Twerton Village Hall is one of those pockets of activity that remains slightly detached from the wider community. Plans to integrate the hall with the community when it was upgraded for the millenium never fully worked out, and groups which meet there often do not advertise in the shop fronts along Twerton High Street. So you have to go in and look at the noticeboards if you really want to know what goes on.

One group which meets there on Sundays is the Twerton Fellowship. This group formed out of the congregations of the old Twerton Zion Methodist and Twerton Baptist churches, which have very long histories. The Twerton Fellowship has some web pages that you can read here.

Left: The Village Hall; right: the new Socatots group

A recent addition is the Socatots group which offers a soccer play programme for children aged 6 months to 5 years, on Saturdays at 11am. Some of the equipment is pictured below. The cost of membership and sessions is relatively high for this area, but leader Debbie Heywood would be interested in working with SureStart to secure some concessionary places in the future. For more information about Socatots see here.

There is a Weightwatchers group that meets on Tuesdays at 7pm, as well as a Kung Fu Club for all ages with lessons on Thursdays from 7pm to 8.30pm. Last year I visited a lively Karate Club with a great mix of young people and children which met in the hall. Sadly this seems to have finished, as an example of how the weekly life of the Village Hall can quickly change.

On Thursday 29th April at 6pm, there will be a Twerton Village Hall Annual General Meeting. The notice on the board says that all are welcome to attend.

Joe, 29/03/10

Vodafone has applied to install a 15 metre phone mast near the junction of Wedgewood Road and Poolemead Road. This is not very far away from Twerton Infant School where a lot of children from Twerton and Whiteway go.

If you want to oppose the application to install the phone mast on health grounds etc, the closing date is 15th April 2010. You can oppose it by following the link here and filling in the online form with your details and comments.

Health Trainer Jo Welch has printed some petitions to sign in protest against the proposed mast. If you or your organisation would like to sign one, or even help to fill one with objectors, contact her at: joannewelch08@yahoo.co.uk. We have a Forum thread on this subject here.

Joe, 28/03/10

Holiday play

Most groups run by First Steps in Twerton will be closed during the Easter holiday, from 2nd April until 19th April. The exceptions are: Holiday Play on Tuesdays from 10am to 12 noon, and Young Parents on Wednesdays from 1pm to 3pm. These are both held at First Steps Annexe, Dominion Road. Telephone 01225 314111.

The Bath Area Play Project website says that a playscheme will be held in The Hut at Newton Road, from 12th to 16th April. Parents must book in advance by completing a registration form and a booking form which can be downloaded here. There will also be a playscheme from 6th to 16th April at the Southside Youth and Community Centre, Kelston View. That playscheme is open access so no booking is necessary. Telephone 01225 832479.

Revamp of Southside Centre

The Southside Youth and Community Centre has just passed the final stage of the approval process for a £2.3 million pound revamp of the building and its facilities. Construction is scheduled to start in the summer and should be completed in less than a year.

The venue, which is to be completely remodelled and upgraded, will include a community cafe, music studio and sports facilities. Young people will be able to to take part in a greater range of activities such as basketball, trampolining and streetdance. To find out more, see the Council's news item here.

Green Life Skills

Bath City Farm is running a 10 week programme to help people develop back to work skills. It will include basic animal care, conservation and horticulture skills as well as learning about health and safety, budgeting and project planning.

The course starts on 14th April and will run on Mondays from 10am to 3pm and Wednesdays from 10am to 12.30pm. For more information or to enrol in the programme, please contact Helen Lerwill on 01225 481269.

Joe, 22/03/10

Did you know there that is a special section on the flickr photograph sharing website, where a group of photographers show the pictures they have taken in and around Twerton? Anyone can join this group and upload their photos of Twerton.

To visit the Twerton Photography section click here. Thanks to Mr John Rawlings for this information.

Joe, 14/03/10

Gosh, it took me back a few years seeing this photo of the old Badgerline number 10 to Southdown. These were Ford Transit minibuses but how long since they were in operation? The photo was taken in 1990 and is copyright of Claire Pendrous (used here with permission).

Does anyone remember travelling in these buses? I remember how the front wings were always dented like in the above example, because the bus company had trouble fitting the buses through the mechanical wash. The passenger seats had a synthetic fibre on the back which always seemed to make my hayfever worse.

Joe, 17/03/10

Farming course

The Community Learning Service will be running a seven week farming and gardening course at Bath City Farm, Kelston View, starting on 14th April. This free course is designed for people with few or no qualifications. To find out more, click here or telephone 01225 396192.

City looking good

Things are looking up for Bath City FC after they beat Thurrock 1-0 last Saturday. City had control for most of the game and Darren Edwards scored in the first half. The win means that Bath City go 3rd in the league, with a real chance to reach the play-offs for promotion to the Blue Square Premier League.

On Sunday 28th March at 7.30pm, the club will be holding a general knowledge quiz at Charlie's Bar, Bath City Football Ground, Twerton. The cost is £2 per person, with a maximum team size of 5. There will be prizes for 1st, 2nd and third place.

Armchair exercise

If you are 60 or over, and interested in doing some light exercises to improve your mobility and coordination, then try armchair exercise at Avondown House, The Hollow. The group is relaxed and friendly, and there is a fully qualified instructor. Sessions cost £2.50 and take place every Friday from 11.30am to 12.15pm. Telephone 01225 442047.

Joe, 09/03/10