The Bradley Stoke Journal

Four Bradley Stoke organisations will be hoping to win a share of a £28,161 grant fund at this Tuesday’s meeting of the Southern Brooks Area Forum in Winterbourne.

A total of 26 applications totalling £43,888 have been received from organisations in the Bradley Stoke, Filton, Patchway, Stoke Gifford, Winterbourne, Frenchay and Stoke Park areas covered by the Forum.

The South West Winterguard Academy (SWWA), which meets at Meadowbrook Primary School and promotes ‘Colourguard’ (a dance based activity using flags and other equipment), is asking for £2,168 to cover the cost of hall rental, equipment, travel and insurance.

Bradley Stoke Bowls Club (BSBC), based at Baileys Court,  is looking for £2,500 (half the annual cost of green and room rental that it pays to Bradley Stoke Town Council) so that it can reduce its membership fees and hopefully attract new members.

Bradley Stoke Community Radio Association (BSCRA), which has recently occupied a studio at the Willow Brook Centre, wants £3,000 to pay for the official licences that it needs to broadcast over a 28-day period covering the Community Festival in June.

Finally, the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group (TBNCG) is seeking £400 to pay for bee friendly flowers that will be planted in the community orchard behind Bradley Stoke Community School.

Read on to find out how Council officers have assessed the bids »

There’s still time to enter the 2011 Bradley Stoke Aquathlon that takes place at the Leisure Centre on Sunday 13th March.

Organising outfit Thornbury Running Club (TRC) says it is still accepting entries for the popular swim and run event, which is now in its third year following the inaugural race in 2009.

The competition caters for beginners and experienced athletes alike by providing two courses. The shorter course consists of a 500m (20 length) swim followed by a 5km run, while the long course includes a 1,000m (40 length) swim and a 10km run.

The swim phase of the event takes place in the main pool of the Leisure Centre. On leaving the water, competitors head out on foot into the adjoining Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve before returning to the finish line at the Leisure Centre.

The races may be entered by individuals or teams of two (one swimmer, one runner – any combination of age and gender).

Entries for the event close on Monday 28th February or when all the places are taken (if earlier). Online entries may be made via the Fabian4 website.

Read on for more information about the 2011 Aquathlon »

A student from Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) is organising an ‘Indian Night’ to raise funds for the school’s 2011 World Challenge project.

Ahmed Hussain, who needs to raise nearly £3,000 to join the educational trip to Southern India, says the event will be “a myriad of fun, with creative and talented performances”.

On offer will be Indian henna tattoos, Bollywood dancing, a colourful fashion show and a chance to win some great prizes in a raffle.

Food lovers can indulge in cuisine made from exotic spices and authentic ingredients especially prepared for them using traditional methods. The freshly-made meal consisting of starters, curries and Indian sweets (served in a buffet) is described as a “truly unique feast” and is included in the £15 entrance charge.

There will be a carefully chosen wine list and a choice of three bottled beers including Cobra and Kingfisher, all the way from India.

“Get prepared to enjoy the history, beauty and elegance of India”, enthused Ahmed in a letter to The Journal.

The event takes place from 6pm to 9pm on Friday 18th March at BSCS, Fiddlers Wood Lane.

For more details please contact Ahmed via email at 05hussainah@bradleystokecs.org.uk or phone the BSCS office on 01454 868840.

Previous fundraising events staged by BSCS World Challenge students have included a comedy show starring local impressionist Paul Burling (organised by Emily Baber) and a Battle of the Bands contest (organised by Sam Beaumont and Joel Ip).

Read on for more details of the World Challenge trip to India »

Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision between a BMW car and a bike in Bradley Stoke in which a 10-year-old boy suffered serious leg injuries.

It happened at around 12.30pm on Saturday 19th February outside Tesco Extra on Bradley Stoke Way.

Anyone who saw the incident is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 0845 456 7000.

More: Road closed at Bradley Stoke after boy injured (Jack fm)

Plans for a community party in Bradley Stoke have been revealed following a meeting of the Town Council’s Leisure Youth and Amenities (LYA) Committee on Monday.

The event, which will take place between 10am and 3pm on Friday 29th April – to coincide with the wedding of HRH Prince William to Kate Middleton – is being jointly organised by Friends of Jubilee Green, event management company Re-energize and Bradley Stoke Town Council.

The centerpiece of the event, at the town’s Jubilee Centre complex, will be 14′ x 10′ outdoor big screen TV showing live coverage of the wedding. A variety of catering units will be on hand to feed the crowd as well as a beer tent for that celebratory tipple. Children’s entertainment will be provided with a puppet show before the wedding and party activities on the green in the afternoon.

A “wedding reception” will also be held inside the Jubilee Centre during the afternoon complete with disco and a Prince and Princess fancy dress competition for local children.

Chair of Friends of Jubilee Green Michelle Dent said:

“We are delighted to be involved in the organisation of this event. I remember the fun we had at a street perry for Charles and Diana’s wedding when I was younger and it’ll be greet to see a new generation celebrating as a community. “

Continue reading for more details of the event and its funding »