This month’s magazine is available for download as PDF. Here’s the introduction from the editor:

Happy New Year! Have you made your resolutions yet? Ken Gibson has a suggestion on page 2 if you are looking for inspiration.
2012 will see us celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and planning will start in earnest soon for a street party in Bitton to mark the occasion. If you’d like to be involved please get in touch.
I was so sorry to hear that Violet Payne had passed away. You may remember that Violet and her neighbour Rose featured on our front cover in July 2010. Sadly Rose has since died and now Violet too has passed away. Read Sarah Craddock’s tribute to Violet on page 9.
We send our best wishes to lay minister David Bailey and his wife Stephanie who are off to live in Australia for a while. David will be keeping in touch with us via Focal Point and we look forward to hearing how they are getting on.
And we send congratulations to Bitton Parish Council chairman Cllr Mike Thomas, who has been made an Honorary Alderman of South Gloucestershire Council, recognising 40 years of service to South Gloucestershire Council and its predecessors, including Warmley Rural District Council.
Would you like to get more involved in the community? Bitton Village Residents’ Association is currently without a chairman and would welcome inquiries from anyone interested in taking over the reins – contact Nicola Bebb, the BVRA secretary.
You will notice the cover price of Focal Point has gone up as we have to cover the rising costs involved with producing it. There is a discount for an annual subscription, which most of you have, so you are now paying £7 a year instead of £6 – still great value for what is an essential read!
Becky Feather