English Cricket And The Bears

The big rugby union derby at Ashton Gate on Friday evening may not have gone to Bristol, but the more than 17,000 fans who watched it certainly got their money’s worth.

It’s been a crucial week for commuters in parts of north Bristol with the opening of the new Ashley Down station, and Halloween preparations continue in and around the city.

A rainbow spied over one of the city’s hidden paradises also provided a stunning sight, and then there was the small matter of what might be the biggest entertainment venue in the city officially opening.

Bristol's Richard Lane dives over the line to score a try as Bristol Bears host Gloucester at Ashton Gate on Friday evening. In the background, one of his teammates starts celebrating as two Gloucester players look on — (PA media)

A thriller at the Gate: Bristol Bears and Gloucester contested an incredible derby at Ashton Gate on Friday evening, with the visitors in a high scoring game 44-41. Richard Lane (above) was one of the Bristol players to cross the line at the tryfest.

A wide shot of the provincial cricket ground in Bristol as England played Australia in a one-day international. Australia are playing in their yellow kit and the packed stands and residential areas are visible in the background, along with the stadium's large floodlights — (Getty Images)

Top level: The SeatUnique Stadium hosted a one-day international on Sunday, the decider in the five-match series between England and Australia. Unfortunately, the weather intervened, and the end result was an Australian victory because they were ahead of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern rate when play was stopped.

A Bristol Ferry Boat ship sails through the city's harbor on a sunny day. There are many people on board and in the background the SS Great Britain can be seen in its dry dock — (Bristol Ferries)

Everyone on board: Bristol Ferry Boat ships are a familiar sight to many as they criss-cross the harbour. This week, the company announced a new initiative, which will take place from November to February offer a free harbor tour once a week to local community groups working with and supporting Bristol residents.

(PA media)

Many hands make light work: staff at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, just outside Bristol, have harvested around 10,000 pumpkins, which were sustainably grown using the zoo’s elephant and rhino dung as a soil-enriching fertilizer.

Henleaze Lake is pictured looking down from one end, with trees and grassy areas on each side. Some people are swimming in the water and a young woman is standing on the lowest of the three diving boards. There is a rainbow above us — (Alison Kay)

A haven of peace: Henleaze Lake, a former quarry, is a members-only green oasis on the border of Henleaze and Southmead. In summer it’s a relief from the city heat, but the swimming doesn’t stop with the arrival of winter, with stronger souls continuing to brave the water despite the falling temperatures. Alison Kay took this photo of a rainbow over the lake, which opened in 1919.

Bristol and England rugby player Ellis Genge and actor Joe Sims sit together on a bench in Redcatch Park and talk. They look at each other and Genge points to something with his hands. — (BBC)

Catching up: Just two boys from Bristol with the wind in their sails. Bristol Bears and England player Ellis Genge met BBC Radio Bristol presenter and actor Joe Sims in Knowle after Genge signed a new contract with his hometown club. That’s possible Check out their chat here.

A group of people, including West of England Mayor Dan Norris and local MP Darren Jones, stand in front of a green ribbon at the opening of the new Ashley Down Station in Bristol. Local schoolchildren are also depicted, as well as the town's mayor and Dan Norris's dog — (GWR)

All change please: the new Ashley Down train station officially opened on Friday. The new stop is on the line between Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood.

An aerial view of the new Ashley Down train station in Bristol, showing both platforms and the twin train tracks stretching into the distance — (GWR)

The wait is over: the new station at Ashley Down comes after the Portway Park and Ride Station opened in summer 2023, become the first new station in the city for a century.

Are you ready? Speaking of openings, the venue that promises to be the city’s largest officially opened this weekend. The Prospect Building, a short walk from Temple Meads on Feeder Road, covers 22,000 square meters and has multiple indoor spaces. It is run by AMAAD, the team behind festivals such as Junction 2 and Love Supreme, and the aim is to make it a major hub for music, arts and events in the heart of the city.

A person takes shelter from the rain in the flooded Lawrence Hill underpass in Bristol. They are silhouetted against the wall behind them, carrying a bag in one hand. Behind them is a wall covered in graffiti, and the person and the graffiti are reflected in the water in the underpass — (PA media)

Then the rain came: Floods have been a theme this week the M5 is closed and motorists were stranded in the usual places around the city, such as the underpass at the Lawrence Hill roundabout (above), which was flooded.

Detective Sergeant Stuart Brooks, from Avon and Somerset Police, looks at the camera. He wears a gray suit with pinstripes, a light blue shirt and a cross-motif tie. — (Martismedia)

Recognition: Detective Sergeant Stuart Brooks was named Detective of the Year at the first Avon and Somerset Police Federation Recognition Awards. One of DC Brooks’ colleagues said he was “the best detective I’ve ever worked with.”

One of his big cases was securing the conviction of a former prison guard dozens of children were physically abused at the Eastwood Park Juvenile Detention Center in the 1970s and 1980s.

A group of male footballers stand in a group formation in front of the camera at Goals Bristol South in Brislington. Two of them kneel at the front with a football at their feet and many of the players are smiling. The photo was taken at night and there are spotlights in the background — (BBC)

Grand ambitions: The thousands of players who have kickabouts at the Goals five-a-side centers in the north and south of Bristol play on pitches named after world-famous stadiums such as Wembley and the Maracana, or here – in Brislington – the Nou Camp . Steve Moore and his friends did their best to be their own version of Lionel Messi on Thursday.

A street art creation featuring a red teddy bear hangs under the Gaol Ferry Bridge in Bristol. The ropes holding the swing are also red, and in the background are the muddy banks of the Avon and green trees and shrubs on the banks. — (James Colomina)

Street art: Two new creations appeared in Bristol on Wednesday: this red teddy bear swinging under the Gaol Ferry Bridge, which connects the north and south of the city over the River Avon, and a child wearing a ‘dumbass’ cap, sitting on a building high above Stokes Croft. Artist James Colomina explained his thinking behind the two pieces.

A group of people, including councilor Tony Dyer, stand on the corner of Cannon Street and East Street in Bedminster to announce the opening of a new dentist. They smile at the camera. — (Conversation PR)

Zoom in: Plans for a new health center in Bedminster have been approved. The redevelopment of the former HSBC, pharmacy and former William Hill bookmakers will create a new home for Omega Dental, potentially creating 2,000 new patient places.

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