Encounters International Film Festival in partnership with the Neighbourhood Arts Team at Bristol City Council will present a series of four free outdoor solar powered film screenings in local parks within Bristol, during September 2010.

Encounters, Bristol’s annual festival of short films and all things animated, will be presenting a unique opportunity to see the Children’s Jury Animations and short films specifically selected from over 1600 submissions to suit family and younger. Now in its 16th year the festival is working with the Neighbourhood Arts Team in a bid to take the festival out to local communities and provide a taste of what the festival brings to Bristol to a wider audience.

Thursday 9th September, 8pm
St Georges Park by the pavilion, Church Road
Or indoors at St Georges Labour Club, Church Road

Friday 10th September, 8pm
St Andrews Park, Effingham Road
Or indoors at St Bartholomew’s Parish Hall, Maurice Road

Friday 17th September, 8pm
Urban Park at Barton Hill, Beam Street
Or indoors at Barton Hill Settlement, Ducie Road

Saturday 18th September, 8pm
Victoria Park, St Luke’s Road
Or indoors at The Star and Dove, St Luke’s Road

This unique solar powered cinema is brought to you by Know Alternative, a mobile solar unit with all equipment including their electric milk float projector powered by the sun.

You are invited to bring a picnic, something to sit on, a blanket, friends and family and wrap up warm for a night of entertainment under the stars. If the weather is wet there are indoor alternatives, and the films will start after dark.

Sunday mornings from 10.30am, boys and girls aged between 6 and 16 can meet at the North Bristol Rugby Club ground to have fun and learn to play the great sport of Rugby Union. The club has qualified coaches, often parents, who teach TAG rugby (similar to touch rugby) for 6 year olds, up to contact rugby for those over the age of 8.

Mums and dads are very much part of the morning, either standing on the touchline watching their children enjoying exercise whilst having lots of fun, often getting a bit muddy, or maybe, for the faint hearted, taking refreshments in the warmth of the clubhouse!

The club is located behind the police control centre opposite Almondsbury Sports and Social Club on the A38. Come and join us – we would love to see you and introduce you to our club.

For more information contact: Paul Hancock 07790 618520 or Nathan Phillips 07771 906484

www.northbristoljuniors.co.uk

The Willow Brook Centre is in final discussions with Boots UK, the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer.

Pending planning approval, work will begin on the 5,000 sq. ft. unit.

Along with the extensive range of cosmetics and health and beauty products, the store will also house a pharmacy. 3,900 sq. ft. is intended for retail sales. The planning application also covers an installation of a second floor that will become home to the company’s regional office occupying a further 3000 sq. ft.

Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Bradley Stoke. Not only will our town centre have one of the leading high street retail brands creating at least 30 jobs, but the regional office for the whole of the South West will be based here, offering many more career opportunities.”

Badminton School in Westbury on Trym, Bristol is top in the South West based on this years GCSE results, it was announced today.

100% of the pupils passed at the school, with a staggering 87% gaining all A*s and As and 57% of students achieving all A*s.

Top GCSE marks go to five Bristol girls: Anastasija Bates, Philippa Jones, Alice Gargan, Alexandra Uren and Charlotte Carter. Top swimmer, Anastasija Bates from Redland, who has been chosen for the Great Britain Training and Development Synchronised Swimming Squad and hopes to represent Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics, has also managed to gain 2A*s and 7As in her GCSEs. Anastasija, who is a member of Bristol Central Swimming Club, has swum recently in the British Championships where she swam a technical duet with her partner Charlotte Frost. She has taken part in an open competition internationally and won the Winn Cup for commitment to sport at Badminton. Anastasija intends to train as a full time athlete before going into medicine and this summer is undertaking work experience at the BRI.

Said Anastasija: “Fitting in my synchro swimming commitments has been a real challenge but the staff at Badminton have been really supportive. If I manage to get into the senior Great Britain world competitions, I receive funding from the Lottery and British Gas, but it is not much, so I will need to work part-time lifeguarding. However that doesn’t put me off, I am really ambitious. I train every day and eat more than my Dad! I am lucky to have swum extensively, not only in Badminton’s pool, but also at Crystal Palace where Tom Daley trains, as they have a deep diving pit which we need for lifts, and at the High Performance Army Centre in Aldershot.

Philippa Jones, who wants to be an investment banker, is well on the path to her dream having received a stunning 9A*s in her GCSEs. Captain of both the netball and hockey teams at Badminton, Philippa, aged 16, is one of the youngest girls playing for Clifton Ladies U18 Hockey Team and plays four times a week. She has been awarded both the Vitrix Ludorum and Ovation Cups for her sporting achievements and is also a keen fencer. A grade 5 violinist, grade 5 singer and a member of the school choir and Schola Cantorum, Philippa has also undertaken work experience at an investment bank, a law firm and worked as a classroom assistant in her local primary school. Philippa is aiming to read Economics and Management at university and would like to be involved in investment in renewable energy.

Badminton School has achieved the top results of any school in the South West for the past fifteen years and is currently one of the top schools in the country.

Commenting on the impressive results, Badminton’s Headmistress, Jan Scarrow said: “Badminton is an expert in educating girls and understands not only how girls learn but also how to provide the emotional support they need to achieve their full potential.

“We have some inspirational staff at the school who provide a stimulating and happy environment which is ideal for learning. Coupled with small class sizes and plenty of individual attention, it is not surprising that students here are able to achieve some pretty impressive results.

“However, it is the girls themselves who really make the difference and our congratulations go to all our students who have worked so hard.”

A Harvester bar and restaurant is planning to open at the Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke.

Negotiations are now at final stages and subject to a license being granted work will soon be underway with an opening proposed for late November.

The family-friendly business will be taking an 5,003 sq ft unit adjacent to the Willow Brook car park that has over 1000 spaces and free parking.

Willow Brook Centre Manager Scott Lahive said: “We are really looking forward to confirming that Harvester will be opening at Willow Brook. It’s just what we need, somewhere for friends and families to meet for a sit-down meal or just a few drinks.”

Willow Brook Centre in Bradley Stoke opened in October 2008 and the new Harvester will be a great addition to the local facilities.