‘North Bristol’s not as real, all the posh people live in North Bristol, all the Bristolians live in South Bristol,’ said comedian and actress Jayde Adams in an interview on her returning ‘home’ last year.
It’s a feeling shared by many living south of the river who are vehemently proud of their south Bristol roots. And it’s why Jayde, who once worked at Bedminster’s Asda, is also such inspiration for people, perhaps, facing a more challenging upbringing than their northern city counterparts.
South Bristol is home to Europe’s largest street art festival, it has rich history in the towering Maes Knoll Iron Age hill fort and it has strength in community seen in organisations like the Square Food Foundation.
It also has a wealth of talent and personalities seen below. Have we missed anyone? Email us at [email protected]
1. Ellis Genge - Knowle West
Ellis Genge recently made Bristol proud as he captained England against France at Twickenham. Genge grew up in Knowle West attending Knowle Park Primary School where he first played rugby aged 11. He went on to attend John Cabot Academy while training at Old Radcliffians in Brislington. His career saw him start at Bristol before moving to Leicester, and returning to his home city in 2022.
2. Jayde Adams - Bedminster
Last year, comedian Jayde Adams proudly said she was returning to Bedminster. She had attended St Mary Redcliffe School and worked on the fish counter at Asda in Bedminster before leaving for her studies at the University of Glamorgan. She later returned and was part of the comedy scene in Bristol - but left to pursue it as a career in London. Now, she’s happily back home after buying a house south of the river. All the while she has been continuing her work, which has seen her perform several times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, host Channel 4’s First Dates and compete in Strictly Come Dancing last year. Welcome home!
3. Pete Budd - Brislington
Pete Budd has fronted The Wurzels since 1974 having originally joined as a guitarist and banjo player. He was born in Brislington and raised in Keynsham where his first job was at Fry’s Chocolate Factory. He’s pictured here playing at Glastonbury Festival in 2018.
4. Claudia Fragapane - Whitchurch
Ok, so Claudia Fragapane might have grown up in Longwell Green and attended Bristol Hawks Gymnastics Club in Easton, but she did go to St Bernadette Catholic Secondary School in Whitchurch. She was the first English women to win four gold medals in a single Commonwealth Games since 1930 nine years ago. She was also part of the Great Britain women’s gymnastics team that won bronze at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships.