Itchen issue 137 for web by Mark Tubb

Itchen Valley

FORU M MARCH 2018 • ISSUE 137 • REACHING 18,750 READERS * ITCHEN VALLEY, WINCHESTER & THE WORTHY'S OLD ALRESFORD CANDOVER KILMESTON

BIGHTON

GUNDLETON

ITCHEN ABBAS & STOKE ABBOTS WORTHY

TICHBORNE

MARTYR WORTHY

KINGS WORTHY

ROPLEY & ROPLEY DEAN BRAMDEAN

AVINGTON

HEADBOURNE WORTHY

BISHOP’S SUTTON EASTON

ABBOTT'S BARTON

CHERITON & NEW CHERITON

HINTON AMPNER WEEKE

BEAUWORTH

FULFLOOD

NORTHINGTON FOUR MARKS

ST.CROSS

PRESTON

MEDSTEAD

WINCHESTER CITY

Look after your tyres so they can look after you! Uneven and heavy tyre wear can go unnoticed. It is surprising how many people do not check their vehicles for problems before undertaking a long journey. It was lucky that this customer came to us for a FREE vehicle check before setting off on their long trip. We also check oil, water and coolant levels and brakes. These simple, but important checks, can save you a lengthy wait for a breakdown recovery vehicle or even save your life!

Call today: 01962 736343 www.phoenixautoservicesltd.co.uk Free local collection and delivery service

PHOENIX AUTO SERVICES LTD, PROSPECT ROAD, ALRESFORD, SO24 9QF

OUR TEAM WELCOME ISSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Editor - Mark Tubb Tel: 01962 735137 editor@forumpublications.co.uk Director of Advertising - Steve Walker Tel: 01962 735137 stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk Advertising Manager - Mandy Head Tel: 01962 735137 mandyhead@forumpublications.co.uk Director of Marketing - Rob Harrison Tel: 01962 735137 rob@forummedianddesign.co.uk Design Manager - James Curtis Advertising & Creative Design james@forumpublications.co.uk Accounts accounts@forumpublications.co.uk

CONTRIBUTORS Copy Writer - Gill Grant gill@forumpublications.co.uk Copy Writer - Claire Thurlow claire@forumpublications.co.uk

05 Property

Buying, selling, letting? Find local estate agents and property management services

08 Community

Keep up-to-date with what is happening in your area

8,9, 10, 14, 20, 22, 24, 34, 44, 48, 50, 56

11 Garden FORUM PUBLICATIONS LTD 11 BROAD STREET, ALRESFORD HAMPSHIRE, SO24 9AR TEL: 01962 735137

APRIL COPY DEADLINE MARCH 19th Printed on recycled paper The Itchen Valley Forum contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. The Itchen Valley 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 Itchen Valley magazine content does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or recommendations of its creators and any reliance upon its content is taken at the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sole risk. Adverts designed by Forum Publications remain the magazine's legal ownership. ÂŠ Forum Publications Ltd, 2017 * Readership figures calculated on an average national statistic of 2.5 readers per household

Make your garden dream come true. Or visit local beautiful country gardens

16 Features

Hampshire Mum, Claire Thurlow, Iris Crowfoot and many more

36, 40, 46, 54, 58

18 Wellbeing

Looking after your health and yourself!

26 Motoring

Local services to keep your vehicles running smoothly

28 Leisure &

Entertainment

Discover local events and days out in Hampshire. Don't miss this years Alresford Show

29 Retail/Market Square

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

34 Professional

From photographers to solicitors - every professional service you need

38 Education

Find local schools and educational experts

42 Animals

From Canine to Equine all your animal needs

43 Home

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

46 Food & Drink

Eat out, stay in: food, drink and dining in Hampshire

62 Culture

The diverse theatre, music, arts and crafts of Hampshire

award winning kitchen makeovers

After Makeover

Upto 50% cheaper than a new fitted kitchen Mrs Barnell approached Happy Kitchens with a challenge. The current layout and look of her kitchen was not working, and many other companies were put off by the fact the kitchen was on the first floor and in a town house just off Winchester High Street, so parking was an issue. Not for Happy Kitchens though, we were by far the best quote for the quality and came up with the best design, leading to the kitchen pictured above installed in less than 7 days. At Happy Kitchens, we offer a wide range of makeover services ranging from replacement worktops, kitchen doors, splashbacks, hinges and wirework to new appliances and much more. We also offer new kitchen design and installation services too.

Less time | less hassle | less cost T: 01962 460169 W: happykitchens.uk ∙ Change as much or as little as you'd like ∙ Free no obligation quotation ∙ We can even colour match your existing units

Itchen Valley Forum readers save 20% during March

Houzz 2017 and 2018 customer service award

La Colette - relax in a real family home Set on a hillside amid its own olive terraces, and near the charming, medieval village of Callas in the region of Ver en Provence 58 miles from Nice Airport, La Colette delivers everything you could wish for to give you the perfect holiday

P R OP ER T Y I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Holiday Villa Amenities you can expect Four En-Suite Bedrooms • Fully Equipped Modern Kitchen • Utility Room with Washing Machine and Tumble Dryer • Comfortable Living Rooms Tennis Court • Swimming Pool with Poolside Shower

For further information Please get in touch with Heather Burke T: 07803 610853 or email: hburkeb@btinternet.com

All about Alresford

Sales | Property Management | Lettings

Sales, Lettings and Property Management | Call 01962 736333 for a free market appraisal

ALRESFORD Guide Price: £197,500 | EPC Rating: D

ALRESFORD Guide Price: £345,000 | EPC Rating: D

ALRESFORD Guide Price: £365,000 | EPC Rating: B

ALRESFORD Guide Price: £470,000 | EPC Rating: D

WEST STRATTON Guide Price: £645,000 | EPC Rating: F

MARTYR WORTHY Guide Price: £1,400,000 | EPC Rating: TBA

Are you thinking of moving within our area?

We are noticing a significantly increased demand for quality homes in Alresford and the surrounding villages from buyers already living in the SO24 postcode. Many people would like to find a suitable home first before putting their own home up for sale. This can be a frustrating experience, but one we can help with as we are valuing properties all the time, one of which might be suitable for you. We would love to help. A good starting point could be a free valuation of your home and a chat about your plans. Please feel free to talk to one of our friendly team at our Broad Street ALRESFORD ALRESFORD office, or call us on 01962 736333 PRESTON to find CANDOVER out what we can do to get you moving. Guide Price: £1,250,000 | EPC Rating: C Guide Price: £399,950 | EPC Rating: D Guide Price: £675,000 | EPC Rating: D We hope to hear from you soon.

11 Broad Street, Alresford SO24 9AR | alresford@hellards.co.uk | www.hellards.co.uk

CHERITON For Sale: £370,000 | EPC Rating: N/A

EASTON For Sale: £545,000 | EPC Rating: N/A

ALRESFORD To Let: £1,850pcm | EPC Rating: C

AXFORD For Sale: £875,000 | EPC Rating: C

BISHOP'S SUTTON For Sale: £325,000 | EPC Rating: F

FOUR MARKS For Sale: £1,100,000 | EPC Rating: C

ROPLEY For Sale: £650,000 | EPC Rating: TBC

ALRESFORD For Sale: £600,000 | EPC Rating: C

ROPLEY For Sale: £725,000 | EPC Rating: E

ALRESFORD For Sale: £440,000 | EPC Rating: E

ITCHEN STOKE To Let: £2,250pcm | EPC Rating: D

BISHOP'S SUTTON For Sale: £497,500 | EPC Rating: D

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Church Services NEW ALRESFORD St. John the Baptist

Sunday 4 March 08.00 Holy Communion 09.30 Parish Communion Sunday 11 March Mothering Sunday 08.00 Holy Communion 09.30 Second Sunday 18.00 Choral Evensong Sunday 18 March 08.00 Holy Communion 09.30 Parish Communion 18.00 Sundays at six Sunday 25 March Palm Sunday 08.00 Holy Communion 09.30 Parish Communion Maundy Thursday 19.30 Maundy Communion, Foot Washing and Maundy Watch Good Friday 11.00 CTiA Outdoor Witness 12.30 Devotional Service (until 15.30) Sunday 1st April Easter Day 08.00 Holy Communion 09.30 Parish Communion 18.00 Easter Praise Every Friday 10.00 Holy Communion (except Good Friday) Parish Office: 01962 733545 stjohnsalresford.org.uk OLD ALRESFORD St.Mary the Virgin Sunday 4 March 09.30 No Service 18.00 Old Alresfdrd Cottage Service Sunday 11 March Mothering Sunday 09.30 Parish Communion (Old Alresford Place) Sunday 18 March 09.30 No Service Sunday 25 March Palm Sunday 11.00 Village Fanily Service at Old Alresford Place 8

Sunday 1st April Easter Day 11.00 Parish Communion 18.00 Old Alresford Cottage Service Every Thursday 09.00 Holy Communion at Old Alresford Place Parish Office: 01962 733545 stjohnsalresford.org.uk OVINGTON St.Peter's Sunday 4 March 10.00 No Service Sunday 11 March Mothering Sunday 10.00 Parish Communion Sunday 18 March 10.00 Parish Communion Sunday 25 March 10.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 1st April Easter Day 10.00 Parish Communion Parish Office: 01962 733545 stjohnsalresford.org.uk NEW ALRESFORD Methodist Church Sunday Worship 10.30 Morning Worship 1st Sunday CafĂŠ Worship. Holy Communion Monthly Midweek Activities Tuesdays 10.00 Come in for coffee - at Tiffins Thursdays 14.30 1st and 3rd Thursdays Womens Fellowhip 19.30 1st Thursday- Lydia Group for ladies Saturdays 09.30 1st Saturday Bacon Butties Contact: Revd Ruth Fry Tel: 01962 882828 NEW ALRESFORD New Farm Chapel Sunday Services 10.30 Morning Worship,

with creche and KOSMIC for children 16.30 Will vary between talk or discussion with praise and prayer Midweek Activities Mondays 16.30 Kidz Club Tuesdays 10.15 Toddlers Group Wednesdays 19.30 Alternate Bible Study / Prayer Thursdays 10.00 Home Prayer Group 1st Saturday in the month 10.00 (2nd in each month) Prayer Time www.newfarmchapel.org.uk BIGHTON All Saints Sunday 4 March 11.00 Family Service Sunday 11 March Mothering Sunday 11.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 18 March 11.00 Parish Communion Sunday 25 March Palm Sunday 11.00 Morning Prayer Sunday 1st April Easter Day 11.00 Parish Communion Parish Office: 01962 733545 stjohnsalresford.org.uk UPPER ITCHEN BENEFICE Sunday 4 March 09.00 Hinton Ampner Benefice Early Communion 10.15 Cheriton Benefice Early Age Communion Service Sunday 11 March 08.30 Beauworth Holy Communion 09.30 Cheriton Mothering Sunday 10.00 Bramdean Mothering Sunday Service 11.00 Kilmeston Mothering Sunday Service 11.00 Tichborne Mothering Sunday

Sunday 18 March 09.30 Cheriton Holy Communion 11.00 Hinton Ampner Prayer & Praise Sunday 25 March Palm Sunday 09.30 Cheriton Holy Communion 11.00 Tichborne Holy Communion 11.00 Kilmeston Holy Communion 11.00 Bramdean Holy Communion Maundy Thursday 18.00 Cheriton Holy Communion Good Friday 09.30 Cheriton Passion Reading 11.00 Tichborne Taize Service 19.00 Cheriton Holy Communion Easter Eve 18.00 Kilmeston Easter Eve Family Worship NEW ALRESFORD St. Gregory's Every Sunday 11.00 Mass All other enquiries: 01962 852 804 ITCHEN VALLEY BENEFICE Sunday 4 February 08.00 Avington Holy Communion 10.00 Martyr Worthy All Age Service 11.00 Easton - Matins Sunday 11 February 08.00 Easton Holy Communion 10.00 Itchen Abbas Parish Communion 18.00 Martyr Worthy Evensong Sunday 18 February 08.00 Martyr Worthy Holy Communion 10.00 Easton Valley Worship 18.00 Avington Evensong Sunday 25 February 10.00 Martyr Worthy Parish Communion 18.00 Easton - Taize

Churches Together in Alresford

Holy Week Services St. Gregory's New Alresford (Roman Catholic) Maundy Thursday 20.00 Mass of the Lord's Supper Good Friday 15.00 The Passion of the Lord Holy Saturday 20.00 Easter Vigil Easter Day 11.00 Mass

St. Mary the Virgin Old Alresford (Anglican) Easter Day 11.00 Communion with Baptism

St.John the Baptist New Alresford (Anglican) Palm Sunday 08.00 Holy Communion 09.30 Parish Communion and Processsion 18.00 Tenebrae Service with St.John's Choir Maundy Thursday 19.30 Maundy Communion Foot Washing and Maundy Watch Good Friday 12.30 Stainer's 'Crucixfion' 13.30 Words, Music, Silence - 15.30 Easter Day 08.00 Holy Communion 09.30 Holy Communion 18.00 Prayer & Praise

Alresford Methodist Church New Alresford Maundy Thursday 18.30 Communion Service Good Friday 10.00 Good Friday Service Easter Day 10.30 Communion Service

11am - Good Friday Walk of Witness starting from Alresford Methodist Church

COMMU N IT Y P R OP ER T Y MA N AG EMENT

Easter Services 2018 GOOD FRIDAY 10.30 - 11.15am Communion EASTER SUNDAY 10.30 - 11.30am No Communion ''Someone Will Say, 'How Are The Dead Raised?' '' 1 Corinthians 15:35

ISSUE 137 | MARCH

''....of first importance...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures....'' 1 Corinthians 15:3 & 4

EASTER SUNDAY 4.30 - 5.30pm With Communion ''Death Is Swallowed up in Victory'' 1 Corinthians 15:54

New Farm Chapel, New Farm Road, Alresford For further information: 01962 851299 www.newfarmchapel.org.uk SMALL GRANTS UP FOR GRABS

ocal organisations and communities are invited to bid for up to £500 for a one off activity, new piece of equipment, or for a community activity to celebrate the Royal Wedding in May. The final round of the Winchester City Council small grants scheme is now open for applications from not for profit/voluntary organisations, and the application deadline is noon Wednesday 21 February 2018.

This grant stream is for one-off activities or pieces of equipment. You may wish to apply for a health related activity, a new/additional piece of equipment for a sports club, promotional material for an arts event/ project or for a community activity to celebrate the Royal Wedding in May. Portfolio Holder for Estates and Community Grants, Councillor Stephen Miller said “A small grant can make a real difference to a community. We endeavour to fund a wide range of organisations and activities across the District to help make things happen. This is also an opportunity for organisations to encourage people to get together to commemorate the Royal Wedding. The small grants are an essential source of funding for groups who just need a little bit of money for an activity or piece of equipment.” To apply online and find out further information about the small grants on offer, visit: www.winchester.gov.uk/grants

PROPERTY CONSULTANTS Medstead, GU34 5EL

Tel: 01420 561507 email: gakwilliamson@aol.com

FOR SALE Rare Opportunity - Central Alresford

Private Parking Space or Seperate Lock Up Garage adjacent to Broad Street

Suitable for a Private Domestic Car For full details contact the sole selling agent above

www.cdtrees.co.uk

Telephone - 01962 738 420 - 07900 987 609 Bishops Sutton, Alresford

Rats, Mice, Moles, Squirrels, Cockroaches, Rabbits, Pigeons, Bird-Proofing, Mole Trapping Specialist

Call Peter Chivers on: 01256 389124 or Mobile: 07803 096642

G A R DEN I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Sparsholt college trained & qualified Free advice & written quotations 15 years experience

FOR ALL YOUR PEST CONTROL NEEDS:

ALL AREAS COVERED

All Tree & Hedge Care

ALL AREAS COVERED

C&D Trees

PETER CHIVERS PCS

BPCA MEMBER - FULLY INSURED 9 STENBURY DRIVE, PRESTON CANDOVER, BASINGSTOKE

ADVERTISE WITH US! and reach up to 18,750 readers in Alresford & The Itchen Valley Eighth page placements: £51 Quarter page placements: £88 Half page placements: £166 Discounts are available on 3, 6 and 12 month bookings. For more information email: stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

Complete Garden Construction Professional Garden Design & Construction

LANDSCAPING & BRICKWORK SERVICES • GARDEN MAKEOVERS • PATIOS & DRIVEWAYS TURFING & FENCING • FLINTWORK • GARDEN MAINTENANCE (LAWNS , HEDGES ETC ) AND GARDEN CLEARANCE ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN BY EXPERIENCED LOCAL TRADESMEN LOCAL SHOW GARDENS & REFERENCES AVAILABLE

OFFICE: 01962 735750 MOBILE: 07766 900092

geoff_amey@btinternet.com www.completegardenconstruction.co.uk

Supply and planting large specimen trees and shrubs Espalier, pleached and instant impact hedges All trees and shrubs carefully selected Design, landscaping and ongoing maintenance Free site visit and consultation Bosque is a trading name of Just Limegrass Ltd. Harko: 07710 502798 Tom: 07855 656984 www.bosque international.co.uk

SPECIALISTS IN STUMP GRINDING, TREE WORK & THE SUPPLY OF LOGS All types of countryside contracting undertaken • Mobile Bandsawing Service • Brushwood Chipper Hire • Concreting • Hedge Cutting • Fencing

PETER PAYNE 01962 733866 or 07778 170442 11

G A R DEN I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Garden

spores to germinate. In addition, compaction can result in waterlogging due to poor drainage and this also encourages moss growth.

HOW HAS YOUR LAWN COPED OVER THE WINTER MONTHS?

et’s take a look at common problems and what we can do now to improve things. Winter can be tough on a lawn. Low light levels and freezing temperatures stop grass growing. Waterlogging can cause grass plants to die and moss growth increases. Autumn leaf fall can kill patches of grass creating

bare areas.

I look at a lot of lawns and I meet a lot of people who are disappointed with their lawn and want to see some improvement. Many feel that there is no option other than lifting their existing lawn and starting again from scratch. However much can be achieved through lawn renovation which is generally far more cost effective and less intrusive than completely re-seeding or re-turfing your outside space. Spring is ideal for lawn improvements. You may be wondering what to look for in your lawn and what can be done to improve it. I group my assessments into three main areas.

Aeration of the lawn, either with a garden fork for smaller lawn areas or a mechanical aerator for a more effective result will reduce compaction. It’s hard work, but the benefits to your lawn are invaluable. Top-dressing will level out the surface of your lawn and help improve soil structure and drainage. Nutrition, weeds and pH All plants need the correct nutrition to live a healthy and disease free life. All too often I visit lawns that never receive any supplementary nutrition or perhaps get a general sprinkle of something from the garden centre once a year. The home-owner wonders why their lawn looks so poor. The grass is almost starving to death through malnutrition! Nutrition can be a complex subject. Getting the right balance of nutrients at the right time of year is essential to promote healthy growth. Too much food is almost as bad as no food, so if in doubt, do your research or speak to a professional.

Thatch Thatch is a layer of organic matter - typically dead moss, dead or dying grass, stems, roots and other plant life, between the surface of the soil and the green living grass leaves above. In some lawns this layer can be quite thick preventing water and nutrients penetrating through to the soil below. Excessive thatch causes the soil to dry out and grass to suffer. Some build-up of organic matter at soil level is a good thing as it protects the soil and growing lawn. However, too much thatch is a common lawn problem that needs to be dealt with appropriately. Scarification with a garden rake for smaller areas or a mechanical scarifer for larger lawns tears out the dead plant life and opens up the soil surface. It’s a tough job and your lawn will look a little battered for a short while afterwards, but the long-term improvements are essential if you want to enjoy a healthy luscious lawn in the future. Compaction, drainage and top-dressing Regular foot traffic over your lawn will compact the soil structure, resulting in fewer air gaps in the soil, restricting the flow of water and nutrients to roots. Compacted lawns dry out more quickly and support fewer beneficial insects and worms. They have lower counts of essential microbes required to break down dead plant life, resulting in a build-up of thatch. Symptoms include thin, stressed turf grasses more susceptible to disease and pests, allowing gaps in the turf for weed seeds and moss

Non-grass plants growing in your lawn are classed as weeds. Weeds grow at a different height to your lawn grass, are quick to flower and rapidly spread through seed distribution. The presence of weeds in your lawn will certainly impact on its appearance. Dealing with weeds is firstly about being able to identify what weed is present, understanding which pesticides are used to treat that type of weed and how much should be used to manage the weed but not damage the grass. pH is the measure of the acidity of any given compound. Ranging from 1 which is acidic to 14 which is alkaline. The issue being that a pH imbalance can ‘lock-up’ essential plant nutrients, making them unavailable to the growing lawn grasses and no amount of additional fertiliser is going to address the nutritional issues. When recommending a lawn nutrition treatment plan I always test pH levels and ensure any underlying pH issues are resolved before nutrition begins. If your lawn isn’t offering you as much satisfaction as it should then now is the time to think about addressing any underlying issues. As we approach the warmer, wetter spring days and beyond, grasses respond well to repair work. Speak with a lawn care professional who can make a full assessment of your lawn and offer guidance on what reparation works will benefit your lawn through the winter and heading into spring.You may be surprised by how cost effective this approach is, and how quickly your lawn responds to professional lawn care. Ian Kenyon owns Shrekfeet Lawn and Garden Services. He is always happy to offer friendly, professional advice and help 01962 460146, 07739 789483 www.shrekfeet.com

Est. 45 years

Titchfield

Every garden tells a story

Every Garden Tells a StoryCentre Garden Design

16 Show Gardens • Design Studio • Coffee Courtyard Garden Design • Award Winning Designers • Garden Maintenance Planting Plans • Border Revamp • Garden Lighting • Water Features OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK For over 45 years we have specialised in the high quality Design, Build & Maintenance of gardens

135 Southampton Rd PO14 4PR • hambrooks.co.uk • 01489 572285

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

What's On MARCH

APRIL

3 MARCH Ropley Music Nights presents… Ceilidh with 8 Sharp - Ropley Parish Hall, Doors and bar open from 7.30pm. Put on your dancing shoes and come and join us for Ropley Music Night’s first Ceilidh Night! We’re delighted to host 8 sharp (including a caller), who will be performing a range of Celtic music (both songs and tunes) from Irish and Scottish repertoire as well as Welsh and Cape Breton tunes.The band plays mainly fiddles and guitar. Their music is both fast and exciting - great for stomping your feet - or slow and relaxing - great for chilling between the stomping! Tickets are only £10 and can be purchased online at www.ropleymusic.co.uk

3 MARCH Garden & Craft Sale By kind permission of Mrs Patricia Elkington. Plants, Produce, Gifts, Art, Crafts, Raffle. From 10am to 1pm at Little Court, Crawley, Hampshire, SO21 2PU. Little Court Plants, Marcus Dancer Clematis, Pococks Roses, Gillian and Richard Pugh - pelargoniums & salvias, Test Valley Nursery (and many more). Entry £5 includes tea and coffee in aid of Winchester GoLD - Enabling people with learning disabilities. Charity No: 1156536

3 MARCH General Auction at Otterbourne Village Hall From 2pm - Drop off lots to sell from 9 -9.30am.Viewing from 12.30pm.To include China, Coins, Ephemera, Collectables, Old Toys, Jewellery, small items of Furniture, NOT Household goods, Car Boot Items or modern Electricals. Sellers booking recommended. Please call Claire 01962 734941 or Bob 01962 733475 for bookings or further information www.auctionsinaday.co.uk

17 MARCH Spring Dance Party From 7.30pm at the Winchester Discovery Centre SO23 8SB. Celebrate this Spring Time with a Spring in your step with a Dance Party filled with all the Dancing Fun you could wish for: Salsa,West Coast Swing, Party Group Dances, Jive, Cha Cha, Rumba,Tango, Bachata, Merengue, Kizomba, Club Classics and more. Everyone welcome and no previous dancing experience required - we'll get everyone dancing. Licensed Bar open all night. Music with DJ Max - Tickets: £12 . Looking forward to seeing you. Silvia & Max - Salsa y Sol Dance & Yoga - www.salsaysol.co.uk 14

Whether you’re looking to pick up a few unique gifts for friends and family or to stock up your food cupboard,The French Market is a must to visit.You’ll have the chance to explore a variety of stalls selling traditional French foods, art and crafts, toys, fashion and accessories.

3 APRIL 24 MARCH Alresford Community Choir Spring Concert Schubert Mass in G & Vivaldi’s Gloria with supporting programme. 7.30pm at St John’s Church, Alresford.Tickets from Oakleaf Stationery,West Street, Alresford or http://alresfordchoir.com/tickets

25 MARCH Alresford Tennis Club - Key day From 2.30pm until 3.30pm.Tennis Pavilion – Arlebury Park. Fun, family friendly tennis for everyone. Please come along and sign up for the next tennis year. For more information please visit the club website www.alresfordtennis.org. uk or contact Membership Secretary Emilie Mott: emilie.mott@gmail.com

25 MARCH The Deane House - Open Garden for NGS Flowering cherry trees, statuesque copper beech and tulip trees grace the sweeping lawns at The Deane House (not open), leading the eye to the landscape beyond. Come and pick daffodils in March, and the walled garden is best in June when the heady perfume of roses fills the air. Stained glass and modern water features abound. Sorry No Dogs. Sun 25 Mar (1.304.30); Sun 10 June (1.30-5). Admission £6, Children free. Home-made teas.Times:13:30 to 16:30.Telephone:01962 776425.Visits also by arrangement for groups of 10+.. Open for charity. The Deane House,Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2LR. Contact telephone: 01962 776425

27 MARCH Alresford Art Society - Roger Dellar painting demonstration Urban street scene in oils Evening meeting at 7.30pm Alresford Recreation Centre For information contact 01962 736397, email jo.may@live.co.uk or visit www.artsociety.alresford.org

31 MARCH French Market The popular french market is coming back to Alresford, Broad Street from 9am to 5pm.

The Drama Beast's next "Play in a Day" drama workshop... From 9am-5pm at Sun Hill Junior School, Alresford, For: Ages 4-14 years. Cost: £38 per child. Join us for a fun-filled 'dramatic' day of devising, rehearsing, set building, costume making and treats, rounded off with a showcase at the end of the afternoon. Robin Hood and his friends, your Drama Beasts will enjoy many adventures as they build their own Sherwood Forest, become heroic Robin Hood or feisty Maid Marion and practically explore the many exciting themes this tale has to offer. (WARNING: Paint, glue, glitter, treats and rounds of applause will all be involved!) For further information or to book your place, please email hello@dramabeasts.com or call 07787 537083.

7 APRIL Ropley Horticultural Society Spring Show From 2.30pm - Ropley Parish Hall,Vicarage Lane, Ropley with refreshments featuring home-baking. Relax over a special afternoon tea with waitress service, before admiring our cheerful display of spring designs and flowers. Entry & parking FREE, all welcome Enquiries: Jill 01962 772425

14 APRIL Sport Relief 2018 Give up one Saturday afternoon and learn to line dance for sport relief 2018. Join us at Ropley Village Hall, 3pm-5pm, cost £5 adults, £2.50 children.Tea and cake included.Tickets sold in advance from Jan Hone 01962 772001. Jenny Barron 01962 772441.The Courtyard shop, Ropley 01962 773666. Also at the door! All monies go to comic relief.

21 APRIL Sun Hill Infant School 50th Birthday From 11.00am - 3.00pm, Golden ‘60s Festival Fun for all the family. All are Welcome

24 APRIL Ropley Horticultural Society – Illustrated talk "Border Design" with Rosie Yeomans, wellknown horticulture lecturer & contributor to Gardeners’World Magazine. 7.45pm start Sports Pavilion,Vicarage Lane, Ropley Parking free. £5 on the door includes refreshments, all welcome Enquiries: Jill 01962 772425

FREE first treatment for plans booked this month

F EAT U R E I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Hampshire Mum

The Tale of the Tiny Dancer

think it’s fair to say that it’s not everyday you find yourself holding a large torch for a policeman as he straddles a ditch. Well it hasn’t happened to me before, but there’s always a first time. A friend had texted me to say there had been a spate of burglaries locally.

A few days later The Husband and I were walking the Pagan Pup when I cast my eye, as you do, into the ditch by the roadside. There in the mud was a smashed jewellery box complete with a once twirling ballerina; the tiny dancer’s tutu now caked in mud. Scattered around was a selection of chains, broaches and bracelets that The Husband gathered up and placed in a handy bag that you tend to have about your when walking the dog. I thought to myself , now what? Once home I went straight to the ‘found property’ section of the Hampshire Police website. I filled in the online form and description of items as best I could and pressed 'send'. “We’ll hear no more about that I’ll wager”. But that was not to be the case, because only two hours later the Husband says, “Sandra there’s a Policeman at the door!” PC Eversoyoung came in donned rubber gloves while I made him a cuppa and proceeded to unravel the mud-covered items onto my table.They made a sad little collection laid out in rows, monetary value were of no importance, we were looking at items that had been kept and cossetted for many years for personal reasons. I tried to imagine the history behind them, what a tragic way for them to end up. “ What will you do with all this?” “ Take it all to the station for photographing and then show to it all those affected and hopefully reunite this property with it’s owner - what do you think this is?”

PC Eversoyoung’s blue latex glove held out the ballerina. I explained that in years gone by some jewellery boxes were musical, lift the lid and the ballerina would turn around to the music. “ The rest of the box is in the ditch”. “Can you show me where madam”. After a short journey in the front of a police car ( I did wonder if I should be party to all that was going on over the radio) - I found myself holding a torch while PC Eversoyoung summoned the courage to step into the ditch and retrieve the broken jewellery box and indeed other items that lay hidden in the ooze. Bless him he was ankle deep, but undaunted he diligently sifted through the mud until there was nothing left to retrieve, assuring me that police regulation boots are guaranteed not to let in water, or anything else.Well thank goodness for that. It was then raining quite hard, “I wonder I couldn’t have a lift home could I?” Bit cheeky but worth a try. “Yes of course madam hop in, sit in the front now it’s only if you’ve done something wrong that you get to sit in the back.” “No chance of the blue lights then?” And sure enough as he dropped me off at Chez Pagan the lights were indeed flashing. The Police often get bad press but PC Eversoyoung was very caring and aware that there was deep meaning in the items recovered and genuinely hoped they would be reunited with their owner and they give that person some solace. In a time of deep distress for the victims of theft PC Eversoyoung restored ones faith. As for the perpetrators they are only concerned with monetary value and nothing for the values of sentiment, memory or love. Sandra Pagan

WELLBEIN G

ROPLEY TREES PROFESSIONAL TREE CARE

ISSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

SINCE 1987, SPARSHOLT TRAINED FULLY QUALIFIED AND INSURED CALL LYNDN GAUNTLETT:

TEL 01962 791180

TRADITIONAL PEST CONTROL Daren George your local pest controller based in Alresford

MOLE CATCHER - 'NO MOLE - NO FEE' Service for Domestic, Commercial and Agricultural properties Also offering a rabbit, rat, squirrel, fox and deer control service. Fully insured - Discreet service assured at all time

T: 07778 141505

1 Kiln Lane, Old Alresford, SO24 9DU E: traditionalpestcontrol@gmail.com www.traditionalpestcontrol.co.uk

Mature instant hedges that can be planted any time of year Available in beech, hornbeam and privet Grown, trimmed and sold at 1.5 and 1.8 metres high As used by leading landscape architects

Call Trevor on 07860 560868

info@hampshirehedges.co.uk www.hampshirehedges.co.uk

Chris Matthews Tree Care and Woodland Management • Tree surgery / TPO applications • Hedge maintenance • Fencing / Garden structures • Woodland management / tree planting Qualified in arboriculture and countrsyide management. 15 years experience

Tel: 01962 732498 Mob: 07879 448141

Family owned and run since 1973, built on great service and value for money Please visit our website for all the latest news, information, second-hand machines for sale; and special offers in the showroom. Laceys Farm, Bramdean Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0JT

TEL: 01962 771800 steve.cann@btconnect.com www.georgecanngardenmachinery.co.uk

WELLBEIN G

Wellbeing

I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

ALRESFORD SURGERY NEWS New Receptionist

A warm welcome to Sandy Clark who joined us in the middle of February as a new Receptionist.

Calling Carers

Are you a carer seeking a listening ear? Or information and advice about your caring role? If so, you can see a carer support worker here in the surgery, please speak to the receptionist at the surgery to book an appointment. Clinics are held on the 2nd Wednesday of every month from 1pm-5pm. This is a service which is provided to Alresford Surgery by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

Vulnerable relative or friend? Alone for long periods of time? Available to all residents living in the Winchester district with a landline telephone connection

Looking after yourselves and your children

Coughs. Did you know? The common cold lasts about 10 days and a cough about 3 weeks. Most of them are caused by viruses and so cannot be treated with antibiotics. Most healthy adults will not need antibiotics if they do not appear particularly unwell. However frail, elderly patients, or adults with other medical conditions or medications which make them more susceptible to bacterial illness, may need to be assessed. We know that, when faced with an unwell child, parents often find it difficult to be sure whether the child needs to see a doctor, or whether they can be managed with sensible self-care at home. It can also be hard to judge how urgently a child might need to be seen. Should the child wait for an appointment? Should the child go to A and E? There are two excellent sources of help for parents who are concerned about their children with cough. One is the Healthier Together website http://www.what0-18.nhs.uk which covers a large range of childhood conditions. Another is the Caring for children with coughs website; http://child-cough.bristol.ac.uk which has been produced by Bristol University. We have an example of this leaflet on our “Looking after yourself and your children” noticeboard at the surgery. If you walk straight ahead on entering the surgery, you will see it on the left hand wall before dispensary. The Alresford Surgery, Station Road, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9JL Telephone: 01962 732345 Website: www.alresfordsurgery.co.uk

ALRESFORDPILATES small groups : individual support : close supervision call sally hogg on 07771 522665 info@alresfordpilates.co.uk www.alresfordpilates.co.uk the studio, 26a the dean alresford so24 9az

Turn their telephone into a lifeline allowing them to call for assistance with the press of a button • No more struggling to get to the phone • Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year • Friendly operators with access to named contacts and emergency services • Neck Pendants available • One button to activate

• Less than 50p a day For more details contact Winchester Lifeline  01962 855335  Lifeline@winchester.gov.uk

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Community CURRY AND QUIZ FUND-RAISER TO

HELP HOMELESS AND HOUNDS FOR HEROES

homelessness. The second charity is Hounds for Heroes which provides specially trained assistance dogs to injured and disabled men and women of both the UK Armed Forces and Emergency Services. The hotel has supported both charities for many years, with staff giving up their spare time to prepare and serve food for homeless people at Trinity Winchester, as well as the staff taking part in the Big Sleep Out at Winchester Cathedral. The hotel has also been sponsoring Hounds for Heroes for over four years, providing free accommodation and training space for the injured veterans to train with their new assistance dogs. Sarah Waddington, the hotel’s sales and marketing manager commented: “Our first Curry and Quiz fund-raiser quickly sold out and those who came wanted regular return matches and to sample our award winning chef ’s amazing Indian Buffet again. Many of those who took part said that the Curry was the best they had ever tasted! So by popular demand, we have decided to have another fund-raising event for two very special charities that we are already actively supporting in practical ways.”

he Holiday Inn Winchester is to host a third special charity fund-raising event for two Hampshire based charities with their popular Curry and Quiz event on 19th April. The two charities that will benefit from the event are Trinity Winchester, which provides vital practical and emotional support to over 600 people each year who are experiencing the effects of

LIFE-SAVING PIGS - COMMUNITY DEFIBRILLATORS

few years ago, Chris Lillywhite, a long-standing member had an idea whereby the Pigs could make a significant and potentially life-saving contribution to the town by organising and funding the installation of community defibrillators. Defibrillators in their distinctive yellow boxes are a familiar site in many towns and cities and thankfully now, also in Alresford. Chris, in conjunction with Dr Peter Stokes of the Alresford Surgery, contacted the Community Heartbeat Trust, the UK’s leading community defibrillator charity to get the scheme in motion. The Pigs contributed £10,000 to the scheme, funding initially five units. As a result, others have joined the scheme to add even more, including one in Old Alresford and a new one planned for Bishops Sutton, which the Pigs are also contributing to. Installation was spearheaded by then member of the Pigs Dave Liddiard of Barnes and Liddiard, saving the scheme considerable additional cost for which we were extremely grateful. The units require regular

The fund-raising evening on Thursday, 19th April will include home cooked Indian Buffet, specially prepared by the hotel’s 2 AA Rosette Award winning team, with all the fun a quiz. The food will be served from 7pm and the quiz will start at 7.45pm. Tickets £14.95 per person and include an Indian buffet and the quiz. The hotel’s General Manager Marc Solarz is a very keen quizzer and puts the quiz together as well as acting as Quiz Master, he commented: “Curry and Quiz is such a winning combination and is lots of fun. We will also representatives from Trinity Winchester and Hounds for Heroes with assistance dogs at the event.” To book call 01962 670700 or email events@hiwinchester.co.uk

checking and maintenance that the Pigs also undertake, as well as replacement pads for the paddles, which the Pigs contributed to in 2017. We hear so many stories of how a life could have been saved ‘if only’, and the addition of these units is both reassuring and an indication of the sense of community our town has. It’s also testament to the Pigs’ commitment to serve and in this case, potentially help preserve that community. Truly, local people helping local people. Schemes like this of course cannot exist without your generosity. Costs for these units and new ones are on going and we are ever grateful for your help in allowing us to continue with this and other projects. You can donate to the Pigs and potentially save a life by visiting our website and contributing. We’ll do the rest. Alresford Pigs Association - www.alresfordpigs.org The Alresford Pigs Association is a registered charity, charity no: 1163001 Registered address: PO Box 121, Alresford, SO24 9XX Celebrating over 40 years in Alresford

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Community 345 PRE-SCHOOL IN THE HEART OF ALRESFORD IS ALMOST 50 YEARS YOUNG!

s 345 Pre-school approaches its 50th year Team Leader, Taryn Stroud, talks about what makes this provision so special. “345 began as a playgroup in 1969, set up and run by parents for children in Alresford. Today, almost 50 years on, 345 Pre-school is still a non-profit making, charitable organisation, managed by a voluntary parent committee. 345 has seen hundreds of children come through its doors, ready to learn through play; each child guided by our qualified, experienced and dedicated team through the Early Years Foundation Stage. My journey with 345 began as a keen parent helper whilst my two girls attended, albeit five years apart. I joined the staff team when my youngest daughter left for school in 1995 and I became Team Leader in 1997 having gained a Diploma in Pre-school Practice and training in Special Needs. This gave me an insight and greater understanding of how children learn. Now, 23 years on, I have had the pleasure of working with a great many children, some of whom have returned to 345 as students, studying childcare or teaching and some as parents themselves (working with their children is such a joy, although does remind me of my advance in age!). What motivates me? Seeing children at play, watching them make sense of the world around them and being able to actively help them learn the skills they will need to achieve their very best at the beginning of their learning journey. Every day is a learning day, no two days are the same and that is what makes it so exciting and rewarding. The biggest motivation of all though, is knowing that the children we work with will become the adults of our future. At 345, a warm, nurturing and exciting environment greets every child, where anything is possible. Imaginative play is key and leads to every skill needed on a child’s learning journey. From role play in the home corner where they make sense of our world, work out how to get along and to negotiate, to malleable activities where they can manipulate varied materials to build up the strength and dexterity needed to be able to write. Music and movement also plays an important part in a child’s early development and is a passion of mine. Ask yourself how you can remember the lyrics to a song you learnt in your childhood or teenage years but can’t remember what you did yesterday - or is that just me?! 345 is located in the heart of Alresford and is an established part of the community Whatever the weather the children are free to choose where they play and learn, whether that is indoors in the spacious hall where we can set up multiple activities and have a quiet space, or outdoors in the fresh air of the courtyard where we have lots of sensory learning. 22

Being outside also teaches the children a strong sense of community; it is lovely to see passers-by, including children on their way to Perins, casting knowing glances of their experience at 345, more senior members of our community smiling as they go past hearing the children at play or singing songs from their own childhood (back to my note about song lyrics) and even the children’s own family members as they go about their day. This all establishes the children’s sense of belonging and their place in the community that supports them. 345’s daily activities both inside and outside are carefully thought through to stimulate each child’s emotional, social, physical and intellectual growth whilst maintaining a sense of enjoyment and excitement. Not only is this of tremendous importance during a child’s early years, it also helps make the transition to ‘big’ school’ a happy and rewarding experience; this is something we have worked closely with Sun Hill Infant School to achieve. We have always maintained a high staff to child ratio, enabling us to meet the individual needs of each child. There have been many changes over the years, both in working habits for parents and carers and funding; most recently the introduction of 30 hours free child care. These changes require us to evolve to help parents and carers take full advantage of the free hours available to them. We are therefore looking into options to extend our current provision to meet demand whilst maintaining the level of support, care and individual focus we have always provided the children who attend 345. We are hosting an interactive Open Morning on Saturday 24th March 2018 from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Join us and discover the world of 345 Pre-school. Experience our stimulating and nurturing environment and explore the activities we provide and the skills they teach. Come and meet us, ask questions and discuss your early years needs with our experienced team. Refreshments will be available. Also, please save the date for our Spring Activity Morning on Wednesday 11th April 2018. www.345preschool.org info@345preschool.org Taryn 07826 948826

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN ALRESFORD LENT EVENTS Moving Stories Saturday 24th February and Saturday 10th March, from 10.30am to 3.30pm, at the Alresford Methodist Church. Soup lunch provided. Come for half a day or the whole day. Focussing on the migration stories from the Bible to gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by migrants, this event is based on the Bible Study course created by the Social Responsibility Commission and Authorised Ministries Commission of the London District of the Methodist Church.

Table Talk Friday 9th, 16th, 23rd February and 2nd, 9th and 23rd March, 12pm to 2pm in John Pearson Hall. Bring and share lunch. During Lent the book A Beautiful Friendship and the film Casablanca (shown the week before Lent) will be discussed.

Rediscover Jesus: an invitation, by Matthew Kelly. Please collect a copy of this book, free of charge from your church. Matthew Kelly is the founder of Dynamic Catholic, a Cincinnati-based non-profit organisation.

WELLBEIN G I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Alresford Pharmacy

1 East Street Alresford Hants SO24 9EE

Tel: 01189 67 58 53

WELLBEING

www.mystreetfeet.com

Traditional Chinese Medicine· Cosmetic Acupuncture Alresford· Winchester· Southampton

AESTHETIC STUDIO ALRESFORD |

LONDON

Try the NEW: MesoLift treatments NO NEEDLE alternative to botox and fillers Unwind your mind and promote a healthy rejuvenated complexion with award winning Face Matters. Specialising in prescription facial treatments focusing on relaxation, skin health and naturally improving aged skin, wrinkles and expression lines, tone, texture, pigmentation, dark eye circles/ puffiness, and improving contours.

ISSUE 134 | DECEMBER

Your Local Chiropody Clinic is at:

• Free consultation • Pay for 8 treatments and receive the 9th free • Pay for a course of 8 cosmetic acupuncture treatments to receive 10% discount See website for further details

stockists of:

Ayurvedic Kansa Wand face and body treatments Gentle, healing and luxurious treatments to promote peace and wellness; ease stress, exhaustion as well as reviving the skin tone.

Contact me me on: on: 07887 Contact 07887878567 878567 www.sallycurson.co.uk www.sallycurson.co.uk 14 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AT

Discover for yourself why you should make Fresh Air Fridays part ofwhy your life…. Discover forfor yourself you should make Discover yourself why you should make Fresh AirAirFridays your life... Fresh Fridays part part ofofyour life….

h Air Fridays gives you time to:

Fresh Air Fridays gives you time to:

26 The Dean Alresford Hampshire S024 9AZ Tel: 01962 738683 www.studio49alresford.com

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Community COURT LANE VINEYARD – ROPLEY - THE END OF AN ERA!

Bottling was another annual event. The team comprised Pippa Collingwood & David Ottley (sterilizing the bottles), Jill (filling the bottles - we called the wonderful filling machine ‘The Cow’!), Annie Beal (corking - with the aid of ‘Big Bertha’!), Wyn Ottley (Weights & Measures), Ron Beal (Cellarman) and Steve himself overseeing the operations. On average Steve produced nearly 2,000 bottles each year. Steve always took part in local county events and was a regular participant at the Alresford Show. He and Jill also hosted tours and tastings at the vineyard ranging from the local WI to the Bentley Drivers Club and they even entertained visitors from a Romanian vineyard! Every July in London, there was a special lunch and tasting of the award winning wines of the English Wine Association, hosted by the Association’s president, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. The event was held in the Cholmondeley Room in the House of Lords, accessed via the Black Rod’s garden entrance. After the death of Lord Montagu the lunch moved to the House of Commons. Steve was very much involved with these events and used to be the coordinator for the qualifying wines of the Wessex Wine Region, receiving all the sample bottles at the vineyard and taking them up to Parliament House for this prestigious event. Court Lane Vineyard won several awards and commendations for its wines over the years.

fter nearly 35 years, Court Lane Vineyard has ceased commercial production. It was in 1983 that our friend and neighbour, Stephen Flook, took over the Ropley vineyard, which had first been planted in the mid 70s.

Steve was one of the pioneers of English wine production (not be confused with British wine which designates wine made in England from grapes that have been imported from anywhere in the world). The first commercial English vineyard of modern times was planted by Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones at Hambledon in Hampshire in 1952. English vineyards at this time were planted with mostly Germanic varieties of grape as was Court Lane Vineyard, namely Müller Thurgau, Seyval Blanc, Reichensteiner and Huxelrebe . There were only a handful of wineries at the time. Thanks to the efforts and dedication of these early winemakers, English wine has come a long way in the last 20 years, particularly in the production of sparkling wine. In fact production has grown by 76% in the last five years - nearly 35 million gallons were produced in 2016/2017. Grape varieties planted today include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Bacchus. When Steve retired from his ‘day job’ at Aldermaston in 1992, he built his own winery (he actually admitted that he started designing the building whilst still in the office!) and started making Ropley Wine. Previously the picked grapes went to Wickham Vineyard to be vinified. Picking was a major operation and every year, aided by around 20 friends and neighbours, the harvest would be undertaken in October. Court Lane Vineyard was a hive of industry and once the picking was done, we would all gather round the large kitchen table for a harvest lunch, organised by Jill, Steve’s wife, and washing down by a glass or 2 of vineyard wine. We were dirty and tired, but well-satisfied with our efforts (a lot of villagers will remember it well). Wine production always has its enemies – rabbits, deer and wasps and not to mention the vagaries of the English weather like frost in May! In addition in late summer there was always a risk of mildew which could ruin a crop. 24

2017 marks the end of an era for Ropley wine – Steve and Jill celebrated 60 years of marriage earlier in the year and we wish them both well and lots of happy memories of Court Lane Vineyard. Annie Beal – friend and neighbour

PLEASE HELP US TO CREATE OUR SUN HILL INFANT SCHOOL FAMILY TREE

o celebrate our 50th Birthday we would like to create a Golden Tree of Relationships that have been formed at Sun Hill Infant School over the last 50 years. Have generations of your family attended our school over the last 50 years?

We would love to create a display linking your Sun Hill families. Please could you send a photo of your time at Sun Hill and also a more recent photo of yourself / family. Could you name and label all the family connections and any other information that would be helpful in creating the Golden Tree of Relationships in our wonderful Alresford community. These will all be displayed on our Golden Tree on Saturday April 21st 2018 during the Golden Festival to be held at Sun Hill Infant School from 11.00am – 3.00pm All are welcome to attend. Please send in to Catherine Blackmore c/o Sun Hill Infant School, Sun Lane, Alresford SO24 9NB Email: catherinejgore@hotmail.com

Alresford Osteopathy & Hampshire Health

Goodbye and farewell are words that are never easily spoken This is no exception as one announces my retirement from Alresford as your osteopath. This has happened faster than one anticipated with the accelerated sale of the house. One only hopes that you have been served well and to the best of my abilities. This has been my pleasure. I regret that I have not been able to personally contact you all due to the sheer numbers, however, please accept this as my fondest farewell to some of the most special, remarkable patients one has had the utmost pleasure in looking after. You have not only come to me with your cares but opened up to me your hearts and friendship. Though professionally one should not mix professionalism with emotion, one has to say that your kindness has touched me more deeply than one could have ever Appointments: 01962imagined. 735086 orThe 07887 page506963 slowly imbues with salt water in writing this.

ashleyshah711@gmail.com

However, I leave you in the capable hands of a fellow colleague who will be contacting you and I am confident your needs will be well looked after. I look forward with the excitement and enthusiasm which await laced with a degree trepidation of a change in life. It is in this poignant moment one leaves you but your warmth and friendship lives with me. Alresford and it's vicinity is indeed a remarkable but it is the people that make it. Keep up all your wonderful traditions, heritage and community that make it shine.

My fondest farewell - Ashley Shah

Alresford Practice, 3 East Street, Alresford, SO24 9EE T: 01962 735086 M: 07887 506963 info@osteopathy-alresford.co.uk www.osteopathy-alresford.co.uk

MOTOR IN G I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

AVAILABLE FOR:

PRESTIGE CARS OF ALRESFORD TEL: 01962 865602 MOBILE: 07752 570787

PRIVATE HIRE AIRPORT TRANSFERS OTHER JOURNEYS

OR VISIT WWW.PRESTIGECARSALRESFORD.CO.UK

Repairs Servicing M.O.T

WILCAN MOTOR COMPANY LTD

Servicing, MOT, Tyres & Bodywork Repairs

FREE Local collection and courtesy cars (T&C's apply) Free Safety Checks

Please ring our friendly team on: 01962 736186 andy.wilcan@live.co.uk www.wilcan.co.uk THE LONG BARN, WINCHESTER ROAD, ALRESFORD, SO24 9EZ

New Farm Motor Services Ltd New Farm Road, Alresford, SO24 9QE

01962 732338 L.P.G.A approved autogas conversions www.autogas.com

Allows your petrol engine vehicle to run on Autogas, a fuel costing approximately 76p per ltr, with the environmental benefits of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide production and 2000 times fewer particulates produced from the exhaust fumes when compared with a diesel. Widely available across the country and locally in Winnall, Winchester and West Meon Hut service station. The government has committed to this fuel difference for the future.

M.O.T Testing Centre • FREE COLLECTION • COURTESY CARS

Class 7 Vans from 3,000 - 3,500kg Class 4 Cars and Vans up to 3,000kg All makes of cars and vans serviced and repaired All makes of truck and horsebox up to 7500kg maintained and prepared for ministry plating tests

CERTIFICATED ENGINEERS • RECOVERY AVAILABLE •

MOT TEST CENTRE

Carefully Selected Cars Approved by trading standards

'WE DON'T BUY ANY OLD CAR' BUT, WE BUY VERY GOOD CARS OF ANY AGE, FOR CASH! SO IF YOU HAVE ONE TO SELL, OR WOULD LIKE SOME FREE ADVICE PLEASE GIVE ROSS A CALL. AND, WE DON'T CHARGE A FEE! The following cars have been carefully selected because of their low mileage, excellent condition and service history. 2013 2015 2015 2014 2013 2014 2010 2012 2012 2010 2008 2007

(63) BMW 116 D SE 2.0 5 door 25,000mls £20 tax (64) Ford Focus C Max 1.6 Estate 10,000 miles (15) Nissan Note Acenta Premium, 1 owner, £20 road tax, 17,000 miles (64) Peugeot 2008 1.2 Access Plus Crossover 1 Owner, £30 road tax, 9,300 miles (63) Fiat Panda twin air 4X4, 1 owner, £30 road tax, 13,000 miles, (64) Fiat Punto 1.4 GBT 1 owner, 11,500 miles (10) Volkswagen Golf 1.6 S TDi - 1 owner, £30 tax 31,000 miles (62) Kia Picanto 2, 1.25 Automatic 5 dr,18,000 mls (62) Skoda Citigo Elegance Automatic, 5 door. Sat. Nav, parking sensors, 2 owners, £ 20 tax, 35,000 miles (10) Ford Ka 1.2 Zetec, air con, £ 30 road tax, 10,800 miles (08) Skoda Roomster 2 1.6, 3 owners, 53,000 miles (07) Renault Modus 1.4 Dynamique, 63,000 miles

CLASSIC CARS 1974 MGB GT, Fantastic condition and history, matching numbers, only 50,000 miles 1986 Lotus Esprit Turbo, Essex Blue Completely recommissioned

£9995 £9995 £8495

• • • • •

Welding specialists Tyres for cars and motorcycles 4 wheel laser alignment LPG for sale for cars Recovery services

• Free collection • Diagnostic testing (including Landrover) • Courtesy cars • Certificated engineers

MOTOR IN G I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Andrews Autosource

ALRESFORD MOTOR SERVICES LTD

MOT TEST CENTRE FOR: Cars, motorcycles and vans up to 3,000kg. All makes serviced and repaired.

Class 4 MOT's

Class 1 & 2 Motorcycles

MOT's WHILE YOU WAIT UNIT 5, SHELF HOUSE, NEW FARM ROAD, ALRESFORD, SO24 9QE

Tel: 01962 733888 e:mike1ams1@aol.com

£8395 £7995 £6995 £6995 £6495 £5395 £4595 £3495 £1995

£11995 £26995

VIEW OUR CURRENT STOCK AT www.andrews-autosource.co.uk/vehicle-stock

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CARS HAVE SERVICE HISTORY TAYLORS GARAGE, HIGH STREET, DROXFORD, SO32 3QL

TEL: 01489 878 879 EVENING TEL: 01962 732995

ID VALETING BESPOKE SERVICE ALRESFORD PROFESSIONAL VALETING GET THAT NEW CAR FEELING BY BOOKING A FULL VALET

OPENING TIMES

Mon - Fri: 7.30am - 5.00pm APPOINTMENTS CAN BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE All weather facility, dry and warm waiting area ID VALETING, UNIT 4, SHELF HOUSE INDUSTRIAL NEW FARM ROAD, ALRESFORD, SO24 9QE TEL: 07967 730584 idt45@btinternet.com

LEISU R E - P R OMOT IOM ISSU E 1 37 | MARCH

WALKS WORLDWIDE

Join us to celebrate Japan

e are delighted to invite you to a special evening event 'Walking the ancient trails of Japan'. Team member Jon Barber will talk from the heart about his enjoyment of experiencing shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and the health benefits of forest serenity whilst walking these pristine trails last year. Japanese culture is renowned the world over and we are delighted to be joined by the Kiso Tourist Board.You can learn about different aspects of this culture from ryokans to onsens, and sample some authentic Japanese food and drink. The event will be held at the Guildhall in Winchester on Tuesday 13th March at 7pm where there will be the opportunity to meet the team and discuss your holiday plans. This journey takes you through the incredible landscapes of Japan, home of some of the most stunning ancient trails in the world. Hike up Mount Kintoki to get a chance to glimpse the finest views of Mount Fuji in the distance. Experience ancient Japanese customs and lifestyles as you trek the Sacred Mountains of Togakushi. Experience the history and culture of historic cities such as Kyoto and the beautiful Matsumoto Castle and pass vast swathes of Japanese countryside and towns as you take different trains and buses across the country. Across this itinerary you will get to explore some of the seldomseen corners of Japan, visit the most impressive attractions, embrace cultural customs such as onsens, and discover a unique and thriving culture in one of the greatest landscapes in Asia. ∙ Walk along ancient trails ∙ Experience traditional Japanese life untouched by modernity ∙ Encounter exquisite peaks and pristine forests ∙ Stay in traditional ryokans to sample local customs and food

To book your place or for further information, please email: events@walksworldwide.com Inspired? Let us take you there... Call one of our trekking specialists on 01962 737565 for more information.

Love Walking?

Take to the Ancient Trails of Japan Join Walks Worldwide’s Jon Barber as he talks about the wonders of walking the ancient trade routes and the delights of Japanese culture. Sample some local Japanese fare and discuss your holiday walking plans with the Walks Worldwide team. Guildhall Winchester -Tuesday 13 March at 7pm To book your place contact events@walksworldwide.com

walksworldwide.com

01962 302 085 enquiries@walksworldwide.com

No r t h Mo to r Company Holden Farm, Cheriton, Alresford, Hants, SO24 ONX

Independent Garage and MOT Testing Centre Established in1999 - All makes of car serviced and repaired - Saab approved repairer and Subaru specialist Free collection, delivery and courtesy car (when available) Competitively priced tyres - Batteries - Vehicle Diagnostics - Exhausts

Telephone Gary or Andy on 01962 771331 or 771881 www.northmotor.co.uk info@northmotor.co.uk

N FINE ART AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS

FINE ART, ANTIQUES, INTERIORS & COLLECTABLES AUCTION Tuesday 27th & Wednesday 28th March Thursday 22nd - 12noon - 5pm Friday 23rd - 10am - 5pm Saturday 24th - 10am - 2pm Monday 26th - 10am - 5pm Morning of sale 8.30am

MOTOR IN G R ETA IL ISSU E 1 37 | MARCH

Illustrated catalogues available to view online at www.the-saleroom.com www.andrewsmithandson.com Enquiries: t:01962 735988 e:auctions@andrewsmithandson.com THE AUCTION ROOMS, MANOR FARM, ITCHEN STOKE, ALRESFORD SO24 0QT

Art Deco Style Cluster Ring in 18ct Gold

Cushion Shaped Cut Diamond ArtSurrounded Deco Styleby Cluster Ring in 18ct Gold Calibre Cut Sapphires Cushion Shaped Cut Diamond by An Chiming Art Deco Style Cluster in 18ct of Gold Centre Diamond 0.60ct An 8-Day Mantel ClockRing by surrounded Comitti London £3,175 Old Cut Diamond CalibreIn Cut Sapphires Centre Diamond A Yew Case with Shell Inlay 0.60ct Surrounded by Calibre Cut Rubies &00Diamond Lattice Border 40a West Street, Alresford, Hants WAS £1,395. £3,175

£3,950 NOW £1,095.00 www.dbarkerandson.co.uk Tel: 01962 732200

40a Alresford,Hants Hants 40aWest WestStreet, Street, Alresford, 40a West Street, Alresford, Tel: 01962 732200 Tel: 01962 732200 Hants Tel: 01962 732200 www.dbarkerandson.co.uk www.dbarkerandson.co.uk www.dbarkerandson.co.uk

Oakleaf Stationery Ltd OFFICE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES

Heading to the Mountains in 2018?

OPENING TIMES Mon to Fri - 9am - 5pm Sat - 9.30am - 1pm

Why travel all the way to Winchester for office supplies when we have a comprehensive range available on your doorstep A wide range of print cartridges in stock Services available: Photocopying, Laminating, Document Binding, Faxing, Scan to Email, Professional Personalised Printing Agent

56 West Street, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9AU Tel:01962 736116 info@oakleafstationery.co.uk

LEISU R E I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Leisure

Ladies Beginners ‘Get into Golf’

ALRESFORD GOLF CLUB

Coaching

at Alresford Golf Club

ONLY £20

for a 4 week course

All sessions 10am - 11am All equipment provided

Week 1

Get to grips with the basic swing

Week 2

Week 3

Chipping & putting

Week 4

Driving from the tee

Iron play & pitching

Thursday 15th & 22nd March 2018, Thursday 5th & 12th April 2018 or Saturday 17th & 24th March 2018, Saturday 7th & 14th April 2018

For anyone interested in giving golf a try, these introductory sessions are perfect. Learn and make friends with people of similar ability. Have fun!

lresford is one of the oldest and prettiest places to play in Hampshire. An easy walking, chalk downland course which is lush in the summer and enjoys outstanding natural drainage in the winter ensuring that bad weather does not spoil your golf and that you get maximum value for your membership. Always tidy and well presented, the layout is a challenging test for both amateurs and professionals, regularly hosting county amateur and PGA competitions. Whether a beginner or regular player, the regular ‘roll ups’ and social occasions will ensure that you make new friends quickly. Membership enquiries are welcome for all playing categories and abilities, including those new to golf or thinking of joining their first club. Our ACADEMY membership is proving very popular and includes a lesson package within the annual fee as well as full access to some of the best practice facilities in the county with a newly extended practice / covered driving range with ball collection, short game and wedge area and 6 hole par 3 course. Membership enquiries are welcome not only from golfers (new and old) but also from those who would like to make use of the dining facilities and various social events. The club offers a range of social events from Sunday lunches to themed dining evenings, Bridge club, live music and quizzes. Please come along to visit us - we would be delighted to show you around the club and discuss all the options with you.You really will be very welcome. Tel: 01962 733746 / 01962 733998 (Pro-Shop) Email: secretary@alresfordgolf.co.uk www.alresfordgolf.co.uk 30

For full details of the lessons or to book please contact the Pro-Shop on

01962 733998 or visit our website

www.alresfordgolf.co.uk Payment required in advance either in person or via telephone

Seasonal Assistant Required From Easter Weekend - 30th September 2018

Holden Farm is looking for a Seasonal Assistant to join the team for the season ahead - Easter weekend until 30th September 2018. The post holder will be required to assist in the provision of a first class camping experience for all guests. The position is based on working 2 or 3 days per week, including weekends on a rotational basis, applicants must be flexible in terms of days and hours worked, in line with the needs of the business as these could be subject to change. The post holder will be rewarded with a competitive wage along with other benefits.

If you are interested, please send your CV and a covering letter outlining why you are interested in this role to camping@holdenfarm.co.uk or call 07599 553740

R ETA IL

Market Square

I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

UNIQUE - BESPOKE - ECLECTIC - LOCAL

Moda Rosa

The Alresford Gift Shop

Lavenders

Moschino dress and long jacket 35 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AB

Easter cards, napkins, tree decorations and egg cups available throughout March Tel: 01962 732192 | 10 West Street, Alresford

New Season Ochre Cashmere clothing has arrived at Lavenders! (And is once again exclusive to us in the Alresford area!) Tel: 01962 733894 | www.lavenders-alresford.com

D.Barker & Son

The Alresford Gift Shop

Billy Goat

Sterling silver egg and heart pendant - £120 40A West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 732200 | www.dbarkerandson.co.uk

Gisela Graham Jug £12.95 - Mother's Day cards, gifts and jewellery - choice galore! Tel: 01962 732192 | 10 West Street, Alresford

Converse Chuck Taylor ‘Orange Ray’ £50 - lots of new season styles now in Tel: 01962 733926 | www.billygoatshoes.co.uk

Tel: 01962 733277 | www.modarosa.co.uk

Hero | Alresford

Equestrian Fencing & Timber Ltd

Fitique

Ottod'Ame Floral shirt £144 40 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 732909 | www.hero-online.co.uk

8" x 3" x 94.5" (200 x 75 x 2400) French Oak Sleepers. March SPECIAL £20+VAT High Ridge Farm, Shirrell Heath

Mr. Fitique - Menswear range now in store & online 5A Broad Street, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9AR Tel: 01962 733154 | www.fitique.co.uk

Tel: 01329 835100 | www.equestrianfencing.com

R ETA IL I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

A place for local retailers to display their wares and provide readers with seasonally evocative, inspirational gift and style ideas.

Ragamuffin

Interior Style

Delilah Boutique

Fabulous toddler dress for Spring by Mayoral available from 12m. £30.95 2 Bakehouse Yard, New Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 734488 | www.ragamuffin-uk.com

Times Square - Wood & Nickel Clock - £191 29 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AB Tel: 01962 736311 | www.interiorstyle.biz

Tunic (Masai Clothing) 34 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 738470 | Delilah Boutique

D.Barker & Son

Soles Butchers

Delilah Boutique

Three stone cushion shaped sapphire and diamond ring in 18ct gold - £4,775 40A West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 732200 | www.dbarkerandson.co.uk

A Happy Easter to our customers - Now taking orders for Easter. Fresh spring lamb and free range oven ready poultry Tel: 01962 735221 | solebutchersofalresford.co.uk

Ilse Jacobsen Flip Flops in a range of 7 colours 34 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 738470 | Delilah Boutique

Design Realities

Andrew Smith & Son - Auctioneers

House of Gallet

Framed Limited Edition Prints and Originals from £250 36 West Street, Alresford, SO24 9AU Tel: 01962 732507 | www.design-realities.co.uk

Fine Art, Antiques, Interiors & Collectables Auction - Tue 27th, Wed 28th Jan - Viewing 22, 23, 24, 26th and morning of sale

Designer Wear (new & pre-loved) Open Tues - Sat 10am - 5pm Broad Street, Arcade, 19 Broad Street, Alresford, SO24 9AR Tel: 01962 735362 | www.houseofgallet.co.uk

Tel: 01962 735988 | www.andrewsmithandson.com

COMMU N IT Y

Community

P R OF ESSION A L

JACKIE’S COUNTY CORNER

ISSUE 137 | MARCH

went to speak to the Hampshire Ramblers about The Watercress Way and met Teri Moore, a Rambler Trustee. There is a new service from the Ramblers Association called ‘ Pathwatch’ to record paths in poor condition. They did a footpath survey and are now carrying out repairs in partnership with the County Council based on their findings. On behalf of us all, I’d like to give our huge thanks to the Ramblers conservation team. They are doing amazing work. You can sign up for more TWW news as a Friend of the Line: www. thewatercressway.org.uk SDNPA will present the final version of the Local Plan to the National Park Authority Meeting on 22 March and then submit it to the Secretary of State for examination by the end of March. Once the Local Plan has been submitted, the Secretary of State will designate a Planning Inspector to hold an examination into the Local Plan. Everyone on the Local Plan database will receive a letter or email when the dates of the public hearings are known. Are you joining in the Great British Spring Clean? Not in your homebut in your community! This year’s Great British Spring Clean will take place from 2nd – 4th March.Your equipment will be supplied by the Council’s contractors, and it is the perfect chance for you to get involved in helping look after your local area. If you are interested in the National Campaign further details can be found at http://www. keepbritaintidy.org The new Winchester District Local Plan SHELAA A ‘Call for Sites’ has been launched – referred to as the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment SHELAA . The purpose is to request organisations and individuals who have a parcel of land that they wish to be considered for potential development through the local plan process, to submit details to WCC by 6th April. Submission does not guarantee that it will be included in the Local Plan. Please contact the Strategic Planning Team at Winchester with any enquiries. 20mph one year Review This has now been completed by ‘pilot villages’ and town areas and we are awaiting a practical report on their findings. After that I should be able to give a clear guidance to all villages hoping for a 20mph limit. M3 Junction 9: Hopefully you made your responses in February, but if you’d like to watch the film again, it is on my website, www.jackieporter. co.uk, search ‘Junction 9’. It is a relief to see the NCN cycle route 23 reinstated through the new junction. We await the Highways England feedback, due later this year. County Council Tax -5.99% increase Following Govt. permission to increase the Council Tax by an additional 1% for social care authorities, the proposed HCC increase is 5.99%. The financial and staffing toll on Social Services as the population grows older, and more children are reported as ‘at risk’ will not be covered by the extra 1%. Significant funds (more than £30m as I write) have been taken from reserves to shore up these services, community buses, what school crossing patrols are left and our recycling centres, but even the paper describes the temporary reprieve: there isn’t that sum in the free reserves to do this year on year. (FYI: 1% = £5.7m) If your family has been affected, you may be interested to hear about a new parent support group for parents and carers have been bereaved by suicide, and for parents whose children have survived a suicide attempt too. Go to theredlipstickfoundation@gmail.com

Richard Steel & Partners The Family Owned Funeral Directors

Serving Hampshire Since 1860

Alderman House, 12-14 City Road, Winchester (01962) 862333 Richard Steel • Iain Steel • Mark Allery • Personal 24 Hour Family Service www.winchesterfunerals.co.uk

Boomtown You will know by now that the Boomtown (reduced number) Licensing application has been approved. Following the very strong Police, WCC and public objections, which led to a pre-licensing meeting ‘change of heart’ from Boomtown, the conditions place a much greater role on Boomtown to manage the drugs, the mental health of those on and offsite, and the sound past 11pm, with no noise off site on Wednesday, or lighting or sound after midnight on Sunday, as well as placing constraints on the traffic management and numbers to +5000, +1000 on Sunday. This seems to be the most pragmatic solution to a festival which has staunch supporters and objectors, though, frankly, I still expect traffic issues. Closure of Merrydale and Sunbeams Respite Care for disabled children I challenged the decision to close these care homes, but the challenge was rejected and the closure will still go ahead. I am told that our close scrutiny of the process will lead to a better follow up with parents: I hope so. Merrydale in Kings Worthy is expected to close by May. I have high hopes that the experienced staff who are highly employable, will find similar work easily. Buses: The County usually spends the bus ‘pay back fee or Bus Service Operators’ Grant’ on infrastructure improvements (eg: bus stops, signage etc). Because of the risk to rural services, the proposal is to use the funds to ‘prop up’ the service subsidies going forward. We await details. The 64 and The Spring Buses are commercial services, but this sounds like good news for the 67, Mervyn’s service, the 240 and the 86. Cllr Jackie Porter, tel: 01962 791054, email: Jackie.porter@hants.gov. uk, text 07973 696 085, website www.jackieporter.co.uk, twitter @ JackieLibDem

P R OF ESSION A L ISSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Accounts & audit • Business advisory • Tax • Bookkeeping • IT & online accounting • VAT • Buying or selling a business Payroll Accounts & audit • Business advisory • •Tax • Bookkeeping

Accounts audit •accounting Business advisory Tax • Bookkeeping Payroll IT &&online • VAT •• Buying or selling a•business • Business start-up • Wealth planning & protection • IT &Payroll online accounting • VAT • Wealth planning & protection • • Business start-up • Wealth planning & protection Buying or selling a business • Forensic accounting • Business start-up

Contact Steve Morgan, an Alresford resident for a free initial consultation on 01252 smo@wiseandco.co.uk Contact Steve Morgan, an711244, Alresford resident on 01252 711244 or email smo@wiseandco.co.uk for a free initial consultation

www.wiseandco.co.uk

Wey Court West, Union Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PT

www.wiseandco.co.uk

Wey Court West, Union Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 7PT

Your Local Accountants since 1992

 Full range of Accountancy, Auditing, Taxation and

Payroll services tailored to suit your needs

 Small Business Consultancy and Business Start Up  Farming and Equine Specialists 

Clear advice about benefits and paying for residential or nursing care

FREE Half Hour Initial Consultation For friendly, professional, proactive advice please contact: Butler & Co, Bennett House, The Dean, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9BH T: 01962 735544 E: julie@butler-co.co.uk

www.butler-co.co.uk

Connect with us:

Gibbons Solicitors Limited Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority no. 617854’

F EAT U R E I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Rabbits!

BY CLAIRE THURLOW

s February slides into March, Spring is finally on the way.The dawn chorus is gathering strength, leaves are budding and wildlife is perking up. I’ve seen rabbits in abundance, not just in fields and open grassland, but on the edges of towns. Beside the dual carriageway a trio of rabbits lollops under cover of a bramble thicket, and in the middle of a roundabout, another pair relaxes on the turf. I’ve seen them from the train on scrubby embankments and on tufty sand-dunes at the coast. Ironically, considering I live in the country, I have yet to see one in the garden. Many gardeners tell me that I’m lucky not to be troubled by these voracious herbivores.They can decimate a veg patch or flower bed overnight, and when everything else is below the snow line, they will gnaw on young trees and shrubs. I’m sure I could cope with a couple of them, but, of course, you never get a couple, because they breed like, well, rabbits. Breeding starts in January and continues all summer, with the female able to produce four or more young every five weeks. Despite foxes, buzzards and stoats, to name a few rabbit-loving predators, plus the danger of busy roads, bunnies are everywhere.Yet only 25% of new-born rabbits survive their first year. We used to blame the Normans for shipping them over for food and fur, but in 2005 archaeologists dug up 2000-year-old rabbit remains in Norfolk. Apologies to the Normans, it seems the Romans were to blame.They considered rabbits to be something of a delicacy and reared them in walled enclosures, or warrens. Inevitably, a few enterprising rabbits escaped and settled happily into a feral existence.The rest is history. Rabbits are ‘crepuscular’, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk, but the ones I saw frolicking by the roadside were out

and about in the middle of the day.Their enviably soft coats keep them warm, but need to be kept clean and dry if they’re to be efficient. After days of heavy rain, the burrows can get wet, muddy, or even flooded out, and the rabbits need some serious grooming to keep their coats in good shape. Drying out and cleaning up in the sunshine is a necessity for a healthy rabbit, even if a roundabout is a perilous place to do it.The sight of a rabbit, twitching its nose and washing its face with its paws is endearing. No wonder Beatrix Potter was inspired to create the classic character, Peter Rabbit. According to superstition these animals bring luck. Some people might wish you ‘a pinch and a punch’ on the first of the month, but others say ‘rabbits’ or ‘white rabbits’, and I’m told that it was the first thing superstitious World War Two bomber crew said in the morning. Ancient civilisations saw shapes of rabbits on the face of the moon and associated them with fertility, magic and shape-shifting witches. Based on the damage they can cause to crops, trees and gardens, rabbits are a pest.Yet many creatures depend on them for survival – and not just predators. In the Seventies, when rabbit populations had been decimated by myxomatosis, chalk downlands became swamped with long grasses which had previously been grazed to short turf by the rabbits. Unable to live in this environment, numbers of butterflies like the Adonis Blue and the silver spotted skipper fell to drastically low levels.Thankfully, with the recovery of the rabbits and their management of the grassland, the butterflies have returned. And that’s definitely lucky for us.

“My solicitor ticks all the boxes”

Efficient



Focused



Approachable  Friendly



Professional



GODWINS SOLICITORS LLP E S TA BL I S H E D 1 8 2 3 BASED IN WINCHESTER, SERVING CLIENTS ACROSS THE UK

12 St Thomas Street, Winchester SO23 9HF 01962 841484

info@godwins-law.co.uk

www.godwins-law.co.uk

P R OF ESSION A L EDU CAT ION ISSU E 137 | MARCH

Catherine Paget catherine.paget@pagetwillwriting.co.uk MA (Cantab) Law Member of the Society of Will Writers Affiliate Member of STEP

Tel: 07786 626979 www.pagetwillwriting.co.uk

Candover Valley Preschool Nurturing children to build a

secure foundation for their learning Located in the heart of the beautiful Candover Valley, our pre-school has been established for over 30 years. We welcome children aged from 2 years.

Our last three Ofsted inspections in 2007, 2010 and 2015 were graded Outstanding.

T: 01256 389008 E: cvpadmin@btconnect.com candovervalleypreschool.co.uk CANDOVER VALLEY PRE-SCHOOL, ALRESFORD ROAD, PRESTON CANDOVER, RG25 2EE

In Omnia Excellentia

Open Mornings

Thursday 28th June - 9am to 10.30am Friday 29th June - 9am to 10.30am

Open Evening

Thursday 28th June â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5pm to 7pm To experience life as a Perins student, please join us for our Open Day events. Visit our website to register and for further information.

www.perins.net Pound Hill, Alresford, Hampshire SO24 9BS 01962 734361

HAPPY NEW YEAR…HAPPY NEW HOME?

Protect your pot of Gold!

Don’t leave your personal and financial matters down luck…get a Will or Lasting Attorney place d yourto dream house, fancy a change or want Power to releaseof some equity in in your property in 2 to protect those you love, when you no longer can

you are selling, purchasing or re-mortgaging - at Sousa Law we offer expert advice in all areas of prope We’re your four-leaf clover, so book an appointment and receive the support and ry focus is, and always will be, guidance our exceptional client care –your we ensure you need to protect future. that you know precisely where y nsaction every step of the way! We also provide clear positive advice ensuring you fully understand all vailable to you, Your allowing you to make isbalanced decisions at-every stage. first appointment always free of charge no matter how long it takes

Why Choose Us? Legendary House • 4a Broad Street •–Alresford SO24 9AQ Free initial, no obligation consultation however •long it takes T: 670510 No01962 hidden costs –www.sousalaw.co.uk the price we quote isenquiries@sousalaw.co.uk the price you will pay 16 College Place • & Southampton • SO15 2FE T: 02380 713060 Responsive Proactive – same day responses Direct personal contact – you have direct contact with your lawyer Specialists in Familyinlaw, Property, Wills,and Probate and LPAs We’re local – offices Southampton Alresford

F EAT U R E I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Hard Times for our Rivers

hat does a polluted river look like? That’s easy, right? The water would be murky and foul-smelling, and fish would be found belly up, snagged by tree branches in the shallows. No vegetation would grace the channel, only human detritus - cans, food waste, maybe the occasional shopping trolley. River pollution is something our urban friends have to suffer, not those of us living in the countryside. Indeed, the River Quaggy, which runs through Lewisham in southeast London, ticks many of these boxes. Shopping trolleys are particularly rife, or so I’m told by a friend who likes to photograph the many kingfishers that live on this stretch of water and like using the trolleys as a perch when fishing for the minnows who gather in its shelter. Because that’s the strange thing about pollution - what you see tells only part of the story. These days the Arle runs crystal clear as always, its channel full of native brown trout. How could it possibly be polluted? And yet, talk to anyone who has known the river for years and you’ll hear a story of decline.Trout populations may be holding up, but eels are rarely seen these days. Growing up on the river in the seventies and eighties, I remember moonlit nights when the whole river seemed to be comprised of their serpentine bodies. Last year I counted us lucky when a census of eel populations found eight individuals on the same 100 metre stretch of river - at least they’re still hanging on.The Environment Agency’s line appears to be ‘everything is fine’, but I’ve seen sticklebacks, dippers, crayfish, lapwings and voles disappear from the stretch where I grew up, and this year the bow wave of fleeing moorhens which would regularly greet me as I drove up to my mother’s house near the watercress beds on the edge of town - even they have disappeared. I know they were there this time last year because I remember picking out a water rail among them, but now, all those unused cressbeds which are usually teeming with invertebrate life, seem to support only one bird. The river might still be a thing of beauty, but other voices, the Wildlife Trusts and Salmon and Trout Conservation, to name two, feel that its ability to sustain the complex web of life that exists in the chalkstream habitat is collapsing, and may without urgent action be soon destroyed forever. In summer obvious signs of its degradation become apparent, when algal growth and sewage fungus coat the stones, allowing us to see the extent of nitrate and phosphate enrichment, but even at this time of year you might search in vain as I have recently for populations of the keystone species Gammarus pulex, a little freshwater shrimp which used to be present in tens of thousands under stones and amongst the stems and roots of the ubiquitous fool’s watercress.

From a global context, chalkstreams are enormously rare.The exact figures vary depending on who is doing the telling, but of about 200 chalkstreams worldwide, we have 85% of them. It is their misfortune to be clustered in Southern England where pressure from development, agriculture and abstraction demands is highest, making them surely among the most threatened habitats on earth. At the risk of venturing into the realm of the fanciful, take the area of the Itchen as a percentage of all chalkstreams - let’s say for the sake of simplicity 0.5% or 1/200th of total global chalkstream habitat - and scale it up to the size it would be if we were considering a rainforest that comprised 0.5% of the total amount of rainforest we have left. It would then be tens of thousands of miles long, rather than a meagre 33 miles. But 33 miles is all we have, even with all its tributaries included, so a little extra solicitude seems right and proportionate. In an ideal parallel universe we might not have chosen to site a large market town in the headwaters of one of the most beautiful rivers in England, still less to allow it further growth. In an ideal parallel universe the idea of allowing a salad washing plant such as the one at The Nythe, Bighton Lane to flush whatever chemicals their globally-sourced produce should carry into a springfed watercourse, might be considered the most ludicrous act of vandalism conceivable. And in that universe it would be an utter dereliction of duty to permit Southern Water and other bodies the abstraction licenses that have so radically diminished the flow of our river.We might have instead conferred the status of Unesco Biosphere Reserve on the whole Itchen Valley, making an element of conservation part of our daily life in this blessed place, not out of nimbyism or an irrational hatred of all development, but in recognition that we live in an area that is utterly unique. It is true, and laudable, that work is underway to limit and contain phosphate and nitrate pollution from intensive arable farming and roadside runoff. But inputs of phosphates from domestic sources remain huge, and many people are still ignorant of both the scale of the problem, and how easy it is to cut back on phosphate use with simple changes to behaviour and buying habits. We need a local campaign to focus on the issue, raise awareness and maybe even persuade local supermarkets to stop selling phosphate-rich dishwater tablets, which remain the single largest source of domestic phosphate pollution. As far as things go in this land of fences and walls, the Arle is a pretty democratic river. About 50% of its length is open for us all to enjoy, and it is an inspiring place to visit at any season - a short walk from my doorstep yesterday took me past gadwalls, a water rail, perch and grayling. Despite the enormous challenges that the river faces, there is a feeling of optimism in the air. People are beginning to come together to make a change, and those of us who lived through the bad old days of organophosphate pesticides and unregulated fertiliser application know that the river does have the capacity to bounce back, just like the River Quaggy. As Ali Morse of the Wildlife Trust said at the recent meeting hosted by the Alresford Society, one of the greatest dangers to the river is people’s indifference, but the 2.2 million pounds recently sourced from the Heritage Lottery Fund will doubtless do great work in opening it up for many who haven’t yet experienced its wonder. It would be such a tragedy if our river’s demise was hastened along by a lack of concern from people unaware of the riches on their doorstep, so let’s all make sure that is not its fate by getting to know its wildlife, and coming together to help in its conservation. BY PETE FLOOD

Experienced lawyers providing a quality

reliable & friendly service.

TAYLOR FORDYCE - SOLICITORS -

PROUD TO BE A SPONSOR OF THE ROTARY CLARENDON MARATHON

www.taylorfordyce.co.uk HEAD OFFICE 1 & 2 City Business Centre, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7TA T 01962 841041

61 Chobham Road Sunningdale, Berkshire, SL5 0LJ T 01344 637960

11 Broad Street Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9AR T 01962 735705

91 Leigh Road Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9DQ T 023 8068 4900

24 Upton Lovell Warminster, Wiltshire, BA12 0JW T 01985 851206

A N IMA LS I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Animals

CHOCOLATE POISONING IN PETS

aster is just around the corner and for most of us this means buying and eating chocolate treats and having more chocolate around the house than we normally would! Most people are fully aware of the health risks of their pet consuming chocolate or any of its products although some items are not thought of as being hazardous. Here we will discuss the symptoms of chocolate poisoning, how to reduce the risk of your pet gaining access to chocolate and what to do in the event of your pet consuming chocolate or one of its products. Chocolate contains two ingredients that can be toxic to our pets; caffeine and a chemical known as theobromine. Generally, the more cocoa solids a product has the more theobromine it contains and the more toxic it will be to our pets. Other products containing chocolate or cacao beans will also carry a risk of poisoning if ingested such as cocoa powder, cooking chocolate and garden mulches containing cacao bean by-products. Prevention is always better than cure so any chocolate should be kept well out of reach from our pets, particularly if they are good climbers or have a history of scavenging. Placing chocolate products in pet-proof containers in cupboards above head height will help to reduce the risk of consumption.

As every animal is an individual it is not possible to say how much chocolate would harm your pet and so any ingestion of chocolate should be treated seriously and immediately. Cats are usually not so inclined to eat chocolate so it is less common from them to suffer from chocolate poisoning but they are still at great risk if they consume any amount. Signs of chocolate ingestion may include vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy or restlessness, breathing problems or even seizures. Chocolate poisoning is usually treated according to the quantity of cocoa solids eaten and the severity of the symptoms. Sometimes the vet may administer medication to induce vomiting or activated charcoal to decrease the absorption of the chocolate from the stomach and intestines. It may also be necessary to monitor the pet or to place them on fluid therapy to assist clearing the toxins from their system. If you do suspect that your pet has eaten any amount of chocolate then call your vet immediately. They can give you advice over the phone on what to do next and will normally ask you to bring the pet to the practice immediately including the wrappers of anything eaten and a rough time of when it was consumed. If you have any questions on chocolate poisoning please contact your vet for advice.

Written by Liza Freeman RVN Cedar Veterinary Group www.cedarvet.com Alton: 01420 82163 Alresford: 01962 732535 Four Marks: 01420 562048

a Independent practice with free onsite parking and convenient location

a 24 hour emergency service provided

by our own staff

a Fully equipped on site laboratory for

New Pet Healthcare Plan! TWO MONTHS FREE when you sign up to our HealthCare Plan.

quick diagnostic results

a Practice health care plan to spread the cost of routine treatment

a Home visits available for your convenience A dedicated team working to improve the health and wellbeing of your pets

ALTON: 01420 82163 ALRESFORD: 01962 732535 FOUR MARKS: 01420 562048

cedarvet.com facebook.com/cedarvet

Farm Services

& Home Boarding Rachel Gray Tel: 07419 324362 rachel@alresforddoggrooming.com www.alresforddoggrooming.com

A family business supplying agricultural and forestry services for over 25 years All agricultural work undertaken

H OME ISSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Dog Grooming

A N IMA LS

Appleton

An exclusive service in the heart of Alresford

• equestrian maintenance • Ploughing • field cultivation • Hedge cutting • Forestry • spraying specialist • fencing • topping • wood thining • Tree Felling & branch lopping

Load of logs - £70 per truck load Tel: 01962 735452 / Mob: 07880 527049 www.appletonfarmservices.co.uk .

MICHAEL J SLY Plumbing and Heating

All plumbing and heating works from fixing a leak to installing a full Heating System or Bathroom Suite

Plumbing and Heating Complete Heating Systems High Efficiency Boiler and System Upgrades Power Flush and System Treatments Gas Boiler Service

L.Sheppard Plastering All aspects undertaken

Quality Finishes Tel: 07547 190332 liamsheppardplastering@gmail.com @liamplaster

Water Softeners

Bathroom Installations Complete Bathroom Installation Cloakroom and En-suites Power Showers and Electric Showers Tiling and Flooring

Free competitive quotations

Tel (Cheriton): 01962 771285 Mobile: 07973 407996 Est. Locally for over 30 years

COMMU N IT Y I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Alresford Town Council Reports Arle River and the Upper Itchen River NATC are very aware of the concern regarding the wellbeing of the Arle River, and the Upper Itchen River, which has been the subject of much discussion, and presentations during the past month. Current concern is focused on the technical nature of permit applications, and the regulatory protocols involved. In this regard the Environment Agency is working closely with all parties to assist understanding of the evidence and issues being discussed. Most residents of New Alresford will be aware that these rivers enjoy National recognition as a SSSI (Specific Site of Scientific Interest) and European protection as a SAC (Special Area of Conservation). However, despite these designations, there appears to be signs that the river, like many of the other 267 chalk streams that are almost unique to Britain are in decline. The two main problems being identified as over –abstraction and ever-deteriorating water quality. With these overriding problems not only are high profile rare species such as otters and salmon at risk but a much wider implication of a breakdown of the precious and unique freshwater ecosystem that chalk rivers support. NATC will continue to liaise closely with the Environment Agency to ensure that statutory water quality objectives are met by all vested interests and improved water and environmental standards thus achieved. The recently announced 44

successful Lottery Bid by the Hampshire Wildlife Trust which is specifically focused on improving Test and Itchen Chalk Headwaters will undoubtedly provide a strong and scientific foundation to support these aims. Alresford Litter Pick Day –Saturday 24th March Once again Cllr B Jeffs will be organising a litter pick with the generous help of The Rotary Club the weekend preceding Easter. All individuals and local societies will be very welcome. If you are interested in taking part please contact the Town Council Office 01962 732079 Hanging Baskets – Orders by 12th March On an afternoon when there is sleet and a howling wind around the door, it is rather nice to think about the summer and the wonderful Alresford hanging baskets. Now is the time, if you wish to take part in this wonderful annual tradition to place your order. Orders for Hanging Baskets and up the pole displays need to be with NATC by the 12th March. The cost for a basket/trough is £39.00 which is the same as last year. Please send your requirements to commclerk@ newalresfordtc.org.uk or telephone 01962732079. If you would like to sponsor an “up the pole” display please donate £60.00 and your business will be thanked on the Town Council page in a later issue. Policing The recent spate of burglaries, and a raid on a retailer in Alresford has been alarming. Fortunately, following local residents using social media

and a very alert, gardening contractor, one individual has been charged with responsibility for the domestic burglaries. On the 15th February this individual appeared in court, charged with 12 counts of burglary (the Alresford series) and was remanded in custody. However, CCTV footage, shared on local social media highlights the number of abortive burglaries that are attempted on what appears to be a regular basis. It is perhaps an obvious statement that, increased activity of this nature can occur where criminals feel comfortable that there is a low risk of arrest. In an ideal world, a greater police presence would seem the answer, but with an over stretched police force, where officers are required to patrol large areas of the county, seeking a dedicated officer for a small market town may not be an available option. However we do need to address the security of our town and in this regard NATC will be consulting with those parties involved to establish what can be done to protect our residents and retailers. In this regard, it is worth remembering that our Police and Crime Commissioner is able to confer directly with the Chief Constable on matters of the policing service. For your reference Michael Lane is the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Hampshire Constabulary force area, which covers Alresford. Mr Lane and can be contacted by email opcc@ hampshire.pnn.police.uk. By

telephone on 01962 871595 or on the following website http://www.hampshire-pcc. gov.uk/ Vandalism of the Town Trust Mini Bus On 31st January 2018 the Town Trust’s Community Minibus suffered a series of vandalism acts causing damage to the interior and exterior of the Minibus as well as stealing the 2 fire extinguishers (one of which was discharged over the outside of the bus ) as well as First Aid box and keys. It is estimated that the costs to repair and upgrade the security will be approximately £1,000 plus VAT. The Town Trust have already received many emails and telephone calls commiserating with the Trust in some cases money has been promised to help with the repairs. The Town Trust would be more than happy to receive further donations which can be sent to NATT, c/o Old Fire Station, 54 Broad Street, Alresford, SO24 9AN. Cheques should be made payable to NATT. or send your donation via just giving https:// www.justgiving.com/ campaigns/charity/ newalresfordtowntrust/ minibus Contact us New Alresford Town Council Arlebury Park, The Avenue, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9EP Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 11am to 1pm 01962 732079 www.newalresfordtc.org.uk

Yale Security Hardware Available

Checkatrade and DGCOS Approved

Competitive Finance Rates Available^

10 Year Insurance Backed Warranty

First Class Customer Service

Often copied, never su rpassed!

SALE FREE UPGRADE TO TRIPLE GLAZING

Up to 40% MORE energy efficient than 'A' Rated double glazing

SAVE

’osn £pe£r y£ ear y rg

Upgrade your old windows and start saving money on your energy bills.

ne your eills! b

ANY SIZE, white PVCu Patio or French doors

£1230 Max 1900 wide x 2100 High

FITTED INC VAT

Any 3

Windows

Any 5

Windows

Any 7

Windows

Any 9

Windows

Any 11 Windows

Any 13 Windows

Any 15 Windows

Double Glazed

Triple Glazed

SAVE

£1695 £1946 £252 £2827 £3253 £426 £3960 £4555 £595 £5095 £5860 £765 £6225 £7160 £935 £7360 £8465 £1105 £8495 £9760 £1265

£995 £1625

Composite Doors from as little as Composite Front Door with a PVCu back door

Prices † INC VAT

FITTED INC VAT

Showrooms at: Market Road Chichester, Fort Fareham - Newgate Lane & Park Gate - Southampton VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS AT-MARKET ROAD, CHICHESTER & FORT FAREHAM, NEWGATE LANE

Proud members of DGCOS The Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme (DGCOS) protects consumers buying Double Glazing products, Conservatories, Doors, Fascias, Soffits, Orangeries or associated products from DGCOS Accredited members. All DGCOS Accredited Installers are continually vetted in many areas to ensure consumers are satisfied. All customers receive comprehensive protection throughout the buying, installation, after sales and guarantee experience. I highly recommend that you use as DGCOS registered installer, TV’s Nick Ross

Don't just take our word for it!

over 2,300 satisfied customers can’t be wrong

9.7

OUT OF

Over 2000 Checkatrade reviews 10 Year insurance backed guarantees on all products A rated Triple or double glazing Huge range of products in PVCu, timber, aluminium and timber alternative Stunning showrooms in Fareham and Chichester Advanced Q-Lon weather seals High security YALE door locks Repair and maintenance service FITTED INC VAT Unrivalled experience and commitment

01489 858090 ®

Our customers benefit from

www.idealwindowsolutions.co.uk Unity Building, Fort Fareham Newgate Lane, PO14 1AH

These offers cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. ^Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a Credit Broker and not a Lender. Finance is available on orders over £1300. Finance available subject to status. IWS reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time.

F EAT U R E I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Jane's Kitchen SIMNEL CAKE - A TRADITIONAL EASTER CAKE

Ingredients

∙ 200g unsalted butter ∙ 200g golden caster sugar ∙ 4 large eggs ∙ 500g mixed dried fruit (candid peel, sultanas, and currants) ∙ 300g plain flour 1teaspoon baking powder teaspoon salt ∙ 2 large lemons (grate rind and squeeze juice) ∙ 500g ready-made marzipan/homemade almond paste

Method

curdles. Sift the remainder of flour with the baking powder and add to the mixture with the lemon juice. Stir in the mixed fruit and mix well. Place in the prepared tin and bake for approximately. 3 hours in a moderate oven 325˚C. A skewer inserted into the centre should come out clean. Cool on wire rack. To decorate – using 2/3 of the marzipan roll into a 7” round to fit the top of the cake. Brush the top with a little apricot jam, or egg white and press in place. Roll the remaining paste into 11 balls (to represent the apostils) decorate with mini Easter eggs and chicks.

Grease a 7” cake tin and line the base with greaseproof or baking parchment.

Happy Easter - Jane Brown

In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar with grated lemon rind until light and fluffy. Add the beaten eggs one at a time beating well, add a little flour if the mixture

Don't miss Jane’s Kitchen. An eclectic collection of seasonal recipes. Available from Leckford Farm Shop, Leckford and Chilbolton Village Stores - Price £6.99. Please note this recipe is not featured in the book

F OOD & DR IN K

LEAVING LAITHWAITES? free bottle of naked gin worth £29.99! WITH YOUR FIRST CASE conditions apply Our wines have been rigorously selected and do not appear in Supermarkets Our Wine Cases offer a saving of at least 15% off, some up to 25% off We offer a 100% money-back guarantee The wines you receive are hand chosen & are not bin ends Peace of mind, you can change anything at any time, no fuss Our Prices aren’t inflated to cover extra discounts No sales calls The totally flexible Wine Case Club

Tempted? Email simon@tngwine.co.uk or ask in-store

FREE GIN!

local buildEr The NakedExpEriEncEd Grape and pEacE of mind Much of my work is achieved by personal recommendation and there’s no better reassurance than that. With over 30 years experience, fully

ALRESFORD

FOUR MARKS HUNGERFORD qualified and insured, I am happy to talk through what you need to help create your design and give a FREE no obligation estimate.

ALRESFORD KEBAB HOUSE

Contact me now, I’m here to help.

• DESIGN • INtErIor rEcoNStructIoN aND rEfurbIShmENt • bathroomS • KItchENS • ExtENSIoNS aND coNvErSIoNS • GENEral buIlDING worKS

aNDy clIff tEl: 01962 738883

Serving a variety of Kebabs, Burgers Chicken, Chips & More

Email: cliffbuilding@googlemail.com

All food is prepared and cooked from fresh Open 7 days a week: 6pm - 11pm Telephone orders welcome

Wallpaper Specialist

Tel: 07521 302023

D E C O R AT I N G I N H A M P S H I R E S I N C E 1 9 8 0

Find us on West Street by the Community Centre

Andover

01264 337711 Andover

The Repair Specialists

Andover

e g a r a g fix my Andover

01264 337711 Winchester

01962 715200

k u . o c . door

EXPERIENCED LOCAL BUILDER & PEACE OF MIND • DESIGN • INTERIOR RECONSTRUCTION AND REFURBISHMENT • BATHROOMS • KITCHENS • EXTENSION AND CONVERSIONS • GENERAL BUILDING WORKS

With over 30 years experience, fully qualified and insured, I am happy to talk through what you need to help create your design and give a FREE no obligation estimate.

Contact me now, I’m here to help.

ANDY CLIFF TEL: 01962 738883

Email: cliffbuilding@googlemail.com

HOME ISSU E 1 37 | MARCH

√ √ √ √ √ √ √

Reasons to join our case club

COMMU N IT Y ISSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Community ALRESFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS Town Projects Alresford Chamber of Commerce are applying for projects for the town, from the Town Council Converting the Christmas tree lights to LED Market town projects – Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween and mask event Fiver Fest – watch this space

Parking Chamber Chair attended and spoke on behalf of the town at the cabinet meeting on parking. It has been confirmed that the additional parking spaces in the Dean will be for the public and not permits or staff. Crime We were aware that there had been a number of both domestic and business crime reports recently both in the town centre and further out. This is disappointing and sad and to prevent these outsiders from this activity we encourage all members and residents to share information to bring the culprits to justice.

Alresford Chamber Project "Discover the Wines of Bordeaux" A well-earned Social Wine tasting event was held at the Cricketers for all those PIGS, Chamber members and volunteers who gave their valued time and effort. An extensive tasting & instruction of fine burgundy wines from the Naked Grape Up and coming Chamber Network / Information events: Informal, informative evenings at one of our local business locations - giving members a chance to network with fellow members, update on current business & local issues. • • • •

February 22nd - GDPR workshop – ARC 6pm March 8th – House of Gallet April 12th - Hellards Alresford House market May 15th AGM at the Swan

The committee meets first Tuesday of the month if you have any suggestions as to how we can help businesses or issues affecting the town please put them forward. Next one 6th March Keep track of our events, follow us on Facebook & Twitter @AlresfordChamberofCommerce / AlresfordCofC info@alresfordchamber.co.uk www.alresfordchamber.co.uk Davina – Chamber Secretary

STEVE BRINE M.P

recently visited Hobbs Rehabilitation in Martyr Worthy which was incredibly worthwhile; both as the local MP but also wearing my Public Health Minister hat.

The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the Rehab Matters campaign and the invaluable role it can play in recovery from a wide range of illnesses, accident and trauma. The campaign aims to improve access to community rehabilitation for people leaving hospital with long term conditions. It recognises that medical advances are saving more lives than ever, but too many people who leave hospital miss out on services which would otherwise enable them to complete their recovery. Director Nicky Ellis and Helen Hobbs explained their work to me so clearly and introduced me to some inspiring people receiving treatment. One such person was a young man called Adam who suffered a stroke last year at the age of 32. There are almost 100,000 strokes every year in UK and, while the majority of strokes happen to those over 70, a larger proportion are occurring in middle age adults (40 – 69 years) and some, like Adam, even younger. Up to 70% of strokes are preventable if hypertension, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, cholesterol and lifestyle factors were all detected and managed effectively. That is why, through my role in Government, I am so passionate about the prevention agenda and we’re all working so hard to deliver integrated primary care at scale. There has been major progress in stroke prevention, care and treatments as a result of the 10 year stroke strategy, which came to an end in December 2017 but I want to go further which is why we are working with the Stroke Association (among others) on a new National Plan for Stroke. It will be comprehensive and include aspects such as the “One You” adult health prevention programme designed to help people to live healthier lives but we’ve also relaunched the national Act F.A.S.T. stroke campaign to remind people of all ages to be aware of the symptoms and call 999 urgently at the first signs. We know, and the young man I met is proof of this as much as he is the benefit of good rehab, that timely treatment can reduce the risk of disability and death so please Google ‘Act FAST’ and take just a moment to familiarise yourself with some basic information that could just save your life or that of someone you know. Hobbs is a local success story and we’re proud to have it here in our midst but it’s also got national relevance and I’m extremely grateful to them for showing me how rehab works and why rehab matters. You can see more of my visit, view pictures, learn about ACT F.A.S.T and watch a short-film via www.stevebrine.com/ hobbsrehab

PROUD MEMBERS OF

GARAGE DOOR SOLUTIONS

ROLLER DOORS

DON S DOORS We supply and install all leading manufacturer of garage doors and in a wide selection of styles;

Up & Over • Side Hinged • Automated Insulated Roller • Timber • Sectional All images shown are actual Don's Doors installations

INSULATED SECTIONAL

SIDE HINGED

Call 02380 600027 to arrange a free no obligation survey and quote Unit 9 & 10, Vicarage Farm Business Park, Winchester Road, Fair Oak, Eastleigh, SO50 7HD sales@donsgaragedoors.co.uk • www.donsgaragedoors.co.uk

COMMU N IT Y ISSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Alresford & District Neighbourhood Watch

eople help their neighbours in all sorts of ways – shopping, cooking meals and other practical things. One of the most significant ways is by providing transport, particularly important for medical appointments, but also something that makes a big difference to people's social lives, enabling them to enjoy the human contact that is so important in alleviating loneliness. A survey has shown that the Neighbourhood Watch movement can have a vital role to play in supporting community cohesion. According to the survey, Neighbourhood Watch members are less likely than non-members to feel isolated; they are more likely to know their neighbours, to help them and to volunteer for other things within their community. Lots of people want to see more of their family and friends, but mobility or transport problems make this difficult. Neighbours, however, are close by, and have huge potential to make a difference to people's lives. People worry about being thought of as nosey. No one wants to be intrusive and Neighbourhood Watch members in particular are understandably averse to being labelled "curtain-twitchers". Without talking to them there's no easy way to tell whether your seldom-seen neighbour feels lonely, is seething with fury at your leylandii or simply prefers their own company. However, it was clear from the survey that many people wish their neighbours were chattier and feel that more contact with neighbours would help them feel less isolated. A significant number of respondents said that "knowing neighbours better", "getting to know other people on my street", "a brief chat with

ALRESFORD PHOTOGRAPHER GAINS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

lresford-based photographer Barry Edge has won recognition for one of his ‘flower portraits’ in a prestigious international photography competition. Barry learnt at the weekend of the commendation for his Echinops Taplow Blue in the International Garden Photographer of the Year, a competition that attracted around 20,000 entries from around the world. “Visiting the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on Saturday Feb 9th for the launch of the spectacular winners’ exhibition; having the chance to meet so many renowned and successful photographers; and seeing my own photograph published in the IGPOTY collection was very

neighbours" and "more friendly neighbours" would help mitigate feelings of loneliness. People don't always see the value of a quick visit or chat. They think that once they have gone, their neighbour will be alone again and that their company doesn't really do any good. But the evidence shows that people absolutely do value those small interactions. Every friendly word adds up to a feeling of being part of a community and being surrounded by people who care about you. The result of this is that areas with an established Watch scheme tend to have lower crime levels, which is great because Neighbourhood Watch is all about keeping people safe where they live. We need to think about what we can do to encourage people to reach out to those who live near them; not to force this but to consider what motivates people. A key part of this is proving that people really can make a difference. If you don't know your neighbours' names or rarely speak to them, why not reach out today? CONTACTING ADNWA OR POLICE: ADNWA website: www.neighbourhood.watch.alresford.org e-mail us at: contact.adnwa@gmail.com CRIME IN PROGRESS: RING 999 NON-URGENT ISSUES: RING 101 (if you observe suspicious activity) CRIMESTOPPERS: 0800 555 111

special,” said Barry. Barry first took up photography as a teenager but has only in the last couple of years focused his lens on ‘discovered landscapes’ in Hampshire and the South Downs, extending into botanic images in 2017. His photography will be familiar to visitors to the Alresford show, the Romsey Festival, Alresford Arts Festival and Hampshire Artists’ Open Studios in 2017. You can next see his landscape and flower portraits in 2018 at Stansted Park Garden Show 8th - 10th June, or on his website www.barryedge. co.uk. His Instagram account carries various of his latest images www.instagram.com/barryedgeimages. Barry also runs landscape photography workshops, details of which are listed on his website.

We believe in a different perspective.

Stunning kitchens planned and fitted using traditional design, the best materials, the finest craftsmanship and innovative detailing to create a comfortable, stylish and affordable range.

Neptune Winchester, SO21 1HL, 01962 850 556, info@neptunewinchester.com, www.neptunewinchester.com. Visit us just off the Percy Hobbs roundabout.

H OME I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

CPFM CONSTRUCTION NEW HOMES EXTENSIONS LOFT CONVERSIONS

Blinds & Shutters Ltd

REFURBISHMENTS

We offer a full measuring, manufacturing and installation service for all types of high quality

Blinds - Awnings - Shutters Full 5 year guarantee

Other services include: Awning and canopy restoration (including re-covering) Blind servicing and repair work

For a free, no obligation quote in your own home or office:

AND ASSOCIATED WORKS ALL WORKS GUARANTEED

info@cpfm.co.uk www.cpfm.co.uk Tel: 01962 732 970 Mob: 07947 812 412

Tel: 01962 736836 or 07711 007079 email:enquiries@drblinds.co.uk

e clusive Double Glazing Ltd

Alresford's Conservatory and Window Experts

UPGRADE YOUR WINDOWS & DOORS WINDOWS, DOORS, CONSERVATORIES • Supply & Installation • New Handles, Letterboxes, Locks • Broken Sealed-Units replaced

OTHER SERVICES • Fascias, Soffits & Gutters • Key Cutting & Locksmith Services

FOR A FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE

CALL: 01962 732091 52

www.exclusive-double-glazing.co.uk sales@exclusive-double-glazing.co.uk SHELF HOUSE, NEW FARM ROAD, ALRESFORD, SO24 9QE

Come & Visit Our Yard & Display Area

GAZEBOS & ACCESSORIES

Live the Dream with a Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services

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

reality - it just couldn’t be easier. Equestrian Fencing Services offer an extensive range of

Equestrian Fencing Services All gazebos from Equestrian Fencing Services are madeoffer an extensive range of

All gazebos from Equestrian Fencing Services are made

Gazebos from carefully selected timber from well managed

Gazebos from acarefully materials. They are designed to provide shower selected proof timber from well managed

materials. They are designed to provide a shower proof

sustainable forests, to suit every size and style of garden.

sustainable forests, every size and style of garden. environment. It is important to appreciate thattoinsuit severe

environment. It is important to appreciate that in severe

JOINERY WORKSHOP SPECIALISING IN BESPOKE HARDWOOD & SOFTWOOD DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE GATES weather conditions there may be a chance of water

weather conditions there may be a chance of water

Specifically designed accessories to fit our range of

Specifically designed accessories ingress. We recommend with the thatched range that you to fit our range of

ingress. We recommend with the thatched range that you

Gazebos are available to further enhance your comfort

Gazebos areprotection. available to further enhance your comfort invest in a roof liner to improve water

invest in a roof liner to improve water protection.

and privacy. Available in a choice of terracotta or green.

Unless stated all Gazebos come with a deck base, solid and

Unless stated all Gazebos A full set of gazebo accessories can be found on the come insidewith a deck base, solid and

A full set of gazebo accessories can be found on the inside

balustrade infill panels. Delivery and assembly on to level

balustrade infill panels. Delivery and assembly on to level back page of this brochure.

back page of this brochure.

pre-prepared base is also included in the price.

With all the benefits of a thatched or timber roofed Gazebo

from Equestrian Fencing - Dreams really can come true!

Tel: 01329 835100 Fax 01329 835157 Email: info@equestrianfencing.com please visit www.equestrianfencing.com

Equestrian Fencing Services High Ridge Farm, Hospital Road, Shirrell Heath, Southampton, Hampshire, SO32 2JR

Tel: 01329 835100 Fax 01329 835157 Email: info@equestrianfencing.com please visit www.equestrianfencing.com

from Equestrian Fencing - Dreams really can come true!

With all the benefits of a thatched or timber roofed Gazebo

pre-prepared base is also included in the price.

back page of this brochure.

balustrade infill panels. Delivery and assembly on to level back page of this brochure.

balustrade infill panels. Delivery and assembly on to level

A full set of gazebo accessories can be found on the inside

Unless stated allfound Gazebos come with a deck base, solid and A full set of gazebo accessories can be on the inside

Unless stated all Gazebos come with a deck base, solid and

and privacy. Available in a choice of terracotta or green.

invest in a roof liner to improve water protection.

are available to further enhance your comfort invest in a roof liner to Gazebos improve water protection.

Gazebos are available to further enhance your comfort

ingress. We recommend with the thatched range that you

Specifically designedrange accessories to fit our range of ingress. We recommend with the thatched that you

Specifically designed accessories to fit our range of

weather conditions there may be a chance of water

environment. It is important to appreciate that in severe

sustainable forests, that to suit every size and style of garden. environment. It is important to appreciate in severe

sustainable forests, to suit every size and style of garden.

materials. They are designed to provide a shower proof

Gazebos from carefully selected materials. They are designed to provide a shower proof timber from well managed

Gazebos from carefully selected timber from well managed

All gazebos from Equestrian Fencing Services are made

Equestrian Fencing Services offer an extensive range of All gazebos from Equestrian Fencing Services are made

Equestrian Fencing Services offer an extensive range of

PRESSURE TREATED STANDARD SHEDS, 6X4,7X5,8X6,10X8 READY FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY FROM £400 + VAT

Your Local Friendly Stockist of High Quality Fencing, Landscaping and Structural Building Timber reality - it just couldn’t be easier.

reality - it just couldn’t be easier.

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

C A L L U S N OW O N : 0 1 3 2 9 8 3 5 1 0 0

email: info@equestrianfencing.com Live the Dream with a Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services

GAZEBOS & ACCESSORIES

www.equestrianfencing.com

Live the Dream with a Gazebo from Equestrian Fencing Services

H I G H R I D G E F A R M , H O S P I T A L RO A D, S H I R R E L L H E A T H , S O U T H A M P T O N , S O 3 2 2 J R

GAZEBOS & ACCESSORIES Come & Visit Our Yard & Display Area

Come & Visit Our Yard & Display Area

F EAT U R E I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Dah-dah-dah di-di-dit

’m not surprised when my friend, Anne Ponsonby, starts talking to me in Morse code. During the Second World War, eighteen-year-old Anne joined the FANY (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry) because she liked the uniform. She was expecting to learn how to drive and ferry senior army officers around the country, but FANY offered to train her as a radio operator, sending and receiving messages to and from the French Resistance – much more exciting! Now, over seventy five years later, Anne remembers anxiously listening out for the ‘Dah-dah-dah di-di-dit’ call signal as secret agents tried to make contact with her through the static. I’m showing Anne photos from my visit to the Secret Army Exhibition at Beaulieu in the New Forest.The stately home is better-known nowadays for the National Motor Museum and World of Top Gear, but during the Second World War Beaulieu was the site of the Special Operations Executive ‘Finishing School’. More than three thousand men and women were taught burglary, forgery, sabotage, slander, blackmail and murder there, as part of their training to become secret agents. Afterwards they parachuted into enemy-occupied Europe to inspire and assist the resistance movements, obeying Churchill’s instruction to ‘set Europe ablaze’. The Secret Army Exhibition includes encryption keys printed on silk handkerchiefs, knuckledusters disguised as rings for female agents and miniature tyre-slashing knives. However, it’s the transmitter disguised as a suitcase that catches Anne’s attention. ‘Look how big and heavy it is.The agents who were radio operators had to take that around with them without attracting attention.’ Anne explains that she had a schedule of times when the radio operators would try to contact her station in Grendon Underwood in Buckinghamshire.When she heard the call signal, she would tap back, ‘Are you ready?’ in encrypted Morse code and they would set off as quick as possible. She had 15 minutes to take their message down through the noise on her primitive wireless equipment and was forbidden to ask for a repeat. ‘The awful thing was if you did make a mistake you knew you were putting them in danger. So you had to get it down as

quickly as possible and send it off to be decrypted. It was strictly forbidden to send any messages using plain language. ‘Patience was required as sometimes no messages came through and we wondered if they were in trouble as they sat with their radio sets, probably in an abandoned building or on top of a hill knowing they were in mortal danger every time they went on air.’ Anne worried with good reason. Radio operators had a six week life expectancy once they entered enemy-occupied territory, for if a Nazi radio detector van caught them transmitting they would be tortured, imprisoned and shot. Among the agents trained at Beaulieu were fifty-five women who spoke perfect French. Some were married and had small children, others were working as shop assistants or had other jobs: all volunteered to leave them and go into occupied France. Nineteen were captured and perished in Ravensbrück or other concentration camps. Anne spent three years patiently listening to encrypted Morse code for six hour shifts on a 24 hour schedule. On June 6th 1944 she had no suspicion that anything was happening when she started her shift and sat at her radio receiver waiting for the familiar call signal.To her amazement and excitement a different pattern of Morse code started to come in. ‘Vive la France! ‘Vive La Grande Bretagne! ‘Vive les Allies! ‘over and over again. I suddenly realised I was taking down a message in plain French. I waved to the Sergeant in Charge, who came over, grabbed the message and literally ran to telephone Head Office with the news that for one radio operator in France, D-Day had begun.’ Anne always gets gooseflesh when she remembers this incident. ‘We celebrated that evening with warm beer and spam sandwiches’, she says with a smile. Iris Crowfoot Iris.crowfoot@gmail.com www.HamboneJunior.com

H OME I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Maid Marian Ad 90 x 135

Wychwood Furniture Ltd

Traditional & Contemporary Furniture

31/1/10

12:38

Page 1

Maid Marian

PROFESSIONAL DOMESTIC SERVICES

High quality domestic services Guaranteed One less thing to think about.

We can help.

Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms For beautiful bespoke furniture Free initial consultation Design & Installation

www.wychwood-furniture.co.uk WYCHWOOD FURNITURE LTD, BLUERIDGE FARM, LOWER WIELD, ALRESFORD

• Regular cleaning and end • of tenancy cleaning • One off spring cleans • Washing and Ironing • Carpet cleaning • Building maintenance • including painting and • decorating • Shopping • Man with a van telephone: 01962 736713 email: enquiries@maidmariancleaners.co.uk web: www.maidmariancleaners.co.uk

Tel or Fax: 01256 389788 55

COMMU N IT Y ISSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Community ALRESFORD RUGBY CLUB

RFC would like to invite new and seasoned supporters to our fixtures, both home and away in March. All matches kick off at 3pm and Jess and her team open up the ARC bar for every home rugby fixture from 1pm onwards. All ages are very welcome to this very welcoming venue. Since the February edition both the first and second XV's have experienced testing matches and situations. With the Six Nations on at the same times as some of our fixtures, numbers for games are much harder to fill. Coupled with an increasing injury list, the results you see don't make pretty reading. However, I would encourage you to visit our rugby website and read our match reports, and apart from the 1st XV match against Fordingbridge, when we let ourselves down, the boys that turn up and pull on the jersey remain such a credit to this club, and final scores don't always depict true aspects of every game. As a club we stay together and remain driven to be better than the match before. From the minis who train every Sunday to seasoned older players and coaches, the commitment and desire is always burning bright.Your support during this difficult run, on cold wet days and games coming along in March is so very much appreciated. Please look at the upcoming fixtures, and even if you pencil in only one these games to attend, we all want to see you there. From all at ARFC, thank you. If interested please go to our website and contact either our current Head Coach Scott Cleeve or our Chairman John Weston.

THE POPULAR FRENCH MARKET IS COMING BACK TO ALRESFORD

hether you’re looking to pick up a few unique gifts for friends and family or to stock up your food cupboard, The French Market is a must to visit. You’ll have the chance to explore a variety of stalls selling traditional French foods, art and crafts, toys, fashion and accessories. The selection of French cheeses and cooked meats available promise to bring something a little different to your Easter table and create the perfect festive evening snack. While nothing says ‘France’ like traditional French bread – ideal for dipping in a warming winter soup or accompanying a tasty Pâté, and you’re in for a real treat with the great selection on offer. Not to mention the tasty crepes – the ultimate French street-food! We don’t know about you but our mouths are watering already! If you’re thinking more about what you’re going to put under the tree, than what to put on the table, you won’t be disappointed.You’ll discover a variety of stalls selling everything from retro art prints and classic French advertising to hand crafted gifts.You’ll even find real leather bags and purses, plus hats and scarves to add a unique touch 56

RESULTS 1ST XV - SNOWS GROUP HAMPSHIRE 1 27/1/18 US PORTSMOUTH (A) 7 - 41 L 3/2/18 FORDINGBRIDGE (H) 18 - 31 L 10/2/18 MILLBROOK (A) 10 - 13 L 2ND XV - MERIT LEAGUE 2 20/1/18 WINCHESTER (A) 19 - 50 L 27/1/18 TOTTONIANS (A) 0 - 61 L 3/2/18 HAVANT (H) 5 - 41 l L

MARCH FIXTURES (ALL KICK OFF'S 2.30PM) PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR LATEST UPDATES 1ST XV 3/3/18 10/3/18 24/3/18 2ND XV 3/3/18 10/3/18 24/3/18

FAREHAM HEATHERNS (H) VENTNOR (A) BOGNOR (H) FAREHAM HEATHERNS (H) LYMINGTON (A) ANDOVER 3 (H)

alresfordrfc.weebly.com

to anyone’s wardrobe. The great collection of fashion stalls offer the opportunity to pick up something a little different from the British high-street offering. While the assortment of toys, games and music on offer provides great inspiration for novelty and sentimental gifts. Broad Street, Saturday 31st March, from 9am to 5pm.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

he local Branch of Save the Children has been in existence for nearly 50 years but we have sadly lost some of our volunteers recently. We need some more people to help us organise our fund-raising programme. We meet 3 or 4 times a year in the evening to plan our events and of course help at them. We particularly need an Hon. Treasurer as our present one retires this month. (No accounting qualifications required but a good head for figures a distinct advantage). If you are interested in helping to organise or in becoming Hon. Treasurer and would like some more details please contact: Rob Attenborough – Tel: 01962 733605 Claire Whale - Tel: 01962 734941 Gill Wood - Tel: 01962 732374

Providing a comprehensive electrical installation service • Home automation • Lighting schemes • Electric gates • Emergency lighting • Electrical installations • Home entertainment • Fire alarms • Burglar alarms

T: 01962 735397 w: butlerandking.co.uk e:info@butlerandking.co.uk

H OME I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • DOMESTIC

Unit G, Prospect Commercial Park, 4 Prospect Road, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9QF

Barnes & Liddiard

Electrical Sales FOR YOUR HOME ELECTRICAL NEEDS

LED, Low Energy and Halogen Bulbs We have a comprehensive range available (fitting service can be arranged by request)

Plugs, Fuses, Extension Leads Etc... We also offer a restoration and repair service for most fittings

26 The Dean, Alresford, SO24 9AZ Tel: 01962 733272

Barnes & Liddiard Electrical Contractors Limited

Flow-Vision Services

Plumbing & Electrical Design - Installation - Maintenance

Call: 01962 772009

Email: electrical@flow-vision.co.uk plumbing@flow-vision.co.uk Unit 5B, Home Farm, Petersfield Road, Ropley, Hampshire, SO24 OEF

F EAT U R E I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Hampshire People: Paul Baker THE FORUM TALKS TO PAUL BAKER - SAILOR & CRAFTSMAN OF THE FAMOUS EXBURY EGG

o be in conversation with Paul Baker is to be taken on a white water ride through his interesting life so far. Paul began his martime journey whilst dingy sailing at the age of thirteen, and quickly found he had the taste for being at sea. He found courage to support an inexperienced crew through a mid Atlantic hurricane which was a life changing experience in itself. Darjeeling taken black is Paul’s tea of choice but he settles for English Breakfast and I sip my very un-English flat white as Paul’s story unfolds. “As an army family we travelled extensively. I am the youngest of three and I think my parents despaired as to what to do with me at times. He laughs. I remember one summer my parents enrolled me on a dingy sailing course. I had never sailed before but by the end of the summer I was teaching the other kids how to do it! I had a complete epiphany realising even then that sailing was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I think I can say that my whole life has been shaped by my love of sailing and boats.” So it was only fitting that Paul came to Southampton at the age of eighteen to study boat building and boat yard management at the Southampton Institute. Paul remembers, “It was a fabulous course but it was definitely the practical side- the actual building of boats - that excited me. I managed to get some work experience with a traditional boat builder on the Thames.There was a particular week which I spent lying on my back in the cold Autumnal mud hammering copper nails through the bottom of a boat we were restoring, whist my boss bent the ends over from inside the hull. By the end of the week I was in glorious agony but there was no way you could give in. It was tough training but it taught me that determination and dedication pays off and has formed the basis of the way I work to this day.” Paul later worked at Cobbs Quay in Poole Harbour run by the uncompromising Eric Scobble where Paul was involved in interior fit outs of custom built yachts. Using matching veneers there was no room for error.

His boat building journey has subsequently taken him to Russia (Archangel) where he worked in a shipyard on the banks of the Davina River.This in turn led him to Turkey, Holland, Ireland, Sweden and Norway but always seeking the 'difficult' jobs, always prepared to take the path less trodden, to seek new ideas and experiences. In 1998 Paul finally set up his own business working with the renown Steve Etheridge in Lymington where they built large and often complex components for super yachts. But sadly the 2008 recession brought that to a crashing halt. I wonder what Paul's favourite yachts are? “Known as ‘S and S’, Sparkman and Stephens designs are in my opinion the best designed contemporary boats while William Fife and G.L Watson designed and built the most beautiful boats of yesteryear. It goes back to the old adage that if something looks right it probably is right." The sea is our last great wilderness for which I have a huge love and respect. I have sailed across the Atlantic, in the Arctic, the Baltic, the North and Irish Sea, the English Channel, around cape horn and across the Indian Ocean.Without doubt we are ruining our fabulous environment.When sailing back across the Atlantic we encountered so much rubbish in the ocean it was shocking.” Sailing into rubbish is a real danger on the ocean but Paul has had more than that to cope with.While sailing across the Atlantic with William and Max, a young and inexperienced crew, they were engulfed by a hurricane. “My sailing experience and knowledge proved vital. Clearly there’s no point in attempting sail in what were mountainous seas and ragging winds, so we took in all sail and dragged weighted ropes and chains astern to slow us down.This meant we were pulled back up over the waves as opposed to surfing down the front of them in an uncontrollable slalom. We were blown hugely off course but that didn’t matter.The hurricane passed and the sun came out, we had survived! Besides I’m not a racer, I’m a sailor. One of the best sights I have ever seen was the Lizard Point off Cornwall.Those beautiful cliffs plunging into the sea - Britain’s green and

pleasant land was a very welcome sight. Once safely in Falmouth Will, Max and I agreed we needed beer, burgers and cheese, very good it was too.” But what of boat building? “I was running my own business when the 2008 recession hit.We basically fell of the edge of a cliff. Boats just where not being built. I closed the business down as a form of damage limitation before things became really bad, a decision which still hurts to this day. But serendipity intervened and I was fortunate enough to be asked to completely renovate a dilapidated barn for a friend, from a shell of a building to a home. My new business grew from there really and has kept me busy to this day. There is nothing I like better than when a client says ‘I have this mad idea’ and they show me their design. I always know I can build it. But I’m not a technological person, the best computer I have is the one between my ears.When presented with a tricky problem I spend as much time as I can thinking about it and just let my hands do the rest.” This level of expertise and knowledge proved invaluable for Paul’s involvement with the Exbury Egg project. “A chance meeting with an old friend led to me building the wooden Egg that was inspired by artist Stephen Turner as a home and studio from which he has explored the relationship between nature, man and the community. It was a fantastic project taking seven

months to complete and becoming all consuming. A bit of my soul is definitely still with the Egg." The Exbury Egg has since received global recognition, has recently toured the UK including a visit to our own city of Portsmouth and was featured on George Clarke's Amazing Spaces TV program and in his book of the same name. What next for Paul Baker? “Certainly to continue to develop my business. I feel extremely privileged to be able to live and work in a beautiful community like Alresford doing what I do. Getting up in the morning is never a problem. But eventually I’m planning to sail the original route of the Whitbread Round the World Race where my family will be able to come out and join me at the stopovers." What will he miss on that sailing trip? “I never drink alcohol and sail so really good English ale and of course good fresh food. But as my wife will tell you I do enjoy an occasional Fray Bentos pie so no doubt I will find room for a few of them on board!" Until that time the charismatic Paul Baker will continue to do the other love of his life, “I make and fix things”. He says simply. Paul Baker does that extremely well. paulbmc@btinternet.com

‘A family company built on a solid foundation’

H OME COMMU N IT Y N EWS ISSU E 1 37 | MARCH

BUILDING SUPPLIES & SERVICES ties, Classifieds BUILDING SUPPLIES & SERVICES

MELODY MELODY ART ART

Michael Hoggard Ltd

Michael Hoggard Ltd Quality Building Contractors

Quality Building ‘A family company built on aContractors solid foundation’

‘A family company built on acompany solid foundation’ Michael Limited isisaafamily built MichaelHoggard Hoggard Limited family company builton onaa Michael Hoggard Limited is a family company built on a

solid foundation. one the longest trading building solidfoundation. foundation.ItItItisisisone one of the longest trading building solid ofof the longest trading building firms locally, having been established in 1967. firms locally, having been established in 1967. firms locally, having been established in 1967.

“We deal with every aspect building construction” “Wedeal dealwith withevery everyaspect aspect of building and construction” ofof building andand construction”

PAUL BAKER MELODY

ART MELODY ART BESPOKE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND CARPENTRY

mhoggardltd@btconnect.com Office phone/fax: 01962 732985 mhoggardltd@aol.com Phone/Fax: 01962 732985 mhoggardltd@aol.com Office Phone/Fax: 01962 732985 mhoggardltd@aol.comOffice Office Phone/Fax: 01962 732985 Michael Hoggard: 01962 732494 (Direct) 07802 418079 Michael Hoggard: (Home) (Home) 01962 732494 (Direct) 07802 418079 Michael MichaelHoggard: Hoggard:(Home) (Home)01962 01962732494 732494 (Direct) (Direct)07802 07802418079 418079

Michael Hoggard Limited is a family company built on a solid foundation. It is one of the longest trading building firms locally, having been established in 1967.

All work undertaken is bespoke and handcrafted to an exceptional standard

“We deal with every aspectisofa& building and construction” Michael Hoggard Limited family company HE B I NG ATI built on a M U solid foundation. NGbuilding PL It is one of the longest trading N locally, having been established in 1967. firms L

TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP

“We dealmhoggardltd@aol.com with every aspect of building and construction” Office Phone/Fax: 01962 732985 Michael Hoggard: (Home) 01962 732494 (Direct) 07802 418079

T: 07764 939049

SUPER-FAST 15 MINUTES DRYING

Fabulous Clean Carpets

paulbmc@btinternet.com

mhoggardltd@aol.com Office Phone/Fax: 01962 732985

BASED IN ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE

Michael Hoggard: (Home) 01962 732494 (Direct) 07802 418079

very reasonable prices, and courteous friendly SUPER-FAST 15 MINUTES DRYING EASTER DAY EGG HUNT AT service from people you can trust in your home LANGRISH HOUSE

ear Stockbridge Forum Reader, Value conscious local residents love a great deal. If you need your carpets cleaned and are looking for an award-winning company who will arrive on time, will be courteous, respectful and above all trustworthy -- then you’re invited to take advantage of one of the three extraordinary value, high oin us for an Easter Egg Hunt around the Langrish House quality, carpet and upholstery grounds. Chocolate eggs of all sizes willcleaning be hidden the offering deals inwe’re customers this month gardens for all to find.Visit Reception new to receive an Easter -- because we want to give basket to collect your eggs. Refreshments of Hot you the Juices chance or to get to know our service and to find out how Chocolate are included in the price for the children. (Booking impressively new, fresh and bright your carpets will look essential) when cleaned and freshened by The Carpet Care People.

This event takes place on Sunday 1st April from 11am - 12pm. Price is £8 per child. A special chocolate prize will be given to the child finding the most eggs. For more information: www.langrishhouse.co.uk/index. php/event/easter-day-egg-hunt-2/?instance_id=2835 Tel: 01730 266941 Langrish House, Langrish, Petersfield, GU32 1RN

Fabulous Clean Carpets, Upholstery and Curtains

Very reasonable Winner prices, and courteous friendly service from people you can trust in your home.

The Carpet Care People

Our approach is simple: We are proud to run a celebrated professional carpet and upholstery cleaning business, and we insist on providing you with good oldfashioned service and value. Call now and find out why our award-winning service is probably most requested Issue 24 the November 2008 Have anyinthree carpet cleaning the oflocal Stockbridgeyour areacarpets cleaned The next thing for you to do for 01962 just £87690 total!005 Issue November 2008 Issue 24 November 2008 is call us 24 on we’ll welcome your call, answer your questions and take care of everything for you.

3 Great Deals!

Here’s why one of the Stockbridges’ most trusted carpet cleaning companies is cleaning local, nearneighbours carpets for a fraction of the normal cost

Deal 1

Deal 2

3 Great Deals!

To request a quotation:

Upholst

cleaning an (at our cur Fabric Mas and cleanin and very eff to their orig you’ll see!

Tel 01962 690 Have your three piece suite freshened up for just £97!

Frequently Asked Que

Here’s a selection of frequently asked questions especially for yo 1. When you say ‘carpet’ what do you mean? We mean average don’t quibble if the areas are a little larger - it’s all done on fairnes Our pricing policy reflects timecarpets it takes to clean working arou Have anythe three That said, we are for example, happy to move your three piece su and your three under it and replacing it back into piece position. What we don’t price in moving large pieces of freshened furniture likeup bookcases, sideboards or war suite for to move electrical items, in particular flat-screen tvs. Again we app just £167! situation and inevitable we do end up moving some furniture arou Issue 24 November 2008 Are there any ‘hidden’ extra costs? The prices quoted above a prices you will pay.

Deal 3

Price Full Offer Price List Carpet 1 £57

Carpet Price

£77

Carpet Price Carpe

Tel: 01962 690 005 or 07790 883507

£97

FULL OFFER PRICE LIST Carpet Price

1 £47

Carpet Price

2 £67

Carpet Price

3 £87

Carpet Price

4 £107

Carpet Price

5 £127

Issue 24 November 2008

H OME I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

New builds Conservation work Painting & decorating Extensions & alterations Conservatories Roofing Brick & flint specialist Groundworks Structural works (steel) Office: 01962 734978 (9am-5pm) Mobile: 07979 506416 email: enquiries@grantandwimbleton.co.uk 18 NEW FARM ROAD, ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE, SO24 9QP

FENCING, GATE AUTOMATION & TIMBER FRAMED BUILDING SPECIALISTS • Fencing contractors • Timber Merchants • Fencing & gate supplies • Timber framed buildings • Gate automation specialists • Manufacturers of beautiful bespoke gates Local authority approved contractors, serving Hampshire & surrounding counties

Proud sponsors of ALRESFORD TOWN FC! Opening hours 7.30am – 5pm Monday to Friday

Appledown Lane, Alresford, Hants SO24 9PB 01962 732786 or email info@jameswhitefencing.com

www.jameswhitefencing.com 61

CU LT U R E I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

Culture

BRITISH ARTISTS IN FIRST FOR WINCHESTER

n exhibition of paintings by selected members of the Royal Society of British Artists the Minster Gallery Winchester until the 30 March 2018. For the first time, Winchester will be hosting an exhibition by members of the prestigious Royal Society of British Artists. The show will feature work by twenty current members of the 194 year old society including Royal Academicians Ken Howard OBE and Fred Cuming and honorary member Andrew Marr, the writer and broadcaster. The RBA is the largest society in the UK to promote figurative art. It is, along with the Royal Academy, one of the oldest societies of British artists. Ines Graham, Director of The Minster Gallery, explains: ‘The exhibition will showcase the diversity of styles and subjects explored by members of the RBA’. The range of artists on display includes Ken Howard OBE RA, Fred Cuming RA and Peter Brown and Nicholas Verrall who are known

THE CURTIS MUSEUM & ALLEN GALLERY

Visitors to the show will enjoy the humour of Susan Bower, Mick Davies and David Eustace. They will see how very detailed patterned decorative architecture inspires Meg Dutton’s art and how Shanti Panchal, Lewis Hazelwood-Horner, John C Wilkinson and Anthony Yates bring everyday lives to centre stage. The show also features the poetic still lives of Jill and Martin Leman. The current President of the RBA, Nicholas Tidnam PRBA NEAC, says he is delighted that ‘the RBA will have its first show in Winchester’. Founded in 1823, the RBA’s first members were among the most famous artists of the time. In 1887, under the leadership of James McNeill Whistler, the society was granted ‘Royal’ status by Queen Victoria. In the following years, many other well-known artists joined including Walter Sickert, Philip de Laszlo, LS Lowry and Henry Moore. Among the honorary members were French impressionist Claude Monet and Belgian figurative artist, Alfred Stevens. Nicholas Tidnam declares: ‘The RBA continues to represent some of the best British figurative artists.’ In addition to professional artists, the RBA recognises individuals who have achieved a high degree of respect and recognition for their artistic work. Distinguished among them is the writer and broadcaster Andrew Marr who has had a lifelong love of drawing and painting. In A Short Book about Painting, he writes: ‘The thought and passion and work that goes into an oil painting can be caught on its dried surface – and then released, time and time again, as energy to the viewer.’ The Minster Gallery is situated off The Square in the heart of Winchester, Hampshire. It is open from 10am until 5.30pm, Monday to Saturday, and otherwise by appointment. For more information, please contact The Minster Gallery on 01962 877601 or visit: www.minstergallery.com

The Portable Antiquities Scheme - Katie Hinds Thursday 12 April, 7.30 (In association with the Friends of the Curtis Museum & Allen Gallery) Free

Adult Workshop Origami Lilies with Sachiko Mason - 19 April, 11.00 am – 2.00 pm Sachiko will teach you the basic techniques for folding origami paper into 3D lilies, which can then be made into your own beautiful bouquet. British Sign Language users are also welcome. £15 per person, pre-booking essential.

The History of Mill Court Geoff Hawkins - Thursday 26 April, 7.30. Head Gardener at Mill Court for 35 years, Geoff shows how the garden developed through history. Tickets £5 from the Gallery.

Children’s Workshops & Activities Make & Take - 3 April, 11am – 1pm, and 2pm – 4pm Drop in and make an Easter-themed creation to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult. £3 per activity pack.

Allen Gallery - Exhibitions

Children’s Clay Workshop 10 April, 11am – 1pm Join tutor Deborah Woodland in making your own Fairy Door or Monster Cave. Children must be accompanied by an adult. £7 per child; pre-booking essential.

Allen Gallery - Talks

The Gurkha Connection Project 9 March – 26 April This exhibition will celebrate and commemorate over 200 years of the relationship between the Gurkhas and the British Army. It is the culmination of a project which has seen local young people take a leading role in its research and development, demonstrating strong links to the Gurkhas and the local Nepali community. Free

for their unique ability to capture and paint light. The exhibition will also feature Nicholas Tidnam who has a very accurate sense of colour. Visitors will be able to see distinctive landscapes and seascapes by Malcolm Ashman, Sue Campion and Stephen Brown and discover light through interiors in John Spakes’ work.

Curtis Museum

Stained Glass in Detail 6 – 28 March - An exhibition of photographs by Michael Sleigh showing interesting details captured I church stained glass windows. Free

Local History Open Day 10 March, 11am – 4pm Join our local historian in the Local Studies Area and delve into a wealth of information about local people, buildings and businesses in Alton and the surrounding Villages. FREE – donations welcome.

From the Hampshire Hangers and Hills 31 March – 27 April - An exhibition of new work by illustrator Rachel Hudson Free

The Curtis Museum &Allen Gallery, Alton (01420 82802) www.hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk Hours are Tues-Sat, Gallery 10.30 - 4.30, Museum 10 – 5

•24/7 access •Sizes to suit your needs •Short or long term •Easy to find, easy to use •On your doorstep

PR AERIALS DIGITAL TV & SATELLITE SPECIALIST

Paul Rolfe

01962 771993 www.barn-store.co.uk

Free Quotes • Service & Repairs • Full Year Guarantee on parts • OAP Discounts TV installations considered • Freeview achieved where others have failed

Holden Farm Cheriton SO24 0NX

T. 01420 80650

M. 07918 913194

Alresford Floors Luxury Vinyl Tiles: Amtico, Spacia Karndean, Polyflor Rubber Flooring Carpet Tiles

Solid Wood Engineered Wood Wood Floor Sanding Wood Floor Repair

For an appointment to discuss your requirements, please call

Tel: 01962 732643 or Mob: 07734 459748 www.alresfordfloors.co.uk Approved Amtico Installer & NVQ Certified

Barnes & Liddiard Electrical Contractors Limited All aspects of electrical work undertaken Fully compliant to part ‘P’ of the building regulations

Domestic Commercial Industrial Garden Lighting

Tel: 01962 733272 JOYCE & BROS

CJ The Plumber

Colin Joyce • Reliable friendly service • Repairs or installation • Kitchen, bathroom, shower • Outside tap, cold water • Storage cisterns, taps, WC • No call out charge

01962 776545

Domestic plumbing

Adrian Cobb Plumbing & Heating M: 07774 979 325 T: 01962 735354

No job too small – No call out charge Free quotations available ALL ASPECTS OF PLUMBING & HEATING Reliable local plumber

Painters & Decorators • Gutter Clearing 01962 735273 07767 711497

joycebrospainters@btinternet.com

H OME I SSU E 1 37 | MAR CH

STORAGE made easy

ROPLEY SHOWROOM Searle & Taylor House The Dene, Ropley Hampshire SO24 0BH T: 01962 850 851

D E SI G N • I N NOVATIO N • CR AF TMANS H IP

w w w.se a r le - t a y lor.co. uk

WINCHESTER SHOWROOM 19 Southgate Street Winchester Hampshire SO23 9EB T: 01962 850300