I have to admit it – l am a numbskull! I had no idea my ‘planned’ trip to Bristol was going to panic a dear friend l was travelling by train to see for the first time in a couple of years!
When she read a text message to say l was on my way – this Thursday, September 19th – Mrs Polly Lloyd at first thought she had blundered in putting our long-awaited meeting in her diary for Friday, September 26th.
However, it was me who had mixed up the date ( l have a habit of doing this!) but, with me on foot from Temple Meads and the clock ticking towards 11am (our agreed time) it was a case of dropping her garden trowel and jumping into a taxi.
Oh Polly – you are a dear (and understanding) friend. Just as well we had all those years of television fun two decades and more ago.
Many a programme and adventure came our way before we were all called up to be told HTV West was no more.
Polly was there to meet me in front of one of the large cargo cranes outside M Shed. These electric monsters manufactured – of course- by Stothert and Pitt here in Bath.
I took a few images along the way this morning. Starting on the forecourt at Temple Meads where newly-installed bollards put our puny ones to shame.
Good to see the folk at St Mary Redcliffe doing their bit for nature on the church lawns.
Then l chanced upon an interesting poster. Inviting people to comment on city centre transport changes. The words to ‘prepare for more people living in and travelling through’ (Bristol City Centre) resonated with me.
Here in Bath we are seeing more people return to the city’s heart – and they aren’t all students. The supermarkets are cashing in on this trend bu opening mini-market outlets and the spread of coffee houses and fast-food businesses is evidence of catering for a growing local community.
Bristol wants to improve walking and cycling routes and ‘introduce more landscaping, seating and art and culture space.’ Bath needs to do the same.
The whole ‘street scene’ is currently being assessed here – including a look at all the tables and chairs that are springing up everywhere. Local authority officers will also look at other pavement obstructions like A boards and turn their attention towards other things like plastic flowers and even buskers.
I am trying to get someone from B&NES to explain exactly what is being looked at and what it might mean for our future street scene.
I arrived at the first crane in time to pop into M Shed – Bristol’s newest museum. One l remember years ago as being the Industrial Museum.
I have had my professional dealings with IK Brunel and his engineering achievements in my professional past.
I did a series called The Little Giant which explored Mr Brunel’s handiwork from the Paddington terminus of his Great Western Railway down to his Royal Albert bridge – linking Devon with Cornwall – across the River Tamar.
Bristol of course is home to his second ocean-going ship – the Great Britain. But it’s good to see that his first vessel – the Great Western – also gets a mention.
Part of that museum building rests above the dock where the Great Western was built and launched.
Two things caught my eye inside the museum. The paint-daubed statue of Edward Colston has been put on display as part of the city’s critical examination of its historical links with the Transatlantic slave Trade.
Colston accrued his wealth in the 17th century from that trade and, as a sugar merchant, dealing in the very produce that those enslaved had to grow and harvest on the plantations of the West Indies to which they had been transported.
This bronze – erected in the 1890s – was toppled by protestors in 2020. It was then dumped in the Floating Harbour.
It now lies in what looks like a glass ‘coffin’ as a visual reminder of a dark past – in itself, a grim totem. It also forms part of a history of protest in Bristol and, nearby, is an acknowledgement of the environmental protests of recent years with a display featuring the Red Rebels.
Created by artist and actor Doug Francisco, 300 of them walked through Bath as part of a Funeral for Nature silent demonstration last April.
I have done a podcast with Doug which you can listen to via Wyatt’s Place on Spotify.
Back outside – and enjoying a quayside coffee – l was able to give Polly a big hug and beg forgiveness for making her drop everything to come and meet me – on the WRONG day!
We had a good chat and plenty of laughs and will not be leaving another get-together for so long in the future.
