National Writing Day: Wednesday 24th June, 11am – 3pm.

On National Writing Day, everyone is invited to grab pens, pencils or laptops and celebrate the power and pleasure of creative writing. Join us to celebrate the day from 11am-3pm on Wednesday 24 June.

The main event is taking place upstairs at Bishopston Library with talks in the meeting room downstairs.

There will be a poetry corner, a family history and historical fiction focus, a life stories and stories that heal corner and starter exercises to help you plan, write, publish and market your book.

At 11.15 am, author Lucienne Boyce will run a talk about research for historical fiction and hold a short writing workshop upstairs after her talk: “Another
Time and Place: Researching and Writing Historical Fiction”. Please book your seat via Eventbrite – limited number.

Poet and author Melanie Leeder, who also writes historical fiction, will be on hand in the poetry corner to help ignite your creative process.

Family historian Alison Boulton can give a steer about which resources can help you go beyond surface level research.

Crime author A.A. Abbott will be on hand to explore ways to build suspense because real life is often stranger than any fiction.

Author and therapist Debs Penrice can help those thinking about how their life stories could inspire others, reflecting on a healing or transformational journey.

Tim Martin will be ready to support you on thinking about marketing to reach readers
while you write or once your story is ready, and there will be resources available to help you plan your book or writing idea.

Look out for the full programme on Eventbrite:

or sign up for our Friends of Bishopston Library email newsletter.

Women in the music halls :  Thursday 21 May 7.15pm – 8.45pm



We are delighted to welcome Alison Boulton to the library for an event on women in the music halls in May. 

Women in the music halls: resilient, independent & inspiring
 
I knew little about the Music Hall until I discovered that one of my ancestors was a music hall performer. Her career was fascinating, but got me asking questions.

What was it like for women to perform on stage when most women were confined to the domestic sphere?
Who were these women, & what did their acts comprise?

Why do we know about so few of them?
 
Alison Boulton will tell the amazing story of her ancestor, and many other talented and remarkable women.

Alison is an experienced genealogist whose main interest in family history is in pursuing some of the more fascinating, but untold stories of her ancestors’ lives.

Tickets are £4 + Eventbrite booking fee, and refreshments will be provided. It is essential to book via the following link

Women in the music halls :  Thursday 21 May 7.15pm – 8.45pm

https://womeninthemusichalls.eventbrite.co.uk

Family History Talk: Thursday 30 April 7.15pm – 8.45pm


We are delighted to welcome Alison Boulton to the library for an event on family history in April. 

Telling tales: bringing your family history to life
Once you’ve identified all, or as many as possible of your great-grandparents’ births, deaths and marriages, where do you go next with your family history? And what do you do with it?

As Margaret Atwood said, ‘In the end we’ll all become stories’. But many of our ancestors’ stories remain untold, especially if we’re from ordinary families without the benefit of diaries, letters, or a page on Wikipedia.

This talk will explore the range of sources and resources available to us beyond the births, marriages and deaths which make up the family tree. How can you make the best use of the online records, and ensure your searches are fruitful and accurate? Where else can you find information that will enhance your knowledge? And how can the information be used to tell their stories? Listen to a few tales which show that our “ordinary” families are perhaps not so ordinary after all.

Alison Boulton is an experienced genealogist whose main interest in family history is in pursuing some of the more fascinating, but untold stories of her ancestors’ lives.

Tickets are £4 + Eventbrite booking fee, and refreshments will be provided. It is essential to book via the following link

Telling Tales: bringing your family history to life :  Thursday 30 April 7.15pm – 8.45pm

https://familyhistorytalk.eventbrite.co.uk
 

Overcome Sleep Issues :  Tuesday 21st April 6.45pm to 8pm

The Friends of Bishopston Library welcome Debs Penrice to present a talk about overcoming sleep issues

Overcome sleep issues to tackle stress and anxiety

Do your thoughts keep you awake? Does the worrying about the list of unfinished things start as soon as your head hits the pillow? What if you could quieten your mind, feel safer in your body, and allow sleep to come naturally again?

When sleep improves, everything feels easier. You’ll have more focus, feel steadier in your emotions, and gain more confidence, and energy for the life you want to enjoy. This session will help with:

·What’s actually effectivebeyond standard sleep hygiene?

·Why can’t I switch off my mind?

·Is this insomnia or something I just have to put up with?

·How do I handle not getting enough sleep?

We’ll look at how to settle your mind at night and which small, consistent changes can gently reset your nervous system and support deeper, more refreshing sleep.

Debs Penrice is a solution-focused hypnotherapist specialising in helping overcome insomnia and symptoms of anxiety. She can help people release the blocks which are holding them back from making changes and building better habits. Tickets are £4 + Eventbrite booking fee, and refreshments will be provided. It is essential to book via the following link:

Overcome Sleep Issues :  Tuesday 21st April 6.45pm to 8pm
https://overcomesleepissues.eventbrite.co.uk

To find out more about Debs, visit her website: https://www.storyhealing.net/

Window Wanderland Workshop on Tuesday 17 February 2026

We were delighted to host a Window Wanderland Workshop at Bishopston Library on Tuesday 17th February 2026 from 7pm to 9pm.

“Get ready to unleash your creativity at our super fun in-person workshop. Whether you’re a crafty newbie or a seasoned pro, this event is perfect for making amazing window displays that light up the neighbourhood. Bring your ideas, your smiles, and a splash of imagination. Let’s make some magic together and turn ordinary windows into spectacular views!”

Women’s Health Events at Bishopston Library in January & February 2026

Dear supporters

We are delighted to welcome back Dr Sam Morgan to the library for two events on women’s health in the new year. Sam is a Menopause Specialist Doctor accredited by the British Menopause Society with over 20 years of experience as an NHS GP. She founded Rethink Menopause to provide reliable, evidence-based information to individuals and businesses, and to enhance healthcare professionals’ education on menopause care.  You can find out more here www.rethinkmenopause.com .

Non-Hormonal Support for Perimenopause and Beyond :  Tuesday 20 January 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Join Sam for an empowering session designed to help you navigate every stage of menopause with confidence.
Discover evidence-based strategies for perimenopause through to postmenopause, focusing on nutrition, supplements, exercise, sleep, rest, and meaningful connections.

Understanding HRT : Tuesday 24 February 6.30pm – 7.30pm
Join Sam for a practical overview of HRT — from the different types available and how to get the best from each product, to recognising when testosterone may be helpful. We’ll explore benefits and risks, address common myths, discuss how long HRT can be used, and I’ll share tips on how to navigate shortages of your usual prescription.
 
Both events are free, and refreshments will be provided (donations welcome), but it is essential to book by via the following links

Non-Hormonal Support for Perimenopause and Beyond :  Tuesday 20 January 6.30pm – 7.30pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1976326337276?aff=oddtdtcreator

Understanding HRT : Tuesday 24 February 6.30pm – 7.30pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1976327063448?aff=oddtdtcreator

 Sam’s social media links are: 
 facebook (@rethink.menopause) https://www.facebook.com/rethink.menopause/, instagram (@rethink.menopause) https://www.instagram.com/rethink.menopause/ and Linked In (www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sam-morgan
Bishopston Library is an amazing but underused resource in our community, and it would be great if more events and activities took place outside of opening hours. We’d love to hear from anyone keen to share their own skills and interests alongside the Friends group, whether it be to support people in our community to manage their challenges, or to introduce them to new leisure activities. Please contact us with your ideas at friends@bishopstonlibrary.org.uk

Thank you for supporting our library!

The Wurly Folk on Saturday 20 December at Bishopston Library

Come along to Bishopston Library to hear some festive music by The Wurly Folk

With Christmas approaching we are delighted to be able to welcome back The Wurly Folk to Bishopston Library on Saturday 20th December.

They will be playing a winter set of music including carols from Europe and the UK plus other merry tunes between 1.30pm and 2.15pm.

Come along and enjoy some music and mince pies as you pick up your Christmas reading!

Please join us at Bishopston Library (100A Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8BN) for some festive music with The Wurly Folk.

We would love to see you there!

The library opens at 11am as usual.