Awbridge Newsletter December 2013 by Deon Tucker

FREE Awbridge District Village Association

Cover by:

Charlotte Preget

december 2013

awbridge.news@gmail.com www.awbridge.info

Awb ridge

awbridge district village association

V I L L A G E

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ADVA

committee Fred Tucker - Chairman Chanwel House, Romsey Road - 340709 Laura Hailwood-Thomas - Secretary 1 Spring Field, Romsey Road - 342020 Nigel Hemsted - Treasurer Emmbrook, Newtown Road - 340986 Paul Jameson Forest View, Kents Oak - 340118 Deon Tucker Bryn Gower, Romsey Road - 340230 Alex Hillier Forest View, Kents Oak - 340118

Advertising

Lynda Tucker Chanwel House, Romsey Road - 340709 Sally McLellan Coles Farm Cottage - 522402 James Child 4 Cowleas Close - 341980 Kay Murrant Old Police House, Danes Road - 340289 Paul Harvey Rowlands Barn, Dunbridge Lane - 341259 Amanda Hanson 1 Woodlands, Saunders Lane - 340899

Katy Stimson Thurston House, Danes Road - 341452 Simon Hughes Awbridge Farm Cottage - 341783 Joss Hughes Awbridge Farm Cottage - 341783 Toby Jones Pluto House, Romsey Road - 341105 Melanie Jones Pluto House, Romsey Road - 341105 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS Peter Allen, Sandra Tebbett

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Info For further information please call 340709. Send all adverts to awbridge.news@gmail.com to book for further issues. We thank you for your support and trust that you will continue to use our magazine in the future. To book back page please add £10 and call to confirm.

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subscriptions Awbridge News is now available by annual subscription. Send your details and a cheque for £15.00 made payable to

ADVA to cover costs and postage to Nigel Hemsted, Treasurer, Emmbrook, Newtown Road, Awbridge, SO51 0GJ.

The deadline for the next edition will be 15th January

Page 2 | Dec 2013

From the Editors

Awbridge Primary School

One final push and the last Awbridge News of 2013 is finished. It’s been a difficult year for me in many ways, what with being on my third job of the year and spending too much time in the various departments of Southampton General to contend with over and above everything else life throws at us! As much as I enjoy being involved with pulling together this magazine each month, it is nice to have a month off.

As we approach Christmas at Awbridge Primary School our children are busy with lots of exciting activities and events.

If I have achieved nothing else in my time as editor, I am thrilled by how many new contributors we have this month. I hope that they aren’t one off contributions, as we can never have too many people willing to write. Not that I am saying that the regular bits and pieces aren’t appreciated, but many hands make light work after all. Fred, in his regular slot, touches on the need to look after our neighbours in bad weather and I will echo that myself. It is hard sometimes to know if the weather forecasters are deliberately overstating what could be happening in fear of litigation or whether it is going to be as bad as alleged. Either way, snow means more than just snowmen and sledges; it can mean no power, heating or visits from support networks. Remember, don’t be a stranger! All that remains is to wish you all a Happy Christmas and I hope that 2014 brings everything you want it to. James Child - Co-Editor Awbridge News

From the Chairman’s Pen As we move rapidly towards Christmas and the New Year we trust that you will enjoy all the various activities that have been arranged by all the different clubs and organisations in the village. Most of these are listed within the magazine, amongst them the ADVA pantomime; we hope to see you there. Also there is the carol singing, the village nativity in the barn, and children’s disco just to name a few. If as forecasted the weather is likely to turn cold with snow, let’s be neighbourly and check on elderly folk who may find it difficult to get about. It only leaves me to thank you for all your support through the year for the ADVA events and the committee for all their hard work. Lynda and I wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous new year. Fred - Chairman ADVA

Recently we have been donating our shoeboxes for the Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, filling bags for the ‘Phil the Bag’ scheme (where families fill bags with unwanted clothes and these are then re-distributed to families in need) and holding a VE Tea Party, inviting local people to talk to the children about their war time experiences. We have been taking part in lots of sport events locally as well. Our football and netball teams have done really well and we had 15 children take part in a Cross Country event at Halterworth School. The children are already rehearsing for our Collaboration Christmas Concert at Romsey Abbey, choir singing at Kents Oak Residential Home and nativity performances in school. We also look forward to our Christmas service at Awbridge Church. We are holding our PTA Advent Fair on Friday 6th December where everyone is welcome. Awbridge Primary School would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas.

School Dates in december: Friday 6th Thursday 12th Wednesday 18th Thursday 19th Thursday 19th Friday 20th Friday 20th

- PTA Advent/Christmas Fayre 5.30pm - Maple class cake sale - Christmas Service at Awbridge Church 10am - Choir singing at Kents Oak - Christmas lunch - Carols around the tree 2pm - End of Term

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS DISCO PARTY!! Featuring

‘FLASH LIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT’

Fri 20th Dec - 6.30pm to 8pm Awbridge Village Hall

100 Club

ENTRY IS £1 ON THE DOOR

Winners of the November 100 Club Draw were as follows £100 Colina Humphrey

£25 Alexandra Spanner

£20 Eileen Allen

£15 Laura Hailwood-Thomas

The 100 club is a fun lottery, and helps to raise money for publishing this magazine. It is drawn every 2 months, usually with 3 prizes, and in addition twice a year (November and May) we have a bonus prize of £100. Our year runs from June to May. If you’re not already a member and would like to join for the rest of the year (at £7.50 being 50% of the full year fee) please contact Nigel Hemsted on 01794 340986 or via nigelhemsted@hotmail.com.

(subsidised by ADVA)

SPOT PRIZES TUCK SHOP & BURGERS (bring your money) Contact Alex on bertanddoris@btinternet.com or 340118 for more info! Please supply child’s name, address and emergency contact number on the door. Organised by ADVA for all primary school aged children from Awbridge Village and Awbridge School only.

Page 3 | Dec 2013

SAVE THE DATE - 12th April 2014 !! One for your diaries next year 12th April 2014 is booked in as a Jazz Concert at the Village Hall, being another opportunity to enjoy the musical talents of Fred & Lynda’s grandchildren. More details to follow nearer the date.

Awbridge Neighbourcare 0845 094 6155

Awbridge Neighbourcare would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a happy and healthy 2014. The Christmas village lunch will be held on Wednesday 11th December, 12 noon at the village hall. Please telephone the duty Neighbourcare co-ordinator on 0845 094 6155 by Thursday 5th December if you would like to attend. The dates for the 2014 village lunches will be published in the February edition of the Awbridge News. Should we have a repeat of the bad weather we have experienced over the last few winters, please remember that we will still try to help as much as possible with appointments and shopping. NEIGHBOURCARE ARRANGEMENTS

0845 094 6155

D.A.WHEELER LTD. GENERAL BUILDING & MAINTENANCE • • • • • • • • •

New Build Repairs and Renova ons Listed Building Work Extensions Lo Conversions Altera ons Carpentry Kitchens Bathrooms

Free Quota ons Tel: 01794 514988 Mob: 07860166536 Email: david@hillberryfarm.com Hillberry Farm, Awbridge.

Awbridge Neighbourcare volunteers are available to help, as good neighbours, to provide transport for medical appointments, or shopping, or to visit you if you would enjoy a friendly chat. Our volunteers have allocated time to be available to help you, so your requests are vital to the work of this group. All you need to do is call 0845 094 6155 to speak to the co-ordinator to see if they can help you.

Epiphany: the wise men

If you would like to use Awbridge Neighbourcare, please could you try to give at least 48 hours’ notice when you need to book transport so that the duty co-ordinator has time to make the necessary arrangements. Although we will endeavour to help if shorter notice is given, we cannot guarantee the availability of our volunteers.

Braishfield Church Room 2.30 pm - 5pm

We would very much like to hear from you if you could volunteer as a driver. The more drivers we have to call on, the more people we are able to help. Please contact the duty co-ordinator on 0845 094 6155 if you would like to join this worthwhile organisation.

British Red Cross Romsey & District Local Office: For All Enquires Red Cross Centre, 10 Greatwell Drive, Romsey (opposite Nightingale Surgery) 01794 513202 - 24 hour answer phone Romsey Medical Loan Open 10.30am to 12.30pm - Mon to Fri. Enquiries: 01794 513202 (24 hr answer phone). General Information 0844 871 1111. Emergency number for all of the above 07790 670840

Sunday 2 February 2014

Messy Activities Celebration - Feast Messy Church is organised by the churches in our group of five parishes, for all families to attend. Children to be accompanied by parent/carer. For further information contact: Kate Orange 367417 email: mrskateorange@gmail.com or Mary Savage 367908 email: savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk

EVENT IS FREE BUT DONATIONS ARE WELCOME Next Messy Church: Sunday 9 March 2014 Lent 2.30 pm Awbridge Village Hall

Page 4 | Dec 2013

Adva Committee: Spotlight On …… Each month we thought it would be useful for readers of Awbridge News to get to know a different member of the ADVA committee. This month it is the turn of Jocelyn (Joss) Hughes. Hello!

MBR PLUMBING & BATHROOMS * Free Estimates * * Competitive Rates*

Wife, mother, doctor, friend, church-goer, neighbour, gardener - which hat shall I wear today?! The thing is, as all you busy Mums know, the tendency is to wear two or more at once and sometimes it is not a pretty picture!! Procrastination is my middle name and alarmingly I can spend a good couple of hours just neatly re-writing my to-do list so that I do not accomplish much at all! I usually have lots of big project ideas and then rarely seem to commit to one.

Call Matthew Rowe on 01794 341709

I have lived in Awbridge (Awbridge Farm Cottage, Dunbridge Lane) for eighteen months; I am married to Simon who is also a Committee member, and we have two children Susanna aged 8 and three quarters, and Benjamin just turned 7 years old. We are both qualified doctors who met in London at medical school many moons ago. Since then our training has taken us all over the country and indeed as far away as Sydney, Australia (Benjamin’s birthplace). In the UK, between us, we have lived in Wiltshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Cambridgeshire, London, Surrey, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and most recently Oxfordshire but, to me, none has felt such a comfortable ‘fit’ as Hampshire. We have been welcomed with open arms. Perhaps it is because we are here to stay now; many of our moves (we had five homes in Oxfordshire) were related to Simon’s RAF career. We are now back in civilian life and although hospital working hours are often antisocial, we are glad to have an end to family separation via military deployments.

*** EMERGENCY CALLOUT ***

I work part time as a doctor on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton. It is an honour to care for babies ranging from 365g to 5000g in weight and to experience miracles and tragedies with families for whom the Unit is their whole world for perhaps only hours or for perhaps several months. It certainly spurs me to cuddle my children more tightly and to daily thank God for our good fortune.

or 07831 624887

* Complete Bathroom Refits inc tiling * * New toilets/baths/basins supplied & fitted * * Leaks fixed * * Showers supplied and repaired * * Washing machines & Dishwashers installed * * Gutters/Drainage etc *

NO JOB TOO SMALL !!!

Our children have recently started in Years 2 and 4 at Hampshire Collegiate School and are happily engaging with new experiences on offer. Susanna very much enjoys the lively First Lockerley Brownie pack activities on a Tuesday evening, and both the children have had fun at various local Messy Church events and other village events. All of us have enjoyed making many new local friends over the last eighteen months, so if you are ever passing by and we are out in the garden do stop for a chat! Some examples of genuine neighbourliness that we have experienced: soon after our arrival being hosted by several close neighbours to dinners, with the sole purpose of introducing us to other neighbours; ready volunteers to let the chickens out, dog sit and babysit; having our dog’s tag posted to us anonymously when it had been found on the Test Way; a surprise bottle of wine on the doorstep as a thank you for our tolerance of some (really NOT very inconvenient) local groundworks; one lovely gentleman turned up on his motorbike one day with a photocopy for us of a very old photograph of our cottage; another lovely lady stopped one day to tell us she used to live here and that she had planted the hedge that I was currently hacking down. Well, you can’t win them all! My hope is that, over time, my new role on the committee will become more productive and constructive as I get to know people and vice versa, with the aim of keeping village life alive and kicking. If you have any suggestions I shall happily put them forward on your behalf. In the meantime, my latest motto, at the top of my to-do list, is to “Be a human being not a human doing.” I hope to get around to this anytime soon!!

Joss Hughes Page 5 | Dec 2013

All Saints Awbridge - December 2013 & January 2014 A Happy Christmas to all of you from the members of All Saints, Awbridge. Where heaven meets earth; that is what we celebrate at Christmas. Come and join us and celebrate God living among us this Christmas and always. As part of our Christmas preparations in Awbridge there will be two travelling cribs, visiting families in the village during Advent, explaining the nativity, through the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Why not look up www.christmasunwrapped.org.uk. to enjoy the Christmas story once again? We have also just enjoyed Messy Church: Advent looking at the preparations God made for Jesus’ birth and how we prepare our own festivities. Our next Messy Church will be Sunday 2 February 2014, at Braishfield 2.30 pm with the theme of the wise men and Epiphany. As we look forward to the Christmas season we hope to welcome many of you to our services and events in December. Included with this edition of the Awbridge News is a Christmas card with all the details. Don’t forget to book your place to come on Wednesday 11 December to our Village Christmas lunch organised by All Saints and Awbridge Neighbourcare. Maybe you want to celebrate with The Ark who have their Christmas Celebrations on Friday 13 December in Awbridge Church, at 10 am. There will be ice skating in Winchester on 14 December and a chance to enjoy the Christmas market. The village school will be holding their carol service, in church, on Wed 18 December at 10 am followed by refreshments. Why not join us for our special Nativity on the Farm which takes place on Saturday 21 December, at 6 pm at Butlers Wood Farm. This will include a lantern procession, nativity scenes and carol singing, followed by refreshments. Funds being raised this year are for Messy Church and for disaster relief, after the typhoon in the Philippines, through the work of Samaritans Purse. Our candle-lit carol service with Christingles takes place on Sunday 22 December, at 4 pm. This is a lovely preparation for Christmas, for families and friends and is followed be tea. ADVA is arranging carol singing in the village on Monday 23 December, at 6.30 pm. On Christmas Eve there will be Midnight Communion starting at 11.15pm and a special All-age Service of Celebration will take place on Christmas Day at 10 am. After all the festivities there will be a chance to get some fresh air on New Year’s Day with a walk, meet at 11am at Choice Plants Car Park, Timsbury (walk across farmland around Michelmersh, not suitable for pushchairs) followed by homemade soup at Poppies, Choice Plants. All welcome. There have been some well attended events recently. Thank you for your support at the Remembrance Sunday service in the school and for the coffee morning celebrating Operation Christmas Child. We collected over 150 boxes most of which were made on the day and received many generous financial donations too. Spreading God’s love through making, giving and sending shoeboxes is a wonderful thing. Advance notices: New Housegroup starts Wednesday 15 & 29 January 7.45pm Chanwel House, Romsey Road, Awbridge 7.45pm Tel Fred 340709 Next Messy Church will be on Sunday 2 Feb 2014, 2.30 – 5pm, at Braishfield Church Room and Church, the theme will be Epiphany. Please put the date in your diary. Page 6 | Dec 2013

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”

Worship and Events in Awbridge in December & January Sunday 1 December Advent 1 9.30 am Holy Communion 6.30 pm First service: Advent with Steve Pittis Sunday 8 December Advent 2 9.30 am Morning Worship and Young Church Wednesday 11 December Village Christmas Lunch, 12 noon, village hall Friday 13 December 10 am Craft and Chat Church Rooms 10 am The Ark Baby & Toddler Group celebrates Christmas at All Saints Saturday 14 December Ice- skating in Winchester Sunday 15 December Advent 3 9.30 am Holy Communion Wednesday 18 December 10 am Awbridge School Carol Service Saturday 21 December Nativity on the Farm 6 pm Butlers Wood Farm, Kent’s Oak Sunday 22 December Advent 4 4 pm Carols with Christingles followed by tea Monday 23 December ADVA carols 6.30pm meet at village war memorial Christmas Eve Monday 24 December 11.15 pm Midnight Communion Christmas Day Tuesday 25 December 10 am All-Age Worship, All Saints, Awbridge Sunday 29 December 10 am UB HC at St Mary’s, Michelmersh New Year’s Day Wed 1 January 11 am New Year’s Walk meet at Choice Plants car park, Timsbury. Followed by homemade soup at Poppies, Choice Plants. Sunday 5 January 9.30 am Holy Communion No First service Sunday 12 January 9.30 am Morning worship & young church

Sunday 19 January 9.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 26 January 9.30 am Family Worship Sunday 2 February 10 am UB HC Candlemas All Saints, Braishfield 2.30 pm Messy Church Epiphany at Braishfield Church Rooms 6.30 pm First at Awbridge Church Other Activities for December 2013 & January 2014 Five Alive Fellowship Tuesday 10 December; Christmas Meal, 7pm Wheatsheaf, Braishfield Monday 6 Jan, 7.30 pm; AGM, Braishfield Church Rooms Prayer Group Meets alternate Thursdays, 11 am, in Romsey, For venue & prayer requests to J Twigg 521966 or 07776 135575 Awbridge Lunch Club Village Christmas Lunch Wednesday 11 December, at 12 noon, Awbridge Village Hall and Wednesday 8 & 22 January, in church rooms contact Delia Dutton 340395 Housegroup Tuesday 17 December Mulled wine and mince pies & 21 January; 7.45 pm venue Rosemary Croft contact John Twigg Tel 521966 or 07776 135575 Open Housegroup None in December, meets alternate Thursdays, starts 9 January, 7.45 pm venues TBA. Contact Sue Franklin 322185 Craft and Chat 10 am Church Rooms, meets alternate Fridays Friday 13 December and then 10 January, contact Sue Franklin 322185 Wednesday Housegroup Wednesday 15 & 29 January, 7.45 pm Chanwel House, Romsey Road, Awbridge. Tel Fred 340709 “The Ark” The All Saints Church Baby & Toddler group meets in Awbridge Village Hall, on Fridays in term-time, 9.30am. Christmas Celebration Friday 13 December, 9.30 am at Village Hall for 10 am at Awbridge church. Next term starts on Friday 10 January. All toddlers and their parents and carers welcome. Contact:Lynda Tucker 340709. Welcome Pack If you have recently moved into the Awbridge area and would like a copy of our village Welcome Pack please contact one of the churchwardens, see details below. Useful church contacts: Rector: Revd Canon Steve Pittis 01794 368335 email:pittisinc@gmail. com or Benefice Office 01794 878020 email: braishfieldbenefice@ gmail.com Churchwardens: Fred Tucker (01794 340709) or Mary Savage (01794 367908) Young Church: contact one of the wardens The Ark Toddler Group: Lynda Tucker (01794 340709) Awbridge Neighbourcare: 0845 094 6155 Other relevant information can be found on the village website www.awbridge.info

Operation Christmas Child

“Operation Christmas Child: the power of a simple gift” Thank you to all of you who made a shoebox this year or provided items and donations for our boxes. At the village coffee morning in Awbridge over 150 boxes were collected many of which were made on the day, others being donated and many generous financial donations were given as well which was brilliant. Thank you to everyone involved. Fred has been out driving to collect boxes from drop-off points and schools/businesses in our pick-up zone, and we collected many local boxes at our Deanery service in Lockerley in November. As you read this volunteers are still helping at our local warehouse, in Chandlers Ford, to process the boxes for distribution to Zambia, Azjerbaijan, and other countries in Eastern Europe. For up to date news and stories please see www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk. We have recently seen the awful devastation of the typhoon which hit the Philippines and as a result some of proceeds from the Nativity on the Farm event, in Awbridge on 21 December, will be going to support the disaster relief work of Samaritans Purse UK in the aftermath of the storm. www.samaritans-purse.org.uk/typhoon-haiyan . Thank you for your continuing and valued support.

Mary Savage and Fred Tucker on behalf of Samaritans Purse UK.

Awbridge Village Christmas Lunch 2013 Would you like to join friends and neighbours from the village for Christmas Lunch?

Christmas Lunch & Carols 12 noon at Awbridge Village Hall

Wednesday 11th December £6 per person

Menu: Roast Turkey, potatoes and vegetables Christmas pudding. Tea or coffee with mince pies

Booking and Transport arrangements:

To let us know numbers for catering, please ring the Neighbourcare Co-ordinator on 0845 094 6155 by Thursday 5th December. If you would like transport, at no cost to you, please ask the co-ordinator at the same time. This lunch is organised jointly by All Saints Church and Awbridge Neighbourcare with catering provided by a team of cooks and volunteers. We hope that you will come and enjoy this festive event. Page 7 | Dec 2013

Awbridge Hill Wildlife Sanctuary Brown Hairstreak Autumn.

For visitors to the wildlife sanctuary, a small number of brown hairstreak butterfly were to be seen on the wing, flying high in the canopy of mature oaks trees until the last week in October. Brown hairstreak lay their eggs on the tips of blackthorn in autumn, the caterpillar emerging eight months later in May. One of the reasons why the brown hairstreak is so scarce is that in Britain, the majority of eggs are destroyed by hedge flailing, for a severe trim can remove every egg. The adult butterfly also requires woodland fringe habitat where the canopies of high trees such as ash, silver birch and oak taper down gently to smaller trees such as hazel and scrub, where blackthorn can sucker freely. For those wondering about the disappearance of grey squirrel, through mid November, a female Goshawk (which is similar to a sparrowhawk but the size of a buzzard), was seen ambushing woodpigeon. Goshawk are likely to be the principal predator of squirrel, explaining over the last year or so, the presence of squirrel skin and fur around tree stumps, used as plucking posts. Carrion crow will gather in flocks to mob goshawk as they move from one crow’s territory to another.

The Christmas Tree Whilst the tradition of Christmas trees in Britain is associated with having been popularised by Prince Albert, the German husband of Queen Victoria, it was actually an English Monk named Winfrith, who can be attributed to having given the Germanic tribes the tradition of the Christmas tree in the first instance. Winfrith was born in Crediton, Devon, then educated at a monastery at Nursling, near Romsey, however he was best known for converting Germany from pagan tree worship to Christianity in the 8TH Century. Much of Winfrith’s time was spent travelling around Germany destroying pagan shrines and groves, replacing them with Christian churches. Most famously he felled the Druid’s oak near Thuringen in Eastern Germany, in doing so, pulling out of the ground a fir tree, which he pronounced to be the new Christian symbol. In this way he killed two birds with one stone, his legacy which today “miraculously” equates to the annual up rooting of millions of young fir trees every Christmas. Winfrith eventually met his death in Germany in 754 as the result of a rebellion by tree worshipping pagans. This rebellion was brought about, most likely due to Winfrith’s intolerance to dual faith, where equal reverence was paid to pagan deities rather than just to Jesus as the one and only Christ and to Christian saints who had taken the place of pagan deities.

Parish Conservation Initiatives.

After Winfrith’s death the pagan revolt was quashed and he was sanctified to become St Boniface and is regarded as a patron saint of Germany.

Parish Conservation Initiatives are about encouraging local communities to care better for their environment. In this respect for instance, ADVA organise an annual spring clean and litter sweep of road side verges, whereas others on their own initiative, undertake tasks voluntarily around the village, improving communal space for the benefit of wildlife, the environment and the community.

Whilst everyone associates Christmas automatically with the birth of Jesus, the concept of dual faith is subconsciously preserved through Father Christmas, the yule tide logs, sprigs of holly, ivy and mistletoe, along with fruits, nuts, seed and berries. These are a legacy of the central role trees have historically played in our celebration of Christmas, for the proof is literally in the pudding or the cake!

In this way, there are those who voluntarily undertake repairs to village benches, those who work to reduce the problem of dog fouling, others who daily pick up litter, clear footpaths, clean road signs and work to keep the village a desirable place to live. According to a survey by the Wildlife Trusts, those villages with parish conservation initiatives enjoy a 5% increase in house value.

Merry Christmas!

Parish conservation initiatives were seeded by the Wildlife Trusts in the aftermath and clearing up of the great storm of 1987, but germinated only after the storm of 1989. With the widespread uprooting of trees, community tree planting projects were undertaken and in Awbridge a woodsman with a chainsaw (Len Kemish) took on the role of dealing with troublesome limbs as tree warden through the 1990’s. The tree warden scheme also promoted the creation of community woodlands such as has been created at Awbridge Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, a project which was rooted at the Millennium and which 13 years later, now bears so many fruit. Parish conservation initiatives are about encouraging local communities, land owners, groups and individuals, to work together and care better, making villages more desirable places to live, whilst benefiting wildlife, the environment and the community, bearing fruit for generations to come. Anyone wishing to know more about parish conservation initiatives, please contact the greenman@raines.plus.com. or contact Bryan Raines on 01794 368435

Page 8 | Dec 2013

Bryan Raines - Tel 01794 368435

A Date for Your Diary You are invited to join us at

THE BIG BREAKFAST

on SATURDAY 15th FEBRUARY 2014 between 8.30 am and 1 pm at LOCKERLEY MEMORIAL HALL (SO51 0JG) Full English Breakfast or a Light Breakfast will be on the menu. The choice is yours! There will be various stalls including cakes, new items, knitwear and home crafted goods for sale. Take time to browse and make your purchase. All proceeds will be donated to The Trussell Trust.

For further information please contact Marion Hurst 01794 340695 or Vida Reynolds 01794 322480

Professional Tree Surgeons

Trees Hedges Gardens 01794 518871 07899 952944 Fully qualified and insured.

AwbridgeArb.co.uk

Brook

BUILDING SERVICES A local family run business covering all aspects of building work Call Lewis or Paul now for a free no obligation quote on:

07799 664 308 07798 566 424 w ur ne See oeb site w

www.brookbuildingservices.co.uk Lower Brook - King's Somborne - Stockbridge - Hants Page 9 | Dec 2013

Awbridge Parish Council Chair: Mark Caplen 342315

mcaplen@googlemail.com

Councillors: Peter Allen 342040 Peter Milani 523066 Pam Harvey 341259 Paul Legon 340539 Bryan Raines 368435

allen609@btinternet.com peter.r.milani@googlemal.com pam.harveyp@gmail.com legon@btinternet.com bryan@uraines.plus.com

Clerk: Ian Milsom 07745411274 awbridgeclerk36@googlemail.com Parish Council Website http://communities.hants.gov.uk/awbridge-index

Seasons Greetings from the Parish Council The Chairman, councillors and clerk wish everyone in Awbridge a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year. We shall continue to work in 2014 with local government partners, local community organisations and residents to protect and improve our village.

Is a Parish Plan the right approach for Awbridge? Come along to the meeting on Thursday, 16 January 2014, hear more about parish plans and make your views about the future of Awbridge known. If you would like more information about Parish Plans prior to the meeting, or will not be able to make the meeting but would like to be kept informed, please contact the Parish Clerk clerk.awbridge@parish. hants.gov.uk

Hitting the Cold Spots Winter 2013-14 campaign For the third winter Hampshire County Council with its partners, are running the Hitting the Cold Spots campaign, funded by Hampshire County Council Adult Services and Public Health Departments, which can help and advise you on ways to keep warm and healthy this winter. Keeping your home warm and you and your family healthy can be expensive and sometimes difficult. Cold weather not only make life uncomfortable but can also lead to serious health problems such as respiratory diseases, asthma, depression, heart disease and strokes. The Hitting the Cold Spots Team could help you with: Visits from Hitting the Cold Spots Advisors offering advice and practical support

We look forward to welcoming residents to the Village Plan public meeting on Thursday, 16 January 2014 at 7.00pm in the Village Hall.

Hot water and heating system repairs

Awbridge Do we need to plan for our future?

Access to small grant support to help cope with winter fuel emergencies

The Parish Council warmly invites parishioners to a public meeting at 7.00pm on Thursday, 16 January 2014 in the Village Hall. Refreshments will be available. See below for details.

Support with alternative heating measures (electric oil filled radiators) if you are without heating. Other services: Practical support and advice with debt, money and benefits Free Home Safety visits which can include a carbon monoxide monitor, smoke detector and a fire safety plan

At the end of December thoughts may turn to what the New Year has in store for Awbridge. Will 2014 be an improvement on the year that is quickly coming to a close? Perhaps.

Access to free insulation (cavity wall, loft and solid wall)

But fast forward ten years to 2024. What will Awbridge look like then? Will the character and charm of the village be largely intact? Will the existing way of village life still remain?

Assessment for funding for a gas mains to be laid to your property and a central heating system to be installed

They say change is an inevitable process. Can it be influenced? Should we try? How could we go about it? Parish Plans A Parish Plan, sometimes called a Village Plan, is a document prepared by a community, which describes how the community sees itself developing over the next few years. It: • identifies local problems and opportunities • sets out an achievable and long term vision for the future • prepares a plan of action to achieve this vision To prepare a Plan the views of all of the community must be gathered through survey, research and community participation. A Plan can include everything that is relevant to the people who live and work in the community, from employment needs to playgrounds. No one else can set the agenda or determine priorities for action on behalf of the community. The Parish Plan process can only move forward through the ongoing commitment of parishioners, some of whom would be asked to serve on a Parish Plan steering group. Page 10 | Dec 2013

Assistance to switch your energy provider or tariff to help give you savings on your fuel bills

Some of the above services and emergency relief are subject to availability and conditions apply Please contact: 0800 804 8601 Where your call will be answered by a member of the Hampshirebased, friendly and knowledgeable team from the Environment Centre.

Awbridge Gardening Club Our November meeting took place on Wednesday November 13th when Mr Tom Stone talked to us about “The roses of Mottisfont”. He told us the history and showed us the beauty of many of the famous collection. His wide knowledge of the more unusual and retiring of the roses meant that we can all take so much more from our next visit there. Our final meeting will take place on Wednesday December 11th at 7.30pm when we will hold the AGM and enjoy the supper provided.

Eileen Henderson

Awbridge Evening W. I.

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Members arrived at the meeting to find four ladies in beautiful saris awaiting them. Jaswinder and Ishy Bachoo had brought along two other members of their family and together they explained the customs and traditions of a Sikh wedding; very different from an English one! The talk was illustrated with an excellent video presentation, and moved from the small engagement party through all the preparations (including a two week trip to India to buy costumes), until the actual wedding ceremony and reception which took two days and involved many changes of clothing and jewellery. Afterwards we enjoyed traditional Indian sweetmeats with our coffee. A report was given on the Autumn meeting at Basingstoke and several members had enjoyed the open meeting at Mottisfont and Dunbridge when the speaker had brought along his pet ferrets! Members were given details of the proposed resolutions to be discussed and voted upon at the next meeting. Final arrangements were made for the trip to Bath and the holiday in Belgium. In December, some members are joining with Mottisfont for a day of Christmas flower arrangements and decorations, and in February there is to be a willow weaving workshop. Next month sees the welcome return of Julie Horton with ‘All that Jazz’ so if you enjoy jazz music, do come and join us at 7.30 on 12th December. You will be most welcome.

Yvonne Goodridge

Nigella Lawson’s Baklava Ingredients For the syrup 300 ml water 500 grams caster sugar juice of ½ lemon 1 tablespoon rosewater 1 tablespoon orange-flower water

For the pastry 325 grams pistachios (chopped in a processor till medium fine) 125 grams unsalted butter (melted) 400 grams filo pastry

Method You will need a square foil tin, 23 x 23 x 4cm / 9 x 9 x 1½ inches. To make the syrup: bring the water, sugar and lemon juice to the boil, and keep it at boiling point for 5 minutes. Add the rosewater and orange-flower water, and then remove it from the heat. Pour it into a jug, let it cool and then chill it in the fridge. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/gas mark 4/350ºF. Brush the tin with butter, and then each of the filo pastry sheets as you line the tin with them. Use half of the pastry for the bottom layer, placing the sheets in the tin evenly so that the pastry goes up the sides with a little overhang. As the tin is square and the filo pastry is often a rectangular shape, you should try to arrange the sheets so that each side is covered in turn. When you have used up half of the pastry, spread the pistachios evenly over the filo sheets. Then carry on with the rest of the pastry in the same way. The last sheet on top should also be buttered well, and then with a sharp knife trim around the top edge of the tin to give a neat finish. Cut parallel lines 4-5cm / 1½-2 inches apart to form diamond shapes, making sure you cut the baklava right through to the bottom of the tin. Put in the oven and cook for 30 minutes, by which time the filo will have puffed up and become golden-brown. As soon as it comes out of the oven, pour over half the cold syrup. Leave it a few minutes to soak in and then pour over the rest. Please send us your favourite baking recipes and we will print them.

Katy Stimson Page 11 | Dec 2013

Hallowe’en thank you

Remembrance in Awbridge

Every year I get lots of Trick or Treaters, This year I had 35 in total. All the Children were very polite and thanked me. I enjoy the evening as much as they do.

November the 10th dawned bright and crisp as Awbridge woke up and remembered that it was time to make their way to the memorial to pay their respects to the brave people from Awbridge that gave their lives so we could continue with ours. The memorial looked clean and tidy after ADVA‘S spring clean, and what a treat to see seventy plus parishioners, who gave up their sunday morning to pay respects to the fallen.

On the Saturday after Hallowe’en, a little girl left a thank you gift on my doorstep. I do not know who you are but I would like to thank you as it was a lovely thing to do. I look forward to seeing you all next year!

Carol Finch, 11 Cowleas Cottages

Congratulations Congratulations to Jack Jameson on being awarded his Chief Scout’s Silver Award in Cubs. Lots of Love Daddy and Mummy

A local young man played the last post on his trumpet follow by the sound of Dr Ian Kieth’s bag pipes from the school playground. Wreaths and flowers were laid by the church (Ivan Frost and helpers) plus the parish council represented by councillor Paul Legon. Monday (the 11th) was very different weather wise, but this did not stop two Awbridge school children, and a few hardy locals with their wreath laying duties.

Peter Allen

Manor Farm Butchers (Formerly Stares Butchers of Romsey) We sell the very best of British meats locally sourced for quality and with full traceability for the discerning customer. Our beef is matured for 21 days to bring out the optimum flavour. The original Stares pork sausage is made from a secret recipe which datesback to 1850. The sausages are made from pork shoulder meat selected for consistency and texture. The meat is delicately seasoned with mixed herbs and spices using natural casings. “Fed up with wet tasteless bacon which has been injected with saline solution”? At Manor Farm Butchers we produce our own dry cured bacon. The curing process involves a blend of curing salts rubbed by hand into the meat. The meat is turned every few days then left to rest for 14 days, and thenair dried. We also produce our own wood smoked bacon. Your bacon rashers can be cut while you wait “thick or thin you decide”. Gammons cured on the premises using our own pickle/brine.

Opening Times Wednesday - Friday 9.00am-5.00pm Saturday - 9.00am-2.00pm

WE ARE NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS! Page 12 | Dec 2013

Chris Hallis Manor Farm Butchers Pound Lane Sherfield English SO51 6FJ Email: chris_mfb@hotmail.co.uk Tel. 01794 324938

Friday 6th December - 7.00pm www.forestforge.co.uk Tickets. £9.00 per adult. £6.00 per child (up to 16yrs old) £28.00 per family (2 adults, 2 children) Contact Kay Murrant 01794 340289 or email kaymurrant @ aol.com Page 13 | Dec 2013

Musings From Maurice Have you ever seen (or perhaps remember) the early black and white pictures on the small television screens where the BBC presenters spoke in a very formal and stilted type of English? I thought those days had gone forever until I heard a local BBC radio programme just a few days ago. The young man was describing an epidemic which is a disease that spreads through a community. Epidemic is not a word that is used very often in normal conversation, unless you are part of the medical profession so the presenter had my full attention! He rambled on for quite a while before he mentioned the epidemic that is a plague attacking all our lives. Are you ready for this? Potholes are the plague that is a serious epidemic. Now I have to admit that potholes and epidemic were not the two words I would have used but in fairness he is probably correct. Whatever route you drive over and wherever you are heading the only time you do not see potholes are when they are full of water and look like normal puddles which is when they are at their most dangerous. While my mind was wandering round other epidemics I had to include Parking Meters. Did you know that the parking meter was an American invention first developed in the 1930s? It must have been someone with an ironic sense of humour who had the first parking meter to arrive in this country back in 1958, put up outside the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London. Following the meters came the Traffic Wardens. A breed of a special kind who were employed to help, advise and then give you a parking ticket if you misunderstood what was being said. The problem with the meters and the wardens were, and still are, variable with the town, city or county you are trying to park in. Signs in some areas allow you to stay for fifteen minutes, twenty minutes and sometimes an hour, if you are very lucky, and are carrying enough change, you may even be allowed to remain in one place for two whole hours. Of course those times and prices may have changed the next time you try to park. You will be unaware of the changes but the traffic warden covering that area will be fully briefed and waiting to pounce. In some areas, for example, Woking in Surrey, the council have decided that if you need to go shopping, want to eat or take your child to a public toilet you need to find a meter and pay but if you are attending church, even during the week, your parking time is, with divine intervention, free! As this arrangement was not compatible with all religions the idea was, I understand, scrapped as unworkable. I should mention that some of the best roads in the country are found in the Woking and Guildford areas of Surrey but that is only because the councils like to hold international cycle events and it would not look good on television if riders and bikes kept disappearing down potholes. As our roads deteriorate so our television gets better and I am not referring to the quality of the programmes. When I was a youngster I had a rich friend. His parents had a brand new television, the first I had ever seen. It was about the size of a small wardrobe and when you opened the doors there was the screen, about six inches wide or in those days almost square. The good quality moving pictures were in black and white and the sound came from a single speaker hidden in the cabinet, beneath the screen. If I was very lucky I managed to see the odd programme about once or twice every month. Of course in those days the programmes did not start until 6pm and everything finished at midnight when the BBC played the National Anthem. Today we probably have about two hundred channels to choose from, large full colour screens, perhaps 3D. Our sound may arrive from a series of small, but powerful speakers situated all round the room which, when watching a war film, makes us keep our heads down to avoid the flying bullets. Yes our 50 inch television screen has come a long way since I was a child.

Page 14 | Dec 2013

Heating or Boiler Problems?

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kevin.isaac@btconnect.com www.akheatingandplumbingromsey.co.uk So what can we expect to see over the festive season? Probably some old 1940s black and white film, slightly blurred because it was not really made for our 50 inch Plasma TV Screen. The news will be in full colour and will bring all the latest pictures of war, poverty and disasters right in to our home but not to worry because after the news we will be able to watch a Disney cartoon or old film we missed last year. Then we enter 2014. A new start. Things are going to be different this year. Thousands of New Year resolutions have been made and a majority of them will include giving up smoking. I know you made the same promise last year but then you had the upset which made you start again!!! I might stop drinking. In fact let’s have a drink now to celebrate my New Year Resolution!

Maurice Hibberd

A w b ri dg e

A G E V I L L

Seasoned Split Logs

£80 per trailer load

+ Optional £20 to load logs into log store Free delivery within 10miles of Romsey Available for collection, Minimum of 10 bags for delivery

15kg bag of Logs £4 • 15kg bag of Kindling £3 Call Ollie on 07944 833 726 (Please leave a message if unavailable)

would like to wish everyone

a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 01794 340326 www.deondesign.co.uk

Page 15 | Dec 2013

Page 16 | Dec 2013

Awb ridge

Diary

If you would like your event in the diary, send the details to bertanddoris@btinternet.com

V I L L A G E

Date

Event

Venue

Time

Tuesday 03 December

ADVA Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Friday 06 December

Awbridge School Christmas Fayre

Awbridge School

5.30pm

Friday 06 December

Forest Forge - Anne of Green Gables

Awbridge Village Hall

7.00pm

Wednesday 11 December

Christmas Village Lunch

Awbridge Village Hall

12 noon

Friday 20 December

ADVA Disco

Awbridge Village Hall

6.30pm

Saturday 21 December

Nativity in the Barn

Butlers Wood Farm

6.00pm

Sunday 22 December

Christingle Service

Awbridge Church

4.00pm

Monday 23 December

ADVA Carol Singing

War Memorial

6.30pm

2014

Tuesday 07 January

ADVA Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Thursday 30 January

Parish Council Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Saturday 22 March

Village Litter Pick

Awbridge Village Hall

10am

Saturday 12 April

Dinner and Jazz Evening

Awbridge Village Hall

TBC

Kooking with Kate Kate Buchan, Sous Chef at Kimbridge Restaurant. Gives you your Seasonal Recipe

Smoked trout and chive pate and smoked salmon mousse This recipe serves 4 persons. Shopping List: Pate 100g smoked trout 50g smoked salmon 2 teaspoons horseradish 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard ½ lemon juice and zest 60g chopped chives 20g chopped dill

150g crème frache Mousse 6 leaves gelatine 200g smoked salmon 60ml double cream 2 teaspoons lemon juice 50g chopped dill

How to make it: Smoked trout and chive pate Blitz the chives and the dill in to a food processor. Add the rest of the ingredients and blitz until smooth then put into ramekins and chill. Smoked salmon mousse Put gelatine leaves in cold water to soak for a minimum of 10 minutes, meanwhile butter and line 4 ramekins or pots for the mousse and set aside.

Chop the salmon and dill finely. Whip the cream to soft peak. Heat the lemon juice, squeeze the water out of the gelatine leaves and add to the warm lemon juice. Stir until dissolved. Once dissolved mix all the ingredients together and pour into the ramekins or pots and place the mousse into the fridge to set for at least 12 hours.

Kindling Wood Kindling Wood £Kindling 3 a bag ! Wood £ £33aa bag bag! !

Adam & Jacob’s pocket money project Adam & Jacob’s pocket money project Clean pinewood for bird and bat boxes etc

Adam & Jacob’s pocket money project

Clean pinewood for and bat boxes etc Clean pinewood for bird bird and bat boxes etc

01794 340175

01794 Please remember to mention 01794 340175 Awbridge News when responding

340175

to any adverts in the newsletter

Page 17 | Dec 2013

Awb ridge

If you would like your organisation/amenity in the directory, send your details to bertanddoris@btinternet.com

V I L L A G E