Two Bradley Stoke Judo Club players have won the top two medals in their categories at the prestigious 2012 Commonwealth Judo Championships, held yesterday (Tuesday 24th January) at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

The players, Steph Walker and Lele Nairne (both just 14 years of age), won first the silver medal and then Lele bagged the gold and title of ‘Commonwealth Judo Champion’.

Commenting on their performance, Club Coach Pete Douglas said:

“The selection process for this championship started months ago when the best players England had to offer gathered to fight it out to distinguish the top athletes to represent England in this truly international event.”

“These two players proved themselves to be true titans in judo and right at the very top of their game. They are a credit to the club and South West and I know will shortly be going on to represent England again at other internationals at the very highest level.”

Lele and Steph are both members of the elite England judo squad and Bradley Stoke Judo Club now has more ETD (England Talent Development) judo squad members than any other club in the country.

Later this year the club will be taking all of their players to Venray in Holland to compete in high level competition and in 2013 will be taking their top players to compete in the US Open.

Five times British Champion Pete Douglas had his own taste of success in November last year when he achieved the prestigious 5th Dan grade at the Samurai High Grades and Masters Competition in Kidderminster.

Photo (L-R): Lele Nairne, Pete Douglas (Club Coach), Steph Walker.

Bradley Stoke Town Councillors are to decide at a meeting on Wednesday whether a private company should be permitted to stage a beer festival at one of the Council’s three activity centres.

Brizzle Beer Festivals, a company based in Bradley Stoke that organises “community” beer festivals in the Bristol area, has asked to use one of the centres and is promising to donate a proportion of takings/profits to charity.

Council officers have referred the request to Councillors because “it does not fall within the normal type of hire”.

The Brook Way Activity Centre, recently refurbished after the Council withdrew funding for the resident youth club, is identified as the most appropriate venue for the event, due to its capacity and ability to accommodate the hog roast that seems to be a regular feature of the applicant’s festivals.

The venue would be available from 8am to 11pm, “due to the proximity of nearby households”.

The festival organisers have offered to stage the event in partnership with the Council, with no charge being made for the venue and 30% of profits going to a charity of the Council’s choosing. Alternatively, the firm says it will pay for the venue and donate 30% of proceeds, less the hire charge, to a charity of its own choosing.

In view of the promised charitable donation, Councillors will also be asked to decide if the firm should be charged the ‘standard’ (commercial) room hire rate or the lower ‘private’ rate. The former would come in at £852 with the lower rate amounting to £628.50 for the 15-hour session.

According to the Brizzle Beer Festival website, the company has so far arranged to stage eight festivals in the Bristol area during 2012, with five of these being in community or parish halls. The Patchway Journal recently reported the firm’s plan to stage a festival at Patchway Community Centre on Saturday 21st April.

Jess Stone, joint proprietor of Brizzle Beer Festivals, told The Journal:

“Having canvassed Bradley Stoke’s residents and been given a thumbs up, we feel a beer festival would be a brilliant addition to Bradley Stoke’s calendar.”

“We know the people of Bradley Stoke would support an event like this and help to raise some money for the local community whilst enjoying the fine ales and ciders, good company and entertainment.”

“Brizzle Beer Festivals operates from Bradley Stoke and as we see our community as a vibrant area, we have every confidence that a festival would be a rip-roaring success!”

Photo: Brook Way Activity Centre, Bradley Stoke [map].

Local youth group South West Winterguard Academy is staging a ‘community showcase’ event this Saturday (14th January) at Thornbury Leisure Centre.

The aim of the event is to demonstrate to the people of South Gloucestershire the diverse range of sport, dance and arts activities available to them.

Acts so far confirmed for the event include majorettes, street dancers, colourguard, marching bands, karate and ballet.

The event runs from 12 noon to 4:30pm and admission costs £3 for adults and £1.50 for children/concessions.

Bradley Stoke Town Council recently awarded South West Winterguard Academy a grant of £500, to be used jointly for part-funding Saturday’s event and purchasing a storage container for the club’s equipment. The container will be sited in the grounds of Meadowbrook Primary School, where the club holds its training sessions.

The club’s Core Director, Ken Burrows, says the event is being held in Thornbury because Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre doesn’t have the necessary facilities or size.

The South West Winterguard Academy promotes a dance-based activity called ‘colourguard’ – using flags and other equipment to perform a routine to music.

The mission of the Academy is:

“To inspire young people through Colourguard to achieve an immediate and lasting change in themselves, their families and the community.”

Photo: Demonstration by the South West Winterguard Academy at the 2010 Severnvale Community Showcase in Bradley Stoke’s Town Square.

Members of Bradley Stoke clubs featured prominently amongst the winners of this year’s South  Gloucestershire Sports Awards, presented recently at the BAWA club in Filton.

National cycling champion Dylan Cordukes (pictured above, left) picked up the Young Sportsman of the Year award, while judo coach Pete Douglas was honoured with the Sports Coach of the Year award.

There was also success for Bradley Stoke Special Needs Judo Club, which picked up a Team Award and saw member Harry Wood win a Disability Sportsperson of the Year award.

Another Disability Sportsperson of the Year award was won up by Little Stoke’s Adam Osborne, who trains at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

After taking up track cycling just two and a half years ago, Bradley Stoke Community School student Dylan Cordukes (14) picked up the coveted white jersey at the National Youth Championships in Manchester marking him out as the under 14s British Champion for track cycling. The competition involved a 1,500 metre pursuit, sprint races and a time trial which he won by less than 200th of a second. His aspirations are to cycle in the 2020 Olympics or take part in the Tour de France.

Pete Douglas, who recently achieved the prestigious 5th Dan grade as an individual fighter, was honoured for his coaching activities at Bradley Stoke Judo Club.

Adam Osborne (22) takes to the water at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre with the development training squad, which offers swimming sessions for people with learning difficulties.

Adam’s mum, Sharon Langley, thanked the Council and award sponsors Airbus for organising the awards.

Sharon said:

“I very much wanted to thank you and your colleagues at Airbus for the awards event. We had no idea what the evening would be like but we all so very much enjoyed it. To see our son Adam smiling so broadly and to be proud of what he has achieved with his swimming, made the past couple of years so much more worthwhile.”

“We know that he is making changes for other people with learning difficulties but to be rewarded alongside his sport peers, that is just wonderful. Paul [husband] and I shall remember the awards night for a very long time to come.”

Yate’s Harry Wood (15) attends a weekly special needs judo class held in Bradley Stoke. After joining the club in 2004 he progressed really well and earlier this year he attended the British Special Needs Open Championship in Scotland and came home with a bronze medal.

Photo 1 (L-R): Dylan Cordukes (Young Sportsperson of the Year), Jess Hopton (Young Sportsperson of the Year) and Siobahn Chamberlain (Sportswoman of the Year).

Photo 2: Pete Douglas pictured with members of Bradley Stoke Judo Club.

Photo 3: Adam Osborne (2nd left), pictured with (L-R) BBC sports reporter Geoff Twentyman, swimming instructor Diane Roberts and Cllr Mike Drew (Chair of South Gloucestershire Council).

Volunteers at Bradley Stoke Radio are today celebrating the award of a full-time FM licence from the broadcasting regulator Ofcom.

The local group is one of four community radio stations that were successful in the south-west region, from a total of seven applicants.

Neighbouring station GLOSS FM (formerly Thornbury FM) also applied for a full-time licence but was rejected due to the lack of a suitable FM frequency.

The licence awarded by Ofcom allows a 3km coverage area, rather than the 5km the station had wanted, due the limited number of frequencies available in the area.

Bradley Stoke Radio is currently in the middle of a two-week FM broadcast period but has mostly been streaming its output on the internet.

Community radio services are provided on a not-for-profit basis focusing on the delivery of specific social benefits to enrich a particular geographical community or a community of interest.

Read more: Exciting News for Bradley Stoke Radio

Bradley Stoke Radio has begun its second FM transmission period – running from Saturday 3rd December to Saturday 17th December.

A countdown in the Town Square at noon on Saturday [audio clip] was followed by a two-hour programme with guest appearances from the presenters who will be fronting shows over the next fortnight.

The station staged it first FM transmission during two weeks in June, to coincide with the Bradley Stoke Community Festival. Since then, it has been broadcasting on the internet only.

Bradley Stoke Radio can be heard for the next two weeks on 87.7 FM.

Photos:

1. Launch event at noon in the Town Square.
2. Presenters Lucy Smith and Steve Seaton interview some young guests.

More photos on PicasaWeb: album; slideshow

Related link: Media in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

McCarthy & Stone, the UK’s leading retirement builder, has donated specialist fencing from its new development in Bradley Stoke to the town’s Cricket Club so they can safely secure their cricket practice facilities.

Bradley Stoke Cricket Club was in desperate need of some fencing to secure the new cricket nets the club had recently purchased. When Mark Wilson, Chairman of the club, contacted McCarthy & Stone to enquire about any spare fencing, the developer offered a helping hand.

Mark commented:

“We have just spent £9,000 on new cricket nets and they were getting damaged as the fencing we had around them was not up to the job and we’d also experienced a small amount of vandalism. We had looked into buying some fencing but money at the club is tight and we just didn’t have the spare cash to purchase any.”

“I noticed that McCarthy & Stone is building a new development just down the road from us and they had security fencing all around the site which was being replaced. When I went to enquire about the fencing, the site team generously donated some to us.”

“It’s made such a huge difference to our club. We can now rest easy knowing our practice facilities are well protected and we are really appreciative of this help from McCarthy & Stone. It is fantastic that a company new to Bradley Stoke has chosen to support us to such an extent and we wish them every success with their venture in the town.”

Aileen King, Sales and Marketing Director for McCarthy & Stone, commented:

“We were really pleased that we were able to help Bradley Stoke Cricket Club. McCarthy & Stone is committed to building relationships in the communities in which it builds, and we hope the fencing will help protect the club’s recent investment in new nets.”

McCarthy & Stone Retirement Living apartments are designed exclusively for the over 60s who want a more manageable and secure living environment. Plans for 50 Retirement Living apartments have recently been approved for a site on Savages Wood Road, near the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke.

Each apartment will be designed especially for retirement living and special care and attention will be paid to incorporate features such as 24 hour emergency call points, electrical sockets at a raised height to reduce bending, illuminated light switches, a camera entry system, easy grip lever taps in the bathroom and kitchen and energy efficient heating.

For further information, please contact McCarthy & Stone on 0800 919132.

Photo (L-R): Gareth Price, Gavin Plested from McCarthy & Stone, Mike Mundy (Club President) and Steve Davis.

Evening meeting to discuss formation of a local Art Group

Over the past few months, local amateur artist Susan Hartry has been busy calling all Stokes Artists to join her and start an Art Group for the Stokes areas of South Gloucestershire. “Considering the population of Bradley Stoke and surrounding Stokes areas”, Susan says, “I am amazed there is no Art Group to call our own, so I’m trying to start one”.

Susan’s idea for such a local Art Group has been a long time festering; a group with no structured format, bar the odd project as a break from the norm; self-funded; non-tutor lead (so not a class); and not expensive. Quite simply, like-minded people getting together on a regular basis, to paint and talk about art, and learn from one another along the way by sharing tips and techniques.

In her quest, she contacted the editors of Bradley Stoke Matters for help, and an article ‘Calling All Artists’ was published in the summer editions.  The response has been encouraging for her, but preferences for a weekly daytime or evening time slot proved to be split – so she is now trying to set up two groups!

Her next move was to seek a suitable venue, at a suitable cost. Easy?  … No! As Susan explained “I am referring to us as the Stokes Art Group, but we’re not a group at all yet, so no funds in the kitty.” Thus creating for her a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario and major headache – how do you book a venue, twice a week for ten weekly slots when you have no money to pay for it?  She added “Not out of my own pocket, that’s for sure.”

After much leg work, telephone calls, brain storming and plan changing, Susan decided the only way was to get everyone together to outline her vision of a way forward, and to collect subscription monies from everyone wanting to join. That’s the theory. In practical terms it’s a case of hoping people would trust her enough to do just that – to which Susan is unsure and indeed asks – “Why would you?!”

To that end, however, she has booked a small one off evening venue – which she has chanced to pay for out of her own pocket, for now – and to which she has invited those on her list so far to meet with her, discuss her ideas and, for those wanting to take that final step,  pay a £20 subscription to get the Stokes Art Group kick started.

Crossing her fingers, or more appropriately – her paint brushes, she is hoping that the evening will be a success, so has also provisionally booked a venue for two ten week series of Art Group sessions commencing mid-January.

Potentially there are two Groups on offer – Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings at £2 per session.  The stumbling block is that attendance subscriptions are needed from at least 20 Artists to make the two groups viable in a financially self-supporting status, and so to pay for the venue in advance. Basically, if the numbers don’t match the costs, the Art Group won’t happen.

Susan is still ‘Calling All Artists’, so if you live in any of the Stokes and want to belong to a Stokes Art Group, now is the time to contact her.  Space at the venue for the ‘Evening’ is limited, therefore places for the night are offered on a first come basis, however places for the Art Group itself is more flexible, so do get in touch. Once registered, Susan will contact you by reply with more detail and to discuss further.

Stokes Art Group Evening (this is not a workshop)
Tuesday 29 November 2011 at 7.00pm
Christ The King Church, Mautravers Close, Bradley Stoke
Admission – just 50p contribution to help toward the cost
Limited places still available

Register by email to stokesart@fsmail.net

Footnote: The South Gloucestershire ‘Stokes’ area includes Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Stoke Lodge.

A coach at Bradley Stoke Judo Club (BSJC) has achieved the prestigious 5th Dan grade following an outstanding performance at a big tournament last weekend.

Three Bradley Stoke Judo Club coaches were in action at the Samurai High Grades and Masters Competition in Kidderminster. Pete Douglas, Nick Brace and BSJC’s newest addition to the coaching team, Trevor King, all went there looking for points towards their next grades.

Five times British Champion Pete Douglas had not fought for over a year due to injury and other commitments. He had a massive 13 fights on the day. After a slow start, he came back to win ten fights, all of them with the maximum score – earning himself a total of 60 points and, more impressively, his 5th Dan, the highest grade that can be achieved as a fighter.

Nick Brace co-started the club back in 1999 along with Steve Westlake. Nick, who won his fourth British title in a row this year, had three fights at the weekend, earning himself 30 points, and that was enough to earn him a very well deserved 4th Dan.

And finally, Trevor King had ten fights, winning five of them with the maximum score, a result that gained him 50 points towards his next grade, 4th Dan.

BSJC’s Gem Gale told The Journal:

“Pete is the first ever 5th Dan at Bradley Stoke Judo Club, and we are all very proud of him.”

“These are incredible achievements for these coaches, and adds to the achievements of the rest of the club as it continues to grow and move from strength to strength.”

“This year alone, 12 junior players have made it into the top five in the country, with eight of them winning medals at the British Championships, and three of those becoming British Champion.”

The club always welcome new members, and with players of every age, shape, size and ability, there is always someone to train with.

Details of classes can be found on the club website: www.bradleystokejudoclub.co.uk

Photo: Trevor King winning one of his matches in Kidderminster.

[Advertising Feature] The Swan Hotel in Almondsbury is now under new management and will be staging a relaunch party on Friday 18th November from 6pm to celebrate.

With a totally new and different concept to what was previously there, the new management team at The Swan is hoping local residents will come and join them to see what is going on. On the night they have live jazz from their house band who’ll be in residency every Friday night from the 18th onwards. They’ll also be giving away free bubbly and canapés as well as taking bookings for tables to try their all new menu.

Using fresh, seasonal and local produce the menu offers fresh fish off day boats out of Brixham, as well as meat from Easter Compton Farm and local fruit and vegetables. In addition to the à la carte menu, on 18th November they’re offering a six-course tasting menu for just £25.

Bookings can be made by calling The Swan Hotel on 01454 625671.

The launch party also sees the introduction of a number of new entertainment nights.  Every Sunday will be Quiz Night, which will be a bit of fun rather than a serious competition!  Mondays are half price cocktails, Tuesday is Steak & Seafood night, Wednesday is reserved for special nights such as Rock ‘n’ Roll Bingo and pamper nights, Thursdays will be Pie & Poker nights, every Friday is Live Jazz, while Saturday is Blues & Acoustic night.  There is certainly a lot going on!

Everyday from 4pm to 7pm is the time for After Work Treats, with house wine £10 a bottle, £1 off cocktails and selected pints just £2.50.

There is plenty going on in the kitchen too.  Monday to Friday 12 noon to 5pm sees a daily changing fixed price menu with two courses for £7.95 and three courses for £10.95.  The à la carte menu runs from 12 noon to 9pm and is created using fresh produce delivered that day, so changes on a daily basis.  Every Saturday from 12 noon to 5pm kids eat free (one child per adult ordering a full price main meal).  Sunday is, naturally, roast day and they hope that their roasts will soon become legendary with great quality and portions to satisfy even the biggest appetite.

Christmas is just around the corner and The Swan Hotel is offering a variety of menus leading up to Christmas with party menus starting from just £10 per person.  They are also open on Christmas Day, with a three course meal from just £40 per person.

The Swan Hotel also has 12 en-suite rooms which are available from just £55 a night and offer fantastic value.  Every room has been recently redecorated and comes equipped with flat screen TV, tea & coffee making facilities and Egyptian cotton linen.

The people behind the new look Swan Hotel are Garth and Katie Jackson. With a combined total of 20 years running bars and hotels, they hope to bring this knowledge and experience into their first independent venture.

Both previously worked for Beds and Bars Group – with Garth as Retail Development Manager for the UK and Katie as General Manager of their flagship UK site. In the kitchen you’ll find John Paul Medhurst, who has been Head Chef in restaurants as far afield as Los Angeles and Paris.  He was even the face of ‘Sonic Blade’ for a number of years!

The young team hopes that you’ll come and enjoy their new concept, which is trying to deliver amazing food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere with great customer service.

Related links:

• The Swan Hotel on Facebook
• Hotels & Guest Houses in and around Bradley Stoke

Bike Fix Bradley Stoke is unique as it is not only mobile, but uses a Dutch cargo tricycle to visit the customers and fix their bikes when it’s convenient for them.

The tricycle was specially imported as it can carry all the essential tools and materials, and can even tow other bikes if they need to go to the workshop. It will become a familiar sight on the roads around the Stokes as it goes to customers for repairs and maintenance.

The proprietor of the new business, lifelong cyclist Richard Burton, said:

“Lots of people in The Stokes area have taken up cycling to save money and get fit, but they struggle to do bike maintenance, which is where Bike Fix Bradley Stoke comes in. Most problems can be fixed on the spot, at a time and place to suit the customer. The aim is to be affordable, reliable, and convenient.”

The new business will specialise in helping cyclists get back on the road, fixing the things that are stopping people using their bikes more regularly, so that they can get the huge benefits of cycling, and will offer advice on cycling and what kind of bike to ride. Repairs and maintenance include everything on a bike, with puncture repairs, gears and brakes all covered.

The new service will cover Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke, Stoke Gifford and Stoke Lodge, but if you live close to these, it might still be possible to accommodate you.

The business is designed to be as green as possible, which is why it’s using only pedal power to deliver the service, so that carbon emissions and other pollution is minimised.

Members of the local cycling club, the Stokes Cycling Club, will receive a 10% discount.

For more information contact Richard on 01454 616212 or 07963 933317.

Related link: Walking and Cycling in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)

Bradley Stoke Radio is feeling festive right now with the news that Ofcom has granted the station an FM broadcast licence for a two week period in December.

From 3rd to 17th December the station will be broadcasting on 87.7 FM to the local community – and beyond. The team are already planning the schedule and have dusted off the Christmas tracks ready for a festive programme of community chat, music and news in the lead up to holiday period.

This will be the station’s second FM broadcast period, following its inaugural terrestrial transmission over a fortnight in June.

The team are looking forward to a busy time preparing for the FM broadcast and will be attending various local events in November and December including the Bradley Stoke Fireworks Display on Sunday 6th November.

Bradley Stoke Radio currently broadcasts seven days a week online and can be found on iTunes and Tune-in Radio as well as via their website www.bradleystokeradio.org.uk.

The station broadcasts 24 hours a day with live presenters from 6pm to 10pm and over the weekends. With a new cohort of volunteers and presenters in training there will be new shows introduced in the coming weeks. Community groups are most welcome to share news, stories and events by sending information to studio@bradleystokeradio.org.uk.

To get involved or to find out more information about Bradley Stoke Radio contact studio@bradleystokeradio.org.uk or call 01454 616055.

[Advertising Feature] South Gloucestershire residents interested in clothes, fashion and reinventing their wardrobe are encouraged to attend Bradley Stoke’s very first Fashion Fayre on Saturday 5th November.

The event will be held at The Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road in Bradley Stoke and will run from 10am until 3pm. It has been organised by SITA UK and South Gloucestershire Council’s SORT IT!* Team.

Sarah Ottaway, Waste Minimisation Manager, at SITA UK said:

“Regular catwalk shows will be showcasing an array of styles and inventive ways of making the most of your wardrobe, a range of charity shops and vintage retailers will be selling great clothes at prices to suit any budget and you could even breathe life into that old pair of jeans, by turning them into a new shoulder bag in one of our great workshops!”

The whole family can join in, by turning an old t-shirt into a work of art using the pedal powered painting machine, (please bring along a t-shirt to create your masterpiece). Then they can jump on a pedal powered sewing machine and make some fabulous bunting to decorate the event or their home (materials provided).

Charities that have confirmed their involvement in the event include British Heart Foundation, St Peter’s Hospice and Clic Sargent and others are considering taking part too. Not for profit organisation the APE Project and local business Create & Grow will also be running themed workshops.

There is still room for additional charities, organisations and groups to get involved; so if you are interested please contact the SORT IT!* Team at sortitteam@sita.co.uk or call 01454 868000.

All the charities involved will be accepting donations, so you can also bring your unwanted clothes and donate them to the charity of your choice. For more information, please contact the SORT IT!* Team at sortitteam@sita.co.uk or call 01454 868000.

Photo: Year 10 students at Hanham High School with some clothes that they are planning to bring along to the Fashion Fayre.

Everyone had great fun on the Stokes Cycling Club’s first mountain bike ride last month, and after requests for more, they are running another on Saturday 22nd October, starting at 2pm from Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

It will be about 12 miles long, goes to Tockington and Old Down, and is mainly on tracks and bridleways, so a mountain bike is required, but it won’t be too technical for beginners.

The ride leader, mountain bike coach Andy Parker, said:

“The first ride was great fun, everyone had a good time, and I was able to help some people with their technique.  Everyone came back with a smile on their face!”

“If you want to get into mountain biking, but you’re not sure where to ride, come out with us and find out about the local tracks that you can ride on.  There are lots of them, but finding them can be tricky.”

Rider Richard Burton said:

“Andy knew about tracks that I didn’t even know existed, and helped me improve my riding.  It was a great ride and a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to the next one.”

“If you fancy some fun riding with a friendly local bike club, come along.  And if you aren’t into mountain biking, check out our web site for our other rides, with everything from family rides to fifty milers and everything in between.”

Photo: A rider negotiates a hazard on the club’s first mountain bike ride.

Bradley Stoke Netball Club has been awarded the Bronze CAPS Clubmark Award.

The prestigious recognition from England Netball is given to clubs who can demonstrate that they offer a good quality netball provision within their community.

The Club Action Planning Scheme (CAPS) is part of the Sport England Clubmark accreditation system, the only national cross-sports acknowledgement for clubs with junior sections.

It is built around a set of core criteria which ensures accredited clubs operate to a set of consistent, accepted and adopted minimum operating standards.

Sophie Warner, Bradley Stoke’s Clubmark Officer, said:

“This is a great achievement for us as it’s an award the club has aspired to hold for a long time. To get the recognition from our national governing body for the hard work the volunteers at our club continue to put in is priceless.”

“We are proud to offer a great starting point for youngsters in the area to play netball, and it is fitting that Clubmark now recognise that our sessions are safe, fun, well structured and delivered by some of the best coaching staff in the region.”

CAPS has three levels of accreditation; Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Bronze CAPS is the first level, incorporating the Clubmark criteria and covers the areas of safeguarding and protecting children, quality coaching and officiating, equal opportunities and sound financial management.

Bradley Stoke’s Junior Club is proving very popular and they continue to encourage more local youngsters to come along to get involved and develop their netball skills.

Junior netball sessions for 11 to 15 year-olds run on Wednesdays from 5:30pm until 7pm at the Jubilee Centre on Savages Wood Road.

For more information please contact bsncjuniors@yahoo.co.uk.

Thrifty shoppers have their last final chance of the year to grab a bargain at the Trench Lane Car Boot Sale this Sunday (25th September 2011).

The immensely popular sale, which attracts hundreds of sellers and thousands of buyers, runs from May to September at the Trench Lane site [map], opposite the entrance to Woodlands Golf & Country Club.

With last week’s sale having to be cancelled due to poor weather, the final sale of 2011 looks set to attract a bumper crowd.

Organisers have told The Journal that they are confident the event will go ahead after several days of drying weather this week.

UPDATE (Sunday 9am): Sale is ON, despite some showers this morning.

The Trench Lane sale is expected to resume in May 2012, subject to the event’s licence being renewed by South Gloucestershire Council.

Car boot sale addicts unable to wait until next year have the option of attending other regular sales over the winter months at Bristol Wholesale Fruit Market (Saturdays) and Easter Compton (Sundays). More details of these and other car boot sales in the Bristol area can be found on the Markets page of our online Directory of Local Services in and around Bradley Stoke.

Know of other car car boot sales going on in the Bristol area? Drop us a line to let us know!