Newsletter november 2013 by Deon Tucker

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Awbridgenews

Awbridge District Village Association

Curry& QuizNight

Autumn is here

‘13

november 2013

Villagers kept warm by enjoying the recent Curry & Quiz night - see page 7

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 Lynda Tucker Chanwel House, Romsey Road - 340709

Advertising

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 November

Page 2 | Nov 2013

From the Editors

NOVEMBER. As it is usually a full magazine, going on previous years, anything received after that date will not make the cut.

I usually gauge a good month as editor of Awbridge News by a combination of how many pages in Word the collated edition comes to and how late a night it takes to pull it together. This month is a good month, as I’m on my 15th page and it’s not the same day as I started typing! Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a difficult job by any means but sometimes there can be quite a lot of re-formatting and tweaking to do which can take time.

The next edition after that will be the February 2014 edition, with the print deadline being Wednesday 15th January 2014.

Being someone who loves the sound of rain on a tent when camping, the rain on the conservatory roof is quite therapeutic when working from home or equally when pulling together Awbridge News. At risk of sounding like a stuck record, we are already hearing rumours of this being a bad winter for snow so please remember those villagers who can’t get out and about without the help of others; their regular visitors may not get through in bad snow so please keep a look out and check all is well. Fred has mentioned in his report and there is a note elsewhere in this edition but it is important enough for a third mention here; THERE IS NO JANUARY EDITION OF AWBRIDGE NEWS, so the next two print deadlines are November 15th (for the Christmas/New Year edition) and then January 15th. By all means send me items through in December, but I won’t be sitting up to the small hours out of choice when I could be putting my feet up and watching whatever old repeats will no doubt be polluting the TV by then. This time of the year gets quite busy with various events on in the village, so to all the budding writers out there I challenge you to pen me a report and send it in for publishing. For anyone who may be nervous about doing one, I note we have a fantastic item by a 10 year old in this edition and Bryony deserves a big well done and thank you for doing so. A final beg for people who are interested in helping with or even taking over the editing of Awbridge News to make themselves known. I only end up being up half the night as I don’t start work on it until my son has gone to bed in an evening, and it only usually equates to 1-2 hours per submission each month. If you’d like to know more, please drop me a line. James Child - Co-Editor Awbridge News

From the Chairman’s Pen

Remember the animals in early November Please remember when having any fireworks on or around November 5th that not all animals like the noise and lights that go with it. If you’re alongside land where farm animals regularly roam, please check with the owners of the animals whether letting off fireworks are ok. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Awbridge Gardening Club Our October meeting took place on Wednesday October 9th when Mr Barry Newman gave us another of his most entertaining and informative lectures on “The modern kitchen garden”. As President of the National Vegetable Society and an experienced judge, his knowledge is second to none. He gave us many ideas to improve our vegetable growing and told us how to minimise effort and maximise output. The next meeting will be on Wednesday November 13th at 7.30pm when Mr Tom Stone will talk to us about “The roses at Mottisfont”. Eileen Henderson

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

By the time you read this the Curry and Quiz night will be over and you can see the results of the evening on the front cover. We trust that you enjoyed the evening, which always proves to be a great success. Please remember to come to the Shoe Box coffee morning, you can drop off boxes that you have completed or make some up on the day. Either that or just come and see a film of where the boxes go and how well the children receive them in various poor countries of the world. Please remember that there is no magazine in January. All details need to be included in the December issue for any activities after Christmas and the New Year. Fred - Chairman ADVA

LAST edition BEFORE CHRISTMAS NB: THE NEXT EDITION OF AWBRIDGE NEWS WILL BE THE LAST BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Please can you ensure that all articles and items relating to the Christmas period into January itself reach the editor by FRIDAY 15TH

Christmas Lunch 12 noon at Awbridge Village Hall

Wednesday 11th December £6 per person

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 3 | Nov 2013

Musings From Maurice…

We, the older generation, are to blame for many of the problems facing the children and teenagers of today. We are scared to let the youngsters out of our sight because of what we see on television or read about. It’s not safe, in many cases, to let our children go to school on their own, so we drive them there and back. Many of us insist the children do their homework before going out to play and meet friends, and we have to accept that homework involves going online because that is part of the school teaching and problem solving. If their computer and screen are in the bedroom where they can work in private who knows what they are studying. I know when I go online some of the images that appear have nothing to do with the subject I am researching.

I know it’s true because I have heard it on the radio, seen it on television and read it in the national newspapers. All our children are obese and it’s because they eat the wrong food, not interested in taking an active part in sport and spend all their time sending text messages to their friends. If, when I was young, I had had the same opportunities I would have been called lazy and fat but life has progressed and words like fat are not correct anymore; now they are obese.

We worry that our children are getting overweight but encourage them to ride and not walk because it’s safer. We try to stop them reading or watching unhealthy material online and then leave them to their own devices when doing homework because they need the education. We boast and are extremely proud when they are given a place in a university and even more overjoyed when they receive their degree. Then they return home because they cannot find employment. They don’t want to work in a shop or behind a bar and, after the many years they have been engrossed in their studies who can blame them for wanting a job of their dreams. On the other hand why would a possible employer want to take on somebody with all those qualifications when he knows the student will move on as soon as a better offer is available.

Don’t despair, there are still many healthy children out there. I read in a local paper recently about a six years old youngster called Max Dilley who persuaded some of his school friends to do a sponsored walk for a little known charity EDC ( Equipment for disabled children). Max did four miles and raised £300 and the total, with the help of his friends and parents, came to over £1000. The money was, of course, appreciated but I think the local publicity gained for EDC was applauded even more.

If there is an answer I have yet to find it. There is an old saying that “manners maketh the man” so I would suggest that is a good place to start, which is why Margaret and I were so pleased when Jim and Jack apologised for not having time to stop and chat. At that moment, and since then, I have had faith that the future is not as bad as feared! Many of the young people know right from wrong, are keen to work and even show respect to their elders. I think our future is in safe hands!

When my wife Margaret and I are in our caravan it is a pleasure to watch some of our young friends at play and also getting involved in the day to day chores. Living in the country the local jobs can involve some pretty heavy duties. Young Jim Hillier (5yrs) and his cousin Jack (10yrs) like to help with the harvesting. As they passed our caravan with Jack pulling and Jim pushing the over loaded cart, they apologised for not being able to stop and talk! Manners from a child? That’s not a national paper story, is it?

Maurice Hibbard

I agree that many youngsters do spend a lot of time on their mobile phones, computers etc but the article I read a while ago about youngsters who would rather send a text message to their friends than go and see them, I find hard to accept. I know youngsters have active minds and when they have something to say or do it has to be now rather than later and with the technology at their disposal why not use it. When I was a youngster we had the Second World War going on. Mobile phones had not been invented and very few families had a phone in their homes. We were not able to jump in a car to go to school or shopping because even if we knew anyone with such a thing as a car, they probably didn’t have any fuel coupons, so we walked or ran to where we wanted to go. If, of course, there was not an air raid going on at the time, in which case we would all be in a shelter of some kind. Television was an expensive new toy that very few people could afford. Those that did have the very large cabinet with a six inch black and white screen were only able to watch an occasional programme put out by the BBC, who had the only channel. Real news in those days had to be seen in the cinema on Pathe News via black and white moving pictures at least six weeks after the event! Yes, we youngsters were more active; it was our way of life. Let’s come back to the present day and our obese children who are eating too much of the wrong food and do nothing except play on their phones and computers! If that is true why are so many getting outstanding exam results and going to university and more to the point, why, when they leave university with their qualifications, are they described as being “over qualified” and unable to find employment? Page 4 | Nov 2013

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As seen at the village bbq in the summer, with thanks from their proud Grandparents Fred and Lynda have passed me a copy of an article from the Woking Advertiser singing the praises of their talented grandsons Jaz and Cody, who you may remember performing at the BBQ over the summer. An original of the article is available to look at if you are interested, but the following excerpts are reproduced with thanks to the Woking Advertiser: Jaz (16) and Cody (12) are both members of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) and have as a result played in some of London’s top venues such as Festival Hall and the Mayor of London’s office. Jaz has taken up a scholarship at the Purcell School for young musicians in London from where he hopes to go on to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Berklee College is the world’s largest independent college of contemporary music, and after that Jaz hopes to perform on the tenor saxophone professionally in the USA. Cody meanwhile is still to decide on his future music career although in the words of his dad he “has the ability to pursue it professionally” as well. Both boys started out with their music at a young age and were encouraged by their respective music teachers to join the NYJO, and they have developed their talents from there. It goes to show what dedication and perseverance can lead to, so when we are hearing their names as musical superstars in the years to come don’t forget the day when they showcased their talents for us here in Awbridge.

Awbridge Primary School News OPEN MORNINGS - We are holding Open Mornings for prospective parents on Tuesday 19th and Wednesday 20th November. For further information please see our website or call the school on 01794 340407. We have had an exciting term back at Awbridge Primary School. Already some of our classes have been on school trips; visiting Leckford Farm Estate, The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth and Winchester Cathedral. The children gain so much from these educational visits. We are now looking forward to the half term leading up to Christmassuch a busy and exciting time. Please do join us at our PTA Advent Fair on Friday 6 December from 6pm, or come along to our Christmas Service at 09:45am, Awbridge Church on 18th December. There are a host of other exciting events coming up for the children; our collaboration Christmas service at Romsey Abbey, our choir singing at Kents Oak on Thursday 19th and of course our Nativity play performances.

Mark Ward School Dates in november: Inset day

- 4th

PTA AGM

- 11th - 7.30pm

School Disco

- Fri 22nd: - 5.30-6.30pm - Chestnut & Willow Classes - 6.45-7.45m - All other classes

Parent Workshop - Wed 13th 6:30pm Introducing “ACORNS”

Parish buying scheme domestic lpg FLOGAS, Britain’s second largest LPG supplier, operates Parish Buying Schemes enabling participating individual customers to secure significant discounts on bulk LPG and cylinder deliveries. New Bulk customers are incentivised with £100 worth of gas. There is no charge for switching and Flogas undertake all transfer arrangements. The only criteria for existing bulk customers is that they must be out/nearly out of contract with their present supplier. The ”Sherfield and neighbouring parishes LPG Scheme” now has sufficient members to guarantee the best available prices on an ongoing basis (currently 42p per litre). Participating customers order direct without need to wait for a group order as with Oil Syndicates. Significant discount is also available to Cylinder users. For further information, without obligation, please contact the Parish Coordinator - Eric on 01794 340879 or e mail e.hounslow@tiscali.co.uk

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 Page 5 | Nov 2013

All Saints Awbridge - November 2013 Harvest in Awbridge in September was a great celebration, with wonderful floral decorations, very generous gifts of food items for Southampton City Mission and our collection of TOTT water bottles which has so far raised over £330. Thank you all so much for taking part in all these activities, and enjoying our Harvest lunch. Messy Church Moses: God’s rescue plan: we have just enjoyed a great afternoon of Messy Church on Moses and the escape from Egypt. This time activities included making clay bricks to be fired by the Michelmersh Brick Co, a collage of walking through the Red sea, pyramids, flat-bread, Egyptian jewellery, and imagining the plagues of frogs, boils and other disgusting things and how God rescues us in all times of difficulty. We had a great afternoon, and enjoyed a fast food meal afterwards. Our next Messy Church is at Timsbury in the Jubilee Hall on Sunday 24 November, preparing for Christmas: Advent. If you want to find out more about what Messy Church is all about see www. messychurch.org.uk. We look forward to welcoming many of you to our Remembrance Day Service on Sunday 10 November, at 10.15 am, in Awbridge School Hall, (no service in church) followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the village war memorial, at 11am. This year our service will be taken by Revd Christopher Blissard-Barnes from Winchester. New housegroup in Awbridge: Wednesday evenings contact Lynda and Fred Tucker on 340709 for information At our First service in October we looked at the Great Commission as a theme and saw a powerful video on discipleship following OCC distributions in South America. Our next First is on Sunday 3 November at 6.30 pm. Advent: If your family would like to a visit from the travelling crib during Advent, Katy Orrell would love to hear from you email: katy. orrell@btinternet.com. Pre-Advent Course for Romsey Deanery at Poppies, Choice Plants, Wed 13,20,27 Nov & 4 Dec, 7 30 pm including refreshments; contact Steve Pittis 368335, speakers include Bishop Jonathan of Southampton and Revd Sally Dakin, wife of Bishop of Winchester. Advance dates for Christmas Events: Saturday 21 December. Nativity on the Farm, at Butlers Wood Farm, 6pm, by kind permission of the Hillier Family Carols & Christingle service on Sunday 22 December 4pm at Awbridge church. Worship and Events in Awbridge in November Sunday 3 November 9.30 am Holy Communion 6.30 pm First service Saturday 9 November Shoebox Coffee Morning 10-12 noon Awbridge Village Hall Sunday 10 November; Remembrance Sunday 10.15 am Remembrance Service at Awbridge School (including young church) followed by wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial at 11am Sunday 17 November 9.30 am Holy Communion 3.00 pm Romsey Deanery Service for Operation Christmas Child at St John’s Church, Lockerley Friday 22 November Skittles Evening 7pm at the Star, East Tytherley

Page 6 | Nov 2013

Jesus says - “My command is this: love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no-one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” Sunday 24 November Christ the King 9.30 am Family Worship 2.30 pm - 5pm Messy Church, Jubilee Hall, Timsbury Sunday 2 December Advent Sunday 9.30 am Holy Communion 6.30 pm First Service: speaker Steve Pittis Other Activities for November Five Alive Fellowship Monday 4 November: Photography with Andy Brooks, 7.30 pm Braishfield Church Rooms Prayer Group Meets twice a month in Romsey, prayer requests to John Twigg 521966 or via prayer request box in church. Housegroup Tuesday 19 November; 7.45 pm contact J Twigg 521966 Open Housegroup Thursday 14 & 28 November, 7.45 pm venue tba; contact Sue Franklin 322185 Awbridge Lunch Club Wednesday 13 & 27 November at church rooms 12 noon; contact Delia Dutton 340395 The Ark Babies & Toddler Group meets in the village hall on Fridays in term-time; 9.30 am – 11 am, for fun, friendship, craft & refreshments; contact Lynda Tucker 340709 for more information. 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

Eternal Bloom course Are you interested in learning the art of making exquisite paper flowers? If you are then I will be running a one day workshop on 30th November 10-4pm for £15 each. I will provide all the materials and I can guarantee a fund day will be had. Places are limited so please call Shelly to book a place on 341519

Awbridge Neighbourcare

top, then spread the rest of the icing over the top. Refrigerate for two hours before serving. Karen Wall

0845 094 6155

Awbridge Curry & Quiz Night 2013 The Christmas village lunch will be held on Wednesday 11th December, 12 noon at the village hall. Everyone in the village is welcome to come along and we hope that many of you will join us. The cost will be £6 per person, great value for a full Christmas dinner. To book, please telephone the duty Neighbourcare co-ordinator on 0845 094 6155 by Thursday 5th December. 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

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. 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. 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.

Carrot cake

The hall looked splendid; with apt posters on the walls, subtle Indian music playing in the background and the candles glistening on the beautifully decorated tables, the scene was set! Everyone arrived promptly and when settled at their tables the quiz sheets were distributed. Whilst tucking in to our delicious Indian starters, we began to work through the questions. I noticed quite a few reading glasses (and in some cases torches!) were required to really scrutinise the picture round sheets! The atmosphere was lovely with ripples of laughter and roars of delight when an answer was finally dredged from somewhere deep in the brain! Tables were individually called to be served their meal; on a bed of rice, a choice of chicken, beef or vegetable curry and in some cases a taster of all three! Compliments to the chef were well deserved! After everyone had eaten (and had the opportunity to go back for more), it was time to go through the answers. Now I can’t take much credit for what happened next, but to my amazement after each team captain before me had sat down as their score had been surpassed, I was the last left standing – we’d won! I held aloft the tin of roses like it was the FA cup - I knew I maybe over doing it, ‘best make the most of it’ I thought, it probably won’t happen again! What better way to spend a wet and windy evening, look forward to seeing you all next time. Amanda Hanson

D.A.WHEELER LTD. GENERAL BUILDING & MAINTENANCE

For the cake: 335ml sunflower oil 450g caster sugar 2 medium eggs separated, + 2 medium egg yolks 125g carrots, finely grated 140g walnuts, chopped

300g self raising flour ½ tsp baking powder ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp ground nutmeg A pinch of salt

For the icing: 200g full fat soft cheese

90g unsalted butter 100g icing sugar

Method 1. Preheat oven to Mark 4, 180 degrees Celsius, 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease 2, 23cm springform cake tins. Line bases with baking parchme nt. Grease the paper and dust with flour. Beat together oil and sugar until combined. Slowly beat in egg yolks. Stir in grated carrots and walnuts. Sift in flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, spices and salt and fold in with 2tbsp hot water. In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites until softly peaking, then fold into the mixture.

2. Divide mixture between the tins. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean when inserted. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Remove from tin and leave to cool on a wire rack. 3. To make the icing, beat together the butter and soft cheese. Sift the sugar and mix into the butter and soft cheese. With a palette knife, spread a layer of icing on one cake. Place the other cake on

• • • • • • • • •

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. Page 7 | Nov 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@virgin.net legon@btinternet.com bryan@uraines.plus.com

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

An open letter from Awbridge Parish Council Dear Awbridge Residents, Roadside trees and hedges Verges, footpaths and pavements are, like roads, all part of the highway. Every year throughout the spring and summer, Awbridge Parish Council receives complaints regarding trees, hedges and other vegetation which overhang the highway from private property. This matter can pose a number of problems for road users and pedestrians. Who is responsible for looking after them? As a general rule, hedges, and trees growing in the hedgerow, are the responsibility of the adjoining landowner. More rarely, trees growing in the highway verge as well as undergrowth on the verge are matters for the highway authority (Hampshire County Council). Keeping the highway safe It would be greatly appreciated if residents could ensure that any trees and hedges that are bordering the highway are maintained and cut back to their boundary. This will help us all keep the highway safe and prevent the need for the Parish Council and Hampshire County Council Highways to contact you requesting that you cut back overhanging vegetation. A cautionary note Trimming hedges during the bird nesting period 1 March - 31 July should be avoided unless hedges are preventing the passage, or affecting the safety, of the highway user, including cyclists and pedestrians. Birds and their nests are protected by law. More information on this can be obtained from Natural England. Residents should always check that trees are not subject to a Tree Preservation Order or in a Conservation Area before carrying out any remedial works. Thank you Thank you for the time taken to read this open letter. The Parish Council looks forward to working with you to keep the highway around our village as safe and clear as possible.

Grants to voluntary groups Awbridge Parish Council Applications for financial support from voluntary groups or charitable organisations will be considered by the Parish Council where it is demonstrated that funding will benefit residents of the Parish. There will be one grant round annually. Requests for funding will be Page 8 | Nov 2013

Operation Christmas Child You are invited to join us on

Saturday 9 November at Awbridge Village Hall, 10am - 12noon Supported by ADVA and Awbridge Church Please bring with you completed shoeboxes and/or shoebox gifts. Details for shoeboxes enclosed in the leaflets available at Awbridge Church, Awbridge Village Hall, and Choice Plants, Timsbury

Refreshments and activities provided. Thank you for your support. Advance Notice: Romsey Deanery Shoebox Service, at St John’s Rownhams, on Sun 17 Nov at 3pm

For info contact: Mary Savage 367908 or e-mail savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk or see www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk UK charity no 1001349

considered by the Parish Council in November each year, for the grant to be paid during the next financial year. Completed forms must be returned by 31st October in the year of application. Further details and an application form can be downloaded from the Parish Council website http://tinyurl.com/n2sh4ex or the Parish Council pages on the Awbridge Village website http://tinyurl.com/ l2np8ds Test Valley Borough Councillors Community Grant Scheme The Test Valley Borough Councillors Community Grant Scheme aims to encourage community led initiatives, supported by local councillors who will play an active part in helping their communities deliver their ambitions. Groups can apply for up to 50% of the cost of their project or activity, up to a maximum value of £500. Further details can be obtained from the Awbridge Parish Council Clerk clerk.awbridge@parish.hants.gov.uk or by contacting Councillor Gordon Bailey cllrGBailey@testvalley.gov.uk

Kindling Wood Kindling Wood £Kindling 2 a bag ! Wood £ £22aa bag bag! !

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AwbridgeArb.co.uk Page 9 | Nov 2013

Awbridge Hill Wildlife Sanctuary

Due to the fact that the wildlife sanctuary is situated on high ground overlooking the Test Valley, it is not unusual to catch a glimpse of over flying wildfowl, such as great crested grebe, cormorant, pochard, widgeon and tufted duck. Occasionally visitors to our ponds, are heron, mallard and the delightfully coloured mandarin duck, an introduced species from China which favours woodland lakes and ponds, where it nests in holes in trees, high from the ground. Keeping an eye in the sky, one is sure to see a buzzard soaring, a sight we now take for granted, but a bird which had been absent from the area, until they first bred 1998. If you wait long enough the kestrel is sure to come along, as well as the sparrowhawk and perhaps the peregrine falcon or a red kite. In summer the hobby is the bird to look out for, whereas a glimpse of the low flying merlin, hunting flocks of meadow pipit, is a winter event that comes around once in a blue moon! Dusk is a good time to see the barn owl as it hunts over grassland in search of voles or listen to the tawny owls “to-wit to whoo” from the boughs of mature trees. This summer keeping one eye in the sky has been a necessity due to the presence of two hornet nests in our farm building, both situated above doorways, one in an owl box. Advised by my bee keeper that the hornets should be removed, I chose instead to keep them and take the opportunity to study the hornets close up. Annually since the Millennium I have attracted hornets away from my building, to nest in purpose built boxes erected up on woodland trees, however the cold wet summer last year, resulted in the hornet population crashing and falling off my radar. Queen hornet always move on to a fresh new nest site each year, however this year I forgot to erect any new boxes. In this context, the arrival of hornets around my workshop was a problem of my own making.

Burglaries from stables and horse shelters In the south of the county a spate of burglaries in stables and shelters is starting up. Wickham, Warsash, Southampton, and New Forest area are currently being targeted. The latest crime was last night in Warsash. A white small car style van with male occupants was seen close to the scene. Males and vehicle are suspected of being involved until such time they can be eliminated from the crime. This vehicle was seen about 8.30pm What is being stolen ranges from saddles, bridles, hats, grooming kits, whips, rugs and feed. You are all potential victims of crime, so now is once again time to review your stable security. All the time we recommend that you post code all your property. If you can take your more valuable and important property home with you, then so much the better. Rugs will get stolen as sure as the sun rises and sets. Equally as sure, the majority of horse owners will not post code their rugs. Post coding is a good crime prevention and deterrent. Why wait to post code your property? Pass the word on to be on the look out for small white vans. Equally, be suspicious of any vehicle and person seen near your property. If you are the victim of a theft of property, have a good search of the area around your land. It is often the case that thieves will hide stolen goods to return later to collect them. Again, stolen property has to be sold back into the equine community. If you are going to buy second had tack, examine it carefully for post codes and signs of damage, where identifying features have been removed. Sad as it is, a seller of second hand tack could be moving on stolen property. When you are considering buying second hand property take notice of who is doing the selling and why are they selling the items. Any suspicious vehicles or people seen, report the matter to the police by dialling 101. In an emergency dial 999.

Through the summer, the hornets learnt to accept my presence and tolerate me, however around the beginning of September, the hornets became very defensive, with signs of damage to their nest in the owl box. Aware that the owl box hornets had declared war on me and worrying about the possible fate of our barn owl to a swarm of hornet, I contemplated my revenge whilst nursing a sting to my arm. Gazing from my doorway, I caught site of a large bird in a slow straight glide towards me, silhouetted against the setting sun. As the bird approached closer, I realised that it was trailing a hornet back to the second nest, above the door where I was standing. Initially mistaking the bird for an inquisitive gull, as it soared closer and just a few metres overhead I recognised it to be a young honey buzzard. Honey buzzard, are extremely rare summer visitors from tropical Africa and their stronghold in Britain is the New Forest. Their diet is unusual for a bird of prey and consists of wild bees and their honey, wasps, hornet and their pupae as well as ants. Honey buzzard like small woods and forestry plantations that are surrounded by open country. As far as the hornet is concerned, its look is more ferocious than its sting, however I now need to build some large “honey buzzard friendly” hornet boxes that can be erected in mature oak trees, to provide a sort of Mc Donalds in the sky. Bryan Raines - Tel 01794 368435

Page 10 | Nov 2013

ROMSEY’S EXPERT PICTURE FRAMERS At 46, The Hundred, Romsey

01794 516479 www.firstfloorgallery.co.uk Est 1982

Fully qualified fine art trade guild commended framers expert framing advice and design service A family business built on reputation and success.

www.firstfloorgallery.co.uk

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 11 | Nov 2013

A taste of Christmas at Kimbridge Owtons at Kimbridge Farm Shop are holding their Christmas Showcase event “ A Taste Of Christmas At Kimbridge” on Thursday 21st November 12 – 8pm. There will be samples of Owtons Christmas meats available to try with a variety of products that will include Copas Bronze Free Range Turkey, Salt Beef and Gammon accompanied with pigs in blankets, chipolatas & stuffings. Some of their selected suppliers will be along to showcase their products. There will be mince pies and mulled wine for all and a prize draw for all those who choose to place a Christmas order on the day to win their Christmas Poultry. Kimbridge Farm Shop Manager Paul and his team look forward to welcoming everyone and will have plenty of festive cooking tips and advice to help the day go well.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS DISCO PARTY!! Featuring

‘FLASH LIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT’

Fri 20th Dec - 6.30pm to 8pm Awbridge Village Hall ENTRY IS £1 ON THE DOOR (subsidised by ADVA)

Messy Church on Moses

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 Awbridge village and Awbridge School children aged 5 to 11 years only.

On 13th October, at Awbridge Village Hall, many children and parents attended Messy Church based on Moses and his long journey. There were many activities to get involved in including flat bread making and collaging of sea creatures and people for our display of the parting of the Red Sea. Other activities included making paper frogs, Egyptian necklaces out of card and paint and beads. On one table they were building their own pyramids and on another making bricks. There were also many other activities and then Fred and Lynda got us children involved in a story of Moses which was followed by a yummy tea of burgers and then apple turnovers. . Come along to the next Messy Church and see how much fun you can have!

Preparing for Christmas: Advent Sunday 24 November 2013 Jubilee Hall, Timsbury SO51 0NH 2.30 pm - 5pm

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: Pepe Alexander on 340386, P.alexander386@btinternet.com or Mary Savage on 367908, savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk

Report by Bryony Legg aged 10 years

Page 12 | Nov 2013

EVENT IS FREE BUT DONATIONS ARE WELCOME

Awbridge Evening Wi

Please give this some thought and look out for the date of the meeting on the parish notice boards and in Awbridge News.

Members were entertained in October by ‘Chapter and Verse’, a group of enthusiastic performers reading poems and prose relating to ‘The Family.’ These ranged in content from toddlers to teenagers to grandparents and were both amusing and thought provoking. The performance was in aid of Chapter and Verse’s chosen charity ’Hello Martha’ which helps those suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Pam Harvey

During the business part of the meeting, Avril Piper was congratulated on her winning entry in the photographic competition in the Romsey Show WI tent. Two members had been warmly welcomed to Bramshaw W I’s lunch and had an enjoyable time. Following the Group Meeting, it is hoped to organise a visit to the Mary Rose Museum at Portsmouth in the Spring. A team was selected for the Group Skittles Contest and five members hope to attend the Autumn County Meeting at Basingstoke later this month. Final arrangements were made for the trip to Bath later in October, and the long weekend visit to Belgium in early December. It was also suggested that some members might like to see a performance of ‘Wicked!’ at the Mayflower next October. Yvonne Goodridge

A village plan for Awbridge ? Whilst we are all busy with our day-to-day lives, most people living in Awbridge will have some concerns about the future of village life; things about the village which they value and wish to preserve, aspects which could be improved, and services or structures which we don’t have in Awbridge but would like to have. The Localism Act, which was given Royal Assent in November 2011, places emphasis on planning at a local level, and a key component of this is the development by local residents of Neighbourhood or Parish Plans. These two titles mean different things, and at the Annual Parish Meeting earlier this year a representative of Test Valley Borough Council gave a presentation to explain the significance of these Plans. A Neighbourhood Plan is the more formal of the two, and is concerned mainly with physical planning policies. It is subject to tight regulation and independent examination and would aim to be adopted by TVBC. It is likely to be time-consuming and expensive to produce.

News in brief from Lockerley Starting School in September 2014. Will your child be 4 years old between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014? If so, you need to apply for a school place. From 1st November 2013 you can apply online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. Application deadline is Wednesday 15th January 2014. Lockerley Primary School new website. We are pleased to announce that we have a new website at www.lockerleyprimary.co.uk Log on to find out more about our school and the amazing things we get up to. Fashion Show ~ Saturday 16th November at Lockerley Primary School. Doors open at 6.00pm for beauty treatments (please book in advance) and fashion accessories. Why not come early and treat yourself? The fashion show starts at 7.30pm, featuring Animal, Scats, Mistral, Foxy Lady and Ettiket. Tickets £10 per adult and £5 for primary school age children to include a drink and canapes on arrival. The will also be a bar and a raffle. This is a fundraising event by ‘Friends of Lockerley School’. We look forward to welcoming you for a fun packed evening. This is a very popular event so to avoid disappointment please book your tickets now! If you would like to book a table, tickets or find out more, please contact the school office on 01794 340485, Linda on 01794 341572 or Beccy on 01794 341266. Lockerley Primary School Christmas Fayre ~ Friday 6th December 6 - 8pm. Craft stalls, tombola, raffle, children’s games, bar and winter barbecue. There will also be a very special visitor in the Grotto! If you would like to book a stall please contact the school office on 01794 340485.

Skittles & Supper Evening Starts at 7pm on Friday 22 November 2013

On the other hand a Parish Plan is more about the day-to-day life of the community, focussing on community facilities and activities, safeguarding green spaces, influencing transport issues and so on. It is a means through which local people can get together to consider issues and agree priorities for the next few years. Whilst parish plans should not oppose or conflict with planning at a Borough Council level they can nevertheless exert influence in a number of ways, for example as a lever for attracting funding. There is no legal requirement for either of these Plans to be developed but there are certain advantages to doing so. To produce a Plan would require a broad consensus amongst local residents on the main objectives, key issues and desired outcomes for the village. Some guidance and some financial support may be available in drawing up a Plan, but it would need a Project Group of local people to be established to undertake the work involved over a period of time. Nine localities in Test Valley have already produced local plans, with a further two in the pipeline. Your Parish Council feels that this is an issue for the whole village to debate, so another meeting will be arranged early in 2014 for those who are interested in considering this further but who were not able to attend the original presentation.

organised by All Saints Church, Awbridge The Star Inn, East Tytherley

Tickets: £7.50 including a hot meal To reserve tickets contact James Alexander 340386 email: p.alexander386@btinternet.com or John Harris 341877 email: jrharrisharris@btinternet.com No later than Thursday 14 November Page 13 | Nov 2013

Operation Christmas Child

“Operation Christmas Child: the power of a simple gift” www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk

Samaritan’s Purse: Operation Christmas Child Come and help us celebrate Operation Christmas Child by making your own shoebox gift and bringing it to our special ADVA coffee morning on Saturday 9 November 10 am – 12 noon at Awbridge Village Hall. At our coffee morning last year we collected 66 boxes and made up 44 new ones so let’s see if we can do even more this time. In 2012 nearly 1 million shoeboxes were sent from the UK and internationally the 100th millionth shoebox was delivered since the project started in 1990. If you have never made a box before, or haven’t done one for a while, make this a special year when you can give hope to children like this, so take part and join in and bring joy and laughter to children and their families with the simple gift of a fun packed shoebox. Ideas for gifts are in the leaflets and website together with inspiring videos www. operationchristmaschild.org.uk and resources such as knitting patterns. New this year is a link with Messy Church for shoebox packing parties advertised on websites for Messy Church www.messychurch.org.uk and Operation Christmas Child. As part of our local celebrations there will be our annual Romsey Deanery Service for Operation Christmas Child which will be held on Sunday 17 November, at 3 pm at St John’s Church, Lockerley. The collection dates for dropping -off boxes are 1-18 November. Leaflets are available from churches in the benefice and at Choice Plants, Timsbury, and can be downloaded from the website www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk. Resources such as knitting patterns and videos are available on the website too. If you make your £3 donation per box, online your shoebox can be tracked to its destination and in the New Year, you will receive an email telling you where your shoebox has actually gone!

Put the condensed milk, butter and golden syrup into a medium sized saucepan and bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring continually. Pour mixture onto the cooled shortbread base and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight. Melt the dark chocolate over a pan of boiled water or in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so. When melted evenly, spread the dark chocolate over the caramel and then cool in the fridge. Important: When chocolate is just beginning to set, cut into bars. If you leave the chocolate to set too hard, it will crack on cutting. Still tastes yummy though! If this does happen, try dipping your knife in hot water (then dry on kitchen towel) to make the chocolate easier to cut. Optional extra - you can melt the white chocolate at the same time as the dark chocolate. When you have spread the dark chocolate over the caramel and shortbread base, you can then add spoonfuls of the melted white chocolate to the dark chocolate. You swirl them together with a spoon for a marbled effect. Cool in the fridge as above. Anne Lyman

Mottisfont Craft Club We meet every wednesday 1-3.30pm in Mottisfont Village Hall. We’re a fun and lively group who try something new every week. If you’re an experienced crafter and bring your own projects/crafts then it’s just £2 or if you need supplies providing then it’s £4. Refreshments included. Contact Shelly on 341519 or email me at shellyhm@btinternet.com

Heating or Boiler Problems?

AK Heating & Plumbing Est 1972



Boiler Servicing & Repairs

Thank you for your support. Mary Savage & Fred Tucker local reps for Samaritan’s Purse : savage@choiceplants.freeserve.co.uk or Fred Tucker: chanwel@yahoo.co.uk



Boiler Replacement & New Central Heating Systems Installed



Gas • Oil • LPG

Caramel Slice/Millionaire’s Shortbread



Bathroom Refurbishments



General Plumbing



Landlord Safety Inspections

Ingredients 220g plain flour 165g butter 90g caster sugar 397g tin of condensed milk

125g butter 2 tablespoons of golden syrup 375g dark chocolate 60g white chocolate (optional)

Preparation:15min › Cook:30min › Extra time:3hours chilling › Ready in:3hours45min Place first three ingredients - flour, butter and sugar - in a food processor and process until mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Press into a 20cmx20cm dish/tin. Bake at 190 degrees C for approx 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Page 14 | Nov 2013

ALL WORK GUARANTEED Specialists in Energy Ef�icient Boilers

01794 340577 07836 747626

kevin.isaac@btconnect.com www.akheatingandplumbingromsey.co.uk

Page 15 | Nov 2013

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)

Page 16 | Nov 2013

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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 05 November

ADVA Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Saturday 09 November

Shoe box Coffee Morning

Awbridge Village Hall

10am

Sunday 10 November

Rememberance Service

Awbridge School

10.15am

Sunday 17 November

Deanery shoebox Service

St Johns Church Lockerley

3pm

Friday 22 November

Skittles Evening - James Alexander - 340386

The Star East Tytherley

7pm

Sunday 24 November

Messy Church

Jubilee Hall, Timsbury

2.30pm

Thursday 28 November

Parish Council Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Tuesday 03 December

ADVA Meeting

Awbridge Village Hall

7.30pm

Friday 06 December

Forest Forge - Anne of Green Gables

Awbridge Village Hall

6.pm

Wednesday 11 December

Christmas Village Lunch

Awbridge Village Hall

12 noon

Friday 20 December

ADVA Disco

Awbridge Village Hall

6.30pm

Saturday 21 December

Navitity in the Barn

Butlers Wood Farm

6pm

Sunday 22 December

Christingale Service

Awbridge Church

4pm

Monday 23 December

ADVA Carol Singing

War Memorial

6.30pm

2014

Saturday 22 March

Village Litter Pick

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

Winter Venison Casserole

A rich slow cooked venison casserole with a hint of spice. This recipe serves 4/6 persons. Shopping List: 2 dessert spoons olive oil 2 parsnips 1 small leek 1small turnip 4 small carrots 4 rashers smoked bacon diced 1kg diced venison 10 shallots

1 teaspoon garlic 350ml red wine 150ml port Salt and pepper 1litre beef stock 50g butter 1 star anise 3 tablespoons redcurrant jelly 1 cinnamon stick

How to make it: Preheat the oven to 150c/300f/gas 2. Heat the oil and the butter together in a large pan. Season the venison with salt and pepper and add to the pan. Fry the meat off until evenly brown all over and set aside for now. Peel the shallots and keeping them whole add them to the saucepan. Fry over a medium heat until they start to colour. Peel the garlic, carrots, turnip, parsnips and leek and cut in a large dice. Then add them to the pan with the diced bacon.

2014 Awbridge Village Hall

2014 10am

Cook for a few minutes and then add the browned venison back to the saucepan. Pour in the red wine and port and bring to the boil. Then simmer until the liquid has reduced by half. Add the stock, star anise, cinnamon stick and recurrent jelly. Now cover and transfer the pan to the oven and cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours until the meat is tender. Once tender, remove as much liquid as you can by straining it into another pan. Bring the liquid to the boil and reduce by half until it becomes thicker. Then pour it back over the meat and serve. Whilst that’s cooking, top, tail and slice the green beans and then place into boiling salted water for 5 minutes. Strain the beans and add them to the onions. In a small bowl mix the cornflour, cumin, coriander, mustard powder and the turmeric together with a little vinegar to make a smooth paste then add the paste to the onion mix. Pour in the remaining vinegar and simmer for 10 minutes. Add all the sugar and mix until dissolved. Then simmer for a further 15 minutes. Sterilise the jars and place the pickle into the pots and seal. Once cold label the jars and keep for one month before eating.

Please remember to mention Awbridge News when responding to any adverts in the newsletter Page 17 | Nov 2013

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

V I L L A G E