September news....

 

Our Summer of outings closed this year with a thoroughly entertaining walk and talk with Ed Hall along the harbourside
 
Due to the continuing vaccination programme, we are not able to return to the hall at British Road this month.  So, we continue our tour of Bristol venues.  This month we will be heading to a friendly local, the Hen and Chicken for a very British tradition, the Pub Quiz!
 
Our very own Vivienne will be putting together some trivia and brain teasers to test the grey cells, whilst ensuring we have some fun.  In teams of up to four, you will be able to test your knowledge and pit your wits against Malago WI’s Quiz Master.
 
This is a great opportunity to have a drink and chat, so please feel free to bring along a friend (or two!)
 
We will be in the Chicken Shed at the Hen and Chicken from 7:30pm for an 8pm start. Drinks and snacks can be purchased from the bar.
 
We hope to see you there. 

August news......

 

Extreme weather conditions did not stop us enjoying stories of great Bristol women courtesy of Jane Duffus and the Women that Built Bristol at Redcatch Community Garden.  Luckily their fabulous new marquee provided ample protection from the elements!
 
We are out and about again in August with Ed Hall.  Ed is a mine of information and has become a familiar face to visitors and locals alike having been doing commentary tours around the Floating Harbour for over 40 years. During the last decade he has been guiding various walking around the docks and central areas of Bristol with events for M Shed, the Civic Society and the Bristol Walking Festival. Our walk will start at Wapping Wharf in front of M Shed and then around a bit of the docks and along some of the New Cut before finishing back at Wapping Wharf at the bottom of Gaol Ferry Steps. Ed will explain some of the history of the area and how the docks got converted from its extreme tidal form to what became the largest enclosed 'Floating Harbour" in the world in 1809.
 
As the nights are drawing in, we want to make the most of the daylight so please meet outside M Shed, at the Prince Street Bridge end, from 7pm for a 7.15 start and we should be finished around 8.30pm ready for a glass of wine or a beer in one of the bars along Wapping Wharf.
 
We hope to see you there.  Please contact Avril 0780 395 4120 if you need to on the day.
 
We hope to see you there. 

July news....

 

After a lovely evening on the harbourside at Riverside Garden Centre we are heading off to Redcatch Community Garden where renowned author Jane Duffus will be entertaining us in the garden’s fabulous new marquee.
 
A journalist, editor and public speaker, Jane Duffus published her book The Women Who Built Bristol: Volume One in 2018 after uncovering fascinating stories of women who were otherwise absent from history books. From a heartbroken barmaid from Easton, to an abducted heiress, Duffus explores an eclectic mix of women who have made Bristol brilliant. You can also buy Jane’s book so please bring cash or card with you.
 
Redcatch Community Garden was set up by some passionate volunteers in 2017 on the disused bowling green in Redcatch Park in Knowle. It has grown into a thriving community space which is enjoyed by all with activities and events centred around gardening, food production and crafts. Past events have included themed pop-up food evenings, fairs, and Comedy nights.
 
On arrival one of the founders Mike Cardwell will walk and talk us around the garden and growing areas before taking our seats for Jane’s talk. 
 
There is a car park is off Broadwalk but you can usually find spaces on Redcatch Road as well, then walk across the park.
 
We will be starting slightly earlier than normally at 7:30, so please allow enough time to part and join us in the garden.  We look forward to seeing you then.

June news.....

 

Following a fascinating guided walk in May around the historic Underfall Yard we’re heading back outdoors for our next meeting on Wednesday 30^th June for a private visit the lovely Riverside Garden Centre. Hopefully we will have a lovely sunny evening and be able to enjoy its wonderful setting with panoramic views of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, the city docks, and the Bristol skyline beyond. 
 
Riverside is Bristol's largest independent garden centre. Established in 1987, its overriding aim is to create a unique destination offering a wide range of high-quality plants and products. Their knowledgeable and friendly staff are always on hand to provide help and give advice when required. It is run as a social enterprise, engaging with the wider community in Bristol by supporting and initiating projects and working with several local charities.

Doors will open from 7.15pm for a 7.30 start. On arrival we’ll be greeted with a glass of prosecco before heading off with green-fingered expert Steve Shaw to find out more about the amazing selection of plants, shrubs, and trees on offer. It’s your chance to get advice on choosing what to plant and where, how to look after your garden and handy tips and advice before reconvening to their award-winning café for lovely cakes and refreshments. You will also be able to buy plants and other goods before you go (NB card payment only!)
 
To comply with Covid restrictions please bring a mask to wear in the communal areas.
 
Numbers are limited to 30 – so please RSVP to wearemalagowi@gmail.com by Thursday 23 June to secure your place.  Guests are welcome at £5 and places will be allocated on first come, first serve basis.  There is ample carparking available on site for free.  Riverside is off Clift House Rd, Southville, Bristol BS3 1RX
 
We look forward to seeing you there.

May news.....

 

As lockdown restrictions ease, we are delighted to able to offer our first face to face meeting in over a year.  We can’t wait to see our members both old and new.
 
As part of our summer programme of outings, our first meeting of 2021 will be at the Underfall Yard.  A survivor from a time when Bristol was a busy industrial port, Underfall Yard is a working boat yard and docks maintenance facility that has been in continual use since the 1880s. Join us for a tour of the site to explore the yard’s unique collection of Victorian buildings set in a stunning location on Bristol’s Harbourside. We will discover the elegant Georgian engineering that created the Floating Harbour and continues to perform an essential (and largely hidden) role in water management and flood prevention. A highlight of the tour is experiencing the yard’s Victorian machines in action to see how things were done in the days before computers and 3D printing and experience the heavy engineering that once powered Bristol Docks. 
 
To kick off our first meeting, we would like to celebrate with welcome drinks before the tour.  We will be meeting outside the Cottage Inn by the waterfront at 7pm and making our way to the outside seating area in front of the Underfall Yard café to enjoy a glass of bubbly.  The tour will be from 7:30 to 8:30. The tour will take place inside and outside so you may need a coat.
 
After the tour, if people would like to join us, we will make out way to the Cottage or Nova Scotia for a drink.  If you are driving, there is parking available either at the Cottage Inn or the SS Great Britain and Brunel Lock has parking which is only a short walk away.
 
There will be an opportunity for members to pay their subscriptions.  Membership for returning members will be £22.40 and new members £44. Guests are also welcome at a cost of £5. We will be acceptable to accept cheque or cash payments.
 
As there is a restriction on numbers, it would be helpful if you could let us know if you plan to attend by Friday 21^st May by emailing wearemalago@gmail.com.
 
It’s been a while since we have been able to get together so fingers crossed for dry weather!