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

Rain and roadworks sum up the start of 2012 in Bitton – we’ve had an excess of both! In January 2011 we were in the grip of the Big Freeze. So far this year we have had some astonishingly mild temperatures – apparently we are on track for one of the mildest winters since records began more than 350 years ago. And of course we’ve had more than our fair share of rain, with the River Boyd rising dramatically in early January.
Our front cover this month is a tribute to a much-loved member of our community, Sybil Watts, who has died at 97. Sybil had a long association with Focal Point – for 17 years she did the job that I do now, but in the days before new technology, putting together all the material for each issue on a manual typewriter and using a Gestetner machine. Read more about her life on pages 17 & 18. The picture of her on the cover, with Maureen Perrett, left, and Pearl Evans, right, was taken by Barry Smale in 2008.
There is also a tribute in this issue (page 17) to Bert Saunders, from Swineford, who has died at the age of 93.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 22) when we traditionally give something up. But vicar Paul Denyer is suggesting we should also ‘take something up’ for Lent. Churchwarden Barbara Merritt explains all on page 16.
The long-awaited Bitton Parish Plan was published in January. It represents the views and hopes of those who live and work here. Congratulations to all those involved in producing this document which will help shape what happens in our community for years to come. See pages 25 & 26.

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

What a year it’s been! And what a lot we have to look forward to in Bitton in 2012, what with another street party planned, this time for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in early June, plus the Olympic torch passing through Bitton in May on its way to the London Games! Find out more on page 11.
There is also the exciting possibility of a link between Bitton and the world-famous Kew Gardens in London, re-establishing the connection made in the 19th century by the Ellacombe vicars. Read Bob Willis’s interesting report on page 14.
And we will be able to toast in the New Year at the White Hart, which opened in early November after being closed for nearly three years. Kingswood MP and Bitton resident Chris Skidmore cut the ribbon at the official opening on the morning of November 4, and that evening the pub was packed to the rafters. It was a good night!
This time last year it was announced that the United Reformed Church, also known as the chapel, in Upton Cheyney was to close permanently. But the community has rallied to save it and the church has gone from strength to strength, as Stuart Turner has been reporting for us over the months. Read his latest update on pages 10 & 11.
Also in this issue there’s all the information you need to take you through the festive season in and around Bitton.
Like most of you, I am looking forward to seeing Bitton’s Christmas tree all lit up, and to the carol singing on the 21st, which begins at the tree at 6.30pm.
I wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year and look forward to continuing as editor in 2012.
Becky Feather

November 2011 Focal Point

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

The new managers of the White Hart pub, Chris and Wendy, received a warm welcome at the AGM of Bitton Village Residents’ Association in October. There was a spontaneous round of applause for the couple, who came to the meeting to introduce themselves and find out more about the village that is their new home. They have come from Yeovil where they ran a pub but they are no strangers to Bristol, having once run The Huntsman at Downend. It is hoped that the White Hart, which has been closed for three years, will finally reopen this month. We look forward to bringing you a report of the opening in the next issue!
Also at the AGM, the BVRA committee made a presentation to Cllr Mike Thomas to thank him for his much-valued contribution to the association over the years. Mike is currently chairman of Bitton Parish Council and was our representative on South Gloucestershire Council for many years until the elections in May of this year.
Our cover picture was taken at the community consultation drop-in session about Aubrey Meads Play Area that was held at the church hall. Everyone in the village received letters inviting them to the session which gathered more feedback about how the play area might be improved. We now learn that South Gloucestershire Council has nominated Aubrey Meads to become a designated Queen Elizabeth II field in honour of the Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Turn to page 17 to find out more about the consultation and how you can show your support.
As we prepare to mark Remembrance Day, Ken Gibson looks at the work of the Royal British Legion in our Who Are Our Neighbours? series.
Also inside this month, we bring you news of The Meadows Primary School’s good Ofsted report and advance notice of Christmas events! Where has the year gone?

October 2011 Focal Point

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

Did anyone see Jonny Wilkinson in Bitton a few weeks back? The rugby star was a guest at a wedding at St Mary’s, and churchwarden Barbara Merritt says he signed the visitors’ book!
I may have missed Jonny but was lucky enough to meet another great sporting hero, Ian Holloway, in September. The Blackpool FC manager, who used to play for and manage Bristol Rovers, was invited to open the new community sports centre at his alma mater, Sir Bernard Lovell School in Oldland Common, which has fantastic facilities, including the courts used by Bitton Tennis Club.
It was the first time Ian had gone back school he left 32 years ago, although he still has close ties locally; his sister Sue lives in Bitton and his mum in Cadbury Heath. He admitted that the visit was emotional for him and his wife Kim, also an ex-pupil.
And no doubt two big school reunions taking place this month will reignite memories for many local people. Anyone who was a pupil (or taught) at any of the three schools in Oldland between 1950 and 1960 is invited to a reunion at SBL on October 22. Meanwhile pupils who started at Kingsfield (now King’s Oak Academy) in 1967 or 1968 are invited to a reunion also being held on that Saturday. Details of both events are on page 13.
Renovation work continues at the White Hart but we still had no firm completion date as we went to print. And in an interesting twist, a ‘To Let’ sign went up at the former Intier factory site the day before we went to print.
The derelict 24-acre site, which is earmarked for housing, recently changed hands. Could the ‘industrial premises’ there really be resurrected? It will no doubt be a subject for discussion at the residents’ association AGM, details of which are on page 22.

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

Work is well under way on refurbishing the White Hart and there is talk of the pub reopening this autumn. Scaffolding went up in mid-August at the inn, which has been closed since Christmas 2008 and has become an eyesore and a target for thieves.
Meanwhile the new Rec clubhouse is now open. A crowd of 1,000 people turned up to see Bitton AFC take on Bristol Rovers to mark the opening. Read the report on page 18.
In his column, vicar Paul Denyer tackles the subject of the riots that swept the country in August and offers his thoughts on why we saw such destructive scenes.
Flicks in the Sticks is back on September 16! Turn to page 15 to find out what film will be kicking off the new season.
Have you been up to Bitton Station to see the gorilla? It’s part of a public art trail in the Bristol area. See page 17.
Also in Focal Point this month, discover how lock keepers at the famous Caen Hill flight on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire are using coal ash donated by our very own Avon Valley Railway to maintain water levels.
Blackberries are in plentiful supply on hedgerows in and around Bitton so get picking! We’ve got two delicious recipes for you on pages 20 and 21 – blackberry jam and blackberry smoothie.
See you at the one of the highlights in Bitton’s calendar – our medieval church fete on the first Saturday in September!

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

August kicks off with Bitton AFC taking on Bristol Rovers to mark the opening of the new clubhouse on the Bath Road which is looking fantastic. What a great new facility for the village. The friendly takes place at the Recreation Ground on Monday, August 1 at 7.45pm. Go along and cheer them on if you can!
Vicar Paul Denyer tells us on page 3 about exciting plans to put Bitton on the tourist map by opening up St Mary’s as a heritage site. Our lovely church is deemed to be one of the most important in England so why not tell everyone how special it is! Let’s hope lots of people come along to the heritage open day at the church on Saturday, September 10. Find out more about this event on page 9.
Judging has now taken place for Bitton in Bloom but the results won’t be officially announced until the presentation evening at the end of September. Congratulations and a big thank you to everyone who has worked so hard and made the parish look lovely for the benefit of us all.
Did you know that Bitton Station has hosted its first ever wedding after obtaining a licence for civil ceremonies? Read the story on page 12.
We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for Kevin Harrison, who is on our front cover this month – he’s in the running for the prestigious title of Sheep Farmer of the Year. Just to make it to the shortlist is a great achievement. See the story on page 18.
Talking of awards, the Upton Inn is on the shortlist for the first ever Annual Kingswood Community Pub Award so good luck to them too!
There’s no gardening report from Rob Allen this month but he will be back in September. There are also no meetings of the Tea Club in August but again they will resume in September.

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

The weather was so awful for the Bitton Open Gardens event in June but it didn’t deter the hardy who came dressed for it.
Ironically, after such a dry spring, gardeners had been looking forward to some rain, but the timing wasn’t good!
I visited the Watsons’ inspirational garden, which goes all the way down to the Boyd Brook, the Knights’ garden at Church Farm Paddock, with its charming brook, and the Boultons’ quintessential English garden that backs on to the churchyard, before heading home to dry out! Let’s hope that next year, Open Gardens is luckier with the weather.
As you will know, Maria Shepherdson left us at the end of May, heading off to Wiltshire and a parish of her own. Maria is on our cover this month, pictured at her last service at St Mary’s, and Ann Willis has penned a tribute – see page 4.
Congratulations are in order for Avon Valley Railway Heritage Trust at Bitton Station, which has been honoured by the Queen. Read more on page 13.
This month our resident beekeeper Brenda Claxton offers advice on what to do if you come across a swarm. In recent weeks several people have called me, wanting to get in contact with Brenda because they’ve had thousands of bees swarming in their garden. Read her helpful article on pages 17-18.
Like me, I expect you have been astonished by the speed with which the new Rec clubhouse has gone up. It’s due to open in August and will be a most valuable asset to the whole village.
See you next month. In the meantime, let’s hope for some more seasonal weather!

This is the biggest issue of Focal Point that I’ve produced so far! Put your feet up and settle down for a good read.
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Royal Wedding street party. Thank you to everyone who came, despite the heavy rain, thunder and lightning that was forecast, but never actually materialised. See the report on page 12.
The treasure hunt set on the day by Richard Bebb was very popular. If you didn’t get the chance to do it, fear not – its here in Focal Point this month, starting on page 14.
I was also delighted to hear from Stuart Turner that the Royal Wedding celebrations in Upton Cheyney were equally successful and enjoyable. Read his report on page 11.
We will be having another street party in Bitton next June to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, when we can look forward to a special four-day bank holiday weekend. If you have any ideas for the party, or want to be involved in any way, get in touch with me. Details will follow in due course.
May was a momentous month for Bitton Rec; the old timber building was demolished and work has already begun on building the replacement. See page 25.
We have a new column this month, written by Jamie Pike, landlord of the Upton Inn (starting on page 21). And at the time of going to press, there were workmen at the White Hart, which has been closed now for two-and-a-half years. Is a reopening date close? Watch this space.
Oh, want to know what life was like in Bitton under William the Conqueror? Turn to page 10!
Perhaps I’ll see you at the Bitton Open Gardens event on Sunday, June 12, one of my favourite days in our community’s calendar.
Best wishes

Will the unseasonal, yet wonderful weather we’ve had during the latter half of April last into May? I do hope so!
Sadly, bad weather put paid to The Meadows Primary School’s plans to holding their carnival on the field in their last week of term, but that did not stop the pupils having a marvellous time as you will see from our colourful cover. See a report on page 22.
The new salon at the old post office is now open – and they are delighted to offer Focal Point readers a discount on all services during May. See page 27.
Although it’s great to see the shop back in use, our pub is still lying empty. And at the derelict Intier factory, for which South Gloucestershire planners are considering the concept of a development drawn up by agents Colliers for the site owners, no news is expected until mid-summer. The council has said it cannot prepare and issue its assessment of the document until after the local elections.
Talking of which, we go to the polls in early May, voting not just for a district councillor and parish councillors, but on the referendum on AV, the alternative vote. See page 15.
Also in Focal Point this month, Barbara Merritt brings us news that the chamber organ in the Lady Chapel of St Mary’s is off to a prestigious new home. And we reflect on The Iniquitous Voyage, which premiered at St Mary’s, with a review and reports by the playwright/director and youngest cast member.
There is also an update on saving Upton Cheyney’s United Reformed Church from closure.
You may receive this edition before our Royal Wedding street party on April 29. Let’s hope it stays dry! A big thank you to everyone who has helped in some way. There are so many of you!