Patchway Journal

An imposing new stained glass window recently installed at a local church has been attracting admiring comments from worshippers and members of the wider community.

The 22sqm window on the front aspect of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, which faces Patchway Roundabout (just off the A38), is composed of more than 440 individual panes of stained glass and was designed and manufactured by Bristol architectural and stained glass artist Stuart Low.

The window has been installed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Holy Family Church and has been funded by parishioners, who voluntarily paid £30 to sponsor an individual pane.

The initial idea for the window came from parishioner Felicity Harper and her sister, Pia. The pair worked together with parish priest Father Eugene Campbell to come up with a design and gain the approval of the church community.

Felicity and Pia then continued to progress the project, putting together a business plan and devising a sponsorship scheme to ensure that the total £18,000 cost of the work could be covered without drawing on parish funds.

The window was officially blessed by Fr Eugene during the 11am mass on Sunday 5th March, in the presence of the artist, Stuart Low, who has a studio in south Bristol (opposite Windmill Hill Farm).

More: Design is based on the phoenix being reborn from the embers »

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An unusual scene unfolded over the former Filton Airfield site on 8th March when a Chinook helicopter was drafted in to move a Sea Harrier ‘jump jet’ to its new home at the Aerospace Bristol museum, located just off Hayes Way on the Patchway side of the airfield.

To reach its new home inside a historic hangar that forms part of the new museum, the Sea Harrier had to be transported across a railway line and over Filton airfield. With no road bridge wide enough for it to cross, the RAF provided vital support with a Chinook from No 27 Sqn RAF Odiham and the RAF Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit (JADTEU) successfully lifting the aircraft to the Aerospace Bristol site.

Wing Commander Steve Bell, Chief of Staff at RAF Odiham, said:

“Getting the opportunity to assist with a complex operation of this nature is a challenge, but one for which the unique qualities of the Chinook helicopter, and it’s highly trained RAF crews, are ideally suited. Working with our colleagues from JADTEU in support of Aerospace Bristol, in the knowledge that they will be exhibiting this distinctive example of British Air Power to the public, has been an honour.”

Linda Coode, Collections Manager at Aerospace Bristol, added:

“We are thrilled to welcome the Sea Harrier to Aerospace Bristol and would like to thank the RAF for their tremendous support. We look forward to welcoming visitors this summer, when they will be able to see the Sea Harrier on display alongside many other exhibits; including its Bristol Siddeley-designed engine, which gave the aircraft its vertical and short take-off and landing capability, and is one of many important engines developed at Filton.”

More: Sea Harrier’s new home is a 100-year-old grade II listed hangar »

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The last Concorde ever to fly has safely completed her journey to Aerospace Bristol, a new £19m museum that is due to open this summer at a site on the Patchway side of the former Filton Airfield.

The complex move was conducted with the greatest care by engineers from British Airways and Airbus, who managed every facet of Concorde’s final journey. The iconic aircraft was towed across Filton runway and up a ramp into the new purpose-built hangar at Aerospace Bristol. The hangar, constructed by Kier, had a wall removed to allow the aircraft to enter the building and, with less than a metre between each wing tip and the building, Concorde was slowly and carefully winched into her exhibition position.

British Airways’ Concorde Alpha Foxtrot – also known as 216 – was the last Concorde to be built and the last to fly. She made her maiden flight on 20th April 1979 and touched down on her last flight to Filton on 26th November 2003. Since that landing, Alpha Foxtrot has stood alongside the Filton runway, cared for continuously by Airbus UK and remaining in remarkable condition. Now inside, she starts a new chapter as the centrepiece of the new Aerospace Bristol museum.

Iain Gray, Chairman of Aerospace Bristol, said:

“We couldn’t be more delighted to welcome Concorde 216 into her new purpose-built home at Aerospace Bristol. With such enthusiasm for Concorde in this country, and particularly in Bristol where she was designed, built and landed for the final time, it is only fitting that this magnificent aircraft should have a permanent home at Filton. I would like to thank all of our donors for helping to make Aerospace Bristol a reality and look forward to welcoming our first visitors on board this summer.”

More: Fundraising for the new museum is not yet complete »

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In recognition of the long and outstanding service given to the community, Patchway Town Council has used its powers under the Local Government act to confer the title of Honorary Freeman on Win Williams.

Mrs Williams is only the fourth person and first woman to receive this honour from the town council and the occasion was marked by the attendance of Cllr Erica Williams, chair of South Gloucestershire Council at a presentation ceremony held at the town council offices in Rodway Road on Thursday 12th January.

Mrs Williams was presented with a certificate, scroll and commemorative gift by Cllr Eve Orpen, chair of Patchway Town Council.

In her introductory speech, Cllr Orpen observed that Win had served the community in many ways over the past 30 years and that Patchway would be a poorer place without Win’s enthusiasm and dedication

Win is well-known within the community of Patchway for her tireless and selfless service and as someone who can be counted on to support events or organisations. Her contribution to the community of Patchway has included the following roles:

• Chairman of Patchway Festival for over 20 years, which has brought together all sections of the community
• Chairman, volunteer driver and major fundraiser of Patchway Minibus Committee
• Member of the Editorial Committee of Patchway People
• Governor of St Chad’s CofE Primary School
• Active member of St. Chad’s Church, serving on various committees
• Committee  member of Patchway Twinning Association and frequent host of visitors from France and Germany

More: Win has also held positions at two community centres in Patchway »

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