I had the lucky chance to join the crew of the Matthew, the replica of John Cabots Ship, that in the early 16th Centuary sailed from Bristol to discover the North American Continent. The trip was to join in the first 'Lifeboat Day' to be held at Clevedon Pier in support the work of the Portishead Lifeboat, which we managed to raise £5,000 funding for earlier this year from the new Liberal Democrat Bristol City Council.

If a picture tells 1000 words, here is my story of the voyage on the Matthew in pictures.

Leaving the City of Bristol under Clifton Suspension Bridge and past the old paddle steamer warf.

Our Captin, the aptly named Rob Salvidge climbs the rigging to the crow's nest

Under sail!

Sunset over the Severn Estuary

 Waking in Porlock Bay

Is this England? The sureal beauty of North Devon at dawn from the Matthew

The author, feeling like Reepicheep on the prow.... The Matthew is to play the part of the Dawn Treader for the promotion of the film of CS Lewis's Narnia Classic  "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader", out later this year....

The shadow of the crows nest on the muddy waters of the Severn as we sailed north with the tide to Clevedon

Hoisting the Jolly Roger Arrrrrrrrrhaaaaaa

The crew dressed as Pirates for the show off Clevedon Pier

Errrr is this thing loaded?

Where are me matches?....

BOOOOOOM!

The Pirate dummy gets thrown from the crows nest

To be rescued by the Portishead Lifeboat under fire!

Got him!

And away....

Hi jinks with retired lifeboat the 'Mabel Alice' past the end of Clevedon Pier

A final blast to say farewell to Clevedon

Slipping away with the tide, what a wonderful ride.....

20,687 VOTES 20,687 THANK YOU'S!

It is the Monday after the Thursday that the Lib

Dems in North Somerset upped their vote by a

third, and this is to say to every one of you that

voted for me and us, a huge THANK YOU!

We did not win but we showed that winning is possible both in the local election next year and in the next general election, which could come in as little as six months. In terms of votes, we got for the Liberal  Democrats the highest number of votes outside a winning constituency in the South West of England. The sixteenth highest Lib Dem constituency vote in the region including the 15 constituencies that elected a Lib Dem MP.

With luck we will have proportional representation next time. Now is the time to work with like minded people and go forward together. I am hoping for a 'Rainbow Coalition of the Centre Left', but it is up to Nick and the rest of the Party to decide what to do and I will support the decision when it is made. Rome was not built in a day, but last Thursday by beating the 20,000 vote barrier we showed that North Somerset can change and will change, if we work together for a better, fairer Britain and convince those that are naturally cautious to come with us!

For those of you that would like to get involved with events and activities that are happening from this week onwards please call our Chairperson Isabel Cummings on 01934 833928

Best wishes and enjoy the photographs.

Brian

Brian Mathew, Parliamentary Candidate, North Somerset Lib Dems, Tel:07771607983

The North Somerset Lib Dem Team at the Count at the Scotch Horn in Nailsea

(left to right: Cllr Andy Cole, Paul Thurston, Darren Wilkinson, Sue Mason, Ron Van der Holt, Wendy Griggs, Simon de lance Holms, Isabel Cummings, David Neale, Stewart Griggs, Daisy Bickley, Brian Mathew, Jan Longdon, Jonathan Edwards, Jean Lord, Chris Arnold, Linda Ledbrook, Bob Bowen with the Camera! (Photo by Floss)

Beat the Blues? its the Blues Brothers!

A rose between two thorns?

Fire up the err..... Volvo!

Stewart and Simon putting up election posters

And in Nailsea with Darren

Finally the Poster location that has to win the prize for the most beautiful spot, on the Claverham Road!

Out on the General Election Stump at the North Somerset Show, Nailsea Fun Fair and Lower Claverham village May Day Celebration

Ok so who won the prize? What a lovely cow...

Question from members of the public at the Nailsea Fun Fair

Meeting the UKIP Candidate

Save our Surgeries organised a march on Saturday from Wrington to the proposed new surgery site at Pudding Pie Lane, to show the distance which patients will have to travel if the plan gets approval. I was pleased to march with SOS and show how I believe local people need local services, and that real democracy means the state listening to the heart felt demands of local people that they keep their surgery in the place that they live!

Above: Brian Mathew with Peter Maitland prior to start of the SOS March

Marching out of Wrington "Save Our Surgeries!"

"Its a long way to Langford, its a long way to go!"

Brian Mathew speaking at the mid way point where the marchers continued on into Weston Constituency to the proposed site for the joint surgery.

In my visit to Orchard Close in Portishead on Thursday this week, I was able to hear directly the problems that the residents are facing. The first issue raised was the removal by the Conservative run North Somerset Council of the warden system, so that the housing unit no longer has residential care on hand, but has to share this with a number of other sheltered housing units, thus down grading the care that is available. We also discussed the problems of crossing the road at Cabstand, and again I call on North Somerset Council to get a move on and put in a zebra crossing. The Portishead railway was also raised, something that everyone wants but no one can understand whay it has not happened already!

(left to right: Mrs Mary Gilmartin, Mrs Vera Holloway, Brian Mathew, Mrs Mary Frances, Mrs Betty Hartwell, Mrs Maureen Devoy)