Petersfield Forum - Issue 2 - November 2022

CONTENTS

Management

Feature

French Lessons by Lucia Foster-Found

Retail

Our regular retail feature, Unique, Bespoke, Eclectic and Local shopping

Home

The Team

Editor

Mark Tubb

editor@forumpublications.co.uk

Director of Advertising Steve Walker stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

Director of Marketing Rob Harrison rob@forummedianddesign.co.uk

Hampshire

Isle of Wight Trust

Trades, services, designers, All you need for your home

Feature

A letter from a Petersfield Forum reader

Advertising Manager Mandy Head mandyhead@forumpublications.co.uk

Accounts accounts@forumpublications.co.uk

Contributors

Lucia Foster-Found www. luciafosterfound.com

Get in Touch

Forum Publications Offices Unit 8A, Shelf House, New Farm Road, Alresford, SO24 9QH Tel: 01962 735137

www.forumpublications.co.uk

The Petersfield Forum contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. The Petersfield Forum takes reasonable efforts to include accurate, current information on its pages, but make no warranties or representations as to the accuracy, safety or value of the published items that are displayed. No liability or responsibility can be taken for errors or omissions in magazine content. The Petersfield Forum magazine content does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or recommendations of its creators and any reliance upon its content is taken at the user’s sole risk. Adverts designed by Forum Publications remain the magazine's legal ownership. Readership figures calculated on an average national statistic of 2.5 readers per household

Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture

HappyKitchens have a unique approach when it comes to kitchens and custom spaces in the home. We use excellent quality materials which are fitted by exshipwright joiners, who used to fit the woodwork on Super Yachts. That in itself is unique in our industry but then add in the fact that we are bespoke, but don’t charge the inflated prices that your highend high street showrooms do, gives us the recipe for your perfect home solution. This is why we are one of the highest rated home improvement companies on HOUZZ, beating all the top names you might recognise when walking down your high street.

We have never had less than a 5star

review and have won the HOUZZ best of service award every year since it has been running. The staff at HOUZZ reference us to other companies as to how customer service should be done. Many of our customers have used us 2 or 3 times due to moving house or tackling other projects in their existing houses.

We do not have a template for design and take a fresh approach with every customer. It is important to take all the best ideas a customer has, then bring in the experience we have to offer, and often our ideas will be completely different to any other companies as we are innovative and bespoke. We often hear that customers have had designs and quotes that all look the same, are boring and

un-exciting, yet expensive. This is because most high street ‘kitchen designers’ are just salespeople with no idea on how a kitchen works.

Bespoke sizing - Media walls, boot rooms, custom offices, installed by ex shipwright joiners with exceptional attention to detail

So whether you need an amazing Kitchen, Utility, Bedroom, coffee bar with custom pod storage, Office, Media wall or Living Room storage we can help. The design visits are free of charge, and we can quote on the same day. Also Ben loves design, so often at no extra charge, he will help you choose paint colours, light fittings, Bar stools, artwork and can even recommend great pots and pans.

One of the top reviewed companies on Houzz, offering free home design visits

“Thisisthesecondtimewehaveused HappyKitchensandonceagainweare overthemoonwiththeresults! Thelevelofworkmanshipisjust outstanding,theguyswereapleasure tohaveinthehouse,Wewon’thesitate tocontinuetorecommendHappy Kitchenstoanyonelookingforanew kitchen.Highlyrecommend!” Anna and Hugh Cutler, May 22

Our customers will often use us again, and recommend us to Family and Friends. The quote from the review above was from a customer who has chosen us twice, and their parents also have a Happy Kitchen, and two of the parents' friends.

“HappyKitchens.WOWWOW WOW.Thankyousomuchforgiving usthewowfactorweaskedfor.”

The McAdams – June 21

The biggest compliment we get from our customers is always around our attention to detail and often bringing something completely different to the table. If you are still unsure after reading this, go and read some of our reviews on our Happy Kitchens Houzz profile, and do a search of kitchen companies on there by review rating, we are always close to the top of the list.

Out-of-the-box thinking, bespoke design features, and friendly staff with excellent attention to detail are just a few of the reasons you should call us today. If that isn’t enough please do remember that the design visit is free of charge, so you have nothing to lose.

Now is the time for the steady hand of a professional agent.

As we move through turbulent economic times it is important to remember it is the events in the lives of individuals which have the most influence on property decisions. These can be neatly categorised as the A – D of the property market.

A is for ambition – the personal ambition to live somewhere better, bigger, smaller, prettier, more convenient, or simply closer to or further from family…. The reasons are endless and personal.

B is for birth – as families grow they look for more accommodation.

C is for consolidation – people wanting to cohabit or downsize after children have left.

D is for death, divorce and debt – the infamous three events that stimulate a high proportion of movement in the market.

When external factors are unpredictable it is important to seek the advice of a calm, experienced property professional who has seen these events and circumstances previously and can guide you through. Not only when it comes to buying and selling but also as a landlord or tenant.

Everyone needs somewhere to live and whilst prices will rise and fall, there will always be a market driven by personal circumstance. The steady hand of an experienced estate agent will ensure you get the best out of the market when you need to.

Call Kate Porter - Sales, Claudia Hunt - Lettings or Marishelle Butler - Management on 01730 771222 for that calm and steady hand.

Tel: 01730 771222

info@countryhousecompany.co.uk

sales@countryhousecompany.co.uk lettings@countryhousecompany.co.uk countryhousecompany.co.uk

E Q D C

Kate Porter Sales

Marishelle Butler Management Claudia Hunt Lettings

How invertebrates show the state of our chalk streams

In their nymph stage, stoneflies – or ‘Plecoptera’ – can be found clinging to the undersides of rocks where the streams are fastflowing. The adults have intricately patterned wings but tend not to be strong fliers, so will usually stay close to where they first left the water. Some species communicate by ‘drumming’ their abdomen on a solid surface; if they’re lucky, this display will win them a mate!

Caddisflies, or ‘Trichoptera’, are best known for their larval stage, when many species bind stones, leaves, shells, and sand together to form protective cases. These shelters are portable, allowing the larvae to crawl – and sometimes even swim – while inside. As adults, they have hairy wings like a moth, which they fold along their bodies when at rest, and can typically be seen sitting by the water.

If you’d like to help monitor these important species, there are a few ways to do so. The Riverfly Partnership hosts several projects that are suitable for groups, and citizen science initiatives for individuals. The Watercress and Winterbournes scheme also monitors riverflies in the Test and Itchen headwaters - email us at winterbournes@hiwwt.org.uk or explore our work at www.hiwwt.org.uk/winterbournes.

When it comes to the health of our local chalk streams, few animals are more crucial than invertebrates. As a major food source for fish, birds, and mammals, their presence – or absence – directly impacts other wildlife populations. Many are ecosystem engineers that shape their surroundings, and some are found only in the UK. Yet of the 724 aquatic insects known to be here, 11 have been lost and 68 more face extinction.

Because of their key role in chalk stream ecosystems, invertebrates are ‘canaries in the coal mine’ for the habitat at large. Three groups in particular – the ‘EPT species’ – are

invaluable for spotting problems, since all spend extended periods in the water and have unique sensitivities to different pollutants. This makes them excellent indicators of subtle, chronic pollution that may be missed by spot water sampling.

Mayflies, or ‘Ephemeroptera’, take their name from their short adult lifespans – mere hours in some cases. As nymphs, however, they can spend up to two years feeding on algae and plants in the water. Unusually among insects, they have two adult forms: the dull-coloured ‘dun’ and the clear-winged ‘spinner’ that follows. The adults often emerge en masse, creating an impressive spectacle.

Want to learn more about our precious chalk streams?

Online Talk - ‘Chalk Streams: Wonderful in Wintertime’ on the 6th December, 7 - 8pm, Free to attend. Join Susan Simmonds from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, as she explores the character of our chalk streams in the colder months. The sky may be grey at this time of the year, but the world of wildlife is full of colour!

Book your ticket at: www.hiwwt.org.uk/events

Mac - One to One Support for Apple Macs & Windows

Apple’s “key chain” is a powerful tool. You can retrieve any password you have saved on your Apple devices. You will find it in System Preferences on a Mac or in Settings > Passwords on an iPhone or iPad. You can also see any Wi-Fi passwords saved; you can only see these on a Mac when you are in System Preferences.

A new device for locking and unlocking your front door has been recently introduced and it works seamlessly in the Apple HomeKit app. There are many different types of door locks available that will work with your iPhone but this one is the easiest I have ever installed. In less than half an hour it was operational. It will work with most locks and keys and as it fits on the inside of the door no-ne will know you have it installed. More information is available from nuki.io or from Amazon. One of my favourite apps is Audible. For a monthly fee you can buy any of the latest titles available as well as free access to a large library of books to listen to including many classics. There are also free podcasts including the very amusing series of “Titting About” by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. My favourites listen this month has been David Dimbleby’s “Keep Talking”. He reflects on his 50 year career at the BBC taking us behind the scenes of some of the biggest moments in British broadcasting. That’s all for this month. Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions or for any advice.

Andy - Mr Mac 07392552592

MACS

an

tribunal claim:

‘At some point, your business may receive a tribunal claim,’ says Linda Wilson, Partner and head of the employment law department at MacDonald Oates Solicitors. ‘Although a tribunal claim can seem daunting, knowing what to expect could help you defend the claim as effectively as possible.

Acas early conciliation - In most cases, the employee must contact Acas first to trigger early conciliation. During this time Acas mediate between the parties to try to settle the potential claim. If the conciliation is unsuccessful, the individual is issued with a certificate. Without this, they cannot bring a claim.

Receiving the claim - The tribunal will send you the claim form (called an ET1), often with an attachment setting out the claim in more detail (the particulars of claim). You will also receive a letter informing you of the date by which you have to submit a response

Petersfield Bowling and Snooker Club

and the form you need to fill in and return to the tribunal (called an ET3).

Deadlines - It is crucial to check the deadline on the letter for sending your ET3 to the tribunal. This will be 28 calendar days from the date the ET1 was sent to you.

Preparing to defend the claim - To defend your business as robustly as possible, we strongly recommend getting in touch as soon as you have received the claim. It is important that the detailed response to the claim (known as the grounds of resistance) is consistent with the paperwork that the tribunal examines later at the hearing. Collect and send us the relevant documents and emails so that we can ensure the response tallies with these.

How we can help - We act for businesses and individuals, giving us valuable insight into the pressures faced by both sides. Our experience means we will defend the claim in an effective and pragmatic way.

For further information, please contact Linda on 01730 268211 or email lsw@macdonaldoates.co.uk.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Please note that the law may have changed since this article was published.

A hidden oasis” which lies behind the green door on St Peter’s Road in Petersfield is how The Petersfield Bowling & Snooker Club is often described. Although central to the town, it’s amazing how many residents have never heard of “The Bowling Club” as it’s usually called. When it was founded in July 1908, there were only 20 members; today we have ten times that number. The subs in those day were 5 shillings, today, a mere £35 per annum, or less if you are a country member. But it’s not just about green bowling, we have two superb snooker tables, which some say are the best in the Midhurst & District League. Our bowlers and snooker players field teams in the local leagues as well as organising numerous in-house competitions.

If you’re not a sporty type, fear not, we have a very nicely appointed lounge and a fully stocked bar with extremely competitive prices. We hold BBQs, dinners,. quizzes, bingo nights and have been known to get togged up in fancy dress when the occasion calls. Once a month, there’s a two course mid-week luncheon club at an amazing £6 per head. Don’t expect silver service for any of the foodie events though

– we keep prices low but that means you are expected to pitch in with the washing up!

The club, is a “not for profit” organisation, and run by a committee of volunteers; essentially a co-operative effort. Any surplus funds are ploughed back into the club. Joining is easy, pop in and have a gander around, pick up an application form, pay your fee and it’s (almost) guaranteed that you will get a welcome letter in the post very soon after.

Norma Hounsome - Secretary

nhounsome@virginmedia.com

Tel: 07909 024007

The Petersfield Bowling & Snooker Club

St Peter’s Road, Petersfield, GU32 3HX

Tel: 07784 903679

Linda Wilson

Local Events

Autumn Watercolours Workshop

Sunday 6 Nov

From 12pm to 4pm

www.chawtonhouse.org

Chawton House, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1SJ

Capture the magic of Autumn with a fun watercolour workshop, led by local artist Julia Morgan. During this creative workshop, you will learn a variety of painting techniques whilst developing your own painting style. Following demonstrations by Julia on how to create the perfect Autumn sunlight and how to paint glowing foliage, you will start painting your chosen subject, with a focus on capturing the essence of Autumn. This workshop is suitable for beginners and the admission ticket includes all materials and your choice of a savoury or sweet cream tea. This event is part of the Creative Footsteps programme.

The Watoto Christmas Fair

Petersfield Christmas Festival

Sat 10 and Sun 11 Nov

Sat 7pm-9pm, Sun 10am-4pm

www.petersfieldfest.com

and more. If you wish to reserve a table for dinner please tick 'yes' to the 'Would you like to reserve a table for dinner before the show?' which is part of this booking process - The Half Moon, Sheet, Petersfield, GU31 4BE

Fri 18th November 2022

Walk – Heroes of Petersfield

Saturday 19 Nov

From 10.30am to 12.30pm

story Wednesday Addams has fallen in love with Lucas

Tues 8 to Wed 9 November

From 9am to 4pm

tithe-barn.co.uk

The Tithe Barn, Ditcham nr Petersfield, GU31 5RQ

Join us on 8th and 9th November at The Tithe Barn, Ditcham near Petersfield from 9am-4pm. With over 50 stalls we have a fabulous selection of gifts and festive treats and all profits go to charity. £5 entry includes tea/coffee and a slice of homemade cake.

We Are Back For 2022! And We've Added An Evening Of Festive Fun On Saturday 10th December - 7pm-9pm We are thrilled to be back for 2022 with another AWESOME Petersfield Christmas Festival! It is always a pleasure to host an array of awesome market stall holders, brilliant entertainment and thousands of friendly local faces to our town! For more information visit: www.petersfieldfest.com/ petersfieldchristmasfestival

Music, Drag & Comedy Night

Friday 18 Nov

From 7.30pm

www.chawtonhouse.org

The Half Moon, Sheet, Petersfield, GU31 4BE

Book the date for our next drag night at The Half Moon. Once again, we have West End singer and comedienne Tiffaney Wells as our headline act. Tickets are £13 each. She’s been entertaining the world with her unique cabaret for over thirty years, a true stalwart of London Soho and a drag legend. Now it’s your chance to experience the one and only Tiffaney Wells in all her splendor. Expect camp show tunes galore from Hepburn to Streisand, Andrews to Garland

www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

1 St Peter's Rd, Petersfield GU32 3HX

This remembrance weekend join Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery as we commemorate the lives of those from the town that gave their lives in both the First and Second World War. This walk visits the last known addresses of some of those whose names adorn the towns cenotaph and some of those who do not appear and share their stories from medal winners to nurses and reflect on those that they left behind. This walk takes place on hard surfaces with short stops along the way making them accessible to most. The walk starts and finishes at the front of the Museum. The walk will continue in all weather unless unsafe to do so.

The Addams Family Performed by Petersfield Theatre Group

Beineke, a sweet, smart boy from a ‘normal’, respectable Ohio family and wants to invite his family to dinner. What could possibly go wrong?! In one fateful, hilarious night, secrets are disclosed, relationships are tested, and the Addams Family must face up to the one horrible thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change. Get ready to click your fingers and laugh your head off to secrets being exposed, emotions let loose, and love tested. This show contains lighting and smoke effects. For more information and tickets visit www. petersfieldtheatregroup.org

Petersfield Light Switch On

Friday 25 Nov

From 5pm to 7.15pm

The Square, Petersfield

The Petersfield Christmas Light Switch On 2022. Organised by Petersfield Town Council, hosted by Hometown Events. Event Start time 5pm. The lights are being switched on at 7PM in The Square. Join us for an early evening to celebrate the switch on of our wonderful Christmas lights! Grab a mulled wine, have a nosey round the charity & community stalls & listen to some festive music…. see you there!

A Winter Wander with The Snowman™ & The Snowdog at Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Sat 26 Nov to Mon 2 Jan

From 10am to 2pm

Queen Elizabeth Country Park Gravel Hill, PO8 0QE

Wed 23 to Sat 26 Nov

From 7.30pm

www.petersfieldtheatregroup.org

Petersfield Festival Hall, Petersfield, GU31 4EA

In this chapter of the Addams

Ready to be enchanted? Join The Snowman™ and The Snowdog on a festive winter wander around some of Hampshire’s most spectacular country parks. For information visit: www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/ countryparks/qecp

Pistachio and Mortadella Lasagne

SERVES FIVE Preparation time 1 hour 15 minutes

This recipe for lasagne combines the food flavours from both North and Southern Italy. It is a lighter and melt in the mouth experience than the traditional lasagne from Emilio Romagna which uses a beef ragout. Most of the ingredients can be bought at a good supermarket or deli. The Provolone cheese if necessary can be substituted using thinly sliced gouda.

For a perfect supper dish, pair it with a crisp green salad and a glass of Gavi di Gavi made from the Cortese grape.

INGREDIENTS

12 sheets of lasagna, 700ml of bechamel sauce

100 grams of pistachios 40 grams of parmesan cheese 80ml of extra virgin olive oil

Five basil leaves

300 grams of thinly sliced mortadella 250 grams of provolone cheese

Pepper to taste Parmesan cheese to taste (topping) Crushed pistachios to taste (topping)

METHOD

1. Prepare the pistachio pesto by mixing the crushed pistachios with the parmesan, basil, olive oil and a pinch of pepper. Then combine the pesto with the bechamel.

2. Coat the bottom of a baking dish with the bechamel, then cover with the first layer of lasagna. Coat the lasagna with another layer of the pistachio bechamel, then cover with a layer of sliced mortadella, followed by the provolone.

3. Repeat until all the ingredients have been used. Finish with a layer of bechamel.

4. Top it off with the parmesan and cook at 350F/180C for 20-25 minutes.

5. Add the crushed pistachios and serve.

Two Janes Catering

You can see us on D E twojanescatering

Discover Saddle House Medi-Spa

Experts in beauty and non-surgical treatments to rejuvenate and enhance your natural look

Saddle

House Medi-Spa is a hidden gem discreetly tucked away in the privacy of the countryside only a minute's drive from the gorgeous historic town of Alresford. Housed in a 17th century building, the scenic grounds are shared with a family of beautiful white swans and magnificent peacocks. The sound of running water and bird song echo around the private estate adding to the tranquillity of the location. This is a tonic for many clients, who prefer the privacy and serenity of the countryside rather than stepping out into the hustle and bustle of a busy town centre.

The building has been completely renovated to an extremely high standard over the last twelve months. The interior is modern and light, with an indulgent feel to the decor. The reception area has a warm and inviting feel and the entire team reflect this in their friendly and professional demeanour.

Saddle House Medi Spa offers a range of specialist treatments suited to men and women with the understanding that every patient has a different need. The spa’s menu ranges from beauty treatments to medical grade facials and facial aesthetics. The clinic is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), ensuring that the premises operate at the highest standard of medical practice.

If a pamper session with a beautiful view of the river appeals to you, then escape everyday life for an hour or two with one of the indulgent massages performed by our Senior Beauty Therapist, or revitalise your hands with a perfectly painted manicure. If your goal is to improve the overall appearance of your skin, then a clinical facial such as the IPL light therapy treatment, or the much sort after Hydrafacial will

be sure to leave your skin with a radiant natural glow from the inside out.

Finding the right clinician to perform injectable procedures is extremely important. Director, Leanne Hawkins is a Registered Nurse and an Independent Nurse Prescriber (INP) who spent a decade working in the NHS before qualifying as a Medical Facial Aesthetician. Leanne set up the award-winning Face and Skin Clinic in Wickham in 2011. A passionate and experienced clinician, Leanne's professionalism and commitment to enhancing your unique features is evident from the first interaction.

On booking a facial treatment, you will be invited to enjoy a complimentary Visia Skin Analysis which uses the latest AI technology to capture a multi-point image of the skin and assess its strengths and weaknesses at every level. Based on this analysis your practitioner will set up your unique patient journey to enhance, improve and rebalance the skin.

Saddle House Medi Spa is a charming addition to the local area. From massage to thread vein removal, the experienced and professional team will help you to discover and uncover your very best you.

Tel: 02380 518558 Address: Western Court, Bishops Sutton, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0AA www.saddlehouse.co.uk

French Lessons

© Lucia Foster-Found 2022 www.luciafosterfound.com

Anautumn ‘vacance’, the first for years. Yet again she promised herself that her French would be better next time - pretty sure she’d told the campsite’s aquafit instructor that she was ‘bored’, not ‘trying’… And Himself’s could do with a little work. In a tabac, buying cigars for a friend, he’d flexed that old standby; speak English loudly and slowly. And point. But when he’d also affected a French accent and said “can ah av un box uf cigarrs pliz,” she’d had to abandon him. Stifling hysterics, she’d feared for her bladder. It had been September – the sun surprisingly hot. Clusters of tourists moved unhurriedly here and there in the shimmering heat. More than a few were licking ice cream cones as they sauntered along the dusty street, idly surveying the souvenirs at roadside stalls.

She and Himself were strolling towards the lighthouse museum and, as she gazed up at the towering structure, she noticed that the flag was flying at half-mast. The thought flitted through her mind “I wonder who…?” before she realised.

“Look!” She pointed up at the Tricolore which hung half way up the flagpole, the blue, white and red vertical stripes stirring slowly in the warm breeze.

“For the Queen?” He asked in amazement. They’d not been as fully immersed in the public grieving as those back at home, but the French had revealed a surprising sense of their own loss. When the holidaymakers caught sight of the TV news, invariably it was concerning the death of the Queen. Even across most of the papers; one, Le Parisien, had headlined ‘We loved her so much.’

“Who knew?” Himself shook his head in astonishment. The next day whilst casting off the beach, they were approached by curious French onlookers, asking how many fish they’d caught. Her laughing answer “rien” brought forth Gallic shrugs and smiles. As the group turned away, they said in English, “we are very sorry about your Queen,” making heart shapes with their hands. She’d surprised even herself by bursting into tears.

If the ‘botte’ had been on the other ‘pied’, she hoped that Brits would have been as sensitive. Had they been in England and not France, she’d have queued for the Queen’s lying in State. Fortunately though, Beckham did it for her; she queued vicariously through and with him and hoped they’d exchanged numbers. Fanciful, but anything seemed possible. The world had turned upside down - the Queen was dead. In spite of the underlying sorrow she felt every time she looked at the news, they had a wonderful holiday. It didn’t seem like years since the last one, although the eye-watering cost of two beers in a bar suggested that both time and the exchange rate had not stood still.

French pride in all things French had not altered, however. Himself mentioned the word subsidies, but no denying the campsite was filled with Renaults, Peugeots and Citroens.

And French ingenuity had marched on. “Look Darling, there’s a vending machine for cartons of live oysters, complete with a lemon, should your shellfish addiction need a fix at three in the morning.” And then there was the French respect for their environment; though every inch of sand had been littered with French bodies the colour of mahogany, not one scrap of rubbish was left on the beach. And no bins. “Impressive.” Himself said enviously. “A bit different from Bournemouth – bet French metal detectorists don’t just find cans, bottle tops and tent pegs.”

On the long, smooth drive to the return ferry, she observed, “And I haven’t missed that exciting slalom of pothole dodging we do so enjoy back home.”

“Missed what Darling?” Himself was distracted. He went on without waiting for an answer, “um, thankfully you didn’t notice, but once or twice I almost caught myself speaking English with a French accent. That would have been embarrassing. I’ll need a few French Lessons before our next trip.”

Thinking of the clean beaches, the smooth roads, the patriotism, the respect and the sympathy – she said, “French lessons? It ‘Gaul’s me to say it, but I think we just had some...”

Petersfield Save the Children

The Petersfield Branch of Save the Children is currently run by a small dedicated committee of volunteers whose aim is to raise as much money as possible for as many underprivileged children as possible. This aim has not changed since the branch was founded 67 years ago.

The longest running and biggest fundraiser of the year is the Big Sale which, next year, will once again be held in the beautiful setting of the Tithe Barn Ditcham and will open with the fabulous fashion show on 27th February.

Recent popular fundraisers have included Auctions of donated items at John Nicholson Auctioneers Fernhurst, and Golf Days at Old Thorns Golf Club Liphook. Local children have enjoyed events including a Teddy Bear Zip Wire Challenge and visit to Santa along a twinkly bridge at Petersfield Pond, and Teddy Bear Parachute Jumps off St Peter’s Church Tower in Petersfield which guest

Hugh Bonneville described as “surreal”!

Thursday 8th December is this year’s annual Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day. Join millions of people up and down the country wearing a Christmas jumper at their workplace, school or with friends and donate just £2. Every time you donate £2, the UK Government has promised to donate £2. To find out how to join in the fun and make your donation e-mail: savethechildrenpetersfield@gmail.com

You will be helping Save the Children to make lasting change for the children who need it most in the UK, Ukraine, Kenya and all around the world.

For more information about Save the Children Petersfield Branch visit: www.petersfield-savethechildren.co.uk

To view the important work of Save the Children in the UK and worldwide: www.savethechildren.org.uk

The Terracotta Pot Shop

The Terracotta Pot and Gift Shop started life just selling pots but soon expanded into selling gifts as well.

A popular range is the Tree of Life – available in several shapes and sizes and colourways. Some have mirrors too. Suitable for inside or out.

Also available as a windchime the Tree of Life is a popular and universal symbol that represents multiple different things across various cultures and religions. It relates to a connection to everything and symbolizes togetherness and reminds you are never alone but connected to the world. It also represents a connection to family and ancestors. The network of branches represent growth and fertility. The Tree of Life serves as a reminder for the calming feeling one gets from trees.

Gifts in all shapes and sizes are available for all the family costing a little to a lot – salt lamps, garden pots, games, fairies, buddhas, nautical decorations, windchimes, suncatchers, cats and dogs – the choice goes on and on.

The Terracotta Pot and Gift Shop is at the junction of Rails Lane and the Seafront at Hayling Island. Open every day – check out our Facebook page and remember it’s never too early to shop for Christmas!

Human nature makes many of us naturally attracted to light and water. We can easily sit down and watch the sea or a waterfall or stream for ages as we can also stare into the flames of a fire seemingly enchanted. Fire can be hypnotic and mesmerizing as we gaze into its light and watch the flames swirl around. Consider bringing this natural wonder into your home this Winter through natural wax candles with clean burning properties. Candles can provide more than the light they emit, they can create an ambiance, a mood and a level of relaxation - something that all of us can take benefit from. A source of light and a focal point of any room, candles can give more than you see. As the days now get shorter and the temperatures lower, consider using candles in the evening and turn off those expensive lights.

The Candle Cavern was established to provide natural candles to those seeking both environmental sustainability and quality performance in their candles. The workshop at Durleighmarsh provides the base for candle production as well as a small shop area to display and promote our candles, candleholders and candle making supplies. Please feel free to call in and have a browse and maybe find ideas for gifts or surprises.

Many, but not all, of our candles can be seen on our website at www.candlecavern.co.uk

Candle Cavern

Stock up for Christmas with an exquisite selection of products, handpicked by us. From tableware, gifts to gardening essentials, our warm and welcoming barn features the very best of relaxed shopping in Hampshire. So why not give into temptation, and join us for a festive, fun-filled season guaranteed to put the happy into a “happy Christmas”

From thrifty Secret Santa treats to bigger buys, every list has its ideal budget, and the better you plan, the less you’ll overspend on last-minute panic purchases. So take advantage of our special ‘gift’ days dotted throughout the festive season and get yourself a bargain with on-the-day offers, and ensure the only one going into the red this season is Father Christmas!

At Town and Country, we take pride in ensuring every client receives the best customer service, from the informative and knowledgeable sales process through to the extensive after sales care.

Our boutique showroom showcases some of the finest kitchen and bathroom furniture available, with a strong emphasis on UK and European manufacturing. Bathroom manufacturers on display include Ambiance Bain, Pelipal, Hansgrohe, Roper Rhodes and Miller of Sweden, with Porcelanosa and Ca’Pietra tiling throughout the showroom. Our kitchens are expertly crafted by Schuller, the second largest German kitchen manufacturer, and Uform. Both have an extensive and inspiring collection ranging from the contemporary to the more traditional.

Please contact us regarding our complementary design and quotation service, we look forward to hearing from you.

Visit Town & Country 8 The High Street, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO3O 2EA Telephone: 01489 536187 Email: sales@town-and-country.co.uk www.town-and-country.co.uk

Petersfield Museum & Art Gallery

Out of This World! Space Race Toys

7 December 2022 –28 January 2023

Kids Go Free! Over the holiday period, enjoy a family visit to Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery. On display in the Museum Learning Space, experience a blast from the past with a presentation of over 20 original space-inspired toys, games, books and annuals. Everything from ray guns, space patrol walkie-talkies and SpringHell Jacks ‘Moon Shoes’. The 1950s and 1960s saw intense competition between the USA and the USSR as they vied to master space. On 20 July 1969, Apollo 11 landed the first two humans on the Moon. This progress in - and preoccupation with - space exploration inspired both toy manufacturers and television programme makers.

The new and mysterious frontier of outer space allowed complete freedom of imagination and creativity. Dan Dare, a futuristic space pilot, originally portrayed in the Eagle comic of the 1950s, was one of the first characters in this space toy boom. The commercial potential of producing toys and games linked to programmes such as ‘Doctor Who’ (first broadcast in 1963) and ‘Thunderbirds’ (first aired in 1965) was also quickly realised.

Gordon Rushmer: A World in Watercolour

6 December 2022 –25 February 2023

We are delighted to announce a new exhibition at Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery. Gordon Rushmer is a well-known and highly regarded landscape painter. Opening this exhibition in early December is apt as Rushmer notes ‘I’ve always been most at home in barren windswept places and winter has always been my most fruitful season.’

The paintings selected for this exhibition celebrate Rushmer’s keen sensitivity to the places and the landscapes within which he works, and his command of working in watercolour. British artists first began to explore the aesthetic qualities of watercolours in the latter part of the

eighteenth century. For Rushmer the period from the late 1800s to the end of the Second World War was a golden age and work of painters including Eric Ravilious (1903-1942), Evelyn Dunbar (19061960), Thomas Hennell (1903-1945), John Nash (1893-1977), Charles Knight (1901-1990) and Stanley Badmin (1906-1989) offer continual inspiration.

Some of these artists were also war artists, as was Rushmer himself. His success as a landscape painter is matched by his reputation as a war artist from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s. His war paintings were shown at the Imperial War Museum in 2008 and in 2011 his painting ‘The Burning of Gornji Vakuf, Bosnia’ (1997) was included in the exhibition ‘Watercolour’ at Tate Britain.

Born in Petersfield, Rushmer graduated from Farnham School of Art and worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. But painting is his passion, as is the Hampshire and Sussex landscape, which continues to be his main subject matter. Rushmer’s approach to painting is rooted in his experience

of the place. Rushmer describes how he ‘walks the hills and countryside, preferably on my own. I have a camera for those fleeting moments of light and sketchbooks that fit down the back of my rucksack. Some pieces are in my head for months. I design each work in the abstract, weighing the shapes, colour masses and at the same time organising the compositional stresses.

I take liberties with compositional content, often restructuring reality, removing elements I don’t want, and imposing my mood, so sometimes a piece may say more about me than the subject I have portrayed.

Visiting Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery

For Opening hours and Admission prices – please see the website for more details - To book or for information about events, visit www. petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Spring-Heel Jacks, c.1960s

Gordon Rushmer - Winter Kale, near South Harting, 2020, Watercolour on paper ©The Artist

Gordon Rushmer - Late Light, Bosham, 2020 Watercolour on paper ©The Artist

A Letter from a Petersfield Forum Reader

Ihave

no affiliation to Sky Park Deer Farm just a dedicated and happy regular visitor – I lost my husband of 45 years during the pandemic and this place restores my soul and brings me so much joy. I give up some meals so that I can still go to park twice a week, it means that much to me…. I have NO affiliation to the place, owners or staff. I just write about it as I love it so very much and it is such a wonderful place for every one to go to.

Sky Park Deer Farm opened in May 2021 and is just the most amazing addition to our National Park. I have been visiting almost every Saturday and many Tuesdays since it opened and every visit still fills me with joy, peace and amazement. With three breeds of Deer, Red, Whie (which are really read deer!) and my absolute favourites the Sika, there is always something to see that is new. Being in our wonderful park it also has wildlife to spot and enjoy, many birds including wagtails, geese, swans and the amazing Red Kites may pass you as well as squirrels and at the right time of year the wonderfully bright dragon flies that love the river walk.

It has been amazing to see the whole life cycle of the deer population and the thrill of seeing the new calves (May – June) never fails to make you believe in the wonder of nature. The coats of these magnificent animals changes along with the seasons. I have watched the calves growing so fast, it is a wonder to me how fast they grow.

There are paths around the fields which are easy to follow and keep the whole experience accessible to all, wheelchairs and buggies included. You many need waterproof footwear some days like any walk in our countryside. There is also a river walk alongside the River Rother (which was very special to my late husband) with picnic benches which have amazing views over our great National Park.

You can buy a bag of food to feed the deer, my own little favourites, the Sika, are a little more timid, but I have a few now that come over when I call them (I have nicknamed, Dazzle, Basil, Razzle and Hazzel !) and will take feed from my hand, just they the Red Deer, and the thrill I get in my

dotage makes me feel like a kid again. Having been bereaved during the pandemic after 45 years together, this is my special place, a place I can forget the worries and just be happy and amazed with each visit. You really can get to know individual deer around the park and pick out the characters.

Alongside the Farm Experience is a visitor centre selling may ‘deer related’ items all of which are just brilliant.

Across the car park (free) is the Farm Shop and Grazing Rooms. These in themselves are worthy of a visit alone, Both the Shop and the Grazing rooms are very popular and at busy times you many need to wait for table(or book). They work hard at keeping the offerings high quality and local. With offerings to suit all tastes.

The staff are wonderful, friendly, always time to speak to visitors and they smile, a lot! Every member of staff is helpful and all really do want visitors to enjoy the park, the shopping, eating and most of all they care!

Everything at Sky Park has been done with the highest attention to detail and standards are very high.

I could write so much more, but why not go yourself. If ever you early and see a little old lady sat on a fold up stool – talking to the Sika – that will be me, stop and say hello – I am always happy to say hi and tell you more about this wonderful addition to our great South Downs National Park.

I will never tire of the park, it has helped me through bereavement, PTSD and has given me a reason every week to visit and keep the wonder and joy alive.

S Mingaye

G A Z E B O S & A C C E S S O R I E S

Live the Dream with a Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services

Whether you dream of simply relaxing with a well earned glass of wine, or are hosting that never to be forgotten al-fresco party. A thatched or timber roofed Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services will turn your dreams into reality - it just couldn’t be easier.

Equestrian Fencing Services offer an extensive range of Gazebos from carefully selected timber from well managed sustainable forests, to suit every size and style of garden.

Whether you dream of simply relaxing with a well earned glass of wine, or are hosting that never to be forgotten al-fresco party. A thatched or timber roofed Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services

reality - it just couldn’t be easier.

All gazebos from Equestrian Fencing Services are

They

Equestrian Fencing Services offer an extensive range of Gazebos from

•

from

All gazebos from Equestrian Fencing Services are made materials. They

environment. It

party.AthatchedortimberroofedGazebofromEquestrianFencingServiceswillturnyourdreamsinto

glassofwine,orarehostingthatnevertobeforgottenal-fresco

Area

Yard&

&Visit

Petersfield Mens Shed

Petersfield Christmas Festival

The Petersfield Men’s Shed, a local charity for men (and women) of Petersfield to socialise together whilst fulfilling practical projects to benefit the local community, has signed a licence with the East Hampshire District Council to occupy its first premises at 16 Heath Road, Petersfield. Consisting of a house, two large sheds and grounds, located in the Festival Hall car park in the town centre, 16 Heath Road provides the perfect mix of accommodation to enable a good range of projects such as woodworking, metal working, IT skills, gardening, bike maintenance and cookery as well as being a perfectly located drop-in centre for simply socialising.

Currently the 27 strong membership is forming working groups to prepare the site for occupation which we hope will be ready to accept more members by December; if you are interested in joining please look at our web site www.petersfieldmensshed.org.uk. Membership is just £50 per year.

The Shed will be named The John Ide Shed in memory of one of our founders, John Ide, who sadly passed before seeing his passion for a men’s shed in Petersfield come to fruition.

Our thanks go to the Councillors at East Hampshire District Council who also financially supported this development through local grants. However, from now on we must support ourselves through increased membership, local projects, local business sponsorship and donations.

After over two years of formulating plans for a Petersfield Men’s Shed, we are delighted to now have purpose premises from which The Shed can start to fulfil its charitable objectives to benefit both men and women of Petersfield and the local community.

We will be bringing back the Christmas Festival as the town has always known it BUT we are adding an extra evening of festive fun the evening BEFORE on Saturday 10th December from 7pm-9pm. This will include live festive music on stage with a selection of stalls and rides around the square.

Then on Sunday 11th December, we will be closing the roads in the centre of Petersfield for the busiest day of the year at The Christmas Festival from 10am till 4.00pm.

There will be over 100 stalls offering a host of locally sourced produce and awesome gifts, as well as many festive fun activities.

To keep updated, please visit our website at www.petersfieldfest. com/petersfieldchristmasfestival and make sure you follow us on social media for the latest news and updates!

SATURDAY 10th DECEMBER 2022 | 7pm - 9pm

SUNDAY 11th DECEMBER 2022 | 10am - 4pm

You will find a festive town centre full of:

• Awesome stalls and shops to buy that perfect gift for loved ones...

• Local butchers taking festive orders...

• Local nurseries to buy your Christmas tree from...

• Children singing Christmas carols...

• A visit from Father Christmas himself...

• Fantastic rides and play areas for young and old alike...

• A bar stocked with mulled wine, and...

• Not to mention, mince pies in abundance!

We would like to thank all of our awesome local business sponsors shown below for supporting the event as without them, this event would not be able to remain free for everyone to attend. Please remember to support local as much as you can.

Steven Watts - Chairman Petersfield Men’s Shed Charity number: 1194311 www.petersfieldmensshed.org.uk

Chairman Steven Watts and Secretary Neil Slatter sign the licence to occupy 16 Heath Road, overseen by member and legal advisor Peter Gillard.

WEBSITE DESIGN & MANAGEMENT

A

of

websites

DESIGN & PRINT

Our

at Forum Media