Micheal Greaves sets out to answer a question many have been asking.

Those who walk over the Millennium Bridge to either stroll around the Green or make their way to school or the shops will notice something missing. All the fish in the River Yeo have disappeared.

A chance discussion with a fisherman on Christmas Eve, provided the answer. The River Yeo has been over fished on a massive scale. Nothing to do with Brexit or the EU quotas but cormorants. These large black birds with a formidable beak and the ability to swim under water have cleaned out the river.

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Prof Sir Steve Sparks

Professor Steve Sparks CBE has been knighted in the New Year’s Honours for his services to volcano research and geology. Steve, 68, lives in Brinsea Road with his wife Ann and is Chaning Wills Professor of Geology in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol.

The knighthood is the latest recognition of the influence of Sir Steve’s work. In 2015 he was awarded the Vetlesen Prize in the USA. The prize is awarded for scientific achievement resulting in a clearer understanding of the Earth, its history, or its relations to the universe and is regarded as the Nobel Prize of earth sciences. At the time, Sir Steve was praised for his “highly original and insightful contributions” to the understanding of volcanic eruptions. “His research has had a huge impact globally,” said Prof. Alex Halliday, vice president of the Royal Society.

Sir Steve was elected to the Royal Society in 1988 when he was just 38.

It was an apt ending to Margaret Gosling’s life, which was filled with flowers, that her funeral on December 18 took place in St. Andrew’s church, bedecked with Christmas flowers and floral decorations.

Born in East Dundry, Margaret inherited her love of flowers from her mother, who was an accomplished flower arranger, and a co-founder of the Chew Valley Floral Decoration Society.   After attending Dundry village school, Margaret started a family tradition by going to Redland High School for Girls.   Leaving at 17, she took a job at Long Ashton Research Institute, involved in research on the growth of fruit, and, with day release to college, gained her Licentiate of Royal Institute in Chemistry.

Margaret met her future husband, Donald, at a dance in Yatton Assembly Rooms (now the Railway Hotel) and they were married in October 1961 in Dundry, setting up home in the house in the yard of the family timber business in Congresbury, where she continued to live until her death at the age of 76.     Read more   

Edith Wilson: a friend to many

Many Congresbury villagers were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Edith Wilson, at the age of 82, after only a short illness.

Despite her small stature, Edith was a vibrant and engaging personality, involved in many aspects of village life, always ready to volunteer when help was requested, and a loyal and caring friend.

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Firefighters from Yatton & Weston battled a blaze in Oldfield Fish & Chip Shop in the Precinct at lunchtime on Tuesday 5th September. They managed to get the fire under control without anyone being injured.

Crews were called to the fish and chip shop in the precinct to reports of a blaze on the ground floor of a two storey building.  Once inside eight firefighters using breathing apparatus, a high pressure hose reel, a Co2 extinguisher and a dry powder extinguisher, battled to extinguish the fire.

The blaze caused damage to the ground floor takeaway, as well as smoke damage to the flat above. No one was injured in the blaze, which took two hours to bring under control, which is thought to have started accidentally.

It is not known when it will re-open.

Four of the seven finals at Clevedon’s annual bowls tournament were contested by Congresbury bowlers.

Clive Shipway and Roger Becker won the men’s pairs and Chris Wilcock, Jenny Byett and Angela Jones won the ladies’ triples. Dave Byett was runner-up in the men’s singles and Pat and Barry Baker were runners-up in the mixed pairs.

The annual Sportsmen’s Day, organised by the village bowling club, attracted more than 100 novice bowlers in a day-long tournament.

Winners were the Cleeve Cricketers – Terry Barter, David Lock, Mike Wilkinson and Jeff Rawles.

Second was the Bash Street Gang – Ian and Joe Crane, Chris Luke and Johnny Matthews.

Third was Yatton Gasheads – Ivor Watts, Stephen Lovell, Phil Arnold and Porsche (correct) Eade.

Fourth was the Cottage Loaf – Keith Westlake, Richard Aldridge and Pete and Glynis Woodhouse.

Bowls club president Don Manning presented the prizes.

The event was sponsored by Robin King Estate agents and Butcombe Brewery.

Competitor Ian Dickinson, of Well Park, said: “Congresbury is a special place and this event is an important part of making me feel connected with the village.”

Congresbury Bowling Club president Don Manning presents Cleeve Cricketers with their trophy and prize money after winning this year’s annual Sportsmen’s Day tournament.

Jonquil Brooks receiving the Darke cup from President, Ann Gunner, for the most points in the flower arranging classes at the 2017 Summer Flower Show last Saturday. Her charming miniature arrangement in a seashell and her exhibit in a kitchen utensil.     Her superb quilt, in a blue star design, was judged the best handicraft entry.

A PERFECT DAY!

It had everything for a perfect village fete – sublime weather (sunny, but not too hot), lots of people (old and young), plenty of dogs (but no dog fights), interesting variety of stalls and a good range of food and drink.    Villagers swarmed into St. Andrew’s church paddock to trawl the stalls, watch the dog show, partake of cider or Pimms, eat at the barbecue, and enjoy scrumptious home-made cream teas and cakes.    The marquee housing the Horticultural Society’s summer show was a riot of colour and perfume, with many outstanding exhibits and excellent children’s entries.

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