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Les Miserables, School Edition
St Gregory's Catholic College, Bath

It is surely the dream of most musical theatre fans to perform "Les Mis", with a full orchestra to a packed house and whether it is in a school hall or west end theatre, this iconic musical of the twentieth century cannot fail to raise spirits and bring the packed hall to their feet in a triumphant display of commitment from pupils and staff alike.

As always in a company of nearly 150 pupils there will be outstanding performances from individuals; Jane Morgan (Eponine), Joseph Croucher (Marius) and Charlotte Bond (Javert) all rise to the challenge admirably with strong characterisation as well as impressive vocals; well conceived cameos from Georgina Rees ( Madame Thenardier) and Jemima Brakspear (Gavroche) but all credit to Alistair Addley (Jean Valjean) one of the most demanding musical roles for men, his rendition of "Bring Him Home" captured the moment beautifully.

The whole company is excellent, as there is such a wealth of talent the production is double cast and whilst not taking on their principal roles the pupils are back in the chorus. The full orchestra under the great direction of Mark Bradbury consisting of both pupils and teachers was a pleasure to watch.

This is a great example of team effort and whilst the teaching profession continue to be maligned in the press, it is on occasions like these it is evident that there are many extraordinary adults working in schools who continually raise the bar, inspiring young people to strive for excellence and creating opportunities such as these; a truly uplifting experience.
Petra Schofield

The family of Christopher Nicholls, whose remains were found near the caravan site owned by a family convicted of forced labour, have spoken of their anguish.

Five members of the Connors family were convicted on Friday of forcing men to work for them for a pittance.

And Christopher's parents have now spoken of their horror at the life he led with them.

Christopher, from the Bath area, whose body was found in a shed near the family's Beggar's Roost caravan site on May 10, 2008, was the forgotten man in the three-month trial.

It was Christopher's death which sparked Operation Tundra and brought about the family's downfall.

An inquest into his death is yet to be completed.

What is known is that he was run over late at night on October 30, 2004, on the main road near the Connors caravan site at Bamfurlong.

He suffered a fractured skull and pelvis and bleeding on the brain.

His father and step-mother told The Times they suspected he was trying to escape the Connors when he was knocked down.

He was treated at Bristol Frenchay Hospital but returned to the family with speech and memory problems and was incontinent.

The Connors, the Nicholls family say, took him to a solicitors to try and win compensation.

"We think he refused to sign the paperwork," said Mrs Nicholls.

By then, aged 39, he was too ill and brain-damaged to dig up drives or go door to door so the family believe they had no more use for him. He died in the winter of 2005, curled up under a tarpaulin in a shed a short walk from the Connors' home.

After his remains were found years later, they traced DNA in his tooth and visited the Nicholls family, who lived near Bath. They began to make their own inquiries into how he died and found that someone had been claiming Christopher's benefits in the months after he died.

They traced it back to the Connors' Beggars Roost caravan park. No one would speak to them there.

Their son had been an insurance salesman who enjoyed golf and camping and was "quiet, shy" but "had a lot of friends" and "a good sense of humour" but had lacked confidence. When his relationship with the mother of his two children broke down, and he lost his mother to cancer and younger brother in an crash, he "closed down", said Mr Nicholls.

He went missing in March 2002, but came home six months later in a suit jacket and clean-shaven and said he had been offered a new job and a chance for a fresh start by a woman he had met.

But that woman, the Nicholls family said, was Breda Connors. It was the last time they ever saw him.

Mrs Nicholls said: "You can see why the Connors would have wanted him as a hawker. He was the kind of nice, unthreatening lad you could imagine going from door to door."

They were shown a photograph by police when he was picked up for begging in Cheltenham after the Connors let him go. "He looked like something from Belsen," she added. "Just skin and bone. His teeth were all a mess, he had aged 30 years."

The Connors family will appear later at Bristol Crown Court for sentencing.

Connors slavery trial: Family of man whose remains sparked arrests speak out

A Bath dad has been hailed a hero after helping to save a crew member in the North Sea.

Father-of-two Chris Waterman, 53, has been presented with an award for outstanding contribution going beyond the call of duty during an incident earlier this year.

Mr Waterman was offshore project manager on the support vessel Bibby Topaz back in September when it ran adrift severing cords attached to divers 80 metres below the surface.

The crew, working for Bibby Offshore, had been testing the safety of a drilling structure in the Huntington oil field, 115 miles off the east coast of Scotland when the emergency happened.

One of the divers, Chris Lemon, was left with just his emergency oxygen tank for 40 minutes before his crew mates got control of the vessel and could return and find him.

Mr Waterman explained: "We lost control of the vessel and lost one of the divers. To be honest it was nothing short of a miracle. We pulled out all the stops to get back and rescue him and we got there just in time."

Mr Waterman went to London on Monday to receive a plaque for his actions, which was presented by Sir Michael Bibby, the owner of Bibby Offshore. The captain, all three divers and the diving supervisor also received an award.

He said: "It feels nice to be recognised. I was in charge and the responsibility was mine and I told them what to do but it was the divers that were the heroes.

"I feel a bit humble about it really. I'm sure I'm not the one who deserves it."

Part of the award was a cash sum, which Mr Waterman has donated to the Children's Trust.

Bravery award for Bath father who was hero of North Sea rescue

One of the city's biggest pressure groups has urged council chiefs to rethink moves to close public toilets in Bath. The Federation of Bath Residents' Associations says it "most strongly" objects to proposals by Bath and North East Somerset Council to shut around half of the district's loos. The cash-strapped authority is considering closing loos as far afield as Midsomer Norton and Larkhall in a move that could save £120,000 a year. But FoBRA - which represents around 30 residents' and campaign groups - says B&NES has closed enough toilets in previous cost-cutting programmes. The federation is particularly concerned at the plans to close the toilets at Monmouth Street and the Royal Victoria Park Pavilion. Chairman Henry Brown says in a letter to B&NES cabinet member Councillor David Dixon: "Public toilets are few and far between after the last round of closures, which I believe were targeted on Bath alone. You may need to look at the rest of the district, but Bath should not suffer again." He said closures would penalise elderly people and parents with small children - as well as city centre residents who would have to put up with the aftermath of more street urination. "There is no toilet in the George Street area, the biggest hotspot for evening drinking, since the council closed the convenience in Lansdown Road. The council should be looking to provide a public convenience here, not to reduce provision further. Closure of Monmouth Street is certain to lead to more urination in the quieter side streets." Mr Dixon (Lib Dem, Oldfield) insisted that Bath was not being disproportionately targetted and pointed out that the council was under no legal obligation to provide public loos. He said the council wanted to work with the private sector on improving the loos available to the public in the city centre and admits he rarely takes his own children into his own council's facilities. And Mr Dixon also reveals that a trial scheme two years ago which saw portable loos in Orange Grove did not actually reduce incidents of public urination. In his reponse to FoBRA, he says: "There was no evidence to show that the provision of the night time loos at Orange Grove, despite high levels of use, actually decreased street urination. The council is working for instance to place new taxi ranks across the city to help move people out of the city centre quicker. All late night premises already provide loos." A final decision will be taken in February.

Keep our public toilets open, says Bath pressure group

Former Mayor of Bath and council chairman Bryan Chalker has quit the Conservative Party to become an independent councillor. The retired policeman says he is fed up with his party at both a local and national level. Mr Chalker's defection means that his Lambridge ward which elected two Tories - him and Dave Laming - at the last election is now represented by two independents, and takes the number of independents on B&NES to five. Mr Chalker, who was first elected in 2003, said: "In recent years I have become increasingly disenchanted with the back-stabbing, pettiness and hypocrisy of local politics and now wish to serve my Lambridge constituents as an independent ward councillor." The keen musician said the final straw had been the future of the Americana music festival, which he organises, saying there had been a "total lack of support" from his own party. "I spent more than six years helping to organise this unique and popular event and took no fee or expenses during this time. I am now faced with raising £25,000 in sponsorship money to fund a third Americana Festival in 2013, or it will be abandoned. As music has played a major role in my life for more than 50 years, I refuse to throw in the towel without a fight." He also objected to the national Conservative policy priority of installing police and crime commissioners. "I am also appalled at the sheer folly of squandering in excess of £70 million on the recent police commissioners' campaign, when what we really need is a visible police presence on our streets to combat crime and anti-social behaviour." He said he hoped to be allowed to continue being member champion for heritage and historic environment. "I do what I do because Bath is my favourite city and I cannot imagine living anywhere else. I love the city's glorious past – Roman, Georgian and industrial." He added: "I should like to take this opportunity of thanking my Conservative colleagues for their friendship over the past decade and hope it will continue without any bitterness – but I cannot be alone in losing all faith in David Cameron." Mr Laming and another then Tory, Malcolm Lees (Weston), became independents earlier this year. The others on B&NES are June Player (Westmoreland) and Doug Deacon (Timsbury). The independent group - which has voted en bloc and differently in the past - is now the same size as the Labour presence on B&NES.

Ex-mayor of Bath Bryan Chalker quits Tories to become independent

The Christmas decorations created by Roz Streeten are inspired by drawings she used to do for her daughters. Suzanne Savill reports. Picture by Clare Green The cardboard ornaments on red ribbons hanging from the Christmas tree in Roz Streeten's home in Bath evoke memories of when her daughters were younger. For these decorations – with printed designs on one side, and space for colouring on the other – have their origins in drawing and colouring sessions that Sophie and Sasha, now aged 16 and 13, used to enjoy. "I'd spend hours drawing for them," says Roz, who runs a graphic design company with her husband, Steve Kamlish. "Sophie liked me to draw outfits. Then she would draw heads, legs and arms and create people and give them all sorts of expressions. Sasha was obsessed with colouring-in." Roz decided to publish a colouring book called Rosie Flo – derived from her daughters' middle names – which also had outfits that could be coloured in and have faces and bodies added to them. It has now expanded to a range of 12 colouring books, plus a fashion show in a box, posters and postcards. This year, for the first time, there are also Christmas decorations, and Roz is selling the Rosie Flo range direct to the public from a stall at Bath Christmas Market. Roz says: "I decided to do the decorations because I thought we should have something festive, as we'd booked to do the market for the first time. "I thought decorations would work well alongside a Christmas poster that we'd already been producing. I love the idea of children making decorations to put on their trees, and maybe using them in future years. "People have been coming to the market stall and saying really nice things. "For some it brings back memories of playing with cut-out dolls – although the Rosie Flo books have outfits that heads and limbs are added to in order to create people." Roz, 47, began drawing with her children when she was at home with them before they went to school. "I was one of four children. My mother was always very busy, and I would have so liked a bit more of her time," she says. "People are so time-starved nowadays. I wanted to look after my children as much as I could when they were little. There were lots of hours of childcare, and I remember always having paper available. "I have memories of my dad, who was an engineer, drawing a picture of a little old lady for me when I was a child, and watching as it evolved, seeing the eyes become part of the face. "I asked Sophie if she wanted me to draw something for her, and it became a big part of our time together. She particularly liked me to draw pictures of boy babies crying, and I would teach her how to draw a smiling face, and a sad face. "When she started drawing on her own. I thought I wouldn't have to do so much drawing, but then Sasha said: 'Mummy, can you draw for me?'." Seven years ago, Roz decided to create books based upon the type of drawing that her daughters had so enjoyed. "Because we're graphic designers we're used to getting artwork ready for print. I decided to create a colouring book with line-drawn outfits, just like the ones that Sophie and Sasha had enjoyed so much," she says. "The first book was the pink book, which is still our best seller. I had 700 copies printed. "They arrived in October and I took them to my local bookshop. They took some, and then went to another shop, and another. "I ended up selling them all and had 17 shops stocking them. I was so excited that shops actually wanted to buy them, and that it wasn't just my children who liked them." At that time the family was living in Hampstead, north London. The family decided to move to Bath, about five years ago – and the Rosie Flo books have ensured Roz and Steve have had plenty of work despite the relocation. "Sophie was at the age where she was ready to change schools to go to secondary school, so it seemed to be a good time to make a move," says Roz. "Rosie Flo has become so popular that we're doing the books pretty much full on nowadays," says Roz, who has also produced a range of boys' colouring books called Johnny Joe. Sophie is now studying A-level art. She is also a keen athlete and competed in the Paralympic Games – running in the 100m and 200m with a prosthetic leg that was fitted when she was nine after her lower right leg was amputated because of a medical condition. Roz says: "Sophie and Sasha have watched the books develop. I think they feel quite proud knowing that they have helped. "Earlier this year, the Rosie Flo books won an award at a trade show in Paris. The books are very popular in France, maybe because they look English and are slightly eccentric. "They are so simple, and provide a wonderful opportunity for children to give input and to use their imaginations."

Rosie Flo Christmas decorations are child's play for Bath mother Roz Streeten

It is a tried and proven strategy for all discerning Test match cricket followers.

First, make yourself comfortable in front of the television screen. Next, switch on the live broadcast but turn down the volume. Then, switch on the inspired BBC Test Match Special radio commentary and turn the volume up.

Then allow the likes of Jonathan Agnew and Geoffrey Boycott entertain as they describe the proceedings unfolding in front of you – along with a whole host of other interesting topics.

We suspect that the Test series recently concluded between India and England – and what a highly satisfactory outcome it was – must surely have prompted a further extension of this practice, because a disagreement over broadcasting payments meant that Sky's television commentators were compelled to operate from a studio in west London while the popular Test Match Special broadcasters were able to observe and report from behind the boundary rope all those miles away in India.

Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here. Many sports lovers who attend competitive events – and here we are thinking not only of cricket but also of football, rugby, tennis and hockey, for example – are able to watch the action unfold ball by ball, pass by pass, tackle by tackle, in real time without the need for any commentary at all.

Could the broadcasters perhaps give the viewers at home the same authentic experience? Simply muting the sound in itself would not suffice, since that would suppress the noise of the crowd as well as the commentators.

The suggestion is this: we don't imagine many sports lovers would want to watch the action in total silence, so the television companies could give their viewers the option of a enjoying the live broadcast with the crowd noise but not the commentary. Then, the viewer could choose to watch Alastair Cook amass another century without the adornments of Gower and Botham, or even Boycott and Agnew.

The technology exists to take the armchair sports fan closer and closer to the action. Stifling the commentators on demand is surely the next step.

An elderly woman who died after being found in the River Avon in Bath has been named as 77-year-old Evelyn Waite. She was pulled from the water near North Parade Bridge by police at around 6pm on Wednesday, December 5, and was taken to the Royal United Hospital in a serious condition. However, she failed to recover and died in hospital on Sunday, December 9. Police had previously said she was 71 years old and died on Monday morning, but this has now been clarified by the coroner, who confirmed her identity. A post-mortem has been carried out and an inquest has been opened and adjourned.

The possible removal of benefits for pensioners has been attacked as the beginning of a "slippery slope to undermining our whole pension system". In a speech marking five years as head of the Liberal Democrats last night, Nick Clegg signalled his intention to means-test pensioners for a range of benefits – including free bus passes and winter fuel allowance. The announcement came just hours after it was announced that an extra 300,000 people will be in fuel poverty before Christmas following a round of price hikes. Half of the fuel-poor are pensioners. The Government is committed to the universal benefits until 2015, and has resisted pressure from Tory backbenchers to signal a cut after the general election. But Mr Clegg broke ranks to make clear that Liberal Democrats will "look again" at the benefits, arguing that welfare cash "should not be paid to those who do not need it". The Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG) said the latest round of energy price rises has increased the average annual energy bill by seven per cent, to at least £1,247. There are already expected to be more than nine million households in fuel poverty by 2016 and the FPAG urged the Government to tackle "spiralling" fuel poverty. "I just don't think it's justifiable, when so many people are tightening their belts, to say multi-millionaire pensioners still receive universal benefits across the board," said the Lib Dem leader. Mr Clegg's comments were seized upon by Ros Altmann, director-general of Saga, who said it "may be a populist headline, but it is absolutely the wrong policy". Ms Altmann said: "If Nick Clegg's policy is adopted, it would punish those who have tried to be self-reliant and give much more money to those who have not saved for their future. "Will he tell us that rich pensioners don't need a state pension? This could be the slippery slope to undermining our whole pension system." Asked if Mr Cameron backed Mr Clegg on the issue, the PM's spokesman responded: "The Prime Minister made a commitment to protect those benefits and he believes in keeping his promises." But there was dissent on the Tory backbenches, as Broxbourne MP Charles Walker said Mr Cameron should be ready to make the universal benefits taxable as income before the election, to show that the older generation are bearing their share of reducing the deficit. Further rises in energy prices were also announced yesterday, with major projects to improve the UK's gas and electricity networks adding an average £12 to bills every year for the next eight years. Ofgem's final recommendations allow companies such as National Grid to spend a total of £24.2 billion on investing in new and upgraded infrastructure, more than the £22.7 billion proposed by the regulator in July. But the figure is still short of the £29.4 billion originally requested by the industry, raising the prospect of a referral to the Competition Commission.

Pensioners up next for Nick Clegg’s axe

Bath Rugby's derby match with nearby rivals Gloucester in the Aviva Premiership has been chosen for live television coverage by ESPN with a revised kick-off time. The game at the Recreation Ground against Gloucester was moved to the evening of Friday, March 1 some time ago, to avoid clashing with the staging of the Bath Half Marathon which takes place on the Sunday. It will now kick-off at 8pm instead of 8.15pm. The other two home games in this period, against Worcester Warriors on Saturday, February 9 and London Irish on Saturday, February 16 will kick off at Bath's preferred time of 2.15pm. The match away to Northampton will be on Saturday February 23 (3pm). Tickets for the games against Worcester and London Irish are on general sale now, with tickets for Gloucester going on sale to season ticket holders on January 7, members on January 9 and general sale on January 14. Bath hope to have confirmation of the home Amlin Challenge Cup ties against Agen and Bucharest by the end of this week. Tickets are on sale now for those two games, as well as the LV= Cup tie against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday, January 26 (2.15pm). Tickets can be bought through the Bath Rugby website, by telephone on 0844 448 1865 or in person at the ticket office on Pulteney Bridge.

Bath Rugby's derby date with Gloucester to be televised

British Gas has signed London 2012 star and newly-crowned world-short course silver medallist Michael Jamieson, as a swimming ambassador for the next two years. The Bath ITC swimmer will help to promote British Gas's sponsorship of swimming from grass roots to elite level. British Gas has been the principal partner of British Swimming since 2009 and supports swimming at all levels in Britain. During the summer more than 141,000 people took the plunge with the British Gas Free Swims for Britain campaign, which encouraged the public to support the elite swimming athletes in return for free swims. It also supported the post London 2012 British Swimming Heroes Tour, which saw Jamieson, Rebecca Adlington and Britain's elite athletes from all aquatic disciplines, holding special master classes around the country to inspire children to get involved in aquatic sports. British Gas brand director Susie Plume said: "We are delighted to welcome Michael to the British Gas team as a swimming ambassador. "Michael trains at the British Gas ITC in Bath and we have followed his progress closely during the three years of our swimming sponsorship. "It was fantastic to see his great performance in London this summer and his swim in Istanbul last week reinforced his status as a great role model and ambassador for the sport."

Bath swimming star Michael Jamieson handed ambassadorial role by British Gas

Sports fans say the damage caused to Bath by rejection of a solution to the uncertainty surrounding the Recreation Ground would be "incalculable". A 4,800-strong pressure group is urging its members to show support for a new blueprint which will pave the way for Bath Rugby to develop a bigger ground at its historic home. The document - called a scheme - has been published by the Charity Commission in what is being hailed as the best chance of resolving a decade of deadlock over the city centre green lung, which has charitable status. The Real Friends of the Rec group says it wholeheartedly supports the initiative, which would see rugby club land at Lambridge passed into public ownership. The site would be overseen by the Recreation Ground Trust in a so-called land swap, aimed at offsetting an increase in the amount of land leased to the rugby club at The Rec. Chairman Peter Downey said: "The detriments to the trust must be resolved so that ongoing financial uncertainties are ended, and a firm legal precedent can be established for The Rec to be sympathetically developed for the benefit of all – all sport for all people. A continuation of the status quo must not be allowed to continue. "Should the draft scheme not be implemented and the trust's major financial contributor is forced to relocate, the detriment to The Rec, the city as a whole and particularly the Recreation Ground Trust would be incalculable. "This important opportunity for a sympathetic, balanced and pragmatic way forward must not be wasted." Meanwhile, the chairman of the Rec trust, Councillor David Dixon is to hold an open house surgery on the proposals at B&NES Council's Manvers Street One Stop Shop tomorrow between 3pm and 5.30pm. He said: "The issues at The Rec have been going on for a number of years now and the scheme will at last enable these to be resolved. We want to make sure that the people of Bath and the surrounding areas who are the beneficiaries of the trust are aware of the recent developments and fully understand the trust's proposals to take the Rec into the future." The scheme will be live all through December, during which time members of the public can make representations on it to the Charity Commission. The commission will decide on whether to confirm the scheme early in the New Year. A booklet, The Future for the Rec has been published to accompany the publication of the draft scheme. This summarises the background to the issues at The Rec, sets out the trust's proposals and gives details of how to respond to the commission. The booklet is available at libraries, leisure centres, one stop shops and the Guildhall.

Sports fans' warning over blueprint for future of Bath Rugby at The Rec

Welfare advisers in Bath say they have been inundated with debt problems linked to payday loans. The workload of the Bath and North East Somerset Citizen's Advice Bureau mirrors a national tenfold rise in payday loan debt cases being seen by the charity over the last four years. Now the CAB is calling on people who have taken out such loans to tide them over a temporary cash crisis to take part in a national year-long online survey. The survey, which will help the charity monitor whether payday lenders are sticking to their self-regulating charter, is on www.adviceguide.org.uk/dialogue_payday_loan_survey. People taking part will also be able to fill in template letters to tell their loan company of their situation and be able to outline their experience of taking out a payday loan. Bath CAB manager Jan Westrope said: "We want our clients to help us hold payday lenders to account. For too many people, payday loans are a fast but dangerous way to borrow money. Quick cash payouts can have damaging long-term consequences. "We've seen problems relating to payday loans rise significantly over the last four years and we're worried that this will only increase as more people feel the squeeze. We strongly urge anyone experiencing difficulties with a payday loan or thinking of taking one out to visit their local bureau and get advice about alternatives. "We can advise you on which debts to prioritise and your right to stop payday lenders taking money straight out of your bank account, as well as helping negotiate an affordable repayment plan with the lender on your behalf." To get help, ring 0844 848 7919 or go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk.

Bath's rising tide of debt misery linked to payday loans

American heavy metal band Baroness are reading to get back to playing music - four months after a terrifying coach crash near Bath. Guitarist John Baizley said it was "time to get back to it" following the accident in torrential rain on the A36 at Monkton Combe in August. He told the band's website: "Simply put: It's time to get back to it. "Since my belated and thankful return to the USA (after our painful test in motorcoach-aeronautics) I can definitively say i've exhausted my reserve of potential leisure activities (there's not that many of them, after all). "In recent weeks I've come dreadfully close to boredom and in those moments I can't help but focus on my glaring physical infirmities." Mr Baizley suffered a broken arm and leg when he was thrown from his seat as the band's tour bus plummeted 30 feet off a bridge near the junction with Brassknocker Hill. Drummer Allen Blickle and bassist Matt Maggioni suffered fractured vertebrae. Guitarist Pete Adams escaped with more minor injuries. The band have posted a reheasal video on YouTube and thanked everyone for their support following their ordeal.

"I've tried to fill my weekly routine with as much physical therapy as possible but the truth is, PT is not fun, and its benefits come with a great deal of mental/physical/spiritual pain and struggle," Mr Baizley said. "Furthermore, I believe am getting a touch of Stockholm syndrome when it comes to my doctors and therapists (the highlight of my week should NOT involve a clinic). Music might be the best therapy i have right now." Recently Mr Baizley spoke graphically of the terrifying moment the group's coach crashed off the road. He described in detail the moment of impact as the band was travelling from Bristol to Southampton after performing at the Fleece as part of their European tour. "While we were airborne my eyes met with our driver's. I knew then that we each shared the same look on our face; and I won't soon forget it. We had spent enough time in the air to appreciate, make peace with and accept a fate we thought inevitable, and we looked at one another with a horribly silent 'goodbye' in our eyes." The guitarist spent two weeks recovering in Bath's Royal United Hospital following the accident. Now he has said: "Sure, there's some substantial obstacles to overcome before we write, record or perform any time soon; but we still have everything we need to get 'back in' that particular 'saddle again'. "As odd as it might be for me to write these 'updates' after 10 years of personal silence on the internet, I feel that I owe everyone who's voiced or given their support to Baroness a brief synopsis of our situation and more importantly a heartfelt thanks. "Honestly, it has made this ordeal much easier on me. What little publicity that surrounds our crash has given voice to so many people who have shared their own stories of injury, trauma and struggle with us and has furthered my own faith in the communicative and universal strength of music."

Video: Rock band Baroness ready to start playing again following terrifying Bath crash

A Bath man on trial for the murder of his fiancee has said he has no memory of the moment when he killed her.
Paul Keene, 32, has admitted that he punched and strangled 28-year-old PhD student Carmen Miron Buchacra, known as Gaby, at their flat in Bennett Street on the night of Saturday, June 23, this year.
Although he accepts manslaughter he denies murder, saying he lost control and had no idea what he was doing and cannot remember what happened on the night of her death.
Today Bristol Crown Court heard that the couple, who had an 11-week-old daughter Eleanor together and were planning to get married in the autumn, had a troubled relationship with many of their problems stemming from the fact that Gaby was jealous of Keene's ex-wife Stephanie.
Her uneasiness over their continuing friendship resulted in Keene having to completely clear out the marital home in Combe Down of any of their shared belongings, right down to the cutlery, and eventually selling the house when the divorce was final.
She also forced him to get his family and friends to "de-friend" Stephanie and her parents on Facebook in a bid to ensure that all ties were cut.
Keene, who gave evidence for the first time today, said that throughout their two-and-a-half year relationship they had constantly jumped to and from being incredibly happy and planning a future together to heated arguments where Gaby would threaten to leave.
He said: "It always seemed to be that as soon as an issue was sorted then she would find another one.
"Whether I was in the wrong or in the right I was always apologising. I was just trying to please her and stop any more arguments."
A number of text messages were read out in court which included ones after their daughter was born where Gaby told Keene she was leaving him and taking the baby to her native Mexico.
On the night of her death, she had reiterated that threat and told him that he need not come home from his work boules tournament because she did not want to see him ever again.
The violent argument which followed, where Keene beat her and choked her to death, was recorded in a voicemail message to Keene's friend Ben Jones and has already been played to the jury.
Today Keene said he had barely any memory of the walk back to the flat that night, the altercation in the flat or the hour and ten minutes after Gaby was killed before he dialled 999.
He said he could not explain why, after he strangled his fiancee, he sent a text message to her phone asking why she had stormed out of the house and then sent two messages from her phone to Mr Jones, claiming she was fine.
He admitted that it looked like he was trying to cover up the killing, but said he had no memory of doing those things.
"I don't remember a great deal", he said. "During that whole night I don't have any particular memories. I have got still images of bits and pieces, but I have no recollection of times or what I was thinking at the time."
Michael Fitton, prosecuting, rejected Keene's assertion that he could not remember the night and said he was using it as an excuse to avoid facing up to what he had done.
He said: "I don't accept that you can't remember it. Here are the events that took place and when you don't like what you read you don't want to answer for it.
"I'm suggesting that your denial of recollection is simply hiding from the reality."
He added: "It follows that if you are capable of walking, talking and sending a text message then you could have, at that moment, made a phone call to either Ben or the emergency services.
"This is a choice not to call the emergency services and a choice to send those text messages. I'm going to suggest to the jury in due course that this was a conscious choice to not call for help but to do something for your own benefit."
The trial continues.

Bath man on trial for murder says he cannot remember the moment he killed his fiancee

First-team coach Brad Davis is weighing up his future at Bath Rugby after six years at The Rec. The former rugby league player joined the club's staff under former head coach and fellow Australian Steve Meehan in 2006 and kept his position when Sir Ian McGeechan was appointed Bath chief in 2011. Davis was the only coach retained when the club announced an overhaul of their structure in the summer, with former South Africa assistant boss Gary Gold taking over as head coach, while Mike Ford, Toby Booth and Neal Hatley also arrived. It is believed Davis did not travel with the squad for Saturday's Amlin Cup Pool 4 victory at Italian side Calvisano and speculation has since mounted that he could be set to leave The Rec. At the club's weekly press conference this afternoon Gold said there was no firm decision on Davis' future. "Brad is assessing his options," said Gold. "I don't want him to leave and neither do the club. "He's a great guy, a great coach and I've enjoyed working with him. "He'll assess what he wants to do and come back to us. We can decide how we move forward from there."

Coach Brad Davis weighing up his future at Bath Rugby

A Christmas Carol, The Musical
Live Wire Theatre
Rondo Theatre, Bath

Yes, it's that time of year again. While Scrooge thinks it comes around, "Once too often for my liking," for most of us that's not the case. Perhaps it's also the one time of the year when most adults and children are most likely to visit a theatre.
If you've done the pantomime, or have found perhaps that it's not your scene, then A Christmas Carol is a good atmospheric alternative – a ghost story with a moral for adults, and for older children an introduction to somewhat more real theatre than the panto.
Live Wire's production is truly atmospheric, with just four actors playing all the parts, plus puppets, disembodied voices, sound effects, dramatic lighting and a clever, adaptable, black and white set.
Unless you're a visitor from another planet, the tale of Scrooge and his ghostly conversion is a familiar one, but it's also one which never fails to chill, and tug at the heartstrings. Dickens could certainly do that, and this production does his tale proud.
Christopher Norwood Greaves is an excellent Scrooge, while Tristan Darby, Natalie Farmer, and Emily Froggatt bring all the other characters to life, with a little help from the puppets.
The evening was much appreciated by a packed audience so if you want to go, and you should, you won't be disappointed, the it's advisable to get booking asap.
Well done Live Wire and "God bless us every one."
The play runs until Saturday. Tickets on 01225 463362.
Philip Horton

A ten-bed halfway house hospital ward is being created to ease NHS pressures this winter. The new initiative by health chiefs at Paulton Memorial Hospital is aimed at reducing the number of patients who are sent to the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Health and social care provider Sirona is to introduce what it calls step-up beds at Paulton which will give patients more intensive nursing support than would be possible at home. All staff at the community hospital have been trained for the higher level of care being provided and an advanced nurse practitioner role has been introduced. It means some patients who may have been referred to the RUH by their GP could be treated at Paulton instead from Saturday. Care could be provided for people with heart or respiratory conditions, chest infections, intravenous antibiotics, blood transfusions and remobilisation. In total ten beds have been ring-fenced for direct admission and the aim is to speed up recovery. Hospital matron Nikki Woodland said: "The new step-up beds will provide patients with access to more intensive nursing and therapy support than can be provided within their own homes should they become unwell and unable to remain safely at home. These beds will provide an alternative to admission to an acute hospital. "It is envisaged that the tailored nursing and therapy care will enable patients to make a speedier recovery, therefore reducing the time patients are away from their own homes and their normal routines. "By providing the beds at Paulton we are providing care closer to home and this often means that relatives, friends and carers are able to visit on a more regular basis and this is invaluable in aiding the recovery of our patients." Jenny Theed, Sirona's operations director, said there would be 24-hour medical cover at the community hospital. "We know that some of the acute hospital beds do get used for patients who could be treated at rehabilitation centres such as Paulton. "This will mean many patients will be able to be cared for closer to home and their family and friends which also aids recuperation. "And, of course, Sirona offers an integrated approach so we can provide for social care needs as well as health care in one go, making it a very holistic approach for those we are caring for. "The move will also make sure acute hospital beds are freed up over the Christmas period, which is traditionally very busy."

National Express is adding three extra coach services between Bath and London. The move beginning on January 7 will take the number to 12 a day, a rise of 33 per cent. It has been welcomed by city MP Don Foster, who said: "It's great news people will be able to benefit from additional coach services. Not only is good news for holidaymakers as it offers the region increased access to Heathrow Airport but it also means thousands of extra tourists, with all the economic benefits they bring, will be visiting Bath each year." Prices from Bath start from £5 one-way and £10 return.

Georgina Cassar is considering her sporting future after admitting nothing she goes on to achieve in rhythmic gymnastics will better the past 12 months. The Bath-based 19-year-old formed one sixth of the first ever British rhythmic gymnastics team to compete at an Olympic Games in the summer. Since finishing 12th at London 2012 the squad have gone their separate ways, with Cassar enjoying some much-needed rest and recuperation. She is back at King Edward's School after taking a year out of her A-level studies and is training as an individual athlete once again, having previously represented Gibraltar at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.. "We went through so much in the build up to London 2012, so many ups and downs, that I don't think I will ever be able to forget it," said Cassar. "I might go for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 but I also want to do other things and go to university and study media and journalism and try and become a TV presenter. "Whatever happens, I have reached my main aim in life so I am quite happy. I will always be an Olympian and that is something that no-one can take away from me. "I am enjoying being back at school and having a bit of a break. I am still training most days, though, apart from Sunday." Cassar still lives with team-mate Jade Faulkner in Bath and studies alongside Lynne Hutchison at KES. With a lack of funding for the rhythmic discipline of gymnastics in Britain, Cassar admitted the prospect of the group continuing to compete together was always a slim one. "We have split up as a group, some have gone into coaching and the rest of us have gone back to being individuals," she added. "That was always going to be the case because we don't get the funding, there was no way really that we could have stayed together and trained 24/7." Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, has supported 1,000 of Britain's most talented developing athletes on their journey towards London 2012. As part of Lloyds TSB's commitment to leaving a sporting legacy, the programme will continue in 2013. Follow future stars at facebook.com/lloydstsblocalheroes. RYAN BANGS

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