Bristol in 2020: The year in news

An empty plinth. Scattered placards. A defining moment for a city that has long struggled to confront its past of slavery and oppression.

The dramatic toppling of Edward Colston’s statue on June 7 saw the eyes of the world turn on Bristol at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement was sweeping the globe following the senseless killing of George Floyd at the hands of a white police officer in Minneapolis.

In the ensuing months, Bristol has continued to grapple with what happens next, how best to tackle the legacy of its historic links to the slave trade and racial inequality that exists to this day while uniting an often-divided city.

The moniker of the notorious slave trader was hastily removed from buildings, Colston’s Girls School is one of a number of schools to change its name, while streets with associations to the slave trade are set to follow suit. The city’s flagship music venue that once bore his name was officially re-christened Bristol Beacon in September, with Bristol Music Trust chief executive Louise Mitchell saying she hopes the new name will be “a force for joy and a source of unity”.

Mayor Marvin Rees launched a commission in a bid to get a better understanding of the city’s “true history” in order to help shape where we go in the wake of the statue being topped and a BLM protest that saw an estimated 10,000 people take to the streets to fight for racial justice and equality.

……………………………….

Read more: Mayor to launch commission to research Bristol’s ‘true history’

……………………………….

St George-based singer Ngaio Anyia and friends created #Beyondthehashtag, a platform to keep the conversation going, offer resources and provide a virtual space for people to join the protest, share their messages of solidarity and make a commitment to change. She is one of many calling for a need for continued action and a commitment to tackle systemic racism.

Meanwhile, the empty plinth where Colston’s statue once stood on the street that still bears his name has become a focal point for various installations. From a bald man in a wheelie bin to a sculpture of activist Jen Reid by London-based artist Marc Quinn, a series of new artworks have fast brought attention back to this same spot before being removed just as quickly.

The latest – and perhaps least controversial – of these was a statue of Darth Vadar in early December, paying homage to actor Dave Prowse, who grew up in Southmead and recently died at the age of 85.

Darth Vader himself took to the empty plinth in December –  photo by Martin Booth

Rewind back to February and the city was brought to a standstill with a visit from teenage environmentalist Greta Thunberg, who led a march from College Green and earned an early contender for Bristol24/7 headline of the year: Gert Thunberg: Bristol goes gaga for Greta.

If 2020 has proved anything, it’s that the spirit of protest remains strong in our city even in the midst of a global pandemic, with people taking to the streets to highlight a number of causes – from racial inequality, trans rights and the environment to anti-lockdown rallies and more.

Members of Extinction Rebellion have been far from idle over the last year, with a series of actions to highlight the climate emergency, including a rooftop protest on City Hall and the closure of Prince Street Bridge to cars.

There is also always love for Banksy, with the city’s most renowned street artist heading back to his home turf in Barton Hill in February to create a Valentine’s special which has remained boarded over ever since after some early vandalism. He then returned – this time to Totterdown in December – for his latest piece, Achoo.

People had fun with Banksy’s latest work on the side of a Vale Street house – photo by Martin Booth

Moments of much-needed lightness can’t detract from the devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. The first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Bristol on March 6 and within weeks, venues across the city were closing as events were cancelled and schools shut.

The ensuing weeks and months saw the city rally to tackle the challenges faced by a pandemic that has only served to exacerbate existing inequalities. Emergency food parcels were packed and delivered, laptops and phones donated for those facing digital exclusion and families suddenly having to home school and services swiftly switched to online.

The collaborative efforts of Caring in Bristol and some of the city’s top chefs and restaurateurs saw meals provided for vulnerable people and those facing homelessness as part of the Cheers Drive project. But there were also numerous community efforts to help struggling households, with the launch of Humanitarian Bristol and the Sunday Kitchen project in Barton Hill, to name just a couple.

……………………………….

Read more: The grassroots group taking on a citywide challenge

……………………………….

This year has seen a number of high profile economic casualties, with high street brands such as Arcadia and Debenhams proving unable to survive what has been branded “the most difficult trading conditions in post-war history”. While Flour & Ash, Convoy Espresso and Wilks are among the Bristol independent food and drink businesses to have permanently closed their doors.

But there has also been great resilience and innovation, with the city’s long-established venues and organisations adapting fast to offer socially-distanced and live stream alternatives to their usual offerings and fledging businesses quickly finding their feet.

At the time of writing, the city is set to switch back to tier 3 on Boxing Day, just one week after restrictions were eased, following a sharp rise in cases and concern about the new strain of the virus across the UK.

Ninety-eight-year-old Jack Vokes, who was the first person in Bristol to receive the Covid-19 vaccine on December 8, echoed the thoughts of many when he said he hopes the rollout will mean a return to life as normal.

While coronavirus has dominated the headlines throughout 2020, the reality of Brexit is bearing down on us rapidly as the transition period for the UK to leave the EU ends on December 31. At the time of writing, Boris Johnson’s ‘oven-ready’ deal is looking more like last night’s kebab, once so full of promise but as it turns out, raw in the middle and not fit for consumption.

A recent survey by Business West revealed many businesses in the region are woefully unprepared for the implications of Brexit, with representatives warning of a real shock to come and imploring the Government to do more to inform and support companies.

Putting Covid and Brexit aside, if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that our city’s communities can come together to find strength, hope and unity in the face of adversity.

Whether it’s the neighbourhood photo journals, messages of kindness, appreciation for the lowest-paid workers doing vital roles, community food projects or a rooftop DJ, there are moments throughout 2020 that have brought out the best in humanity and made many reevaluate what’s really important.

The unsung heroes of this year – photo by James Koch

Main photo by Phil Riley

Read more: Bristol in 2020: Culture