Archive for June, 2012

The Olympic Torch at Wheatfield!

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012


We were pleased to hear from Wheatfield Primary School pupil Becky Vizard who sent in the following report of activities at Wheatfield:

“Wheatfield Primary School held its very own Olympic Opening Ceremony on June 25th, to launch its annual Sports Activity Week.  The event opened with a parade, with each year group dressed in the colours of the country they have chosen to represent. There was banners, flags, music and some short performances to add to the celebratory atmosphere!

Our school choir and cheerleading team both performed and Year 5 lead all the children in a new Olympic ‘Wake and Shake’ routine and the Olympic torch did a lap of honour around the track!   The opening ceremony headlined a week of sporting events in which the children are to participate in a carousel of physical activities competing in their Houses; ’Kenny’, ‘Tweddle’, ‘Simmonds’ and ‘Farah’.”

 

Weekend’s Buggy Push Raises £5,000 for BLISS

Monday, June 25th, 2012

Following our earlier coverage of the intended sponsored Buggy Push taking place from the Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre on Saturday (23rd June), we are delighted to feedback that the event was a HUGE success raising c£5,000 for baby charity Bliss.

The weather held out and over 60+ mums & dads joined in the 5km walk around the nature reserve, starting from the Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre.

Organiser Kerry Robinson told us “We were over-whelmed with the amount of money raised.  When me and my friend Laura Brindle (who I met when our babies Amber and Molly were in Southmead nicu at the same time) first started about organising the walk, we thought if we raised £500 it would be really good! So to raise £5,000 is truly amazing and we’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who joined us on the buggy push and to everyone who sponsored us!

Bliss is the UK charity working to provide the best possible care and support for all premature and sick babies and their families.
Kerry and Laura organised the buggy push close to both their girls 1st birthday to celebrate them both being one and as a thank you to Bliss for the amazing work they do in supporting families at possibly one of the most difficult and emotional times in their lives.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the walk and the girls look forward to making it even bigger in 2013!

For further information on Bliss visit http://www.bliss.org.uk/

New Mexican Restaurant is a Huge Hit!

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

We were absolutely delighted to receive a telephone call from Gemma Matthews, a year 6 pupil at Baileys Court Primary School, inviting us to dine at Bradley Stoke’s newest restaurant ‘The Mexican Wave’.

Unfortunately it was a one-day only venture so if you weren’t there you missed a treat!

All the year 6 pupils were involved in the fundraising project to transform the kitchen and classroom area into a Mexican Restaurant for the day.  Every child was involved, undertaking literally everything to do with the day themselves, from initial research, recipe trial and selection, menus, ingredient lists, posters, decorations, as well as cooking and preparing the food on the day.  Each pupil had to undergo an interview for each job position and selections were made and positions appointed.  The menu offered nachos and dips, followed by your choice of a selection of mexican dishes such as chicken fajita, vegetarian chilli, with rice and refried beans.  The chefs also made their own fresh lemonade which was readily available.  Dessert was fresh fruit.  The entire menu was absolutely delicious and the waiting staff were incredibly attentive!

I arrived at changeover time from one sitting to the next and was amazed how quickly the team cleared and reset the tables – a fantastic display of teamwork and efficiency!  The marketing team had done an equally successful job as both lunch sittings were full!

Year 6 Pupil Gurpreet Singh told me “It’s been loads of fun today.  Everybody’s been complimenting us” 

With two cafe sessions also taking place mid morning and mid afternoon with the children serving tea/coffee and cakes (all made by themselves) and two lunchtime settings at 12.00noon and 1pm the team were certainly kept busy.  A tremendous effort.  Well done Year 6, we hope you have raised enough for your Year 6 Year Books!

Queen of Wheatfield Arrives in Style!

Friday, June 22nd, 2012

Imogen Roberts sent us this report on the Jubilee Celebrations at Wheatfield Primary School, along with this fabulous montage of photos taken on the day.  What a brilliant day!

“On Thursday 31st May, Wheatfield School celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in true Wheatfield style!

To start the day, the whole school gathered on the playground with flags to welcome their special visitor…the Queen!

The Queen of Wheatfield School (Miss Dursley, the Headteacher) arrived chauffer driven by Miss Dixon’s Dad in his Morris Minor!  The children warmly welcomed the special visitor, bowing and curtseying as she greeted them. Matthew (RC) said to his teacher, “I know that voice!” and Yusef (RC) exclaimed, “The Queen sounds just like Miss Dursley!”

As the ‘Queen of Wheatfield’ took to her throne, everyone stood to sing the National Anthem accompanied by Yuqi (6AH) on the piano. Each Year Group entertained her with ‘something typically British’. Everyone did a brilliant job and acts included a Madness song by Year 2, and a Beatles medley from Year 6. Everyone sang ‘My Queen’ a song adapted for the occasion.

Each child received an engraved medal, partly funded by the Friends of Wheatfield to commemorate both the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics.

To finish the day the children had a Street Party in the hall, with Jubilee cake, biscuits and ice-cream. Charlotte (RC) remembered, ‘I liked the Street Party because we got to eat lots of food!’

It certainly was a day to remember, one to go down in our Wheatfield History book!”

Thank you Imogen for sharing your memories of the day.  I sure you will remember it for many years to come!

 

New date set to look for Lost Little Stoke Farm

Saturday, June 16th, 2012

Further to our previous article on this website and to the latest article on pages 6 and 7 in the Jun issue of Little Stoke Gifford Matters, a new date has been set to search for the Lost farm in Little Stoke. On Thursday 21 June Archeologist, Paul Driscoll, of South Gloucestershire C C, along with Martin Davis (author of the sell-out local history book The Farmer and the Golden Goose) will be leading an archaeological survey at the top end of Little Stoke Park, looking for the site of one of the five farms that once made up the hamlet. They know what the farm looked like in 1725 and one of the group, Janet Gallagher, daughter of Jim and Betty Wyatt, who were part of the Little Stoke Farm community from 1947, has painted an artist’s impression of the 1725 farm (above).

Any local residents interested in going along are very welcome. Paul and Martin will be at the top end of Little Stoke Park, by Clay Lane, from 10am. If wet they will meet at the Community Centre at the other end of the park. They will book a room there for map work and for processing the survey results. The plan is to make it an all day session so bring some sandwiches and coffee!

Bradley Stoke Festival Photos

Friday, June 8th, 2012

We hope that local residents enjoyed the Bradley Stoke Festival activities. We are delighted to share with you some great photos from the 3-day event – take a look at our flickr album and see if you can spot anyone you know!

Many thanks to local resident, Marcus Davies, who kindly took photos on behalf of Bradley Stoke Matters at Saturday’s fabulous event. If any other residents have special photos from the festival that they would like to share with us then please email them to jaci@bradleystokematters.co.uk

Wheatfield Drive Celebrates Jubilee with Street Parties

Monday, June 4th, 2012

One small group of Wheatfield Drive residents organised an informal street party at the end of their cul-de-sac, whilst another larger group clubbed together to hold an official Street Party today this afternoon. We visited both events and enjoyed the fantastic community atmosphere.

At the first event, there was the wonderful aroma of a bar-b-que while the children enjoyed apple bobbing in a well-decorated end of the cul-de-sac.

With a formal road closure between numbers 173 and 181, residents young and old enjoyed long tressle tables packed with jubilee goodies, fun and games and a good old-fashioned get-together. Residents saw this as a once in a life time opportunity to celebrate the Queen’s 60th Jubilee in style.  One of the organisers, Tracy Bees, told us “As a community we wanted to celebrate with the queen and give our children a legacy to remember, similar to the memories we have from our childhood of events like VE day, the Queens Silver Jubilee in 1977 and Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981. It also gives us the opportunity to meet our neighbours and develop community spirit; the importance of which the government has recognised and has set a target of 2 million street parties. We are one of these and are holding this event for all ages.”

The party had a red white and blue theme with banners (one 40 foot long!) flags, bunting etc and memorabilia for the children. A Faith supper started at 2pm with Jubilee cakes, cup cakes, tea and scones, paella and much much more. A number of family games and activities were also enjoyed, including: Dress the bin competition, Music from the last 60 years Scavenger hunt for children, Up and over game, Body transfers and face painting, Egg and spoon race, Giant Jenga Connect 4 and a Relay race

Tracy added “What has been amazing, is how everyone pitched in to organise this. We had several meetings; various jobs have been taken on by different people. Last Sunday, a large group of us decorated all the houses in bunting and flags, we even had teenagers getting out of bed early to help! Our road looks great.It has been fantastic getting to know everyone while organising this event. What’s more, on the day itself everyone is having a great time!!!”

Great Atmosphere at Preschool Picnic in the Park

Friday, June 1st, 2012

The Jubilee weekend and festival celebrations kicked off this morning with the annual Preschool Picnic in the Jubilee Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jubilee Green has had a name change with the unveiling this morning of a new plaque commemorating the park’s new “Fields in Trust” status.  This status ensures that the Queen Elizabeth II Field will remain a protected greenspace for future generations to enjoy as a park.

The Friends of Jubilee Green held a free craft session for youngsters to decorate their own bunting flag which proved very popular.  All the flags were then reunited to form a long strand of bunting which will be used tomorrow at the Festival to decorate the rock displaying the plaque.

The popular Circus tent was back with its usual array of hoops, cycles and juggling toys on offer and shows entertaining the toddlers and parents alike.  With a bouncy castle, bubbles, balloons and various craft stalls there was plenty to keep everyone amused with many enjoying their picnics despite the overcast sky.

The Friends of Jubilee Green also organised a fantastic free treasure hunt around the play area in which over 100 children participated.  Excited youngsters had to find 12 animal stickers to complete a farm picture before collecting their prize.

Tomorrow sees the main festival start from 11.30am at the Jubilee site with a packed programme of music and dance acts at the Jubilee Centre from 11.30am. Highlights include festival regulars Uncle Buck as well as up and coming local acts A Holiday Rumour and Little Intentions. There will be stalls and rides for the children as well as dog handling demonstrations and more. See further details and timings at: www.bradleystoke.gov.uk.

On Sunday 3rd June the focus switches to sport with the Bradley Stoke 10k around the Town and a 6 a-side cricket tournament at Bailey’s Court.

More photos from this morning can be seen on our on-line Flickr site.