Luigi's Barber Shop.

Luigi Armato has been running his business, 'Luigi's Barber Shop' in Shirehampton's High Street for just over six years.

Luigi originally trained as a women's hairdresser and a barber. It took four years to train with three years doing women's hair dressing and then a year barbering. I prefer to be a barber and originally set up my business in Clifton village. I stayed there for three years before I decided to sell up and move to Shirehampton. It's been an excellent few years here. Business went a bit quiet when The Original Factory Shop closed but it has picked up again since B&M Express opened.

I like the social aspect of being a barber. Chatting with our customers on whatever subject is popular at the time. We talk about work, hobbies, interests for example. If the customer wants a change of hairstyle then there are hundreds to choose from. The trends keep changing and we keep up with the fashion so everyone looks modern. If someone is unsure what they want then we can advise on haircuts but in the end its down to the customer what he wants. It's very much a customer orientated barber shop.

We do student discounts and OAP rates for our customers. We can do babies haircuts but our age range is varied from young children to our older senior citizens. There are a lot of father's and son's haircuts too. I just hope our customers enjoy their time with us, like our attitude and approach to barbering. We like to welcome our customers anytime.

When asking his thoughts about the High Street Luigi said. We have the Co‐op, that is always going to bring in customers but with B&M Express and the High Street Market, that should bring in more customers and increase footfall for the area. Of course the High Street is a bit up and down at times but hopefully things will turn around for the better in the future for Shire.

You can find Luigi's Barber Shop at 60 High Street, Shirehampton. Opening times Monday to Friday 8am ‐ 5pm and Saturday 7.30am ‐ 3pm. You can call: 0117 2440094 for Further information.

Kathryn Courtney

Beau's Bouquets.

Many High Streets are struggling and trying to attract people to shop locally has been a challenge. However if we want our High Street to remain we need variety and try to shop local.

'Beau's Bouquets' in our High Street has filled a gap that was left by our former Florist Shop due to retirement.

Amy has been a florist for over a year. She opened Beau's Bouquets at the Butcher's Yard in the High Street just after Valentine's Day this year. Although her pop up shop is open on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 10am ‐ 2pm, Amy works six days a week, making bouquets, doing flower arrangements for every occasion and delivering them to loved ones.

It was a hobby to begin with. I think it chose me rather than the other way round. Last year I struggled with my mental health and to help me recover my mum booked me into a flower arranging course. From there I started posting my arrangements online and had people asking if they could buy them. With encouragement from a friend I set up a facebook page and then later, a web site. After that I got busier.

I originally wanted to find a job as a florist in a shop but after six months I didn't get anywhere. Paul Wood suggested to open up a pop up shop in the Butcher's Yard and since then things have been going really well for me.

I said to Amy that she would be an inspiration for others, but she was rather humble about that comment saying It's really nice to hear that.

I am a florist, a floral designer. I really love working with flowers, colours, smells and the things you can create with flowers. I have my own kind of style and like to make sure people get something that is personal to them for any occasion. I offer a free consultation to potential customers to discuss what they want whether for weddings, birthdays, funerals or just to send as a thank you. I also provide fresh flowers in my pop up shop during the week and have a limited selection of plants, such as herbs, edible items and indoor plants on offer. I hope my flowers make people happy and want to thank everyone who has supported me the past year and also my customers.

You can find Beau's Bouquets at The Butcher's Yard in Shirehampton High Street, or Facebook, also www.beausbouquets.co.uk or call 07854 281706 for further information.

Kathryn Courtney

As a former member of Bristol Library Service staff and a professionally qualified librarian, I’m a big supporter of public libraries. Here’s my case for keeping all our branch libraries open, and bringing back services to places that no longer have them.

What Do Libraries Offer?

Public libraries have always offered free access to books and information. If you want to read for pleasure, research a topic for school or college, or simply find local/contact information, you would visit the library, where you could find a book or ask a member of staff. Of course we now live in the ‘digital age’. We can find out whatever we want to know online and, instead of reading, relax in front of a box set so some might ask why do we still need libraries or books?

Reliable Information

The problem is that we often don’t know what’s true and what’s ‘fake news’ from an internet search. That’s one reason why I think we need libraries more than ever. Bristol libraries have subscriptions to a variety of online information sources, from trusted providers, via the 24 Hour Library. Many of these resources are available from home for library card holders but for those who don’t have access, or just aren’t sure, library staff can help you use them in branch. They are also a good place to go for anyone who doesn’t use the internet, or needs help using it. If you don’t have a computer/smart phone/tablet, there are bookable computers in every library in the city and there’s usually someone who can help you use them

Reading

Literacy is still one of the most important life skills and you can never be too well-read! Reading for pleasure is proven to be beneficial to mental and emotional wellbeing for young and old. It is also increases empathy, another important life skill. Older people can benefit from continuing to read and there is evidence that it could slow down the onset of dementia. Young children love to touch and hold books and they also love being read to. Not all parents are confident readers but a visit to the library, to a rhyme-time or story-time session takes the pressure off the adult. It is fun for the child, encourages creativity, helps them understand new ideas and gets them ready to start reading themselves.

Public Space

Libraries are open to everyone and they can often be the only place that people can go to where they won’t be asked why they are there or be expected to buy something. Libraries are wheelchair-accessible and welcoming to people who might not otherwise see anyone all day. They provide informal meeting spaces, as well as welcoming groups, such as book clubs, knitters & natterers or local history groups. They give lonely people a reason to leave the house.

Why Local?

Central Library is great and I would recommend everyone visits and uses it as often as they can. However, if you are elderly or disabled, have young children, or are on a low income, a trip to town is not always an option. Having a local library service, a short journey from home, can make a real difference to your quality of life.

Community Hubs

A more recent idea is to combine a variety of local services, including libraries, in one building. A community hub is about to be constructed in Lawrence Weston, which has been without a library for many years now. I, for one, really hope that we can bring this important service back to a community of nearly 11,000 people.

The Future

The current Labour-run Council is committed to retaining all of Bristol’s libraries. A new strategy is being written as we speak, with a focus on keeping libraries in the heart of communities, with users having a say in how they are run and what services they offer. So, if you’re not already a library user, visit your local library and join. If you love your library service, or even if you think there’s room for improvement, why not join your local library’s ‘friends’ group and help make it the library you want it to be.

The Community Plan Steering Group met with Councillor Asher Craig recently to discuss progress in delivering on the Community Plan.

Councillor Craig was impressed with all that has been accomplished so far and promised her support for the High Street Markets and for efforts to improve the street scene on the High Street, which have been delayed. Councillor Craig wanted us to know that the Council is working to make itself an enabler of local communities whose first response to local projects should be How can we help?

Friends of Shire Library will receive a thousand pounds from a new fund to help Friends of Library Groups develop innovative ideas for their local library. A further £3,000 will be available for each library, with bids accepted from community groups, local businesses and individuals. The Friends of Shire Library plan to use the money to support the Shire Living Room@Shire Library.

The Climate Emergency Group continues to meet regularly on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. In October they hosted two talks at the regular meetings. Robin Maynard of Population Matters talked about the environmental impact of over‐population and associated over‐consumption on climate. David Tudgey of the Bristol Energy Network talked about conserving energy in our homes. There will be another day of talks about what we can do to mitigate climate change on Saturday, 23rd November at St Mary's Church from 10:00 ‐ 13:00. Meetings are open to all and talks are free.

We have had a successful Summer with lots of events happening at the club.

The Fun Day on 1 June attracted families from the local community and we were blessed with good weather and once again was a great day.

We held several events including a Cider and Cheese night with the popular Fred Bloggs Band, live music on the patio, Lee's Karaoke, and solo singers in the lounge on Saturday nights.

Some of the regular activities held at the club include Skittles, Bowls, Youth Football, Sky and BT Sports, Darts, Line Dancing, Zumba, Martial Arts, Bristol Jazz, Ceroc Dancing, Stroke Club, PBA Pensioners, Ladies singing club.

The club has an exceptional space for hire for private parties, seminars, training sessions and if a smaller space is required the skittle alley is available weekends only. We also have outside space for when the weather is kind to us.

Annual General Meeting

14 November 2019 at 8.15 pm

All members are welcome to come along, we have guest speakers and exciting news to share with our members regarding the vision of the future for the PBA Club.

A day nursery in Shirehampton is celebrating its ‘Good’ Ofsted rating following its latest inspection by the governing body.

Mama Bear's Day Nursery & Pre‐School in Grove Leaze, Shirehampton was rated Good in all areas including management, teaching, personal development, behaviour, welfare and outcomes for children.

Staff at the nursery have been praised for their patience and responsive support of children, with the report saying they are kind, friendly and attentive to children's needs. Detailed observations are used to identify next steps in the children's learning and partnerships with parents are good.

Mama Bear's Shirehampton Nursery Manager, Nicola Lane, said: We are thrilled to have been awarded a Good Ofsted rating and very proud to receive such a glowing report. It's great to be recognised for our hard work and the whole team is pleased to have retained our Good rating.

Mama Bear's Day Nursery and Pre‐school in Shirehampton is based in a wonderful 19th century farmhouse just off the A4 Portway, close to the M5 and Avonmouth 902 Park & Ride.

The family‐run Mama Bear's Day Nurseries provide care for children from three months to five years. There are now 23 settings across Somerset, Bristol and Devon.

Oh La La Ladies Day at Kingsweston House

Saturday 28th September Shire Christmas Illuminations hosted a Ladies Day at Kingsweston House.

It was a fantastic day and lovely to see all the ladies looking glam!

All money raised will go towards improving the xmas lights display in the village.

Thanks you to all who supported the event.

The Island Bohemian Bowling Club has been rolling woods on Fry Island at Caversham since 1909, a long time and a lot of bowling.

The City and Port of Bristol Bowling Club has been fortunate in visiting this unique location where else do you go bowling by boat and bowl in the middle of a river ‐ twice. But the bowlers of the island only play mixed friendly games away from their home a few times each season and they are selective about where that is. So it was a great honour that they decided to come and bowl in Shirehampton on September 15th.

Bowling on all six rinks is always special and this was no exception. To see the green full of bowlers is great and it was a very enjoyable afternoon. At the end of it was an excellent buffet and when it was over the visitors sang their traditional We are the bowlers of the Island song. It was a highly enjoyable occasion and great to see bowlers remembered from the two visits once again.

The following week‐end on September 22nd saw the re‐arranged Two Wood Pairs competition played.

With sixteen entries it was possible to have eight pairs drawn from two pots playing five games of thirty minutes duration to decide the winners.

At the end of the afternoon just one pair were undefeated ‐ two Kens, Davies and Grimes scored maximum points to take the trophy. Worthy runners up were John Conroy and Shirley Callaghan who won four and drew one.

The following day saw Ken Davies in action once again, this time against Julie Looker for the Presidents Cup. This is a competition played annually between the previous year's winners of the Gents and Ladies four wood singles to decide who is overall Club Champion.

Julie started well, taking three shots on the first end but it was Ken who forged ahead and eventually won by twenty one shots to seven in what was a well contested game.

On the last day before the green closed on October 1st the twice postponed Club Cup Final was played between Nomads and A.N.Other.

Having already won the league, Nomads, captained by Charlie Maby were seeking to do the double but Dawn Evans A.N.Other stood in their way and after a well contested game it was A.N.Other who came out in front to take the trophy.

The club is sorry to see Elaine and David Williams leaving the area. Elaine has been a bowler at the City and Port for twenty years and in that time represented the club on many occasions as well as winning club competitions, playing many mixed friendly games and playing in the club league. As well as bowling, Elaine has been very supportive of the club and her husband David spent time looking after the garden at the green for a considerable time.

A new arrival at the green ‐ a splendid metal bench in memory of Cora and Harry Thompson given by the Thompson family to remember the many happy hours spent at the green by their parents.