Romsey & Wellow Gazette - July 2023

In this issue...

Councillor’s Column

Romsey Loves... Modernisation (pt1)

Celebrity Interview: Michelle Yeoh

England Expects... Women’s World Cup

Green ngers: Alan Titchmarsh Column

Five Years of RSS Sir David Attenborough

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Welcome...

Dear Residents,

It is with great pleasure that we deliver your July issue of the Romsey & Wellow Gazette. As always, we have reliable trades people and businesses that would love to hear from you. We are here for you to connect with your local business owners and help the local economy thrive. Helping each other has been an intention of mine from a very early age and I love what we do here at Modern Magazines. There are editorials and articles for you to read which we hope you enjoy, all in the comfort of your own home. We also have a Facebook page, and this magazine can be viewed online at:

www.modernmagazines.co.uk

In addition to that we now have a fully interactive Hampshire E-Magazine (only online) and if that is of interest, please email me at: debbie@modernmagazines.co.uk and I will add your details for a free subscription to that magazine which has online games, competitions, local trades and much more.

With the summer holidays about to begin we wish you the best of summers with time to spend outside with family and friends.

Debbie, Stephen & all the team at Modern Magazines

There’s a plea from Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) to support officers with any wasterelated investigations, after a woman was ordered to pay a total of £1,778.84 for failing to respond.

On 29 January 2021, TVBC became aware of a large fly-tip on land just off Lee Lane in Romsey.

The waste included fridges, a washing machine, mattresses, toys, clothes, bottles, a headboard and numerous other items.

Information obtained within the waste eventually led officers to Sarah Kepple, of William Macleod Way in Southampton.

On 28 November 2022, the defendant was sent an invitation

to attend an interview under caution on 14 December 2022. She failed to attend.

Kepple was sent a formal notice requesting her to attend the council offices on 5 January 2023 in order to assist with the investigation into the fly-tip. No response was received, and the defendant failed to attend.

At Southampton Magistrates Court on 5 May 2023, Kepple was given a fine of £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264 and costs of £854.84.

Portfolio holder for recycling and environmental services, Councillor David Drew, said:

“If you receive a notice from TVBC requesting your assistance with a fly-tipping investigation, the easiest and best thing to do is to respond and check how you can help. In situations like this, not only does it delay the investigation and cause more work for our officers, but it could also land you with quite a hefty fine.”

Test Valley residents urged to respond to fly-tipping notices after woman ordered to pay more than £1,500

THE OLD HOUSE AT HOME

A 17th century pub just a 2 minute stroll from the centre of Romsey town. Romsey’s only thatched roof pub retains its old world grace & charm, a pretty garden, covered and heated areas for those nippy evenings. It’s popular with locals, visitors and foody’s alike. Great beers, excellent food, and a welcoming atmosphere.

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Councillor’s Column

Congratulations to Cllr Phil Lashbrook and Cllr Linda Lashbrook who were elected the new Mayor and Mayoress of Test Valley at our Annual Council meeting recently. A busy year lies ahead for them, attending various events and good causes as well as chairing our council meetings. I’d also like to use this column to thank Cllr Alan Dowden and Cllr Celia Dowden for serving the borough as Mayor and Mayoress for the last 12 months. Although we represent different political parties, they’ve both done a superb job, attending hundreds of community events. Thanks too to my fellow councillors for formally re-electing me as Leader of Test Valley. It’s a huge honour to lead the council and I will continue to work relentlessly for local residents. My first job following Annual Council was to visit our Environmental Services depot to record a video about our recent switch from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil in our bin lorries. Reducing the council’s carbon emissions generated from our fleet vehicles by 95%. Using this biofuel does not require expensive vehicle changes and is completely fossilfree, fulfilling one of the pledges we made in our Climate Emergency action plan.

Sticking with the environmental theme, the council has also been taking part in a national campaign to support pollinators by leaving stretches of land to grow wild. Creating essential habitats for bees and butterflies. Not only great for the environment but making our parks, verges and the edges of our recreation spaces look even more attractive. This year this includes 30 hectares of urban meadowland, which have been blooming with wildflowers.

Finally, I’m pleased to report that thanks to our prudent investments, the council brought in another £2.23M in additional income during the 2022/23 financial year. Enabling us to maintain frontline services and fund our generous community grants programme, whilst also ensuring Test Valley’s portion of the council tax remains £40 lower than the average for the rest of England.

Cllr. Phil North

Leader of the Test Valley Borough Council

Puzzle Page Quick Crossword

2. Inn (3)

5. Relating to nature (6)

7. Associate (6)

9. Situation (11)

10. Scramble (6)

11. Comfortable position (6)

13. Take off (6)

Down Clues:

1. Frédéric (6)

2. Upper part of a woman’s dress (6)

3. Recover (6)

4. Relating to a state (6)

6. Writing in shorthand (11)

8. Not necessary (11)

16. Republic in Central America (6)

18. Rich country controls others (11)

19. Colour again (6)

20. Empty (6)

21. Humid (3)

10. Large Australian bird (3)

12. Seventh letter in the Greek alphabet (3)

14. Unpleasant sound (6)

15. Die (6)

16. Small nuts, under the ground (6)

17. Animals (6)

Word Ladder

Make

History Quiz

1. What year was the Battle of Hastings?

2. In which year did World War 2 start?

3. When was the Great Pyramid built?

4. What year was the Declaration of American Independence?

5. When was the formation of the League of Nations?

6. In which year was the Twin Towers attack?

7. What year was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?

8. In what year did the Black Death outbreak start?

9. What year was the invention of the phone?

10. When did the Coronavirus pandemic occur?

Everything, Everywhere...but not all at once

Even at the age of 60, the 2023 Academy Award win may be the start of something big for Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh.

Multiverse sci-fi brain-wrecker Everything Everywhere, All At Once, starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh – who scooped the coveted Best Actress gong – is a movie that’s divided opinion. There are those who enjoyed it for what it is and how it was intended… a far-reaching film about love and acceptance, fun, creative, hilarious and unique; while others found it difficult to locate that necessary suspension of disbelief required for such a complex piece of theatre.

Either way, the main star of the mindbender, Michelle Yeoh, gave a virtuoso performance, deservedly won her nominated category (one of seven awards the film scooped at the prestigious event), in the process becoming the first Asian and only the second woman of colour to do so.

“When I was young back home in Malaysia, I never ever dreamt of being where I am today,” says the actress, who is now in her fifth decade of performing.

“There wasn’t a huge movie industry there and when I looked up at the screen to see stars mainly from the Western Hemisphere up there, shining

bright and looking so amazing, it was never

in my mind to think I could emulate them or.

“I appeared in an advert with Jackie Chan for Guy Laroche watches, but even then I thought that was the furthest I would venture, and that my life and my career was destined to remain back at home.”

Quickly though, Yeoh began to realise she had much more in common with the martial arts legend Chan than a simple timepiece, given she performed most of her own stunts in films such as Yes, Madam and Magnificent Warriors, as her career began to blossom.

she soon

The actress worked hard at refining the way she went about acting, and soon global acclaim arrived when she appeared alongside Pierce Brosnan in the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies.

Big projects arrived in the form of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, then a slew of Hollywood projects, including Memoirs of a Geisha, Reign of Assassins, The Lady and Last Christmas.

“My biggest piece of advice is to listen to everyone and anyone!” she laughs. “It’s sometimes very easy to be precious about who you are and to what extent you want to bend and flip for the industry.

“We all go in with ideas of people loving us for being us, where really we are all products of everyone else’s influence, and we should be proud of that. You can never stop taking in the enrichment of others, no matter where you are in your career.”

England Expects

After winning the 2022 European Championships – the first major-tournament win in the Three Lions’ history, England go into the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with confidence, unity and a weight of expectation.

England’s women are on a high. Their sensational Euros success has driven a new wave of British Bulldog belief, and it would be a mistake not to believe our Three Lions can repeat the incredible successes from 2022 and, in the process, continue to inspire a nation of female footballers.

Plus, with England’s Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman recording an 81% win ratio –her team scoring 138 goals in just 31 matches, with only one single defeat in that time, against Australia in a friendly in April – optimism is at an alltime high.

Wiegman’s players will commence their campaign by facing minnows Haiti in Brisbane on July 22nd, with the games against the other sides in Group D seeing them encounter Denmark on July 28th in Sydney and Asian

champions China in Adelaide on August 1st.

Winning Group D, as they should, may well land England a toughlooking second-round game against Canada, who ended Wiegman’s long winning run on a cold night in January 2022, in a 1-1 draw at the Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough. Beyond that, Germany looks the likely opposition in the quarter-finals.

While the majority of the personnel from the Euros triumph is set to go Down Under, Ellen White and Jill Scott retired on a high after the Euros win, so new heroes will be sought, particularly as the squad will be missing captain Leah Williamson, who was ruled out with an ACL injury in April.

Thankfully, there is much competition for

Williamson’s centre-back berth, and considerable versatility elsewhere with players able to adapt to new positions, something typical of Wiegman’s Dutch ‘Total Football’ roots.

Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze are mainstays, with Maya Le Tissier’s addition to the England fold a huge bonus due to her ability in playing right across the back line. Lotte WubbenMoy is another utility player, as are Lucy Parker, Jess Carter, Esme Morgan and Niamh Charles.

Keira Walsh and Georgia

Stanway look to have cemented their places in midfield, while Jordan Nobbs and Ella Toone are sure to be on the plane. The rest of that part of England’s squad is harder to call.

Alessia Rousso is looking more and more like the number nine, and with Beth England and Ebony Salmon pushing into contention, the squad looks competitive and should go close to that elusive World crown.

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Top tips for a sustainable summer from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

From barbecues to ball games, every outdoor summer activity can impact the environment in some way. Here are some easy ways from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to help you, help nature this summer.

Using reusable or recyclable plates and cutlery

Everyone loves a good picnic or barbecue –little brings more joy than a delicious meal accompanied by the sounds and sights of nature. Disposable plates and cutlery are an attractive option compared to lugging your entire dinner set to your desired dining spot. However, these items are often designed for single usage, a fact which does not do the environment justice given the contribution of trees and fossil fuels to their manufacture. Instead, try using reusable, lightweight alternatives such as travel-friendly cutlery and bamboo plates. These last much longer than their disposable counterparts, meaning you save money and the environment!

Eco-friendly cooking

Whether big or small, barbecues are what make summer great. However, some outdoor cooking methods can release harmful pollutants into the fresh surrounding air and damage nearby wildlife. Charcoal, though seemingly a natural and sustainable fuel for barbecues, is often made from hardwood of tropical rainforests which are already vanishing at an alarming rate. The solution? British lumpwood charcoal from sustainable sources such as coppiced trees or managed forests.

Reduce your electricity consumption

Summer days are brighter, hence we can use less electricity for lighting. Not only will this reduce our reliance on unsustainable fossil

fuels, you can also save a great deal on your energy bills! You can also save energy by opening windows to ventilate your house or workplace instead of blasting the air conditioners at full power. Window shutters or blinds also help block strong sunbeams from blazing through windows and intensifying the summer heat.

Ditch the car

With summer comes sunshine. This means that travelling between places offers the perfect opportunity to get some vitamin D and muchneeded fresh air by walking or cycling. It’s been proven that exercise and being outside can both boost physical and mental wellbeing. On top of that, walking and cycling are safer for wildlife and have a much less detrimental effect on the environment than cars.

There’s a plethora of simple actions we can take to reduce our impact on the environment. While reducing waste production and saving energy are important throughout the year, our connection with nature through summer walks, seaside visits, or evenings lounging in the garden is particularly evident during summer, strengthening the motivation to do everything we can to protect the irreplaceable beauty of nature.

Photo: Go green with eco-friendly and re-usable alternatives on your next summer picnic © John Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

tax and help protect their share from care fees

The Property Protection Trust Will package is based around how you hold the ownership of your home. All good estate planning nowadays considers the difference between owning your home as joint tenants or as tenants in common.

If you own your home as Joint Tenants; when one of you dies the ownership of the home passes by the Law of Survivorship and not by your Will. Therefore, the surviving partner will automatically own 100% of the property. This sounds right to most people. BUT should the surviving partner need care in the future, the Local Authority can take everything they own (including their home) to pay for the care fees, leaving just £14,250 to be inherited by children and grandchildren.

There is an alternative.

Nowadays many couples choose to own their home as Tenants in Common where each partner will own 50% of the family home. This provides for many benefits.

Firstly, it allows you to legally leave your share of the property in your Will to whoever you wish. A properly written Will can ensure that your half of your house will eventually pass to your children even if your widow re-marries.

Unmarried cohabiting couples or relatives living together can also use this means of ownership as a way of minimising their Inheritance Tax exposure.

It can also help with long-term care costs. If one of you is still living in your home the Local Authority can’t include its value in the means test if one of you has to go in to long-term care. This also applies if the husband or wife still living at home dies while the other is in care as their share will go into the trust.

Dorset and Wight are your local experts in Property Protection Trust Wills.

Increasing numbers of homeowners are choosing to hold their properties as tenants in common to reduce inheritance

A Design for Life… e Kevin McCloud Column

Designer, writer and television presenter, Kevin McCloud leapt into our consciousness with his vastly successful Grand Designs show on Channel 4. This month, the affable architectural business owner talks about getting back to the basic elements of how a home should make us feel.

I was in conversation with someone the other day and they asked me what sort of feeling I thought they should give to a new home interiors project of theirs.

What I found interesting about the question is the fact it’s an almost impossible one to answer, for the main reason that you can’t force anyone to feel any way about something that they don’t naturally, instinctively, unintentionally feel themselves.

If a person dislikes something with a passion, it’s very likely

there is no positive slant you can put on things that will encourage them to change their mind. This is just who we are.

My answer was instead to think about stimulating positive feelings in the way the house was designed. In essence, to realise the things we want to feel, then style and create in order to fulfil those emotions. So, for example, it’s always important to create a sense of place and belonging in our homes. These homes are not just physical structures, but also repositories of our memories, emotions and personal identities, and should be designed to reflect our values, personalities and lifestyles.

Most people know I am a big fan of authenticity in home

design, so that comes into it; and I also believe in the importance of creating space that is functional and practical, rather than simply beautiful, perhaps with references given to the environment or sustainability.

Mostly though, above all those things, a home should be a place that feels safe, comfortable, and happy. Only then will it feel ’right’, and it may take several failed attempts along the way to finally get to that place where you are content.

And then prepare for the point a decade down the line when your evolving tastes talk you into ripping it all up and starting again!

Harnessing Solar Energy: The Economic Advantages

Solar panel installation is more than an eco-friendly choice; it’s a financially sound decision with substantial long-term benefits. As renewable energy gains traction, property owners are recognising the significant monetary advantages of solar power.

Why should you consider installing solar panels?

Energy Cost Reduction: Solar power can significantly decrease dependence on the power grid, leading to lower monthly energy bills. According to the Energy Saving Trust, solar power can potentially cut energy costs by £610 annually!

Profitable Investment: Solar panels, while initially costly, promise attractive returns. Property owners can often recover their initial investment within 5 to 10 years and then enjoy years of free or drastically reduced energy expenses.

Enhanced Property Value: Properties with solar energy systems command higher prices. Solar panels not only provide potential energy savings to future homeowners but also signify a commitment to sustainability, making your property more attractive in the real estate market.

Shield against Rising

Energy

Prices: Solar panels offer protection against escalating electricity prices.

Once operational, your energy expenses become more predictable and less susceptible to market volatility.

Durability and Minimal

Maintenance: Solar panels are robust and require little maintenance. They usually come with warranties spanning 20 to 25 years, translating to long-term financial savings.

Affordability and Energy Security: The cost of solar panels has been decreasing, making them more accessible. Paired with battery storage, solar power systems can provide power even during power outages.

Versatility in Various Climates: Solar panels only need sunshine to generate electricity, making them viable even in areas with longer, colder winters.

Council Slashing Carbon Fuel Emissions by up to 95% by Switching Vehicles to Diesel Alternative

Test Valley Borough Council’s (TVBC) fleet of vehicles have now all switched from using diesel fuel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), cutting carbon dioxide fuel emissions by up to 95%.

HVO is a drop-in diesel alternative that benefits from an instant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions without the need for changes to engine infrastructure or machinery. It’s also made from 100% renewable raw materials, biodegradable and is odourless.

The entire fleet, from waste collection vehicles to plant machinery, is now using HVO, after council leaders approved plans earlier this year.

In 2019, TVBC declared a climate emergency, and this is another step towards the ambition of becoming carbon neutral as soon as possible.

Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, Cllr Phil North, said:

“Switching all of our vehicles from diesel to HVO is a huge step in the right direction as we cut our carbon emissions generated from our fleet vehicles by 95%.”

“Using this biofuel does not require expensive vehicle changes and is completely fossil-free, fulfilling one of the pledges we made in our cross-party Climate Emergency action plan.”

Five Years of the RSS Sir David Attenborough

The five-year anniversary of the launch of the RRS Sir David Attenborough, and a naming process that went viral for all the wrong reasons.

‘Give it to the people’, they said… ‘let the people decide’. And so it was then, in the spring of 2016 that the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) put their faith in the British public to name one of our most significant marine launches of recent times.

The budget behind the impressive polar research vessel was a colossal £200million, with the intention of creating a floating symbol of British science; one that would be equipped with a devastating array of scientific instruments – including sonar and underwater cameras –laboratories for conducting experiments and analysing samples, and state-of-the-art gadgetry that would make our exploration of some of the harshest and most remote environments on the planet easier and more insightful than ever.

Its distinctive design, featuring a bold red and white hull, was a dominant and recognisable symbol of British scientific research – all it needed was a name.

The NERC subsequently held a ‘Name Our Ship’ campaign, stating that the public could

vote via an online poll. Trouble quickly began to circle though when BBC Radio Jersey presenter James Hand jokingly suggested the name RSS Boaty McBoatface.

The title rapidly went viral across social media, as people with no affiliation or previous vested interest in our exploration of the polar seas registered to push forward the comical name.

When the poll closed, it was a deemed a clear winner, achieving over 124,000 votes (almost exactly a third of all those submitted); however it was announced that the ship was instead to be called RSS Sir David Attenborough, in honour of the famous naturalist and broadcaster, despite the

fact the name earned only 2.95% of the total vote, achieving only 0.1% more than It’s Bloody Cold Here.

The decision saw the NERC come in for some criticism, and even led to a House of Commons Select Committee being put together to review the naming process. The organisation were keen to remind people that at no point had they promised to run with the contest winner. Furthermore, while the 15,000-tonne vessel sailed off with a rather more sensible name, Boaty McBoatface wasn’t entirely run aground, as the title was given to small, unmanned submersible that accompanied the RRS Sir David Attenborough on its research missions.

The Boaty McBoatface phenomenon has since become a popular meme and cultural touchstone, and is often cited as an example of the unpredictable and chaotic nature of online communities.

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Potential problems with DIY wills

A DIY will may save you a few pounds but could leave an expensive mess behind for your loved ones after your death. You need to get it right and wills can be challenged for a number of reasons.

If the will have has not been properly signed and witnessed it is invalid. If it is invalid you have no will and the law will dictate what happens to your estate. This may not result in what you wanted to happen to your assets and could lease to people getting a lot more or less than you wanted.

If its contents are not clear it could cause a dispute about the meaning of the will. It may be that it was drafted in such a way that there are people that you did not intend to benefit who can make a claim against your estate. This could lead to expensive legal arguments involving lots of different people who have an interest. You can use your will to minimise the impact on your estate of inheritance tax. You may also be able to protect your share of your house against being used for your surviving partner’s care home fees following your death.

If you and your partner have children from previous relationships you can use your will to ensure that you make proper provision for all your loved ones. The cost to your estate of a legal challenge could

run to many thousands of pounds, leaving little or nothing to your family after legal costs have been paid. There is no substitute for proper advice to ensure that your estate ends up where you want it to go and that it does not end up in someone else’s hands.

The effects of a poorly drafted will can last many years as family disagreements can ensue with potentially no reconciliation. It is very important if you make a will that is drafted properly and that you have taken advice from a solicitor, in addition your solicitor can also advise you at the time about Inheritance tax planning, power of attorney and planning for tomorrow.

This is intended for general guidance only. In all cases specific advice should be sought.

Bells are a specialist Wills, Probate, Residential and Commercial Conveyancing Practice. The office opens five days a week Monday – Friday 9am –5pm and home and hospital appointments can be arranged where appropriate. Our professional service is right on your doorstep.

Tel: 01794 513328

E: bells@bells-romsey-solicitors.co.uk

Viewfinders Of Romsey Camera Club

A member of the Southern Counties Photographic Federation affiliated to the PAGB

“One Foot On, One Foot Off” by Stuart Bennett was awarded the trophy in the advanced category of Viewfinders of Romsey Camera Club’s Print of the Year competition. The judge, Sue Sibley, said she loved the viewpoint and the detail in the image. Stuart was also awarded second place with “Lepe Lightning” and Seals of Merit for two other images. Third place went to Keith Rose LRPS for “Casualty of the Desert”. Two Seals of Merit were awarded to Margaret Cooper and one to Terry Jamieson.

In the primary category, Peter Finch took first place with “The Lone Tree”. The judge said she loved the sky and the sense of scale. Peter received two Seals of Merit for other images. Julie Cousens took second place with “Northern Gannett Landing on Nest” and Louise Sampson came third with “Cwmorthin,

North Wales”. Some of these images may be included in the club’s annual exhibition which will be part of Romsey Festival in July; the exhibition will run from 8th to 16th July in Romsey Abbey.

Viewfinders meets most Tuesdays at the Jubilee Hall, New Road, Timsbury and new members, regardless of photographic experience, are always welcome. For more information, visit the club’s website at www.viewfinderscameraclub.org.uk or e-mail secretary@viewfinderscc.org.uk

Attached photographs:

Bubble - VRCC Print of the Year 2023 presentation: Left to right: Stuart Bennett (winner in advanced category), judge Sue Sibley and Peter Finch (winner in primary category).

Left - ‘One Foot On, One Foot Off’ –Stuart Bennett – winner in advanced category

Below - ‘The Lone Tree” – Peter Finch –winner in primary category

The Adventures of Daichi The Modern Magazines Camper

Making the most of where we live…. Young, old, history, contemporary. Daichi loves them all. Wherever we look around us there is history alongside new, contemporary and sometimes controversial. Have you ever taken a look to see where new meets old and bygone days live next to the future, where you live? Are you a philosopher who prefers the distant past and long-lost customs, or are you a person of state-of-theart décor and new ways?

For Daichi, living here in Weymouth, a seaside town dating back to the 12th Century, it is easy to see the many shifts in time. Punch and Judy came back to our beach this year. Apparently, the original shows first appeared in Italy in the 16th Century where the characters were marionettes. Then in 1662 on May 9th the very first performance in England was enacted. It is a more modern feature of the

Van

show today, that the audience is encouraged to shout out and warn the characters in the ‘box’ of the dangers. Certainly, watching the excited children on the beach recently, the eager spectators really enjoyed screaming out, “he’s there!” at the top of their voices. What fun. Some characters like the ghost, the hangman (probably a blessing) and Pretty Polly may have disappeared, but the show remains to entertain its guests, centuries after it began.

A few weeks ago, “El Galeon”, a replica of a 17th century Spanish Galleon glided into our waters here on the Jurassic coast and opened its decks to the general public, for around a week on Weymouth Harbour. These Galleons were used to transport cargo from America, Spain and the Phillipines between the 16th and 18th Centuries. Walking on board now I almost felt the rocking of the ship and the huge waves sweeping over the high ship sides. I could almost feel sea-sick… and we were in very flat waters! Impressive indeed is this

Debbie & Stephen by El Galeon

Traditional Punch & Judy on the beach

ocean sailing vessel. Built between 2009 and 2010 it has now sailed to hundreds of ports worldwide and had thousands and thousands of visitor gaze in awe at its miles of rope, and its magnificent decks. Daichi loves history, and imagining sailing across massive expanses of sea surrounded by scores of people, some running up and down all of those extremely high poles, was quite an experience. In the 1600’s many did not make the journey, with scurvy and other untreatable diseases in abundance due to the lack of hygiene. There were less bottles of hand sanitizer in those days! It would have been very different to any cruises we sail on today.

That brings me to the subject of seaweed which has attracted so much attention and controversy recently. Our Blue Flag Beach with its wonderful fine sand has been encroached in certain parts, by sea kelp driven in by storms and heavy winds. Daichi’s first reaction was indeed one of “Oh No! Our beautiful beach has been destroyed…” However, he has had a change of heart. Our ecosystem on this planet has had much interference from us, the ‘intelligent species’ on this planet, and we may not have always got it right. Nature has a profound way of correcting itself, and in fact creating certain situations in order to survive. So, we

have continued to go to the beach, lie on the gorgeous fine sand of which there is a huge abundance and swim in our amazing ocean. Rubber shoes protect the feet if needed, but there is a lot of space and much enjoyment to be had, despite a little natural interruption. One of Daichi’s bug bears is the press and its sensationalism.

So, what about what’s new? We live in a ‘coffee culture’ where having a coffee and cake (or even a waffle and ice-cream…) have become part of our daily lives. Daichi loves this and will go for a coffee at the drop of a hat, especially with a friend for a good old chat. The Theatre is also still popular, centuries later and we believe we should make more of this. The atmosphere is great, the entertainment can lift the soul and we get to go out with family and friends. Similarly, the cinema. What great block busters there are! “Top Gun” with Tom Cruise was a must for us. Hayden loves ‘Dungeons and Dragons’, so we all went to see “Honour Amongst Thieves” recently with Hugh Grant, Chris Pine and John Francis Daley. Myself, being of the older generation and Hayden being nearly forty years younger, yet we all enjoyed it and had a great evening out!

So, whether it is an old tradition, history to soak in, or a coffee and waffle with a friend, there is so much to do right on our doorsteps. Daichi would love to know what you like best about your area. You can write to him at:

daichi@modernmagaiznes.co.uk

By Debbie Corney

Weymouth’s beautiful beach, winner of both the Blue Flag and Seaside Award

Family & friends having a “waffle”

Honouring Nursing Heroes: A Resident’s Gratitude to the NHS

I feel strongly that the nursing profession are not always appreciated and rewarded for their devotion to the very demanding work they do. The following is my recent tale which I think would be at least of interest in the Romsey & Wellow Gazette

Awaking at three-thirty in the morning, with heart palpitations and tightening chest pains, was not the start to the day that I expected. When it had continued an hour I dozed off and I remember waking a little later feeling like rubbish. I then used my blood pressure machine to find low pulse readings and taken again half an hour later they had not improved. A little while later with no improvement I visited my doctors surgery where I was told that there were no doctors available, to return home and to call 999, which I did.

A First Responder arrived after just a few minutes and soon after that an ambulance arrived with a crew of three, making four checking me, including ECG and blood pressure. They worked on me for best part of an hour and then transported me to Southampton General Hospital without any further delay from Romsey, with flashing lights and sirens through the traffic and with intravenous help to me, as demanded by the monitor screen in the ambulance.

Arrival in the hospital started with more checks including an X-ray of my chest, then to a cardiac ward and continued checks. After that it was decided that a pacemaker was required.

The next three days were spent having numerous checks and as it was then a weekend it was the Monday to have the surgery. That was done and I was told by the surgeon that the procedure to fit the pacemaker took forty-five minutes, during which time I was awake, it being done with a local anaesthetic. Then back to the ward for more checks including another X-ray. The following day I was allowed to go home.

I am in my eighty-eighth year and so grateful that the emergency staff did their work, with precision and humanity, giving me every confidence in all that they did. I must express my gratitude to the incredible hospital nurses who managed to put a smile on my face through a very worrying and painful time. They are working thirteen hour shifts at a time, doing an important job confidently and cheerfully. I spoke to many from other European countries and parts of the world. Where would we be without them all? The other staff, cleaning and transporting as well as dealing with the food, with which I was really impressed, were all delightful. The food was excellent, a good choice and quality. Not an easy task with which to deal, but they pulled it off. Thank you the people in the NHS.

Yours faithfully

Dennis Terrett

Green ngers… the Alan Titchmarsh column

He’s a brilliant presenter, accomplished gardener, talented novelist, and all-round horticultural inspiration. This month, Alan Titchmarsh discusses the holy grail of ensuring flowers and plants flourish to their full potential – soil quality!

I get asked a lot what the best way to bolster soil quality is, and the truth is there are a variety of methods. Naturally, keeping soil well-watered is important, but not overwatered. Instead, water deeply and less frequently than you would expect. To water deeply you need to keep the soil light and uncompacted too. I’ve even gone to the extent of walking on wood planks if I need to cross over soil, as this spreads the weight and avoids interrupting good soil structure with big clumsy boots.

To actually enrich the soil, I try to regularly add organic matter. Compost, obviously, is key, with well-rotted manure. This helps with boosting drainage, adding fertility, and encouraging beneficial microorganisms.

behind

In a similar way, if you’re looking to capitalise on what’s already in the soil, consider the benefit of crop rotation, and the fact that plants or flowers can feed o the nutrients left behind from whatever was present before.

Changing the location of specific plant families each year also helps to prevent the build-up of pests and diseases, and maintains soil fertility. Finally, it’s always worth applying a layer of mulch – such as wood chips or straw – around plants. It helps to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, regulates soil temperature, and adds organic matter to the soil. It also looks good!

To determine how good your soil is, or isn’t, why not invest in a soil-testing kit? This will help you determine the soil’s pH and nutrient levels, and with that information you can construct an accurate plan for amendments to improvements to your soil quality.

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ROMSEY L VES

By Alex Baxter

bs! ubs!

The Future

(Part 1: Modernisation)

‘Schemes’, proposals’, ‘consultations’ - just a handful of buzzwords you will no doubt be familiar with when it comes to local reporting. Such vocabulary can be repetitive and boring. More likely to make your eyes glaze over than stir excitement. And yet the future is supposed to be exciting! As the challenges our community face get greater (housing, climate, potholes!), so too does the urgency to find solutions and modernise. So what are the big ideas for Romsey? And who are the people that will make them happen?

As I’ve covered previously, the first step towards improving the town (aesthetically and pragmatically) drastically came with the marketplace revamp in 2019. For the first time

our town hub became permanently pedestrian friendly - allowing consistent liveliness like never before. The bleak high curbs and bumpy cobblestones were thrown out. In came better access for foot traffic and businesses. Today it remains a prosperous social space. If it’s anything to go by, the success of the project (including a Solent Quality Place award) is proof enough that the next stage of the “Masterplan” (the redevelopment of the South Side of town: our current bus station, Aldi, and Crosfield Hall) is not only much needed, but much anticipated for the potential it will bring as a more opened up and appealing gateway. Should it go to plan, it will be the biggest transformation the town has seen since 2019. Like performing open surgery on a heart while it continues to beat.

When it comes to overseeing these long-term boroughwide projects, there is one prominent group you’ll find involved, and that’s Romsey Future. Arguably, they are the most influential forward thinking force behind any change Romsey sees. Launched in 2014, the idea was to establish a sort of citizens assembly dedicated to a vision of regeneration across the wards up to 2042. Together, councillors and residents can connect with TVBC and developers, ensuring good communication and transparency. The partnership also includes businesses, organisations and even schools. By using public feedback, projects can be effectively delivered to meet residents’ needs while

change the face of an aged, but growing, town into a rejuvenated one.

Another organisation to know, whose core focus is ‘to promote high standards of planning and architecture’, is Romsey & District Society. They are also an active partner of Romsey Future, and their role is to review proposals before they become reality - again taking into account residential feedback. From footpaths and cycleways to flood alleviation. They have eyes on developments big and small. Though an arduous task, they protect public interests regarding infrastructure we all rely on. Especially to accommodate the increasing population and demands for reliable everyday structure. Much attention has been given of late to yet more proposed housing developments. Though this issue is not unique, it doesn’t stop it feeling endemic to us (like those potholes, am I right?). Romsey politics tends to be problem oriented. So it’s important we have experts on our side to solve them and transition Romsey into an even better place to live.

Speaking of which, Transition

Town Romsey are the number one advocates when it comes to improving the borough’s sustainability. Their mission is to ‘build a low carbon community’ via initiatives in energy. With council support, they provide community outreach to promote change towards a greener future. In 2019 a climate emergency was declared by TVBC.

One such project they support to help tackle our dependency on fossil fuel is called ‘Dragonfly Power’where they identify sites to ‘install and manage renewable energy equipment across the borough’. Judging by the number of homes with solar panels, it’s safe to say people are well on board.

As we have come to learn, Romsey is filled with interest groupsprotectorates as it were, who promote and speak up for what they care about most. The tiers of local services can be confusing. Where each council starts and ends. The power and influence each has. What a councillor can or can’t do. Elections and politics aside, it’s these groups of passionate citizens that really drive change, with aims to solve and voice local concerns wherever they may arise. Hopefully I have shown it pays to know the committees and societies that speak on your behalf.

Romsey is inevitably getting bigger than ever, which undoubtedly leaves many wondering if a town can modernise and retain its historical character? Alongside renovation is the equally amounting challenge of preservation. We’ll explore just that in part 2.

Abbotswood Man Fined After Collecting Scrap Metal Without a Licence

A man from Abbotswood has been ordered to pay a fi ne and costs after he was caught collecting scrap metal without a licence.

On 9 February 2023, a Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) offi cer became aware of a Ford Tipper truck which was heavily loaded with metal.

With the help of Hampshire Police, the driver of the vehicle was identifi ed as 35-year-old Daniel Wells.

Wells confi rmed he had been collecting scrap metal from Walworth Business Park near Andover and when asked to provide his Scrap Metal Dealers Licence, he admitted to not having one.

Wells pleaded guilty and appeared at Southampton Magistrates Court

on 2 June 2023 where he was given a fi ne of £416 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £166 and costs of £200.

Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, Councillor David Drew, said:

“The rules are very clear. To be able to remove any kind of waste, scrap metal or otherwise, you need to make sure you have all the correct licences to do so. If you don’t possess one and are caught, like in this incident, then you will face the consequences.”

Anyone looking to collect or sell scrap metal needs to have a Scrap Metal Dealers Licence.

Residents can check if a Scrap Metal Dealer is legally licensed by contacting the Test Valley Borough Council licensing team on 01264 368000.

Rachel Khoo’s Ice Box Cake

When summer comes around, it feels somewhat incongruous to be putting the oven on; yet baking isn’t all about putting up the heat and expecting something to prove or rise. And who in this weather wants to build up a sweat in the kitchen?! Instead, why not whip up this delicious ice box cake with just a stove top and a freezer. This decadent dessert with a crunchy hazelnut praline rippled through it makes a crowd-pleasing finale.

Ingredients

(10 to 12 servings)

• 35g dark chocolate, cut into small pieces

• 50g unsalted butter

• 100g digestive biscuits, crushed to crumbs

• 3 medium eggs

• 2 medium egg yolks

• 1 tsp vanilla essence

• 180g sugar

• 500ml double cream

• Hazelnut praline

• 50g blanched hazelnuts

• 75g sugar

• 2 tbsp water

Method

1. Prepare a 20cm cake tin by lining with baking paper.

2. To make the praline, line a baking tray with baking paper. Toast the hazelnuts in a dry saucepan until they are golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.

3. Put the sugar and water in the pan and heat gently

until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to high (avoid the temptation to stir it). When the caramel begins to turn a dark golden brown, remove from the heat and quickly stir in the hazelnuts. Pour immediately on to the lined baking tray and spread out evenly. Leave to cool. Once the caramel is cool and hard, blitz to a fine powder in a food processor.

4. Make the biscuit base by melting the butter and chocolate together in a medium heatproof bowl over a pan of just-simmering water. Add the crushed biscuits and stir to combine. Press into the prepared cake tin to form a crust and place in the freezer.

5. Place the eggs, extra yolks, vanilla and sugar in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. You want the bowl to just be resting over the

saucepan – don’t let the bowl touch the water. Whisk the mixture continuously for six to eight minutes or until it becomes thick and pale. If you have a handheld electric whisk, opt for that. When the whisk leaves a ribbony trail in the mixture when you lift it up, it is ready. Remove from the heat and allow mixture to cool slightly.

6. Whip the cream in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form. Gently fold through the cooled egg mixture until well combined.

7. Stir two-thirds of the praline into the ice-cream mixture and pour into the cake tin over the crumb base. Scatter the top with the remaining praline and leave to chill until frozen (at least four hours). Slice and serve.

Sarah Stokes

MSSCh Dip Pod Med MBChA

Member of the British Chiropody & Podiatry Association

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Answers:

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