Bus driver from First in Bristol dies of coronavirus
A bus driver working for First in Bristol has died of coronavirus.
Martin Egan, who worked for the firm for 40 years, died on Saturday.
James Freeman, the managing director of the bus firm, said he was a "highly respected" member of the team.
Quote Message: Martin last drove a bus more than two weeks ago, before he was taken ill. We have identified those that we understand had come into recent contact with him, including supervisors and drivers, and they have since been in self isolation. Martin was a tremendously loyal employee and a great character, having worked for our business for 40 years. He started as a driver at our Muller Road depot in 1980 and then moved to our Lawrence Hill operation later in his career. Personally, I will always remember his huge smile when we recently launched our new gas buses in Bristol. His presence around the depot will be greatly missed. from James Freeman
Martin last drove a bus more than two weeks ago, before he was taken ill. We have identified those that we understand had come into recent contact with him, including supervisors and drivers, and they have since been in self isolation. Martin was a tremendously loyal employee and a great character, having worked for our business for 40 years. He started as a driver at our Muller Road depot in 1980 and then moved to our Lawrence Hill operation later in his career. Personally, I will always remember his huge smile when we recently launched our new gas buses in Bristol. His presence around the depot will be greatly missed.
Information film mashup hammers home coronavirus message
Bristol author Ira Rainey has spent the weekend making this.
See how many of the old public information films you can spot in here - and a famous Bristolian face too!
Care workers across north Somerset are having to work without personal protective equipment due to supplies "drying up", a council has said.
North Somerset Council is appealing to schools, colleges and businesses to help "bridge the gap" until new stocks reach the South West at the beginning of April.
Councillor Mike Bell said: "We need basic items such as masks, disposable gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser.
"Please, if you have them stored away, and don't have an immediate care-related need, get in touch. You will help save lives."
Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police force, Andy Marsh, has asked people to "pull together, not pull apart" this weekend, as they enforce stricter powers on movement.
Speaking on @BBCWorldatOne this afternoon, Ch Cons Marsh said officers had already been speaking to members of the public who were gathering at "honey spots" around the region, clarifying that travelling by car to any of the hotspots was not something the Covid-19 restrictions allowed for.
"These people are getting out and congregating in large numbers... using ticket machines... places like Weston-super-Mare seafront and Exmoor are popular destinations.
"The vast majority of people are doing their very best to really limit interactions."
He said police would not hesitate to use the law to make sure the rules were followed.
"The point is to stop the NHS from being overwhelmed. That would cause unprecedented pressures on our police force as well."
"All of our available officers are going to be out and about in the community, explaining to people why they need to stay at home and not break the rules" this weekend, he said.
Thousands of nappies donated to hospital staff
A reusable nappy company is donating thousands of nappies to NHS staff, including those at the Royal United Hospital in Bath and the two health trusts in Bristol.
“We’ve been truly heartbroken by the stories of NHS workers struggling to buy nappies after their shifts and we felt compelled to act," said founder of Babe+Boo, Eve Bell.
They are sending 3,500 nappies out, including to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
This is why we are donating the nappies to give these amazing workers any support we can and to say thank you for all that they do.
“In these uncertain times it’s been truly heartwarming seeing communities come together and support one another and we wanted to offer our support in any way we can.”
Babe+BooCopyright: Babe+Boo
Rainbows are not just for kids
South Cary HouseCopyright: South Cary House
South Cary House, a care home in Castle Cary which is part of the Avon care homes group, has been getting in on the rainbows craze.
They decided the 'hope' activity was not just for children!
"The residents have helped with spreading a little happiness to help children and adults spot rainbows on their walks" they said.
"Everyone has really enjoyed this today and feel like they are able to thank everyone and spread a little love in this difficult time."
South Cary HouseCopyright: South Cary House
NOW: Bristol Ferry Company are taking us on a tour - join the ride!
See Bristol Harbour and its waterways in all their (deserted) glory...
Bristol Ferry Company are giving a free online passenger tour to cheer up everyone's Friday evening isolation.
It's looking lovely in the sunshine!
Forest Green Rovers offer help to the government and NHS
Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince has offered the club's ground, the New Lawn, for the government to use during the coronavirus campaign.
The club is based in Nailsworth, near Stroud.
Mr Vince said: "In the event that the NHS needs more space for beds, something were seeing in other countries, it might be a useful option.
"We’ve also offered Unicorn House, one of our town centre buildings, which we vacated this week as we made the rapid shift from having about 700 office based staff to just 12."
The club has also opened the club's player hostel in Stroud for use by NHS key workers.
Mum sets up rainbow drawing group for her daughter and friends in isolation.
Osob Elmi
BBC News
Chase the RainbowCopyright: Chase the Rainbow
A woman from Kingswood, Bristol has created a local rainbow-drawing group for her her eight-year-old daughter and her primary school friends while they are in lockdown.
Michelle Linbourne, a first aid worker at Kings Oak Academy Primary in Bristol, set up Chase the Rainbow, encouraging children to draw and decorate rainbows then share them in a Facebook chain to other families.
Mrs Linbourne’s daughter, Scarlett - who has Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, a health condition affecting her nervous and immune systems - inspired her to set up the group.
She realised "how lonely [her] children were feeling" and suggested to them they could make other children smile.
Chase the RainbowCopyright: Chase the Rainbow
Chase the RaindowCopyright: Chase the Raindow
“[Scarlett's] condition means she can't go out at the best of times so it really cheered her up looking at lovely photos from the children in her school,” Ms Linbourne explained.
Hannah Smart, a mum in the group, said: “When the kids can't see each other it's a lovely way to stay connected like this. Our boys have loved seeing their friends artwork and sharing of the rainbows.”
Michelle now wants to set up a virtual coffee catch up with other parents to stay connected.
Look out for rainbow drawings in windows if you go for a walk out today.
Chase the RainbowCopyright: Chase the Rainbow
'Drug running' mums help pharmacies deliver medicine
A running group for mothers
has offered to deliver prescriptions for their local pharmacies in Bristol whilst still keeping fit.
The This Mum Runs group aims to
empower mums to be
happier and healthier by running together.
But amidst the covid-19 crisis they realised they could still enjoy running whilst helping their communities.
The
group's founder, Mel Bound, revealed in an interview on Heart Radio that she realised she had access to a large group of runners willing to help struggling pharmacies with their deliveries.
She
added: “We now have a team of 100 volunteers helping pharmacies across Bristol”.
Live Reporting
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Latest PostBus driver from First in Bristol dies of coronavirus
A bus driver working for First in Bristol has died of coronavirus.
Martin Egan, who worked for the firm for 40 years, died on Saturday.
James Freeman, the managing director of the bus firm, said he was a "highly respected" member of the team.
Information film mashup hammers home coronavirus message
Bristol author Ira Rainey has spent the weekend making this.
See how many of the old public information films you can spot in here - and a famous Bristolian face too!
Lockdown shows eerie side of the West of England
With the vast majority of people observing the lockdown rules it has made for an strange atmosphere in many places.
And while out on our one allowed walk a day there have been good chances to catch some of that on camera.
Here's the normally busy Bradley Stoke on Sunday afternoon.
We'd love to see your unusual photos. Email bristol@bbc.co.uk
Welcome to another week in the West
Good morning and welcome to another week of coverage of the coronavirus lockdown across the West of England.
There's a lot of useful information on the BBC News website. Here's a selection:
Urgent plea for protective gear for care workers
Care workers across north Somerset are having to work without personal protective equipment due to supplies "drying up", a council has said.
North Somerset Council is appealing to schools, colleges and businesses to help "bridge the gap" until new stocks reach the South West at the beginning of April.
Councillor Mike Bell said: "We need basic items such as masks, disposable gloves, aprons and hand sanitiser.
"Please, if you have them stored away, and don't have an immediate care-related need, get in touch. You will help save lives."
Man accused of coughing at paramedic in face
The man was arrested in Stroud and later charged with assaulting an emergency worker.
Read moreTwo arrested for 'deliberately coughing' at woman
Two people have been arrested after a woman was allegedly deliberately coughed at in the street.
She was walking in the Cranleigh Gardens area of Bridgwater in Somerset when it happened, police said.
Two people are custody in connection with Friday's incident.
Three coronavirus deaths confirmed in county
All three patients had underlying health conditions, Somerset health bosses said.
Read moreCouple stuck in Peru 'desperate' to get back to UK
Shreena Parmar and Rory Shanks flew there in March before any cases were confirmed.
Read moreStranded backpacker wants 'to be home with family'
Jazz Turner says two flights from Australia have been cancelled is not sure when she will return.
Read moreCanal towpaths 'like middle of Tesco'
Bosses defend keeping canal towpaths open despite residents saying social-distancing is impossible.
Read moreStroud farmers' market converts to a food hub this weekend
Stroud farmers’ market will convert into a food hub this Saturday, so that customers can order local food from producers by email and then pick it up.
Orders will be collected through a coordinated timetable.
The plan is for the new scheme to run every week throughout the Covid-19 crisis.
There are strict rules in place which can be seen on Facebook.
So if you are in the Stroud area and short of a treacle tart, or a pack of sausages, you know what to do!
'Don't break the rules' warns police chief
Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset police force, Andy Marsh, has asked people to "pull together, not pull apart" this weekend, as they enforce stricter powers on movement.
Speaking on @BBCWorldatOne this afternoon, Ch Cons Marsh said officers had already been speaking to members of the public who were gathering at "honey spots" around the region, clarifying that travelling by car to any of the hotspots was not something the Covid-19 restrictions allowed for.
"These people are getting out and congregating in large numbers... using ticket machines... places like Weston-super-Mare seafront and Exmoor are popular destinations.
"The vast majority of people are doing their very best to really limit interactions."
He said police would not hesitate to use the law to make sure the rules were followed.
"The point is to stop the NHS from being overwhelmed. That would cause unprecedented pressures on our police force as well."
"All of our available officers are going to be out and about in the community, explaining to people why they need to stay at home and not break the rules" this weekend, he said.
Thousands of nappies donated to hospital staff
A reusable nappy company is donating thousands of nappies to NHS staff, including those at the Royal United Hospital in Bath and the two health trusts in Bristol.
“We’ve been truly heartbroken by the stories of NHS workers struggling to buy nappies after their shifts and we felt compelled to act," said founder of Babe+Boo, Eve Bell.
They are sending 3,500 nappies out, including to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
This is why we are donating the nappies to give these amazing workers any support we can and to say thank you for all that they do.
“In these uncertain times it’s been truly heartwarming seeing communities come together and support one another and we wanted to offer our support in any way we can.”
Rainbows are not just for kids
South Cary House, a care home in Castle Cary which is part of the Avon care homes group, has been getting in on the rainbows craze.
They decided the 'hope' activity was not just for children!
"The residents have helped with spreading a little happiness to help children and adults spot rainbows on their walks" they said.
"Everyone has really enjoyed this today and feel like they are able to thank everyone and spread a little love in this difficult time."
NOW: Bristol Ferry Company are taking us on a tour - join the ride!
See Bristol Harbour and its waterways in all their (deserted) glory...
Bristol Ferry Company are giving a free online passenger tour to cheer up everyone's Friday evening isolation.
It's looking lovely in the sunshine!
Forest Green Rovers offer help to the government and NHS
Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince has offered the club's ground, the New Lawn, for the government to use during the coronavirus campaign.
The club is based in Nailsworth, near Stroud.
Mr Vince said: "In the event that the NHS needs more space for beds, something were seeing in other countries, it might be a useful option.
"We’ve also offered Unicorn House, one of our town centre buildings, which we vacated this week as we made the rapid shift from having about 700 office based staff to just 12."
The club has also opened the club's player hostel in Stroud for use by NHS key workers.
Stay away from others on the buses too
Mum sets up rainbow drawing group for her daughter and friends in isolation.
Osob Elmi
BBC News
A woman from Kingswood, Bristol has created a local rainbow-drawing group for her her eight-year-old daughter and her primary school friends while they are in lockdown.
Michelle Linbourne, a first aid worker at Kings Oak Academy Primary in Bristol, set up Chase the Rainbow, encouraging children to draw and decorate rainbows then share them in a Facebook chain to other families.
Mrs Linbourne’s daughter, Scarlett - who has Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, a health condition affecting her nervous and immune systems - inspired her to set up the group.
She realised "how lonely [her] children were feeling" and suggested to them they could make other children smile.
“[Scarlett's] condition means she can't go out at the best of times so it really cheered her up looking at lovely photos from the children in her school,” Ms Linbourne explained.
Hannah Smart, a mum in the group, said: “When the kids can't see each other it's a lovely way to stay connected like this. Our boys have loved seeing their friends artwork and sharing of the rainbows.”
Michelle now wants to set up a virtual coffee catch up with other parents to stay connected.
Look out for rainbow drawings in windows if you go for a walk out today.
'Drug running' mums help pharmacies deliver medicine
A running group for mothers has offered to deliver prescriptions for their local pharmacies in Bristol whilst still keeping fit.
The This Mum Runs group aims to empower mums to be happier and healthier by running together.
But amidst the covid-19 crisis they realised they could still enjoy running whilst helping their communities.
The group's founder, Mel Bound, revealed in an interview on Heart Radio that she realised she had access to a large group of runners willing to help struggling pharmacies with their deliveries.
She added: “We now have a team of 100 volunteers helping pharmacies across Bristol”.