Sharon Ball

A new display Photographing Fashion: British Style in the 1960s, opens at Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Fashion Museum on Saturday 27 March 2010.

The display shows how fashion in Britain in the 1960s ranged from demure dresses and ensembles by now little-remembered, ready-to-wear firms such as Reldan and Nettie Vogues, to ‘dolly-bird’ designs by the new 1960s fashion stars such as Mary Quant and Jean Muir.

These many different styles and looks are recorded for posterity in the Fashion Museum’s Ernestine Carter Collection, a collection of 100s of black and white photographic prints and original fashion drawings commissioned (and received as press photographs) by Mrs Ernestine Carter, Women’s, and later Associate, Editor of The Sunday Times from 1955 to 1968.

The new display at the Fashion Museum showcases 20 of the most iconic photographs from the Ernestine Carter Collection including images of top 1960s models Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton.

In a special twist, the Ernestine Carter Collection photographs will be displayed alongside fashion garments from the 1960s, which are also part of the Council- run museum collection. For example the display will include a version of the hessian effect pinafore style mini skirt by Mary Quant seen in a photograph from 1965.

Men will not be forgotten either, and the display will include 1960s menswear by names such as Mr Fish.

The display at the Fashion Museum will also include fashions and accessories incorporating the use of new materials and styles, such as oversized sunglasses and paper dresses.

Photographing Fashion is a must see for everyone who was there in the 1960s, and for the many GCSE, A-level and fashion students who choose to study the 1960s as part of their coursework. The display continues throughout 2010.

The display coincides with the publication of a recent book Photographing Fashion, British Style in the Sixites by Richard Lester, published by the Antique Collectors Club. The book is available for sale in the Fashion Museum shop.

The Fashion Museum at the Assembly Rooms in Bennett Street, Bath, is open daily 10.30-17.00, exit 18.00. For more information logon to www.fashionmuseum.co.uk

Liberal Democrats in Bath are “over the moon” following the government’s announcement of new powers for Councils to control ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation’ (HMOs). Councillors and Don Foster MP have been campaigning on this issue for 10 years.

I personally delivered letters to all households in the Westmoreland ward last year advising residents of the public consultation that was taking place and I know that many wrote letters in support of giving the council the powers to control the amount of HMO's and I would like to thank them for their support. I am delighted that residents of East Twerton and Oldfield Park have been listened to.

 Today’s announcement shows that the government has finally bowed to national public pressure and has given local Councils the much-needed powers to control the spread of high concentrations of shared rented homes. This will allow Councils to tackle pockets of unsafe and substandard accommodation run by bad landlords. Liberal Democrats in the city headed by MP Don Foster had been calling on the Government to speed up action on the subject.

 Our local MP Don Foster has been very supportive of the campaign and commented:

“I warmly welcome this announcement from the Minister. HMOs play an important role in providing affordable housing, but a dense population can have serious effects on the local community. It is great that the government has finally realised this and changed the law.”

After securing funding for 2010, the E-ON Sustainable Energy Fund is now open to receive new applications. The deadlines in 2010 to receive new applications are Friday 2 April and Friday 8 October.

The E.ON Sustainable Energy Fund has been developed to support community energy projects which either result in the production of energy from a sustainable source or which reduce the amount of energy used by a community organisation. The fund supports the development of efficient and sustainable energy measures for community organisations and is made up of two parts – a web resource and access to grant funding.

The fund is available to community groups, charities and not for profit organisations across England, Scotland and Wales and they invite applications for grants of up to £20,000. Examples of the types of organisations that have been granted funds in the past include schools, local and national charities, and special education colleges.

For more information visit their website:www.eon-uk.com/about/sustainableenergyfund.aspx or email: sustainableenergyfund@eon-uk.com

Bristol Airport “Tracker” System to go live

The long awaited ‘Tracker’ system at Bristol Airport is to go live on Monday (1^st February), allowing Airport staff to keep tabs on the exact route and height of all aircraf.

The system has been called for by Bath MP Don Foster following numerous complaints from Bath residents that aircraft are flying too low over the city.  Now, with a call to the Airport noise management service, staff will be able to produce a graphic record of any flight which may have caused concern.

Bath MP Don said, “This system is really going to help us deal with the issue of low flying aircraft.  Now all complaints to the noise management service can be dealt with more effectively and information passed on to airlines if needed.

 “I would urge all residents to report what they believe to be low flying aircraft to the Bristol Airport noise management service.  As this system beds in I hope we will be able to significantly reduce the problem of low flying planes over Bath.”

It is good to see that our local MP for Bath Don Foster has been presented with the first ever Parliamentary Champion award by the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions (BALPPA).

Many of us have known for years of Don's hard work and dedication to detail but it is also good to see that others recognise his talent at a national level.

The award was presented by BALPPA Chief Executive Colin Dawson, who said the award was partly due to Foster’s advice and guidance.

He said, “Don has a considerable understanding of our industry and tourism in general.

"He has always been prepared to give us time to present our issues, has never refused us an appointment and unusually for an MP answers all his emails personally."

 Bath MP Don said, “It is an honour to receive this award.

“Tourism plays such an important role in the British economy especially here in Bath, and it is right we do all we can to champion the industry.”