Test Valley Forum - Issue 190 - June 2024

Test Valley

FORUM

Life in your Community

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Test Trout with Watercress Salsa Verde and Char-Grilled Vegetable Salad NEWS & EVENTS FOR JUNE

Find out what's going on in the Test Valley

NETHER WALLOP

A stunning Grade II Listed period property with separate cottage, in beautiful gardens.

Full of period features with a fantastic 44 ft Kitchen/Living Room with Aga and French doors to garden. Three reception rooms and an office. Six bedrooms, three bathrooms.

Gardens, swimming pool, timber framed barns and outbuildings. Two bedroom detached cottage. In all 1.6 acres.

Guide Price £2,650,000

A 3.3 acre paddock with barn is also available by separate negotiation.

HOUGHTON

A most appealing property with fishing on the River Test.

A detached character house with many fine features standing in beautiful gardens leading down to The Test.

Reception Hall/Dining Room, Drawing Room, Study, Kitchen, Garden Room. Four bedrooms with two ensuites and a bathroom. Outstanding landscaped gardens with south west facing terraces.

Guide Price £1,750,000

June Events

'Our Ocean' at Rachel Bebb Contemporary, Broughton

Saturday 8 June

From 6pm to 8pm

Rachel Bebb Contemporary Rookery Lane, Broughton, Stockbridge, SO20 8AZ

To mark World Ocean Day, and the final day of the exhibition 'Our Ocean', glassmakers Roberta Mason and Neil Wilkin will talk about their exhibits at the gallery and their involvement with Project Seagrass. A representative from Project Seagrass will be present and profits will be donated to the charity. Tickets £20 each, to include wine, and canapes made with sustainablysourced ingredients by chef Dominique Goltinger. Find out more here - https://www. rachelbebbcontemporary.com/ post/summer-exhibition-ourocean

Over Wallop Village Fete

Saturday 15 June

From 12pm to 3.30pm

St Peter’s Church, Glebe Field, Over Wallop, SO20 8HT

, Bring the family and enjoy a traditional village fete. There will be Punch & Judy, a bouncy castle, BBQ, teas & cakes, a prize draw, a dog show, many hand made items and lots of other stalls and games.

Stockbridge Community Cinema The Zone of Interest (12A)

Friday 21 June

From 7.30pm

Stockbridge Town Hall, SO20 6HE

The commandant of Auschwitz, Rudolf Höss, and his wife Hedwig, strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the camp. Showing at. Tickets

£6.00 (incl £0.50p booking fee) per adult ticket) on sale via www. stockbridgecinema.org.uk or by telephone from TicketSource 0333 666 3366 (no additional charge). Tickets on sale from 1 June. Please visit our website for full details of all films.

The Romsey Singers Entertain!

Saturday 22 June

From 7.30pm

Romsey Town Hall, Market Place, Romsey, SO51 8YZ

Director: Philip Lawson. Folk Songs, Pearsall, Noel Coward, Stanford, Elgar, Saint-Saens, De Wert. Tickets £15 to include an interval drink. Under 16s half price. Available from Romsey visitor information centre. 13 Church Street Romsey. Tel: 01794 512987 or online: www. romseysingers.org. Registered Charity no. 1091257

All Things Bright And Beautiful – For How Long?

Sat 22 to Sun 23 June

From 7.30pm

All Saints Church, Church Lane, Upper Clatford, SP11 7QF

An exhibition in response to climate change at All Saints’ Church, Upper Clatford, near Andover, will be staging an exhibition in response to climate change entitled ‘All things bright and beautiful – for how long?’. The event is in aid of repairs to the church’s pipe organ which was installed in 1901. Village organisations, individual artists and All Saints’ flower arrangers

will be contributing a variety of artworks and flower arrangements featuring the impact of climate change and what we are trying to do to reverse it. Admission to the exhibition is £5. The festival will be open on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June, 11am – 5pm. The festival displays are being curated by Jane Kennedy.

Chilbolton Church Fete and BBQ

Saturday 22 June

From 12.30pm to 3.30pm

Bannuts Farm, Village Street, Chilbolton, SO20 6BE

Parking in field next to church. Fun Dog Show - Barbeque of locally sourced meats, Beer and Pimms Tent, Tea and Cakes, Ice Creams, Grand Draw, Bottle Tombola, Stalls and Games for all the Family.

Wherwell Village Open Gardens

Sunday 23 June

From 1pm to 5pm Wherwell Village Hall, Church St, Wherwell, SP11 7JJ

Adults, accompanied under 16s free. Payment cards accepted. Our gardens range from traditional cottage gardens through to larger modern planting schemes, with some bordering the River Test. Tea, coffee and delicious cakes will be available in our Village Hall.

Come and Enjoy Tea with Abbotts Ann W.I

Come & enjoy tea with abbotts ann w.i.

Sunday 30 June

From 2.20pm to 4.30pm

Abbotts Ann Village Hall, Abbotts Ann, SP11 7BZ

Scones, Jam & Cream and Cake. Music & Raffle. On Sunday 30th June from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at . Tickets £7.50 available from the Abbotts Ann Village Shop or call: 07776 251364. Charity No. 1030104 - Fund raising event for Abbotts Ann W.I.

Stockbridge Community Cinema One Life (12A)

Wednesday 26 June

Showings - 4.45pm and 7.30pm

Stockbridge Town Hall, SO20 6HE

The true story of Sir Nicholas 'Nicky' Winton, a young London broker who visited Prague in December 1938. He found families who had fled the rise of the Nazis in Germany and Austria, living in desperate conditions with little or no shelter and food, and under threat of Nazi invasion. How many children could he and the team rescue before the borders closed? Fifty years later, Nicky is still blaming himself for not doing more. For location and booking see 21st June.

Stockbridge Open Gardens

Sat 29 and Sun 30 June

Various times

Various locations

Come and enjoy several beautiful gardens at the western end of the village, some with river views. Teas and live music on the church lawn. Plant stall at ‘Wild Cherries’. Free Parking at the western end of the High Street by the bridge. Tickets with map available from the Church and the car park. Gardens are open from 2-6pm. Teas are served from 2-5pm. Tickets for garden only - £10, tea only - £6 or if you buy both together - £15. Children under 16 free.

If you would like to feature your event free of charge on this page. Please email: editor@ forumpublications.co.uk Please note we cannot guarantee publication.

Any 3 Windows

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The view over the forest was breathtaking. Heathery slopes curved down the valley, and needle-strewn pine groves marched up the rising ground beyond.

It was June – the warmer, longer days had lured walkers out in numbers. Dogs of many hues and assorted breeds quartered the ground below her. With their wagging tails and wide-open panting (she liked to think ‘laughing’) mouths, they were the embodiment of boundless joy. Following their noses through the undergrowth and running, running, running… She wondered how many ticks they’d gathered, and sighed.

A man stood close by talking into his phone, as his dog ran up the path to greet him. He bent to clip a lead onto the harness. “No, I’m at the office. Got the window open, that’s why it sounds blowy..”

He winked conspiratorially up at her and went on. “Anyway, this project – yeah - just like déjà vu all over again. And meeting the deadline is a challenge,” he looked up and winked at her once more, “but we’ll swim under that hurdle when we come to it.”

She paused, wondering if she were expected to wink back. Instead, she smiled uncertainly at him and, calling her canine motley crew, she turned for home.

Later, as she started to prepare dinner, she reported her dog-walking episode to Himself. “At the office, indeed! The déjà vu thing was odd, but ‘swimming under the hurdle’ didn’t sound quite right either.”

“Maybe it’s a 21st Century evolution of ‘climbing over hurdles’ and ‘crossing that bridge when we come to it’ - with a trendy wild swimming vibe.” He remarked.

“Mmn.” She wrinkled her nose. With all the recent news about sewage in the river, she said, half to herself, “talking of that, p’raps I should wash the dogs after they’ve been wild swimming – in case there’s poo..”

Himself snatched his hand away from the dog he was stroking, a horrified look on his face.

“Poo-oor quality water, I mean..” she finished lamely.

To distract him, she announced cheerily, “I’m doing a spicy bean stew, to go with these,” and waved a packet of sausages in the air. Instantly diverted, he looked over her shoulder with interest, watching her unwrap the sausages and put them in the frying pan.

Pork products; they never failed to side-track him. Bless. She winked conspiratorially at the dogs and mentally promised them a bath.

To steer the conversation away from any further unpleasantness, she continued with their previous topic.

“I suppose our sayings, proverbs and such, will evolve, must evolve – it’s only natural. Someone on the telly was saying ‘scraping the bottom of the pot’. I can’t remember what about. Politics, probably. Anyway, it should have been ‘barrel’ not ‘pot’, but honestly - barrels? ‘Pot’ is, frankly, so much more relatable.”

Himself was washing his hands vigorously in the sink. Above the sound of running water, he said loudly, “In the village shop the other day, I overheard ‘skeletons in the cupboard’. Hardly surprising; who uses the word closet anymore?” He shrugged, dried his hands and wombled off to fill up the birdbath.

When he reappeared in the kitchen a little later, she was energetically attacking her decades-old, blue le Creuset with a wooden spoon. At his questioning look, she said breathlessly, “So now I’m quite literally scraping the bottom of the pot. And, I’ll have you know, ‘a watched pot never boils’ is a lie. I watched it AND it boiled - and now the beans are cemented to the bottom.”

“Where did the sausages go?” Himself was looking around.

“Out of the frying pan and into the air fryer. That’s a natural 21st Century evolution, because who really cooks on a fire? With a pan, I mean.” She pre-empted any claim that his throwing a burger on a BBQ three times a year was really cooking.

“They were spitting,” she added.

“Mad?” He queried.

Shaking her head she responded, “Not even slightly peeved,” and smiled back at him, dishing up dinner.

Later, when the sausages had been consumed, Himself pushed back his chair and peered into the fridge, asking hopefully, “Any pudding – did I see some in here?”

“You looking for proof? No, it’s all gone. But you can have your last bit of birthday cake..,” she offered.

“And eat it too?” He asked, just as his phone rang. Smiling, he walked out of the back door and paced around the patio for a couple of minutes before coming back into the room, still talking into his mobile. “Yes, well, it’s a challenge,” Himself gave her a wink, “but we’ll swim under that hurdle when we come to it.”

Having a flashback, she laughed - it really was like déjà vu all over again..

SOUND ADVICE

Abbey United Reformed Church Friends

We are very excited to share the details of the launch of Abbey United Reformed Church Friends.

Our church is a hub of the community and many people have connections with us through our church, our buildings and our congregation. These connections are forged through our outreach into the community; joining us for services, celebrating weddings, baptisms, special events at our church or through activities held in our buildings such as yoga, singing, youth and community groups, attending concerts or events.

However, historic buildings need champions who encourage their use, support activities and promote their continued presence in the community. Abbey URC is no exception. It is vital it remains a vibrant part of the future of the Romsey community; Abbey URC Friends is an important link between the church and the town.

Like so many churches, annual income scarcely covers the day-today costs of running the Church. The year 2023 was particularly challenging, with extensive work needed to the roof of the church; we were pleased when the scaffolding finally came down inside the church, just before our Christmas celebrations. This year has continued to be challenging, with maintenance on the organ pipes and refurbishment of the area, a replacement dishwasher and work needed to the Tower and Hall roofs to ensure our buildings can continue to be a vibrant hub for our community. Finding the money to pay for repairs and maintenance of our Grade II Listed Building is becoming increasingly difficult.

This is where the Romsey community, and the Abbey URC Friends can help. By becoming a friend of Abbey URC, people will help us to continue our work within the Romsey community, as well as preserving our beautiful listed building. Help us to grow our future by joining Abbey URC Friends.

Previous generations have ensured our heritage is preserved, now we need to ensure these much-loved buildings continue to be available to our church, and to the wider Romsey community into the future.

For full details of Abbey URC Friends, and to download an application form, please visit https://abbeyurc.org.uk/abbey-urc-friends/

Andover Chamber Choir - Summer 2024

Following a successful performance of Faure’s Requiem in April, Andover Chamber Choir is preparing its summer concert. This will take place at St. Peter’s Church, St. Mary Bourne on Saturday 20 July at 7.30 pm.

The programme title is “This Land of Song” and features an enticing selection of songs from around the British Isles interspersed with instrumental items and readings of poetry. Familiar numbers such as ‘Loch Lomond’ and ‘Greensleeves’ rub shoulders with lesser known pieces such as ‘LisaLan’(a beautiful Welsh melody) and ‘O can ye sew cushions’(a Scottish

Refreshments are included in the ticket price of £12 on the door or £10 if booked in advance. (Under 16s free). Proceeds will go to Yellow Brick Road Projects who support young people under 35 locally (www.yellowbrickroadprojects.com)

Tickets are available from The Lights (in person and online), St. Mary Bourne Village Shop and choir members. www.andoverchamberchoir.org.uk www.facebook.com/AndoverChamberChoir

Award Winning local artists work to feature in the Mall Galleries, London

The sculpture featured left is the latest work of award winning local artist Bridget Dumper. It has been approved for exhibition by the Society of Women Artists in their 163rd Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London. The Private View of the artwork, 'EnchantmentNext Generation' (material metal and glass - 2 metres by 2 metres) will be attended by HRH Princess Michael of Kent on Wednesday 26 June. The exhibition opens to the public on 25 June and closes on Saturday 29 June 2024 at 5pm.

For all details of this and future exhibitions please contact Bridget by email: bridgetdumper@hotmail.com

The Skin Investment Clinic

As the summer sun beckons, it’s time to shed those layers and bask in the warmth. If skin lumps and bumps are making you feel a bit self-conscious, The Skin Investment Clinic in Marlborough can help. This clinic is run by Dr Ellie Johnson, a GP with a special interest in dermatology. Dr Ellie has built a 5 star reputation in treating skin concerns and removing skin lesions, helping you feel more confident in your skin.

As we age or after pregnancy, you may have noticed skin tags cropping up in various places. These small, benign growths affecting both men and women, often appear on areas where skin rubs against skin or clothing. Although harmless, they can be bothersome and affect your confidence so many individuals opt for quick removal. At The Skin Investment Clinic, skin tags are easily removed via hyfrecator. The area is numbed and the skin tag is removed quickly. The procedure is quick with minimal discomfort and offers immediate results. Other benign

Want to know what the number 1 piece of advice I give to all walkers, hikers and runners?

Look up!. Where you look your head will follow. When the eye line is lifted to the horizon, the head comes up. When you’re looking down, the weight of the head is very heavy. This pulls the centre of gravity forwards of the body. The knock on effect through the body is profound and very influential on the stresses, strains and potential injury risk of running.

Running is not bad for you and it’s categorically not bad for your knees, but how you run will determine the potential for injury. Running and walking with the head down or forwards of the body shifts the centre of gravity forwards. To stop yourself from face planting you have to shoot your foot out in front of you, creating a

skin lesions that may be affecting your confidence can also be addressed such as seborrhoeic keratoses and skin conditions like milia. Dr Ellie also specialises in treating acne, a chronic skin condition which can affect young and old and is particularly challenging for young adults, especially around this Summer exam period.

The Skin Investment Clinic is located at 1 The Green in Marlborough and comes highly recommended with all five star reviews on Google. "I’m extremely happy with my experience with Dr Ellie. In only around two months since my first consultation my skin has improved drastically - I highly recommend her!" R Boyce. "We couldn't have been happier with our experience with Ellie. She has a beautifully calm and professional manner which put my daughter and I at ease and the results so far are fantastic. I have been recommending Ellie to all my friends!" Jo

Visit www.theskininvestmentclinic.com or call 07751 972604 to find out more.

heavy heel strike, braking effect and increase in impact.

It’s this increase in impact that causes the knee injuries, pelvic floor leakage, low back pain and neck strain. It also slows you down. When the eye line comes up and the head comes back, the foot will naturally land under the pelvis giving your whole body an easier ride. You can also engage your posterior chain of muscles more efficiently giving you better power and endurance.

If you’re constantly looking at the ground because you’re worried you might trip on something, briefly look down, but remember to then look back up again! You can recall the terrain you’ve just checked for the distance of at least 10 steps.

Where’s your head at?

Give this a go and feel the shift to more effortless walking and running

Emma Wightman - www.the-sop.com

Tel: 01264 810028

www.the-SOP.com reception@the-SOP.com

Stockbridge Osteopathic Practice High Street, Stockbridge, SO20 6HF

Skin tags removed 3 days post removal

OSTEOPATHIC

Specialising

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Tax-efficient gifts and the seven-year rule

Gifting money to your loved ones could make a big difference to their financial security. It could also be more effective for inheritance tax (IHT) planning purposes to gift money while you’re still alive than to pass it on when you die.

Understanding how lifetime gifts are taxed is crucial. The rules can be complex, and you could end up passing on a smaller legacy than you intended.

Tax-efficient gifts

Some gifts are fully exempt from IHT, such as gifts between spouses or civil partners, and to charities and political parties.

Other gifts may also be exempt including:

• Annual exemption of up to £3,000 each tax year

• Weddings/civil partnerships – gifts up to £5,000 for a child, £2,500 for a grandchild, £1,000 for others

• Gifts from regular income

• Small gifts of up to £250 per person per tax year

• Gifts may include personal items (such as jewellery), property, or some shares.

Your annual exemption

You can gift up to £3,000 per tax year without it impacting on your estate’s value. This £3,000 can go to one person or be split between several people.

Any unused annual exemption can be carried forward. For example, if you used £2,000 in the last tax year, you could carry forward £1,000 to the current tax year.

Potentially exempt transfers and the sevenyear rule

For larger gifts, for example paying your grandchild’s university tuition or helping them onto the property ladder, you must survive for at least seven years for it to be tax free.

These potentially exempt transfers may reduce your IHT ‘nil-rate band’ – this is the amount you can pass on to your beneficiaries tax-free (currently £325,000). So, if you gave your child £200,000 and died within seven years, you would only be able to pass on £125,000 of your estate tax free after your death.

If you gave away more than £325,000 in the seven years before you died, anyone who received a gift above this threshold would also have to pay IHT. The rate of tax depends on the number of years between the date of the gift and your death (ranging from 8-40%)

If gifting £500,000 and dying two years later, for example, the recipient would pay £70,000 in IHT (40% of £175,000).

It’s important to keep a record of any gifts you make. This will help your estate’s executor work out what gifts you made in the seven years before you died.

Next steps

Rules around lifetime gifting are complex and it’s important to seek expert advice. A financial adviser can help you pass on your wealth efficiently, taking into account your unique needs.

We live and work local to you. We would be delighted to help you and your family achieve financial clarity and stability.

Adam Jarvis

Head of Office –Senior Investment Manager E: adam.jarvis@brewin.co.uk

Kirsty Simpson

Financial PlannerDivisional Director E: kirsty.simpson@brewin.co.uk

46 Jewry Street, Winchester SO23 8RY

T: 01962 798000

W: www.brewin.co.uk/our-offices/winchester

The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. Information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness.

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Robotic lawn mowing - is it the future?

Many of us are challenged with time. Work is busy and private lives are manic and finding time to cut the grass, and keep on top of it, is a challenge. Recent weather has resulted in wet sodden land that makes it difficult for conventional mowers to cope either due to wet ground or too much grass, and even with the wet weather the grass keeps going. Fuel costs have risen, and modern fuel doesn’t last long leading to potential fuel issues with engines.

Robotic mowing provides many benefits for managing lawns and green open spaces.

Modern satellite guided machines use a network of satellites to find their location, and together with a fixed base station on land they now feature an accuracy of 1cm and so no longer need a wire in the ground to guide the mower. Grass loves being cut little and often, and the mulching process provides valuable nutrients to improve the grass quality. Robotic mowers are designed to cut little and often and so there is no need to collect the grass.

Robotic mowers are lightweight and can therefore stay on the ground mowing long after conventional ride on and pedestrian machines can. They are powered by a lithium-ion rechargeable battery which is charged from a simple docking station so they are silent, with no emissions and some amazing features; oh, and they can now mow in straight lines!

A T H Machinery, based in Broughton, Stockbridge are specialist distributors of the KRESS robotic mowers. We have installed many machines locally for domestic and commercial clients; automating spaces from 100m2 up to 15000m² - and we can go even larger up to 36,000m² and beyond. With a competitive

pricing structure, comprehensive warranty, proven technology, service contracts, and a thorough installation service we have the experience to automate all manner of green spaces. The mowers are controlled from an easy-to-use App on a mobile phone or tablet and control features include varying the height of cut, changing schedules of mowing, night mowing, changing the direction of the straight lines, and many many more. Robotic mowers don’t have any fluids or belts, the only thing they need is a clean and a change of blades, and charging (which they do automatically!)

If you are interested in a robotic mower, or simply want to explore the opportunity please contact Tim Lane at A T H Machinery on 07818 104864 to discuss your project.

St Swithun’s School: Celebrating a Milestone Year and TES Awards Recognition

St Swithun’s School has continued to mark their 140th anniversary with a prestigious award nomination. The school has been shortlisted for the TES Awards 2024 in the Best Use of Technology category. This recognition highlights their innovative work with Jane Portas OBE, providing comprehensive financial education to sixth-form students.

Over the last year, the Sixth Form, led by head of sixth form Nick Fyfe, participated in the development of an innovative, online financial education platform, to provide young people with a comprehensive financial life and fairness education.

St Swithun’s is passionate about developing strong, independent women with the confidence to take risks in the real world. The platform helps to equip students with

the financial capability to enable them to secure their financial wellbeing.

This exciting news comes as the school’s 140th anniversary celebrations continued with a grand 140th birthday lunch on 3 May, followed by the school dance and singing with the Prep School in Harvey Hall. Themed ‘Through the Ages, 18842024’, students and staff donned costumes representing different eras from their rich history.

Adding to the fun, a 140th Anniversary House Photo Competition encouraged students to recreate scenes from the photographic archives. These activities not only celebrated their past but also inspired a sense of community and school spirit.

Reflecting on the success of the occasion, Headmistress Jane Gandee, remarked, “The entire day reminded us of why we are proud to be at St Swithun’s as our school

community celebrated our rich heritage and our pioneering and philanthropic ethos. It was heartening to see students and staff alike embrace the fancy-dress theme and immerse themselves in the festivities. We look forward to continuing our anniversary celebrations and creating many more memories in the years to come.”

Want to come and see St Swithun’s for yourself? Book your place at our Senior School open day on Saturday 22 June: www. stswithuns.com/how-to-apply/open-days

St Swithun’s School Winchester Hampshire SO21 1HA

01962 835700 www.stswithuns.com

ST SWITHUN’S IS A LEADING INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AGED 4-18.

Upcoming Open Day Senior School, Saturday 22 June, 9.00am

Getting

ready for Reception is child’s play

Our Head of Pre-Prep, Linda CunninghamBrown, asks parents to relax about their children starting school. By all means enjoy the excitement of this major milestone in your child’s life, but don’t worry about reading and writing before they even begin.

Starting school is a big deal. Even children who have been in nursery full time can find the jump challenging. It takes time, plenty of time, for our youngest pupils to settle in fully. We know that a child needs to feel safe, secure, happy and nurtured to create a good foundation for learning. That’s why we attribute the whole of the Autumn to establishing really strong relationships with each individual pupil, and their parents. It means that when we do venture into more academic learning the children are ready and excited, they can give their full attention because they are comfortable and confident at school.

Unfortunately, in our busy and competitive world, giving children this time and space to grow before launching into letters and maths can feel as if you’re travelling against the tide. We all know a parent whose child can already write their name, or is a natural with numbers, and it’s all too easy to think we are letting our own child down by not keeping up. However, the reverse is often true. A child who has developed strong gross and fine motor skills will learn reading, writing and arithmetic more easily than one tasked with academic activities too early. It’s why the school curriculum for the early years’ foundation stage, EYFS, prioritises learning through play for the Reception year.

If you are keen to prepare your child for school, then building strong gross and fine motor skills is a brilliant place to start. Gross motor skills enable children to move their whole bodies, to run and jump and swing, but they also help children to sit still. We all need core strength to sit at a desk for a period of time and we need strong rotator cuffs to support controlled use of a pencil for writing. The great news here is that the best way to develop strong gross motor skills is through energetic play. Go to the park, encourage your child to run and climb, go swimming, ride bikes and scooters, visit a trampoline park, just be active in everyday life. Fine motor skills involve a refined use of muscles which control the hands, fingers and thumbs. Once again play is your friend to build

these skills, but this time think quiet play. Building Lego, playing with marbles or construction toys and tackling puzzles are all great options. If they like playing with playdough, even better. Squishing and shaping playdough is brilliant at developing strong hand muscles for using pens and pencils. Outside, encourage kids to pick up sticks and pine cones or help planting bulbs and flowers. And, if you begin to worry that other children are ahead academically,

remind yourself of the old adage: you can’t run before you can walk. Children need well developed gross and fine motor skills to be able to sit and write. Of course, draw and colour as much as you like, just don’t succumb to unnecessary pressure for your child to keep up or stand out. Childhood should be fun.

Life skills are another area where you can help your child be ready for school. The simplest things can make the biggest difference to their days away from you. Being able to put on and take off their coats and welly boots. Here at Salisbury Cathedral School we go outside to play and explore daily and we always dress for the weather which can mean sunscreen or gloves, sun caps or woolly hats, and we always wear boots. Being able to use the bathroom independently, wash their own hands and use a tissue are all good skills too as is being able to feed yourself. The really great news here is that all these activities help develop fine motor skills as well as increasing your child’s independence.

A good tip is to let your child wear their school uniform during the summer before Reception. Regular use will not only help them feel more comfortable but also loosen button holes and ease zips. We don’t expect children to be able to read and write their names, but if they can recognise it that does help finding their coat amongst many which are the same. Name tags with pictures work well, children remember their animal or object easily while they learn to recognise the shape of their name too. Teach them to tidy up. At school we use lots of different toys and games and we always put them away again so we have space for fresh fun.

Whilst there is no pressure for your child to be able to read and write, we do strongly recommend sharing books as much as you can. Picture books and story books, any book really to demonstrate reading as a normal part of life. Nursery rhymes are particularly good. They are very powerful early influencers of language because of their repetitive patterns and wider vocabulary. The rhyming element is effective at progressing auditory discrimination skills which are vital for understanding phonics, which in turn, are critical for reading and writing development. Nursery rhymes are also packed with mathematical patterns too. Think ‘5 currant buns’ or ‘ten green bottles’ – it’s all good fun and good learning as well.

Of course, your child might be the one who is desperate to learn and is pushing to be able to write their name. Don’t stop them, that’s not what this article is about. The message is that there is no rush for those children, which will be most children, who are not ready for the pen and the page just yet. Send them in for a warm Reception and let us, the teachers, do our job. Whilst we do not rush into the rigour of formal learning, you can rest assured your child will not be left behind. In fact, they will flourish over time from a firm foundation of strength and independence.

Salisbury Cathedral School

1 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EQ Tel: 01722 555300 www.salisburycathedralschool.com

Broughton Community Shop, Post Office and Cafe

Great range of local supplies - Essentials and treats

Chillled - frozen - deli - fresh fruit & veg - meat and fish - wine - spirits - beers

Greetings cards (local artists), stationery and newspapers Easy free parking

Post Office Counter Mail, Parcelforce, collection/returns, banking, bill payment, travel money – and more

Eco- Products

Liquid household refills

Bring a bottle and fill with soap, washing up liquid, laundry liquid, cleaners, shampoo and conditioner

Coffee Shop

Eco-zone products

Plant-based, natural ingredients for smart cleaning

The Magnificent Seed Extra

Virgin Rapeseed Oil on tap Loose bird food, seeds, and peanuts

Raw Bean Proper Coffee, teas, hot chocolate

Delicious range of local hand-made cakes

Children’s area with books and toys

Free water top-up centre

Takeaway hot drinks – 10% off with own cup

Indoor and outdoor seating

Shop Opening Hours

Weekdays: 9am - 5pm

Saturday: 9am - 12:30pm

Sunday: 9:30am - 12:30pm

Post Office Opening Hours

Weekdays: 9am - 5pm

Saturday: 9am - 12:00pm Sunday: Closed

Tel: 01794 502495 Facebook: @BroughtonVillageShop www.broughton.shop

Broughton Community Shop, Village Hall, High Street, Broughton, SO20 8AX

Stockbridge Ukraine Aid May Update

As you know, Stockbridge Ukraine have links to those on the ground in Ukraine and we focus our efforts on the most urgent needs communicated by them. We are currently working in two areas; evacuation of the wounded and surveillance of the frontlines, both saving multiple Ukrainian lives.

NB. We think it’s important you know exactly where your money is being spent, so rest assured we are careful to allocate any donation to the cause it is intended.

4X4 PICKUPS

This effort is aimed primarily at buying 4x4 pickups in the UK to go to Ukraine to act as ambulances. With the absence of helicopters or military vehicles to evacuate the wounded, soldiers are forced to use their own private cars, many of which have now been destroyed by Russian fire. In the Telegraph only last week the article read, “Ukraine’s vehicle shortage is now so bad that it struggles to evacuate troops who are forced to carry the wounded more than four miles to the nearest evacuation point, all while under Russian fire.”

Last Saturday we showed the Oscar winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol. Many of you were there and know what a great success it was - both as an extraordinary film and as a fund-raising exercise. Thanks to the ticket sales, bar sales, and above all many generous donations, we have been able to buy a suitable vehicle and expect to

hand it over to the Ukrainian soldiers who so desperately need it about the 11th May. A special vote of thanks to Rob Drumgold, Tim Marsden and Olga Kott. Rob and Tim run a fantastic

support operation for Ukraine and did all the work of buying the vehicle and Tim will drive it out there. Olga put us in contact with Rob and has provided invaluable help with the Ukrainian side.

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

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Harko: 07710 502798

Tom: 07855 656984 www.bosque international.co.uk

Health walk leaders share their experiences to help recruit

new volunteers

Do you have a few hours to spare and enjoy walking and chatting to other people? Then Test Valley Borough Council would like to hear from you. As part of National Walking month in May they’re looking for new volunteer walk leaders to guide health walks in different parts of the borough. Leaders like Mike Tudball, who volunteered to help out when he retired six years ago. Mike said: “I thought it would force me to get some exercise and fresh air. I had no aspirations to lead, but it soon became clear that there’s not much distinction between helping and leading as everyone mucks in and I soon found myself taking turns with the other leaders.

“I actually had no idea until I started doing it how much the walkers appreciate the walks, and I am often told by people that if it weren’t for the health walks they probably would not leave the house. It is quite rewarding to feel that you are doing something that genuinely improves people’s lives.”

Viviene Robinson enjoys leading and said, “It’s a great way to combine volunteering with exercise and meeting people.” Richard Wild started doing health walks when bullying at work forced him out of work and to take anti-depressants for about ten months. He says, “Everyone was so friendly and encouraging – so refreshing after my horrific experience at work. I stopped taking my anti-depressants a very few weeks later. The walk leader with whom I first walked, Mike Adkins, suggested I might like to become a walk leader. I declined, saying I’d never volunteered for anything in my life. The following week, he suggested it again and, when I declined, he told me that there was a training course coming up, and I could go along and give it a try, which I did. I was hooked.”

“I love the exercise, the views, the different participants that we get to chat with on each walk, and, of course, the coffee and chat afterwards. It’s not just what I get out of the walks, but what I feel I can offer to the walkers, (probably) the majority of whom are widows who lead a relatively lonely life. I get at least as much out of the walks as I put in, and it makes me feel good.”

Southern Voices – 40th Anniversary Gala Concert

& Reception

Southern Voices have been performing in and around Winchester for 40 years and they are to reach the centre of their anniversary celebrations on Saturday 13 July starting at 6pm with a Gala Concert in St Paul’s Church, Winchester. As a special treat for both the singers and the audience they will perform two choral masterpieces: Vivaldi’s Gloria and Bach’s Magnificat. The latter is, quite simply, one of the greatest compositions ever written and the Vivaldi will call for past members and conductors to all join the choir on stage to perform together. The choir are thrilled to welcome Endelienta Baroque, a small orchestra comprised of some of the country's most talented young performers playing historical instruments.

All concert tickets include the Gala Reception afterwards with speeches, surprises and more singing! Southern Voices are extremely pleased to thank Winchester Round Table for their sponsorship of this event.

Tickets (including drinks & canapés) £35 (£20 if you are under 21) from www.southernvoices.co.uk/gala or from 0333 666 3366 (booking fees apply) Registered charity 1086868

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Cllr Terese Swain, Portfolio Holder for Community, Leisure and Tourism said: “Health walks take place at locations across Test Valley and we’re always looking for new leaders and helper.

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“Each walk is led by a qualified leader whose duties include welcoming new and existing walkers, taking an attendance register, assisting new walkers to complete a quick registration form, and leading a safe, fun and enjoyable walk.

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“Many of our leaders aren’t sure when they start so do get in touch if you’re interested and give it a go! This volunteering opportunity is an ideal way to get involved with your local community whilst offering health and social benefit.”

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about becoming a health walk leader should contact Fen Holland on healthwalks@testvalley.gov. uk or 01264 368000.

You can download a leaflet about the walks that happen across Test Valley, as well as the different walk routes, at: https://www.testvalley. gov.uk/communityandleisure/cyclingwalking/health-walks-stephealthier-future

Two in one garage door conversion specialist

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Skandoor has led the way in manufacturing and installing garage doors in Hampshire and the south for many years. Our speciality is high-quality garage and front doors, on-time delivery and full ownership from start to finish.

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The Wallops WI

Last week at our AGM we displayed our lovely WI tablecloth. It is quite fragile as it was made back in 1951 for the Festival of Britain and so is only displayed on important occasions. At that time there were two WIs in the wallops, Nether Wallop WI and Over Wallop WI. Unfortunately Over Wallop WI folded some time in the 1990s so in 2005 it was decided to change the name of Nether Wallop to The Wallops to incorporate both villages and Nether Wallop tablecloth became The Wallops tablecloth. Each square was embroidered by WI members and a border of plain linen left around the edge for the signatures of those who have been a member for 10 years. This tradition continues today and last week another of The Wallops WI added her name to those who had gone before. It is a beautiful and historic item to honour previous members and to preserve for future members.

The WI is a great way to start and build friendships and also enjoy an excellent monthly programme of interesting and informative speakers. A sweet treat kicks off the new programme next month on Thursday 13 June when we will be finding out about all things chocolate. With luck the demonstration will include lots of tastings and lovely chocolatey things to purchase!

Why not join us in the Parishes Hall on June 13 at 7.30pm to find out more.

Godolphin Students triumph at Ten Tors Challenge 2024

In a blaze of youthful determination and camaraderie, Godolphin students set the stage on fire at this year's Ten Tors Challenge, held in May 2024, an event boasting over 2400 participants.

Eager to embrace the challenge, Godolphin fielded an impressive seven teams, setting a new standard of participation in the competition. Among them, four teams embarked on the 35-mile journey, while three others embarked on the even more ambitious 45-mile route.

Excitement was in the air as Friday evening descended upon Okehampton Battle Camp. Godolphin's base camp was buzzing as students forged bonds of friendship amidst the backdrop of military solidarity. The scene was set for an epic adventure.

STOCKBRIDGE MUSIC

Friday 5th July, 2024 at 7.30pm

St Peter’s Church, Stockbridge

Stile Antico

Early Music Vocal Ensemble

“A

Garden of Delights

”

Tickets £20 (U18s £5) from stockbridgemusic.uk or on the door, if still available

As dawn broke on Saturday morning, Godolphin's camp came alive with the stirring sounds of "Chariots of Fire" and the tantalising aroma of sizzling bacon! The resounding boom of Royal Artillery guns at 0700 signalled the start of the challenge, igniting a blaze of determination within Godolphin's intrepid students.

Throughout the demanding trek, parents and staff remained on edge, tracking the progress of the Godolphin teams with bated breath. Each milestone conquered elicited waves of relief and pride among supporters, a testament to the unwavering commitment and resilience of every participant.

The atmosphere reached its peak as staff, parents and families gathered to witness the triumphant arrival of the Godolphin teams. With hearts pounding and spirits soaring, cheers echoed across the hills as each team crested the final ascent, crossing the finish line in a blaze of glory. Reflecting on the triumph, Godolphin Head Jenny Price expressed her heartfelt congratulations to all the students. "Their unwavering stamina and support for one another epitomises the true spirit of Godolphin. We are immensely proud of their remarkable achievement and grateful to our dedicated staff whose guidance and encouragement made it all possible."