07/12/2011 BBC Points West

Well come to BBC Points West. The headlines: he was a fine a soldier

who led by example. Hundreds attended the funeral of the young

serviceman killed in Afghanistan. Thousands of new school places are

needed. And eating a you are forested

greens. How a new meet three menu went down with football fans.

First tonight, hundreds of shoppers and visitors to Bath broke into

spontaneous applause this afternoon in tribute to a young soldier

killed in Afghanistan. They paused our midst of their Christmas

preparations to watch the funeral cortege of Lieutenant David Boyce.

A former head boy at the City's Kingswood School died last month

when his vehicle was blown up by an improvised explosive device.

Lieutenant David Boyce was just at 25. He had been in Afghanistan less

than one month. He was described as a great soldier, a friend, and the

bloke. Today they remembered him. He went to school here at Kingswood.

He was head boy between 2004 and 2005.

His former headmaster said that he is fondly remember.

He aimed for 100% in everything he did. Everything to the best of his

ability. The tribute was echoed by his

commanding officer. He was everything the country

should be proud of. It is a grievous blow to his family and

friends. It is equally sad for the army and his wider regimental

family. He had a combination of professional standards and personal

qualities that demand you respect, admiration, and a lot.

As the coffin left the abbey there was spontaneous applause. Strangers

showed their respect for the sacrifice of Abereiddy young man. -

- brave. Nearly 400 servicemen and women have died in Afghanistan

since the start of the invasion. A former ambassador to the country's

said today that it was disgraceful to be conferred the withdrawal of

troops by 2014. -- calling for. But this was not about politics. In the

shadow of the Abbey many people were enjoying the market looking

forward to Christmas. But war for one family today was about saying

goodbye to a man who died too young and his memory will live on.

Plans to provide thousands of extra primary school places for Bristol

have been unveiled by the city council. The Government has agreed

to help by pledging millions to build new classrooms. It is hoped

that the announcement will be welcomed by parents. The end

keepers, shepherds, and wise men are getting ready for the Nativity

play. Behind the scenes, governors, parents, and staff here at Filton

Avenue Infants are getting ready to set up a new school. They are

oversubscribed and from September a reception class will begin at a

school where spare facilities near by. The children will learn, eat,

and play there, but still be part of Filton Avenue Infants.

The plan is to adapt another wing at another school and to part of

the school. It would be managed by the governors of this school. We're

hoping that it will be full. The school population has grown

hugely in Bristol in recent years. There needs to be at least an extra

3,000 places over the next three years. There will not be any brand

new schools, instead, extension and -- extensions and annexes in all

sorts of places. 120 locations have been looked at from car showrooms

to warehouses and even this place, an old police station. The council

was given extra government cash to tackle the issue and it is hope

that there will be more to come. The latest proposals will provide

2,300 of the 3,000 needed places. But can the target to be met?

We need to. We have a statutory responsibility to provide school

places. We must do it well and put the places with been growing

communities so that young children do not have to travel a long way

for school. The scale of the challenge is

widely accepted but to make it the council needs lots of things to go

its way. Above all, space and money. Is this problem unique to Bristol?

No, but there are still does have a particular problem of a population

growth of 20% over the last for years. Many people gravitate to

overly successful and oversubscribed school areas. �18

million of money is being provided by the Government, recognising

Bristol has a particular problem. Are the targets are achievable?

The council say they can match up parents with schools and 94% of the

time. People have to have their forms in by January 15th ahead of

next six Pemba hence the announcements today. -- next

September. The fact that the council has already received

government money makes it believed it will get more money in the

future. The Chancellor only last week announced an extra �600

million for school building programmes across the country. But

the big problem as space. We're talking about a city. Schools have

small footprints hence the reason we see temporary classrooms and

Portakabin. I spoke to one person today who said that they physically

cannot fit any more people in there. They were quite cynical about the

plans. That is why the council are looking at buildings in weird and

wonderful places including that police station. But at the moment,

no new schools. You may remember scenes of

celebration from last month. A High Court judge had just for bed and

two councils to cut funding for libraries. -- for Britain. So it

may surprise you to learn that another of beck council is going

ahead with the similar cuts. Campaigners fear or that it cannot

be stopped. A small distance inside Dorset but a big difference. Said

it to be the county's smallest town, Stalbridge is classic West Country.

It has a library, funded, but not for much longer, by the council.

The Dorset - Somerset border is less than one mile away. There are

similarities between both counties. But while campaigners in one A rare

managed to stop a reduction in funding for libraries, campaigners

in the other are too late to stop it going ahead. �600,000 will be

cut from the library budget here. Regular users are angry.

I cannot understand this. It is such a wonderful amenity to the

village. Campaigners were given hope by the

verdict which stock Dorset and Gloucester county councils from

what the role in funding. -- stopped.

You never know what will come out of a judicial review. But we were

confident. Supporters are today gathered

outside of Stalbridge library. We accept we have lost a challenge

and must push on and do our own thing locally.

They are being bowled. The town council is looking to even expand.

-- bold. This is ambitious. But we're not to

tell. It is the only way to save the library. -- deterrent.

Coming up on the programme: a gift fit for a queen. The people of

Glastonbury corner a centuries old tradition. -- Bonner. -- honour.

220 jobs could go at Biomet in Swindon as it attempts to focus

production in the Wales. The company said it did not intend the

reduction in operations to occur until April and that it will create

80 jobs in Wales. Existing employees are being encouraged to

apply. Union members at Unilever are due

to take part in the company's first ever state. It will be a national

walkout on Friday over pensions. -- first ever strike.

Several car drivers escaped serious injury after a collision with a

fallen tree on the A38 in Somerset, just south of Wellington. Three

cars collided with the to be at about six M.

An end to unemployment, a transport system which works, and a vast new

marine park under Brunel's famous bridge. That is an ambitious

manifesto for Bristol. But it comes not from a political party but the

Make no little plants, they have no magic to Sturman's blood. Make big

plans. Aim higher. He was a big thing Cup. He lived in

Chicago 100 years ago and he dreamt up a 50 year planned for this city,

it put Chicago on the world map. Bristolians can think they'd do.

Division has a name that Bristol will be the first city that does

away with poverty... It may be a big fish and but it is a down-to-

earth Green. I do not accept that in a civilised country we have to

have poverty. I do not accept that we have to have unemployed people.

We are in a community centre. Next door, bayoneting and chatting.

of dozens of groups held here. This is one of Bristol's poorest

neighbourhoods. Do these people believe it could all change?

believe that eventually we could work out poverty in this community

but we need work and a long-term investment. If you are talking

about bringing people into full employment. It is not going to

happen. If we all go on accepting that it will never change, that 25%

of our population will be unemployed, we will never do it. I

am a businessman and I have a lot of business people behind the make

who accept that unemployment is unacceptable.

Bristol is growing, with or without a plan, the City will gain half a

million new people, 300,000 new jobs and most controversially,

200,000 more houses. Those figures are realistic. That is what is

going to happen over the next 40 or 50 years. The question is, how do

we plan for it? Is professor is a world-renowned expert on had to

plan A city. Quite simply, he says there is no alternative. I do not

know anywhere else in the United Kingdom which has such a visionary

plan. It is fairly unique in planning terms to have something

this bold, and it this far reaching. They want to down the Avon,

flooding the court, creating a huge water park for Bristolians to play

on. Seven miles of wonderful water in an amazing gorge. The dealers,

do not look at the little bits but look at putting all of the

potential to get there and making it into one grand vision that

produces the best place in Europe. Big, bold thinking is no stranger

to this city. Is it time for another grand plan?

Are a fascinating idea, isn't it? A new war memorial to those from

Prestbury who died in the First World War will be the first or 60

years to be made from Box Ground stone. The original monument was

than realised earlier this year and now work has started on his

replacement -- was vandalised. It could lead to a second war memorial

for the village. It is a slow but highly skilled pro

process, recreating a 1920s war memorial from scratch. It is made

more difficult by the state of the original. Decades of decay leave

only vague clues. The job is being helped by the public who have sent

in their photos of the original. There were a couple of figures,

Jesus Christ and Mary. On the other side, there is St George and a

Dragon. The new monument is being made from Box Ground stone. It is

starting to be mined again at this quarry. It is hoped to the new

memorial will blend in with the past. For the first couple of years,

it will look new. But they are a lot of trees and bushes nearby and

that will help the process of it weathering. Police are still

searching for those who left to the war memorial in pieces. CCTV of

someone dumping part of the stem it has not brought results. It is

frustrating for the editors but it has made them more determined to

get the war memorial replaced. There are people still living here

who were named -- whose relatives were named on the war memorial.

There was a lot of anger. More good will come out of the story. Be

Parish Council is now working with the stonemasons on plans for a new

war memorial for those villagers who gave their lives in the Second

World War. Teenagers from across Bristol

pitched their designs for new community projects today to a panel

of judges made up of local professionals. They came? To win

�500. Five teams of 16-19 year olds

presented their ideas in a Dragons' Den style event. They had to win

them over in order to see their projects come alive.

This was the panel of collective wisdom they had to impress. As well

as an audience of teachers, students and parents. These

students from Filton College did not beat about the bush in talking

about issues that affect them. would say that I would run a mile

if my girlfriend got pregnant. We got into a heated debate about it...

They want to create a website for young parents, especially fathers.

This is about helping young parents who have a child. Have you thought

about developing this further to advise or educate younger children

about the problems of being a young parent? We initially identified

that there was a strong emphasis on prevention but then if you are,

through what ever circumstances, -- if you slip into the trap of

parenthood, there is less support available. They were hard work!

the boardroom deliberations, they felt there was still room for

expansion. I think they have found a niche. My only problem with it is

that they seem to be focusing on only one side of Bristol. Chew

Valley Court the Dragons attention with glasses that allow you to see

from the perspective of people who have cataracts. It is such a simple

solution. That is why this is so important to us. Now they will have

to prove it. Both of these groups got a they cash. The job now is to

prove that they can deliver. Pitching his hungry work. What are

you going to have? I think I am going to have deep red vegetable

burger. I am going to have a salad with mozzarella. Excellent choice.

It may sound like a menu at a posh restaurant but in fact it is the

fear that is on offer at Forest Green Rovers.

The club's the been overt than that meat from the menu earlier this

year and now he has launched a meat-free menu. How well fans cope

without their traditional fast food? -- the club's the been owned

up. Baby spinach, Corps jet, lemon and coriander dressing? Halloumi,

harissa rocket and chips. Proper football fare! Yes, this really is

proper for the terraces. Not a hot dog in aside. It is all meat-free,

local and organic. Forest Green Rovers are the only vegetarian club

in the country. They claim their food sales are at an all-time high,

since they cut out meat. It is very hard to please football fans

because they do like prize and things. We are trying to create

meat alternatives. We have got a stake mushroom pie. Trying to make

it taste as meaty as possible. We are slowly transforming them to the

vegetarian food. Can a clientele traditionally fond of their fast

food really be converted to the more highbrow menu? Would you swap

your chips was something healthier? I have already had a veggie burger.

They are gorgeous. Roast Mediterranean vegetables. Excellent.

Simply scrumptious! When they said they were going eco-friendly and no

more meet, I was not very happy. There is nothing wrong with that.

And as you can see, I like my food! Has it made it more expensive for

the football fan? The ingredients are more expensive so it is more

expensive for the club but we have cost -- kept the costs down. So far,

ate a resounding home win for Rovers. I wonder if the chant, who

ate all the falafel, it will ever catch on?

I am certainly hungry! On the field, Swindon Town are just two games

away from the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final at Wembley after

beating Southend last night. The second half goals from Paul Caddis

and Ronan Murphy gave them a win over the League Two leaders.

Her Majesty the Queen will be getting a Christmas present from

the people of Glastonbury. It follows an ancient ceremony which

took place in the candidate. It is the cutting of the event that -- it

is the cutting of the Holy Thorn. It is a tradition that dates back

hundreds of years. No wonder he is beaming, seven-

year-old Jack Rolls was at the start of the show today. As they

are the star that the local infant school, he had the job of cutting a

sprig from the Holy Thorn. He knew exactly where it was going to go.

Tear the Queen. It is a long- standing tradition that a cutting

from the Holy Thorn is sent to Buckingham Palace to adorn the

Queen's Christmas dinner table. dates back to the 11th century and

was resurrected just after the Second World War. It is brilliant.

The story of the Holy Thorn has it that Joseph of Aramathea, said to

be Jesus's great-uncle, planted his staff in the ground on a hill

overlooking Glastonbury and the original tree grew from that. A

year ago, a descendant of that tree was cut down by vandals and it was

feared it would die. Recently, green shoots have been spotted. The

shoots of recovery on this dream may indeed be very fragile at the

moment but those looking after it had not given up hope. They are

getting expert advice from plant specialists at Covent Garden.

Today's Holy Thorn was taken from a St John's Church of. But they hope

that in years to come, the Queen's Christmas gift may come from the

street. -- from this truth. Downend near Bristol has a new star

attraction. Can you guess what it is? A 15 ft a hybrid of. It has

taken up residence to the delight of the local children. -- a 15 ft-

high eight rid of. The Harrison family built steel rods to build

them. They do not need the speed bumps, everyone is slowing down to

look! We have been hearing about the

You saw the pictures of the tree down in Somerset earlier. The winds

will be at higher tomorrow. It will be one of these days when it you

ponder whether it is worth putting the brolly up when the rain arrives.

It will be worth just in the afternoons. Up in Scotland, if you

have a business trip tomorrow, there will be a strong force winds

there. Do keep an ear to the national weather and the National

travel in case there is disruption, two flights or whatever. We have

got Canada and the Orange at Arrows are the jet stream of winds. This

cloud is an ominous structure. Hidden beneath that is a deep area

of low pressure which will dominate tomorrow's weather. That will bring

these are the winds. The cold front follows on in the afternoon with

some strong winds and will bring the threat of heavy rain for us.

Through this evening, a benign story. Showers across parts of the

Somerset. Elsewhere, of with Cleary -- with clearing skies, sump frost

will form. The cloud will come in in the morning. The first hints of

rain appearing in Gloucestershire by dawn. Temperatures at lowest

during the first stop on the night could be down to three or four

degrees. Tamara starts with a lot of cloud and a windy set-up for the

morning rush-hour. Largely dry. Into the afternoon, a very dusty

afternoon. That will certainly bring the branches if not trees

down. The rain will clear way to the south-east in the evening. It

will be fairly when Dean there after, 40 mile an hour gusts. -- it

will be fairly windy. A mild day, temperatures tempered by the wind.

By Friday, for the vast majority of us, it is a different story Fulstow

back to clear blue skies. Some showers around the Bristol Channel.

Cold overnight into Saturday. Saturday looks like a glorious