The Bradley Stoke Journal

A father and son team from Stoke Gifford have embarked on a 1,100 mile sponsored cycle ride to raise funds for the local branch of the Royal British Legion (RBL).

Matthew Moran, 49, and son Fraser, 17, are undertaking the epic ride from Lands End to John O’Groats in appreciation of the support given by the Legion to Matthew’s father-in-law (Fraser’s grandfather) David Griffiths, who suffers from lung fibrosis and requires constant oxygen.

Mr. Griffiths, 74,  is well known in the village having served as a fireman at the British Aerospace airfield and, for the last ten years of his career, as the groundsman for Stoke Gifford Parish Council.

To enable Mr. Griffiths, an ex Cpl. Veteran, who served in the Royal Army Service Corps, to maintain his mobility round his home village, the Royal British Legion carried out an assessment and provided him with an electric powered vehicle. This electric scooter has, according to Dave’s wife, Janet, regenerated her husband’s life over the last year, enabling him to again visit family, his friends and go to the local shops.

Matthew and Fraser say they will be cycling unsupported, camping every night and taking in the highest climbs in England, which means they will cover 1,100 miles on their journey to north Scotland, rather than the normal 830 mile distance.

Sponsorship for this epic ride would be greatly welcomed. Matthew and Fraser may be contacted by email on moranmgmoran@blueyonder.co.uk, by post at 12 Somerset Crescent, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8PP  or by phone on 01454 778361.

Read more about the work of our local branch of the Royal British Legion »

A man who has worked for the past five years at Everything Everywhere (formerly Orange) in Aztec West has set off on a 10,000km charity cycle ride from London to New Delhi.

Srinivasa Alluri, 38, is the founder and President of the Manavata charity, which aims to create and promote a healthy, happy and harmonious world.

Mr Alluri, who previously lived in Orchard Gate, Bradley Stoke, started the non-profit, non-religious, charity 20 years ago, with the aim of supporting humanitarian projects, like caring for under privileged children, empowering individuals to live independently and promoting environmentally friendly initiatives.

The challenge will take him through 13 countries (UK, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India) and he hopes to complete the marathon journey in 100 days.

The ride started from London on 25th June and Mr Alluri hopes to reach New Delhi by 13th October. He will be accompanied by other riders for various sections of the route but no other participant will complete the full journey.

Read on to find out how you can support the charity ride »

Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, was in Bradley Stoke last week as part of a visit to see the the results of Bristol and South Gloucestershire’s Cycle City project.

At Bradley Stoke Community School (BSCS) the Minister saw how schools in South Gloucestershire are encouraging their pupils to cycle to school and witnessed pupils receiving Bikeability training. The school has high levels of cycling among pupils and is part of the Concorde Project – a pilot scheme to encourage cycling between school sites by 14-19 year olds.

The Minister also visited Parkway Station, where he was shown new and improved cycle routes to the station, improved cycling information and a new, secure cycle parking stand in front of the station entrance.

He also met staff at Hewlett Packard who showed him how the Cycling City project has been helping them and other local firms.

Read on for comments on the Minister’s visit by local Councillors »

Local cycling website Better by Bike is offering it readers a chance to win a year’s free swimming at Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre in a competition to celebrate the opening of two new cycle routes.

The two new Cycling City routes run from the Leisure Centre to Parkway Station (Route 3) and Cribbs Causeway (Route 4).

To be in with a chance of winning, readers are being asked to email betterbybike@bristol.gov.uk with their name and the answer to the following question:

How long will it take an average person to cycle the 3.4 km from Parkway Station to Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre?

The article announcing the competition on the Cycling City website claims the answer can be found in a press release elsewhere on the site [Ed: If you can find it - I couldn't].

One lucky person will win the prize of a year’s free swimming at the Leisure Centre. The deadline for entries is Monday 31st January 2011. Better By Bike’s standard terms and conditions apply. The competition is open to over 16s only.

Signage for the two new routes is yet to be completed, although a start has been made with the installation of prominent white pillars at a number of strategic points.

Read on to recall how the new routes featured in the news over the past year »

South Gloucestershire Council is encouraging residents to make use of a new cycle route between Bradley Stoke and Cribbs Causeway to help get in some last minute Christmas shopping.

The three mile route, which runs from Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre to the Mall at Cribbs Causeway, consists of a series of dedicated or mixed-use cycle paths and quiet roads which have been joined up in recent months with resurfaced paths, new street lighting and safe level crossing points.

The route has been provided at a cost of £200,000, funded from ring-fenced Cycling City money.

Councillor Brian Allinson, South Gloucestershire Executive Member for Cycling City said:

“This route will make it easier for cyclists to travel to Cribbs Causeway, which is timely for that last bit of Christmas shopping.”

The Council says signage for the new route will be completed in the new year. In the meantime, a map of the route is available on the MapMyRide website and a YouTube video of a cyclist following the route can be seen on the Better by Bike website.

For those looking to complete their Christmas shopping nearer home, Bradley Stoke’s Tesco Extra store is open until 7pm tonight (Christmas Eve).

Related link: Bradley Stoke Christmas 2010 opening times