tours of the soon to be registered, Voluntary Village Green, have included an explanation about the ‘young’ Tulip Tree which has a commanding position at the front of Frenchay Park House. Happy memories are rekindled seeing the tulip trees that were planted 32 years ago, all due to the warm American response we received to our request for the saplings to keep the line going! The saplings were smaller than we had expected and this is demonstrated by the size of the holes (recorded in the photographs of each planting) we had prepared in the ground to receive them. Happily five of the trees survived and look very well established, although, even with the subsequent 32 years growth, they are dwarfed by the remaining mighty original from the two sent by William Penn.
Following the success of the recent guided tours around the proposed Voluntary Village Green, I am wondering if there might be interest in a tour of the ‘Trail of the Tulip Trees’ for locals to be able to see where our American friends planted the saplings 32 years ago.
I have retained two of the presentation albums that contain the photographs of each planting and these can be available for viewing. In the event that you would like to join a tour, probably on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon in September, please let me know by emailing [email protected], or popping a note through my door (Spruce House, 38 Malmains Drive) stating your preferred dates.
Counselor Turner Oyloe and his wife Sherrie toured Frenchay planting the six trees at selected sites around the village. It was a wonderful day enjoyed by all. The events were recorded and several presentation albums made up. Judith Pike (still living in Malmains Drive) gave us excellent coverage in the Bristol Evening Post!
A family holiday in USA later that year, provided the opportunity to visit Harrisburg to present the Governor with a goblet that had been turned from the tulip tree, together with a presentation album. Further presentations took place at Pennsbury Manor, on the Delaware River, and at the Penn Quakers Meeting House in Pennsylvania.
Quite incredibly, the understandable frustration of the locals, that I was felling an historic tree, was the catalyst for the introduction of six new trees to Frenchay and all from the same part of the world as the original.
Recent tours of the soon to be registered, Voluntary Village Green, have included an explanation about the ‘young’ Tulip Tree which has a commanding position at the front of Frenchay Park House. Happy memories are rekindled seeing the tulip trees that were planted 32 years ago, all due to the warm American response we received to our request for the saplings to keep the line going! The saplings were smaller than we had expected and this is demonstrated by the size of the holes (recorded in the photographs of each planting) we had prepared in the ground to receive them. Happily five of the trees survived and look very well established, although, even with the subsequent 32 years growth, they are dwarfed by the remaining mighty original from the two sent by William Penn.
Following the success of the recent guided tours around the proposed Voluntary Village Green, I am wondering if there might be interest in a tour of the ‘Trail of the Tulip Trees’ for locals to be able to see where our American friends planted the saplings 32 years ago.
I have retained two of the presentation albums that contain the photographs of each planting and these can be available for viewing. In the event that you would like to join a tour, probably on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon in September, please let me know by emailing [email protected], or popping a note through my door (Spruce House, 38 Malmains Drive) stating your preferred dates.
Hazel and flower arranging friends
The Annual Event
Breakfast quickly, don't delay
Must be off, I cannot stay
Why the hurry
And the scurry?
'Tis the village show today!
Baskets filled with this and that,
Furtive glances 'neath the hat!
Scones are made
And plates arrayed
With juicy berries, sweet and fat.
Foliage varied, arranged in a bowl.
Twelve inches around must be your goal!
Accessories none,
Maybe you've won?
Depends upon the judge's soul.
Dessert apples on a plate,
Variety of which you state.
Rosy or yellow?
Sour or mellow?
Kindly judges will debate.
Cooks compete with savoury flan,
Or cheesecake baked in seven inch pan,
Jelly or jam.
Pie made with ham.
If not on the schedule, judges will ban
That Mrs Brown, she always tries
To beat me with her flowers or pies,
Decisions made?
You made the grade ?
Carry home your cup or prize
Another show has been and gone,
Perhaps you lost, or maybe won?
Although it's tough
Sure enough,
Next year there'll be another one
Peter Maggs
Memories of Frenchay
Frenchay brings back many happy memories for me.
All of my father's side of the family lived in Frenchay Village as did my great-grandparents, at 6 Frome Villas along Chapel Lane. According to a wonderfully written piece on the Frenchay Museum Archives, while my great-grandfather was away working on the Severn rail tunnel in 1896, my great-grandmother, Lilian Maggs nee Baber, decided to move into 6 Frome Villas. My great-grandfather, Louis Maggs, was shocked to find his family had moved when he returned home from work!
Lilian's brother, Henry James Baber, had a Bakery in Frenchay Hill. Henry's second wife, Lilian, ran Glenbrook House store not far from Frenchay Hill. So the Maggs/Baber family were well known in Frenchay!
As for my memories of Frenchay, they were of peace and tranquility during my rather "interesting" shall we, childhood.
I was moved as a 5 year-old in 1964, to Begbrook House in Sterncourt Rd from Downend Babies Home. It was a children's nursery in the early 1960's until it closed in the late 1970's. I always called Begbrook House my 'five star hotel' as I was so well looked after by the most caring and compassionate staff I have ever met. I took a particular shine to the matron, Peggy Collette, who cared for me and spoilt me rotten! I still keep in touch with her to this day. It took me 5 years to find her though!
I recently visited Begbrook House and now ironically, it's an elderly nursing home. In the 60's, to the right of the road leading to the entrance, you could see down a very steep bank to a stream. Now there are trees and shrubs all along that bank. It was lovely looking down that bank even at my young age!
I used to attend Sunday School at St John the Baptist Church on Frenchay Common while at Begbrook House. I was amazed to see my name on the church records recently with all the other children! There were two houses at Begbrook. One was built in the 30's the other was built in the early 1960's.
All of my father's side of the family lived in Frenchay Village as did my great-grandparents, at 6 Frome Villas along Chapel Lane. According to a wonderfully written piece on the Frenchay Museum Archives, while my great-grandfather was away working on the Severn rail tunnel in 1896, my great-grandmother, Lilian Maggs nee Baber, decided to move into 6 Frome Villas. My great-grandfather, Louis Maggs, was shocked to find his family had moved when he returned home from work!
Lilian's brother, Henry James Baber, had a Bakery in Frenchay Hill. Henry's second wife, Lilian, ran Glenbrook House store not far from Frenchay Hill. So the Maggs/Baber family were well known in Frenchay!
As for my memories of Frenchay, they were of peace and tranquility during my rather "interesting" shall we, childhood.
I was moved as a 5 year-old in 1964, to Begbrook House in Sterncourt Rd from Downend Babies Home. It was a children's nursery in the early 1960's until it closed in the late 1970's. I always called Begbrook House my 'five star hotel' as I was so well looked after by the most caring and compassionate staff I have ever met. I took a particular shine to the matron, Peggy Collette, who cared for me and spoilt me rotten! I still keep in touch with her to this day. It took me 5 years to find her though!
I recently visited Begbrook House and now ironically, it's an elderly nursing home. In the 60's, to the right of the road leading to the entrance, you could see down a very steep bank to a stream. Now there are trees and shrubs all along that bank. It was lovely looking down that bank even at my young age!
I used to attend Sunday School at St John the Baptist Church on Frenchay Common while at Begbrook House. I was amazed to see my name on the church records recently with all the other children! There were two houses at Begbrook. One was built in the 30's the other was built in the early 1960's.
There was a varied mixture of children living at Begbrook House ranging from children whose parents could not cope with them to a lovely child who had severe cerebral palsy. We were all looked after so well. I remember the atmosphere was calm but of course noisy at times. Having a lot of land, we could all run around to let off steam. I was moved out of Begbrook House in 1968 as I was too old at age 9 to live there and was moved into a "Family Group Home" in St George (another story)!
My father used to take me to see my grandparents in Frome Villas every two weeks. It was the highlight of my life at the time. My grandparents had a lovely garden and so many fields to play in. On my recent visit to Frenchay I was amazed to see the stone stile still there along the footpath by the River Frome. Sadly the land between the river and the footpath is wired off for horses now.
Further along that path on the left there was a gate that led up to some woods and the field was full of cows. In those days children were not scared of cows! My sister and I used to have lovely Sunday tea at Nan's. When, at about 6pm, I heard the "Sing Something Simple" show on the radio, I knew it was time to go back to Mercas Childrens Home until two weeks later when I'd be back to tranquil Frenchay.
I collect postcards of Snuff Mills and Frenchay and have a big collection of both places from the early 1900's. I recently purchased a postcard of Frenchay from Argentina, on a specialist auction website! Frenchay is getting famous, hopefully not too famous!
My father used to take me to see my grandparents in Frome Villas every two weeks. It was the highlight of my life at the time. My grandparents had a lovely garden and so many fields to play in. On my recent visit to Frenchay I was amazed to see the stone stile still there along the footpath by the River Frome. Sadly the land between the river and the footpath is wired off for horses now.
Further along that path on the left there was a gate that led up to some woods and the field was full of cows. In those days children were not scared of cows! My sister and I used to have lovely Sunday tea at Nan's. When, at about 6pm, I heard the "Sing Something Simple" show on the radio, I knew it was time to go back to Mercas Childrens Home until two weeks later when I'd be back to tranquil Frenchay.
I collect postcards of Snuff Mills and Frenchay and have a big collection of both places from the early 1900's. I recently purchased a postcard of Frenchay from Argentina, on a specialist auction website! Frenchay is getting famous, hopefully not too famous!
Ron Thomas
Mountain Rescue
Did you know that you have a Mountain Rescue team in your area? Most people laugh when I mention it, but we have two of the highest inland cliffs in the UK on our doorstep. So if someone gets into trouble on them, they often need a specialised team to help.
Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue team is an emergency service staffed by volunteers. We are on call 24/7, 365 days a year via Avon & Somerset Constabulary.
Originally the team assisted the ASC by undertaking cliff and steep ground rescue, recovery and access in Avon and Cheddar Gorges. Now most of our work is with land search and rescue in areas where the police can’t access (steep ground, quarries large woodlands, water and in bad weather). Most of the time we are helping to find missing people often suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.
We currently have over 80 members, and cover the whole of Avon & Somerset and surrounding areas (over 1800 sq miles). We can also be mobilised in support of other teams nationally, with trained and competent personnel fulfilling technical rope access and
rescue, water margin search, search management and major incident management.
This year we have responded to over forty incidents ranging from locating missing people (including one person in Oldbury Court), working in the floods in Somerset through to helping the police with crime scene investigations.
Like any voluntary organisation we can only deliver our service through donations from members of the public. It costs the team £17,000 a year to keep our four ambulances running, replacing 1,600 feet of rope and making sure our medical equipment is up to date.
So next time you see an ambulance with Mountain Rescue on the side in Frenchay, they are not lost, just on the way to help someone in need.
Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue team is an emergency service staffed by volunteers. We are on call 24/7, 365 days a year via Avon & Somerset Constabulary.
Originally the team assisted the ASC by undertaking cliff and steep ground rescue, recovery and access in Avon and Cheddar Gorges. Now most of our work is with land search and rescue in areas where the police can’t access (steep ground, quarries large woodlands, water and in bad weather). Most of the time we are helping to find missing people often suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.
We currently have over 80 members, and cover the whole of Avon & Somerset and surrounding areas (over 1800 sq miles). We can also be mobilised in support of other teams nationally, with trained and competent personnel fulfilling technical rope access and
rescue, water margin search, search management and major incident management.
This year we have responded to over forty incidents ranging from locating missing people (including one person in Oldbury Court), working in the floods in Somerset through to helping the police with crime scene investigations.
Like any voluntary organisation we can only deliver our service through donations from members of the public. It costs the team £17,000 a year to keep our four ambulances running, replacing 1,600 feet of rope and making sure our medical equipment is up to date.
So next time you see an ambulance with Mountain Rescue on the side in Frenchay, they are not lost, just on the way to help someone in need.
Geoff Haskett
The rise and fall of the Himalayan Balsam
It was a massive task with the aim of pulling down a huge swath of Himalayan Balsam along the River Frome from Hambrook down to Oldbury Court. It involved many small teams each pulling up hundreds of these invasive plants. And it was a race against time before the seed-pods exploded and sent out hundreds more seeds.
We'll have to wait until next year before we can see how effective our teams' efforts have been. What we do know is that some seeds will bear fruit. Then the work will begin again but hopefully on not such a mammoth scale. A similar scheme in Ashton Court realised a 50% reduction of these towering plants in just one year.
Thanks to Neil Green (Avon Invasive Weeds Project Officer) for spearheading the fight. Let me know if you want to have a go next year. It's very easy, although the plants are above your head they have tiny roots which can be pulled out with one hand!
Geoff Haskett email [email protected] phone: 07 939 500 543
We'll have to wait until next year before we can see how effective our teams' efforts have been. What we do know is that some seeds will bear fruit. Then the work will begin again but hopefully on not such a mammoth scale. A similar scheme in Ashton Court realised a 50% reduction of these towering plants in just one year.
Thanks to Neil Green (Avon Invasive Weeds Project Officer) for spearheading the fight. Let me know if you want to have a go next year. It's very easy, although the plants are above your head they have tiny roots which can be pulled out with one hand!
Geoff Haskett email [email protected] phone: 07 939 500 543
Carol and Bob Thorne
Grandparents in waiting
As many of you may know, bob and I have moved to Portugal for a few months in order to help for our soon to be born twin granddaughters. Life in Lisbon takes some getting used to.
Every crossroad seems to have a monumental statue in the centre, a legacy from Salazar. The tagging is almost as bad as in Bristol but there seems to be less litter except for dog droppings everywhere.
The next thing to notice is that many more people smoke in the streets than in Bristol. Restaurants have outside tables and people smoke between courses and often when walking down the street.
Perhaps the most frustrating thing is the change of pace at the supermarket. In Lisbon customers wait until everything has been checked through before starting the packing. Then they wait until everything is packed before paying. This causes quite long delays. As a result, people often put a few things on the conveyor belt to mark their place and then continue with their shopping. Twice in the past week the person in front was absent when their goods came to the front and there was a long wait for them to return. Everyone except me seems to take this in good part.
But hey, the weather is good enough to stroll out at night without a jacket and the fruit, vegetables and wine are wonderful.
Abi Langbridge
Frenchay Church Chorister
I'm Abi Langbridge and I'm a member of Frenchay Church Choir. I go to Colston's Collegiate School in Stapleton and I'm 13. I will be 14 at the end of May, I can't wait! I sing at services most Sundays and when there is sung Evensong I'll sing there too. Being a member of the choir brings a new dimension to the services for me, a whole new level of understanding. Being a choir member also brings responsibility, as the choir lead not just the hymns but the responses too. I started singing in the Junior Choir when I was at Primary School and gained my White Level ribbon, which meant that I could wear a surplice with my robe. I then became a member of the senior choir, where I got my Light blue level ribbon and medal. I was also made Head Chorister! In July last year, I was made a full member of the Adult Choir. Since joining the choir, I have sung at several weddings, and my first funeral, sung my first solo and overall had a great time.
My favourite part of being a Choir member has to be the special performances we do, and the special services. I loved singing the Crucifixion on Good Friday and, of course, the solos that I have done. I enjoy singing the anthems during communion too, especially the Rutters, he's my favourite anthem composer although he doesn't make life easy for Andrew! Some of Rutter's piano parts look very hard to play but when they're put together with the choir the sound is amazing.
There are weekly rehearsals during the school term which can be hard to fit in with my homework and other activities, but I try hard to find time for all of them.
Frenchay Church Choir. I go to Colston's Collegiate School in Stapleton and I'm 13. I will be 14 at the end of May. I can't wait! I sing at services most Sundays and when there is sung Evensong I'll sing there too. Being a member of the choir brings a new dimension to the services for me, a whole new level of understanding. Being a choir member also brings responsibility, as the choir lead not just the hymns but the responses too.
I started singing in the Junior Choir when I was at Primary School and gained my White Level ribbon, which meant that I could wear a surplice with my robe. I then became a member of the senior choir, where I got my Light blue level ribbon and medal. I was also made Head Chorister! In July last year, I was made a full member of the Adult Choir. Since joining the choir, I have sung at several weddings, and my first funeral, sung my first solo and overall had a great time.
My favourite part of being a Choir member has to be the special performances we do, and the special services. I loved singing the Crucifixion on Good Friday and, of course, the solos that I have done. I enjoy singing the anthems during communion too, especially Rutter's. He's my favourite anthem composer although he doesn't make life easy for Andrew! Some of Rutter's piano parts look very hard to play but when they're put together with the choir the sound is amazing.
There are weekly rehearsals during the school term which can be hard to fit in with my homework and other activities, but I try hard to find time for all of them.
Mary Ryan
Novice Ringer
Little did I realise when I dropped into the the Frenchay Parish Church 'Open Tower' afternoon one snowy February afternoon in 2012, that two years later I would dare to call myself a ringer, albeit still a novice one!
I had often heard the bells ringing out over Frenchay Common for Sunday services and on Monday practice nights. However, like most residents, I probably took them for granted and didn't give much thought to what went on in the bell tower.
But now I understand a little more...that Frenchay has six bells which were installed just over 20 years ago, that 'change ringing' involves following 'methods' (patterns where bells switch places to create 'tunes'), that in order to create these patterns ringers need to be able to handle their bell confidently, adjusting their ringing speed as required. Then there is the importance of good striking (regular rhythm), the need to use eyes and ears to keep one's place in the sequence, and above all, having the nerve to keep going whatever happens! It takes years to become a competent ringer, but learners can start to ring simple methods after just a few months.
Ringing is very much a team activity. You learn 'in the tower' supported by your fellow ringers who have infinite patience and lots of good humour! Practices cater for all ability levels, with experienced ringers giving you constant encouragement and plenty of sound advice and constructive feedback. As they say "we were all learners once". We have a small and very friendly Frenchay band and join up with the Winterbourne ringers for our weekly practices.
Bellringing is also a social activity. As well as being affiliated to my local tower, there are many opportunities to attend practices and ring at other towers in order to experience different rings of bells ( all unique). Then there is the buzzing social diary.... training days, outings, lunches, BBQs and quizzes across our local branch area and further afield!
So next Sunday, as the bells ring out over the Common, do spare a thought for the ringers. On our Monday evening practices, you may sometimes hear more than the odd 'clang' .... sorry about that. ......you see, we novices have to practise in public, so thank you so much for your patience!!
Mary Ryan
If you would like to to find out more about ringing at Frenchay, either as a new ringer or as an experienced ringer who may not have rung for a while, why not get in touch and come along at any time to see for yourselves? Our next Open Tower afternoon will be on Saturday 19 July at the Frenchay Flower Show, between 3 and 5pm.
For further information contact: Edna Cause.
tel 0117 9562106 e-m: [email protected]
Stephanie Cawthorne
Psychotherapist
I noticed an article in the Frenchay Community News inviting Frenchay residents to ‘tell us about your hobbies, recipes, travels or secret lives.’ In this I was encouraged to share something of my not exactly secret, but not widely publicized, life as a psychotherapist in Frenchay.
I had always been interested in helping people at vulnerable times in their lives and while our children were growing up I worked as a National Childbirth Trust counsellor supporting new mothers in Frenchay, and beyond. As time went on I became increasingly interested in understanding our emotional life. I was interested in the how and why we become anxious, or depressed, have panic attacks, suffer addictions and illnesses or have difficulty with our relationships, and our sense of ourselves.
I decided to train as a Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapist. This mouthful of words means that I work from a human, compassionate position informed by my understanding of developmental theory (how our earliest experiences resonate in us now) and relational theories (how we experience relationships).
I work with adults in my private practice in Frenchay, meeting once or twice a week for a 50 minute session. This odd length of time is understood to be the optimum time for a therapeutic conversation. The length of time psychotherapy takes is not set, it depends on the nature of the work the person brings, usually taking many months, or sometimes years, as some of our difficulties have deep roots.
One in four of us will suffer some form of mental health problem in our lifetimes, and in this context many of us have heard of CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and counselling, however perhaps psychotherapy is less well-known. I hope I’ve illuminated something of my ‘secret life’ working as a psychotherapist .
Stephanie Cawthorn MA Dip HIP.
For further information: www.mind.org.uk. You can look for a professional psychotherapist by searching websites such as www.pschotherapy.org.uk and www.pschotherapy-counselling-service.org.uk
Zoe Brophy
Frenchay Rainbows
When I was young, Rainbows hadn’t been invented. You simply waited until you were 7 years old to start Brownies until 25 years ago when Rainbows was formed for girls aged 5 - 7.
I’ve been helping at Frenchay Rainbows for 2 years and it is great fun. We have a great programme which ensures the girls do lots of activities and play lots of games and most of all get a badge. In the winter (when the weather isn’t so great and we can’t go outside) we concentrate on crafts and games such as making pizza toppings, hedgehog cakes, having a go at cheerleading, indoor teddy bears picnic, a Halloween party and games such as the queen’s jewels and stuck in the mud are a few favourites. When the sun comes out we make the most of it and go outside as much as possible playing relay races, maypole dancing and looking and exploring nature. We do occasionally have trips at the weekend and just recently we visited Santa at Avon Valley Railway which was a huge success!
The girls love it when new Rainbows join our group as we have an Olivia story and play the chocolate game. Who would say no to that! At the other end of the spectrum, it’s always sad when they turn 7 and have to move on to Brownies but we always celebrate with their ‘Pot of Gold’ party!
Zoe Brophy
Hazel Copsey
Volunteering in the Museum
When you read about the workings of our Village Museum in the magazine every month do you ever wonder just what goes on inside? If you are in the vicinity any Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday afternoon pop in and you will see what makes us tick. For on duty will be two of our volunteers who will be very pleased to show you around or leave you to wander at your will. I have had the great privilege of organising this team for the best part of twelve years and have found it very stimulating and immensely rewarding. It gives them all a wonderful feeling of helping in the community, an opportunity of making new friends and to read up on all the interesting facts that are changing all the time.
We have a journal to record any questions or requests for further information and when answers are not readily available there are monitored by our specialist back up team so we do not profess to know everything!
When you set off for your duty you wonder what the afternoon will offer. On one occasion an elderly gentleman arrived from Westbury-on- Trym and I immediately thought I knew him. During conversation he said he was on a nostalgic visit as his Auntie had at one time run the Village pub. My mind had been working overtime trying to place him as he had obviously not recognised me. But the mention of the pub rang a bell and I said "I can tell you your name and how old you are" He was absolutely staggered but after saying we started infants school on the same day (78 years before) and remembering various other children we had a great time reminiscing and on my next duty he brought his family to meet me.
If you would like to find out more and could spare 3 hours monthly or 6 monthly then Margaret Bulmer would love to hear from you 0117 9569324. I am sure you would enjoy it and maybe have your own story to tell.
Hazel Copsey
Jack & Anne Colley
Something we do in our spare time
It was a wonderful sight: the old terraced houses were linked with bunting and the townspeople jostled for position either side of the main street. First came the officers on horseback, behind them ran the young men as they surged forward, surrounded by deafening cheers and shouts. This was 1914 and the young men had volunteered to serve their country.
Then, “Cut”, came the loud command. Everyone froze. “Back to first position” came the next instruction. For this was a film set and the director was Steven Spielberg. People and horses walked quickly back to their start positions where make-up, hair and costumes were checked, manure was cleared away. Then the whole shoot began again, and again, and again, until the scene was perfect. The film was to be ‘War Horse’ and this scene was being filmed at Castle Combe.
Jack and I have been working as ‘extras’ for many years and this was certainly the most fascinating of our jobs. Many jobs have been in ‘Casualty’ where we were patients or visitors. A few others worth mentioning were:
- Pop videos, as Bad Ass Mutants, Mad Aristocrats and Zombies, two with McFly – the British band.
- ‘Night Watch’ (book by Sarah Waters), was set in WW11, our scenes – as prison visitors and cinema-goers, were filmed during a night in Bath at the time of the December freeze in 2011.
- Terry Pratchett’s TV documentary about his Alzheimer’s diagnosis, where Jack was one of 4 bearded Greek philosophers – the locals were quite amused to see them having lunch in the pub in costume.
- We travelled to Oxford for scenes in ‘Lewis’ which was filmed in the Ashmolean Museum.
Most recently, we were filmed in Clifton Village but, as it has not yet been released and we are sworn to secrecy, no details can be revealed!
Anne Colley