Bristol BMX Club has scooped the 2012 Patchway Community Club Grassroots Award.

Organised by Patchway Sports Association, the competition is a celebration of sport for Patchway, which this year saw nine clubs nominated. The awards evening was hosted by Patchway Sports and Social Club on Sunday 21st October and on the night over 100 people were also treated to a dynamic judo display by Patchway Judo Club.

The Grass Roots award went to Bristol BMX Club for their efforts as volunteers providing year-round BMX facilities open to the public and racing every Wednesday from April to September, with a winter series one Sunday a month from October to March. The club has been running for over 30 years and is based at The Tumps in Waterside Drive.

Open for riders of all abilities, the club’s membership has had a huge boost since the London 2012 Olympics, and has risen from 120 to a record 151 riders, many of whom turn up every week to race including boys and girls aged 4 and over to adults up to 50 years old.

The club is a non-profit organisation, with any profit made being ploughed back into track maintenance to keep the facilities up to a high standard.

Riders have represented the club at regional and national level, and even at world level, and have been lucky enough to have coaching sessions provided by Olympic coach Marcus Bloomfield, who was a member of Bristol BMX Club in his youth.

The Patchway Community Sports Association is supported by South Gloucestershire Council working in partnership with Patchway Town Council, Patchway Community College, Circadian Trust and local sports clubs.

Roger Loveridge, Chair of Patchway Community Sports Association, said:

“It was a great evening. We are really pleased that Bristol BMX won the award because they are one of those clubs who work tirelessly all year round and this will help raise the profile of the work they do. The facilities need to be updated so hopefully this will help the club.”

More: The full list of clubs nominated for the award »

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Patchway Community College has been praised by Ofsted inspectors who have awarded the school a ‘good’ grading under the new, more rigorous Ofsted regime.

Patchway is the first secondary school in South Gloucestershire to be inspected under the tougher Ofsted regime. In their report, inspectors praised the school’s results, noting: “Regardless of their starting points, ability or special educational needs, all groups of students make better progress than their peers nationally.”

The school received a ‘good’ grading in all four inspection categories of Achievement, Teaching, Behaviour & Safety and Leadership.

Headteacher Jane Millicent was also singled out for praise in the report for “very clear and passionate leadership”, with inspectors commenting that her leadership ensures “there is a continuous drive for improvement” which is supported by “good leadership at all levels”.

The report also praised the headteacher’s focus on the quality of teaching, which inspectors identified as key to the school’s success. They commented that in lessons, “teachers are well aware of the needs of individual students in their classes”” Provision for students eligible for the Government flagship pupil premium funding was described as being “at a very high standard”.

Mrs Millicent said:

“This Ofsted judgement is a validation of all the success and progress seen at Patchway over the past few years. Students here make exceptional progress and are given individual attention to make sure each and every one of them fulfils their potential.”

“The staff at Patchway are fantastic and work as a committed team to create a high standard of education for the community. I am so pleased that the inspection has also recognised the happy, safe and caring environment which we have created here for our students.”

More: More reaction from Governors and local Councillors »

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Patchway has plenty of events to keep the children occupied this half-term, with Halloween parties at the two community centres and a fireworks display on The Tumps.

Patchway Community Centre, in Rodway Road, is holding its family Halloween Party on Saturday 27th October, between 7pm and 11pm. Admission is free and everyone is invited to come dressed as their favourite spooky character and join in the fun. Activities on offer will include: ‘meet the witch’, disco, face painting, best costume competition, best carved pumpkin competition (bring your own ready-carved pumpkin) and party games (for adults and children). Proceeds from the event will go towards the centre’s rebuilding fund.

Another Halloween Party is being held on Thursday 1st November, in the Brooks Cafe at Coniston Community Centre. Aimed at families and young people up to 14 years of age, the event promises to be a ghoulishly fun-filled FREE afternoon (usual cafe prices apply). Activities will include fancy dress, ‘wrap the mummy’, face painting (£1), arts & crafts and much more.

Patchway Community Centre is also inviting everyone to a Fireworks Display at The Tumps (Waterside Drive) on Friday 2nd November, between 5:30pm and 7:30pm. Hot food, stalls and entertainment will be available. Tickets are £4 in advance (from the community centre) or £5 on the night. All proceeds will go to the centre’s rebuilding fund.

Other events planned for next week include a hand bell ringing session and a ‘discover dinosaurs’ family activity at Patchway Library and a ‘fungi foray’ at Patchway Greenspaces. More details of these and other events can be found in our What’s On guide.

The half-term holiday will also give local families a chance to collect their FREE tickets to The Mall’s Christmas Lights Switch-On Concert, featuring JLS. The event takes place on Thursday 8th November and 500 tickets are being given away every day from the Information Desk at The Mall. There is a suggested minimum donation of £2 per ticket, with 100% of proceeds going to support Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal. For more information on ticket giveaways and terms and conditions visit www.mallcribbs.com.

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Police are appealing for help to catch thieves who stole cash from a 92-year-old woman’s home in Stoke Lodge, Patchway.

It happened at about 1pm yesterday, Thursday 18th October, in the Stoke Lane/Amberley Road area.

The lady was taking an afternoon nap when two men came into her home through an unlocked door and took the cash from her bag. She woke and sent them on their way.

A blue tipper-type truck was seen in the area recently and police say they are keen to trace the occupants.

Anyone with any information which could help with enquiries is asked to call South Gloucestershire CID on 101. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 (they never ask your name or trace your call).

The incident happened as officers across South Gloucestershire were targeting doorstep criminals and offering crime prevention advice to vulnerable elderly people.

• Across South Gloucestershire, police stopped and checked vans, working with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the DVLA to target so-called ‘rogue traders’ – people who target vulnerable householders and either carry out unnecessary or shoddy maintenance work, overcharge, or even demand money for work they have not completed.
• PCSO Mike Holton joined forces with South Gloucestershire Council’s Community Care and Housing Department at a Get Involved, Get Connected event at Staple Hill Methodist Church on Thursday October 18 aimed at people aged over 50. He talked to around 30 people and gave out leaflets with home security advice.
• Bradley Stoke PCSO Kirsty McKillop spent two days with Meals on Wheels, visiting vulnerable elderly people in their homes to give them crime prevention advice.

Photo: Stoke Lane, Stoke Lodge, near Amberley Road Baptist Church.

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