Meon Valley Forum - Issue 95 - October 2023

BISHOP'S WALTHAM / MEON VALLEY

Bishop's Waltham – Price Guide £515,000 Freehold

Superbly situated detached home, lying within a small bespoke cul-de-sac setting, perfectly positioned just a short distance from the town centre. Inside, the house has a lovely traditional layout, with a double aspect sitting room, stylish kitchen/dining room, utility and cloakroom. Upstairs, there is an attractive galleried landing, three bedrooms, en-suite and family bathroom. Outside, a good sized driveway, garage and enclosed rear garden. EPC: B

Bishop's Waltham – Price Guide £600,000 Freehold

Attractive detached family home, lying in a desirable residential cul-de-sac location within easy reach of Bishop's Waltham and the town centre. The property, completed during 2022 offers a perfect blend of design and comfort, incorporating spacious modern living, together with a stylish fitted kitchen/dining room, utility room and bathrooms. There are four bedrooms and the ground floor is completed with the useful addition of a separate study. Outside, the property enjoys a pleasing front aspect along with a generous sized garden. There is a driveway alongside the house, parking and garage. No forward chain. EPC: B

VALLEY ESTATE & LETTINGS AGENTS

Durley – Price Guide £875,000 Freehold

A fabulous detached period home, within approximately 0.3 of an acre in a desirable semi-rural location in the village of Durley. The property has a wealth of character and period features which have been sympathetically preserved and enhanced with more recent refurbishment and extension. Inside, the ambience of this beautiful home offers the perfect blend of tradition and modern living with light and generously proportioned accommodation. Well stocked landscaped gardens, great sized parking area along with a second gated entrance and garage. EPC: C

Editor Mark Tubb editor@forumpublications.co.uk

Director of Advertising

Steve Walker stevewalker@forumpublications.co.uk

Advertising Manager Mandy Head mandyhead@forumpublications.co.uk

Accounts accounts@forumpublications.co.uk

Contributors

Feature Writer Mica Bale

Forum Publications Offices New Farm Road, Alresford, SO24 9QE Tel: 01962 735137 www.forumpublications.co.uk

The Meon Valley Forum contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. Meon 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. Meon Valley Forum magazine content does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or recommendations of its creators and any reliance upon its content is taken at the user’s sole risk. Adverts designed by Forum Publications remain the magazine's legal ownership. Readership figures calculated on an average national statistic of 2.5 readers per household © Forum Publications Ltd, 2023

Price includes

installations and a fully comprehensive 10 year insurance backed warranty

Any 3 Windows

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Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture

One of the UK's top reviewed kitchen companies on Houzz

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

We have never had less than a 5 star review and have won the HOUZZ best

of service award every year since it has been running. The staff at HOUZZ reference us to other companies as to how customer service should be done. Many of our customers have used us 2 or 3 times due to moving house or tackling other projects in their existing houses. We do not have a template for design and take a fresh approach with every customer. It is important to take all the best ideas a customer has, then bring in the experience we have to offer, and often our ideas will be completely different to any other companies as we are innovative and bespoke. We often hear that customers have had designs and quotes that all look the same, are boring and unexciting, yet expensive. This is because most high street ‘kitchen designers’ are

just salespeople with no idea on how a kitchen works.

So whether you need an amazing kitchen, utility, bedroom, coffee bar with custom pod storage, office, media wall or living room storage we can help. The design visits are free of charge, and we can quote on the same day. Also Ben loves design, so often at no extra charge, he will help you choose paint colours, light fittings, bar stools, artwork and can even recommend great pots and pans.

T: 01489 339177

W: happykitchens.uk

Kitchen makeovers

Make your OLD kitchen a NEW kitchen for a fraction of the cost of buying a new kitchen

We also do kitchen makeovers

We manufacture our doors to order to bespoke sizes, so it doesn't matter who made your kitchen we have the sizes to fit.

Whether you want to just change your doors, or change everything you can see on the face, we can utilise your existing units, and change all the trims and panels, just like in the photos above, yes that really was a makeover, with a couple of small changes.

Call us today for a free of charge home visit.

Happy Kitchens are quite unique as we are able to offer top quality products, available in any size, fitted by the best professionals in the business. Change your kitchen and bedroom with a makeover or design and install a new kitchen and bedroom, whichever suits your needs or price range.

Please follow us on our new

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FACEBOOK PAGE

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Our NEW, improved Facebook page is completely focused on the Meon Valley area. If you are a follower of our old Forum Publications Facebook page, don't forget to change over to our new page as the old page will removed in the coming months.

Our NEW page will be much more informative and will feature

• Forthcoming community events and news for the area

• Announcements from local groups, clubs and societies

• Interesting news features

• Promotions and offers from local trades and businesses.

So keep in touch with your local area with the Meon Valley Forum Magazine

How we can help: disputes over property

Disputes over property can present a complex mix of legal, financial, practical and personal factors. Our property litigators, who are also members of the Property Litigation Association, have experience of acting for landowners, landlords and tenants in residential, commercial and agricultural property cases. Between them we also have experience of acting in cases at all levels from the County Court up to the Court of Appeal. We also work with property management companies, professional investors and private individuals.

Our property litigation experience includes:

• Boundary and land disputes, right of way actions, restrictive covenants, adverse possession and estoppel claims

• Removing trespassers

• Commercial landlord and tenant disputes: dilapidation claims, lease renewals, rent claims and termination of leases (including forfeiture proceedings)

• Residential landlord and tenant disputes: possession proceedings, rent arrears, breach of covenant claims

• Co-ownership disputes

If you have any of the above issues, please do get in touch to see how we can help on 01730 268211 or see our website for more information www.macdonaldoates.co.uk

MacDonald Oates Solicitors Walltree Court, St Peter's Road, Petersfield, GU32 3HT Phone: 01730 268211

www.macdonaldoates.co.uk

Ben Greaves Associate

Patrick Jenkins Head of litigation

Practical. Accurate. Friendly.

Life doesn’t stand still. Some events you can predict, plot and carefully plan for. Others come out of the blue and send you reeling. Whatever you’re facing, we’re here to help.

WARNER AND RICHARDSON LLP ARE INDEPENDENT SOLICITORS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC CITY OF WINCHESTER.

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Local to Stockbridge, Claudia Bradby has been reinventing the pearl for over 20 years. Sold in John Lewis, Fenwick and many independent jewellery stores and boutiques (including David Mellor and Sass and Edge) her designs are highly collectable. Her sample sale is a highlight of the run-up to Christmas with beautiful pieces available at cost price.

www.claudiabradby.com

Claudia Bradby Jewellery

Halloween Events

7 - 29 October

Pumpkin Time at Sunnyfields Farm

Head to Sunnyfields farm this Autumn to view and take pictures with the wonderful variety of pumpkins on display and create happy memories with loved ones down on the farm. There will be thousands of pumpkins, squash and other cucurbits to pop into your wheelbarrow and purchase. Take them home to carve, paint, or decorate your home into an autumnal space! All tickets must be bought in advance and you can change your timeslot up to 24 hours before, via the website. www.sunnyfields.co.uk/Events

13 - 29 October

The Rogate Pumpkin Patch

Rogate Pumpkin Patch and all its wonders returns this Autumn. The annual pumpkin-themed outdoors event will magically reappear this October. At the family-run farm, nestled beautifully in the South Downs National Park, in Rogate, Hampshire. More than a pick your own, Rogate Pumpkin Patch is a wonderful world of everything spooky and pumpkin. Slade Lane, Rogate, Petersfield Hampshire, GU31 5EG www.rogatepumpkinpatch.com

20 - 30 October

Science Spooktacular at Winchester Science

Centre & Planetarium

This trick or treat season will be full of science treats! We're swapping spooky scares for frightfully fun science. And, every day during October half term (20th to 30th October) we'll be hosting the mini monster disco at 4pm in Science Live!

Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium, Telegraph Way, Winchester, SO21 1HZ

www.winchestersciencecentre.org

21 -29 October

Wizard Week at the Watercress Line

The Watercress Line transforms into a place of magic and mischief for Halloween! Children of all ages are invited to dress up as their favourite scary character –little monsters, ghosts, witches and wizards are welcome. There are prizes to be won at the fancy dress competition, to be held each day – with three age categories: Under 4s – 'Brand New Wizards' 4 to 8 year olds –'Emerging Wand Talent' Overs 8s – 'Potion Masters'. Spine-tingling treats are in store. Mid Hants Railway, Station Road, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 9JG www.watercressline.co.uk

22, 26 & 29 October

Funland Hayling Island

Fright Night Fireworks

Funland Hayling Island have 3 nights of mischievous merriment

in sore this year. This Halloween at Funland, they’ve doubled up on gore! A Pumpkin patch for the little ones to carve a face or two.

All the fear of the fair where the clowns entertain you. Then there’s an old asylum and the spirits roam at night waiting in the shadows to give you a fright.

But last but not least there’s regen labs… and eternal youth. At least that’s what their patients thought…. If you only knew the truth. So come along to Funland for a night of fear and dread but watch out because you never know where you might lose your head! Admission from 4.30pm Event time 5pm -9pm. End the night with a bang with our best Firework display yet. Funland Hayling Island, The Seafront, Hayling Island, PO11 0AG www.funland.info/special-events/

27 - 28 October

Owl-O-Ween at Hawk Conservancy Trust

Prepare yourself and your little ones for a wickedly spook-tacular family evening this Halloween. You can enjoy some ghostly storytelling and marvel at our owls as they put on a beautiful flying display against the backdrop of our moonlit grounds. There'll be an opportunity to independently explore our grounds and see our birds in their homes, following spooky moonlit trails between the two flying displays of the evening.

We'll introduce you to a range of mystical owls from our native Barn Owls to larger species such as Great Grey Owls and a Verreaux's Eagle-Owl! All children must be accompanied by a full paying adult. Dressing up is encouraged! FUNDRAISING EVENT – Your ticket will support the charitable work of the Hawk Conservancy Trust. Tickets: £21.50 - includes hot dog or burger, spooky treat and hot drink. Hawk Conservancy Trust Visitor Centre, Weyhill, Andover, SP11 8DY. www.hawkconservancy.org/events/owl-oween/

31 October Halloween Thrills and Fire Show at Itchen Valley Country Park

An evening of thrilling entertainment is planned for Halloween Night including a fire show, LED Hula Hooping demonstration, thriller dance workshop, courtyard games and marshmallow toasting. Hot dogs can be pre-booked and collected upon arrival. The cafe will be open selling hot drinks and snacks until 8.30pm. For adults and children 7+ years. Cost £8 per person. From 5.30 to 9pm. Itchen Valley Country Park Allington LnEngland, SO30 3HQ www.itchenvalley.co.uk/ whats-on/halloween-thrills-andfire-show

Maia's Flowers

Hi I'm Maia, I have been a florist for 7 years. I trained in Convent Garden, London also worked in London designing flowers for high end hotels. 5 years ago I relocated to Hampshire and opened my own shop in the small village of Selbourne. I have loved doing floristry for the community there, but as the business grew we needed a bigger premises to showcase our flowers and my passion for interior design so we opened our NEW shop on Lavant Street in Petersfield.

We can't wait to share this with you all, so why not pop in for a mooch, we look forward to seeing you soon!

Maia’s Flowers, Lavant Street, Petersfield, GU32 3EW

facebook: Maias-Flowers

Tel: 01730 719971

email:maiasflowers@outlook.com

Opening Times

Monday - Friday - 9am to 5pm

Saturday - 9am to 4pm, Sunday - Closed

Bishop's Waltham

Bishop's Waltham is a medieval market town situated at the source of the River Hamble in Hampshire, England. It has a foot in the South Downs National Park and is home to the ruins of Bishop's Waltham Palace, a Scheduled Ancient Monument under English Heritage management, and a wellpreserved high street with many listed buildings which now house independent shops.

Bishop's Waltham's long history includes a roll call of Medieval and Tudor kings and queens who visited the town to stay at the palace. The name of the town is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words: "wald" (forest) and "ham" (settlement).

Modern day Bishop's Waltham has a population of over 6,723 and is the largest settlement in the Winchester district outside the city itself.

The town's name comprises three parts 'walt' – forest; 'ham' – settlement'; and 'Bishop's'. It started off as a very early Anglo-Saxon settlement between 450 and 550 AD, and steadily grew to become one of Hampshire's largest villages, despite being burnt to the ground by Danes in 1001 AD. By the time of the Domesday book (1086 AD), it had a population of around 600 living in 115 households - at the time, the 11th largest settlement in Hampshire. In 904, King Edward the Elder (King Alfred's son) exchanged it with Denewulf, Bishop of Winchester, for the Bishop's estate at Portchester. In 1136 Henry de Blois, a later bishop, built a new church and in 1158 started the now-ruined Bishop's Waltham Palace. It was destroyed on the orders of Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. Much of the old Palace is still in the town. Apart from the ruins, which are open to the public, material from the Palace was used as building materials in town buildings still standing to this day.

William of Wykeham died in the town, while after the Battle of Trafalgar, some 200 French officers including Admiral Villeneuve were imprisoned there.

During the 19th century, Bishop's Waltham was a successful market town,

being home to several agricultural suppliers, merchants and a cattle market. The town also had a large brickworks to its north, along with a gasworks that provided town gas for lighting and heating the town. The town had a large enough working population by the late 19th century to support a Working Men's Institute, which occupied an ornate brick building on Bank Street, which remained open until 2003, when it was converted into housing. Bishop's Waltham was home to Gunner and Company, which was the last provincial private bank in the United Kingdom.

The brickworks was a major employer in Bishop's Waltham. The works began as the Bishop's Waltham Clay Company, founded by Arthur Helps in 1862. The works, sited west of the town centre across the former palace's fishponds, was on a highly geologically suitable site: both the major clay types of the Hampshire Basin – the London Clay and Reading Formation beds – were present at different but easily accessible levels. The company started making clay bricks and tiles, and in 1864 began making terracotta architectural and homeware products to try to compete with the established Staffordshire potteries. Arthur Helps invested the works' minimal profits and much of his own fortune in building new housing for workers (creating the district of Newtown south of the brickworks in the process) and the unsuccessful attempt to build the Bishops Waltham Railway (see below). Economic recession finally caused the collapse of the business in 1867. The defunct works was acquired by the Blanchard family of London, already owners of a terracotta works in Lambeth, and restarted operations in 1871. In 1880 the Bishop's Waltham Clay Company was merged with Blanchard & Co., which made Bishop's Waltham the centre of its new operation and invested heavily in the works.

Blanchard terracotta made at Bishop's Waltham became world-famous for

its even bright red colour and rare combination of hard, smooth external texture and great strength.

Buildings using Blanchard terracotta include Buckingham Palace and the Natural History Museum, London, plus buildings as far away as Peru and Egypt. Blanchard continued to produce various types of brick and tile at Bishops Waltham as well, which were used extensively on railway construction and other civil engineering projects in the county. Both the Hockley Railway Viaduct and Privett railway tunnel on the Meon Valley Railway – each the longest of their type in Hampshire – used Blanchard bricks. Much of the Victorian housing stock in Newton, Waltham Chase, Swanmore and as far afield as Southampton and Portsmouth is made from bricks fired at Bishop's Waltham. In 1918 the Blanchard brothers, lacking heirs to pass the business to, sold the works to the prominent Southampton-based builders' merchants Elliott Brothers. They continued to run the business throughout the inter-war period but the relatively small scale of the Bishop's Waltham works, the lack of room for expansion and the dwindling amount of viable clay deposits on the site caused a decline in fortunes. There was also competition from larger brickworks in the Midlands owned by the London Brick Company, making more bricks each day than the Blanchards works made in a year (1.5 million bricks and 650,000 tiles in 1956) meant that the operation became increasingly unviable. The site received major bomb damage during the Second World War and Elliotts closed the Bishop Waltham works (still widely known as 'Blanchards') in 1957. The site is now the Claylands industrial estate and business park –there is still an Elliotts builders' merchant branch on the former brickworks site.

Copy courtesy of Wikipedia

WELLER PATRICK

DUNDRIDGE

Asking Price £1,575,000

A fabulous country property in a sought after location. The whole extends to approximately 2.4 acres in all. The property is pleasantly situated in the small hamlet of Dundridge which is within Bishops Waltham Parish and also within the South Downs National Park.

MEON VALLEY - SOBERTON

Asking Price £1,275,000

A superb five bedroom house of approximately 3000 sq ft which offers extensive and flexible accommodation. The property enjoys a sought after location with attractive lawned gardens and grounds of approximately .43 of an acre.

High Street, Bishops Waltham, SO32 1AA

T: 01489 893555 E: info@wellerpatrick.co.uk

W: wellerpatrick.co.uk

BISHOP'S WALTHAM

Asking Price £650,000

A most attractive town centre character property located in a very pretty street in the country town of Bishops Waltham and within just a short stroll to the high street. The property is superbly presented and recently improved.

MEONSTOKE

Asking Price £950,000

Situated in the highly sought after village of Meonstoke and within the South Downs National Park is this detached individual property with an attractive garden and deceptively spacious accommodation. Viewing Recommended.

WALTHAM CHASE

Asking Price £1,150,000

A large individual edge of village property set in extensive gardens and grounds of approximately 1.3 acres. Offering spacious accommodation with generous room sizes and a detached garage, workshop and cloakroom with planning to convert to an annex.

Waltham and surrounding villages

CURDRIDGE

Asking Price £625,000

Within a sought after location and a with a large garden is this spacious character house offering three bedrooms, sitting room, family area, large open plan kitchen/dining room, double garage, garden office and summerhouse.

Fabulous open air public exhibition depicting Bishop’s Waltham’s history through the ages.

raiders and Norman depravations. The 34 metal posters adorn some of the hoarding boards installed by developers Country Homes Ltd. They shield a prospective building site along the busy B2177, from Sainsbury’s to the town square.

Officially opening the Waltham walk-along on Saturday was former resident Alan Lovell, chairman of both the Environment Agency and Hampshire Cultural Trust.

The public exhibition was the brainwave of Bishop’s Waltham Society president, Tony Kippenberger, who designed the posters, aided by archaeologist and Bishop’s Waltham Museum Manager, Penny Copeland. A local artist, Chris Beardshaw, provided many of the illustrations.

Bishop’s Waltham’s long history is showcased in a unique series of outdoor storyboards. The 10,000 year timeline covers the Stone Age to the destruction of the Bishop’s Palace during the Civil War, and as a public exhibition it delivers a fascinating picture of the small market town in bite-sized portions.

In its heyday, the palace was visited by no fewer than 17 Kings and Queens of England. But the posters also tell of Saxon settlement, Viking

Bishop's Waltham Society

Funding has been a real example of local community group and government partnership. Equal sponsorship was provided by the BW Society, the Museum Trust, the Town Team, Hampshire County Council, Winchester City Council and BW Parish Council. Other supporters were Country Homes and poster manufacturers Big Stuff Ltd, of Eastleigh. The storyboards will remain in place until the

Barbara and Brenda were about seven and five when they first set step in Bishop’s Waltham. Their mother was very poorly after a difficult home birth with their younger sister, Jenny. For the children it was a magical experience.

‘’We were two little boisterous city girls from poor parts of London SE1 – slums really,’’ recalls Barbara.

‘’Five of us lived in two rooms on the fifth floor of a block of flats. There was no lift and the stone stairs had no lights on the landings. They were running alive with mice and rats.

Country Homes site is developed, and have been designed so they can then be removed and exhibited elsewhere. They can also be shifted to make way for viewing panels of an archaeological dig, due to take place before any building begins.

It is hoped the project will boost tourism and intrigue residents, giving them a sense of pride at living in such a special place. The work can be shared with schools in a variety of ways, and can also be rolled out to other interested organisations.

Tony Kippenberger said: ‘’Bishop’s Waltham is a place where many aspects of its past are only vaguely remembered.

‘’I’m keen to give local residents – particularly those new to the town – a real sense of where they live and what its long history is.

‘’At school we learn about the Romans, Saxons and Normans, but we are often left with the sense that they ‘happened’ elsewhere.

‘’So I hope that through this exhibition we can show that these real people, from Stone Age hunter-gatherers to Norman invaders, didn’t happen elsewhere. They lived, worked, loved and laughed right here, and we walk in their footsteps every day.’’

of times, by which time they had moved home, possibly to Oak Road.

The sisters recall: ‘’We were great friends with Ruth and Christine while we were there.

‘’We think they were around our ages and showed us great kindness and were very sharing with their possessions, including sharing their hats with us for Sunday School.

Two sisters who enjoyed life-changing childhood holidays in Bishop’s Waltham, recently took a trip down Memory Lane. Some sixty years ago, Barbara Sadler and Brenda Pettitt, nee Daniels, were sent to stay with the Madgewick family. They are now eager to trace any surviving members of the family. The visit was organised by charitable organisation, the Blackfriars Settlement, as an escape from their London poverty. Victor, the head of the Madgewick family, was probably a lay preacher, had a partial false leg and drove a Robin Reliant three-wheeler.

He and his wife, Gwen, had three children, Ruth, Christine and baby Elizabeth. They lived in a large house with outside loo, next to a small chapel where Victor took services and Gwen ran biblereading sessions.

‘’We were then sent to the beautiful market town of Bishop’s Waltham with lots of trees and open spaces, to a very welcoming, loving family who ran their lives in a totally different way to us.’’

Barbara, who now lives in Southampton, hadn’t thought about her time in Bishop’s Waltham for years until, by chance, on an excursion she spotted the name on a signpost. This triggered a quest to revisit her past, and led to her contacting the Bishop’s Waltham Society to help trace the Madgewick home and chapel.

After consulting with Penny Copeland, curator of Bishop’s Waltham Museum, it is thought they were located in Basingswell Street where the Christian Fellowship building is now housed. That area changed hugely in the late 1960s when the car park was built. Brenda – who now lives in Norfolk – and Barbara visited the Madgewicks another couple

‘’We were never encouraged to have them as pen pals or write thank you letters when at home.’’ They also remember a summer school ran by Gwen and Victor in a large field with tents, and lots of games and competitions. And Brenda’s over-riding memory of Victor is his telling her that roses ate banana skins – she ventured out to the garden every day to see if some had been nibbled. Barbara believes the summer breaks had a profound impact on her. She has three daughters, and modelled her parenting on the style of the Madgewicks. The sisters recently made a nostalgic visit to Bishop’ Waltham to try and track down their past. A very fond memory was of Madeline’s sweet shop in the High Street but everything was a little hazy due to the many years that had passed. They would be delighted to find out if any residents remember them, and would love to meet up with any of the three Madgewick children.

If you can help, please contact info@ bishopswalthamsociety.org.uk.

Brenda (left) and Barbara have a break at Josie’s while visiting the past.

Parish Council Venues For Hire In Bishop’s Waltham

Whether you are hosting a celebration, unique event or organising a workshop or exercise class, Bishop's Waltham Parish Council's facilities are at your service to provide an ideal venue.

The Jubilee Hall (Little Shore Lane, SO32 1ED)

Nestled in the heart of town, The Jubilee Hall offers versatile spaces: Gold Room: Our most spacious room, hosting up to 250 people. A flexible space with stage, projector and large screen available. Ruby Room: Perfect for more intimate gatherings and smaller events, classes or meetings, hosting up to 40 people. This room is equipped with a hearing loop.

Kitchen: Fully-equipped and accessible from either room.

The Priory Park Clubhouse (Elizabeth Way, SO32 1SQ)

Hosting up to 125 people, this versatile space will comfortably accommodate gatherings, parties, or activities. The Clubhouse also has its own modern kitchen ready for your use.

You can find more information and hire rates on our website: www.bishopswaltham-pc.gov.uk

Equipment & Facilities Available

Wi-Fi: Our free Wi-Fi will keep you and your attendees connected throughout your event.

Table Tennis: Fancy a game? We have three table tennis tables, available for use at Priory Park.

Badminton Nets: Make the most of The Jubilee Hall's space with our two badminton nets.

Portable Skittle Alley: Fabulous for entertaining your guests (available for use in the Ruby Room).

Microphone & Amplifying Equipment: Perfect for announcements and presentations.

Parking & Toilet Facilities: Available at all venues.

Booking Information: To secure your chosen venue, inquire about availability, or learn more about our facilities, please contact us: Phone: 01489 892323 Email: halls@bishopswaltham-pc.gov.uk

Our dedicated team is here to assist you in planning your event and utilising our facilities to their fullest potential.

Bishops Waltham Parish Council bishopswalthamparishcouncil

Debbie, Nicki and the team in Pearsons Bishop’s Waltham are pleased to welcome Martha Harrington as a newly appointed member of the sales team. Martha brings with her an abundance of enthusiasm and passion to assisting clients to move home and looks forward to meeting, all clients, past, present and future. If you are thinking of moving, please take the opportunity to call into our offices in Cross Street. Look forward to seeing you!

mail@villagegarage.co.uk

FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1973 BUILT ON GREAT SERVICE & VALUE FOR MONEY

Please visit our website for all the latest news, information, second-hand machines for sale and special offers in the showroom.

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.

Tel: 01962 771800

steve.cann@btconnect.com www.georgecanngardenmachinery.co.uk

Harko: 07710 502798

Tom: 07855 656984

www.bosque international.co.uk

LACEYS FARM, BRAMDEAN, ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE, SO24 0JT

Titchfield Christmas Barn will be running a Craft Fair from 17th November to 17th December

www.facebook.com/groups/355867425478786

We will be selling Local Hampshire Christmas trees from mid-November

Silversprings Santa Grotto Opening Times

2nd December - 10am to 4pm

3rd December - 10am to 2pm

9th December - 10am to 4pm

10th December - 10am to 2pm

15th December - 10am to 4pm

16th December - 10am to 4pm

17th December - 10am to 2pm

£14.99 per child includes gift and hot chocolate voucher (£10 under 2's)

Slots will be every 15 minutes to avoid queues.

Full non refundable payment required to secure.

Bookable on a first come first served basis

Walk-ins welcome if available

Sunday 10th December 10am-11am

SEN session only

Email: office@silverspringsgc.co.uk, Call: 01329 842114 or pop in store to book.

office@silverspringsgc.co.uk

@SilverSprings.Garden.Centre

www.silverspringsgc.co.uk

Home & Garden Furniture in stock or available to pre-order FREE local delivery

Breakfast | Brunch | Lunch | Afternoon Tea

Private hire now available in our fully licensed coffee lounge

the_summerhouse_coffee_lounge

SummerHouse2022

summerhouse-restaurant.co.uk

New St Swithun’s Prep Head Liz Norris reflects on first few weeks

children engaged in their daily activities and to feel the pulse of the school.

An early highlight was observing a history lesson in the Year 2 classroom. It was the first day back at school for these young learners, yet they were enthusiastic and engaged throughout. It is a testament to the quality of education and the nurturing environment that St. Swithun's provides that the girls were so keen to learn in their new classroom, under the guidance of their new teachers.

It is abundantly clear that learning is at the heart of St. Swithun's and that it is a place where both students and staff thrive. The passion for education that I have witnessed in both our students and our dedicated staff excites me. We are a community that values knowledge, curiosity, and growth, and I am committed to fostering this culture even further.

Liz Norris - Head of Prep

As I step into my role as the new Head of Prep here at St. Swithun's, I find myself reflecting upon these first few weeks. It has been an absolute privilege to join this vibrant community and I am keen to share my initial thoughts and experiences.

One of the most inspiring aspects of my initial days here has been the opportunity to witness the school in action, to see the

It is very evident that music holds a special place in this community and another wonderful moment I have experienced multiple times is when the entire school comes together to sing as one. The harmonious sound is truly beautiful and looking out to see everyone singing together has been very moving.

The sense of community at St. Swithun's is more than just a concept; I have read a lot about the importance placed on community at the school, but in these past few weeks, I have truly lived and breathed it. From conversations with parents to interactions with students, I have seen the genuine care and concern that permeates every corner of this school.

As we move forward, I am excited about the journey that lies ahead. Together, we will continue to nurture the minds and hearts of our students, providing them with an education that not only equips them with knowledge but also develops character, builds resilience, and fosters a love for learning.

If you are a parent or guardian interested in looking around, we would love to show you everything that St Swithun’s Prep has to offer. Please contact prepadmissions@ stswithuns.com for more information.

St Swithun’s School

Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 1HA

T: 01962 587115

www.stswithuns.com

SKIN & BEAUTY EXPERTS

FIRM

Before After Before After

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Western Court, Bishop's Sutton, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0AA

SKIN & BEAUTY EXPERTS

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Western Court, Bishop's Sutton, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0AA

Western Court, Bishop's Sutton, Alresford, Hampshire, SO24 0AA

October/November Events

Wickham Beer Festival

Saturday 7 October

All day event

Wickham Community Centre, Mill Lane, Wickham, Fareham, PO17 5AL

Wickham Charity Beer Festival is held twice a year in Wickham Community Centre, Hampshire. Our beer festivals have over 30 locally-brewed beers and ciders with delicious food and lively entertainment throughout the day. Since 2008 we have, with your help, raised nearly £170,000 for both local and national charities. Our next beer festival with a wide variety of beers, live music, and a delicious BBQ. We look forward to seeing you all there. For tickets visit: www. wickhambeerfestival.co.uk/tickets/

Hambledon Folk ClubJohn Kirkpatrick

Wednesday 11 October

Starts 8.30pm (doors open 8pm)

The Youth Hut (between Village Hall and Vine Pub), West Street, Hambledon PO7 4RW

We are delighted to welcome back to the club John Kirkpatrick after the postponement of his appearance in January. John enthralled us with his wonderful Christmas show a few years ago. A master of the button accordion, Anglo concertina, and melodeon, John performs traditional songs and tunes, as well as his own brilliant compositions, with amazing verve and energy. Email (reservations and info):folkclubhambledon@ hotmail.co.uk Tel (reservations and info): 023 9263 2719

Bishop's Waltham Photographic Society Photography Exhibition

Thursday 12 to Saturday 14 October

From 9am to 5pm

United Free Church, Basingwell Street, Bishop's Waltham, SO32 1AL

association with and supported by Pearsons, Jenny Bird and DSX Fitness.

Bishop's Waltham Bites!

Saturday 14 October

From 11am to 3pm

Various locations around Bishop's WalthamSee www.lovebishopswaltham.com

Back By Popular Demand! Ticket Sale Information On Posters Around The Town And On Www.lovebishopswaltham.com Or email: bishopswaltham townteam2@gmail.com for more information

Meon Valley Oktoberfest

Saturday 14 October

From midday to 5pm

Meon Valley Hotel & Country Club, Sandy Lane Shedfield, Hampshire, SO32 2HQ

Come and drink authentic Germans Beers eating traditional German Bratwurst Sausage while listing to live music from the amazing Paul McDowell. Ticket Price includes a Welcome Shot & Tasty Pretzel on arrival £22.50. Make a night of it, limited hotel rooms available. Events764@ theelitevenueselection.co.uk

Pumpkin Patch at Lower Farm East Meon

Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 October

Various times (see below)

Lower farm, East Meon. GU321EZ

We are really pleased to announce that we have created a little pumpkin patch on the farm this year ready to welcome people in the October half term. We will be running morning and afternoon sessions. Entry is free, pick your own pumpkins. Refreshments available. Spooky face painting, see our farm animals, pumpkin shy, pumpkin naughts and crosses and much much more. To book your places simply get in contact with us to reserve a spot on facebook, email: meonsidemeats@ outlook.com or text 07485 043650. Choose one of the following 2 hour slots: saturday 21st october 10-12.00, saturday 21st october 1315.00, sunday 22nd october 10-12.00, sunday 22nd october 13-15.00. Be quick we have limited availability.

Meon Valley U3A

Another month has gone by, and the Meon Valley U3A goes from strength to strength with our excellent lecture programme. One member wishes to start a scrabble group and we shall follow that up.

Our October lectures are Dr. Jenny Burkett talking on Eye Diseases at 2pm on Tuesday 3rd. of October and on 17 October Jim Busby will talk on the History of Fareham High St. Guests are always welcome to try us out. You may well be pleasantly surprised and wish to join! Jenny tells me that she will be concentrating her talk on macular degeneration as she considers cataracts problems to be well known in the community, but wet and dry macular problems are less well understood. Jim is an excellent speaker, and his talk will certainly be very informative and entertaining. So come along, you will get a warm welcome and a cup of tea! Guests pay £2 to defray speaker costs and our annual sub. is now £15. We also have a pre-loved books table,(the books not the table).

Lyndon (Chairman) - 07881991763

Or lyndonplmr@gmail.com

Or visit web site- u3asites.org.uk/meon-valley

Free Entry. At In

AndrewsAutosource

Carefully Selected Cars

Approved by trading standards

AT BRAMDEAN GARAGE A272 BRAMDEAN WANTED

CARS FOR CASH

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE LACK OF AVAILABLE CARS BELOW, NOW WOULD BE A FANTASTIC TIME TO SELL ANY CAR NOT BEING USED AND GET A GREAT PRICE FOR IT.

The following cars have been carefully selected because of their low mileage, excellent condition and service history.

2019 (19) Honda Jazz 1.3 EX Nav Automatic, 5 door, Sat Nav, front and rear parking sensors rear camera, climate control, cruise control, 22,000 miles, SOLD

2019 (69) Honda Jazz1.3 SE Nav Automatic, 5 door, sat nav, front and rear parking sensors, air conditioning, cruise control, alloy wheels, 14,000 miles, £15,995

2017 (17) Skoda Rapid 1.2 SE Spaceback Sport, Sat nav, parking sensors, moon roof, cruise control, 1 private owner 12,500 miles. £11,495

2014 (14) Audi A1 Sport 5 door, Air conditioning, cruise control, 58,000 miles, £8495

2003 (53) Toyota Corolla T3 1.6 vvti Air conditioning, full service history 66,000 miles SOLD

Viewing by appointment only please

VIEW OUR CURRENT STOCK AT www.andrews-autosource.co.uk/vehicles-for-sale

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CARS HAVE SERVICE HISTORY

BRAMDEAN GARAGE, A272, BRAMDEAN TEL: 07811 041653 OR TEL: 01962 732 995

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

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

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

Visit Town & Country

8 The High Street, Botley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO3O 2EA

Telephone: 01489 536187

Email: sales@town-and-country.co.uk

www.town-and-country.co.uk

Citizens Advice Winchester District

the DVLA’s free online vehicle information checker. You’ll need the registration number, MOT test number, mileage and make/model of the car to do this check.

Also, check the car’s MOT history for free on gov.uk. Keep a copy of both these results (take a screenshot or download the information) as well as the original advert or description of the car. You might also consider getting a private history check to see if the car’s been reported stolen, still has money owing on it, or has been in a serious crash. This will cost about £20.

Godolphin announces top line up for Literary Festival 2023

I need a new car but can’t afford to buy a new one, so I’ve been looking at secondhand options. I’ve heard so many horror stories about people buying cars that turn out to be faulty. I’m worried that I won’t know what to check, especially as I know very little about cars. How can I make sure I don’t buy a dud car?

For many people, buying a car is a major purchase and whether it’s new or second-hand, the process can seem daunting and complicated. But don’t worry, there’s lots of information on the steps to take when buying a car and what you can do afterwards if something goes wrong on the Citizens Advice website.

First, where are you going to buy the car? If you’re buying from a trader, choose a trustworthy one with an established name with a good reputation. Ideally, they will be part of a trade association or follow the industry’s code of practice. If you’re buying via an auction, this is much riskier as you’ll have fewer legal protections like the right to returns or refunds so carefully read the terms and conditions before you bid.

If you buy from a private seller, there’s a few extra steps to take. For instance, try to inspect the car at their home address so if something goes wrong later, you have a record of that. Make sure the car’s details are correct by using

Before buying a car, it’s good to check if it meets emissions standards as it could mean paying extra charges when driving through London’s ULEZ or clean air zones across the UK.

Inspecting the car is crucial before buying. Ideally, do this during the day when it’s not raining (scratches are harder to see on a wet car) and take it for a test drive for at least 15 minutes and on different types of roads, if possible. Check you have the appropriate insurance for a test drive (either your own or the seller’s policy might cover you). Once you’ve decided on a car, don’t be afraid to negotiate on the price. If you take out a loan or finance to buy it, make sure you can afford the repayments over the lifetime of the contract. If you pay with cash, you will have fewer protections than other options like debit.

Often, despite doing all these checks, you might find something wrong with the car after you’ve bought it. You may have a legal right to a repair, the cost of a repair or some money back but it’s on a case-by-case basis and some examples might be the car’s mileage is wrong or the car keeps breaking down.

For more information, check out the Citizens Advice website or call the consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133. Alternatively, you can speak to a local adviser at Citizens Advice Winchester District by calling 0808 278 7861.

The Godolphin Literary Festival is back for a fifth year, bringing to Salisbury a fresh and captivating combination of authors for all ages and tastes. The Literary Festival has always been about encouraging reading and writing for all ages. This year there are inspiring events in the school day for local students to encourage reading for pleasure and two events later in the day open to the wider Salisbury community.

Godolphin is thrilled to announce Gill Hornby as our evening speaker to discuss her latest novel, Godmersham Park, on Wednesday 11 October at 7pm, in the Performing Arts Centre (tickets available here. A journalist surrounded by a family of authors, she was drawn to fiction herself a decade ago – Gill is married to Robert Harris and sister of Nick Hornby –and her stories span subjects from mothers at the school gate to bringing alive Jane Austen’s world and family.

In another event open to all Godolphin Alumna Dolly Jones will be interviewed by Godolphin Sixth students about her writing career on Thursday 12 October at 4.15pm (tickets available here). Dolly edited British Vogue’s digital platform for 15 years before becoming a director of Conde Nast’s entire digital portfolio of glossy magazines. She is soon to publish her first book, an amusing and practical response to returning to the working world when children come into the picture. Godolphin is thrilled to announce that the multi-award-winning children’s author, Katherine Rundell, is coming to talk to children from across Wiltshire about her brand-new series Impossible Creatures and secondary schools are bringing their book clubs to hear Laura Wood talk about her popular historical novels for teenagers. Other events include discovering the story in a painting with Sara Radice, of Godolphin’s own History of Art Dept, and a creative writing session with Christy Lefteri author of the international bestseller, The Beekeeper of Aleppo.

For further information please contact Davina Jones jones@godolphin.org Godolphin, Salisbury. www.godolphin.org

Ally Chatterley, Operations Manager at Citizens Advice Winchester District gives some top tips on buying a second-hand car.

Save our Chalk Streams

Here in Hampshire, we have some of nature’s greatest gems in the form of our local chalk streams. If you love exploring the outdoors, you’ve probably been treated to the idyllic scene they offer: lush green plants drifting in crystal clear water, the serenity broken only by the resident wildlife. Iconic species like the mayfly, kingfisher, and water vole all call these places home.

Chalk streams appear commonplace due to their prevalence in our region, but in reality we’re very lucky – only 210 exist worldwide, and 85% of those are in England. The reason for their rarity is also the source of their special qualities: fed by an underground chalk aquifer, their water is unusually cool, clear, and oxygenated. This makes them wonderful havens for nature.

Sadly, all is not well with these remarkable habitats. Many are failing their ecological health tests, and every single one is in the worst category for chemical standards. The causes are numerous, with over-

abstraction and sewage pollution among them. What’s more, the government’s target for returning the streams to good health is now decades away, in 2063.

When it comes to tackling these issues, legal designations like Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Special Area of Conservation (SAC) can be somewhat helpful. Yet only a small number of England’s chalk streams have such protections, and the existing framework is too narrow to fully address the impact of pressures like housebuilding and agriculture.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust has now launched a campaign to raise awareness about this pressing problem. ‘Save our Chalk Streams’ proposes bespoke legal protections for all chalk streams and greater investment into restoration projects, reduced abstraction, upgraded sewage treatment works, and an expanded system of monitoring and enforcement.

You can play a crucial role in the campaign by completing an e-action that asks your MP to push for change. Our chalk streams

can’t wait 40 years to be healthy, and we need your help – visit www.hiwwt.org.uk/ rivers. You can also support chalk stream conservation through the Watercress and Winterbournes scheme – visit www.hiwwt. org.uk/winterbournes

Free Online Talk

‘Habitat Management in Chalk Stream Fisheries’ 10th October, 7-8pm

As our chalk streams come under mounting pressure, sensitive management is needed to protect the health of these precious habitats. Join us to learn how fisheries can be both a place for people to enjoy and a space for wildlife to thrive.

Book at www.hiwwt.org.uk/events. Our work is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Photograph - River Itchen © Guy Edwardes

SILK SELF STORAGE

SILK SELF STORAGE

SILK SELF STORAGE

SILK SELF STORAGE

SILK SELF STORAGE

Looking for secure storage facilities?

Looking for secure storage facilities?

Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates.

Looking for secure storage facilities?

Looking for secure storage facilities?

Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates.

Looking for secure storage facilities?

Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk

Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk

Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates. Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk

Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates.

Silk Self Storage have a selection of containers and individual units, 24 hour CCTV, easy access, gated entry and based in a friendly rural location offering very competitive rates.

Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk

Contact us on 01962 771815 or email: storage@silkservices.co.uk

T: 01962 735715

Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH email:storage@silkservices.co.uk Tel: 01962 771815

Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH

E: storage@silkservices.co.uk

Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH

T: 01962 771815

E: storage@silkservices.co.uk

T: 01962 771815

Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH

E: storage@silkservices.co.uk

T: 01962 771815

Wood Farm, Bramdean, Hampshire, SO24 0JH

E: storage@silkservices.co.uk

T: 01962 771815

ENQUIRIES@EDDOLLSCARPETS.COM 30 BROAD STREET, ALRESFORD HAMPSHIRE, SO24

2 Medium Individial Panelled Sectional Doors

Two large ribbed smooth sectional doors Solidor Front Door

Tasty Pumpkin Muffins

MAKES 12 MUFFINS

INGREDIENTS

• 220g plain flour

• 1&1/2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

• 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg

• 50g light brown sugar

• 100g caster sugar

• 210g pumpkin purée (cooked and mashed. Alternatively canned purée can be used)

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 2 large eggs (beaten)

• 125g salted butter, melted

• pinch of salt

METHOD

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Take a muffin tray and line with 12 cases. Mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and both sugars together in a large bowl. Break up any lumps of brown sugar by rubbing them between your fingers.

Wisk the beaten eggs and pumpkin purée together until well mixed. Add the dry mix of flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Fold the ingredients into the mixture until they are well mixed. Divide the mix between the 12 muffin cases and sprinkle with lightly pre-roasted (small) pumpkin seeds as decoration if desired.

Bake for 12-15 mins until golden and risen. Skewer the muffins, if the inserted skewer comes out clean the muffins are ready. Pop onto a wire rack to cool completely. The muffins keep for three days in an airtight container.

Nurturing Postmenopausal Skin: Tips for a Radiant Glow

As a GP and an Aesthetics Doctor the number of ladies who have forlornly quipped to me over the years “don’t get old” is overwhelming. A drop in oestrogen during the menopause leads to a range of skin issues, such as dryness, thinning, increased sensitivity, and a loss of elasticity. Additionally, collagen and elastin production slow down, contributing to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. All of this put together means sometimes you don’t recognise the person looking back in the mirror, which can lead to poor self-esteem. I truly believe anyone can have beautiful skin, and armed with some medical grade skincare products, I’m out to prove it!

Hydration is Key: Cleanse and follow up with a moisturizer rich in hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides. These ingredients help lock in moisture and

improve skin's texture. I love Obagi Hydrate or Hydrate Luxe for extra luxurious moisturisation.

Sun Protection:

UV damage can hugely accelerate the aging process. Apply a broadspectrum sunscreen with SPF50 daily to shield your skin from harmful UV rays. It’s never too late to start!

Retinoids:

Retinoids are a powerful tool for addressing fine lines and wrinkles by increasing collagen production. Obagi 1% retinol is a great place to start but higher strengths are available on prescription.

Antioxidants:

Vitamin C helps protect your skin from free radicals, which can contribute to premature aging. Obagi Clarifying Serum also contains hydroquinone, a prescription medication, to help reduce pigmentation. This duo is a powerful combination.

Skincare is a minefield at any time, let alone when your skin is undergoing huge changes. If you want further bespoke advice or guidance on which products to use, I am very happy to help.

Dr Laura Milligan

Optimise Medical – Bishops Waltham and Otterbourne www.optimisemedical.co.uk

Autumn Winter Package 2023

Before After Before After

Package Details

Skin Discovery: Start your package with an in-depth Skin Analysis with our Observ 520 Lamp & Skin Health Practitioner.

Value: £50

Smooth & Protect: Lose the summer skin sun damage with our Chemical Peels, which are bespoke to your skin needs. Protect with an Obagi Sunshield of your choice. Options are two Perfect Peel Superblend or four OBAGI Blue Peel Radiance.

Value: £520

Lift & Sculpt: With the course of four Exilis Radio Frequency to stimulate collagen production and refine the contours.

Value: £1000

Plump & Hydrate: Our Nurse Director will complete the package with a course of 2 Profhilo treatments.

Value: £500

Total Value: £2,070

Package Price: £1,495 Saving £575

“I am so impressed with the results. By far the best treatment and all my friends agree…”

Meon Valley Lions Newsletter

Knowle Village

weather, we did a roaring trade in burgers and sausages which was much appreciated, especially by this young man who wasn’t going to be beaten by one of our jumbo sausages.

To enable us to continue with this support we need to replace our minibus and are in the process of raising funds, so if you’d like to donate to the fund, please click on the link below: Donations - MVLC Minibus Replacement Campaign (peoplesfundraising. com)

Why not join us?

The residents of Knowle Village held their annual ‘Picnic in the Park’ and there was a great turn out. The Meon Valley Lions Club members were happy to support this event and took along their Play Your Cards Right Game, which went down well and there were a couple of lucky winners.

Taste Of Wickham

On Sunday 10th September, the Meon Valley Lions and the intrepid residents were out in force at the Taste of Wickham. Despite the

Bishop's Waltham Society Railway Gate Refurbishment

Minibus

Our trusty minibus was shuttling revellers back and forth from the Taste of Wickham and the park and ride. Its also out several times every week, driven by our members, providing service and aid to many organisations, transporting people to various clubs - to name a few: MV Carers, Wickham Lunch Club, Curdridge Lunch Club, Seated exercise in Shedfield and Opensight. As you can imagine this service is invaluable to many local people.

and the Society offered to foot the bill. Town Team member and former parish councillor, George Westcombe, had the skills to perform the refurb and agreed to take on the challenge. Having undertaken the necessary repairs, George then handed over the project to the Men’s Shed, who stripped and redecorated the gates.

BWS chair, Robin Shepherd, said ‘’This small but important project, to rescue and make good the iconic railway gate, is another great example of the collaboration of BW community groups and Parish Council to deliver an environment that all BW can be proud of.’’

If you’d like to join our merry band of helpers or join us at Meon Valley Lions Club, drop us a line via our website: Meon Valley Lions Club (CIO) - Feedback welcome. It’s not all work, we have plenty of fun too, not least our pub nights on the 3rd Monday of every month. Come and join us.

Date for your diary:

Wickham Beer Festival - The Meon Valley Lions Club’s next event is the Wickham Beer Festival where we’ll be serving burgers and sausages to the revellers on Saturday 7th October.

was to stop the county council from selling off the various railway sections to adjacent landowners, and instead transform it into a public footpath from the town to open countryside.

HCC’s Greenspace Action Project sprang into action, aided by the BWS, who created the attractive entrance. Two redundant level crossing gates and a section of track were sourced, plus two display panels commissioned.

Gradually, over the years, the level crossing entrance disintegrated and was revamped by volunteers in 2000 and then again in 2013 as part of the 150th anniversary of the BW branch line.

A community collaboration between four Bishop’s Waltham organisations has rescued a unique local feature. The Bishop’s Waltham Society, the Parish Council, the Town Team and the Men’s Shed, have rallied together to restore the much loved gates at the entrance to the popular old railway line walk.

Badly eroding and with flaking paintwork, the future looked bleak for the two level crossing structures, adjacent to the Old Station Roundabout.

Both the Parish Council and BWS – which originally installed and maintained the gateswere aware of the seriousness of the problem,

The Bishop’s Waltham railway began life as a single track branch line to Botley in 1863. It was meant to link to Brockbridge near Droxford, then join the Meon Valley line, with access to Alton and London.

However the Brockbridge section was given the chop and the project ran out of steam. The end of the line came for passengers in 1933 and for freight in 1962, after a 99 year run.

Hants County Council acquired the track bed from the Old Station to the parish boundary, for a new road into the town. This again never happened and the railway line became an overgrown wilderness.

The BWS formed in 1986 and an early priority

This stretch of the railway line now forms part of various long distance walks, including the Pilgrims’ Trail and the Monarch’s Way, and is cherished by local ramblers and dog-walkers. The first section from the roundabout to Brooklands Farm is managed by the county council as a nature reserve.

The Bishop’s Waltham Society is proud of its role in kick-starting the original railway line project and its involvement ever since.

If you are interested in joining the Society as a trustee and putting your own stamp on future initiatives, please email info@ bishopswalthamsociety.org.uk

Refurb complete. From left to right, parish councillor Emma McKenzie; Bishop’s Waltham Society chair, Robin Shepherd; Glen Jones of the Men's Shed; George Westcombe from the BW Town Team; parish council chair, Judy Marsh; and Roger Freemantle from the Men's Shed.

Established 1878

Friendly, professional advice on all areas of family law in the centre of Bishop's Waltham. Our friendly family team will do everything possible to guide you through the process and securing the right outcome for you and your family, no matter the situation.

Friendly, professional advice on all areas of family law in the centre of Bishops Waltham

Our friendly family team will do everything possible to guide you through the process and securing the right outcome for you and your family, no matter the situation.

Contact Serhan Handani at sh@bramsdonandchilds.com

Contact Serhan Handani at sh@bramsdonandchilds.com

Our Bishop's Waltham office has moved to: St.George's Square, Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, SO32 1GJ Tel: 01489 888240

Southsea Office

141 Elm Grove, Southsea, Hampshire PO5 1HR Tel: 02392 821251

Fair Oak Office

Unit 10, Vicarage Farm Business Park, Winchester Road, Fair Oak, So50 7HD Tel: 02382 514300

www.bramsdonandchilds.com