Bob Woodward, founder of Clicsargent

A photo of the staff of the Clic shop with Mr. Woodward. — I was able to take a photo a few weeks ago when Bob visited our clicsargent shop to buy his Christmas cards. Bob Woodward is second from the right.

I suppose most people in England have heard of clicsargent a charity that supports children and young people with cancer. But I wonder how many people know the story of the remarkable man behind its foundation.

Robert Woodward was born in 1934 close to where I live in Bristol and was a former pupil of the junior school, Dr Bells which my older children attended. He left school at 14 and became a builder. He must have shown an early flair for business as he was able to set up a very successful property development company with his brother. Continue reading “Bob Woodward, founder of Clicsargent”

The Bristol knittivity

The Bristol Knittivity

Life size knitted nativity figures ~ Bristol knittivity in Sainsbury's — These life size nativity figures have raised over £150,000 for a local hospice

The Bristol knittivity has become a familiar sight in shopping centres around Bristol just before Christmas. However I thought you might be interested in the story behind its creation. A few years ago a group of friends who worked at St. Teresa’s catholic school in Horfield, Bristol started a knitting group called the knutty knitters. When Christine, one of the group became ill with cancer and sadly died her friends decided to do something to raise funds for St. Peter’s hospice where she had spent her last weeks. St. Peter’s hospice is the only adult hospice in Bristol and each year they care for about 2,500 patients. Care is provided free of charge but the hospice costs about £20,000 a day to run. About £15,000 of this comes from legacies, donations and shop purchases. Continue reading “The Bristol knittivity”

A grand day out. Gromit unleashed 2 in Bristol

A Grand day out in Bristol

Gromit from the Gromit trail as one of the paw patrol characters. — This Gromit was designed by the Paw Patrol team and is at Chew Valley lake.

Wallace dressed as a space man sitting with a cup of tea — Wallace raising money outside Bristol children’s hospital. Payment can be made here using a contactless card.

There is a brand new Wallace and Gromit sculpture trail, Gromit unleashed 2 running in Bristol from 2 July to 2nd September with over sixty sculptures dotted around the city and surrounding areas to raise money for the Wallace and Gromit Grand appeal for Bristol Children’s hospital and the St. Michael’s hospital special care baby unit. Bristol children’s hospital treats more than 100,000 patients every year and cares for patients from Bristol and the South West of England. Continue reading “A grand day out. Gromit unleashed 2 in Bristol”