The South Glos Post

South Gloucestershire Council’s Celebrating Age Festival draws to a close this week but there is still time for over 50s to take part in a free ‘good health day’ on Thursday 30th June.

The event, aimed at people who are interested in maintaining good health and keeping active, is being held at Yate library between 11am and 3pm.

On offer will be information from more than 30 organisations and health professionals.

You can have a free blood pressure check, get information about the council’s handy van service for minor repairs to your property, find out about our programme of walks in your area and for older people who find it difficult to cut their toe nails, you can get them done for free if you turn up at the library on June 30th. Free eye screening is also available.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council

South Gloucestershire Council will be showing its support for Britain’s servicemen and women by hosting a special event in Staple Hill to mark Armed Forces Day on Saturday 25th June.

The event will include a parade of veterans, military vehicles and marching bands starting at 11:30am. There will also be events in Page Park from 10:30am to 4pm with activities for all the family to enjoy.

As part of the formal proceedings, General Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff and professional head of the Army will take the salute as the parade marches past, and the drumhead ceremony – a long standing tradition for military days – will be led by Reverend Roy Harrison. Also in attendance will be Air Vice Marshal Simon Bollom.

Also as part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations, Staple Hill Library will be holding an evening with an ex-Royal Marine who will be giving a first hand account of life in the Marines.

He will be talking about why he enlisted, the training and what life in the forces is like including being under fire in various scenarios around the world. This is a unique opportunity to listen to find out more about our armed forces; the friendships that are built and the stresses of for both the service personnel and their families. The event will be on Wednesday 29th June 2011 at 7:30 in Staple Hill Library.

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The Avon Valley Railway (Bitton) has been announced as one of 130 winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for groups of volunteers who work in their local community for the benefit of others.

This prestigious UK National Honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged to be of the highest standard.

Avon Valley Railway has received the award for restoring and preserving the local railway heritage, providing a leisure facility and operating its trains for educational and instructional purposes.

Those receiving this year’s award were selected from 413 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.

Avon Valley Railway received a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty’s representative in the ceremonial county of Gloucestershire (which includes South Gloucestershire Unitary Authority) Dame Janet Trotter at a special ceremony arranged by the Lieutenancy office.

The group has also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

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Staff and pupils at Emersons Green Primary School are having a double celebration, as the school’s 10th birthday coincides with an “outstanding” report from schools regulator Ofsted.

The school was inspected in May, and was one of the first to be inspected nationally as part of a new pilot being run by Ofsted. It achieved “outstanding” ratings in leadership and management, achievement, teaching and learning, and behaviour and safety.

The report said the school has “An exciting curriculum, with a fully inclusive range of opportunities, helps pupils develop into responsible youngsters, well prepared for the next step in their education.”

“Since the last inspection, the inspirational leadership and management continue to relentlessly raise expectations in teaching and learning. This has led to consistently very effective teaching and higher academic standards.”

Headteacher Jan Isaac said: “We are all thrilled by the results of this inspection and it is a testament to the dedication of the staff, pupils, parents and governors that our overall effectiveness should be judged as outstanding. Our challenge now is to maintain and build upon this success for the future.”

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