Prof. Chris Stephens decided two years ago that rather than trekking up to Gloucestershire every month where he had been a Woodland Trust Volunteer for almost 30 years he would transfer his allegiance to a new group being established here in Bristol for Bishop’s Knoll Wood. This resulted in the publication of his second retirement book – Bristol’s Australian Pioneer- Robert Edwin Bush and his Bishop’s Knoll First World War Hospital. (Bristol Books, £12) (You may order a copy by clicking here). He soon found himself Hon. Sec. of the industrious Bishop’s Knoll volunteers who this month, were delighted to receive the Woodland Trust’s “Willow award” as Volunteer Group of the year. He mused that “willow” was particularly appropriate title since Robert Edwin Bush the former owner of Bishop’s Knoll was a dab-hand with a piece of willow having opened the batting for Gloucestershire with the great Dr W.G. Grace while still a schoolboy.
Sad to note that this year will be the last time that an Ashes Test Match is played at the WACA, the cricket ground Bush established in Perth, Western Australia while making his fortune as a sheep farmer there.
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