Test Valley Forum - Issue 171 - November 2022

FORUM

CONTENTS

The Team

Editor Mark Tubb editor@forumpublications.co.uk

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

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

Advertising Manager Mandy Head mandyhead@forumpublications.co.uk

Accounts accounts@forumpublications.co.uk

Contributors

Lucia Foster-Found www. luciafosterfound.com

Get in Touch

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

www.forumpublications.co.uk

The Test Valley Forum contains facts, views, opinions, statements, recommendations, advertisements and other content and links to external websites not owned or controlled by the magazine. Test 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. Test 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

Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture

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

We have never had less than a 5star

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“HappyKitchens.WOWWOW WOW.Thankyousomuchforgiving usthewowfactorweaskedfor.” The McAdams – June 21

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Everyone needs somewhere to live and whilst prices will rise and fall, there will always be a market driven by personal circumstance.

The steady hand of an experienced estate agent will ensure you get the best out of the market when you need to.

Call Kate Porter - Sales, Claudia Hunt - Lettings or Marishelle Butler - Management on 01264 312832 for that calm and steady hand.

Tel: 01264 312832

info@countryhousecompany.co.uk

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

A Night to Remember

Music lovers are in for a real treat when the Middle Wallop and Andover Military Wives Choir takes to the stage in the stunning surroundings of the Hayward Hall at the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire on the evening of Remembrance Day (11 November).

The choir will be performing their first concert at the Museum since the pandemic and this special Concert of Remembrance is sure to evoke many memories and emotions for those attending. Choir secretary Fliss Stuart said “Acts of Remembrance are incredibly important and poignant to us as a choir. We are therefore honoured to have been asked to perform this special Concert of Remembrance at the Army Flying Museum"

E Q D C

The musical programme will include songs specifically composed for the Military Wives Choirs that feature on their album ‘Remember’, alongside a selection of some of the choirs best-loved songs including contemporary and musical theatre pieces. Guests will also be able to view a special poppy sculpture at the museum created by students from Andover College.

The Military Wives Choirs are a community of nearly 2000 women in over seventy choirs across the UK and internationally who celebrate a love of singing and the power of shared experiences. 2022 marks 10 years since the formation of the charity.

Chief Executive of the Army Flying Museum, Lucy Johnson said “It is so exciting to have a full programme of events at the Museum once again. We are delighted to be hosting the Military Wives Choir this November and hope to make the Concert of Remembrance an annual event where our visitors can join us in an evening of reflection surrounded by the history of Army Aviation”

Tickets are £12 and for further information and to book, visit www.armyflying.com

Kate Porter Sales

Marishelle Butler Management Claudia Hunt Lettings

Very Proud to be Sustainably Stroud

getting a new lease of life with pathway restoration, seating areas and hedgerows. Other areas are being left to recover organically as part of a wider rewilding effort, while a newly-constructed wildlife hide has been nestled into a forgotten corner of the grounds, where pupils have been able to get closer to wildlife and have an outdoor hub to use in wetter weather.

Stroud has been awarded the ‘Council for Learning Outside the Classroom’ (CLOtC) Silver Award, a national accreditation that has been endorsed by the Department for Education and is working towards its Gold Award.

The School has been praised for outstanding achievement in sustainable development education and management, and continually improves the environmental performance of the School and the wider community.

Ongoing projects include gardening clubs, planting an orchard in the school grounds and further energy saving and charity initiatives.

Stroud has launched its first ever four-year Sustainability Plan to help the school community take practical steps to reduce its footprint. It is setting up a range of projects and schemes to tackle four keys areas; energy efficiency and creation; food waste reduction; reduce, reuse, recycle and nature recovery.

Its first big fundraising project is to buy a Ridan Food Composter. This, alongside a project to reduce food waste, will enable the School to turn what waste they have left into useable compost for the school, while teaching the children how compost is made.

The four-year sustainability plan by children enjoying a wide range of learning outside the classroom activities including weaving woven petals that will be used to mark out wildflower meadows next Spring; basket making; and insect and honey tasting.

This was followed by Stroud’s very first Green Fair: they welcomed a number of independent stalls from wildlife charities Hampshire and the IOW Trust and Hampshire Swifts, to independent artists selling arts and crafts. The Test Valley Council promoted recycling and SA Energy demonstrated solar energy. We also offered an Electronic Car Information Area for visitors to speak to people who own electric cards, alongside a “Children’s Outdoor Kit swap and costume sale”.

Learning Outside the Classroom is not a new concept at Stroud; they annually hold a Learning Outside the Classroom Day where the whole school embraces the spirit of the Outdoor Classroom concept. And as embed and further develop sustainability, the School’s Wildlife Ranger extensive outdoor areas, whilst developing the curriculum of sustainability across all year groups.

The School has also begun the development of our beautiful 22 acres of outdoor spaces, with several areas of woodland

If you have any questions regarding the Stroud School Sustainability Initiative, please contact Mrs Wend Reid.

Stroud’s popular Wednesday morning events take place throughout the term and are an excellent way to visit the school and explore its facilities and extensive grounds.

Please visit www.stroud.kes.school or email registrar@stroud-kes.org. uk to register your place.

Botanique

Stroud School, King Edward VI Preparatory, in Romsey has launched its four-year Sustainability Plan by holding a Green Day and Green Day Fair.

HAIR SALON IN STOCKBRIDGE

Taking Women’s Health Osteopathy to Kenya

So the time has come to return. After a 3 year wait, i can finally take up the reigns again of my humanitarian osteopathic work and return to Kenya this Autumn. The charity I work for is called the Divinity Foundation, and through their expeditions, we provide free healthcare, education, food and clothing for impoverished women and children. www.divinityfoundation.com

We work in many different areas, but in particular, we focus on the Maasai girls as they are still subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM). We provide education within the Maasai communities, a rescue home for those fleeing FGM, and free healthcare for those suffering the aftermath.

It is tough and often heart-breaking work, but through the charity's amazing work we have managed to educate the cutters about the dangers of their work, provide a rescue home for girls at risk, provide alternative rites of passage and empower the tribal chiefs to make changes in their community.

The girls are now thriving in the rescue home. Having been rescued from the brink of FGM, many of them already forced into relationships where they suffered rape and abuse, they have shown extraordinary bravery and resilience by turning their lives around. The centre gives the girls vocational skills in animal care, vegetable growing, sewing, and computing skills. These girls will become independent young women one day and the charity is giving them the skills for life!

FGM is not a just a problem in far off lands; there are 66,000 victims in the UK and 20,000 still at risk every year. Families send their girls back

Good Mood Food

As the days draw darker and we head into winter, our mood can dampen. Food impacts us on a cellular level which means it affects every part of our body, including our brains, hormones and nervous system. We all have to eat, but by making different choices we can feel better, calmer and happier.

Here are my top 10 tips for improving mood with food:

1. Feed your gut, “the second brain”. We talk about ‘gut feelings’ and get knots in our stomach when anxious. Many neurotransmitters are made in the gut including 90% of serotonin, the ‘feel-good’ one. The gut not only digests and absorbs our food, but also contains 70% of our immune system. Feed your gut with fermented foods, such as live yoghurt, and avoid processed foods.

2. Plants contain fibre which also feeds the gut. They slow the breakdown of serotonin. They provide anti-oxidants which prevent cell damage that can cause ageing and many chronic conditions including depression. Eat 5-10 rainbow-coloured fruit and vegetables daily.

3. Herbs and spices have therapeutic properties as well as add flavour. Saffron aids depression. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory. Cinnamon improves blood sugar balance. Sage helps with menopause symptoms. Also drink them in teas, such as chamomile. Green tea contains theanine, which is calming and boosts serotonin.

4. Nuts and seeds contain healthy fats, protein and essential

to their own countries to have the procedure done, or find local private ‘cutters’ mostly during the school holidays during the ‘cutting season’. More than 2000 victims of FGM sought help in London hospitals in the last 3 years.

It has been illegal in the UK since 1985 and in Kenya since 2011, but despite many arrests here and abroad, there has yet to be just one conviction, all due to lack of evidence and corruption. London has been accused of being the FGM capital of Europe, as wealthy families are finding cutters in private clinics.

So the work the charity does in protecting these girls in Kenya, raising awareness, and providing free healthcare and education, are in fact helping girls right here in the UK. With your help, so far I have now completed five missions, treated over 16,000 women and children, handed out 500kg of donations, and educated families on vital topics from tooth-brushing, hygiene, and nutrition to contraception, child birth and FGM! As I embark on my six mission, I am asking for you to consider supporting my work once again. Most importantly I need to actually get out there! So George and I need to raise £2000 to cover our flights, accommodation and internal travel.

We are so very grateful for your support, as you can see your help really does make a difference. Your donations are completely traceable, you can see and hear about the amazing results we have been achieving and know your gifts go straight into the hands of the children!

Please visit our Just Giving page to give a donation: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/humanitarianosteopathy?utm_term=q6bjEndX5

Emma and George xxx www.the-sop.com/kenya Emma Wightman - www.the-sop.com

nutrients like B vitamins, magnesium and selenium. Make a jar of mixed seeds and sprinkle them on everything from porridge, salads to soups and stir fries.

5. Fat is your friend, as long as it’s ‘good’. Our brains are 60% fat. Good fats include oily fish (salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, herring and trout), avocado, nuts/seeds, coconut, olive oil and egg yolks.

6. Protein contains tryptophan, the amino acid which makes serotonin. All neurotransmitters and hormones are made from protein. Animal proteins contain all the essential amino acids; plant proteins must be combined correctly.

7. Magnesium deficiency is very common and causes irritability, anxiety and depression. Sources of magnesium include leafy greens (spinach, kale), wholegrains and legumes (brown rice, beans, lentils), nuts/seeds and dark chocolate.

8. Balance your blood sugar to stabilize your mood, hormones and reduce anxiety. Eat regular balanced meals and avoid snacking in between.

9. Variety is the spice of life. Avoid buying the same foods, try new recipes, eat seasonally and enjoy experimenting.

10. Mindful eating – relax, enjoy your food and don’t forget to CHEW!

Olivia Smart, Nutritional Therapist & Naturopath www.natrolive.com

Unsure how I can help you?

Book a FREE 15 minute call: olivia@natrolive.com

Pistachio and Mortadella Lasagne

SERVES FIVE Preparation time 1 hour 15 minutes

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

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

INGREDIENTS

12 sheets of lasagna, 700ml of bechamel sauce

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

Five basil leaves

300 grams of thinly sliced mortadella 250 grams of provolone cheese

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

METHOD

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

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

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

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

5. Add the crushed pistachios and serve.

Two Janes Catering

You can see us on D E twojanescatering

How invertebrates show the state of our chalk streams

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Want to learn more about our precious chalk streams?

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

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

Horatio's Garden Christmas Fair at Stockbridge Town Hall

We’ll be spreading the Christmas spirit on Friday 25th November with the Horatio’s Garden Christmas Fair, at Stockbridge Town Hall, located in the heart of Stockbridge.

The familiar magic of this Horatio’s Garden Christmas event will be waiting to warmly welcome you all, along with many of our wonderful volunteers, who have worked so hard to make this event possible.

As well as offering everyone the chance to immerse themselves in a warm, festive atmosphere, the Fair will be home to a full range of our beautifully bespoke merchandise, from Emma Bridgewater mugs to gardening twine to handmade candles, we are sure you will find a special gift for your loved one.

The Fair will also show a range of gorgeous crafts lovingly handmade by our volunteers, where you can purchase beautiful Christmas cards, aprons and more!

Andover Chamber Choir – Christmas Concert

Saturday 17th December sees the return of a long-standing Andover tradition – the Christmas Carol Concert! Andover Chamber Choir (formerly known as The Harmonium Singers) have presented a concert at St Mary’s Church each Christmas for over thirty years, until the Covid pandemic intervened! The choir returns, this year, for the first time since 2019. Proceeds have always been donated to a local charity and will be given this time to the Andover Foodbank. The programme features music both well-known and unfamiliar. Carols such as ‘Gaudete!’ (made famous by Steeleye Span), ‘Gabriel’s Message’ and Handel’s ‘Joy to the World’ rub shoulders with Holst’s ‘Jesu, thou virgin born’ and ‘The Time draws near the Birth of Christ’, composed for the 50th anniversary of The Harmonium Singers and here receiving its Covid-delayed premiere! Items will be interspersed with poems and with carols for the audience.

Tickets can be bought in advance from The Lights and from the Newbury Building Society or choir members. The admission price(£10 in advance, £12 on the door, under 16s free) includes interval refreshments. The concert takes place exactly a week before Christmas Eve and the day before the World Cup Final so there's no excuse to miss it!

Additionally, there will also be handmade Christmas wreaths by the wonderful florists, Wild Artichoke, and potted bulbs and produce available, which will have all been grown in Horatio’s Garden or created using greenery from our stunning sanctuary.

This Christmas, your support of the charity means even more than ever, with prices soaring, we really appreciate that people are still so generous in giving what they can. With this support, our gardens continue to thrive, offering sanctuary to those with spinal injury, and enabling us to fundraise for our next garden at Musgrave Hospital in Belfast.

We are very much looking forward to seeing you there and hope that our uniquely beautiful gifts also help you to spread a little festive joy to your loved ones come December.

Clos du MarquisFrench Restaurant

Traditional French cuisine

In the heart of the Test River Valley, the Clos du Marquis offers a traditional. French fine dining experience within an intimate and relaxed setting.

From the moment you step inside the Clos du Marquis, you are our guests and we want you to feel like you have discovered a little corner of France.

Our dishes emphasize the specialities from the South West of France for which we have a great affinity. To complement our food, we have a wine list which reflects the diversity of the Gascon Wines and surrounding area.

Clos du Marquis - Nomads House, High Street, Stockbridge, SO20 6HE T: 01264810738 www.closdumarquis.co.uk

Concert given by The David Owen Norris Piano Trio

, the acclaimed international violinist, and Sarah McMahon, principal cellist with the Academy of Ancient Music and professor of historical cello at the Royal Academy of Music. Together this allstar gave us two back- to back – piano trios: Beethoven’s Archduke ( Op. 97) and one of Schubert’s two piano trios written in the last year of his short life, 1828. It made for an interesting comparison with the Beethoven trio, the Schubert with its 4 movements having its more lyrical approach than characteristically forthright Beethoven.

Friday 23rd September 2022 in St Peter’s Church, Stockbridge

The Stockbridge Music faithful eagerly awaited the approaching climax concert of the season: the appearance of our distinguished patron, Professor David Owen Norris. This concert could stand comparison with any top concert hall in the world.

The Professor never disappoints whether as composer, broadcaster or concert pianist. This year he was supported by Caroline Balding

Professor Owen Norris performed both trios on a modern replica of an 1802 Schantz pianoforte, which to modern ears made an interesting sound midway between a harpsichord and a slightly unsophisticated piano. The 1802 instrument provides an interesting milestone in the development of the pianoforte during the eighteenth century as it came gradually to take the place of keyboard instruments where the strings are plucked ( as in the harpsichord), not struck with hammers as in the pianoforte. We learnt that for that reason the piano allows the performer greater power of expression depending on the force with which he strikes the note on the keyboard. Musical interpretation on the harpsichord is influenced little by the degree of force with which the key is struck.

In its tenth year Stockbridge Music has made great strides under the leadership of Tim Lowden and is very much here to stay.

Guy Boney

Local Events

Stockbridge Antiques Fair

Sat 5 Nov, Sat 3 & Sun 4 Dec

From 9am - 4.30pm

Stockbridge Town Hall

The Fair is held in Stockbridge Town Hall in the centre of the High Street, usually on the first Saturday of the month. We offer a wide range of Decorative, Interesting and Unusual items including good quality Furniture, Silver, Jewellery, Militaria, Motor memorabilia, Textiles and Books. We will also buy. Free Admission & Free Parking. Contacts: Carol - 01264 335769 / 07870 432805 Steve - 01722 712267 / 07915 663251

Concert of Remembrance

musical theatre pieces. Guests will also be able to view a special poppy sculpture at the museum created by students from Andover College. The Military Wives Choirs are a community of nearly 2000 women in over seventy choirs across the UK and internationally who celebrate a love of singing and the power of shared experiences. 2022 marks 10 years since the formation of the charity. Tickets £12 available from www.armyflying.com or call: 01264 781086

Stockbridge Cinema Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (15)

Friday 11 November

From 7.30pm

stockbridgecinema.org.uk

Stockbridge Town Hall. SO20 6HE

Jams & Pickles, Handicrafts, Crystals, Xmas stockings, Bags & Pouches. Tea /Coffee - Cake Stall - Raffle - Free Admission.

Stockbridge Cinema Benediction (12A)

Friday 16 November

From 43.30pm and 7.30pm

stockbridgecinema.org.uk

Stockbridge Town Hall. SO20 6HE

Benediction explores the turbulent life of First World War poet Siegfried Sassoon - a complex

Christmas stall, contemporary art in oils and watercolours and art cards. There will also be a home produce stall and a luxury hamper raffle. The event is being held in support of a wide range of charities nominated by the stallholders themselves, including Diabetes UK, Parkinsons Disease Society, Naomi House and Jacks Place, Jane Scarth Cancer Support, Christian Blind Mission, Crawley Village Hall Trust, St Mary’s Church, Crawley. The Hall has full disabled access Visit Facebook.com/ CrawleyCharityGiftFair Admission £1.00 (children free)

Friday 11 November

From 7pm

Music lovers are in for a real treat when the Middle Wallop and Andover Military Wives Choir takes to the stage in the stunning surroundings of the Hayward Hall at the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire on the evening of Remembrance Day (11 November).

The choir will be performing their first concert at the Museum since the pandemic and this special Concert of Remembrance is sure to evoke many memories and emotions for those attending. The musical programme will include songs specifically composed for the Military Wives Choirs that feature on their album ‘Remember’, alongside a selection of some of the choirs best-loved songs including contemporary and

Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson) is a widowed schoolteacher in her mid-fifties. Having experienced an unimaginative and unfulfilled sex life – her marriage, she says, was “not so much a furnace of passion that burned out as the bottom drawer of an Aga” - she decides that now is the time to make a change, so she hires the services of a much younger male escort, Leo Grande - Showing at Stockbridge Town Hall SO20 6HE. For more details see Wed 16 Nov entry.

Wherwell Home Guard Club Christmas Bazaar

Sat 12 November

From 11am to 2pm

The Old Hill, Wherwell, Andover, SP11 7JB

5th Annual Bazaar Saturday

From 11am to 2pm. Christmas Gifts, Craft Stalls, Charity Christmas Cards, Notecards,

man who survived the horrors of fighting in the First World War and was decorated for his bravery, but who became a vocal critic of the government’s continuation of the war when he returned from service. His poetry was inspired by his experiences on the Western Front and he became one of the leading war poets of the era. Showing at Stockbridge Town Hall SO20 6HE. Tickets can be purchased online (£5.50 plus £0.50p booking fee per ticket) via www. stockbridgecinema.org.uk or by telephone from TicketSource 0333 666 3366 (£1.80 charge per telephone booking in addition to the online ticket price). Visit our website for more details.

Charity Gift Fair

Saturday 19 November

From 10.30am - 4.30pm

Village Hall, Crawley, Winchester, SO21 2PR

This is a one day Fair selling gift items and art and craft work by local artists and makers in support of a wide range of charities. Goods on offer will include jewellery in silver and semi-precious stones, willow basketware, wax melts, candles, handmade ties and hanky sets, fused glass decorations and gifts, lampshade / cushion sets and home textiles, stationery, a

Stockbridge Amateur Dramatic Society

Autumn ProductionKindertransport

Thur 24 to Sat 26 November

Various times (see website)

stockbridgeamdrams.org.uk

Stockbridge Town Hall

Stockbridge Amateur Dramatic Society (SADS) next production will be Kindertransport by Diane Samuels – about Eva Schlesinger, a nine-year-old girl, who is one of the 10,000 children (mostly Jewish) who were sent by their parents to the UK from Nazi Germany in the late 1930s; and her struggle, 40 years later, to come to terms with her past when she has taken an English name – Evelyn- and is a mother herself. You can buy tickets on-line at www. stockbridgeamdrams.org.uk or by leaving a message on 0560 364 6791 (your telephone provider may charge for calling).

Andover Christmas Festival 2022

Friday 25 November

From 3pm to 8pm

Andover Town Centre

Andover Town Centre - Music, Stalls, Theatre, Food, Attractions. Andovers Official Town Lights Swith On.

Hayward Hall, Army Flying Museum, Middle Wallop

French Lessons

© Lucia Foster-Found 2022 www.luciafosterfound.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Stockbridge Amateur Dramatic Society Autumn Production - Kindertransport

All

Winter

Monday 16th January 2023

Alan Lovell – Chairman of the Environment Agency

Restoring confidence in the quality of English rivers – the Challenge for and the Role of the Environment Agency

Stockbridge Amateur Dramatic Society (SADS) next production will be Kindertransport by Diane Samuels – about Eva Schlesinger, a nine-year-old girl, who is one of the 10,000 children (mostly Jewish) who were sent by their parents to the UK from Nazi Germany in the late 1930s; and her struggle, 40 years later, to come to terms with her past when she has taken an English name –Evelyn- and is a mother herself.

The play is sometimes described as part of the holocaust literature, but this can be misleading. It is not about the horrors of Nazi Germany. Most of the play is set in England, and half of it in the 1990s. It is the story of one person’s experience of being sent by her parents to grow up in a foreign land, how she tries to deal with it, and the effect on the people around her, including her own daughter. It is a moving and thought-provoking drama, but there is also humour and warmth.

It is theatrically fascinating. Eva in the 1940s is played by one actress, and Evelyn in the 1990s by a different actress. The scenes are interspersed in the same space and characters from the two time periods are on stage at the same time. This is a very effective way of bringing out the links between the two periods as Evelyn gradually reveals to her daughter what happened to her forty years earlier (with an unexpected twist). We are performing it “in the round” which is especially appropriate for such a fluid and intimate play.

Plays are often described as “classic” just because they are more than 20 years old and still in print. But Kindertransport truly deserves that label. It has won numerous awards, has been performed all round the world, and is a regular feature of school drama curricula. Sadly, it has become particularly resonant this year with the war in Ukraine.

Performances are on the 24th, 25th and 26th of November at 7:30 in the Town Hall. You can buy tickets on-line at www. stockbridgeamdrams.org.uk or by leaving a message on 0560 364 6791 (note that your telephone provider may charge for calling 0560 numbers).

For more information visit: https://sites.google.com/site/stockbridgedramasociety

We are privileged to live in the Test Valley, which includes 85% of the world’s unique chalk streams, rightly described as “national treasures”. Yet in The River’s Trust 2021 report on “The State of our Rivers”, only 14% are in good ecological health, and none meet the chemical pollution standards. There are many reasons for this state of affairs. As we heard in last year’s lecture on Re-shaping the future of UK Farming by Alison Field, agriculture is a significant factor, along with water treatment failures, abstraction and habitat destruction.

Alan will explain the role of the Environment Agency and how it will address the challenge in restoring the environmental integrity of these unique chalk streams.

Alan Lovell DL

From 2015 to 2019, Alan was Chair of the Consumer Council for Water, which represents the views of customers to Government, the regulators and water companies and handles complaints about water companies. In September 2022, he became Chair of the Environment Agency.

Alan grew up in Pear Tree Cottage in Upper Clatford. He trained as an Accountant with PwC and had a range of senior executive positions across UK industry, including CEO at Costain, Jarvis, Dunlop Slazenger and Infinis. He was High Sheriff of Hampshire in 2010/11. He was Chairman of the Mary Rose Trust between 2015 and 2021 and the University of Winchester from 2016 to 2021. He has chaired the Hampshire Cultural Trust since its formation in 2014 and is a Lay Canon of Winchester Cathedral.

Tickets

Tickets cost £12.00 per person. Please scan the QR code and reserve and pay for your tickets.

You can also buy tickets at Clatford Village Store & Post Office, Greenfield Farm Shop or Abbotts Ann Village Store. Please make cheques out to “All Saints Winter Lectures”.

Time & Venue

Doors open at 7pm and the lectures start at 8pm at the King Edward VII Memorial Hall, Upper Clatford, SP11 7QL. A cash bar will be open before the lectures start. Parking is available behind the hall.

Andover’s First Vegan Market A Huge Success

Hampshire Fare Receive Award of Merit From The Romsey Show

Hampshire Fare, the county food and drink group, were delighted to receive the Award of Merit, presented at the Romsey Show on Saturday, 10th September 2022.

The Award of Merit is presented to an individual, family, business or organisation that has given an outstanding contribution to agriculture, horticulture, farming, forestry, equine and allied businesses. The Romsey Agricultural & Horse Show Society, the organisers of the Romsey Show, felt that Hampshire Fare perfectly fitted the criteria for the Award of Merit due to Hampshire Fare being such a huge advocate for local food and drink, and therefore providing essential support to local farmers and producers.

People flocked to the first ever Vegan Market to be held in Andover on Sunday, 2nd October 2022 enjoying the many stalls offering vegan food and cruelty free products. Organised by InAndover from Andover BID and Vegan Fairs, the event aimed to introduce a new and innovative market format to Andover.

Some visitors travelled from as far as Bristol and London to enjoy the new market whilst many local people were introduced to the tastes and range of vegan food. Stalls offered sumptuous, cakes, snacks, lunches, drinks and fruit and vegetables. There was plenty of non-food cruelty free products to buy as well, including a stall focused on cake treats for your pet pooch!

Alice from Chilbolton said “I am not a vegan but was I really impressed at the range of foods and tastes at the Market. I for one will certainly be trying more vegan foods.”

Mark from Southampton said “I came to Andover specially for the Vegan Market but realised what a lovely market town it is, and I will back on a non-market day to look round the town properly” Despite a rainy start the sun soon came out and visitors enjoyed the atmosphere, with local musicians providing the entertainment and a nice, chilled vibe for shoppers to peruse the large variety of stalls.

Daisy Botha of Vegan Fairs said “The Andover Vegan Market was everything we were expecting and so much more! All our traders commented on just how lovely everyone who attended was. The people of Andover were so welcoming and positive about the event with lots of people asking when the next one will be, so we are so excited to return next year."

Shelley Coburn Events Coordinator said “This was such a lovely event to run in our town and a big success, I have been contacted from people who were unable to make it this time, but don’t worry we have two dates in the diary for next year around March and September so look out for information through our socials and on our website soon”

Judith Long, Food Zone Chairman for the Romsey Show, said: “Congratulations to Hampshire Fare on the group’s much deserved award! I nominated Hampshire Fare for the Award of Merit as I thought Hampshire Fare encompassed everything that the Romsey Show’s Award of Merit stands for. Hampshire Fare support so many aspects of the local rural economy and rural life by promoting the produce of our area and those who grow, process, use or sell it.

“Hampshire Fare has gone from strength to strength since it was formed over 30 years ago in 1991. However, I felt that more people outside Hampshire Fare’s membership should hear about the fantastic work Hampshire Fare does. I hope this Award may inspire others to take a greater interest in Hampshire Fare’s work, and in their own food, where it comes from and who produces it.”

Hampshire Fare support the Romsey Show by helping to promote the event as well as organising the hugely popular Skills Kitchen with an inspiring line up of top chefs.

The Award of Merit was presented to Mike Wright, Chairman, and Tracy Nash, Commercial Manager, Hampshire Fare, by John Whitham, joint President of The Romsey Agricultural & Horse Show Society and Show President.

Tracy Nash, Commercial Manager, Hampshire Fare, commented: “We were very proud to be presented with the Romsey Show’s Award of Merit at this year’s Show. It was such a surprise; we had no idea why we were being called up to the main show ring. It really means so much to have our work helping farmers and producers over the past 30 years recognised. The Romsey Show is one of the highlights of Hampshire’s events calendar and we enjoy working with the team organising the Show, as well as putting together the Skills Kitchen featuring a line up of some of Hampshire’s top chefs.”

Mike Wright, Chairman, Hampshire Fare, added: “This Award recognises the success of Hampshire Fare, a very small team that for over 30 years have worked hard to get Hampshire’s food and drink the recognition it deserves.”

Test Valley Borough Council scoops top small business friendly award

Borough Council recognised as the south central area’s most AllRound Small Business Friendly council.

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) scooped best All-Round Small Business Friendly council for the south central region at the Federation of Small Businesses Local Government Awards on Friday 14 October. During the virtual event, the FSB praised the council for the speed in which it delivered the national lockdown grant schemes and the Additional Restrictions Grant. It also noted the authority’s support for start-ups and small medium enterprises, which has seen the council distribute 52 start-up grants to a value of £37,500 between March 2020 and March 2022, which in the past has meant that business survival rates have exceeded the national average.

In addition, TVBC awarded 43 Andover Skills Training Fund grants between March 2020 and March 2022, totalling £42,192, and worked with the Department for Work and Pensions and three neighbouring local authorities to deliver a Youth Employment Hub initiative to support 16 to 24-year-olds into education, training or employment.

The FSB also highlighted the council’s small grant offer to support town centres, with its Independent Retailer Grant increasing to £1,200 in 2021, and its decision to implement more flexible rules to enable pop-up shops in Andover’s Chantry Centre to apply.

They also commended the council’s work to support Romsey town centre and the University of Southampton Science Park Catalyst business accelerator programme, as well as their work alongside the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership to help businesses to start their journey to net zero.

Councillor Phil North said: “I want to say a huge thank you to the FSB and all the councillors and council officers who have worked so hard to achieve this. Times are tough for so many businesses at the moment, and it is critical that we continue to do everything we can to protect them.

“I am incredibly proud that the FSB has recognised the hard work we have put in to achieve this, and I am also unbelievably proud of the many amazing businesses that call Test Valley home. We have huge ambitions for our town centres, with the regeneration plans to transform Andover and Romsey continuing to progress, making it a fantastic borough for people to start and grow their businesses.”

FSB Development Manager for Hampshire, Dorset and Isle of Wight, Nicky Kildunne, added: “I’m delighted to see Test Valley

“Over the past challenging period Test Valley Borough Council has continued to provide all round business support, adapting and adding to its business offer to meet local need. It adapted its Economic Development Strategy (2019 – 2023) to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 and as well as successfully delivering all the lockdown grants, it has continued to provide a comprehensive, all round business support offer. Its many activities have included strengthening support for start-ups, including distributing over 50 business start-up grants, increasing the Independent Retailer Grant, supporting the University of Southampton Science Park Catalyst business accelerator programme to enable high growth potential and working hard with all local businesses to help them become more sustainable and ultimately become net zero.”

Mayor at the start line for charity fun run

The Mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Alan Dowden was at the start line for the Boaz Fun Run at Hill Farm near Sutton Scotney, on Saturday 8 October. The event was a chance for people to get together, enjoy the sunshine and raise money for the Boaz Project, which is an inclusive, farm-based charity set up to provide a brighter future for people with learning disabilities and autism.

Participants took part in 2k, 5k and 10k fun runs, all dressed as a range of colourful characters, from donkeys to a flock of chickens and an archbishop. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities enjoyed the spectacular Test Valley countryside views out on the trails and received wooden eco-medals at the finish line. Mayor of Test Valley, councillor Alan Dowden, said: "It was a great day with lots of support from groups and individuals. The weather was perfect and as well as starting off the races, I also enjoyed welcoming in the finishers.

“The Boaz Project is a wonderful place and I can see why those who live with learning difficulties enjoy helping out there.”

The Boaz project has a 4.5-acre smallholding run on organic principles, producing high quality fruit, vegetables and flowers. Members work alongside volunteers and staff growing plants and taking care of the animals, including sheep, donkeys, guinea pigs and a flock of 120 free range egg-laying hens.

For information contact: Test Valley Borough Council, Communications Officer, Lisa Phaure on lphaure@testvalley.gov.uk

Supporting our members and our branch communities is central to our mutual values. As many people are feeling the effects of rising prices, this support is more vital than ever.

We will be providing Cost of Living Support to our members and our communities by:

• Providing financial support to charitable and community organisations who are helping those most in need of support with food costs, managing debt, travel costs, energy bills, and their mental health in our branch communities.

• Providing resources and information on support available from us and other agencies as well as ideas on reducing outgoings where possible, and information on avoiding cost of living scams.

• If you are worried about the cost of living crisis and want to find out what support is available, or just get some advice to ease the squeeze, we've provided this information on our website through our Cost of Living Support hub: www.newbury.co.uk/cost-of-living

Here you will find helpful resources

• and support in five areas:

• Food costs

• Energy costs

• Debt management

• Transport costs

• Mental wellbeing

If you are a current mortgage customer and have any worries about meeting your monthly mortgage payments, we are here to help.

Our Mortgage Payment Support team are dedicated to helping you with support during difficult times like the current rise in the cost-of-living. It is always a good idea to let us know as soon as you think you might struggle to meet your payments. By being open and honest, we will be able to review your options with you and guide you to other 3rd party support. You can contact our Mortgage Payment Support Team on 01635 555588, or by email paymentsupport@newbury.co.uk.

Newbury Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register number 206077). English Law applies and we will communicate with you in English. We are participants of the Financial Ombudsman Service. We have a complaints procedure which we will provide on request. Most complaints that we cannot resolve can be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. 8997

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